Biological activity of four thiophene compounds in resting Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells.

Biological activity (mortality and genotoxicity) of four thiophene compounds [a-terthienyl (a-T); 5-(4-hydroxy-1-butinyl)-2,2'-bithienyl (BBTOH); 5-(3-buten-1-ynyl)-2,2'-bithienyl (BBT); 5-(4-acetoxy-1-butinyl)-2,2'-bithienyl (BBTOAc)] was evaluated on Saccharomyces cerevisiae D7 strain cells. An high percentage of mortality was found with BBTOAc at all concentrations tested. A significant effect was also detected with alpha-T but only at the highest concentration. BBTOH stimulated colonies growth only at the lowest concentration, while BBT showed no effects. None of the tested compounds presented genotoxic activity

In vitro production of free oxygen radicals induced by pulsed ultrasounds in whole blood exposed to diagnostical frequencies and intensities

DNA alkalinization experiments on lymphocytes from sonicated whole blood and on in vitro cultured lymphocytes in presence of free radical scavengers (superoxide dismutase, catalase and mannitol) showed that lesions inflicted upon DNA by pulsed ultrasounds could be ascribed to production of free radicals (O2-, OH.) and H2O2, which could mediate the production of still unidentified organic radicals, likely to be responsible for DNA damage

Effects of pulsed ultrasound and ultraviolet radiation on vitamin E and olive oil

The effects of ultrasound and ultraviolet radiation on Vitamin E and its pharmacological excipient, olive oil, were tested by fluorescent analysis of DNA unwinding (FADU) on DNA extracted from human lymphocytes of healthy donors. The results show that Vitamin E may be inactivated and behave as a radical species, while olive oil appears unaffected by treatment either with ultrasound or with ultraviolet radiatio

Oxygen radical scavengers inhibit clastogenic activity induced by sonication of human serum

Clastogenic factors (CF) are diffusible molecules that damage DNA. They are generated within biological media by a variety of physical and chemical stimuli. Their nature and mechanism of action remain largely unknown. Clastogenic activity can be experimentally generated by pulsed ultrasound treatment of human serum. To investigate whether oxygen radicals are involved in the clastogenic activity induced by sonication of human serum, we examined the effects on such clastogenic activity of different oxygen radical scavengers added to human serum before and after sonication. Human serum was sonicated for 50 min at 24 microW/cm2 by pulsed ultrasound. The clastogenic activity of sonicated human serum was examined in the presence or absence of oxygen radical scavengers by measuring the amount of DNA damage induced in autologous human lymphocytes, assessed with the fluorometric analysis of DNA unwinding (FADU). Sonication of human serum generated significant DNA damage in autologous lymphocytes (DNA unwinding averaged 31.79% +/- 2.1 after sonication vs. 12.82% +/- 2.6 in the controls, p < 0.005). Superoxide dismutase (SOD; 500 I.U./ml), catalase (500 I.U./ml), mannitol (50 mM), and glutathione (50 mM) completely prevented DNA damage when added before serum sonication, whereas only mannitol (86%) and glutathione (90%) almost completely inhibited DNA damage when added after sonication. SOD and catalase had only a partial inhibitory effect when added after sonication (49% and 63%, respectively). The prevention of DNA damage was also obtained by an association of subliminal amounts of glutathione (20 mM) and vitamin E (1 I.U./ml). These results suggest that the clastogenic activity generated by sonication of human serum is mediated by oxygen radicals

Morphological and histochemical investigation on glandular trichomes of Orobanche ramosa subsp. nana (Orobanchaceae)

Glandular trichomes present in the stems and flower parts of Orobanche ramosa L. subsp. nana (Reuter) Coutinho were examined under conventional microscopy, UV microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The ontogenesis and morphology of the glandular trichomes appeared to be identical to those reported for other species belonging to Geraniaceae, Solanaceae, Cannabaceae and Scrophulariaceae. Histochemical investigations were performed to qualitatively detect the main classes of compounds occurring in the glandular hairs and in the secretion. The results achieved suggested the presence of terpenes and flavonoids as the main chemicals. The absence of positive reactions to sesquiterpenes contrasts with similar previously written papers which report sesquiterpenes, together with phenylpropanoids and iridoid glycosides as characteristic chemicals of the genus

Morphological and histochemical investigation on glandular trichomes of Orobanche ramosa subsp nana (Orobanchaceae)

Glandular trichomes present in the stems and flower parts of Orobanche ramosa L. subsp. nana (REUTER) COUTINHO were examined under conventional microscopy, UV microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, The ontogenesis and morphology of the glandular trichomes appeared to be identical to those reported for other species belonging to Geraniaceae, Solanaceae, Cannabaceae and Scrophulariaceae. Histochemical investigations were performed to qualitatively detect the main classes of compounds occurring in the glandular hairs and in the secretion. The results achieved suggested the presence of terpenes and flavonoids as the main chemicals. The absence of positive reactions to sesquiterpenes contrasts with similar previously written papers which report sesquiterpenes, together with phenylpropanoids and iridoid glycosides as characteristic chemicals of the genus