Profile of Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Celery (Apium graveolens) Juices Obtained from Pulp after α-Amylase Treatment from Aspergillus oryzae.

The purpose of this study was to determine the content of certain phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, pressing efficiency, extract content, and sugars in celeriac juices obtained from the pulp after α-amylase treatment from Aspergillus oryzae. The test material consisted of peeled and unpeeled celery pulp kept at a temperature of 25 °C with and without the enzyme for a period of 30 and 60 min. The juices obtained from them were analyzed for the content of selected phenolic acids and flavonoids using the UPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS method, for antioxidant activity measured using the ABTS˙+ and DPPH˙ method, and for the total polyphenol content using the F-C method. Additionally, the juice pressing efficiency, the extract content using the refractometer method, and the sugar content using the HPLC method were checked. Significantly higher antioxidant activity, pressing yield, and average content of caffeic acid glucoside, quinic acid, kaempferol-3,7-di-O-glucoside, and chrysoeriol-7-O-apiosylglucoside were obtained in juices from peeled celery. Maceration of the pulp with amylase resulted in a significant reduction in antioxidant activity compared to control samples. An is-total increase of 17-41% in total flavonoid content was observed in all juices tested after treatment with the enzyme for 30 and 60 min, and the phenolic acid content increased by 4-41% after treatment of the pulp with amylase for 60 min. The 60 min holding of the pulp at 25 °C, including with the enzyme, was shown to decrease the antioxidant activity and the content of quinic acid, ferulic acid, and chrysoriol-7-O-apiose-glucoside in the juices tested compared to the samples held for 30 min, while the content of other phenolic acids and flavonoids increased. In addition, after 60 min of enzymatic maceration, the pressing yield of the juices increased.

In-vitro antioxidant, antimicrobial and phytochemical properties of extracts from the pulp and seeds of the African baobab fruit (Adansonia digitata L.).

Adansonia digitata, commonly known as the African Baobab plant is used widely in traditional medicine for treating of many diseases. The current study investigates the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, and nutritional composition of the pulp and seeds from the fruit of African Baobab plant. Matured fruits were harvested and processed by separating the fruit pulp and seeds. Water, 70 % Ethanol/water mixture, and Hexane were used as solvents for extraction. Antioxidant properties of extracts in this study were investigated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, hydrogen peroxidescavenging assays., Total Flavonoid Content, Total Phenolic Content, Total Tannin Content, and Total Antioxidant Capacity were also investigated. Agar Well Diffusion and Broth Dilution methods were used to estimate the antimicrobial properties of the extracts. The proximate composition of the seeds and fruit pulps was also determined. GC-MS was employed to determine the fatty acid composition. Results obtained showed the presence of Total phenolics (range 4.1-5.5 mg GAE/g), Total flavonoids (range 10.1-16.5 mg QE/g), Total Tannins (range 1.7-15.6 mg CE/g), and Antioxidants (range 2.0-14.5 mg AAE/g). The H2O2 and DPPH assays gave IC50s in the ranges of 300-1800 mg/L and 700-1600 mg/L respectively. Extract from the fruit pulp was found to inhibit the growth of a panel of 2 g-positive bacteria, 2 g-negative bacteria, and two fungi microorganisms. Fatty acids such as myristic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid were found to be present in oil from the seeds. Proximate components such as crude protein, crude fat, and crude fibre were found to be high. From the results, seeds and the fruit pulp of the African Baobab plant have significant antioxidant properties and can inhibit microbial growth.

Effects of Supplementation with Microalgae Extract from Phaeodactylum tricornutum (Mi136) to Support Benefits from a Weight Management Intervention in Overweight Women.

