Antimicrobial, antioxidant, mutagenic and antimutagenic activities of Distephanus angulifolius and Ormocarpum trichocarpum

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The leaves of Distephanus angulifolius and Ormocarpum trichocarpum are used for treating stomach-related ailments in traditional medicine.

AIMS OF THE STUDY

The present study evaluated the antibacterial, antioxidant, mutagenic and antimutagenic properties of extracts obtained from the leaves of Distephanus angulifolius and Ormocarpum trichocarpum.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The microtitre bioassay was used to determine the antibacterial activity against three Gram-positive and three Gram-negative bacteria. Antioxidant activity was determined using the free-radical scavenging and β-carotene-linoleic acid model assays. The safety and possible protective properties of the extracts were investigated using Ames test.

RESULTS

Dichloromethane fractions of both plants displayed a broad-spectrum antibacterial activity with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.16 to 0.63 mg/ml. A dose-dependent antioxidant activity was recorded in both plant species. All the evaluated samples showed no mutagenic as well as weak or no antimutagenic properties in the absence of exogenous metabolic activation.

CONCLUSION

The results demonstrated the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of the leaves obtained from the two plant species. Furthermore, the data provides a rationale for the use of the plant species in treating stomach-related ailments in traditional medicine.

Phenol biodegradation by different mixed cultures and the optimization of efficiency of the degradation

In this study, the phenol degradation capacities of four different mixed cultures, namely, Ankara Stream (AS), petroleum-contaminated soil (PS), olive mill wastewater (OMW), and drug mill wastewater (DMW) were investigated with regards to different pH levels, phenol (497.2-1183.0 mg/L) and biomass concentrations (0.5-3.0%(v/v)). The most efficient culture was selected and the optimal conditions required for its highest performance in phenol degradation were studied. We found 100% phenol degradation for DMW at nearly 1000 mg/L initial concentration. The optimum pH was 8 and the mixed culture could tolerate phenol levels up to approximately 1500 mg/L. The selected culture degraded all of the phenol concentrations ranging from 497.2 to 1183.0 mg/L with 100% efficiency after 48 h and 120 h incubation, respectively. Increasing the biomass concentration from 0.5% to 3.0% (v/v) level decreased the incubation time needed for complete degradation. The data indicate that the mixed culture used in this study can be taken as a good candidate for effective treatment of waters contaminated by phenol.

Diversity of planktonic and attached bacterial communities in a phenol-contaminated sandstone aquifer

Polluted aquifers contain indigenous microbial communities with the potential for in situ bioremediation. However, the effect of hydrogeochemical gradients on in situ microbial communities (especially at the plume fringe, where natural attenuation is higher) is still not clear. In this study, we used culture-independent techniques to investigate the diversity of in situ planktonic and attached bacterial communities in a phenol-contaminated sandstone aquifer. Within the upper and lower plume fringes, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis profiles indicated that planktonic community structure was influenced by the steep hydrogeochemical gradient of the plume rather than the spatial location in the aquifer. Under the same hydrogeochemical conditions (in the lower plume fringe, 30 m below ground level), 16S rRNA gene cloning and sequencing showed that planktonic and attached bacterial communities differed markedly and that the attached community was more diverse. The 16S rRNA gene phylogeny also suggested that a phylogenetically diverse bacterial community operated at this depth (30 mbgl), with biodegradation of phenolic compounds by nitrate-reducing Azoarcus and Acidovorax strains potentially being an important process. The presence of acetogenic and sulphate-reducing bacteria only in the planktonic clone library indicates that some natural attenuation processes may occur preferentially in one of the two growth phases (attached or planktonic). Therefore, this study has provided a better understanding of the microbial ecology of this phenol-contaminated aquifer, and it highlights the need for investigating both planktonic and attached microbial communities when assessing the potential for natural attenuation in contaminated aquifers.

