Irbic acid, a dicaffeoylquinic acid derivative from Centella asiatica cell cultures

3,5-O-dicaffeoyl-4-O-malonilquinic acid (1) (irbic acid) has been isolated for the first time from cell cultures of Centella asiatica and till now it has never been reported to be present in the intact plant. Evidence of its structure was obtained by spectroscopic analyses (MS/NMR). Besides 1, cell cultures produce also the known 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, chlorogenic acid, and the triferulic acid 2 (4-O-8′/4′-O-8″-didehydrotriferulic acid). Biological activities were evaluated for compound 1, which showed to have a strong radical scavenging capacity, together with a high inhibitory activity on collagenase. This suggests a possible utilization of this substance as a topical agent to reduce the skin ageing process.     

Effect of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acrocomia aculeata</Emphasis> Kernel Oil on Adiposity in Type 2 Diabetic Rats

The macauba palm (Acrocomia aculeata) is native of tropical America and is found mostly in the Cerrados and Pantanal biomes. The fruits provide an oily pulp, rich in long chain fatty acids, and a kernel that encompass more than 50% of lipids rich in medium chain fatty acids (MCFA). Based on biochemical and nutritional evidences MCFA is readily catabolized and can reduce body fat accumulation. In this study, an animal model was employed to evaluate the effect of Acrocomia aculeata kernel oil (AKO) on the blood glucose level and the fatty acid deposit in the epididymal adipose tissue. The A. aculeata kernel oil obtained by cold pressing presented suitable quality as edible oil. Its fatty acid profile indicates high concentration of MCFA, mainly lauric, capric and caprilic. Type 2 diabetic rats fed with that kernel oil showed reduction of blood glucose level in comparison with the diabetic control group. Acrocomia aculeata kernel oil showed hypoglycemic effect. A small fraction of total dietary medium chain fatty acid was accumulated in the epididymal adipose tissue of rats fed with AKO at both low and high doses and caprilic acid did not deposit at all.     

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) parr fed genetically modified soybeans and maize: Histological, digestive, metabolic, and immunological investigations

Physiological and health related responses to dietary inclusion of genetically modified (GM) full-fat soybean meal (Roundup Ready; GM-soy) and maize (MON810 Bt-maize; GM-maize), as well as non-parental, untransformed lines (nGM-soy and nGM-maize D2), were evaluated in farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) parr during the first 8 months of feeding. Significant effects of dietary GM presence were only found in intestinal Na+-dependent d-glucose uptake and SGLT1 protein level in the region pyloric caeca in which the highest values were found in the GM-soy, intermediate in the nGM-soy, and lowest in the standard FM fed groups. Data from this study confirm that GM soybeans (RRS) and maize (MON810) at inclusion levels of about 6% appear to be as safe as commercially available nGM soy and maize in diets for Atlantic salmon parr. Results from studies with higher inclusion levels and with non-modified, isogenic or near-isogenic parental lines as control groups are pending.     

In vitro fermentation patterns and methane production of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) hay with different condensed tannin contents

Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) is a perennial legume recently reappraised for some positive characteristics leading to highly satisfactory animal performance. Sainfoin’s characteristics may be partly explained by the presence of moderate levels of condensed tannins (CTs) able to protect dietary protein from microbial degradation in the rumen. Decreased CH₄ emissions have been reported for ruminants consuming CT‐containing forage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of CT content on the in vitro fermentation characteristics and kinetics and methane production of four samples of O. viciifolia cut at different phenological stages. Sainfoin hays and one sample of alfalfa hay were incubated at 39°C in anaerobiosis using the in vitro gas production technique. The chemical composition, tannin content and fermentation characteristics and kinetics of sainfoin samples were significantly affected by phenological stage. After 48 h, the CH₄ production in sainfoin hays showed a tendency to increase with the advancement of phenological stage [from 38·6 to 49·8 mL g⁻¹ of degraded organic matter (OM)]. The best period to cut sainfoin for hay making is between early and late flowering, when the forage combines high OM digestibility, low CH₄ production and more efficient microbial fermentation.     

