Bioactivity of natural O-prenylated phenylpropenes from Illicium anisatum leaves and their derivatives against spider mites and fungal pathogens.

A variety of volatile phenylpropenes, C6-C3 compounds are widely distributed in the plant kingdom, whereas prenylated phenylpropenes are limited to a few plant species. In this study, we analysed the volatile profiles from Illicium anisatum leaves and identified two O-prenylated phenylpropenes, 4-allyl-2-methoxy-1-[(3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl)oxy]benzene [O-dimethylallyleugenol (9)] and 5-allyl-1,3-dimethoxy-2-(3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl)oxy]benzene [O-dimethylallyl-6-methoxyeugenol (11)] as major constituents. The structure-activity relationship of a series of eugenol derivatives showed that specific phenylpropenes, including eugenol (1), isoeugenol (2) and 6-methoxyeugenol (6), with a phenolic hydroxy group had antifungal activity for a fungal pathogen, whereas guaiacol, a simple phenolic compound, and allylbenzene had no such activity. The eugenol derivatives that exhibited antifungal activity, in turn, had no significant toxicant property for mite oviposition. Interestingly, O-dimethylallyleugenol (9) in which the phenolic oxygen was masked with a dimethylallyl group exhibited a specific, potent oviposition deterrent activity for mites. The sharp contrast in structural requirements of phenylpropenes suggested distinct mechanisms underlying the two biological activities and the importance of a phenolic hydroxy group and its dimethylallylation for the structure-based design of new functional properties of phenylpropenes.

Pattern of N gene-mediated systemic hypersensitive response and turnover of viral replicase protein in tobacco.

We examined the pattern of the N gene-mediated systemic hypersensitive response (HR), which was induced by tobacco mosaic virus upon temperature shift, and analyzed the distribution of the coat protein and the virus-encoded 126 kDa replicase protein (126 K protein) by immunoblot analysis. In the middle- and lower-positioned leaves, HR occurred in the advancing edge of the infected area, where we detected both the coat protein and the 126 K protein. In the areas between the main vein and the advancing edge of these leaves, we observed no HR and did not detect 126 K protein, though virus was present in these areas. In the upper-positioned mosaic leaves, patterns of the HR were different depending on the leaf age. In these mosaic leaves, the mechanism preventing the virus from invading dark green tissue seemed to be broken down in 8-14 days old leaves, and HR was observed only in the tissue just invaded by the virus, where we detected the 126 K protein. Those results suggested that the viral 126 K protein was present when the viral replication was taking place, and easily degraded when the amount of the virus was saturated in the cells.

Biological Control of Cyclamen Soilborne Diseases by Serratia marcescens Strain B2.

Cyclamen plants were treated with a highly chitinolytic bacterium, Serratia marcescens strain B2, and then challenge inoculated with Rhizoctonia solani sclerotia or Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cyclaminis conidia. The bacterium suppressed these fungal diseases of cyclamen plants, especially the damping off caused by R. solani, in a greenhouse. Strain B2 survived at approximately 106 to 107 CFU/g in soil for 4 months after the initial application under greenhouse conditions. Chitinolytic enzymes and antifungal low-molecular-weight compounds were present in filtrates of S. marcescens B2, which suppressed germination of R. solani sclerotia in vitro.

Eosinophilic fasciitis complicated with peripheral polyneuropathy.

Peripheral polyneuropathy and the complication of eosinophilic fasciitis (EF) is rare; only 2 such cases have been described previously. A 40-year-old woman suffered from swelling of the extremities after strenuous exercise and complained of bilateral paresthesia on the soles of her feet. The diagnosis was EF according to clinical symptoms, peripheral eosinophilia, and histological examination of the fascia. Nerve conduction tests also revealed sensory disturbance as mononeuritis multiplex. After administration of prednisolone, the swelling and tenderness of the extremities improved immediately but the neuropathy lasted for 6 months.

Effect of captopril on plasma prostacyclin concentration in essential hypertensive patients.

