Alkylating potential of potassium sorbate

A kinetic study of the alkylating potential of potassium sorbate (S)-a food preservative used worldwide-in 7:3 water/dioxane medium was performed. The following conclusions were drawn: (i) Potassium sorbate shows alkylating activity on the nucleophile 4-(p-nitrobenzyl)pyridine (NBP), a trap for alkylating agents with nucleophilic characteristics similar to those of DNA bases, (ii) The NBP alkylation reaction complies with the rate equation r = k(alk)[H+][S][NBP]/(K(a) + [H+]), K(a) being the sorbic acid dissociation constant and k(alk) the rate constant of NBP alkylation by the undissociated acid. In the range of pH 5-6, the alkylation time ranges between 18 days (pH 5.2) and >1 month (pH > or = 6). (iii) NBP alkylation occurs through a reaction with deltaH# = 78 kJ mol(-1), which is much higher than those of NBP alkylation by stronger alkylating agents. (iv) The absorption coefficient of the sorbate-NBP adduct was determined to be epsilon = 204 M(-1) cm(-1) (lambda = 580 nm), this value being rationalized in terms of the adduct structure. (v) The results can help to establish suitable expiration times for products preserved with potassium sorbate.     

L-galactono-gamma-lactone dehydrogenase aand vitamin C content in fresh-cut potatoes stored under controlled atmospheres

L-galactono-gamma-lactone dehydrogenase (GLDH) activity and vitamin C content as ascorbic acid (AA) plus dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) were evaluated in five potato tuber cultivars (Agata, Altesse, Franceline, Manon, and Monalisa). The effect of fresh-cutting and subsequent refrigerated storage of Manon potato under different atmospheres (air, 20% CO(2) + air, 100% N(2), and vacuum packaging) on GLDH activity and vitamin C content was also determined. GLDH from the five potato tuber cultivars showed typical inhibition kinetics by high substrate concentration in the synthesis of AA from its physiological precursor L-galactonic acid-gamma-lactone (GL). GLDH activity was not correlated with the corresponding vitamin C content in any potato tuber cultivar. GLDH from all the cultivars presented a major isoform with isoelectric point (IEP) 5, which changed to IEP = 4.3 after minimal processing. In addition, the GLDH-catalyzed synthesis of AA by the new isoform showed typical Michaelis kinetics, in which the enzyme became more efficient to catalyze the reaction. Whether the change in the isoform pattern was due to either post-translational modifications or de novo synthesis of a new isoenzyme remains unanswered. Fresh-cutting increased GLDH activity from 4.7-fold (vacuum packaging) to 11-fold (air) after 6 days. In addition, 100% of vitamin C content was retained in air and decreased in the rest of atmospheres after this storage period, following the sequence vacuum packaging (89%) > 100% N(2) (78%) > 20% CO(2) + air (63%). This tendency was correlated with the corresponding GLDH activity detected in each storage atmosphere, except in the case of 20% CO(2) + air. Vacuum packaging proved to be the best storage condition, because fresh-cut potatoes did not turn brown and retained 89% of initial vitamin C content.     

Characterization of anthocyanins from the fruits of baguaçu (Eugenia umbelliflora Berg)

Anthocyanin pigments in the berries of bagua?u (Eugenia umbelliflora Berg), a tropical fruit from Brazil, were extracted with 0.1% HCl in ethanol, and the crude anthocyanin extract was purified by Amberlite XAD-7 open-column chromatography. Six major anthocyanins were isolated by preparative HPLC, and their chemical structures were identified by spectroscopic methods (TLC, UV-vis, MS, and (1)H NMR). Delphinidin 3-O-beta-glucopyranoside, cyanidin 3-O-beta-glucopyranoside, petunidin 3-O-beta-glucopyranoside, pelargonidin 3-O-beta-glucopyranoside, peonidin 3-O-beta-glucopyranoside, and malvidin 3-O-beta-glucopyranoside were identified. On the basis of chromatographic data the total anthocyanin content was 342 mg/100 g of fresh bagua?u berries. Therefore, the concomitant presence of six anthocyanins in a single plant species makes this product promising as a new pigment source.     

2. In vivo nonvolatile release during eating of a model cheese: relationships with oral parameters

This study deals with the release kinetics of nonvolatile compounds (NVC) (leucine, phenylalanine, glutamic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, propanoic acid, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, and phosphates) during the eating of a model cheese and the relationships to some oral (salivary and masticatory) parameters. The aroma release has previously been characterized in similar conditions [Pionnier, E.; Chabanet, C.; Mioche, L.; Le Quéré, J.-L.; Salles, C. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2004, 52, xxx-xxx (1)]. Saliva samples were collected from the tongues of eight assessors at different times during and after the chewing sequence. Atmospheric pressure ionization-mass spectrometry and/or high-performance liquid chromatography analyses have been performed on these samples in order to quantify the 12 NVC released in saliva. The maximum concentration (C(max)) in saliva varied significantly according to the compound. However, there was no significant effect of the compound on the time to reach maximum concentration (T(max)). Interindividual differences were observed for most of the parameters and for all of the NVC studied. The parameters extracted from the release profiles of the NVC were closely correlated. High T(max) and AUC (area under the curve) values could be related to high chewing time and low saliva flow rates, low chewing rates, low masticatory performances, and low swallowing rates.     