BACKGROUND: Microalgae like Phaeodactylum tricornutum (PT) contain the carotenoid, fucoxanthin, which has been purported to promote fat loss, lower blood lipids, and improve glucose management. This study examined whether dietary supplementation with microalgae extracts from PT containing 4.4 mg/d of fucoxanthin affects changes in body composition or health markers in overweight women during an exercise and diet intervention. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 37 females (28.6 ± 7.9 years, 80.2 ± 14.9 kg, 29.6 ± 3.8 kg/m², 41.4 ± 4.2% fat) fasted for 12 h, donated a fasting blood sample, completed health and mood state inventories, and undertook body composition, health, and exercise assessments. In a counterbalanced, randomized, and double-blind manner, participants ingested a placebo (PL), or microalgae extract of Phaeodactylum tricornutum standardized to 4.4 mg of fucoxanthin (FX) for 12 weeks while participating in a supervised exercise program that included resistance-training and walking (3 days/week) with encouragement to accumulate 10,000 steps/day on remaining days of the week. The diet intervention involved reducing energy intake by about -300 kcal/d (i.e., ≈1400-1600 kcals/d, 55% carbohydrate, 30% fat, 15% protein) to promote a -500 kcal/d energy deficit with exercise. Follow-up testing was performed at 6 and 12 weeks. A general linear model (GLM) with repeated measures statistical analysis was used to analyze group responses and changes from baseline with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Dietary supplementation with microalgae extract from PT containing fucoxanthin for 12 weeks did not promote additional weight loss or fat loss in overweight but otherwise healthy females initiating an exercise and diet intervention designed to promote modest weight loss. However, fucoxanthin supplementation preserved bone mass, increased bone density, and saw greater improvements in walking steps/day, resting heart rate, aerobic capacity, blood lipid profiles, adherence to diet goals, functional activity tolerance, and measures of quality of life. Consequently, there appears to be some benefit to supplementing microalgae extract from PT containing fucoxanthin during a diet and exercise program. Registered clinical trial #NCT04761406.

Developmental pleiotropy of SDP1 from seedling to mature stages in B. napus.

Rapeseed, an important oil crop, relies on robust seedling emergence for optimal yields. Seedling emergence in the field is vulnerable to various factors, among which inadequate self-supply of energy is crucial to limiting seedling growth in early stage. SUGAR-DEPENDENT1 (SDP1) initiates triacylglycerol (TAG) degradation, yet its detailed function has not been determined in B. napus. Here, we focused on the effects of plant growth during whole growth stages and energy mobilization during seedling establishment by mutation in BnSDP1. Protein sequence alignment and haplotypic analysis revealed the conservation of SDP1 among species, with a favorable haplotype enhancing oil content. Investigation of agronomic traits indicated bnsdp1 had a minor impact on vegetative growth and no obvious developmental defects when compared with wild type (WT) across growth stages. The seed oil content was improved by 2.0-2.37% in bnsdp1 lines, with slight reductions in silique length and seed number per silique. Furthermore, bnsdp1 resulted in lower seedling emergence, characterized by a shrunken hypocotyl and poor photosynthetic capacity in the early stages. Additionally, impaired seedling growth, especially in yellow seedlings, was not fully rescued in medium supplemented with exogenous sucrose. The limited lipid turnover in bnsdp1 was accompanied by induced amino acid degradation and PPDK-dependent gluconeogenesis pathway. Analysis of the metabolites in cotyledons revealed active amino acid metabolism and suppressed lipid degradation, consistent with the RNA-seq results. Finally, we proposed strategies for applying BnSDP1 in molecular breeding. Our study provides theoretical guidance for understanding trade-off between oil accumulation and seedling energy mobilization in B. napus.

NADES extraction, UHPLC-ELSD-based quantification, and network pharmacology-guided target identification of fourteen specialised metabolites from Trillium govanianum Wall. ex D.Don.

INTRODUCTION: Trillium govanianum Wall. ex D.Don is a folk medicinal herb rich in structurally diverse steroidal saponins. The annual demand for this herb in India is about 200-500 metric tons, highlighting the need for a thorough quality assessment. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to develop an easy and reliable ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-evaporative light scattering detector (UHPLC-ELSD)-based quality assessment method with 14 specialised metabolites of T. govanianum and identify the potential targets of this herb using network pharmacology. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A UHPLC-ELSD method was developed and validated with 14 markers of T. govanianum. The developed method and natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES)-assisted extraction were utilised for the recovery enhancement study of targeted specialised metabolites from rhizome samples (collected from five geographically distinct areas). In addition, the network pharmacology approach was performed for these 14 markers to predict the plausible biological targets of T. govanianum. RESULT: The developed method showed good linearity (r2: 0.940-0.998), limit of detection (LOD) (2.4-9.0 µg), limit of quantification (LOQ) (7.92-29.7 µg), precision (intra-day relative standard deviations [RSDs] 0.77%-1.96% and inter-day RSDs 2.19-4.97%), and accuracy (83.24%-118.90%). NADES sample TG-1* showed the highest recovery (yield: 167.66 ± 4.39 mg/g of dry weight) of total saponin content (TSC) as compared to its hydroethanolic extract (yield: 103.95 ± 5.36 mg/g of dry weight). Sample TG-1* was the most favourable (yield: 167.66 ± 4.39 mg/g) in terms of TSC as compared to other analysed samples (32.68 ± 1.04-88.22 ± 6.79 mg/g). Govanoside D (yield: 3.43-28.06 mg/g), 22ß-hydroxyprotodioscin (yield: 3.22-114.79 mg/g), and dioscin (yield: 1.07-20.82 mg/g) were quantified as the major metabolites. Furthermore, network pharmacology analysis of targeted 14 markers indicated that these molecules could be possible therapeutic agents for managing neuralgia, diabetes mellitus, and hyperalgesia. CONCLUSION: The current study represents the first report for the simultaneous quantification and a network pharmacology-based analysis of 14 chemical marker compounds isolated from T. govanianum.

