Betalains and phenolic compounds of leaves and stems of Alternanthera brasiliana and Alternanthera tenella

Betacyanins and phenolic compounds from acetonitrile:acidified water extracts of Alternanthera brasiliana and Alternanthera tenella were characterized and quantified using a high-performance liquid chromatography system coupled with diode array and electrospray mass spectrometry detection. Four betacyanins (amaranthine, isoamaranthine, betanin and isobetanin) were tentatively identified and quantified. Twenty eight phenolic compounds of four different families (hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids, flavones and flavonols) were separated and characterized on the basis of their accurate MS and MS/MS information out of which ten compounds were confirmed by authentic standards. These plant species could be considered as an especially rich source of natural bioactive compounds and potential food colorants. A. brasiliana showed the highest betacyanin and polyphenols content (89 μg/g and 35,243 μg/g, respectively). Among polyphenols, flavonols were the more abundant (kaempferol-glucoside, kaempferol-rutinoside and kaempferol-rhamnosyl-rhamnosyl-glycoside). Meanwhile, A. tenella showed a different polyphenols profile with flavones as major compounds (glucopyranosil-vitexin and vitexin). As a novelty, pentosyl-vitexin and pentosyl-isovitexin were detected for the first time in Alternanthera plants. Both A. brasiliana and A. tenella leaves showed high total polyphenol content and in vitro antioxidant activity (FRAP). These results provide an analytical base concerning the phenolic and betalains composition and the antioxidant properties of two members of the promising Alternanthera gender, for subsequent applications, such as functional food ingredients.Fil: Deladino, Lorena. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Alvarez, I.. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnologia de Alimentos y Nutrición; EspañaFil: De Ancos, B.. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnologia de Alimentos y Nutrición; EspañaFil: Sánchez Moreno, C.. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnologia de Alimentos y Nutrición; EspañaFil: Molina García, A. D.. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnologia de Alimentos y Nutrición; EspañaFil: Schneider Teixeira, Aline. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; Argentina. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnologia de Alimentos y Nutrición; Españ

Lucerne Crown and Taproot Biomass Affected Early-Spring Canopy Expansion

Leaf area index (LAI) quantifies canopy expansion in crops and is used in lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) simulation models to predict daily PAR interception (PAR i). This then drives yield through radiation use efficiency (RUE) (Gosse et al., 1984). In perennial crops, like lucerne, the level of biomass stored in crown and taproot may affect canopy expansion in subsequent regrowth cycles (Avice et al., 1997). In temperate regions the impact of this is likely to be greatest in early-spring, when low temperatures delay development. The objective of the current research was to identify whether contrasting levels of winter biomass in crown and taproots affected LAI expansion in early-spring regrowth crops

Microfluidic encapsulation method to produce stable liposomes containing iohexol

Since the discovery of X-rays in the late 1890s, several medical imaging techniques have been developed, such as Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Ultrasound Imaging, which are used daily to diagnose, monitor, or treat medical conditions. Some of these techniques include the use of contrast agents to enhance the contrast images, therefore, toxic effects must be considered. Among these, Contrast-Induced Nephropathy (CIN) is an acute renal failure resulting from the administration of iodinated contrast media (CM). To date, there is no definitive treatment for CIN and several prevention approaches have been evaluated. Nanoparticles (NPs) represent a promising strategy for treatment and prevention of CIN, due to their ability to deliver CM during diagnosis imaging. In this study, iohexol-containing liposomes were produced using microfluidic technique for first time. Several phosphocholine lipids (e.g. DMPC, DOPC, DPPC and DSPC) with cholesterol (2:1 ratio) were investigated and DLS, FTIR and in vitro release studies at 37 °C were performed, with stability studies conducted on the best formulation. The microfluidic method allowed to obtain a high encapsulation efficiency (over 70%), and release profiles showed an iohexol release around or less than 0.12 mg/ml after 2 h for the majority of the formulations, which is not toxic to the kidney cells

Credence cues of pork are more important than consumers' culinary skills to boost their purchasing intention

The role of consumers' culinary skills on purchasing cues of pork, with emphasis on niche demands (outdoor husbandry and/or certified organic), was assessed in cross-country regions of Spain (Catalonia and Aragon) and Portugal (North). A sample of 974 respondents answered an on-line survey with questions regarding consumer purchasing habits, product involvement and intrinsic and credence attributes. They also chose between two contrasting boneless pork loins and express willingness to pay (WTP) for different product scenarios with different pig farm facilities and for organic pork standards. Two optimal segments were identified based on food-related habits: ‘uninvolved’ and ‘innovative cook lovers’, both similarly balanced across socio-demographics, score for credence attributes or consumer involvement dimensions. Overall mean WTP premium across countries was 11.8% for marbled pork, 20.0% for outdoor pork and 24.3% for organic logo stamp. Credence cues of pork claiming health issues (absence of antibiotics and hormone residues) rather than consumers' culinary skills defined the WTP for niche pork in these regions

Correlações fenotípicas e análise de agrupamento em populações de batata-de-vaqueiro (Mandevilla tenuifolia (Mikan) Wood.

