Microbial transformation of a fungicide-derived amine, dimethyl-p-phenylene diamine by Alcaligenes DM4

Abstract Microbial transformation of N, N-dimethyl-p-phenylene diamine (DMPDA), a microbial product formed from the fungicide fenaminosulf (p-dimethylaminobenzenediazo sodium sulfonate) was studied by enriching microbes in soils treated with the amine. Microorganisms isolated from DMPDA-treated soil belonged to the genera of Micrococcus, Alcaligenes, and Corynebacterium. Of the various isolates, Alcaligenes DM4 showed maximal growth on DMPDA utilizing it as sources of carbon and nitrogen. When grown in mineral salts basal medium containing 0.05% DMPDA to serve as carbon and nitrogen sources, Alcaligenes DM4 grew exponentially up to 18 h. Even though the characterization of the complete pathway of microbial degradation of DMPDA could not be carried out due to the auto-oxidation of the compound, the initial transformation product of DMPDA by Alcaligenes DM4 has been identified as a dimer. The dimer is generated into the culture medium presumably by the extra-cellular oxidase of Alcaligenes DM4. It is suggested that the risk-benefit evaluation on the use of fenaminosulf is to be made taking into consideration the microbial transformations of the fungicide.

Microbial transformation of cadina-4,10(15)-dien-3-one, aromadendr-1(10)-en-9-one and methyl ursolate by Mucor plumbeus ATCC 4740

The sesquiterpenes cadina-4,10(15)-dien-3-one (1) and aromadendr-1(10)-en-9-one (squamulosone) (14) along with the triterpenoid methyl ursolate (21) were incubated with the fungus Mucor plumbeus ATCC 4740. Substrates 1, 14 and ursolic acid (20) were isolated from the plant Hyptis verticillata in large quantities. M. plumbeus hydroxylated 1 at C-12 and C-14. When the iron content of the medium was reduced, however, hydroxylation at these positions was also accompanied by epoxidation of the exocyclic double bond. In total nine new oxygenated cadinanes have been obtained. Sesquiterpene 14 was converted to the novel 2α,13-dihydroxy derivative along with four other metabolites. Methyl ursolate (21) was transformed to a new compound, methyl 3β,7β,21β-trihydroxyursa-9(11),12-dien-28-oate (22). Two other triterpenoids, 3β,28-dihydroxyurs-12-ene (uvaol) (23) and 3β,28-bis(dimethylcarbamoxy)urs-12-ene (24) were not transformed by the micro-organism, however. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Microbial transformation of the sesquiterpene lactone tagitinin C by the fungus Aspergillus terreus

The biotransformation of the sesquiterpene lactone tagitinin C by the fungus Aspergillus terreus MT 5.3 yielded a rare derivative that was elucidated by spectrometric methods. The fungus led to the formation of a different product through an unusual epoxidation reaction between C4 and C5, formation of a C3,C10 ether bridge, and a methoxylation of the C1 of tagitinin C. The chemical structure of the product, namely 1 beta-methoxy-3 alpha-hydroxy-3,10 beta-4,5 alpha-diepoxy-8 beta-isobutyroyloxygermacr-11(13)-en-6 alpha,12-olide, is the same as that of a derivative that was recently isolated from the flowers of a Brazilian population of Mexican sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia), which is the source of the substrate tagitinin C. The in vitro cytotoxic activity of the substrate and the biotransformed product were evaluated in HL-60 cells using an MTT assay, and both compounds were found to be cytotoxic. We show that soil fungi may be useful in the biotransformation of sesquiterpene lactones, thereby leading to unusual changes in their chemical structures that may preserve or alter their biological activities, and may also mimic plant biosynthetic pathways for production of secondary metabolites.

Studies in the microbial tranformation of alkaloids strychnine and 2-nitrostrychnine

Strychnine is the major alkaloid present in the seeds of _Strychnos, nuxvomica tree which grow naturally in this area. Strychnine has a very complex chemical structure and is known to stimulate all portions of the central nervous system with preference to the spinal cord. However, it is a powerful convulsant and death results from asphyxia. Consequently strychnine has no therapeutic application in the western system of medicine at present. The objective of this work, therefore, was to convert strychnine by microbial transformation into a product having more desirable pharmacological properties so that this locally available natural product may find some use in the preparation of a therapeutic agent.

