Influencing in vitro clonal propagation of Chonemorpha fragrans(moon) Alston by culture media strength,plant growth regulators,carbon source and photo periodic incubation

Chonemorpha fragrans is an endangered medicinal woody climber,regarded among alternative plant sources of camptothecin.Camptothecin is a monoterpene indole anti-cancer alkaloid with annual trade value of over three billion U.S.dollars in the recent,and is used in the production of its analog drugs approved for the chemotherapy of cancer of varied types.Effects of plant growth regulators,culture media strength and photoperi-odic duration on the micropropagation ef ciency of C.fragrans from nodal segment explants were studied on Murashige and Skoog(MS)medium amended with Thidiazuron(TDZ),Benzylaminopurine(BAP)or Kinetin(Kin).Thidiazuron was more ef cient over BAP and Kin when half basal MS medium was used over full or quarter strength.Results of carbon source experiment showed sucrose as the most effective over glucose,fructose,and maltose in the clonal production.Studies on the photope-riodic incubation duration showed 12 h as the best light period and sub or supra-optimal resulted in the production of abnormal and albino micro shoots.Experimental results on the evaluation of physiological,biochemical parameters showed the role of pigment molecules and antioxidant systems in the production of albino micro shoots.     

Knotwood and bark extracts: strong antioxidants from waste materials

The antioxidant properties of hydrophilic extracts of knotwood of several industrially important tree species were evaluated by lipid-peroxidation inhibition and peroxyl-trapping capacity tests. The results were compared with the antioxidant properties of hydrophilic extracts of bark, and pure lignans and flavonoids isolated from knotwood extracts. The knot extracts from several tree species were stronger antioxidants than the bark extracts, which can, however, also be classified as strong antioxidants. In addition, the antioxidant properties of most of the knotwood extracts are stronger than the pure compounds. It is concluded that knotwood is a rich source of natural antioxidants.     

沙棘叶子提取物对白化病白鼠由铬诱导氧化胁迫的抗氧化活性评估

本研究报道沙棘(胡颓子科)对雄性白化病白鼠由铬诱导氧化胁迫的抗氧化活性。氧化胁迫通过对小白鼠进行强制性喂养30 d,以浓度为30 m g/kg的铬相对体重比例的重铬酸钾盐实现。铬促使体重下降,而却明显增加了器官与体重比例。铬处理明显减少了谷胱甘肽的降低,增加了丙二醛和肌氨酸磷酸激酶的水平;而且它还加强了血清中谷氨酸草酰乙酸转移酶和谷氨酸丙酮酸转移酶的浓度。用不同剂量的沙棘叶子提取物(乙醇提取)对保护铬元素诱导的氧化胁迫进行了评估,结果表明叶子提取物在浓度为100到250 m g/kg铬与体重比的情况下可以明显保护动物避免由铬所诱导的氧化伤害。     

Exogenously applied hexaconazole ameliorates salinity stress by inducing an antioxidant defense system in Brassica napus L. plants

The ability of hexaconazole (HEX) to ameliorate salinity stress was studied in canola plants (Brassica napus L.). Canola seedlings were subjected to sodium chloride (NaCl) treatment. A treatment with 200 mM NaCl reduced growth parameters, chlorophyll content and protein content as well as increased the proline (Pro) content in canola plants. In addition, NaCl stress increased the endogenous, nonenzymatic antioxidants and the activity of antioxidant enzymes, such as peroxidase (POX; EC 1.11.1.7), superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1) and catalase (CAT; EC 1.11.1.6). When these plants were treated with a combination of NaCl and 50 mg L⁻¹ HEX, the inhibitory effects of NaCl stress were decreased by increasing the root growth, shoot growth, dry weight (DW), chlorophyll content, protein content and antioxidant enzyme activity by ameliorating the salinity injury. These results suggested that HEX has an important role in the enhancement of plant antioxidant systems and resistance to salinity in canola plants.     

Chemopreventive efficacy of lycopene on 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis

The chemopreventive efficacy of lycopene on 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced hamster buccal pouch (HBP) carcinogenesis was examined using lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR) as biomarkers of chemoprevention. Twenty four male Syrian hamsters were divided into four groups of six animals each. The right buccal pouches of the animals in group 1 were painted with a 0.5% solution of DMBA in liquid paraffin three times a week. The animals in group 2 were painted with DMBA as in group 1 and in addition received 2.5 mg/kg body weight lycopene orally three times a week on days alternate to DMBA application. Group 3 animals received lycopene as in group 2. Animals in group 4 received neither DMBA nor lycopene and served as control. The hamsters were killed after an experimental period of 14 weeks. Biochemical measurements were carried out in tumour and normal tissues. All hamsters painted with DMBA alone for 14 weeks developed well-differentiated squamous cell carcinomas. Diminished lipid peroxidation in the oral tumour tissue was accompanied by a significant increase in the levels of GSH, GPx, GST and GR. Administration of lycopene significantly suppressed DMBA-induced oral carcinogenesis as revealed by the absence of carcinomas. The results of the present study suggest that lycopene may exert its chemopreventive effects by modulating lipid peroxidation and enhancing the activities of the enzymes in the glutathione redox cycle.     

