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Bergapten
Bergapten (5-methoxypsoralen) is a naturally-occurring organic chemical compound produced by numerous plant species, especially from the carrot family Apiaceae and the citrus family Rutaceae. For example, bergapten has been extracted from 24 species of the genus '' Heracleum'' in the family Apiaceae. Cited by Mitchell and Rook (1979). In the family Rutaceae, various ''Citrus'' species contain significant amounts of bergapten, especially the bergamot orange, the micrantha, and certain varieties of lime and bitter orange. Bergapten belongs to a class of chemical compounds known as the furanocoumarins. In 1834, Kalbrunner isolated 5-methoxypsoralen from bergamot essential oil, hence the common name "bergapten". It was the first furanocoumarin to be isolated and identified. Toxicity Bergapten is a derivative of psoralen, the parent compound of a family of naturally-occurring organic compounds known as the linear furanocoumarins (so called since they exhibit a linear chemical ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Phytophotodermatitis
Phytophotodermatitis, also known as berloque dermatitis or margarita photodermatitis, is a cutaneous phototoxic inflammatory reaction resulting from contact with a light-sensitizing botanical agent followed by exposure to ultraviolet light (from the sun, for instance). Symptoms include erythema, edema, blisters (Skin condition#Vesicle, vesicles and/or Skin condition#Bulla, bullae), and delayed hyperpigmentation. Heat and moisture tend to exacerbate the reaction. A reaction may be elicited in any person who has been exposed to adequate amounts of both a photosensitizing, photosensitizer and ultraviolet light. Phytophotodermatitis is not an Immunology, immunologic response; no prior exposure to the photosensitizing agent is required. The photosensitizing substances found in phototoxic plants belong to a class of chemical compounds called the furanocoumarins, which are activated by long-wavelength ultraviolet (UVA) light. The most toxic of these organic compounds are the linear furan ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bergamot Essential Oil
Bergamot essential oil is a cold-pressed essential oil produced by cells inside the rind of a bergamot orange fruit. It is a common flavoring and top note in perfumes. The scent of bergamot essential oil is similar to a sweet light orange peel oil with a floral note. Production The '' sfumatura'' or slow-folding process was the traditional technique for manually extracting the bergamot oil. By more modern methods, the oil is extracted mechanically with machines called peelers, which scrape the outside of the fruit under running water to get an emulsion channeled into centrifuges for separating the essence from the water. The rinds of 100 bergamot oranges yield about of bergamot oil. Uses Bergamot essential oil has been used in cosmetics, aromatherapy, and as a flavoring in food and beverages. Its citrus scent makes it a natural flavoring and deodorizing agent. The volatile oils of the bergamot orange are described as flavoring agents in the USP Food Chemicals Codex a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Micrantha (citrus)
The micrantha is a wild citrus from the papeda group, native to southern Philippines, particularly islands of Cebu and Bohol. Two varieties are recognized: small-flowered papeda (''C. hystrix'' var. ''micrantha''), locally known as ''biasong'', and small-fruited papeda (''C. hystrix'' var. ''microcarpa'') or ''samuyao''. Long viewed as a separate species, ''C. micrantha'', it is now generally viewed to fall within ''Citrus hystrix'', but genomic data on the latter is insufficient for a definitive conclusion. A micrantha was one of the progenitor species of some varieties of lime. Description The micrantha was first described to Western science in 1915 by Peter Jansen Wester, who worked for the Philippine Bureau of Agriculture at the time. Biasong Wester collected ripe fruit specimens of biasong (small-flowered papeda, ''Citrus hystrix'' var. ''micrantha'') on islands of Cebu, Bohol, Dumaguete, Negros, and in the Zamboanga and Misamis provinces in Mindanao. The frui ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Psoralen
