Curcumin,a Compound from Natural Sources,a True Scientific Challenge – A Review

Curcumin, a plant-derived polyphenolic compound, naturally present in turmeric (Curcuma longa), has been the subject of intensive investigations on account of its various activities. The implementation of safe, beneficial and highly functional compounds from natural sources in human nutrition/prevention/therapy requires some modifications in order to achieve their multi-functionality, improve their bioavailability and delivery strategies, with the main aim to enhance their effectiveness. The low aqueous solubility of curcumin, its rapid metabolism and elimination from the body, and consequently, poor bioavailability, constitute major obstacles to its application. The main objectives of this review are related to reported strategies to overcome these limitations and, thereby, improve the solubility, stability and bioavailability of curcumin. The effectiveness of curcumin could be greatly improved by using nanoparticle-based carriers. The significance of the quality of a substance delivery system is reflected in the fact that carrying curcumin as a food additive/nutrition also means carrying the active biological product/drug. This review summarizes the state of the art, and highlights some examples and the most significant advances in the field of curcumin research.     

The molecular mechanism of thermal noise in rod photoreceptors

Spontaneous electrical signals in the retina's photoreceptors impose a limit on visual sensitivity. Their origin is attributed to a thermal, rather than photochemical, activation of the transduction cascade. Although the mechanism of such a process is under debate, the observation of a relationship between the maximum absorption wavelength (λ(max)) and the thermal activation kinetic constant (k) of different visual pigments (the Barlow correlation) indicates that the thermal and photochemical activations are related. Here we show that a quantum chemical model of the bovine rod pigment provides a molecular-level understanding of the Barlow correlation. The transition state mediating thermal activation has the same electronic structure as the photoreceptor excited state, thus creating a direct link between λ(max) and k. Such a link appears to be the manifestation of intrinsic chromophore features associated with the existence of a conical intersection between its ground and excited states.     

Late nitrogen fertilization affects carbohydrate mobilization in wheat

An experiment was carried out to determine how the late application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer affects the use of pre‐anthesis carbon reserves during the grain‐filling period of pot‐grown wheat with no water shortage. Increasing doses (equivalent to 0, 140, and 180 kg N ha^–1) of N fertilizer were applied, either in two amendments (stages GS20 and GS30) or in three amendments (stages GS20, GS30, and GS37, according to Zadoks scale). The management of fertilizer by combining an increased N rate with late N application was able to stimulate canopy development, to raise photosynthetic capacity and carbohydrate accumulation during the vegetative stages, and to increase grain yield. Based on the dynamics of carbohydrate accumulation in the ear, three phases were differentiated during the grain‐filling period, whose temporary pattern remained stable regardless of the fertilizer management. The net remobilization of carbohydrates started 12 d after anthesis from the leaves and 28 d after anthesis from roots and stems. The increase of the N dose with late N application allowed on one hand a lower use of the pre‐anthesis carbon reserves in favor of greater de novo photosynthesis during the grain‐filling period, and on the other hand greater relative contribution of the leaf and ear C reserves to remobilization towards the grain. Further splitting the dose increased only the relative contribution of ear C reserves. The stem contribution seemed to be independent of N applied whereas the root contribution tended to diminish with late N application.     

Evaluation of uncalibrated preferential flow models against data for isoproturon movement to drains through a heavy clay soil

