Preparation of a tea polyphenol nanoliposome system and its physicochemical properties

Tea polyphenol is rich in green tea with diverse biological activities. However, its application in the food industry is limited due to its instability toward oxygen and light. In this study, the preparation of tea polyphenol liposome by the thin film ultrasonic dispersion method was performed in order to enhance the bioavailability of tea polyphenol. The process conditions were optimized using response surface analysis, and the optimal parameters were as follows: ratio of tea polyphenol to lecithin, 0.125:1; ratio of lecithin to cholesterol, 4:1; phosphate buffered saline (PBS) pH, 6.62; ultrasonic time, 3.5 min. The theoretical and practical entrapment efficiency were 60.36% and 60.09 ± 0.69%, respectively. Furthermore, physicochemical properties including size distribution, zeta potential, permeability, infrared spectrum and in vitro release of liposomal formulations were determined. The mean size of tea polyphenol liposome was 160.4 nm, and the ζ-potential value was -67.2. The tea polyphenol liposome was formed by physical interaction, and the in vitro release process followed a first-order equation. The results indicated that the prepared tea polyphenol liposome was stable and suitable for more widespread application.     

Reduction of the environmental impact of pesticides: waxy microspheres encapsulating the insecticide carbaryl

A controlled-release system with reduced environmental impact was produced by encapsulating the pesticide carbaryl in the waxy lipophilic material Gelucire 54/02. The microspheres were prepared by a modified hydrophobic congealable disperse-phase method. The influence of experimental parameters, such as the reciprocal ratio between the amounts of pesticide and wax employed, on size, morphology, loading efficiency, and release behavior of the particles was evaluated. Microspheres were free-flowing and showed a nonporous scaly surface at SEM analysis. The mean particle size ranged from 15.8 to 19.8 microm and was independent of the amount of Gelucire used to prepare the microspheres. At a fixed Gelucire content, the increase in theoretical carbaryl content yielded up to 72% loading efficiency, whereas at a fixed carbaryl content the increase in Gelucire amount produced a 64% increase in encapsulation efficiency. These data were accounted for by the carbaryl leakage from molten Gelucire toward the dispersing aqueous phase. The release profiles of carbaryl from microspheres showed that the use of increasing amounts of waxy material decreased the carbaryl release rate, whereas at a fixed Gelucire content, the release was the slowest when carbaryl was not completely dissolved within the matrix. The possibility to achieve different burst effects by simply varying the formulation parameters offers an efficient tool to ensure the fast release of an active dose of insecticide. The lower vertical mobility of carbaryl encapsulated in waxy microspheres compared to the vertical mobility of the technical-grade product showed that the controlled-release system has a lower potential risk for groundwater contamination.     

Physical stability of liposomes prepared from milk fat globule membrane and soya phospholipids

Previous research has shown that liposomes prepared from a milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) phospholipid fraction had a significantly higher phase transition temperature, thicker membrane, and lower membrane permeability than liposomes prepared from soya phospholipid material. Subsequent investigations into the relative stability of the two liposome dispersions have found that the MFGM phospholipid liposomes are more stable than their soya counterparts in a range of pH conditions, at a variety of storage and processing temperatures, and in the presence of mono- and divalent cations. These results illustrate some potential advantages in the use of MFGM phospholipids for the manufacture of liposomes for use in food systems.     

Specificity of the morphology of interglacial and interstadial paleosol complexes of the middle and late Pleistocene in the center of the East European Plain

Paleosol studies were conducted on the Moskva-Oka interfluve in the center of the East European Plain. Three paleosol complexes were distinguished in the sequence of soil-loess deposits: the Mezin complex of the Late Pleistocene age and the Kamensk and Inzhavin complexes of the Middle Pleistocene. Each of them consisted of the paleosols of two phases: the earlier interglacial phase and the later interstadial phase. In some cases, the paleosols of these two phases were separated by a thin layer of sediments with distinct features of cryoturbation. Paleosols of the interstadial phases are represented by the dark-colored humus-rich meadowchernozemic and chernozem-like prairie soils. During the interglacial periods in the Middle and Late Pleistocene, the soils with pronounced eluvial-illuvial differentiation of their profiles were developed under forest cenoses. Data on the morphology of paleosols; their physical, chemical, and physicochemical properties (particle-size distribution, pH, humus, carbonates, amorphous and crystallized iron oxides, etc.); and their micro-morphological features studied in thin sections prepared from undisturbed soil monoliths make it possible to judge the character of the pedogenesis during different epochs.     

