Lipid-lowering and antioxidant effects of hydroxytyrosol and its triacetylated derivative recovered from olive tree leaves in cholesterol-fed rats

This study was designed to test the lipid-lowering and antioxidative activities of triacetylated hydroxytyrosol compared with its native compound, hydroxytyrosol, purified from olive tree leaves. Wistar rats fed a standard laboratory diet or a cholesterol-rich diet for 16 weeks were used. The serum lipid levels, the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) level, as an indicator of lipid peroxidation, and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) as well as that of catalase (CAT) were examined. The cholesterol-rich diet induced hypercholesterolemia that was manifested in the elevation of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Administration of hydroxytyrosol and triacetylated hydroxytyrosol (3 mg/kg of body weight) decreased the serum levels of TC, TG, and LDL-C significantly and increased the serum level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Furthermore, the content of TBARS in liver, heart, kidney, and aorta decreased significantly when hydroxytyrosol and its triacetylated derivatives were orally administered to rats compared with those fed a cholesterol-rich diet. In addition, triacetylated hydroxytyrosol and hydroxytyrosol increased CAT and SOD activities in the liver. These results suggested that the hypolipidemic effect of triacetylated hydroxytyrosol and hydroxytyrosol might be due to their abilities to lower serum TC, TG, and LDL-C levels as well as to their antioxidant activities preventing the lipid peroxidation process.     

Production of Ochratoxin A by Aspergillus Ochraceus

The effects of growth conditions, trace metals, carbon and nitrogen source on ochratoxin A (OTA) production by Aspergillus ochraceus NRRL 3174 were investigated in submerged liquid culture medium. No correlation between biomass production and OTA synthesis was observed. OTA production depended on the initial pH and was influenced by changing the pH of the culture medium. This effect was not due to differences in the availability of metal ions. At pH 6.5, 0.2 mg l^?1 Zn increased biomass and OTA production by 50%. Fe at 0.12 mg l^?1 resulted in a 40% decrease in the amount of OTA/biomass although the quantity of biomass was not affected. Amounts of OTA produced per biomass increased with decreasing glucose concentrations. Lactose triggered the highest amounts of OTA/biomass despite low yields of biomass. NO₃ ^? stimulated the amount of OTA/biomass by 25% and NH₄ ⁺ reduced the amount of OTA/biomass by 25% compared with NH₄NO₃ as nitrogen source.     

Wood coated with plasma-polymer for water repellence

The effects of cold HMDSO and HMDSO + SF₆ plasma treatments on spruce, chestnut and poplar wood were investigated in order to obtain a hydrophobic surface evaluated by microscopic, spectroscopic (FT-IR and LIBS) and contact angle analyses. Cold plasma treatments can increase the surface hydro-repellence without modifying the external aspect and bulk properties of different woods.     

Chernozem—Soil of the Year 2005

The proclamation of the “Soil of the Year” was made for the first time in Germany in 2005 on occasion of the World Soil Day. Chernozems were selected for this purpose. In this paper an overview of these groups of soils is given. Chernozems are concentrated in the drought region of Central Germany. A standard profile from the core area of Chernozems developed from loess is presented with comprehensive laboratory analysis. Chernozems developed primarily upon carbonatic loess substrates under summer‐dry climatic conditions in an open park‐like landscape with isolated forest stands. The development of Chernozems began as early as the late glacial period, and they were fully developed by the Atlantikum age. The far‐reaching, uniformly thick humus horizons indicate substrate differences in the loess cover, which are partly the result of bioturbation. Within Germany, Chernozems and Chernozem‐like soils make up approx. 3% of the surface area and 5% (approx. 11,000 km²) of the arable land. The results of the Static Fertilization Experiment in Bad Lauchstädt, founded in 1902, clarify the high value of Chernozem for biomass production and the environment. Each loss due to erosion or decrease in surface area reduces the fulfillment of soil ecological functions of the soils and is comparable to a loss of animal and plant species. Therefore, soil scientists and the results of soil research must be more comprehensively implemented for soil preservation, protection, and politics. For acceptance of these goals among the general public and the political‐decision makers, the campaign “Soil of the Year” should give some thought‐provoking impulses.     

In vitro shoot regeneration from immature seeds of Epimedium alpinum induced by thidiazuron and CPPU

In vitro propagation of Epimedium alpinum L. was carried out using immature seed explants. The effects of various concentrations of thidiazuron (TDZ) and 1-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-3-phenylurea (CPPU), on the induction of organogenic callus, were evaluated. Organogenesis occurred most efficiently when explants were transiently exposed (48 h) to 20 μM CPPU or 80 μM TDZ followed by culture on hormone-free woody-plant medium (WPM). Organogenic callus consisting of white, compact clumps of tissue proliferated slowly on hormone-free WPM. To promote adventitious shoot induction, the effects of different concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 6-benzyladenine (BA) were investigated. The highest per cent shoot regeneration, 66.7% of explants, and the maximum mean number of shoots, 2.6 per explant, were obtained on WPM containing 1.1 μM 2,4-D and 22 μM BA. Shoots were rooted on hormone-free WPM and well-developed plantlets were successfully transferred to soil.     

