A gel-based proteomics approach was used to screen for proteins of differential abundance between the saliva of smokers and those who had never smoked. Subjecting precipitated proteins from whole human saliva of healthy non-smokers to two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) generated typical profiles comprising more than 50 proteins. While 35 of the proteins were previously established by other researchers, an additional 22 proteins were detected in the 2-DE saliva protein profiles generated in the present study. When the 2-DE profiles were compared to those obtained from subjects considered to be heavy cigarette smokers, three saliva proteins, including interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, thioredoxin and lipocalin-1, showed significant enhanced expression. The distribution patterns of lipocalin-1 isoforms were also different between cigarette smokers and non-smokers. The three saliva proteins have good potential to be used as biomarkers for the adverse effects of smoking and the risk for inflammatory and chronic diseases that are associated with it.

A novel cycloartane triterpenoid alkaloid, kleinhospitine E (1), six new cycloartane triterpenoids (2-7), three known cycloartane triterpenoids (8-10), and taraxerone (11) were isolated from a methanol extract of Kleinhovia hospita. Their structures were elucidated by 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopy as well as HRMS analysis. The absolute configurations of all isolated compounds were determined from their ECD spectra by comparison with theoretical values. Kleinhospitine E (1) is the first cycloartane alkaloid possessing an unusual γ-lactam with an oxopropylidene side chain. Compounds 2, 3, and 6 were assigned as cycloartane triterpenoids with a 9α,10α-cyclopropyl ring, which is found rarely among naturally occurring compounds, while 4 and 5 were established as isomers of compound 3 containing a 21,23-diacetal side chain. Biological evaluation revealed that compounds 4 and 9 exhibited more potent antiproliferative activities against a multidrug-resistant tumor cell line compared with its parent chemosensitive cell line. Furthermore, compound 6 exhibited submicromolar anti-HIV activity.

an alternative to plastic packaging due to their environmental friendliness and easy degradation. Therefore, there is an urgent need for bioplastics due to the rapid increase in the pace of plastic production and air pollution causing several health risks because of their toxic nature [Jain & Tiwari, 2015]. Bioplastics are, however, very suitable alternatives to improve the quality of life and maintain a pollution-free planet [Keziah et al., 2018]. It has been discovered that bioplastics made from native starch have poor physicochemical, mechanical, functional and sensory characteristics compared to those modifi ed chemically. According to Shindu & Khatkar [2018], those produced from modifi ed wheat starch are transparent, have greater tensile strength, and lower solubility compared to the native wheat starch. Moreover, edible fi lms of acetylated rice starch were also found to be stable to heat, have high elongation at break, and a rapid process of degradation [Collusi et al., 2017]. Meanwhile, the mechanical properties of bioplastics from tapioca starch modifi ed using acetic anhydride were observed to be superior over these of the native starch

Two compounds (7-O-methylmearnsitrin (7-OM) and roseoside A (RA) were identified and characterized from the leaves of Leea aequata (L. aequata) L. The cytotoxicity of 7-OM and RA on HeLa cells was performed using MTT. The 7-OM and RA showed significant inhibition of HeLa cell proliferation with an IC 50 of 22 and 20 µg/mL, respectively when compared with the standard vincristin sulphate (VS) (IC 50 of 15 µg/mL). Moreover, the 7-OM and RA significantly inhibit other (HEK-293, H228, and H3122) cancer cells when compared with the VS and the cytotoxic activity of the compounds might show through the induction of apoptosis.Strikingly, annexin-V and PI signals could barely be detected in control cells, while strong fluorescence densities were observed in response to treatment indicating that these compounds have capacity to induce HeLa cell apoptosis. Our results suggest that the anticancer activity of 7-OM and RA was due to the induction of apoptosis.