Volume Contents

Volume Contents

Volume Contents     

Triterpenic compounds from "orujo" olive oil elicit vasorelaxation in aorta from spontaneously hypertensive rats

There is currently a considerable amount of interest in the benefits of certain dietary elements, and in particular of olive oil, in endothelial function and thus in hypertension. "Orujo" or pomace olive oil is obtained from the residues of the olive by a novel centrifugation process, and it is a good dietary source of triterpenic compounds such as oleanolic and maslinic acid, erythrodiol, and uvaol. Until now, there was no information available regarding the properties of these triterpenoids on the vasculature of hypertensive animals. However, in this in vitro study, we have analyzed the vasorelaxation induced by these triterpenoids in isolated aorta from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The triterpenoids tested induced concentration-dependent vasorelaxation, mostly involving nitric oxide (NO). Indeed, the responses were attenuated by removal of the endothelium or following pretreatment with the NO synthase inhibitor L-NAME. Furthermore, the differences that were observed in the potency of relaxation, the selectivity, and the dependence on the endothelium were attributed to structural features of the triterpenoids. In conclusion, triterpenic components in pomace olive oil induce vasorelaxation of the aorta from SHR, and this effect generally involves endothelial NO.     

Response of an agricultural soil to pentachlorophenol (PCP) contamination and the addition of compost or dissolved organic matter

The response of a fresh, agricultural soil when contaminated with pentachlorophenol (PCP) and supplemented with compost (C) or dissolved organic matter (DOM) was studied in the laboratory. The concentration of PCP and the changes in various functionally related properties (i.e. microbial biomass, basal respiration, soil hydrolase and oxidoreductase activity) were measured over 150 d. Variations in the main physical and chemical properties of the soils were also monitored. Two different doses of compost (C1 = 0.27% and C2 = 0.83%, corresponding to 10 and 30 t ha⁻¹, respectively) or DOM (D1 = 0.07% and D2 = 0.2%) equivalent to the carbon content of the two compost doses C1 and C2 were used and the following five systems were investigated: soil (S), soil–compost (S-C1 and S-C2) and soil–DOM (S-D1 and S-D2). PCP concentrations declined progressively and significantly with time. This effect was most pronounced for the soils amended with the lower compost dose C1 (S-C1) and with the two DOM (S-D1 and S-D2) amounts. Significantly reduced amounts of PCP were extracted after its 500-d residence in the various systems. Higher amounts of the residual PCP were extracted from the humic acids (HA), fulvic acids (FA) and humin–mineral (HU) fractions of the 500 d aged samples than from the same unfractionated samples, indicating that the residual PCP preferentially accumulated in the organic fractions of soil. The soil showed an endogenous microbial activity as indicated by basal respiration, microbial biomass and all the enzymatic activities tested (dehydrogenase, glucosidase, phosphatase, arylsulphatase and urease). Addition of the PCP severely depressed some of the tested biochemical properties suggesting an inhibitory effect on microbial activity. Conversely, higher basal respiration, and similar β-glucosidase and phosphatase activities were measured in comparison with the controls. No significant effects were observed following the addition of two doses of the compost or the DOM. Fungal colonies belonging to the taxonomic group of Ascomycetes and identified as Byssochlamys fulva developed with time in all the PCP-contaminated samples. Growth of B. fulva in vitro in the presence of PCP showed that the isolate was tolerant to 12.5 and 25 mg l⁻¹ PCP and degraded 20% of its initial concentration in 8 d. Overall, the results indicate that many complex processes occurred in the contaminated soil and combinations of these determined the response to PCP contamination. The sorption of PCP to the soil matrix (which increased with time) and its degradation/transformation by indigenous soil microbial activity were likely involved. Both the processes appeared to be favoured by the presence of dissolved organic matter.     

Conversion of the mycotoxin patulin to the less toxic desoxypatulinic acid by the biocontrol yeast Rhodosporidium kratochvilovae strain LS11

The infection of stored apples by the fungus Penicillium expansum causes the contamination of fruits and fruit-derived products with the mycotoxin patulin, which is a major issue in food safety. Fungal attack can be prevented by beneficial microorganisms, so-called biocontrol agents. Previous time-course thin layer chromatography analyses showed that the aerobic incubation of patulin with the biocontrol yeast Rhodosporidium kratochvilovae strain LS11 leads to the disappearance of the mycotoxin spot and the parallel emergence of two new spots, one of which disappears over time. In this work, we analyzed the biodegradation of patulin effected by LS11 through HPLC. The more stable of the two compounds was purified and characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance as desoxypatulinic acid, whose formation was also quantitated in patulin degradation experiments. After R. kratochvilovae LS11 had been incubated in the presence of (13)C-labeled patulin, label was traced to desoxypatulinic acid, thus proving that this compound derives from the metabolization of patulin by the yeast. Desoxypatulinic acid was much less toxic than patulin to human lymphocytes and, in contrast to patulin, did not react in vitro with the thiol-bearing tripeptide glutathione. The lower toxicity of desoxypatulinic acid is proposed to be a consequence of the hydrolysis of the lactone ring and the loss of functional groups that react with thiol groups. The formation of desoxypatulinic acid from patulin represents a novel biodegradation pathway that is also a detoxification process.     