Ontogeny of the digestive tract of thick lipped grey mullet (Chelon labrosus) larvae reared in “mesocosms”

This work describes the ontogeny of the digestive tract in thick lipped grey mullet (Chelon labrosus) larvae reared until day 36 post-hatching with the semi-extensive technology in mesocosms. Diet was constituted by live preys, rotifers, Artemia and wild zooplankton, then compound diet was added from day 20 (p. h.). Linear growth, weight growth and digestive enzymes specific activities were studied during larval ontogeny. Pancreatic enzymes (trypsin and amylase) and intestinal enzymes (leucine-alanine peptidase “Leu-ala”, aminopeptidase N “AN” and alkaline phosphatase “AP”) were assayed in larvae sampled throughout the rearing trial to evaluate gastrointestinal maturation along the development.The trypsin specific activities were very high during the first two weeks and then declined as observed in marine fish species. A following increase in trypsin specific activity from day 20 was attributed notably to ingestion of particle compound diet. In contrast to the pattern generally described in fish larvae, amylase specific activity showed a continuous increase. This could be attributed to the fact that C. labrosus is an omnivorous species and suggests that the fish might be able to use efficiently diets containing higher levels of starch or other carbohydrates since the end of larval development.Relative expression of intestinal brush border membrane enzymes (AP and AN) and cytosolic enzyme (Leu-ala), showed an abrupt increase of both AP/leu-ala and AN/leu-ala ratios at day 8 (p. h.), indicating that maturation of intestinal tract in C. labrosus larvae is particularly precocious. It is assumed that larvae of C. labrosus might support early co-feeding and weaning strategies, which could reasonably be initiated since mouth opening.     

Soil properties and habitats determine the response of bacterial communities to agricultural wastewater irrigation

Increasing temperatures and variability of precipitation events due to climate change will lead in the future to higher irrigation demands in agroecosystems.However,the use of secondary treated wasterwater(TWW)could have consequences for the receiving soil environment and its resident microbial communities.The objective of this study was to characterize the importance of soil properties and habitats to the response of soil bacteria and archaea to irrigation with TWW.Two agricultural soils with contrasting textures(loamy sand or silt loam)and,for each,three variants differing in soil organic carbon and nitrogen,as generated by long-term fertilization,were analyzed.For each of these six soils,prokaryotic communities from two habitats,i.e.,root-free bulk soil and the rhizosphere of developing cucumber plants in the greenhouse,were characterized.Communities were analyzed by the quantity and diversity of their polymerase chain reaction(PCR)-amplified 16S rRNA genes.To account for TWW-associated nutrient effects,potable water(PW)served as a control.Amplicon sequence analysis showed that prokaryotic communities mainly consisted of bacteria(99.8%).Upon irrigation,regardless of the water quality,prokaryotic diversity declined,p H increased,and no bacterial growth was detected in bulk soil.In contrast,the growth of cucumbers was stimulated by TWW,indicating that plants were the main beneficiaries.Moreover,strong responses were seen in the rhizosphere,suggesting an indirect effect of TWW by altered rhizodepositions.The main bacterial responders to TWW were Proteobacteria,Bacteroidetes,Actinobacteria,and Planctomycetes.Changes in bacterial communities due to TWW were less pronounced in all variants of the silt loam,indicating the importance of clay and soil organic carbon for buffering effects of TWW on soil bacterial communities.Hence,soil organic carbon and soil texture are important parameters that need to be considered when applying TWW in agriculture.     

Lycopene degradation and isomerization kinetics during thermal processing of an olive oil/tomato emulsion

The stability of lycopene in an olive oil/tomato emulsion during thermal processing (80-140 °C) was studied. Initially, the degradation of total lycopene (all-E plus Z-forms) occurred quickly at temperatures above 100 °C. However, a nonzero plateau value, depending on the processing temperature, was attained after longer treatment times. Besides degradation, the isomerization of total-Z-lycopene as well as the individual isomerization of all-E-, 5-Z-, 9-Z-, and 13-Z-lycopene was studied in detail. After prolonged heating, the isomer conversion reached a temperature-dependent equilibrium state. The degradation of total lycopene and the isomerization could be described by a fractional conversion model. The temperature dependency of the corresponding reaction rate constants was quantified by the Arrhenius equation. The activation energy of degradation was estimated to be 28 kJ/mol, and the activation energy of overall (all-E and total-Z) isomerization was estimated to be 52 kJ/mol.