Polyphenolics Profile, Antioxidant and Radical Scavenging Activity of Leaves and Stem of Raphanus sativus L.

Aerial parts (leaves and stem) of Raphanus sativus, which are usually discarded were found to possess potent antioxidant and radical scavenging activity, as measured by standard antioxidant assays. Methanolic and acetone extracts of R. sativus leaves had total polyphenolic content of 86.16 and 78.77 mg/g dry extract, which were comparable to the traditional rich sources such as green tea and black tea. HPLC identification of polyphenolics indicated the presence of catechin, protocatechuic acid, syringic acid, vanillic acid, ferulic acid, sinapic acid, o-coumaric acid, myricetin, and quercetin in leaves and stem. Among the different extraction solvents, methanolic extract of leaves and stem showed potent reductive capacity, significantly inhibited linoleic acid peroxidation and displayed metal chelating activity. Further, they scavenged free radicals effectively with IC₅₀ (half maximal inhibitory concentration) of 31 and 42 μg/ml for DPPH radical, 23 and 52 μg/ml for superoxide radical, 67 and 197 μg/ml for hydrogen peroxide, and 56 and 62 μg/ml for nitric oxide, respectively. Leaves showed most potent antioxidant and radical scavenging activity as compared to stem, which may be accounted for the high polyphenolic content. Leaves and stem of R. sativus, often under-utilized part of this vegetable, thus possessed considerable amount of polyphenolics. Hence, it should be regarded as a potential source of natural antioxidants and could be effectively employed as an ingredient in health or in functional food.     

Inhibitory Potential against Digestive Enzymes Linked to Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes and Content of Bioactive Compounds in 20 Cultivars of the Peach Fruit Grown in Poland

The presented study provides important insights on the health properties of Prunus persica fruit related to their polyphenol and carotenoid profiles, antioxidant capacity and in vitro potential to inhibit enzymes relevant to type 2 diabetes (α-amylase, α-glucosidase) and obesity (pancreatic lipase) management. Such results have not been published so far. The study showed substantial differences in the chemical composition of peach fruit depending on the cultivar. At the same time, it demonstrated some common features of selected cultivars - the varieties with light flesh (‘Spring Time’; ‘Madison’) were characterized by a high content of phenolic acids and flavonols, thus exhibiting high activity against α-amylase, while the yellow varieties with high content of carotenoids (‘Harrow Diamond’; ‘Harrow Beauty’) showed high inhibitory activity toward porcine pancreatic lipase. Finally, it has been shown that peach fruit is an interesting raw material with a varied chemical composition and nutritional value, especially with high inhibitory potential against digestive enzymes linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes, strongly determined by the cultivar.     

The Effect of Thermal and Ultrasonic Treatment on Amino Acid Composition, Radical Scavenging and Reducing Potential of Hydrolysates Obtained from Simulated Gastrointestinal Digestion of Cowpea Proteins

The effect of thermal and ultrasonic treatment of cowpea proteins (CP) on amino acid composition, radical scavenging and reducing potential of hydrolysates (CPH) obtained from in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion of CP was evaluated. Hydrolysis of native and treated CP with gastrointestinal pepsin and pancreatin yielded CPH that displayed antioxidant activities based on oxygen radical scavenging capacity (ORAC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and superoxide radical scavenging activity (SRSA). CPH derived from the treated CP yielded higher ORAC values than CPH from untreated proteins. However, lower significant FRAP and SRSA values were observed for these samples compared to untreated CPH (p?<?0.05). Amino acid analysis indicated that CP processing decreased total sulphur-containing amino acids in the hydrolysates, particularly cysteine. The amount of cysteine appeared to be positively related to FRAP and SRSA values of CPH samples, but not ORAC. The results indicated that thermal and ultrasonic processing of CP can reduce the radical scavenging and reducing potential of the enzymatic hydrolysates possibly due to the decreased amounts of cysteine. Since the hydrolysates were generated with gastrointestinal enzymes, it is possible that the resulting compounds are produced to exert some health functions during normal consumption of cowpea.     

水稻灌浆过程中籽粒淀粉合成关键酶活性与蒸煮食味品质

选用稻米蒸煮食味品质有显著差异的4个粳稻品种,对水稻籽粒灌浆过程中淀粉合成关键酶的活性变化及其与蒸煮食味品质关系进行了研究。 不同品质类型的品种间籽粒直链淀粉和支链淀粉含量在灌浆前、中后期表现出差异,这种差异主要表现在灌浆不同时期淀粉积累速率上。籽粒灌浆过程中,不同品质类型的品种中ADPG焦磷酸化酶和可溶性淀粉合成酶活性出现峰值的时间无差异,但淀粉分支酶活性出现峰值的时间,劣质品种明显早于优质品种,而且优质品种灌浆中、后期仍然保持较高水平的酶活性。ADPG焦磷酸化酶、可溶性淀粉合成酶、淀粉分支酶的活性与直链淀粉含量、支链淀粉含量、味度值、RVA谱特性间的相关性和程度因灌浆时期不同而发生变化。在整个灌浆过程中,可溶性淀粉合成酶活性与味度值间的相关均不显著,但灌浆前期和中、后期的ADPG焦磷酸化酶和淀粉分支酶的活性与味度值间呈显著或极显著相关。选择灌浆前期酶活性低或灌浆后期酶活性高的材料,将有利于提高稻米蒸煮食味品质。     

