Induction, purification and characterization of an antibacterial peptide scolopendrin I from the venom of centipede Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans.

The crude venom of the centipede Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans, injected with Escherichia coli K12D31 for 3-4 days showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive. Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. It showed good antibacterial activity against E. coli K12D31 at different temperatures, pH, and ionic strengths. The crude venom was heated at 100 degrees C for 30 min, centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 30 min at 4 degrees C and the supernatants were obtained, from which an antibacterial fraction having a molecular mass of 3000-5000 Da, was further separated by ultrafiltration. A homogeneous antibacterial peptide named scolopendrin I, having a molecular mass of 4,498 Da, was isolated using cation-exchange chromatography and two steps of reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Scolopendrin I did not show any hemolytic and agglutination activities at the concentration below 30 microM.

A source of almost pure methyl chavicol: volatile oil from the aerial parts of Tagetes lucida (Asteraceae) cultivated in Costa Rica

The plant Tagetes lucida Cav.(syn.T.florida Sweet,T.schiedeana Less.)is an aromatic herb distributed naturally from Mexico to Honduras,at elevations between 1 000 and 2 000 m.It is used as a spice,for medicine,as insecticide and as ornamental plant.It is cultivated commercially in Costa Rica as a spice herb;it contains an oil having an anise-like odor,and the fresh aerial parts of this plant are sold in the supermarket as a substitute of tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus L.).The essential oils isolated from aerial parts bought,at May and October,in a supermarket in San José (Costa Rica).Fresh flowering aerial parts,flowers and leaves plus stems, were subjected to hydrodistillation for 3 hr using a modified Clevenger-type apparatus.The distilled oils were collected and dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate and stored in a freezer (0-10 °C).The light yellow green oil yield was about 0.07%(v/w).GC/MS analyses were performed using a Shimadzu GCMS-QP5050 apparatus and CLASS 5000 software with Wiley 139 computer database.Identification of the components of the oil was performed using the retention indices,which were calculated in relation to a homologous series of hydrocarbons, and by comparison of their mass spectra with those published in the literature or those of our own database. Thirty compounds were identified,of which methyl chavicol (95-97%)was the major constituent.From flower oil,two bithienyls were detected as minor constituents

Los aceites esenciales extraídos de las partes aéreas de la planta Tagetes lucida Cav.cultivada en Costa Rica y utilizada como condimento,fue estudiado mediante la técnica de GC/MS en combinación con los índices de retención.Se identificaron treinta compuestos.El componente mayoritario resultó ser metil chavicol (estragol)en un 95-97%.En el aceite de las flores se detectaron e identificaron dos compuestos minoritarios que resultaron ser bitienilos no informados anteriormente como constituyentes de esta planta