Physicochemical Properties of Sonicated Mung Bean,Potato, and Rice Starches

Mung bean, potato, and rice starch solutions (5%, w/w) were sonicated for up to 5 min after heating, and their physicochemical properties were investigated. Alkaline viscosities, including the apparent and inherent viscosities of starches, decreased. The residues of the swollen starch granules after pasting and centrifugation were also reduced prominently by sonication. Average degree of polymerization did not change with sonication. The starch paste became more transparent, and the hot paste viscosity measured at 70°C decreased remarkably. Results indicate that changes in the physicochemical properties of starch were induced by the disruption of swollen granules rather than the breakage of glucosidic linkages with sonication.     

石蜡/Fe-MIL-101-NH2金属有机骨架定形复合相变材料制备

该研究采用石蜡为相变芯材,Fe-MIL-101-NH2金属有机骨架为载体材料,旨在解决石蜡芯材在固-液相变过程中体积变大,从而出现泄漏现象的问题。通过溶剂蒸发法制备了质量分数为40%～70%的石蜡/Fe-MIL-101-NH2定形复合相变材料。采用扫描电子显微镜（Scanning Electron Microscope, SEM）、X射线衍射仪（X-ray Diffraction, XRD）、傅里叶变换红外光谱（Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, FTIR）对定形复合相变材料的形貌和结构进行观察;用热重分析（Thermogravimetric Analysis, TGA）对定形复合相变材料的热稳定性进行分析;通过差示扫描量热（Differential Scanning Calorimetry, DSC）仪对样品的相变温度、相变焓和热循环稳定性进行测试;SEM结果表明,石蜡的最高负载量为70%,且其均匀分布于Fe-MIL-101-NH2孔道中。XRD、FTIR分析发现石蜡与Fe-MIL-101-NH2之间只是物理混合,没有化学变化;DSC分析可知,质量分数为70%的石蜡/Fe-MIL-101-NH2储能量最大,为51.3 J/g,且质量分数为70%的石蜡/Fe-MIL-101-NH2经过50次循环后,其储能量为47.6 J/g,无明显下降,说明质量分数为70%的石蜡/Fe-MIL-101-NH2具有良好的热循环稳定性,可为相变材料在建筑领域应用研究提供参考。     

脂质体介导的外源基因在黄瓜悬浮细胞原生质体中的表达

本文用脂质体包裹质粒DNA,研究了不同制备方法,不同磷脂成分对包裹率的影响,以及超声处理对脂质体内质粒DNA稳定性的影响。用改进的脱水再加水法制备质粒脂质体,使包襄率由10—20％提高到60—70％。黄瓜悬浮细胞原生质体与包裹pUC12—CAT质粒的脂质体经PEG诱导融合,培养3天和6天后均测得较强的CAT活性,说明脂质体介导的外源基因己在黄瓜细胞中成功地表达。     

不同乳化剂对姜黄素乳液理化稳定性的影响

姜黄素具有许多生物活性功能,但较差的溶解度和稳定性限制了其在食品和医药领域的应用。为筛选出具有良好稳定性的姜黄素乳液,本研究以亚麻籽油为姜黄素的油相载体,经高压均质法制备出姜黄素乳液中研究卵磷脂、吐温-80、阿拉伯胶和乳清分离蛋白4种食品级乳化剂对姜黄素乳液的理化特性和贮藏稳定性的影响,从包埋率、浊度、粒径、电位等方面进行稳定性评价。结果表明,吐温-80稳定的姜黄素乳液中姜黄素包埋率较高(76.98%),浊度和平均粒径最小,分别为848.0 NTR、214.23±1.52 nm;同时在贮藏期内姜黄素乳液的平均粒径变化最小,增长不到1%,贮藏稳定性表现良好。同时,4℃低温条件下姜黄素保留率最高,达到88.02%。结果表明,选用吐温-80作为乳化剂,姜黄素乳液具有最好的溶解性和稳定性,这为今后姜黄素在食品工业中的广泛应用提供了新思路。     

Nanoparticles synthesized from soy protein: preparation, characterization, and application for nutraceutical encapsulation

Nanoparticles were synthesized from soy protein, one of the most abundant and widely utilized plant proteins, for nutraceutical and drug encapsulation. The preparation process consisted of dispersion, desolvation, drug incorporation, cross-linking, and evaporation. The role of each procedure in the formation of nanoparticles was systematically investigated by means of particle size, size distribution, and zeta potential as well as morphology observation. Curcumin as a model drug was encapsulated successfully into the nanoparticles, evidenced by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction patterns. The average size of the curcumin-loaded nanoparticles was 220.1 to 286.7 nm, and their zeta potential was around -36 mV. The highest encapsulation efficiency and loading efficiency achieved were 97.2% and 2.7%, respectively. The release of curcumin in phosphate buffer saline followed a biphasic pattern. Possible mechanisms of the formation of soy protein nanoparticles as well as the incorporation of curcumin were discussed based on the data obtained from this study.     