Psoralen (also called psoralene) is the parent compound in a family of naturally occurring organic compounds known as the linear furanocoumarins. It is structurally related to coumarin by the addition of a fused furan ring, and may be considered as a derivative of umbelliferone. Psoralen occurs naturally in the seeds of ''Psoralea corylifolia'', as well as in the common fig, celery, parsley, West Indian satinwood, and in all citrus fruits. It is widely used in PUVA (psoralen + UVA) treatment for psoriasis, eczema, vitiligo, and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma; these applications are typically through the use of medications such as Methoxsalen. Many furanocoumarins are extremely toxic to fish, and some are deposited in streams in Indonesia to catch fish. Uses Psoralen is a mutagen, and is used for this purpose in molecular biology research. Psoralen intercalates into DNA and on exposure to ultraviolet (UVA) radiation can form monoadducts and covalent interstrand cross-links (ICL) w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Citrus
''Citrus'' is a genus of flowering plant, flowering trees and shrubs in the rue family, Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as Orange (fruit), oranges, Lemon, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and lime (fruit), limes. The genus ''Citrus'' is native to South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Melanesia, and Australia (continent), Australia. Various citrus species have been used and domesticated by indigenous cultures in these areas since ancient times. From there its cultivation spread into Micronesia and Polynesia by the Austronesian expansion (c. 3000–1500 BCE); and to the Middle East and the Mediterranean (c. 1200 BCE) via the incense trade route, and onwards to Europe and the Americas. History Citrus plants are native to subtropical and tropical regions of Asia, Island Southeast Asia, Near Oceania, and northeastern Australia. Domestication of citrus species involved much hybridization and introgression, leaving much uncertainty ab ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Furanocoumarins
The furanocoumarins, or furocoumarins, are a class of organic chemical compounds produced by a variety of plants. Most of the plant species found to contain furanocoumarins belong to a handful of plant families. The families Apiaceae and Rutaceae include the largest numbers of plant species that contain furanocoumarins. The families Moraceae and Fabaceae include a few widely distributed plant species that contain furanocoumarins. Generally furanocoumarins are most abundant in plants that have flowered and in ripe seeds and fruits. (An exception is the common fig where furanocoumarins are found chiefly in the milky sap of the leaves and shoots but not the fruits. Cited in McGovern and Barkley 2000, section&nbsPhytophotodermatitis) During the early stages of plant growth, their presence is not easily detected. Structure The chemical structure of furanocoumarins consists of a furan ring fused with a coumarin. The furan ring may be fused in various ways producing several differen ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Heracleum (plant)
''Heracleum'' is a genus of biennial and perennial herbs in the carrot family Apiaceae. They are found throughout the temperate northern hemisphere and in high mountains as far south as Ethiopia. Common names for the genus or its species include hogweed and cow parsnip. The genus name ''Heracleum'' was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. It derives from the Ancient Greek () "of Heracles", referring to the mythological hero. Species Many species of the genus ''Heracleum'' are similar in appearance. An outlier is ''H. mantegazzianum'', the large size of which is exceptional. Common species include: * ''Heracleum mantegazzianum'', giant hogweed, native to the western Caucasus region of Eurasia, a serious invasive species in many areas of Europe and North America * ''Heracleum sosnowskyi'', Sosnowsky's hogweed, native to the eastern Caucasus, a common weed throughout Europe and Asia * ''Heracleum persicum'', Persian hogweed, native to Iran, Iraq, and Turkey * ''Heracleum spho ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bergamot Orange
''Citrus bergamia'', the bergamot orange (pronounced ), is a fragrant citrus fruit the size of an orange, with a yellow or green color similar to a lime, depending on ripeness. Genetic research into the ancestral origins of extant citrus cultivars found bergamot orange to be a probable hybrid of lemon and bitter orange. Extracts have been used as an aromatic ingredient in food, tea, snus, perfumes, and cosmetics. Use on the skin can increase photosensitivity, resulting in greater damage from sun exposure. Etymology The word bergamot is derived from the Italian word , derived either from the Italian town of Bergamo or Ottoman Turkish ("prince's pear"). Description ''Citrus bergamia'' is a small tree that blossoms during the winter. The juice tastes less sour than lemon, but more bitter than grapefruit. Phytochemicals Bergamot fruit or oil contains flavonoids, such as neoeriocitrin, naringin, neohesperidin, ponceritin, melitidin, mitrocin, miriflin, brutieridin, and berga ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lime (fruit)
