Characterization of a new potential functional ingredient: coffee silverskin

Dietary fiber (DF) is one of the main dietary factors contributing to consumers' well-being. In this work the possibility of using the roasted coffee silverskin (CS), a byproduct of roasted coffee beans, as a DF-rich ingredient has been evaluated. The results of our investigation showed that this material has 60% total DF, with a relevant component (14%) of soluble DF. Although a small amount of free phenol compounds is present in CS, it has a marked antioxidative activity, which can be attributed to the huge amount of Maillard reaction products, the melanoidins. Static batch culture fermentation experiments showed that CS induces preferential growth of bifidobacteria rather than clostridia and Bacteroides spp. CS can be proposed as a new potential functional ingredient in consideration of the high content of soluble DF, the marked antioxidant activity, and the potential prebiotic activity.     

Thiabendazole uptake and storage performance of cactus pear [Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. Cv Gialla] fruit following postharvest treatments with reduced doses of fungicide at 52 degrees C

The storage response of cactus pears [Opuntia ficus-indica Miller (L.) cv. Gialla] was investigated over 6 weeks at 6 degrees C, plus an additional week of simulated marketing period (SMP) at 20 degrees C, after a 3-min dip treatment with thiabendazole (TBZ) at 1000 mg/L at 20 degrees C or 150 mg/L TBZ at 52 degrees C. Untreated fruits were used as control. Following TBZ treatments at 20 and 52 degrees C, total residues were recovered from the peel of cactus pear, as the concentration of residues in the pulp was negligible. Treatments with 1000 mg/L TBZ at 20 degrees C resulted in a 2.82 mg/kg residue uptake (active ingredient, whole-fruit basis), whereas treatment at 150 mg/L TBZ left 1.09 mg/kg. TBZ showed great persistence over both storage and SMP: on average, in the fruits treated at 20 and 52 degrees C, over 72 and 68%, respectively, of TBZ was still present after SMP. Postharvest treatments with 1000 mg/L TBZ at room temperature did not affect the expression of slight-to-moderate chilling injury (CI), but reduced severe CI by approximately 50% and decay development by 63.4% in comparison to those of untreated fruit after SMP. The effectiveness of TBZ was much higher with the treatment at 150 mg/L TBZ at 52 degrees C, providing 91% control of severe CI and approximately 89% suppression of decay; no treatment damage occurred during storage and SMP. External appearance was better in fruit treated with 150 mg/L TBZ at 52 degrees C. Respiration rate, titratable acidity, soluble solids concentration, and acetaldehyde in the flesh were not significantly influenced by treatments. Ethylene production rate and ethanol levels in the flesh were significantly higher in the TBZ-treated fruit as opposed to those in the untreated control fruit.     

Flavonoid and carbohydrate contents in Tropea red onions: effects of homelike peeling and storage

The content of anthocyanins, flavonols, and carbohydrates of Tropea red onions (Allium cepa L.) was determined by HPLC and HPLC-MS. Cyanidin derivatives constitute >50% of total anthocyanins, but delphinidin and petunidin derivatives, which have not been reported in red onions thus far, were also detected. The flavonoid distribution in the different layers of the bulbs indicates that, after homelike peeling, the edible portion contains 79% of the total content of quercetin 4'-glucoside but only 27% of the anthocyanins. Storage of onions for 6 weeks in different conditions, all of them mimicking home storage habits, resulted in a decrease to 64-73% of total anthocyanins. The same trend was verified for the total antioxidant activity, which was reduced to 29-36%. A decrease in glucose and fructose content correlated with anthocyanin degradation was also observed. Storage at low temperature seems to better preserve the onion anthocyanins.     

Isolation of phytotoxic compounds from tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima swingle)

The aqueous root extract of Ailanthus altissima showed allelopathic activity against radish (Raphanus sativus L. cv. "Saxa"), garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.), and purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) seeds. A bioassay-oriented purification of active extracts, chromatographic fractions, and compounds demonstrated dose-dependent activity on germination and radicle growth of test seeds; radish seed was the most sensitive to allelochemicals. Active compounds have been isolated: ailanthone, ailanthinone, chaparrine, and ailanthinol B (quassinoid derivatives); the alkaloid 1-methoxycanthin-6-one is not active. The compound with greatest inhibitory activity is ailanthone. The data obtained suggest a possible use of tree-of-heaven root extracts or of its active constituents as natural herbicides.     

Determination of Ni (II) in beverages without any sample pretreatment by adsorptive stripping chronopotentiometry (AdSCP)

The purpose of this paper was to use adsorptive stripping chronopotentiometry for the determination of Ni (II) in worldwide consumed beverages without any sample pretreatment, using dimethilglyoxime (DMG) as complexing agent and a glassy carbon mercury film electrode as the working electrode. Ni (DMG)2 complex is adsorbed onto the mercury film at an electrolysis potential of -500 mV for 60 s and then reduced by a -5 microA constant cathodic current. The sensitivity of the method was studied for certified reference water and black tea in the pH range 6.5-11. At pH 9.5 in ammonia buffer, a detection limit of 0.2 microg L(-1) was achieved; the instrumental precision (expressed as rsd %) was 1.5%, and the accuracy, expressed as obtained recoveries both from certified and not certified matrixes, ranged from 93.0 to 95.5 %. The chronopotentiometric analysis executed on commercial beverages provided evidence that black tea samples were the richest source of Ni (II) (1500-3700 microg L(-1)), followed by coffee (100.0-300.5 microg L(-1)); bottled mineral water showed a Ni (II) concentration lower than 4.6 microg L(-1). Among alcoholic beverages, red wines presented the highest content of Ni (II) (55.5-105.0 microg L(-1)). Significant differences were noticed between Ni (II) levels of fermented and distillated alcoholic beverages; moreover, canned cola and beer did not show higher Ni (II) levels with respect to the glass-bottled products.     

