Fractionation and characterization of mushroom dietary fiber (nonstarch polysaccharides) as potential nutraceuticals from sclerotia of Pleurotus tuber-regium (Fries) singer

The nonstarch polysaccharides (NSPs) in the total dietary fiber (TDF) from the sclerotia of Pleurotus tuber-regium (tiger milk mushroom) were fractionated by the sequential use of chemical solvents. About half of the TDF was solubilized and two major alkali-soluble fractions (1 and 4 N sodium hydroxide) that contained 126 and 293 g/kg TDF were obtained. Sugar analysis and infrared spectroscopy indicated that the NSPs in these alkali-soluble fractions were mainly beta-glucans and chitin. These alkali-soluble NSPs were further purified by anion-exchange chromatography followed by gel permeation chromatographic separation. Methylation analysis revealed that these purified glucans were highly branched and contained a mixture of sugar linkages of beta-1,3, beta-1,6, and beta-1,4. The potential use of these sclerotial beta-glucans as nutraceuticals was discussed.     

Biochemical and microstructural Ccharacteristics of insoluble and soluble dietary fiber prepared from mushroom sclerotia of Pleurotus tuber-regium, Polyporus rhinocerus, and Wolfiporia cocos

The proximate composition of sclerotia of Pleurotus tuber-regium, Polyporus rhinoceros, and Wolfiporia cocos, together with the yield, purity, monosaccharide profile, and microstructure of their insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) and soluble dietary fiber (SDF) fractions prepared from AOAC enzymatic-gravimetric methods were investigated and compared. All three sclerotia were typical carbohydrate rich sclerotia [ranging from 90.5 to 98.1% dry matter (DM)] with an exceptionally low amount of crude lipid content (ranging from 0.02 to 0.14% DM). Besides, all three sclerotia possessed substantial amounts of IDF (ranging from 77.4 to 94.6% DM) with notably high levels of nonstarch polysaccharides (NSP) (89.9-92.2% DM) in which glucose was the predominant sugar residue (90.6-97.2% of NSP DM). On the contrary, both the yield (only ranging from 1.45 to 2.50% DM) and the amount of NSP (ranging from 22.4 to 29.6% DM) of the three sclerotial SDF fractions were very low. Scanning electron micrographs showed fragments of interwoven hyphae and insoluble materials in the three sclerotial IDF fractions, but only an amorphous structure of soluble materials was observed in the SDF fractions. The potential use of these fiber preparations was discussed.     

Evaluation of nonstarch polysaccharides and oligosaccharide content of different soybean varieties (Glycine max) by near-infrared spectroscopy and proteomics

A total of 832 samples of soybeans were screened by near-infrared (NIR) reflectance spectroscopy, to identify soybean samples with a lower content of oligosaccharides and nonstarch polysaccharides (NSP). Of these, 38 samples were identified on the basis of variation in protein content and agronomic value and submitted to high-resolution NIR spectroscopy. On the basis of the NIR data, 12 samples were further selected for chromatographic characterization of carbohydrate composition (mono-, di-, and oligosaccharides and NSP). Their soluble proteins were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE). Using partial least-squares regression (PLSR), it was possible to predict the content of total NSP from the high-resolution NIR spectra, suggesting that NIR is a suitable and rapid nondestructive method to determine carbohydrate composition in soybeans. The 2DE analyses showed varying intensities of several proteins, including the glycinin G1 precursor. PLSR analysis showed a negative correlation between this protein and insoluble NSP and total uronic acid (UA).     

Inhibitory effect of a glycoprotein isolated from golden oyster mushroom ( Pleurotus citrinopileatus ) on the lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory reaction in RAW 264.7 macrophage

Mushrooms have become an important source of natural antitumor, antiviral, antibacterial, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory agents. Golden oyster mushroom, Pleurotus citrinopileatus , is a common mushroom in oriental countries for human consumption. The present study investigated the anti-inflammatory reaction of the bioactive nonlectin glycoprotein (PCP-3A) isolated from the fresh fruiting body of this mushroom. Western blot analysis on LPS-induced iNOS, COX-2, and NF-κB expressions in RAW 264.7 cells as affected by PCP3-A was performed to elucidate the mechanism of NO and PGE2 reduction. The results showed that PCP-3A failed to affect RAW 264.7 viability at a concentration up to 6.25 μg/mL, but inhibited LPS (1 μg/mL)-induced expression, and that PCP-3A inhibited the production of NO and PGE2 in LPS-activated macrophages via the down-regulation of certain pro-inflammatory mediators, including iNOS and NF-κB.     