[Application of microwave vacuum drying with process management in extract drying of personalized traditional Chinese medicine preparations].

Extracts are important intermediates in the production of traditional Chinese medicines preparations. The drying effect of extracts will directly affect the subsequent production process and the quality of the preparation. To meet the requirements of high drug loading, short time consumption, and simple production process of personalized traditional Chinese medicine preparations, this study explored the application of multi-program microwave vacuum drying process in the extract drying of personalized traditional Chinese medicine preparations. The influencing factors of microwave vacuum drying process were investigated for 5 excipients and 40 prescriptions. Taking the feasibility of drying, drying rate, drying time, and dried extract status as indicators, this study investigated the feeding requirements of microwave vacuum drying. With the dried extract status as the evaluation indicator, the three drying programs(A, B, and C) were compared to obtain the optimal drying condition. The experimental results showed that the optimal feeding conditions for microwave vacuum drying were material layer thickness of 2 cm and C program(a total of 7 drying processes), which solved the problem of easy scorching in microwave drying with process management. Furthermore, the preset moisture content of the dried extract in microwave drying should be 4%-5%, so that the dried extract of traditional Chinese medicine preparation had uniform quality, complete drying, and no scorching. This study lays a foundation for the application of microwave drying in the production of traditional Chinese medicine preparations, promoting the high-quality development of personalized traditional Chinese medicine preparations.

[Multi-index evaluation of different parts of Amomum villosum].

To investigate the quality differences between the seeds and husks of Amomum villosum and explore the rationality of using the seeds without husks, this study determined the content of protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid, epicatechin, quercitrin, volatile oil, water extract, and ethanol extract. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH), 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)(ABTS), and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities were determined to evaluate the antioxidant activities of seeds and husks. The quality differences between the seeds and husks were assessed through orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) and analytic hierarchy process(AHP) combined with the entropy weight method(EWM). Significant differences(P<0.05) were observed in all 10 indicators between the seeds and husks. The levels of epicatechin, quercetin, and volatile oil were higher in the seeds, whereas those of protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid, water extract, and ethanol extract were higher in the husks. The seeds showed stronger scavenging ability against DPPH and ABTS radicals, while the husks showed a stronger scavenging effect on hydroxyl radicals. OPLS-DA significantly discriminated between the seeds and husks. Furthermore, volatile oil, water extract, DPPH radical scavenging rate, quercitrin, ABTS radical scavenging rate, hydroxyl radical scavenging rate, and vanillic acid were selected as the main differential indicators by variable importance in projection(VIP). Comprehensive scores calculated by AHP combined with EWM indicated that the seeds were superior to husks in terms of overall quality. However, there are still some dominant components and a certain antioxidant effect in the husks. Therefore, it is suggested to using Amomi Fructus with a certain amount of husks or utilizing the husks for other purposes.

[Quality control of Tianwang Buxin Pills based on UPLC fingerprint and multi-component quantification].

Tianwang Buxin Pills have demonstrated therapeutic effects in clinical practice, whereas there is a serious lack of comprehensive quality control to ensure the safety and effectiveness of clinical medication. In this study, ultra-performance liquid chromatography(UPLC) was employed to establish the fingerprint and the method for simultaneously determining the content of seven components of Tianwang Buxin Pills. Furthermore, chemometrics was employed to identify the key factors for the stable quality, which provided a reference for the comprehensive quality control and evaluation of this preparation. There were 25 common peaks in the UPLC fingerprints of 15 batches of Tianwang Buxin Pills, from which thirteen compounds were identified. A quantitation method was established for seven pharmacological components(α-linolenic acid, salvianolic acid B, glycyrrhetinic acid, schisandrin A, ß-asarone, 3,6'-disinapoylsucrose, and ligustilide). The principal component analysis(PCA) and partial least square discriminate analysis(PLS-DA) were performed to determine the key pharmacological components for controlling the quality stability of Tianwang Buxin Pills, which included 3,6'-disinapoylsucrose, α-linolenic acid, and ß-asarone. The established fingerprint and multi-component content determination method have strong specificity, stability, and reliability. In addition, 3,6'-disinapoylsucrose, α-linolenic acid, and ß-asarone are the key pharmacological components that ensure the quality stability between batches and can be used to comprehensively control the quality of Tianwang Buxin Pills. The findings provide a scientific basis for the quality evaluation and standard establishment of Tianwang Buxin Pills.