Lutein as a natural carotenoid source: Effect on growth,survival and skin pigmentation of goldfish juveniles (Carassius auratus)

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of lutein supplementation on growth, survival and skin pigmentation for goldfish juveniles. Four diets enriched with different carotenoid sources (lutein, astaxanthin, canthaxanthin and a combination of lutein and canthaxanthin) were compared to a control diet without carotenoid supplementation. The carotenoid inclusion level was standardized at 50 mg kg‐1 in all treatments. 240 goldfish juveniles (1.07?0.57 g) were cultivated in 30 aquariums (30L) during 84 days. The experimental design was completely randomized with five treatments and six replicates. The dietary inclusion of carotenoid pigments did not affect the growth and feeding efficiency of goldfish juveniles. Supplementation with lutein presented higher survival values when compared to the other treatments. Astaxanthin and canthaxanthin supplementation increased the concentration of carotenoids on the skin of goldfish juveniles in relation to the control treatment. For the fish fed with the diet containing lutein, the skin pigmentation was as efficient as astaxanthin and canthaxanthin, but did not differ from the control and combined treatment (canthaxanthin + lutein). The lutein supplementation (50 mg kg‐1) improved survival and promoted efficient carotenoid pigmentation on the skin of goldfish juveniles.     

Fermentation kinetics of sainfoin hay with and without PEG

The in vitro gas production technique was applied to evaluate the biological activity of tannins in sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) hay cut at four progressive phenological stages. The buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) rumen fluid was used as inoculum, polyethylene glycol (PEG) was added as specific binding agent and an alfalfa hay (AH) was used as control. All samples were analysed for chemical composition and condensed tannin (CTs). According to the phenological stage of sainfoin, crude protein gradually decreased [from 219 to 122 g/kg dry matter (DM)] and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) increased (from 391 to 514 g/kg DM). Condensed tannins showed the highest value at the first phenological stage [31.5 mg catechin equivalents (CE)/g DM], and their level significantly decreased at the subsequent growth stages. Gas production and fermentation rate were significantly affected by substrate type and PEG addition. The first stage of sainfoin showed the lowest value of gas and volatile fatty acids production and the slowest fermentation kinetics compared with the other samples, when incubated without PEG, because of the CTs effect. The incubation with PEG improved the fermentation process of the first stage of sainfoin, but no effect was registered on AH, where CTs were not detected. Among the sainfoin samples, the slowest kinetics with PEG was observed in the hay harvested at the fourth stage, probably due to its chemical composition. The use of PEG allowed to verify the effect of tannins on the in vitro fermentation characteristics of sainfoin hay.     

Dimensional analysis approach to estimate local head losses in microirrigation connectors

Local losses, which affect the uniformity of water application, are often ignored in the design of irrigation systems. Some accessories have no simple, efficient equations to estimate these losses. The main objective of this work was to develop an equation to estimate the local head loss in lateral passage connectors. Fifteen connector/pipe combinations were tested. The connectors were characterized by their internal diameters and dimensions. The local head loss was determined by subtracting the head loss on the connector and pipe from the head loss on the pipe. The parameters affecting the local head loss were defined as dimensionless terms using Buckingham’s theorem. A mathematical model was developed that presented a determination coefficient of 93.31 %. Elements such as the inner diameter of the connector, pipe length, connector, water flow velocity, Reynolds number and Froude number influenced the local head loss in the connectors. The model was compared with the observed data and presented excellent performance. It can be used to calculate the local head loss in lateral passage connectors.     

Reductive detoxification of the acetophenone skeleton of the carnation phytoanticipin by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. dianthi

The skeleton of the carnation phytoanticipin, acetophenone, was detoxified by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. dianthi , the main fungal parasite of carnation. This process consisted of the reduction to ethanol of the acetyl group, leading to the formation of phenylethanol, which has lower fungitoxic activity than the parent molecule. The conversion took place through the activity of an adaptive fungal oxidoreductase, which was NADH-dependent and was released by the fungus as two enzymatic forms within the culture substrate in the presence of acetophenone. Reduction was stereospecific and gave rise to only one of the two possible enantiomeric forms.