Long-term kinetics study and quantitative characterization of the antioxidant capacities of humic and humic-like substances

Purpose

Humic substances (HS) play important functions in the environment by radical scavenging in biogeochemical redox reactions, thus influencing behavior of pollutants and preventing damage to cell membranes; this is due to antioxidant properties of HS. Previous studies focused primarily on assessing endpoint antioxidant capacity (AOC) of HS. Our work aimed to estimate long-term kinetics of the antioxidant capacities of humic and humic-like substances under different pH in relation to their specific structural features.

Materials and methods

The 10-h kinetic profiles of four standard HS and two fungi-produced humic-like substances (HLS) were established with Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) approach using the ABTS decolorization assay. Three pH levels (3.75, 4.25, and 6.80) and a broad range of humic material concentrations (0.5–10 mg L^?1) were examined. The data were divided into intervals and fit using exponential functions to evaluate the endpoint AOCs as well as rate constants for the reaction of humic materials with the ABTS radical cation. To further explore the nature of the antioxidant activities of humic materials, the physicochemical features and antioxidant activities of humic compounds were subjected to correlation analysis.

Results and discussion

Our results demonstrated that during the first 40 min, the determined AOCs did not exceed 50 % of the endpoint AOCs for studies of humic materials, indicating that short-term measures of the AOCs of humic materials provide artificially low values due to the presence of slow-acting antioxidant compounds. Due to the instability of ABTS^?+ at neutral and alkaline pH values, only the fast antioxidant moieties of humic materials can be assessed with ABTS decolorization approach under these conditions. Our results show that at acidic pH, the antioxidant activity of HLS is mainly related to the presence of nitrogen-containing groups rather than phenols. However, for HS, both nitrogen-containing compounds and phenolic compounds should be considered.

Conclusions

To obtain clearer information concerning the AOC of humic materials, kinetic profiles should first be established, and then endpoint measurements should be taken at a time when the reaction has reached, or at least neared, the endpoint.

     

Natural silicates mixed with organic fertilizers enhance corn adaptation to salt stress and improve physical characteristics of sandy soil

Soil salinity is one of the major environmental constraints to crop productivity worldwide. Therefore, the development of cost-effective and environment-friendly techniques allowing increased crop productivity and soil fertility under saline conditions is rather urgent today. The objective of this investigation was to study the effects of mixtures containing natural silicates (analcite, bergmeal, and potassium silicate) and organic fertilizers (sapropel, peat) in corn (Zea mays L.). We specifically evaluated tolerance of corn to salinity stress and certain characteristics of saline soil (viz., redox potential, conductivity, and phytotoxicity) using a factorial pot experiment, modeling NaCl salinity levels of 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mM under greenhouse conditions. Growth, water balance, photosynthesis, catalase activity, and accumulation of nonenzymatic antioxidants (flavonoids and anthocyanins) were measured and evaluated. Salinity stress reduced shoot and root biomass by 8–49%, photosynthetic pigment content in leaves by 15–30%, deteriorated water balance, and activated nonspecific adaptive reactions (i.e., accumulation of enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants) in the corn seedlings. All the tested silicon-containing mixtures stimulated corn seedling resistance to salt stress and reduced soil phytotoxicity. This was reflected in the stimulation of growth of the corn seedlings (accumulation of shoot biomass, and formation and growth of lateral roots). The content of photosynthetic pigments, flavonoids, anthocyanins, catalase activity increased 1.3–2 times compared with plants that received NaCl only. The difference between treatments and control was most pronounced at moderate levels of salinity (100–150 mM). The mixture containing silicon minerals and sapropel (9:1 proportion) showed the highest protective effect against salinity stress.     

Effects of biochar on copper immobilization and soil microbial communities in a metal-contaminated soil

Purpose

Copper (Cu) contamination has been increasing in land ecosystems. Biochars (BCs) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known to bind metals, and metallophyte can remove metals from soils. Will BC in combination with AMF contain the Cu uptake by a metallophyte growing in a metal-contaminated soil? The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of BCs on the Cu immobilization and over soil microbial communities in a metal-contaminated soil in the presence of AMF and metallophyte.

Materials and methods

Two BCs were produced from chicken manure (CMB) and oat hull (OHB). A Cu-contaminated sandy soil (338 mg kg^?1) was incubated with CMB and OHB (0, 1, and 5 % w/w) for 2 weeks. Metallophyte Oenothera picensis was grown in pots (500 mL) containing the incubated soils in a controlled greenhouse for 6 months. A number of analyses were conducted after the harvest. These include plant biomass weight, microbial basal respiration, and dehydrogenase activity (DHA), AMF root colonization, spore number, and glomalin production; changes in fungal and bacterial communities, Cu fractions in soil phases, and Cu uptake in plant tissues.

Results and discussion

The BCs increased the soil pH, decreased easily exchangeable fraction of Cu, and increased organic matter and residual fraction of Cu. The BCs provided favorable habitat for microorganisms, thereby increasing basal respiration. The CMB increased DHA by ～62 and ～574 %, respectively, for the low and high doses. Similarly, the OHB increased soil microbial activity by ～68 and ～72 %, respectively, for the low and high doses. AMF root colonization, spore number, and total glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) production increased by ～3, ～2, and ～3 times, respectively, in soils treated with 1 % OHB. Despite being a metalophyte, O. picensis could not uptake Cu efficiently. Root and shoot Cu concentrations decreased or changed insignificantly in most BC treatments.

Conclusions

The results show that the BCs decreased bioavailable Cu, decreased Cu uptake by O. picensis, improved habitat for microorganisms, and enhanced plant growth in Cu-contaminated soil. This suggests that biochars may be utilized to remediate Cu-contaminated soils.

