Flavonoid constituents of Chorizanthe diffusa with potential cancer chemopreventive activity

An ethyl acetate-soluble extract of Chorizanthe diffusa was found to exhibit significant antioxidant activity, as judged by scavenging stable 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals and inhibition of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA)-induced free radical formation with cultured HL-60 cells. Bioassay-directed fractionation of this extract using the DPPH antioxidant assay as a monitor led to the isolation of five structurally related flavonoids (1-5), including the novel compound 5,8,3',4',5'-pentahydroxy-3, 7-dimethoxyflavone (1). Isolates 1-5 demonstrated varying degrees of antioxidant or antimutagenic activity. Two of the compounds, 5,7,3', 4'-tetrahydroxy-3-methoxyflavone (2) and quercetin (4), were subsequently found to inhibit carcinogen-induced preneoplastic lesions in a mouse mammary organ culture model. Inhibitory activity of this type is known to correlate with cancer chemopreventive effects in full-term models of tumorigenesis.     

Purification and characterization of hydrolase with chitinase and chitosanase activity from commercial stem bromelain

A hydrolase with chitinase and chitosanase activity was purified from commercial stem bromelain through sequential steps of SP-Sepharose ion-exchange adsorption, HiLoad Superdex 75 gel filtration, HiLoad Q Sepharose ion-exchange chromatography, and Superdex 75 HR gel filtration. The purified hydrolase was homogeneous, as examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme exhibited chitinase activity for hydrolysis of glycol chitin and 4-methylumbelliferyl beta-D-N,N',N' '-triacetylchitotrioside [4-MU-beta-(GlcNAc)(3)] and chitosanase activity for chitosan hydrolysis. For glycol chitin hydrolysis, the enzyme had an optimal pH of 4, an optimal temperature of 60 degrees C, and a K(m) of 0.2 mg/mL. For the 4-MU-beta-(GlcNAc)(3) hydrolysis, the enzyme had an optimal pH of 4 and an optimal temperature of 50 degrees C. For the chitosan hydrolysis, the enzyme had an optimal pH of 3, an optimal temperature of 50 degrees C, and a K(m) of 0.88 mg/mL. For hydrolysis of chitosans with various N-acetyl contents, the enzyme degraded 30-80% deacetylated chitosan most effectively. The enzyme split chitin or chitosan in an endo-manner. The molecular mass of the enzyme estimated by gel filtration was 31.4 kDa, and the isoelectric point estimated by isoelectric focusing electrophoresis was 5.9. Heavy metal ions of Hg(2+) and Ag(+), p-hydroxymercuribenzoic acid, and N-bromosuccinimide significantly inhibited the enzyme activity.     

Tillage and crop sequence effects on organic carbon and total nitrogen content in an irrigated Alberta soil

A better understanding of tillage effects on soil organic matter is vital for development of effective soil conservation practices. The objective of this research is to determine the effect of tillage and crop sequence on soil organic carbon (OC) and total nitrogen (TN) content in an irrigated southern Alberta soil. A field experiment was conducted using a split–split plot design from 1994 to 1998 in Alberta, Canada. There were two crop sequences (Sequence 1: spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.)–spring wheat–annual legume; and Sequence 2: spring wheat–spring wheat–annual legume–sugar beet) and two tillage practices (CT: conventional tillage and MT: minimum tillage). Surface soil under MT had significantly higher OC (30.1 Mg ha⁻¹) content than under CT (28.3 Mg ha⁻¹) after 4 years of treatment. The MT treatment retains crop residue at the soil surface, reduces soil erosion and slows organic matter decomposition, which are key factors in enhancing the soil fertility status of southern Alberta irrigated soils.     

Antioxidant content and free radical scavenging ability of fresh red pummelo [Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck] juice and freeze-dried products

The antioxidative phytochemicals in various fruits and vegetables are widely recognized for their role in scavenging free radicals, which are involved in the etiology of many chronic diseases. Colored fruits are especially considered a quality trait that correlates with their nutritional values and health benefits. The specific aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidants in the juice and freeze-dried flesh and peel of red pummelo and their ability to scavenge free radicals and compare them with those in white pummelo juice. The total phenolic content of red pummelo juice extracted by methanol (8.3 mg/mL) was found to be significantly higher than that of white pummelo juice (5.6 mg/mL). The carotenoid content of red pummelo juice was also significantly higher than that in white pummelo juice. The contents of vitamin C and delta-tocopherol in red pummelo juice were 472 and 0.35 mug/mL, respectively. The ability of the antioxidants found in red pummelo juice to scavenge radicals were found by methanol extraction to approximate that of BHA and vitamin C with a rapid rate in a kinetic model. The ability of methanol extracts of freeze-dried peel and flesh from red pummelo to scavenge these radicals was 20-40% that of BHA and vitamin C effects. Fresh red pummelo juice is an excellent source of antioxidant compounds and exhibited great efficiency in scavenging different forms of free radicals including DPPH, superoxide anion, and hydrogen peroxide radicals.     