Fungal Transformation and Schistosomicidal Effects of Pimaradienoic Acid

The schistosomicidal effects of pimaradienoic acid (PA) and two derivatives, obtained by fungal transformation in the presence of Aspergillus ochraceus, were investigated. PA was the only compound with antischistosomal activity among the three diterpenes studied, with the ability to significantly reduce the viability of the parasites at concentrations ranging from 25 to 100 mu M. PA also promoted morphological alterations of the tegument of Schistosoma mansoni, separated all the worm couples, and affected the production and development of eggs. Moreover, this compound was devoid of toxicity toward human fibroblasts. In a preliminary in vivo experiment, PA at a dose of 100 mg/kg significantly diminished the number of parasites in infected Balb/c mice. Taken together, these results show that PA may be potentially employed in the discovery of novel schistosomicidal agents, and that diterpenes are an important class of natural compounds for the investigation of agents capable of fighting the parasite responsible for human schistosomiasis.

土壤氨基酸微生物转化过程研究

摘 要 土壤氨基酸是土壤有机氮的主要组成成分，对土壤氮素供应和土壤碳、氮循环过程有重要影响。揭示土壤氨基酸的微生物转化和更新过程将为土壤有机碳、氮循环转化研究提供新的思路。 稳定同位素示踪技术是研究外加N源在土壤中循环转化的有力手段。而研究特定化合物如氨基酸的微生物转化过程还需与其它技术手段相结合。本研究首次建立了稳定同位素培养－液质联机技术测定土壤氨基酸同位素比例变化的新方法。对于15N和13C培养样品，由于氨基酸在测定过程中，其分子结构未被破坏，15N和13C掺入氨基酸的同位素比例均可通过[M+n]/[M]进行计算，其中[M]为氨基酸准分子离子峰的质荷比（m/z）, n为氨基酸分子中所含的C、N原子的个数。同位素富集用原子百分超（APE）表示。所建立方法具有较高的精密度和准确度，可以准确地反映土壤氨基酸同位素比例的动态变化。 利用上述方法，进行了土壤样品同位素培养与测定，通过跟踪测定土壤氨基酸微生物合成与代谢动态，进行土壤氨基酸的微生物转化与更新过程研究。主要结论如下： 1．葡萄糖为碳源时，微生物利用NH4＋-N合成氨基酸的速率大于NO3－-N。说明NH4＋-N是微生物更易于利用的氮源。不同N源对不同种类氨基酸合成速率影响不同,表明土壤中不同微生物类群对氮源的选择性利用性差异明显。 2. 两种N源对微生物所新合成氨基酸容量影响差异显示，微生物利用NH4+-N所合成氨基酸的数量大于NO3－-N，这与微生物利用两种N源合成氨基酸的APE结果一致。微生物利用两种N源所新合成氨基酸总量与氨基酸总量增量相比，新合成氨基酸总量均随着培养时间的延长而增加，而氨基酸总量增量在培养前期，呈增加趋势，到培养后期逐渐下降。微生物利用NO3－-N时下降更为明显。说明微生物利用外加氮源在培养前期以固持为主，到培养后期以矿化为主。 3.微生物利用U-13C-glucose-NH4+和glucose-15NH4+进行不同种类氨基酸合成时，不同氨基酸的13C和15N的APE变化规律相似。但相应的APE(13C)大于APE(15N)。说明葡萄糖更易于被微生物利用掺与到微生物细胞质结构中。 4.氮源的施加频率的降低使氨基酸的合成速率及容量均显著下降。说明N素的不足同样限制了微生物对氨基酸的合成，使微生物活性明显下降。 5.不同C/N底物对微生物合成氨基酸速率和容量的结果显示，随着C/N增加，微生物利用外加N源合成氨基酸速率和容量明显增加。说明C源的供给显著的提高的微生物的活性，并与碳源的数量呈显著的正相关。土壤微生物量N随着土壤中C源数量提高而显著提高的结果说明，土壤微生物的活性明显提高。进而提高了微生物利用土壤中无机态N向有机态N的转化速率和程度。速效N含量下降的结果表明，通过外加C源的调控，起到了调控N素转化过程的目的，C源浓度的提高显著降低了土壤中无机态N 的积累，降低了其损失的风险。 6. 利用有机物料和N素添加进行土壤样品培养时，土壤氨基酸总量在培养初期显著增加，而随着培养的进行略有下降。而各氨基酸15N APE值较低的结果表明，土壤氨基酸总量的增加主要来源于有机物料的降解，真正通过微生物转化而形成土壤氨基酸的比例很低。有机物料作为碳源时，微生物在利用外加N源合成氨基酸的速率和容量明显低于葡萄糖。说明C源的活性及其可利用性对微生物利用外加N有较大的影响。碳源能否促进微生物对N的利用不在于数量的多少，而在于碳的活性和可利用性。 在充足的能源和碳源条件下，微生物可快速利用外加氮源向土壤氨基酸态N进行转化。因此，氮肥高效利用调控实质是土壤氮素微生物转化过程的调控。提高无机氮素向土壤有机氮的转化速率和强度可以有效减少无机氮在土壤中积累。因此通过适当调节外加碳源的活性及数量，提高无机氮素微生物转化程度，而达到减少氮肥损失的目的。

