五倍子鞣质对生物被膜型白假丝酵母的干预作用

[目的]研究五倍子鞣质对生物被膜型白假丝酵母的抑制作用。[方法]在生物被膜形成的早期、中期和成熟期以不同浓度药物干预48 h,采用MTT法检测药物对膜型白假丝酵母的抑制率;以不同浓度药物干预成熟生物被膜24、48、72 h,再用MTT法检测抑制率;光镜直接观察生物被膜内白假丝酵母的形态结构变化;用吖啶橙/溴化乙锭染色,通过荧光显微镜观察生物被膜内白假丝酵母的死亡方式。[结果]五倍子鞣质对生物被膜的形成具有抑制作用,对成熟期生物被膜中白假丝酵母的抑制作用具时间和剂量依赖性;鞣质导致被膜内白假丝酵母细胞变形,形态结构改变,但未见确切细胞凋亡,同时抑制细胞芽管和假菌丝形成。[结论]五倍子鞣质对白假丝酵母生物被膜的形成及成熟期生物被膜中白假丝酵母均具较强的抑制作用;可能通过非凋亡途径导致被膜内白假丝酵母的死亡。     

Chemical composition of grape stalks of Vitis vinifera L. from red grape pomaces

The chemical composition and the structure of macromolecular components of grape stalks from red grape pomaces have been evaluated. These are composed mainly of cellulose (30.3%), hemicelluloses (21.0%), lignin (17.4%), tannins (15.9%) and proteins (6.1%). Among hemicelluloses the xylan was the most abundant (ca. 12%). The parameters of cellulose unitary cell, average diameter of nanofibrils and the degree of crystallinity (75.4%) were assessed by X-ray scattering analysis. The xylan was partially acetylated glucuronoxylan (DS = 0.49) possessing the Xylp:MeGlcpA ratio of 25:1. The lignin of grape stalks was suggested to be of HGS type with H:G:S molar proportion of 3:71:26 as revealed by analysis of nitrobenzene oxidation products. Among alkali soluble condensed tannins procyanidins prevailed over prodelphinidins. The abnormal response of grape stalks to kraft pulping, leading to poorly delignified fibrous material, was attributed to a particular lignin structure and it structural association with other macromolecular components of grape stalks.     

Response of two oak species to extensive defoliation: Tree growth and vigor, phytochemistry, and herbivore suitability

This study was developed to experimentally determine whether the differential mortality of white oak versus black oak observed following defoliation events in the oak-dominated forests of the central hardwoods region of the eastern USA may be due to differences in carbon allocation between the two species. Black oak and white oak growing in a common garden were artificially defoliated (90%) using scissors in two consecutive years. Concurrent with the second defoliation event, herbivore performance and phytochemical characteristics were measured, followed immediately by measures of tree growth. In the dormant season following the second defoliation event, roots were sampled to assess tree vigor. Species-specific differences in foliar chemistry and herbivory were evident, regardless of defoliation. Defoliation-induced changes in above-ground biomass were evident in white oak, but not black oak. Defoliation-induced changes in foliar chemistry were more evident in black oak; these were reflected in greater differences in herbivore suitability. Herbivore consumption was correlated with depressed foliar C:N ratios and elevated foliar nitrogen. White oak root starch concentrations were markedly lower in defoliated trees, suggesting that white oak vigor is especially sensitive to resource limitations in the form of photosynthate loss. The implications of these results with respect to defoliation events and white oak mortality, as well as potential phylogenetic differences in response to severe defoliation between the red and white oak groups, are discussed.     

Antibacterial activity of tannin constituents from Phaseolus vulgaris, Fagoypyrum esculentum, Corylus avellana and Juglans nigra

Tannins were fractionated from acetonic extract preparations of phenolic compounds from Phaseolus vulgaris, Fagoypyrum esculentum, Corylus avellana and Juglans nigra. Wide variations in antibacterial activities ranging from MICs of 62.5 to 500 microg/ml were apparent. Of particular note was a relatively high level of activity (62.5 to 125 microg/ml) for all extracts against Listeria monocytogenes.     

