β-cyclodextrin and caffeine complexes with natural polyphenols from olive and olive oils: NMR, thermodynamic, and molecular modeling studies

Complexes of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and caffeine (Caf) with biophenols present in olive and olive oil (tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol, homovanillic acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, and protocatechuic acid) were investigated by NMR spectroscopy and thermodynamical-molecular dynamic studies to verify the formation of supermolecular aggregates. The obtained results indicated that the investigated biophenols form inclusion complexes with β-CD in a molar ratio of 1:1 in aqueous solution having binding constant values from 10- to 40-fold bigger than those of the corresponding complexes with Caf. Then, β-CD preferentially encloses the biophenol molecule, decreasing its bitter taste and, at the same time, preserving it against chemical and physical decomposition reactions that occur during storage.     

A common near infrared—based partial least squares regression model for the prediction of wood density of Pinus pinaster and Larix?×?eurolepis

Wood density is defined as the ratio of mass to volume and therefore in principle it should be possible to calculate a unique partial least squares regression (PLS-R) model for several species. PLS-R models for wood density based on X-ray microdensity data were calculated for each species Pinus pinaster and Larix × eurolepis and for both species together. After cross-validation and test set validation the data sets were combined and final models were calculated. The common model gave a residual prediction deviation (RPD) of 3.1, a range error ratio (RER) of 11.7, and a SEP/SEC of 1.06. The single models for Pinus pinaster and Larix?×?eurolepis gave RPD’s of 3.5 and 3.2, RER’s of 13 and 11, and a SEP/SEC of 1.2. To the best knowledge of the authors all obtained PLS-R models are the first ones that fulfil the requirements according to AACC Method 39-00 (AACC in AACC Method, 39-00:15, 1999) to be used at least for screening (RPD?≥?2.5). Although this method and the defined limits were developed for the analysis of grains they can be used as a rough rule of thumb until limits for wood are available. The improvement of the PLS-R models, compared to published results, might be due to three facts (1) the higher number of scans collected for a single spectrum, (2) that the samples were better represented by the NIR spectra and X-ray microdensity values, and (3) that the sites for the measurement of NIR spectra and X-ray microdensity were coincided as strictly as possibly.     

Genetic and functional leaf traits variability of Quercus laurina along an oak diversity gradient in Mexico

The ecological literature has documented the effects of plant hybridization on phenotypic variation, and dominant, intermediate, or novel morphological, chemical and physiological traits in hybrids. It is important to understand the ecological consequences of hybridization by evaluating their impact on phenotypic expression of functional traits. We evaluated the relationship between genetic diversity of Quercus laurina and functional foliar traits along an oak diversity gradient. We selected five study sites that represent an oak diversity gradient where Q. laurina is present. Using chloroplast and nuclear microsatellites, we evaluated genetic diversity, measured functional foliar traits of Q. laurina in each site and assessed the effects of local climate variables on the oak community and functional traits. We found a greater abundance of Q. laurina in all study sites. We did not find a relationship between the number of accompanying red oak species and the population genetic diversity in Q. laurina, but higher genetic diversity was found in all study sites in comparison with European oak species. Sites with more oak species had more variation of foliar functional traits. Our results do not support the hypothesis that predicts higher levels of genetic diversity of Q. laurina in communities with greater oak diversity from the same section, but we demonstrated an increase in the foliar functional traits of Q. laurina associated with oak richness and climate variables. We highlight the need to consider environmental and ecological variables linkages as regulatory mechanisms of the phenotypic plasticity expressed in changes of some functional attributes of oaks.

     

Geographical origin and drying methodology may affect the essential oil of Lippia alba (Mill) N.E. Brown

Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E. Brown, the ginger grass, is a medicinal and aromatic plant widely used in Latin America. In this work the effect of the geographical origin and different drying methodologies on L. alba leaves production, essential oil content and composition were evaluated. Field experiments were conducted in three different municipalities (Amargosa, Cruz das Almas and Santo Antônio de Jesus) from Bahia region (Brazil) and two drying methodologies (traditional and artificial with controlled conditions) were assessed. Fresh and dried leaves essential oils were extracted by hydro-distillation and their volatiles were determined by gas chromatography.The geographical origin affected the mass production, essential oil content and both qualitative and quantitative fractions of their composition. Leaves from Cruz das Almas had higher yield in essential oil content. Overall, 26 oil constituents were identified. Carvone, germacrene D and limonene were the main oil constituents. The drying methodologies combined with the geographic origin influenced essential oil composition showing that L. alba constituents were influenced by post-harvest treatments. Some constituents were sensitive to both methods applied, while some enhanced their content like germacrene D.     