外源底物对土壤氨基糖生物转化的影响

研究土壤碳、氮微生物转化过程和去向对于理解土壤有机质和肥力特性有重要意义，土壤氨基糖主要由微生物合成，且具有相对稳定性和异源性，所以跟踪微生物残留物氨基糖的动态变化是理解这个转化过程的有效手段。本试验采用室内模拟培养法，研究大豆叶和玉米秸在不同土壤中的微生物转化过程，通过土壤氨基糖组成和含量的动态变化来揭示土壤营养物质的转化机制，同时应用氨基糖特性来评价该过程中微生物的作用，为土壤碳，氮循环和截获的研究提供理论基础。土壤氨基糖在有机物料分解初期以合成为优势，后期以分解为优势，外源底物的数量和营养结构是影响有机物料在土壤中分解进程的主要因素，但外源底物的分解进程可以通过土壤和外加营养进行补偿和调节，充足和协调的营养供应可加速有机物料的分解进程。在底物的分解过程中，土壤氨基糖占有机质的比例和培养时间符合抛物线模型，并且不同底物下，该比例随培养时间加长逐渐趋近，直至重合，表明土壤有机质富积氨基糖的能力是相对稳定的。由此提出了稳定库—易变过渡库理论假设，氨基糖的变化主要在过渡库中，底物越丰富氨基糖过渡库的容量越大，真菌来源的氨基糖相对于细菌来源氨基糖对土壤活性碳、氮库的贡献也越大。

