Structural characterization, physicochemical property, and antioxidant activity of polysaccharide components from Eucommia ulmoides leavesChemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture - Tập 10 Số 1
Mengpei Liu, Yan Wang, Rong Wang, Qingxin Du, Lu Wang
Abstract
Background
Eucommia ulmoides (E. ulmoides) leaves are identified as a new resource of medicine and food homology. In this study, the structural characterization, physicochemical properties, and antioxidant activity of E. ulmoides polysaccharides (EUP) were studied.
Results
Three components with different molecular weights of 1.51 × 105 Da (EUP1), 3.05 × 104 Da (EUP2) and 1.17 × 105 Da (EUP3) were purified from E. ulmoides leaves. They were composed of l-rhamnose (Rha), d-arabinose (Ara), d-mannose (Man), d-glucose (Glu) and d-galactose (Gal), while EUP2 also contained small amounts of d-xylose (Xyl). Three components all had typical polysaccharides absorption peaks, which may be polysaccharides with β configuration of pyranose structure, and amorphous structure of acid polysaccharides with good thermal stability below 270 ℃. However, the molecular weight, monosaccharide composition and apparent morphology of the three components were different, resulting in a stronger scavenging ability of EUP2 and EUP3 against DPPH and OH free radicals.
Conclusion
The results will provide a theoretical reference for developing EUP-related foods and drugs.
Graphical Abstract
Preparation, structural characterization and in vitro activity of ginger polysaccharideChemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture - Tập 10 - Trang 1-18 - 2023
Shiyang Zhou, Xinqiao Wang, Wenming Jiang, Jun Tan, Guangying Chen
A polysaccharide was extracted from the fresh ginger by water extraction and alcohol precipitation. A homogeneous polysaccharide was obtained by Sevage deproteinization, dialysis, DEAE-52 ion exchange chromatography and Sephadex G-100 gel column chromatography. The molecular weight of the ginger polysaccharide was determined by high performance gel permeation chromatography. The monosaccharide composition, scanning electron microscope and other physicochemical parameters of the ginger polysaccharide were further determined. The spectral properties of the ginger polysaccharide were investigated by ultraviolet and infrared spectroscopy. On this basis, methylation analysis, 1D and 2D NMR analysis were used to investigate its possible chemical structure. The results showed that the ginger polysaccharide group was divided into neutral polysaccharide components with high homogeneity, Mw = 35.52 kDa, Mn = 216.56 kDa and the sugar content was 93.5%. The ginger polysaccharide is mainly composed of Fuc, Ara, Rha, Gal, Glc, Xyl, Man, Gal-UA and Glc-UA, the amount of substance ratio was 1.01:1.96:9.54:14.82:64.20:3.84:2.07:1.41:1.16. To study the structure–activity relationship of ginger polysaccharide, acetylated ginger polysaccharide and phosphate ginger polysaccharide were prepared by chemical methods in this study. The results of antioxidant activity in vitro showed that the ginger polysaccharide and its derivatives had good biological activity in freeing ABTS + radical scavenging, freeing hydroxyl radical scavenging, freeing DPPH radical scavenging and reducing ability. Interestingly, the results showed that the ginger polysaccharide had a certain inhibitory effect on the growth of E. coli in vitro. In general, this study provides a certain experimental basis and reference for the further research on the activity of ginger polysaccharide and its derivatives.
Ferrocene in agriculture: from agrochemicals and soil remediation to selective chemosensorsChemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture - Tập 2 - Trang 1-14 - 2015
Barbara Floris
Ferrocene and derivatives find numerous applications in agriculture, both as agrochemicals and as catalysts, for selective synthesis of agrochemicals. Moreover, they can be used as surfactants in soil remediation and as selective colorimetric and electrochemical chemosensors for analytes of interest in agriculture.
Transcriptome analysis reveals various genes involved in the regulation of potato to late blightChemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture -
Weina Zhang, Yingli Ma, Yichen Kang, Ruyan Zhang, Yong Wang, Zhongjian Chen, Xinyu Yang, Shunchang Jiao, Xingxing Wang, Shuhao Qin
Abstract
Background
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production is seriously threatened by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans (P. infestans). However, it remains unclear how the two potato cultivars, Q9 (moderately resistant) and Atl (susceptible), initiate distinct defense responses after inoculation with P. infestans. To uncover the underlying process, we investigated the dynamic gene expression profiles and the functions of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs).
Results
The results showed that the numbers of up-regulated DEGs were 1345, 1063 and 1694 in Q9 and 272, 603 and 2554 in Atl at 1 day post inoculation (dpi), 3 dpi and 5 dpi, respectively. Meanwhile, the down-regulated DEGs were 1557, 1417 and 389 in Q9 and 114, 364 and 2528 in Atl simultaneously. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that plant-pathogen interaction, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and MAPK signaling pathway were significantly enriched in Q9 at the later stage. Furthermore, DEGs associated with plant-pathogen interaction and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis showed higher expression levels in Q9 compared to Atl, especially at the later stage. The expressions of eight DEGs were validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), which further verified the accuracy of the transcriptomics analysis. In addition, DEGs that were exclusively up-regulated and down-regulated in Q9 were analyzed, which may contribute to the resistance of Q9. Transient expression analysis revealed that four DEGs, including StHP1, StMYB2, StHSP3 and StNAC5, exhibited increased tolerance to P. infestans, indicating a positive role in enhancing the resistance of Q9.
