Changes of pigment components in Dendrobium catenatum flower under different storage conditions / 中国中药杂志

The flower color of Dendrobium catenatum(D. officinale) tends to fade during storage. In order to clarify the influence of storage conditions on the pigment components in flowers, two conditions were applied:temperature and illumination. The contents of pigments in the D. catenatum flower were determined by UV-Vis spectrophotometry and HPLC, and the changes of them during storage were analyzed. The results showed that illumination and temperature had an effect on the pigments of D. catenatum flower during sto-rage. Illumination significantly promoted the degradation of pigments. The contents of total chlorophyll, carotenoids and anthocyanins in the light samples were significantly lower than those in the dark. The total chlorophyll, carotenoids and anthocyanins in the light samples were decreased by 46.5%, 63.4%, and 69.2% respectively. Illumination had a greater effect on fat-soluble pigments than water-soluble pigments. Among the three temperature treatments, the contents of chlorophyll, carotenoid and anthocyanin were as follows:-20 ℃>4 ℃>room temperature, it is indicated that-20 ℃ was the best temperature to maintain the stability of pigment composition. The contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, β-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin in the light samples decreased by 34.8%, 69.0%, 72.5%, 61.6%, 36.1%, respectively. After storage for 5 months, the contents of chlorophyll, carotenoid and anthocyanin constituent at-20 ℃ was significantly higher than those at 4 ℃ and room temperature. The results show that light avoiding and low-temperature can effectively slow down the degradation of pigment components. Therefore, it is suggested that D. catenatum flower should be stored in light avoiding and low-temperature conditions in actual production and processing, which can prolong the usable time.

A new species of Panaqolus (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the rio Madeira basin with remarkable intraspecific color variation

The rio Madeira is the largest white-water tributary of the Amazon, and is currently the river drainage with the highest fish species diversity in the world. A new species of Panaqolus was recognized from the middle Madeira and Mamoré rivers (Brazil) and from the Madre de Dios drainage (Peru) and it is described herein. This new species is readily distinguished from its congeners by the large number of white dots distributed all over the body and by its remarkable amplitude of color pattern variation, ranging from a pale, light brown, to dark brown and almost black background coloration. The new species closely resembles P. albomaculatus but has more and smaller dots on the body, a smaller orbital diameter (12.5-16.8% head length vs. 16.0-20.0%) and longer maxillary barbels (9.7-19.6% head length vs. 1.6-8.9%). The new species is the second of the genus Panaqolus described for a Brazilian location after nearly 80 years of the description of P. purusiensis.

O rio Madeira é o maior afluente de água branca do rio Amazonas e é atualmente o rio com o maior número de espécies do mundo. Uma nova espécie de Panaqolusfoi reconhecida do médio rio Madeira, do rio Mamoré (ambos no Brasil) e da bacia do Río Madre de Dios (Peru) e é descrita aqui. Esta nova espécie se distingue de suas congêneres pela grande quantidade de pontos brancos espalhados pelo corpo e grande variabilidade na sua coloração, variando de um fundo branco a marrom claro até marrom escuro e quase preto. A espécie se assemelha a P. albomaculatus da qual se distingue por ter mais manchas de menor tamanho no corpo, olhos menores (12,5-16,8% do comprimento da cabeça vs. 16,0-20,0%) e barbilhões maxilares mais compridos (9,7-19,6% comprimento da cabeça vs. 1,6-8,9%). A nova espécie é a segunda de Panaqolus descrita para uma localidade no Brasil, aproximadamente 80 anos após a descrição de P. purusiensis.