土壤氨基糖微生物转化过程与机理探讨

土壤氨基糖因其异源性和稳定性可用以指示微生物对土壤碳（C）氮循环的相对贡献。但由于氨基糖是微生物在土壤中长期残留的平衡结果，其数量变化无法准确反映在微生物作用下无机态氮（N）向氨基糖转化的动态过程和机制，从而使氨基糖对土壤氮内循环的指示作用受到限制。如果能够利用新的技术手段研究土壤氨基糖的微生物转化过程，将使土壤氮素内循环研究产生突破。同位素技术是研究土壤C，N转化过程的有效手段。但是研究特定化合物如氨基糖的微生物转化过程还需要新的技术支持，本研究首先建立了稳定同位素培养－气质联机技术测定土壤氨基糖同位素富集比例新方法。对于15N培养样品，由于氨基糖分子中只有一个N原子，15N富集比例可通过m/z（F+1）与F相对丰度的比值计算；对于13C培养样品，由于葡萄糖c整体掺入形成氨基糖c骨架，所以利用m／z（F＋n）与F相对丰度的比值计算13c在土壤氨基糖中的富集（n为质谱碎片中骨架C原子数）。同位素富集用原子百分超（APE）表示。EI和cI两种方式测得的APE有很好的同一性，且不受土壤基质的影响，表明方法的可靠性和广泛适用性。利用以上方法，进行了土壤样品的同位素培养与测定，以跟踪土壤氨基糖微生物合成动态，进行氨基糖的微生物转化与更新研究。主要结论如下：1．当以葡萄糖为碳源且每周施入底物时，NH4+和NO3-均可被微生物迅速同化并进行氨基糖的合成。但NO3-必须被还原成NH4＋才能被微生物利用，因而NO3．存在短暂的滞后期，之后被微生物快速利用。氨基葡萄糖（GluN）和胞壁酸（MurN）不同的同位素富集特征表明，N源形态对细菌增殖无显著影响，但真菌更倾向于利用NH4+。在NO3-培养中氨基糖的增量及微生物对C的截获均小于NH4＋。2．分别利用u一13c一glucose一NH4十和glLlcose一ISNH4＋进行样品培养时，同位素富集趋势相同，但APE（13C）大于APE（15N），这种差别反映了了土壤微生物利用C，N的时间特征及土壤有机质含量对C，N循环的影响。3．以gtucose-15NH4+为底物时，施入N素频率的改变也会影响微生物的活性。尤其是细菌的快速生长受到N素不足的限制，转而代之以细菌和真菌的持续的低速生长。微生物活性的降低减少了对有机c的截获。DCD的加入有效抑制了NH4+向NO3一的转化，但对氨基糖的合成无显著影响。4．土壤氨基糖反映的主要是土壤中已经死亡了的微生物的一种长期过程而产生的残留，同土壤微生物量无明显的相关性。但经外加底物培养后，氨基糖同位素富集比例的变化则来源于微生物的转化，因而与微生物量碳有直接的相关性。5．从原理上说，在氨基糖的微生物合成过程中，葡萄糖没有发生C骨架的断裂，而是直接转化成为氨基葡萄糖的骨架。但在复杂的土壤基质中，氨基葡萄糖的合成必然受到葡萄糖其他生物化学过程的影响。使少量葡萄糖经酵解后再次参与己糖胺的合成。以全取代葡萄糖为底物时，葡萄糖碳骨架的断裂与重排不影响13c同位素的富集。但对于单取代葡萄糖培养来说，必须要考虑因葡萄糖碳骨架断裂而产生的同位素的重新分配，Mass（F+1）和Mass（F+2）的丰度变化的总和真正代表了氨基葡萄糖的同位素富集。6．添加有机物料和N素进行土壤样品培养时，对外加氮素的同化远低于相应的葡萄糖培养。碳源尤其是能源不足限制了N的转化。微生物分解高C加的有机物料需吸收外加N源以满足自身生长需要。N素的加入频率影落响微生物对外加N素的利用。当加入的N不能满足微生物分解有机物料的需要，就会降低微生物对有机物料的分解速度，使无机N向氨基糖态N转化速度降低。应用稳定同位素技术，发现施到土壤中的无机氮素可被微生物快速转化成某种形态有机氮，这种有机态氮处于不断转化循环之中，构成土壤有效氮的暂存"过渡库"，其中氨基糖是重要成分之一。过渡库现象的发现为氮肥的有效利用提供了新的思路。根据土壤有效氮"过渡库"的模型，氮月巴高效利用调控实际上就是土壤氮素微生物转化过程的调控。提高土壤无机氮素向土壤有机氮的转化速率和转化强度可以有效减少无机氮在土壤中的积累，从而降低肥料和土壤氮素的硝化和反硝化损失，提高氮肥利用率。研究还发现，土壤有效氮"过渡库"容量与循环速率不仅取决于N源自身性质，碳源的可利用性显著影响施入土壤的N素微生物转化特征。只有适当提高可利用碳源即活性碳源的数量，才能提高氮素的微生物同化，土壤有效氮"过渡库"容量，从而减少氮素损失。

