Arabica coffee and olive oils mitigate malathion-induced nephrotoxicity in rat: In silico,immunohistochemical and biochemical evaluation

Malathion (MAL) is an organophosphate insecticide that disrupts the body's antioxidant system; it is one of the earliest organophosphate insecticides extensively used as dust, emulsion, and vapor control a wide variety of insect pests under different conditions. This experimentation aims to evaluate the influence of Arabica coffee oil and olive oil on MAL-induced nephrotoxicity in male rat. 6 sets bearing the same number of animals were applied to this experiment. Each set comprised 10 rats. The first set of rats was used as the control group; rats in the second set were exposed to MAL measured at 100 mg/kg body weight for 7 weeks. Animals in the third and fourth set were treated with 400 mg/kg body weight of Arabica coffee oil and olive oil, and 100 mg/kg body weight of MAL. The fifth, together with the sixth set, were fed with a similar proportion of Arabica coffee oil and olive oil as administered to the third set of rats. After the experimental duration, rats of group 2 showed severe biochemical alterations, including significant increases of creatinine, uric acids, and urea nitrogen (BUN), resulting in marked decreases in serum albumin values and total protein (TP). Severe histopathological and immunohistochemical alterations of kidney tissues were observed in exposed MAL-intoxicated rats. Administration of these oils reduced the detected biochemical, histopathological modifications caused by MAL intoxication. Two active ingredients in Arabica coffee oil (oleic acid) and olive oil (hydroxytyrosol) showed good cyclooxygenase-2 (COX 2) interaction. Moreover, oleic acid from coffee oil and olive oil exhibited impressive association with xanthine oxidase (XO). The current finding showed that coffee oil and olive oil could be appraised as possible and a likely deterrence component against nephrotoxicity brought about by MAL.     

叶表面角质层在贝母属植物叶鉴定中的意义

叶表面角质层在贝母属植物叶鉴定中的意义李萍，濮祖茂，蒋鑫，刘惠娟，徐国钧（中国药科大学生药学教研室；分析中心电镜室南京２１０００９）ＴｈｅｄｉａｇｎｏｓｔｉｃｖａｌｕｅｏｆｔｈｅｃｕｔｉｃｌｅｉｎｔｈｅｌｅａｖｅｓｆｒｏｍｇｅｎｕｓＦｒｉｔｉｌｌａｒ...     

Fluoride effects on leaf cell ultrastructure of olive trees growing in the vicinity of the Aluminium Factory of Greece

Summary Leaves of olive trees growing in the vicinity of the Aluminium Factory of Greece were ultrastructurally investigated in order to determine any malformations caused by environmental air pollutants, especially hydrogen fluoride, in comparison with control samples and normal seasonal senescence. Estimation of some elements accumulated by these leaves showed that they contained high amounts of F and Al attributable to the operation of the nearby factory. The most seriously effected cell components were found to be the mesophyll chloroplasts that show a dilation of the intrathylakoid space, increase of the number of plastoglobuli, discoloration of plastoglobuli, accumulation of large starch grains and an overall disorganized appearance of the organelle. The nuclear crystalloid inclusions have unusual shapes, while the vacuoles contain a fibrillar/granular material that increases their electron density. It is concluded that the ultrastructural malformations are caused by a combination of environmental stresses and air pollutants.This paper is dedicated to Professor Dr. Eberhard Schnepf on the occasion of his 60^th birthday.     

Nitrogenase activity in composting horse bedding and leaves

To date little or no nitrogen fixation has been found in composting materials. However, some materials have high C:N ratios and thus might be expected to support nitrogen fixation. We examined windrows of composting horse bedding and leaves for nitrogenase activity via acetylene reduction and used carbon monoxide controls to differentiate ethylene evolved by nitrogenase from that evolved by endogenous processes. In both piles temperatures were substantially elevated and partial pressures of oxygen greatly reduced thus indicating vigorous microbial activity. In the horse bedding, there were only low rates of ethylene evolution and little of this was due to nitrogen fixation. In contrast, much higher rates of ethylene evolution were measured in the leaf pile and 94% of this was due to nitrogenase activity. We estimate that the leaf pile fixed approximately 0.062 mg N/g leaves during a 5-week period.     

