The composition of the steam-distilled volatile oil of fresh and air-dried, indoor-grown marijuana was studied by GC/FID and GC/MS. In all, 68 components were detected of which 57 were fully identified. Drying of the plant material had no effect on the qualitative composition of the oil and did not affect the ability of individuals familiar with marijuana smell to recognize the odor.

Phytochemical investigation of a high potency variety of Cannabis sativa L. resulted in the isolation of six new metabolites, (±)-6,7-trans-epoxycannabigerolic acid (2), (±)-6,7-cisepoxycannabigerolic acid (3), (±)-6,7-cis-epoxycannabigerol (4), (±)-6,7-trans-epoxycannabigerol (5), 5′-methyl-4-pentylbiphenyl-2,2′,6-triol (7), and 7-methoxycannabispirone (8), along with seven known compounds namely, cannabigerolic acid (1), 5′-methoxycannabigerolic acid (6), cannabispirone (9), β-cannabispiranol (10), dehydrocannabifuran (11), cannflavin B (12) and cannabigerol (13). The antimicrobial as well as the antileishmanial activities were investigated.

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The ethanol extract of fruiting bodies of Elaphomyces granulatus, a truffle-like fungus, was evaluated for cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme inhibitory and antioxidant activities. Inhibition of COX-2 activity was evaluated in mouse macrophages (RAW 264.7). The extract of E. granulatus caused a 68% inhibition of COX-2 activity at 50 microg/mL. Bioassay-guided investigation led to the isolation and identification of two active compounds, syringaldehyde and syringic acid. Syringaldehyde moderately inhibited COX-2 activity with an IC(50) of 3.5 microg/mL, while syringic acid strongly inhibited COX-2 activity with an IC(50) of 0.4 microg/mL. The antioxidant activity of the extract and isolated compounds was evaluated in HL-60 cells by the DCFH-DA method. The extract of E. granulatus showed a potent antioxidant effect, with an IC(50) of 41 microg/mL. Of the pure compounds, syringic acid displayed a strong antioxidant activity, with an IC(50) of 0.7 microg/mL, while syringaldehyde showed no activity in the assay.

The roots of Ruta chalepensis, collected from the northern Saudi desert, yielded two new quinoline alkaloids, namely, 2-¿6'-(2H-benzo[d]1' ',3' '-dioxolen-5' '-yl)hexyl¿-hydroquinolin-4-one (1) and 2-¿6'-(2H-benzo[d]1' ',3' '-dioxolen-5' '-yl)hexyl¿-4-methoxy-quinoline (2). Nine previously reported alkaloids, dictamnine, pteleine, skimmianine, rutacridone, isogravacridonechlorine, maculosidine, graveoline, graveolinine, and 4-methoxy-1-methyl-2(1H)-quinolinone, and coumarins, chalepensin, and umbelliferone were also isolated. Structure elucidations were based primarily on 1D and 2D NMR analyses and chemical transformations. Antimicrobial activity of these compounds is discussed.

OBJECTIVES: To see if the long-term treatment of non-insulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM) with the a a-glucosidase inhibitor acarbose affects food intake and body weight. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel design clinical trial of 12 months duration. SUBJECTS: Subjects with NIDDM in four treatment strata: 77 on diet alone, 83 also treated with metformin, 103 also treated with sulfonylurea and 91 also treated with insulin. MEASUREMENTS: Two 3 day diet records were obtained before randomization to acarbose or placebo therapy, and additional 3 day diet records were obtained at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after randomization. Body weight was also measured at these times. RESULTS: Of the 354 subjects randomized, 279 (79%) completed at least 9 months of therapy and, of these, 263 (94%) provided at least one diet record during the baseline period and two diet records during the treatment period. After one year, subjects on acarbose had lost 0.46 AE 0.28 kg, which differed signi®cantly from the 0.33 AE 0.25 kg weight gain on placebo (P 0.027). The difference in weight change between acarbose and placebo did not differ signi®cantly in the different treatment strata. Being in the study had signi®cant effects on diet, including a reduction in energy intake from 1760±1700 Kcal/d (P`0.05), a reduction in simple sugars intake from 18.5±17.4% of energy (P`0.001), and reductions in the number of different foods consumed (33±30, P`0.001) and the number of meals eaten per day (4.7± 4.3, P`0.001). However, compared to placebo treatment, acarbose had no effect on energy intake, nutrient intakes, or dietary patterns. CONCLUSIONS: In subjects with NIDDM on weight-maintaining diets, long-term acarbose therapy results in a small weight loss, but has no effect on energy or nutrient intakes. The weight loss induced by acarbose may be due partly to reduced doses of concomitant oral agents and insulin and partly to energy loss due to increased colonic fermentation.