Marine Natural Products for Human Health Care
Hafiz Ansar Rasul Suleria, Megh R. Goyal in Health Benefits of Secondary Phytocompounds from Plant and Marine Sources, 2021
Secondary metabolites in marine organisms, especially in invertebrates, are often attributed a defensive function because they are either sessile or slow-moving and usually lack physical defenses like protective shells or spines, thus necessitating chemical defense mechanisms (such as the ability to synthesize toxic and/or deterrent compounds). Chemically defended organisms often produce multiple secondary metabolites, which opens the possibility of synergistic or additive effects among various metabolites [115]. A good example of this is the Spanish dancer nudibranch (Hexabranchus sanguineus) [220], which feed on sponges in the genus Halichondria that has oxazole macrolides. The organism modifies these compounds slightly and concentrates it in dorsal mantle and egg-masses and uses it to defend against consumers.
Plant Source Foods
Chuong Pham-Huy, Bruno Pham Huy in Food and Lifestyle in Health and Disease, 2022
Alkaloids are organic compounds containing at least one nitrogen atom in a heterocyclic ring and mainly derived from amino acids. In other words, they are named all nitrogen-containing compounds (33–35). Some well-known alkaloids are: caffeine in coffee, tea, kola, and cocoa; nicotine in tobacco leaves; cocaine in coca leaves; morphine, codeine in opium poppy; quinine in the bark of cinchona tree; and atropine in belladonna leaves. Most alkaloids are very toxic and, therefore, have potential functions in the chemical defense against herbivores and microorganisms (33–34). Some of them are used in therapeutics; for example, quinine against malaria, morphine as analgesic, codeine as cough medicine, caffeine as stimulant, atropine as antispasmodic and mydriatic (pupil dilatator) (37). Nicotine, cocaine, and morphine are psychotropic drugs and can cause addiction. Nicotine is used as a green insecticide because it does not harm the environment (34).
Biomarkers of Chemical Warfare Agents
Anthony P. DeCaprio in Toxicologic Biomarkers, 2006
In order to establish validated assays for verification of exposure to certain CWA, the U.S. Army has published a Technical Bulletin #Med 296 (TB MED 296) containing specific assay techniques for monitoring levels of RBC-ChE, and for detection of specific inhibitors of ChE, sarin (GB), soman (GD), and cyclo-sarin (GF) in biological fluids (9). This technical bulletin and other valuable information related to medical chemical defense can be found on the website of the Army’s Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense (USAMRICD) http://usamricd.apgea.army.mil. For monitoring RBC-ChE, TB MED 296 recommends using the Test-Mate™ OP Kit (EQM Research Inc, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A.). This technology is based on the classic Ellman chromogenic assay procedure in which thiocholine, produced by esteratic cleavage of ACh, is detected by the chromogen DTNB (6).
Antimicrobial activity of nitrochalcone and pentyl caffeate against hospital pathogens results in decreased microbial adhesion and biofilm formation
Published in Biofouling, 2019
Fernanda Teresinha de Almeida Sayão de Emeri, Pedro Luiz Rosalen, Éder Ramos Paganini, Mayara Aparecida Rocha Garcia, Ana Carolina Nazaré, Josy Goldoni Lazarini, Severino Matias de Alencar, Luis Octávio Regasini, Janaina de Cassia Orlandi Sardi
Therefore, there is an urgent need for novel alternative strategies to combat microbial infections. While there are several classes of antifungal and antibacterial drugs currently available in the pharmaceutical market, some of them are already ineffective against resistant microorganisms (Vaishampayan et al. 2018). In recent years, this has resulted in an increasing interest in the use of naturally occurring products. Some phytochemicals, produced by plants as part of their chemical defense strategies, have been used to develop new antimicrobial agents, which are not as vulnerable as the current drugs to bacterial and fungal resistance mechanisms (Sardi et al. 2011). In addition, plant-derived molecules may present a more effective mechanism of action, fewer side effects, greater potency, tolerance, and lower production costs (Sardi et al. 2016). As reviewed elsewhere, compounds synthesized from plants historically offer an opportunity to discover and develop new antimicrobial agents (Newman and Cragg, 2016).
Development and characterization of gamma ray and EMS induced mutants for powdery mildew resistance in blackgram
Published in International Journal of Radiation Biology, 2023
Murugesan Tamilzharasi, Dharmalingam Kumaresan, Venkatesan Thiruvengadam, Jegadeesan Souframanien, T. K. S. Latha, N. Manikanda Boopathi, Palaniappan Jayamani
In contrast, the stomatal density was low in resistant mutants and high in susceptible lines and susceptible check CO 6. The influences of leaf micromorphological traits (trichome density and leaf thickness) on resistance may be due to trichomes defending plant organs as surface structures against various abiotic and biotic stresses. The supportive and defensive functions of these epidermal appendages were essential for organ growth and can be due to the appropriate balance of adequate structural characteristics and chemical reinforcements in the context of phenolic compounds, mainly flavonoids (Karabourniotis et al. 2020). Phenolics are moved to the plant cell wall of trichomes at subsequent stages of development, and also the thickening of the secondary wall. Besides trichome, phenolic mixtures provide a chemical defense along with structural protection on plant surfaces toward pathogens and establish a chemically adverse atmosphere against the entry and spread of pathogens into the interior of the leaf and also hinder the development of most of the fungi (Stavrianakou et al. 2010). These findings are in conformity with previous reports of Soundhiriyan et al. (2019), Devi et al. (2019) in blackgram for MYMV, Murria et al. (2019) in grapevine and Chattopadhyay et al. (2011) in mulberry.
Anticonvulsant effectiveness of scopolamine against soman-induced seizures in African green monkeys
Published in Drug and Chemical Toxicology, 2022
John H. McDonough, Joseph D. McMonagle, Benedict R. Capacio
Eighteen naive adult male African green monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops), weighing 4.5–6.7 kg, served as subjects. Ten animals served in the anticonvulsant study; eight animals served in the pK study. Animals were housed individually in 4.3-square-foot stainless steel squeeze-back cages with built-in perches. They were fed commercial certified primate ration by Harlan/Teklad (15%) (W), fresh fruit, and tap water ad libitum. Animal rooms were maintained at 21° C + 2° C, relative humidity of 50 ± 20%, and a 12-h light (0600–1800):12-h dark (1800–0600) cycle with no twilight. The experimental protocol was approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of the US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, and all procedures were conducted in accordance with the principles stated in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and the Animal Welfare Act of 1966 (P.L. 89–544), as amended.
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