Alfalfa Phytoestrogen Content: Impact of Plant Maturity and Herbage Components

Legumes contain a range of non‐nutritional phytochemicals that may have health‐promoting effects in humans. In this study, we determined the concentrations of four phytoestrogens (coumestrol, apigenin, luteolin and quercetin) in field‐grown alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Differences between plants of different stages of maturity, between plant parts, and different canopy segments were assessed. The concentration of individual phytoestrogen in whole herbage varied between 15 and 225 μg g^?1 dry matter (DM) and was strongly affected by stage of maturity. Coumestrol and apigenin concentrations were highest at early vegetative stages, luteolin and quercetin at early vegetative and late flowering stages. All phytoestrogens were found in lowest concentrations at the early flowering stage (average 68 μg g^?1 DM); stage at which alfalfa is usually harvested when used as a forage source for animals. At vegetative stages, apigenin was the predominant phytoestrogen in herbage followed by coumestrol, the reverse being observed upon initiation of flowering; luteolin and quercetin were found at all stages in similarly lower concentrations. Concentrations of luteolin, quercetin and apigenin were 225, 410 and 690 % greater, respectively, in flowers than in leaves or stems; coumestrol concentration was similar between plant parts. In flowers and stems the predominant phytoestrogens were apigenin and quercetin, followed by coumestrol and luteolin. Similar concentrations (average 26 μg g^?1 DM) of each of the four phytoestrogens were found in leaves. Concentrations through the herbage canopy varied and were greatest at >60 cm from the soil surface for apigenin and coumestrol, but greatest at >60 and 0–20 cm for quercetin and at 0–20 cm for luteolin. The results suggest that if alfalfa is to be used as a source of phytoestrogens and is harvested for the production of herbal supplements or nutraceuticals, management will need to be adapted.     

Viral and bacterial agents associated with experimental transmission of infectious proventriculitis of broiler chickens.

Proventriculitis of broilers can be reproduced by oral inoculation of day-old chicks with a proventricular homogenate from affected 3-wk-old broilers. The objective of the following studies was to isolate from this homogenate viral and bacterial isolates that could produce proventriculitis. A monoclonal antibody to infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) was used to precipitate virus from the homogenate. A primary chicken digestive tract cell culture system was also used to isolate virus from a 0.2-microm filtrate of the homogenate, and a bacterium was also isolated from the homogenate. In trial 1, day-old birds were orally inoculated with either proventriculus homogenate or monoclonal antibody immunoprecipitated IBDV (MAB-IBDV). At 4, 7, 14, and 21 days postinfection (PI), 12 birds from each treatment group were subjected to necropsy. In trial 2, day-old birds were orally inoculated with either infectious proventriculus homogenate, suspect virus isolated in cell culture and propagated in embryo livers and spleens, or a bacterial isolate. Twelve birds from each treatment were subjected to necropsy at days 7, 14, 21, and 28 PI. In trial 3, treatments were maintained in negative pressure isolation chambers, and an additional treatment included virus plus bacterial isolate. Twenty-four birds from each treatment were subjected to necropsy at day 21 PI. In trial 1, infectious homogenate decreased body weight and relative gizzard weights at 4, 7, 14, and 21 days PI. Proventriculus relative weight was increased at days 7, 14, and 21 PI, and proventriculus lesion scores were increased at days 14 and 21 PI. Bursa/spleen weight ratios were decreased at day 14, and feed conversion was increased at days 4 and 21. The MAB-IBDV treatment decreased proventriculus and gizzard relative weights at day 4 PI, increased proventriculus lesion scores and bursa/spleen weight ratios at day 14, and decreased heterophil/lymphocyte ratios at day 21. In trial 2, all infected birds had significantly higher mean relative proventriculus weights at 21 days PI and had higher 4-wk mean proventriculus scores as compared with both control groups. In trial 3, birds treated with homogenate and birds treated with both suspect virus and the bacterial isolate had significantly higher proventriculus lesion scores; higher relative weights of proventriculus, gizzard, liver, and heart; lower body weights; and lower relative bursa weights compared with the saline control group. These studies suggest that infectious proventriculitis has a complex etiology involving both viral and bacterial infection.     

