Study on the encapsulation technique of high purity gamma-linolenic acid, part 1--saponification reaction and saponification value / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To measure the saponification value and fatty acid formation of evening primrose oil, to study the effects of pH value on production yield and fatty acid formation during the saponification reaction, and to provide rationales for the selection of raw material, the enhancement of production yield of saponification, and the encapsulation of gamma-linolenic acid with urea.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>To measure fatty acid's formation with gas chromatographic method and to measure the saponification value.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The content of gamma-linolenic acid is 7%-10% in evening primrose oil. The content of gamma-linolenic acid is inversely correlated with that of unsaturated fatty acid. The saponification value, the amount of KOH for saponification of evening primrose oil, and the pH value for subsequent isolations of oils are determined. From the measurement of fatty acids of evening primrose oil in two different cultivation locations, the content of gamma-linolenic acid is determined to be 7%-10%, unsaturated oils account for 90%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The saponification value of evening primrose oil is between 180-200, pH value of isolated oil is 1.5-2.0 after saponification reaction. Fatty acids mainly include palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linolic acid and gamma-linolenic acid.</p>

Study on the encapsulation technique of high purity gamma-linolenic acid, part 1--Single factor, and two-factor tests for encapsulation process / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of all factors during the process of urea encapsulation of gamma-linolenic acid on the purity and yield.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>To observe the material proportions, time, temperature and purity using single-factor and two-factor tests.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Single-factor test showed that the optimal ratio of all materials (oil, urea and 95% ethanol) was 1:3:8. A 30% purity after single encapsulation process was obtained, at the best temperature range was - 15 degrees C-20 degrees C, for 24 hours. Two-factor test showed that the optimal ratio of oil, urea and ethanol was 1:3:8, where the concentration of ethanol was 90%-95%. The purity reached 90% or higher, with three-time encapsulation process.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>An optimized process was identified where material ratios, encapsulation time, temperature, and ethanol concentrations were determined using single-factor and two-factor tests.</p>

Effect of L-methionine on trace elements in lead-intoxicated mice / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of L-methionine (L-Met) on the content of Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe in liver, brain, spleen and kidney of lead intoxicated mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Distilled water was given to 10 mice (normal control group) and lead acetate solution of 400 micro g/ml Pb(2+) to 20 mice to serve as drinking water for 10 days. The lead administration was then withdrawn and lead exposed mice were randomly divided into two groups: the lead control group took distilled water as drinking water for 4 weeks to serve as positive control, the other one took L-Met solution (0.5 mg/ml) as drinking water for 4 weeks (Pb + L-Met group) to serve as the treatment group. All the animals were sacrificed on the 1st day after 4 weeks, and the contents of Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb in liver, brain, spleen and kidney were measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) Emission Spectrometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Lead contents in liver, brain, spleen and kidney of Pb control group [(1.490 +/- 1.654) micro g/g, (3.470 +/- 2.757) micro g/g, (4.975 +/- 2.993) micro g/g, (0.066 +/- 0.001) micro g/g respectively], were higher than those in normal control group [(0.015 +/- 0.001) micro g/g, (0.009 +/- 0.007) micro g/g, (0.027 +/- 0.002) micro g/g, (0.006 +/- 0.015) micro g/g, P < 0.05] while Zn contents in liver, brain, spleen and Fe and Mn content in liver, brain, spleen and kidney in Pb control group were lower than those in normal control group (P < 0.05). Pb contents of brain, spleen and Cu content of kidney in Pb + L-Met group were higher than those in normal control group (P < 0.05). Zn contents of liver, brain, spleen, Fe contents of liver, brain, spleen, kidney, and Mn contents of brain, spleen in Pb + L-Met group were lower than those in normal control group (P < 0.05). Fe contents of liver, brain, Zn content of spleen, Cu content of kidney and Mn contents of liver, brain, spleen in the Pb + L-Met group were higher than those in the Pb control group (P < 0.05). The lead levels of four organs in the Pb + L-Met group were lower than those in the Pb control group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Lead could be eliminated by L-Met, which may affect the distribution and metabolism of trace elements in mice.</p>

The improvement of taurine in learning and memory ability of rats exposed to lead / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the improvement of taurine (Tau) in learning and memory ability of rats exposed to lead.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group: treated with distilled water; lead group: treated with lead acetate (40 mg.kg(-1).d(-1)); lead-taurine group 1, 2, 3: lead acetate (40 mg.kg(-1).d(-1)) + different concentrations of taurine (100, 400, 800 mg.kg(-1).d(-1)). The ability of learning and memory of rats were measured weekly by spatial water maze test from the 5th to 8th week. At the end of the experiment, the rats were killed, the samples of blood and brain were taken for test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The time of seeking anchorage of lead-Tau 800 mg group in the 6th, 7th, 8th week and that of lead-Tau 400 mg group in the 6th week were significantly lower than that of lead group (P<0.05). (2) Blood lead contents in lead-Tau 100 mg and lead-Tau 400 mg group [(510.9 +/- 57.56) microg/L, (485.40 +/- 98.85) microg/L] were different from those in lead group (P<0.05). (3) The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in brain of lead-Tau 800 mg group and lead-Tau 400 mg group were also different from those in lead group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The content of GSH and the activity of GSH-Px in lead-Tau 800 mg group were different from those in lead group (P<0.05) as well.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Taurine could improve learning and memory ability of rats exposed to lead and may play a protective role in brain.</p>