Identification and antiradical properties of anthocyanins in fruits of Viburnum dilatatum thunb

The fruit of Viburnum dilatatum Thunb., called gamazumi, has been shown to prevent oxidative injury in rats given gamazumi crude extract (GCE). Therefore, phenolic compounds in GCE were purified by Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. Two major anthocyanins were isolated, and their structures were determined by NMR, liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry/MS and sugar analysis as cyanidin 3-O-(2-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, namely, cyanidin 3-sambubioside (I) and that of cyanidin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, namely, kuromanin (II). This is the first identification of these compounds in V. dilatatum fruits, which contain I and II at 141.3 and 4.5 microg/g of fresh fruit, respectively. By the electron spin resonance method, the superoxide anion radical scavenging activities (IC(50)) of I and II were 17.3 and 69.6 microM, and their activities on hydroxyl radicals were 4.3 and 53.2 mM. As a positive control, the activities of ascorbic acid were 74.2 microM on superoxide anion radicals and 3.0 mM on hydroxyl radicals. Our results suggest that these anthocyanins having radical scavenging properties may be key compounds contributing to the antioxidant activity and physiological effects of V. dilatatum fruits.     

Inhibitory effects of viburnum dilatatum Thunb. (gamazumi) on oxidation and hyperglycemia in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes

The fruit of Viburnum dilatatum Thunb. (gamazumi) was found in a previous study to have strong radical scavenging activity. The present study investigated the antioxidative functions of gamazumi crude extract (GCE) in rats having diabetes induced by the administration of streptozotocin. In rats given water (H(2)O group), plasma levels of glucose, total cholesterol, and lipid peroxide (TBARS) and erythrocyte levels of TBARS increased with time over the experimental period of 10 weeks. These increases were inhibited in rats given GCE (GCE group). After 10 weeks, hepatic, renal, and pancreatic TBARS in the GCE group were significantly lower than those in the H(2)O group. GCE contains a high concentration of polyphenols, and it is expected that they are the active components. These results demonstrate that GCE has an inhibitory effect on the oxidative stress induced by diabetes and suggest that GCE may be useful for the prevention of diabetic complications. Furthermore, as the increase of plasma glucose and total cholesterol was inhibited in the GCE group, GCE may also have anti-hyperglycemic activity in diabetes.     

Isolation and tyrosinase inhibitory effects of polyphenols from the leaves of persimmon, Diospyros kaki

The main polyphenols were isolated from the leaves of six selected persimmon cultivars. Seven compounds were obtained by reverse-phase HPLC, and their structures were elucidated by multiple NMR measurements. These compounds are hyperoside, isoquercitrin, trifolin, astragalin, chrysontemin, quercetin-3-O-(2'-O-galloyl-β-D-glucopyranoside) (QOG), and kaempferol-3-O-(2'-O-galloyl-β-D-glucopyranoside) (KOG). Their inhibitory activity was tested against tyrosinase for the oxidation of L-DOPA, and only chrysontemin showed inhibitory activity. To investigate the differences of their inhibitory effects, the tyrosinase inhibitory activities of their aglycons, cyanidin, quercetin, and kaempferol, were also tested. As a result, it was confirmed that the most influential moiety for tyrosinase inhibition was the 3',4'-dihydroxy groups of the catechol moiety. Moreover, the tyrosinase inhibitory activity of chrysontemin, which was identified in persimmon leaves for the first time, is supported by a simulated model of chrysontemin docking into mushroom tyrosinase.     

