Urinary metals and metal mixtures and oxidative stress biomarkers in an adult population from Spain: The Hortega Study

INTRODUCTION: Few studies have investigated the role of exposure to metals and metal mixtures on oxidative stress in the general population. OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the cross-sectional association of urinary metal and metal mixtures with urinary oxidative stress biomarkers, including oxidized to reduced glutathione ratio (GSSG/GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and 8‑oxo‑7,8‑dihydroguanine (8-oxo-dG), in a representative sample of a general population from Spain (Hortega Study). METHODS: Urine antimony (Sb), barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), vanadium (V) and zinc (Zn) were measured by ICPMS in 1440 Hortega Study participants. RESULTS: The geometric mean ratios (GMRs) of GSSG/GSH comparing the 80th to the 20th percentiles of metal distributions were 1.15 (95% confidence intervals [95% CI]: 1.03-1.27) for Mo, 1.17 (1.05-1.31) for Ba, 1.23 (1.04-1.46) for Cr and 1.18 (1.00-1.40) for V. For MDA, the corresponding GMRs (95% CI) were 1.13 (1.03-1.24) for Zn and 1.12 (1.02-1.23) for Cd. In 8-oxo-dG models, the corresponding GMR (95% CI) were 1.12 (1.01-1.23) for Zn and 1.09 (0.99-1.20) for Cd. Cr for GSSG/GSH and Zn for MDA and 8-oxo-dG drove most of the observed associations. Principal component (PC) 1 (largely reflecting non-essential metals) was positively associated with GSSG/GSH. The association of PC2 (largely reflecting essential metals) was positive for GSSG/GSH but inverse for MDA. CONCLUSIONS: Urine Ba, Cd, Cr, Mo, V and Zn were positively associated with oxidative stress measures at metal exposure levels relevant for the general population. The potential health consequences of environmental, including nutritional, exposure to these metals warrants further investigation

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oil of Myrtus communis L. from Algeria

This study deals with the valorisation of medicinal and aromatic plants of the Algerian flora, in order to find new bioactive natural products. Myrtus communis essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation was investigated by capillary gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Twenty-seven volatile compounds were identified in the leaves essential oil; the major components were: -pinene (23.5 %), limonene (22.9 %), 1,8-cineole (16.1 %), linalool (13.0%), linalyl acetate (10.9%) and geranyl acetate (4.6%). The antibacterial activity of essential oils extracts was evaluated by the diffusion method and by the dilution method in liquid medium on pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp, Proteus sp and Klebsiella sp)

Composition, chemical variability and effect of distillation time on leaf and fruits essential oils of Myrtus communis from north western Algeria

The chemical variability of the essential oils isolated from Myrtus communis L. leaves and fruits collected from the North western Algeria was evaluated along with a hydrodistillation timecourse study of the essential oil main components. M. communis essential oils were isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed by Gas Chromatography (GC) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The essential oils yields ranged between 0.28% and 0.77% (w/d.w.). Although in variable ranges the leaf (L) and the fruits (F) essential oils were characterized by the dominance of the same compounds: α-pinene (23–49% and 21–43% for L and F, respectively), 1,8-cineole (10–24% and 5-31% for L and F, respectively); limonene (11–30% and 9–35% for L and F, respectively); and linalool (2–32% and 1–7% for L and F, respectively). For the first time, Algerian linalool-rich myrtle essential oils (>30%) are described. Higher relative amounts of α-pinene, 1,8-cineole, limonene and linalool can be obtained with shorter distillation times