160 research outputs found
Antioxidant and bioactive compounds of two wild edible mushrooms from Northeast of Portugal: Boletus poliporus and Boletus regius
Free radicals are produced in the normal natural metabolism of aerobic cells, mostly in the form of
reactive oxygen species (ROS). Maintenance of equilibrium between free radicals production and
antioxidant defenses is an essential condition for normal organism functioning [1 ,2]. Although
almost all organisms are equipped with antioxidant defense, the antioxidant supplements, or
natural products containing bioactive compounds, may be used to help reduce oxidative damage
to the human body (3]. Indeed, natural matrices with antioxidant activity, in particular mushrooms,
are used to aid the endogenous protective system, increasing interest in the antioxidative role of
functional foods or nutraceutical products (2]. The present study describes the antioxidant
properties and bioactive compounds of wild edible mushrooms (Boletus porosporus and Boletus
regius) collected in Northeast of Portugal (Bragança). The antioxidant properties were assessed
through the evaluation of the reducing power, radical scavenging activity and lipid peroxidation
inhibition of the samples. The individual profiles of organic acids and phenolic compounds were
obtained by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to photodiode array detector
(HPLC-POA) and the tocopherols were characterized by HPLC-fluorescence.The Boletus regius
sample revealed the best results in all the antioxidant activity assays, with the highest reducing
power, highest scavenging activity and highest lipid peroxidation inhibition. Phenolic acids and a
related compound (cinnamic acid) were found in both studied species and B. regius revealed the
highest content in total phenolic compounds (23.49 mg/1 00 g dw), mainly due to the presence of
two possible flavonoids. The highest levels of total tocophero ls were found in B. regius (763.80
j.Jg/1 00 g dw). The highest content in quinic and oxalic acids were found in B. porosporus(1.93
and 0.34 g/1 00 g dw, respectively), while B. regius revealed the highest level of citric acid (3.32
g/1 00 g dw).The results suggest that species of wild mushrooms from Northeast Portugal are a
potential source of antioxidants to be explored.FCT and COMPETE/QREN/EU: project PTOC/AGR-ALI/110062/2009, PEst-PTDC/AGRALI/110062/2009 CIMO strategic project and L B. grant (BPD/4609/2008
Research Update: Energy Strategies for Dry Cows
This information was presented at the 2014 Cornell Nutrition Conference for Feed Manufacturers, organized by the Department of Animal Science In the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University. Softcover copies of the entire conference proceedings may be purchased at http://ansci.cals.cornell.edu/extension-outreach/adult-extension/dairy-management/order-proceedings-resources or by calling (607)255-4285
Portuguese wild mushrooms at the "Pharma-Nutrition" interface: nutritional characterization and antioxidant properties
The search for foods that might improve health or reduce disease risk, has been progressively gaining interest. Mushroom could be examples of these foods, presenting the additional advantage of being recognized as a delicacy. This feature might place mushrooms in the pharma-nutrition interface. Herein, eight different mushroom species were characterized in terms of nutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, fat, individual sugars, fatty acids) and bioactive compounds (tocopherols, carotenoids, organic acids and phenolic compounds) with recognized antioxidant properties. These medicinal properties are often related with the antioxidant potential presented by mushroom extracts. Boletus regius was the species with the highest levels of carbohydrates (88.79 g/ 100 g dw) and PUFA (56.55%), bioactive compounds such as tocopherols (763.80 µg/100 g dw), citric acid (3.32 g/ 100 g dw) and phenolic compounds (23.49 mg/ 100 g dw), including two chrysin derivatives, presenting also the highest antioxidant activity. The identified bioactive compounds might be used as nutraceuticals to prevent chronic diseases related with oxidative stress. Furthermore, all tested species are edible, and could be incorporated directly in diet acting as functional foods.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) and COMPETE/QREN/EU for financial support to this work (research project PTDC/AGR-ALI/110062/2009) and to CIMO (strategic project PEst-OE/AGR/UI0690/2011). L. Barros and J.C.M. Barreira also thank to FCT, POPH-QREN and FSE for their grants (SFRH/BPD/4609/2008 and SFRH/BPD/72802/2010, respectively)
Effect of multi-component school-based program on body mass index, cardiovascular and diabetes risks in a multi-ethnic study
Background: Mexico occupies one of the first places worldwide in childhood obesity. Its Mestizo and Indigenous
communities present different levels of westernization which have triggered different epidemiological diseases. We assessed the effects of a multi-component school-based intervention program on obesity, cardiovascular and
diabetes risk factors. Methods: A physical activity, health education and parent involvement (PAHEPI) program was developed and applied in six urban (Mestizo ethnic group) and indigenous (Seri and Yaqui ethnic groups) primary schools for 12 weeks. A total of 320 children aged 4–12 years participated in intervention program; 203 under Treatment 1 (PAHEPI program) and 117, only from Mestizo groups, under Treatment 2 (PAHEPI+ school meals). For Body Mass Index (BMI), cardiovascular and diabetes factors, pairwise comparisons of values at baseline and after treatments were done using Wilcoxon signed rank test. Generalized linear models were applied to assess the intervention effect by age, sex and nutritional status in relation to ethnicity and treatment. Results: We observed improvements on BMI in children with overweight-obesity and in triglycerides in the three ethnic groups. The Mestizo ethnic group showed the largest improvements under Treatment 2. While Seris showed improvements only in cardiovascular risk factors, Yaquis also showed improvements in diabetes risk factors, though not in BMI. Conclusions: This study showed that the same intervention may have positive but different effects in different ethnic groups depending on their lifestyle and their emerging epidemiological disease. Including this type of intervention as part of the school curriculum would allow to adapt to ethnic group in order to contribute more efficiently to child welfare
Construction of chromosome segment substitution lines in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) using a wild synthetic and QTL mapping for plant morphology
Chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) are powerful QTL mapping populations that have been used to elucidate the molecular basis of interesting traits of wild species. Cultivated peanut is an allotetraploid with limited genetic diversity. Capturing the genetic diversity from peanut wild relatives is an important objective in many peanut breeding programs. In this study, we used a marker-assisted backcrossing strategy to produce a population of 122 CSSLs from the cross between the wild synthetic allotetraploid (A. ipae¨nsis6A. duranensis)4x and the cultivated Fleur11 variety. The 122 CSSLs offered a broad coverage of the peanut genome, with target wild chromosome segments averaging 39.2 cM in length. As a demonstration of the utility of these lines, four traits were evaluated in a subset of 80 CSSLs. A total of 28 lines showed significant differences from Fleur11. The line6trait significant associations were assigned to 42 QTLs: 14 for plant growth habit, 15 for height of the main stem, 12 for plant spread and one for flower color. Among the 42 QTLs, 37 were assigned to genomic regions and three QTL positions were considered putative. One important finding arising from this QTL analysis is that peanut growth habit is a complex trait that is governed by several QTLs with different effects. The CSSL population developed in this study has proved efficient for deciphering the molecular basis of trait variations and will be useful to the peanut scientific community for future QTL mapping studies. (Résumé d'auteur
Ocorrência de doença infundibular, sobremordida e ganchos em equinos de cavalaria militar
Limb immobilization alters functional electrophysiological parameters of sciatic nerve
Estimativa de parâmetros genéticos e correlação entre componentes de resistência à traça-do-tomateiro em progênies de Lycopersicon esculentum x L. hirsutum f. glabratum
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