Plant-derived

P-Endorphin. A peptide corresponding to the 31 C-terminal amino acids of P-LPH was first discovered in camel pituitary tissue (10). This substance is P-endorphin, which exerts a potent analgesic effect by binding to cell surface receptors in the central nervous system. The sequence of P-endorphin is well conserved across species for the first 25 N-terminal amino acids. Opiates derived from plant sources, eg, heroin, morphine, opium, etc, exert their actions by interacting with the P-endorphin receptor. On a molar basis, this peptide has approximately five times the potency of morphine. Both P-endorphin and ACTH ate cosecreted from the pituitary gland. Whereas the physiologic importance of P-endorphin release into the systemic circulation is not certain, this molecule clearly has been shown to be an important neurotransmitter within the central nervous system. Endorphin has been invaluable as a research tool, but has not been clinically useful due to the avadabihty of plant-derived opiates. 

Recent advances in the discovery and development of plant-derived natural products and their analogs, in particular polycyclic 0-heterocycles, as anti-HIV agents 99PACI045. 

Plutonium-239 is a fissile element, and vvill split into fragments when struck by a neutron in the nuclear reactor. This makes Pu-239 similar to U-235, able to produce heat and sustain a controlled nuclear reaction inside the nuclear reactor. Nuclear power plants derive over one-third of their power output from the fission of Pu-239. Most of the uranium inside nuclear fuel is U-238. Only a small fraction is the fissile U-235. Over the life cycle of the nuclear fuel, the U-238 changes into Pu-239, which continues to provide nuclear energy to generate electricity. 

Plant derivatives comprise several subgroups with diverse mechanisms of action. 

Plants contain to some extent less bioavailable forms of vitamin B6, e.g., glycosylates, or biologically inactive metabolites, e.g., e-pyridoxin-lysin-complexes. In addition, the release of vitamin B6 from foods rich in fiber is assumed to be delayed. The bioavailability of vitamin B6 from animal-derived foods is therefore overall higher than from plant-derived foods. Good dietary sources of vitamin B6 include chicken, fish, pork, beans, and pulses [1]. 

Herbivores typically eat diets with high carbohydrate and low protein and lipid. F is about 0.15, and the protein is mainly plant derived and not very different in S C from the non-protein (i.e., Dp is close to Dn). For carnivores, F is typically 0.5 or over, and carbohydrate is low. Animal protein is generally isotopically heavier, while the non-protein is much higher in lipid, so that Dp - Dn is generally quite large (>5%o). The spacing, Bcolla Bcarb. for the two diets is evaluated according to the equation above. 

Other compounds include the plant-derived sterols (phytosterols) and other sulphur-containing compounds found in onions and their relatives. Only a few of the more important examples will be discussed in the following sections. 

MATTILA p and KUMPULAINEN J (2002) Determination of free and total phenolic acids in plant-derived foods by HPLC with diode-array detection, JAgric Food Chem, 50, 3660-67. 

SRB contains high-quality protein, oil, dietary fiber, polysaccharides, fat-soluble phytochemicals (plant derived bioactive compounds) and other bran nutrients. Rice bran and germ are the richest natural sources of B complex vitamins as well as E vitamins, polyphenols, several antioxidants and minerals. It is now available in the commercial food ingredient market as a safe and effective functional food and dietary supplement. 

Six anthocyanidins are commonly found in plants and plant-derived foods and beverages pelargonidin, cyanidin, delphinidin, peonidin, petunidin, and malvidin. Their structures differ in the number and position of hydroxyl and methoxyl groups on the flavan nucleus. The most commonly occurring anthocyanidin is cyanidin, and all these anthocyanidins are found in plants as glycosides with or without acylation, leading to around 400 different stractures. 

As assured sources of plant-derived intermediates become increasingly available, they are then more likely to be used for further downstream derivatization to provide new intermediates and products. 

Production of Metal Nanoparticles by Plants and Plant-Derived Materials... 

Currently, nanotechnology research is propelled by the need to develop strategies for the synthesis of nanoparticles with controlled shape and size distributions. The aim of this chapter is to provide some insight into the recent advances in nanoparticle synthesis using plants and plant derived materials. 

Benchaar, C., Calsamiglia, S., Chaves, A. V., Fraser, G. R., Colombatto, D., McAllister, T. A., and Beauchemin, K. A. (2008). A review of plant-derived essential oils in ruminant nutrition and production. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 145,209-228. 

The major fatty acids present in plant-derived fatty substances are oleic acid (9-octadecenoic, C18 l), linoleic acid (9,12-octadecadienoic, C18 2) and the conjugated isomers thereof and linolenic acid (9,12,15-octadecatrienoic, C18 3) (Scheme 31.1). Their rates of oxygen absorption are 100 40 1, respectively, hence partial hydrogenation with consequent lowering of the iodine number would lead to a significant increase in oxidative stabihty, particularly when C18 3 is reduced. 

Ahluwalia, S.S. and Goyal, D., Microbial and plant derived biomass for removal of heavy metals from wastewater, Bioresource Technology, 98 (12), 2243-2257, 2007. 

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