Phytosterols and polyphenols in reciprocally grafted tobacco—tomato plants

Intact and reciprocally grafted tobacco and tomato plants were studied to examine their roles as scions and stocks in the formation, composition, and total amount of 3-β-hydroxysterol and polyphenols. Intact tobacco plants have a higher phytosterol content than do tomato plants. Tobacco leaves from the Tob/Tom grafted plants contained much less phytosterol than leaves from intact tobacco plants. The distribution of four major sterols, however, did not vary significantly. The concentration of total polyphenols in intact tobacco and tomato was about the same, but tobacco was high in chlorogenic acid, and tomato was high in rutin. Tobacco leaves from Tob/Tom grafted plants showed only a slight decrease in total polyphenol concentration compared with intact tobacco. Tomato roots appeared to contribute to the increased total polyphenol per plant in either intact tomato or in Tob/Tom grafted plants, despite the fact that no polyphenolic compounds were detected in the tomato root itself. Grafting may provide a limited technique for reducing the phytosterol concentration of tobacco leaves.     

Effects of dietary grape seed extract on growth performance,amino acid digestibility and plasma lipids and mineral content in broiler chicks

Polyphenols are chemically and biologically active compounds. Grape seed extracts (GSEs) have been widely used as a human food supplement for health promotion and disease prevention. However, there is little information regarding its application in animal feeds. An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of inclusion of GSE at 0.025, 0.25, 2.5 and 5.0 g/kg in a wheat soya bean control diet on growth performance, protein and amino acid (AA) digestibility and plasma lipid and mineral concentrations in broiler chickens at 21 days of age. Performance was not affected by dietary treatment except in the case of birds fed the diet with the highest GSE concentration, which showed a worsening of weight gain and feed conversion. Apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of protein was significantly reduced in the birds fed the highest concentration of GSE, which also had a reduction on the AID of arginine, histidine, phenylalanine, cystine, glutamic acid and proline compared with those fed control diet. The inclusion of graded concentration of GSE in the chicken diets caused a significant linear decrease in the concentrations of plasma copper, iron and zinc. Plasma cholesterol, triglycerides and lipoproteins (high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein and very-low-density lipoprotein) concentrations were not affected by dietary GSE. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that incorporation of GSE in chicken diets up to 2.5 g/kg had no adverse effect on growth performance or protein and AA digestibility. Feed conversion was reduced and growth rate was retarded, when chickens were fed 5 g/kg of GSE. This study also indicated that grape polyphenols reduce the free plasma minerals.     

Addition of fermented and unfermented grape skin in broilers’ diets: effect on digestion,growth performance,intestinal microbiota and oxidative stability of meat

Grape skin is a source of polyphenols with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Little information is available regarding its application in animal feeding. The present study investigated the effect of inclusion of fermented (FS) and unfermented (UFS) grape skin at two different doses (30 g/kg, FS30 and UFS30, and 60 g/kg, FS60 and UFS60) and 200 mg/kg vitamin E (α-tocopheryl acetate) in a corn–soybean diet on growth performance, ileal protein digestibility, ileal and excreta total extractable polyphenols content and digestibility, intestinal microbiota and thigh meat oxidation in broiler chickens. Growth performance was depressed in chickens fed UFS and FS diets. A reduction in ileal protein digestibility was also observed in birds fed UFS, being this effect more pronounced in those fed 60 g/kg. The dietary inclusion of grape skin increased both ileal and excreta polyphenols contents, being higher in birds fed UFS than in those fed FS. Excreta moisture content increased in birds fed UFS and FS diets. No effect of dietary inclusion of grape skin was observed on ileal counts of lactic-acid bacteria and Clostridium, but UFS inclusion in the diet reduced ileal count of Escherichia coli as compared with FS dietary inclusion. After 7 days of refrigerated storage, values of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were lower in chicken meat when grape skin was added in the diet at 60 g/kg instead of 30 g/kg, and meat from birds fed 60 g/kg of grape skin reached TBARS values similar to those of birds supplemented with vitamin E. In conclusion, high doses of grape skin polyphenols depressed growth performance and protein digestibility, and increased excreta moisture content. Unfermented grape skin contained more polyphenols than FS, and its inclusion in the diet led to higher ileal and excreta polyphenols contents and to a lower ileal count of E. coli. Furthermore, the antioxidant potential of the polyphenols present in grape skin was observed after 7 days of meat storage, with the dose of 60 g/kg of grape skin being as effective as vitamin E supplementation in maintaining oxidative stability of meat.     

