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Summary: The red alga Gracilaria vermiculophylla is a prostaglandin (PG)‐producing macroalga. The alga is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids with 20 carbon atoms, mainly arachidonic acid (AA), which is a precursor of PGs. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the ability of the red alga to produce PGs using acetone powder as the crude enzyme prepared from the alga. The acetone powder (250 mg) was incubated with different amounts of exogenous AA (0.1–4 mg). For the determination of PG contents, 5 μL of a sample solution (5 mL in water) consisting of acetone powder and AA was injected into the HPLC column. For PG analysis, an HPLC system connected with a mass spectrometer was used. Results of the study showed that the released PGs from incubation of acetone powder and AA consisted of PGE2, 15‐keto‐PGE2, 15‐hydroperoxy‐PGE2, PGA2, and PGF2α. The capability of the crude enzyme prepared from the red alga to produce PGs was affected by available oxygen and AA concentrations. The crude enzyme (250 mg) was capable of producing 164 and 141 μg of PGE2 and 15‐keto‐PGE2, respectively, from incubation with 250 μg of AA. This in vitro method could be a simple way to provide PGs in the laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of oncology, the plant kingdom has an inexhaustible supply of bioactive compounds. Phytochemical compounds isolated from Helleborus species have been found to be useful in various chronic diseases. This has brought Helleborus to the attention of medical researchers. H. purpurascens is a plant characteristic of the Carpathian area, known since ancient times for its beneficial effects. The aim of the study was to evaluate the flavonoids composition of a hydroalcoholic extract of H. purpurascens, as well as to assess its antioxidant activity and antitumor potential at the level of two healthy cell lines and four tumor cell lines. In addition, the expression of the genes involved in the apoptotic process (Bcl-2, Bad, and Bax) were evaluated. The results indicated that the extract has a high concentration of flavonoids, such as epicatechin, quercetin, and kaempferol. The extract has an increased antioxidant activity, very similar to that of the standard, ascorbic acid and cytotoxic effects predominantly in the breast cancer cell line, being free of cytotoxic effects in healthy cell lines. Underlying the cytotoxic effect is the induction of the process of apoptosis, which in the present study was highlighted by decreasing the expression of anti-apoptotic genes (Bcl-2) and increasing the expression of pro-apoptotic genes (Bad and Bax). In conclusion, the hydroalcoholic extract of H. purpurascens can be considered an important source for future medical applications in cancer therapy.

In order to provide scientific basis for scientific and rational use of the two pesticides and the rice risk assessment in the later period, the dynamic digestion and distribution of chlorantraniliprole and chlorpyrifos and metabolite(3,5,6-TCP) in different organs of the rice by LC-MS were systematically studied. The residues of pesticides and metabolite in rice organs were determined periodically after application treatments at heading date. The results showed that the residues of two pesticides and metabolite in Yongyou were higher than that of Zhongzheyou, the distribution of two pesticides and metabolite in rice organs were leaf > grain > stem > root, and the residual amount in roots increased firstly and then decreased, while gradually reduced in the stem, leaf and grain prolonged with the time. The degradation rate of chlorpyrifos in rice organs was faster than that of chlorantraniliprole, with the rate more than 99% after 14 d application. The rice hull and bran were carrying about 90% two pesticides and metabolite residues, high doses of pesticides made the two pesticides and metabolite significantly increased in parts of the grain, but had no effect on the distribution characteristics of the two pesticides in the grain. Therefore, planting Zhongzheyou rice varieties with reducing application dose could achieve control effect and reduce rice consumption risk as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the potential of the enzyme horseradish peroxidase in the decolorization of one common industrial azo dye, naphthol blue black. Studies are carried out to understand the process parameters such as pH, temperature and reaction time. The enzymatic decolorization of the dye was examined by UV-Vis spectrophotometer and LC-MS measurements. Temperature and pH conditions were optimized for obtaining high azo-dye decolorization. Azo-dye removal at a pH range 4-6 was found to be the highest for all temperatures. After 5 minutes of treatment, the color removal of dye was ca. 80-90%. The LC-MS and spectrophotometric analyses indicated that the decolorization of the azo dye with enzyme was due to the reduction of the azo bonds. This study verifies the viability of the use of the horseradish peroxidase in the decolorization of naphthol blue black. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of oncology, the plant kingdom has an inexhaustible supply of bioactive compounds. Phytochemical compounds isolated from Helleborus species have been found to be useful in various chronic diseases. This has brought Helleborus to the attention of medical researchers. H. purpurascens is a plant characteristic of the Carpathian area, known since ancient times for its beneficial effects. The aim of the study was to evaluate the flavonoids composition of a hydroalcoholic extract of H. purpurascens, as well as to assess its antioxidant activity and antitumor potential at the level of two healthy cell lines and four tumor cell lines. In addition, the expression of the genes involved in the apoptotic process (Bcl-2, Bad, and Bax) were evaluated. The results indicated that the extract has a high concentration of flavonoids, such as epicatechin, quercetin, and kaempferol. The extract has an increased antioxidant activity, very similar to that of the standard, ascorbic acid and cytotoxic effects predominantly in the breast cancer cell line, being free of cytotoxic effects in healthy cell lines. Underlying the cytotoxic effect is the induction of the process of apoptosis, which in the present study was highlighted by decreasing the expression of anti-apoptotic genes (Bcl-2) and increasing the expression of pro-apoptotic genes (Bad and Bax). In conclusion, the hydroalcoholic extract of H. purpurascens can be considered an important source for future medical applications in cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]