超滤膜分离纯化花生壳中水溶性膳食纤维

为探索花生壳中水溶性膳食纤维(SDF)的有效分离纯化方法和效果,选择适宜的膜组件,采用不同截留分子量的超滤膜以及优化膜分离过程的操作条件,对SDF提取液进行超滤分离,试验结果表明:选用PS-30聚砜膜,在压力为0.08MPa、料液比为1:75g/mL、温度为30℃时,分离纯化效果最为显著。其中,膜通量达到127.2L/(m2·h)、SDF的得率达到67.56%,非淀粉多糖(NSP)的质量分数由49.85%提高到92.36%,蛋白质量分数从5.53%降到0.92%。与传统的提取法比较,超滤膜分离纯化花生壳水溶性膳食纤维具有生产周期短,成本低,产品纯度高等优点。     

Guava fruit (Psidium guajava L.) as a new source of antioxidant dietary fiber.

Guava (Psidium guajava L.) is a tropical fruit, widely consumed fresh and also processed (beverages, syrup, ice cream, and jams). Pulp and peel fractions were tested, and both showed high content of dietary fiber (48.55-49.42%) and extractable polyphenols (2.62-7.79%). The antioxidant activity of polyphenol compounds was studied, using three complementary methods: (i) free radical DPPH* scavenging, (ii) ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP), and (iii) inhibition of copper-catalyzed in vitro human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation. All fractions tested showed a remarkable antioxidant capacity, and this activity was correlated with the corresponding total phenolic content. A 1-g (dry matter) portion of peel contained DPPH* activity, FRAP activity, and inhibition of copper-induced in vitro LDL oxidation, equivalent to 43 mg, 116 mg, and 176 mg of Trolox, respectively. These results indicate that guava could be a suitable source of natural antioxidants. Peel and pulp could also be used to obtain antioxidant dietary fiber (AODF), a new item which combines in a single natural product the properties of dietary fiber and antioxidant compounds.     

Selenium species bioaccessibility in enriched radish (Raphanus sativus): a potential dietary source of selenium

An in vitro gastrointestinal method was employed to predict the potential bioavailability of selenium and its species from radish, belonging to the Brassicaceae family, grown in hydroponics media in the presence of inorganic selenium, such as Na2SeO3 and Na2SeO4. A low transformation of Se into organic forms was observed in radish plants grown in Se(VI)-enriched culture media. On the contrary, in those plants exposed to selenite, >95% of the total selenium was found as selenocystine (SeCys2), selenomethionine (SeMet), and Se-methylselenocysteine (SeMetSeCys). The concentrations of these species in fresh samples remained almost unaltered after a simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Therefore, a high selenium content of Se-methylselenocysteine (65%), previously reported as a cancer chemopreventive species, remained in the potentially bioabsorbable fraction. As these plants usually undergo a short development cycle, these results suggest that radish enriched in selenite could be a good choice as an organoselenium supplement for the human diet and animal feed.     

Evaluation of the potential toxicity (acute and chronic) of sediments from abandoned uranium mine ponds

Background, Aim and Scope  

The superficial aquatic system of the Cunha Baixa uranium mine area is comprised by the flooded mine pit (M), which receives the acidic mine effluent resultant from in situ leaching of pore ore, a pond where this effluent is neutralised (T), and a potential reference pond (Ref). As part of the first tiers of an ecological risk assessment that is being performed in this area, the aim of this work was to evaluate the potential sediment toxicity of these ponds.     

