Diversity of filamentous fungi in leaf litter and aerial litter in semi-deciduous forest,Bahia, Brazil

The fungi have wide distribution in ecosystems and can be found colonizing various substrates,where they act as efficient decomposers,participating in cycling of nutrients.The present study aimed to assess the diversity,richness and composition of filamentous fungi in leaf litter and aerial litter in a semi-deciduous forest in the Chapada Diamantina,Bahia,Brazil.Samples of leaf litter and aerial litter were collected monthly from October/2009 to September/2010 in eight installments in the studied area.Those samples were washed,placed in moist chambers and incubated.47 taxa were identified,37 in leaf litter and 35 in aerial litter,with 25 species common to both.A similarity of 69 % according to Sorensen index.The similarity was considered low when the sample points were compared to the same litter.Most fungi showed sporadic intervals.     

Functional properties of spice extracts obtained via supercritical fluid extraction

In the present study the antioxidant, anticancer, and antimycobacterial activities of extracts from ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), and turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) were evaluated. The extracts were obtained using supercritical CO(2) with and without ethanol and/or isopropyl alcohol as cosolvent. The extracts' antioxidant power was assessed using the reaction between beta-carotene and linolenic acid, the antimycobacterial activity against M. tuberculosis was measured by the MABA test, and their anticancer action was tested against nine human cancer ancestries: lung, breast, breast resistant, melanoma, colon, prostate, leukemia, and kidney. The rosemary extracts exhibited the strongest antioxidant and the lowest antimycobacterial activities. Turmeric extracts showed the greatest antimycobacterial activity. Ginger and turmeric extracts showed selective anticancer activities.     

Inhibition of extrahepatic human cytochromes P450 1A1 and 1B1 by metabolism of isoflavones found in Trifolium pratense (red clover)

Biochanin A and formononetin are the predominant isoflavones in red clover. In a previous study (J. Agric. Food Chem. 2002, 50, 4783-4790), it was demonstrated that human liver microsomes converted biochanin A and formononetin to genistein and daidzein. This paper now shows CYP1B1-catalyzed O-demethylation of biochanin A and formononetin to produce genistein and daidzein, respectively, which inhibit CYP1B1. Recombinant human CYP1A1 or CYP1B1 was incubated with biochanin A or formononetin. CYP1A1 catalyzed isoflavone 4'-O-demethylation and hydroxylations with similar efficiency, whereas CYP1B1 favored 4'-O-demethylation over hydroxylations. Three of the biochanin A metabolites (5,7,3'-trihydroxy-4'-methoxyisoflavone, 5,7,8-trihydroxy-4'-methoxyisoflavone, and 5,6,7-trihydroxy-4'-methoxyisoflavone) were characterized by 1H NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Daidzein (Ki = 3.7 microM) exhibited competitive inhibition of CYP1B1 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity, and genistein (Ki = 1.9 microM) exhibited mixed inhibition. Biochanin A and/or formononetin may exert anticarcinogenic effects directly by acting as competitive substrates for CYP1B1 or indirectly through their metabolites daidzein and genistein, which inhibit CYP1B1.     

Rehabilitation of abandoned areas from a Mediterranean nature reserve by Salicornia crop: Influence of the salinity and shading

In Reserva Natural de Castro Marim e Vila Real de Santo António (SE of Portugal), most of the salt marshes and saltpans are abandoned contributing to their degradation and, consequently, alteration of some ecological conditions. Rehabilitation of these areas by a Salicornia crop can contribute to their economic and environmental improvement by stimulation of biogeochemical processes and biomass commercialization. However, the development of agro-techniques adjusted to species and variable environmental conditions from Mediterranean are needed in order to improve the Salicornia crop. This study aimed to evaluate: i) potential use of seedlings from greenhouse in the field cultivation; and ii) survival, growth and yield of Salicornia under shading and different salinity conditions of the soils and irrigation waters. Autochthonous Salicornia species (S. ramosissima and S. patula) were tested. Germination tests under controlled conditions and in situ mesocosm assays were carried out. Assays were realized with a low density of seedlings from natural conditions and greenhouse, and soils and waters from estuary both with different salinities. Intermediate and high salinities (25–45?dS/m) affected only S. patula germination. In general, Salicornia growing in soils with low salinity had great fresh biomass accumulation independently of seedling source (from natural conditions and greenhouse) and/or growing season. The shading seems to improve the fresh biomass accumulation and yield. Under Mediterranean conditions, the transplantation of Salicornia from greenhouse to the field was a promising technique, independently of the salinity conditions. This study demonstrated that the abandoned and saline areas can be rehabilitated by a sustainable crop of Salicornia.