New anthocyanidin and anthocyanin pigments from blue plumbago

Phytochemical investigations of blue plumbago ( Plumbago auriculata Poir. syn. Plumbago capensis Thunb.) flowers have led to the isolation of six new anthocyanins based on three new anthocyanidins with 5,7-dimethoxylated A-rings. Their structures were identified by 2D nuclear magnetic resonance and high-resolution mass spectrometry as the 3-O-β-galactopyranosides (1,2,4) and 3-O-α-rhamnopyranosides (3,5,6) of 5,7-dimethyldelphinidin, 5,7-dimethylpetunidin, and 5,7-dimethylmalvidin. Identification of 1-6 implies new structures for the previously reported anthocyanidins pulchellidin, europinidin, and capensinidin to be 5,7-dimethoxy-3,3',4',5'-tetrahydroxyflavylium, 5,7,3'-trimethoxy-3,4',5'-trihydroxyflavylium, and 5,7,3',5'-tetramethoxy-3,4'-dihydroxyflavylium cations, respectively. The anthocyanins (0.4 mg/g flowers) were accompanied by the dihydroflavonol taxifolin 3'-O-β-glucopyranoside (1.4 mg/g) and the flavonols 5-methylquercetin 3-O-α-rhamnopyranoside (8.8 mg/g) and 5-methylquercetin (0.4 mg/g). The anthocyanins 1-6 are the first reported natural anthocyanins with no free hydroxyl groups in their 5- and 7-positions on their A-rings. They have thus no possibility of forming the tautomeric quinonoidal bases (anhydrobases), which are related to the free hydroxyl groups in the 5- and 7-positions of previously reported anthocyanins. The genes behind the 5,7-dimethoxylated anthocyanins might be useful for making anthocyanins with special properties (colors, etc.).     

Impact of high pressure and pulsed electric fields on bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of orange juice in comparison with traditional thermal processing

Bioactive compounds (vitamin C, carotenoids, and flavanones) and DPPH* radical scavenging capacity (RSC) were measured in orange juice (OJ) subjected to different technologies. High pressure (HP) (400 MPa/40 degrees C/1 min), pulsed electric fields (PEF) (35 kVcm(-1)/750 micros), low pasteurization (LPT) (70 degrees C/30 s), high pasteurization (HPT) (90 degrees C/1 min), HPT plus freezing (HPT+F) (-38 degrees C/15 min), and freezing (F) were studied. Among the treatments assayed, even though the losses in total vitamin C were < 9%, treatments with the higher temperatures tended to show the higher decrease in the content of both forms of vitamin C. HP treatment led to an increased (P < 0.05) carotenoid release (53.88%) and vitamin A value (38.74%). PEF treatment did not modify individual or total carotenoids content. Traditional thermal treatments did not exert any effect on total carotenoid content or vitamin A value. With regard to individual carotenoid extraction, HPT and HPT+F led to different releases of carotenoids. With respect to flavanones, HP treatment led to increased (P < 0.05) naringenin (20.16%) and hesperetin (39.88%) contents, whereas PEF treatment did not modify flavanone content. In general, pasteurization and freezing process led to a diminished (P < 0.05) naringenin content (16.04%), with no modification in hesperetin. HP and PEF treatments did not modify DPPH* RSC. In the case of traditional thermal technologies, HPT treatment showed a decrease (P < 0.05) in RSC (6.56%), whereas LPT, HPT+F, and F treatments did not modify RSC. Vitamin C modulated RSC, in terms of antioxidant concentration (EC50) and kinetics (AE = 1/EC50TEC50), in the treated and untreated OJ. In summary, HP and PEF technologies were more effective than HPT treatment in preserving bioactive compounds and RSC of freshly squeezed orange juice.     

Recovery of pigments from Origanum majorana L. by extraction with supercritical carbon dioxide

Extraction of pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids) from marjoram (Origanum majorana L.) with supercritical carbon dioxide was investigated. The aim of this study was to map the effects of extraction pressure and temperature on the yield of coloring materials by applying a 3(2) full factorial design with three repeated tests in the center of the design. For comparison, laboratory and pilot plant Soxhlet extractions were carried out using ethanol and n-hexane solvents. The compositions of pigments in marjoram extracts were determined by HPLC. Similar amounts of carotenoids, in addition to 40% of chlorophylls and their derivatives, were recovered from the supercritical fluid extraction, in comparison to the ethanol Soxhlet extraction.     