Photocatalytic degradation of phenol in natural seawater using visible light active carbon modified (CM)-n-TiO2 nanoparticles under UV light and natural sunlight illuminations

The photocatalytic degradation of phenol in seawater was investigated under UV and natural sunlight using visible light active carbon modified (CM)-n-TiO2 nanoparticles, synthesized via a sol-gel method. Carbon modification of n-TiO2 was performed using titanium butoxide, carbon-containing precursor, as a source of both carbon and titanium. For comparison, unmodified n-TiO2 was also synthesized by hydrolysis and oxidation of titanium trichloride in the absence of any carbon source. The presence of carbon in CM-n-TiO2 nanoparticles was confirmed by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. Carbon modification was found to be responsible for lowering the bandgap energy from 3.14eV for n-TiO2 to 1.86eV for CM-n-TiO2 which in turn enhanced the photocatalytic activity of CM-n-TiO2 towards the degradation of phenol in seawater under illumination of UV light as well as natural sunlight. This enhanced photoresponse of CM-n-TiO2 is in agreement with the UV-Vis spectroscopic results that showed higher absorption of light in both UV and visible regions. The effects of catalyst dose, initial concentration of phenol, and pH were studied. The highest degradation rate was obtained at pH 3 and catalyst dose of 1.0gL(-1). The data photocatalytic degradation of phenol in seawater using CM-n-TiO2 were successfully fitted to Langmuir-Hinshelwood model, and can be described by pseudo-first order kinetics.

A novel organo-zeolite adduct for environmental applications: sorption of phenol

A novel organo-zeolite adduct has been synthesized by sorbing humic acids (HA) onto zeolitic tuff and then heating the resulting complex at 330°C for 1.5h. Desorption tests showed that this procedure effectively immobilized HA on the tuff. The crystal structure of the zeolitic tuff and the chemical structure of HA were not altered during the preparation. Phenol sorption analysis demonstrated that the HA-zeolite adduct had good sorbing properties; moreover, the sorbed amount markedly decreased with increased ionic strength. These results point to prospective application of the HA-zeolite adduct as a low-cost and environmentally friendly sorbent for water purification from phenol and possibly other neutral organic pollutants.

Carotenoids and phenolic compounds from Solanum sessiliflorum, an unexploited Amazonian fruit, and their scavenging capacities against reactive oxygen and nitrogen species

The composition of carotenoids and phenolic compounds from mana-cubiu (Solanum sessiliflorum), a fruit native to Amazonia, was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array and mass spectrometry detectors (HPLC-DAD-MS(n)). The antioxidant capacities of the hydrophilic and carotenoid extracts against some reactive oxygen (ROO(•), H(2)O(2), HOCl, and HO(•)) and nitrogen (ONOO(-)) species were also determined. Seventeen carotenoids and three phenolic compounds were found in mana-cubiu. The major carotenoids were (all-E)-β-carotene (7.15 μg/g of dry weight) and (all-E)-lutein (2.41 μg/g of dry weight). The 5-caffeoylquinic acid (1351 μg/g of dry weight) was the major phenolic compound, representing more than 78% (w/w) of the total phenolic compounds. Moreover, two dihydrocaffeoyl spermidines were found in the hydrophilic extract. Both mana-cubiu extracts were able to scavenge all the tested reactive species. The carotenoid extract was shown to be a potent scavenger of peroxyl radical, while the hydrophilic extract was a potent hydrogen peroxide and hypochlorous acid scavenger.

Antioxidant, antityrosinase and antitumor activity comparison: the potential utilization of fibrous root part of Bletilla striata (Thunb.) Reichb.f

This study was carried out to evaluate the utilization probability of the fibrous root part (FRP) of Bletilla striata, which was usually discarded and harvesting pseudobulb part (PSP). The chemical composition, total phenolic content, DPPH radical scavenging activity, Ferric-reducing antioxidant power and tyrosinase inhibition activity were compared between FRP and PSP. Antioxidant and pro-oxidant effect as well as antitumor effect of the extract of FRP and PSP were analyzed by in vitro cell system as well. Thin layer chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography analysis indicated that the chemical compositions in the two parts were similar, but the content in FRP was much higher than PSP. Meanwhile, the FRP extracts showed higher phenolic content, stronger DPPH scavenging activity, Ferric-reducing antioxidant capacity and tyrosinase inhibition activity. Sub-fraction analysis revealed that the distribution characteristic of phenolic components and other active constituents in FRP and PSP were consistent, and mainly deposited in chloroform and acetoacetate fractions. Especially, the chloroform sub-fraction (sch) of FRP showed extraordinary DPPH scavenging activity and tyrosinase inhibition activity, with IC₅₀ 0.848 mg/L and 4.3 mg/L, respectively. Besides, tyrosinase inhibition activity was even stronger than the positive compound arbutin (31.8 mg/L). Moreover, In vitro cell system analysis confirmed that FRP extract exerts comparable activity with PSP, especially, the sub-fraction sch of FRP showed better antioxidant activity at low dosage and stronger per-oxidant activity at high dosage, and both sch of FRP and PSP can dose-dependent induce HepG2 cells apoptosis, which implied tumor therapeutic effect. Considering that an additional 0.3 kg FRP would be obtained when producing 1.0 kg PSP, our work demonstrated that FRP is very potential to be used together with PSP.