To determine the influence of captopril on prostaglandins, the levels of plasma 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and thromboxane B2, the stable products of prostacyclin and thromboxane A2, respectively, were measured in 9 essential hypertensive subjects by radioimmunoassay before, 1 hour after a single oral 25 mg dose of captopril, and 2 weeks after administration of oral 25 mg captopril twice daily. A significant increase in plasma 6-keto-PGF1 alpha levels occurred after 2 weeks (p less than 0.05), but after 1 hour the increment was not significant. Plasma thromboxane B2 remained unchanged. Mean blood pressure fell significantly (p less than 0.02 after 1 hour, p less than 0.005 after 2 weeks) and plasma renin activity increased significantly after both periods (p less than 0.01 after 1 hour, p less than 0.02 after 2 weeks). There was no significant correlation between changes in blood pressure and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha for either time period. These results suggest that the elevation of plasma 6-keto-PGF1 alpha by captopril therapy was not responsible for reducing blood pressure, while enhanced plasma prostacyclin as a chronic response may contribute to prevention of thrombotic disorders and organ damage.

A case of short bowel syndrome in which remarkable amelioration of mental deterioration was achieved by administration of trace elements.

A patient with short bowel syndrome manifesting psychiatric deterioration was demonstrated. Four years after extensive small bowel resection the patient developed various psychological manifestations. Laboratory data did not indicate the specific causes but showed extensive hyponutritional state. After 2 weeks therapy by total parenteral nutrition (TPN), laboratory data returned to normal, but her psychiatric condition remained almost unchanged. When trace elements (copper, cobalt, manganese and zinc) were added to TPN, her psychiatric impairment rapidly improved. Although the mechanism involved in this situation may be multifactorial, the trace elements were primarily responsible for recovering from abnormal psychiatric condition.

Suppressive effect of captopril on platelet aggregation in essential hypertension.

Effects of captopril on platelet aggregation were studied in 12 essential hypertensive subjects. At the same time, the effects of captopril and angiotensin II on platelet aggregation in vitro were examined in 20 volunteers. A 50-mg oral dose of captopril was administered daily to hypertensive subjects for 2 weeks; the dose was then increased to 100 mg daily for the next 2 weeks. Values of platelet aggregation induced by ADP, epinephrine, collagen, and arachidonic acid before captopril treatment were 71.9 +/- 4.5, 77.3 +/- 4.2, 72.4 +/- 4.1, and 70.8 +/- 4.3% (mean +/- SE), respectively. Two weeks after daily administration of 50 mg captopril, these values were 56.7 +/- 4.5, 50.8 +/- 7.6, 64.0 +/- 4.6, and 60.9 +/- 3.9%, respectively, with significant reduction of platelet aggregation (p less than 0.001, p less than 0.01, p less than 0.01, and p less than 0.005, respectively). Daily administration of 100 mg captopril also had a significant suppressive effect on platelet aggregation. Changes of platelet count and serum lipids were not significant. In vitro, captopril and angiotensin II added to platelet-rich plasma had no effect on platelet aggregation. These results show that the suppressive effect of captopril on platelet aggregation is a secondary action in vivo.

Haemodynamic and hormonal effects of prazosin on head-up tilt in essential hypertensive patients: comparison with those of propranolol.

To evaluate the haemodynamic and hormonal effects of prazosin, head-up tilt was performed in 10 essential hypertensive patients, and these effects of prazosin on the tilt were compared with those of propranolol. The tilts were performed in control phase and the last days of treatment for two weeks with propranolol (90 mg/day) or prazosin (3-6 mg/day). Each drug significantly lowered the mean blood pressure at rest, and also suppressed its rise on the tilt. Heart rates were significantly increased by the tilt in the control phase, in the propranolol phase and in the prazosin phase. Cardiac index was significantly reduced by the tilt from 2.66 (s.e.m. = 0.22) 1/min per m2 to 2.08 (s.e.m. = 0.20) in the propranolol phase. However, there were not significant changes in other phases. Total peripheral resistance indices were significantly increased by the tilt in all three phases. Plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone were significantly increased by the tilt from 2.14 (s.e.m. = 0.47) ng/ml per h to 2.46 (s.e.m. = 0.54) and from 50.6 (s.e.m. = 12.9) pg/ml to 74.9 (s.e.m. = 14.9) respectively, in the control phase. And they were also significantly increased from 1.06 (s.e.m. = 0.29) to 1.65 (s.e.m. = 0.45) and from 41.4 (s.e.m. = 16.3) to 54.0 (s.e.m. = 17.4) in the prazosin phase. There were no significant increases during the administration of propranolol. We observed that prazosin did not alter heart rate and cardiac index, but suppressed the renin-angiotensin system at rest. It is suggested that prazosin did not influence haemodynamic and hormonal responses to the tilt.