Comparative analyses of bioactive Mammea coumarins from seven parts of Mammea americana by HPLC-PDA with LC-MS

Mammea americana L. is tropical plant in the Clusiaceae family that bears edible fruit. Mammea coumarins are isoprenylated derivatives of the lactones of the 2-hydroxy-Z-cinnamic acids that are bioactive and have limited distribution in three Clusiaceae genera. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed to determine the distribution of mammea coumarins in the seed nucleus, seed coat, fruit flesh, fruit skin, leaf, stem, and root of M. americana using high-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detector (HPLC-PDA) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Ten major mammea coumarins, mammea E/BD (1), mammea E/BC (2), mammea E/BA (3), mammea E/BB (4), mammea B/BA hydroxycyclo F (5), mammea B/BD (6), mammea B/BC (7), mammea B/BA (8), mammea B/BB (9), and mammea B/BA cyclo F (10), were isolated and identified from the seed nucleus of M. americana and employed as standards. The HPLC-PDA method was validated with respect to sensitivity, linearity, recovery, accuracy, and precision. The total content (w/w %) of the 10 major mammea coumarins in M. americana was determined to be highest in the root (0.75%), followed by the leaf (0.64%), seed nucleus (0.48%), fruit skin (0.11%), stem (0.08%), seed coat (0.02%), and fruit flesh (<0.01%). The leaf and seed nucleus are rich and sustainable natural sources of mammea coumarins. Additionally, the described HPLC-PDA and LC-MS methods are sensitive and accurate and can be applied to the analysis of mammea coumarins in other samples.     

Two new Monascus metabolites with strong blue fluorescence isolated from red yeast rice

Red yeast rice obtained as cultures of Monascus AS3.4444 on rice was extracted and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Two new Monascus metabolites with similar fluorescence spectra (lambda ex = 396 nm, lambda em = 460 nm) and UV absorption spectra (lambda max = 386 nm) were detected. They were isolated by rechromatography on a silica gel column and semipreparative HPLC, and two strong blue fluorescent compounds were obtained. Their structures were elucidated by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS), intensive ESI-MS, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, COSY, and HMBC) studies. High-resolution mass spectrometry indicated the molecular formulas C 21H 24O 5 and C 23H 28O 5. The two new compounds, named monasfluore A and monasfluore B, respectively, contain a alkyl side chain, gamma-lactone, and propenyl group, whereas the more lipophilic compound, monasfluore B, is a higher homologue of monasfluore A, with the more lipophilic octanoyl instead of the hexanoyl side chain.     

Extraction of essential oil and pigments from Curcuma longa [L] by steam distillation and extraction with volatile solvents

Curcuma longa [Linn] (turmeric), of the Zingiberaceae family, has a great importance in the food, textile, and pharmaceutical industries. The aim of this work was to identify the best processing conditions to maximize the yields of essential oil and pigments, as well as their content of ar-turmerone, (alpha and beta)-turmerone, and the curcuminoids, respectively. Autoclave pressure and distillation time were the variables studied for the steam distillation process. The highest yields of essential oil (0.46 wt %) and pigment (0.16 wt %)-expressed as curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin-were obtained at a pressure of 1.0 x 10(5) Pa and a time of 2 h. On the other hand, with extraction by volatile solvents, the best yield of essential oil (5.49 wt %) was obtained when using 0.175, 0.124, 0.088 mm particles (Foust, A. S.; Wenzel, L. A.; Clump, C. W.; Maus, L.; Andersen, L. B. Princípios das Opera??es Unitárias; Editora Guanabara Dois S.A.: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1982), at 40 degrees C, and 6 h of extraction. However, the best yield of pigment (7.98 wt %) was obtained under the same conditions, except for the temperature (30 degrees C).     

Optical characteristic of humic acids from lake sediments by excitation-emission matrix fluorescence with PARAFAC model

Journal of Soils and Sediments - The study aimed to find out whether fluorescence parameters of humic acids (HA), obtained from excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectra, could be used...     

Variation of dissolved fulvic acid from wetland measured by UV spectrum deconvolution and fluorescence excitation-emission matrix spectrum with self-organizing map

Purpose

UV spectrum with deconvolution (UVSD) and fluorescence excitation-emission matrix spectrum (FEEM) with self-organizing map have contributed to soil research by collecting more information from spectroscopic data. The aim of this study is to employ the USVD and FEEM with self-organizing map to determine structural composition and to evaluate the humification level of dissolved fulvic acid (FA) extracted from wetland soils under different types of land use.

Materials and methods

Soil samples were collected from different depths in wetland ecosystems along a disturbed-impact gradient in Taihu Lake, China, i.e., Comm. Cinnamomum camphora (CCC), Comm. native grassland (CNG), paddy field (PFD), and green soybean field (SFD).

