Bioepoxidation of isosafrol catalyzed by radish and turnip peroxidases

Peroxidases (PODs) from radish (Raphanus sativus L.) and turnip (Brassica napus L.) were extracted and precipitated with ammonium sulfate using a simple, low cost and quick method. The activities of all steps performed by the vegetable PODs were measured via guaiacol assay. The epoxidation of isosafrol, catalyzed by radish (R. sativus L.) and turnip (B. napus L.) peroxidases was conducted in 20% (v/v) aqueous ethanol solution using 30% (v/v) H2O2 as the terminal oxidant. High conversion (88%) and selectivity (>98%) were obtained after 48 h. The products of the reaction were analyzed by high resolution gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry. Key words: Raphanus sativus L, Brassica napus L., peroxidase, epoxidation, isosafrol. Abbreviation: HRP, Horseradish peroxidase; GC, gas chromatography; POD, peroxidase

Essential Oils and Isolated Compounds from Lippia alba Leaves and Flowers: Antimicrobial Activity and Osteoclast Apoptosis

In the present study, essential oils extracted from the leaves and flowers of Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E.Br. (L. alba) were analyzed for their antimicrobial activity and their effects on osteoclasts. The periodontal pathogens, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A. actinomycetemcomitans; ATCC 43717), Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum; ATCC 25586) and Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis); ATCC 33277) were used in antimicrobial activity assays for determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), whereas Bacteroides fragilis (B. fragilis; ATCC 25285) was used as the control microorganism. Osteoclast (OC) apoptosis was assessed by TUNEL assay and Fas receptor expression was detected by immunocytochemistry. The analysis of antimicrobial activity revealed that P. gingivalis had the lowest MIC values, whereas A. actinomycetemcomitans had the highest. L. alba essential oils were found to be toxic to human cells, although the compounds, carvone, limonene and citral, were non-toxic and induced apoptosis in the OCs. This study demonstrates that L. alba has potential biotechnological application in dentistry. In fact periodontal disease has a multifactorial etiology, and the immune response to microbial challenge leads to osteoclast activation and the resorption of the alveolar bone, resulting in tooth loss

Effect of maternal carbohydrate metabolism on fetal growth.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of maternal carbohydrate metabolism and anthropometric characteristics on fetal growth. METHODS: Eight pregnant women in the third trimester with unexplained fetal growth restriction (FGR) and 11 women with normal pregnancies in the third trimester were evaluated for maternal carbohydrate metabolism, using oral glucose tolerance tests and hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps. These data and maternal anthropometric characteristics subsequently were related to relative birth weight, defined as observed birth weight x 100/50th percentile birth weight. RESULTS: The women with FGR pregnancies were more insulin sensitive than were controls (21.6+/-4.4 versus 16.7+/-4.8 micromol/kg x min, P < .05) and showed reduced insulin and glucose areas under the curve (96,293+/-25,870 versus 145,291+/-49,356 pmol/L, P < .03; 1057.0+/-184.7 versus 1210.1 +/-85.9 mmol/L, P < .05, respectively). No differences were seen in fasting plasma glucose, insulin and human placental lactogen samples, age, height, pregravid weight, weight gain, and parity. In all patients, maternal insulin sensitivity and weight gain correlated well with relative birth weight (r =-.65, P < .002; r=.68, P < .001, respectively). When the same analysis was computed separately in the groups, insulin sensitivity exhibited a strong negative correlation with relative birth weight in the FGR group but not in controls (r=-.84, P < .007; r=-.54, P=.08, respectively). Conversely, in control women the best correlation between relative birth weight and the other variables studied was seen with maternal weight gain (r=.82, P < .002). CONCLUSION: Women with unexplained FGR have a different glucose metabolic pattern than do normals. We speculate that increased insulin sensitivity leads to a reduction in metabolic substrates for fetal growth

Risk of drug-induced congenital defects.

Defects attributable to drug therapy represent about 1% of congenital defects of known aetiology. This means that a precautionary attitude and correct use of drugs in fertile, and especially pregnant, women is a feasible form of prevention. Drugs currently in use with proven teratogenic effect number approximately 25, but new pharmaceutical drugs are constantly in preparation. Recognition of a drug-induced teratogenic effect is a complex procedure taking into account not only experimental animal data but also experience in humans. Considering that 40% of pregnancies are not planned, it follows that any drug with known or suspected teratogenic potential must be used only under strict medical control. Also, adequate knowledge on potential teratogenicity of a drug permits modification of therapy before conception. It goes without saying that any drug should be used during pregnancy only if it is essential, and it would be prudent to use only those where adequate information is provided and prior clinical experience is available. Teratology Information Services can assist both physicians and patients when any doubt exists