Phenolic acid profiles in some small berries

The composition of phenolic acids in several small berries grown in Northeastern Poland, namely, low-bush blueberries, black mulberries, European juneberries, black currants, fruits of blue-berried honeysuckle, and blackberries, was determined by gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS). The total content of phenolic acids, identified by GC-MS, ranged from 2845.8 +/- 141.0 (black mulberries) to 5418.2 +/- 228.0 (blue-berried honeysuckle). Twenty phenolic acids were identified in the berries. Of these, hydroxycaffeic, m- and p-coumaric, and 3,4-dimethoxycinnamic acids were the major phenolic acids in blackberries and blueberries, m-coumaric acid was the major phenolic acid in blue-berried honeysuckle and black currant fruits, while salicylic, caffeic, and m- and p-coumaric acids were the predominant phenolic acids in European juneberries. Syringic and veratric acids were detected only in blueberries, while p-hydroxybenzoic and sinapic acids were present only in black currants and o-coumaric acid was present in blueberries and black mulberries. The phenolic acids liberated from esters and glycosidic bonds were the major fractions of phenolic acids in the berries.     

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Content in Shoots and Leaves of Willow (Salix viminalis) Cultivated on the Sewage Sludge-Amended Soil

The aim of the present study was to investigate the uptake of 16 PAHs by willow (Salix viminalis) from soil amended with contaminated sewage sludge. Uptake experiments were conducted on field plots using sludge applications of 0, 30, 75, 150, 300, and 600 Mg ha^?1. The total PAH content of control soil and sludge were 49.6 μg kg^?1 and 5713 μ g kg^?1, respectively. The concentrations for the 16 PAHs listed as priority pollutants were measured for soil and plant tissue samples obtained at 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 years. Soil total PAH content decreased significantly within the first half year, followed by minimal changes over the subsequent three years of treatment. PAH analysis was carried out on a HPLC-UV. Total PAH content in control plants was 3.6–7.3 μ g kg^?1 for shoots and 13–27 μ g kg^?1 for leaves. Treated plant tissue content was higher with shoots and leaves containing ～5.5–17.6 and 13.5–33.8 μg kg^?1, respectively. Plant total PAH content did not show a significant trend relative to controls with respect to time. However, uptake did increase in relation to an increased sludge application. Bioconcentration factors (BCF), adjusted by control values, were calculated for total PAH content. BCF values were highest for the initial sampling (6 months) and did not show a significant temporal relationship. BCF values did decrease with increasing sludge application. With respect to individual PAHs, elevated plant tissue concentrations were measured for “light” PAH (e.g. naphthalene, phenanthrene, acenaphthalene) with leaf BCF values correlated with solubility and organic partitioning coefficients.     

Influence of Catchment Characteristics and Flood Type on Relationship Between Streamwater Chemistry and Streamflow: Case Study from Carpathian Foothills in Poland

The study aimed to determine the influence of catchment characteristics and flood type on the relationship between streamflow and a number of chemical characteristics of streamwater. These were specific electrical conductivity (SC), pH, the concentrations of main ions (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, HCO ₃ ^? , SO ₄ ^2? , and Cl^?), and nutrients (NH ₄ ⁺ , NO ₂ ^? , NO ₃ ^? , and PO ₄ ^3? ). These relationships were studied in three small catchments with different geological structure and land use. Several flood types were distinguished based on the factors that initiate flooding and specific conditions during events. Geological factors led to a lower SC and main ion concentrations at a given specific runoff in catchments built of resistant sandstone versus those built of less resistant sediments. A lower concentration of nutrients was detected in the semi-natural woodland catchment versus agricultural and mixed-use catchments, which are strongly impacted by human activity. The strongest correlation between streamflow and the chemical characteristics of water was found in the woodland catchment. Different types of floods were characterized by different ion concentrations. In the woodland catchment, higher SC and higher concentrations of most main ions were noted during storm-induced floods than during floods induced by prolonged rainfall. The opposite was true for the agricultural and mixed-use catchments. During snowmelt floods, SC, NO ₃ ^? , and most main ion concentrations were higher when the soil was unfrozen in the agricultural and mixed-use catchments versus when the soil was frozen. In the case of the remaining nutrients, lower concentrations of NH ₄ ⁺ were detected during rain-induced floods than during snowmelt floods. The opposite was true of PO ₄ ^3? .     

