Studies on the effect of curry leaves supplementation (Murraya koenigi) on lipid profile,glycated proteins and amino acids in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients

Curry leaves powder supplementation (12 g providing 2.5 g fibre) was carried out for a period of 1 month in 30 non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus patients. The parameters monitored at 1, 15 and 30 days were fasting and 2 h post-prandial blood sugar levels, serum total cholesterol and its lipoprotein fractions, triglycerides, total amino acids, uronic acid, glycosylated serum proteins and glysocylated low density lipoprotein cholesterol fraction. The results indicated a transient reduction in fasting and post-prandial blood sugar levels at 15-day period with no appreciable changes in serum glycosylated protein levels, glycosylated low density lipoprotein cholesterol fraction, serum lipids, lipoprotein cholesterol levels, uronic acid and total amino acids were observed during the supplementation period, i.e. either at 15 days or 30 days.     

In vitro and in vivo studies on the digestibility of the major storage protein of the navy bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Fraction G1, the major storage protein of the navy bean (P. vulgaris), was subjected to in vitro digestion with pepsin, trypsin, or chymotrypsin. Based on measurements of the release of free amino groups, G1 appeared to be markedly resistant to digestion unless subjected to heat treatment. Molecular weight determinations by sedimentation equilibrium and amino acid analysis, however, indicated that G1 had in fact undergone limited proteolysis and a reduction in size, from 140,000 to 120,000, as a result of exposure to either trypsin or chymotrypsin. Disc gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecylsulfate also revealed significant changes in subunit composition. Native G1 was composed of two subunits, 43,000 and 49,000, in a ratio of 1:2, whereas trypsinor chymotrypsin-modified G1 had subunits of 22,500 and 30,000, in a ratio of 4:1.The true digestibility of native G1 as measured in rats was 57% compared with 92% after heat treatment. Although virtually devoid of trypsin inhibitory activity, G1 caused a significant enlargement of the pancreas, an effect which was partially overcome by heat treatment. It is concluded that a major factor contributing to the poor nutritive value of unheated navy beans is the marked resistance of its major storage protein to intestinal proteolysis.Supported by grant AM 18324 from the National Institutes of Health.     

Biochemical response in rats to the addition of curry leaf (Murraya koenigii) and mustard seeds (Brassica juncea) to the diet

Three groups with 12 weanling male albino rats were group fed for 90 days on a standard laboratory rat diet plus 20% coconut oil either without a supplement or with the addition of 10% curry leaf or 10% mustard seeds. Feed was offered at a level of 10% body weight. At the end of the trial, measurements were made on the total serum cholesterol, high density lipoproteins, low density lipoproteins, and very low density lipoproteins fractions, release of lipoproteins into the circulation, lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase activity and lipoprotein lipase activity. Feed intake and mean body weight of the rats on each treatment was not significantly different. Both spices resulted in a reduction in total serum cholesterol and LDL+VLDL, an increase in the HDL, lower release of lipoproteins into the circulation and an increase in the LCAT activity.     

茶树花主要生化成分分析

为探明茶树花的主要生化成分,便于其开发利用,对13个茶树品种、不同开放状态的花及花的不同部位主要生化成分进行分析。结果表明,不同品种花的主要生化成分平均含量分别为：茶多酚10．51％、游离氨基酸1．60％、黄酮类化合物0．62％、水溶性糖35．46％、水浸出物56．11％;盛开期主要生化成分含量较高,露白期低;茶树花不同部位生化成分含量差异较大,花瓣水溶性糖、黄酮类化合物和水浸出物含量较高,雄蕊和雌蕊氨基酸含量较高,花托和花梗茶多酚含量较高。     

In vitro availability of iron from cereal meal with the addition of protein isolates and fenugreek leaves (Trigonella foenum-graecum)

