Nonpolar lipid composition of Chenopodium album grown in continuously cultivated and nondisturbed soils.

Chenopodium album L. plants grown in continuously cultivated and in nondisturbed soils were compared in terms of the compositions of nonpolar extracts of the corresponding aerial parts. Both light petroleum ether extracts of C. album L. were analyzed by high-performance thin-layer LC, capillary GC, and capillary GC-EI-MS. Further percolation and medium-pressure LC, along with EI-MS analysis, permitted the separation and identification of the chemical constituents. Differences were observed between mean contents of the chemical constituents of C. album L., with respect to nonpolar extracts, obtained from continuously cultivated and from nondisturbed soils, in particular in linear and branched long-chain hydrocarbons, FA and their esters, and long-chain linear alcohols and aldehydes. The most remarkable features of the disturbed soils were a pronounced increase in the amounts of linear hydrocarbons and a decrease in the relative proportions of FA.

Ayahoasca: an experimental psychosis that mirrors the transmethylation hypothesis of schizophrenia.

The experimental psychosis observed after drinking Ayahoasca, a South American hallucinogenic beverage from the Amazon Indians, reproduces the pathologic transmethylation theory of schizophrenia. This theory postulates a decrease in the monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity, which results in the accumulation of methylated indolealkylamines, such as bufotenin (5-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine), N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine. These substances are strong hallucinogens as has been previously confirmed experimentally. On the other hand, it is known that Ayahoasca is a beverage usually prepared by boiling two plants, one of them rich in beta-carbolines, which are naturally occurring strong inhibitors of MAO, and the other with high quantities of DMT. This particular combination reproduces what is supposed to occur under pathologic conditions of different psychoses. The effects of Ayahoasca were studied in subjects, assessing urine levels of DMT by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) before and after the intake of the beverage. The results of this study confirm that the hallucinogenic compounds detected in the healthy subjects' (post-Hoasca, but not before) urine samples are the same as those found in samples from acute psychotic unmedicated patients. The chemical composition of the Ayahoasca beverage, and of the plant material used for its preparation are also reported as well as psychometric and neuroendocrine subject parameters.

[Degradation of naphthalene-2-sulfonate by strains of Micromonospora]. / Degradación de ácido naftalén-2-sulfónico por cepas de Micromonospora.

It was possible to isolate several strains of Micromonospora sp. from waters of Rio Reconquista. They all were filamentous bacteria with lateral spores, highly resistant to Cr(III) and another heavy metal cations. All these strains were able to grow on naphthalene-2-sulphonate as sole carbon source in a mineral medium. The biodegradation of the xenobiotic proceeds via the formation of salicylate and gentisate. These compounds have been isolated and mass spectrometry identified.

Degradación de ácido naftalén-2-sulfónico por cepas de Micromonospora / Naphthalen-2-sulfonate degradation by Micromonospora strains

De aguas del Río Reconquista se han podido aislar cepas de Micromonospora resistentes a altos niveles de cromo y otros metales pesados, capaces de crecer sobre ácido naftalén-2-sulfónico como única fuente de carbono. Este fenotipo es muy estable, lo que hace a este microrganismo interesante desde el punto de vista de la eliminación de residuos industriales que contengan este tipo de sustancias. La biodegradación procede mediante la formación de ácido salicílico y ácido gentísico como intermediarios, metabolitos que han sido aislados mediante cromatografía gaseosa y caracterizados mediante espectroscopía de masa(AU)

Degradación de ácido naftalén-2-sulfónico por cepas de Micromonospora / Naphthalen-2-sulfonate degradation by Micromonospora strains

De aguas del Río Reconquista se han podido aislar cepas de Micromonospora resistentes a altos niveles de cromo y otros metales pesados, capaces de crecer sobre ácido naftalén-2-sulfónico como única fuente de carbono. Este fenotipo es muy estable, lo que hace a este microrganismo interesante desde el punto de vista de la eliminación de residuos industriales que contengan este tipo de sustancias. La biodegradación procede mediante la formación de ácido salicílico y ácido gentísico como intermediarios, metabolitos que han sido aislados mediante cromatografía gaseosa y caracterizados mediante espectroscopía de masa

Degradación de ácido naftalén-2-sulfónico por cepas de Micromonospora. / [Degradation of naphthalene-2-sulfonate by strains of Micromonospora]

It was possible to isolate several strains of Micromonospora sp. from waters of Rio Reconquista. They all were filamentous bacteria with lateral spores, highly resistant to Cr(III) and another heavy metal cations. All these strains were able to grow on naphthalene-2-sulphonate as sole carbon source in a mineral medium. The biodegradation of the xenobiotic proceeds via the formation of salicylate and gentisate. These compounds have been isolated and mass spectrometry identified.