Conclusion
Therefore, the DEGs associated with plant-pathogen interaction, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and MAPK signaling pathway were involved in regulating late blight, and the expression level of the related genes significantly increased in Q9. In addition, StHP1, StHSP3 and the transcription factors, including StMYB2 and StNAC5, played positive roles in improving the resistance of potato Q9 to P. infestans. These findings provide useful information for further understanding the molecular mechanism of potato resistance to late blight. Furthermore, our study identified novel resistance genes that can be used in resistance breeding and functional research.
Graphical abstract
Effect of the exogenous application of abscisic acid (ABA) at fruit set and at veraison on cell ripeness of olives Olea europaea L. and the extractability of phenolic compounds in virgin olive oilChemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture - Tập 4 - Trang 1-9 - 2017
Youssef Moustakime, Zakaria Hazzoumi, Khalid Amrani Joutei
The effect of the exogenous application of abscisic acid (ABA) at the fruit set and veraison on the cell maturity of the olive Olea europaea L. and on the extractability of phenolic compounds (PC) in the virgin oil olive was studied. The ABA was sprayed on olive trees of the Moroccan Picholine variety at a concentration of 10−3 mg/l, some olive trees are treated at fruit set stage and other olive trees are treated at veraison stage. The effects of these treatments were evaluated by fruit yield and determination of the date of veraison and ripening period of the olives. The extractability of olive oil and diffusion of PC in the latter as well as the weakening of the parietal structures are also estimated. The application of ABA at fruit set causes a decrease in the production of fruit about 50% and precocity of ripening estimated 45 days. At this stage, comparing with the control in the same period, there was a significant accumulation of fat in olives, an increase in oil extractability and a significant improvement in the diffusion of PC in oils. The treatment of the olives by the ABA at veraison has no effect on yield. However, we observe physiological and biochemical changes to be identical during the treatment by ABA at veraison but smaller than that at fruit set.
Biodegradable mulching spray for weed control in the cultivation of containerized ornamental shrubsChemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture - Tập 5 - Trang 1-8 - 2018
Matteo Giaccone, Chiara Cirillo, Pasquale Scognamiglio, Maurizio Teobaldelli, Alessandro Mataffo, Adriano Stinca, Antonio Pannico, Barbara Immirzi, Gabriella Santagata, Mario Malinconico, Boris Basile
Weed control represents a major issue in plant cultivation in containers. Manual weed control is very expensive and the use of chemical herbicide or plastic mulch films has a large environmental impact. The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of an experimental biodegradable chitosan-based mulching spray in controlling weed growth in containers. This research also studied the effect of this mulch on the growth of Viburnum lucidum Mill. plants to test for possible phytotoxic effects. The study compared a total of six treatments derived from three types of weed control (no weed control; herbicide, oxadiazon; mulching spray) applied in containers either filled only with the sterile substrate or filled with the sterile substrate and then artificially inoculated with seeds of the weed species [Sonchus asper (L.) Hill subsp. asper and Epilobium montanum L.]. The mulch controlled the weeds effectively for more than 2 months after its application even under severe weed infestation. The mulching spray controlled the emergence of S. asper more efficiently than E. montanum plants, probably because the latter has a stronger capacity to penetrate the mulch film during emergence. Three months after its application, the mulch started to degrade and this allowed some weeds to emerge in the containers, but, in general, the mulch performed better than the herbicide. The chitosan-based mulch did not have any negative effective on the growth of V. lucidum plants.
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from dairy wastewater effluent: bacterial accumulation, structural characterization and physical propertiesChemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture - Tập 7 - Trang 1-14 - 2020
Giorgia Pagliano, Wanda Gugliucci, Elena Torrieri, Alessandro Piccolo, Silvana Cangemi, Fabio Angelo Di Giuseppe, Alessandro Robertiello, Vincenza Faraco, Olimpia Pepe, Valeria Ventorino
To establish bioplastics as a real alternative to conventional plastics, high production costs must be constrained by using different kinds of wastewater streams as organic substrates and novel microbial strains as material-accumulating bacteria with high performance. Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) from the effluent of dairy wastewater biodigestion represent a new and inexpensive feedstock, which was used in this study for biopolymer production through microbial processes. Cupriavidus necator DSM 13513 was particularly able to accumulate PHAs when operating in fed-batch mode by limiting the oxygen level together with intermittent feeding of a carbon source; maximum poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) accumulation was achieved in 48 h without compromising microbial growth. The complex VFAs mixture from the digestate did not influence PHA homopolymer accumulation. In fact, structural characterization by NMR analysis revealed PHB synthesis by C. necator DSM 13513 grown with different VFAs mixtures. Moreover, the bioplastic disk obtained from C. necator DSM 13513 cells grown on VFAs from digested dairy wastewater effluent presented good thermic properties and low affinity to water. Overall, the results make digested dairy wastewater effluent suitable for PHB production for specific biobased industrial applications.