Polyphenols from evening primrose ( Oenothera paradoxa ) defatted seeds induce apoptosis in human colon cancer Caco-2 cells

Polyphenols extracted from evening primrose seeds (industrial waste product) were studied as apoptosis inducers in human colorectal adenocarcinoma Caco-2 and HT-29 cell lines and in rat normal intestinal IEC-6 cells. The extract dose-dependently inhibited the growth of Caco-2, HT-29, and IEC-6 cells. However, nuclear DNA fragmentation characteristic of apoptosis was observed only in Caco-2. After 72 h of incubation with the extract at 150 μM gallic acid equivalents (44.1 μg extract/mL), Caco-2 cell numbers decreased to 19% of control and 48.8% of the cells were identified by flow cytometry as apoptotic. Under the same conditions only 8% of HT-29 cells and 12.6% of IEC-6 cells exhibited hypodiploid DNA content. The effects of the extract and its fractions on phosphatidylserine exposure and cell membrane integrity were assessed by high content screening image cytometry. The fractions strongly and dose-dependently reduced Caco-2 cell numbers, whereas HT-29 and IEC-6 cells were affected to lesser extents.     

Assessment of a correlation between Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (CADESI-03) and selected biophysical skin measures (skin hydration,pH, and erythema intensity) in dogs with naturally occurring atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is a common allergic skin disease in dogs. The aim of this study was to examine the possibility of a correlation between biophysical skin variables: skin hydration (SH), skin pH, and erythema intensity measured in 10 different body regions and both total Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (CADESI-03) and CADESI measured in a given region (CADESI L). The study was conducted using 33 dogs with atopic dermatitis. The assessment of the biophysical variables was done in 10 body regions: the lumbar region, right axillary fossa, right inguinal region, ventral abdominal region, right lateral thorax region, internal surface of the auricle, interdigital region of right forelimb, cheek, bridge of nose, and lateral site of antebrachum. Positive correlations were found between SH and CADESI L for the following regions: the inguinal region (r = 0.73) and the interdigital region (r = 0.82), as well as between total CADESI and SH on digital region (r = 0.52). Also, positive correlations were reported for skin pH and CADESI L in the lumbar region (r = 0.57), the right lateral thorax region (r = 0.40), and the lateral antebrachum (r = 0.35). Positive correlations were found in the interdigital region between erythema intensity and the total CADESI-03 (r = 0.60) as well as the CADESI L (r = 0.7). The results obtained suggest that it may be possible to use skin hydration, pH, and erythema intensity to assess the severity of skin lesion but positive correlation was only found in < 13.3% of possible correlations and usage of these measures in dogs is limited.     

Tracing erosion rates in loess landscape of the Trzebnica Hills (Poland) over time using fallout and cosmogenic nuclides

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Loess landscapes are highly susceptible to soil erosion, which affects soil stability and productivity. Erosion is non-linear in time and space and determines...     

Modification of Chitin with Kraft Lignin and Development of New Biosorbents for Removal of Cadmium(II) and Nickel(II) Ions

Novel, functional materials based on chitin of marine origin and lignin were prepared. The synthesized materials were subjected to physicochemical, dispersive-morphological and electrokinetic analysis. The results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method of synthesis of functional chitin/lignin materials. Mechanism of chitin modification by lignin is based on formation of hydrogen bonds between chitin and lignin. Additionally, the chitin/lignin materials were studied from the perspective of waste water treatment. The synthetic method presented in this work shows an attractive and facile route for producing low-cost chitin/lignin biosorbents with high efficiency of nickel and cadmium adsorption (88.0% and 98.4%, respectively). The discovery of this facile method of synthesis of functional chitin/lignin materials will also have a significant impact on the problematic issue of the utilization of chitinous waste from the seafood industry, as well as lignin by-products from the pulp and paper industry.     