In vitro iron availability was determined from a standard cereal meal (C) with and without the addition of protein isolates from bovine milk (BP), groundnut milk (GP) and soybean milk (SP). A second set of studies were done to investigate the potentially available iron from fenugreek leaves per se and the effect of their addition on the available iron from the cereal meal. The potentially available iron from the meal increased from 4.91% to 6.73% on the addition of BP. The next best enhancer was GP (4.91% to 6.17%). Although the addition of SP increased the total iron content of the cereal meal significantly, the percent available iron decreased compared to the other milk proteins. The addition of fenugreek leaves (100 g/meal) to the meal increased the total iron content of the meal significantly (3.24 mg to 9.12 mg) (p<.001), however, the available iron was observed to decrease (4.91% vs 4.34%).     

Some hormone-like properties of Allium Cepa L. (onion)

Summary Onion juice fed to rats produced a testosterone-like effect as it increased the seminal weight in castrated and non-castrated animals, an insulin-like action as it reduced blood sugar level in animals made hyperglycemic experimentally, and a growth hormone-like activity as it increased the growth rate in young rats. It, moreover, possessed an oxytocic action when tested, in vitro, on the rat uterus at various stages of sex cycle. (with 1 fig.)     

半野生和栽培大豆叶片某些光合特性的比较

对半野生、半栽培及栽培大豆叶片某些光合特性指标的比较研究表明,半野生大豆、半栽培大豆和栽培大豆叶面积指数依次降低,而比叶重、叶绿素含量和净光合速率均表现为随品种的进化而增加;从生育期的变化来看,3种类型大豆叶片比叶重和叶绿素含量变化基本一致,苗期和结荚期较低,开花期较高,最大值出现在鼓粒期;3种类型大豆的光合日变化都呈“双峰”曲线型变化,但以栽培大豆日变化最为明显。     

茉莉酸甲酯对花生幼苗呼吸速率,组织含水量和茎部结构的影响

分别用茉莉酸甲酯０ｍｏｌ／Ｌ、０．２２ｍｏｌ／Ｌ和０．４４ｍｏｌ／Ｌ的浓度处理花生幼苗,其中以０．４４ｍｏｌ／Ｌ的作用最明显。经过处理的植物组织鲜重变化不明显,组织含水量有所下降,干重稍微增加;叶片呼吸速率比对照减少,经处理的植物茎部的组织较为致密,厚壁组织较为发达。     

Phytochemical screening and in vitro amylase inhibitory effect of the leaves of Breynia retusa

This study was proposed based on the folklore claim and on the scarcity of scientific evidence from the literature for the medicinal uses of Breynia retusa. The aim of the present study was to analyse the phytochemical constituents of the leaves of B. retusa. The fractions obtained by successive fractionation using solvents of varying polarity were studied for the presence of primary and secondary metabolites and the total phenolic content of the different fractions were determined by HPLC. The results of the study support the traditional acclaim of the therapeutic uses of B. retusa. The potential of B. retusa to inhibit alpha-amylase, a prime enzyme involved in carbohydrate metabolism was analysed and it was observed that the ethyl acetate and methanolic extract of the leaves of B. retusa possessed in vitro amylase inhibitory activity.     

Modeling of desorption of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) stems and leaves

The equilibrium moisture content of agricultural products is necessary to optimize drying process and helps to keep the quality of the product during the period of storage. The main aim of this research was to find the best model which could define well, the exchange of moisture between alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and the surrounding air. The desorption isotherms of alfalfa (stem and leaf) were determined separately by using the saturated salt solutions method at three temperatures (25, 50 and 70 °C) within a range of 5-90% relative humidity. Experimental curves of desorption isotherms were fitted to modified equations of Henderson, Halsey, Oswin and Chung-Pfost as well as the GAB model and then evaluated visually by using residual plots and also by some statistical error parameters. The modified Halsey model was found to be the most suitable for describing the relationship between equilibrium moisture content, relative humidity and temperature.     

