Chemical composition, nutritional and toxicological evaluation of rice (Oryza sativa) grown in fly ash amended soils

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate nutritional and toxicological aspects of rice grown in fly ash amended soils. Rice was grown on soils with fly ash (200 t ha^?1) and without fly ash at two different geographical locations of India. RESULTS: One kilogram each of 36 samples randomly collected from three replicates of rice grown with and without fly ash was subjected to various analytical techniques to determine the nutrient composition, mineral and heavy metal content. Moisture, protein and ash content of the rice samples showed no difference between fly ash treated and controls. Similar observations were also made on trace and heavy elements. Further, the rice grown on soils treated with fly ash was incorporated in the diet at 90% level and was fed to Wistar/NIN rats for 26 weeks for carrying out protein and toxicological evaluation. CONCLUSION: Results indicated that there is no difference between rice samples grown in soils with or without fly ash. Studies also clearly indicated that there were no adverse effects on hematological, biochemical or histopathological parameters when rice was fed to rats for 6 months. This indicates that rice grown on fly ash treated soils may be safe for human consumption. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Relationship between cobalt,copper and zinc content of soils and vegetables

The relationship between cobalt, copper and zinc content of soils and the vegetables grown in them is discussed. Samples of soil and edible vegetables were taken from 15 different sites, corresponding to four agricultural areas exposed to different degrees of environmental pollution: high industrial and traffic, high industrial and urban, and low industrial and urban pollution. Elements were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Variance analysis (ANOVA) was applied to cobalt, copper and zinc content of vegetables and soils in order to detect significant differences among soils of different areas and the vegetables grown there. The possible relationship between the heavy metal content of soils (total and extractable) and of the vegetables grown in them was estimated by the correlation coefficient value. Statistically significant correlations were observed between the total and extractable cobalt content of soils and of roots and bulbs (p < 0.1) and between the total copper content of soils and of inflorescences (p < 0.05). In the case of zinc no correlation was found.     

Nutritional and toxicological evaluation of wheat grown on soils with or without fly ash treatment

BACKGROUND: Fly ash disposal has recently posed a huge environmental problem due to storage, apart from apprehension about possible contamination of soil, crop produce and ground water with toxic trace and heavy metal and radio nuclides. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate nutritional and toxicological aspects of wheat grown on soils treated with fly ash. Wheat was grown on soils with fly ash (200 t ha^?1) and without fly ash at two different geographical locations in India. One kilogram each of 36 samples randomly collected from three replicates of wheat grown with and without fly ash were subjected to various analytical techniques to determine the nutrient composition, mineral, trace element and heavy metal content. Furthermore, wheat grown on soils treated with fly ash was also incorporated into the diet at 90% level, fed as a feed for 26 weeks to Wistar/NIN rats for protein and toxicological evaluation. RESULTS: Moisture, protein and ash content of wheat samples showed no difference between fly ash treated and controls. Similar observations were also seen with trace and heavy elements. CONCLUSION: Results indicated there is no difference between wheat samples grown in soils with fly ash and without fly ash. Studies also clearly indicated that there are no adverse effects on haematological, biochemical or histopathological parameters when wheat was fed to rats for 6 months. This indicates that wheat grown on fly ash treated soils may be safe for human consumption. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

妊娠期大鼠补充苏氨酸锌对仔鼠金属硫蛋白基因MT1表达的影响

为了探讨母体补充苏氨酸锌对子代生长性能、金属硫蛋白（metallothionein,MT1）mRNA表达的影响,实验以苏氨酸锌为受试物,将90 只受孕SD大鼠随机分成5 组,并于妊娠期第6～15天进行灌胃补充不同剂量苏氨酸锌。母鼠分娩后将仔鼠进行常规饲养至1 月龄,测量仔鼠的体质量、身长和尾长,将各组仔鼠断颈处死后取肝脏、肾脏、脾脏和胸骨等组织进行RNA的提取并测定MT1基因相对表达量。结果表明：与空白对照组相比,苏氨酸锌各剂量组仔鼠体质量有显著增加（P＜0.05）。与溶媒对照组和空白对照组相比较,苏氨酸锌各剂量组仔鼠的MT1 mRNA表达量高,且差异显著（P＜0.05）,并且1 000 mg/kg苏氨酸锌处理组各组织中MT1的基因表达量要高于其他组。本结果表明：妊娠期补充苏氨酸锌能显著提高仔鼠MT1 mRNA表达水平,并能在一定程度上增加仔鼠体质量。     