Quantification of the polyphenols and triterpene acids in chinese hawthorn fruit by high-performance liquid chromatography

The levels of seven polyphenols (epicatechin, procyanidin B2, procyanidin B5, procyanidin C1, hyperoside, isoquercitrin, and chlorogenic acid) and two triterpene acids (oleanolic acid and ursolic acid) in the matured fruits of Chinese hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida Bge. var. major N.E.Br.) were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography methods. The average contents of those constituents in 37 representative cultivars were 1405, 1505, 339, 684, 56, 41, 234, 952, and 147 microg/g fresh weight (FW), respectively. A significant inverse correlation between the procyanidin contents and the latitude of the geographical origin of the cultivars was observed (r = 0.3851, P < 0.02). Correlation analysis of the levels of the nine compounds in the 37 cultivars yielded a strong correlation (P < 0.001) between the individual levels of the four procyanidins and the sum of the procyanidins level (r = 0.7413-0.9898) and between the flavonoids and the chlorogenic acid (r = 0.5383-0.9212). The changes in level of the nine compounds in the hawthorn fruit were evaluated during maturation using the Hebei Dajinxing cultivar. Sixty-one days after blossom, the polyphenol level reached the highest point and the sum of the contents was 1.36 g/100 g FW.     

Effect of sample preparation on the measurement of sugars, organic acids, and polyphenols in apple fruit by mid-infrared spectroscopy

The objectives of this study were (i) to test different conditions of freezing, thawing, and grinding during sample preparation and (ii) to evaluate the possibility of using mid-infrared spectroscopy for analyzing the composition of sugars, organic acids, and polyphenols in apples. Seven commercial apple cultivars were chosen for their large variability in composition (total polyphenols from 406 to 1033 mg kg(-1) fresh weight). The different conditions of sample preparation affected only the phenolic compounds and not sugars or organic acids. The regression models of the mid-infrared spectra showed a good ability to estimate sugar and organic acid contents (R(2) ≥ 0.96), except for citric acid. Good predictions were obtained for total phenolic, flavan-3-ols, and procyanidins (R(2) ≥ 0.94) provided oxidation was avoided during sample preparation. A rapid and simple procedure was then proposed for phenolic compounds using sodium fluoride during sample homogenization at ambient temperature and freeze-drying before spectra acquisition.     

Inhibitory effects of oolong tea polyphenols on pancreatic lipase in vitro

Fifty-four polyphenols isolated from tea leaves were evaluated for their inhibitory activities against pancreatic lipase, the key enzyme of lipid absorption in the gut. (-)-Epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate (EGCG), which is one of major polyphenols in green tea, showed lipase inhibition with an IC50 of 0.349 microM. Moreover, flavan-3-ol digallate esters, such as (-)-epigallocatechin-3,5-digallate, showed higher activities of inhibition on lipase with an IC50 of 0.098 microM. On the other hand, nonesterified flavan-3-ols, such as (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin, (+)-gallocatechin, and (-)-epigallocatechin, showed zero and/or the lowest activities against pancreatic lipase (IC50 > 20 microM). These data suggested that the presence of galloyl moieties within the structure was required for enhancement of pancreatic lipase inhibition. It is well-known that flavan-3-ols are polymerized by polyphenol oxidase and/or heating in a manufacturing process of oolong tea. Oolonghomobisflavans A and B and oolongtheanin 3'-O-gallate, which are typical in oolong tea leaves, showed strong inhibitory activities with IC50 values of 0.048, 0.108, and 0.068 microM, respectively, even higher than that of EGCG. The oolong tea polymerized polyphenols (OTPP) were prepared for the assay from oolong tea extract, from which the preparation effectively subtracted the zero and/or less-active monomeric flavan-3-ols by preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. The weight-average molecular weight (Mw) and number-average molecular-weight (Mn) values of OTPP were 2017 and 903, respectively, by using gel permeation choromatography. OTPP showed a 5-fold stronger inhibition against pancreatic lipase (IC50 = 0.28 microg/mL) by comparison with that of the tannase-treated OTPP (IC50 = 1.38 microg/mL). These data suggested that the presence of galloyl moieties within their chemical structures and/or the polymerization of flavan-3-ols were required for enhancement of pancreatic lipase inhibition.     