Effect of colocasia leaves (Colocasia antiquorum) on serum and tissue lipids in cholesterol-fed rats

Dried colocasia powder (10% and 20%) was fed to hypercholesterolemic rats for a period of one month to explore the effect on serum lipids and tissue lipids. The results indicated that there was a significant increase in total lipids, total cholesterol, and triglycerides levels in the cholesterol fed rats. Liver cholesterol showed a slight reduction which was non-significant, while an increase in liver triglyceride was observed in rats fed with 10% and 20% colocasia leaves diet with or without cholesterol. All these observations indicate an aggravating effect of colocasia leaves on serum and tissue lipids in cholesterol-fed rats.     

Glands,essential oils and in vitro establishment of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don ssp. microphyllum (Willd.) Nyman

In this work, two Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don ssp. microphyllum (Willd.) Nym. genotypes (genotype 1 and genotype 12) collected from different areas of Corsica were used. After the taxonomic identification based on several specific morphological characters, the two genotypes were subjected to microscopic studies. The precise structure of the glandular trichomes, secreting essential oils, on the flower heads and leaves of H. italicum (Roth) G. Don ssp. microphyllum (Willd.) Nym. are described here for the first time. Volatile constituents from both field-grown genotypes 1 and 12 were analyzed and their composition compared: monoterpenes were the most abundant class of compounds with nerol and its esters as the main metabolites. Genotype 12 was used to establish an efficient micropropagation protocol. For proliferation, different concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) alone or in combination with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) were tested adding sucrose (20% or 30%). To define the optimal conditions for in vitro rooting, the shoots obtained were divided and transferred to the culture medium without growth regulators or enriched by different auxins in combination with sucrose (20% or 30%). Acclimatization, carried out in different conditions was easy, registering high survival percentages. The results achieved in this study allowed to obtain selected and standardized plants suitable for the exploitation in industrial sectors of this interesting species.     

The expression of general resistance to late blight (Phytophthora infestans) in potato leaves

Summary Resistance toPhytophthora infestans was evaluated histologically using leaves of potato cultivars with different levels of general resistance. Host genotype did not influence the preinfectional processes of encysted zoospores, e.g. frequency of germination, length of germ tubes, or frequency of formation of appressoria. Most of the appressoria on the leaf surface were attached to epidermal cells, but they were also found on cells of the stomatal complexes, on hairs and glands, and on cells adjacent to vascular tissue. There were significant differences between cultivars in the extension of intercellular hyphal growth and branching 24 and 48 h after inoculation, the differences increasing with time. In contrast to cv. Bintje, the hyphae in the most resistant cultivar Matilda were mostly confined to the epidermal and palisade cells even 48 h after infection, the number of hyphae per section was much lower, and sporulation capacity was reduced.     

油菜诱变和离体草酸筛选抗菌核病材料

以油菜华双3号为材料，研究辐射诱变和离体草酸处理筛选抗菌核病材料的方法和技术，结果表明，用于离体筛选种的辐照剂量以40－120Krad为宜，用草酸处理60Co-γ射线照射种子产生的试管苗（一轮草酸筛选），或用草酸处理辐照种子及种子产生的试管苗（两轮草酸筛选），获得49株抗草酸小苗，未经辐射处理的种子均未筛选出抗草酸小苗，将抗草酸小苗离体叶接种核盘菌菌丝体，获得9株抗（耐）核盘菌的小苗。     

杂交水稻腋芽在母体与离体条件下的再生特性研究

以杂交水稻龙两优072和深优9576为试验材料,对各节位腋芽在母体与离体条件下的再生特性进行了研究。结果表明,有效穗数和结实率对母体条件下再生稻产量起决定性作用,有效穗数和每穗总粒数对离体条件下再生稻产量起决定性作用;离体条件下再生稻的有效穗数、结实率和产量均高于母体条件,但千粒重略低于母体条件;离体条件下再生稻的叶面积指数、作物生长率均高于母体条件;再生稻全氮的转运主要发生在叶片,碳水化合物的转运主要发生在茎鞘,且碳水化合物的转运随节位的下降呈增加的趋势;离体条件下各节位各时期茎鞘和叶片的全氮和可溶性糖含量均高于母体条件,淀粉含量低于母体条件。     

