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Background Patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) of the gastrointestinal tract suffer frequently from chronic diarrhea. A well characterized medical advice containing zeolite (Detoxsan® powder) was applied to patients suffered from therapy-refractory diarrhea either by its frequency or by watery stool, despite receiving standard pharmacotherapy according to the guidelines for carcinoid syndrome and comorbidities. Detoxsan® powder acts as an adsorbent and might reduce significantly symptoms of diarrhea in patients suffering from NETs. Aim To overcome the therapy-refractory diarrhea of patients with NETs by the zeolite containing medical advice Detoxsan® powder. Methods A total of 20 patients (12 female and 8 male) suffering from diarrhea either by its frequency or from watery stool caused by NETs were included. In each patient, the diagnosis had been confirmed by histology and somatostatin receptors expression proven by positron emission tomography/computed tomography using Ga-68-labeled somatostatin analogs. All patients received standard-of-care pharmacotherapy and were additionally given Detoxsan® powder as an extemporaneous drug containing 90% natural Cuban zeolite and 10% magnesium aspartate. Recommended daily dosage ranges between 3 g once to three times per day. Each day dose and bowel movements were documented by the patients themselves in a pre-defined table. Additionally to the bowel movements quantitative determinations of serotonin, urea, creatinine and single ions were performed within the serum of the patients by commercially available equipment used as a matter of routine in the clinic. Results All patients enrolled in this pilot study did not only suffer from NETs, but also from comorbidities and treatment-resistant diarrhea. There was insufficient control of diarrhea, most probably due to the secretion of hormones like serotonin produced by the slowly growing and highly differentiated NETs. All patients only took Detoxsan® powder as an antidiarrheal drug. In general, response effects need several days to become perceptible and require an intake of Detoxsan® powder for an extended time period or intermittently, if persisting stabilization of bowel movements could not be achieved. A correlation between NET grade, part and size of bowel resection and functionality of the tumor could not be demonstrated. Therefore, diarrhea seemed to be based on the metabolic activity of the well-differentiated NETs, which eventually led to treatment resistance. In summary, 14 out of the 20 patients (70%) declared to be very content with using Detoxsan® powder and observed a significant reduction of diarrhea, while the effective dose and intake period that resulted in a symptom relief varied individually. Conclusion Detoxsan® powder is able to reduce significantly symptoms of NET-related diarrhea in the majority of patients. The duration of taking Detoxsan® powder and its dosage vary individually.

Helicobacter pylori can be found in the stomach of about half of the humans, and a large population can be associated with serious diseases. To survive in the stomach H. pylori increases the pH locally by producing ammonia which binds to H+ becoming ammonium. This work investigated the effects on the in-vitro growth of H. pylori of a natural cation-exchanger mainly composed (≈70%) of clinoptilolite and mordenite. The zeolitized material from Cuba was evaluated in its original form (M), as well as in its Na- (M-Na) and Zn-exchanged (M-Zn) counterparts. In the preliminary agar cup diffusion test, H. pylori revealed susceptibility only to M-Zn, with a direct relationship between concentration and width of inhibition halo. Further experiments evidenced that bacterium replication increases when ammonium is supplied to the growth medium and decreases when zeolites subtract NH4+ via ion exchange. Due to the multi-cationic population of its zeolites M was not effective enough in removing ammonium and, in the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) test, allowed bacterial growth even at a concentration of 50 mg/mL. Inhibition was achieved with M-Na because it contained sodium zeolites capable of maximizing NH4+ subtraction, although the MIC was high (30 mg/mL). M-Zn evidenced a more effective inhibitory capacity, with a MIC of 4 mg/mL. Zinc has antimicrobial properties and H. pylori growth was affected by Zn2+ released from clinoptilolite and mordenite. These zeolites, being more selective towards NH4+ than Zn2+, can also subtract ammonium to the bacterium, thus enhancing the efficacy of M-Zn.

