Preparation and properties of phosphate starches from tuberous roots.

The diversification of raw materials in the starch industries is a current strategy. However, the production of native starches does not meet market demand, and it is essential to expand the knowledge about chemical modifications in the same production line for different sources of starch. Phosphate starches are one of the most abundantly produced and widely used chemically modified starches. However, the effects of this modification may vary with the starch source and the reaction conditions. In this study, arrowroot, cassava and sweet potato starches were modified with sodium trimetaphosphate (STMP)/sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) mixture under same conditions. The reaction time ranged from 7.5 to 120 min. Unmodified and modified starches were analyzed for phosphorus, amylose, morphology, X-ray diffraction pattern, crystallinity, swelling power, solubility, pasting and thermal properties. Phosphorus content linked to the starches increased with the reaction time, which affected the physicochemical properties of the three starches. The changes were more significant in all reaction times for cassava starch, followed by arrowroot. Due to its intrinsic characteristics, longer reaction times were necessary for more significant changes in sweet potato starch. Regardless of the starch source, as the reaction time increased, the average starch granule diameter, swelling power, solubility and peak viscosity increased. There was a decrease in setback in the longer reaction times for cassava and arrowroot starches. The changes in the reaction times allowed obtaining phosphate tuberous starches with different properties which can meet the demands of the food and non-food industries.

Simultaneous remediation of sediments contaminated with sulfamethoxazole and cadmium using magnesium-modified biochar derived from Thalia dealbata.

In situ remediation and assessment of sediments contaminated with both antibiotics and heavy metals remains a technological challenge. In this study, MgCl2-modified biochar (BCM) was obtained at 500 °C through slow pyrolysis of Thalia dealbata and used for remediation of sediments contaminated by sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and Cd. The BCM showed greater surface area (110.6 m2 g-1) than pristine biochar (BC, 7.1 m2 g-1). The SMX sorption data were well described by Freundlich model while Langmuir model was better for the Cd2+ sorption data. The addition of 5.0% BCM significantly increased the sorption of SMX (by 50.8-58.6%) and Cd (by 24.2-25.6%) on sediments in both single and binary systems as compared with 5.0% BC. SMX sorption in sediments was significantly improved by addition of Cd2+, whereas SMX has no influence on Cd sorption on sediments. The addition of BCM distinctly decreased both SMX (by 51.4-87.2%) and Cd concentrations (by 56.2-91.3%) in overlying water, as well as in TCLP extracts (by 55.6-86.1% and 58.2-91.9% for SMX and Cd, respectively), as compared with sediments without biochar. Both germination rate and root length of pakchoi increased with increasing doses of BCM in contaminated sediments, 5.0% BCM showed greater promotion on pakchoi growth than 5.0% BC. Overall, BCM in the sediments does not only decrease the bioavailability of SMX and Cd, but it also diminishes the phytotoxicity, and thereby shows great application potential for in situ remediation of sediments polluted with antibiotics and heavy metals.

Biochemical and Physiological Characteristics of Photosynthesis in Plants of Two Calathea Species.

Plants of the genus Calathea possess many leaf colors, and they are economically important because they are widely used as ornamentals for interior landscaping. Physiological performances and photosynthetic capacities of C. insignis and C. makoyana were investigated. The photosynthetic efficiencies of C. insignis and C. makoyana were significantly increased when the photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) increased from 0 to 600 µmol photons·m-2·s-1 and became saturated with a further increase in the PPFD. The two Calathea species had lower values of both the light saturation point and maximal photosynthetic rate, which indicated that they are shade plants. No significant differences in predawn Fv/Fm values (close to 0.8) were observed between dark-green (DG) and light-green (LG) leaf sectors in all tested leaves. However, the effective quantum yield of photosystem II largely decreased as the PPFD increased. An increase in the apparent photosynthetic electron transport rate was observed in both species to a maximum at 600 µmol·m-2·s-1 PPFD, following by a decrease to 1500 µmol·m-2·s-1 PPFD. Compared to LG leaf extracts, DG leaf extracts contained higher levels of chlorophyll (Chl) a, Chl b, Chls a + b, carotenoids (Cars), anthocyanins (Ants), flavonoids (Flas), and polyphenols (PPs) in all plants, except for the Ant, Fla and PP contents of C. insignis plants. Calathea insignis also contained significantly higher levels of total protein than did C. makoyana. The adjusted normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), photochemical reflectance index (PRI), red-green, and flavonol index (FlavI) were significantly correlated to leaf Chls a + b, Cars, Ants, and Flas in C. makoyana, respectively, and can be used as indicators to characterize the physiology of these plants.