海南岛海岸带木麻黄和厚藤叶片碳、氮、磷含量及其化学计量特征

海岸带植物叶片的化学计量学特征及其影响因素可以为改善海岸带的生态环境提供理论依据。选取海南岛沿岸12个市（县）海岸带木麻黄防护林的木麻黄和周边沙滩上的藤本植物厚藤为研究对象,通过测定木麻黄与厚藤叶片中的碳（C）、氮（N）和磷（P）含量,分析两种植物叶片C、N和P的化学计量学特征及其差异,探究不同环境因子对两种植物叶片C、N、P含量、C：N、C：P和N：P的影响,以期寻找影响海岸带植被生长的主要限制因素。结果表明：海南岛木麻黄叶片C、N和P的平均含量分别是399.06±20.29、12.56±1.04、1.04±0.35 g·kg^-1,C：N、C：P和N：P分别为32.04±2.82、420.65±121.27和12.92±3.21;厚藤叶片C、N和P的平均含量分别是364.31±30.20、12.84±1.96和2.06±0.64 g·kg^-1,C：N、C：P和N：P分别为29.13±4.95、185.85±63.14和6.47±2.12。相关性分析结果表明：木麻黄叶片的N含量与年平均气温和年平均降水量呈显著正相关关系,P含量与年平均降水量呈极显著正相关关系,C：P和N：P与年平均降水量呈显著负相关关系;厚藤叶片C含量与年平均气温呈显著正相关,C：N与年平均降水量呈显著负相关。木麻黄叶片的N含量与10~20 cm土层的SOC呈显著负相关关系,C：N与10~20 cm土层的SOC呈显著正相关,C：P与0~10 cm土层的C：N呈显著正相关关系;厚藤叶片的C含量与10~20 cm土层的SOC呈显著负相关关系,P含量与0~10 cm土层的TN含量,N：P和10~20 cm的SOC含量呈正相关关系,C：N与0~10 cm土层的C：N呈显著正相关关系,C：P与0~10 cm的TN含量呈显著负相关关系而与0~10 cm土层的C：N呈极显著正相关关系,N：P与0~10 cm土层的TN含量呈显著负相关关系。研究结果表明海南岛海岸带植被叶片的碳氮含量较低,N可能是影响该区域植物生长的主要因子,同时,植被生长受到年平均气温、年平均降水量的共同影响,受土壤养分含量影响低,环境因子对不同类型的植物的影响并不相同。     

Analysis of Growth and Productivity of Green Chickpea Using Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilization

Chickpea contains high levels of protein, vitamins and minerals. Acceptable chickpea yield is the result of meeting nitrogen and phosphorus requirements. The effect of appropriately meeting such requirements reflects on growth and can easily be evaluated using growth analysis. This research determined: (a) The effect of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization on phenology, net assimilation rate, number of green leaves, leaf area, leaf area index and leaf area duration; (b) Green chickpea yield and number of pods due to fertilization; and (c) The combination of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization that yields the most net revenue. Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization was evaluated; each at the doses of 0, 75 and 150 kg ha^–1 (N0, N75, N150; P0, P75 and P150, respectively). The combination of the levels of both nutrients generated nine combinations of treatments which were distributed in the field in a randomized complete block design in an arrangement of divided plots with four repetitions. Timing of phenological phases were similar among treatments. Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization increased number of leaves, leaf area index, and leaf area duration that translated into increased green chickpea yield (GCY). Combinations N150-P75 and N150-P150 produced the highest GCY. The highest net revenue and revenue per peso invested was obtained with N150-P75.     