不同氮反应冬小麦品种幼苗素质及氮代谢关键酶活性的耐低氮差异研究

为了明确不同氮敏感型冬小麦品种的幼苗对低氮胁迫的反应,基于小麦籽粒产量和籽粒氮含量的耐低氮指数,对24个冬小麦品种进行了耐低氮丰产型和氮敏感型分类,并以典型品种为材料,比较了其幼苗(5叶龄)在不施氮(0mmol·L~(-1))和施氮(16 mmol·L~(-1))条件下,地上部和根部的干物质积累量、氮含量、氮积累量及其叶片和根部的硝酸还原酶(NR)和谷氨酰胺合成酶(GS)活性。结果显示,与施氮处理相比较,不施氮处理小麦品种的幼苗根部干物质积累量、根冠比均增加,地上部干物质积累量、氮含量和氮积累量、根部氮含量和氮积累量以及NR和GS活性均降低。在不施氮处理下,耐低氮丰产型小麦品种的幼苗地上部干物质积累量的降幅小于氮敏感型品种,根部干物质积累量和根冠比的增幅均大于氮敏感型品种;耐低氮丰产型小麦品种幼苗总根长和总根表面积显著增加,根直径显著下降;氮敏感型小麦品种幼苗根直径和总根体积显著降低。与氮敏感型品种相比,耐低氮丰产型小麦品种幼苗地上部、根部的氮吸收能力较高,NR和GS两种酶活性降幅较小。     

Dietary Chitosan Nanoparticles: Potential Role in Modulation of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Antibacterial Defense and Intestinal Immunity against Enteric Redmouth Disease

Bio-nanotechnology employing bio-sourced nanomaterial is an emerging avenue serving the field of fish medicine. Marine-sourced chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) is a well-known antimicrobial and immunomodulatory reagent with low or no harm side effects on fish or their human consumers. In this study, in vitro skin mucus and serum antibacterial activity assays along with intestinal histology, histochemical, and gene expression analyses were performed to evaluate the impact of dietary CSNPs (5 g kg⁻¹ dry feed) on rainbow trout resistance against ‘enteric redmouth’ disease. Two treatment conditions were included; short-term prophylactic-regimen for 21 days before the bacterial challenge, and long-term therapeutic-regimen for 21 days before the challenge and extended for 28 days after the challenge. Our results revealed higher antibacterial defense ability and positive intestinal histochemical and molecular traits of rainbow trout after dietary CSNPs. The prophylactic-regimen improved trout health while the therapeutic regimen improved their disease resistance and lowered their morbidity. Therefore, it is anticipated that CSNPs is an effective antibacterial and immunomodulatory fish feed supplement against the infectious threats. However, the CSNPs seem to be more effective in the therapeutic application rather than being used for short-term prophylactic applications.     

Radical Scavenging Activity and Stability of Betalains from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Beta vulgaris</Emphasis> Hairy Root Culture in Simulated Conditions of Human Gastrointestinal Tract

Stability and radical scavenging activity of betalains, biosynthesized by Beta vulgaris hairy root culture were investigated at different pH values, bile salts concentration, as well as at the in vitro conditions of gastrointestinal tract. It was established that pH below 3 and concentrations of the bile salts up to 4% had no great influence on betalains stability. At the in vitro conditions of gastrointestinal tract betalains are relatively stable, as their radical scavenging activity decrease from 75% inhibition of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) to about 38%.     

Evaluation of the Total Antioxidant Capacity,Polyphenol Contents and Starch Hydrolase Inhibitory Activity of Ten Edible Plants in an In vitro Model of Digestion

The total phenolics contents, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and starch hydrolase inhibitory activity of the aqueous extracts of 10 edible plants and the stability of these parameters after the gastric and duodenal digestion in an in vitro model was investigated. The TAC was evaluated using the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH?) and 2, 2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS?+) radical scavenging assays. Characterization and quantification of five polyphenol compounds which were previously identified to be present in all the selected plants were carried out. None of the extracts showed a decrease in the total phenolics content or the ORAC and FRAP values following digestion. None of the quantified phenolic compounds had decreased during any of the digestion phases – an observation which was deemed as beneficial in terms of therapeutic properties. Overall, the parameters analyzed were relatively stable throughout the digestive process in all the extracts.