Natural zeolites are microporous crystalline aluminosilicates with channels and cavities of molecular dimensions of interest for biomedical applications. The antiphlogistic effect was investigated on the basis of a murine inflammation model using 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) as inflammatory agent and the quantification of the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO), an enzyme that serves as an indicator for neutrophil migration. The zeolite used in this study was collected from San Andres, Cuba, and it provided evidence to show the quantitative adsorption of histamine, a biogenic compound strongly involved in inflammation processes. Furthermore, a related work showed that this zeolite sample is free of hazardous materials and apt for health use. The zeolite of this study contained 65% clinoptilolite, 30% mordenite, and 5% smectite. The application of this zeolite reduced the edema formation induced by TPA within 24 h by 57.2 ± 18%, while the migration of neutrophils was not altered. The anti-inflammatory activity of zeolite was explained in part due to the quantitative adsorption of histamine, whilst natural cell repair mechanisms appeared not to be influenced. The outcome of this work expanded on reports concluding that antiphlogistic properties of zeolite proven in vivo with mice for inflammatory diseases are important for both oral application (gastrointestinal tract) and topical treatment (skin), too.

BACKGROUND Patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) of the gastrointestinal tract suffer frequently from chronic diarrhea. A well characterized medical advice containing zeolite (Detoxsan® powder) was applied to patients suffered from therapy-refractory diarrhea either by its frequency or by watery stool, despite receiving standard pharmacotherapy according to the guidelines for carcinoid syndrome and comorbidities. Detoxsan® powder acts as an adsorbent and might reduce significantly symptoms of diarrhea in patients suffering from NETs. AIM To overcome the therapy-refractory diarrhea of patients with NETs by the zeolite containing medical advice Detoxsan® powder. METHODS A total of 20 patients (12 female and 8 male) suffering from diarrhea either by its frequency or from watery stool caused by NETs were included. In each patient, the diagnosis had been confirmed by histology and somatostatin receptors expression proven by positron emission tomography/computed tomography using Ga-68-labeled somatostatin analogs. All patients received standard-of-care pharmacotherapy and were additionally given Detoxsan® powder as an extemporaneous drug containing 90% natural Cuban zeolite and 10% magnesium aspartate. Recommended daily dosage ranges between 3 g once to three times per day. Each day dose and bowel movements were documented by the patients themselves in a pre-defined table. Additionally to the bowel movements quantitative determinations of serotonin, urea, creatinine and single ions were performed within the serum of the patients by commercially available equipment used as a matter of routine in the clinic. RESULTS All patients enrolled in this pilot study did not only suffer from NETs, but also from comorbidities and treatment-resistant diarrhea. There was insufficient control of diarrhea, most probably due to the secretion of hormones like serotonin produced by the slowly growing and highly differentiated NETs. All patients only took Detoxsan® powder as an antidiarrheal drug. In general, response effects need several days to become perceptible and require an intake of Detoxsan® powder for an extended time period or intermittently, if persisting stabilization of bowel movements could not be achieved. A correlation between NET grade, part and size of bowel resection and functionality of the tumor could not be demonstrated. Therefore, diarrhea seemed to be based on the metabolic activity of the well-differentiated NETs, which eventually led to treatment resistance. In summary, 14 out of the 20 patients (70%) declared to be very content with using Detoxsan® powder and observed a significant reduction of diarrhea, while the effective dose and intake period that resulted in a symptom relief varied individually. CONCLUSION Detoxsan® powder is able to reduce significantly symptoms of NET-related diarrhea in the majority of patients. The duration of taking Detoxsan® powder and its dosage vary individually.