Evaluation of antioxidant potential of “maltese mushroom” (Cynomorium coccineum) by means of multiple chemical and biological assays

Cynomorium coccineum is an edible, non-photosynthetic plant widespread along the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. The medicinal properties of Maltese mushroom—one of the oldest vernacular names used to identify this species—have been kept in high regard since ancient times to the present day. We evaluated the antioxidant potential of fresh specimens of C. coccineum picked in Sardinia, Italy. Both aqueous and methanolic extracts were tested by using multiple assay systems (DPPH, FRAP, TEAC, ORAC-PYR). Total phenolics and flavonoids were also determined. Gallic acid and cyanidin 3-O-glucoside were identified as the main constituents and measured. Both extracts showed antioxidant capacities; ORAC-PYR assay gave the highest antioxidant value in both cases. The methanolic extract was further investigated with in vitro biological models of lipid oxidation; it showed a significant activity in preventing cholesterol degradation and exerted protection against Cu²⁺-mediated degradation of the liposomal unsaturated fatty acids. Results of the present study demonstrate that the extracts of C. coccineum show a significant total antioxidant power and also exert an in vitro protective effect in different bio-assays of oxidative stress. Therefore, Maltese mushroom can be considered a valuable source of antioxidants and phytochemicals useful in the preparation of nutraceuticals and functional foods.

Antioxidant capacity and the correlation with major phenolic compounds, anthocyanin, and tocopherol content in various extracts from the wild edible Boletus edulis mushroom

Boletus edulis is a wild edible mushroom habitually consumed by rural populations. Ethanolic and methanolic extracts was obtained in cold and hot water from dried fruit bodies. The antioxidant activity of freeze-dried extracts from B. edulis were investigated using free radicals scavenging activity, reducing power, metal chelating effect, inhibition of lipid peroxidation, and the identification of antioxidant compounds. The levels of different compounds with antioxidant properties were higher in alcoholic extracts compared with aqueous extracts. Rosmarinic acid was the major phenolic compound, it being identified in a concentration between 7 ± 0.23 and 56 ± 0.15 mg/100 g extract. A positive correlation between the content of total phenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and tocopherols, and the antioxidant capacity of the extracts was determined. The results showed that the ethanolic extract of Romanian wild mushroom B. edulis represents a natural source of functional compounds.

Selecting sprouts of brassicaceae for optimum phytochemical composition

Cruciferous foods (Brassicaceae spp.) are rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds. Edible sprouts are becoming popular fresh foods and, therefore, the phytochemical profiling of nine varieties of Brassicaceae (broccoli, kohlrabi, red cabbage, rutabaga, turnip, turnip greens, radish, garden cress, and white mustard) was evaluated for this purpose. The glucosinolates in seeds were significantly higher than in sprouts, and day 8 of germination was considered the optimum for consumption. The sprouts with higher concentrations of glucosinolates in 8-day-old sprouts were white mustard, turnip, and kohlrabi (∼815, ∼766, and ∼653 mg 100 g⁻¹ FW, respectively). Red cabbage and radish presented great total glucosinolates content (∼516 and ∼297 mg 100 g⁻¹ FW, respectively, in 8-day-old sprouts) and also higher total phenolic contents, biomass, and antioxidant capacity. The selection of the best performers in terms of germination quality and phytochemical composition is the key to optimize new fresh foods enriched in health-bioactive compounds. Further research on the bioavailability of the bioactive compounds in Brassica foods will allow backing of recommendations for dietarily effective dosages for nutrition and health.

