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CHE - Finding Chemical Information (Fall 2014): Topics for Searching

Using the online chemical and biochemical databases to find information.

TOPIC: What are the Health Benefits of Green Tea in Fighting Cancer?

What is the role of EGCG in fighting cancer?

March 15, 2004 -- A powerful antioxidant found in green tea may be responsible for the beverage's heralded anticancer benefits.

New research shows that the antioxidant, known as EGCG, binds to a protein found on tumor cells and dramatically slows their growth.

Researchers say previous studies have shown that green tea helps protect against a variety of cancers, such as lung, prostate, and breast, but the mechanisms for these effects are not known.

In the study, published in the April issue of Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, researchers identified a potential target for the antitumor action of EGCG on human lung cancer cells that inhibited cancer cells' growth. By learning more about this target, researcher may be able to develop new treatments that maximize green tea's cancer-fighting potential.

Source: http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20040315/green-tea-cancer-fighting

SUBSTANCE: Elk River Chemical Spill (2014) - How dangerous/toxic was the event?

The Elk River chemical spill occurred on January 9, 2014 when crude 4-methylcyclohexanemethanol (MCHM) was released from a Freedom Industries facility into the Elk River, a tributary of the Kanawha River, in Charleston in the U.S. state of West Virginia.

Crude MCHM is a chemical foam used to wash coal and remove impurities that contribute to pollution during combustion. The "do-not-use" advisory for drinking water from West Virginia American Water's system began to be gradually lifted by West Virginia state officials on January 13 based upon "priority zones."

On Tuesday, January 14, the company revealed that the tank, which leaked about 7,500 gallons into the ground by the Elk River, had also contained a mixture of glycol ethers known as PPH, with a similar function as MCHM.

SOURCE: wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Elk_River_chemical_spill

TOPIC: Can you find any review artcles on stereospecific or stereoselective reactions of ketone? That mention the Diels–Alder reaction? In English, of course.

Do this search in bothSciFinder and Google Scholar (http://scholar.google.com) - how do they compare?

TOPIC: Does the purple coneflower have any immunioloigcal efffects?

What is the difference in search results when searching with common vs. scientific vocabulary?

Commonly known as the purple coneflower, this wonder herb contains active ingredients in its roots and leaves that have ant-viral, antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties. It is thought to help encourage the production of white blood cells and helps speed them along to infected areas. As a result it can help shorten or prevent the course of an acute infection and stop colds or flu developing into more serious conditions such as sinusitis, bronchitis or middle ear infections.

SOURCE: http://immunesystemimmunity.blogspot.com/2012_03_01_archive.html

TOPIC & STRUCTURE: L-Lysine is an important amino acid that can be a dietary supplement. How is l-lysine prepared?

Find information on how l-lysine is prepared.

L-lysine is an amino acid (a building block of protein) that is essential for health. However, it cannot be manufactured naturally in the human body like other types of amino acids. Therefore, L-lysine, also called lysine, is considered as one of the eight essential amino acids.

In order to obtain lysine, one has to eat foods high in its content or take dietary supplements containing it. As a building block for protein, amino acids like L-lysine are necessary for normal growth and development. In particular, L-lysine is needed by the body to manufacture carnitine, a substance that is used in the conversion of fatty acids into energy. It also helps in calcium absorption and collagen formation which are important for muscle and bone health.

SOURCE:  http://www.md-health.com/L-Lysine-Benefits.html

AUTHORS: Dr. A. V. Fratini wro te on crystalline structure of macromolecules in the mid - 1970’s. Has he done any work in the last ten years?

I found this older article and want to see if Fratini wrote anything after this on this topic.

Model compounds for rigid-rod aromatic heterocyclic polymers. 1. X-ray structures of 2,6-diphenylbenzo[1,2-d:4,5-d']bis(thiazole) and 2,6-diphenylbenzo[1,2-d:5,4-d']bis(thiazole)
Macromolecules, 1981, 14 (4), pp 935–939
Publication Date: July 1, 1981 (Article)
DOI: 10.1021/ma50005a009

SUBSTANCES: Find the structure, registry number and melting point of furonazide. What are some reactions involving this chemical?

Double-check if wikipedia data listed below exactly matches the CAS data.  Why might you not cite wikiipedia in your lab report?

Furonazide
Furonazide.svg
Identifiers
CAS number 3460-67-1
Properties
Molecular formula C12H11N3O2
Molar mass 229.23 g mol−1
Appearance crystals
Melting point 199-201.5 °C
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C (77 °F), 100 kPa)
Infobox references