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Selected AbstractsDetermination of oleanolic acid, ursolic acid and amygdalin in the flower of Eriobotrya japonica Lindl. by HPLCBIOMEDICAL CHROMATOGRAPHY, Issue 7 2007Chunhua Zhou Abstract Simple and accurate HPLC methods were developed for the determination of oleanolic acid (OA), ursolic acid (UA) and amygdalin in loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) flower, which is commonly used for the treatment of various diseases as a traditional Chinese medicine. HPLC assay was performed on a reversed-phase C18 column and all three compounds were detected at 210 nm with a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The mobile phase consisted of methanol (A) and 0.03 mol/L phosphate buffer (pH 2.8) (B) with a ratio of 88:12 (A:B, v/v) for simultaneous detection of OA and UA, and 25:75 (A:B, v/v) for detection of amygdalin. The established methods showed good precision and accuracy with overall intra-day and inter-day variation of 0.99,3.55 and 1.05,4.05%, respectively, and overall recoveries of 97.37,99.32% for the three compounds. Application of these methods to determine the OA, UA and amygdalin contents in loquat flower showed that cultivar had a minor effect on the contents of all three compounds, with average amounts of 0.38,0.51 mg OA/g dry weight (DW), 2.15,2.68 mg UA/g DW and 1.23,1.56 mg amygdalin/g DW among five loquat cultivars tested. However, developmental stages and flower tissues showed significant effect on the contents of all three bioactive components. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] OPTIMIZATION OF SPRAY DRYING CONDITIONS FOR PRODUCTION OF BIFIDUS MILK POWDER FROM COW MILKJOURNAL OF FOOD QUALITY, Issue 4 2006M. SELVAMUTHUKUMARAN ABSTRACT Bifidus milk powder was prepared by supplementing cow's milk with predetermined level of additives to obtain slurry of desired concentration. The slurry was sterilized, cooled and inoculated with 24-h-old bulk culture of Bifidobacterium bifidum at 10% and incubated at 37C for 24 h, cooled and dried in SM Scientech Lab model spray dryer with predetermined spray drying conditions. The bifidus milk powder contains bifidobacteria counts from 1.88 × 109 to 15.80 × 109 cells/g dry weight and their percent survival was 4.17,35.11%. Maximum survival was obtained by using the following spray drying conditions: inlet temperature of 164.02C, slurry concentration of 25.62% total soluble solids and air pressure of 2.5 kg/cm2. The high temperature and air pressure of spray drying markedly influenced the color and appearance of final product. The inlet temperature and air pressure showed a significant effect on survival of bifidobacteria in the final product. [source] The Potential Antioxidant Capacity and Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme Inhibitory Activity of Monascus -Fermented Soybean Extracts: Evaluation of Monascus -Fermented Soybean Extracts as Multifunctional Food AdditivesJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 3 2007Y.-H. Pyo ABSTRACT:, The potential antioxidant capacity and angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity of Monascus -fermented soybean extracts (MFSE) were investigated. The average antioxidant capacities of 70% ethanol extracts from soybean after fermenting for 15 d at 30 °C were increased by a 5.2 to 7.4-fold (0.26 mM trolox equivalent/g dry weight, 91.7% 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH] radical scavenging effect at 3 mg/mL) when compared with those of the unfermented soybean extracts (P < 0.01). The potentially significant antioxidant properties of MFSE are associated with its content of bioactive mevinolins (r= 0.85) and isoflavone aglycones (r= 0.98), which were derived from the soybean during Monascus -fermentation. It was also found that the water extract having a molecular mass 1 to 3 kDa showed the highest ACE inhibitory activity (65.3%), which was remarkably greater (6.5 times) than the control. [source] Methanogenesis and methanogenic pathways in a peat from subarctic permafrostENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2007Martina Metje Summary Few studies have dealt so far with methanogenic pathways and populations in subarctic and arctic soils. We studied the effects of temperature on rates and pathways of CH4 production and on the relative abundance and structure of the archaeal community in a mildly acidic peat from a permafrost region in Siberia (67°N). We monitored the production of CH4 and CO2 over time and measured the consumption of Fe(II), ethanol and volatile fatty acids. All experiments were performed with and without specific inhibitors [2-bromoethanesulfonate (BES) for methanogenesis and CH3F for acetoclastic methanogenesis]. The optimum temperature for methanogenesis was between 26°C and 28°C [4.3 ,mol CH4 (g dry weight),1 day,1], but the activity was high even at 4°C [0.75 ,mol CH4 (g dry weight),1 day,1], constituting 17% of that at 27°C. The population structure of archaea was studied by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and remained constant over a wide temperature range. Acetoclastic methanogenesis accounted for about 70% of the total methanogenesis. Most 16S rRNA gene sequences clustered with Methanosarcinales, correlating with the prevalence of acetoclastic methanogenesis. In addition, sequences clustering with Methanobacteriales were recovered. Fe reduction occurred in parallel to methanogenesis. At lower and higher temperatures Fe reduction was not affected by BES. Because butyrate was consumed during methanogenesis and accumulated when methanogenesis was inhibited (BES and CH3F), it is proposed to serve as methanogenic precursor, providing acetate and H2 by syntrophic oxidation. In addition, ethanol and caproate occurred as intermediates. Because of thermodynamic constraints, homoacetogenesis could not compete with hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis. [source] Backhousia citriodora F. Muell.,Rediscovery and chemical characterization of the L -citronellal form and aspects of its breeding systemFLAVOUR AND FRAGRANCE JOURNAL, Issue 5 2001J. C. Doran Abstract The rare L -citronellal form of Backhousia citriodora F. Muell. was first reported in 1950 but attempts to relocate it were unsuccessful until 1996. The quest to relocate trees of this type has been driven by interest in L -citronellal for perfumery. The common, citral form of the species is already under cultivation for oil production in Australia. This paper reports on the rediscovery of the L -citronellal form, first in 1996 in a year-old provenance/progeny trial of B. citriodora in south-eastern Queensland, and then in a natural population on Queensland's Sunshine Coast in 1998. The three L -citronellal trees in the trial gave foliar oil concentrations (g/100 g dry weight) of 3.2, 2.2 and 1.8, respectively, when sampled in November 1996. The same trees sampled in March 1999 gave pale yellow oils consisting of 85,89% citronellal, 6,9% isopulegol isomers with small quantities of citronellol (approx. 3%) and several other compounds. Data on the physicochemical properties of these oils are given in the paper. Seed from a single mature L -citronellal tree gave progeny of both the L -citronellal and citral form in a ratio of approximately 1 : 1. Propagation material from many more plants of the L -citronellal form needs to be collected and assembled in breeding populations. This would form the basis of a selection and breeding programme, should this chemotype show economic potential. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Crayfish effects on seeds and seedlings: identification and quantification of damageFRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2005PEDRO M. ANASTÁCIO Summary 1. The red-swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) is an invasive species and an important pest of wet-seeded rice fields (Oryza sativa) in California (U.S.A.) and in Portugal. Our work quantifies rice consumption and non-consumptive destruction and identifies the types of direct damage inflicted by crayfish. 2. The following fractions were quantified in the presence and absence of crayfish and at 3 and 6 days of rice development: (1) non-germinated seeds, (2) damaged seeds, (3) seeds not recovered, (4) intact rooted seedlings, (5) rooted damaged seedlings, (6) uprooted intact seedlings, (7) uprooted damaged seedlings. 3. Coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM) fragments produced during the feeding process were <2% of the material removed by crayfish. 4. Damage occurred with or without uprooting of the plants, but the incidence of uprooting without consumption was low (1.4%). 5. Consumption of recently developed parts of the rice plant was the main cause of damage and the observed effect was stronger on 6-day-old than on 3-day-old seedlings. Seedlings were more affected by crayfish than were seeds. 6. Crayfish affected the majority of seeds and seedlings available although consumption was low: 0.015 g dry weight (DW) rice g,1 wet weight (WW) crayfish per 12 h at 3 days and 0.063 g DW rice g,1 WW crayfish per 12 h at 6 days. 7. Our results are important for the mitigation of crayfish related problems in rice fields and for understanding the mechanisms of crayfish-macrophyte interactions. [source] Local,regional boundary shifts in oribatid mite (Acari: Oribatida) communities: species,area relationships in arboreal habitat islands of a coastal temperate rain forest, Vancouver Island, CanadaJOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY, Issue 9 2007Zoë Lindo Abstract Aim, This study investigates the species,area relationship (SAR) for oribatid mite communities of isolated suspended soil habitats, and compares the shape and slope of the SAR with a nested data set collected over three spatial scales (core, patch and tree level). We investigate whether scale dependence is exhibited in the nested sampling design, use multivariate regression models to elucidate factors affecting richness and abundance patterns, and ask whether the community composition of oribatid mites changes in suspended soil patches of different sizes. Location, Walbran Valley, Vancouver Island, Canada. Methods, A total of 216 core samples were collected from 72 small, medium and large isolated suspended soil habitats in six western redcedar trees in June 2005. The relationship between oribatid species richness and habitat volume was modelled for suspended soil habitat isolates (type 3) and a nested sampling design (type 1) over multiple spatial scales. Nonlinear estimation parameterized linear, power and Weibull function regression models for both SAR designs, and these were assessed for best fit using R2 and Akaike's information criteria (,AIC) values. Factors affecting oribatid mite species richness and standardized abundance (number per g dry weight) were analysed by anova and linear regression models. Results, Sixty-seven species of oribatid mites were identified from 9064 adult specimens. Surface area and moisture content of suspended soils contributed to the variation in species richness, while overall oribatid mite abundance was explained by moisture and depth. A power-law function best described the isolate SAR (S = 3.97 × A0.12, R2 = 0.247, F1,70 = 22.450, P < 0.001), although linear and Weibull functions were also valid models. Oribatid mite species richness in nested samples closely fitted a power-law model (S = 1.96 × A0.39, R2 = 0.854, F1,18 = 2693.6, P < 0.001). The nested SAR constructed over spatial scales of core, patch and tree levels proved to be scale-independent. Main conclusions, Unique microhabitats provided by well developed suspended soil accumulations are a habitat template responsible for the diversity of canopy oribatid mites. Species,area relationships of isolate vs. nested species richness data differed in the rate of accumulation of species with increased area. We suggest that colonization history, stability of suspended soil environments, and structural habitat complexity at local and regional scales are major determinants of arboreal oribatid mite species richness. [source] THE COMPOSITION OF TWO SPANISH PEPPER VARIETIES (FRESNO DE LA VEGA AND BENAVENTE-LOS VALLES) IN DIFFERENT RIPENING STAGESJOURNAL OF FOOD QUALITY, Issue 6 2008ANA BERNARDO ABSTRACT The chemical composition of two traditional varieties of Spanish peppers, "Fresno de la Vega" and "Benavente-Los Valles" harvested in the provinces of León and Zamora, respectively, at different ripening stages (green mature, breaker and red) were evaluated. Herein we report the global composition, mineral and trace element contents, and the most relevant physicochemical parameters of each variety of pepper collected in 2 consecutive years. Both pepper varieties showed a similar chemical composition, except in vitamin C content, which resulted to be about 70% higher in Fresno de la Vega peppers. Red ripe fruits were high in total carbohydrates, fructose, glucose, sucrose, fat (64.5, 29.14, 25.57, 2.94, 1.79/100 g dry weight, respectively) and total soluble solids (6.83°Brix). Ascorbic acid content also increased progressively during ripening, reaching a mean value of 1.81 mg/100 g dry weight for Fresno de la Vega peppers. Potassium was the most abundant of the analyzed elements in the all samples, followed by phosphorus, magnesium, calcium and sodium. The order of the levels of the trace elements was iron > manganese > zinc > copper. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS This report underscores the potential value of two traditional varieties of Spanish peppers and provides information on their composition during ripening to decide the proper harvesting time, which can be useful in the food industry. [source] Effects of processing and storage on walnut (Juglans regia L) tannins,JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 13 2001Kar Wai Clara Sze-Tao Abstract Walnut tannins were maximally extracted with absolute methanol and an extraction time of 60,min. Storage (21 days at 25,°C) significantly reduced (20,40% reduction) the assayable tannin content in walnuts. The ranges of tannin content in freshly cracked inshell and shelled walnuts were respectively 372,1095 and 363,667,mg catechin equivalent per 100,g dry weight. The assayable tannin content in inshell and shelled walnuts was 10,20% higher when the particle size was reduced from 2- to 8-mesh. Using 0.5 as compared to 2% (w/v) vanillin as colour development