四种药用植物的化学成分及芍药苷的微生物转化研究

本学位论文共有5章。第一章报道白芍的化学成分及芍药苷的微生物转化研究成果；第二章报道天山雪莲的化学成分研究；第三章报道两面针的化学成分研究；第四章报道通关藤的化学成分研究成果；第五章概述了花椒属植物中最近十年报道的新化合物及药理研究情况。 在第1章的第一部分报道了白芍（Paeonia lactiflora Pall.）的化学成分。我们采用正、反相硅胶柱层析等各种分离方法，从白芍的干燥根中共分离出14个化合物，其中1个为新化合物，其结构通过波谱分析证实为没食子酰白芍苷，另外还有2个为首次从该植物中分离得到。第二部分报道了芍药苷的微生物转化生产芍药苷代谢素-I的研究，从15株厌氧菌中筛选出10株有转化活性的菌株，其中短乳杆菌Lactobacillus brevis AS1.12的转化活性最好，对其转化条件进行了初步的筛选，确定了相对合理的转化工艺。 在第2章报道了天山雪莲（Saussurea involucrate Kar.et Kir.）全草乙醇提取物化学成分的分离纯化和结构鉴定。通过正、反相硅胶柱层析等分离纯化和MS、NMR等波谱解析，共分离鉴定了28个化合物，结构类型分属于黄酮、倍半萜和木脂素等，其中2个新倍半萜化合物的结构分别表征为6α-羟基云木香酸6-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷和11βH-11,13-二氢去氢云木香内酯8α-O-(6′-乙酰)-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷。 第3章报道了两面针（Zanthoxylum nitidum （Roxb.）DC.）干燥根的乙醇提取物化学成分的分离纯化和结构鉴定。通过正、反相硅胶柱层析等分离纯化和MS、NMR等波谱解析以及X-射线单晶衍射，共分离鉴定了16个生物碱，结构类型分属于苯并啡啶类、喹啉类和阿朴啡类等，其中2个新苯并啡啶类生物碱的结构分别表征为二聚双氢两面针碱和丙酮基双氢崖定椒碱。 第4章报道了通关藤（Marsdenia tenacissima (Roxb.) Wight et Arn.）水提取物化学成分的分离纯化和结构鉴定。通过正、反相硅胶柱层析等分离纯化和MS、NMR等波谱解析以及X-射线单晶衍射，共分离鉴定了14个化合物，结构类型均属于C21多羟基甾醇，其中4个新化合物tenacigenoside A, tenacigenoside B, tenacigenoside C和tenacigenoside D的结构分别表征为3-O-6-deoxy-3-O-methyl-β-D-allopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-oleandropyranosyl-17β-tenacigenin B (62), 3-O-2,6- dideoxy-4-O-methyl-D-lyxo-hexopyranosly-11α-O- methylbutyryl-12β-O-acetyl-tenacigenin B (63), 3-O-6-deoxy-3-O-methyl-β-D- allopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-oleandropyranosyl-11α-O-tigloyl-tenacigenin C (64)和3-O-6-deoxy-3-O-methyl-β-D-allopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-oleandropyranosyl-11α-O-2- methylbutyryl-tenacigenin C (65)。 第5章概述了花椒属植物的化学成分及药理活性研究进展。 This dissertation consists of 5 chapters. The first chapter elaborate the phytochemical investigation of Paeonia lactiflora Pall., and microbial transformation of paeoniforin. The second, third and four chapters elaborate the phytochemical investigation of Saussurea involucrate Kar.et Kir., Zanthoxylum nitidum (Roxb.) DC. and Marsdenia tenacissima (Roxb.) Wight et Arn., respectively. Chapter 5 is a review on chemical constituents and bioactivities of Zanthoxylum species. The part one of chapter 1 focus on the isolation and identification of chemical constituents from P. lactiflora. Fourteen compounds were isolated from the roots of P. lactiflora by repeat column chromatography over normal and reversed phase silica gel. Among them, one is a new compound and the structure was suggested as galloyl-albiflorin by spectral evidence. In addition, two compounds were firstly reported in this plant. The part 2 is about microbial transformation of paeoniforin. Chapters 2, 3 and 4 were isolations and identifications of chemical constituents from S. involucrate, Z. nitidum and M. tenacissima, respectively. From the aerial parts of S. involucrate, 28 compounds including 7 flavonoids and 13 sesquiterpenoids were isolated and identified. Among them, 2 new compounds were characterized as 6α-hydroxycostic acid 6-β-D-glucoside and 11βH-11,13-dihydrodehydro- costuslactone 8α-O-(6'-acetyl)-β-D-glucoside, respectively, by means of spectroscopic analysis. Otherwise, 11 ones were firstly reported from this plant. The third chapter is about the phytochemical investigation of Z. nitidum. Sixteen compounds were isolated and identified. Among them, 2 new benzophenanthridine alkaloids were characterized as 8-acetonyldihydrofagaridine and 1,3-bis(8-dihydronitidinyl)-acetone by spectroscopic analysis. The fourth chapter is about the phytochemical investigation of M. tenacissima. Fourteen compounds were isolated and identified. Among them, 4 new compounds, tenacigenosides A~D, were characterized as 3-O-6-deoxy-3-O-methyl-β-D-allopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-oleandropyranosyl-17β- tenacigenin B, 3-O-2,6-dideoxy-4-O-methyl-D-lyxo-hexopyranosly-11α-O-methyl butyryl-12β-O-acetyl-tenacigenin B, 3-O-6-deoxy-3-O-methyl-β-D-allopyranosyl- (1→4)-β-D-oleandropyranosyl-11α-O-tigloyl-tenacigenin C, and 3-O-6-deoxy-3-O- methyl-β-D-allopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-oleandropyranosyl-11α-O-2-methylbutyryl- tenacigenin C. Chapter 5 is a review on recent progress in bioactive constituents from plants of Zanthoxylum species.

