Fungi-derived natural antioxidants.

In humans, exogenous antioxidants aid the endogenous antioxidant system to detoxify excess ROS generated during oxidative stress, thereby protecting the body against various diseases and stressful conditions. The majority of natural antioxidants available on the consumer market are plant-based; however, fungi are being recognized as alternative sources of various natural antioxidants such as polysaccharides, pigments, peptides, sterols, phenolics, alkaloids, and flavonoids. In addition, some exogenous antioxidants are exclusively found in fungi. Fungi-derived antioxidants exhibit scavenging activities against DPPH, ABTS, hydroxyl, superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and nitric oxide radicals in vitro. Furthermore, in vivo models, application of fungal-derived antioxidants increase the level of various antioxidant enzymes, such as catalases, superoxide dismutases, and glutathione peroxidases, and reduce the level of malondialdehyde. Therefore, fungi-derived antioxidants have potential to be used in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. This review summarizes the antioxidant potential of different fungi (mushrooms, yeasts, and molds)-derived natural compounds such as polysaccharides, pigments, peptides, ergothioneine, ergosterol, phenolics, alkaloids, etc.

Role of miRNAs in sucrose stress response, reactive oxygen species, and anthocyanin biosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana.

In plants, sucrose is the main transported disaccharide that is the primary product of photosynthesis and controls a multitude of aspects of the plant life cycle including structure, growth, development, and stress response. Sucrose is a signaling molecule facilitating various stress adaptations by crosstalk with other hormones, but the molecular mechanisms are not well understood. Accumulation of high sucrose concentrations is a hallmark of many abiotic and biotic stresses, resulting in the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and secondary metabolite anthocyanins that have antioxidant properties. Previous studies have shown that several MYeloBlastosis family/MYB transcription factors are positive and negative regulators of sucrose-induced anthocyanin accumulation and subject to microRNA (miRNA)-mediated post-transcriptional silencing, consistent with the notion that miRNAs may be "nodes" in crosstalk signaling by virtue of their sequence-guided targeting of different homologous family members. In this study, we endeavored to uncover by deep sequencing small RNA and mRNA transcriptomes the effects of exogenous high sucrose stress on miRNA abundances and their validated target transcripts in Arabidopsis. We focused on genotype-by-treatment effects of high sucrose stress in Production of Anthocyanin Pigment 1-Dominant/pap1-D, an activation-tagged dominant allele of MYB75 transcription factor, a positive effector of secondary metabolite anthocyanin pathway. In the process, we discovered links to reactive oxygen species signaling through miR158/161/173-targeted Pentatrico Peptide Repeat genes and two novel non-canonical targets of high sucrose-induced miR408 and miR398b*(star), relevant to carbon metabolic fluxes: Flavonoid 3'-Hydroxlase (F3'H), an important enzyme in determining the B-ring hydroxylation pattern of flavonoids, and ORANGE a post-translational regulator of Phytoene Synthase expression, respectively. Taken together, our results contribute to understanding the molecular mechanisms of carbon flux shifts from primary to secondary metabolites in response to high sugar stress.

Evaluation of tyrosol and farnesol as inducer in pigment production by Monascus purpureus ATCC16365.

This study focused on investigating the effect of exogenously applied two quorum sensing molecules (tyrosol and farnesol) on the synthesis of bioactive metabolites (pigments, lactic acid, ethanol, and citric acid) in Monascus purpureus ATCC16365. None of the tested concentrations (62.5, 125, 250, and 500 µl/L) of farnesol affected the synthesis of metabolites as well as cell growth. As with farnesol application, none of the tested concentrations (3.45, 6.9, 13.8, and 27.6 mg/L) of tyrosol caused a significant change in the synthesis of lactic acid and citric acid as well as cell growth. Conversely, all of the tested concentrations of tyrosol increased pigment synthesis but reduced ethanol synthesis, compared with the control. Maximum increases (3.16-, 2.68-, and 2.87-fold increase, respectively) in yellow, orange, and red pigment production were achieved, especially when 6.9-mg/L tyrosol was added to the culture on day 3. On the contrary, 6.9-mg/L tyrosol reduced the content of citrinin by approximately 51.5%. This is the first report on the effect of tyrosol and farnesol on the synthesis of Monascus metabolites. Due to potential properties, such as low price, nonhuman toxicity, promotion of pigment synthesis, and reduction in citrinin synthesis, tyrosol can be used as a novel inducer in the fermentative production of Monascus pigments.

Effect of proline on biochemical and molecular mechanisms in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) exposed to UV-B radiation.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the role of proline (Pro) in relieving UV-B radiation-induced oxidative stress in lettuce. Lettuce seedlings were exposed to 3.3 W m-2 UV-B radiation for 12 h after pre-treatment sprayed with 20 mM Pro. The data for malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), endogenous Pro level, the activities of antioxidant enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and peroxidase (POD)], total phenolic concentration, antioxidant capacity, expression of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), γ-tocopherol methyltransferase (γ-TMT) and proline dehydrogenase (ProDH) genes, phytohormone levels such as abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellic acid (GA), indole acetic acid (IAA) and salicylic acid (SA), soluble sugars and organic acids were recorded. It was found that Pro alleviated the oxidative damage in the seedlings of lettuce as demonstrated by lower lipid peroxidation and H2O2 content, increasing the endogenous Pro level, the activity of antioxidant enzymes, total phenolic concentration and the antioxidant capacity. Additionally, it was revealed that exogenous application of Pro enhanced the levels of GA, IAA, the concentrations of soluble sugars and organic acids and expressions of PAL, γ-TMT and ProDH genes as compared to the control. The results obtained in this study suggest that pre-treatment with exogenous Pro provides important contributions to the increase in the UV-B tolerance of lettuce by regulating the biochemical mechanisms of UV-B response.

