Rewiring cellular metabolism for heterologous biosynthesis of Taxol.

Taxol is one of the anticancer drugs synthesized naturally in the evergreen Taxus brevifolia forest tree belonging to the yew family (Taxaceae) growing on the Pacific. There are reportedly evidence for treating ovarian, breast and lung cancers through this drug given its unique structural and functional features. Extraction of this drug from yew trees bark is one of the most common ways of producing this drug, but 3000 trees are needed to obtain a kilogram of Taxol. Hence, further attention has recently been attracted to the metabolic engineering strategies, including, engineering cellular metabolism of microorganisms and their optimization. Accordingly, the present paper article was aimed to review recent advances in elevating the production and commercialization of Taxol through metabolic engineering techniques.

Toxic mineral elements in Mytilus galloprovincialis from Sicilian coasts (Southern Italy).

We assessed the relationship between V, Cr, Mn, Hg, As, Cd, Sn, Sb and Pb concentrations in Mytilus galloprovincialis samples from the coasts of Sicily and the expression of metallothioneins. Toxic mineral elements assessment was carried out by A.A. Spectrometry and ICP-MS. The metallothioneins expression was performed by q-PCR method. Low metals' levels were found in the mussel samples examined, in comparison with what was reported in literature. The highest mean values of toxic mineral elements were found in Gela (Cr 0.178 ± 0.03 mg/Kg, Mn 4.325 ± 0.012 mg/Kg, As 3.706 ± 0.009 mg/Kg, Sn 0.148 ± 0.014 mg/Kg, Sb 0.009 ± 0.004 mg/Kg e Pb 0.364 ± 0.01 mg/Kg). Significant levels of Hg were found in samples from Catania (0.014 ± 0.005 mg/Kg). Only vanadium and lead concentrations showed significant differences between sampling areas (p < 0.05). Molecular analysis verified a basal expression of Mt1 and the absence of over-expression of Mt2, confirming the low mineral's concentrations found in the samples examined.

Effects of Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth. fruits extract on the development and maturation of the reproductive system in immature male rats.

In the present study, we investigated the effects of Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth. fruits ethanolic extract in prepubertal male rats, to evaluate the influence of the extract on the reproductive system and on pubertal development. Experiments were conducted using the rodent pubertal male assay. The plant extract, analyzed by TLC, HPLC-PDA and HPLC-ESI-MS, was administered orally at doses of 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg b.w. from post-natal date 21 to post-natal day 53. Age at puberty onset, body growth, development of sexual organs exposure to plant extract or positive control were examined. Results obtained indicate that Kigelia extract, at all doses tested, significantly anticipates puberty and increases body growth and sexual organs development. These effects appears to be due to stimulation of the secretion of androgenic hormones by the compounds found in its extract and scientifically support some of its traditional uses in disorders of the male reproductive system.

Human health-related properties of chromones: an overview.

Natural compounds occurring throughout the world are scientifically and practically valuable because of their unique and beneficial properties to control a wide range of disorders in the human body. Chromones are attracting increasing attention as novel therapeutic agents due to their effective bioactivities for human health. Accordingly, the present overview article was designed to scan the biological and pharmacological performance of chromones, including their anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-oxidant, and anti-microbial activities.