Different polyphenolic components of soft fruits inhibit alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase

Polyphenol-rich extracts from soft fruits were tested for their ability to inhibit alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase. All extracts tested caused some inhibition of alpha-amylase, but there was a 10-fold difference between the least and most effective extracts. Strawberry and raspberry extracts were more effective alpha-amylase inhibitors than blueberry, blackcurrant, or red cabbage. Conversely, alpha-glucosidase was more readily inhibited by blueberry and blackcurrant extracts. The extent of inhibition of alpha-glucosidase was related to their anthocyanin content. For example, blueberry and blackcurrant extracts, which have the highest anthocyanin content, were the most effective inhibitors of alpha-glucosidase. The extracts most effective in inhibiting alpha-amylase (strawberry and raspberry) contain appreciable amounts of soluble tannins. Other tannin-rich extracts (red grape, red wine, and green tea) were also effective inhibitors of alpha-amylase. Indeed, removing tannins from strawberry extracts with gelatin also removed inhibition. Fractionation of raspberry extracts on Sephadex LH-20 produced an unbound fraction enriched in anthocyanins and a bound fraction enriched in tannin-like polyphenols. The unbound anthocyanin-enriched fraction was more effective against alpha-glucosidase than the original extract, whereas the alpha-amylase inhibitors were concentrated in the bound fraction. The LH-20 bound sample was separated by preparative HPLC, and fractions were assayed for inhibition of alpha-amylase. The inhibitory components were identified as ellagitannins using LC-MS-MS. This study suggests that different polyphenolic components of fruits may influence different steps in starch digestion in a synergistic manner.     

Antioxidant constituents of almond [Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb] hulls

Almond hulls (Nonpareil variety) were extracted with methanol and analyzed by reversed phase HPLC with diode array detection. The extract contained 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (chlorogenic acid), 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid (cryptochlorogenic acid), and 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid (neochlorogenic acid) in the ratio 79.5:14.8:5.7. The chlorogenic acid concentration of almond hulls was 42.52 +/- 4.50 mg/100 g of fresh weight (n = 4; moisture content = 11.39%). Extracts were tested for their ability to inhibit the oxidation of methyl linoleate at 40 degrees C. At an equivalent concentration (10 microg/1 g of methyl linoleate) almond hull extracts had higher antioxidant activity than alpha-tocopherol. At higher concentrations (50 microg/1 g of methyl linoleate) almond hull extracts showed increased antioxidant activity that was similar to chlorogenic acid and morin [2-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5,7-trihydroxy-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one] standards (at the same concentrations). These data indicate that almond hulls are a potential source of these dietary antioxidants. The sterols (3beta,22E)-stigmasta-5,22-dien-3-ol (stigmasterol) and (3beta)-stigmast-5-en-3-ol (beta-sitosterol) (18.9 mg and 16.0 mg/100 g of almond hull, respectively) were identified by GC-MS of the silylated almond hull extract.     

Effects of Controlled Ambient Aeration on Rice Quality During On‐Farm Storage

Rice (Oryza sativa L., ‘Cypress’) quality is highly dependent on its handling; hence, new storage treatments must be analyzed for their impact on rice quality. Rough rice from the 2000 season was harvested, dried, and stored in six farm‐scale bins. Three of the bins were aerated with a thermostatically activated controller, and three were aerated under traditional methods. Rice was sampled periodically over 12 weeks, and quality parameters were analyzed. The effects of bin sample position (spatial), bin sample depth, aeration treatment, and storage duration were investigated for their impact on rice quality factors: moisture content, head rice yield, pasting properties, and water absorption. For both aeration treatments at most sampling durations, rice sampled from the center of the bins had significantly lower head rice yield than that sampled from the north and south areas. Overall, moisture contents were not significantly affected by sampling position, although, in some specific sampling time and aeration treatment combinations, significant variation was noticed for moisture content as a function of sampling position. Sample depth within the bin did not cause any changes in the values of the rice properties. Throughout the storage duration, the physicochemical properties of the rice treated with controlled aeration were consistent with the trends of the rice treated with manual aeration. Storage duration significantly influenced (P < 0.05) water absorption, peak viscosity, head rice yield (HRY), and moisture content, with all but moisture content increasing over the storage duration. In contrast, the moisture content of the grain slightly decreased over the storage period.     

