Use of image analysis to estimate anthocyanin and UV-excited fluorescent phenolic compound levels in strawberry fruit

Strawberry is rich in anthocyanins, which are responsible for the red color, and contains several colorless phenolic compounds. Among the colorless phenolic compounds, some, such as hydroxycinammic acid derivatives, emit blue-green fluorescence when excited with ultraviolet (UV) light. Here, we investigated the effectiveness of image analyses for estimating the levels of anthocyanins and UV-excited fluorescent phenolic compounds in fruit. The fruit skin and cut surface of 12 cultivars were photographed under visible and UV light conditions; colors were evaluated based on the color components of images. The levels of anthocyanins and UV-excited fluorescent compounds in each fruit were also evaluated by spectrophotometric and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses, respectively and relationships between these levels and the image data were investigated. Red depth of the fruits differed greatly among the cultivars and anthocyanin content was well estimated based on the color values of the cut surface images. Strong UV-excited fluorescence was observed on the cut surfaces of several cultivars, and the grayscale values of the UV-excited fluorescence images were markedly correlated with the levels of those fluorescent compounds as evaluated by HPLC analysis. These results indicate that image analyses can select promising genotypes rich in anthocyanins and fluorescent phenolic compounds.     

Effect of Treadmill Exercise and Hydrogen-rich Water Intake on Serum Oxidative and Anti-oxidative Metabolites in Serum of Thoroughbred Horses

The present study aimed to clarify changes of oxidative stress and antioxidative functions in treadmill-exercised Thoroughbred horses (n=5, 3 to 7 years old), using recently developed techniques for measurement of serum d-ROMs for oxidative stress, and BAP for antioxidative markers. Also, the effect of nasogastric administration of hydrogen-rich water (HW) or placebo water preceding the treadmill exercise on these parameters was examined. Each horse was subjected to a maximum level of treadmill exercise in which the horses were exhausted at an average speed of 13.2 ± 0.84 m/sec. Blood samples were taken 4 times, immediately before the intake of HW or placebo water at 30 min preceding the treadmill exercise, immediately before the exercise (pre-exercise), immediately after the exercise (post-exercise) and at 30 min following the exercise. In all horses, both d-ROMs and BAP values significantly increased at post-exercise. The increase in d-ROMs tended to be lower in the HW trial, as compared to the placebo trial at pre-exercise. The increase in BAP was considerable at approximately 150% of the pre-exercise values in both the HW and placebo treatment trials. The BAP/d-ROMs ratio was significantly elevated at post-exercise in both treatment trials, while a significant elevation was also observed at pre-exercise in the HW trial. BAP, d-ROM, and the BAP/d-ROM ratio tended to decline at 30 min after the exercise, except BAP and BAP/d-ROMs in the placebo trial. These results demonstrate that the marked elevation of oxidative stress and anitioxidative functions occurred simultaneously in the intensively exercised horses, and suggest a possibility that HW has some antioxidative efficacy.     

Identification of geranic acid, a tyrosinase inhibitor in lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)

Lemongrass is a popular Asian herb having a lemon-like flavor. Very recently, potent tyrosinase inhibitory activity has been found in lemongrass in addition to various biological activities reported in the literature. The aim of the present study is to identify the active compounds in the lemongrass. An assay-guided purification revealed that one of the active substances was geranic acid. Geranic acid has two stereoisomers, which are responsible for the trans and cis geometry on the conjugated double bond. Both isomers are present in the active ethyl acetate-soluble extract of the lemongrass, and their IC50 values were calculated to be 0.14 and 2.3 mM, respectively. The structure requirement of geranic acid for the potent tyrosinase inhibitory activity was investigated using geranic acid-related compounds.     

Localization of leptin and leptin receptor in the bovine adenohypophysis

The present study was carried out to detail the cellular localization of leptin (Lep) and the leptin receptor (LepR) in the bovine adenohypophysis. Lep immunoreactivity (Lep-ir) was found in about 30% of adenohypophysial cells in the gland. Immunochemistry of Lep and specific hormones using serial sections revealed that Lep-ir was present in 60.4% of somatotrophs, 15.9% of gonadotrophs, 6.5% of mammotrophs, 6.5% of thyrotrophs and 2.4% of corticotrophs. Both the common short isoform (OBRa) and the long isoform (OBRb) of LepR mRNA were expressed in the bovine adenohypophysis. LepR immunoreactivity (LepR-ir) was found in only 2.8% of the adenohypophysial cells and over 50% of LepR-ir cells were gonadotrophs, in which most of the cells were distributed in the zona tuberalis. The findings on Lep and LepR in the adenohypophysial cells indicate that Lep may regulate gonadotroph function through autocrine/paracrine pathway in the bovine adenohypophysis.     