A lime (from French language, French ''lime'', from Arabic ''līma'', from Persian language, Persian ''līmū'', "lemon") is a citrus fruit, which is typically round, lime (color), green in color, in diameter, and contains acidic juice vesicles. There are several species of citrus trees whose fruits are called limes, including the Key lime (''Citrus aurantiifolia''), Persian lime, kaffir lime, Makrut lime, and Citrus glauca, desert lime. Limes are a rich source of vitamin C, are sour, and are often used to accent the flavours of foods and beverages. They are grown year-round. Plants with fruit called "limes" have diverse genetic origins; limes do not form a monophyletic group. Plants known as "lime" The difficulty in identifying exactly which species of fruit are called lime in different parts of the English-speaking world (and the same problem applies to synonyms in other European languages) is increased by the botanical complexity of the citrus genus itself, to which the m ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Furanocoumarin
The furanocoumarins, or furocoumarins, are a class of organic chemical compounds produced by a variety of plants. Most of the plant species found to contain furanocoumarins belong to a handful of plant families. The families Apiaceae and Rutaceae include the largest numbers of plant species that contain furanocoumarins. The families Moraceae and Fabaceae include a few widely distributed plant species that contain furanocoumarins. Generally furanocoumarins are most abundant in plants that have flowered and in ripe seeds and fruits. (An exception is the common fig where furanocoumarins are found chiefly in the milky sap of the leaves and shoots but not the fruits. Cited in McGovern and Barkley 2000, section&nbsPhytophotodermatitis) During the early stages of plant growth, their presence is not easily detected. Structure The chemical structure of furanocoumarins consists of a furan ring fused with a coumarin. The furan ring may be fused in various ways producing several differen ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
PTEN (gene)
Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is a phosphatase in humans and is encoded by the ''PTEN'' gene. Mutations of this gene are a step in the development of many cancers, specifically glioblastoma, lung cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer. Genes corresponding to PTEN (orthologs) have been identified in most mammals for which complete genome data are available. ''PTEN'' acts as a tumor suppressor gene through the action of its phosphatase protein product. This phosphatase is involved in the regulation of the cell cycle, preventing cells from growing and dividing too rapidly. It is a target of many anticancer drugs. The protein encoded by this gene is a phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate 3-phosphatase. It contains a tensin-like domain as well as a catalytic domain similar to that of the dual specificity protein tyrosine phosphatases. Unlike most of the protein tyrosine phosphatases, this protein preferentially dephosphorylates phosphoinositide substrates. It nega ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cytochrome P450
Cytochromes P450 (CYPs) are a Protein superfamily, superfamily of enzymes containing heme as a cofactor (biochemistry), cofactor that functions as monooxygenases. In mammals, these proteins oxidize steroids, fatty acids, and xenobiotics, and are important for the clearance (pharmacology), clearance of various compounds, as well as for hormone synthesis and breakdown. In 1963, Ronald W. Estabrook, Estabrook, David Y. Cooper, Cooper, and Otto Rosenthal, Rosenthal described the role of CYP as a catalyst in steroid hormone synthesis and drug metabolism. In plants, these proteins are important for the biosynthesis of secondary metabolite, defensive compounds, fatty acids, and hormones. CYP enzymes have been identified in all kingdom (biology), kingdoms of life: animals, plants, fungus, fungi, protists, bacteria, and archaea, as well as in viruses. However, they are not omnipresent; for example, they have not been found in ''Escherichia coli''. , more than 300,000 distinct CYP proteins ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