Antimutagenic activity of cacao: inhibitory effect of cacao liquor polyphenols on the mutagenic action of heterocyclic amines

We investigated the effect of polyphenols derived from cacao liquor on the mutagenic action of heterocyclic amines (HCAs) in vitro and ex vivo. In the Ames test, the cacao liquor polyphenols showed antimutagenic effects in bacteria treated with HCA in the presence of an S-9 mixture; however, they showed less efficacy than quercetin. On the other hand, the cacao liquor polyphenols showed potent antimutagenic activity in bacteria treated with activated forms of HCA, compared with quercetin. We also evaluated the effect of these compounds on enzymatic activation of HCA. They weakly suppressed the production of activated HCA. In the host-mediated assay in mice, a method used to estimate the potential carcinogenicity of chemicals ex vivo, oral administration of the cacao liquor polyphenols, reduced the number of colonies of revertant bacteria recovered from the liver. These data suggest that the cacao liquor polyphenols have an antimutagenic effect not only in vitro, but also ex vivo.     

Effects of thermal and high hydrostatic pressure processing and storage on the content of polyphenols and some quality attributes of fruit smoothies

The aim of the present study was the evaluation of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) processing on the levels of polyphenolic compounds and selected quality attributes of fruit smoothies compared to fresh and mild conventional pasteurization processing. Fruit smoothie samples were thermally (P(70) > 10 min) or HHP processed (450 MPa/1, 3, or 5 min/20 °C) (HHP1, HHP3, and HHP5, respectively). The polyphenolic content, color difference (ΔE), sensory acceptability, and rheological (G'; G'; G*) properties of the smoothies were assessed over a storage period of 30 days at 4 °C. Processing had a significant effect (p < 0.001) on the levels of polyphenolic compounds in smoothies. However, this effect was not consistent for all compound types. HHP processed samples (HHP1 and HHP3) had higher (p < 0.001) levels of phenolic compounds, for example, procyanidin B1 and hesperidin, than HHP5 samples. Levels of flavanones and hydroxycinnamic acid compounds decreased (p < 0.001) after 30 days of storage at 2-4 °C). Decreases were particularly notable between days 10 and 20 (hesperidin) and days 20 and 30 (chlorogenic acid) (p < 0.001). There was a wide variation in ΔE values recorded over the 30 day storage period (p < 0.001), with fresh and thermally processed smoothies exhibiting lower color change than their HHP counterparts (p < 0.001). No effect was observed for the type of process on complex modulus (G*) data, but all smoothies became less rigid during the storage period (p < 0.001). Despite minor product deterioration during storage (p < 0.001), sensory acceptability scores showed no preference for either fresh or processed (thermal/HHP) smoothies, which were deemed acceptable (>3) by panelists.     

Persistence of the inhibitory effects of phosphoroamides on urea hydrolysis in soils

Abstract

The persistence of the inhibitory effects of three phosphoroamides [N‐(n‐butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT), phenylphosphorodiamidate (PPD), and thiophosphoryl triamide (TPT)] on urea hydrolysis in soils was assessed by measuring the ability of four soils to hydrolyze urea after they had been treated with 5 μg phosphoroamide/g soil and incubated at 15°C or 30°C for 0, 3, 7, 14, or 28 days. The soils used differed markedly in pH, texture, and organic‐matter content. The data obtained showed that the persistence of the effects of the phosphoroamides studied decreased with increase in soil temperature from 15°C to 30°C and that whereas the effect of PPD decreased with increase in the time of incubation, the effects of NBPT and TPT sometimes increased before decreasing with increased time of incubation. These observations are in harmony with the recent findings that PPD is a potent inhibitor of urease activity, but decomposes in soils with formation of phenol, which is a relatively weak inhibitor of urease activity, whereas NBPT and TPT do not inhibit urease activity but decompose in soil with formation of their oxon analogs, which are potent inhibitors of urease activity. The inhibitory effect of NBPT on urea hydrolysis was considerably more persistent than that of PPD or TPT and was significant even after incubation of NBPT‐treated soil at 15°C or 30°C for 28 days.     

