Antioxidant activity and hypoglycemic effect of ferulic acid in STZ-induced diabetic mice and KK-Ay mice.

Antioxidant activity and biological properties of ferulic acid (FA) are well recognized. This study was designed to estimate the potential utility of FA administered orally at low dosage for improvement of hyperglycemia in diabetes. With this aim we have evaluated the hypoglycemic effect of FA in two type diabetic animal models: (1) streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice, a model of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM); (2) KK-Ay mice, a model of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). In addition, we measured the production of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) in brown adipose tissues of diabetic mice at the end of FA feeding experiment. FA at 0.01% and 0.1% of basal diet showed to suppress significantly blood glucose levels in STZ-induced diabetic mice. In KK-Ay mice 0.05% FA suppressed effectively blood glucose levels. In addition, FA inhibited the lipid peroxidation in brown adipose tissue of diabetic mice. Taken together, these findings suggest that dietary FA may be useful in alleviating oxidative stress and attenuating the hyperglycemic response associated with diabetes.

A ferulic acid derivative, ethyl 3-(4'-geranyloxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-propenoate, as a new candidate chemopreventive agent for colon carcinogenesis in the rat.

The inhibitory influence of ferulic acid (FA), a rice germ component, and its geranylated derivative 3-(4'-geranyloxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-propenoate (EGMP) on the post-initiation stage of azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon carcinogenesis was studied in male F344 rats given two s.c. injections of AOM (15 mg / kg body weight) during week 1. Diets containing EGMP or FA at doses of 0.1 or 0.2% were then fed for 3 weeks from week 2 to 5, when the animals were sacrificed. The numbers of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and aberrant crypts (AC) per rat in the group given 0.2% FA were significantly decreased (P < 0.001) as compared to the AOM alone group. Furthermore, the numbers of ACF and AC per rat fed the 0.2% and 0.1% EGMP were significantly reduced (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively). Colonic epithelial cells in S-phase, as measured by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling, in rats fed EGMP were significantly decreased in the 0.2 and 0.1% EGMP groups as compared to the AOM alone group (P < 0.05). BrdU labeling indices in rats fed FA and EGMP assessed by a test using a coefficient for linear contrast were also significantly decreased as compared to the AOM alone value (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively). The results indicate that FA and EGMP have inhibitory effects on ACF and AC development, EGMP being more potent, possibly due to stronger suppressive effects on cell proliferation. No toxic effects were observed in rats given either compound in terms of body and organ weights, and liver or kidney histology. The findings thus suggest that EGMP and FA, especially the former, might have potential as chemopreventive agents against colon tumor development.

Continuous oxidation of aromatic aldehyde to aromatic carboxylic acid by Burkholderia cepacia TM1 in a cell-holding reactor.

The continuous oxidation of aromatic aldehydes to the corresponding aromatic carboxylic acids was performed. In the continuous oxidation of aromatic aldehydes by Burkholderia cepacia TM1 in a cell-holding reactor, the concentration of the aromatic aldehyde in the reactor was kept extremely low by appropriately adjusting the initial turbidity of the cells in the reactor, the feeding rate of the aromatic aldehyde to the reactor and the average residence time. Thus, the feeding concentration at the inlet of vanillin, p-hydroxy-benzaldehyde, or syringaldehyde was 20.0, 20.0, or 4.0 g/l, respectively. Under the indicated reaction conditions, the steady state of the reaction continued for approximately 650 h, 450 h, and 160 h, respectively, for vanillin, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde and syringaldehyde as the substrate. The molar yield of vanillic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid and syringic acid in the steady state was, respectively, approximately 95, 80 and 96%, and the productivity was, respectively, 0.770, 0.350 and 0.160 (g/l.h). Moreover, since the recovered reaction solution consisted almost predominantly of only one type of aromatic carboxylic acid, separation and purification of the product was considered to be unnecessary. To prevent a decrease in the pH of the reaction solution and to maintain a high solubility of the substrate and the product, a phosphate buffer (pH 7.2) is better than distilled water as a reaction solution for feeding.

