The results of this study suggest that melatonin administration significantly improves sleep and behavioral disorders in the elderly and facilitates discontinuation of therapy with conventional hypnotic drugs.

No abstract

Volatile extracts from pulp, peels, leaves, and seeds of champa (Campomanesia lineatifolia R. and P.) were obtained by continuous liquid-liquid extraction with pentane/dichloromethane (1:1), and their chemical composition was determined by using HRGC and HRGC-MS. Differences between C. lineatifolia volatile extracts with regard to the identified compounds are presented; however, in all of them the beta-triketones were detected as major constituents (between 50 and 60% of total extract). An odor profile description of volatiles isolated in all of the extracts was obtained by HRGC-O. These analyses showed that beta-triketones contributed to the fruity, floral, and green odor notes in the flavor of fruit. Application of AEDA to pulp volatile extract revealed 2,5-dimethyl-4-methoxy-3(2H)-furanone, 2-phenylethanol, and 2,3-dihydro-5-hydroxy-6,8,8-trimethyl-2-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4,7(8H)-dione (champanone C) to have the highest flavor dilution factors. In a similar way, (E)-cinnamyl alcohol, 2,5-dimethyl-4-methoxy-3(2H)-furanone, and 2,3-dihydro-5-hydroxy-6,8,8-trimethyl-2-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4,7(8H)-dione (champanone C) were identified as key odorant compounds in the fruit peel volatile extract. This is the first time that the volatile composition in champa is reported and also the sensory odor importance of beta-triketones.

The methanol extract of the bark of the Colombian medicinal plant Maytenus laevis gave six new compounds and 28 known compounds. The structures of the new and known compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. Several of these compounds were screened for cytokine-inducing activity on human PBMCs to investigate antitumor effects, and canophyllol (12) demonstrated the most effective induction of the cytokines.