3,134 publications from this institution
ABSTRACT Tea polyphenols (TPs), potent antioxidants found in tea, offer cellular protection and health benefits. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), a widely used organic solvent in medicine, remains controversial due to its potential embryonic toxicity. This study explored the effects of TPs from oolong and black tea, DMSO exposure, and their combined treatment on embryonic development using a fruit fly model. TPs from oolong tea (rich in catechin and EGCG) and black tea (mainly catechin) promoted embryonic development, enhanced larval vitality, and improved oxidative stress resistance in adults. Catechin intervention mirrored the effects of TPs from oolong and black tea, while the effect of EGCG was sex‐dependent. DMSO showed dose‐dependent toxicity, with 1% concentrations disrupting organ development and preventing emergence. Notably, EGCG and oolong tea TPs supported normal organ formation. Furthermore, catechin and tea TPs alleviated 0.5% DMSO‐induced damage, boosting larval vitality, adult locomotion, and body weight in males, while reducing oxidative stress.
Accelerated methods for partitioning of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn, such as the use of single and ultrasonic extractions are assessed in terms of readsorption and compared with the three-stage sequential extraction scheme (SES) of the Standards Measurements and Testing Programme (SM&T). The standard addition approach was employed for characterising the readsorption artefact by applying the above fractionation methods over different certified reference materials (CRMs), BCR 701, BCR 601 (lake sediments), and BCR 141R soil. Ultrasonic extractions provided higher readsorption, mainly for BCR 141R and 601 as compared to conventional SES, the role of ultrasound in the activation of adsorptive sites being significant. The single extraction approach seemed to be inadequate with samples containing large amounts of carbonates such as BCR 141 R but worked well with both lake sediments. The readsorption phenomena are mainly occurring in the most labile fraction (i.e. acid soluble) and has been observed to be matrix dependent. The extent of such phenomenon is also dependent on the extraction methodology, i.e conventional vs accelerated.
The porB locus codes for the major outer membrane protein of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Alleles of this locus have been assigned to two homology groups based on close sequence and immunological relationships and are designated as either PIA or PIB. Several population parameters were estimated and compared among these two groups using a data set of 22 PIA sequences and 91 PIB sequences obtained from diverse geographic localities and from time periods spanning approximately 50 years. Recombination appears to be extensive in the porB gene. While the recombination rates are similar for the PIA and PIB sequences, the relative contribution of recombination to genetic diversity is higher for the PIA sequences. Alleles belonging to the PIB group show greater genetic diversity than do those in the PIA group. Although phylogenetic analysis did not reveal temporal or geographic clustering of sequences, estimates of gene flow and the fixation index suggested that PIB sequences exhibit population substructure based on geographic locality. Selection acts in these homology groups in a different way. While positive Darwinian selection is the dominant force driving the evolution of the PIA sequences, purifying selection operates also on the PIB sequences. These differences may be attributable to the greater propensity of PIA strains, as compared with PIB strains, to cause disseminated gonococcal infection, which would expose the former to intense selection pressure from the host immune system. The molecular evolution of Neisseria gonorrhoeae seems to be driven by the simultaneous action of selection and recombination, but under different rates and selection pressures for the PIA and PIB homology groups.
Summary Expressions for the probability and average time of detection of a recessive visible gene in populations where there is partial selfing or partial full-sib mating are presented. A small increase in the proportion of inbred matings greatly reduces the average time until detection and increases the proportion detected. Unless the proportion of inbred matings or the population size is very small, the time and proportion detected are approximately independent of the population size.
The discovery of bioactive molecules from botanical sources is an expanding field, preferentially oriented to plants having a tradition of use in medicine and providing high yields and availability. Temperate forage legumes are Fabaceae species that include worldwide-important crops. These plants possess therapeutic virtues that have not only been used in veterinary and folk medicine, but have also attracted the interest of official medicine. We have examined here Medicago sativa (alfalfa), Trifolium pratense and T. repens (clovers), Melilotus albus and M. officinalis (sweet clovers), Lotus corniculatus (birdsfoot trefoil), Onobrychis viciifolia (sainfoin), Lespedeza capitata (roundhead lespedeza), and Galega officinalis (goat's rue). The phytochemical complexes of these species contain secondary metabolites whose pharmacological potentials deserve investigation. Major classes of compounds include alkaloids and amines, cyanogenic glycosides, flavonoids, coumarins, condensed tannins, and saponins. Some of these phytochemicals have been related to antihypercholesterolemia, antidiabetic, antimenopause, anti-inflammatory, antiedema, anthelmintic, and kidney protective effects. Two widely prescribed drugs have been developed starting from temperate forage legumes, namely, the antithrombotic warfarin, inspired from sweet clover's coumarin, and the antidiabetic metformin, a derivative of sainfoin's guanidine. Available evidence suggests that temperate forage legumes are a potentially important resource for the extraction of active principles to be used as nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals.
PartitionTest test suite