Suppressive effects of novel ferulic acid derivatives on cellular responses induced by phorbol ester, and by combined lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma.

A total of 23 ferulic acid (FA) derivatives were synthesized, and investigated for their inhibitory effects on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) activation and superoxide (O(2)(-)) generation. Most of the derivatives showed significant EBV activation suppression or cytotoxicity at a concentration of 100 microM, with FA15 as the most potent suppressor. In both assays, FA6-FA17, bearing straight- or branched-alkyl side chains, exhibited marked suppression of O(2)(-) generation, with both FA16 and FA17 being highly active, while FA itself was virtually inactive. The activity differences seen between FA16/FA17 and FA are attributable, at least in part, to their cellular incorporating efficiencies. Further, both FA15 and FA21 attenuated the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 proteins, while FA did not. Our results suggest that these novel FA derivatives are effective chemopreventive agents.

Preparation of ferulic acid and its application for the synthesis of cancer chemopreventive agents.

We suggest that chemical raw materials can best be obtained from natural resources. Ferulic acid is easily prepared in large quantities from rice bran pitch, a blackish brown waste oil with high viscosity, discharged in the process of the rice bran oil production. As an application of ferulic acid, potential cancer chemopreventive agents could be synthesized using organic synthetic methods.

Effects of high-dose granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on neutrophil functions.

We evaluated the effects of high-dose recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) therapy on N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP)-induced chemotaxis and superoxide (O2-) production in neutrophils from four patients with aplastic anaemia. The FMLP-induced chemotaxis and O2- production in the neutrophils of all four patients were normal before the rhG-CSF treatment. After the administration of high-dose rhG-CSF, chemotaxis in agarose was decreased, adherence and O2- production were enhanced in all the patients. An excessive increase of neutrophils with augmented adhesiveness and oxygen radical production may be harmful. Care should be taken in regard to neutrophil toxicity when high-dose G-CSF is used clinically.

Effects of a new platinum complex on male fertility in rats--collaborative work to determine the optimal period and optimal parameters to detect effects on male fertility in rats.

To assess the testicular toxicity induced by compound C, a new platinum complex being developed as an anti-cancer drug, the substance was intravenously administered to male rats at doses of 1, 3 and 10 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks and at doses of 0.3, 1 and 3 mg/kg/day for 9 weeks. Males were cohabited with non-treated females after these treatment periods and at sacrifice the genital organ weights and number of sperm in the testis were recorded and a histopathological examination performed. The females were sacrificed on day 13 of gestation and the numbers of corpora lutea, implantations and resorptions were counted. In the 4 weeks treatment 10 mg/kg/day group, the testis weight increased while the weights of the epididymides, seminal vesicles and prostate decreased significantly, and the number of sperm was significantly decreased. Extension of seminiferous tubules, vacuolization of spermatocytes, spermatids and Sertoli cells, and degeneration of spermatocytes and spermatids were observed by histopathological examination. Copulation and impregnation were not affected by treatment but the implantation rate was significantly decreased in the 10 mg/kg/day group. These results show that compound C has testicular toxicity like other platinum complexes and that organ weight, number of sperm, number of implantation and histopathological examination are useful for detection purposes. Treatment with compound C for 9 weeks did not affect male reproductive function in spite of severe general toxicity. This suggests that testicular toxicity should be detected after 4 weeks rather than 9 weeks treatment.

Signal transduction pathway in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes for chemotaxis induced by a chemotactic factor. Distinct from the pathway for superoxide anion production.