Variability in genome size of Trigonella foenum-graecum, Trigonella corniculata and Trigonella caerulea as estimated by flow cytometry indicates complex evolutionary history of fenugreek.

BACKGROUND: The determination of genome size is a fundamental step which provides a basis to initiate studies aimed at deciphering the genetic similarity of a species and to carry out other genomics based investigations. Fenugreek (Trigonella spp.) is an important spice crop which has numerous health promoting phytochemicals. Many species within this genus are known for their various health benefits owing to the presence of a wide diversity of important phytochemicals like diosgenin, trigonelline, fenugreekine, galactomannan, 4-hydroxy isoleucine, etc. It is a multipurpose crop being cultivated for food, animal feed and industrial purposes. Despite its importance, research on the genomics aspect of fenugreek remains scant. In the absence of sufficient genomic information, crop improvement in fenugreek is severely lagging. METHODS AND RESULTS: Estimation of genome size of a species is the preliminary step for initiation of any genomic studies and therefore in the present study we have estimated the genome size for fenugreek. Here, we have determined the genome sizes of three different Trigonella spp. namely T. foenum-graecum, T. corniculata and T. caerulea through flow cytometry (FC). The 2 C DNA content values were found to be 6.05 pg (T. foenum-graecum), 1.83 pg (T. corniculata) and 1.96 pg (T. caerulea). The genome size of T. foenum-graecum is approximately three times the genome size of T. corniculata and T. caerulea. This variation in genome size of more than three-fold indicates the level of genetic divergence among the three species, though within the same genus. CONCLUSIONS: The differences observed in the genome sizes of the three species provide conclusive evidence of their genetic divergence. Additionally, the information about the genome size would provide an impetus to the structural and functional genomics-based research in this crop.

Endophytic Bacillus vallismortis and Bacillus tequilensis bacteria isolated from medicinal plants enhance phosphorus acquisition and fortify Brassica napus L. vegetative growth and metabolic content.

Phosphorus fertilization imposes critical limitations on crop productivity and soil health. The aim of the present work is to explore the potential of two phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) species in phosphorus supplementation of canola (Brassica napus L.). Out of 38 bacterial isolates obtained from nine medicinal plants, two bacterial strains (20P and 28P) were proved as the most potent for the in-vitro tricalcium phosphate solubilization test. These isolates verified their activity toward different enzymes as nitrogenase and alkaline phosphatase. Also, 20P and 28P gave a high amount of indole-3-acetic acid, 34.16 µg/ml and 35.20 µg/ml, respectively, and were positive for siderophores production as they detected moderate affinity for iron chelation. Molecular identification confirmed that strain 20P was Bacillus vallismortis and strain 28P was Bacillus tequilensis. A pot experiment was conducted to study the effect of four different phosphorus concentrations (0%, 50%, 75%, and 100% P) each alone and/or in combination with B. vallismortis, B. tequilensis, or both bacterial isolates on the vegetative growth and some physiological parameters of canola. The combined treatment of 50% phosphorus + (B. vallismortis + B. tequilensis) was generally the most effective with respect to shoot height, shoot dry mass, leaf area, photosynthetic pigment fractions, total sugar content, and accumulated NPK content. In contrast, the rhizosphere pH reached the minimum value under the same treatment. These findings highlighted the potential use of PSB (B. vallismortis and B. tequilensis) along with phosphorus fertilization as a safe sustainable tactic.

Effects of dietary iron supplementation on reproductive performance of sows and growth performance of piglets.

This experiment aimed to investigate the effects of dietary iron supplementation from different sources on the reproductive performance of sows and the growth performance of piglets. A total of 87 sows with similar farrowing time were blocked by body weight at day 85 of gestation, and assigned to one of three dietary treatments (n = 29 per treatment): basal diet, basal diet supplemented with 0.2% ferrous sulfate (FeSO4), and basal diet supplemented with 0.2% iron sucrose, respectively, with 30% iron in both FeSO4 and iron sucrose. Compared with the control (CON) group, iron sucrose supplementation reduced the rate of stillbirth and invalid of neonatal piglets (P < 0.05), and the number of mummified fetuses was 0. Moreover, it also improved the coat color of newborn piglets (P < 0.05). At the same time, the iron sucrose could also achieve 100% estrus rate of sows. Compared with the CON group, FeSO4 and iron sucrose supplementation increased the serum iron content of weaned piglets (P < 0.05). In addition, iron sucrose increased serum transferrin level of weaned piglets (P < 0.05) and the survival rate of piglets (P < 0.05). In general, both iron sucrose and FeSO4 could affect the blood iron status of weaned piglets, while iron sucrose also had a positive effect on the healthy development of newborn and weaned piglets, and was more effective than FeSO4 in improving the performance of sows and piglets.

