1,721,071 research outputs found
Free and conjugated polyamine content in Citrus sinensis Osbeck, cultivar Brasiliano N.L.92, a Navel orange, at different maturation stages
Full text linkBiogenic amines, synthesized during physiological metabolic processes of all living organisms, are present in food. At low
concentrations, polyamines are essential for cell renewal and growth, but they can be detrimental when consumed in high amount
through the diet as they could support abnormal cell growth pathologies. The daily human diet contains more putrescine than
spermidine or spermine, mostly derived from fruits. In general, orange fruits contain high levels of put, a fact that could limit their
utilization in the daily diet besides the benefits contributed by their strong antioxidant properties. There is therefore an increasing
interest in finding plant foods with low polyamine contents, which could provide a staple diet for patients. This paper reports the
amounts of free and conjugated polyamines in the flesh and peel (flavedo plus albedo) of unripe, ripe and over ripe fruits of the
cultivar Brasiliano, a Navel group orange. The analyses reveal that this particular orange cultivar has low polyamine content and
could be suitable for a low polyamine diet
Una componente inattesa nella flora del centro storico di Bologna: le igrofite
Full text linkNell’ambito di una indagine sulla flora del Centro storico di Bologna (Emilia-Romagna, Italia settentrionale), sono state rinvenute, inaspettate, alcune specie di ambienti umidi, nonostante la presenza di acque superficiali sia diminuita negli ultimi decenni: Cyperus eragrostis, Euphorbia hirsuta, Eclipta prostrata, Polypogon viridis, Rorippa sylvestris, Stellaria aquatica.
La presenza di queste igrofite è da mettere in relazione con ambienti irrigati (anche eccessivamente) in aiuole spartitraffico, rotonde e altri ambienti con elevati apporti idrici artificiali.
Cinque su sei specie rinvenute sono termofile; due sono alloctone; alcune sono novità per il Bolognese e due rivestono un notevole valore conservazionistico
Winery by-products: pomace as source of high value phenols
No full textGrape pomace, the main by-product from winemaking industry, accounts for 20-30% of processed grape weight and still contains valuable compounds. Valorization of pomace by extracting phenols can be a further step towards a “near zero-waste socie-ty” direction. The present work aimed at the selection of the best extraction condi-tions for phenol recovery from Sangiovese and Montepulciano (Vitis vinifera L.) mixed winery pomace. Different solvents were screened in 2h incubation at 30°C and 50°C, with 1:10 and 1:5 solid/liquid ratios, with or without ultrasound pre-treatment. Total phenol yields were measured in all extracts and best extracts were characterized for flavonoid, flavanol and anthocyanin contents and for total antioxidant activity. In conclusion, 75% acetone led to the highest compound extractions, followed by 50% acetonitrile and 50% ethanol. Higher yields were obtained with 1:5 solid/liquid ratio. The ultrasound pre-treatment did not significantly affect compound recovery, while better extractions were achieved with temperature increase
Stress responses and nickel and zinc accumulation in different accessions of Stellaria media (L.) Vill. in response to solution pH variation in hydroponic culture
Full text linkIn most non-hyperaccumulating plants, Ni and Zn uptake is negatively correlated with soil pH, however, few studies so far have investigated how pH influences the activity and uptake of Ni and Zn in plants grown in a hydroponic system, which generally allows culture variables to be singularly manipulated. In this study, the non-accumulator Stellaria media (L.) Vill. (Caryophyllaceae) had opposite trends of Ni and Zn uptake along a pH gradient (between 5 and 8 for Zn and between 5 and 6.5 for Ni), when grown in hydroponics. In all treatments, the solution metal concentration was fixed at 0.1\ua0mM Ni or 0.55\ua0mM Zn. Nickel accumulation increased with increasing pH with an average concentration in shoots of 167 μg/gDW at pH 5 and of 250 μg/gDW at pH 6.5. In contrast, Zn accumulation decreased with increasing pH, with an average concentration in shoots varying from 1640 μg/gDW, at pH 5, to 435 μg/gDW at pH 8. Assessment of total polyphenol and flavonoid contents and of antioxidant activity showed that these parameters were positively correlated with Ni or Zn accumulation in S. media shoots, while photosynthetic pigments content and root and shoot biomass were negatively correlated with Ni and Zn accumulation. The study was carried out on five different S. media populations, which did not show differences in relation to the accumulation of metals and synthesis of antioxidant compounds, nonetheless showing a different biomass production under control conditions
Floristic diversity in different urban ecological niches of a southern European city
Full text linkThe present paper aimed at studying the vertical and horizontal spatial distribution, species richness
and diversity of vascular plants in different urban ecological niches (urban habitats) by means of the
