Physicochemical,Nutritional and Antibacterial Characteristics of the Fruit of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bromelia pinguin</Emphasis> L.

Bromelia pinguin L. is a plant native to Sinaloa, Mexico, where its fruit is used as food or as a phytotherapeutic agent. The fruits of B. pinguin were characterized and they could be considered as a functional food. These fruits show an average weight of 13.7 g and a yellow color of high luminosity (b* = 43.2, L* = 74.5). The values for acidity (4.6%, as citric acid) and pH (3.7) of B. pinguin fruit are similar to those of citrics. The edible portion is characterized by a high content of vitamin C (126 mg/100 g), ash (10.6 g/100 g d.w.), crude fiber (3.4 g/100 g d.w.), calcium (1290 mg/100 g d.w.), magnesium (500 mg/100 g d.w.), manganese (2.95 mg/100 g d.w.) and it is a good source of zinc (2.8 mg/100 g d.w.). Polar fractions extracted from the pulp fruit showed activity against several genera of human pathogenic-bacteria (Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, Salmonella, Shigella, Escherichia and Pseudomonas).     

Clinical Trial: Marine Lipid Suppositories as Laxatives

Cod-liver oil and other marine products containing polyunsaturated fatty acids have anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-viral effects and may be useful in the treatment of various inflammatory and infectious diseases. We developed suppositories and ointment with 30% free fatty acid (FFA) extract from omega-3 fish oil. Our purpose was to evaluate the safety of marine lipid suppositories and ointment in healthy volunteers and to explore the laxative effect of the suppositories. Thirty healthy volunteers were randomized either to a study group administrating 30% FFA suppositories and applying 30% FFA ointment to the perianal region twice per day for two weeks, or to a control group using placebo suppositories and ointment in a double blinded manner. Results: No serious toxic effects or irritation were observed. In the study group 93% felt the urge to defecate after administration of the suppositories as compared to 37% in the control group (P = 0.001). Subsequently 90% in the study group defecated, compared to 33% in the control group (P = 0.001). Conclusion: The marine lipid suppositories and ointment were well tolerated with no significant toxic side effects observed during the study period. The suppositories have a distinct laxative effect and we aim to explore this effect in further clinical trials.     

Regulation of tissue differentiation by plant growth regulators on tTCLs of Panax ginseng adventitious roots

Differentiated tissue in Panax ginseng cultures was found to be very efficacious for saponin production. In order to increase the yield of saponins and preserve culture stability we were testing different plant growth regulators (PGR) and auxin/cytokinin combinations to regulate a level of tissue differentiation. For this purpose we used transverse thin cell layers (tTCLs) of adventitious roots of Panax ginseng. Adventitious roots were cultivated in Shenk and Hildebrand (SH) liquid medium supplemented with IBA (24.6 μM). Callus formation and root multiplication of adventitious root tTCLs was evaluated after 4 and following 12 weeks of cultivation, respectively, on SH basal medium containing various auxins (3 mg l⁻¹) or cytokinins (0.2 or 0.02 mg l⁻¹) or their combinations. We found that kinetin (Kin) in combination with auxin benzo[b]selenienyl acetic acid (BSAA), naphthalene acetic acid or indole-3-butric acidis the best for biomass production and following root multiplication. These combinations were tested in previously selected most suitable large-scale system—a temporary immersion system RITA. The best saponin production (15.94 ± 1.89 mg g⁻¹ dry weight) and growth value (5.62 ± 0.34) was reached on medium containing BSAA and Kin combination.     

Incidental catch of marine turtles by Spanish bottom trawlers in the western Mediterranean

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Responses of shelter and pet dogs to an unknown human

Canine shelters frequently have inadequate living conditions that affect the behavior of dogs. This study compared fear-appeasement and sociability reactions in shelter and pet dogs when they are confronted by an unfamiliar experimenter. Results indicated that shelter dogs used for this study showed more fear-appeasement behavior—tail down, ears down, and crouching—as compared with pet dogs. In addition, shelter dogs quite frequently remained closer to the individual, despite showing signs of fear-appeasement, as compared with pet dogs. Finally, shelter dogs remained near the door of the enclosure less often when compared with pet dogs. This difference might be accounted for by the lack of any attachment bonds among shelter dogs toward their caretakers. These results may be associated to the usual stressful conditions and limited interactions with human beings that may be observed in shelters with scarce resources.     

Evaluation of the effect of dietary sesamin on white muscle lipid composition of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) juveniles

This study was focused on the clarification of the effect of dietary sesamin on fatty acids and the composition of different lipid fractions [phospholipids (PLs), cholesterol and triacylglycerols] in the white muscle of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) juveniles. Two different basic diets with defatted fishmeal as a protein source and either only linseed oil or a mixture of linseed and sunflower oil as a lipid source designed to have two different n‐3/n‐6 ratios (1.21 – CL group; 0.32 – CM group) were produced. Each diet was then used with or without added sesamin (0.58 g 100g^?1). One hundred and forty‐four individuals were fed in triplicated groups for 63 days until their weight had doubled. No influence of dietary sesamin on growth, mortality or on the white muscle lipid content of the fish was found. Added sesamin significantly decreased the content of PLs and increased the cholesterol content in the CM group. No effect was found in the total lipid fatty acid composition but there was found a significantly lower content of saturated fatty acids and 20:5n‐3 in PLs and of 22:6n‐3 in triacylglycerols in the sesamin supplemented CL group. These and other differences show either a tendency of lower long chain n‐3 fatty acids biosynthesis or their higher use in β‐oxidation in sesamin‐supplemented groups. We conclude that sesamin in this experiment had no substantial positive impact on the lipid metabolism of juvenile carp.     

Pollination dynamics in a Douglas-fir seed orchard as revealed by pedigree reconstruction

• ? Pollination dynamics was studied in a Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seed orchard using 8 nuclear microsatellite markers and pedigree reconstruction.
• ? The seed orchard consisted of 49 parents (clones). Cone-crop management included bloom delay and supplemental mass pollination (SMP) using 12 internal and 4 external pollen donors.
• ? A random sample of 801 bulk seeds was genotyped for both haploid megagametophyte and corresponding diploid embryo.
• ? Using the parental population’s multilocus genotypes, full pedigree reconstruction generated all the information needed to estimate the maternal, paternal, and parental reproductive success, selfing, pollen contamination, and pollination success of the 4 external pollen donors.
• ? Maternal, paternal, and parental reproductive success varied with 80% of gametes being produced by 23, 45, and 37% of the orchard’s parents, respectively, resulting in a drastically reduced effective population size as compared to the census number (14 vs. 53).
• ? Selfing, pollen contamination, and aggregate SMP success (internal and external) were estimated to be 15.2, 10.4, and 15.0%, respectively.
• ? Full pedigree reconstruction was effective in unraveling the orchard’s pollination dynamics and both female and male reproductive success.