Comparative Investigation on the Phytochemicals and Biological Activities of Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) pulp from Five Cultivars.

Jackfruit is one of the major tropical fruits, but information on the phytochemicals and biological benefits of its pulp is limited. In this study, the phytochemicals and biological activities including antioxidant, antitumor and anti-inflammatory activities of five jackfruit pulp cultivars (M1, M2, M3, M7 and T5) were comparatively investigated. A total of 11 compounds were identified in all cultivars of jackfruit pulp, among which 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid and tryptophan N-glucoside were reported for the first time in jackfruit. T5 exhibited the highest total phenolic content (7.69 ± 0.73 mg GAE/g DW), antioxidant capacity (109.8, 96.7 and 207 mg VCE/g DW for DPPH, ABTS and FRAP, respectively), antitumor activity (80.31%) and anti-inflammatory activity (78.44%) among five cultivars. These results can provide a reference for growers to choose jackfruit cultivar and offer an insight into the industrial application of jackfruit pulp derived-products.

Effect of C/N ratios on the performance of earthworm eco-filter for treatment of synthetics domestic sewage.

PURPOSE: The performances of filter systems that use earthworms and plants, combined with earthworm eco-filter (EE) systems in treating synthetic domestic sewage (SDS) with different C/N ratios, were investigated for a 9-month period. METHODS: The effects of the combination of filters, earthworms, plants, as well as the combination of earthworms and plants on SDS nutrient removal efficiency were separately investigated to select the optimum system for treating SDS. The results of the current study could be used to determine how treatment performance responds to different C/N ratios and to explain and predict the performance of an operating EE system. RESULTS: EE systems with earthworms and plants (EP groups) consistently performed better than the other types of systems (CK, E, and P; that is, without earthworms and without plants, with earthworms and without plants, and without earthworms and with plants, respectively) under all C/N ratios. The highest removal efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total organic carbon were achieved under C/N ratios of 6:1, 6:1, 6:1, and 9:1, respectively. The optimum nutrient removal efficiency was achieved at C/N = 6, and the contribution order for nutrient removal was EP > P > E > CK. CONCLUSIONS: Influent C/N ratios, the time of year, and the synergetic effects of earthworm behavior and microorganisms significantly affected nutrient removal efficiencies. Considering the removal of all nutrients, EE systems with plants and earthworms achieved optimum removal effects in July when the influent C/N ratio was controlled at 6. Appropriate control of carbon and nitrogen source concentrations permitted the achievement of optimal nutrient removal effects.

[Analysis of speciation distribution of se in mungbean during enzymatic hydrolization].

In the present paper, selenium content in mungbean and selenium speciation distribution in mungbean during enzymatic hydrolization was investigated with AFS-230E atomic fluorescence photometer. Selenium in the decoction and enzymatic hydrolysates samples were separated into two species including primary speciation and secondary speciation. The primary speciation included the soluble and the suspended forms and was divided by 0.45 microm filter membrane. The secondary speciation included the inorganic and the organic forms and was divided by D101 macroreticular resin. The speciation parameters of selenium such as extractive rate, remain rate, residue rate, immerse-residue ratio and speciation distribution coefficients, etc in different samples were calculated. The results showed: (1) Selenium content in mungbean was 54.79 microg x g(-1) (of dry matter). (2) Over 90% selenium in mungbean was extracted by enzymatic treatment, but only 19.26% selenium came out in water when only treated by hot water. The extraction rates of Se in the process of amylase, protease and cellulase were 33. 64%, 55.96% and 5.189%, respectively. It was inferred that most selenium was in conjugate or complexation form in mungbean protein. (3) The distribution coefficient of selenium in organic form was 59.87% in the total enzymatic product and 3.64% in the mungbean soup. Organic form distribution coefficients of selenium in amylase and protease hydrolysates were 15.51% and 44.36%, respectively. No organic selenium was detected in cellulase hydrolysate. It was inferred that selenium was in complexation form in mungbean cellulose. All the results showed that enzymatic hydrolization treatment did not only improve the total content of selenium greatly, but also materially improved the organic form content of selenium in water. The recovery for the method was 97.8% and RSD was 1.1% (n=11).

[Osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell after transfection with recombinant pAd-bone morphogenetic protein-7].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of recombinant pAd-BMP-7 on osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). METHODS: Recombinant pAd-bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 7 was constructed and the titer of recombinant adenovirus was determined. pAd-BMP-7 and pAdTrack-CMV were used to transfect rat MSC. Transfection efficiency was measured by fluorescent microscope and BMP-7 expression was detected by RT-PCR and immunocytochemical analysis. The MSC were then randomly divided into 3 groups: group A received pAd-BMP-7 transfection, group B was transfected with pAdTrack-CMV, and group C received pAdTrack-CMV transfection plus bone supplements. Osteogenic differentiation of MSC was evaluated by examination of mineralization nodes formation. RESULTS: The titer of pAd-BMP-7 reached about 2.0 x 10(15) pfu/L and transfection efficiency of exogenous gene was nearly 99% at day 2. The expression of exogenous gene sustained about 5 to 7 weeks, with a higher level during first 3 weeks. After transfection, transcription of BMP-7 and expression of BMP-7 protein were also verified in MSC. Compared with the negative results in group B, mineralization nodes were formed in both group A and group C. However, group A showed better formation of mineralization nodes than group C (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicated that recombinant pAd-BMP-7 can successfully transfect rat MSC and accelerate their osteogenic differentiation. The technique explored in this study provides a unique and valuable gene engineering approach for reconstruction of craniofacial bone defects.