Comparison of phenolic compounds, antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of extracts prepared from Japanese quince (Chaenomeles japonica L.) leaves.

Phenolic compounds are very important in the prevention and treatment of many civilization diseases, including colorectal cancer (CRC). In the present study we investigated and compared the phytochemical composition, antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of Japanese quince (Chaenomeles japonica L.) leaves crude phenolic extract (CPE) and purified phenolic-rich extracts (PRE). The UPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis showed that both extracts contain diversified phenolics compounds (33 - 36 compounds in the PRE and CPE, respectively), among which chlorogenic acid and naringenin hexoside turned out to be the main constituents. Both FRAP and ABTS tests showed that PRE had 2-fold higher antioxidant activity compared to CPE. Furthermore, PRE exhibited a higher cytotoxic activity towards colon cancer cells (SW-480 and HT-29) than CPE. After 24-hours incubation with PRE the IC50 value for SW-480 cell line was obtained at the concentration of 239 µg/mL, while CPE treatment caused the same decrease only after 72h at 277 µg/mL. In addition, PRE had a stronger cytotoxic effect on the colon cancer cell lines (SW-480 and HT-29) than on normal intestinal cells (CCD-18Co and CCD 841 CoN). These results provide the first evidence that extracts from Japanese quince leaves (especially phenolic-rich extract, PRE) strongly decrease the viability of both SW-480 and HT-29 lines, which may suggest their cytotoxic activity towards colon cancer cells.

The influence of fish culture in floating net cages on microbial indicators of water quality.

This work was carried out to analyse the microbiological parameters of the water quality of a reservoir used for the irrigation and culture of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in floating net cages. The physico-chemical parameters, counts of mesophilic total aerobic bacteria, total and thermotolerant coliforms and fecal streptococci, and the presence of Escherichia coli in samples of water collected in three sites of the reservoir (pre-culture site, culture site, post-culture site) were analysed. The levels of ammonia (0.047-0.059 mg/L), nitrite (0.001-0.021 mg/L) and total phosphorus (0.050-0.355 mg/L) in the water did not show significant differences (p > 0.05) between sampling sites. The levels of total bacteria in the water varied between 1.3 x 10(4) and 67.3 x 10(4) CFU/100 mL. The MPN values of thermotolerant coliforms (< 930 MPN/100 mL) were within values recommended for water used for fish culture and/or irrigation. The presence of E. coli and fecal streptococci were verified in 48% and 56% of analysed samples, respectively. The site with floating net cages showed more samples contaminated with E. coli and fecal streptococci than other sampling points.

The influence of fish culture in floating net cages on microbial indicators of water quality / Influencia da piscicultura em tanques-rede sobre os microrganismos indicadores da qualidade de agua

This work was carried out to analyse the microbiological parameters of the water quality of a reservoir used for the irrigation and culture of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in floating net cages. The physico-chemical parameters, counts of mesophilic total aerobic bacteria, total and thermotolerant coliforms and fecal streptococci, and the presence of Escherichia coli in samples of water collected in three sites of the reservoir (pre-culture site, culture site, post-culture site) were analysed. The levels of ammonia (0.047-0.059 mg/L), nitrite (0.001-0.021 mg/L) and total phosphorus (0.050-0.355 mg/L) in the water did not show significant differences (p > 0.05) between sampling sites. The levels of total bacteria in the water varied between 1.3 x 104 and 67.3 x 104 CFU/100 mL. The MPN values of thermotolerant coliforms (< 930 MPN/100 mL) were within values recommended for water used for fish culture and/or irrigation. The presence of E. coli and fecal streptococci were verified in 48% and 56% of analysed samples, respectively. The site with floating net cages showed more samples contaminated with E. coli and fecal streptococci than other sampling points.

Este trabalho foi realizado para analisar os parâmetros microbiológicos da qualidade da água de um reservatório destinado a irrigação e à cultivo de tilapia do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus) em tanques redes. Foi realizada análise de parâmetros físico-químicos, quantificação de bactérias totais aeróbias mesófilas, coliformes totais e termotolerantes, estreptococos fecais e a detecção de E. coli em amostras de água coletada em três pontos distintos do açude (pré-cultivo, cultivo, pós-cultivo). Os níveis de amônia (0,047-0,059 mg/L), nitrito (0,001-0,021 mg/L) e fósforo total (0,050-0,355 mg/L) na água não apresentaram diferenças significativas (p > 0.05) entre os pontos de coleta. As contagens de bactérias aeróbias mesófilas variaram entre 1,3 x 104 e 67,3 x 104 UFC/100 mL nas amostras de água. O NMP de coliformes termotolerantes (< 930 NMP/100 mL) se apresentou dentro do limite permitido para águas doces destinadas a piscicultura e/ou irrigação. A presença de E. coli foi constatada em 48% e de estreptococos fecais em 56% das amostras de água analisadas. O local de cultivo de tilápia em tanques-rede apresentou maior número de amostras contaminadas com E. coli e estreptococos fecais que outros pontos de amostragem.

Antagonistic activity of bacteria isolated from crops cultivated in a rotation system and a monoculture against Pythium debaryanum and Fusarium oxysporum.

The effect of crop rotation and monocropping on the occurrence of bacteria with antagonistic activity toward Pythium debaryanum and Fusarium oxysporum was shown. Arthrobacter spp., fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. and actinomycetes were isolated from winter rape, sugar beet and winter barley rhizosphere and bulk soil from the plots of a long-term crop rotation experiment (18 years). The occurrence of mycoantagonistic isolates and their antibiosis level exhibited specificity for the site, crop and crop rotation. Mycoantagonistic activity was common among actinomycetes and fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. and less frequent among Arthrobacter spp. Antibiosis of fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. and Arthrobacter spp. was in general stronger against P. debaryanum than F. oxysporum. The highest percentage of antagonistic Pseudomonas spp. against P. debaryanum was in the plots of barley crop, while plots of winter rape showed higher frequency of antagonists against F. oxysporum. The highest antibiosis activity of Arthrobacter spp. against both pathogens occurred in isolates from barley and winter rape monoculture, and there were no F. oxysporum antagonists among these bacteria in sugar beet monoculture. Most of actinomycete isolates strongly inhibited growth of P. debaryanum and F. oxysporum. The percentage of mycoantagonistic actinomycetes and their antibiosis level were the highest in the 6-year crop rotation system.