Valorisation of waste fractions from autohydrolysis of selected lignocellulosic materials

Non‐isothermal processing of lignocellulosic materials in aqueous media (autohydrolysis reaction) under mild conditions leads to solutions containing valuable chemicals (oligosaccharides, sugars and acetic acid) and other, undesired, compounds (belonging to the extractive and acid‐soluble lignin fractions) which have to be removed in further purification treatments. Liquors obtained by non‐isothermal autohydrolysis of Eucalyptus globulus wood and corncobs under a variety of operational conditions were extracted with ethyl acetate in order to remove non‐saccharide components, and the suitability of the fraction dissolved in the organic phase was assayed for possible utilisation as an antioxidant. The yield and antioxidant activity of ethyl acetate extracts (measured by the α,α‐diphenyl‐β‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity) showed a strong dependence on the autohydrolysis conditions. The antioxidant activity of extracts obtained under selected operational conditions compared well with synthetic antioxidants. © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Attenuating Effects of Dieckol on Hypertensive Nephropathy in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Hypertension induces renal fibrosis or tubular interstitial fibrosis, which eventually results in end-stage renal disease. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is one of the underlying mechanisms of renal fibrosis. Though previous studies showed that Ecklonia cava extracts (ECE) and dieckol (DK) had inhibitory action on angiotensin (Ang) I-converting enzyme, which converts Ang I to Ang II. It is known that Ang II is involved in renal fibrosis; however, it was not evaluated whether ECE or DK attenuated hypertensive nephropathy by decreasing EMT. In this study, the effect of ECE and DK on decreasing Ang II and its down signal pathway of angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R)/TGFβ/SMAD, which is related with the EMT and restoring renal function in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), was investigated. Either ECE or DK significantly decreased the serum level of Ang II in the SHRs. Moreover, the renal expression of AT1R/TGFβ/SMAD was decreased by the administration of either ECE or DK. The mesenchymal cell markers in the kidney of SHRs was significantly decreased by ECE or DK. The fibrotic tissue of the kidney of SHRs was also significantly decreased by ECE or DK. The ratio of urine albumin/creatinine of SHRs was significantly decreased by ECE or DK. Overall, the results of this study indicate that ECE and DK decreased the serum levels of Ang II and expression of AT1R/TGFβ/SMAD, and then decreased the EMT and renal fibrosis in SHRs. Furthermore, the decrease in EMT and renal fibrosis could lead to the restoration of renal function. It seems that ECE or DK could be beneficial for decreasing hypertensive nephropathy by decreasing EMT and renal fibrosis.     

黄荆提取物对几种害虫的杀虫活性

研究了黄荆种子二氯甲烷提取物对5种害虫的杀虫活性以及对天敌异色瓢虫的安全性。结果表明：黄荆提取物对菜青虫、小菜蛾、麦长管蚜和桃蚜都有较高的杀虫活性，尤其是对菜青虫的活性最高，稀释100倍，处理4龄幼虫死亡率可达93．3％。但对大猿叶甲的杀虫活性则很低。黄荆提取物对异色瓢虫幼虫有一定的杀虫活性，但对其成虫无任何影响。本研究结果为开发利用这一新的杀虫植物资源提供了依据。     

Antioxidant activity in leaves of some mediterranean plants

Hexane and methanol leaf extracts of sixteen Mediterranean plant species were obtained by percolation. Higher yields were observed for methanol (16.4–47.8%) than for hexane extracts (1.3–13%). Antioxidant activity of these extracts was determined by a rapid spectrophotometric method involving the combined oxidation of beta-carotene and linoleic acid. Leaf extracts were thus characterized by an Antioxidant Activity Coefficient (AAC) ranging from 0 to 1000. Hexane extracts gave much higher AAC values than the corresponding methanol extracts. In both cases, myrtle (Myrtus communis) showed the best antioxidant effectiveness.     

Identification of organochlorines and organobromines in coals

Four Chinese bituminous coals were extracted with CS₂, n-hexane, benzene, methanol, acetone, tetrahydrofuran (THF) and THF/methanol (1: 3 vol/vol) mixed solvent sequentially. The resulting 28 extracts were analyzed with GC/MS. Six organochlorines (OCs) and two organobromines (OBs) were identified in eight extracts from the coals. Our experiments provide, for the first time, the information on the molecular structure of OCs and OBs in coals.     