Composition, anti-quorum sensing and antimicrobial activity of essential oils from Lippia alba

Many Gram-negative pathogens have the ability to produce N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs) as signal molecules for quorum sensing (QS). This cell-cell communication system allows them to coordinate gene expression and regulate virulence. Strategies to inhibit QS are promising for the control of infectious diseases or antibiotic resistant bacterial pathogens. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anti-quorum sensing (anti-QS) and antibacterial potential of five essential oils isolated from Lippia alba on the Tn-5 mutant of Chromobacterium violaceum CV026, and on the growth of the gram-positive bacteria S. aureus ATCC 25923. The anti-QS activity was detected through the inhibition of the QS-controlled violacein pigment production by the sensor bacteria. Results showed that two essential oils from L. alba, one containing the greatest geranial:neral and the other the highest limonene:carvone concentrations, were the most effective QS inhibitors. Both oils also had small effects on cell growth. Moreover, the geranial/neral chemotype oil also produced the maximum zone of growth inhibition against S. aureus ATCC 25923. These data suggest essential oils from L. alba have promising properties as QS modulators, and present antibacterial activity on S. aureus.

A case of extensive chromoblastomycosis from North India

A case of extensive chromoblastomycosis of the right leg and thigh with verruciform to nodular lesions evolving rapidly over five years duration is reported. The diagnosis was confirmed by visualizing pathognomonic pigmented muriform bodies with unique septate hyphae and mycological culture yielding Fonsecaea pedrosoi.

Ethylene synthesis inhibition effects on oxidative stress and in vitro conservation of Lippia filifolia (Verbenaceae) / Efeitos da Inibição da síntese do etileno no estresse oxidativo e na conservação in vitro de Lippia filifolia (Verbenaceae)

This study aimed to investigate the effects of ethylene biosynthesis inhibitors on oxidative metabolisms and the in vitro conservation of Lippia filifolia, using the lipid peroxidation index (TBARS), antioxidative enzymes and pigments as biomarkers. We found that EDTA, sodium thiosulfate (STS) and especially Co had protective effects on oxidative stress in tissues cultured in vitro, resulting in a delay of the senescence and the reduction of subcultures frequency, con-tributing to the germplasm conservation of this species.

O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar os efeitos de inibidores da biossíntese do etileno no metabolismo oxidativo e na conservação in vitro de Lippia filifolia. Para isso, foram avaliados o índice de peroxidação lipídica (TBARS), a atividade de enzimas antioxidativas e o conteúdo de pigmentos fotossintéticos e de antocianinas. Os resultados evidenciaram que o EDTA, o tiossulfato de sódio (STS) e, especialmente, o Co apresentaram ação protetora sobre o estresse oxidativo nos tecidos, o que resultou em atraso no início da senescência das culturas e na redução da frequência dos subcultivos, contribuindo para a conservação do germoplasma dessa espécie.

Physiological behavior of bean (phaseolus vulgaris l.) Seedlings under metal stress

The effects of nickel, cobalt, chromium and zinc on the content of vitamins A, E and C, malondialdehyde (MDA), chlorophyll and carotenoids were investigated in bean seedlings (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) grown in Hoagland solution Control and heavy metal-treated plants were grown for ten days in Hoagland solution. Vitamin A, E, and C content were measured in primary leaves by high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC). MDA, chlorophyll and carotenoids were measured in leaves by spectrophotometer. In heavy metal treated plants, the levels of MDA, vitamins A, E and C and carotenoids significantly increased, while chlorophyll content decreased in leaves of seedlings. The results indicate that heavy metals caused an oxidative stress in bean plants. The strongest effect on vitamins A, E and C, MDA, chlorophyll and carotenoids was found in plants exposed to nickel, followed by the sequence cobalt > chromium> zinc.

Heavy metal tolerance (Cr, Ag and Hg) in bacteria isolated from sewage

Samples of sewage from a university hospital and a chemistry technical school were analysed for the percentage of bacterial tolerance to chromium (Cr), silver (Ag) and mercury (Hg). Additionally, we investigated the effect of these metals on pigmentation and on some enzymatic activities of the metal tolerant strains isolated, as well as antimicrobial resistance in some metal tolerant Enterobacteriaceae strains. Tolerance to Cr was observed mainly in Gram positive bacteria while in the case of Ag and Hg the tolerant bacteria were predominately Gram negative. Hg was the metal for which the percentage of tolerance was significantly higher, especially in samples from the hospital sewage (4.1%). Mercury also had the most discernible effect on color of the colonies. Considering the effect of metals on the respiratory enzymes, one strain of Ag-tolerantBacillus sp. and one of Hg-tolerant P. aeruginosa were unable to produce oxidase in the presence of Ag and Hg, respectively, while the expression of gelatinase was largely inhibited in various Gram negative strains (66% by Cr). Drug resistance in Hg-tolerant Enterobacteriaceae strains isolated from the university hospital sewage was greater than 80%, with prevalence of multiple resistance, while the Ag-tolerant strains from the same source showed about 34% of resistance, with the predominance of mono-resistance. Our results showed that, despite the ability of metal tolerant strains to survive and grow in the presence of these elements, the interactions with these metals may result in metabolic or phisiological changes in this group of bacteria.