云南小粒咖啡类黑精的抗氧化及减肥功能

目的：探讨云南小粒咖啡类黑精的抗氧化能力和减肥功能。方法：用热水提取法提取中烘焙度云南小粒咖啡中的类黑精（M总）,再将提取的类黑精产物按分子质量大小分成＞100 kDa（M1）、10～100 kDa（M2）、＜10 kDa（M3）3 个部分。用羟自由基、1,1-二苯基-2-三硝基苯肼（1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl,DPPH）自由基清除率和总还原力评价M总、M1、M2、M3的抗氧化能力;通过饲喂高脂饲料建立大鼠肥胖模型,检测不同质量浓度咖啡类黑精对肥胖大鼠体质量、体脂质量、血脂水平、脂体比、脂肪组织形态、肝脏组织形态等指标的影响。结果：相同质量浓度下,云南小粒咖啡类黑精不同分子质量产物自由基清除能力和总还原力不同;不同剂量处理组咖啡类黑精均能降低大鼠体质量、体脂质量;肝组织切片显示,中、高剂量处理组大鼠肝脏组织结构完整、肝细胞大小一致、胞浆均匀、细胞核清晰;脂肪组织切片显示,高剂量处理组大鼠脂肪细胞较模型组减小,且排列均匀、结构完整。结论：云南小粒咖啡类黑精及不同分子质量产物均具有不同程度抗氧化能力;高质量浓度（72 g/100 mL）云南小粒咖啡类黑精具有一定的减肥作用,能抑制大鼠体质量的增加,减少肝脏内脂肪堆积,对肝脏具有一定的保护作用。     

Arsenic accumulation and metabolism in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The use of arsenic (As) contaminated groundwater for irrigation of crops has resulted in elevated concentrations of arsenic in agricultural soils in Bangladesh, West Bengal (India), and elsewhere. Paddy rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the main agricultural crop grown in the arsenic-affected areas of Bangladesh. There is, therefore, concern regarding accumulation of arsenic in rice grown those soils. A greenhouse study was conducted to examine the effects of arsenic-contaminated irrigation water on the growth of rice and uptake and speciation of arsenic. Treatments of the greenhouse experiment consisted of two phosphate doses and seven different arsenate concentrations ranging from 0 to 8 mg of As L(-1) applied regularly throughout the 170-day post-transplantation growing period until plants were ready for harvesting. Increasing the concentration of arsenate in irrigation water significantly decreased plant height, grain yield, the number of filled grains, grain weight, and root biomass, while the arsenic concentrations in root, straw, and rice husk increased significantly. Concentrations of arsenic in rice grain did not exceed the food hygiene concentration limit (1.0 mg of As kg(-1) dry weight). The concentrations of arsenic in rice straw (up to 91.8 mg kg(-1) for the highest As treatment) were of the same order of magnitude as root arsenic concentrations (up to 107.5 mg kg(-1)), suggesting that arsenic can be readily translocated to the shoot. While not covered by food hygiene regulations, rice straw is used as cattle feed in many countries including Bangladesh. The high arsenic concentrations may have the potential for adverse health effects on the cattle and an increase of arsenic exposure in humans via the plant-animal-human pathway. Arsenic concentrations in rice plant parts except husk were not affected by application of phosphate. As the concentration of arsenic in the rice grain was low, arsenic speciation was performed only on rice straw to predict the risk associated with feeding contaminated straw to the cattle. Speciation of arsenic in tissues (using HPLC-ICP-MS) revealed that the predominant species present in straw was arsenate followed by arsenite and dimethylarsinic acid (DMAA). As DMAA is only present at low concentrations, it is unlikely this will greatly alter the toxicity of arsenic present in rice.     

