Search

Abstract: The difference in urinary excretion of mammalian and plant lignans in rats was determined after oral administration of equivalent doses (25mg/kg of body weight) of 7-hydroxymatairesinol (HMR), lariciresinol (LAR), matairesinol (MR), and secoisolariciresinol (SECO). Twenty-four hours-urine samples were collected after a single dose and after administration of one dose/day for 10 days. Eight lignans were analysed in urine extracts using a high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method showing good sensitivity and repeatability. After a single dose of HMR, LAR, MR, and SECO, the main metabolites were 7-hydroxyenterolactone (HENL), cyclolariciresinol (CLAR), enterolactone (ENL), and enterodiol (END), respectively, but after 10-day exposure ENL was the main metabolite of all the tested lignans, showing a considerably higher excretion than after a single dose. Metabolic transformations of plant lignans into each other could also be observed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Feeding strategies of feeding mixed organic acids as carbon sources for the biosynthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) by Ralstonia eutropha were investigated. A feeding strategy was proposed according to the singular optimization control theory after comparing several feeding strategies of mixed acids for PHAs formation which referred to that the culture was absent of carbon sources firstly, and mixed acids was fed throughout the procedure at varying rates, additionally, to keep the cell more active, nitrogen source (sulfate ammonia) was also fed from about the 12th hour of the fermentation. In contrast with the batch culture in which the maximum dry cell weight and PHAs concentration were only 3.89 and 1.45 g/l, the corresponding values of the continuous feeding fed-batch culture were increased to 14.35 and 6.89 g/l, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Mineral precipitation problems have been experienced with the conveyance and treatment of anaerobically digested primary and waste activated sludge blends. This paper describes an experimental investigation into mineral precipitation in anaerobic digester liquor (ADL) from the Cape Flats (CF) Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) (Cape Town, South Africa), and application of the three-phase (aqueous/solid/gas) physical and chemical processes kinetic model developed by Musvoto et al. (Water Res. 34 (2000) 1857; Water Res. 34 (2000) 1868; Water SA 26(4) (2000) 417) to the experimental data. From the experimental investigation and theoretical modelling, it is concluded inter alia that: (i) there is a close correlation between experimental measured and theoretically predicted data, (ii) the dominating mineral that precipitates is struvite, with small amounts of amorphous calcium phosphate and negligible newberyite, calcite and magnesite, (iii) the precipitation of struvite is governed by the increase in pH when CO2 is lost from the ADL, (iv) the ADL is initially undersaturated with respect to struvite, but becomes supersaturated at pH>7.3–7.7, (v) the rate and mass of struvite precipitation are controlled by the rate of pH increase and the initial Mg concentration and (vi) the three-phase kinetic model is able to simulate accurately the time dependent precipitation data for multiple minerals competing for the same species and allows determination of specific precipitation rates for a number of minerals simultaneously in an integrated manner from a single batch test. Some operational strategies to minimise struvite precipitation are proposed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Prunus cerasus ( P. cerasus ) is an alternative-medicine used traditionally for amelioration of chronic-ailments marked by elevation in oxidative-stress like neuropathy. The oxidative-stress control was reported to ameliorate the inflammatory-process. This study aimed to phytochemically-investigate P. cerasus most-active phytochemicals utilizing in-vivo biological models to explore their gastroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antinociceptive potentials and their possible mechanisms of action. Sonication with EtAc was used to extract P. cerasus fruit (Scf), and seed (Scs). The phytochemical-investigation of Scf was performed by RP-HPLC, while that of Scs was explored utilizing GC-FID. A bio-guided-fraction and isolation method was done utilizing column-chromatography, and have shown that cyanidin-3-glucoside (Cy3G) was the most-active constituent in Scf, while linoleic-acid (LA) was the most-active constituent in Scs. Scf, Scs, Cy3G, and LA significantly (p ˂ 0.05) protected the gastric-mucosa against HCl/EtOH-induced gastric-lesions. Scs (200 mg/kg) has shown the most gastroprotective-potentials, and had comparable-results to ranitidine (50 mg/kg). Scf, Scs, Cy3G, and LA have shown significant anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive potentials against carrageenan induced-edema and nociceptive-pain, respectively, where Scs (200 mg/kg) has shown the most anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive potentials, and had comparable results to ibuprofen (100 mg/kg). Scf, Scs, Cy3G, and LA have counter-acted carrageenan-induced oxidative-stress markers, with increased serum-catalase and reduced-glutathione levels, and decreased lipid-peroxidation. Histopathological-studies demonstrated gastroprotective potentials, regeneration and improvement of the spleen-structural architecture when treated with highest doses of Scs and Scf. The reduction of the pro-inflammatory TNF-alpha and IL-6, and elevation the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 levels, spleen regenerative-capacity and oxidative-stress amelioration might be the main-mechanism responsible for P. cerasus anti-inflammatory potentials. P. cerasus appears to aid in ameliorating the inflammatory process, and reducing pain-thresholds while preserving the stomach., (© 2019 Center for Food and Biomolecules, National Taiwan University. Production and hosting by Elsevier Taiwan LLC.)