Proteome response of Monascus pilosus during rice starch limitation with suppression of monascorubramine production

For centuries, red mold rice has been made by fermentation of cooked rice with Monascus species. However, the influence of different carbon sources on the metabolism of Monascus cells remains unclear. We compared the proteome response of Monascus pilosus to replacement of the rice starch fraction with lactose during cultivation, using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and tandem mass spectrometry to identify the proteins expressed. The results showed that cell growth and monascorubramine pigment formation of M. pilosus were sensitive to rice starch limitation during cultivation. A total of 12 proteins were identified with statistically altered expression in the cells cultivated with lactose. These deregulated proteins were involved in glycolysis, TCA cycle, energy generation, protein folding, and peptide biosynthesis. The possible metabolic flux shifts induced by rice starch limitation were discussed. The results suggested that the suppression of monascorubramine formation could be related to the necessary energy-requiring adaptations executed in response to carbon depletion during rice starch limitation.     

Soil compaction and forest floor removal reduced microbial biomass and enzyme activities in a boreal aspen forest soil

Soil enzymes are linked to microbial functions and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems and are considered sensitive to soil disturbances. We investigated the effects of severe soil compaction and whole-tree harvesting plus forest floor removal (referred to as FFR below, compared with stem-only harvesting) on available N, microbial biomass C (MBC), microbial biomass N (MBN), and microbial biomass P (MBP), and dehydrogenase, protease, and phosphatase activities in the forest floor and 0–10 cm mineral soil in a boreal aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) forest soil near Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada. In the forest floor, no soil compaction effects were observed for any of the soil microbial or enzyme activity parameters measured. In the mineral soil, compaction reduced available N, MBP, and acid phosphatase by 53, 47, and 48%, respectively, when forest floor was intact, and protease and alkaline phosphatase activities by 28 and 27%, respectively, regardless of FFR. Forest floor removal reduced available P, MBC, MBN, and protease and alkaline phosphatase activities by 38, 46, 49, 25, and 45%, respectively, regardless of soil compaction, and available N, MBP, and acid phosphatase activity by 52, 50, and 39%, respectively, in the noncompacted soil. Neither soil compaction nor FFR affected dehydrogenase activities. Reductions in microbial biomass and protease and phosphatase activities after compaction and FFR likely led to the reduced N and P availabilities in the soil. Our results indicate that microbial biomass and enzyme activities were sensitive to soil compaction and FFR and that such disturbances had negative consequences for forest soil N and P cycling and fertility.     

东北白桦变色菌的分离方法

针对白桦木材易变色的特点,探讨了东北白桦变色菌的分离方法。结果表明：分离变色茵时采用80%的酒精液作为表面消毒剂比采用0．1%的升汞液更为适宜；采用PDA作为分离培养基较为适宜。     

发酵乳对肥胖小鼠肝脂代谢和肠道菌群的影响

为分析发酵乳对肥胖小鼠肝脂代谢和肠道菌群的影响,本研究将60只C57BL/6小鼠随机分为5组：正常对照组（CON）、模型组（MD）、易善复组（YG）、低浓度发酵乳干预组（LFG）和高浓度发酵乳干预组（HFG）。肥胖模型造模成功后进行为期6周的灌胃,试验结束测量小鼠的空腹体重和身长,计算LEE’S指数,采血检测生化指标,采集肝脏组织观察病理变化;采集小鼠盲肠内容物进行肠道菌群测序。结果表明：1）与CON相比,MD小鼠体重、LEE’S指数、ALT和AST均极显著提升（P<0.01）,表明肥胖模型建立成功。2）与MD相比,发酵乳干预组小鼠体重、LEE’S指数、ALT和TC均极显著下降（P<0.01）,其中AST和TG显著下降（P<0.05）,同时发酵乳和易善复组小鼠肝组织脂肪变性有明显好转,基本没有明显的脂肪空泡。表明发酵乳可以抑制肥胖小鼠体重的增加,改善肥胖小鼠的肝脂代谢功能。3）与MD相比干预组小鼠肠道菌群的多样性水平有一定程度的恢复,尤其是厚壁菌门和拟杆菌门。表明发酵乳对于小鼠肠道菌群多样性的恢复有一定的作用。综上,本研究阐明了发酵乳对肥胖小鼠肝脂代谢和肠道菌群的影响,为功能型发酵乳的开发提供理论依据。     

太阳能-土壤源热泵空调系统研究

提出了太阳能—土壤源热泵空调系统的概念,研究了该系统的工作原理。对地源热泵和热管式太阳能集热器的热力计算方法进行了理论分析;结合工程实例,介绍了太阳能地源热泵空调系统的设计思路和运行方式。     

盐胁迫下栽培大豆黑农40不同器官中抗氧化酶活性的变化

通过对盐胁迫下栽培大豆黑农40的根、茎、叶等不同器官中主要的抗氧化酶活性的测定与分析,探讨了大豆耐盐性的机理.结果表明,黑农40叶片中的SOD、POD和APX活性水平明显高于根部和茎部.叶片中的POD和APX在高盐胁迫下的应答反应都比在低盐时快速.盐胁迫时间的延长引起根、茎、叶中的SOD和POD活性发生明显的下降,在高盐胁迫下这种下降比在低盐时更为急剧.