Sows need more iron to meet the requirements for their and offspring's growth during pregnancy and lactation. Exogenous iron supplementation may improve the reproductive performance of sows and the growth performance of piglets, but different sources of iron have different effects. This study facilitates the understanding of the effects of iron sucrose and ferrous sulfate on the reproductive performance of sows and the growth performance of piglets.

Essential oil composition, morphological characterization, phenolic content and antioxidant activity of Iranian populations of Hymenocrater longiflorus Benth. (Lamiaceae).

The study focused on the morphological and chemical characteristics of 200 Hymenocrater longiflorus Benth. genotypes found in natural habitats of eight regions in west of Iran. The primary objective of the study was to assess the morphological and phytochemical variability within populations grown in their natural habitats, with the aim of identifying their potential for domestication and utilization in pre-breeding programs. The plant height (PH) ranged from 50.32 to 69.65 cm, with the highest observed in population P8. The internode distances ranged from 4.7 to 6.47 cm, with the maximum distance found in P4. Flower lengths varied from 1.95 to 2.45 cm, with the minimum and maximum values observed in P4 and P3, respectively. The highest leaf length (5.20 cm) and width (3.87 cm) were recorded in P2. The aerial parts of the plant were utilized to extraction and determine the essential oil (EO) content and composition, which ranged from 0.40 to 0.78% (v/w). The analysis of EO by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) identified 26 compounds, constituting 99-99.5% of the EOs. The main compounds in the EO and their percentage range (v/w DW) were tau-cadinol (0.62-55.56), mono (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (8.10-94.70), elemol (0.21-19.11), ß-spathulenol (0.08-14.39), 4-terpineol (0.23-10.19), and ß-eudesmol (0.21-9.94). The main chemical groups found in EOs included oxygenated sesquiterpenes (1.12-68.43), and phthalates (9.73-94.72). Cluster analysis revealed three distinct chemotypes: chemotype I (populations 1 and 2) with major components of mono (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, tau-cadinol, and α-elemol; chemotype II (population 5) rich in mono (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate; and chemotype III (populations 3, 4, 6-8) containing tau-cadinol, ß-eudesmol, and 4-terpineol. The study also evaluated total phenolic, total flavonoid, and DPPH free radical scavenging activity in the fifty percent inhibitory concentration (IC50) in leaf and flower samples of the genotypes, along with estimating total anthocyanin content in the flower samples. The total phenolic content (TPC) in leaf and flower samples ranged from 7.89 to 107.18 mg GAE/g DW and 39.98 to 86.62 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g DW, respectively. Total flavonoid content (TFC) ranged from 81.04 to 143.46 mg QUE/g DW in leaf samples and from 94.82 to 133.26 mg quercetin equivalent (QUE)/g DW in flower samples. DPPHsc IC50 (µg/mL) ranged from 0.65 to 78.74 in leaf samples and from 4.38 to 7.71 in flower samples. Anthocyanin content ranged from 1.89 to 3.75 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalent (C3GE)/g DW among populations. Canonical correspondence analysis and simple correlation demonstrated a strong association and correlations among the studied attributes. The negative correlations between leaf DPPH (DPPH L) IC50 and TFC (- 0.73), TPC (- 0.63), Elemol (- 0.90), and EO (- 0.85) indicate that these compounds have a significant impact on the antioxidant activity of the leaves. Furthermore, Fruit DPPH (DPPH F) IC50 showed a negative correlation with TPC (- 0.79) and TFC (- 0.78), but a positive correlation with flower anthocyanins (0.51), (Z)-ß-Farnesene (0.66), and 4-Terpineol (0.57). Circular cluster analysis categorized the genotypes of all individuals in the eight studied populations into three main categories based on all the studied traits, indicating significant variation in phytochemical and morphological traits among populations, surpassing the within-populations variation.