The tyrosine kinase inhibitors erbstatin and herbimycin A inhibited the chemotactic response to FMLP (2 x 10(-7) M) and the superoxide anion (O2-) production stimulated by FMLP (1 x 10(-6) M) in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) in similar manners. These compounds also inhibited phospholipase D (PLD)-catalyzed breakdown of phosphatidyl choline, suggesting a possible link between tyrosine kinase and PLD. In the presence of propranolol (phosphatidic acid (PA) phosphohydrolase inhibitor), or ethanol, the activation of PLD results in the modulation of PA and/or diglyceride (DG) generation, producing an irregularity in O2- production. However, PMN motility was not affected in these conditions. These results suggest that PLD is a downstream effector of FMLP-induced tyrosine kinase activation that leads to activation of the PMN superoxide release but not to chemotactic migration. In contrast, the tyrosine kinase inhibitors did not inhibit inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate generation and increase of intracellular concentration of free calcium. Furthermore, a protein kinase C inhibitor, 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride (H-7), did not affect the migration of PMN and the activation of PLD induced by FMLP at concentrations of less than 50 microM. These results support the premise that there is a specific signaling pathway for chemoattractant-induced PMN locomotion.

Aneurysmal dilatation of ductus arteriosus during lipo-prostaglandin E1 therapy for diaphragmatic hernia.

We report a case of congenital diaphragmatic hernia in which aneurysmal dilatation of ductus arteriosus developed after lipo-prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) therapy for persistent fetal circulation. After surgery Lipo-PGE1 was used at a dosage of 5 ng/kg per minute from days 2-9 during which aneurysmal dilatation (7 mm in diameter) developed and remained thereafter. Ductus arteriosus ligation was then performed. Lipo-PGE1 may promote ductus arteriosus dilatation in cases of persistent fetal circulation.

Immunoadsorption plasmapheresis for severe generalised myasthenia gravis.

Two patients with severe generalised myasthenia gravis of childhood were successfully treated with immunoadsorption plasmapheresis. One patient was a 5 year old girl and the other was a 12 year old girl. A dramatic improvement in bulbar symptoms and generalised muscle weakness was achieved without any side effects. Plasma exchange may also yield clinical improvement for myasthenia gravis, but the treatment is accompanied by the risk of viral infections and hypersensitivity reactions. Immunoadsorption plasmapheresis is an effective treatment for severe generalised myasthenia gravis of childhood and is superior to plasma exchange with respect to safety.

A new neuritogenetic compound BU-4514N produced by Microtetraspora sp.

A novel neuritogenetic compound BU-4514N was isolated from the fermentation broth of Microtetraspora sp. T689-92. It showed significant NGF-mimic activity and antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Structural studies revealed that BU-4514N was a new chemotype antibiotic related to lydicamycin.

Pradimicin S, a new pradimicin analog. II. Isolation and structure elucidation.

Pradimicin S was isolated from the culture filtrate of Actinomadura spinosa AA0851. NMR and MS analyses proved that pradimicin S is the 3'-O-(3''-O-sulfo-beta-D-glucopyranosyl) analog of pradimicin A, a new member of the pradimicin family of antibiotics. Stereochemical assignment was made by correlating pradimicin S with pradimicin L.

Pradimicins L and FL: new pradimicin congeners from Actinomadura verrucosospora subsp. neohibisca.

Pradimicin L, a new congener of pradimicin A having the D-glucosyl-D-thomosamine moiety at the C-5 position, was isolated from Actinomadura verrucosospora subsp. neohibisca subsp. nov. The structure of pradimicin L was deduced to be N-[[(5S,6S)-5-O-[4,6-dideoxy-4-(methylamino)-3-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl) - beta-D-galactopyranosyl]-5,6,8,13-tetrahydro-1,5,6,9,14-pentahydroxy-11- methoxy-3-methyl-8,13-dioxobenzo[a]naphthacene-2-yl]carbonyl ]-D-alanine by MS and NMR spectrometry and degradation studies. Pradimicin FL which has the D-serine moiety instead of D-alanine was produced by directed biosynthesis in D-serine-supplemented medium. Pradimicins L and FL have a broad spectrum of in vitro antifungal activity. Pradimicin L was equiactive to pradimicin A and pradimicin FL was more active than pradimicin L.

