Uncertainties in the determination of pyrrolizidine alkaloid levels in naturally contaminated honeys and comparison of results obtained by different analytical approaches

The contamination of honey with hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) is a well-known hazard for food safety. While management strategies and controls of the honey industry aim to reduce the PA levels, uncertainties remain with regard to the safety of regionally produced and marketed honey. In addition, a previous study showed large differences of results obtained after various periods of storage and apparent differences between the analytical results of different laboratories. Therefore, this study aimed at examining these uncertainties by monitoring the impact of storage on the PA and PA N-oxide (PANO) content of two freshly harvested honeys and on possible demixing effects caused by pollen settling. Additionally, three analytical approaches – target analysis with matrix-matched calibration or standard addition and a sum parameter method – were applied for a comparative analysis of 20 honeys harvested in summer 2016. All samples originated from Schleswig-Holstein in Northern Germany where the PA plant Jacobaea vulgaris is currently observed on a massive scale. The results of the time series analyses showed that PANO levels markedly decreased within a few weeks and practically reached the LOD 16 weeks after harvest. Tertiary PAs, by contrast, remained stable and did not increase as a consequence of PANO decrease. The experiments on a putative demixing, which may result in a heterogeneous distribution of PAs/PANOs, revealed that there was no such effect during storage of up to 12 weeks. A comparison of the PA/PANO levels obtained by different analytical approaches showed that in some cases the sum parameter method yielded much higher levels than the target approaches, whereas in other cases, the target analysis with standard addition found higher levels than the other two methods. In summary, the results of this study highlight uncertainties regarding the validity and comparability of analytical results and consequently regarding health risk assessment.     

肠道杆菌的扫描电镜观察

我们用扫描电镜观察肠道杆菌种(Enterobacteriaceae)中的四种细菌,大肠埃希氏杆菌(Escherichiacoli),普通变形杆菌(Proteus vulgaris),伤寒沙门氏菌(Salmonella typhi)和福氏志贺氏菌(Shigella Flexneri)。未处理的菌落标本,菌落表面都可形成一层厚薄不同的表膜(Surface film)。四种细菌菌落的表膜,形状不一,千姿百态。适当处理后的菌落标本,则可显示菌体的本来面目。四种细菌菌体在菌落表面的分布和排列,也是各不相同,千差万别。本文根据扫描电镜的观察,对四种不同菌落进行了讨论。     

Plant Cyanogenesis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaseolus lunatus</Emphasis> and its Relevance for Herbivore–Plant Interaction: The Importance of Quantitative Data

Quantitative experimental results on the antiherbivorous effect of cyanogenesis are rare. In our analyses, we distinguished between the total amount of cyanide-containing compounds stored in a given tissue [cyanogenic potential (HCNp)] and the capacity for release of HCN per unit time (HCNc) from these cyanogenic precursors as a reaction to herbivory. We analyzed the impact of these cyanogenic features on herbivorous insects using different accessions of lima beans (Phaseolus lunatus L.) with different cyanogenic characteristics in their leaves and fourth instars of the generalist herbivore Schistocerca gregaria Forskål (Orthoptera, Acrididae). Young leaves exhibit a higher HCNp and HCNc than mature leaves. This ontogenetic variability of cyanogenesis was valid for all accessions studied. In no-choice bioassays, feeding of S. gregaria was reduced on high cyanogenic lima beans compared with low cyanogenic beans. A HCNp of about 15 μmol cyanide/g leaf (fresh weight) with a corresponding HCNc of about 1 μmol HCN released from leaf material within the first 10 min after complete tissue disintegration appears to be a threshold at which the first repellent effects on S. gregaria were observed. The repellent effect of cyanogenesis increased above these thresholds of HCNp and HCNc. No repellent action of cyanogenesis was observed on plants with lower HCNp and HCNc. These low cyanogenic accessions of P. lunatus were consumed extensively—with dramatic consequences for the herbivore. After consumption, locusts showed severe symptoms of intoxication. Choice assays confirmed the feeding preference of locusts for low over high cyanogenic leaf material of P. lunatus. The bioassays revealed total losses of HCN between 90 and 99% related to the estimated amount of ingested cyanide-containing compounds by the locusts. This general finding was independent of the cyanogenic status (high or low) of the leaf material.     

生物质能源与能源林业若干问题研究

概述了生物质能对未来能源发展的重要作用,对我国能源林业和灌木能源林的情况作了简要介绍,并重点提出了小球藻油的利用对生物质能开发的影响.     

芳烃化合物对普通小球藻毒性的QSAR研究

用DFT-B3LYP方法,在较高基组6-311G**水平下,全优化计算了23种苯胺、苯酚和苯甲醛衍生物。从中获得前线分子轨道能级(EHOMO,ELUMO),最正氢原子电荷Q ,最负非氢原子电荷Q-,及分子偶极矩和体积(μ,V)等描述符。结合文献中标题化合物对普通小球藻的毒性值(-logEC50)和疏水性参数(logKow),由线性回归方法成功建立QSAR模型。将-logEC50与logKow直接相关,发现标题物对普通小球藻的毒性均高于基本毒性,而多元线性回归所得二变量模型(-logEC50=-1.945 0.612logKow-7.690ELUMO,n=23,R2=0.834,F=50.322,SE=0.274,P=0.000,VIF=1.093)能更好地描述标题物对普通小球藻的毒性,由此推断,标题物取非共价作用毒性机理,其对普通小球藻的毒性作用分为两步,首先穿过细胞壁在细胞内富集,以logKow描述;其次与亲核试剂发生亲电反应,以ELUMO表示。     