竹黄无性型菌株液体发酵菌丝提取物的生物活性研究

测定竹黄无性型菌株ZHLS-03发酵菌丝体中竹红菌甲素的含量,并对其菌丝提取物的清除自由基活性和抑菌活性进行了研究。按50μg/ml的浓度测定了菌丝体石油醚、乙酸乙酯和甲醇等3种提取物对水稻纹枯病菌、稻瘟病菌、棉花枯萎病菌3种植物病原菌以及白色假丝酵母、金黄色葡萄球菌2种病原细菌的抑制能力;同时测定菌丝体的石油醚、乙酸乙酯和饱和正丁醇等3种提取物对DPPH自由基的清除率。结果表明：菌株ZHLS-03液体培养至6d,菌丝体中竹红菌甲素含量最高,可达到28029mg/g;菌丝体甲醇和正丁醇提取物分别具有较强的抑菌活性和清除自由基活性,甲醇相对棉花枯萎病菌的抑制率为7478%,抗白色假丝酵母的抑菌圈直径达到2069mm,且反应15min后正丁醇提取物对DPPH自由基的清除率可达9324%。     

Biological,Physicochemical, and Spectral Properties of Aerated Compost Extracts: Influence of Aeration Quantity

The goal of this experiment was to investigate the effect of aeration quantity (0, 11, 33, 55, and 77 L·min^?1) on the growth of aerated compost extracts from a pig manure–straw compost. When the aeration quantity was 11 L·min^?1, lettuce root growth enhancement of normalized compost extracts was at a maximum. As the aeration quantity increased, the total water-soluble organic carbon (TWSOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), humic carbon (humic C) content, and humification degree of compost extracts improved gradually. No differences in functional group structure were found among the aerated compost extracts. The positive root growth could be attributed to physicochemical and spectral characteristics, such as TN content, humic substances content, humification, aromaticity, and the low content of carboxyl groups. In conclusion, the aeration quantity of 11 L·min^?1 was suitable for the production of aerated compost extracts, which obtained much greater promotion growth.     

Modelling and Validation of Heat Transfer in Stored Rough Rice without Aeration

Temperature and moisture content are the two main factors that affect grain storage without aeration. A two-dimensional, finite difference model was developed to predict temperature and moisture content of rough rice stored in a cylindrical bin subjected to variations in ambient air temperature variation. Mass transfer is considered to affect heat transfer model and also mass and heat transfer are linked by the moisture content dependent thermo-physical properties of rough rice. Model validation was made by comparing predicted with experimental measured temperature data at different points of a pilot silo. The proposed model can be used to optimise the design and operation of rough rice storage systems.     

Intermittent Aeration for In-vessel Composting Of Crab Processing Waste

A crab processing waste/wood shaving mixture was composted in-vessel with four intermittent aeration strategies. The composting process was monitored to assess the efficacy of the aeration methods. Temperature, moisture content and volatile solids of the compost were monitored along with the interstitial oxygen concentration. There was no significant difference in temperature profiles between constant frequency aeration and temperature feedback controlled aeration methods. An increased frequency of aeration resulted in significantly more drying than the less frequent aeration using the same total air volume. Results indicated that air volume could be reduced after the first five days of composting, and the in-vessel composting retention time could be reduced to 15 to 17 days for odor and vermin/vector problems prevention.     

Influence of control parameters in VOCs evolution during MSW trimming residues composting

The influence of control parameters (aeration, moisture, and C/N ratio) during composting of a municipal solid waste (MSW)-legume-trimming residue (LTR) mixture was studied at a pilot plant scale. Factors measured included the composition of the main volatile organic carbons (VOCs) emitted including limonene, β-pinene, 2-butanone, undecane, phenol, toluene, and dimethyl disulfide. Polynomial models were found to reproduce the experimental results with errors at less than 10%. The relative influence of the independent variables on temperature and selected VOCs followed the order: aeration > moisture > C/N. A high aeration rate results in higher (strong negative effect) values on selected VOCs emissions (41-71% on emitted VOCs variation). Moisture had a positive and negative effect depending on the selected VOCs. A high C/N ratio caused lower production of VOCs except for undecane and 2-butanone. Providing an aerobic environment (0.05 Lair kg(-1) min(-1)), high C/N ratios (>50), and medium moisture (55%) minimize emitted VOCs during MSW composting, ultimately resulting in less odors in the surrounding environment.     

