F.M. Strong

The occurrence of methylazoxymethanol in Cycas circinalis L.

Cycas circinalis nuts were chemically fractionated and bioassayed for toxicity. Three of the nine fractions obtained were acutely toxic. The toxic water-soluble fraction was passed through a carbon column; then the material eluted from the column was chromatographed on a cellulose column. A compound, which occurred pure in three of the 30 eluate fractions collected, was crystallized and identified as cycasin, methylazoxymethoxyglucoside. Cycasin was previously reported by other workers to be acutely toxic. Toxicity in two of the fractions was probably due to cycasin. The ethyl ether-soluble Fraction B when ingested by rats in high doses produced acute liver damage, causing death. Smaller doses over a long period of time produced hepatomas. Evidence is presented to show that Fraction B contains methylazoxymethanol, the aglycone of cycasin. The formaldehyde determination by the chromotropic acid method is shown to be applicable for rapid measurement of the quantity of cycasin in cycad nuts.

Isolation and partial characterization of a toxin from Fusarium tricinctum on moldy corn

Abstract Extracts of the fungus, Fusarium tricinctum , isolated from toxic moldy corn, produced severe edema and intradermal hemorrhage when applied to rat skin. Purification studies guided by this test led to the isolation of a major toxin in crystalline form plus a second amorphous toxic product. The crystalline material, C 17 H 24 O 6 , appeared to be an hydroxy ester or lactone, and was highly active in doses of 0.5 mg per animal. It is not the same as any of the toxins previously found in Fusarium species from moldy grains, and does not resemble the aflatoxin group.

A Crystalline " Lathyrus Factor " from Lathyrus odoratus.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to isolate the toxic factor from crude Lathyrus odoratus meal. Rats were used in assays for the toxic factor, and the presence of skeletal deformities as revealed by x-ray was used as the chief criterion of lathyrus toxicity. A crystalline substance was isolated which produced bony changes exactly similar to those seen in rats fed the toxic meal. Analyses of the purified toxic factor agreed with the formula C 8 H 13 O 3 N 3 .

Volatile fatty acids from axenic Ascaris lumbricoides.

Abstract 1. 1. The investigations in this study have been concerned with the separation and identification by gas-liquid chromatography of the methyl esters of volatile fatty acids excreted from axenic Ascaris lumbricoides. 2. 2. Ten methyl ester peaks, of which three were major components and seven minor components, were detected. All but one were tentatively identified by comparison with the relative retention times of comparable standards under the same conditions. 3. 3. The three major components were positively identified by infrared spectroscopy and preparation of amide derivatives as α-methyl n-butyric, n-valeric, and isocaproic acids. The minor components were acetic, propionic, isobutyric and/or trimethylacetic, n-butyric, trans-α-niethyl crotonic (tiglic), and n-caproic acids, plus an unknown branched C7 or C8 acid. 4. 4. The total mole percentages of the methyl esters of different carbon numbers were: C2, 0.27%; C3, 0.77%; C4, 1.14%; C5, 38.0%; C6, 56.2%; and C7–8 3.56%. The most abundant individual acids found were isocaproic, 55.1 mole %, and α-methyl-n-butryic, 31.8 mole %.

Natural occurrence of homocitrulline: I. Excretion in the urine☆

Abstract Homocitrulline was found to be normally present in the urine of infants and young children up to the age of 6 years, in amounts varying from 1 to 65 mg./24 hr. With few exceptions, the amount found in the urine of adults was too low to be estimated accurately. It was not present in milk or milk products. Homoarginine could not be detected in urine.

Separation and determination of antimycins.

Abstract Several alternative assay methods for antimycins are described. A manometric procedure based on inhibition of yeast respiration can be completed within 1–2 hr., and thus permits close control of production and purification procedures. The presence and relative amounts of several active fractions in crude antimycin fermentation broths were established by means of paper chromatography. Improvements in the procedure for isolation of antimycin A and the further purification of this antibiotic are also described.

Quantitative determination of cyanoacetic acid as an enzymic product of β-aminopropionitrile☆

Abstract A procedure has been developed for quantitative determination of cyanoacetic acid (CAA) by colorimetric measurement of the orange dye formed with diazotized sulfanilic acid in alkaline solution. The quantitative CAA procedure was used to measure the in vitro formation of CAA from β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) by liver homogenates of various species. Rabbit liver homogenate was much more active than homogenates of the other species studied. CAA was found to appear in the blood serum of turkeys following the administration of either BAPN or CAA in the diet, higher blood levels of CAA appearing at higher dietary levels of the BAPN or CAA.

α-Methylvaleric acid from Ascaris lumbricoides☆

Abstract A reinvestigation of the C 6 volatile fatty acid from Ascaris lumbricoides supports the structure α-methylvaleric rather than isocaproic acid for this product.