Dissolved organic compounds in reused process water for steam-assisted gravity drainage oil sands extraction

The in situ oil sands production method called steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) reuses process wastewater following treatment. However, the treatment and reuse processes concentrate contaminants in the process water. To determine the concentration and dynamics of inorganic and organic contaminants, makeup water and process water from six process steps were sampled at a facility employing the SAGD process in Alberta, Canada. In the groundwater used for the makeup water, the total dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content was 4 mg/L. This significantly increased to 508 mg/L in the produced water, followed by a gradual increase with successive steps in subsequent water treatments. The concentrations and dynamics of DOC constituents in the process water determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry showed that in the produced water, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as acetone (33.1 mg/L) and 2-butanone (13.4 mg/L) predominated, and there were significant amounts of phenolic compounds (total 9.8 mg/L) and organic acids including naphthenic acids (NAs) corresponding to the formula C(n)H(2n+Z)O(X) for combinations of n = 4 to 18, Z = 0 and -2, and X = 2 to 4 (53 mg/L) with trace amounts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as naphthalene and phenanthrene. No organic contaminants, except for saturated fatty acids, were detected in the groundwater. The concentration of DOC in the recycled water was 4.4-fold higher than that in the produced water. Likewise, the total concentrations of phenols and organic acids in the recycled water were 1.7- and 4.5-fold higher than in the produced water, whereas the total concentrations of VOCs and PAHs in the recycled water were reduced by over 80%, suggesting that phenols and organic acids are selectively concentrated in the process water treatment. This comprehensive chemical analysis thus identified organic constituents that were concentrated in the process water and which interfere with subsequent water treatments in the SAGD process.

Magnetite/mesocellular carbon foam as a magnetically recoverable fenton catalyst for removal of phenol and arsenic

A magnetite-loaded mesocellular carbonaceous material, Fe(3)O(4)/MSU-F-C, exhibited superior activity as both a Fenton catalyst and an adsorbent for removal of phenol and arsenic, and strong magnetic property rendering it separable by simply applying magnetic field. In the presence of hydrogen peroxide, the catalytic process by Fe(3)O(4)/MSU-F-C completely oxidized phenol and As(III) under the conditions where commercial iron oxides showed negligible effects. Notably, the decomposition of H(2)O(2) by Fe(3)O(4)/MSU-F-C was not faster than those by commercial iron oxides, indicating that hydroxyl radical produced via the catalytic process by Fe(3)O(4)/MSU-F-C was used more efficiently for the oxidation of target contaminants compared to the other iron oxides. The homogeneous Fenton reaction by the dissolved iron species eluted from Fe(3)O(4)/MSU-F-C was insignificant. At relatively high doses of Fe(3)O(4)/MSU-F-C, total concentration of arsenic decreased to a significant extent due to the adsorption of arsenic on the catalyst surface. The removal of arsenic by adsorption was found to proceed via preoxidation of As(III) into As(V) and the subsequent adsorption of As(V) onto the catalyst.

[Case study on groundwater health risk assessment and remediation strategy based on exposure pathway]

The carcinogenic risk originated from benzene in contaminated groundwater of a large-scale coke plant in Beijing was analyzed and assessed for different land use zones according to the site redevelopment plan. The results revealed that indoor vapor inhalation was the key exposure pathway for all the three zones. The carcinogenic risk in zone A as commercial area was 6.37 x 10(-8), below the maximum allowable level (1.0 x 10(-6)), but was 2.20 x 10(-4) in zone B as industrial park and 7.49 x 10(-5) in zone C as residential/commercial area, both beyond the acceptable level. Further, the remediation target for benzene was calculated at 118 microg x L(-1) and the corresponding remediation area was contoured to be 165 000 m2. Given the high permeability of the aquifer and the excellent volatility of benzene, air-sparging with a combination of engineering control measure was recommended to mitigate the risk of the groundwater contamination.

[Distribution characteristics and potential risks of phenols in the rainy season surface water from Three Gorges Reservoir]

Forty-seven surface water samples were collected from the main stream and 22 tributaries in area of the Three Gorges Reservoir, 15 phenolic compounds in these samples were analyzed using GC/MS. The results showed that the concentrations of phenolic compounds in the samples from the main stream and tributaries were 52.47 ng x L(-1) and 87.99 ng x L(-1), respectively. The concentrations of non-chlorinated phenols were higher than those of chlorinated phenols in the main stream and tributaries, and so the non-chlorinated phenols were the predominant compounds in these surface water samples. Phenol, o-cresol and 2-nitrophenol were the predominant compounds accounted for 79.1%, 3.7% and 3.6% in the samples from the main stream, respectively. Phenol, o-cresol, 2,6-dichlorophenol and 2-nitrophenol were the main compounds accounted for 77.5%, 5.4%, 3.8% and 2.2% in the samples from the tributaries, respectively. As compared the concentrations of phenol and 2-nitrophenol with the standard limits in The National Environmental Health Risk List, the levels of phenol and 2-nitrophenol were much lower than the standard limits, suggesting negligible risk of phenol and 2-nitrophenol in these samples.