Experiences of family members when accompanying patients in intensive care units: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Family members of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients encounter numerous challenges while providing companionship to their hospitalized loved ones. AIM: This study aims to explore the experiences of family members with loved ones hospitalized in ICUs. STUDY DESIGN: Qualitative research was conducted using a content analysis approach. Ten family members of ICU patients were recruited using purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews and analysed following Graneheim and Lundman's suggested steps. FINDINGS: Analysis of interviews with ten family members of ICU patients revealed a theme of "challenging companionship on an obscure path," encompassing four categories (1-4) and nine subcategories (a, b and c). These included (1) the interplay between the patient and the family: a. family affected by the patient's condition; b. patient affected by the family's condition; (2) mixed emotions of apprehension and anticipation regarding ICU admission: a. fear of ICU hospitalization; b. hope for ICU hospitalization; (3) unaddressed needs and concerns: a. pressure from the ICU's visiting limitations; b. lack of a resting room to settle; c. vague information about the patient's condition; (4) two-way care suffering for families a. direct suffering associated with companionship; b. indirect suffering while observing the patients' suffering. CONCLUSIONS: Families of ICU patients encounter various challenges, revealing the complex interplay of emotions, needs and challenges within the ICU. This highlights the intricate dynamics in this critical health care environment. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: A holistic and empathetic approach in clinical practice is crucial in ICU care, particularly during the challenging journey patients and their families undergo in this critical setting. Health care systems and providers should adapt ICU rules to address evolving needs, alleviate concerns and enhance the overall family experience during their loved one's hospitalization in the ICU.

Metagenomic sequencing identified microbial species in the rumen and cecum microbiome responsible for niacin treatment and related to intramuscular fat content in finishing cattle.

Introduction: Niacin is one of the essential vitamins for mammals. It plays important roles in maintaining rumen microecological homeostasis. Our previous study indicated that dietary niacin significantly elevated intramuscular fat content (IMF) in castrated finishing steers. Whether niacin affects fat deposition by regulating the microbial composition and functional capacities of gastrointestinal microbiome has been unknown yet. Methods: In this study, 16 castrated Xiangzhong Black cattle were randomly assigned into either control group fed with a basal concentrate diet (n = 8) or niacin group fed with a basal concentrate diet added 1000 mg/kg niacin (n = 8). Seven rumen samples and five cecum content samples were randomly collected from each of control and niacin groups for metagenomic sequencing analysis. Results: A total of 2,981,786 non-redundant microbial genes were obtained from all tested samples. Based on this, the phylogenetic compositions of the rumen and cecum microbiome were characterized. We found that bacteria dominated the rumen and cecum microbiome. Prevotella ruminicola and Ruminococcus flavefaciens were the most abundant bacterial species in the rumen microbiome, while Clostridiales bacterium and Eubacterium rectale were predominant bacterial species in the cecum microbiome. Rumen microbiome had significantly higher abundances of GHs, GTs, and PLs, while cecum microbiome was enriched by CBMs and AAs. We found a significant effect of dietary niacin on rumen microbiome, but not on cecum microbiome. Dietary niacin up-regulated the abundances of bacterial species producing lactic acid and butyrate, fermenting lactic acid, and participating in lipid hydrolysis, and degradation and assimilation of nitrogen-containing compounds, but down-regulated the abundances of several pathogens and bacterial species involved in the metabolism of proteins and peptides, and methane emissions. From the correlation analysis, we suggested that niacin improved nutrient digestion and absorption, but reduced energy loss, and Valine, leucine and isoleucine degradation of rumen microbiome, which resulted in the increased host IMF. Conclusion: The results suggested that dietary manipulation, such as the supplementation of niacin, should be regarded as the effective and convenient way to improve IMF of castrated finishing steers by regulating rumen microbiome.

Development of machine learning models using multi-source data for geographical traceability and content prediction of Eucommia ulmoides leaves.

Rapid and scientific quality evaluation is a hot topic in the research of food and medicinal plants. With the increasing popularity of derivative products from Eucommia ulmoides leaves, quality and safety have attracted public attention. The present study utilized multi-source data and traditional machine learning to conduct geographical traceability and content prediction research on Eucommia ulmoides leaves. Explored the impact of different preprocessing methods and low-level data fusion strategy on the performance of classification and regression models. The classification analysis results indicated that the partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) established by low-level fusion of two infrared spectroscopy techniques based on first derivative (FD) preprocessing was most suitable for geographical traceability of Eucommia ulmoides leaves, with an accuracy rate of up to 100 %. Through regression analysis, it was found that the preprocessing methods and data blocks applicable to the four chemical components were inconsistent. The optimal partial least squares regression (PLSR) model based on aucubin (AU), geniposidic acid (GPA), and chlorogenic acid (CA) had a residual predictive deviation (RPD) value higher than 2.0, achieving satisfactory predictive performance. However, the PLSR model based on quercetin (QU) had poor performance (RPD = 1.541) and needed further improvement. Overall, the present study proposed a strategy that can effectively evaluate the quality of Eucommia ulmoides leaves, while also providing new ideas for the quality evaluation of food and medicinal plants.