Determination of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) concentrations in milk chocolate

The fatty acids from a series of milk-chocolate-based confectionery samples were analyzed as methyl esters by GC to determine the presence and amount of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). A single peak corresponding to the 9-cis,11-trans isomer and ranging from less than 0.1% to nearly 0.2% of the total fatty acids, corresponding to up to 0.3 mg per g of chocolate, was observed. One of the chocolate extracts and a milk extract were subjected to silver ion HPLC and GC-MS in order to confirm the identity of the major isomer and tentatively identity minor isomers.     

Lettuce and chicory byproducts as a source of antioxidant phenolic extracts

A process to obtain enriched antioxidant phenolic extracts from lettuce (baby, romaine, and iceberg cultivars) and chichory byproducts as a way to valorize these byproducts was developed. Two extraction protocols using water and methanol as solvent were used. Amberlite XAD-2 nonionic polymeric resin was used to purify the extracts. The extraction yield, phenolic content, and phenolic yield were evaluated as well as the antioxidant capacity of the extracts (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays). Baby and romaine lettuce byproducts showed the highest water extract yields [27 and 26 g of freeze-dried extracts/kg of byproduct fresh weight (fw), respectively], whereas baby and iceberg lettuce showed highest methanol extract yields (31 and 23 g of freeze-dried extracts/kg of byproduct fw, respectively). Methanol extraction yielded a raw extract with a high phenolic content, the baby and chicory extracts being the richest with approximately 50 mg of phenolics/g of freeze-dried extract. Regarding the purified extracts, water extraction yielded a higher phenolic content, baby and chicory being also the highest with mean values of approximately 190 and 300 mg of phenolics/g of freeze-dried extract, respectively. Both raw and purified extracts from baby and chicory showed the higher antioxidant contents (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays). The antioxidant capacity was linearly correlated with the phenolic content. The results obtained indicate that lettuce byproducts could be, from the industrial point of view, an interesting and cheap source of antioxidant phenolic extracts to funcionalize foodstuffs.     

城市土壤压实对土壤水分特征的影响——以南京市为例

通过对南京市不同土地利用下的土壤容重、孔隙度和土壤水分特征曲线的测定，研究了压实对土壤水分特征参数的影响。结果表明城市土壤存在严重的压实退化现象，土壤容重和孔隙度能够很好地反映土壤的压实程度。随着压实程度的增加，土壤的田间持水量增加，萎蔫点含水量增加，而土壤的最大有效水含量却明显减少。所以，压实土壤对水分的调节能力下降，使其上生长的植物更不容易获得水分供应。     

Addition of Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate to Corn and Sorghum Starch Extrudates Enhances the Performance of Pregelatinized Beer Adjuncts

Double mashing for wort production is a time‐consuming process that can be reduced if pregelatinized adjuncts are used. Optimal extruding conditions were determined to obtain brewing adjuncts from corn and sorghum starch. For corn starch extrusion, a Box–Behnken design was devised in which moisture, screw speed, temperature of the barrel, and concentrations of sodium stearoyl lactylate (SSL) were varied, and sorghum starch was extruded according to a 2³ model in which the modified variables were moisture, SSL concentration, and temperature. The aim was to maximize starch damage and minimize resistant starch and final viscosity as determined with a Rapid Visco Analyzer. The treatments that satisfied these requirements were mashed, and wort extract yield was determined. Glucose, maltose, and maltotriose concentrations in the resulting worts were determined by HPLC with a refractive index detector. Feedstock tempering and SSL content were the most important factors affecting the response; for corn starch, treatments with lower moisture (20%) and middle levels of SSL (0.5%) or with high levels of both moisture (40%) and SSL (1%) produced the most desirable samples for mashing, whereas for sorghum starch the best treatment was tempering to 20% moisture and containing middle levels of SSL (0.5%). No statistical differences were found between these experimental treatments and the control.     

海藻提取物缓解高温对樱桃萝卜胁迫效应的研究

选取樱桃萝卜(Raphanus sativus L.var.radculus pers)为研究对象,在盆栽试验条件下以清水处理为对照(CK),并以浓度为66.7 mg·L-1的芸苔素内酯为阳性对照(BHG),通过添加不同浓度(100.0、200.0 mg·L-1)的海藻提取物处理(SWE-1、SWE-2),探究了在高温...     