中药活性成分治疗糖尿病胰岛素抵抗的机制研究进展

2型糖尿病已成为威胁人类健康的重要代谢性疾病,而胰岛素抵抗作为2型糖尿病显著特征和发病机制的基本环节之一,贯穿于 疾病的整个发生发展过程。传统中药在治疗2型糖尿病/胰岛素抵抗中发挥着重要作用,但其作用机制尚难完全阐明,因此,明确其中 活性单体化合物的作用机制十分重要,并能为此类中药的现代化开发提供必要的理论基础。分类综述主要中药活性成分治疗糖尿病胰岛 素抵抗的机制研究进展。     

Effect of gamma irradiation on peroxidase isoenzymes during suberization of wounded potato tubers

A comparison of peroxidase isoenzymes in skin, cortex and pith tissues of the potato tuber by thin-layer isoelectric focusing in Sephadex revealed major differences in the isoenzyme patterns. Wounding induced several-fold increases in the peroxidase activity which were correlated with the increased amounts of specific isoenzymes. The anodic and cathodic forms with high activity, normally present in large amounts in skin, were found to be preferentially synthesized in suberizing tissues, suggesting a functional role for peroxidase in the suberization process. Cycloheximide treatment prevented the rapid increase in the content and activity of these specific isoenzymes, which indicated that the increase in peroxidase is due to a de novo synthesis of the enzyme. Suberization is not inhibited by gamma irradiation at sprout-inhibiting dose levels.     

Strategies for recycling and valorization of grape marc

Grapes are one of the most cultivated fruit crops worldwide. Either for wine or juice production, grape processing generates a large amount of residues that must be treated, disposed of or reused properly to reduce their pollution load before being applied to the soil. In this review, a special focus is given to the treatment and valorization of the winemaking by-product like grape marc via anaerobic digestion, composting and vermicomposting at laboratory, pilot, and industrial scales. The impact of the final products (digestates, composts, and vermicomposts) on soil properties is briefly addressed. Moreover, the role of grape marc and seeds as a valuable source of natural phytochemicals that include polyphenols and other bioactive compounds of interest for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries is also discussed. This is of paramount importance given the fact that sustainability requires the use of management and valorization strategies that allow the recovery of valuable compounds (e.g. antioxidants) with minimum disposal of waste streams.     

Effect of Aqueous Extract of Phenolic Compounds Obtained from Red Wine in Experimental Model of Colitis in Mice

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory disorder represented by Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Currently, there is no cure and pharmacological treatment aims to induce and maintain remission on patients. Because the therapy reveals a relatively high toxicity, during a long-term utilization, it is essential to investigate new pharmacological approaches. Polyphenols, commonly present on red wine, have shown health-beneficial effects related to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects through the inhibition of NF-kB activation, COX-2 and iNOS induction. In this sense, it would be interesting to study their effects in an IBD context. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effects of an aqueous extract of phenolic compounds in a 2,4,6-Trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced model of colitis. Method: Experimental colitis was induced in mice through an intrarectal administration of TNBS and then the mice were treated with an aqueous extract of phenolic compounds intraperitoneally for four days. Results and Discussion: The extract demonstrated an anti-inflammatory effect, reducing TNF-α levels in the colon, and had a beneficial effect on the extraintestinal manifestations related to IBD, without any significant side effects. The extract of phenolic compounds demonstrated to be a valuable object of study for the management of IBD in the future.     

茉莉酸甲酯和水杨酸对丹参幼苗中蔗糖代谢和酚酸类物质积累的影响

以丹参幼苗为材料,研究了茉莉酸甲酯(MeJA)和水杨酸(SA)对其地上地下部分蔗糖代谢和根系中酚酸类物质积累的影响.结果显示:(1)外源施用MeJA能够显著增强幼苗叶片和根中酸性蔗糖转化酶活性,促进蔗糖降解,减少根系中蔗糖含量;同时根中丹参素(来源于酪氨酸-衍生物支路)、原儿茶酸(类苯丙烷支路的中间产物)、咖啡酸(来源于类苯丙烷支路)、迷迭香酸(来源于类苯丙烷支路和酪氨酸-衍生物支路)、丹酚酸B(丹参素、咖啡酸、迷迭香酸的衍生物)以及总酚酸含量均显著增加.(2)外施SA可显著降低幼苗叶片和根中酸性蔗糖转化酶活性及叶片中性蔗糖转化酶活性,抑制蔗糖降解,显著增加地上部分蔗糖含量,根中蔗糖含量和对照相比差异不显著;同时根中丹参素含量减少,但原儿茶酸、咖啡酸以及迷迭香酸含量增加,丹酚酸B和总酚酸类物质含量与对照相比差异不显著.因此推测,植物中蔗糖代谢影响丹参素合成的酪氨酸-衍生物支路,而不影响原儿茶酸、咖啡酸及迷迭香酸等合成的类苯丙烷支路.