齐墩果酸的微生物转化

齐墩果酸（OA）是一个分布广泛、含量丰富的天然三萜化合物，常以皂苷元的形式广泛存在于植物中,具有多种重要生物活性。但是OA许多活性较弱，且生物利用度低，限制了其在临床上的应用。一是OA水溶性差;二是抗癌活性仍与临床应用的抗癌药物相差比较大。 真菌在微生物转化中具有种类多、培养条件比较简单等特点，为了寻找到具有转化OA能力的菌株，采取一步发酵的方法，在18株实验室保藏真菌菌株中筛选到5株目的菌株,TLC分析显示有转化效果。 随后采用二步发酵的方法作为复筛，验证5株菌株转化能力，波谱分析结果表明5株菌株对OA确实有转化作用。 选择5株菌种中代号1F-2 2菌株作为放大实验菌株，分离转化产物，得到OA衍生物108（相对分子量414m/z）和1010（相对分子量340 m/z），分离出的产物用于活性检测。寻找到产物108的RP-HPLC分离条件，质谱得出二者相对分子质量。 为验证OA转化产物抗肿瘤活性，首次研究了OA对卵巢癌细胞株IGROV1和人乳腺癌细胞株MDA-MB-231作用，通过细胞增殖抑制实验、用MTT法检测细胞活性，结果表明齐墩果酸可降低卵巢癌细胞株IGROV1和乳腺癌细胞MDA-MB-231细胞增殖能力并呈剂量依赖性，对肿瘤细胞株的半数有效抑制浓度化IC50 分别为36.58μg/mL和38.8μg/mL (P<0．01)。OA能抑制肿瘤细胞活性，并且OA对卵巢癌细胞株IGROV1抑制活性高于乳腺癌细胞MDA-MB-231。 在此基础上，转化产物108和1010对卵巢癌细胞株IGROV1和人乳腺癌细胞株MDA-MB-231的抑制作用也进行研究，MTT实验结果表明，转化产物对两株癌细胞也有抑制活性（P<0．01）。 总之，本文工作为进一步开展齐墩果酸类化合物结构改造和抗肿瘤活性的研究奠定了基础。 Oleanolic acid (OA) is a triterpenoid widely distributed in the nature which possesses various important bioactivities. OA also serves as aglycon of many natural saponins. However, the relatively weak activities and poor bioavailability hinder its clinical use. Firstly, poor water-solubility results in worse bioavailability. Secondly, compared with clinical antitumor drug, the antitumor effect of OA has a great difference, it is worse. Many fungi have ability to transform nature products into a variety of derivatives, and transformation conditions of fungi are simple. Attempt to obtain fungi strains able to biotransform OA, we carried out the following experiments: To investigate the biotransformation 0f OA by strains supplied firstly, we used one-step fermentation method to screen the aimed strains from 18 fungus strains stored in our laboratory. On the basis of the initial screening experiments, we found 5 aimed strains. The TLC results showed that the 5 fungi strains could transform OA into other components derivatives. Then we used two-step fermentation method as secondly screening. We repeated the five strains to do the experiments, analytical data of the results proved the transformation indeed. In the followed experiments work, we chose 1F-2 2 strain as large-scale transformation fungus from the aimed fungi. We got two biotransformation products of OA by 1F-2 2, and named those derivatives 108 and 1010. We found RP-HPLC separation conditions of product 108. The two products were characterized by ESI-MS. To verify the anti-tumor activity of biotransformation products of OA, we studied the inhibition effect of oleanolic acid on the ovarian carcinomas IGROV1 and breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 firstly. With an assay based on a tetrazolium dye (MTT), the effects of various concentrations of oleanolic acid on ovarian carcinomas IGROV1 and breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 were studied. MTT method was used to measure the tumor cells viability. Compared with the control group, oleanolic acid can significantly inhibit the viability of the ovarian carcinoma cells IGROV1 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line (P<0．01), IC50 values were 36.58μg/mL or 38.8μg/mL. Oleanolic acid can inhibit the malignant tumor cells viability, and inhibitory activity of OA to ovarian carcinomas IGROV1 was higher than to breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. On this basis, we studied the anti-tumor activity of the two derivatives of OA [called 108 (414 m/z) and 1010(340 m/z)]. It came to the conclusion that the two derivatives also showed potent inhibitory effect on the growth of these tumor cells（P<0．01）. Therefore, the results of studies will benefit the further investigating on the relationships of structures and antitumor activities of OA.