case study of Bologna (Italy), a typical densely populated southern European city. A total of 477 species
were found in the study area of the historical city centre, 30% of which were alien species. Alien plant
species were mainly present among phanerophytes, while native plants were mainly therophytes
and hemicryptophytes. The habitats that mostly contributed to the species total richness were seminatural
soils, followed by paved areas, walls, rooftops and manholes. The number of exclusive species
decreased according to the selectiveness of the habitat, with manholes and rooftops being the most
selective. The presence of hemicryptophytes constant decreased going from 27% of more humid
habitats to 5% of more arid habitats, so that they can be considered a water availability biomarker.
Urban habitat quality, measured by the number of native species, was directly proportional to the
strength of selective factors and inversely proportional to the rate of disturbance, with roofs and seminatural
soils having, respectively, the highest and lowest quality. Finally, a relation between species
richness and street characteristics, like width, orientation and type of flooring, was demonstrated
Effect of ornithine decarboxylase and norspermidine in modulating cell division in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Full text linkThe extensive genetic resources of Chlamydomonas has led to its widespread use as a model system for understanding fundamental processes in plant cells, including rates of cell division potentially modulated through polyamines. Putrescine was the major polyamine in both free (88%) and membrane-bound fractions (93%) while norspermidine was the next most abundant in these fractions accounting for 11% and 6%, respectively. Low levels of diaminopropane, spermidine and spermine were also observed although no cadaverine or norspermine were detected. Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC, EC 4.1.1.17) activity was almost five times higher than arginine decarboxylase (ADC, EC 4.1.1.19) and is the major route of putrescine synthesis. The fluoride analogue of ornithine (α-DFMO) inhibited membrane associated ODC activity whilst simultaneously stimulating cell division in a dose dependent manner. Following exposure to α-DFMO the putrescine content in the cells declined while the norspermidine content increased over two fold. Addition of norspermidine to cultures stimulated cell division mimicking the effects observed using DFMO and also reversed the inhibitory effects of cyclohexylamine on growth. The results reveal that ODC is the major route to polyamine formation in the Chlamydomonas CC-406 cell-wall mutant, in contrast to the preferential ADC route reported for Chlorella vulgaris, suggesting that significant species differences exist in biosynthetic pathways which modulate endogenous polyamine levels in green algae
Capsicum spp in vitro liquid cell suspensions: A useful system for the production of capsaicinoids and polyphenols
No full textCapsicum are among the most extensively cultivated and consumed plant species in the world, because of their unique pungency, aroma and colour. The typical burning sensation caused by chili peppers is due to the occurrence of a group of alkaloids named capsaicinoids. In the present study, the production of solid callus and cell suspensions from hypocotyl explants of three different chili pepper cultivars (Capsicum annuum L. cv. Mazzolino, Capsicum chinense Jacq. cv. Naga Morich and Pimenta de Neyde), was optimised. In addition, C. chinense cv. Naga Morich cell suspensions were supplemented with biotic elicitors (methyl-jasmonate and chitosan) and with precursors and intermediates of capsaicin biosynthesis (vanillin, phenylalanine and valine), and both cells and media were analysed for capsaicinoid, polyphenol, flavonoid contents and for antioxidant activity. This is the first report regarding capsaicinoid elicitation with pure chitosan and with a combination of precursors of both phenylpropanoid and valine pathways. Overall, the highest capsaicinoid levels were detected in cell extracts from cultures treated with 10 μM methyl-jasmonate and with a combination of phenylalanine and valine amino acids (100 μM each). The present results confirm the possibility of using hypocotyl chili pepper cell suspensions to produce high amounts of health beneficial metabolites
Traditional knowledge on wild and cultivated plants in the Kilombero Valley (Morogoro Region, Tanzania)
Full text linkBackground: This research was performed in four villages adjacent the boundary of Udzungwa Mountains National
Park in the Kilombero River plain of Tanzania. The area adjacent the villages is characterized by self-consumption
agriculture, with a population that is on average poor, still very tied to traditions and almost entirely unaffected by
modernization and technology. The aim of the present study was to investigate and record local knowledge
regarding the use of wild and traditionally cultivated plants used for traditional medicine and for other everyday
purposes (e.g., food, fibers and timber).