Factors influencing phenolic compounds in table olives (Olea europaea)

The Mediterranean diet appears to be associated with a reduced risk of several chronic diseases including cancer and cardiovascular and Alzheimer's diseases. Olive products (mainly olive oil and table olives) are important components of the Mediterranean diet. Olives contain a range of phenolic compounds; these natural antioxidants may contribute to the prevention of these chronic conditions. Consequently, the consumption of table olives and olive oil continues to increase worldwide by health-conscious consumers. There are numerous factors that can affect the phenolics in table olives including the cultivar, degree of ripening, and, importantly, the methods used for curing and processing table olives. The predominant phenolic compound found in fresh olive is the bitter secoiridoid oleuropein. Table olive processing decreases levels of oleuropein with concomitant increases in the hydrolysis products hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol. Many of the health benefits reported for olives are thought to be associated with the levels of hydroxytyrosol. Herein the pre- and post-harvest factors influencing the phenolics in olives, debittering methods, and health benefits of phenolics in table olives are reviewed.

Role of iron species in the photo-transformation of phenol in artificial and natural seawater

The role played by iron oxides (goethite and akaganeite) and iron(II)/(III) species as photo-sensitizers toward the transformation of organic matter was examined in saline water using phenol as a model molecule. The study was carried out in NaCl 0.7 M solution at pH 8, artificial (ASW) and natural (NSW) seawater, in a device simulating solar light spectrum and intensity. Under illumination phenol decomposition occurs in all the investigated cases. Conversely, dark experiments show that no reaction takes place, implying that phenol transformation is a light- activated process. Following the addition of Fe(II) ions to aerated solutions, Fe(II) is easily oxidized to Fe(III) and hydrogen peroxide is formed. Regardless of the addition of Fe(II) or Fe(III) ions, photo-activated degradation is mediated by Fe(III) species. Several (and different) hydroxylated and halogenated intermediates were identified. In ASW, akaganeite promotes the formation of ortho and para chloro derivatives (2- and 4-chlorophenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol), while goethite induces the formation of 3-chlorophenol and bromophenols. Conversely, Fe(II) or Fe(III) addition causes the formation of 3- and 4-chlorophenol and 2,3- or 3,4-dichlorophenol. 4-Bromophenol was only identified when irradiating Fe(II) spiked solutions. Natural seawater sampled in the Gulf of Trieste, Italy, has been spiked with phenol and irradiated. Phenol photo-induced transformation in NSW mediated by natural photosensitizers occurs and leads to the formation of numerous halophenols, condensed products and nitrophenols. When NSW is spiked with phenol and iron oxides, Fe(II) or Fe(III), halophenols production is enhanced. A close analogy exists between Fe(III), Fe(II)/goethite in ASW and NSW products. Different halophenols production in the natural seawater samples depends on Fe(II)/goethite (above all for 3-chlorophenol, 2,3-dichlorophenol and 4-bromophenol formation) and on Fe(III) colloidal species (3-chlorophenol).

Influence of oxalic acid formed on the degradation of phenol by Fenton reagent

The objective of this work is to examine the influence of oxalic acid formed on the degradation of phenol by Fenton reagent. Oxalic acid formed at initial stage within 30 min significantly suppresses the reduction of ferric ion, thus terminating degradation reaction. The yield of oxalic acid is dependent on the amount of ferrous ion dosed since the minimal amount of oxalic acid is formed after the degradation reaction terminates. Mineralization of phenol by Fenton reagent stagnates after 120 min under the conditions used in this study. The reason why the mineralization stagnated can be assumed to be following two mechanisms other than the depletion of H(2)O(2). In the case where a small amount of ferrous ions is dosed, the reduction of ferric ions is minimal by oxalic acid formed. In the case where a large amount of ferrous ions is dosed, the amount of degradable organic compounds is insufficient owing to preferential conversion to oxalic acid. The mineralization can be enhanced by the intermittent dosing of ferrous ions, which facilitates the suppression of oxalic acid formation during the degradation by Fenton reagent.

