Barley genotypic β-glucan variation combined with enzymatic modifications direct its potential as a natural ingredient in a high fiber extract

β-Glucan dietary fiber rich food systems hold a great potential for improving human health. Here, we evaluate the extractability and quality of β-glucan liquid formulations from eight different barley genotypes varying in β-glucan content and molecular structure using Termamyl^® SC (T), Attenuzyme^® (A) and Attenuzyme^® Flex (AF) amylolytic enzymes in combinations. Extracts from barley lines Lys5f, KVL408, KVL1104 and CDC Fibar exceeded 4 g β-glucan/l, providing European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended amounts (3 g β-glucan/day) from three portions. TAF extracts of Lys5f and KVL408 grains reached extraordinary high concentrations of 8–9 g β-glucan/l. The β-glucan molecular mass decreased with enzyme treatment T < TA < TAF due to minor lichenase side activity. Extractability was generally higher and molecular mass lower for barley lines low in triosyl/tetraosyl (DP3/DP4) ratios than for those high in DP3/DP4 ratios (Lys5f, KVL408 and KVL1104). Overall, the higher β-glucan content and structural robustness in Lys5f and KVL408 raw materials favor these in a β-glucan rich extract with potential for EFSA and FDA health and nutrition claims.     

Extractability and nutritional value of leaf protein from tropical aquatic plants

In a study conducted on the extraction of protein from the leaves of 30 freshwater aquatic plants, the highest standing crop fresh yield was found inTypha latifolia (2650g/m²). The Bio-Medical Data Processing (BMDP)K-means clustering program withK=2 showed that 11 of the 30 plants had a high protein nitrogen extractability as well as a high nitrogen content of the extracted protein. Among these, leaf protein fromAllmania nodiflora had the highest content of crude protein (62.7%) and β-carotene (782.4 μg/g). Leaf protein prepared fromHygrophila spinosa, Ottelia alismoides andPolygonum barbatum had low in-vitro digestibility. The levels of alkaloids and polyphenols were lower in the extracted protein compared to that present in the original leaf sample.     

不同性质农田土壤中铜的可提取性与生物有效性及毒性

以重金属总量为基础的土壤环境质量标准已不适用于当前土壤管理的需求，基于重金属生物有效性的生态风险评估和环境阈值研究对土壤重金属环境质量标准的修订具有重要的意义。本研究选取4种化学提取剂（HNO3、EDTA-Na2、NH4OAc和CaCl2）对我国3种不同性质的模拟Cu污染农田土壤（黑土、潮褐土和脱潜水稻土）进行有效态Cu提取，通过敏感性生态物种生菜和赤子爱胜蚓的Cu暴露实验，推导基于化学提取有效态的土壤Cu生态毒性阈值。研究结果表明，HNO3（41.38%）和EDTA-Na2（56.81%）对3种土壤中Cu的平均提取效率显著高于NH4OAc（0.12%）和CaCl2（8.70%）。CaCl2提取态Cu含量与生菜Cu富集量和毒性效应之间存在显著或极显著相关， HNO3提取态Cu含量则能很好地指示蚯蚓Cu富集量和30 d死亡率。不同生态受体毒性终点对土壤可提取态Cu的敏感性存在差异，选用物种最敏感指标推导了3种土壤中Cu的有效态毒性阈值EC 20和EC 50。基于不同化学提取态Cu含量的生菜毒性阈值EC 20范围分别是90.45~170.10 mg/kg（HNO3），102.78~195.31 mg/kg（EDTA-Na2），3.97~20.06 mg/kg（NH4OAc），和0.21~8.68 mg/kg（CaCl2）；EC 50范围分别是110.48~187.60 mg/kg（HNO3），118.63~230.49 mg/kg（EDTA-Na2），5.69~32.23 mg/kg（NH4OAc）和0.26~9.62 mg/kg（CaCl2）。基于不同化学提取态Cu含量的赤子爱胜蚓死亡率毒性阈值EC 20范围分别是138.26~193.16 mg/kg（HNO3）， 107.80~225.88 mg/kg（EDTA-Na2）， 8.92~11.58 mg/kg（NH4OAc），和0.36~10.57 mg/kg（CaCl2）；EC 50范围分别是183.07~221.23 mg/kg（HNO3），180.38~331.09 mg/kg（EDTA-Na2），13.06~18.30 mg/kg（NH4OAc）和0.54~13.21 mg/kg（CaCl2）。研究结果可为我国农田土壤重金属有效态化学提取方法的比选与优化提供科学依据，同时对基于生物有效性的土壤重金属环境质量基准与标准的研究和制定具有重要意义。     