Results and discussion

The Van Krevelen diagram of elemental analysis showed that FA was mainly associated with the surrounding terrestrial vegetation. The presence of characteristic functional groups in the FA was confirmed by Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy, consistent with the paradigm of humic substances. By the FEEM with self-organizing map, three fluorescent components were identified, and a fulvic-like material was a representative component in the FA fractions. The investigation of humification parameters deduced from the UVSD and FEEM with self-organizing map indicated that the aromatic content and molecular size of the FA decreased in the order of CCC > CNG > PFD > SFD. Principal component analysis verified that the humification level of the FA within the CCC soil profile was the highest, followed by the CNG, PFD, and SFD. Although an obvious variation occurred in the humification level within a given soil profile, no trend was observed with soil depth increment.

Conclusions

The results of the present study demonstrate that UVSD and FEEM with self-organizing map are useful methods to investigate structural composition and to evaluate the humification level of the FA.     

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.     

鲁梅克斯——一种水土保持与绿色产业相结合的新草种

鲁梅克斯K -1杂交酸模是蓼科酸模属多年生草本植物。保持水土效果好 ,适应性广 ,栽培技术简单 ,产量高 ,品质优 ,适口性好 ,既是高蛋白的饲料 ,又是高营养的蔬菜 ,还可进行更深层次的综合开发。鲁梅克斯是优良的水土保持植物 ,在治理水土流失改善生态环境、发展草产业、调整农业结构中具有广阔的发展前景。     

Soil development processes in an Aqualf-Ochrept sequence from loess with admixtures of tephra, New Zealand

The properties of contrasting soils occurring under a 1050–1600 mm rainfall gradient are described. The soils range, with increasing rainfall, from Typic Fragiaqualfs to Andic Dystrochrepts. Sand mineralogy of these soils indicates that they have formed in essentially similar parent materials consisting largely of quartzo-feldspathic loess with admixtures of rhyolitic and andesitic tephra. The Fragiaqualfs have high bulk density, impeded drainage in winter, degraded chlorite, argillic horizons, halloysite and vermiculite. The Dystrochrepts have lower bulk density, free drainage, ferrihydrite, allophane, humus-(Al, Fe) complexes and no argillic horizons. An hypothesis to explain differences between these soil groups proposes that the dense horizons in the Fragiaqualfs arise largely from hydraulic suctions exerted by roots during periods of high summer water deficits. The consequent loss of porosity leads to impeded drainage in winter causing gleying and enhanced clay formation. In the Dystrochrepts the summer deficits are lower, consequently the soils have lower bulk densities and remain free draining.     

中国近脉三节叶蜂属分类研究附记二新种(膜翅目:三节叶蜂科)

记述了中国近脉三节叶蜂属2新种：斑背近脉三节叶蜂AprocerosmaculataWeisp．nov，显著近脉三节叶蜂A．distinctaWeisp．nov.编制了中国近脉三节叶蜂属已知种类检索表。     

含粘质沙雷氏菌几丁质酶SchiA基因的植物转化质粒pBG1112构建和水稻遗传转化

摘要:将一个2.8 kb的CaMV35S启动子/SchiA编码区/Nos终止区融合基因插入到植物转化载体pCAMBIA1301的多克隆酶切位点，得到1个14.6 kb的新植物转化质粒pBG1112,用花器介导法转化水稻（Oryza sativa ），经PCR检测，初步证实已将目的基因整合到受体植物的基因组中。一部分转基因T3代潮霉素抗性阳性植株对水稻纹枯病(Rhizoctonia solani )和稻瘟病（Pyricularia oryzae）的抗性较非转化对照增强。RT-PCR表明抗病性植株为阳性，而不抗病的植株为阴性。将RT-PCR产物测序后，用BLAST软件分析序列可知，该序列为细菌几丁质酶基因核苷酸序列而不是植物几丁质酶基因的核苷酸序列。T4代转基因水稻的几丁质酶活力高于对照未转基因植株，表明转入的外源几丁质酶基因能正常表达。     

含粘质沙雷氏菌几丁质酶SchiA基因的植物转化质粒pBGll12构建和水稻遗传转化

将一个2．8kb的CaMV35S启动子／SchiA编码区／Nos终止区融合基因插入到植物转化载体pCAMBIAl301的多克隆酶切位点,得到1个14．6kb的新植物转化质粒pBGlll2,用花器介导法转化水稻(Oryza sativa),经PCR检测,初步证实已将目的基因整合到受体植物的基冈组中。一部分转基因T3代潮霉素抗性阳性植株对水稻纹枯病(Rhizoctonia solani)和稻瘟病(Pyricularia oryzae)的抗性较非转化对照增强。RT—PCR表明抗病性植株为阳性,而不抗病的植株为阴性。将RT—PCR产物测序后,用BLAST软件分析序列可知,该序列为细菌几丁质酶基因核苷酸序列而不是植物几丁质酶基因的核苷酸序列。T4代转基因水稻的几丁质酶活力高于对照未转基因植株,表明转入的外源几丁质酶基因能正常表达。