Artemisia absinthium and Artemisia vulgaris: A comparative study of infusion polysaccharides

AbstractThe aerial parts of Artemisia absinthium and Artemisia vulgaris are used in infusions for the treatment of several diseases. Besides secondary metabolites, carbohydrates are also extracted with hot water and are present in the infusions. The plant carbohydrates exhibit several of therapeutic properties and their biological functions are related to chemical structure. In this study, the polysaccharides from infusions of the aerial parts of A. absinthium and A. vulgaris were isolated and characterized. In the A. absinthium infusion, a type II arabinogalactan was isolated. The polysaccharide had a Gal:Ara ratio of 2.3:1, and most of the galactose was (1→3)- and (1→6)-linked, as typically found in type II arabinogalactans. In the A. vulgaris infusion, an inulin-type fructan was the main polysaccharide. NMR analysis confirmed the structure of the polymer, which is composed of a chain of fructosyl units β-(2←1) linked to a starting α-d-glucose unit

Technical note: Residues of gaseous air pollutants in rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) tissues

[EN] The modern consumer is concerned not only for meat quality, but also about animal welfare and the environment. Studies were conducted to determine the concentration of gaseous residues in the tissues of rabbits. For this purpose, gaseous air pollutants were measured at the height of rabbit cages. Immediately after slaughter, samples were taken for analysis to determine the level of residual pollutants in the tissues (blood, perirenal fat and lung). Headspace gas chromatography was performed on the tissue samples to test for volatile toxic substances. Gas residues of 11 compounds were determined in the samples of blood, perirenal fat and lungs. The same chemicals were present in the air of the farm and the animal tissues, which may indicate their capacity for bioaccumulation. We recommend that the results should be used to develop guidelines regarding the welfare of meat rabbits and requirements for laboratory rabbits.Nowakowicz-Dębek, B.; Petkowicz, J.; Buszewicz, G.; Wlazło, Ł.; Ossowski, M. (2020). Technical note: Residues of gaseous air pollutants in rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) tissues. World Rabbit Science. 28(2):103-108. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2020.13175OJS103108282Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) 2010. Toxicological Profile for Ethylbenzene. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, 82-103.Amoore J.E., Hautala E. 1983. Odor as an aid to chemical safety: Odor thresholds compared with threshold limit values and volatilities for 214 industrial chemicals in air and water dilution. J. Appl. Toxicol., 3: 272-290. https://doi.org/10.1002/jat.2550030603Belenguer A., Fondevila M., Balcells J., Abecia L., Lachica M., Carro M.D. 2011. Methanogenesis in rabbit caecum as affected by the fermentation pattern: in vitro and in vivo measurements. World Rabbit Sci., 1: 75-83. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2011.826Calvet S., Estellés F., Hermida B., Blumetto O., Torres A. 2008. Experimental balance to estimate efficiency in the use of nitrogen in rabbit breeding. World Rabbit Sci., 16: 205-211. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2008.615Caussy D., Gochfeld M., Gurzau E., Neagu C., Ruedel H. 2003. Lessons from case studies of metals: investigating exposure, bioavailability, and risk. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf., 56: 45-50. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0147-6513(03)00049-6Christoph G.R., Malley L.A., Stadler J.C. 2003. Subchronic inhalation exposure to acetone vapor and scheduled controlled operant performance in male rats. Inhal. Toxicol. 15: 781-798. https://doi.org/10.1080/08958370390217846Da Borso F., Chiumenti A., Mezzadri M., Teri F. 2016. Noxious gases in rabbit housing systems: Effects of cross and longitudinal ventilation. J. Agric. Eng., 47: 222-229. https://doi.org/10.4081/jae.2016.572Dickson, R.P., Luks, A.M. 2009. Toluene toxicity as a cause of elevated anion gap metabolic acidosis. Respir. Care, 54: 1115-1117.Dikshith T.S.S. 2013. Hazardous Chemicals: Safety Management and Global Regulations. CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group LLC., Boca Raton, Florida, U.S. https://doi.org/10.1201/b14758DiVincenzo G.D., Yanno F.J., Astill B.D. 1973. Exposure of man and dog to low concentrations of acetone vapor. Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J., 34: 329-336. https://doi.org/10.1080/0002889738506857Elovaara E., Engström K., Vainio H. 1984. Metabolism and disposition of simultaneously inhaled m-xylene and ethylbenzene in the rat. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol., 75: 466-478. https://doi.org/10.1016/0041-008X(84)90183-2Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2010. Inventory of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and sinks: 1990-2008. U.S.Environmental Protection Agency report No. EPA 430-R-10-006. Washington, U.S.Geller I., Hartmann R.J., Randle S.R., Gause E.M. 1979. Effects of acetone and toluene vapors on multiple schedule performance of rats. Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav., 11: 395-399. https://doi.org/10.1016/0091-3057(79)90114-XGugołek A., Juśkiewicz J., Strychalski J., Zwoliński C, Żary-Sikorska E., Konstantynowicz M. 2017. The effects of rapeseed meal and legume seeds as substitutes for soybean meal on productivity and gastrointestinal function in rabbits. Arch. Anim. Nutr., 71: 311-326. https://doi.org/10.1080/1745039X.2017.1322796Howard P.H. 1989. Handbook of environmental fate and exposure data for organic chemicals. Volume 1: Large production and priority pollutants. Lewis Publishers Inc., Chelsea, Michigan.Huff, J., Chan, P., Melnick, R. 2010. Clarifying carcinogenicity of ethylbenzene. Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol., 58: 167-169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yrtph.2010.08.011Kawai T., Yasugi T., Mizunuma K., Horiguchi S., Iguchi H., Ikeda M. 1992. Curvi-linear relation between acetone in breathing zone air and acetone in urine among workers exposed to acetone vapor. Toxicol. Lett. 62: 85-91. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-4274(92)90081-TKonéab A.P., Desjardinsbc Y., Gosselinbc A., Cinq-Marsa D., Guaya F., Saucier L. 2019. Plant extracts and essential oil product as feed additives to control rabbit meat microbial quality. Meat Sci., 50: 111-121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2018.12.013Lauwerys, R., Bernard, A., Viau, C., Buchet, J.P. 1985. Kidney disorders and hematotoxicity from organic solvent exposure. Scand. J. Work Environ. Health., 11 Suppl 1: 83-90. https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.2238Michl R., Hoy St. 1996. Results of continuous measuring of gases in rabbit keeping by using multigas-monitoring. Berl. Munch. Tierarztl. Wochenschr., 109: 340-343.Nowakowicz-Dębek B., Buszewicz G., Chmielowiec-Korzeniowska A., Saba L., Bis-Wencel H., Wnuk W. 2007. Residues of volatile gaseous substances in the tissues of polar foxes. Med. Wet., 63: 688-691.Nowakowicz-Dębek B., Łopuszyński W. 2004. Effects, of air pollution on changes in the polar fox (Alopex lagopus) organism. Med. Wet., 60: 845-848.OECD SIDS. 2002. Ethylbenzene: SIDS Initial Assessment Report For SIAM 14. Paris, France: UNEP Publications 7, 1-177.Ogata M., Fujisawa K., Ogino Y., Mano E. 1984. Partition coefficients as a measure of bioconcentration potential of crude oil compounds in fish and shellfish. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol., 33: 561-567. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01625584Peckham, T., Kopstein, M., Klein, J., Dahlgren, J. 2014. Benzenecontaminated toluene and acute myeloid leukemia: a case series and review of literature. Toxicol. Ind. Health., 30: 73-81. https://doi.org/10.1177/0748233712451764Plaa G.L., Hewitt W.R., Du Souich P., Caille G., Lock S. 1982. Isopropanol and acetone potentiation of carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity: single versus repetitive pretreatments in rats. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health., 9: 235-250. https://doi.org/10.1080/15287398209530158Rommers, J.M., de Jong, I.C., de Greef, K.H. 2015. The development of a welfare assessment protocol for commercially housed rabbits. In 19th International symposium on housing and diseases of rabbits, furbearing animals and pet animals, 27-28 May 2015, Celle, Germany.Saghir, S.A., Rick, D.L., McClymont, E.L., Zhang, F., Bartels, M.J., Bus, J.S. 2009. Mechanism of ethylbenzene-induced mousespecific lung tumor: metabolism of ethylbenzene by rat, mouse, and human liver and lung microsomes. Toxicol. Sci., 107: 352-366. https://doi.org/10.1093/toxsci/kfn244Scholl H.R., Iba M.M. 1997. Pharmacokinetics of and CYP1A induction by pyridine and acetone in the rat: interactions and effects of route of exposure. Xenobiotica, 27: 265-277. https://doi.org/10.1080/004982597240596Tang W., Hemm I., Eisenbrand G. 2000. Estimation of human exposure to styrene and ethylbenzene. Toxicology, 144: 39-50. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0300-483X(99)00188-2Tillmann K., Windschnurer I., Gamper J., Hinney B., Rülicke T., Podesser B.K., Troxler J., Plasenzotti R. 2019. Welfare assessment in rabbits raised for meat and laboratory purposes in enclosures with two floor types: Perforated plastic with holes versus slats. Res. Vet. Sci., 122: 200-209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2018.11.016Viau C. 2002. Biological monitoring of exposure to mixtures. Toxicol. Lett., 134: 9-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-4274(02)00158-3Vitale, C.M., Gutovitz, S. 2018. Aromatic (Benzene, Toluene) Toxicity. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing, Treasure Island (FL); 2019. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532257. Accessed April 2020.Wigaeus E., Holm S., Astrand I. 1981. Exposure to acetone: uptake and elimination in man. Scand. J. Work Environ. Health, 7: 84-94. https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.2561Wigaeus E., Löf A., Nordqvist M. 1982. Distribution and elimination of 2-[14C]-acetone in mice after inhalation exposure. Scand. J. Work Environ. Health, 8: 121-128. https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.248

