Algae-Derived Anti-Inflammatory Compounds against Particulate Matters-Induced Respiratory Diseases: A Systematic Review

Air pollution has recently become a subject of increasing concern in many parts of the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that nearly 4.2 million early deaths are due to exposure to fine particles in polluted air, which causes multiple respiratory diseases. Algae, as a natural product, can be an alternative treatment due to potential biofunctional properties and advantages. This systematic review aims to summarize and evaluate the evidence of metabolites derived from algae as potential anti-inflammatory agents against respiratory disorders induced by atmospheric particulate matter (PM). Databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed were systematically searched for relevant published full articles from 2016 to 2020. The main key search terms were limited to “algae”, “anti-inflammation”, and “air pollutant”. The search activity resulted in the retrieval of a total of 36 publications. Nine publications are eligible for inclusion in this systematic review. A total of four brown algae (Ecklonia cava, Ishige okamurae, Sargassum binderi and Sargassum horneri) with phytosterol, polysaccharides and polyphenols were reported in the nine studies. The review sheds light on the pathways of particulate matter travelling into respiratory systems and causing inflammation, and on the mechanisms of actions of algae in inhibiting inflammation. Limitations and future directions are also discussed. More research is needed to investigate the potential of algae as anti-inflammatory agents against PM in in vivo and in vitro experimental models, as well as clinically.     

Radical Scavenging Activity and Stability of Betalains from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Beta vulgaris</Emphasis> Hairy Root Culture in Simulated Conditions of Human Gastrointestinal Tract

Stability and radical scavenging activity of betalains, biosynthesized by Beta vulgaris hairy root culture were investigated at different pH values, bile salts concentration, as well as at the in vitro conditions of gastrointestinal tract. It was established that pH below 3 and concentrations of the bile salts up to 4% had no great influence on betalains stability. At the in vitro conditions of gastrointestinal tract betalains are relatively stable, as their radical scavenging activity decrease from 75% inhibition of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) to about 38%.     

Antioxidant Activity and Phenolic Content of Betalain Extracts from Intact Plants and Hairy Root Cultures of the Red Beetroot Beta vulgaris cv. Detroit Dark Red

Betalains are water-soluble plant pigments that are widely used as food colorants, and have a wide range of desirable biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-cancer properties. They can be produced from various plants, notably beetroot, but betalain products obtained in this way also have some undesirable properties and are difficult to standardize. A potentially attractive alternative is to use hairy root cultures. In the study reported here, we found that betalain extracts obtained from hairy root cultures of the red beetroot B. vulgaris cv. Detroit Dark Red also had higher antioxidant activity than extracts obtained from mature beetroots: six-fold higher 2,2-dyphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging ability (90.7% inhibition, EC₅₀ = 0.11 mg, vs 14.2% inhibition, EC₅₀ = 0.70 mg) and 3.28-fold higher oxygen radical absorbance capacity (4,100 μM TE/g dry extract, vs 1,250 μM TE/g dry extract). The high antioxidant activity of the hairy root extracts was associated with increased concentrations (more than 20-fold) of total phenolic concomitant compounds, which may have synergistic effects with betalains. The presence of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeic acid, catechin hydrate, and epicatechin were detected in both types of extract, but at different concentrations. Rutin was only present at high concentration (1.096 mg.g⁻¹ dry extract) in betalain extracts from the hairy root cultures, whereas chlorogenic acid was only detected at measurable concentrations in extracts from intact plants.     

A simple, flexible and efficient PCR-fusion/Gateway cloning procedure for gene fusion, site-directed mutagenesis, short sequence insertion and domain deletions and swaps

Background  

The progress and completion of various plant genome sequencing projects has paved the way for diverse functional genomic studies that involve cloning, modification and subsequent expression of target genes. This requires flexible and efficient procedures for generating binary vectors containing: gene fusions, variants from site-directed mutagenesis, addition of protein tags together with domain swaps and deletions. Furthermore, efficient cloning procedures, ideally high throughput, are essential for pyramiding of multiple gene constructs.     

保加利亚优良甜樱桃品种评价研究

樱桃是保加利亚主要栽培的果树树种,栽培面积近0．53万hm2。占全国果树总面积的16．5％。保加利亚农业研究所位于保加利亚著名的樱桃产区丘斯坦帝尔地区,一直从事于樱桃新品种的选育研究,樱桃主要育种目标是果个大、高产、晚花或抗花期霜冻害、自花结实,并通过杂交育种技术选育出一系列综合性状优良的甜樱桃新品种。现将甜樱桃新品种的主要性状总结如下。     

适合不套袋栽培的优良苹果品种筛选研究

研究不同苹果品种在套袋和不套袋情况下果实的外观和内在品质,认为‘红露’、‘瑞维纳’、‘新世界’、‘华金’、‘青香’5个品种在套袋和不套袋情况下果实表光较好,适宜作为不套袋栽培的苹果品种进行推广利用。同时,研究5个品种的植物学性状、生物学性状、抗逆性以及套袋和不套袋果实的外观和内在品质,不套袋果实的可溶性固形物含量、硬度、口感和风味均显著好于套袋果实。     

Preparation and characterization of fibers of waste and fresh polyethylene terephtalate and mixtures of them

Textile fibers were obtained from secondary polyethylene terephtalate (PET) and its mixtures with primary PET at initial orientation of 18000–33000 %, rate of additional orientation drawing 3.5–6.5 times and temperature of thermal fixation 363–413 K. The fibers’ tensile strength was found to decrease and elongation at break to increase with the decrease of their linear density under the conditions of fibers formation. For the fibers based on polymer mixtures, the presence of oxidized fragments in the secondary PET limited the compatibility of the two polymers which resulted in deteriorated tensile properties. The linear density (4–16 dtex), tensile strength (30–50 cN/tex) and elongation at break (20–60 %) of the PET fibers obtained were close to these for the industrially produced polymer fibers. The values of the average diameter of the fibers formed and oriented under laboratory conditions allows classifying them between the fine and the coarse textile fibers which makes them suitable for the textile industry.     

贴梗海棠主要果实营养成分分析

贴梗海棠是蔷薇科木瓜属植物,花梗极短,花朵紧贴在枝干上,鲜艳漂亮,是理想的园林绿化植物;果实作中药材使用时简称木瓜,富含Vc和丰富的蛋白质,有舒筋活络和化湿功能,具有极高的食用价值和药用价值。本试验重点测定了8个不同类型贴梗海棠果实的抗坏血酸维生素C、单宁酸和干物质等指标含量,以期筛选高营养和保健价值较高的