Malaysianol A, a new trimer resveratrol oligomer from the stem bark of Dryobalanops aromatica

A new resveratrol trimer, malaysianol A (1), five known resveratrol oligomers: laevifonol (2), ampelopsin E (3), α-viniferin (4), ε-viniferin (5), diptoindonesin A (6), and bergenin (7) have been isolated from the acetone extract of the stem bark of Dryobalanops aromatica by combination of vacuum and radial chromatography techniques. Their structures were established on the basis of their spectroscopic evidence and comparison with the published data. The cytotoxic activity of the compounds was tested against several cell lines in which compound 4 was found to inhibit strongly the growth of HL-60 cell line.     

Chemical composition of Eucalyptus erythrocorys essential oils and evaluation of their herbicidal and antifungal activities

The chemical composition of essential oil isolated by hydrodistillation from the leaves of Tunisian Eucalyptus erythrocorys Linn. was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Fifteen compounds were identified, representing 97 % of total oil, which was found to be rich in oxygenated monoterpenes (66.7 %), particularly in 1,8-cineole (54.8 %). The yield and the physico-chemical properties of oil were determined. The study of antifungal activity revealed that E. erythrocorys essential oil significantly inhibited the growth of five plant pathogenic fungi especially Bipolaris sorikiniana and Botritys cinerea. Moreover, herbicidal properties of the oil, tested on Sinapis arvensis L. and Phalaris canariensis L. indicated that the E. erythrocorys oil completely inhibited the seed germination at high concentration (1.5 μl/ml), while at low doses (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1 μl/ml) the oil acted by decreasing and delaying the germination and inhibiting the seedling growth of all tested weeds.     

Inheritance of tolerance to leaf iron deficiency chlorosis in tomato

By using two tomato genotypes, 227/1 (Fe chlorosis susceptible) and Roza (Fe chlorosis tolerant), and their reciprocal F₁, F₂ and BC₁ generations, the inheritance of tolerance to leaf Fe deficiency chlorosis of Roza was studied. Plants were grown in a nutrient solution and subjected to 2.0 × 10^–6 M Fe EDDHA and 10 mM NaHCO₃ to induce Fe deficiency stress by stabilization of pH to 7.8–8.2. A rating scale of 1–3 for chlorophyll was used and both monogenic and polygenic inheritance hypotheses were tested. Better responses to Fe deficiency, as measured by SPAD meter values, were obtained from the cross Roza × 227/1 than from the reciprocal cross. Data from F₂ and BC₁ suggest Fe chlorosis tolerance of Roza is to be controlled by polygenic loci with a relatively high additive effect.     

Improving food provision in a Guyanese home for the elderly: a participatory approach

OBJECTIVES: To conduct a needs assessment of all aspects of food provision in a residential home and to evaluate a subsequent nutrition intervention. DESIGN: An intervention study using a before and after design. A participatory approach was adopted and quantitative and qualitative methods used throughout. The intervention involved a revised menu, kitchen equipment, and establishing wholesale shopping and food donations. SETTING: A residential home for senior citizens in Guyana. RESULTS: Meals at the home were nutritionally inadequate and deeply unpopular with the residents. Intakes of fruits and vegetables were low and the home was heavily reliant on donated soya mince and rice. Meals were served within an eight-hour period to accommodate the staff's hours of work. Cutbacks in the food budget indicated that the financial state of the home explained some of the problems. The intervention was unable to address all problems identified, but led to substantial improvements in the nutritional adequacy of the food provided following the inclusion in the menu of a number of nutrient-dense foods such as chicken liver. The new menu was acceptable to the cooks and largely popular with the residents, although some problems persisted. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that improvements in the nutrient profile of the diet could be achieved with a flexible, community-based, participatory approach that addressed all elements of a home's food provision system. The changes also proved largely popular with the residents, thus potentially contributing to their quality of life.     

Contribution of the polymerization of protein by disulfide bonding to increased gel strength of walleye pollack surimi gel with preheating time

ABSTRACT: To clarify the contribution of polymerization of myosin heavy chain (MHC) by disulfide bonding to increased gel strength of cooked gel via preheating, the pastes of walleye pollack surimi (SS and C grades) were preheated at 25°C and 40°C for a variety of hours prior to heating at 80°C for 20 min. Sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) patterns of cooked gels were analyzed with and without reducing the samples, which were solubilized in 8 M urea–2% SDS solution. The formation of polymers by disulfide bonding in cooked gels was almost constant in each of the SS and C grade surimi gels despite the period of preheating. Therefore, it was suggested that polymerization by disulfide bonding occurred during cooking at 80°C and not during preheating.     