Rheological characterization of O/W emulsions incorporated with neutral and charged polysaccharides

AbstractThe effects of polysaccharides, including xyloglucan from Hymenaea courbaril (XG), galactomannans from Schizolobium parahybae (GMSP) and Mimosa scabrella (GMMS), xanthan gum (XT), sodium hyaluronate (HNa) and Fucogel® (FG), on the rheological behavior of cosmetic emulsions were evaluated. These incorporations gave rise to six emulsified systems, denoted XGE, GMSPE, GMMSE, XTE, HNaE and FGE, respectively. The emulsion consistency was found to follow the trend GMSPE>XGE>HNaE>FGE>XTE>GMMSE. In general, the addition of polysaccharides increased the viscoelastic properties of the emulsions and decreased the creep compliance. The neutral polysaccharides (GMSPE, GMMSE) led to better stability of the emulsions after storing for 20 days relative to charged polymers. It was found that polysaccharides XG, GMSP and GMMS, which come from the seeds of native Brazilian plant species, might be used to modify the flow properties and stabilities of oil–water emulsions

Pectins from food waste: Characterization and functional properties of a pectin extracted from broccoli stalk

Currently about 60–75% of world broccoli production is wasted during harvesting. The aim of the present study was to extract and characterise the pectin present in broccoli stalks and to evaluate its functional properties. The stalks were initially treated with boiling ethanol to remove compounds such as pigments and free sugars and then the pectin (FB) was extracted with 0.1 M nitric acid for 30min. The pectic fraction FB (18% yield) was found to contain 75% galacturonic acid with a degree of methyl-esterification of 56%, and an acetyl content of 1.1%. Rhamnose and galactose were the main neutral sugars present. NMR analyses showed that FB was composed of homogalacturonan and rhamnogalacturonan I substituted with β-1,4-D-galactan. The molar mass of FB was 72.2 × 103 g/mol and the viscosity of a 5% (w/w) solution in 0.1M NaCl at pH 4 showed shear thinning behaviour with a low shear Newtonian plateau of ~100 Pa s at 25 °C. At the same concentration FB showed a weak gel like behaviour. FB (0.5–4%, w/w) was also able to stabilize medium chain triglyceride oil in water emulsions. The results suggest that broccoli stalk could be used as an alternative source of commercial pectins

