Claude Viel

Update on metal content profiles in mushrooms--toxicological implications and tentative approach to the mechanisms of bioaccumulation.

Fifteen metals (macroelements, heavy metals and trace elements) have been investigated using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) on 92 specimens of mushrooms collected in France, in the Paris region. Their levels and distributions are given. Taking in account the respective contents and bioaccumulation abilities, the data reveal that different mechanisms are involved depending on fungi species and genera besides physicochemical influences. Moreover, they suggest that the different elements might accumulate through various ways that are successively mentioned. Metabolic, toxicological and environmental significances are discussed.

Alcaloïdes dihydrofuroquinoleiques de quelques rutaceae: Isolement, structure, proprietes biologiques

Abstract Six dihydrofuroquinoline quaternary bases have been isolated from Choisya ternata , Ptelea trifoliata and Ruta graveolens . Their structures have been determined by spectrometry and for some, the absolute configuration is reported. Some of the six isolated alkaloids have a prominent cytotoxic action on plant and animal tumor cells, and an inhibitory effect on Gram-positive bacteria.

Study of the age and sex dependence of trace elements in hair by correspondence analysis

The aim of the study was to examine the potential of multidimensional analysis, and in particular of correspondence analysis (CA), in bringing to light the influence of sex and age on trace element (TE) concentrations in hair from an unselected French population. Sixteen elements (S, Hg, Se, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, Co, Mn, Fe, Cr, Mg, Al, Ca, Cu, Ag) were assayed by inductively coupled argon plasma (ICAP) emission specrroscopy in the scalp hair of 135 men and 346 women. In spite of the high background noise, CA was able to reveal the differing patterns in males and females. For instance, in this population, higher relative levels of the essential elements, Ca, Mg, Zn, and Cu, but also of Ag, characterized women’s hair, whereas higher relative levels of the heavy metals, Fe and Pb, were associated with men’s hair. Al and Ag were unexplainedly high in the hair of the youngest members of the population. The Cu and Co of youth seemed to give way to a predominance of Zn in maturity. The hair of individuals in their forties tended to be richest in Ca and Mg, but these elements decreased with advancing age. Heavy metals (Hg, Pb, Fe) accumulated with age, whereas Se, Mn, and Cr seemed independent of age. CA is manifestly a very useful tool for revealing underlying dimensions in complex dynamic systems and unsuspected relationships among variables. Clearly, the significance of the high Al and Ag contents in the hair of certain members of the population, especially of the very young, needs to be investigated from both physiological and toxicological aspects.

Efficient breakage of DNA apurinic sites by the indole-amine related 9-amino-ellipticine

The aromatic amine, 9-NH2-ellipticine, is a synthetic DNA intercalating derivative of the antitumor agent ellipticine, which breaks circular DNA containing apurinic sites. This breakage is inhibited when the apurinic (AP) sites are reduced. The concentration of 9-NH2-ellipticine required to get a significant effect (0.1 microM) is the lowest known among chemicals which induce the same breakage reaction. Comparison with the action of structurally related amines shows that the amino-indole structure is specific for AP sites. The ability of ellipticine derivatives to induce breakage in DNA containing apurinic sites is related to the nucleophile substituent in position 9. Two ellipticine derivatives with known antitumor activity, BD 40 and 9-OH-ellipticine, were able to break purified DNA at apurinic sites.

Biotransformation of ellipticine into 5-formyl ellipticine by Choisya ternata strains.

Sixteen Choisya ternata strains of same genotypic origin were examined for their capacities to biotransform ellipticine. Four strains were able to convert the drug into 5-formylellipticine with good yields. The reaction occurred only in agar medium and was different from ellipticine bioconversion by microorganisms or mammals.

Alkaloid Production by Ochrosia elliptica Cell Suspension Cultures.

Ochrosia elliptica cell suspension cultures were obtained from callus cultures using an original «cell washing technique». These suspensions accumulated ellipticine, 9-methoxyellipticine, elliptinine, isoreserpiline, and reserpiline (a new alkaloid for this species) during the stationary growth phase. Alkaloid production can be enhanced by cloning small cell aggregates.

Dihydrofuro [2,3-b] quinolinium alkaloids in cultured cells of Ptelea trifoliata L. : Isolation of a new alkaloid, ptelecultinium.

Two dihydrofuroquinoline alkaloids, ptelefolonium and another new alkaloid, ptelecultinium, have been isolated from callus strains of Ptelea trifoliata L.. Ptelecultinium was not known to occur in the mature plants. The structure of these two alkaloids were established by UV, MS and 1H-NMR spectra.

Les profils de composition en oligoéléments des pollens, marqueurs potentiels en cladistique végétale

Abstract In botany tentative attempts have been made to classify species, based not on the plant as a whole, but on a particular character, for example pollen characteristics. Pollen, which is involved in the transmission of male genetic information during sexual reproduction, is of particular interest in distinguishing plants and their relationships. These characters, observed in photon- and scanning electron- microscopy are symmetry, form, number and position of germinating areas. Being genetically stable for a given species, they identify a plant. Recently, a novel character has been added: the concentration of elements in the exine, determined by electron probe micro-X-ray analysis. It is interesting to follow relationship of plant species, based on the mineral composition of their pollen as a whole, taking into account both plastic and oligoelements, obtained via an inductive coupled plasma spectrometer. Samples of pollen from different plant species, at distinct taxonomic levels, were analyzed; the ...

Analyse multiparamétrique de la composition minérale des pollens d'une population de Bactris gasipaes (Arecaceae)

Abstract Bactris gasipaes Kunth is important both economically and as a food resource in several countries of tropical Africa. The profitability of cultivation can be increased by genetic amelioration of natural morphotypes. We observed that pollen characteristics influence the morphological and physiological features of the fruits. This prompted us to undertake a study based upon ten morphotypes from the Yurimaguas (Peru). We here complete the morphological and ultrastructural investigation of pollen, previously started by one of us, with an analysis of the elements with respect to the importance of the role they play in relation to pollen function. A determination of the 8 major elements, which corresponds to a precise analysis of the exine, was performed by micro-X-Ray diffraction analysis using an electron probe coupled with a scanning electron microscope. At the same time, the determination of calcium, magnesium and twelve oligo-elements by inductive coupled plasma spectrometry (ICP) provided a compl...

Study of structure/activity relationships by multivariate statistical analysis in a series of triazaspirodecanediones with CNS activities.

The CNS activities of thirteen triazaspirodecanediones have been compared by multivariate statistical analysis. The response parameters used in this study were spontaneous motor activity, potentiation of pentobarbital effect, anticonvulsant and anxiolytic activities. Pharmacological data were analyzed using two methods: (1) a factorial correspondence analysis; (2) an automatic analysis based first on a hierarchical clustering represented by a dendrogram and second on the minimum spanning tree method. The obtained results allow to imagine the synthesis of more specific compounds.