Evaluation of changes in effluent quality from industrial complexes on the Korean nationwide scale using a self-organizing map

One of the major issues related to the environment in the 21st century is sustainable development. The innovative economic growth policy has supported relatively successful economic development, but poor environmental conservation efforts, have consequently resulted in serious water quality pollution issues. Hence, assessments of water quality and health are fundamental processes towards conserving and restoring aquatic ecosystems. In this study, we characterized spatial and temporal changes in water quality (specifically physico-chemical variables plus priority and non-priority pollutants) of discharges from industrial complexes on a national scale in Korea. The data were provided by the Water Quality Monitoring Program operated by the Ministry of Environment, Korea and were measured from 1989 to 2008 on a monthly basis at 61 effluent monitoring sites located at industrial complexes. Analysis of monthly and annual changes in water quality, using the seasonal Mann-Kendall test, indicated an improvement in water quality, which was inferred from a continuous increase in dissolved oxygen and decrease in other water quality factors. A Self-Organizing Map, which is an unsupervised artificial neural network, also indicated an improvement of effluent water quality, by showing spatial and temporal differences in the effluent water quality as well as in the occurrence of priority pollutants. Finally, our results suggested that continued long-term monitoring is necessary to establish plans and policies for wastewater management and health assessment.

Relationship between wood color parameters measured by the CIELab system and extractive and phenol content in Acacia mangium and Vochysia guatemalensis from fast-growth plantations

The heterogeneity of color distribution between sapwood and heartwood limits the market for wood from fast-growth plantations of tropical species. Wood color is associated with wood extractives contents. This study presents the relationship between wood color parameters measured by the CIELab color system and total amount of extractives and phenolic-type extractives in ethanol-toluene and hot water extracts of wood from two fast-growth plantation species. The results demonstrated that the difference in sapwood and hardwood color in Vochysia guatemalensis and Acacia mangium is caused by lower concentrations of extractives in sapwood of both species. Additionally, variations in total extractive and phenolic content have different effects on the color parameters (L*, a* and b*) of both species studied. In Vochysia guatemalensis wood, parameter L* decreases as total extractive and phenolic content increases; however, parameter a* increases as the content of extractives and phenols increases. In Acacia mangium, the amount of phenols showed no relationship with the color parameters. The ethanol-toluene total extractive content, however, shows a relationship with several color parameters. An increase in the content of total extractives in water and ethanol-toluene increases parameter a*, but decreases parameter L*.

Novel Prunus rootstock somaclonal variants with divergent ability to tolerate waterlogging

Plants require access to free water for nutrient uptake, but excess water surrounding the roots can be injurious or even lethal because it blocks the transfer of free oxygen between the soil and the atmosphere. Genetic improvement efforts in this study were focused on the increased tolerance in roots to waterlogging. Among a pool of clones generated in vitro from leaf explants of rootstock Mr.S.2/5 of Prunus cerasifera L., the S.4 clone was flood tolerant whereas the S.1 clone was sensitive. The S.4 clone formed adventitious roots on exposure to flooding. Moreover, the chlorophyll content and mitochondrial activity in the leaf and root, soluble sugar content, alcohol dehydrogenase activity and ethylene content were different between the clones. The sorbitol transporter gene (SOT1) was up-regulated during hypoxia, the alcohol dehydrogenase genes (ADH1 and ADH3) were up-regulated in the leaves and down-regulated in the roots of the S.4 clone during hypoxia, and the 1-aminocyclopropane-1-oxidase gene (ACO1) was up-regulated in the leaves and roots of the S.4 clone during hypoxia and down-regulated in the wild-type roots. In addition, in the S.4 root, hypoxia induced significant down-regulation of a glycosyltransferase-like gene (GTL), which has a yet-undefined role. Although the relevant variation in the S.4 genome has yet to be determined, genetic alteration clearly conferred a flooding-tolerant phenotype. The isolation of novel somaclonals with the same genomic background but with divergent tolerance to flooding may offer new insights in the elucidation of the genetic machinery of resistance to flooding and aid in the selection of new Prunus rootstocks to be used in various adverse environments.

Phenol and nitrophenols in the air and dew waters of Santiago de Chile

Phenol, nitrophenols and dinitrophenols were measured in air and dews in downtown Santiago de Chile. In both systems, phenol, 2-nitrophenol (2-NP), and 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) were the compounds found in higher concentrations and with major frequency. Temporal profiles in air were compatible with a significant direct incorporation from mobile sources. The data can be explained in terms of a faster removal of 2-NP than 4-NP, with the former predominating in fresh air masses and 4-NP in more aged samples. All these compounds, as well as dinitrophenols, were found in dew waters. Simultaneous measurements in air and dew indicate that phenol present in dew exceeds that expected in equilibrated samples, while the opposite occurs with 4-NP. This last result is associated to mass transfer limitations for the highly water soluble nitroderivative.