槟榔红色素的抗氧化活性

测定槟榔红色素(areca red pigment,AP)对 DPPH·和·OH的清除能力、对脂质体过氧化的抑制能力、对Fe2+的络合能力,并测定其还原能力.结果表明:槟榔色素对DPPH·、·OH的清除能力较强:对脂质体过氧化的抑制能力很强,抑制率高达79.84%;与VE、没食子酸(gallic acid,GA)、BHT相比,槟榔色素的还原力、对Fe2+的络合能力较弱.说明槟榔红色素是较好的抗氧化剂.     

欧盟共同农业政策面临的挑战及最新改革措施

共同农业政策作为联系欧盟成员国农业的纽带,在经历2003年的改革后,虽然在价格补贴、农村发展等方面取得一定的成效,但仍然面临财政负担、食品安全、新成员国加入等来自内外部的挑战和压力.为应对这些挑战和压力,欧盟进行了降低政策价格、微调配额等一系列的最新改革.     

不同栽培密度对秋大棚黄瓜生育期及产量的影响

试验以黄瓜为材料,采用随机区组设计,研究了不同栽培密度对秋大棚黄瓜生育期及产量的影响。结果表明,当栽培密度为4000株/667m2时,产量和产值都达到最高。     

合成二氢月桂烯醇的研究进展

综述了从蒎炮合成二氢月挂烯醇的路线及关键反应的研究进展，包括蒎烯氢化、蒎 烷异构化。一步法和二步法从二氢月桂烯制二氢月桂烯醇。     

一种电流模式多功能滤波器结构

提出了一种简单的电流模式多功能滤波器结构，具有一个输入端和三个输出端，可以实现低通，高通，带通，全通和陷波功能，不需要任何严格匹配关系，该结构中使用了６个ＣＣ器件，两个接地电阻和两个接地电容，结构十分简单且无源灵敏度很低。     

3种农药的微核效应研究

运用蚕豆根尖微核技术研究3种农药(甲胺磷、甲基硫菌灵和盐酸吗啉胍)在不同浓度下的诱变效应。结果表明,3种农药诱发蚕豆根尖细胞微核率与对照组相比均有不同程度的上升(P<0.05或P<0.01),农药浓度与微核率呈剂量-效应关系,盐酸吗啉胍的诱变效应大于其他2种农药。     

GIS在生态土地分类中的作用

This paper depicted the physiographic landscape features and natural vegetation situation of study area (the eastern Jilin Province), and expatiates the definition, basic characters and its development of Ecological Land Classification (ELC). Based on the combination of relief map, satellite photography for study area and vegetation inventory data of 480 sample sites, a 5-class and a 15-class ecological land type map was concluded according to 4 important factors including slope, aspect, vegetation and elevation. Ecological Classification System (ECS) is a method to identify, characterize, and map ecosystems. The Ecological Land Type (ELT) was examined and applied initially in eastern Jilin Province. Foundation item: This paper was supported by Chinese Academy of Sciences “100 people” project and the Open Research Station of Changbai Mountain Forest Ecosystem. Biography: XIAO Bao-ying (1974-), female, postgraduate in Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, P. R. China Responsible editor: Zhu Hong     

青藏高原西部狮泉河宽谷区的荒漠化过程

狮泉河宽谷区的荒漠化过程以整个青藏高原的环境演化为背景，受人为的资源利用不合理而强化。今天的宽谷景观一方面隐含了高原宽谷的变化，一方面显示出干旱，退化的主导特征，较之西北干旱区，生态系统更具脆弱性，荒漠化的治理应在发挥区内水资源优质的同时强调生态系统自身的稳定。