Seasonal changes of mineral nutrients and phenolics in pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruit

Pomegranate fruit is an important source of potentially healthy bioactive compounds and mineral nutrients. Changes in total phenolic compound, concentrations, and levels of macronutrients (P, K, N, Mg, Ca and Na) and micronutrients (Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe and B) in arils and peel of pomegranate fruit were recorded from 10 days after full bloom until harvest. Total phenolics levels increased at early stage of growth both in peel and arils of fruit, but thereafter generally decreased during maturation and reached to 3.70 and 50.22 mg g⁻¹ of dry weight in arils and peel, respectively, at harvest. The amount of total phenolics in peel was markedly higher than arils of pomegranate fruit. The concentration of most elements in arils and peel decreased during fruit growth and development. At harvest the relative order of concentration of macronutrients both in arils and peel was K > N > Ca > P > Mg > Na. The concentration of most micronutrients was greater in the arils than in the peel especially in early season. The relative order of concentration of micronutrients in arils was B > Fe > Zn > Cu > Mn. The accumulation of all the macro- and microelement within the fruit also increased during fruit growth and development. These results provide important data on total phenolics and macro- and micronutrient changes during fruit growth and development, emphasizing that pomegranate fruit can be a good source of bioactive compounds and minerals.     

Total antioxidant activities,phenolics, anthocyanins,polyphenoloxidase activities of selected red grape cultivars and their correlations

Sixteen red grape cultivars (Md. Jean Matthias, Öküzgözü, Muscat Hamburg, Cabarnet Sauvignon, Tekirda? Çekirdeksizi, Gewürztraminer, 2B/56, Kalecik karas?, Carignan, Kokulu Siyah, Alfonse Lavallée, Bo?azkere, Adakaras?, Papazkaras?, Mourvedre and Cinsaut) which are grown in Tekirda? Viticulture Research Institute were analyzed for determination of antioxidant activities, total phenolics, anthocyanins, external colour, polyphenoloxidase activities, sugar and acidity. The lowest antioxidant activity (percentage of inhibition on peroxidation in linoleic acid system; AA) was determined in Tekirda? çekirdeksiz extracts as 87.58% and the highest AA was in Mourvedre (93.78%). Total phenolic content (TP) varied from 817 to 3062 μg/ml GAE in the same varieties, respectively. The total anthocyanin (TA) content ranged from 40.3 to 990.8 mg/l fresh weight. The lowest PPO activity was found in Bo?azkere and the highest was in Kalecik karas?. The total sugar content in the analyzed varieties varied between 13.29 and 24.46%. There was stronger correlation between AA and TP than AA and TA.     

Effects of immune-enhancing parenteral nutrition on nutritional status,immunity and inflammatory responses in postoperative patients with portal hypertension surgery

AIM:This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of postoperative immune-enhancing parenteral nutrition on the nutritional statue,immune function,and inflammatory responses in patients undergoing portal hypertension surgery. METHODS: This study was designed as a prospective,randomized and controlled clinical trial. Forty-two patients undergoing portal hypertension surgery were randomly assigned to receive either an immune-enhancing parenteral nutrition(adding glutamine and recombinant human growth hormone,n=22) or an isocaloric and isonitrogenous control standard parenteral nutrition(n=20) for seven days. Parenteral nutrition was initiated 3 days after surgery. Blood samples were obtained on day 0,3,and 10. Host nutritional statue was evaluated by measuring levels of prealbumin and transferrin,immunity was observed by measuring levels of CD4+ cells,CD8+ cells,CD4+/CD8+,IgG,IgM and IgA,and the inflammatory responses was determined by assessing IL-2,TNF-α and C-reactive protein(CRP) levels. RESULTS:On postoperative day 10,among patients receiving an immune-enhancing parenteral nutrition,prealbumin,transferrin,CD4+ cells,CD4+/CD8+,IgG and IL-2 levels were significantly higher than those in control group,and TNF-α and CRP concentrations were significantly decreased（P<0.05）. CONCLUSION:Postoperative administration of immune-enhancing parenteral nutrition in patients undergoing portal hypertension surgery can improve postoperative nutritional statue and immune function,and relieve inflammatory response.     

Contrastive Study on Content and Anti-oxidation Activity of Total Saponins from Cultivated and Wild Paris Plants in Southwest China

[Objectives]To study content of total saponins from cultivated and wild Paris herbs in Southwest China,evaluate its in vitro antioxidation activity,and explore ...     

