Evaluation of Biological Activity of Two Steroid Derivatives on Glucose Levels Using a Diabetic Model

In this study, three steroid derivatives (compounds 2-4) were prepared from an estrone derivative (compound 1) to evaluate their biological activity on glucose concentration using a diabetic model. Besides, the compounds 1 and 4 were bound to technetium-99m (Tc-99m) via a radioimmunoassay method to evaluate the biodistribution of either compounds 1 and 4 in different organs over time (15, 30, 45, and 60 min). The results showed that both compounds 1 and 4 increase glucose levels compared with either compounds 2 and 3. In addition, other data showed that the biodistribution of the Tc-99m-compound 4 conjugate in all organs was higher compared with Tc-99m- compound 1 complex. In conclusion, compound 4 had greater hypoglycemic effects, and its biodistribution was wider than 1. The data suggest that amino groups may be important to the hypoglycemic activity of compound 4, and this could be related to their higher lipophilicity degree compared with compound 1.

Flavonoids from the Bark of Artocarpus integer var. silvestris and their Anti-inflammatory Properties

A new pyranoflavone, methoxycyclocommunol (1) together with four known flavonoids, artonin F (2), heteroflavanone A (3), cudraflavone C (4) and cyclocommunol (5) were isolated from the bark of Artocarpus integer var. silvestris Corner. Their structures were elucidated through extensive spectroscopic techniques (UV, IR, MS, 1D-NMR and 2D-NMR) and by comparison with literature data. All the pure compounds were tested for their anti-inflammatory activities by using screening kit and radioimmunoassay methods. In a 15-lipoxygenase (15-LOX) inhibitory assay, compounds 1, 2, 4 and 5 gave weak percentages of inhibition, 16.5, 18.3, 17.6, 10.2%, respectively at the concentration of 100 μM. Compounds 1, 3 and 4, however, showed strong dose-dependent inhibition towards prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production in lipopolysaccharide-induced human whole blood using a radioimmunoassay method with IC50 values of 4.3, 0.8, and 0.07 μM, respectively suggesting that they strongly exhibited cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity.

Determination of carcinoembryonic antigen and cancer antigen values with the radioimmunoassay method in healthy females dogs

The aim of this study was to determine reference values of carcinoembryonic antigen and cancer antigen in 32 clinically healthy bitches. The average age of the bitches in each group was as follows: small breeds 3.50 ± 2.30, medium breeds 3.83 ± 3.21, large breeds 6.00 ± 3.22 and giant breeds 2.40 ± 2.43. The average weight in each group was as follows: 1^st group 7.94 kg ± 1.84, 2^nd group 22.38 kg ± 2.77, 3^rd group 35.94 kg ± 7.16, and 4^th group 52.75 kg ± 5.04. The cancer markers were determined using human kits. The mean values of the carcinoembryotic antigen markers ± SD were as follows: 1^st group 0.18 ± 0.03, 2^nd group 0.20 ± 0.03, 3^rd group 0.22 ± 0.01, 4^th group 0.18 ± 0.04. The statistical significance for the carcinoembryonic antigen markers was P = 0.0042**. The values of cancer antigen markers ± SD were: 4.90 ± 1.04, 4.80 ± 1.13, 5.90 ± 1.22, and 4.72 ± 0.97, respectively. The cancer antigen values were statistically insignificant (P = 0.1762). Based on obtained values of the mean 95%, we expect a standard for carcinoembryonic antigen of 0.00–0.23 ng/ml and for cancer antigen 0.0–7.00 IU/ml. The results of the present study show that it is possible to use human kits for the determination of carcinoembryonic antigen and cancer antigen in clinically healthy bitches using the radioimmunoassay method.  

Occurrence of Aflatoxins in Peanuts, Milk, and Animal Feed in Trinidad

The prevalence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in 186 peanut products (140 peanuts, 32 peanut butter, and 14 nut cakes) from supermarkets, road vendors, and sale outlets, and 40 feed samples from dairy farmers was determined using the radioimmunoassay method (Charm II) test for aflatoxins. The frequency of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) was also determined in 175 raw milk samples from milk collection centers and 37 pasteurized milk samples obtained from supermarkets and sale outlets. Overall, from a total of 438 samples tested, 18 (4.1%) were positive for aflatoxin comprising 5 (2.2%) of 226 peanut products and feeds positive for AFB1, and 13 (6.1%) of 212 milk samples positive for AFM1. All 186 peanuts and peanut products were negative (0.0%) for AFB1 while 5 (7.4%) of 40 dairy feed samples were positive. Of the 175 raw milk samples tested, 13 (7.4%) were contaminated with AFM1 while all pasteurized milk samples were negative. The detection of AFB1 in feed and AFM1 in milk is of public health importance considering the practice of raw milk consumption by the farmers and their families in the country.