The uncalibrated predictive ability of four preferential flow models (CRACK‐NP, MACRO/MACRO_DB, PLM, SWAT) has been evaluated against point rates of drainflow and associated concentrations of isoproturon from a highly structured and heterogeneous clay soil in the south of England. Data were available for four plots for a number of storm events in each of three successive growing seasons. The mechanistic models CRACK‐NP and MACRO generally gave reasonable estimates of drainflow over the three seasons, but under‐estimated concentrations of isoproturon over a prolonged period in the first season and over‐estimated them in the two remaining seasons. CRACK‐NP simulated maximum concentrations of isoproturon over the first two events of each of the three seasons of 156, 527 and 24.4 µg litre^?1, respectively, and matched the observed data (465, 65.1 and 0.65 µg litre^?1) slightly better than MACRO (69.1, 566 and 58.5 µg litre^?1). Automatic selection of parameters from soils information within MACRO_DB reduced the emphasis on preferential flow relative to the stand‐alone version of MACRO. This gave a poor simulation of isoproturon breakthrough and simulated maximum concentrations were 0, 50.1 and 35.1 µg litre^?1, respectively. The capacity model PLM gave the best overall simulation of total drainflow for the first two events in each season, but over‐estimated concentrations of isoproturon (967, 808 and 51.3 µg litre^?1). The simple model SWAT represented total drainflow reasonably well and gave the best simulation of maximum isoproturon concentrations (140, 80.2 and 8.2 µg litre^?1). There was no clear advantage here in using the mechanistic models rather than the simpler models. None of the models tested was able to simulate consistently the data set, and uncalibrated modelling cannot be recommended for such artificially drained heavy clay soils. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Erythroid progenitor cells from pig bone marrow and peripheral blood

With the intention of using the pig as a large animal model in haematopoietic research, a clonal assay in methylcellulose was developed and the optimal conditions for raising erythroid progenitors from adult pig bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB) have been established. Progenitor cells were stimulated to proliferate and differentiate in vitro by growth factors containing leucocyte condition medium (LCM), and with recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEpo). The number of PB BFU-E (burst forming units - erythroid) directly depended on the concentration of LCM, but BM BFU-E were not dependent on LCM. Both CFU-E (colony forming units - erythroid) and BFU-E were rhEpo dependent. Despite relatively high but expected individual variations, the mean number of colonies, as well as the functional characteristics of progenitor cells investigated, were similar to those of miniature pigs and some other mammals.     

Effect of different daily doses of gizzerosine on the serum 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol concentration in laying hens

Five groups of laying hens were treated with different gizzerosine doses (0, 2.5; 5.0; 7.5; 10.0 mg/kg/body weight of gizzerosine) daily over a 21-day period to determine the serum concentrations of 1.25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25(OH)2D), total calcium, inorganic phosphorus and magnesium. Blood samples were taken on days 7, 14, and 21 of the experiment. The concentration of 1,25(OH)2D remained unchanged after day 7 in the gizzerosine-treated birds compared to the control group. After 14 days, it was significantly lower in the birds receiving. gizzerosine, compared with the control group. On day 21, 1,25(OH2)D concentrations were also significantly decreased in all 4 gizzerosine-treated groups compared with the control hens. The serum total calcium, inorganic phosphorus and total magnesium concentrations varied significantly, but irregularly, during the period of the study.     

Zur quantitativ-genetischen Analyse der Ertragskomponenten beim Kürbis

Zusammenfassung Die Angaben eines 4jährigen Anbaus von zwei ingezüchteten Elternstämmen (buschförmigerCucurbita pepo L.) mit ihren F₁- und F₂-Generationen wurden für eine Analyse der Ertragskomponenten (reife Früchte) ausgewertet. Es wurde eingehend die Variabilität zwischen den Pflanzen, zwischen den Jahren und zwischen den Generationen verglichen und diskutiert. Folgende genetische Konsequenzen der Untersuchung sind wahrscheinlich:1. Die Anzahl der reifen Früchte je Pflanze ist stark umweltabhängig und zeigt eine Tendenz zu Heterosis.2. Das durchschnittliche Gewicht einer Frucht läßt sich am wenigsten von den Jahresbedingungen beeinflussen (hohe Heritabilität) und vererbt sich intermediär.3. Das daraus resultierende Gewicht der Früchte je Pflanze ist (wie die Fruchtanzahl) stark umweltabhängig; das hohe Fruchtgewicht vererbt sich aber dominant, wahrscheinlich deswegen, weil die Heterosistendenz der Anzahl der Früchte nicht genügend stark ist, um die konservative Heritabilität des Einzelfruchtgewichtes zu durchbrechen.4. Die Variabilität der F₂-Generation war für alle Merkmale stärker als die der F₁, die Mittelwerte der Merkmale aber waren für F₁ und F₂ nicht signifikant verschieden.