Chemical and biochemical transformations during the industrial process of sherry vinegar aging

The work described here concerns a study of the chemical and biochemical transformations in sherry vinegar during the different aging stages. The main factors that contribute to the nature and special characteristics of sherry vinegar are the raw sherry wine, the traditional process of acetic acid fermentation in butts (the solera system), and the physicochemical activity during the aging process in the solera system. A number of chemical and biochemical changes that occur during sherry vinegar aging are similar to those that take place in sherry wine during its biological activity process (where the wine types obtained are fino and manzanilla) or physicochemical activity process (to give oloroso wines). Significant increase in acetic acid levels was observed during the biological activity phase. In addition, the concentrations of tartaric, gluconic, succinic, and citric acids increased during the aging, as did levels of amino acids and acetoin. A color change was also produced during this stage. Glycerol was not consumed by acetic acid bacteria, and levels of higher alcohols decreased because of the synthesis of acetates. On the other hand, in the physicochemical phase the microbiological activity was lower. Concentrations of some cations increased because of evaporation of water through the wood. A color change was also produced in this stage. Concentrations of different amino acids decreased because of reaction with carbonyl compounds. A precipitation of potassium with tartaric acid was also observed.     

滴灌覆膜开孔蒸发三维空间水盐运移实验研究

通过滴灌入渗结束的覆膜开孔蒸发实验,分析了土表覆膜开孔率对累积蒸发量随时间变化趋势的影响。累积蒸发量与时间平方根的线性关系符合Gardner的理论关系,而两者关系的系数又与覆膜开孔率之间存在良好的对数关系,从而得出了累积蒸发量的两因素函数关系。这一结果发展了Gardner的理论关系并将其应用于覆膜开孔蒸发的实践上。对相对累积蒸发量和单位膜孔面积的累积蒸发量随开孔率变化的函数特征进行了定量分析,并分析比较了全覆膜和不覆膜蒸发条件下含水率、含盐率和盐分浓度特征,做出了相应水盐特征的等值线图。     

滴灌条件下不同覆盖材料对玉米产量效益及土壤水分的影响

为探明不同覆盖材料对滴灌水肥一体化条件下玉米产量和土壤水分分布的影响,以普通PE地膜和裸地为对照,分析全生物降解膜、加厚PE地膜、玉米秸秆等3种材料覆盖下对玉米产量和水分的影响。结果表明,玉米秸秆、加厚PE地膜和生物降解膜覆盖后玉米产量为13 114.5～13 708.5 kg/hm2,较普通PE地膜增产1.4%～6.0%;水分利用效率为24.17～25.11 kg/(mm·hm2),较普通PE地膜提高2.3%～3.8%。产值与效益均高于普通PE地膜,均以玉米秸秆处理最高,分别为38 383.8、24 283.8元/hm2;生物降解膜次之,分别为37 674.0、21 624.0元/hm2;加厚PE 地膜排第3,分别为36 720.6、21 570.6元/hm2。收获后覆盖处理土壤水分均呈典型的“双峰”曲线,上层含水量高于下层,对深层土壤水分影响较大。在降水量低、蒸发量高的沿黄灌区,覆膜的主要作用是减蒸保水,用可生物降解的环保型降解地膜、易回收型的加厚PE地膜或固炭培肥型的秸秆替代普通PE膜可行。     

Characterization of the constituents and antioxidant activity of Brazilian green tea (Camellia sinensis var. assamica IAC-259 cultivar) extracts

Freeze-dried extracts from Camellia sinensis var. assamica IAC-259 cultivar named Brazilian green tea were prepared by hot water and ultrasound-assisted extractions using leaves harvested in spring and summer. Their caffeine and catechin contents were measured by high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector. The antioxidant activity of the major green tea compounds and Brazilian green tea extracts was evaluated using a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The levels of caffeine were higher in the summer samples (p < 0.05); otherwise, there were no significant variations related to the catechin contents between spring and summer samples. The sonication method using water/acetone as solvent had a high efficiency to extract not only epigallocatechin gallate but also epicatechin gallate (p < 0.05). Antioxidant activities of the Brazilian green tea extracts were not significantly different among seasons and extraction systems. The antioxidant data (IC50) of the Brazilian green tea extracts showed a significant correlation with their epigallocatechin gallate and epicatechin gallate contents (p < 0.05).     