氮素对棉花果枝、果节及蕾铃发生与脱落影响的模拟

为了探明氮素对棉花形态指标与蕾铃脱落的影响,该研究通过设置施氮量试验,以累积温光效应为驱动变量,以花铃期棉株下部果枝对位叶平均氮浓度为氮营养指标,模拟氮营养水平对棉花主要形态指标与蕾铃脱落率的动态影响。结果表明,棉花下部果枝对位叶氮浓度随花后天数呈幂函数下降趋势,其平均氮浓度出现的花后天数占花铃期总天数的比值较稳定,可作为植株N营养状态指标;棉株的果枝数、果节数、成铃数随累积温光效应（cumulative thermal and solar radiative effectiveness,TSE）呈logistic曲线变化,棉蕾数和幼铃数随TSE呈二次曲线变化,且各拟合方程中的参数响应N处理而变化,与花铃期棉株下部果枝对位叶平均氮浓度呈二次函数关系。利用独立的试验资料检验,在不同施氮水平下,棉株果枝数、果节数、棉蕾数、幼铃数、成铃数和脱落率的RMSE分别平均为1.1个/株、2.7个/株、2.4个/株、1.6个/株、1.4个/株和3.5%,模拟值与观测值具有较好的吻合度;在不同种植密度条件下,模拟值与观测值也具有较好的吻合度。本研究可为棉田施肥管理提供参考。     

果胶酶对草莓果汁澄清效果的研究

澄清是果汁加工中的关键技术环节之一，利用果胶酶澄清果汁，有快速、简便、效果好等特点，在生产中有重要的应用价值。草莓中因含有果胶物质，制得的果汁易产生浑浊、沉淀等现象，严重影响产品的质量。用果胶酶对草莓果汁进行了单因素澄清试验及最适澄清工艺条件的研究。结果表明，果胶酶用量为0.035～0.075 mL/kg、温度35～45℃、pH 3.0～4.0的条件下澄清草莓果汁，透光率达97%以上，果汁中的可溶性固形物含量基本不变；在单因素试验的基础上，通过正交试验，果胶酶对草莓果汁澄清的最佳工艺条件是：果胶酶用量为0.035 mL/kg，温度为35℃，pH值为3.5。     

Inhibitory effects of apple polyphenols and related compounds on cariogenic factors of mutans streptococci

The inhibitory effects of apple polyphenols (APP) on the synthesis of water-insoluble glucans by glucosyltransferases (GTF) of streptococci of the mutans group and on the sucrose-dependent adherence of the bacterial cells were examined in vitro. APP markedly inhibited the activity of GTF purified from the cariogenic bacterial cells. However, APP showed no significant effect on the growth of the cariogenic bacteria. The strongest GTF inhibitors in APP were apple condensed tannins (ACT), a mixture of procyanidins. The 50% inhibitory doses of ACT against the GTF of S. sobrinus and that of S. mutans were 1.5 microgram/mL and 5 microgram/mL, respectively. The ACT efficacy largely depended upon the degree of polymerization. Interestingly, while the other polyphenols known to inhibit GTF such as tannic acid markedly inhibited salivary alpha-amylase activity, APP and ACT only scarcely inhibited that enzyme activity. This means that APP and ACT might selectively inhibit the bacterial GTF activity under oral conditions.     

alpha-Glucosidase inhibitory activity of some Sri Lanka plant extracts, one of which, Cassia auriculata, exerts a strong antihyperglycemic effect in rats comparable to the therapeutic drug acarbose