Salinity effects on protein content, lipid peroxidation, pigments, and proline in Paulownia imperialis (Siebold & Zuccarini) and Paulownia fortunei (Seemann & Hemsley) grown in vitro

We evaluated the effects of saline stress on soluble proteins, lipid peroxidation (TBAR), chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, beta-carotene, violaxanthin, and proline in Paulownia imperialis and Paulownia fortunei plants grown in vitro. When the propagated plants reached a determined size, they were transferred aseptically to WPM culture medium containing different sodium chloride concentrations (0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 160 mM) and were sampled at 15 and 30 days. Proline content was determined at 30 days after transfer only. Protein concentration significantly decreased with the highest salt levels in P. imperialis compared to controls in which no sodium chloride was added. In both P. imperialis and P. fortunei, lipid peroxidation significantly increased at 15 days but decreased at 30 days. Chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, beta-carotene, and violaxanthin significantly decreased with exposure to higher sodium chloride concentrations at 15 and 30 days in both species. Proline content in P. imperialis significantly increased in plants grown in 20 and 40 mM of sodium chloride and decreased in higher sodium chloride concentrations. In P. fortunei, this measure significantly decreased proline content at all salt concentrations in plants exposed to all levels of sodium chloride compared to controls. Our results show that P. imperialis is more tolerant to salt stress at the salinity conditions tested.

Growth, delayed fluorescence and pigment composition of four Prorocentrum minimum strains growing at two salinities

Prorocentrum minimum is a potentially harmful and widely distributed marine dinoflagellate. Several P. minimum strains have already been studied, showing phylogenetical relations of strains isolated from the same geographical regions. Similarity among the strains was further examined on the basis of their physiology. Pigment composition and concentration, as well as delayed fluorescence (DF) decay kinetics and intensity, were measured in four P. minimum strains isolated from the Baltic and Adriatic Seas. The strains were grown at two salinities characteristic of the Baltic (8 PSU) and North Adriatic Seas (32 PSU). Strain differences in DF decay kinetics and growth did not always follow their genetic relations. While two strains showed similarities to the previously described strains from the Baltic and Adriatic Seas in DF parameters, the other two strains seemed to be specific. The differences among strains isolated from the same sea could stem from adaptations to conditions in the specific habitats. Cluster analysis based on the ratio of individual carotenoid pigments concentrations to the chlorophyll a concentration or to total carotenoids were not conclusive in showing relations among the strains. Among the measured pigments, only peridinin concentration depended on salinity in all st.

Regional differences in constituents of gall stones.

The pathogenesis of pigment and mixed gall stone formation remains elusive. The elemental constituents of gall stones from southern states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka have been characterized. Our aim was to determine the elemental concentration of representative samples of pigment, mixed and cholesterol gall stones from Andhra Pradesh using proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) using a 3 MV horizontal pelletron accelerator. Pigment gall stones had significantly high concentrations of copper, iron and lead; chromium was absent. Except for iron all these elements were significantly low in cholesterol gall stones and intermediate levels were seen in mixed gall stones. Highest concentrations of chromium was seen in cholesterol and titanium in mixed gall stones respectively; latter similar to other southern states. Arsenic was distinctly absent in cholesterol and mixed gall stones. The study has identified differences in elemental components of the gall stones from Andhra Pradesh.