GC-ITMS determination and degradation of captan during winemaking

Captan and its metabolite tetrahydrophthalimide (THPI) were determined in grapes, must, and wine by GC-ITMS. Pesticides were extracted with acetone/petroleum ether (50:50 v/v). Because of the high selectivity of the ITMS detector, no interferent was found and cleanup was not necessary. Recoveries from fortified grapes, must, and wines ranged between 90 and 113% with a maximum coefficient of variation of 11%. Limits of quantitation were 0.01 mg/kg for both compounds. In model systems, captan and its metabolites, THPI, cis-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid, and 1,2,3,6-tetrahydrophthalamic acid, were determined by HPLC. The degradation of captan during winemaking was studied. Captan degraded in must, giving 100% THPI, and at the end of fermentation, only THPI was found in wine. The degradation of captan to THPI was due to the acidity in must and wine. This metabolite was present at low levels on grapes, and, unlike captan, it had no negative effect on the fermentative process. Model systems showed that the mechanism of disappearance of captan in grapes was due to photodegradation and codistillation.     

Effect of ethanol and red wine on ochratoxin a-induced experimental acute nephrotoxicity

Ochratoxin A (OTA), is a nephrotoxic mycotoxin present in wine, which is nephrotoxic in humans. Our working hypothesis is that natural substances in wine may counteract OTA toxicity. Thirty-six rats were randomized to OTA dissolved in saline, red wine, or 13.5% ethanol or to OTA-free wine, ethanol, or saline. OTA (289 microg/kg of body weight/48 h) was administered by gastric gavage for 2 weeks. Serum creatinine, tubular enzymuria, renal lipohydroperoxides (LOOH), reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione, and renal superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) were determined in renal tissue. OTA alone produced significant increases in renal lipoperoxides and significant decreases in SOD and GSH/GSSG ratio. In red wine or ethanol, OTA was less nephrotoxic, reducing oxidative damage as revealed by LOOH. In OTA-wine and OTA-ethanol groups, SOD activity was higher than in the OTA-treated one, suggesting that both ethanol and nonalcoholic fractions may preserve antioxidant reserve. GSH/GSSG ratio was significantly preserved only in the OTA-wine group and not in OTA-ethanol. Red wine may exert a protective effect against OTA nephrotoxicity by limiting oxidative damage. The ostensible protection afforded by ethanol deserves further investigation.     

The proportion of immature breeders as a reliable early warning signal of population decline: evidence from the Spanish imperial eagle in Doñana

Methods to evaluate population trends have recently received particular attention because of perceived declines in several species during the 20th century. We investigated whether age at first breeding could be used as an “early warning signal” to detect possible changes in population trends in long-lived species with deferred maturity using data from the Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) population in Doñana National Park (Spain). This bird of prey is an endangered species that has suffered a rapid decline in this population during the last 10 years. As a result of our 27-year monitoring (1976-2002) study, we detected that an increase in immature breeding birds occurred before population decline became evident. The proportion of immature-plumaged breeders in the population was significantly higher during the period of decline than during the period of stability. In our case, more than 10% of immature breeders can be considered as an “early warning signal” that anticipates population decline. Owing to the ignorance of this warning signal, urgent actions for the recovery of this eagle population started 10 years later than necessary, and when population size had been reduced.     

Nutritional value of cherry tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Cv. Naomi F1) harvested at different ripening stages

The average content of some classes of antioxidants is generally higher in cherry tomatoes than in normal-sized berries. The aim of this work was to assess the nutritional value of cherry tomato (cv. Naomi F1) by investigating the compositional pattern of berries harvested at different ripening stages and evaluating, in particular, all of the main antioxidants (carotenoids, ascorbic acid, phenolic compounds, and alpha-tocopherol) and the antioxidant activity of the water-soluble and water-insoluble fractions. Results confirmed the relatively high level of carotenoids in cherry tomato but showed that not all biologically active compounds necessarily increase in tomatoes picked at later stages of ripeness. Cherry tomatoes harvested at full ripeness exhibited the highest level of carotenoids and antioxidant activity in the water-insoluble fraction. On the other hand, no significant differences in ascorbic acid content were observed at different ripening stages, whereas the main phenolics content and the antioxidant activity of water-soluble fraction showed slight, but significant, decreases at later stages of ripeness.     

A polytene chromosome analysis of the Anopheles gambiae species complex

Field-collected specimens of all known taxa in the Anopheles gambiae complex were analyzed on the basis of chromosome inversions with reference to a standard polytene chromosome map. The phylogenetic relationships among the seven described species in the complex could be inferred from the distribution of fixed inversions. Nonrandom patterns of inversion distribution were observed and, particularly on chromosome arm 2R, provided evidence for genetically distinct populations in A. gambiae, A. arabiensis, and A. melas. In A. gambiae from Mali, stable genetic differentiation was observed even in populations living in the same region, suggesting a process of incipient speciation which is being confirmed by studies with molecular markers. The possible role of chromosome differentiation in speciation of the A. gambiae complex and in the emergence of distinct chromosomal forms within the nominal species is discussed in relation to human malaria.