Effect of artificial light sources on the growth of green oak lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) grown in plant factories

Artificial light sources in plant factories offer numerous advantages over traditional plant production. Optimal artificial lighting systems will provide sufficient light to promote plant growth. Thus, this study aimed to determine different artificial light sources on plant growth, especially on internode length, root length, potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) contents of green oak lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Three artificial light sources were utilized in the plant factory: a fluorescent lamp (FL) typically used in plant factories and two light-emitting diodes (LED): bulb-LED and bar-LED lamps. Alternate periods of 12 h of light and dark were applied to the used factories. The results indicated that the lettuce grown under bulb-LED irradiation exhibited the lowest internode length and highest root length of green oak lettuce, regardless to light intensity and the higher photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) values of bulb-LED at the growing stage. K, Ca, and Mg contents in the lettuce shoot decreased in the order of K > Ca > Mg for all artificial light sources. The highest K, Ca, and Mg contents were 14.77±3.08, 4.77±0.92 and 108.14±9.36 mg/g dried weight (DW) obtained in lettuce grown under FL irradiation. Lower FL light intensity promotes nutrient deficiency, resulting in increased plant uptake. There was no significant difference in nutrient content between plants grown with bulb-LED and bar-LED. The K/Ca and K/Mg mole ratios were lowest in plants grown under FL irradiation. These findings suggest that FL can be used to control lettuce nutrient levels, whereas bulb-LED can be used to control lettuce growth.

Antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of non-edible parts of selected tropical fruits

It is of interest that seeds and pericarps of tropical fruits contain phytochemicals being the components of various biological activities for beneficial health effects. This study was aimed to evaluate antioxidant and anticancer activities of the methanolic extracts from seeds and pericarps of three selected tropical fruits including Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.), Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) and Tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.). Total phenolic content was determined by using the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Antioxidant capacity was evaluated based on the ability of the fruit extracts to scavenge ABTS and DPPH radicals. MTT reduction assay and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining were carried out for cytotoxicity and apoptosis induction, respectively. Total phenolic contents of the seeds and pericarps of the tropical fruits ranged from 104.60 to 501.95 mg/g DW. All extracts were found to have significant antioxidant activities. Among them, tamarind seed extract contained the highest total phenolic contents and possessed the highest antioxidant capacities. Tamarind seed extract showed the highest cytotoxicity to human mouth carcinoma (CLS-354) cells and had no toxicity to PBMCs. Staining with annexin V-FITC/PI showed that this apoptosis occurred early in this cell type with 10.0% of the cells undergoing apoptosis. Tamarind seed extract might have potential anticancer activity which could be attributed, in part, to selectively inhibit the growth of CLS-354 cells and induce apoptosis. This research finding would be valuable information to identify major constituents of the extracts and mechanisms underlying anticancer activity which could be attributed to dietary health supplements or cancer chemoprevention from fruits

Metal and metal oxide nanoparticles from Mimusops elengi Linn. Extract: green synthesis, antioxidant activity, and cytotoxicity

In this study, both silver (Ag) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles are green synthesized using a water extract of the Mimusops elengi Linn. leaf. The methods are simple, inexpensive, nontoxic, and eco-friendly. The AgNPs and ZnONPs are formed using phytochemical substances in M. elengi leaf extract at room temperature. The phenolics and flavonoids in the leaf extract is the key compounds that act as the metal-reducing agents. The effective parameters of the green synthesis (the metal concentration, leaf extract concentration, pH, temperature, and reaction time) are evaluated. The formation of the metal and metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) are confirmed through colour change visuals, ultraviolet–visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy (UV-vis), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The morphological and crystalline characterizations of the NPs are established using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The TEM results indicated that the AgNPs are predominantly spherical in shape with an average particle size of 22.12 nm. The ZnONPs have mostly rod-like morphology with an average size of 28.44 nm. The antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity of the synthesized NPs against colon cancer cells (Caco-2 cells) are evaluated; the obtained NPs exhibited good free radical scavenging activity through DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays. The cytotoxicity results demonstrated that only the 2,000-ppm extract had any potential against the Caco-2 cells; both the AgNPs and ZnONPs had no effect on Caco-2 cells. However, regarding human health, metal NPs are safe to use and are useful in the other applications

iPLA2β deficiency attenuates obesity and hepatic steatosis in ob / ob mice through hepatic fatty-acyl phospholipid remodeling

PLA2G6 or GVIA calcium-independent PLA2 (iPLA2 beta) is identified as one of the NAFLD modifier genes in humans, and thought to be a target for NAFLD therapy. iPLA2 beta is known to play a house-keeping role in phospholipid metabolism and remodeling. However, its role in NAFLD pathogenesis has not been supported by results obtained from high-fat feeding of iPLA2 beta-null (PKO) mice. Unlike livers of human NAFLD and genetically obese rodents, fatty liver induced by high-fat diet is not associated with depletion of hepatic phospholipids. We therefore tested whether iPLA2 beta could regulate obesity and hepatic steatosis in leptin-deficient mice by cross-breeding PKO with ob/ob mice to generate ob/ob-PKO mice. Here we observed an improvement in ob/ob-PKO mice with significant reduction in serum enzymes, lipids, glucose, insulin as well as improved glucose tolerance, and reduction in islet hyperplasia. The improvement in hepatic steatosis measured by liver triglycerides, fatty acids and cholesterol esters was associated with decreased expression of PPAR gamma and de novo lipogenesis genes, and the reversal of beta-oxidation gene expression. Notably, ob/ob livers contained depleted levels of lysophospholipids and phospholipids, and iPLA2 beta deficiency in ob/ob-PKO livers lowers the former, but replenished the latter particularly phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) that contained arachidonic (AA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids. Compared with WT livers, PKO livers also contained increased PE and PC containing AA and DHA. Thus, iPLA2 beta deficiency protected against obesity and ob/ob fatty liver which was associated with hepatic fatty-acyl phospholipid remodeling. Our results support the deleterious role of iPLA2 beta in severe obesity associated NAFLD. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Phytochemical Profiling and Antioxidant Activities of the Most Favored Ready-to-Use Thai Curries, Pad-Ka-Proa (Spicy Basil Leaves) and Massaman

Food is one of the factors with the highest impact on human health. Today, attention is paid not only to food properties such as energy provision and palatability but also to functional aspects including phytochemical, antioxidant properties, etc. Massaman and spicy basil leaf curries are famous Thai food dishes with a good harmony of flavor and taste, derived from multiple herbs and spices, including galangal rhizomes, chili pods, garlic bulbs, peppers, shallots, and coriander seeds, that provide an array of health benefits. The characterization of phytochemicals detected by LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS identified 99 components (Masaman) and 62 components (spicy basil leaf curry) such as quininic acid, hydroxycinnamic acid, luteolin, kaempferol, catechin, eugenol, betulinic acid, and gingerol. The cynaroside and luteolin-7-O-glucoside found in spicy basil leaf curry play a key role in antioxidant activities and were found at a significantly higher concentration than in Massaman curry. Phenolic and flavonoid compounds generally exhibit a bitter and astringent taste, but all the panelists scored both curries higher than 7 out of 9, confirming their acceptable flavor. Results suggest that the Massaman and spicy basil leaves contain various phytochemicals at different levels and may be further used as functional ingredients and nutraceutical products