Effects of Hydrostatic Weight on Heart Rate During Water Immersion

The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of hydrostatic weight on the changes in heart rate (HR) observed during water immersion (WI). Ten men underwent the following situations: HRR---recumbent position, outside the water; HRS---standing position, outside the water; HRU---standing position, immersed up to the umbilical scar region; HRUW---standing position, immersed up to the umbilical scar region with the addition of weight to equal force weight reached in the situation standing outside the water, and HREND---standing position outside the water again. The HR was measured at the final 15 seconds of each experimental situation. ANOVA for repeated measures with posthoc Tukey tests were used. No statistically significant differences were found between HRU (60.6 ± 7.7 bpm) and HRUW (64.9 ± 7.7 bpm); however, in the comparison of these two situations with situation HRS (75.7 ± 7.7 bpm), situation HRU presented a significant difference, while situation HRUW did not produce a significant bradycardia. The decrease in hydrostatic weight, during WI, does not influence the behavior of HR

Characterization of xanthan gum produced from sugar cane broth

AbstractXanthan gum was produced by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris NRRL B-1459 using diluted sugar cane broth in experiments that lasted 24h. The components used were in g/L: 27.0 sucrose; 2.0 Brewer's yeast; and 0.8 NH4NO3. The mixture was fermented at 750rpm and 0.35vvm. These conditions produced xanthan gum with the desired molecular weight and total sugar content, which were 4.2×106Da and 85.3%, respectively. The sugar consisted of 43% glucose, 32% mannose and 24% glucuronic acid in a 1.79:1.33:1 ratio. The xanthan gum produced by this method was confirmed by comparing the infrared spectrum of commercial xanthan gum with the infrared spectrum of the xanthan gum produced using this method. The infrared spectra were very similar, which confirmed the identity the xanthan gum produced using our method. The xanthan gum was also evaluated using Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR)

A roadmap towards a circular and sustainable bioeconomy through waste valorization

Municipal solid waste and food supply chain waste are globally generated in large quantities from various sectors including various stages of food supply chains, municipalities, open markets and catering services. A prevailing priority in the EU is to stimulate the transition towards a circular economy that fosters the promotion of sustainable and resource-efficient policies for long-term socio-economic and environmental benefits. Common practices for waste management include landfill disposal, anaerobic digestion, composting and wastewater treatment. Recently, new technologies have been introduced to produce value-added products from agricultural residues and food processing side streams. Integrated and holistic approaches for organic waste utilization as industrial feedstocks will boost the transition towards the bio-economy era. The establishment of circular economy would expand and diversify the market outlets of bio-based products. This review provides an overview of the current methods on waste and by-product streams bioconversion to develop biorefinery concepts

Chemical modification of citrus pectin: Structural, physical and rheologial implications

peer-reviewedThe present study aimed to investigate the physical, structural and rheological modifications caused by the chemical modification process of citrus pectin. Therefore, three commercial citrus pectins with different degree of esterification were chemically modified by sequential alkali and acidic hydrolytic process to produce modified citrus pectins (MCP) with special properties. The molar mass (Mw), degree of esterification (DE), monosaccharide composition, 13C NMR spectra, homogeneity, morphology (SEM) and rheological behavior of both native and modified citrus pectins (MCP) were investigated. The chemical modification reduced the acid uronic content (up to 28.3%) and molar mass (up to 29.98%), however, showed little influence on the degree of esterification of native pectins. Modified citrus pectins presented higher amounts of neutral monosaccharides, mainly galactose, arabinose and rhamnose, typical of the Ramnogalacturonana-I (RG-I) region. Rheological tests indicated that the native and modified citrus pectins presented pseudoplastic behavior, however, the MCP samples were less viscous, compared to the native ones. Modified samples presented better dissolution in water and less strong gels, with good stability during oscillatory shearing at 25 °C. This study aims to better understand the implications that chemical modifications may impose on the structure of citrus pectins.CAPE