The Immune System of Marine Organisms as Source for Drugs against Infectious Diseases

The high proliferation of microorganisms in aquatic environments has allowed their coevolution for billions of years with other living beings that also inhabit these niches. Among the different existing types of interaction, the eternal competition for supremacy between the susceptible species and their pathogens has selected, as part of the effector division of the immune system of the former ones, a vast and varied arsenal of efficient antimicrobial molecules, which is highly amplified by the broad biodiversity radiated, above any others, at the marine habitats. At present, the great recent scientific and technological advances already allow the massive discovery and exploitation of these defense compounds for therapeutic purposes against infectious diseases of our interest. Among them, antimicrobial peptides and antimicrobial metabolites stand out because of the wide dimensions of their structural diversities, mechanisms of action, and target pathogen ranges. This revision work contextualizes the research in this field and serves as a presentation and scope identification of the Special Issue from Marine Drugs journal “The Immune System of Marine Organisms as Source for Drugs against Infectious Diseases”.     

Copper Biosorption by Biomass of Marine Alga: Study of Equilibrium and Kinetics in Batch System and Adsorption/Desorption Cycles in Fixed Bed Column

Copper biosorption onto chemically modified biomass of marine alga Sargassum filipendula was investigated in a batch reactor and a fixed bed column. Experiments were carried out in the batch reactor to obtain kinetic and equilibrium data and to assess the copper desorption efficiency of different eluent solutions. The pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and Langmuir kinetic models were used to correlate kinetic data. The experimental data fitted well to the pseudo first order and Langmuir kinetic models. Langmuir and Freundlich models were applied to describe the equilibrium data obtained at a fixed temperature of 30°C and at pH values of 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0. The maximum capacities of copper biosorption onto the algal biomass were 1.43, 1.59, 2.40, and 2.36 mequiv./g at pH 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0, respectively. The efficiencies of two eluent solutions (calcium chloride and hydrochloric acid) for copper removal from the biomass were evaluated at different concentrations (0.1, 0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 mol/L). The efficiencies of the calcium chloride solutions varied from 1% to 14%, while efficiencies varying from 95% to 99% were obtained when hydrochloric acid solutions were applied. Three adsorption/desorption cycles were carried out in a fixed bed column using 0.1 mol/L hydrochloric acid as eluent solution. The results showed that an increase in the number of cycles led to a reduction in the adsorption capacity of the alga. The desorbed copper fraction presented no significant variation, remaining around 63% in the three adsorption/desorption cycles.     

Multivariate analysis for the evaluation of fiber, sugars, and organic acids in commercial presentations of table olives

Table olives constitute an important part of the Mediterranean diet and the diet of many non-olive-producing countries. The aim of this work was to determine the fiber, sugar, and organic acid contents in Spanish commercial presentations of table olives and characterize them by means of a multivariate analysis. The selection of variables was carried out on the basis of a canonical analysis and their classification, according to processing styles and cultivars, through a linear discriminant analysis. Values of dietary fiber in table olives ranged from 2 to 5 g/100 g edible portion (e.p.). Some stuffing materials (almond, hot red pepper, and hazelnut) or the addition of capers produced a significant increase in the total dietary fiber in green olives. Glucose, fructose, and mannitol were usually found in the ranges of 0-55, 0-70, and 0-107 mg/100 g e.p., respectively. Succinic acid was detected only in green and directly brined olives (0-40 mg/100 g e.p.), while lactic and acetic acids were used within the ranges of 0-681 and 5-492.8 mg/100 g e.p., respectively. A multivariate analysis showed that fiber, mannitol, and succinic, lactic, and acetic acids can be used to discriminate between processing styles (95.5% correct assignations) and cultivars (61.20%). Current data can also be used in the evaluation of the dietary value of table olives.     

