Antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of Carthamus lanatus

Total dichloromethane, methanol and water extracts, their fractions as well as volatiles of Carthamus lanatus aerial parts were phytochemically screened and evaluated for antibacterial, antifungal and cytotoxic activity. The H(2)O/MeOH fraction of the CH(2)Cl(2) extract exhibited noticeable antibacterial activity. The same fraction and the volatiles showed significant cytotoxic activity.     

Larvicidal activity of saponin containing extracts and fractions of fruit mesocarp of Balanites aegyptiaca

Chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol and methanol extracts of fruit mesocarp of Balanites aegyptiaca and five fractions from the methanol extract were tested against the Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae. All extracts showed larvicidal effects however the highest larval mortality was found in methanol extract. One fraction obtained from the silica gel column chromatography of the latter was found most effective for larval mortality. This fraction also interfered with adult emergence. A concentration of 0.0014% (w/v) of this active fraction showed inhibition of the 50% of the test larval population from emerging adults (EC(50)). The analysis of total saponin content of these tested extracts and fractions revealed a strong correlation between saponin content and larval mortality.     

Fruit growth,cuticle deposition,water uptake,and fruit cracking in jostaberry,gooseberry, and black currant

Fruit cracking after rain limits the production of a number of crops, including some Ribes species. To gain a better understanding of the factors involved in cracking, fruit growth, deposition of the cuticular membrane (CM), water uptake and fruit cracking were studied in black currant (Ribes nigrum L. cv. Zema), gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa L. cv. Rote Triumph), and jostaberry (Ribes nidigrolaria B. cv. Jostine). Fruit surface area and fresh mass increased continuously throughout development, whereas deposition of the CM was biphasic. CM mass per fruit increased rapidly up to 42, 41, and 49 days after full bloom (DAFB) in black currant, gooseberry, and jostaberry, respectively. Thereafter, CM mass per fruit remained constant in gooseberry and jostaberry or increased at a lower rate in black currant. The cessation of or reduced rate of CM deposition resulted in a decrease in CM mass per unit area in all berries. Elastic strain of the CM at maturity averaged 23.8% and 19.5% in gooseberry and jostaberry, respectively, and only 8.2% in black currant. Microcracks in the CM were observed first in gooseberry and jostaberry 64 DAFB, whereas there were no microcracks in black currant. Water uptake into mature detached berries was linear over 2 h of incubation. Rates of uptake were highest in gooseberry followed by black currant and jostaberry. Relative uptake was similar via the cut end of the pedicel (32.1%), the apex of the fruit (34.7%) and the fruit surface (33.2%). Rates of water uptake through the fruit surface were positively related to surface area. Average fruit water potential for black currant, gooseberry, and jostaberry was −2.14 ± 0.17, −1.24 ± 0.03, and −1.89 ± 0.20 MPa, while the permeability for osmotic water uptake was 7.7 ± 0.4 × 10⁻⁸, 5.2 ± 0.1 × 10⁻⁸, and 3.3 ± 0.3 × 10⁻⁸ m s⁻¹. Incubating whole fruit in deionized water for 72 h resulted in more cracked jostaberries (94%) than black currants (74%) or gooseberries (50%). A comparison of our findings in Ribes berries with published data for the sweet cherry drupe revealed that the berries fitted the relationships established in sweet cherry among fruit growth, cuticle deposition, strain of the cuticle, microcracking, permeability for osmotic water uptake, frequency of stomata and cracking. The Ribes berries were less susceptible to cracking than sweet cherry.     

Effect of support medium,hydraulic loading rate and plant density on water quality and growth of halophytes in marine aquaponic systems

The development of marine intensive land‐based aquaculture systems has been limited due to the absence of methods to manage saline wastewater. Aquaponic systems, although commonly applied to freshwater aquaculture, can potentially manage nutrient wastes while providing a secondary product. The aim of this study was to evaluate both the capacity for water treatment and the production requirements of two saltwater‐tolerant plant species (Sesuvium portulacastrum and Batis maritima) when grown hydroponically in a marine aquaponic system. The presence of plants was found to significantly contribute to nitrate removal, such that mean nitrate concentrations were 10.1 ± 5.4 and 12.1 ± 6.1 mg/L NO₃^?‐N in planted and unplanted treatments respectively. The use of coconut fibre as a planting medium also significantly contributed to nitrate removal, such that mean nitrate concentrations were 9.78 ± 5.4 and 12.4 ± 6.0 mg/L NO₃^?‐N in coconut fibre and expanded clay treatments respectively. Daily nitrogen removal was greatest in the coconut fibre/plants treatment, ranging from ?18% to 67%. Hydraulic loading rate, plant species and plant density did not significantly affect water quality or plant growth. The low flow/saltwort/low density treatment had the greatest mean daily nitrogen removal, ranging from 25% to 172%. The results indicate that the main nitrogen removal mechanisms were simultaneous nitrification–denitrification in the hydroponic plant beds and nitrogen removal through plant growth. This study demonstrates that marine aquaponics could be an effective way to manage nutrient removal in marine land‐based aquaculture systems.     

Pomegranate oil analysis with emphasis on MALDI-TOF/MS triacylglycerol fingerprinting

Pomegranate oil (PGO) is a unique and quite rare edible oil produced from Punica granatum L. seeds. It is considered to be a powerful health-benefiting agent, due to its antioxidative, anticancer, and antilipidemic properties. The aim of this study was to achieve a comprehensive and detailed profile of the different components of PGO. The fatty acid profile and phytosterol composition were determined by GC-MS; the triacylglycerol (TAG) compositions were profiled by the mass spectrometry tool of MALDI-TOF/MS. Results showed linolenic acid (18:3) to be the predominant fatty acid in the PGO (64-83%), as previously reported. The linolenic acid fraction was composed of four different chromatographically separated peaks that are assumed, according to MS data (based on both FAME and DMOX derivatization), to be attributed to different geometric isomers of conjugated linolenic acid (CLNA), punicic acid (18:3: 9-cis,11-trans,13-cis) being the major isomer. The MALDI-TOF/MS finger printing results showed the different TAG compositions present in the PGO, the major ones being LnLnLn and LnLnP. This unique PGO TAG fingerprint enables it to be differentiated from most other common edible oils. Phytosterols were found in quite a high concentration in the PGO (4089-6205 mg/kg), about 3-4-fold higher than in soybean oil. A detailed profile of the phytosterols in the PGO showed a wide variety, the major phytosterols being beta-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol. This study depicts a new detailed analysis of PGO, showing great potential for further research regarding the physiological effects of specific valuable components in pomegranate oil.