Glutathione, Cysteine, and Ascorbate Concentrations in Clinically Ill Dogs and Cats

Background: Oxidative stress plays a role in the pathogenesis of many systemic diseases. Hospitalized human patients are glutathione, cysteine, and ascorbate deficient, and antioxidant depletion has been correlated with poor clinical outcome. To date little is known about antioxidant concentrations in hospitalized veterinary patients. The purpose of this study was to determine whether ascorbate, cysteine, or glutathione depletion is present in ill dogs and cats compared with healthy controls.
Hypothesis: Clinically ill dogs and cats would be antioxidant depleted, and depletion would correlate with illness severity and clinical outcome.
Animals: Clinically ill client-owned dogs (n = 61) and cats (n = 37), healthy control dogs (n = 37) and cats (n = 33).
Methods: Prospective, observational, case control study. Erythrocyte reduced glutathione, plasma cysteine, and plasma ascorbate were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography.
Results: Clinically ill dogs had significantly lower erythrocyte glutathione concentrations (1.22 mM, range 0.55–3.61) compared with controls (1.91 mM, range 0.87–3.51; P = .0004), and glutathione depletion correlated with both illness severity ( P = .038) and mortality ( P = .010). Cats had higher ascorbate concentrations when ill (10.65 μM, range 1.13–25.26) compared with controls (3.68 μM, range 0.36–13.57; P = .0009).
Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Clinically ill dogs had decreased erythrocyte glutathione concentrations, which could be a marker of illness severity and prognostic of a poor outcome. Clinically ill cats had an unexpectedly high plasma ascorbate, which could represent a unique species response to oxidative stress.     

Effectiveness of potassium in mitigating the salt-induced oxidative stress in contrasting tomato genotypes

To check the efficacy of potassium in alleviating oxidative stress under salt stress, salt-tolerant (Indent-1) and salt-sensitive (Red Ball) tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) genotypes were exposed to three levels of sodium chloride (NaCl) (0, 75, 150 mM) and two levels of potassium (4.5 and 9 mM) in solution and foliar form. Thirty days of treatments revealed that increasing NaCl stress increased lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA) and correspondingly the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT; and glutathione reductase GR) in both genotypes. However, higher potassium (K) level in solution or foliar spray during the salt-induced stress decreased MDA and antioxidant activity and increased the growth in salt-tolerant genotype than in the salt-sensitive genotype. Decrease in MDA concentration, activity of antioxidant enzymes, and increase in the growth of tomato plants by the application of potassium under salt stress suggest that potassium is an effective ameliorating agent against salt-induced oxidative damage.     

Effect of glucose on glucosinolates,antioxidants and metabolic enzymes in Brassica sprouts

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of glucose on glucosinolates, antioxidants and metabolic enzymes in Brassica sprouts. After glucose treatment, total glucosinolates, phenolics and anthocyanin contents and antioxidant activity were significantly enhanced in Chinese kale and pak choi sprouts, while only the anthocyanin and ascorbic acid contents were increased in radish sprouts. These results indicate that glucose treatment has selectively improved the nutritional compounds in different Brassica sprouts.     

Morpho-pomological and chemical characterization of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) genotypes in Apulia region,Southeastern Italy

A recent increasing demand in Western countries for pomegranate products by consumers is especially supported for the nutritional and medicinal characteristics, due to the antioxidant properties of this fruit. Some studies have been published on the morphological and biochemical characteristics of pomegranate fruits in some Mediterranean countries, but little information is available about the genotypes present in Italy and in particular in Apulia (Southeastern region of Italy). This study (2008–2009) evaluated morpho-pomological and chemical parameters of eight pomegranate genotypes localized in private small orchards. Significant differences were observed among the pomegranate genotypes for many of the parameters investigated. In particular, fruit weight ranged from 168.9 g (SouMol) to 574.9 g (SouOst), °Brix from 14.7 (ComTri) to 18.0 (SouMol), titratable acidity from 5.4 (ComMol) to 25.0 (SouTri) g/L. SouMol showed the highest polyphenols (97.1 mg/L) and vitamin C (236.3 mg/L) contents. Oil content of the seeds was between 5.90% and 10.30%, no differences have been observed for the fatty acid composition with conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers as the most abundant fraction (81.23%). Considering all the evaluated parameters, and especially those referring to the organoleptic characteristics and antioxidants content, it must be stated that the best genotypes worthy to be considered from agricultural and industrial points of view were AdeSgi for fresh market and SouOst for the juice industry.     

Effect of antioxidants in controlling enzymatic browning of minimally processed persimmon ‘Rojo Brillante’

‘Rojo Brillante’ is an important variety of persimmon that after removal of the astringency with high levels of CO₂, maintains firmness and sweetness, making possible its commercialization as a fresh-cut commodity. However, the commercial success of the product is limited mainly by enzymatic browning. This work presents the effect of a wide range of antioxidants on enzymatic browning of ‘Rojo Brillante’ persimmon combining in vitro (extracts and precipitates) and in vivo (cut tissue) studies. Preliminary screening of the antioxidants, determined by absorbance and color measurements of persimmon extracts and pellets, showed that 4-hexylresorcinol (Hexyl), citric acid (CA) and calcium chloride (CaCl₂) were effective at controlling browning at 10 mM; whereas, ascorbic acid (AA) required a higher concentration (25 mM). Peracetic acid, cyclodextrin, cysteine, and hexametaphosphate were not effective at controlling browning, even at a concentration of 50 mM. In in vivo studies, AA (1.12%) and CA (0.21%) were the most effective treatments to control enzymatic browning of fresh-cut material, reaching the limit of marketability in 5–7 days, whereas, Hexyl and CaCl₂ did not reach 1 day of storage. The results showed that optimum concentrations in cut tissue did not always correlate with the in vitro studies, indicating that antioxidants have an effect not only in browning reactions, but also in metabolic activity and cell wall changes during wound-induced reactions. The results provide relevant information for further development of minimally processed ‘Rojo Brillante’ persimmon during storage at 5 °C.