Highly sensitive method for the determination of melatonin by normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorometric detection.

In the present study a new chromatographic method was developed to quantify melatonin in rat pineal that can be extended to other tissues. Melatonin was extracted from an acid homogenate with ethyl acetate to avoid amine interference. HPLC was performed with silica normal-phase column and fluorescence detection. This method is sensitive enough for detecting melatonin in a single pineal gland with a detection limit of 3 pg/mg tissue.

Biodegradación de una mezcla comercial de bifenilos policlorados / Biodegradation of a commercial mixture of polychlorinated byphenyls

De suelos contaminados con bifenilos policlorados (PCBs) se ha aislado una cepa de Klebsiella oxytoca que crece en un medio mineral con una mezcla comercial de PCBs como única fuente de carbono. La mezcla utilizada contiene una variedad de congéneres de bifenilos bi-, tri-, y tetraclorados, siendo los triclorados los constituyentes mayoritarios. La cepa aislada puede crecer también con 6-cloroquinolina, y menos eficientemente, con clorobenceno. En ensayos de consumo en frasco, el microorganismo degrada los PCBs casi completamente en tres días. En estas condiciones se forman compuestos acídicos y/o fenólicos que son degradados en siete días de incubación (AU)

Biodegradación de una mezcla comercial de bifenilos policlorados / Biodegradation of a commercial mixture of polychlorinated byphenyls

De suelos contaminados con bifenilos policlorados (PCBs) se ha aislado una cepa de Klebsiella oxytoca que crece en un medio mineral con una mezcla comercial de PCBs como única fuente de carbono. La mezcla utilizada contiene una variedad de congéneres de bifenilos bi-, tri-, y tetraclorados, siendo los triclorados los constituyentes mayoritarios. La cepa aislada puede crecer también con 6-cloroquinolina, y menos eficientemente, con clorobenceno. En ensayos de consumo en frasco, el microorganismo degrada los PCBs casi completamente en tres días. En estas condiciones se forman compuestos acídicos y/o fenólicos que son degradados en siete días de incubación

[Biodegradation of a commercial mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls]. / Biodegradación de una mezcla comercial de bifenilos policlorados.

A bacterial strain capable of growing on a commercial mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was isolated from PCBs-contaminated soil. The isolate was identified as a Klebsiella oxytoca strain, able to grow on 6-chloroquinoline and chlorobenzene. The above mentioned PCBs mixture contains several congeners of bi-, tri- and tetra-chloro biphenyls. Xenobiotic consumption could be measured by an assay in glass-stoppered flask. After three days PCBs were almost completely degraded with the production of phenolic and/or acidic products, that were consumed after seven days.

Alkaloids of Datura ferox from Argentina.

Chromatographic procedures (HPLC, GC-MS) are outlined in this paper for the analysis of alkaloids in poisonous Datura ferox seeds of Argentina, from which previously only quantitative analysis for scopolamine was known. Five additional tropane alkaloids are now identified as 3 alpha-tigloyloxytropane (tigloyltropeine), 3-phenylacetoxy-6 beta,7 beta-epoxytropane (3-phenylacetoxyscopine), aposcopolamine (apohyoscine), 7 beta-hydroxy-6 beta-propenyloxy-3 alpha-tropoyloxytropane, traces of 7 beta-hydroxy-6 beta-isovaleroyloxy-3 alpha-tigloyloxytropane and a pyrrolidine alkaloid, hygrine. Two new structures, 3-phenylacetoxy-6 beta,7 beta-epoxytropane (3-phenylacetoxyscopine) and 7 beta-hydroxy-6 beta-propenyloxy-3 alpha-tropolyoxytropane, are proposed on the basis of their spectra. Hyoscyamine, nicotine and tropane N-oxides were not detected in all samples studied.

A decalin-consuming bacterial community.