Methods: Ten traditional local healers, with solid botanical knowledge, were interviewed between June and August
2014 by means of semi-structured questionnaires. For each mentioned plant species, the Swahili folk name and,
when possible, the classification by family, genus and species was recorded as well as the part of the plant used,
the preparation method and the main uses (medicine, food or others).
Results: In total 196 species were mentioned of which 118 could be botanically classified. The identified species
belong to 44 different botanical families, with that of the Leguminosae being the most representative (24 species).
The plants were mostly used as medical treatments (33.3% of the species) and foods (36.8%), and to produce wood
and fibers (19.4%).
Conclusion: The present study revealed that numerous plant species are still essential in the everyday life of the tribes
living in Kilombero Valley. Most of the plants were usually harvested in the wild, however, after the creation of the
Udzungwa Mountains National Park, the harvesting pressure has become concentrated on a few unprotected forest
patches. Consequently, many useful species are becoming increasingly rare with the risk of losing the connected
botanical and traditional knowledge. The present study may, therefore, contribute to record the ethnobotanical
knowledge held by these populations, in order to preserve this valuable richness for future generations
Ethnobotanical survey of wild food plants traditionally collected and consumed in the Middle Agri Valley (Basilicata region, southern Italy)
Full text linkAbstract Background This research was carried out in a scarcely populated area of the Middle Agri Valley (Basilicata region, southern Italy). The aim of the study was to record local knowledge on the traditional uses of wild food plants, as well as to collect information regarding the practices (gathering, processing and cooking) and the medicinal uses related to these plants. Methods Fifty-eight people still possessing traditional local knowledge (TLK), 74% women and 26% men, were interviewed between May–August 2012 and January 2013, using open and semi-structured ethnobotanical interviews. For each described plant species, the botanical family, the Italian common and folk names, the plant parts used, the culinary preparation and, when present, the medicinal use, were recorded and the relative frequency of citation index (RFC) was determined. Results The 52 plant species mentioned by the respondents belong to 23 botanical families, with Asteraceae (12 plants) and Rosaceae (7 plants) being most frequently cited. The species with the highest RFC index is Cichorium intybus L. (0.95), followed by Sonchus spp. (S. oleraceus L., S. asper L. and S. arvensis L.) (0.76). The plant parts preferably used are leaves (22 plants), fruits (12) and stems (7). Only six wild plants were indicated as having both food use and therapeutic effect. Conclusions The survey conducted on the traditional use of wild food plants in the Middle Agri Valley revealed that this cultural heritage is only partially retained by the population. Over the last few decades, this knowledge has been in fact quickly disappearing along with the people and, even in the rural context of the study area, is less and less handed down to younger generations. Nevertheless, data also revealed that the use of wild plants is recently being revaluated in a way closely related to local habits and traditions
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