Physiological quality, content and activity of antioxidants in soybean seeds artificially aged.

ABSTRACT - The objective of this study was to evaluate physiological quality, content, and activity of antioxidants, in soybean seeds subjected to accelerated aging during different periods. Seeds of cultivars BRS 258, BRS 262 and BRS 268, subjected to accelerated aging during 12, 24, 36 and 48 hours and non-aged seeds were used. After each aging period, the seed were evaluated by tests of: germination; first count and tetrazolium. The total of phenolic compounds, total flavonoides, total of isoflavones, and activity for eliminating ABTS°+ radicals were quantified. There were differences among cultivars according to vigor and viability only after seeds were aged. Cultivars BRS 158 and BRS 268 have shown better seed physiological quality in each aging period; however, not presenting higher amounts of isoflavones and efficiency in removing free radicals. For all cultivars, the values for total of phenolic compounds, as well as total of flavonoids have shown quadratic positive behavior; the values for isoflavones remained constant and the vigor and viability showed contrary trend to activity of antioxidant agents. RESUMO: Qualidade fisiológica, conteúdo e atividade de antioxidantes presentes em sementes de soja envelhecidas artificialmente. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade fisiológica, o conteúdo e a atividade de agentes antioxidantes presentes em sementes de soja envelhecidas durante diferentes períodos. Foram utilizadas sementes das cultivares BRS 258, BRS 262 e BRS 268, envelhecidas durante 12, 24, 36 e 48 h e sementes não envelhecidas. Após cada período de envelhecimento, as sementes foram avaliadas pelo testes de: germinação; primeira contagem e tetrazólio. Foram quantificados: compostos fenólicos totais; flavonóides totais; total de isoflavonas e atividade eliminadora do radical ABTS°+. Houve diferença entre as cultivares em relação ao vigor e viabilidade somente quando foram envelhecidas. BRS 158 e BRS 268 apresentaram melhor qualidade fisiológica de sementes em cada período de envelhecimento, porém, não apresentaram maior quantidade de isoflavonas e eficiência no sequestro dos radicais livres. Para todas as cultivares, os valores de compostos fenólicos totais, assim como os flavonóides totais, apresentaram comportamento quadrático positivo; os valores das isoflavonas permaneceram constantes e o vigor e a viabilidade apresentaram tendência contrária à atividade dos agentes antioxidantes

Cytisus scoparius link - A natural antioxidant

BACKGROUND: Recent investigations have shown that the antioxidant properties of plants could be correlated with oxidative stress defense and different human diseases. In this respect flavonoids and other polyphenolic compounds have gained the greatest attention. The plant Cytisus scoparius contains the main constituent of flavone and flavonals. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activities of extract of aerial part of Cytisus scoparius. METHODS: The plant extract was tested for DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl, 2-picryl hydrazyl) radical scavenging, nitric oxide radical scavenging, superoxide anion radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging, antilipid peroxidation assay, reducing power and total phenol content. RESULTS: The extract exhibited scavenging potential with IC(50 )value of 1.5 μg/ml, 116.0 μg/ml and 4.7 μg/ml for DPPH, nitric oxide and superoxide anion radicals. The values were found to lesser than those of vitamin C, rutin, and curcumin, as standards. The extract showed 50% protection at the dose of 104.0 μg/ml in lipid peroxidation induced by Fe(2+)/ ascorbate system in rat liver microsomal preparation. There is decrease in hydroxyl radical generation with IC(50 )value of 27.0 μg/ml when compared with standard vitamin E. The reducing power of the extract depends on the amount of extract. A significant amount of polyphenols could be detected by the equivalent to 0.0589 μg of pyrocatechol from 1 mg of extract. CONCLUSION: The results obtained in the present study indicate that hydro alcoholic extract of aerial part of Cytisus scoparius is a potential source of natural antioxidants

Towards conservation of the local landraces of faba bean (<em>Vicia faba</em>) in Serbia.

International audienceToday, faba bean (Vicia faba L.) in Serbia is almost an extinct crop, without official data on harvested area or production for decades. However, faba bean survived in certain parts of the country, especially along the rivers Southern and Great Morava, in the centre, and in Backa, in the north. In these parts, faba bean is cultivated mostly to suit one's own needs and sporadically is brought to green markets. It is grown as a garden crop, with sowing either in spring or during winter in order to achieve faster growth in comparison to the first schedule. First steps towards the conservation of faba bean local landraces in Serbia have been made within the multilateral project ECO-NET 18817 (2008-2009) between France, Bulgaria, Russia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, with about 30 populations collected, and will be proceeded with within the recently launched bilateral project LEG-HIVER between Serbia and France, with multilevel characterisation and evaluation planne

Optimization of isoflavone production from fermented soybean using response surface methodology

This study was conducted to investigate the interaction effects among process variables during isoflavone production and optimized the yield of isoflavone. A response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to study the relationships of fermentation temperature, time, and starter culture on daidzin and daidzein as an isoflavone product. The experiments were designed using central composite by applying 24 factorial designs with 2 center points. Fermented soybean produced a maximum of 1,284.14 μg/g daidzin at an optimum temperature of 29.39°C, fermentation duration at 32.06 h and starter culture content of 0.96%(w/w). Meanwhile, an optimum daidzein (1,663.85 μg/g) was obtained at 35°C and 48 h fermentation process with 0.5%(w/w) starter culture. Validation study showed the observed and predicted values were in compliance with 5% level of significance. The RSM was successful in identifying the optimum conditions for the isoflavone production