reagent yielded 15,20% higher assayable tannin contents. The assay colour development reached a maximum after 20,min of incubation at 25,°C. Roasting (204,°C for 5,min) caused a small (14%) but significant reduction in assayable tannins. Soaking in aqueous alkali solutions was more effective (44,100% reduction) than soaking in aqueous acid solutions (6,76% reduction) in decreasing the assayable tannin content in walnuts. Microwave heating in distilled deionised water resulted in 93,98% reduction in walnut assayable tannins. Blanching at 100,°C for 2,min was as effective as alkali soaking in significantly reducing the amount of extractable walnut tannins (98% reduction). The tannin content in blanched walnuts was positively related to astringency scores (r,,=,0.92). © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Nutrient content of some mushroom species of the genus Termitomyces consumed in CameroonMOLECULAR NUTRITION & FOOD RESEARCH (FORMERLY NAHRUNG/FOOD), Issue 3 2003Germain Kansci Abstract The nutrient content (water, lipids, proteins, ashes, crude fibres) of six mushroom species (Termitomyces le Testui, T. aurantiacus, T. schimperi, T. mammformis, T. mboudaeïna Mossebo sp. nov., and T. subclypeatus forme bisporus sp. nov.) of the genus Termitomyces from Cameroon was determined. These mushrooms have a high water content (83.3,94.3 g/100 g wet matter) and contain more lipids than species from temperate countries (2.5,5.4 g/100 g dry weight( with high proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids (45.1,65.1% of total fatty acid methyl esters) and remarkable proportions of crude fibres (17.5,24.7 g/100 g dry weight). Their protein content varied between 15.1 and 19.1 g/100 g dry weight and ash content between 5.2 and 14.4. The species T. mammiformis was found particularly rich in minerals with 14.4 g ash/100 g dry material, that is up to 2.4 g/100 g fresh weight. [source] Nutritional Value of Edible SeaweedsNUTRITION REVIEWS, Issue 12 2007Paul MacArtain PhD This article presents information on the nutritional aspects of seaweeds in terms of fiber, mineral content, fats and lipids, vitamin contents, and components that have a confirmed and investigated nutritional effect. The nutrient levels of seaweeds are also shown in comparison to currently applicable reference nutrient intakes or guideline daily amounts of nutrients and are contrasted with terrestrial foodstuffs with respect to selected nutrients. For the purpose of comparison, a sample serving size of 8 g dry weight of seaweed is used to illustrate the potential contribution of seaweeds to the diet. [source] A mutant of the green alga Dunaliella salina constitutively accumulates zeaxanthin under all growth conditionsBIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOENGINEERING, Issue 1 2003EonSeon Jin Abstract A novel mutant (zea1) of the halotolerant unicellular green alga Dunaliella salina is impaired in the zeaxanthin epoxidation reaction, thereby lacking a number of the ,-branch xanthophylls. HPLC analysis revealed that the zea1 mutant lacks neoxanthin (N), violaxanthin (V) and antheraxanthin (A) but constitutively accumulates zeaxanthin (Z). Under low-light physiological growth conditions, the zea1 (6 mg Z per g dry weight or 8 × 10,16 mol Z/cell) had a substantially higher Z content than the wild type (0.2 mg Z per g dry weight or 0.5 × 10,16 mol Z/cell). Lack of N, V, and A did not affect photosynthesis or growth of the zea1 strain. Biochemical analyses suggested that Z constitutively and quantitatively substitutes for N, V, and A in the zea1 strain. This mutant is discussed in terms of its commercial value and potential utilization by the algal biotechnology industry for the production of zeaxanthin, a high-value bioproduct. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 81: 115,124, 2003. [source] Histopathological alterations in the edible snail, Babylonia areolata (spotted babylon), in acute and subchronic cadmium poisoningENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 2 2005P. Tanhan Abstract Histopathological alterations in 6- to 8-month-old juvenile spotted babylon, Babylonia areolata, from acute and subchronic cadmium exposure were studied by light microscopy. The 96-h LC50 value of cadmium for B. areolata was found to be 3.35 mg/L, and the maximum acceptable toxicant concentration (MATC) was 1.6 mg/L. Snails were exposed to 3.35 and 0.08 mg/L (5% of MATC) of cadmium for 96 h and 90 days, respectively. After exposure the gill, the organs of the digestive system (proboscis, esophagus, stomach, digestive gland, and rectum), and the foot were analyzed for cadmium accumulation. The results showed that most digestive organs had a high affinity for cadmium. The main target organ was the stomach, which could accumulate on average 1192.18 ,g/g dry weight of