Protective effect of butylated hydroxylanisole against hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis in primary cultured mouse hepatocytes

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) is a synthetic phenolic compound consisting of a mixture of two isomeric organic compounds: 2-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole and 3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole. We examined the effect of BHA against hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced apoptosis in primary cultured mouse hepatocytes. Cell viability was significantly decreased by H₂O₂ in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, H₂O₂ treatment increased Bax, decreased Bcl-2, and promoted PARP-1 cleavage in a dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment with BHA before exposure to H₂O₂ significantly attenuated the H₂O₂-induced decrease of cell viability. H₂O₂ exposure resulted in an increase of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation that was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with BHA or N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC, an ROS scavenger). H₂O₂-induced decrease of cell viability was also attenuated by pretreatment with BHA and NAC. Furthermore, H₂O₂-induced increase of Bax, decrease of Bcl-2, and PARP-1 cleavage was also inhibited by BHA. Taken together, results of this investigation demonstrated that BHA protects primary cultured mouse hepatocytes against H₂O₂-induced apoptosis by inhibiting ROS generation.     

Analysis of methanogenic archaeal communities of rumen fluid and rumen particles from Korean black goats

Molecular diversity of methanogens in the rumen of Korean black goats was investigated with 16S rRNA gene clone libraries using methanogen‐specific primers. The libraries were composed of rumen fluid‐associated methanogens (FAM) and rumen particle‐associated methanogens (PAM) from rumen‐fistulated Korean black goats. Among the 141 clones of the FAM library, the sequences were mostly related to two phyla, the Methanobacteriaceae family (77.3%) and the Thermoplasmatales family (22.7%); and among the 68 clones of the PAM library, sequences were also mainly clustered in the two phyla, the Thermoplasmatales family (63.24%) and the Methanobacteriaceae family (35.29%). Most of the sequenced clones in the two libraries were closely related to uncultured methanogenic archaeon. Quantitative real‐time PCR revealed that PAM (8.97 log 10) had significantly higher (P < 0.01) density of methanogens by the methanogenic 16S rRNA gene copies than FAM (7.57 log 10). The two clone libraries also showed difference in Shannon index (FAM library 1.70 and PAM library 1.59) and Chao 1 estimator (FAM library 18 and PAM library 17 operational taxonomic units). Apparent differences found in the microbial community from the two 16S rRNA gene libraries could be a result of such factors as the chemical and physical nature of the target material surface, types or component of diets, the interaction between the methanogens and other microbes, and age of the experimental goats.     

Glycoalkaloids and metabolites inhibit the growth of human colon (HT29) and liver (HepG2) cancer cells

As part of an effort to improve plant-derived foods such as potatoes, eggplants, and tomatoes, the antiproliferative activities against human colon (HT29) and liver (HepG2) cancer cells of a series of structurally related individual compounds were examined using a microculture tetrazolium (MTT) assay. The objective was to assess the roles of the carbohydrate side chain and aglycon part of Solanum glycosides in influencing inhibitory activities of these compounds. Evaluations were carried out with four concentrations each (0.1, 1, 10, and 100 microg/mL) of the the potato trisaccharide glycoalkaloids alpha-chaconine and alpha-solanine; the disaccharides beta(1)-chaconine, beta(2)-chaconine, and beta(2)-solanine; the monosaccharide gamma-chaconine and their common aglycon solanidine; the tetrasaccharide potato glycoalkaloid dehydrocommersonine; the potato aglycon demissidine; the tetrasaccharide tomato glycoalkaloid alpha-tomatine, the trisaccharide beta(1)-tomatine, the disaccharide gamma-tomatine, the monosaccharide delta-tomatine, and their common aglycon tomatidine; the eggplant glycoalkaloids solamargine and solasonine and their common aglycon solasodine; and the nonsteroidal alkaloid jervine. All compounds were active in the assay, with the glycoalkaloids being the most active and the hydrolysis products less so. The effectiveness against the liver cells was greater than against the colon cells. Potencies of alpha-tomatine and alpha-chaconine at a concentration of 1 microg/mL against the liver carcinoma cells were higher than those observed with the anticancer drugs doxorubicin and camptothecin. Because alpha-chaconine, alpha-solanine, and alpha-tomatine also inhibited normal human liver HeLa (Chang) cells, safety considerations should guide the use of these compounds as preventative or therapeutic treatments against carcinomas.     

Identification of characteristic aroma-active compounds from water dropwort (Oenanthe javanica DC.)