Two different natural zeolites from Cuba and Mexico, which are already being used as contemporaneous drugs or dietary supplements in Germany and Mexico, respectively, are applied in a comparative study of their histamine-binding capacities as a function of their particle sizes. The zeolites are characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and N2-sorption measurements (BET surface areas). The Cuban zeolite contains clinoptilolite and mordenite as major phases (78% zeolite), whereas the Mexican one contains only clinoptilolite (65% zeolite). Both zeolites are apparently free from fibrous materials according to SEM. Both zeolites adsorb significant amount of histamine under the experimental conditions. Nevertheless, the results showed that the histamine-binding capacity of the Cuban zeolite is higher than the Mexican one and the smaller the particle size of zeolite, the higher the histamine-binding capacity. This difference could be due to the variation in their mineralogical compositions resulting in varied BET surface areas. Thus, the high histamine-binding capacities of Cuban zeolites seem to be due at least partly to the presence of the large-pore zeolite mordenite, providing high total pore volumes, which will be discussed in detail. For the first time, we have shown that the mineralogical compositions of natural zeolites and their particle sizes play a key role in binding histamine, which is one of the most important regulators in human physiology.

The endogenous levels of abscisic acid (ABA) and jasmonic acid (JA) were analyzed in wheat seedlings grown in water, a system which in the past has been used to test the effects of these plant growth inhibitors. The levels in different plant parts and in the medium were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-selected ion monitoring, using [2H3]ABA and [2H6]JA as internal standards. In every plant part, JA levels were about 2 orders of magnitude greater than those of ABA. The exudation of JA from roots per seedling was about 14,000-fold greater than that of ABA, although the roots contained only about 170 times more JA than ABA. It is suggested that JA is a possible allelopathic compound.

Jasmonic acid (JA) permeates the plasma membrane of mesophyll cells by diffusion as the lipophilic undissociated JAH molecule probably without the participation of a saturable uptake component. The mesophyll plasma membrane is nearly impermeable to the JA anion. The permeability coefficients of JA and several JA derivatives (its methyl ester (JAMe), 7-iso-cucurbic acid (7-iso-CA), 6-epi-7-iso-cucurbic acid (6-epi-7-iso-CA), and both stereoisomers of the JA leucine conjugate ((+)-JA-Leu and (-)-JA-Leu)) were determined and used in a simplified mathematical model to predict stressdependent JA redistribution between cytosol and apoplast in comparison with ABA. The redistribution of JA takes place similar to ABA; however, its velocity is much higher because of the high JA membrane permeability. When the permeability coefficients for the mesophyll plasma membrane are plotted double-logarithmically against the ratio of the distribution coefficient and the molecular ratio to the power of 1.5 (KDMr −1.5), two straight lines result for two different classes of compounds. The permeability coefficients of JA conjugates are lower than that of the free acid by approximately one order of magnitude, but they are still significantly higher than that of ABA.

Spring barley cultivated in Mitcherlich pots under both climatic chamber and field conditions were treated at developmental stage Feekes 2 with a foliar application of jasmonic acid (JA), its methyl ester (JAMe) and ethephon

The derivatives 7- iso -cucurbic acid (7- iso -CA) and 6- epi -7- iso -cucurbic acid (6- epi -7- iso -CA) were prepared from (−)-jasmonic acid (JA) by reduction and cucurbic acid (CA) and 6- epi - cucurbic acid (6- epi -CA) from (+)-7- iso -jasmonic acid (7- iso -JA). The chromatographic properties (TLC, HPLC, GC) of these derivatives are described and the structures established by physical data. The extracts of different plant materials were analysed with respect to the natural occurrence of JA and CA and its 6,7-stereoisomers. JA, 6- epi -CA and 6- epi -7- iso -CA were identified in female flowers of Juglans regia and JA, CA, 6- epi - CA and 6- epi -7- iso -CA in spores of Anemia phyllitidis . JA, CA, 6- epi -CA and 9, 10-dihydro-JA were detected in immature caryopses of Secale cereale . In rye JA dominated in young caryopses, while CA level exceeded the amount of JA in the premature fruits. In each tissue 6- epi -CA was found to be a minor component, while CA or 6- epi -7- iso - CA represented the major components; 7- iso -CA could not be detected.

The growth regulators (-)-jasmonic acid (JA) and its 7-isom er were identified by GC-MS in the red alga Gelidium latifolium. The ratio of JA:7-iso-JA was approximately 93:7. The endogenous level amounted to 0.7 μg JA/g fresh weight.