cadmium. Cadmium was shown to accumulate to a lesser extent in the digestive gland, gill, rectum, esophagus, proboscis, and foot. Histopathological alterations were observed in the gill and digestive organs (proboscis, esophagus, stomach, and rectum). The study showed that the stomach and gill were the primary target organs of both acute and subchronic exposure. Gill alterations included increased size of mucous vacuoles, reduced length of cilia, dilation and pyknosis of nuclei, thickening of basal lamina, and accumulation of hemocytes. The epithelial lining of the digestive tract showed similar alterations such as increased size of mucous vacuoles, reduced length of cilia, and dilation of nuclei. In addition, fragmentation of the muscle sheath was observed. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 20: 142,149, 2005. [source] Indole Glucosinolates and Camalexin do not Influence the Development of the Clubroot Disease in Arabidopsis thalianaJOURNAL OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 6 2008J. Siemens Abstract Root galls of Brassicaceae caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae are dependent on increased auxin and cytokinin formation. In this study we investigated whether indole glucosinolates are involved in indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) biosynthesis in root galls, by using a genetic approach. The cytochrome P450 enzymes, CYP79B2 and CYP79B3, convert tryptophan to indole-3-acetaldoxime (IAOx), which is a precursor for indole glucosinolates and the phytoalexin camalexin in Arabidopsis thaliana. Root galls of the Arabidopsis ecotypes Wassilewskija (WS) and Columbia (Col) accumulated camalexin, WS at levels up to 320 ,g/g dry weight. By contrast, camalexin was absent in root galls of cyp79b2/b3 double mutants. Infection rate and disease index as a measure of club development in mutant and wild-type plants of the two ecotypes were investigated and no differences were found in gall formation. This demonstrates that camalexin is an ineffective inhibitor of P. brassicae and indole glucosinolates are not the source of elevated levels of IAA in galls, because free IAA levels in mutant galls were comparable with those in wild type. [source] APPLICATION OF ULTRASONICATION OR HIGH-PRESSURE EXTRACTION OF FLAVONOIDS FROM LITCHI FRUIT PERICARPJOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESS ENGINEERING, Issue 6 2009K. NAGENDRA PRASAD ABSTRACT Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) fruit pericarp (LFP) contains a high amount of flavonoids, which could be used as natural antioxidants. Some emerging novel technologies, such as ultrasonic extraction (UE) and high-pressure extraction (HPE), have exhibited great potential for flavonoid extraction. Experiments were conducted to comparatively investigate the effects of conventional extraction (CE), 40-KHz UE and 200- or 400-MPa HPE on the extraction efficiency of flavonoids from LFP. After 30 min of extraction, the extract yield, total phenolic content, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity and superoxide anion scavenging ability were examined. The crude extract yields by the UE, 400 HPE and CE were 24, 30 and 1.83%, respectively. However, there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity tested among these three different extractions at the same concentration. In addition, two flavonoids, namely epicatechin and epicatechin gallate, were identified and quantified as the major compounds, while catechin and procyanidin B2 were identified as the minor compounds. The total flavonoid content detected was 0.65, 0.75, 0.29 and 0.07 mg/g dry weight by HPE at 200 and 400 MPs, UE, and CE, respectively. Thus, the HPE technique showed a higher efficiency in extracting flavonoids from LFP, and the HPE could reduce the extraction time and increase the amount of the extracted phenolics. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) is a subtropical fruit that originated in Southeast Asia. As litchi fruit is gradually accepted by consumers for its delicious taste and attractive red skin, litchi production has steadily increased in recent decades, with increasing exports to Europe and North America from both the southern and northern hemisphere production areas. Litchi fruit pericarp (LFP) accounts for approximately 16% by weight of the whole fresh fruit and is comprised of a significant amount of flavonoids. Therefore, LFP tissues may be considered an important source of dietary flavonoids. This work showed that HPE technique has a high efficiency in extracting flavonoids from LFP tissues, which may help the litchi industry develop new extraction methods to better utilize the flavonoids from LFP tissues. [source] Liver biopsy results in patients with sickle cell disease on chronic transfusions: Poor correlation with