Polybrominated diphenyl ethers with broad spectrum antibacterial activity from the Indonesian marine sponge Lamellodysidea herbacea

The marine sponge Lamellodysidea herbacea is one of the marine organisms containing unique organobromine molecules polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) which have diverse biological activities. Compounds 1−4 have been successfully isolated and their structures were elucidated using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, single-crystal x-ray diffraction, and comparison with data in literature. Compound 1, C12H6 O4 Br6 , was isolated in gram quantity (1.35 g) and elucidated as 2,3,4,5-tetrabromo-6-(3ʹ,5ʹ-dibromo-2ʹ-hydroxyphenoxy)phenol after NMR and X-ray analysis. Compound 1 takes a twist-like conformation with torsion angle ϕ1 = 27.7 (6)°; ϕ2 = 86.5 (5)°, while the angle of the ether bond is 117.5°. Compounds 2−4 were elucidated as 2,3,5-tribromo-6-(3ʹ,5ʹdibromo-2ʹ-hydroxyphenoxy)anisole, 2,3,5-tribromo-6-(3ʹ,5ʹ-dibromomethoxyphenoxy) phenol, 2,3,5-tribromo-6- (3ʹ,5ʹ-hydroxyphenoxy)phenol, respectively. Antibacterial evaluation of 1−4 on Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens showed that the potent activity was at 0.08 µg/disk, 12 ± 0 mm (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538); 6.25 µg/disk, 10 ± 0 mm (Klebsiella pneumoniae); and 50 µg/disk, 12 ± 0 mm (ampicillin-resistant Escherichia coli). Compounds 1, 2, and 4 showed ichthyotoxicity (zebrafish embryos, Danio rerio) at a level of LC50 >10 µg/ml [dead, 48 hours postfertilization (hpf)]. This is the first report that compound 4 inhibits the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Dietary Intake and Health Risk Assessment of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in the Netherlands Based on Data Collected in 2004 and 2008.

Brominated flame retardants, like polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), are environmental contaminants which have entered the human food chain. In this context the concentrations of several PBDEs were measured in food items commonly available in the Netherlands in 2004 and 2008. In food BDE-47, -99 and -100 were analysed and detected in 2004 and 2008, whereas BDE-209 was only analysed and detected in 2008. The highest BDE concentrations were found in seafood (fatty fish and crustaceans). The lifelong dietary intake of these compounds in humans was calculated using the concentration data. For BDE-47, -99 and -100 the intake in 2008 was higher than in 2004. A risk assessment based on the most sensitive toxic effects of PBDEs in experimental animals was possible for BDE-47, -99 and 209 (but not for BDE-100, [3]). These effects consist of neurodevelopmental toxicity resulting from the disturbance of growth of the central nervous system (BDE-47, -99 and -209) and reproductive toxicity resulting from the disturbance of spermatogenesis after intrauterine exposure (BDE-99). A risk assessment based on the dietary exposure of individual PBDE congeners revealed that in The Netherlands the dietary exposure to PBDE-47 and -209 does not pose a health concern with respect to neurodevelopmental toxicity. However, with regard to reproductive toxicity and neurodevelopmental toxicity the dietary exposure in The Netherlands to BDE- 99 is of potential health concern.

Assessment of Exposure to Polybrominated Dipheny Ethers via Inhalation and Diet in China / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This paper is to assess the current status of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) contamination in the environment in China and estimate the exposure to PBDEs in non-occupational populations.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 80 research papers published from January 2001 to October 2013 were selected. Geographic information system (GIS) was used in mapping PBDE concentrations and distributions in environmental media. Ni's model was applied to calculate ∑PBDE-intake via the intakes of contaminated food, water and air in the Pearl River Delta and Yangtze River Delta.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>BDE-209 was found to be the major PBDE congener in the environmental media and food in China. PBDE concentrations varied among different areas, among which the contamination in Guangdong Province was most serious. Daily intake of ∑PBDEs was 225.1-446.0 ng/d for adults in the Pearl River Delta, which was higher than the intake for those living in the Yangtze River Delta (148.9-369.8 ng/d).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Atorvastatin can attenuate LPS-induced TNF-α expression and production by activating HO-1 via the ERK and p38 MAPK pathways, suggesting that atorvastatin can be used in treatment of inflammatory diseases such as sepsis, especially in those with atherosclerotic diseases.</p>