Exploration of Betalains and Determination of the Antioxidant and Cytotoxicity Profile of Orange and Purple Opuntia spp. Cultivars in Greece

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Replacing synthetic dyes with natural pigments has gained great attention over the past years in the food industry, due to the increased alertness of consumers for...     

Isoenzyme variation within the wildSecale L. species

Summary The degree of inter- and intra-specific variation in the populations of allogamous and autogamousSecale L. species was estimated in support of isoenzyme markers. Totally, 11 different species ofSecale were analysed including perennial species:S. kuprijanovii Grossh.,S. chaldicum Fed.,S. montanum Guss.,S. anatolicum Boiss., and annual species:S. silvestre Host.,S. vavilovii Grossh.,S. ancestrale Zhuk.,S. dighoricum Vav.,S. afghanicum Vav.,S. segetale Roshev.; as well as the cultivated ryeS. cereale L. cv. Dakowskie Zote. Isoenzymes were analysed in the first leaf of single young seedlings grown in controlled conditions using starch-gel slab electrophoresis technique and the electrophoretic forms of two different enzyme systems were detected: nonspecific esterases (E. C. 3. 1. 1) and peroxidase (E. C. 1. 11. 1. 7). It was found that the breeding system of rye species has a distinct affect on the isoenzyme variation in their populations. The selffertile annual species,S. silvestre, was monomorphic for both enzyme systems. A very low esterases polymorphism was also found in other autogamous species,S. vavilovii, however a similar degree of polymorphism in allogamous annual species,S. segetale andS. dighoricum, was observed. Generally, the perennialSecale species were more polymorphic than the annual ones, and the isoenzyme variation in the population of cultivated ryeS. cereale was similar to some other wild annual species. It was observed that the intra-specific isoenzyme variation inSecale was bigger than the inter-specific. Esterases electrophoretic forms showed to be very sensitive markers of variation in rye species.

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Isoenzym-Variation bei Wildarten der GattungSecale L.

Zusammenfassung Der Grad der inter- und intraspezifischen Variation in Populationen von allogamen und autogamen Arten der GattungSecale L. wurde mit Hilfe von Isoenzymmerkmalen geschätzt. Insgesamt wurden 11 verschiedene Arten vonSecale einschließlich der mehrjährigen Arten analysiert:S. kuprijanovii Grossh.,S. chaldicum Fed.,S. montanum Guss.,S. anatolicum Boiss. und die einjährigen Arten:S. silvestre Host.,S. vavilovii Grossh.,S. ancestrale Zhuk.,S. dighoricum Vav.,S. afghanicum Vav.,S. segetale Roshev., wie auch des KulturroggensS. cereale L. cv. Dankowskie Zote. Die Isoenzyme wurden am ersten Blatt junger Einzelsämlinge, die unter kontrollierten Bedingungen angezogen wurden, unter Anwendung der Stärkegel-Plattenelektrophorese-Technik geprüft, und die elektrophoretischen Formen von zwei verschiedenen Enzymsystemen wurden nachgewiesen: nichtspezifische Esterasen (E. C.3.1. 1.)und Peroxidase (E. C. 1. 11. 1. 7.). Es wurde gefunden, daß das Fortpflanzungssystem der Roggen-Arten eine bestimmte Wirkung auf die Isoenzymvariation in ihren Populationen hat. Die selbstfertile einjährige Art,Secale silvestris, war hinsichtlich beider Enzymsysteme monomorph. Ein sehr schwach ausgeprägter Esterasenpolymorphismus wurde in einer anderen autogamen Art,S. vavilovii, gefunden, jedoch wurde ein ähnlicher Grad von Polymorphismus in allogamen einjährigen Arten,S. segetale undS. dighoricum, beobachtet. Grundsätzlich waren die mehrjährigenSecale-Arten polymorpher als die einjährigen, und die Isoenzym-Variation der Populationen des kultivierten RoggensS. cereale war ähnlich der einiger anderer einjähriger Wildarten. Es wurde beobachtet, daß die intraspezifische Enzym-Variation vonSecale größer war als die interspezifische. Die esterase-elektrophoretischen Formen erwiesen sich als sehr empfindliche Indikatoren für die Variation der Roggenarten.