ferritin levelsPEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER, Issue 1 2008Lina B. Karam MD Abstract Background: Chronic transfusions are effective in preventing stroke and other complications of sickle cell disease. The aim of this study was to determine whether serum ferritin levels correlated with liver iron content in sickle cell patients on chronic transfusion. Procedure: Forty-four liver biopsy specimens from 38 patients with homozygous sickle cell anemia (HbSS) and one patient with sickle thalassemia receiving chronic transfusions were studied. Five patients underwent a second liver biopsy for follow up. Three ferritin measurements were used to calculate a mean for each patient. The association between serum ferritin levels and liver iron quantitation was measured using the Spearman rank correlation, and sensitivity and specificity were determined for selected threshold values of serum ferritin. Results: Serum ferritin levels ranged from 515 to 6076 ng/ml, liver iron concentration ranged from 1.8 to 67.97 mg/g dry weight. The amount of iron per gram liver dry weight was moderately correlated with serum ferritin values (r,=,0.46). The correlation of duration of transfusion with serum ferritin (r,=,0.40) and with liver iron content (r,=,0.41) also indicated moderate correlation. Liver biopsy results led to changes in the management after 29/44 (66%) of the biopsies. Serum ferritin ,2500 ng/ml predicted high liver iron content (,7 mg/g), with a sensitivity of 62.5% and a specificity of 77.8%. Conclusion: We found a poor correlation between serum ferritin levels and liver iron content (LIC). Despite being on chelation therapy, many patients on chronic transfusion had high levels of liver iron. Measurement of LIC is highly recommended in these patients. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;50:62,65. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Methods of phytochemical standardisation of rhizoma Cimicifugae racemosaePHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS, Issue 2 2004A. Panossian Abstract The methanolic extract of roots of Cimicifuga racemosa and its methanolysis products have been analysed by GC-MS. 2-Hexylcyclopropaneoctanoic acid (9,10-methylenehexadecanoic acid) was found to be the marker most speci,c for the identi,cation for this herb. For the phytochemical standardisation of Rhizoma Cimicifugae racemosae, validated methods for the quantitative analysis of formononetin (by TLC-,uorometry), of isoferulic acid (by GC-MS of the methyl ester), and of total triterpene glycosides (transformed to coloured complexes and measured photometrically) in roots of C. racemosa have been developed. The contents of formononetin, isoferulic acid and total triterpene glycosides (measured as actein) in the herb ranged from 0.0031 to 0.0035, from 1.22 to 1.35 and from 20.09 to 22.06 mg/g dry weight, respectively. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Engineered native pathways for high kaempferol and caffeoylquinate production in potatoPLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL, Issue 9 2008Caius M. Rommens Summary Flavonols and caffeoylquinates represent important groups of phenolic antioxidants with health-promoting activities. The genetic potential of potato (Solanum tuberosum) to produce high levels of these dietary compounds has not been realized in currently available commodity varieties. In this article, it is demonstrated that tuber-specific expression of the native and slightly modified MYB transcription factor gene StMtf1M activates the phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway. Compared with untransformed controls, transgenic tubers contained fourfold increased levels of caffeoylquinates, including chlorogenic acid (CGA) (1.80 mg/g dry weight), whilst also accumulating various flavonols and anthocyanins. Subsequent impairment of anthocyanin biosynthesis through silencing of the flavonoid-3,,5,-hydroxylase (F3,5,h) gene resulted in the accumulation of kaempferol-rut (KAR) to levels that were approximately 100-fold higher than in controls (0.12 mg/g dry weight). The biochemical changes were associated with increased expression of both the CGA biosynthetic hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA quinate hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (Hqt) gene and the upstream chorismate mutase (Cm) and prephenate dehydratase (Pdh) genes. Field trials indicated that transgenic lines produced similar tuber yields to the original potato variety Bintje. Processed products of these lines retained most of their phenylpropanoids and were indistinguishable from untransformed controls in texture and taste. [source] Alkaloid production in Vernonia cinerea: Callus, cell suspension and root culturesBIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL, Issue 8 