     

The impact of conservation on the status of the world's vertebrates

Using data for 25,780 species categorized on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, we present an assessment of the status of the world's vertebrates. One-fifth of species are classified as Threatened, and we show that this figure is increasing: On average, 52 species of mammals, birds, and amphibians move one category closer to extinction each year. However, this overall pattern conceals the impact of conservation successes, and we show that the rate of deterioration would have been at least one-fifth again as much in the absence of these. Nonetheless, current conservation efforts remain insufficient to offset the main drivers of biodiversity loss in these groups: agricultural expansion, logging, overexploitation, and invasive alien species.     

Four New Sulfated Polar Steroids from the Far Eastern Starfish Leptasterias ochotensis: Structures and Activities

Three new sulfated steroid monoglycosides, leptaochotensosides A–C (1–3), and a new sulfated polyhydroxylated steroid (4) were isolated from the alcoholic extract of the Far Eastern starfish Leptasterias ochotensis. The structures of compounds 1–4 were established by extensive nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESIMS) analyses and chemical transformations. Although the isolated compounds did not show any apparent cytotoxicity against melanoma RPMI-7951 and breast cancer T-47D cell lines, leptaochotensoside A (1) demonstrated inhibition of T-47D cell colony formation in a soft agar clonogenic assay at nontoxic doses. In addition, this compound decreased the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced colony formation of mouse epidermal JB6 Cl41 cells. The cancer preventive action of 1 is realized through regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway.     

Carbohydrate tolerance in the fruit‐eating fish Piaractus mesopotamicus (Holmberg, 1887)

Some fish species have a limited ability to metabolize dietary carbohydrates. An important tool for understanding carbohydrate metabolism is the application of the glucose tolerance test, which can be performed orally or intraperitoneally. To evaluate carbohydrate tolerance in the fruit‐eating fish pacu, two experiments were performed, one with oral administration by gavage of three carbohydrate types (glucose, fructose and starch, 2.0 g/kg body weight (BW)) and the other with intraperitoneal injection (IP) of glucose (500 mg/kg BW). Oral glucose resulted in an increase in plasma glucose 2 hr later with the peak at 4 hr (8.30 mmol/L), and return to baseline between 6 and 12 hr; starch administration promoted a peak after 4 hr (7.70 mmol/L), returning to the baseline at 6 hr. The administration of fructose promoted a moderate peak after 2 hr (5.71 mmol/L), and return to baseline for the time points that followed. Elevated serum cholesterol levels were observed 2 and 24 hr after administration of glucose and starch. Hepatic glycogen levels increased within 24 hr, regardless of the type of carbohydrate administered. IP glucose load resulted in a peak of plasma glucose 3 hr post injection (6.91 mmol/L), returning to baseline 6 hr later. There was a reduction in the concentration of triglycerides at 24 hr. The results demonstrate that pacu metabolize both oral (glucose or starch) and intraperitoneal (glucose) carbohydrate loads after 6 hr, suggesting good ability to deal with dietary carbohydrates.     

Climate variability and trends in the reproductive habitat of the critically endangered hooded grebe

1. The population of the critically endangered hooded grebe (Podiceps gallardoi) has decreased drastically during recent decades. The effects of climate change on their reproductive area (Southern Patagonia) have been proposed as one of the potential causes of their critical situation. However, there is much uncertainty about climate variability and climate trends at local scales in Patagonia, and their effects on the hooded grebe habitat.
2. Variability and trends in temperature, precipitation, and wind from 1960 to 2016 in one of the most important reproductive areas of hooded grebe – the Lake Strobel plateau – were analysed. A Landsat satellite image series (1973–2016) was used to evaluate changes in lake area in the region.
3. Generalized linear models were used to analyse the relationship between the variation in lake area and climatic variables, including the Antarctic Oscillation Mode (AAO) index, which is the most important year to year pattern in climate variability at high latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere.
4. High inter‐annual variability and increasing coefficients of variation in precipitation and wind were found, as well as a significant positive trend in temperature. Total lake area, as well as the area specifically used by hooded grebe to reproduce, decreased significantly over time, with high inter‐annual variability. Variation in lake area was significantly correlated with variation in precipitation, and with the AAO index.
5. The loss of reproductive habitat may force the hooded grebe to use sub‐optimal environments, such as lakes with lower food supply, lower macrophyte cover, and less protection from wind – a potential major handicap for this declining species.
6. Information on lake variation in response to climatic variability could be used to guide hooded grebe conservation strategies, directing more resources and special efforts to those reproductive lakes that are more resilient to the effects of climate fluctuations.

     

Impact odorants of different young white wines from the Canary Islands

Five young monovarietal white wines from the Canary Islands made from Gual, Verdello, Marmajuelo, white Listán, and Malvasia grape cultivars were studied to determine the characteristics of their most important aromas and the differences among them. The study was carried out using gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O) to detect the potentially most important aroma compounds, which were then analyzed quantitatively by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The strongest odorants in the GC-O experiments were similar in all cases, although significant differences in intensity between samples were noted. Calculation of the odor activity values (OAVs) showed that 3-mercaptohexyl acetate was the most active odorant in the Marmajuelo and Verdello wines, as were 3-methylbutyl acetate in the Gual wine, beta-damascenone in the Malvasia wine, and ethyl octanoate in the white Listán wine. However, the most important differences between varieties were caused by the three mercaptans (3-mercaptohexyl acetate, 3-mercaptohexanol, and 4-methyl-4-mercapto-2-pentanone) and the vinylphenols (4-vinylphenol and 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol). The correlation between the olfactometric values and the OAVs was satisfactory in the cases when the compound eluted in the GC-O system was well isolated from other odorants and had aromatic importance and the OAVs for the different wines were sufficiently different.