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Secale L.

Secale L. . 11 ; :S. kuprijanovii Grossh.,S. chaldicum Fed.,S. montanum Guss.,S. anatolicum Boiss.; : S. silvestreHost,S. vavilovii Grossh.,S. ancestrale Zhuk.,S. dighoricum Vav.,S. afghanicum Vav.,S. segetale Roshev. S. cereale L., . , , ( — ). : (. . 3. 1. 1.) (. . 1. 11. 1. 7.). , ë . S. silvestre . ,S. vavilovii, ,S. segetale S. dighoricum. , , , . Secale , . .

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Presented as poster     

Bestimmung der Laktulose in Milchprodukten

Zusammenfassung Mittels der Dünnschichtchromatographie wurde festgestellt, daß das Anthron selektiv mit Ketosen reagieren kann. Für die kolorimetrische Bestimmung der Laktulose wurde Anthron im Medium von Phosphor- und Essigsäure angewandt. Man stellte fest, daß die farbigen Verbindungen des Anthrons mit Laktulose dasBeer'sche Gesetz im Bereich der Laktulosekonzentrationen 0,5 mg/ml bis 1,5 mg/ml erfüllen. Diese Verbindungen entstehen durch Erwärmen der Reagentien bei 100°C während 30 Min. Das Absorptionsmaximum der farbigen Verbindungen der Laktulose mit dem Anthron befindet sich bei der Wellenlänge 427,4 nm. In 92%-iger Äthylalkohollösung kann die Laktulose mit Hilfe der Anthronmethode in Gegenwart verschiedener Laktosemengen bestimmt werden. Diese Laktose kann ein Bestandteil des Gemisches aus Zuckern sein oder sie kann auch in Milchprodukten auftreten. Die im Verhältnis zur Laktulose gleichgroßen Galaktose- und Glukosemengen hindern nicht bei der Bestimmung der Laktulose im Gemisch dieser Zucker.

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Summary We have established, with the help of TLC, that anthrone can react selectively with the ketoses. For the colorimetric analysis of lactulose anthrone has been utilised in a medium of phosphoric acid and acetic acid. It has been ascertained that the coloured compounds anthrone with lactulose are following deBeer's law in the range of concentrations going from 0.5 mg/ml to 1.5 mg/ml of lactulose. These compounds are formed by heating the reagents at 100°C during 30 minutes. Maximum absorption of the coloured compounds of lactulose and anthrone is located at 427.4 nm wave length. Lactulose can be determined in 92% ethanol solutions by the anthrone method in the presence of various quantities of lactose. This lactose can be a constituent of a mixture of sugars or be formed in dairy products. The determination of lactulose in the presence of galactose and glucose, mixed in equal quantities, is not impeded.

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Résumé Nous avons constaté au moyen de la C.C.M., que l'anthrone peut réagir d'une manière sélective avec les cétoses. Pour l'analyse colorimétrique de lactulose l'anthrone a été utilisée dans un milieu d'acide phosphorique et acide acétique. On a constaté que les composés colorés de l'anthrone avec le lactulose suivent la loi deBeer dans le domaine des concentrations 0,5 mg/ml à 1,5 mg/ml de lactulose. Ces composés se forment par chauffage des réactifs à 100°C pendant 30 minutes. Le maximum d'absorption des composés colorés du lactulose avec l'anthrone se situe à la longueur d'onde de 427,4 nm. Le lactulose peut être déterminé dans une solution d'éthanol à 92% au moyen de la méthode à l'anthrone en présence de différentes quantités de lactose. Ce lactose peut être constituant d'un mélange de sucre ou bien être formée dans les produits laitiers. La détermination du lactulose en présence de galactose et glucose, mélangés en quantité égale, n'est pas génée.