The influence of pomegranate by-product and punicalagins on selected groups of human intestinal microbiota.

We have examined the gut bacterial metabolism of pomegranate by-product (POMx) and major pomegranate polyphenols, punicalagins, using pH-controlled, stirred, batch culture fermentation systems reflective of the distal region of the human large intestine. Incubation of POMx or punicalagins with faecal bacteria resulted in formation of the dibenzopyranone-type urolithins. The time course profile confirmed the tetrahydroxylated urolithin D as the first product of microbial transformation, followed by compounds with decreasing number of phenolic hydroxy groups: the trihydroxy analogue urolithin C and dihydroxylated urolithin A. POMx exposure enhanced the growth of total bacteria, Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp., without influencing the Clostridium coccoides–Eubacterium rectale group and the C. histolyticum group. In addition, POMx increased concentrations of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) viz. acetate, propionate and butyrate in the fermentation medium. Punicalagins did not affect the growth of bacteria or production of SCFA. The results suggest that POMx oligomers, composed of gallic acid, ellagic acid and glucose units, may account for the enhanced growth of probiotic bacteria.

Ecotoxicological evaluation of wastewater from 2.4.6-TNT production

During the manufacture of explosives, large amounts of water are used to remove unwanted by-products generated. This water in turn, ends up in wastewater treatment plants or water bodies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxic potential of effluent generated by 2.4.6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT) production, yellow water, red water and mixture of yellow and red water, produced from a plant located in the Paraiba Valley, Sao Paolo state, Brazil. Daphnia similis, Danio rerio, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas putida and Pseudokircheneriella subcaptata were used as test organisms. Physicochemical parameters such as color, pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) were evaluated. Effluent from 2.4.6-TNT production was extremely toxic to all test organisms. The physicochemical parameters evaluated showed high levels of conductivity (from 41.533 to 42.344 mu S /cm) and chemical oxygen demand (COD of 8471 to 27.364 mg/L) for the effluents analyzed.

