Furan fatty acid steryl esters from the marine spongeDictyonella incisa which show inflammatory activity

Summary Three new furan fatty acids, (9Z, 19Z)-3, 6-epoxyhexacosa-3,5,19-tetraenoic acid (1a), (8Z, 11Z, 14Z, 17Z)-3, 6-epoxyeicosa-3,5,8,11,14,17-hexaenoic acid (2a), and (8Z, 11Z, 14Z, 17E)-3, 6-epoxyeicosa-3,5,8,11,14,17-hexaenoic acid (3a), and a new polyunsaturated fatty acid (5Z, 8Z, 11Z, 14Z, 17E)-eicosa-5,8,11,14,17-pentaenoic acid (6a), present in the spongeDictyonella incisa as the respective steryl esters, have been isolated as methyl esters and their structures have been determined by spectral and chemical analysis. The furan fatty acid esters have shown a high inflammatory activity, which suggests their potential role as feeding deterrents.     

Prevention of the formation of mycotoxins in whole wheat bread by citric acid and lactic acid (Mycotoxins in foodstuffs. IX)

Summary Additions of citric acid and lactic acid to whole wheat bread suppress the formation of aflatoxins byAspergillus parasiticus (0.5% citric acid, 0.75% lactic acid) and that of sterigmatocystin byA. versicolor (0.25 and 0.5% respectively).Acknowledgment. I thank Dr.R. Orth (Bundesforschungsanstalt für Ernährung, Karlsruhe, BRD) for the strain ofAspergillus versicolor.     

Die antibakterielle Wirkung der Usninsäure auf Mykobakterien und andere Mikroorganismen

Summary Usnic acid has already been found in optically active forms in very different quantities in a large number of species of lichens. We have been able to demonstrate the presence of the racemic form of usnic acid as a naturally occuring product in Iceland moss (Cetraria islandica Ach.). The bacteriological examination of the three forms of usnic acid led to the result that, besides an effect uponStaphylococcus aureus, they exert also a very remarkable action againstMycobacteria. The action ofl-usnic acid on different strains ofMycobacteria and other microorganisms is shown in table II. According to the results so far obtained by us, other acids of lichens behave in a similar manner.     

Interaction ofRhizobium loti strain and host on the biosynthesis of unusual amino acids in leguminous plants

Summary The effect of differentRhizobium loti strains on the biosynthesis of 2,3-diamino-butanoic acid and 2,4-diamino-3-methyl-butanoic acid in root nodules ofLotus tenuis, Anthyllis vulneraria andLupinus densiflorus has been investigated. Results suggest that biosynthesis isRhizobium strain dependent, that the bacteroid is the site of synthesis of the compounds and that their biosynthesis is confined to the symbiosis.     

Über die Grenzen der metabolischen Adaptationsfähigkeit vonAspergillus niger

Summary The ability ofA. niger to assimilate malonic acid, which we consider to be the way both of obtaining energy (citric acid cycle) and of synthesizing cell substances (glyoxylic acid cycle), is reduced by substitution. While methyl malonic acid is quickly assimilated and ethyl malonic acid more slowly propyl-, dimethyl-, and diethyl malonic acid cannot be used by already formed molds.     

Hepatic acid hydrolases of albino rats,Mastomys natalensis and albino mice duringPlasmodium berghei infection

Summary Changes in liver acid hydrolase activities during the infection of albino rats,Mastomys or mice withPlasmodium berghei are described. B-Glucosidase, B-galactosidase and N-acetyl-B-D-glucosaminidase exhibited widely different responses with acid phosphatase and cathepsin-B the least responsive and are likely to be causally related to immunity of animals.     

Marine eicosanoids: Occurrence of 8,11,12-trihydroxylated eicosanoic acids in starfishes

The occurrence of 8,11,12-trihydroxyeicosa-5,14,17(Z),9(E)-tetraenoic acid and 8,11,12-trihydroxyeicosa-5,14(Z),9E-trienoic acid in starfish species, i.e.Patiria miniata, Dermasterias imbricata, Pycnopodia helianthoides, Culcita novaeguinea andNardoa tubercolata is reported.     

Chronic quercetin exposure affects fatty acid catabolism in rat lung

Dietary quercetin intake is suggested to be health promoting, but this assumption is mainly based on mechanistic studies performed in vitro. Previously, we identified rat lung as a quercetin target tissue. To assess relevant in vivo health effects of quercetin, we analyzed mechanisms of effect in rat lungs of a chronic (41 weeks) 1% quercetin diet using whole genome microarrays. We show here that fatty acid catabolism pathways, like beta-oxidation and ketogenesis, are up-regulated by the long-term quercetin intervention. Up-regulation of genes (Hmgcs2, Ech1, Acox1, Pcca, Lpl and Acaa2) was verified and confirmed by quantitative real time PCR. In addition, free fatty acid levels were decreased in rats fed the quercetin diet, confirming that quercetin affects fatty acid catabolism. This in vivo study demonstrates for the first time that fatty acid catabolism is a relevant process that is affected in rats by chronic dietary quercetin. Received 6 July 2006; received after revision 29 August 2006; accepted 28 September 2006     

Bildung eines ascorbigenähnlichen Produktes ausp-Hydroxybenzylalkohol und L-Ascorbinsäure

Summary l-Ascorbic acid reacts withp-hydroxybenzyl alcohol in a similar way as with 3-hydroxymethyl indole in the formation of ascorbigen (bound ascorbic acid). The crystalline reaction product was identified as a 2-C-(p-hydroxybenzyl)-3-keto-hexulosonic acid lactone.

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Bildung eines ascorbigenähnlichen Produktes ausp-Hydroxybenzylalkohol und L-Ascorbinsäure