On the microwave digestion of soils and sediments for determination of lanthanides and some toxic and essential elements by inductively coupled plasma source mass spectrometry.

Four digestion procedures for microwave dissolution of soils and sediments are investigated. Accurate results (accuracy better than 10%) for lanthanides, Be, Bi, Te, Th, U and Y are obtained only after an overnight stay with a mixture of 2 ml 48% HF and 2 ml 65% HNO(3) and afterwards stepwise microwave digestion with 1 ml 48% HF and 10 ml 5% H(3)BO(3). Only As is not be to be determined by this procedure due to significant interferences from Eu, Nd and Sm. For all other elements, accurate results are obtained by all four procedures.

Distribution of lanthanoids, Be, Bi, Ga, Te, Tl, Th and U on the territory of Bulgaria using Populus nigra 'Italica' as an indicator.

The concentrations of lanthanoids, Be, Bi,Ga, Te, Tl, Th and U have been determined using ICP-MS for 100 standardized samples of poplar leaves collected from the territory of Bulgaria. The investigated elements are log-normally distributed on the territory. Using cluster analysis of the analytical data the samples were grouped according soil type on which the plants are growing.

Analysis of phytochelatins in plant matrices by pre-column derivatization, high-performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence-detection.

A sensitive method for the determination of phytochelatins in plant matrices by pre-column derivatization with monobromobimane (mBrB) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on reversed phases and fluorescence-detection has been developed and applied to cucumber sprouts (Cucumis sativus) treated with cadmium and to the water moss Fontinalis antipyretica (Cd in environmentally-relevant concentrations). Whereas phytochelatins were found in the Cd-treated sprouts, no phytochelatins were detected in Fontinalis anitipyretica.

Investigations on the water content of candidate reference material CRM 679 cabbage powder.

The determination of the residual water content by thermal methods and especially by Karl Fischer titration in a candidate reference material of the European Commission (candidate CRM 679 cabbage powder) is described and discussed.

[Isolation and structure elucidation of further new saponins from Solidago canadensis]. / Isolierung und Struktur weiterer neuer Saponine aus Solidago canadensis.

Four new main saponins (canadensis-saponins 5-8) (compounds 5-8) were isolated from Solidago canadensis L. (Asteraceae). Using GC/MS, FAB-MS, and mainly 2D-NMR techniques their structures were identified as 3-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1----3)-beta-D- glucopyranosyl]-28-O-[beta-D-galactopyranosyl(1----2)-alpha-L- rhamnopyranosyl-(1----3)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1----4)-[beta-D- xylopyranosyl-(1----3)]-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1----2)-[beta-D-apio -D- furanosyl-(1----3)]-beta-D-6-deoxyglucopyranosyl-(1----)]-bayog enin(5),3-O- [beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----3)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-28-O-[beta-D- galactopyranosyl-(1----2)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1----3)-beta-D- xylopyranosyl-(1----4)-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1----3)]-alpha-L- rhamnopyranosyl-(1----2)-[beta-D-apio-D-furanosyl-(1----3)]- arabinopyranosyl-(1----)]bayogenin(6),3-O-[beta-D-glucopy ran osyl-(1----3)- beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-28-O-[beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1----2)- alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1----3)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1----4)-[beta-D- xylopyranosyl-(1----3)]-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1----2)-[alpha-L- rhamnopyranosyl-(1----3)]-beta-D-6-deoxyglucopyranosyl-(1----)]-++ +bayogenin (7), and 3-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----3)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-28-[O- beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1----2)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1----3)-beta-D - xylopyranosyl-(1----4)-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1----3)]-alpha-L- rhamnopyranosyl-(1----2)-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1----3)]arabinopyr anosyl - (1----)[-bayogenin (8).

[Sesquiterpenelactones of Achillea setacea with antiphlogistic activity]. / Entzündungshemmende Sesquiterpenlactone von Achillea setacea. Sesquiterpenelactones of Achillea setacea with Antiphlogistic activity.

From the aerial parts of Achillea setacea W. & K. (Asteraceae) the main sesquiterpenes were isolated. Their structures were determined by means of 2D-NMR and MS as 11,13-dehydrodeacetylmatricarin (1) (= 14-deoxylactucin), rupicolin A (2), and rupicolin B (3). These are the first compounds with an alpha-methylene-gamma-lactone structure isolated from a species belonging to the Achillea millefolium aggregate. Achillicin, achillin, 8-hydroxyachillin, 8-acetoxyachillin, and matricin could not be detected in A. setacea. For both rupicolin B and 11,13-dehydrodeacetylmatricarin an anti-inflammatory activity was found in the croton oil ear test.

Four major saponins from Solidago canadensis.

Four new bisdesmosidic saponins each containing eight carbohydrate units were isolated from Solidago canadensis. GC, GC-MS, FABMS analysis and mainly the use of 2D NMR techniques allowed their identification as bayogeninglycosides (canadensissaponins 1-4) 3-O- [beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----3)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-28-O-[alpha-L- rhamnopyranosyl-(1----3)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1----4)-[beta-D- xylopyranosyl-(1----3)]-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1----2)-[beta-D- apio-D-furanosyl-(1----3)]-beta-D-6-deoxyglucopyranosyl- (1----]-bayogenin; -(1----2)-[beta-D-apio-D-furanosyl-(1----3)]-ara- binopyranosyl-(1----]-bayogenin; -[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1----3)]-beta- D-6-deoxyglucopyranosyl-(1----]-bayogenin and - [alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl- (1----3)]-arabinopyranosyl-(1----]-bayogenin.