Evaluation of black spruce (Picea mariana) as a bioindicator of aluminum contamination

The aim of this work is to evaluate black spruce (Picea mariana) as an indicator of environmental aluminum contamination. The territory studied extends to a radius of 100 km around the Alcan aluminum refinery in Jonquiere, Quebec, Canada. Samples of wood were taken from the trunks of trees at 26 sites at distances of 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 100 km from the refinery. Five trees were sampled at each site. Each sample was cut into 25 pieces corresponding to 50 yr growth. These were analyzed for aluminum by neutron activation. Soil samples taken near the bases of the trees were also analyzed and significant variations in exchangeable aluminum were observed as a function of direction from the refinery and distance. The pH of organic and mineral horizons show no significant difference. Exchangeable aluminum increased with soil acidity. The most contaminated sites showed important correlations (r²=0.73) between exchangeable aluminum in soil and aluminum in bark. We observed greater aluminum concentrations in tree rings corresponding to the last 20 yr, especially at sites directly exposed to environmental contamination along prevailing winds. In conclusion, black spruce appears to be a better spatial than chronological indicator of aluminum contamination.     

Characterization of a calcium-soluble protein fraction from yellow mustard (Sinapis alba) seed meal with potential application as an additive to calcium-rich drinks

A calcium-soluble protein isolate (CSPI) was prepared from the supernatant obtained after addition of 0.75 M calcium chloride to a pH 5.0 aqueous extract of yellow mustard (Sinapis alba) seed meal. Total amino acid analysis showed that the CSPI has significantly higher (p < 0.05) contents of glutamic acid + glutamine, cysteine, and proline when compared to the precipitated, calcium-insoluble proteins. Peptide mass fingerprinting of tryptic peptides of the major polypeptides by mass spectrometry indicated that the CSPI is composed mainly of cruciferin proteins with a contribution from napins (the major allergenic proteins of S. alba). The S. alba CSPI had significantly higher (p < 0.05) protein solubility and emulsion formation ability in the presence of 0.75 M calcium chloride when compared to similar isolates prepared from Brassica juncea (brown mustard) and soybean seed meals. We suggest that the S. alba CSPI could be used to prepare calcium-fortified high protein liquid products. However, the presence of allergenic proteins in this extract may limit its widespread food use.     

Andean yacon root (Smallanthus sonchifolius Poepp. Endl) fructooligosaccharides as a potential novel source of prebiotics

The ability of three known probiotic strains (two lactobacilli and one bifidobacterium) to ferment fructooligosaccharides (FOS) from yacon roots (Smallanthus sonchifolius Poepp. Endl) was compared to commercial FOS in this study. Results indicate that Lactobacillus acidophilus NRRL-1910, Lactobacillus plantarum NRRL B-4496, and Bifidobacterium bifidum ATCC 15696 were able to ferment yacon root FOS. FOS consumption apparently depended on the degree of polymerization and the initial FOS composition. L. plantarum NRRL B-4496 and L. acidophilus NRRL B-1910 completely utilized 1-kestose molecules, while B. bifidum was able to utilize 1-kestose molecules as well as molecules with a higher degree of polymerization.     

Nutritional status of Amerindian children from the Beni River (lowland Bolivia) as related to environmental, maternal and dietary factors

OBJECTIVES: To report the nutritional status of children aged up to 15 years and their mothers living in a remote Amazonian area of Bolivia, and to study its main social, familial and maternal determinants.SETTING: Fifteen Beni River communities located at the foot of the Andes.DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey of riverside populations. All childbearing mothers and their children in the 15 communities were examined.METHODS: Information on household production, dietary habits and demography was collected. Individual clinical, anthropometric and parasitological examinations were carried out.SUBJECTS: A total of 631 persons were examined: 171 mothers and 460 children and adolescents aged 0 to 15 years.Results: There were no cases of severe wasting, but 41% of 0-5-year-olds and 36% of 5-10-year-olds were stunted. Among 346 stool specimens examined, 75% were positive for at least one helminth. Diversity of food and quality of diet were satisfactory in 54% of households, but 27% had low diversity scores. Mothers were lighter and shorter than those observed at the national level: 20% had height below 145 cm. Prevalence of anaemia (42%) was also higher. In pre-school children, multivariate analysis indicated a relationship between growth retardation and household factors such as dietary quality, ethnic group and clinical state, but not maternal anthropometry. In contrast, in school-age children and adolescents, growth retardation was related to maternal characteristics.CONCLUSIONS: Growth retardation appeared mainly during the weaning period and did not seem to improve thereafter. To ameliorate this situation, an effort should be made to prevent common parasitic and infectious diseases in young children. Follow-up of pregnant mothers during pregnancy and delivery also needs to be reinforced.     