Selenium Speciation Studies from Soan-Sakesar Valley,Salt Range,Pakistan

Abstract

A regional study of Selenium (Se) speciation in surface waters, groundwaters, and saturation extracts from Soan-Sakesar valley Salt-Range, Pakistan was started in March 1994 and completed in October 1996. Groundwaters, streams, and springs had median concentrations of: total Se 48, 404.5, and 82 μg/l; Se^+VI 40, 350 and 51 μg/l; Se^+IV 8, 48 and 29 μg/l; Se^-II 0, 6.5 and 2.0 μg/l, respectively. The concentration of Se exceeded the recommended water quality guidelines for drinking and irrigation water of 10 and 20 μg/l, respectively. In saturation extracts, median total Se, Se^+VI, Se^+IV and Se^-II were 190, 146, 37 and 7.0 μg/l, respectively. Uchhali, Khabbaki and Jahlar lake water samples had the mean concentration of: total Se 2103, 670 and 297 μg/l; Se^+VI 1777, 470, and 233 μg/l; Se^+IV 291, 166 and 39 μg/l; Se^-II 35, 34 and 25 μg/l, respectively. The Sakesar limestone Formation of Eocene age rich in shales and fossils (median Se concentration 7.2 μg/kg) are considered to be the source of selenium that have enriched soils of Soan-Sakesar valley. Selenim speciation results show the abundance of selenate in all the environmental samples. A linear relationship between Se^+VI and pH (R²= 0.84, 0.58, 0.88, 0.82, and 0.91; significant at the 0.05 level) for groundwater, saturation extract, stream, spring, and lake waters were noted, suggesting that the Se^+VI in the samples is highly associated with pH. Linear relationships were established between Se^+VI and Mg, NO₃, and SO₄ for groundwater (R²= 0.24, 0.16, and 0.64; significant at the 0.01 level) and surface water (R²= 0.96, 0.14, and 0.91; significant at the 0.001 level). This suggests the high concentrations of Mg, NO₃ and SO₄, which strongly adsorb and compete with selenium for surface site, increases the Se^+VI fraction. The results show that the higher percentage of selenate on other species in the analyzed samples is favored by higher pH and oxidizing environments of the valley.     

枫香叶正丁醇提取物抑菌效果及其抗氧化活性研究

采用打孔法测定抑菌圈大小和试管连续稀释法测定最小抑菌浓度(MIC),研究了枫香叶正丁醇提取物抑菌效果,并测定其对DPPH自由基、超氧阴离子自由基和羟自由基的清除活性。结果表明:枫香叶正丁醇提取物对7种实验菌均有抑制作用,不同浓度间、不同菌种间存在极显著(p<0.01)差异;且对细菌的抑制作用强于真菌,对革兰氏阴性菌的抑菌效果比革兰氏阳性菌好;对大肠杆菌、枯草杆菌、金黄色葡萄球菌、四联球菌、黄曲霉、黑曲霉、青霉的MIC分别为3.1、12.5、12.5、6.25、12.5、25、12.5mg/m L。枫香叶正丁醇提取物具有较强的的抗氧化活性,可作为功能性食品资源开发利用。      

芡种壳提取物抗氧化、抑菌活性及其组分分析

为了解芡种壳提取物主要生理活性和化学组成,采用体外抗氧化分析方法分析了提取物的总还原力、清除NO2-和DPPH·活性以及抗脂质过氧化性质;采用微生物培养法对其抑菌活性进行了分析;采用高效液相色谱法对其主要组分进行了分析。结果表明4种芡种壳提取物中总酚含量很高（387.62⁷63.65 mg/g）,并显示出较强的总还原力、较强的DPPH·清除作用和脂质过氧化抑制活性以及中等强度的NO2-清除活性。4种提取物对大肠杆菌O157、阪崎肠杆菌、单增李斯特菌等显示较强的抑菌活性。高效液相色谱分析结果表明,提取物中含有芦丁、没食子酸、绿原酸和儿茶素等活性组分。芡种壳提取物具有很强的抗氧化活性和一定的抑菌活性,与其中丰富的多酚物质密切相关,作为天然抗氧化剂具有一定开发潜力。      

胡椒提取物抑菌活性研究

以大肠杆菌、枯草芽孢杆菌、金黄色葡萄球菌、酵母菌、黑曲霉五种菌为供试菌,比较了黑胡椒5种不同有机相提取物及2种常用防腐剂的最低抑菌浓度(MIC)。结果表明,黑胡椒5种不同有机相的提取物及2种防腐剂对5种菌都有一定的抑菌效果,其中氯仿相提取物对以上5种常见菌种的抑菌效果最好,而山梨酸钾的抑菌效果最差。      

新型天然植物防腐剂在延长低温肉制品货架期中的应用

分别将新型复合天然植物防腐剂和常规化学防腐剂山梨酸钾添加到非烟熏法兰克福香肠中,真空包装后贮藏于4℃下,通过测定微生物、pH、色度和质构四项指标来比较两类防腐剂的防腐效果。结果表明,新型复合天然植物防腐剂的防腐效果显著优于山梨酸钾,添加量为4、6g/kg时,可将产品货架期分别延长至4和6周,且对产品的色泽和质构产生有利影响。