Comparison between the radical scavenging activity and antioxidant activity of six distilled and nondistilled mediterranean herbs and aromatic plants

Thirty-six different extracts of six herbs and aromatic plants (fennel, common melilot, milfoil, lavandin cv. Super, spike lavender, and tarragon) were evaluated for their radical scavenging activity by the DPPH*, NBT/hypoxanthine superoxide, and *OH/luminol chemiluminescence methods, and for their antioxidant activity by the beta-carotene blenching test. The total phenolic content was also determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. The plant material included cultivated plants and their wastes after being distilled for essential oils. Both remarkably high phenolic content and radical scavenging activities were found for the ethyl acetate and dichloromethane fractions among the different plant extracts. In general, the distilled plant material was found to exhibit a higher phenolic content as well as antioxidant and radical scavenging activities than the nondistilled material. Ethyl acetate and dichloromethane extracts, and even some crude extract, of both distilled and nondistilled plants exhibited activities comparable to those of commercial extracts/compounds, thus making it possible to consider some of them as a potential source of antioxidants of natural origin.     

Canopy structure analysis for estimating forest regeneration dynamics and growth in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nothofagus pumilio</Emphasis> forests

•Introduction   

Silviculture systems applied in Nothofagus pumilio forests are based on opening the canopy to stimulate natural regeneration by modifying light and soil moisture. The objective is to evaluate regeneration dynamics of N. pumilio along different forest canopy and solar radiation gradients.     

Macronutrient accumulation in wheat crop (Triticum aestivum L.) with Azospirillum brasilense associated with nitrogen doses and sources

Abstract

New studies are needed to optimize the nitrogen (N) amount that can be applied to utilize the Azospirillum brasilense benefits. In addition, information regarding the interaction between the urease inhibitor and biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) and how they affect the macronutrients accumulation are also needed. We evaluate the effect of N sources and doses associated with A. brasilense regarding the macronutrients accumulation in straw and grains and wheat grain yield in tropical conditions. A randomized block experimental design was used with four replications in a 2?×?5?×?2 factorial arrangement as follows: two N sources (urea and urea with urease enzyme inhibitor NBPT; five N doses (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200?kg ha^?1) applied in topdressing; with and without A. brasilense inoculation. We found that an increase in N doses positively influenced the accumulation of macronutrients in straw and grains and the wheat grain yield. N sources have similar effects. Inoculation with A. brasilense increased accumulation of Mg and S in straw and P, Ca, and Mg in grains, regardless of the N dose. The inoculation with A. brasilense associated with 140?kg ha^?1 of N increased wheat grain yield. The inoculation can contribute in a more sustainable way to wheat nutrition and optimizing N fertilization.     

Dissolved and Particulate Heavy Metals in the Salado River (Santa FE, Argentina)

The objective of this work is to analyze Fe, Mn, Cr, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn distributions in the water column in terms of total, dissolved, and particulate concentrations in the Salado River (Santa Fe – Argentina); their relationship with total, dissolved and suspended solids; and the impact of two pollution sources on the watercourse: a stream that collects domestic and industrial wastewater discharges of the region and a direct discharge that releases urban and industrial effluents to the river. Water samples obtained from 5 surveys were analyzed. The Salado River transported a load of heavy metals that ranged from 700 g/s to 2200 g/s of Fe, 20 g/s to 60 g/s of Mn and 1 g/s to 3 g/s of Cr. Results show that most metals were found in particulate form, that the metal input from the direct discharge may be significant at low water levels, whereas a lesser impact was produced by the stream, and that both pollution sources were negligible at high water levels.     

Amazon forests green-up during 2005 drought

Coupled climate-carbon cycle models suggest that Amazon forests are vulnerable to both long- and short-term droughts, but satellite observations showed a large-scale photosynthetic green-up in intact evergreen forests of the Amazon in response to a short, intense drought in 2005. These findings suggest that Amazon forests, although threatened by human-caused deforestation and fire and possibly by more severe long-term droughts, may be more resilient to climate changes than ecosystem models assume.     