Biosynthesis of the pradimicin family of antibiotics. II. Fermentation, isolation and structure determination of metabolites associated with the pradimicins biosynthesis.

Ten metabolites produced by 4 mutants derived from Actinomadura verrucosospora subsp. neohibisca E-40, a high pradimicins producer, were isolated and their structures were determined. Strain JN-219 produced 3 novel analogs of the pradimicin A aglycone, i.e. 11-O-demethyl-7-methoxypradinone II and 11-O-demethylpradinones I and II together with a known aglycone analog, pradinone I, while the metabolites from strain JN-47 were determined to be 2 new aglycone analogs, 11-O-demethylpradimicinone I and 11-O-demethyl-7-methoxypradimicinone II and a known aglycone analog, 11-O-demethylpradimicinone II (11dM-PMN II). Products of strain JN-207 were identified as 11-O-demethyl-6-deoxypradinone I and 11dM-PMN II. Interestingly, a new pradimicin analog, 7-hydroxypradimicin A was isolated from strain JN-58 together with a new aglycone analog, pradimicinone II and 11dM-PMN II. None of these metabolites showed antifungal activity.

Eurystatins A and B, new prolyl endopeptidase inhibitors. II. Physico-chemical properties and structure determination.

The structures of eurystatins A and B, new prolyl endopeptidase inhibitors, have been elucidated by chemical degradation and spectral studies. They have in common a unique 13-membered cyclic peptide core composed of L-leucine, L-ornithine and (S)-3-amino-2-oxobutyric acid, and differ from each other in the alpha,beta-unsaturated fatty acid attached to the alpha-amino moiety of the ornithine.

Sultriecin, a new antifungal and antitumor antibiotic from Streptomyces roseiscleroticus. Production, isolation, structure and biological activity.

Streptomyces roseiscleroticus L827-7 (ATCC 53903) produced a novel antifungal and antitumor antibiotic, sultriecin. It exhibited in vitro antifungal activity and potent in vivo antitumor activity against P388 and L1210 leukemias, and B16 melanoma. Sultriecin is composed of several unique structural units; a conjugated triene, an alpha,beta-unsaturated delta-lactone, and a sulfate functionality.

Fetal liver T cell receptor gamma/delta+ T cells as cytotoxic T lymphocytes specific for maternal alloantigens.

We have established fetal liver-derived T cell receptor (TCR) gamma/delta+, CD3+ T cell lines that are cytotoxic for maternal T cells. Fetal liver-derived lymphoid progenitors yielded predominantly TCR-gamma/delta+ cell clusters when cultured on fetal bone marrow-derived stromal cells in the presence of a cytokine cocktail under magnetic force. These tightly adherent clusters were cloned by limiting dilution and the resulting cell lines analyzed for phenotype and function. Six of eight TCR-gamma/delta lines from 8-9.5-wk gestation fetuses were V delta 2+ as compared with zero of eight lines from later stages of gestation (10 and 15 wk), where all the lines were V delta 1+. In cytotoxicity assays, these TCR-gamma/delta+, CD3+, CD4-, and CD8+ or CD8- long-term cultured lymphoid cells (LLC) were killer cells active against the class I antigens on maternal T cells. Of the cell lines, the CD8+ TCR-gamma/delta+ LLC had the highest levels of killer activity. Thus fetal liver TCR-gamma/delta+ T cells may play a crucial role in protection against invading maternal T cells generated in the feto-maternal interaction.

Fluvirucins A1, A2, B1, B2, B3, B4 and B5, new antibiotics active against influenza A virus. II. Structure determination.

A series of structurally related antiviral antibiotics, fluvirucins A1, A2, B1, B2, B3, B4 and B5 have been isolated from the fermentation broths of five unidentified actinomycete isolates. Based on spectroscopic analysis, partial degradation experiments and 13C-enriched acetic acid-fed biosynthetic studies, their structures were elucidated to be 2.6,10-trialkyl-3(or 9)-aminoglycosyl-13-tridecanelactams.