Three‐dimensional CT examination of the forefoot and hindfoot of the hippopotamus and tapir during a semiaquatic walking

Semiaquatic walking has resulted in the evolution of functional and morphological changes in various hoofed mammals, such as hippopotamus and Brazilian tapir. The biomechanics of skilful walking in wetlands or at the bottom of a waterbody involve the medio‐lateral opening and closing of the feet to effectively support and stabilize the body on soft ground and to reduce the water resistance during recovery stroke, respectively. We demonstrate that the opening and closing of the feet in hippopotamus and Brazilian tapir are mediated by the adduction and abduction of the most medial and lateral phalanges from the CT examination. The axial toes, metacarpals and metatarsals do not contribute to changes in the width and shape of the feet, unlike the medial and lateral toes. We suggest that this semiaquatic walking motion is derived from the original terrestrial mode of locomotion, in contrast to the highly functional swimming motion using webs or fins in morphologically modified feet and tail. From the present data we demonstrate that semiaquatic locomotion evolved due to the acquisition of adductor–abductor mobility in the phalanges of the most medial and lateral digits, as shown in hippopotamus and Brazilian tapir.     

Characteristics of Collagen from Rohu (Labeo rohita) Skin

Acid soluble collagen (ASC) and pepsin soluble collagen (PSC) were isolated from rohu skin with the yield of 64.2 and 6.8% (dry weight basis), respectively. Both collagens had glycine as the major amino acid with imino acid content of 196–202 residues/1,000 residues and were characterized as type I collagen with molecular composition of (α1)₂α2-heterotrimer. Fourier transform infrared spectra of both collagens were similar, with no shift in wavenumber of all amide bands. The T_max value of ASC and PSC was 36.40 and 35.48°C, respectively. The zero surface net charge of ASC and PSC was found at pH 5.9 and 5.3, respectively.     

Characteristics and Functional Properties of Ovary from Squid Loligo Formosana

The characteristics and functional properties of the ovary from Loligo formosana were studied. Moisture (72.07 ± 0.24%) was dominant, followed by protein (18.64 ± 0.51%) and carbohydrate (7.44 ± 0.2%). Ash (1.39 ± 0.03%) and lipids (0.46 ± 0.5%) were found as the minor constituents. Albumin (79.02 ± 0.79%) was the major protein of the squid ovary, followed by glutelin-1 (8.31 ± 0.62%) and globulin (6.68 ± 0.08%). Nevertheless, prolamin and glutelin-2 constituted approximately 1% of the total proteins. Based on the electrophoretic studies, albumin had the largest band intensity. The squid ovary was rich in non-essential amino acids (52.26%) and high in hydrophobic amino acids (48.03%). It was also rich in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA, 43.76 ± 0.84%), followed by saturated fatty acid (SFA, 39.36 ± 0.12%) and monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA, 12.94 ± 0.55%). Ovary lipids had a high amount of docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6) (28.59%). At pH 3, the squid ovary powder (SOP) had the maximum solubility (96.39%), whereas the lowest solubility (38.33%) was observed at pH 9. The foaming capacity and stability of SOP were increased with increasing concentration up to 8% (p < 0.05). The globulin fraction showed the higher foaming capacity, as compared to albumin and glutelin-1 fractions. The squid ovary had good nutritional value and possessed excellent foaming properties. Therefore, the squid ovary could serve as a novel food additive or ingredient.     

Vitamin contents of eggs that produce larvae showing a high survival rate in the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica

This paper describes the relationship between the egg vitamin concentrations and the egg quality in the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica . No notable relation was found between any vitamin and the fertilization rate. Hatching and survival rates of larvae, however, significantly increased with an elevated level of egg vitamin C (VC). In contrast to VC, the relation between vitamins E (VE) and A (VA) concentrations and survival rate showed a clear peak, with a reduced survival rate at both higher and lower vitamin concentrations. The ratio of VE to lipid or highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) in eggs positively correlated with hatching and survival rates of larvae. High-quality (HQ) eggs were determined as eggs that produced larvae having a survival rate higher than 80% at 8 days post hatch, and low-quality (LQ) eggs were determined as eggs that did not hatch. The level of VC of HQ was significantly higher than LQ. The results of this study suggest that HQ eggs, which produce larvae having a high survival rate, must have high levels of VC and VE/HUFA ratio and contain optimum levels of VA and VE in Japanese eel.