Almond (Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb) skins as a potential source of bioactive polyphenols

An exhaustive study of the phenolic composition of almond ( Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb) skins was carried out in order to evaluate their potential application as a functional food ingredient. Using the HPLC-DAD/ESI-MS technique, a total of 33 compounds corresponding to flavanols, flavonols, dihydroflavonols and flavanones, and other nonflavonoid compounds were identified. Peaks corresponding to another 23 structure-related compounds were also detected. MALDI-TOF MS was applied to characterize almond skin proanthocyanidins, revealing the existence of a series of A- and B-type procyanidins and propelargonidins up to heptamers, and A- and B-type prodelphinidins up to hexamers. Flavanols and flavonol glycosides were the most abundant phenolic compounds in almond skins, representing up to 38-57% and 14-35% of the total quantified phenolics, respectively. Due to their antioxidant properties, measured as oxygen-radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) at 0.398-0.500 mmol Trolox/g, almond skins can be considered as a value-added byproduct for elaborating dietary antioxidant ingredients.     

Structural analyses of a precursory substance of bitterness: new polyisoprenepolyols isolated from an edible mushroom (Hypsizigusmarmoreus) by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry

New polyisoprenepolyols (hypsiziprenol AA and BA) were isolated from an edible mushroom (Hypsizigus marmoreus). These polyols occur as a mixture of homologous polyisoprene derivatives with 40-70 carbon atoms. Analyses by FAB/MS in the positive and negative ion modes are complementary with each other in that the former provides information on the number of hydroxy groups present while the latter specifies the isoprenoid sequence, and thus become a powerful tool for analyzing the structures of polyisoprenepolyols. No polyisoprenepolyols obtained here were found to have antitumor activity on NCI-H292 and EL-4 cell lines.     

Antifeedant and insecticide properties of a limonoid from Melia azedarach (Meliaceae) with potential use for pest management

In the course of screening for novel naturally occurring insecticides from plants, the activity of the fruit extract of the Argentinian Melia azedarach L. (Meliaceae) and its recently described limonoid meliartenin were investigated. The antifeedant activity of the fruit extract was tested on a variety of herbivore and granivorous insects through choice tests. Sixteen of 17 species belonging to three orders consume significantly less food when treated with the extract. The bioactivity of the isolated active compound meliartenin and its interchangeable isomer 12-hydroxiamoorastatin (1) was further studied. In choice tests, compound 1 inhibited feeding of Epilachna paenulata Germ. (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) larvae, with an ED(50) value of 0.80 microg/cm(2), comparable to that of azadirachtin (2) and lower than that of toosendanin (3) (0.72 and 3.69 microg/cm(2), respectively), both compounds used for comparison purposes. In no-choice tests, E. paenulata larvae reared on food treated with 1 or 2 ate less, gained less weight, and suffered greater mortality rates than control larvae. The activity of compound 1 was comparable to that of 2, with LD(50) values of 0.76 and 1.24 microg/cm(2), respectively, at 96 h. Shorter LT(50) values were recorded for 1 at 4 and 1 microg/cm(2) in comparison with 2. Thus, M. azedarach fruit extract and its active principle have interesting potential for use in pest control programs.     

Performance Evaluation of Fixed Bed of Nano Calcium Oxide Synthesized from a Gastropod Shell (Achatina achatina) in Hexavalent Chromium Abstraction from Aqua System

The shell of a gastropod (Achatina Achatina) was used as a precursor for the synthesis of nano calcium oxide (NC) via the sol–gel technique. The NC was characterized and the performance evaluation in chromium (Cr) (VI) abstraction was assessed in a fixed bed. The operating characteristics of the NC-Cr (VI) system were analysed with the mass transfer model and the mass transfer zone parameters were found to fluctuate with changes in the initial Cr (VI) concentration. The evaluation of the equilibrium data, generated from the fixed bed studies, showed that the sorption of Cr (VI) occurred via monolayer adsorption mechanism, and the monolayer sorption capacity was 833.33 mg/g. Different kinetic models (i.e., Adams–Bohart, Thomas, Wolborska, and Yoon–Nelson models) were applied to experimental data to predict the breakthrough curves and to determine the parameters of the column useful for process design. The kinetic analysis showed that the Yoon and Nelson model had the best fitting of the experimental data. The data obtained for Cr (VI) removal, when the NC bed height was optimized, were well described by bed depth service time model.     