Effect of home processing on total and extractable calcium and zinc content of spinach (Spinach oleracia) and amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor) leaves

Spinach (Spinacia oleracia) and amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor) leaves were stored in polyethylene bags and without packing for 24 and 48 hours in a refrigerator at 5 and 30 °C in polyethylene bags. The fresh leaves were also dried (oven and sun); blanched (5, 10 and 15 min) and cooked in an open pan and a pressure cooker. The processed leaves were analysed for total and extractable calcium and zinc content. The Ca and Zn content of these leaves varied from 1320 to 2120 and 11.70 to 12.60 mg/100 g DM and the percentage HCl-extractability was 77.82 to 81.92 and 85.16 to 86.15, respectively. No significant effects of drying and storage were observed on total Ca and Zn content and HCl-extractability while blanching and cooking resulted in significant improvement of HCl-extractibility of these two minerals. Thus, cooking and blanching are good ways to improve the HCl-extractibility of Ca and Zn.     

芸芥种质资源的遗传多样性研究

用100个随机引物对18份芸芥材料的基因组DNA进行扩增,结果有10个随机引物得到了稳定一致的RAPD谱带,每个引物扩增出2～17条谱带,共扩增出91条谱带.采用UPGMA法对扩增出的谱带进行遗传聚类分析,在遗传距离(D)=0.1333处,将18个芸芥材料分为2类8组,揭示了芸芥种质资源的遗传多样性.     

Antioxidant activity of oak (Quercus) leaves infusions against free radicals and their cardioprotective potential

The aim of present study was to evaluate antioxidant capacity and cardioprotective potential of leaves infusions and partially purified fractions of Quercus sideroxyla and Q. eduardii (red oaks) and Q. resinosa (white oak). Consumption of polyphenol-rich beverages derived from plants, such as oak may represent a beneficial diet in terms of cardiovascular protection. Infusions from Oak leaves were obtained and probed for total phenolics by Folin-Ciocalteu, DPPH and hydroxyl radicals scavenging by DPPH test and Deoxy-D-ribose method, the antioxidant capacity was evaluated by FRAP and ORAC tests, inhibitions of Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL) oxidation and Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) activity were measured. A HPLC analysis was performed by HPLC-MS. Bioactive polyphenols such as gallic and ellagic acids, catechin, quercetin and derivatives: naringenin and naringin were detected in Quercus infusions. A distinctive HPLC profile was observed among the red and white oak samples. Q. resinosa infusions have exhibited the highest antioxidant activity in comparison with the other species, although in the inhibition of LDL oxidation no differences were observed. In the inhibition of the ACE, Q. resinosa was more effective (IC50, 18 ppm) than Q. sideroxyla, showing same effect as the control Captopril. From the results it is possible to postulate that not only chelating activity is important in these infusions, especially in Q. resinosa.     

吉林省部分大豆品种(系)低聚糖含量分析

利用高效液相色谱法测定了吉林省500份大豆品种(系)中的低聚糖含量(干基).使用正相氨基柱分离、63%乙腈溶液洗脱、示差折光检测器检测,以蔗糖、水苏糖和棉籽糖为标准品,加入乳糖为内标,计算大豆中低聚糖含量.蔗糖、水苏糖和棉籽糖的加标回收率分别为99.85%、100.34%和98.21%,线性相关系数为0.9987～0.9996.测得500份大豆品种(系)中的低聚糖总量范围7.73%～13.46%,超过12%的品种(系)有49个.蔗糖含量范围3.42%～8.27%,棉籽糖含量范围0.41%～1.37%,水苏糖含量范嗣3.23%～4.87%.