水肥气耦合滴灌番茄地土壤N2O排放特征及影响因素分析

为了解水肥气耦合滴灌下不同水肥气调控措施对土壤N_2O排放的影响,该研究设置施氮量(低氮和常氮)、掺气量(不掺气和循环曝气处理)和灌水量(低湿度和高湿度处理)3因素2水平完全随机试验,通过静态箱-气相色谱法、q PCR技术和结构方程模型,系统研究了不同水肥气组合方案下温室番茄地土壤N_2O排放特征及其与相关影响因素之间的关系。结果表明,水肥气耦合滴灌下N_2O排放峰值出现在施氮后2 d内,其余时期N_2O排放通量较低且变幅较小。施氮量、掺气量和灌水量的增加可增加土壤N_2O排放通量和排放总量。其中,高湿度条件下N_2O排放总量较低湿度平均增加了30.14%,曝气条件下N_2O排放总量较对照平均增加了35.16%,常氮条件下N_2O排放总量较低氮平均增加了33.83%。施氮量、掺气量和灌水量的增加可提高温室番茄的产量和氮肥偏生产力。土壤NH4+-N和NO3--N含量对N_2O排放的总效应为0.60和0.79,是影响水肥气耦合滴灌下土壤N_2O排放的主导因子。综合考虑作物产量、N_2O排放总量和氮肥偏生产力,常氮曝气低湿度处理是适宜的水肥气耦合滴灌方案。     

Capabilities of Oat Extracts in Inhibiting Cholesterol and Long Chain Fatty Acid Oxidation During Heating

The antioxidant activities of oat groat extracts using different solvents were investigated. For acetone, hexane, and methanol extracts, the total phenolic compound contents were 12.83, 8.56, and 26.17 μg of catechin equivalent/g, respectively. Their corresponding free radical scavenging activities measured using the DPPH (2,2'‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl) method were 0.68, 0.35, and 0.79 μmol of Trolox equivalent/g, respectively. All oat extracts presented significantly greater capability in preventing cholesterol oxidation than the control (no extract added) during heating at the three levels of addition (1, 5, and 10 mg). The capability of the hexane or acetone extract in preventing cholesterol oxidation was not as effective as the methanol extract. In the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6) oxidation test, all oat extracts at the level of 5 and 10 mg had greater inhibition capability on DHA oxidation than the control (DHA only). No significant inhibition was found for the hexane and acetone extract at the level of 1 mg, except for the methanol extract. The capabilities of oat extracts to inhibit oxidation of cholesterol and DHA from high to low was methanol, acetone, and hexane extract, which agreed with their free radical scavenging activities and total phenolic compound contents.     

Antioxidant activity of indigenous edible mushrooms

The current study was undertaken to measure the antioxidant potential from water and methanolic extracts of fruiting bodies of 23 species of mushrooms naturally grown in different geographic locations of India. The antioxidant ability of each species was analyzed for the total antioxidative status, employing multimechanistic antioxidative assays such as inhibition of lipid peroxidation, determination of reducing power, and free radical scavenging ability, in addition to determination of total phenolics and identification of phenolic acids by HPLC analysis, because the phenolics are known to contribute largely to antioxidant potential. The antioxidant potential of these varieties of mushrooms was determined by summing the antioxidative activity (AOA) of each variety by varied antioxidant assays followed by determining the relative percent of AOA defined as the "antioxidant index" (AI). On the basis of the AI, the mushroom species were graded as very high, high, moderate, and low. Termitomyces heimii was identified as the best variety, which showed 100% AI with 37 mg of phenolics/g of sample, 418 units of reducing power ability (RPA)/g, and an IC50 of approximately 1.1 mg (dry weight)/mL, free radical scavenging activity (FRS) in the water extract followed by 11.2 mg of phenolics/g, 275 units of RPA/g, and an IC50 of approximately 2.7 mg (dry weight)/mL of FRS in the methanolic extract. Following T. heimii, Termitomyces mummiformis exhibited an AI of 86% within the "very high" group. Potent inhibitions of lipid peroxidation of approximately 100 and 69% was also observed in T. heimii and T. mummiformis, respectively. Water extracts ranged from 34 to 49% and methanolic extracts varied from 20 to 32% on dry weight of mushroom fruiting body. Total phenolic compounds were higher in the water extracts (2-37 mg/g) than in methanolic extract (0.7-11.2 mg/g). The AOA measured in the water extract was better than that from the methanolic extract. HPLC analysis of phenolic acids in the two mushroom species, namely, T. heimii and T. mummiformis, displaying maximum AOA potential indicated a preponderance of tannic acid, gallic acid, protocatacheuic acid, and gentisic acid. Studies thus provide the precise antioxidant status of 23 indigenous species of mushrooms, which can serve as a useful database for the selection of mushrooms for the function of preparation of mushroom-based nutraceutics.     

