Cerium Binding Activity of Pectins Isolated from the Seagrasses Zostera marina and Phyllospadix iwatensis

Cerium binding activity of three different water soluble pectin compounds of different origin was studied in a batch sorption system. The Langmuir, Freundlich and BET sorption models were adopted to describe the binding reactions between metal ions and pectin molecules. The Langmuir model provided the best fit. Within the pH range from 4.0 to 6.0, the largest amount of the cerium ions was bound by pectin isolated from the seagrass Phylospadix iwatensis in comparison to pectin extracted from the seagrass Zostera marina and pectin obtained from citrus peel (commercial grade). The Langmuir constants were also highest for the pectin samples isolated from the seagrass P. iwatensis. The results obtained from this study suggest that pectin is a prospective source for the development of radioisotope-removing pharmaceuticals

Correction of the toxic effect of cyclophosphamide on hemopoiesis in animals with lewis lung carcinoma using low-molecular-weight sodium alginate

The influence of low-molecular-weight sodium alginate, which is administered as an isolated agent and in combination with cyclophosphamide, on the parameters of peripheral blood and bone marrow was studied in mice with Lewis lung carcinoma. It was shown that administration of sodium alginate with a molecular weight of 1–10 and 20–30 kDa to tumor-bearing animals prevents bone marrow failure by activating the process of regeneration of granulocytic hemopoietic stem cells that are damaged by a single injection or repetitive injections of a cytostatic agent, due to stimulation of the clonal activity of granulocytopoiesis precursors. As a result, this treatment prevents the progression of leukopenia

Carrageenans as a New Source of Drugs with Metal Binding Properties

Carrageenans are abundant and safe non-starch polysaccharides exerting their biological effects in living organisms. Apart from their known pro-inflammation properties and some pharmacological activity, carrageenans can also strongly bind and hold metal ions. This property can be used for creation of the new drugs for elimination of metals from the body or targeted delivery of these metal ions for healing purposes. Metal binding activity of different carrageenans in aqueous solutions containing Y3+ or Pb2+ ions was studied in a batch sorption system. The metal uptake by carrageenans is not affected by the change of the pH within the range from 2.0 to 6.0. The rates and binding capacities of carrageenans regarding metal ions were evaluated. The Langmuir, Freundlich and BET sorption models were applied to describe the isotherms and constants, and the sorption isothermal data could be explained well by the Langmuir equation. The results obtained through the study suggest that κ-, ι-, and λ-carrageenans are favorable sorbents. The largest amount of Y3+ and Pb2+ ions are bound by ι-carrageenan. Therefore, it can be concluded that this type of polysaccharide is the more appropriate substance for elaboration of the drugs with high selective metal binding properties

Functional characterisation of a Fads2 fatty acyl desaturase with delta6/delta8 activity and an Elovl5 with C16, C18 and C20 elongase activity in the anadromous teleost meagre (Argyrosomus regius)

The meagre, Argyrosomus regius, is a carnivorous fish with great potential to diversify finfish aquaculture in the Mediterranean. However, currently nothing is known about their essential fatty acid requirements. Meagres are marine fish but also display anadromous behaviour migrating to river estuaries to spawn, and thus may provide an insight to the influence of diadromy on biosynthetic ability for long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA). Our primary aim was to characterise key cDNAs (fatty acyl desaturases and elongases) of the biosynthetic pathway as a key step to establish the capacity of meagre for LC-PUFA biosynthesis from shorter chain PUFA. The cDNA sequences of a fatty acyl desaturase (Fads) and elongase of very long-chain fatty acids (Elovl) were obtained using PCR-based methodologies, and function of the proteins was investigated by expression of the coding sequences of the putative desaturase and elongase in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The tissue distribution of both cDNAs was studied by reverse transcription PCR. Our results demonstrated that meagre possesses at least one fatty acyl desaturase and one elongase involved in the endogenous production of LC-PUFA. The meagre desaturase and elongase were identified as orthologues of Fads2 and Elovl5, respectively. Functionally, the desaturase had dual Δ6/Δ8 activity, whereas the elongase exhibited high elongation efficiency for C18 and C20 PUFA with low activity towards C22 PUFA. However, we also showed that the meagre Elovl5 elongated 16:3n - 3 to 18:3n - 3, the first time that C16 elongation activity had been demonstrated for a fish elongase. Similar to other marine teleosts, expression of fads2 and elovl5 transcripts was highest in brain. The functions and expression of the meagre Fads2 and Elovl5 proteins suggest that the meagre has a ‘marine type' LC-PUFA biosynthetic pathway, and that its anadromous behaviour has no major influence

К ОЦЕНКЕ БЕЗОПАСНОСТИ ДЛЯ ЗДОРОВЬЯ НАСЕЛЕНИЯ РАКТОПАМИНА ПРИ ЕГО ПОСТУПЛЕНИИ С ПИЩЕВЫМИ ПРОДУКТАМИ

The analysis of scientific data including American and European scientific communities concerning use of ractopamine as a growth factor in food animal production and the argumentation of the maximum permitted levels of ractopamine and levels of ractopamine in meat and byproducts (offal) is carried out. The position of the Russian side stated at the Codex Alimentarius commission 35th session that acceptable ractopamine daily intake is insufficiently validated and cannot be used for the determination of maximum permitted levels of ractopamine in meat and byproducts (offal) is confirmed. It is represented that residual ractopamine intake together with food on the levels which are recommended by the Codex Alimentarius commission and by taking into account the levels of animal products consumption in Russian Federation will lead to unacceptable human health risk level that will promote increasing heart diseases and life expectancy reduction. In this connection Russia states against of acceptance of maximum permitted levels of ractopamine in food. Проведен анализ научных данных, в т.ч. данных американских и европейских научных сообществ, по вопросу использования рактопамина в качестве стимулятора роста в животноводстве и обоснования максимально допустимых уровней этого соединения в мясе и субпродуктах. Подтверждена позиция российской стороны, высказанная на 35-й сессии Комиссии Codex Alimentarius о том, что допустимая суточная доза рактопамина недостаточно обоснована и не может быть использована для установления максимально допустимых уровней содержания рактопамина в мясе и субпродуктах. Показано, что поступление рактопамина с пищевой продукцией на уровне остаточных количеств, рекомендованных Комиссией Codex Alimentarius, с учетом уровня потребления в пищу населением Российской Федерации продуктов животноводства, приведет к неприемлемому риску для здоровья населения, что будет способствовать росту числа случаев болезней сердечно-сосудистой системы и сокращению ожидаемой продолжительности жизни. В связи с этим, Россия отстаивает позицию против принятия максимально допустимого уровня рактопамина в пищевых продуктах.