Antidiarrheal and antinociceptive activities of ethanol extract and its chloroform and pet ether fraction of Phrynium imbricatum (Roxb.) leaves in mice.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the study was to evaluate the antidiarrheal and antinociceptive activities of ethanol extract and its chloroform and pet ether fraction of Phrynium imbricatum (Roxb.) leaves in mice. METHODS: In the present study, the dried leaves of P. imbricatum were subjected to extraction with ethanol, and then it was fractioned by chloroform and pet ether solvent. Antidiarrheal effects were tested by using castor oil-induced diarrhea, castor oil-induced enteropooling, and gastrointestinal transit test. Antinociceptive activity was evaluated by using the acetic acid-induced writhing test and formalin-induced paw licking test. RESULTS: The standard drug loperamide (5 mg/kg) showed significant (p<0.001) inhibitory activity against castor oil-induced diarrhea, in which all the examined treatments decreased the frequency of defecation and were found to possess an anti-castor oil-induced enteropooling effect in mice by reducing both weight and volume of intestinal content significantly, and reducing the propulsive movement in castor oil-induced gastrointestinal transit using charcoal meal in mice. The results showed that the ethanol extract of P. imbricatum leaves has significant dose-dependent antinociceptive activity, and among its two different fractions, the pet ether fraction significantly inhibited the abdominal writhing induced by acetic acid and the licking times in formalin test at both phases. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the plant may be a potential source for the development of a new antinociceptive drug and slightly suitable for diarrhea, as it exhibited lower activity. Our observations resemble previously published data on P. imbricatum leaves.

Biofunctionalized Plants as Diverse Biomaterials for Human Cell Culture.

The commercial success of tissue engineering products requires efficacy, cost effectiveness, and the possibility of scaleup. Advances in tissue engineering require increased sophistication in the design of biomaterials, often challenging the current manufacturing techniques. Interestingly, several of the properties that are desirable for biomaterial design are embodied in the structure and function of plants. This study demonstrates that decellularized plant tissues can be used as adaptable scaffolds for culture of human cells. With simple biofunctionalization technique, it is possible to enable adhesion of human cells on a diverse set of plant tissues. The elevated hydrophilicity and excellent water transport abilities of plant tissues allow cell expansion over prolonged periods of culture. Moreover, cells are able to conform to the microstructure of the plant frameworks, resulting in cell alignment and pattern registration. In conclusion, the current study shows that it is feasible to use plant tissues as an alternative feedstock of scaffolds for mammalian cells.

Interface design and reinforced features of arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea) starch/polyester-based membranes: Preparation, antioxidant activity, and cytocompatibility.

The structural, mechanical, antioxidant, and cytocompatibility properties of membranes prepared from the polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) and arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea) starch powder (ASP) blend (PHA/ASP) were studied. The acrylic acid-grafted PHA (PHA-g-AA) and the coupling agent treated ASP (TASP) were used to enhance the desired characteristics of these membranes. The PHA-g-AA/TASP membranes had better mechanical properties than the PHA/ASP membrane. This effect was attributed to greater compatibility between the grafted PHA and TASP. The water resistance of the PHA-g-AA/TASP membranes was greater than that of the PHA/ASP membranes, and a cytocompatibility evaluation with human foreskin fibroblasts (FBs) indicated that both materials were nontoxic. Moreover, both ASP and TASP enhanced the polyphenol content and antioxidant properties of the membranes. PHA-g-AA/TASP and PHA/ASP membranes had better antioxidant activity than the control group.

Nutritional quality and essential oil compositions of Thaumatococcus danielli (Benn.) tissue and seed.

Nutritional quality and essential oil compositions of Thaumatococcus danielli (Benn.) tissue and seed were determined. Oil was extracted from the seed using standard methods while the fatty acids of the oil, chemical and anti-nutritional properties of defatted seed flour were determined. Total fat yield of the seed flour was 12.20%. Defatted seed flour had higher crude fibre (36.92%), carbohydrate (40.07%) and ash (8.17%) contents. Major mineral contents were potassium, calcium, sodium and magnesium. The tissue contain appreciable amount of vitamin C (8.10 mg/100 g). Oleic acid (42.59%) was the major fatty acid in the seed oil and the total unsaturated fatty acid was 62.38%. The seed oil had higher acid and saponification values and low iodine value. Oxalate (11.09 mg/100 g) content was the major anti-nutrient in the defatted seed flour. Defatted T. danielli seed flour serves as good source of dietary fibre and energy.