Synthesis of 15N-labelled microbial biomass in soil in situ and extraction of biomass N

Summary A Pakistani soil (Hafizabad silt loam) was incubated at 30°C with varying levels of ¹⁵N-labelled ammonium sulphate and glucose (C/N ratio of 30 at each addition rate) in order to generate different insitu levels of ¹⁵N-labelled microbial biomass. At a stage when all of the applied ¹⁵N was in organic forms, as biomass and products, the soil samples were analysed for biomass N by the chloroform (CHCl₃) fumigation-extraction method, which involves exposure of the soil to CHCl₃ vapour for 24 h followed by extraction with 500 mM K₂SO₄. A correction is made for inorganic and organic N in 500 mM K₂SO₄ extracts of the unfumigated soil. Results obtained using this approach were compared with the amounts of immobilized ¹⁵N extracted by 500 mM K₂SO₄ containing different amounts of CHCl₃. The extraction time varied from 0.5 to 4 h.The amount of N extracted ranged from 27 to 270 g g^–1, the minimum occurring at the lowest (67 g g^–1) and the maximum at the highest (333 g g^–1) N-addition rate. Extractability of biomass ¹⁵N ranged from 25% at the lowest N-addition rate to 65%a for the highest rate and increased consistently with an increase in the amount of ¹⁵N and glucose added. The amounts of both soil N and immobilized ¹⁵N extracted with 500 mM K₂SO₄ containing CHCl₃ increased with an increase in extraction time and in concentration of CHCl₃. The chloroform fumigation-extraction method gives low estimates for biomass N because some of the organic N in K₂SO₄ extracts of unfumigated soil is derived from biomass.     

土壤中有机污染物的老化及其环境意义

持久性有机污染物随着在土壤中时间的延长,其生物有效性和毒性会逐渐下降的现象被称为老化。老化对有机污染物的有效性和行为归趋有着重要的影响。本文对国外有关老化对有机污染物生物有效性和可浸提性的影响,老化的机理和影响因素,以及老化后有机污染物生物有效性评价方法的研究作了概述。指出老化作为土壤对有机污染物修复的一种自然修复过程,可降低有机污染物的潜在环境风险,具有重要的环境意义。     

菲、芘在单一和复合污染条件下不同老化阶段的提取率及其生物有效性

研究了土壤中多环芳烃菲、芘在单一和复合污染条件下的老化过程,150天内观察到菲、芘的提取率随时间延长而逐渐减少,下降速率呈现初始较快、而后减慢的趋势;菲、芘的环糊精提取法的提取率随老化时间延长而下降的趋势要比索氏提取法明显。老化过程中复合污染土壤中芘的索氏法提取率略低于单一污染土壤中芘的提取率。在老化的后期,复合污染土壤中菲的环糊精法提取率略高于单一污染土壤中菲的提取率。利用蚯蚓作为测试生物,研究两种污染物的老化过程对其生物有效性的影响,发现表征其生物有效性的蚯蚓吸收率、生物富集系数(BCF)均随老化时间的延长而下降,此外,老化过程中复合污染条件下菲的生物有效性总是大于菲作为单一污染源时的生物有效性。对污染物的环糊精法提取率和蚯蚓吸收率作相关分析发现,单一污染土壤中菲和芘的环糊精提取法的提取率与蚯蚓吸收率均呈显著正相关。