Biomass energy from crop and forest residues

Residues remaining after the harvest of crop and forestry products are being proposed as a substantial energy source for the nation. An estimated 22 percent of the residues might be utilized, providing a renewable source of high-grade energy with the potential of supplying 1 percent of the current U.S. gasoline consumption as ethanol or 4 percent of the total electrical energy used. These net energy benefits are limited by high energy costs to collect, transport, and process the residues. Environmental threats include soil erosion, water runoff, and nutrient loss.     

Expression of the PEPT1, CAT,SOD2 and GPX1 genes in the zebrafish intestine supplemented with methionine dipeptide under predation risk

This study evaluated the effect of methionine supplementation, predation risk and their interaction on gut histology, whole-body cortisol levels, and intestinal gene expression in zebrafish. A total of 360 one-year-old animals were maintained under two environmental conditions and fed diets containing different methionine sources. Fish were fed either a control diet (CTL, without methionine supplementation), a diet supplemented with dl -methionine (DLM), or a diet supplemented with methionine dipeptide (MM) in the absence (AP) of a predator or in the presence of the predator (PP) for 48 h or 20 days. Predator-induced stress for 20 days resulted in lower body weight. Zebrafish fed methionine-supplemented diets had higher weight gain than control fish. We found no effect of predation stress or methionine supplementation on cortisol level. Predation risk and methionine supplementation showed no interaction effect on dipeptide transporter gene expression. After 48 h of predation pressure, zebrafish had higher mRNA expression of SOD2, CAT and GPX1 in the gut. After 20 days of exposure to the predator, zebrafish fed methionine-supplemented diets had lower expression of GPX1, SOD2 and CAT than those diet CTL. Methionine dipeptide and free methionine supplementation improved growth, intestinal health and survivability of zebrafish both conditions.     

Antioxidant activities and antitumor screening of extracts from cranberry fruit (Vaccinium macrocarpon)

Polyphenolic compounds in cranberries have been investigated to determine their role in protection against cardiovascular disease and some cancers. Extracts of whole fruit were assayed for radical-scavenging activity and tumor growth inhibition using seven tumor cell lines. Selective inhibition of K562 and HT-29 cells was observed from a methanolic extract in the range of 16-125 microg/mL. Radical-scavenging activity was greatest in an extract composed primarily of flavonol glycosides. Seven flavonol glycosides were isolated and purified from whole fruit for further evaluation; the anthocyanin cyanidin 3-galactoside was also purified for comparison with the flavonoids. Three flavonol monoglycosides were newly identified by (13)C NMR as myricetin 3-alpha-arabinofuranoside, quercetin 3-xyloside, and 3-methoxyquercetin 3-beta-galactoside (isorhamnetin); the other four isolated were the previously identified myricetin 3-beta-galactoside, quercetin 3-beta-galactoside, quercetin 3-alpha-arabinofuranoside, and quercetin 3-alpha-rhamnopyranoside. These compounds were evaluated for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging activity and ability to inhibit low-density lipoprotein oxidation in vitro. Most of the flavonol glycosides showed antioxidant activity comparable or superior to that of vitamin E; cyanidin 3-galactoside showed activity superior to that of the flavonoids as well as vitamin E or Trolox in both antioxidant assays.     

Identification of triterpene hydroxycinnamates with in vitro antitumor activity from whole cranberry fruit (Vaccinium macrocarpon)

Bioactivity-guided fractionation of cranberry fruit was used to determine the identity of triterpenoid esters from Vaccinium macrocarpon, which inhibit tumor cell growth and may play a role in cancer prevention. In our previous study, a fraction from whole fruit exhibited tumor cell growth inhibition in vitro. The major components of this fraction were isolated by chromatographic separation of ethyl acetate extracts, purified by semipreparative HPLC, and identified by NMR as cis- (1) and trans- (2) isomers of 3-O-p-hydroxycinnamoyl ursolic acid. These triterpenoid esters have not been previously reported in Vaccinium fruit. Bioassay of the purified triterpene cinnamates in tumor cell lines in vitro showed slightly greater activity of compound 1 in most cell lines, with GI(50) values of approximately 20 microM in MCF-7 breast, ME180 cervical and PC3 prostate tumor cell lines. Quercetin was slightly less active than 1, while cyanidin-3-galactoside exhibited much lower cytotoxicity, with GI(50) greater than 250 microM in all cell lines. Phenylboronic acid (3) was also isolated from the fruit but showed insignificant antitumor activity.     

Plant regeneration from protoplasts isolated from primary calli using mature embryos of two Brazilian rice cultivars

A plant regeneration system from rice protoplasts using calli derived from mature embryos was established for the two Brazilian modern rice cultivars IAC-201 and IAC-165. After 30 to 40 days of in vitro culture it was possible to obtain on average 6 million protoplasts per gram of callus. Microscopic selection of embryogenic calli was a key step for protoplast isolation. The production of embryogenic calli increased when L-proline and casein hydrolysate were used in the callus induction medium. The Oc or IR52 nurse cell lines were essential for protoplast division. Different regeneration media were studied and 139 plants were regenerated which set seed. Some of the regenerated plants showed morphological variation such as the presence of awns in spite of the short time of the in vitro culture. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Intake,digestibility, ingestive behavior,and nitrogen balance of goats fed with diets containing residue from tamarind fruit

This study is aimed at determining the maximum inclusion level of tamarind (Tamarindus indica) residues in the diet of goats on intake, digestibility, ingestive behavior, and nitrogen (N) balance. Twenty-four crossbred (Boer × undefined breed) castrated goat kids (5 months old and with an initial weight of 23.9?±?0.3 kg) were assigned in a completely randomized design (4 treatments and 6 replicates). Diets consisted of Tifton 85 (Cynodon sp.) hay as the roughage (400 g/kg) source and concentrate (600 g/kg); the levels of tamarind residue inclusion were 0.0, 7.0, 14.0, and 21.0% on a dry matter (DM) basis. The experimental period lasted 23 days (15 of adaptation and 8 of sampling). Inclusion of tamarind residue in the goat kid diets did not affect (P?>?0.05) the intake and digestibility of DM, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and total digestible nutrient; intake of N, urinary N, and retained N (g/day); time spent ruminating; numbers of times/day feeding, ruminating, or idling; eating efficiency of DM and NDF; number of boluses/day; and amount (g) of DM/bolus. However, there were a linear reduction in ether extract digestibility (P?=?0.011) and a linear decreasing trend in non-fibrous carbohydrate digestibility (P?=?0.083). The addition of tamarind residue had a positive linear effect (P?=?0.041) on the time spent feeding and promoted a decreasing linear trend for the time spent idling (P?=?0.063). It is recommended to include the residue from tamarind fruit at a level of 21% in diets for goat kids, as it does not affect nutrient intake and digestibility and the N balance.