The anatomy of the world's largest extinct rodent

Phoberomys is reported to be the largest rodent that ever existed, although it has been known only from isolated teeth and fragmentary postcranial bones. An exceptionally complete skeleton of Phoberomys pattersoni was discovered in a rich locality of fossil vertebrates in the Upper Miocene of Venezuela. Reliable body mass estimates yield approximately 700 kilograms, more than 10 times the mass of the largest living rodent, the capybara. With Phoberomys, Rodentia becomes one of the mammalian orders with the largest size range, second only to diprotodontian marsupials. Several postcranial features support an evolutionary relationship of Phoberomys with pakaranas from the South American rodent radiation. The associated fossil fauna is diverse and suggests that Phoberomys lived in marginal lagoons and wetlands.     

Development of transgenic fungi that kill human malaria parasites in mosquitoes

Metarhizium anisopliae infects mosquitoes through the cuticle and proliferates in the hemolymph. To allow M. anisopliae to combat malaria in mosquitoes with advanced malaria infections, we produced recombinant strains expressing molecules that target sporozoites as they travel through the hemolymph to the salivary glands. Eleven days after a Plasmodium-infected blood meal, mosquitoes were treated with M. anisopliae expressing salivary gland and midgut peptide 1 (SM1), which blocks attachment of sporozoites to salivary glands; a single-chain antibody that agglutinates sporozoites; or scorpine, which is an antimicrobial toxin. These reduced sporozoite counts by 71%, 85%, and 90%, respectively. M. anisopliae expressing scorpine and an [SM1](8):scorpine fusion protein reduced sporozoite counts by 98%, suggesting that Metarhizium-mediated inhibition of Plasmodium development could be a powerful weapon for combating malaria.     

Fermented vegetables containing benzoic and ascorbic acids as additives: benzene formation during storage and impact of additives on quality parameters

Chemical and sensorial changes related to the use of benzoates and ascorbic acid as additives in packed fermented vegetables were investigated. For this, three selected vegetables (green olives, cucumbers, and caperberries) stored under different conditions (glass or plastic containers, ambient or refrigerated storage) were used. In all cases, benzoic acid remained unchanged (glass bottle) or decreased slightly (plastic pouch) at prolonged storage. Ascorbic acid was partially or totally degraded during storage, the degradation rate depending on the storage conditions and the vegetable matrix. Benzene levels higher than 10 μg/L were found in cucumbers and caperberries containing both additives, but only when packed in plastic pouches and after prolonged storage at room temperature. In these conditions, an appreciable browning of brine, related to AA degradation, was also found. The use of benzoate alone had a significant influence on vegetable color, but flavor was not significantly affected at the benzoate levels tested. On the basis of the present study, benzoates should be removed from fermented vegetable formulations containing ascorbic acid to eliminate possible benzene formation during long-term storage.     

Transmission electron microscopy for characterization of acrosomal damage after Percoll gradient centrifugation of cryopreserved bovine spermatozoa

The objective of this study was to characterize acrosomal ultrastructure following discontinuous Percoll gradient centrifugation of cryopreserved bovine sperm. Semen was collected from six bulls of different breeds and three ejaculates per bull were evaluated. Frozen semen samples were thawed and the acrosomal region of sperm cells was evaluated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) before (n = 18) and after (n = 18) Percoll centrifugation. The evaluation of 20 sperm heads from each of the 36 samples analyzed ensured that a large number of cells were investigated. The data were subjected to analysis of variance at a level of significance of 5%. Percoll centrifugation reduced the percentage of sperm exhibiting normal acrosomes (from 61.77 to 30.24%), reduced the percentage of sperm presenting atypical acrosome reactions (from 28.38 to 4.84%) and increased the percentage of sperm exhibiting damage in the acrosome (from 6.14 to 64.26%). The percentage of sperm with typical acrosome reactions was not significantly different before (3.70%) and after (0.67%) centrifugation. TEM distinguished four different types of acrosomal status and enabled ultrastructural characterization of acrosomal injuries. The percentage of sperm exhibiting normal acrosomes decreased and damage in the acrosome was the most frequent acrosomal injury with the Percoll gradient centrifugation protocol utilized.