A bacterial community able to degrade cis- and trans-decalin (decahydronaphthalene) in the presence of n-decane could be isolated. It was composed by a couple of Pseudomonas strains (D1 and D2, respectively). Neither the community nor the isolated strains were able to grow on decalin alone. D1 grew on decalin plus n-decane. Both could grow on n-decyl alcohol, acetate and adipate. From hydrocarbonated substrates it would be generated a metabolic chain which allows the growth of the community members, and then it resulted to be stable. Characteristics of both strains are described.

A decalin-consuming bacterial community

A bacterial community able to degrade cis- and trans-decalin (decahydronaphthalene) in the presence of n-decane could be isolated. It was composed by a couple of Pseudomonas strains (D1 and D2, respectively). Neither the community nor the isolated strains were able to grow on decalin alone. D1 grew on decalin plus n-decane. Both could grow on n-decyl alcohol, acetate and adipate. From hydrocarbonated substrates it would be generated a metabolic chain which allows the growth of the community members, and then it resulted to be stable. Characteristics of both strains are described.

A decalin-consuming bacterial community.

A bacterial community able to degrade cis- and trans-decalin (decahydronaphthalene) in the presence of n-decane could be isolated. It was composed by a couple of Pseudomonas strains (D1 and D2, respectively). Neither the community nor the isolated strains were able to grow on decalin alone. D1 grew on decalin plus n-decane. Both could grow on n-decyl alcohol, acetate and adipate. From hydrocarbonated substrates it would be generated a metabolic chain which allows the growth of the community members, and then it resulted to be stable. Characteristics of both strains are described.

[2-Naphthalene-sulphonic acid degrading microorganisms]. / Microorganismos degradadores de ácido naftalen-2-sulfónico.

Derivatives of anionic surfactants, specially naphthalene sulphonates, when discharged into natural waters are accumulated in waters and sediments because of their poor biodegradability. A four-membered bacterial community, able to degrade the sodium salt of 2-naphthalene-sulphonic acid (2NS), was isolated from Río Reconquista. All the isolated strains consisted of gram-negative, strictly aerobic rods, with a strong proteolytic activity and resistance to high levels of cations like Cr (III), Hg (II), Cd (II) and Pb (II). Some of them were resistant to gentamicin, amikacin and chloramphenicol. These strains appeared to be related to the genera Pseudomonas and Alcaligenes. When isolated, if growing on 2NS, a brown-dark pigment is formed by three of them, resulting in an inhibition of growth. The presence of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain avoided the production of pigment and resulting in a complete consume of 2NS.

Microorganismos degradadores de ácido naftalen-2-sulfónico / [2-Naphthalene-sulphonic acid degrading microorganisms]

Derivatives of anionic surfactants, specially naphthalene sulphonates, when discharged into natural waters are accumulated in waters and sediments because of their poor biodegradability. A four-membered bacterial community, able to degrade the sodium salt of 2-naphthalene-sulphonic acid (2NS), was isolated from Río Reconquista. All the isolated strains consisted of gram-negative, strictly aerobic rods, with a strong proteolytic activity and resistance to high levels of cations like Cr (III), Hg (II), Cd (II) and Pb (II). Some of them were resistant to gentamicin, amikacin and chloramphenicol. These strains appeared to be related to the genera Pseudomonas and Alcaligenes. When isolated, if growing on 2NS, a brown-dark pigment is formed by three of them, resulting in an inhibition of growth. The presence of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain avoided the production of pigment and resulting in a complete consume of 2NS.

Microorganismos degradadores de ácido naftalen-2-sulfónico. / [2-Naphthalene-sulphonic acid degrading microorganisms]

Derivatives of anionic surfactants, specially naphthalene sulphonates, when discharged into natural waters are accumulated in waters and sediments because of their poor biodegradability. A four-membered bacterial community, able to degrade the sodium salt of 2-naphthalene-sulphonic acid (2NS), was isolated from Río Reconquista. All the isolated strains consisted of gram-negative, strictly aerobic rods, with a strong proteolytic activity and resistance to high levels of cations like Cr (III), Hg (II), Cd (II) and Pb (II). Some of them were resistant to gentamicin, amikacin and chloramphenicol. These strains appeared to be related to the genera Pseudomonas and Alcaligenes. When isolated, if growing on 2NS, a brown-dark pigment is formed by three of them, resulting in an inhibition of growth. The presence of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain avoided the production of pigment and resulting in a complete consume of 2NS.