Characteristic aroma components of water dropwort (Oenanthe javanica DC.) were evaluated by aroma extract dilution analysis and solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-olfactometry. Alpha-Terpinolene (plastic/cucumber-like) was the most intense aroma-active compound in water dropwort. Other potent aroma-active compounds included p-cymene (kerosene-like), alpha-terpinene (lemon), (E)-caryophyllene (woody), (Z,E)-alpha-farnesene (woody), hexanal (green), (Z)-3-hexenol (green), phenylacetaldehyde (honey), (E)-2-nonenal (cucumber), bornyl acetate (cooked vegetable), and gamma-terpinene (lemon). Of these, p-cymene was believed to be primarily responsible for the distinct kerosene-like aroma note of water dropwort. The aroma property of p-cymene was dependent on its concentration and was described as kerosene-like at relatively high concentrations but changed to citrus and green aroma notes at low concentrations.     

Effects of silver content and morphology on the catalytic activity of silver-grafted titanium oxide nanostructure

As titanium oxide is a well-known photocatalyst, we investigated the effects of silver content and nanostructural morphology on the photocatalytic degradation of two dyes, methylene blue and rhodamine B. Two nano-formulations were utilized, including nanofibers and nanoparticles. Silver-grafted titanium oxide nanofibers were synthesized using the electrospinning of silver nitrate/titanium isopropoxide/poly(vinyl acetate) sol-gel. The nanoparticulate form was obtained by calcination of a ground powder prepared from the same electrospun sol-gel. The results affirmed the advantage of the silver-grafted titanium oxide nanostructures over the silver-free ones. Increasing the silver content in the nanofibers led to increases in their surface area, which is an important parameter in heterogeneous catalytic chemical reactions. Therefore, the results strongly suggest the use of silver-grafted titanium oxide in a nanofibrous form. These results further support utilizing Agloaded titanium oxide nanofibers as a photocatalyst.     

Fatty acid composition in each structural part of soybean seed and sprout

Fatty acid composition and C_18:2:C_18:3 of soybean seed and sprout is important for soy-industries to manufacture quality products. Six soybean varieties were analyzed by gas chromatography to determine fatty acid composition and linoleic to linolenic acid ratio (C_18:2:C_18:3) in seed, sprout, and their structural parts. In the case of whole seed and its structural parts, significant variation in fatty acid composition and C_18:2:C_18:3 were observed between varieties except palmitic acid (C_16:0), while all the parameters were significantly different for seed parts. Significant interactions of variety with seed parts were observed for oleic acid (C_18:1), C_18:2 and C_18:2:C_18:3. The highest saturated fatty acid, C_18:1 and polyunsaturated fatty acid were recorded in seed coat, cotyledon, and seed axis, respectively. The lowest C_18:2:C_18:3 was found in seed axis. In the case of sprout study, variety had significant effect on all the parameters observed for whole sprout, cotyledon, root, and except C_18:3 for hypocotyl. Culture days had significant effect on C_16:0, C_18:2 and C_18:3 in whole sprouts, while only on C_18:3 and C_18:2:C_18:3 in cotyledon. For hypocotyl, culture days had significant effect on C_18:1, C_18:2 and C_18:2:C_18:3, however, C_16:0, C_18:1, C_18:3, and C_18:2:C_18:3 were significantly different in root. In sprout, days and variety interacted significantly for C_16:0, C_18:3 and C_18:2:C_18:3, and C_18:1, C_18:2, C_18:3, and C_18:2:C_18:3, respectively for whole, cotyledon, and root. The significantly lowest C_18:2:C_18:3 (1.1) was observed in hypocotyl and root of Hwangkeumkong in 5 days. Knowledge of fatty acid composition and C_18:2:C_18:3 of seed, sprout, and their parts could be applicable for oil and other soy-food industries to make quality products.     