Ultrasound-assisted aqueous extraction of total flavonoids and hydroxytyrosol from olive leaves optimized by response surface methodology

Abstract

Olive leaves were often extracted with methanol or ethanol at different proportions. In this study, ultrasound-assisted aqueous extraction was adopted for olive leaf extraction. The yields of total flavonoids (TF) and hydroxytyrosol (HT) were optimized by central composite experimental design. Two second-order polynomial equations were established to quantify the relationship between the responses and the processing parameters. Under the optimal condition of extracting at 60?°C for 60?min with the solvent-to-material ratio of 40, TF and HT amounted to 57.31?±?0.35 and 1.80?±?0.02?mg/g dry leaves (DL), respectively. The scavenging rate of all extracts against α, α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl free radicals was screened. The integrated scores, representing both active ingredients and antioxidant capacity of the extracts, were calculated by principle component analysis (PCA). The optimal extract gained the highest score in PCA. In addition, compared to the extracts from 80% methanol to 44% ethanol, the ultrasound-assisted aqueous extract was richer in TF, HT, and polyphenols, while it also presented stronger ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), but poorer strength to quench hydroxyl radicals. The study indicated that the aqueous extract of olive leaves may present broad potential opportunities in health-care sector.     

Effect of consumption of phenols from olives and extra virgin olive oil on LDL oxidizability in healthy humans

A high intake of olive oil has been proposed as an explanation for the low incidence of coronary heart disease in Mediterranean countries, but it is unclear whether olive oil offers specific benefits beyond a low content of saturated fat. Some types of extra virgin olive oil are rich in non-polar phenols, which might be taken up by plasma LDL particles and protect these from becoming atherogenic by oxidative modification. In a pilot study we found that consumption of 47 g fortified olive oil containing 31 mg phenols significantly increased the lag time of LDL oxidation from 112 ± 5 min before to 130 ± 7 min 2h after the meal. However, this study was not controlled, and in the current study we therefore investigated whether olive oil phenols increase the lag time of LDL oxidation in postprandial samples when compared with a control group.

Twelve healthy men and women consumed four different olive oil supplements with a meal on four separate occasions: one similar to the supplement in the pilot study (positive control); one containing mainly non-polar olive oil phenols; one containing mainly polar olive oil phenols; and one without phenols (placebo). Lag time significantly increased 2 h after the meals with the positive control (8 ± 2 min), the polar phenols (8 ± 2 min), and the placebo (8 ± 2 min), but not after the non-polar phenols (-0.4 ± 3 min). Increases were not statistically different between supplements.

These results indicate that the lag time of LDL-oxidation is increased after consumption of a meal. This increase is probably due to non-specific meal or time effects and not to phenols from olives or olive oil. Furthermore, these findings stress the need for adequate controlled studies to avoid misinterpretations of the data.     

Studies on the antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds of enzyme-assisted water extracts from Du-zhong (Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.) leaves

Enzyme-assisted water extracts (EWEDL) and ethanol extracts of Du-zhong leaves (EEDL) were evaluated for their antioxidant activities using the DPPH radical-scavenging assay, Fe²⁺-chelating assay, and inhibition ability of the linoleic acid peroxidation assay. In general, the antioxidant activity of Du-zhong leaf extracts increased with increasing concentration. Based on the two extracting methods with different antioxidative reactions, it was shown that the enzyme-assisted water extracting method was more effective for antioxidant extraction from Du-zhong leaves. By HPLC-MS analysis, the main phenolic compounds (geniposidic acid, epicatechin, and chlorogenic acid) identified in EWEDL and EEDL were similar. EWEDL and EEDL had total phenolic contents of 13.84?±?0.11 and 14.72?±?0.14?mg chlorogenic acid equivalents (CAE) in each gram of extract, respectively. However, there was no positive correlation between total phenolic content and antioxidant activities of EWEDL and EEDL measured by the three different assays.