Bioremediation of PAHs - Limitations and soultions

Introduction 1.1 Occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in the environment Worldwide industrial and agricultural developments have released a large number of natural and synthetic hazardous compounds into the environment due to careless waste disposal, illegal waste dumping and accidental spills. As a result, there are numerous sites in the world that require cleanup of soils and groundwater. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are one of the major groups of these contaminants (Da Silva et al., 2003). PAHs constitute a diverse class of organic compounds consisting of two or more aromatic rings with various structural configurations (Prabhu and Phale, 2003). Being a derivative of benzene, PAHs are thermodynamically stable. In addition, these chemicals tend to adhere to particle surfaces, such as soils, because of their low water solubility and strong hydrophobicity, and this results in greater persistence under natural conditions. This persistence coupled with their potential carcinogenicity makes PAHs problematic environmental contaminants (Cerniglia, 1992; Sutherland, 1992). PAHs are widely found in high concentrations at many industrial sites, particularly those associated with petroleum, gas production and wood preserving industries (Wilson and Jones, 1993). 1.2 Remediation technologies Conventional techniques used for the remediation of soil polluted with organic contaminants include excavation of the contaminated soil and disposal to a landfill or capping - containment - of the contaminated areas of a site. These methods have some drawbacks. The first method simply moves the contamination elsewhere and may create significant risks in the excavation, handling and transport of hazardous material. Additionally, it is very difficult and increasingly expensive to find new landfill sites for the final disposal of the material. The cap and containment method is only an interim solution since the contamination remains on site, requiring monitoring and maintenance of the isolation barriers long into the future, with all the associated costs and potential liability. A better approach than these traditional methods is to completely destroy the pollutants, if possible, or transform them into harmless substances. Some technologies that have been used are high-temperature incineration and various types of chemical decomposition (for example, base-catalyzed dechlorination, UV oxidation). However, these methods have significant disadvantages, principally their technological complexity, high cost , and the lack of public acceptance. Bioremediation, on the contrast, is a promising option for the complete removal and destruction of contaminants. 1.3 Bioremediation of PAH contaminated soil & groundwater Bioremediation is the use of living organisms, primarily microorganisms, to degrade or detoxify hazardous wastes into harmless substances such as carbon dioxide, water and cell biomass Most PAHs are biodegradable unter natural conditions (Da Silva et al., 2003; Meysami and Baheri, 2003) and bioremediation for cleanup of PAH wastes has been extensively studied at both laboratory and commercial levels- It has been implemented at a number of contaminated sites, including the cleanup of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska in 1989, the Mega Borg spill off the Texas coast in 1990 and the Burgan Oil Field, Kuwait in 1994 (Purwaningsih, 2002). Different strategies for PAH bioremediation, such as in situ , ex situ or on site bioremediation were developed in recent years. In situ bioremediation is a technique that is applied to soil and groundwater at the site without removing the contaminated soil or groundwater, based on the provision of optimum conditions for microbiological contaminant breakdown.. Ex situ bioremediation of PAHs, on the other hand, is a technique applied to soil and groundwater which has been removed from the site via excavation (soil) or pumping (water). Hazardous contaminants are converted in controlled bioreactors into harmless compounds in an efficient manner. 1.4 Bioavailability of PAH in the subsurface Frequently, PAH contamination in the environment is occurs as contaminants that are sorbed onto soilparticles rather than in phase (NAPL, non aqueous phase liquids). It is known that the biodegradation rate of most PAHs sorbed onto soil is far lower than rates measured in solution cultures of microorganisms with pure solid pollutants (Alexander and Scow, 1989; Hamaker, 1972). It is generally believed that only that fraction of PAHs dissolved in the solution can be metabolized by microorganisms in soil. The amount of contaminant that can be readily taken up and degraded by microorganisms is defined as bioavailability (Bosma et al., 1997; Maier, 2000). Two phenomena have been suggested to cause the low bioavailability of PAHs in soil (Danielsson, 2000). The first one is strong adsorption of the contaminants to the soil constituents which then leads to very slow release rates of contaminants to the aqueous phase. Sorption is often well correlated with soil organic matter content (Means, 1980) and significantly reduces biodegradation (Manilal and Alexander, 1991). The second phenomenon is slow mass transfer of pollutants, such as pore diffusion in the soil aggregates or diffusion in the organic matter in the soil. The complex set of these physical, chemical and biological processes is schematically illustrated in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 1, biodegradation processes are taking place in the soil solution while diffusion processes occur in the narrow pores in and between soil aggregates (Danielsson, 2000). Seemingly contradictory studies can be found in the literature that indicate the rate and final extent of metabolism may be either lower or higher for sorbed PAHs by soil than those for pure PAHs (Van Loosdrecht et al., 1990). These contrasting results demonstrate that the bioavailability of organic contaminants sorbed onto soil is far from being well understood. Besides bioavailability, there are several other factors influencing the rate and extent of biodegradation of PAHs in soil including microbial population characteristics, physical and chemical properties of PAHs and environmental factors (temperature, moisture, pH, degree of contamination). Figure 1: Schematic diagram showing possible rate-limiting processes during bioremediation of hydrophobic organic contaminants in a contaminated soil-water system (not to scale) (Danielsson, 2000). 1.5 Increasing the bioavailability of PAH in soil Attempts to improve the biodegradation of PAHs in soil by increasing their bioavailability include the use of surfactants , solvents or solubility enhancers.. However, introduction of synthetic surfactant may result in the addition of one more pollutant. (Wang and Brusseau, 1993).A study conducted by Mulder et al. showed that the introduction of hydropropyl-ß-cyclodextrin (HPCD), a well-known PAH solubility enhancer, significantly increased the solubilization of PAHs although it did not improve the biodegradation rate of PAHs (Mulder et al., 1998), indicating that further research is required in order to develop a feasible and efficient remediation method. Enhancing the extent of PAHs mass transfer from the soil phase to the liquid might prove an efficient and environmentally low-risk alternative way of addressing the problem of slow PAH biodegradation in soil.