Desenvolvimento de uma escala cromática de tons de pele para confecçäo de próteses faciais em resina acrílica termopolimerizável / Development of a cromatic skin tone guide used for construction of heat cured acrylic resin facial prostheses

O objetivo deste trabalho foi criar uma escala de tonalidades de pele em resina acrílica termopolimerizável. Foram confeccionados cinqüenta corpos-de-prova medindo 3 mm de espessura por 20 mm de diâmetro. Foi mantida a mesma proporçäo de pó e líquido para todos os corpos-de-prova, entretanto, sua composiçäo de cor era variável. Eles foram separados em cinco grupos de dez; dentro de cada grupo um pigmento sempre se repetia, variando-se apenas sua quantidade ou sua associaçäo a outros pigmentos. Os corpos-de-prova tiveram suas arestas arredondadas, mas näo foram polidos, seguindo o mesmo esquema de confecçäo de uma prótese facial. O resultado obtido permite-nos concluir que é possível criar uma escala de tonalidades de pele em resina acrílica termopolimerizável com os materiais disponíveis no comércio, facilitando, dessa maneira, a confecçäo de próteses faciais corretamente coloridas e evitando o desperdício de material

Melanins and lens pigments: a comparative study

Based on previous findings that lens pigments and melanins share many physicochemical properties, human lens pigments and natural (hair) and synthetic melanins were submitted to oxidation with permanganate under strong acidic conditions. This procedure has been utilized for the characterization of melanins and results in the well defined products, thiazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid (TDCA) and pyrrole-2,3,5-tricarboxylic acid (PTCA), which can be quantitated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). PTCA is regarded as a marker of black eumelanins and was therefore a main component of synthetic DOPA-eumelanin and dark hair. Its identity was established by synthesis from 5-hydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid. TDCA derives from pheomelanins and was therefore an important component of red hair and synthetic GSH-pheomelanin. TDCA was identified by its retention time relative to PTCA. The analysis of a series of cataract digests of increasing pigmentation (type I < type IV < type V) and a purified fraction of lens pigments (DE52 pigment) revealed the presence in these preparations of both PTCA and TDCA. The concentration of TDCA significantly increased with the degree of pigmentation of the digests and reached a maximum in the DE52 pigment. The TDCA/PTCA ratio was high in the lens preparations and comparable to that given by hair pheomelanin. These findings support that pheomelanin is an integral part of lens pigments. By comparing the yields of TDCA in GSH-pheomelanin and in the purified lens pigment, a 9 per cent contribution of pheomelanin to the lens pigment was estimated

Hypopigmented macules in leprosy--a histopathological and histochemical study of melanocytes.

Study of the number of melanocytes and amount of pigmentation in hypopigmented lesions and adjacent normal areas in 20 leprosy patients showed no differences in these parameters. It appears that hypopigmentation in leprosy lesions could be caused by defective transfer of melanin into keratinocytes.

absorption maxima of pigments in stringency chlorella the stringent response induced by urea

Synchronized cultures of Chlorella vulgaris were grown, as control, in optimum environmental conditions. The stringency cultures were induced by both darkness and urea as a nitrogen source in which chlorophyll synthesis is reduced significantly. Cells grown in accumulated protochlorophyll [ide] in different forms. The pigments were analyzed spectrophotometrically where absorption spectra indicated the presence of more protochlorophyll [ide] 628-632 nm than protochlorophyll [ide] 650-657 nm. The level of protochlorophyll [ide] was higher in cultures grown in darknes than supplied with urea. Upon light restoration only the protochlorophyll [ide] 650-657 nm was transformed to chlorophyllide. After this phototransformation the chlorophyllide peak at 648nm. shifted to 671 nm. Addition of nitrate to the urea containing medium induced a different form of protochlorophyll [ide]s, showing an increased steady state rate of chlorophyll accumulation. The results indicated that the chlorophyllide after phototransformation was rather bound to the photoreducing enzyme, which may respond to the type of nitrogen supplied

Pigmentación ungueal en banda benigna: un caso / Bening band nail pigmentation: a case

Se presenta un caso de una mujer blanca de 37 años, portadora de una pigmentación ungueal en banda benigna - afección rara, la cual se extirpó completamente. La imagen histológica corresponde a una hiperplasia de melanocitos

