Fatty Acid Composition of Seed Oils of Twelve Salvia Species Growing in Turkey

Seed oils of 12 Salvia species collected from different regions in Turkey (S. Albimaculata Hedge & Hub.-Mor., S. Candidisima Vahl., S. Cedronella Boiss., S. Cryptantha Montbret & Aucher ex Bentham, S. Forskahlei L., S. Fruticosa Miller (Sin. S. Triloba L. Fil), S. Halophila Hedge, S. Hypargeia Fisch. & Mey., S. Sclarea L., S. Tomentosa Miller, S. Tchihatcheffii (Fisch. & Mey.) Boiss., S. Virgata Jacq.) were obtained by Soxhlet apparatus using hexane. The oil yields were found to be between 2.0% and 20.9%. Fatty acids in the oils were converted to methyl esters and determined by GC/MS in methyl ester form. The main fatty acid components of S. halophila, S. Hypargeia, and S. Sclarea are unsaturated oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids. In others except S. Candidissima, the dominant acids are oleic, linoleic and palmitic acids.     

Evaluation of soybean seed protein extraction focusing on metalloprotein analysis

Two methods of protein extraction for soybean seeds were evaluated in terms of preservation of the metal ions bound to proteins after the extraction and separation procedures. The proteins were firstly separated according to their molar masses by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Then, the protein bands were mapped by synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence in order to establish which metal ions were present in each one. Finally, some mapped protein bands were decomposed by microwave-assisted combustion and Ca, Cu, K, Mg, Mn, and Zn were quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry or inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The extraction methods studied were Method A (based on the treatment of ground soybean seeds with hexane and their extraction with Tris–HCl and β-mercaptoethanol) and Method B (based on the treatment of ground soybean seeds with petroleum ether and their extraction with Tris–HCl, dithiothreitol, phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride, sodium dodecyl sulfate and potassium chloride). The best method was Method B, in which a 78% higher extraction efficiency was obtained when compared to Method A. Additionally, the metal-protein interactions were more appropriately preserved when Method B was applied, where the most affected ions were those that are bound weakly to proteins, such as Ca, K, and Mg.     

Preparation, characterization and properties studies of quinine-imprinted polymer in the aqueous phase

The uniform-sized spherical molecularly imprinted polymers were successfully prepared through molecular imprinting technology by two-step seed swelling and mini-emulsion polymerization in the aqueous condition using quinine as template molecules and methacrylic acid (MAA) as functional monomer. The polymers were characterized by IR spectra, thermal-weight analysis, scanning electron microscope and laser particle size analysis. The properties of imprinted polymers were investigated in different organic phases and aqueous media. In the organic media, results suggested that polar interactions (hydrogen bonding, ionic interactions) between acidic monomer/polymer and template molecules are mainly responsible for the binding and recognition; whereas in the aqueous medium, a considerable recognition effect was also obtained where the ionic (electrostatic) interaction and hydrophobic interaction play an important role. The experiments of binding different substrates indicated that the MIPs possessed an excellent rebinding ability and inherent selectivity to quinine. __________ Translated from Zhongshan Dcocue Xuebao/Acta Scientianum Natralium University Sunyatseni, 2005, 44(3)(in Chinese)     

人造芥子油中异硫氰酸烯丙酯与硫氰酸烯丙酯的气相色谱分析

采用２ｍ×３ｍｍ玻璃柱，涂布０．５％ＥＧＡ的８０～１００目ＧａｓｃｈｒｏｍＱ为固定相，以异辛醇为内标物，分析芥子油中异硫氰酸烯丙酯与硫氰酸烯丙酯异构体。该方法既可用于人造芥子油的含量分析，也可用于市售芥子油的质量鉴定。     

Screening of acetogenin-producing plants in Brazilian flora

The acetogenins are strongly bioactive natural compounds present in the bark, roots, leaves, and seeds of manyAnnonaceae plants. They are modified fatty acids and their cytotoxicities have been determined for different biological models including the in vitro growth inhibition of several human cancer cell lines. Very low acetogenin yield (< 0.1 g%) has been found previously in native phytobiomass, and we have now investigated the nonpredatory exploitation of the seeds as acetogenin sources characterizing the seed triacylglycerols (dominant fraction; > 90% of the whole lipid extracts) as potential valuable by-products.     

Development of a sensitive and reliable high performance liquid chromatography method with fluorescence detection for high-throughput analysis of multi-class mycotoxins in Coix seed

As an edible and medicinal plant, Coix seed is readily contaminated by more than one group of mycotoxins resulting in potential risk to human health. A reliable and sensitive method has been developed to determine seven mycotoxins (aflatoxins B₁, B₂, G₁, G₂, zearalenone, α-zearalenol, and β-zearalenol) simultaneously in 10 batches of Coix seed marketed in China. The method is based on a rapid ultrasound-assisted solid–liquid extraction (USLE) using methanol/water (80/20) followed by immunoaffinity column (IAC) clean-up, on-line photochemical derivatization (PCD), and high performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD). Careful optimization of extraction, clean-up, separation and detection conditions was accomplished to increase sample throughput and to attain rapid separation and sensitive detection. Method validation was performed by analyzing samples spiked at three different concentrations for the seven mycotoxins. Recoveries were from 73.5% to 107.3%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) lower than 7.7%. The intra- and inter-day precisions, expressed as RSDs, were lower than 4% for all studied analytes. Limits of detection and quantification ranged from 0.01 to 50.2 μg kg⁻¹, and from 0.04 to 125.5 μg kg⁻¹, respectively, which were below the tolerance levels for mycotoxins set by the European Union. Samples that tested positive were further analyzed by HPLC tandem electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for confirmatory purposes. This is the first application of USLE-IAC-HPLC-PCD-FLD for detecting the occurrence of multi-class mycotoxins in Coix seed.     