Determination of phenol by flow-injection with chemiluminescence detection based on the hemin-catalysed luminol-hydrogen peroxide reaction

This study established a novel flow injection (FI) methodology for the determination of phenol in aqueous samples based on luminol chemiluminescence (CL) detection. The method was based on the inhibition that phenol caused on the hemin-catalysed chemiluminescence reaction between luminol and hydrogen peroxide in alkaline solution. Optimum conditions and possible mechanisms have been investigated. The linear range was 2.0×10(-9) to 4.0×10(-7)gmL(-1) for phenol. The proposed method is sensitive with a detection limit of 4.0×10(-10)gmL(-1). The relative standard deviation for 11 measurements was 2.3% for 1.0×10(-7)gmL(-1) phenol. The method was applied for the determination of phenol in waste water samples. The results obtained compared well with those by an official method.

Bioactive compounds, antioxidant, xanthine oxidase inhibitory, tyrosinase inhibitory and anti-inflammatory activities of selected agro-industrial by-products

Evaluation of abundantly available agro-industrial by-products for their bioactive compounds and biological activities is beneficial in particular for the food and pharmaceutical industries. In this study, rapeseed meal, cottonseed meal and soybean meal were investigated for the presence of bioactive compounds and antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, xanthine oxidase and tyrosinase inhibitory activities. Methanolic extracts of rapeseed meal showed significantly (P < 0.01) higher phenolics and flavonoids contents; and significantly (P < 0.01) higher DPPH and nitric oxide free radical scavenging activities when compared to that of cottonseed meal and soybean meal extracts. Ferric thiocyanate and thiobarbituric acid tests results showed rapeseed meal with the highest antioxidant activity (P < 0.01) followed by BHT, cotton seed meal and soybean meal. Rapeseed meal extract in xanthine oxidase and tyrosinase inhibitory assays showed the lowest IC₅₀ values followed by cottonseed and soybean meals. Anti-inflammatory assay using IFN-γ/LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 cells indicated rapeseed meal is a potent source of anti-inflammatory agent. Correlation analysis showed that phenolics and flavonoids were highly correlated to both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Rapeseed meal was found to be promising as a natural source of bioactive compounds with high antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, xanthine oxidase and tyrosinase inhibitory activities in contrast to cotton and soybean meals.

[Flow injection analysis method for hygienic examination of volatile phenol compounds in the air of residential area]

OBJECTIVE

To establish a flow injection analysis for hygienic examination of volatile phenol compounds in the air of residential area.

METHOD

Volatile phenol compounds in the air was sampled by a fritted glass bubbler with 10 ml 0.1 mol/L sodium hydroxide inside and analyzed by a flow injection analyzer. The samples were reacted with 4-aminoantipyrine after online distillation in the presence of potassium ferricyanide.

RESULTS

There was a linear relationship in the range of 0 - 1500 microg/L. The samples could be stored in a 4 degrees C refrigerator at least for 7 days. This method showed a high reproducibility with relative standard deviations of 0.84% - 1.0%. The recoveries of standard addition of the method were 100.3% - 103.3%. The detection limit was 0.0003 mg/m3 and the linear range was 0.0009 -0.25 mg/m3. The absorption efficiencies were 96.1% - 97.2%.

CONCLUSION

This method meets the requirements for the analysis of volatile phenol compounds in the air of residential area.

Influence of agricultural practices on fruit quality of bell pepper

An experiment was carried out under plastic house conditions to compare the effect of four fermented organic matter sources (cattle, poultry and sheep manure in addition to 1:1:1 mixture of the three organic matter sources) in which 4 kg organic matter m(-2) were used, with that of the conventional agriculture (chemical fertilizers) treatments on Marvello red pepper fruit quality, by using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replicates. Pepper fruits characteristics cultivated in soil supplemented with manure were generally better than those from plants grown in soil only. Addition of animal manure increased bell pepper fruit content of soluble solids, ascorbic acid, total phenols, crude fibre and intensity of red color as compare with conventional agriculture that produced fruits with higher titratable acidity, water content, lycopene and bigger fruit size. In most cases of animal manure treatments, best results were obtained by the sheep manure treatment that produced the highest TSS, while the worst results were obtained by the poultry manure treatment that produced the smallest fruit and lowest fruit lycopene content.