Estudo histoquímico dos pigmentos do rim de Hemidactylus mabuia (Reptilia) / Histochemical study of the kidney pigments of the Hemidactylus mabuia (Reptilia)

Em 1958 conseguimos identificar a presença de pigmentos no rim de parelheira (Philodryas schottii), uma cobra de nosso país. Retomando a mesma sistemática, constatamos a presença desses mesmos pigmentos no rim de outro réptil, a lagartixa doméstica, Hemidactylus mabuia. Caracterizamos, por métodos histoquímicos, a presença de grânulos de um cromolipóide nos túbulos contorcidos proximais desse rim, grânulos de tamanho uniforme, bem distribuídos mas células, e de outro pigmento, a melanina, esta sob a forma de grânulos grosseiros, amarelos ou castanhos, distribuídos irregularmente nas células dos referidos túbulos, mas, também, em aglomerados densos, escuros até negros, dentro dos macrófagos peritubulares

Ocorrência de bacteroides produtores de pigmento negro em animais de laboratório / Occurrence of black pigmented bacteroides in laboratory animals

Estudou-se a ocorrência de bacteroides produtores de pigmento negro no sulco gengival de diversos roedores, utilizando-se 100 indivíduos adultos de cada espécie, e colhendo-se amostras com cone absorvente, sendo encontrados esses microrganismos em hamsters (16/100); cobaias (13/100); ratos brancos (6/100) e camundongos (5/100). Pela mesma técnica näo foram isolados de coelhos. A pesquisa desses microrganismos na cavidade oral dos mesmos animais, tocando-se com uma zaragatoa estéril a saliva, a língua, a mucosa e as superfícies dentárias, revelou a presença desses microrganismos nos hamsters (11/100); cobaias (7/100), ratos brancos (3/100) e camundongos (2/100); näo sendo isolados da cavidade oral dos coelhos examinados. Utilizando-se outros dez animais de cada espécie, que eram sacrificados, realizou-se estudo quantitativo (pela Técnica de Socransky 1960, modificada em diluiçöes decimais) em diferentes locais do tubo digestivo, encontrando-se a maior proporçäo desses microrganismos no cólon dos coelhos e ratos brancos; na cavidade oral dos hamsters e cobaias, e no ceco dos camundongos. Cultivando-se a raçäo dos roedores, näo se revelou a presença desses microrganismos. Os microrganismos foram isolados e cultivados em agar sangue com menadiona, a 37ºC, em atmosfera de CO2 (10 por cento) e N2 (90 por cento). Os dados obtidos indicam que a metodologia utilizada, assim como o momento e local da colheita podem interferir significativamente no isolamento desses microrganismos, devendo ser considerados na interpretaçäo dos resultados. Os resultados indicam ainda uma diversidade de comportamento desses microrganismos quanto aos sítios em que eletivamente colonizam como flora indígena, nos roedores estudados, podendo refletir diferenças significativas nas características de "habitat" propriamente dito, como também possíveis diferenças fisiológicas dos microrganismos em questäo, que constituem, como se sabe hoje, um grupo bastante heterogêneo

Aspectos ecológicos dos bacteróides produtores de pigmento negro / Ecological aspects of black pigmented bacteroides

Amostras coletadas por "wabs" de pias de enfermarias do Hospital das Clínicas e de cuspideiras de equipos da Faculdade de Odontologia da UFMG foram cultivadas em agar sangue infuso-cérebro-coraçäo, suplementado, em condiçöes de anaerobiose. Estes experimentos permitiram o isolamento de bacilos anaeróbios näo esporulantes, gram-negativos, formadores de pigmento negro. Considerando-se a ecologia das bactérias, que säo representativos habitantes de certas membranas mucosas do homem, e sua importância em algumas infecçöes anaeróbias mistas, esses achados abrem novas questöes sobre alguns conceitos bem estabelecidos. É possível que a simplificaçäo e o aprimoramento das técnicas de cultivo de anaeróbios levem a reavaliaçäo de antigos conceitos relativos a ecologia dos microrganismos na natureza, para melhor compreensäo de seu papel em condiçöes normais e na patogênese de doenças infecciosas