Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) boosts hydrogen sulfide tissue concentrations in heart and other mouse organs

Vitamin D3 is a crucial co-regulator of bone growth and remodeling, neuromuscular function, inflammation, proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of cells. Intensive research on endogenous sulfur metabolism has revealed that hydrogen sulfide (H_{2}S) is an important modulator of various physiological processes in mammals. Noteworthy, these compounds are perceived as potential agents in the treatment of numerous disorders, including cardiovascular diseases and different types of cancer. The interaction between vitamin D3 and H_{2}S is unknown. The aim of the study is to assess the influence of cholecalciferol (vitamin D3, calcitriol) on H S tissue concentrations in mouse brain, heart and kidney. Twenty four SJL mice were given intraperitoneal injections of cholecalciferol at 10000 IU/kg body weight (b.w.) per day (group A, n = 8) or 40000 IU/kg b.w. per day (group B, n = 8). The control group (n = 8) received physiological saline. Free H_{2}S tissue concentrations were measured via the Siegel spectrophotometric modified method. There was a significant progressive increase in the H_{2}S concentration along with the rising cholecalciferol doses as compared to the control group in the heart (by 29.6% and by 74.1%, respectively). Higher vitamin D3 dose caused H_{2}S accumulation in the brain (by 10.9%) and in the kidney (by 10.1%). Our study has proven that cholecalciferol affects H_{2}S tissue concentration in different mouse organs

Evaluation of nutritional and medicinal properties of "Bacopa monnieri" biomass and preparations

Bacopa monnieri (Scrophulariaceae) is a well-known plant and has been used by humans for several thousand years. In traditional Hindu medicine, it is one of the most important medicinal plants. The aim of the work was to determine the content of Fe, Mg, and Zn and selected organic compounds before and after extraction into the artificial digestive juices obtained from preparations containing B. monnieri. Commercial preparations in the form of tablets and capsules and B. monnieri shoot cultures were used in the experiment. The metal content in the considered mineralized samples was analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry and organic compounds by RP-HPLC method. The maximum measured content of the metals released into the digestive juices was as follows: Fe ñ 32.85; Mg ñ 367.51; and Zn ñ 16.41 mg/100 g of the preparation. The existing research shows that metals are best released into the artificial digestive juices from the B. monnieri shoot cultures, and least efficiently from the commercial preparations available in the form of tablets. The phenolic compounds analyzed in the methanol extracts and the extracts of the artificial digestive juices were as follows: protocatechuic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, cynaroside, trifolin, and luteolin. Bacoside A was only determined in the extracts from the B. monnieri shoot cultures. The experimental results revealed that B. monnieri distributed in the form of tablets did not break down in the artificial digestive juices during the considered time intervals

Voltammetric determination of trace elements (Cu, Pb, Zn) in peloid-based pharmaceuticals

The research on the potential health risk posed to consumers by toxic elements that can be found in peloids is still lacking. Moreover, in Polish law no clinical or pharmacological tests are required to identify healing properties of peloids. The objective of this work was to determine some mineral content in selected peloids used in medical treatment. Anodic stripping voltammetry with differential pulse step was used for zinc, copper and lead determination. Decomposition of organic matrix was conducted by a simple wet digestion procedure using acid digestion vessel. Obtained results showed that proposed methods were suitable for the determination of investigated metallic elements. Lead content varied between 0.18 mg/kg (in MaúÊ Borowinowa) and reached up to 15.5 mg/kg of dry weight for Chokrak peloid. Zinc content ranged from 0.64 to 66.87 mg/kg and copper content was between 0.57 and 7.50 mg/kg. The proposed method was validated, the recovery for peloid samples were 94 ñ 102%; 92 ñ 97%; 96 ñ 106% for copper, zinc and lead, respectively

Feasibility of the use of Lentinula edodes mycelium in terbinafine remediation

A detailed understanding of the fate of xenobiotics introduced into the environment and the mechanisms involved in their biotransformation, biodegradation, and biosorption is essential to improve the efficiency of remediation techniques. Mycoremediation is a form of bioremediation technique that has become increasingly popular in recent years as fungi are known to produce various effective extracellular enzymes that have the potential to neutralize a wide variety of xenobiotics released into the environment. Hence, mycoremediation appears to be a promising technique for the removal of a wide array of toxins and pharmaceutical residues from a damaged environment and wastewater. This study primarily aimed to investigate whether white-rot fungus (Lentinula edodes) can be utilized for the bioremediation of common antifungal agent terbinafine, which is mainly available in the market as powder or cream. The cultures of L. edodes were cultivated in the medium containing terbinafine powder or terbinafine 1% cream, each at a final concentration of 0.1 mg mL−1. The addition of terbinafine in powder form have a negative effect on biomass growth (p < 0.05). The total amount of terbinafine in the dry weight of mycelium after culture was estimated to be 7.63 ± 0.45 mg and 12.52 ± 2.46 mg for powder and cream samples, respectively. In addition, there were no traces of terbinafine in any of the samples of medium used for culturing L. edodes after the experimental duration period. The biodegradation products of terbinafine were identified for the first time using UPLC/MS/MS. The biodegradation of terbinafine resulted in the loss of 1-naphthylmethanol, which occurred via oxidative deamination, N-demethylation, or tert-butyl group hydroxylation. The results of the study demonstrate that L. edodes mycelium can be effectively used for the remediation of terbinafine