Differences and Correlations of Morphological Characteristics and Fatty Acid Profiles of Seeds of Toona sinensis.

Toona sinensis (A.Juss.) M.Roem., a multi-purpose tree of Meliaceae, is widely distributed and intensively cultivated in Asia, yet its high yielding, lipid-rich seeds are rarely exploited. The present study systematically analyzed the differences and correlations of seed morphological characteristics and fatty acid (FA) profiles of 62 representative T. sinensis germplasms distributed across northern to southern China. T. sinensis seeds were rich in total FAs (TFA, 107.03-176.18 mg/g). Additionally, linoleic acid (54.69-100.59 mg/g), α-linolenic acid (ALA, 22.47-45.02 mg/g), oleic acid (OA, 5.12-23.94 mg/g), palmitic acid (6.87-14.14 mg/g), stearic acid (SA, 3.13-6.57 mg/g) and elaidic acid (1.70-2.88 mg/g) were the major FAs measured by GC/MS analysis. Size (average width of 3.94±0.01 mm and length of 5.79±0.02 mm) and mass (average thousand-seed weight of 10.52±0.17 g) were greater in T. sinensis seeds collected south than north of 30° latitude. These traits were also positively correlated with unsaturated FA content and negatively related to SA and saturated FA contents (P<0.05). Significant positive correlations were found between seed length and polyunsaturated FA (R2 =0.370) and ALA levels (R2 =0.296), as well as between thousand-seed weight and monounsaturated FAs (R2 =0.309) and OA levels (R2 =0.297) (P<0.05). Seventeen T. sinensis germplasms gathered by cluster analysis as cluster IV were determined as desirable for oil processing due to their higher TFA and ALA contents and greater seed size and mass than others. Generally, the wider, heavier, and especially longer seeds of T. sinensis contain much higher levels of FAs, especially ALA, and are the more promising sources for breeding and the oil processing industry.

Glutathionyl-S-chlorogenic acid is present in fruit of Vaccinium species, potato tubers and apple juice.

A hydroxycinnamate-like component was identified in highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) fruit, which had identical UV and mass spectrometric properties to an S-linked glutathionyl conjugate of chlorogenic acid synthesized using a peroxidase-catalyzed reaction. The conjugate was present in fruits from all highbush blueberry genotypes grown in one season, reaching 7-20% of the relative abundance of 5-caffeoylquininc acid. It was enriched, along with anthocyanins, by fractionation on solid phase cation-exchange units. Mining of pre-existing LC-MS data confirmed that this conjugate was ubiquitous in highbush blueberries, but also present in other Vaccinium species. Similar data mining identified this conjugate in potato tubers with enrichment in peel tissues. In addition, the conjugate was also present in commercial apple juice and was stable to pasteurization and storage. Although glutathionyl conjugates of hydroxycinnamic acids have been noted previously, this is the first report of glutathionyl conjugates of chlorogenic acids in commonly-eaten fruits and vegetables.

Variation of anthocyanins and flavonols in Vaccinium uliginosum berry in Lesser Khingan Mountains and its antioxidant activity.

Variation of anthocyanin and flavonol in Vaccinium uliginosum berry from seven locations in the Lesser Khingan Mountains was examined for the first time. A total of 14 anthocyanins and 10 flavonols were identified using HPLC-DAD and HPLC-ESI-MS(2) analysis. The composition of anthocyanins and flavonols in berries were the same in all of the locations investigated. Malvidin 3-O-glucoside was the most abundant anthocyanin, and quercetin 3-O-galactoside was the main flavonol compound. The berries from Wuying region had the highest concentrations of both anthocyanins and flavonols. It was found that the concentrations of both anthocyanins and flavonols increased with rising altitude. Furthermore, the concentrations of polyphenols, and especially anthocyanins, in V. uliginosum berry showed significant positive correlation with antioxidant activity as measured by DPPH, ABTS(+) and FRAP assays. This study is valuable for further basic research and applied development of V. uliginosum in the Lesser Khingan Mountains.