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Summary Data of a four years growing of two inbred parent lines (Zucchini, bush,Cucurbita pepo L.) and their F₁- and F₂-generations have been used for an analysis of yield components (ripe fruits). Variability between plants, between years and between generations was thoroughly compared and discussed. The following genetic consequences of the investigation are probable:1. The number of ripe fruits per plant is highly dependent on the environment and shows a tendency towards heterosis.2. The mean weight of one fruit is least influenced by the conditions during the year (high heritability) and shows intermediary inheritance.3. The weight of the fruits per plant resulting from the above (as well as the number of fruits) is highly influenced by the environment; the high weight of fruits is dominant. The reason for this may be, that the tendency for heterosis concerning the number of fruits is not potent enough to break the conservative heritability of single fruit weight.4. The variability in F₂ was found to be larger for all characters than in F₁ but both generations showed no significant differences in the mean values of the characters tested.

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Sensitivity analyses for four pesticide leaching models

Sensitivity analyses using a one-at-a-time approach were carried out for leaching models which have been widely used for pesticide registration in Europe (PELMO, PRZM, PESTLA and MACRO). Four scenarios were considered for simulation of the leaching of two theoretical pesticides in a sandy loam and a clay loam soil, each with a broad distribution across Europe. Input parameters were varied within bounds reflecting their uncertainty and the influence of these variations on model predictions was investigated for accumulated percolation at 1-m depth and pesticide loading in leachate. Predictions for the base-case scenarios differed between chromatographic models and the preferential flow model MACRO for which large but transient pesticide losses were predicted in the clay loam. Volumes of percolated water predicted by the four models were affected by a small number of input parameters and to a small extent only, suggesting that meteorological variables will be the main drivers of water balance predictions. In contrast to percolation, predictions for pesticide loss were found to be sensitive to a large number of input parameters and to a much greater extent. Parameters which had the largest influence on the prediction of pesticide loss were generally those related to chemical sorption (Freundlich exponent nf and distribution coefficient Kf) and degradation (either degradation rates or DT50, QTEN value). Nevertheless, a significant influence of soil properties (field capacity, bulk density or parameters defining the boundary between flow domains in MACRO) was also noted in at least one scenario for all models. Large sensitivities were reported for all models, especially PELMO and PRZM, and sensitivity was greater where only limited leaching was simulated. Uncertainty should be addressed in risk assessment procedures for crop-protection products.     

Comparison of antibody values in sera of pigs vaccinated with a subunit or an attenuated vaccine against classical swine fever

Ten pigs, aged 85 days, were vaccinated with a subunit vaccine containing 32 g of classical swine fever virus glycoprotein E2 (gp E2) (group 1), and a further 10 pigs were vaccinated with a C strain vaccine (10^4±0.15 TCID₅₀/ml), produced by amplification in minipig kidney (MPK) cell culture (group 2). Nine non-vaccinated pigs served as a control group (group 3). Serum samples were collected before (day 0) and at 4, 10, 21 and 28 days after vaccination and were analysed by two commercially available enzyme immunoassays and by a neutralizing peroxidase-linked assay (NPLA). At the same times, peripheral blood was taken for determining the total leukocyte count and the body temperature was taken daily. Antibodies were not detected in serum samples collected before vaccination (day 0), and no side-effects that could be connected with vaccination were observed during the trial. Ten days after vaccination 6/10 pigs vaccinated with the subunit vaccine were seropositive. On days 21 and 28, the ratios of serologically positive to vaccinated pigs were 9/10 and 10/10, respectively. Four of the ten pigs that were vaccinated with the C strain vaccine were positive on day 21 and 9/10 on day 28. However, the results of the NPLA showed that only 4/10 pigs had an antibody titre >1:32 at the end of the trial in both the vaccinated groups, even though the subunit vaccine initiated an earlier and higher level of neutralizing antibodies than the vaccine produced from the C strain. Challenge was performed 28 days after vaccination on four randomly selected pigs from both vaccinated groups. The pigs survived the challenge without showing any clinical signs of classical swine fever (CSF), while two nonvaccinated control pigs died on the 10th and 12th days after infection.