两种林木总DNA提取效果的比较

试验以刺槐（Ｒｏｂｉｎｉａｐｓｅｕｄｏａｃａｃｉａ）和华北落叶松（Ｌａｒｉｘｐｒｉｎｃｉｐｉｓ－ｒｕｐｐｒｅｃｈｔｉ）为ＤＮＡ提取材料，采用２种提取ＤＮＡ方法，紫外光检测林木ＤＮＡ提取纯度，并计算ＤＮＡ收率。实验结果表明，不同林木总ＤＮＡ提取的效果存在一定差异，从刺槐和落叶松两树种的生理特性和生长特点等方面对试验结果作了比较和分析。     

Effects of hysteresis on redistribution of soil moisture and deep percolation at continuous and pulse drip irrigation

The infiltration and redistribution of soil moisture under surface drip irrigation considering hysteresis were investigated in two soils (loamy sand and silt loam) of different texture. The effect of continuous versus intermittent application of 1, 2 and 4 l/h to the soils was evaluated in terms of wetting front advance patterns and deep percolation under the root zone. For this purpose, a cylindrical flow model incorporating hysteresis in the soil water retention characteristic curve, evaporation from the soil surface, and water extraction by roots was used. The results show that, compared with continuous irrigation, pulse irrigation slightly reduces the water losses under the root zone in both cases (with and without hysteresis). Also, at the total simulation time, in both types of irrigation, hysteresis reduces significantly the water losses under the root zone. Finally, the effect of hysteresis was found to be greater at higher discharge rate (4 l/h) and consequently at higher water content at the soil surface.     

Influence of the stage of ripeness on phenolic metabolism and antioxidant activity in table grapes exposed to different CO2 treatments

We have analyzed the influence of the stage of ripeness on L-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) gene expression, accumulation of anthocyanins and total phenolics, and on antioxidant activity in the skin of table grapes treated with 20% CO₂ + 20% O₂ + 60 % N₂ for 3 or 6 d at low temperature (0 °C). The residual effect of high CO₂ treatment after transfer to air was also studied. In early harvested grapes, neither the anthocyanin content nor the accumulation of VcPAL mRNA was affected by any of the CO₂ treatments applied. However, in late harvested grapes, the duration of high CO₂ treatment determined its effect and a 6 d treatment with CO₂ sustained higher levels of total phenolics and anthocyanin accumulation, and VcPAL expression than observed in untreated late harvested grapes. The increased antioxidant capacity was correlated with the total amount of phenolics and anthocyanins. Conversely, in grapes treated for 3 d with CO₂ the phenylpropanoid pathway did not appear to be induced and a relationship between antioxidant activity and anthocyanins was not observed. Thus, further studies are needed to identify the most important antioxidants in these treated fruit.     

Evaluating foliar nitrogen compounds as indicators of nitrogen status in Prunus persica trees

Mobile nitrogen (N) forms may be better N indicators of the N status of trees than total nitrogen (TN) due to their higher sensitivity to increasing N supply. A field experiment was carried out over a 3-year period to compare foliar concentrations of total N (TN), soluble N (SN), chlorophyll (Minolta SPAD readings), NH₄–N and NO₃–N as indicators of soil N availability in nectarine, Prunus persica L. Batsch, cv. ‘Fantasia’ (grafted on ‘Nemaguard’ peach, P. persica × P. davidiana) trees. Young trees were exposed to a range of fertilizer-N application rates. Based on correlation analysis, the best association between leaf N compounds with soil N supply and trunk diameter and/or fruit yield was obtained with TN and chlorophyll SPAD readings. Leaf concentrations of mobile N compounds (NH₄–N and NO₃–N) increased more than any other N compound under high N supply; however, their inconsistency among years and low leaf concentration difficult their use as N indicators. The optimum foliar TN for growth decreased with tree age, 4.4%, 3.6% and 3.3% in non-bearing 1-year-old trees, non-bearing 2-year-old trees and 3.3 fruit-bearing 3-year-old trees. The optimum SPAD readings were 40 in 2-year-old trees and 42 in 3-year-old trees. Stable N compounds (TN and chlorophyll SPAD) could be used to N diagnosis in the zone of N deficiency, and soluble N compounds (NH₄–N and NO₃–N) to diagnoses N excess.     

不同类型甜菜品种根中Mg^2＋-ATP酶活性和产质量的关系

测定不同类型甜菜品种各生育时期根中Mg^2＋-ATP酶活性、可溶性总糖、可溶性蛋白含量和产量、含糖率。结果表明，在幼苗期和叶丛繁茂期，Mg^2＋-ATP活性呈先上升后下降趋势，从块根增长期直至糖分积累期，Mg^2＋-ATP酶的活性逐渐增强，并保持在全生育期最高水平。不同类型品种间存在差异，在各生育时期高糖型品种Mg^2＋-ATP酶活性较强。根中Mg^2＋-ATP酶活性与根中可溶性总糖呈正相关，与甜菜根的成熟进程正相关；Mg^2＋-ATP酶活性与可溶性蛋白质舍量呈负相关，对可溶性糖的积累方面，二者的作用刚好相反。高糖型品种的可溶性总糖含量较高．相应的根中蛋白质含量很低。Mg^2＋-ATP酶活性较高．