Extraction and determination of glucosinolates from soil

The use of glucosinolate-containing plants as soil-incorporated biofumigants for pest and disease control has raised questions regarding the fate of glucosinolates in soil; however, no method for routine analysis of glucosinolates in soil has been reported. A simple method to extract glucosinolates from soil with quantification as desulfoglucosinolates by HPLC is presented. The method involves two extractions with 70% methanol at room temperature, centrifugation, and filtration prior to the desulfation step. The desulfoglucosinolates are then quantified by HPLC using established protocols for plant tissue analysis. There were no significant interfering peaks from the soil extracts, and the method provided high extraction efficiencies (around 100%) for both aromatic (benzyl) and aliphatic (2-propenyl) glucosinolates when amended at a wide range of realistic field soil concentrations (1.6-120 nmol/g of soil). The method was equally effective in three diverse Australian soils that varied in organic matter, clay content, and pH. The method was effective in air-dried or field-moist soil, although evidence for rapid glucosinolate degradation in field-moist soil indicates that extraction of moist soils should be performed as soon as possible after sampling. The method is compatible with field soil sampling at remote sites and utilizes the same equipment and protocols already established for plant tissue analysis. Extraction of glucosinolates in the field following incorporation of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) and rape (Brassica napus) green manure crops was also tested. Eight different glucosinolates contained in the plant tissues were identified and quantified in soil extracts at concentrations ranging from 0.11 to 21.7 nmol/g of soil.     

Antioxidant polyphenols in almond and its coproducts

Antioxidant efficacy of defatted almond whole seed, brown skin, and green shell cover extracts was evaluated by monitoring inhibition of human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation, inhibition of DNA scission, and metal ion chelation activities. The total phenolic contents of ethanolic extracts of brown skin and green shell cover of almond were 10 and 9 times higher than that of the whole seed, respectively. Brown skin extract at 50 ppm effectively inhibited copper-induced oxidation of human LDL cholesterol compared to whole seed and green shell cover extracts, which reached the same level of efficacy at 200 ppm. Green shell cover extract at 50 ppm level completely arrested peroxyl radical-induced DNA scission, whereas 100 ppm of brown skin and whole seed extracts was required for similar efficiencies. All three almond extracts exhibited excellent metal ion chelation efficacies. High-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis revealed the presence of quercetin, isorhamnetin, quercitrin, kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside, isorhamnetin 3-O-glucoside, and morin as the major flavonoids in all extracts.     

Immunostimulating activity of a crude polysaccharide derived from green tea (Camellia sinensis) extract

Green tea extract is well-known to reduce the risk of a variety of diseases. Here, we investigated the immunostimulating activity of tea polysaccharide (TPS), one of the main components in green tea extract. The water extracts from mature or immature tea leaves were precipitated by using ethanol at room temperature. The sediment was washed with ethanol and acetone alternately and then dried. We used the phagocytic activity of macrophage-like cells as an indicator of immune function activation. Chemical components were analyzed by HPLC. The immunostimulating activity of TPS from immature leaves extract was higher than that of TPS from mature leaves, and its activities were dependent on the content of strictinin in the leaf extract. Futhermore, a mixture of catechin and TPS that removed polyphenols did not increase the immunostimulating activity. These results suggest that the catechin-polysaccharide complex is a very important molecule in the immunomodulating activity of tea extracts.     

Antioxidant potential of two red seaweeds from the Brazilian coasts

In this work, in vitro antioxidant activity of two Brazilian red seaweeds, Gracilaria birdiae and Gracilaria cornea, was characterized. The total phenolic content, the radical-scavenging activity and the antioxidant activity were determined in two solvent extracts of the algae. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) allowed identification of important antioxidant compounds. The ethanol extract of G. birdiae was found to have the highest value of total phenolic content: 1.13 mg of gallic acid equiv (GAE)/g of extract. The radical-scavenging activity of G. birdiae and G. cornea extracts has been evaluated at different extract concentrations; the IC(50) values of ethanolic extracts of G. cornea and G. birdiae were 0.77 and 0.76 mg mL(-1), respectively, while for methanolic extracts, the IC(50) values of G. cornea and G. birdiae were 0.86 and 0.76 mg mL(-1), respectively. The antioxidant activities of these two seaweeds' extracts as assessed by the β-carotene-linoleic acid assay were equally high, achieving values of β-carotene oxidation inhibition of up to 40%. Finally, in the methanolic extracts, LC-MS/MS allowed identification in both algae of two important antioxidants: apigenin and gallic acid.