Effects of Cultivar and Processing Condition on Physicochemical Properties and Starch Fractions in Parboiled Rice

Starch can be classified into rapidly digestible starch (RDS), slowly digestible starch (SDS), and resistant starch (RS) according to its resistance to amylolytic enzymes. This study investigated the effects of cultivar and feedstock under varying parboiling conditions on the physicochemical properties and starch fractions of parboiled rice. Rice (rough or brown) was soaked, steamed under pressure, dried immediately or stored at room temperature for 24 hr prior to drying, and then treated with or without a repeated steam cycle prior to milling. The storage treatment significantly increased the retrograded amylopectin enthalpy and amylose‐lipid complex melting temperature of parboiled rice. Parboiled rice samples prepared from brown rice feedstock had higher peak melting temperatures but lower enthalpy values of retrograded amylopectin than samples prepared from rough rice after the storage treatment. The pasting viscosity of parboiled rice was most affected by the repeated autoclaving treatment and cultivar. Starch fractions in parboiled rice were significantly affected by cultivar and storage and by the interactions of cultivar and parboiling conditions. The storage treatment significantly increased SDS and generally decreased RDS in parboiled rice. Parboiled rice with different SDS and RS contents can be produced by varying rice cultivar and parboiling conditions.     

Isolation and liquid chromatographic determination of the cyclic peptide mycotoxin cyclosporin A from rice

A simple method for determination and quantitation of a cyclic peptide mycotoxin, cyclosporin A, in rice is presented. Rice inoculated with Trichoderma polysporum (Link ex Pers.) was extracted with methylene chloride after 4 weeks of incubation. Cyclosporin A was isolated from extracts by using open bed gel filtration column chromatography (LH-20, acetonitrile) and monitored with thin layer chromatography and reverse phase liquid chromatography coelution with a standard. Preliminary thin layer chromatographic methods were developed. Cyclosporin A was detected by iodine and after partial acid hydrolysis by ninhydrin and UV light. A liquid chromatographic method was developed that used a reverse phase disposable cartridge cleanup and isocratic chromatography with a reverse phase octadecylsilica column and a UV detector set at 212 nm. Recovery of cyclosporin A from spiked rice samples (mg/g range) was 85%.     

Properties and Microstructure of Plasticized Zein Films

A new method for preparation of zein films involving plasticization of zein with oleic acid to form an intermediate moldable resin was presented. The resin was stretched over rigid frames to form thin membranes that were set in flexible films. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of film preparation method on film properties. Tensile properties, microstructure, and thermal behavior of zein films plasticized with oleic acid were investigated for films prepared by conventional casting from ethanol solutions and by stretching of plasticized resins. Cast films were stiff and brittle, whereas resin films showed more flexibility and toughness. Differential scanning calorimetry thermograms of cast films indicated phase separations were generated when heated that were not observed for resin films. Microstructure images showed a higher degree of structure development and orientation in resin than in cast films. Glass-transition temperatures of resin films were measured at -94 and 104.4° C, indicating the film remained flexible through a wide temperature range. Resin film flexibility and toughness were attributed to effective plasticization that led to fiber formation and orientation.     

