LIGNANS AND A NEOLIGNAN FROM VIROLA-OLEIFERA LEAVES

The chlorophyll-free dichloromethane fraction of the ethanolic extract from leaves of Virola oleifera yielded four new natural lignans, including a known lignan-7-ol, and galbacin, eupomatenoid-8 and (+)-aristolignin. Structural elucidations were made by spectroscopic methods.3261567157

Diels-Alder reactions of 6-substituted 1-(p-nitrobenzoyl)-5,6-dihydro-2-pyridinones

The first examples of Diels-Alder cycloaddition reactions of 6-substituted 1-(p-nitrobenzoyl)-5,6-dihydro-2-pyridinones are described. This reaction benefits from the fact that the diene adopts an endo orientation trans to the axial substituent at C-6 due to A(1.3) allylic type strain with the N-PNB protecting group.o TEXTO COMPLETO DESTE ARTIGO, ESTARÁ DISPONÍVEL À PARTIR DE AGOSTO DE 2015.110010

Quantitation of triacylglycerols in vegetable oils and fats by easy ambient sonic-spray ionization mass spectrometry

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)This innovative mass spectrometric technique provides simple, quick, and reliable quantitative analysis of triacylglycerols in vegetable oils and fats. The easy ambient sonic-spray ionization mass spectrometry (EASI-MS) technique provides simple, quick, and reliable qualitative analysis of triacylglycerols (TAG) in vegetable oils. The use of this ambient mass spectrometry technique, which does not require separation or derivatization before analysis, for precise quantitative analyses has yet to be demonstrated. In this study, the TAG composition of edible vegetable oils, hydrogenated vegetable oils and cocoa butter was quantitated by EASI-MS. The results were compared with those obtained by theoretical predictions of the TAG composition performed by a software projection, which uses a mathematical algorithm of distribution of the fatty acids (FA) in the TAG molecule, and by the direct gas chromatography method (GC-FID). Acceptable correlation coefficients were observed between the three methods during the analysis of vegetable oils and hydrogenated vegetable oils. EASI-MS offers not only simplicity, speed and selectivity for oil analysis but also precise quantitation of the TAG composition. Therefore, EASI-MS is a promising substitute for the more demanding and time-consuming standard protocols, which require separation and sometimes derivatization before analysis.52469696975Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Two intermediates in the synthesis of decahydroisoquinolines with NMDA and AMPA receptor antagonist activity

In 6-methyl-N-(4-nitrobenzoyl)-5,6-dihydropyridin-2(1H)one, C13H12N2O4, (I), the piperidone ring is in a distorted half-chair conformation. In 8-methoxy-3-methyl-N-(4-nitrobenzoyl)-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydroisoquinoline-1,6-dione, C18H20N2O6, (II), the heterocyclic ring is in a slightly distorted half-boat conformation, while the other six-membered ring is in a distorted chair conformation. Compound (II) presents a strong intramolecular C-H . . .O hydrogen bond. In both (I) and (II), the molecules interact through C-H . . .O interactions.5791089109

Fluoro-Jade, but not Fluoro-Jade B, stains non-degenerating cells in brain and retina of embryonic and neonatal rats

Fluoro-Jade (FJ) and Fluoro-Jade B (FJB) are fluorescein derivatives currently used to stain brain cells under degeneration. In this study, we investigated the FJ staining of nondegenerating cells in embryonic and neonatal rat brain and retina. In embryonic rat brain (embryonic day 15; E15), very intense staining of cells was observed. The number of FJ-stained cells and the intensity of staining decreased with increasing in animal age, being almost absent by postnatal day 16 (P16). Only a few cells in neonatal rat brain were in the process of cell death, as verified by the TUNEL technique. The H-stained cells in neonatal brain were positive for the neuronal marker neuronal nuclei antigen (NeuN). In retina, FJ stained mainly cells from the ganglion cell layer at P2 and the neuroblastic layer at P2 and P6. In contrast to FJ, FJB did not stain nondegenerating cells in embryonic and neonatal rats. These results show that in addition to staining degenerating brain cells, FJ also stains nondegenerating central nervous system cells in embryonic and neonatal stages. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.10291243

Quinolinate-induced rat striatal excitotoxicity impairs endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase function

Excessive activation of NMDA glutamate receptors and the resulting loss of intracellular Ca(2+) homeostasis may be lethal (excitotoxic) to neurons. Such excitotoxicity can be induced in vivo by intrastriatal infusion of quinolinate, as this substance selectively activates NMDA receptors. The aim of the present research was to investigate whether the in vivo treatment of striatal tissue with quinolinate would lead to an early impairment of sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA) activity or mitochondrial Ca(2+) sequestration, two intracellular mechanisms involved in Ca(2+) homeostasis and signaling. Sodium quinolinate was infused intrastriatally into adult rats, and 6 h later the brains were removed and the corpora striata dissected. At this time point, striatal sections stained with Fluoro-Jade, a cellular marker of cell death, showed initial signs of neuronal degeneration. In addition, SERCA activity decreased 39% in relation to the activity observed in the control striata. A corresponding decrease of the same magnitude in (45)Ca(2+) uptake by striatal microsomes was also found in the treated striata. Western blot analysis did not indicate any decrease in SERCA levels in striatal tissue after quinolinate infusion. Mitochondrial Ca(2+) sequestration was still preserved in quinolinate-treated striatal tissue when the assay was carried out in the presence of physiological concentrations of ATP and Mg(2+). These results suggest that impairment of the SERCA function may be an early event in excitotoxicity.3391749175

A method to separate lignoids from Virola leaves

A simplified technique for the isolation of lignoid mixtures in plant leaves has been developed. The technique provides an economic and rapid means for the determination of the most abundant lignoid skeleton by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy as well as a method of screening small or large quantities of plant leaves for lignoids. (C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.81182