Trichoderma guizhouense NJAU4742 augments morphophysiological responses, nutrient availability and photosynthetic efficacy of ornamental Ilex verticillata.

Winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata [L.] A. Gray), a deciduous shrub producing glossy bright red berries, is a valuable ornamental and medicinal plant with good market prospects. However, the growth and development of I. verticillata are significantly affected by various stresses, and environmentally hazardous agrochemicals are often used to mitigate them. Trichoderma spp., ubiquitous soil-borne eco-friendly plant growth-promoting fungi, are potent biostimulants and biofertilizers and viable alternatives to agrochemicals for healthy and sustainable agriculture. In this study, the temporal efficacy of different dosages of the filamentous fungus Trichoderma guizhouense NJAU4742 in promoting morphophysiological responses of I. verticillata and the physicochemical properties and enzymatic activities of the substrate were investigated. Different concentrations of the strain T. guizhouense NJAU4742 spore suspension (C [0%], T1 [5%, v/m], T2 [10%, v/m] and T3 [15%, v/m]) were injected in the substrate contained in a pot in which 1-year-old I. verticillata was planted for temporal treatment (15, 45 and 75 days) under open-air conditions. The beneficial effects of T2 and/or T3 treatment for a long duration (75 days) were evident on the different root, aerial and photosynthetic traits; total contents of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in different tissues and the physicochemical properties of the substrate and its enzymatic activities (urease and invertase). Overall, the study revealed the potency of strain T. guizhouense NJAU4742 as a sustainable solution to improve the growth and development and ornamental value of I. verticillata.

Comparison of Flavonoid Content, Antioxidant Potential, Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition Activity and Volatile Components Based on HS-SPME-GC-MS of Different Parts from Matteuccia struthiopteris (L.) Todaro.

Matteuccia struthiopteris is one of the most globally consumed edible ferns and widely used in folk medicine. Reports mainly focus on young fronds and the rhizome which are common edible medicinal parts. However, there are few detailed reports on other parts. Therefore, the volatile components of different parts based on HS-SPME-GC-MS were identified, and total flavonoid contents, antioxidant activities and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities were compared in order to reveal the difference of volatile components and potential medicinal value of different parts. The results showed that total flavonoid contents, antioxidant activities and volatile components of different parts were obviously different. The crozier exhibited the strongest antioxidant activities, but only underground parts exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition potential against AChE. Common volatile compounds were furfural and 2-furancarboxaldehyde, 5-methyl-. In addition, it was found that some volatile components from adventitious root, trophophyll, sporophyll and petiole were important ingredients in food, cosmetics, industrial manufacturing and pharmaceutical applications.

Application of Chlorophyll Fluorescence Analysis Technique in Studying the Response of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) to Cadmium Stress.

To reveal the impact of cadmium stress on the physiological mechanism of lettuce, simultaneous determination and correlation analyses of chlorophyll content and photosynthetic function were conducted using lettuce seedlings as the research subject. The changes in relative chlorophyll content, rapid chlorophyll fluorescence induction kinetics curve, and related chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of lettuce seedling leaves under cadmium stress were detected and analyzed. Furthermore, a model for estimating relative chlorophyll content was established. The results showed that cadmium stress at 1 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg had a promoting effect on the relative chlorophyll content, while cadmium stress at 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg had an inhibitory effect on the relative chlorophyll content. Moreover, with the extension of time, the inhibitory effect became more pronounced. Cadmium stress affects both the donor and acceptor sides of photosystem II in lettuce seedling leaves, damaging the electron transfer chain and reducing energy transfer in the photosynthetic system. It also inhibits water photolysis and decreases electron transfer efficiency, leading to a decline in photosynthesis. However, lettuce seedling leaves can mitigate photosystem II damage caused by cadmium stress through increased thermal dissipation. The model established based on the energy captured by a reaction center for electron transfer can effectively estimate the relative chlorophyll content of leaves. This study demonstrates that chlorophyll fluorescence techniques have great potential in elucidating the physiological mechanism of cadmium stress in lettuce, as well as in achieving synchronized determination and correlation analyses of chlorophyll content and photosynthetic function.

Role of gamma-irradiated sodium alginate on growth, physiological and active components of iceberg lettuce (Lactuca sativa) plant.

