Chemopreventive activity of bioactive fungal fractions isolated from milk-supplemented cultures of Cerrena unicolor and Pycnoporus sanguineus on colon cancer cells.

The biochemical properties and anti-tumorigenic activity of Cerrena unicolor (CU) and Pycnoporus sanguineus (PS) towards colon cancer cells and the effect of supplementation of the fungal culture medium with cow milk on these activities were examined. CU1-II and PS4-II exhibited anticancer properties through various mechanisms. The extracts at the 200 µg/mL concentration significantly decreased the viability of HT-29 and SW948 cells. They also exhibited pro-apoptotic properties towards the cancer cell lines (HT-29, LS 180, and SW948). Furthermore, culturing the studied fungi on milk-supplemented media may improve the pro-health properties of both milk and mushrooms. The extracts had a higher concentration of proteins, lower levels of free amino acids, and higher content of phenolic compounds than milk. They also exerted a free radical scavenging effect, which may be connected with the high activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase. The tested extracts exhibited anticancer activity: C. unicolor grown on the medium without milk and P. sanguineus grown on the medium with milk. The CU1-II and PS4-II extracts exhibited the strongest anticancer properties; however, PS4-II exerted a milder effect on normal CCD 841 CoTr cells than CU1-II. CU3-II exerted the mildest effect among all extracts on both normal and cancer cells.

Spectroscopic characterization of natural corals.

The FTIR, micro-Raman, NMR, and XPS spectra of 25 different natural corals have been compared. Reflectance and transmission absorbance IR and Raman data have been used as rapid and efficient means of classification of natural corals containing aragonite (non-precious white species), calcite (red, pink, precious white species), and organic material (black protein polymer). The combination of reflectance IR and infrared microscopy could serve as a rapid, non-destructive method for distinguishing natural corals from artificial, fake jewels.

Application of reflectance micro-infrared spectroscopy in coal structure studies.

Fourier transform infrared micro-scale analysis of organic matter has been applied to characterise individual petrographic components of coal. The use of an infrared microscope made it possible to study and compare different parts of a single individual grain of vitrinite. This method enables analysis of particular macerals without the need for previous separation from coals. For this purpose the polished grainy micro-sections of coal have been prepared. The results obtained indicated the progression of aromatisation in the vitrinite structure with an increase of coalification degree of the parent coals.

Fungal laccase: properties and activity on lignin.

The sources of ligninocellulose that occur in various forms in nature are so vast that they can only be compared to those of water. The results of several, more recent experiments showed that laccase probably possesses the big ability for "lignin-barrier" breakdown of ligninocellulose. The degradation of this compound is currently understood as an enzymatic process mediated by small molecules, therefore, this review will focus on the role of these mediators and radicals working in concert with enzymes. The fungi having a versatile machinery of enzymes are able to attack directly the "lignin-barrier" or can use a multienzyme system including "feed-back" type enzymes allowing for simultaneous transformation of lignin and carbohydrate compounds.

The use of synchronous luminescence spectroscopy in qualitative analysis of aromatic fraction of hard coal thermolysis products.

The synchronous luminescence method was used in qualitative analysis of aromatic fraction of low-temperature tar from hard coal. The spectra obtained by this method are simpler than spectra obtained with the use of conventional emission luminescence method. The synchronous luminescence analysis requires the selection of respective Deltalambda parameter values. This parameter is a constant difference between position of excitation and emission monochromators during measurement. From literature, the Deltalambda parameter value of 23 nm was first used here. The characteristic emission ranges of spectra obtained indicated (by comparison with spectra of standards) degree of condensation of aromatic compounds present in investigated mixtures. It was also possible to identify some individual compounds. However, this identification could be more effective with the use of the respective value of Deltalambda parameter for each particular component of the mixture. This manner of analysis was used here, e.g. for investigating aromatic fraction containing phenanthrene (identified previously by gas chromatography method) among other compounds. The spectrum recorded at Deltalambda value characteristic for phenanthrene (53nm) presents a rather simple shape with a maximum at 346 nm attributed to phenanthrene after standard and literature data.

Biodegradation of lignin by white rot fungi.

A review is presented related to the biochemistry of lignocellulose transformation. The biodegradation of wood constituents is currently understood as a multienzymatic process with the mediation of small molecules; therefore, this review will focus on the roles of these small molecular compounds and radicals working in concert with enzymes. Wood rotting basidiomycetous fungi penetrate wood and lead to more easily metabolized, carbohydrate constituents of the complex. Having a versatile machinery of enzymes, the white rot fungi are able to attack directly the "lignin barrier." They also use a multienzyme system including so-called "feed back" type enzymes, allowing for simultaneous transformation of both lignin and cellulose. These enzymes may function separately or cooperatively.

Effect of toluidines and dinitrotoluenes on caffeine metabolic ratio in rat.

Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine, CA) is metabolised by N-demethylation to three primary metabolites: theophylline (TP), paraxanthine (PX) and theobromine (TB). This process is mediated in 95% by CYP1A2. Thus the measurement of CA demethylated metabolites can be used as a marker of CYP1A2 activity in vivo. In the present study, caffeine and its primary metabolites were determined simultaneously in plasma of rats pretreated with three isomers of toluidine at doses: 1, 10, 60 mg/kg b.w., p.o. and four isomers of dinitrotoluene (DNT) at doses: 100 and 200 mg/kg b.w., p.o. Caffeine metabolite ratios in plasma: TB/CA, PX/CA, TP/CA, TB + PX + TP/CA were calculated and compared to those of control rats. Administration of toluidines resulted in a 2-20 fold increase of the concentration ratios of metabolites to caffeine. All toluidines seem to be inducers of CYP1A2. To the best of our knowledge this is the first information concerning the effect of toluidines on caffeine metabolism. Two out of the four tested dinitrotoluenes slightly affected CYP1A2 activity; 2,3- and 3,4-DNT increased estimated parameters 2-6 fold. Two others, 2,4- and 2,6-DNT can be considered as moderate hepatotoxic agents decreasing CA metabolic ratios to 4-70% of the control values.