15种热带乔灌木单宁含量动态分析

通过对15种热带乔灌木不同月份(2009年3月至2010年2月)单宁含量的测定,以期明确部分木本饲用植物单宁含量及其动态变化趋势。结果表明:15种热带乔灌木单宁平均含量由低到高顺序如下:对叶榕(Semen cuscuta L.f.)(0.39%)<刺桐(Erythrina variegata Linn.)(0.77%)<克拉豆(Cratylia argentea(Desv.)Kuntze)(0.78%)<假木豆(Dendrolobium triangulare(Retz.)Schindl.)(1.16%)<木豆(Cajanus cajan(Linn.)Huth)(1.29%)<双荚决明(Senna bicapsularis(Linn.)Roxb.)(1.38%)<破布叶(Microcos paniculata Linn.)(1.56%)<圆叶舞草(Codariocalyx gyroides(Roxb.ex Link)Hassk.)(1.57%)<大果榕(Ficus auriculata Lour.)(1.62%)<长穗决明(Senna didymobotrya(Fresen.)H.S.Irwin et Barneby)(1.82%)<大叶千斤拔(Flemingia macrophylla(Willd.)Prain)(1.91%)<黄牛木(Cratoxylum cochinchinense(Lour.)Blume)(2.14%)<银合欢(Leucaena leucocephala(Lam.)de Wit)(2.34%)<金合欢(Acacia farnesiana(Linn.)Willd.)(2.67%)<白饭树(Flueggea virosa(Roxb.ex Willd.)Voigt)(2.80%);15种热带乔灌木单宁含量差异较大且含量随月份变化明显。不同植物种类、生长时期、生长环境等可能是导致单宁含量差异的原因。     

Physicochemical characteristics of five date fruit cultivars grown in the United Arab Emirates

The physical measurements and chemical analyses of date fruits of five cultivars grown in the United Arab Emirates were measured in this study. Due to differences in seed weight, the flesh accounted for 83–92% of the total fruit. At the tamr stage, the absence of sucrose and the presence of higher concentrations of reducing sugars, especially fructose and glucose, characterized these cultivars as the soft type. On maturation from the kimri to the tamr stage, the sugar content had increased, but other constituents like moisture, crude protein, crude fat, ash, crude fiber, tannins, and pectin had decreased.     

The onset of puberty of Pelibuey male hair sheep is not delayed by the short term consumption of Morus alba or Hibiscus rosa-sinensis foliage

The present trial evaluated the effect of phytoestrogens consumed from Mulberry (Morus alba) or Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) foliage, on the onset of puberty of Pelibuey male lambs. The design of the study aimed at identifying possible acute changes on the onset of puberty. Eighteen male lambs were used (107±9 days of age, 16±3 cm scrotal circumference (SC), 3.4±0.1 body condition score (BCS) and 17±1 kg bodyweight (BW)). At weaning, the lambs were distributed in three groups (n=6 each): (i) Control group (balanced feed based on grains+star grass), (ii) Mulberry Group (Mulberry foliage+balanced feed) and (iii) Hibiscus Group (Hibiscus foliage+balanced feed). BW, SC and body condition score (BCS) were determined every 14 days. An estrogenized adult female was used to attempt the collection of semen samples from the males two times per week. The onset of puberty was determined as the presence of sperm showing progressive movement in the ejaculate. From then, semen collections continued in the males (once a week) until the first normal ejaculate was obtained. The nutritional value of the foliages, as well as the content of total phenols, total tannins and condensed tannins, was determined. The phytoestrogen content (Equol, 4′7-dimetoxyisoflavone, Genistein, Rutin and Ononin) was determined from the methanolic extract of both plants. Total dry matter consumptions were similar between the Control and Mulberry groups and both were higher than the Hibiscus group (P<0.05). The total consumption of phytoestrogens and tannins was similar in the Mulberry and the Hibiscus group. The short-term consumption of phytoestrogens from Mulberry or Hibiscus foliage failed to delay the onset of puberty. The mean age at the onset of puberty was similar in the three groups (146 days in the control and Mulberry groups and 154 days in the Hibiscus group; P>0.05). The mean age at the first normal ejaculate was also similar between groups (167 days for Mulberry and Hibiscus groups and 169 days in the control group; P>0.05). The BW (Control: 21.6±3.1; Mulberry: 20.7±1.9; Hibiscus: 19.8±2.8 kg), the BCS and the SC were similar between groups at the onset of puberty. The present trial showed that a short exposure to M. Alba or H. rosa-sinensis foliage through diet did not influence the onset of puberty of Pelibuey male lambs.     