鄂尔多斯高原不同生境锦鸡儿属植物AMF多样性

为探明鄂尔多斯高原锦鸡儿属(Caragana)植物根围丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)资源状况,对鄂尔多斯高原8种锦鸡儿属植物根际进行了调查.共分离到AMF 6属34种,其中球囊霉属(Glomus)在各采样点相对多度最高,其次是无梗囊霉属(Acaulospora);锦鸡儿属植物种类对AMF物种多样性具有重要影响,中间锦鸡儿Shannon指数最高(2.85),柠条锦鸡儿Simpson指数最高(0.93),两指数最低均为狭叶锦鸡儿(分别为1.64和0.78);幼套球囊霉(Glomus etunicatum)是桌子山样地的优势种,波状无梗囊霉(Acaulospora undulata)是千里山样地的优势种;毛乌素沙地北缘C.roborovskyi根际孢子密度仅为8.8个/50g土,远低于毛乌素沙地腹地C.roborovskyi根际14.2个/50g土.结果表明,锦鸡儿属植物与AMF有良好的共生关系,鄂尔多斯高原锦鸡儿属植物AMF具有丰富的多样性.     

沙埋对西鄂尔多斯高原灌木群落格局的影响

西鄂尔多斯高原集中分布了很多珍稀濒危灌木物种,近年来遭遇了不同程度的沙埋,为了揭示沙埋对该区灌木群落的影响,采用2006年西鄂尔多斯高原干旱荒漠灌木群落的空间点格局调查数据,运用基于最近邻体距离的空间格局指数F函数、G函数和J函数,研究了不同沙埋程度干扰下灌木群落的结构和空间格局。结果表明:沙埋是该区不耐沙灌木消亡的重要影响因素,随地表覆沙厚度的增加,群落内不耐沙灌木的数量逐渐减少;对于耐沙灌木,浅层的覆沙有利于其更新生长,而当覆沙厚度超过一定值时,这种正向作用转为负向作用,导致耐沙灌木由数量上的增加转为减少;不耐沙灌木和耐沙灌木在不同沙埋强度的影响下,在小尺度上都表现为显著的随机分布,而二者之间在浅层的沙埋干扰下,在小尺度上有较显著的负相关关系,当覆沙厚度达12cm时,群落内灌木分布极稀疏,也没有显著的相关关系。沙埋导致群落内物种单一且有老龄化现象,更新困难,是群落退化的重要驱动力。     

西藏三大优良牦牛类群产乳性能及乳品质分析

1997-1998年对嘉黎、帕里、斯布三大优良类群的成年母牦牛进行了产奶性能的测定与乳品分析,结果表明帕里牦牛的产乳量最高(199.80 kg);其次是斯布牦牛(179.70 kg);嘉黎牦牛最低(147.00 kg),产乳量均低于国内外其他牦牛。乳品分析结果为帕里牦牛乳蛋白质含量为5.73 %,乳脂率为5.95 %,乳糖为3.77 %;斯布牦牛为5.27 %,7.50 %,3.49 %;嘉黎牦牛为5.10 %,6.75 %,3.56 %,并且发现嘉黎牦牛乳中含有微量的硒(0.0064 mg/kg)。     

几个早熟苹果品种香气成分的GC-MS分析

采用顶空固相微萃取和气相色谱质谱联用技术分析极早熟苹果新品种早丰甜及贝拉、辽伏等早熟苹果品种果实香气成分。结果表明,(1)3种早熟苹果含醇类等12类136种香气成分,其中1-己醇、(E)-2-己烯醛、乙酸丁酯、乙酸己酯等成分均在1%以上,总含量占测定芳香物质总量的93.81%,为参试苹果品种的主要香气成分;(2)β-大马酮及草蒿脑可能是早丰甜特有香气物质;(3)根据香气成分的种类及含量,可将早丰甜与贝拉分别划为“酯香型”与“醇香型”苹果;(4)3个早熟苹果品种间香气成分种类和含量均存在差异,苹果香气成分是早熟苹果品种选育标准评价的重要指标之一。     

杏制汁适应性评价指标的探讨

以凯特×新世纪、巴旦×凯特杂交组合的F1代群体111个株系及凯特、金太阳、山农凯新1号、山农凯新2号等9个杏品种果实为试材,探讨了制汁用杏相关性状的分布特点及其评价标准。结果表明:(1)同一杏品种(株系)单果质量不同,出汁率亦有较大差异;(2)在本试验测定的性状中,单果质量和维生素C含量的分布频率接近正态分布,出汁率的分布频率呈偏态分布,而可溶性固形物含量的分布频率呈离散分布;(3)根据各个制汁相关性状的分布特点,初步提出了制汁用杏的评价标准,其中一级标准为单果质量≥50g、出汁率≥64.5%、可溶性固形物≥12%、单宁含量<0.91mg/g、维生素C含量≥0.09mg/g、糖酸比为3.33～3.98且可溶性糖含量为7.09%～7.88%,特级标准为:单果质量≥70g、出汁率≥67%、可溶性固形物≥15%、单宁含量<0.91mg/g、维生素C含量≥0.12mg/g、糖酸比为4.15～4.80且可溶性糖含量为8.12%～11.11%。