Omanische Heilpflanze im Fokus der Phytochemie IPB-Wissenschaftler und Partner aus Dhofar haben jüngst die omanische Heilpflanze Terminalia dhofarica unter die phytochemische Lupe genommen. Die Pflanze ist reich an…
Geschmack ist vorhersagbar: Mit FlavorMiner. FlavorMiner heißt das Tool, das IPB-Chemiker und Partner aus Kolumbien jüngst entwickelt haben. Das Programm kann, basierend auf maschinellem Lernen (KI), anhand der…
Möhle, L.; Schwarzová, B.; Krohn, M.; Stefan, S. M.; Pahnke, J.;Using a qPCR device to screen for modulators of ABC transporter activity: A step-by-step protocolJ. Pharmacol. Toxicol. Methods104106882(2020)DOI: 10.1016/j.vascn.2020.106882
IntroductionAdenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are transmembrane proteins which actively transport a large variety of substrates across biological membranes. ABC transporter overexpression can be the underlying cause of multidrug resistance in oncology. Moreover, it has been revealed that increased ABCC1 transporter activity can ameliorate behavioural changes and Aβ pathology in a rodent model of Alzheimer's disease and it is currently tested in AD patients.MethodsFinding substances that modulate ABC transporter activity (inhibitors and activators) is of high relevance and thus, different methods have been developed to screen for potential modulators. For this purpose, we have developed a cell-based assay to measure the kinetics of ABCC1-mediated efflux of a fluorescent dye using a common qPCR device (Agilent AriaMx).ResultsWe validated the specificity of our method with vanadate and benzbromarone controls. Furthermore, we provide a step-by-step protocol including statistical analysis of the resulting data and suggestions how to modify the protocol specifically to screen for activators of ABCC1.DiscussionOur approach is biologically more relevant than cell-free assays. The continuous detection of kinetics allows for a more precise quantification compared with assays with single end-point measurements.
Publikation
Mamadalieva, N. Z.; Hussain, H.; Xiao, J.;Recent advances in genus
Mentha
: Phytochemistry, antimicrobial effects, and food applicationsFood Frontiers1435-458(2020)DOI: 10.1002/fft2.53
The genus Mentha (mint) belongs to the Lamiaceae family, which
includes 25 to 30 species. The species of this genus have been known for their medicinal and aromatherapeutic properties since ancient times and possess a significant economical and commercial reputation. Several
species of Mentha are widely used in culinary and traditional medicines in many parts of the world. Essential oils from Mentha
species have been commonly used as flavoring substance in beverages,
providing a “fresh-like” aroma and taste. Chemical analyses of Mentha species have yielded a number of important phytocompounds belonging to different classes, such as organic acids, flavonoids, sterols, alkaloids, lignans, hydrocarbons, fatty acids, tocopherols, proteins, free sugars, etc. Moreover, the main compounds in mints are essential oils, phenolics, and flavonoids. This review reports the available information on the present status (literature up to early 2020) of the Mentha species and summarizes the chemical constituents, traditional and culinary uses, cultivation, and biological properties. In addition, comprehensive analysis of the antibacterial studies conducted on Mentha species is represented. In effect, Mentha species have been presented here as a viable alternative source of many biological and chemically active compounds which are already known to be of great economic, pharmaceutical, and nutritional importance.