Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT, EC 2.1.1.6) plays a crucial role in dopamine metabolism which has intimately linked this enzyme to some neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease. In recent years, in the attempt of developing new therapeutic strategies for Parkinson's disease, there has been a growing interest in the search for effective COMT inhibitors. In order to do so, larg...

In an effort to investigate catechol methyltransferase activity in sources other than mammalian tissues and cells, a high level of enzyme activity was found in the yeast fungus Candida tropicalis CBS 94. Partial purification of the enzyme (approx. 550 fold with a recovery of 7%) could be achieved by using ion-exchange and gel filtration techniques. The molecular weight was estimated at 32,000 +...

Ubiquinone functions in the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Recent evidence suggests that the reduced form of ubiquinone (ubiquinol) may also function as a lipid soluble antioxidant. The biosynthesis of ubiquinone requires two O-methylation steps. In eukaryotes, the first O-methylation step is carried out by the Coq3 polypeptide, which catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group from S-ade...

The phytochemicals of aqueous, methanol, ethanol and n-hexane crude extracts GC-MS the essential oils obtained by hydro-distillation solvent extraction methods Ocimum sanctum leaves grown in Nigeria were determined present study. Phytochemical analysis showed that contained saponins, terpernoids, cardiac glycosides, steroids, alkaloids, phlobatannins tannins. highest contents phenol steroid fou...

In cardiac and skeletal muscle, eugenol (μM range) blocks excitation-contraction coupling. In skeletal muscle, however, larger doses of eugenol (mM range) induce calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. The effects of eugenol are therefore dependent on its concentration. In this study, we evaluated the effects of eugenol on the contractility of isolated, quiescent atrial trabeculae from...

Coq3 O-methyltransferase carries out both O-methylation steps in coenzyme Q (ubiquinone) biosynthesis. The degree to which Coq3 O-methyltransferase activity and expression are dependent on the other seven COQ gene products has been investigated. A panel of yeast mutant strains harboring null mutations in each of the genes required for coenzyme Q biosynthesis (COQ1-COQ8) have been prepared. Mito...

Eugenol has been widely used in dental practice to relieve pain arising from a variety of sources. Several beneficial effects of eugenol such as its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anesthetic and vascular and muscle relaxant activity are recognized. It seems that there is no scientific study about eugenol effects on wound healing. The present study involved the clinical anesthetic effects of di...

The effect of essential oils, eugenol, thymol and menthol, on erythrocytes, hepatocytes, dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC)-liposomes and surface tension were studied at various concentrations. Maximal inhibition of eugenol, thymol and menthol on the hypotonic hemolysis in rat erythrocytes were observed at a concentration of 2 mM, 1 mM and 1 mM, respectively. Eugenol at 4 mM and thymol at 2...

BACKGROUND Eugenol, a natural compound available in Syzigium aromaticum (cloves), is exploited for various medicinal applications. Eugenol induces apoptosis and functions as an anti-cancer drug in several types of tumors. We investigated the tumor suppressive role and potential mechanisms of eugenol in human lung cancer cells. METHODS Human embryonic lung fibroblast MRC-5 and lung cancer aden...

The effect of eugenol on colchicine transport across an isolated rat intestinal membrane was studied using an in vitro diffusion chamber system. We found that eugenol increased the absorptive transport of the drug efficiently. The effect of eugenol on intestinal absorption of colchicine in an oral administrative nanoemulsion formulation was also demonstrated in vivo. The colchicine nanoemulsion...