Comparison of 1-deoxynojirimycin and aqueous mulberry leaf extract with emphasis on postprandial hypoglycemic effects: in vivo and in vitro studies

Carbohydrate digestion by α-glucosidase and subsequent glucose uptake at the brush border are critical for postprandial blood glucose control. Any specific inhibitors are useful as hyperglycemia modulating agents. In this study, it was postulated that an array of active components in mulberry leaf extract (MLE) may provide higher potency in inhibiting intestinal glucose absorption compared to the single component 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), which is recognized as a promising inhibitor of intestinal glucose absorption. Both MLE and DNJ were active in inhibiting α-glucosidase. However, in Caco-2 cells, only MLE showed significant inhibition of 2-deoxyglucose uptake, whereas DNJ was ineffective. For glucose loading, co-administration of MLE resulted in potent inhibitions of glucose responses compared to those by DNJ in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, but this was not found for maltose loading. These novel findings add evidence that the unabsorbed phytochemicals in MLE compete with glucose for intestinal glucose transporters, but DNJ itself does not. We also evaluated the timing of MLE consumption. By administering MLE for 30 min before glucose loading, the incremental area under the curve (IAUC) was significantly lowered in the rats, as compared to a simultaneously administered group. Similarly, cellular glucose uptake was significantly reduced in Caco-2 cells following pretreatment.     

Simultaneous determination of orysastrobin and its isomers in rice using HPLC-UV and LC-MS/MS

Orysastrobin is a new strobilurin-type fungicide to control leaf and panicle blast and sheath blight in rice. An analytical method was developed to determine the residues of orysastrobin and its two isomers, the main metabolite F001 and the major impurity F033, in hulled rice by the use of high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet photometry (HPLC-UV) and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). All compounds were extracted with acetone from hulled rice samples. The extract was diluted with saline water, and an extraction step using dichloromethane/n-hexane partition was used to recover analytes from the aqueous phase. An n-hexane/acetonitrile partition and Florisil column chromatography were employed to further remove interfering coextractives prior to instrumental analysis. An octadecylsilyl column was successfully applied to identify orysastrobin and its isomers in sample extracts. Net recovery rates of orysastrobin, F001, and F033 from fortified samples ranged from 80.6 to 114.8% using HPLC-UV and LC-MS/MS. Relative standard deviations for the analytical methods were all <20%, and the quantification limits of the method were in the 0.002-0.02 mg/kg range. The proposed methods were reproducible and sufficiently accurate to evaluate the terminal residue of orysastrobin and its isomers in rice.     

Functional and Nutritional Characteristics of Soft Wheat Grown in No‐Till and Conventional Cropping Systems

The effects of no‐till versus conventional farming practices were evaluated on soft wheat functional and nutritional characteristics, including kernel physical properties, whole wheat composition, antioxidant activity, and end‐product quality. Soft white winter wheat cultivar ORCF 102 was evaluated over a two‐year period from three long‐term replicated no‐till versus conventional tillage studies in Oregon. Wheat from the no‐till cropping systems generally had greater test weight, kernel diameter, and kernel weight and had softer kernels compared with wheat from the conventional tillage systems. Compared with the conventional systems, no‐till whole wheat flour had lower protein and SDS sedimentation volume. Ash content as well as most minerals measured (calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, and zinc), except for manganese and phosphorus, were generally slightly lower in no‐till than in conventional wheat. Whole wheat flour from the no‐till cropping systems generally had slightly lower total phenolic content and total antioxidant capacity. Milling properties, including flour yield, break flour yield, and mill score, were not affected by tillage systems. Refined flour from no‐till systems had lower protein, SDS sedimentation volume, and lactic acid and sucrose solvent retention capacities compared with flour from conventional tillage. No‐till wheat generally had greater sugar‐snap cookie diameter than conventionally tilled wheat. In conclusion, no‐till soft white winter wheat generally had slightly reduced nutritional properties (protein, ash, most minerals, and total antioxidant content) compared with wheat from conventionally tilled systems, and it had equivalent or sometimes superior functional properties for baking cookie‐type products.     

台湾土石流研究综述

 台湾地狭人稠,平地开发趋于饱和。随着社会经济快速发展,使得山坡地陆续开发,破坏原有之水土保持,且台湾岛之山脉地质大多属沉积岩及变质岩,性质脆弱且易断裂,再加上年平均雨量高达2500mm,其中78%的降雨集中于5—10月的台风季节,因此台湾地区土石流频繁。为了解台湾地区土石流之研究沿革,搜集相关土石流之研究成果,并配合台湾地区重大灾害,分析土石流特性、土石流成分分析、危险评估与重建、抑制工程及现场调查仿真等方面的研究进展。     

Non-polar macroreticular resin to recover phenolic acids from a subtropical latosol

A technique has been developed to extract soil phenolics by their adsorption onto resin, the separation of resin from soil, and desorption from the resin followed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Four representative phenolic acids, p-hydroxybenzoic, p-hydroxycinnamic, p-methoxybenzoic and 2,4-dimethoxybenzoic acids, were added to a subtropical soil (66 nmol g^?1 soil) and recovered by extraction with Amberlite XAD-4 resin. The recovery efficiency of the added phenolics was greater using a flotation method to separate resin from soil than by a filtration method. The recoveries of p-hydroxybenzoic acid and p-hydroxycinnamic acid decreased with increasing extractant pH. Recoveries of p-methoxybenzoic acid and 2,4-dimethoxybenzoic acid increased slightly with increasing pH. The addition of NaCl to the XAD-4 resin extractant generally increased the recovery of phenolics by filtration but not by flotation. The recoveries of phenolics from the soil by extraction with XAD-4 resin were much greater than by alkaline extraction at pH 11.     

