Antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic effect of methanol extracts of Petasites japonicus Maxim leaves

The methanol extract from the leaves of Petasites japonicus Maxim (PJ) was studied for its (anti-)mutagenic effect with the SOS chromotest and reverse mutation assay. The (anti-)carcinogenic effects were evaluated by the cytotoxicity on human cancer line cells and by the function and the expression of gap junctions in rat liver epithelial cell. PJ extracts significantly decreased spontaneous beta-galactosidase activity and beta-galactosidase activity induced by a mutagen, ICR, in Salmonella (S.) typhimurium TA 1535/pSK 1002. All doses of the extract (0.08-100 mg/plate) decreased the reversion frequency induced by benzo (alpha)pyrene (BaP) in S. typhimurium TA 98. It decreased not only the spontaneous reversion frequency but also that induced by BaP in S. typhimurium TA 100. PJ extract showed greater cytotoxic effects on human stomach, colon and uterus cancer cells than on other cancer cell types and normal rat liver epithelial cells. Dye transfers though gap junctions were significantly increased by PJ extracts at concentrations greater than 200 microg/mL and the inhibition of dye transfer by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorobol-13-acetate (TPA) was obstructed in all concentrations of PJ. PJ significantly increased the numbers of gap junction protein connexin 43, and increased the protein expression decreased by TPA in a dose-dependent manner. Based on these findings, PJ is suggested to contain antimutagenic and anticarcionogenic compounds.

Spectrophotometric determination of Cu2+ and Pd2+ ions using some acetyl formazans

The formazan compounds have received great attention due to their biological activity and dyeing properties for a variety of fabrics [1,2] Due to their skeleton as good carriers of pi-bonding and chelating properties, they have been used as analytical reagents [3]Malevannyi and Shikhova [4] reported a Spectrophotometric method for the determination of Mn[2+] using 1,5-bis [2-hydroxy-5-sulfophenyl]-3-acetylformazan. Bigma et al. [5] developed a Spectrophotometric procedure for the microdetennination of Cu in Mg metal and some of its Mg alloys using 1,5-di [2-hydroxy-4-nitrophenyl]- 3- acetyl-formazan. Christian [6] reported a method for the determination of lithium using TMC-Crown formazan. Novel pyridyl formazan derivatives were synthesized and the characteristic analytical properties of their complex compounds with various transition metal ions were investigated [7]. The present investigation deals with the use of l,5-diphenyl-3- acetylformazan [I] and l,5-bis[o-carboxyphenyl] -3- acetylformazan [II] for the Spectrophotometric determination of Cu and Pd