€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****CANCER RESEARCH***** Kuroda K Akao M Kanisawa M Miyaki K Inhibitory effect of Capsella bursa-pastoris extract on growth of Ehrlich solid tumor in mice. In: Cancer Res (1976 Jun) 36(6):1900-3 ISSN: 0008-5472 The treatment of ICR mice with i.p. injections (0.14 g/kg/day) of the extract of Capsella bursa-pastoris herb (Cruciferae) caused 50 to 80% inhibition of the solid growth of Ehrlich tumor cells that had been inoculated into the s.c. tissue of the animals. The tumor lumps in the treated mice showed multifocal necroses and the infiltartion of host fibrous tissue cells. Experiments were also performed to isolate and identify the active component for the antitumor action, and an acidic substance was isolated in crystalline form from the herb extract. This acidic substance was identified as fumaric acid and was effective in inhibiting the growth of Ehrlich solid tumor at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day. The 50% lethal dose (i.p.) of this acid was 266 mg/kg. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****BIOCHEMICAL GENETICS***** Hurka H Freundner S Brown AH Plantholt U Aspartate aminotransferase isozymes in the genus Capsella (Brassicaceae): subcellular location, gene duplication, and polymorphism. In: Biochem Genet (1989 Feb) 27(1-2):77-90 ISSN: 0006-2928 The subcellular location of aspartate aminotransferase isozymes (EC 2.6.1.1) in the genus Capsella (Brassicaceae) was studied. The diploid species C. grandiflora and C. rubella have three AAT isozymes, including one located in the plastids. Each locus is duplicated in the tetraploid Capsella bursa-pastoris. Variation at the plastid-coding locus exceeded that at the other loci. C. bursa- pastoris had some unique alleles not detected in the diploid species. Segregation in open-pollinated families revealed that Capsella grandiflora was outcrossing, whereas C. rubella was highly inbred, with most populations homozygous or uniform at all three loci. Inheritance in the tetraploid colonizer C. bursa-pastoris is disomic. This species was also predominantly selfing with outcrossing rates between 2% and 10%. Registry Numbers: EC 2.6.1.1 (Aspartate Aminotransferase) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****GANN***** Kuroda K Akao M EFFECT OF CAPSELLA BURSA-PASTORIS ON LIVER CATALASE ACTIVITY IN RATS FED 3'-METHYL-4-(DIMETHYLAMINO) AZOBENZENE In: Gann (1975) 66(4):461-462 ISSN: 0016-450X The effect of Capsella bursa-pastoris extract on the liver catalase activity in male Donryu rats treated with an azo dye hepatocarcinogen was studied. Catalase activity was determined by the titanyl sulfate method in three groups of rats: rats fed a diet containing 0.06% 3'methyl-4-(dimethylamino)azobenzene (3'Me-DAB, 0.5 g) and then given water containing 0.2% of Capsella bursa-pastoris extract; rats given 3'Me-DAB and untreated drinking water; and rats given neither 3'-Me- DAB nor the herb extract. Catalase activity was expressed by the value of reaction constant, K, obtained from an equation taking into account reaction time, initial substrate concentration, and residual substrate concentration. Liver catalase activity was considerably reduced in rats given 3'-Me-DAB and ordinary drinking water (536K/100 mg liver protein), compared with the activity (820K/100 mg protein) in untreated controls. Administration of the herb extract after ingestion of 3'-/Me-DAB prevented the reduction of liver catalase activity (activity of 826K/100 mg protein in extract-treated rats). This finding is in agreement with histopathologic observations showing that the herb extract prevented the induction of hepatomas in rats fed 3'-Me-DAB. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Kuroda K Akao M Kanisawa M Miyaki K INHIBITORY EFFECT OF CAPSELLA BURSA-PASTORIS ON HEPATOCARCINOGENESIS INDUCED BY 3'METHYL-4-(DIMETHYLAMINO)AZOBENZENE IN RATS In: Gann (1974) 65(4):317-321 ISSN: 0016-450X The herb extract of Capsella bursa-pastoris (cruciferae) was examined for its effect on hepatocarcinogenesis in rats fed 3'-methyl-4- (dimethylamino)azobenzene (3'-Me-DAB). Male Donryu rats were given 0.5 g 3'-Me-DAB by being fed a diet containing 0.06% 3'-Me-DAB for about 50 days, after which they were given drinking water containing the herb extract in 0.2% concentration with a basal diet for 258 days. Hepatocarcinomas developed in 10 of 12 control rats fed 3'-Me- DAB only. Administration of the herb extract to 10 animals brought a complete inhibition of hepatoma induction, accompanied by a markedly reduced development of cholangio-fibrosis, bile duct cell proliferation, and hepatic cell degeneration. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****MICROBIOS***** El-Abyad MS Morsi NM Zaki DA Shaaban MT Preliminary screening of some Egyptian weeds for antimicrobial activity. In: Microbios (1990) 62(250):47-57 ISSN: 0026-2633 Eleven Egyptian weeds collected from the Menoufeya district were screened for phytochemical compounds effective against several representatives of bacteria and yeasts. It was found that Soxhlet benzene extracts, especially those of Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik., were the most effective. Alkaloids and flavonoids of Capsella gave the highest antibiotic potencies and had the broadest antimicrobial spectra. It is suggested that these alkaloids might consist of yohimbine and ergocristine and the flavonoids included the flavone diosmin. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€