抗寒性不同的油橄榄品种和单株叶片扫描电镜观察

抗寒性强的油橄榄——克里302、尼基特371的叶片,扫描电镜下的特征是:(1) 近轴表皮角质膜厚,蜡质结晶致密。(2) 远轴表皮内陷气孔,密被鳞毛。(3) 叶两面栅栏组织发达,为旱生形态阳叶结构。     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Reflux induces DNA strand breaks and expression changes of MMP1+9+14 in a human miniorgan culture model

Gastroesophageal reflux disease has been implicated in the pathogenesis of adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus. The same applies to laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) and squamous cell cancer of the head and neck, but so far, this link has not been proven. The impact of low pH and bile acids has not been studied extensively in cells other than oesophageal cancer cell lines and tissue. The aims of this study were to investigate the pathogenic potential of reflux and its single components on the mucosa of the upper respiratory tract. We measured DNA stability in human miniorgan cultures (MOCs) and primary epithelial cell cultures (EpCs) in response to reflux by the alkaline comet assay. As matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in extracellular matrix remodelling processes and may contribute to cancer progression, we studied the expression of MMP1, -9, and -14 in MOCs, EpC, UM-SCC-22B, and FADU_DD. DNA strand breaks (DNA-SBs) increased significantly at low pH and after incubation with human or artificial gastric juice. Single incubation with glycochenodeoxycholic acid also showed a significant increase in DNA-SBs. In epithelial cell cultures, human gastric juice increased the number of DNA-SBs at pH 4.5 and 5.5. Artificial gastric juice significantly up regulated the gene expression of MMP9. Western blot analysis confirmed the results of gene expression analysis, but the up regulation of MMP1, -9, and -14 was donor-specific. Reflux has the ability to promote genomic instability and may contribute to micro environmental changes suitable for the initiation of malignancy. Further functional gene analysis may elucidate the role of laryngopharyngeal reflux in the development of head neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).     

Development of a high-throughput liquid state assay for lipase activity using natural substrates and rhodamine B

A fluorescence-based assay for the determination of lipase activity using rhodamine B as an indicator, and natural substrates such as olive oil, is described. It is based on the use of a rhodamine B–natural substrate emulsion in liquid state, which is advantageous over agar plate assays. This high-throughput method is simple and rapid and can be automated, making it suitable for screening and metagenomics application. Reaction conditions such as pH and temperature can be varied and controlled. Using triolein or olive oil as a natural substrate allows monitoring of lipase activity in reaction conditions that are closer to those used in industrial settings. The described method is sensitive over a wide range of product concentrations and offers good reproducibility.     

Effect of polymorphisms in the CD36 and STAT3 genes on different dietary interventions among patients with coronary artery disease: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundCardiovascular disease has become a major health problem, and it has been associated with both environmental and genetic factors. Studies have shown that the Mediterranean Diet (MeDiet), or its components such as nuts and olive oil, may be strongly associated with the improvement of cardiovascular risk factors in specific populations. The purpose of the GENUTRI study is to investigate the interaction of genetics with cardiovascular risk factors in a non-Mediterranean population with coronary artery disease (CAD) according to three different diets: rich in pecan nuts, in extra-virgin olive oil or a control diet.Methods/designThe GENUTRI study is a single-center, randomized, open-label, parallel-group, 12-week pragmatic clinical trial conducted in patients aged 40 to 80 years and diagnosed with CAD. A standardized questionnaire will be applied to data collection and a blood sample will be obtained for lipid, glycemic and inflammatory profile evaluation. Polymorphisms in the CD36 and STAT3 genes will be detected using the TaqMan® SNP Genotyping Assay. Patients will be allocated in three groups: group 1: 30 g/day of pecan nuts; group 2: 30 ml/day of olive oil; and group 3: control diet. The primary outcome will consist of changes in LDL-cholesterol (in mg/dl) after 12 weeks of intervention.DiscussionStudies have shown the beneficial effects of diets rich in nuts and olive oil mainly in the Mediterranean population. GENUTRI is a clinical trial focusing on the effects of nuts or olive oil supplementation in Brazilian individuals. Additionally, we will try to demonstrate that genetic polymorphisms linked to cardiovascular disease may modulate the effects of different diets on biochemical and inflammatory markers among these subjects.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT02202265","term_id":"NCT02202265"}}NCT02202265 (registered on 18 July 2014: first version).     

Recombinant expression of Ole e 6, a Cys-enriched pollen allergen, in Pichia pastoris yeast: detection of partial oxidation of methionine by NMR

Olive pollen is one of the main causes of allergy in Mediterranean countries. Ole e 6, an olive pollen allergen, is a small (5.8 kDa) and acidic protein (pI 4.2) and no homologous proteins have been isolated or characterized so far. Ole e 6 has been efficiently expressed in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris. The cDNA encoding Ole e 6 was inserted into the plasmid vector pPIC9 and overexpressed in GS115 yeast cells. The recombinant product was purified by size-exclusion chromatography followed by reverse-phase HPLC. N-terminal sequencing, amino acid composition analysis, CD, NMR, and IgG-binding experiments were employed to characterize the purified protein. NMR data revealed the oxidation of the methionine at position 28 in approximately 50% of the recombinant protein but, although this alters its electrophoretic behavior, it did not affect folding or IgG-binding properties of rOle e 6. The recombinant form of Ole e 6 expressed in P. pastoris can be employed for structural and biochemical studies.     

In vitro propagation of olive (Olea europaea L.) cv. Koroneiki

Single node explants of 'Koroneiki' olive trees werecultured for one month on a modified Driver-Kuniyuki for Walnut medium, lackinggrowth regulators. The explants were subcultured once a month on a mediumsupplemented with zeatin riboside, 6-(--dimethylallylamino)purine,6-benzyladenine or thidiazuron. Zeatin riboside proved to be superior to othercytokinins in inducing shoot proliferation. The combination of olive knotextract at 25 or 50 mg l^–1 with cytokininssuppressed shoot proliferation. After two months at the proliferation stage,theexplants were cultured for one week in the dark in 1 ml liquidWoody Plant Medium supplemented with IBA, -NAA or IBA+-NAA. Theexplants were then transferred to the same solid medium lacking growthregulators, with a small layer of perlite on the surface. The combination ofthetwo auxins at 1+1 mg l^–1 resulted in almost 76%rooting. The combination of olive knot extract at 50 mgl^–1 with auxins increased the rooting percentage up toalmost 87%. Artificial infection of explants with the bacteriumPseudomonas savastanoi pv. savastanoiinhibited rhizogenesis, even in the presence of auxins. Rooted explants weresuccessfully acclimatised under a mist system, with the survival rate reachingalmost 75%.     

Biodegradation of polyphenols with immobilized Candida tropicalis under metabolic induction

During olive oil production, large quantities of olive mill wastewater (OMW) are produced. This wastewater material, containing a high level of phenolic compounds, poses a serious environmental problem in almost all Mediterranean countries. Candida tropicalis YMEC14 was used as an extremophile strain to design an aerobic biotreatment process to detoxify OMW and reduce its polluting organic load. The process was enhanced by directing yeast metabolism towards biodegradation pathways using hexadecane as co-metabolite and by immobilizing yeast cells in calcium alginate beads. Under immobilization conditions, C. tropicalis YMEC14 grown at 40 degrees C in OMW supplemented with hexadecane resulted in 69.7%, 69.2% and 55.3% reduction of chemical oxygen demand, monophenols and polyphenols, respectively, after a 24-h fermentation cycle.