Prediction of parental combination for introduction of stay-green associated loci in wheat

In wheat, the increase of yield and stability associated traits can be achieved by combining parents containing the stay-green trait and favorable alleles for grain yield. The aim of this work was to analyze the genetic dissimilarity between wheat lines from stay-green and synchronized maturation groups and elite cultivars. Moreover, to propose promising combinations seeking the selection of high-grain yield and high bread-making quality genotypes containing stay-green trait. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with three replications in 2003, 2004, and 2005, using sister-lines with the presence and absence of stay-green trait and elite cultivars. Genetic variability exists among wheat strains from the synchronized stay-green maturation group and elite cultivars. Genotypes of maturation group stay-green obtained an average performance superior to the synchronized group. Crosses between stay-green lines and the CEP 29 and BRS 177 cultivars are promising in the selection of genotypes carrying the stay-green trait with high yield and bread-making quality.     

Characterization of dinucleotide and trinucleotide EST-derived microsatellites in the wheat genome

Over the past decade microsatellites or simple sequence repeats (SSRs) have attracted a considerable amount of attention from researchers. The aim of the present paper was to analyse expressed sequence tag-derived SSR (EST-SSR) marker variability in wheat and to investigate the relationships between the number and type of repeat units and the level of microsatellite polymorphism. Two hundred and forty-one new EST-SSR markers available in a public database () were characterized in eight durum wheat cultivars (Svevo, Ciccio, Primadur, Duilio, Meridiano, Claudio, Latino, Messapia), two accessions of Triticum turgidum var. dicoccoides (MG4343, MG29896), one accession of T. turgidum var. dicoccum (MG5323) and in the common wheat cv. Chinese Spring. Of these, 201 primer pairs (83.4%) amplified PCR products successfully, while the remaining 40 (16.6%) failed to amplify any product. Of the EST-SSRs analysed, 45.2% of the primer pairs amplified one or two PCR products. Multiple discrete PCR products were observed among both di- and trinucleotide EST-SSR markers (31.2 and 40.5%, respectively). Markers based on dinucleotide microsatellites were more polymorphic than those based on trinucleotide SSRs in the 12 wheat genotypes tested (68.9 and 52.7%, respectively). An average of 2.5 alleles for dinucleotide and 2.0 alleles for trinucleotide SSRs was observed. The data reported in the present work indicate the presence of a significant relationship between motif sequence types and polymorphism. The primer set based on the AG repeat motif showed the lowest percentage of polymorphism (55.0%), while the primer set based on the AC repeat motif showed t he highest percentage (85.0%). Among trinucleotide SSRs, the AGG microsatellite markers showed the highest percentage of polymorphism (70.0%), and the ACG motif the lowest value (25.0%). The characterization of these new EST-SSR markers and the results of our studyon the effect of repeat number and type of motifs could have important applications in the genetic analysis of agronomically important traits, quantitative trait locus discovery and marker-assisted selection.     

Changes in net N mineralization rates and soil N and P pools in a pine forest wildfire chronosequence

The concern that climate change may increase fire frequency and intensity has recently heightened the interest in the effects of wildfires on ecosystem functioning. Although short-term fire effects on forest soils are well known, less information can be found on the long-term effects of wildfires on soil fertility. Our objective was to study the 17-year effect of wildfires on forest net mineralization rates and extractable inorganic nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations. We hypothesize that (1) burned forest stands should exhibit lower net mineralization rates than unburned ones; (2) these differences would be greatest during the growing season; (3) differences between soil variables might also be observed among plots from different years since the last fire; and (4) due to fire-resistant geochemical processes controlling P availability, this nutrient should recover faster than N. We used a wildfire chronosequence of natural and unmanaged Pinus canariensis forests in La Palma Island (Canary Islands). Soil samples were collected during winter and spring at 22 burned and unburned plots. We found significantly higher values for net N mineralization and extractable N pools in unburned plots. These differences were higher for the winter sampling date than for the spring sampling date. Unlike extractable N and N mineralization rates, extractable P levels of burned plots exhibited a gradual recovery over time after an initial decrease. These results demonstrate that P. canariensis forest soils showed low resilience after wildfires, especially for N, and that this disturbance might induce long-term changes in ecosystem functioning.