Phenol content and antioxidant activity of green, yellow and black tea leavesChemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture - Tập 2 - Trang 1-6 - 2015
Mirela Kopjar, Maja Tadić, Vlasta Piližota
Green, black and yellow tea leaves are rich in phenolic compounds that are known for their antioxidant activity thus beneficial effect on human health. In practice, different methods are used to determine antioxidant activity. The objective of this study was to determine content of phenols, flavonoids and tannins, as well as antioxidant activity of tea leaves. Green, yellow and black tea leaves (intact and pulverised leaves) were used for extraction by methanol or acidified methanol. Spectrophotometric methods were used for determination of selected parameters. Antioxidant activity was determined in extracts and pulverised tea leaves by application of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrilhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) free radicals. For determination of antioxidant activity of the pulverised leaves, ‘QUENCHER’ method was used. The method is based on the direct treatment of dry sample with free radicals. Extracts obtained by extraction of pulverised tea leaves with acidified methanol had the highest phenolic content (3.823, 4.226 and 6.829 g/kg for green, black and yellow tea, respectively). In methanol extracts, phenol content decreased in order yellow > green > black tea and, in acidified methanol extracts, yellow > black > green tea, regardless of particle size of tea leaves for extraction. Flavonoid and tannin contents followed the same tendency as phenol content. The highest antioxidant activity had acidified methanol extracts of pulverised tea leaves, regardless of used method (DPPH and ABTS). Results of antioxidant activity obtained with ‘QUENCHER’ method were compared with results of acidified methanol extracts. Green and yellow tea had higher antioxidant activity when ‘QUENCHER’ method was used in contrast to the black tea where higher antioxidant activity was determined in extract. Particle size and extraction solvent had high influence on total phenolic compounds, total flavonoid and tannin content as well as on antioxidant activity. Also, antioxidant activity of samples highly depended on used free radicals and sample preparation prior their application.
Extraction and characterization of bio-effectors from agro-food processing by-products as plant growth promotersChemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture - Tập 1 - Trang 1-13 - 2014
Ziad Al Chami, Deaa Alwanney, Sandra Angelica De Pascali, Ivana Cavoski, Francesco Paolo Fanizzi
Recently, a novel concept ‘bio-effectors’ rose on to describe a group of products that are able to improve plant performance rather than fertilizers. Agro-food processing residues and by-products potentially represent important sources of bio-effectors but they are currently not properly taken in consideration. To fulfill this gap, in these study, three food processing by-products: (i) brewers' spent grain, (ii) fennel processing residues, and (iii) lemon processing residues were chosen as bio-effector candidates. Raw materials were chemically characterized, and green extraction methodology was optimized by using water, ethanol, and their mixture based on the extraction yields. Aqueous extracts were used for seed germination bioassays on Lepidium sativum seeds to evaluate their potential bioactivities. Thereafter, the extracts were chemically characterized and metabolites were detected by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. Results are summarized as follows: (i) raw materials showed an interesting nutritional content; (ii) aqueous extraction resulted higher yield more than other used solvent; (iii) at high solvent extraction ratio, aqueous extracts were not phytotoxic but enhanced seed germination and root elongation; (iv) all aqueous extracts are differently rich in nutrients, amino-acids, sugars, and other low molecular weight molecule compounds. This study confirmed that efficient and simple recovery of bioactive compounds other than nutrients from agro-food processing by-products appear to be the new frontier in their valorization.
Total auxin level in the soil–plant system as a modulating factor for the effectiveness of PGPR inocula: a reviewChemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture - Tập 10 - Trang 1-17 - 2023
Manuel Pantoja-Guerra, Nelson Valero-Valero, Camilo A. Ramírez
Biofertilizers are an alternative to face the sustainability problem that chemical fertilizers represent in agriculture. Among them, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is a microbial group with high potential, but lack of reproducible results from their application is a bottleneck for its use in agricultural production. Here we highlight a factor that could partially explain this inconsistency: the total auxin level in the soil–plant system. Auxin production is recognized as a main mechanism for plant growth promotion by PGPR; however, the final effect of auxins depends on a fine balance of its content, and this will be a result of all the sources of auxin compounds in the system. In addition to the auxins produced by inoculated bacteria, the plant itself produces its own hormones as part of complex physiological processes, varying in amount and sensitivity. Also, soil organic matter displays like auxin activity, causing plant responses just like those produced by added auxins. Therefore, the inoculation of an auxin-producing PGPR on plants might cause a wide variety of responses, ranging from effective growth promotion to growth restriction, depending on the total auxin content in root tissue. We think this must be considered for the practical use of bacterial biofertilizers, in order to have better and more consistent results of inoculation.