Some Sri Lanka plant stuffs were examined regarding in vitro and in vivo alpha-glucosidase (AGH) inhibitory actions. According to the results, water extracts and methanol extracts of dried fruits of Nelli (Phylanthus embelica), methanol extracts of dried flowers of Ranawara (Cassia auriculata), and water extracts of latex of Gammalu (Pterocarpus marsupium) were found to have a potential AGH inhibitory activity. In particular, Ranawara methanol extract showed the strongest AGH inhibitory activity in vitro preferably on maltase giving an IC(50) value of 0.023 mg/mL and inhibited the maltase activity competitively. As a result of single oral administration of Ranawara (C. auriculata) methanol extract in Sprague-Dawley rats, a significant and potent lowering of blood glycemic response toward maltose ingestion was observed at 30 min after dosing of 5 mg/kg, thus, concurrently suppressed insulin activity. The ED(50) of the extract (4.9 mg/kg) clearly indicated that the antihyperglycemic effect was as potent as that of therapeutic drug, acarbose (ED(50) 3.1 mg/kg).     

Frozen storage effects on anthocyanins and volatile compounds of raspberry fruit

The quantitative and qualitative evolution of the anthocyanins and volatile compounds of four raspberry cultivars (cvs. Heritage, Autumn Bliss, Zeva, and Rubi) growing in Spain were analyzed raw, just frozen, and during long-term frozen storage at -20 degrees C for a 1 year period. HS-SPME coupled with GC-MS and HPLC techniques were employed to study the evolution of the volatile compounds and the individual anthocyanins, respectively. The volatile aroma composition changes produced by the freezing process and long-term frozen storage were minimal. Only a significant increase in extraction capacity was obtained for alpha-ionone (27%) and for caryophyllene (67%) in Heritage at 12 months of storage. The stability of anthocyanins to freezing and frozen storage depends on the seasonal period of harvest. Heritage and Autumn Bliss (early cultivars) were less affected by processing and long-term frozen storage (1 year), and the total pigment extracted showed the tendency to increase 17 and 5%, respectively. Rubi and Zeva (late cultivars) suffered a decreased trend on the total anthocyanin content of 4% for Rubi and 17.5% for Zeva. Cyanidin 3-glucoside most easily suffered the degradative reactions that take place during processing and the storage period.     

The effects of dietary advice and vouchers on the intake of fruit and fruit juice by pregnant women in a deprived area: a controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effectiveness of two methods of increasing fruit and fruit juice intake in pregnancy: midwives' advice and vouchers exchangeable for juice. DESIGN: Pregnant women were randomly allocated to three groups: a control group, who received usual care; an advice group, given advice and leaflets promoting fruit and fruit juice consumption; and a voucher group, given vouchers exchangeable for fruit juice from a milk delivery firm. Dietary questionnaires were administered at ~16, 20 and 32 weeks of pregnancy. Serum beta-carotene was measured at 16 and 32 weeks. SETTING: An antenatal clinic in a deprived area. SUBJECTS: Pregnant women aged 17 years and over. RESULTS: The study comprised 190 women. Frequency of fruit consumption declined during pregnancy in all groups, but that of fruit juice increased substantially in the voucher group. Serum beta-carotene concentration increased in the voucher group, from 106.2 to 141.8 micromol l(-1) in women with measurements on both occasions (P = 0.003), decreased from 120.0 to 99.8 micromol l(-1) in the control group (P = 0.005), and was unchanged in the advice group. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant women drink more fruit juice if they receive vouchers exchangeable for juice supplied by the milk delivery service. Midwives' advice to eat more fruit has no great effect. Providing vouchers for fruit juice is a simple method of increasing its intake in a deprived population and may be useful for other sections of the community.     