Responses to condensed tannins of flowering sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.) grazed by dairy sheep: Part 1: Effects on feeding behaviour, intake, diet digestibility and performance

The concentration of condensed tannins (CT) in sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.) is moderate and overall regarded as beneficial. However, the intake of this forage can reduce diet digestibility, particularly during flowering phase. An experiment was run to assess the effect of CT on feeding behaviour, intake, diet digestibility and performance of dairy sheep rotationally grazing sulla at flowering phase. Twenty-four late-lactating sheep were blocked in two homogeneous groups and submitted to the following treatments: i) twice daily drenching with 200 g/day of a 50% w/v water solution of an anti-tannic substance, polyethylene glycol, group PEG; ii) twice daily drenching with 200 g/day of water, group CON (Control group). All the sheep rotationally grazed as a flock two sulla plots from April to June (8 weeks in total). Sward height, herbage mass, botanical and chemical composition of the herbage were measured at the beginning and the end of each grazing period. The feeding behaviour (3 sheep per group) was continuously monitored for 24 h in 6 weeks using the IGER behaviour recorders. Herbage DM intake (DMI), dietary DM digestibility (DMD) and apparent CP digestibility (CPD) were estimated on 8 sheep per group by the n-alkane method. On average, PEG group had longer total grazing (503 ± 12 vs 460 ± 12 min, P < 0.05) and eating time (425 ± 13 vs 391 ± 13 min, P < 0.07) than CON group. Moreover PEG group showed shorter inter-meal intervals (41 ± 3 vs 52 ± 3, min, P < 0.05) and higher number of daily meals than CT-exposed group (24 ± 1 vs 19 ± 1 min, P < 0.01). The herbage DMI was not affected by the treatment whereas DMD (74.60 ± 3.48 vs 58.30 ± 3.01%), and CPD (60.14 ± 4.83 vs 38.21 ± 4.83%) were both increased by PEG administration (P < 0.05) confirming the negative effect of sulla CT on these variables. Milk yield tended to be higher in PEG than CON (1331 ± 45 vs 1205 ± 59 ml, P < 0.11). Milk protein content was similar between groups while milk fat content was higher in CON than PEG ewes (6.61 ± 0.15 vs 6.11 ± 0.15%, P < 0.05), being the reverse true for milk urea (46.04 ± 1.27 vs 53.04 ± 0.76%, P < 0.001). To conclude, this experiment shows that when sulla is grazed at flowering as monoculture, dietary CT can exert negative effects on DM and CP apparent digestibility, in this study partially counterbalanced by a better metabolic utilisation of the nutrients up-taken.     

Deastringency treatment with CO2 induces oxidative stress in persimmon fruit

Because of astringency at harvest, ‘Rojo Brillante’ persimmons are regularly submitted to deastringency treatment based on exposing fruit to a high CO₂ concentration. The treatment conditions that ensure total astringency removal throughout the various maturity stages have been determined to be 95% CO₂, 20 °C, 24 h. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in the redox state of persimmon fruit associated with this deastringency treatment. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (O₂⁻ and H₂O₂), and the activities of the main ROS scavenging enzymes (CAT, POD, APX, and SOD), were determined at harvest and after deastringency in fruit at three different maturity stages.Our results showed that during ‘Rojo Brillante’ persimmon maturation, the level of O₂⁻ gradually increased, while APX activity was lowered. The deastringency treatment with CO₂ induced oxidative stress in the fruit, observed as an over-accumulation of O₂⁻ and H₂O₂. As a response to ROS accumulation, the activities of the CAT, APX and SOD scavenging enzymes were up-regulated after deastringency treatment. The response of POD enzyme was dependent on maturity stage, showing enhanced activity after CO₂ treatment only for the fruit at the most mature stage.