Rheological properties and gel strength of Phaseolus lunatus protein/carboxymethylated flamboyant gum systems

The rheological behaviour and gel strength of hydrocolloid mixture systems (HMSs) of carboxymethylated flamboyant gum (CFG) with protein hydrolysates (PHs) of Phaseolus lunatus were examined to evaluate the influence of the protein/polysaccharide ratio (2:1 and 3:1), pH (3 and 9) and concentration of solids, according to a 2³ factorial design. The protein concentrate of P. lunatus was hydrolysed with pepsin–pancreatin enzymes. The flow curve results were fitted to the Ostwald–de Waele model. The flow behaviour index (0.66–0.78) for all conditions studied was indicative of the shear‐thinning behaviour. For the HMS, the consistency index (k) values ranged from 0.4 Pa sⁿ to 1.2 Pa sⁿ. The analyses of variance showed that the ratio of PH/CFG and pH were the main variables that had significant effect on k values (P < 0.05). Only PH system presented a weak gel‐like viscoelastic behaviour. Both functional properties were affected by the protein degree of hydrolysis (DH).     

Green microalga Chlorella vulgaris as a potential feedstock for biodiesel

BACKGROUND: A major bottleneck in microalgal biodiesel production is lipid content, which is often low in microalgal species. The present study examines Chlorella vulgaris as a potential feedstock for biodiesel by identifying and evaluating the relationships between the critical variables that enhance the lipid yield, and characterizes the biodiesel produced for various properties. RESULTS: Factors affecting lipid accumulation in a green microalga, Chlorella vulgaris were examined. Multifactor optimization raised the lipid pool to 55% dry cell weight against 9% control. When C. vulgaris cells pre‐grown in glucose (0.7%)‐supplemented medium were transferred to the optimized condition at the second stage, the lipid yield was boosted to 1974 mg L^?1, a value almost 20‐fold higher than for the control. The transesterified C. vulgaris oil showed the presence of ～82% saturated fatty acids, with palmitate and stearate as major components, thus highlighting the oxidative stability of C. vulgaris biodiesel. The fuel properties (density, viscosity, acid value, iodine value, calorific value, cetane index, ash and water contents) are comparable with the international (ASTM and EN) and Indian (IS) biodiesel standards. CONCLUSION: C. vulgaris biomass with 55% lipid content and adequate fuel properties is potentially a renewable feedstock for biodiesel. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Isolation and Characterization of 13 New Polymorphic Microsatellite Markers in the Phaseolus vulgaris L. (Common Bean) Genome

In this study, 13 polymorphic microsatellite markers were isolated from the Phaseolus vulgaris L. (common bean) by using the Fast Isolation by AFLP of Sequence COntaining Repeats (FIASCO) protocol. These markers revealed two to seven alleles, with an average of 3.64 alleles per locus. The polymorphic information content (PIC) values ranged from 0.055 to 0.721 over 13 loci, with a mean value of 0.492, and 7 loci having PIC greater than 0.5. The expected heterozygosity (H_E) and observed heterozygosity (H_O) levels ranged from 0.057 to 0.814 and from 0.026 to 0.531, respectively. Cross-species amplification of the 13 prime pairs was performed in its related specie of Vigna unguiculata L. Seven out of all these markers showed cross-species transferability. These markers will be useful for future genetic diversity and population genetics studies for this agricultural specie and its related species.     

Effect of extraction methods on kinetic,chemical composition and antibacterial activities of Tunisian Thymus vulgaris. L. essential oil

The present study aims to compare two innovative extraction techniques: microwave-assisted hydrodistillation (MAHD) and solvent-free microwave extraction (SFME) through traditional extraction techniques: hydrodistillation (HD) and steam distillation (SD) for their efficiency in the extraction of the volatile compounds from Tunisian Thymus vulgaris leaves; the kinetic, yield, composition and antibacterial activities of the essential oil were assessed in vitro. Results show that the essential oils extracted by microwaves were quantitatively (yield) similar to those obtained through the conventional methods, but qualitatively, essential oils analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) presented 17, 11, 11 and 8 compounds obtained through SFME, MAHD, SD and HD, respectively, mostly consisting of carvacrol (89.24–41.17%), followed by γ-terpinene (11.37–1.37%) and para-cymene (27.95–2.05%). The essential oils were screened for antibacterial activity against 5 microorganisms. All essential oils obtained by studied extraction methods showed the same resistance against Gram (?) and Gram (+) bacteria. The SFME method gave the best results: rapid kinetic of extraction (30 min vs. 35 min for MAHD, 120 min for SD, and 180 min for HD), less energy saving and cleanest process.     

夏枯草指纹图谱研究概况

唇形科植物夏枯草Prunella vulgaris L.的干燥果穗是中国药典收载的常用中药。其清肝泻火,明目,散结消肿,常用于目赤肿痛,头痛眩晕乳房胀痛等症状。本文通过查阅文献对夏枯草的指纹图谱的研究现状进行了综述,从而为其质量控制的深入研究提供参考。