Bio-oil production via catalytic pyrolysis of Anchusa azurea: Effects of operating conditions on product yields and chromatographic characterization.

Pyrolysis of Anchusa azurea, a lignocellulosic gramineous plant, was carried out in a tubular, fixed-bed reactor in the presence of four catalysts (Ca(OH)2, Na2CO3, ZnCl2, Al2O3). The influences of pyrolysis parameters such as catalyst and temperature on the yields of products were studied. It was found that higher temperature resulted in lower liquid (bio-oil) and solid (bio-char) yields and higher gas yields. Catalysts effected the yields of products differently and the composition of bio-oils. Liquid yields were increased in the presence of Na2CO3, ZnCl2 and Al2O3 and decreased with Ca(OH)2. The highest bio-oil yield (34.05%) by weight including aqueous phase was produced with Na2CO3 catalyst at 450°C. The yields of products (bio-char, bio-oil and gas) and the compositions of the resulting bio-oils were determined by GC-MS, FT-IR and elemental analysis. GC-MS identified 124 and 164 different compounds in the bio-oils obtained at 350 and 550°C respectively.

Evaluation of arsenic trioxide genotoxicity in wheat seedlings using oxidative system and RAPD assays.

Arsenic is a metalloid that is toxic to living organisms. It is known that high concentration of arsenic causes toxic damage to cells and tissues of plants. While the toxic effect of arsenic is known, limited efforts have been made to study its genotoxic effect on the crops. In the present study, effects of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) on seed germination, root length, reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde (MDA)), and activities of antioxidant enzymes, as well as DNA in wheat seedlings were investigated. Seedlings were exposed to different (10 to 40 mg/L) As2O3 concentrations for 7 days. Seed germination and root elongation decreased with increase of As2O3 concentration. The values of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide anion (O2 (·-)), and MDA contents significantly increased by As2O3 concentrations. The highest values for H2O2, O2 (·-), and MDA were obtained in 40 mg/L treated wheat seedling. A significant increase of peroxidase (POX) and catalase (CAT) activity in seedlings were observed with increased concentration of As2O3, then decreased when reaching a value of 40 mg/L, whereas the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were gradually enhanced with increasing As2O3 concentration. Alterations of DNA in wheat seedlings were detected using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. The changes occurring in RAPD profiles of seedlings following As2O3 treatment included loss of normal bands and appearance of new bands in comparison to that of control seedlings. The results of our study showed that As2O3 induced DNA damage in a dose-dependent meaner, and the root cells of wheat studied showed a defense against As2O3-induced oxidative stress by enhancing their antioxidant activities.

Effects of exogenous nitric oxide in wheat seedlings under chilling stress.

The effects of nitric oxide (NO) on chilling tolerance (contents of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide anion (O2 (-)) and lipid peroxidation level (malondialdehyde, MDA)) and the activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POX) and catalase (CAT)) were investigated in the leaves of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) exposed to chilling. NO treatment was carried out through spraying of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), which is a donor of NO. To do this, SNP concentrations of 0.1 and 1 mM were applied on the leaves of 11-day plants and the plants were then exposed to chilling conditions (5/2°C) for 3 days. The chilling stress treatment increased both the activities of antioxidant enzymes and the levels of MDA, H2O2 and O2 (-). Similarly, NO treatment enhanced SOD, POX and CAT activities under chilling stress, whereas it decreased H2O2 and O2 (.) (-) contents as well as MDA level. The most effective concentration was determined as 0.1 mM SNP. Exogenous SNP application as a donor of NO was found to have an important ameliorative effect on cold tolerance of seedling exposed to chilling stress by stimulating antioxidant enzyme activity.

Enhancement of invertase production by Aspergillus niger OZ-3 using low-intensity static magnetic fields.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of low-intensity static magnetic fields (SMFs) on invertase activity and growth on different newly identified molds. The most positive effect of SMFs on invertase activity and growth was observed for Aspergillus niger OZ-3. The submerged production of invertase was performed with the spores obtained at the different exposure times (120, 144, 168, and 196 hr) and magnetic field intensities (0.45, 3, 5, 7, and 9 mT). The normal magnetic field of the laboratory was assayed as 0.45 mT (control). Optimization of magnetic field intensity and exposure time significantly increased biomass production and invertase activity compared to 0.45 mT. The maximum invertase activity (51.14 U/mL) and biomass concentration (4.36 g/L) were achieved with the spores obtained at the 144 hr exposure time and 5 mT magnetic field intensity. The effect of low-intensity static magnetic fields (SMFs) on invertase activities of molds was investigated for the first time in the present study. As an additional contribution, a new hyper-invertase-producing mold strain was isolated.

Toxic effects of boron on growth and antioxidant system parameters of maize (Zea mays L.) roots.

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible oxidative stress and the antioxidant response, which were caused on maize by boron (B). For this, 11- and 15-day-old maize seedlings were subjected to 2 or 4 mM B in the form of boric acid (H3BO3) for 2 and/or 6 days. At the end of the treatment period, root length, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content, malondialdehyde (MDA) content and the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POX) and catalase (CAT) were measured. The results revealed that root length of plants, activity of antioxidative enzymes such as SOD, POX and CAT and also H2O2 contents and MDA levels were seriously affected by excess B. These results suggested that the oxidative stress occurred due to the toxic effect of B.