BACKGROUND: One of the most widely recognized biostimulators of plant development; is oligoalginate, which regulates the biological processes of plants and was used in horticultural fields as a plant growth regulator. The plan of the current research was to study, however, the foliar application of un-irradiated and irradiated Na-alginate (UISA and ISA) to improve the growth, physiological activity, and other active components of the Egyptian iceberg lettuce plant. Degraded Na-alginate is equipped with exposure of sodium alginate in its solid state to gamma-rays at different dose levels (0.0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 kGy). The characterization of the oligo-alginates achieved by γ-radiation deprivation at different dose levels was performed by FTIR, XRD, TGA, SEM, and TEM. Different concentrations of irradiated sodium alginate at dose levels of 100 kGy (200, 400, 600, and 800 ppm, as well as deionized water used as a control) were sprayed with a hand sprayer every week after transplanting the iceberg lettuce seedlings in the field until the harvest stage. Morphological traits were evaluated, as well as pigments, ascorbic acid, phenols, flavonoids, soluble proteins, and antioxidant activity. RESULTS: Irradiated Na-alginate resulted in the depolymerization of Na-alginate into small molecular-weight oligosaccharides, and the best dose to use was 100 kGy. Certain chemical modifications in the general structure were observed by FTIR analysis. Two absorbed bands at 3329 cm-1 and 1599 cm-1, were recognized that are assigned to O-H and C-O stretching, respectively, and peaks achieved at 1411 cm-1 represent the COO-stretching group connected to the sodium ion. The peak obtained at 1028 cm-1 was owing to the stretching vibration of C-O. The results of TGA provided that the minimum weight reminder was in the ISA at 100 kGy (28.12%) compared to the UISA (43.39%). The images of TEM pointed out that the Na-alginate was globular in shape, with the particle distribution between 12.8 and 21.7 nm in ISA at 100 kGy. Irradiated sodium alginate caused a noteworthy enhancement in the vegetative growth traits (leaf area, stem length, head weight, and leaf number). By spraying 400 ppm, ISA showed a maximum increase in total pigments (2.209 mg/g FW), ascorbic acid (3.13 mg/g fresh weight), phenols (1.399 mg/g FW), flavonoids (0.775 mg/g FW), and antioxidant activities (82.14. %). Also, there were correlation coefficients (R values) between leaf area, stem length, head weight, and leaf number values with total pigment content, antioxidant activity, total soluble proteins, and ascorbic acid. CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes of the recent investigation demonstrated that the application of spraying irradiated Na-alginate (100 kGy) resulted in an improvement of the considered characters.

Antiproliferative activities of some selected Nigerian medicinal plants against breast, liver, and cervical cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Phytochemicals have become a growing source of alternative medicine in developing countries due to the poor prognosis, high cost of conventional pharmaceuticals, and undesirable effects associated with mainstream cancer treatment. OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at investigating the anticancer effect of some selected Nigerian medicinal plants used in cancer treatment. These include ethanol extracts of Dialium guineense root (DGR), Dialium guineense leaves (DGL), Jateorhiza macrantha leaves (JML), Musanga cecropioides leaves (MCL), Musanga cecropioides stembark (MCSB), Piptadeniastrum africanum stembark (PASB), Piptadeniastrum africanum root (PAR), Pupalia lappacea flower tops (PLF), Raphiostylis beninensis root (RBR), Raphiostylis beninensis leaves (RBL), Ritchiea capparoides leaves (RCL), Ritchiea capparoides stembark (RCSB), and Triplochiton scleroxylon stembark (TSB). METHODS: The cytotoxic activity of the extracts was examined using a brine shrimp lethality assay and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay against three cancer cell lines, including MCF-7, HUH-7, and HeLa. The selectivity of all extracts towards cancer cells was investigated using normal lung fibroblasts (MRC-5). Cell migration and colony-forming assays of active extracts against MCF-7 cells were also performed. Additionally, the total polyphenolic contents of the active extracts were estimated using standard methods. RESULTS: The extract of PASB had the highest cytotoxicity (LC50 = 1.58 µg/mL) on the brine shrimps compared to vincristine sulphate (LC50 = 2.24 µg/mL). In the cell viability assay, all the extracts produced significant (p < 0.05) growth inhibitory effects against all cell lines tested in a dose-dependent manner. All extracts were selective to cancer cells at varying degrees. Worth mentioning are the extracts of MCL, DGR, RBR, and PASB, which exhibited 14-, 7-, 6- and 2-fold selectivity toward MCF-7 cancer cells relative to normal lung fibroblast (MRC-5), respectively. These four extracts also significantly inhibited cell migration and colony formation in MCF-7-treated cells in dose-dependent manners. Considerable amounts of phenolics, flavonoids, and proanthocyanidins were detected in all extracts evaluated. CONCLUSION: These findings advocate the continued development of MCL, DGR, RBR, and PASB as potential chemotherapeutic agents.