Suplemento, ref 503. Edição dos Resumos do 47. Congresso Brasileiro de Olericultura; 4. Simpósio Brasileiro sobre Cucurbitáceas, Porto Seguro, ago. 2007

Caracterização morfológica e bromatológica preliminar da batata-de-vaqueiro (Mandevilla tenuifolia (Mikan) Wood), uma planta xerófitica.

Neste trabalho foram caracterizadas preliminarmente algumas variáveis bromatológicas e morfológicas de três populações de batata-de-vaqueiro, no total de 35 plantas, coletadas no município de Casa Nova, BA, de forma a subsidiar trabalhos que visem à exploração da espécie como uma hortaliça de sequeiro.Suplemento, ref 504. Edição dos Resumos do 47. Congresso Brasileiro de Olericultura; 4. Simpósio Brasileiro sobre Cucurbitáceas, Porto Seguro, ago. 2007

Recommendations for Urine and Urinary Bladder Collection in Chemical Carcinogenesis Assays with Rodents

This review describes the technical procedures to collect and process urine and urinary bladder samples, during and at the end of urinary bladder carcinogenesis assays with small rodents. The applications, advantages and disadvantages of each method are also mentioned and discussed

Cardiopatias Congénitas Complexas: Influência do Diagnóstico Pré-Natal

INTRODUCTION: Complex congenital heart disease is a group of severe conditions. Prenatal diagnosis has implications on morbidity and mortality for most severe conditions. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the influence of prenatal diagnosis and distance of residence and birth place to a reference center, on immediate morbidity and early mortality of complex congenital heart disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study of complex congenital heart disease patients of our Hospital, born between 2007 and 2012. RESULTS: There were 126 patients born with complex congenital heart disease. In 95%, pregnancy was followed since the first trimester, with prenatal diagnosis in 42%. There was a statistically significant relation between birth place and prenatal diagnosis. Transposition of great arteries was the most frequent complex congenital heart disease (45.2%), followed by pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (17.5%) and hypoplastic left ventricle (9.5%). Eighty-two patients (65.1%) had prostaglandin infusion and 38 (30.2%)were ventilated before an intervention. Surgery took place in the neonatal period in 73%. Actuarial survival rate at 30 days, 12 and 24 months was 85%, 80% and 75%, respectively. There was no statistically significant relation between prenatal diagnosis and mortality. DISCUSSION: Most patients with complex congenital heart disease did not have prenatal diagnosis. All cases with prenatal diagnosis were born in a tertiary center. Prenatal diagnosis did not influence significantly neonatal mortality, as already described in other studies with heterogeneous complex heart disease. CONCLUSION: prenatal diagnosis of complex congenital heart disease allowed an adequate referral. Most patients with complex congenital heart disease were not diagnosed prenatally. This data should be considered when planning prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease

Qualidade biológica do solo após adição de pó de balão e cultivo do milho: I - População e atividade de microrganismos.

O pó de balão ou charcok, resíduo da indústria siderúrgica não integrada a carvão vegetal enquadrado na Classe I e considerado perigoso, tem sido recomendado na cultura de eucalipto, na dosagem de 50 t ha-1. Nesse trabalho, procurou-se analisar os impactos da aplicação deste resíduo sobre a qualidade do solo cultivado com milho, medidos através da densidade populacional de fungos, bactérias e actinomicetos e hidrólise do diacetato de fluoresceína (FDA). Foram avaliados seis tratamentos constituídos de doses de pó de balão equivalentes a 0, 25, 50, 75, 100 t ha-1, na presença de adubação e de 50 t ha-1 de pó de balão, na ausência de adubação, distribuídos em delineamento de blocos casualizados, em três repetições. As amostras de solo foram coletadas após a colheita das plantas de milho, efetuada aos 60 dias de idade. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que não houve diferença significativa na composição qualitativa e quantitativa e atividade dos microrganismos, independente das dosagens de pó de balão utilizadas. Concluiu-se que a aplicação de pó de balão não afetou a qualidade biológica do solo através dos bioindicadores utilizados, mesmo na dosagem 100 t ha-1, equivalente ao dobro da recomendada

Liquid crystal anchoring transitions on aligning substrates processed by plasma beam

We observe a sequence of the anchoring transitions in nematic liquid crystals (NLC) sandwiched between the hydrophobic polyimide substrates treated with the plasma beam. There is a pronounced continuous transition from homeotropic to low tilted (nearly planar) alignment with the easy axis parallel to the incidence plane of the plasma beam (the zenithal transition) that takes place as the exposure dose increases. In NLC with positive dielectric anisotropy, a further increase in the exposure dose results in in-plane reorientation of the easy axis by 90 degrees (the azimuthal transition). This transition occurs through the two-fold degenerated alignment characteristic for the second order anchoring transitions. In contrast to critical behavior of anchoring, the contact angle of NLC and water on the treated substrates monotonically declines with the exposure dose. It follows that the surface concentration of hydrophobic chains decreases continuously. The anchoring transitions under consideration are qualitatively interpreted by using a simple phenomenological model of competing easy axes which is studied by analyzing anchoring diagrams of the generalized polar and non-polar anchoring models.Comment: revtex4, 18 pages, 10 figure