DNA profiling and genetic diversity of Korean soybean (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Glycine max</Emphasis> (L.) Merrill) landraces by SSR markers

Approximately 7,000 accessions of Korean soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) landraces, largely composed of three collections, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute’s soybean (KAS), the Korean Crop Experiment Station’s soybean (KLS) and the Korean Agricultural Development and Technology Center’s soybean (KADTC) collections, have been conserved at the Rural Development Administration (RDA) genebank in Korea. The accessions within collections were classified based on their traditional uses such as sauce soybean (SA), sprouted soybean (SP), soybean for cooking with rice (SCR), and OTHERS. A total of 2,758 accessions of Korean soybean landraces were used to profile and to evaluate genetic structure using six SSR loci. A total of 110 alleles were revealed by at the six SSR loci. The number of alleles per SSR locus ranged from 9 to 39 in Satt187 and Satt_074, respectively. The number of alleles ranged from 87 in the KADTC collection to 96 in the KLS collection, and from 63 in the SCR group to 95 in the SP group. Nei’s average genetic diversity ranged from 0.68 to 0.70 across three collections, and 0.64 to 0.69 across the usage groups. The average between-group differentiation (G _st) was 0.9 among collections, and 4.1 among the usage groups. The similar average diversity among three collections implies that the genetic background of the three collections was quite similar or that there were a large number of duplicate accessions in three collections. The selection from the four groups classified based upon usage may be a useful way to select accessions for developing a Korean soybean landrace core collection at the RDA genebank. DNA profile information of accessions will provide indications of redundancies or omissions and aid in managing the soybean collection held at the RDA genebank. The information on diversity analysis could help to enlarge the genetic diversity of materials in breeding programs and could be used to develop a core collection.     

Evaluation of Seed Vigor Tests for Predicting Seedling Establishment at Low Temperature in Rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L.)

This study was carried out to develop an evaluation method to predict rice seedling establishment (SE) under low-temperature conditions. Two Korean-bred japonica cultivars, Shindongjin and Hopum were used in the experiment. Fresh seeds were treated with an accelerated aging (AA) at 40°C and 100% RH for 1-15 days. The SEs of the fresh and AA seeds were evaluated in nursery beds at 17°C, and their correlation coefficients with seed vigor values measured by 9 test methods including standard germination test (SGT), cool germination test (CLT), cold germination test (CDT), seedling growth rate test (SGRT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), peroxidase (POX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and α ‐amylase (AMY) activities. The percentage of SE decreased slowly from 75 to 0% with an increasing of AA period from 0 to 15 days. The result of nine vigor tests showed different correlations with the SE. SGT, CLT, SGRT, and POX were significantly correlated with the SE. In the correlation analysis with only short-term aging seeds (1-7 days), the SE was very highly correlated with SGT, CLT, CDT, SGRT, POX, and CAT. These results suggest that seed vigor values measured by several methods including SGT and POX could be used as a reference value to secure SE at low temperatures in nursery bed rice seedling culture.     

Parental effects on nutritional and antioxidants constituents in seeds of peanut cv. Boreom 1

In spite of the importance of parental inheritance effects, many aspects remain inadequately explained. The objective of this study was to explore parental effects on their progeny by estimating the variability of nutritional content in peanut seeds. The peanut cv. Boreom 1 was derived from Suwon 108 (female) and Milyang 4 (male). Protein and amino acid analyses revealed that male and female parent influences on protein, Asp, Thr, Ser, Glu, Pro, Ala, Cys, Val, Met, Ile, Leu, Tyr, Phe, His, and Arg content in their progeny. The oil and fatty acid composition (C16:0, C18:0, C18:1, C18:2, C20:0, C20:1, and C22:0) of the progeny were controlled by both parental types. The synergistic interaction of female and male parental genes was also shown on sucrose and stachiyose content, while paternal effect was found on raffinose in their progeny. The antioxidant activity, daidzin, glycitin, genistin, mal-glycitin, maldaidzin, mal-genistin, and daidzein content of Boreom 1 were significantly correlated with those secondary metabolites of female parent. Our results documented that both parental genes differentially influenced on nutritional composition of their progeny, Boreom 1. This biochemical evidence of parental effects would be support to identify the suitable cultivars to improve the crop breeding.     

Prediction of internal bond strength in a medium density fiberboard process using multivariate statistical methods and variable selection

This paper presents new data mining-based multivariate calibration models for predicting internal bond strength from medium density fiberboard (MDF) process variables. It utilizes genetic algorithms (GA) based variable selection combined with several calibration methods. By adopting a proper variable selection scheme, the prediction performance can be improved because of the exclusion of non-informative variable(s). A case study using real plant data showed that the calibration models based on the process variables selected by GA produced better performance than those without variable selection, with the exception of the radial basis function (RBF) neural networks model. In particular, the calibration model based on supervised probabilistic principal component analysis (SPPCA) yielded better performance (only when using GA) than partial least squares (PLS), orthogonal-PLS (O-PLS), and radial basis function neural networks models. The SPPCA model benefits most from the use of GA-based variable selection in this case study. N. André and H.-W. Cho equally contributed to this work.