Summary In dormant branches of birch the occurrence of abscisyl- β -D-glucopyranosyl ester as a major ABA conjugate has been established by high performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Both the concentrations (related to fresh weight unit) and the absolute amounts (related to a longitudinal unit of branches) of free ABA and ABA-glu in wood and bark were determined by bio-assay. The values showed characteristic gradients in relation to branch diameter. The levels of ABA-glu were significantly higher than those of ABA in both branch parts, and the bark contained higher contents of both hormone forms than the wood. The results indicate that ABA is temporarily stored in the branch parts, but ABA-glu is accumulated progressively without reconversion to free ABA.

Gibberellins A 8 , A 16 , A 24 , and abscisic acid were identified by GC-MS of derivatized extracts from immature fruits of Secale cereale . Mature caryopses contained ABA and trans -ABA in a ratio 1:1 as well as 4′-dihydrophaseic acid. During milk ripeness a neutral GA conjugate was detected. Free GA, afforded by enzymatic hydrolysis of the conjugate, was chromatographically identified as GA 16

Summary From immature seeds of soybean two major gibberellins have been isolated and identified by high performance liquid chromatography and bioassay to be GA 1 and GA 8 .

Summary In fertile fronds of Equisetum arvense the plant growth regulator jasmonic acid and its metabolite 6epi-7-iso-cucurbic acid were identified by physical methods. Jasmonic acid dominated before spore scattering and 6-epi-7-iso-cucurbic acid thereafter. In fertile fronds of Equisetum sylvaticum 4,5didehydro-jasmonic acid was found to be the major component of the jasmonic acid-like compounds. In fertile and sterile fronds of Equisetum arvense as well as in fertile fronds of Equisetum sylvaticum and Equisetum fluviatile abscisic acid was unequivocally identified. In fertile fronds its level exceeded that of sterile fronds, and it was much higher before spore scattering than thereafter.

Summary The effects of gibberellin A3 (GA3) on growth behavior and yield parameters have been studied in the soybean variety G7R-315 by experiments using small randomized plots. GA3 was applied at stages R1 and R3 to single nodes (10 or 25 µg per node) or on total plants (60 or 150 µg/plant). Treatments at stage R1 increased significantly the pod number per plant and consequently the grain yield; other parameters like grain weight and seed number per pod were not influenced. Applications at stage R3 did not increase the grain yield. However, plant height was stimulated significantly at both stages (R1 and R3) by GA3 application (25µg) to nodes near the canopy and after treatment of total plants. Lower concentrations or applications to lower nodes did not enhance plant growth. The results are discussed with respect to the posssible function of GA3 in fruit set.

Summary In purified fractions of immature rye ears (Secale cereale L.), gibberellins A19, A20, A24, A54, A55 and A60 could be identified by GC-MS. From the present knowledge on the endogenous GA spectrum in developing grains of cereals, chemotaxonomy considerations can be made that allow to distinguish between the subtribes Triticinae and Hordeinae of the tribe Triticeae within the Poaceae.

Summary The endogenous levels of abscisic acid (ABA) were studied in pericarp (vascular bundles and remaining part) and seed parts (hilum, testa, cotyledons, embryo axis) of the soybean fruit at 4 different stages of development. In seeds, highest concentrations of ABA were determined within the testa during intensive growth, and lowest amounts occurred within the hilum. In the pericarp, the ABA levels were much lower than in the seed at all stages investigated. The ABA concentration in the ventral vascular bundles exceeded that of the remaining pericarp at early stages; afterwards an inverse proportion occurred. The dynamics of ABA changes in the vascular bundles of the pericarp resembled those occurring in the seed parts but differed significantly from the remaining pericarp. In the pericarp, ABA seems to be involved in senescence control, and in the seed in phloem unloading. Concerning the whole fruit, an increasing concentration gradient of ABA along the vascular assimilate translocation path up to the testa was found indicating a physiological role of ABA in the process of assimilate translocation.

4′-Dihydroabscisic acid [1′, 4′- cis -diol of (+)-ABA] was isolated from immature seeds of Vicia faba . Its identity was proved by TLC and MS.