Antiradical Capacity and Induction of Apoptosis on HeLa Cells by a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaseolus vulgaris</Emphasis> Extract

Jamapa bean is a black Phaseolus vulgaris variety rich in condensed tannins, anthocyanins and flavonols with interesting biological activities. The objective of this work was to evaluate the antiradical capacity (ARC) of a Jamapa bean methanolic extract (BME) and some of the proanthocyanidin-rich fractions derived from it, using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The effect of the BME on some proteins involved in apoptosis on HeLa cells was also evaluated. A strong correlation between proanthocyanidin concentration in BME and antiradical capacity was found, suggesting that these compounds contribute significantly to antiradical activity. BME was a better radical scavenger than butylated hydroxytoluene (45.6 and 33.9% ARC at 400 μM, respectively). Two proanthocyanidin-rich fractions obtained after a preliminary separation of the BME using Toyopearl (TP4 and TP6) exhibited a higher antiradical activity than the parent extract. The treatment of HeLa cells with 35 μg BME/ml/24 h increased the expression of Bax and Caspase-3, pro-apoptotic proteins (6.13 and 1.2 times for Caspase-3 and Bax, respectively). The mechanism of action of some proteins involved in apoptosis was also evaluated, and the results suggest that black Jamapa bean could be an important source of polyphenolic compounds with potential biological use as antioxidant and anticancer agents.     

Properties of an aged phenanthrene-contaminated soil and its response to bioremediation processes

Purpose  

Persistent organic compounds exhibit declining extractability and bioavailability to microorganisms and other soil organisms with increasing contact time or ageing. Among the possible mechanisms are the association of organic compounds with natural organic matter. Ageing can reduce the negative effects that an organic pollutant may have on the biological, biochemical properties and phytotoxicity of the contaminated soil. The aim of the present work was to evaluate, under laboratory conditions, the response of an agricultural soil contaminated with phenanthrene (Phe) and subjected to 2-year ageing and the effects and potential remediation capabilities of compost and an effective Phe-degrading bacterial culture.     

Simultaneous determination of beauvericin, enniatins, and fusaproliferin by high performance liquid chromatography

A rapid, sensitive and inexpensive HPLC method for routine screening of beauvericin, fusaproliferin, and enniatin B(1), A(1), and B has been optimized. Detection limits were determined, ranging between 0. 5 and 3.6 ng according to the compound obtained after spiking samples with each mycotoxin at 10-56 microg/mL concentration range; recoveries averaging from 56 to 74% were obtained. LC-MS conditions for enniatin analyses by API electrospray technique were set up, this allowing a unique identification of three different enniatins.     

Cloning and characterization of 2S albumin, Car i 1, a major allergen in pecan

Although pecans are associated with IgE-mediated food allergies, the allergens responsible remain to be identified and characterized. The 2S albumin gene was amplified from the pecan cDNA library. Dot-blots were used to screen the recombinant protein with pecan allergic patients' serum. The affinity purified native protein was analyzed by Edman sequencing and mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis. Cross-reactivity with walnut was determined by inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Sequential epitopes were determined by probing the overlapping peptides with three different patients' serum pool. The 3-dimensional homology model was generated, and the locations of the pecan epitopes were compared with those of known sequential epitopes on other allergenic tree nut homologues. Of 28 patients tested by dot-blot, 22 (79%) bound to 2S albumin, designated as Car i 1. Edman sequencing and the MS/MS sequencing of native 2S albumin confirmed the identity of recombinant (r) Car i 1. Both pecan and walnut protein extracts inhibited the IgE-binding to rCar i 1. Sequential epitope mapping indicated weak, moderate, and strong reactivity against 12, 7, and 5 peptides, respectively. Of the 11 peptides recognized by all serum pools, 5 peptides were strongly reactive and located in 3 discrete regions of the Car i 1 (amino acids 43-57, 67-78, and 106-120). Three-dimensional modeling revealed IgE-reactive epitopes to be solvent accessible and share significant homology with other tree nuts providing a possible basis for previously observed cross-reactivity.     

Functional feed assessment on Litopenaeus vannamei using 100% fish meal replacement by soybean meal, high levels of complex carbohydrates and Bacillus probiotic strains

Functional feed supplemented with alternative-economic nutrient sources (protein, carbohydrates, lipids) and probiotics are being considered in shrimp/fish aquaculture production systems as an option to increase yield and profits and to reduce water pollution. In this study the probiotic potential to formulate functional feeds have been evaluated using four dietary treatments: Treatment 1 (B + Bs); Bacillus subtilis potential probiotic strain was supplemented to a soybeanmeal (SBM)-carbohydrates (CHO) basal feed. Treatment 2 (B + Bm); Bacillus megaterium potential probiotic strain was supplemented to the same SBM-CHO basal feed. In Treatment 3 (B); SBM-CHO basal feed was not supplemented with probiotic strains. Treatment 4 (C); fishmeal commercial feed (FM) was utilized as positive control. Feeding trials evaluated the survival, growth, and food conversion ratio and stress tolerance of juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) Pacific white shrimp. Best overall shrimp performance was observed for animals fed with Treatment 1 (B+Bs); additionally, stress tolerance and hemolymph metabolites also showed the best performance in this treatment. SBM-CHO basal feed not supplemented with probiotic strains (B) presented smaller growth and lower feed conversion ratio (FCR). Shrimps fed with the fishmeal commercial feed (C) presented the lowest stress tolerance to high ammonia and low oxygen levels. Specifically selected B. subtilis strains are recommended to formulate functional and economical feeds containing high levels of vegetable; protein and carbohydrates as main dietary sources in L. vannamei cultures.