2007Priti Maheshwari Abstract Fast-growing callus, cell suspension and root cultures of Vernonia cinerea, a medicinal plant, were analyzed for the presence of alkaloids. Callus and root cultures were established from young leaf explants in Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal media supplemented with combinations of auxins and cytokinins, whereas cell suspension cultures were established from callus cultures. Maximum biomass of callus, cell suspension and root cultures were obtained in the medium supplemented with 1 mg/L ,-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 5 mg/L benzylaminopurine (BA), 1.0 mg/L NAA and 0.1 mg/L BA and 1.5 mg/L NAA, respectively. The 5-week-old callus cultures resulted in maximum biomass and alkaloid contents (750 ,g/g). Cell suspension growth and alkaloid contents were maximal in 20-day-old cultures and alkaloid contents were 1.15 mg/g. A 0.2-g sample of root tissue regenerated in semi-solid medium upon transfer to liquid MS medium containing 1.5 mg/L NAA regenerated a maximum increase in biomass of 6.3-fold over a period of 5 weeks. The highest root growth and alkaloid contents of 2 mg/g dry weight were obtained in 5-week-old cultures. Maximum alkaloid contents were obtained in root cultures in vitro compared to all others including the alkaloid content of in vivo obtained with aerial parts and roots (800 ,g/g and 1.2 mg/g dry weight, respectively) of V. cinerea. [source] Detection of nodularin in flounders and cod from the Baltic SeaENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 2 2001Vesa Sipiä Abstract The brackish water cyanobacterium Nodularia spumigena regularly forms waterblooms in the Baltic Sea. Many N. spumigena strains can produce nodularin, a hepatotoxic penta-peptide, which has caused several animal poisonings in the Baltic Sea area. To improve our understanding of nodularin bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms this study measured nodularin in flounder and cod caught from the Baltic Sea. Flounders were collected from the western Gulf of Finland in July 1996, September 1997, and September 1998, and from the Gulf of Bothnia in August 1997 and September 1998. Flounders were also collected from the coastal areas of Sweden in the Baltic Proper during September 1998. Cod were caught from the southern Baltic Sea in August 1998. Livers and muscles of the 1997 fish were isolated, extracted, and analysed for nodularin using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) inhibition assay. Approximately 30,70 ng of nodularin/g dry weight (maximum value 140 ng/g) were found in the liver tissue samples by ELISA and PP1 inhibition. These concentrations were below the detection limit of HPLC. PP1 assay showed inhibition also in muscle samples, but this may due to other compounds present in the muscle extracts rather than NODLN or due to matrix interference. The recovery of nodularin from liver tissue with ELISA and PP1 assays was about 30%. Nodularin concentrations in samples are not corrected for recovery. Although the concentrations of nodularin found in this study are low further studies of nodularin are needed to assess possible bioaccumulation in brackish water food webs. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Environ Toxicol 16: 121,126, 2001 [source] Evaluation of the ishikawa cell line bioassay for the detection of estrogenic substances from sediment extractsENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 7 2005Shinya Hashimoto Abstract This study examines the application of Ishikawa human endometrial adenocarcinoma cells to measure the estrogenic activity of fractionated extracts of sediments from Tokyo Bay, Japan. Estrogen stimulates alkaline phosphatase activity in this cell line. The results of these assays were compared with those of a yeast estrogen screen (YES) assay. The Ishikawa cell line bioassay showed higher sensitivity to 17,-estradiol (median effective concentration [EC50], 10.7 pM) than did the YES assay (EC50, 480 pM). Fractionation of sediment extracts (all samples collected from 5 sites) showed that the nonpolar fraction was poisonous to yeast cells; the estrogenic activity of this fraction, therefore, could not be measured by YES. However, the nonpolar fraction did not kill the Ishikawa cells. The 17,-estradiol-equivalent values of 15 extracts (3 fractions from each of 5 sediment samples) ranged from 5.7 to 697 pg/g dry weight according to the Ishikawa cell line bioassay. Chemical analysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed that the highest concentrations of endocrine-disrupting chemicals were observed at the sampling station near the sewage treatment plant. The results support that the Ishikawa cell line bioassay is suitable for measuring the estrogenic activity of sediment samples. [source] | ||||||||||||||||