Produção da araruta comum, solteira e consorciada com alface e cenoura / Yield of comum arrowroot in monocrop system and intercropped with lettuce and carrot

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a capacidade produtiva da araruta (Maranta arundinaceae) ‘Comum’, da alface ‘Grand Rapids’ e da cenoura ‘Brasília’, em cultivos solteiros e os consórcios araruta-alface e araruta-cenoura, em Dourados- MS. Para a alface e a cenoura constatou-se efeito significativo do tipo de cultivo, com os maiores valores nas plantas sob cultivo solteiro. Não houve produção de alface comercial. As características das plantas de cenoura solteiras foram aumentadas de 7,46 cm de altura; 5,36 Mg ha-¹ de massa fresca de folhas; 12,13 Mg ha-¹ de total de raízes; 11,23 Mg ha-¹ de raízes comerciais e 4,18 Mg ha-¹ de raízes não-comerciais, em relação às plantas consorciadas com a araruta. A altura das plantas da araruta variou entre 99,14 cm nas solteiras e 99,84 cm nas consorciadas com alface. As menores massas frescas dos rizomas e de raízes (19,87 Mg ha-¹ e 9,91 Mg ha-¹) foram das consorciadas com alface e as maiores (20,21 Mg ha-¹ e 11,96 Mg ha-¹) foram nas solteiras. Não obstante, a razão de área equivalente (RAE), para o consórcio araruta-alface foi de 0,98 e para o consórcio araruta-cenoura foi de 1,28. Como o valor da RAE do consórcio araruta-cenoura superou 1,0, concluiu-se que foi efetivo e que pode ser recomendado.

The objective of this work was to evaluate yield capacity of ‘Comum’ arrowroot (Maranta arundinaceae), of ‘Grand Rapids’ lettuce and of ‘Brasilia’ carrot, in monocrop system and in arrowroot-lettuce and arrowroot-carrot intercrops, in Dourados- MS. For lettuce and carrot, it was established a significative effect of cultivation type with the highest values in plants under monocrop system. There was not yield of commercial lettuce. The characteristict of the carrot plants in monocrop system were increased of 7.46 cm of height; 5.36 Mg ha-¹ of fresh mass of leaves; 12.13 Mg ha-¹ of total roots; 11.23 Mg ha-¹ of commercial roots and 4.18 Mg ha-¹ of non-commercial roots in relation to plants intercropped with arrowroot. Height of arrowroot plants varied between 99.14 cm in monocrop system and 99.84 cm intercropped with lettuce. The smallest fresh masses of rhizomes and roots (19.87 Mg ha-¹ and 9.91 Mg ha-¹) were from those intercropped with lettuce and the highest (20.21 Mg ha-¹ and 11.96 Mg ha-¹) were in monocrop system. However, the Land Equivalent Ratio - LER for arrowroot-lettuce intercrop was of 0.98 and for arrowroot-carrot intercrop was of 1.28. As the value of LER of arrowroot-carrot was superior to 1.0, it was conclude that it was effective and it can be recommended.

El objetivo del trabajo fue evaluar la capacidad productiva de la yuquilla (Maranta arundinaceae) ‘Comun’, de la lechuga ‘Grand Rapids’ y de la zanahoria ‘Brasília’, en monocultivo y en las asociaciones yuquilla-lechuga y yuquilla-zanahoria, en Dourados-MS. Para la lechuga y la zanahoria se constató efecto significativo del tipo de cultivo, con los mayores valores en las plantas en monocultivo. No hubo producción de lechuga comercial. Las características de las plantas de zanahoria en monocultivo fueron aumentadas de 7,46 cm de altura; 5,36 Mg ha-¹ de masa fresca de hojas; 12,13 Mg ha-¹ de total de raíces; 11,23 Mg ha-¹ de raíces comerciales e 4,18 Mg ha-¹ de raíces no comerciales, en relación a las plantas asociadas con la yuquilla. La altura de las plantas de yuquilla varió entre 99,14 cm en las en monocultivo y 99,84 cm en las asociadas con la lechuga. Las menores masas frescas de los rizomas y de las raíces (19,87 Mg ha-¹ y 9,91 Mg ha-¹) fueron de las asociadas con lechuga y las mayores (20,21 Mg ha-¹ y 11,96 Mg ha-¹) fueron de las en monocultivo. No obstante, la relación de área equivalente (RAE) para la asociación yuquilla-lechuga fue de 0,98 y para la asociación yuquilla-zanahoria fue de 1,28. Como el valor de la RAE de la asociación yuquilla-zanahoria superó a 1,0, se concluyó que fue efectivo y que puede ser recomendado.