Electrochemical evaluation of the inhibitory effects of weak acids on Zygosaccharomyces bailii

The changes in intracellular redox activity or in mitochondrial electron transport could be taken as indications of the changes in the physiological state of living cells, based on which a mediated electrochemical method was purposed to evaluate the inhibitory effects of weak acids on Zygosaccharomyces bailii, a known food spoilage yeast. The dual mediator systems menadione/ferricyanide and 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol/ferricyanide were employed as probes to detect the variance in intracellular redox activity and in mitochondrial electron flux, respectively. Measurements were made with a microelectrode voltammetric method to assay the ferrocyanide accumulations arising from menadione- or 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol-mediated reduction of ferricyanide by Z. bailii suspensions by the presence or absence of increasing concentrations of weak acids. The results obtained from 2 h of incubation showed that the variance in electrochemical response revealed some physiological information underlying the inhibitory effects of weak acid on the yeast. For the first time, it was shown that the mediated electrochemical method provides an adjunct to the conventional method based on respiration inhibition for establishing levels for the utilization of preservatives in the food industry.     

Foliar applied harpin effects on fruit quality of peppers

Abstract

During the past century, changes in cropping systems have led to selective pressure on weed flora. The number of competitive species with decreased susceptibility to herbicides has increased, at the cost of more susceptible species. For a long period, the economically important perennial weed species Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. and Sonchus arvensis L. have mainly been controlled by the herbicide MCPA (phenoxy-acetic acid), which stimulates the weed plant to abnormal growth. However, it has been reported from Sweden, Great Britain, Hungary and North America that C. arvense has become less susceptible to MCPA since the 1950s. Therefore, two greenhouse experiments were performed at Uppsala, Sweden with clones of C. arvense and S. arvensis. The purpose was to study whether ecotypes (clones) from high input farmland, where herbicides had been used intensively and regularly for a long time, were less susceptible to herbicide (MCPA) treatment than ecotypes from low input farmland. Sixty clones of C. arvense and 36 clones of S. arvensis were treated with nine different doses of MCPA. The results supported the suggestion that a shift towards less MCPA-susceptible ecotypes of C. arvense had occurred on high input farmland. Clone material from such farmland had, on average, significantly higher dry matter content after herbicide treatment than ecotypes from low input farmland. Similar decrease in susceptibility was not detected for S. arvensis. This was probably due to S. arvensis generally being less susceptible to MCPA than C. arvense. Sonchus arvensis has therefore being exposed to a lower selection pressure than C. arvense.     

不同光质补光对日光温室黄瓜产量与品质的影响

本试验采用不同的光质灯(蓝光、红光、UV-A、UV-B)对温室内黄瓜进行定时补光,研究不同补充光质对黄瓜果实Vc、蛋白质、还原糖含量及产量的影响。结果表明UV-B、红光条件下黄瓜Vc含量较UV-A与蓝光高;各处理蛋白质含量顺序为蓝光>UV-A>UV-B>红光;蓝光照射下还原糖含量较红光、UV-A与UV-B高;日光温室内补充UV-A可明显地增加黄瓜的产量。     

4株红螺菌科细菌的拮抗作用及其影响因素

对4株红螺菌(荚膜红假单胞菌PSB-2、球形红假单胞菌PSB-3、胶质红假单胞菌H1和沼泽红假单胞菌H10)的去细胞上清液(CFS)抑制水产养殖病原菌的作用进行研究,并探讨养殖水体环境对红螺菌拮抗作用的影响.结果表明,4株红螺菌在细胞生长稳定期后能有效分泌拮抗物质,其去细胞上清液(CFS)对20多株水产养殖病原菌均有抑制作用.从抑菌活性看,荚膜红假单胞菌的抑菌活性强于其他菌株:荚膜红假单胞菌对水产养殖病原菌的最低抑菌浓度(MIC)为8～64 AU/mL,而其他红螺菌株多为4～16 AU/mL.在养殖水体的生态因子中,水体pH、NH4 -N与NO2--N对红螺菌代谢产物的抑菌活性影响较大,pH7～9,NH4 -N低于5 mg/L、NO2--N浓度低于7mg/L时抑菌活性较强,而养殖水体温度与溶氧变化对红螺菌的抑菌活性基本无影响作用.