Selection of Tolerant Plants and Their Arrangement to Restore a Forest Ecosystem Damaged by Air Pollution

Plants tolerant to polluted environments were selected, based on several criteria, to restore a coastal forest ecosystem severely damaged by air pollutants discharged from an industrial complex. In addition, a restoration plan was prepared synthesizing these results and the diagnostic ecological indicators in the area for which restoration is required. Pollution-tolerant plants of 11 tree and subtree species, 10 herb species and one shrub species were selected from field surveys in the vicinity of two representative industrial complexes in Korea, Ulsan and Yeocheon. Nine species were selected for tolerance to SO₂ fumigation and six species were selected for tolerance to Al³⁺. Growth and photosynthetic responses of sample plants transplanted into polluted and unpolluted sites showed that 15 species out of the 26 sample plants showed a disposition for tolerance. Most of these are endemic plants and they are composed of diverse species in structure and function. This result implies that these tolerant species could play important roles in the restoration of the study area, which has several specific features. On the other hand, results from transplant tests indicate that a field survey is the most reasonable method for selection of tolerant plants to restore a pollution-damaged ecosystem, as was shown in another restoration program. Results of ecological analysis on vegetation map indicate that the spatial range within the first ridge is the sector for which restoration is required. This sector was classified into four zones on the basis of topographic conditions: lower and upper slopes of both slopes facing and opposite the pollution source. Guidelines for soil amelioration and arrangement of tolerant plants were prepared considering the degree of vegetation degradation, leaf damage of major plant species and soil pollution in each zone under the restoration plan.     

The Use of Biofilters to Reduce Atmospheric Methane Emissions from Landfills: Part I. Biofilter Design

Previous laboratory research has shown that biofilters have the potential to reduce CH₄ emissions from landfills by as much as 83%. However, to achieve this level of CH₄ reduction biofilters must be properly designed. The present study was conducted to develop a method for properly designing biofilters based on landfill size and location. A quadratic equation was developed to describe the dependence of CH₄ oxidation rate in a sandy loam textured soil as a function of soil temperature, soil moisture and ammonium nitrogen concentration. Using this equation and the average monthly soil temperature and moisture contents for the largest cities of each of the 48 contiguous states, the monthly CH₄ oxidation rate at each location was calculated. Then, assuming a standard landfill depth of 27.6 m, and a standard area of 121,500 m², the required biofilter size was calculated. Finally, the ratio of biofilter size to landfill size was calculated. Design calculations for biofilters located in the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas where the CH₄ oxidation rates are relatively high throughout the year indicate that the necessary biofilter sizes are small. In addition, biofilters in these states may be expected to be effective throughout the year. In contrast, the calculations indicated biofilter systems in the states of Idaho, Minnesota and North Dakota will have much lower efficiencies during much of the year due to unfavorable soil moisture and temperature ranges. Given proper design, installation and management, a biofilter should be capable of achieving a significant reduction in atmospheric CH₄ emission as compared to emissions from the same landfill without a biofilter.     

Polyozellin isolated from Polyozellus multiplex induces phase 2 enzymes in mouse hepatoma cells and differentiation in human myeloid leukaemic cell lines

Induction of cellular phase 2 detoxifying enzymes is associated with cancer preventive potential. Quinone reductase (QR) has been used as a prototype for anticarcinogenic phase 2 enzymes because of its widespread distribution in mammalian systems, large amplitude of inducer response, and ease of measurement in murine hepatoma cells. Methanol extract of Polyozellus multiplex, which shows a strong QR induction potential, was subjected to bioassay-guided fractionation, and polyozellin (PM1) appeared to be a major active component. In in vitro cultured cells (hepa1c1c7 and BPRc1 cells), polyozellin enhanced QR, glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities, and glutathione (GSH) content in a dose-dependent manner. The compound also significantly promoted differentiation of HL-60 human promyelocytic emia cells. In conclusion, polyozellin deserves further in vivo study to evaluate its potential as a cancer preventive agent.     

A novel angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitory peptide from Alaska pollack (Theragra chalcogramma) frame protein hydrolysate

Alaska pollack frame protein, which is normally discarded as an industrial byproduct in the processing of fish in plants, was hydrolyzed with pepsin. This was fractionated into five major types of Alaska pollack frame protein hydrolysates (APH-I, 10-30 kDa; APH-II, 5-10 kDa; APH-III, 3-5 kDa; APH-IV, 1-3 kDa; and APH-V, below 1 kDa) using an ultrafiltration membrane bioreactor system. Angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activities of the fractionated hydrolysates were investigated, and the fraction that exhibited the highest ACE inhibitory activity was further purified using consecutive chromatographic methods on SP-Sephadex C-25 column, Sephadex G-25 column, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on an octadecylsilane column. Finally, we purified a novel ACE inhibitory peptide with an IC50 value of 14.7 microM, and the sequence of the peptide was Phe-Gly-Ala-Ser-Thr-Arg-Gly-Ala. In addition, the ACE inhibition pattern of the peptide was found to be noncompetitive.