Inhibiting effect of polymerization and degradation of myosin heavy chain during preheating at 30°C and 50°C on the gel-forming ability of walleye pollack surimi

ABSTRACT: To confirm the contribution of polymerization and degradation of myosin heavy chain (MHC) during preheating to the gel-forming ability of fish meat paste, walleye pollack surimi paste was preheated at 30°C and 50°C prior to heating at 80°C in the presence of various inhibitors. At 30°C, ethyleneglycol bis(2-aminoethyl ether) -N,N,N ', N '-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) and ethylenediaminetetraacitic acid (EDTA) inhibited gel formation as well as the polymerization of MHC, whereas dithiothreitol (DTT) and leupeptin promoted gel formation, which was accompanied by the enhancement of MHC polymerization and decreased MHC degradation, respectively. At 50°C, leupeptin inhibited MHC degradation and improved gel strength, whereas EGTA, EDTA and DTT had no effect on MHC polymerization and degradation and did not affect gel formation. The results demonstrate that the gel strength of cooked gel (80°C) is not affected by preheating at 30°C and 50°C and does not inhibit polymerization and degradation. Results suggest that the gel strength of cooked gel is dependent on the polymerization and degradation of MHC during preheating.     

The relationship between serum biotin and oxidant/antioxidant activities in bovine lameness

Serum biotin concentrations, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), reduced glutathione (GSH) and plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were measured in 36 dairy cows, 18 of them were healthy and served as control. In the 18 cows with lameness problems, there were 5 cows with interdigital necrobacillosis, 5 cows with subsolar abscessation, 2 cows with solar ulcers, 2 cows with white line disease, 2 cows with chronic laminitis and 2 cows with septic arthritis. The degree of lameness was estimated to be slight in 3 cows, moderate in 11 cows and severe in 4 cows. Plasma fibrinogen levels and TBARS concentrations were increased significantly (P≤0.05) in lame cows compared to control group. The antioxidant enzymes GSH-Px, and CAT concentrations were increased significantly (P≤0.05) in lame cows. The level of reduced glutathione and the activity of SOD were significantly decreased in affected cows compared to healthy ones. Serum biotin levels in healthy cows ranged from 2.25 to 3.5ng/ml while in lame cows, biotin levels ranged from 1.17 to 2.3ng/ml. Biotin levels correlated positively with blood GSH (r=0.870, P≤0.05), (r=0.735, P≤0.05) and with GSH-Px (r=0.539, P≤0.05), (r=0.637, P≤0.05) and with SOD (r=0.637, P≤0.05), (r=0.449, P≤0.05) and with catalase (r=0.533, P≤0.05), (r=0.585, P≤0.05) in both healthy and lameness affected subjects, respectively.     

Effects of herbage intake on goat performance in the mediterranean type natural pastures

This study aimed at identifying changes in natural pastures during the grazing season and investigating the effects of these changes on pasture feeding potential for high yielding dairy goats. During the study, 12 dairy goats were grazed on a 1.5 ha natural pasture for three months from April to June in 2003, 2004 and 2005. The goats were fed 0.5 kg/day of concentrate as a supplement during the grazing season. Botanical composition, herbage production and intake, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents of the pasture were determined. Live weight, milk yield, milk dry matter (DM) and fat content of the goats were monitored. The data were analyzed using a linear model, which evaluated the effects of grazing seasons in each year. Based on the three-year average, 87% of pasture was herbaceous plants and the remaining was shrubs in DM basis with Cistus creticus , Quercus ithaburensis , Pistacia atlantica and Asparagus acutifolius being the major shrub species. The herbage yield in June was significantly lower than in other months in all years ( P  = 0.001). In all experimental years, the CP content of the pasture decreased but the structural carbohydrates increased as the grazing season proceeded. While live weight was not affected by grazing periods except for 2004 ( P  = 0.001), milk yield significantly decreased with advancing grazing period ( P  = 0.001). The results of the present study indicate that natural pasture has a supportive effect in April and May on the milk yield of lactating goats which are in mid-lactation, and suggested that supplementary feeding is required in consecutive grazing periods.     

Levels of selected minerals,nitric oxide,and vitamins in aborted Sakis sheep raised under semitropical conditions

The serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, zinc and iron and of nitric oxide, retinol, and β-carotene were determined in Sakiz ewes that had experienced an abortion and in healthy controls. Ten healthy and 25 aborted Sakiz sheep were selected from Afyon zone in western Turkey. Their ages ranged between 2 and 4 years weighing between 40 and 60 kg at the time of experiment. All of the abortions occurred in October. The concentrations of retinol, β-carotene, phosphorus, and zinc were significantly lower and those of calcium and nitric oxide were increased in aborted ewes relative to healthy controls. The serum levels of iron, copper, and magnesium were not significantly different among the two groups. In conclusion, abortion is an important problem in commercially important species of ruminants in many regions in the tropics including of western Turkey. Deficiencies of retinol, β-carotene, phosphorus and zinc, and the increase of calcium and nitric oxide concentration may play an important role in the etiology of abortion in ewes. Prophylactic measures such as vitamin and mineral supplementation may be of help to prevent or reduce the incidence of abortion in sheep.