Development of Immunonutrient from Pumpkin (Cucurbita Moschata Duchense Ex. Lamk.) Seed

Pumpkin seeds has long been used as a source of nutrition. Based on its content, it is possible that part of this plant used as immunonutrient. The purpose of this research is to study the immunomodulatory activity of pumpkin seeds. It effects on the non-specific immune response was determined through carbon clearance test, organ indexes (liver, spleen and thymic gland) and mice peritoneal exudate activity (PEA). The effects on specific immune response were determined through total antibody titre, delayed type of hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction and number of lymphocytes. On non specific immune response test, pumpkin seed at a low dose (PLD-3.8 g/kg bw) and at a high dose (PHD-7.6 g/kg bw) showed immunostimulanting effect with phagocytic index of 1.219 and 1.347, respectively. PHD increased PEA activity (p<0.01) in lysing microbes. On specific immune response test, PLD and PHD showed immunostimulation effect indicated through 50% haemaglutination activity (HA titre) i.e., 1:512 and 1:2048, respectively compared to than that of control (1:256) for secondary antibody titre. Through cellular immunity test, 48 hours after challenged, PHD showed significant (p<0.05) increased in footpad thickness. After 7 days administration, both doses of pumpkin increased lymphocytes number significantly (p<0.05). Based on the data it can be concluded that, pumpkin seeds have immunomodulatory effects, and can therefore be used as immunonutrient     

A New Approach for Controlling Mesoporosity in Activated Carbon by the Consecutive Process of Air Oxidation,Thermal Destruction of Surface Functional Groups,and Carbon Activation (the OTA Method)

A new and simple method, based entirely on a physical approach, was proposed to produce activated carbon from longan fruit seed with controlled mesoporosity. This method, referred to as the OTA, consisted of three consecutive steps of (1) air oxidation of initial microporous activated carbon of about 30% char burn-off to introduce oxygen surface functional groups, (2) the thermal destruction of the functional groups by heating the oxidized carbon in a nitrogen atmosphere at a high temperature to increase the surface reactivity due to increased surface defects by bond disruption, and (3) the final reactivation of the resulting carbon in carbon dioxide. The formation of mesopores was achieved through the enlargement of the original micropores after heat treatment via the CO₂ gasification, and at the same time new micropores were also produced, resulting in a larger increase in the percentage of mesopore volume and the total specific surface area, in comparison with the production of activated carbon by the conventional two-step activation method using the same activation time and temperature. For the activation temperatures of 850 and 900 °C and the activation time of up to 240 min, it was found that the porous properties of activated carbon increased with the increase in activation time and temperature for both preparation methods. A maximum volume of mesopores of 0.474 cm³/g, which accounts for 44.1% of the total pore volume, and a maximum BET surface area of 1773 m²/g was achieved using three cycles of the OTA method at the activation temperature of 850 °C and 60 min activation time for each preparation cycle. The two-step activation method yielded activated carbon with a maximum mesopore volume of 0.270 cm³/g (33.0% of total pore volume) and surface area of 1499 m²/g when the activation temperature of 900 °C and a comparable activation time of 240 min were employed. Production of activated carbon by the OTA method is superior to the two-step activation method for better and more precise control of mesopore development.     

Supercritical Fluid Extract of Putranjiva roxburghii Wall. Seeds Mitigates Fertility Impairment in a Zebrafish Model

Putrajeevak (Putranjiva roxburghii Wall.; synonym Drypetes roxburghii (Wall.) Hurus) seeds have been used since ancient times in the treatment of infertility in the Ayurvedic system of medicine in India. In this study, the oil component of Putrajeevak seeds (PJSO) was extracted using the supercritical fluid extraction (SCFE) method using liquid CO₂ and the constituents were analyzed using gas chromatography-flame ionized detectorand high-performance thin-layer chromatography. PJSO contained trace amounts of β-sitosterol with oleic and linoleic acids as the major fatty acid constituents. Male and female zebrafish were mutagenized with N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) and fish that produced less than 20 viable embryos were selected for the study. SCFE oil extracts from the P. roxburghii seeds were used in this study to reverse fertility impairment. The mutant fish were fed with PJSO for a period of 14 days and the rates of fertility, conception, and fecundity were determined with wild-type healthy fish as a breeding partner. Treatment with PJSO increased the ovarian follicle count as well as the number of mature eggs, while reducing the number of ovarian cysts. Sperm count as well as sperm motility were greatly enhanced in the ENU-mutagenized male zebrafish when treated with PJSO. The results obtained in this study demonstrate the effectiveness of P. roxburghii seed oil in reversing impaired fertility in both male and female zebrafish models.