Iron uptake by Caco-2 cells from NaFeEDTA and FeSO4: Effects of ascorbic acid, pH, and a Fe(II) chelating agent

Sodium iron(III) ethylenediaminetetraacetate (NaFeEDTA) has considerable promise as an iron fortificant because of its high bioavailability in foods containing iron absorption inhibitors. In this study, uptakes of iron from NaFeEDTA, FeSO4, and FeCl3 by Caco-2 cells were compared in the absence or presence of ascorbic acid (AA), an iron absorption enhancer; at selected pH levels; and in the absence or presence of an iron absorption inhibitor, bathophenanthroline disulfonic acid (BPDS). Ferritin formation in the cells was used as the indicator of iron uptake. Uptake from all three Fe sources was similar in the absence of AA. Adding AA at a 5:1 molar excess as compared to Fe increased uptake by 5.4-, 5.1-, and 2.8-fold for FeSO4, FeCl3, and NaFeEDTA, respectively. The smaller effect of AA on uptake from NaFeEDTA may be related to the higher solubility of NaFeEDTA and/or the strong binding affinity of EDTA for Fe3+, which may prevent AA and duodenal cytochrome b from effectively reducing EDTA-bound Fe. Uptake was inversely related to the pH of the media over a range of 5.8-7.2. Because uptake by DMT-1 is proton-coupled, the inverse relationship between pH and Fe uptake in all three iron sources suggests that they all follow the DMT-1 pathway into the cell. Adding BPDS to the media inhibited uptake from all three iron compounds equally. Because BPDS binds Fe2+ but not Fe3+ and because only Fe2+ is transported by DMT-1, the finding that BPDS inhibited uptake from NaFeEDTA suggests that at least some iron dissociates from EDTA and is reduced just as simple inorganic iron at the brush border membrane of the enterocyte. Taken together, these results suggest that uptake of iron from NaFeEDTA by intestinal enterocytes is regulated similarly to uptake from iron salts.     

Evaluation of nitrate and ammonium as sources of NO and N2O emissions from black earth soils (Haplic Chernozem) based on 15N field experiments

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) and nitric oxide (NO) released from soil is a concern since it can act as a potential atmospheric pollutant and it represents a loss of N from the soil. These gases are present in the atmosphere in trace amounts and are important to atmospheric chemistry and earth's radiative balance. Nitric oxide (NO) does not directly contribute to the greenhouse effect, but it contributes to climate forcing through its role in photochemistry of hydroxyl radicals and ozone and plays a key role in air quality issues. Nitrification and denitrification have been identified as major controlling microbial processes in soils responsible for the formation of NO and N₂O. To elucidate the contribution of both processes to the release of NO and N₂O from loess-black earth soils under field conditions—i.e. to evaluate nitrate and ammonium as sources of NO and N₂O emission—two field experiments with either [¹⁵N] nitrate (NO₃^?) or [¹⁵N] ammonium (NH₄⁺) labelling have been conducted at two sites differing in soil organic matter content (high and normal SOM). [¹⁵N] nitrate treatments revealed that denitrification of NO₃^? represents the main pathway of soil N₂O release. On average 76% and 54% of N₂O was emitted during denitrification from soils with high and normal SOM content, respectively. Contrarily, denitrification contributed on average only 17% and 12% of released NO from soil with high and normal SOM content, respectively. The [¹⁵N]ammonium treatments revealed that nitrification of NH₄⁺ is the major process responsible for soil NO emission. SOM content of the loess-black earth soil significantly influenced NO and N₂O emission. The soil with the higher SOM content showed lower NO emission but drastically increased N₂O emission after nitrate fertilisation. In particular the soil with high SOM content exhibited a high sorption capacity for ammonium ions which led to unexpected results after fertilisation with [¹⁵N]ammonium. To explain this results a revised concept containing three different interacting soil ammonium pools have been hypothesised.