绿洲灌区玉米产量形成及水分利用特征对地膜覆盖方式及行距的响应

干旱绿洲灌区玉米生产普遍采用全膜覆盖方式,残膜污染问题严重。因此,研究地膜减投增效生产技术对缓解残膜污染有重要意义。在甘肃河西石羊河流域通过田间试验研究了不同覆膜方式(全膜覆盖、半膜覆盖)和不同种植行距(50 cm等行距、40 cm+80 cm宽窄行)对玉米产量、耗水量、耗水结构及水分利用效率的影响。结果表明,全膜宽窄行和半膜宽窄行种植条件下均可获得较高的玉米籽粒产量,分别达14 712.7kg·hm~(-2)和14 155.2 kg·hm~(-2),较半膜覆盖等行距处理高13.2%和8.9%(P0.05),与全膜覆盖等行距处理差异不显著。全膜宽窄行和半膜宽窄行获得较高籽粒产量的原因是提高了穗数和双穗率。全膜覆盖条件下宽窄行种植获得较高LAI峰值的同时,玉米全生育期平均LAI显著高于半膜覆盖处理。全膜覆盖显著降低了玉米生长前期(播种至大喇叭口期)的棵间蒸发量。半膜覆盖等行距和宽窄行种植玉米全生育期棵间蒸发量分别较全膜等行距种植高14.3%和21.9%,差异显著。半膜覆盖宽窄行种植条件下玉米水分利用效率达19.3 kg·mm~(-1)·hm~(-2),与全膜覆盖等行距和宽窄行处理均无显著差异。干旱绿洲灌区半膜覆盖宽窄行种植替代全膜等行距种植或宽窄行不会导致玉米产量和水分利用效率降低。     

干旱荒漠区排矸场不同覆盖类型对土壤水分蒸发的影响

[目的] 在水分匮乏的干旱荒漠区煤矿废弃地植被恢复过程中,研究不同边坡覆盖模式对土壤水分蒸发的影响,为干旱荒漠区矿区废弃地生态恢复模式优化与完善植被恢复技术提供科学依据。[方法] 以中国西北干旱荒漠区煤炭基地废弃地——排矸场为研究对象,研究不同覆盖类型排矸场边坡土壤水分蒸发和表层土壤水分的变化。试验设置了草帘、生态毯和液态地膜3种覆盖类型,以无覆盖为对照。[结果] 干旱荒漠区煤矿排矸场边坡表层土壤含水量基本呈随着坡位降低而增加的变化规律;蒸发试验进行初期各覆盖处理的土壤日蒸发量较大,随着时间推移日蒸发量逐渐降低,草帘覆盖下的平均土壤日蒸发量最低,与无覆盖处理之间的变化差异达到显著水平（p<0.05）;3种覆盖与无覆盖处理下的土壤水分累积蒸发量在排矸场边坡的不同坡位均表现出逐步上升的规律,无覆盖措施的土壤累积蒸发量增加较明显,草帘覆盖、液膜覆盖和生态毯覆盖措施下的土壤累积蒸发量分别比无覆盖措施减少了38.4%,24.2%和20.6%,坡面覆盖处理的土壤累积蒸发过程符合线性函数关系。[结论] 在草帘、生态毯和液态地膜3种覆盖类型中,草帘覆盖下的土壤含水量较高,草帘是减少边坡表层土壤水分蒸发量最为适合的覆盖措施。     

Comparison of methods for the exhaustive extraction of hypericins, flavonoids, and hyperforin from Hypericum perforatum L

Renewed interest in plant-derived drugs has led to an increased need for efficient extraction methods. Hypericum perforatum L. contains several groups of bioactive compounds with noteworthy pharmacological activities. Direct sonication of H. perforatum was investigated and compared with conventional maceration, indirect sonication, Soxhlet extraction, and accelerated solvent extraction (ASE). Highly selective liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry analysis showed that the content of six investigated active compounds (hypericin, pseudohypericin, hyperoside, rutin, quercitrin, and hyperforin) in extracts obtained by direct sonication was significantly higher than in extracts obtained by the other methods. The active compound contents increased on increasing the ultrasonic power from 40 to 60 W when using direct sonication. Conventional maceration gave the lowest amount of analyzed active compounds. Soxhlet extraction gave better results than ASE or indirect sonication.     

覆盖方式对玉米农田土壤水分、作物产量及水分利用效率的影响

为了加深对地面覆盖措施保墒增产机理的认识,通过大田试验,对黄土高原南部旱塬区秸秆和地膜两种覆盖方式下玉米农田土壤水分动态、作物产量形成和水分利用效率进行了分析。结果表明:在试验年份,与不覆盖相比,秸秆覆盖后玉米生育期内土壤储水量提高了5.2%～8.4%(P<0.05),籽粒产量和水分利用效率分别降低了7.8%和3.5%;而地膜覆盖下土壤储水量的差异不显著,但显著提高了产量构成指标,其籽粒产量和水分利用效率分别较对照提高了14.1%和10.6%(P<0.05),显示后者抑制土表蒸发所增加的土壤水分更多地、更有效地被作物根系吸收利用了。从产量形成和水分利用效率角度分析,本地区旱作玉米农田使用地膜覆盖有较好的保墒增产效果。