Changes in the nutritional composition and antioxidant capacity of chia seeds (Salvia hispanica L.) during germination process.

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of germination on the content of protein, lipids, fiber, ashes, tryptophan, vitamin C, total phenolic and total flavonoid compounds, as well as on the protein digestibility and antioxidant activity of chia seeds germinated for 1, 2, 3, and 4 days. The results showed that germination for 2 days augmented the protein content of chia seeds by 13% while fiber, tryptophan, total phenolic and flavonoid contents increased by 46%, 93%, 300%, and 197%, respectively, after 4 days of germination. Vitamin C was not detected in dry seeds but increased up to 2.33 mg/100 g at fourth day of germination. The antioxidant capacity increased approximately 100% but protein digestibility decreased by 14% at day 4 of germination. Germination can be a good method to increase the nutritional and nutraceutical potential of chia seed for its use in the design of functional foods.

Macromolecular biosynthetic parameters and metabolic profile in different life stages of Leishmania braziliensis: Amastigotes as a functionally less active stage.

It was recently hypothesized that Leishmania amastigotes could constitute a semi-quiescent stage characterized by low replication and reduced metabolic activity. This concept developed with Leishmania (Leishmania) mexicana and Leishmania (Leishmania) major models might explain numerous clinical and sub-clinical features of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis infections, like reactivation of the disease, non-response to chemotherapy or asymptomatic infections. We compared here in vitro the proliferative capability of L. (V.) braziliensis amastigotes and promastigotes, assessed the expression of key molecular parameters and performed metabolomic analysis. We found that contrary to the highly proliferative promastigotes, amastigotes (axenic and intracellular) do not show evidence of extensive proliferation. In parallel, amastigotes showed a significant decrease of (i) the kDNA mini-circle abundance, (ii) the intracellular ATP level, (iii) the ribosomal components: rRNA subunits 18S and 28S α and ribosomal proteins RPS15 and RPL19, (iv) total RNA and protein levels. An untargeted metabolomic study identified clear differences between the different life stages: in comparison to logarithmic promastigotes, axenic amastigotes showed (a) a strong decrease of 14 essential and non-essential amino acids and eight metabolites involved in polyamine synthesis, (b) extensive changes in the phospholipids composition and (c) increased levels of several endogenous and exogenous sterols. Altogether, our results show that L. (V.) braziliensis amastigotes can show a phenotype with negligible rate of proliferation, a lower capacity of biosynthesis, a reduced bio-energetic level and a strongly altered metabolism. Our results pave the way for further exploration of quiescence among amastigotes of this species.

Evaluation of extracts from potato and tomato wastes as natural antioxidant additives

The industrialization of potato and tomato produces large amount of wastes. Previous studies have demonstrated that these by-products are rich in antioxidant compounds. In this study, the composition and antioxidant efficacy of extracts from potato and tomato by-products were determined in order to evaluate their potential as food additives. Potato and tomato wastes showed to be good sources of fiber, protein and antioxidants. The antioxidant activity and total phenolic, carotenoid and lycopene contents were determined in methanol, ethanol and acetone extracts of the residues. Methanol was the best solvent for the extraction of phenolics while acetone was the best in the extraction of carotenoids in both residues. The greatest antioxidant activity (14.10 µmol Trolox/g) resulted when potato peels were extracted with ethanol. The oxidative stability of canola oil containing either ethanol extracts of potato and tomato wastes (200 and 400 mg/kg) or the synthetic antioxidant BHT (200 mg/kg), compared to oil without antioxidants, was evaluated by measuring their peroxide values, conjugated dienes and p-anisidine value after 72 and 144 h storage at 65 °C. The order of antioxidant efficacy was as follows: potato peels > BHT > tomato residues. The results showed that ethanol extracts of potato and tomato waste could be used as natural antioxidant additives in the protection of vegetable oils(AU)

La industrialización de la papa y el jitomate genera grandes cantidades de desechos. Estudios previos han demostrado que estos subproductos son ricos en compuestos antioxidantes. En este trabajo se determinaron la composición y la eficacia antioxidante de subproductos de papa y jitomate con el fin de evaluar su potencial como aditivos alimentarios. Los desechos de papa y jitomate demostraron ser buenas fuentes de fibra, proteína y antioxidantes. Se determinó la actividad antioxidante y el contenido de compuestos fenólicos, carotenoides y licopeno en extractos metanólicos, etanólicos y acetónicos de los residuos. El mejor disolvente para la extracción de compuestos fenólicos fue el metanol mientras que la acetona fue el mejor disolvente para extraer los carotenoides. La mayor actividad antioxidante (14.10 µmol Trolox/g) se obtuvo cuando las cáscaras de papa se extrajeron con etanol. La estabilidad oxidativa de aceite de canola adicionado con los extractos etanólicos de desechos de papa o jitomate (200 y 400 mg/kg) o con el antioxidante sintético BHT (200 mg/kg), comparándolos con aceite sin antioxidantes, se evaluó mediante la medición de su índice de peróxidos, dienos conjugados e índice de anisidina, después de almacenarlo a 65°C durante 72 y 144 h. El orden de eficacia antioxidante fue como sigue: cáscara de papa > BHT > residuos de jitomate. Los resultados demostraron que los extractos etanólicos de los desperdicios de papa y jitomate podrían ser usados como aditivos antioxidantes naturales en la protección de aceites vegetales(AU)

Improvement of drought tolerance and grain yield in common bean by overexpressing trehalose-6-phosphate synthase in rhizobia.

Improving stress tolerance and yield in crops are major goals for agriculture. Here, we show a new strategy to increase drought tolerance and yield in legumes by overexpressing trehalose-6-phosphate synthase in the symbiotic bacterium Rhizobium etli. Phaseolus vulgaris (common beans) plants inoculated with R. etli overexpressing trehalose-6-phosphate synthase gene had more nodules with increased nitrogenase activity and higher biomass compared with plants inoculated with wild-type R. etli. In contrast, plants inoculated with an R. etli mutant in trehalose-6-phosphate synthase gene had fewer nodules and less nitrogenase activity and biomass. Three-week-old plants subjected to drought stress fully recovered whereas plants inoculated with a wild-type or mutant strain wilted and died. The yield of bean plants inoculated with R. etli overexpressing trehalose-6-phosphate synthase gene and grown with constant irrigation increased more than 50%. Macroarray analysis of 7,200 expressed sequence tags from nodules of plants inoculated with the strain overexpressing trehalose-6-phosphate synthase gene revealed upregulation of genes involved in stress tolerance and carbon and nitrogen metabolism, suggesting a signaling mechanism for trehalose. Thus, trehalose metabolism in rhizobia is key for signaling plant growth, yield, and adaptation to abiotic stress, and its manipulation has a major agronomical impact on leguminous plants.