Phytoextraction by a high-Cd-accumulating rice: reduction of Cd content of soybean seeds

Soybeans (Glycine max (L) Merr.) are the major summer crop grown in Japanese upland fields (characterized by aerobic soil) that have been converted from paddies. To evaluate the effect of phytoextraction by rice on the seed cadmium (Cd) content of soybeans grown subsequently, we grew Milyang 23, a high-Cd-accumulating rice cultivar, and then grew soybeans in three paddy soils contaminated with moderate Cd concentrations (2.50-4.27 mg Cd kg(-1)). The rice accumulated 7-14% of the total soil Cd in its shoots. The soybean seed Cd contents were 24-46% less than those grown on control soils. Phytoextraction by Milyang 23 rice is thus a promising remediation method for reducing seed Cd contents of soybeans grown on paddy soils under aerobic soil conditions.     

Dietary taurine reduces zinc-induced toxicity in male Wistar rats

Taurine is an agent for treating the heavy metal intoxication and presence of metals such as zinc, copper, and iron may have a role in heavy metal toxicity, a study was undertaken to investigate the effect of taurine on the toxicity of zinc in male Wistar rats. The rats were divided into 8 groups and fed different diets with or without supplement of 5% taurine and 150 to 600 ppm zinc for 2 mo. It was found that the body weight of rats, the ratios of liver and kidney weight to body weight, and the level of glutathione in the liver were decreased with increasing the dose of zinc. The levels of zinc in the liver, kidney, and plasma, the levels of malondialdehyde in the plasma, the levels of thiobarbiture acid-reactive substances in the liver, the activities of aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase in the plasma, the levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine in the plasma of rats were increased with the increasing dose of zinc. Hence, symptoms of zinc toxicity in rats included loss of body weight, hepatotoxicity, and nephrotoxicity. However, these toxic effects of zinc were significantly reduced when the rats fed diet with supplement of taurine. Furthermore, the level of zinc in the feces of rats treated with taurine and zinc was higher than that of rats treated with zinc alone. It indicated that taurine thereby leading to a decreased absorption of dietary zinc and promoted excretion.     

Effects of pH and phosphate status of a silty clay loam on manganese,zinc and copper concentrations in soil fractions and in clover

The field pH of a silty clay loam soil affected manganese, zinc and copper concentrations in the fraction extracted by DTPA; lower pH soils had higher metal concentrations. The soil pH also affected manganese and zinc but not copper concentrations in the soil solution, and in shoots of clover grown in pots. Metal concentrations in soil fractions were not affected by soil phosphate status, but zinc and copper concentrations in clover shoots were significantly lower when plants were grown on soils of high phosphate status. Manganese and zinc levels in shoots were predicted slightly more accurately by using soil solution data than by using concentrations extracted by DTPA.     

米糠肽-铁锌螯合物制备工艺研究

目的 研究米糠蛋白制备米糠肽-铁锌螯合物的工艺。方法 以米糠蛋白为原料,优化米糠肽-铁锌螯合物制备工艺。以亚铁离子与锌离子的螯合率和水解度为评价指标,考察蛋白酶种类、反应物质量比、温度、时间及pH值对米糠酶解产物铁锌螯合率的影响。在单因素试验的基础上,结合JMP软件进行定制试验设计,确定米糠肽-铁锌螯合物的制备工艺。结果 碱性蛋白酶较适宜制备米糠肽-铁锌螯合物,其最佳螯合工艺条件为时间70 min、温度70 oC、反应物质量比3:1、pH 5.0;在此条件下,其产物亚铁离子螯合率达到38.29%、锌离子螯合率达到57.2%,与预测值接近。结论 本研究采用米糠肽同时螯合铁锌2种金属离子,不仅可以充分吸收米糠肽的营养成分,提高消化率,发挥其降血压、降血脂、抗氧化等功能特性,还可以同时补铁、补锌,对人体具有积极作用。     

Effect of zinc and copper chloride on the color of avocado puree heated with microwaves

The effect of microwave heating, and zinc and copper chloride addition on the color of avocado puree was studied. Rates of color variation at different temperatures were determined by plotting a*/b* vs. time of storage. Results showed that the color was best preserved when avocado purees either with or without zinc and copper salts were microwave treated for 30 s, due to inhibition of enzymatic browning. Samples with copper chloride added showed a better color than samples with zinc chloride added, both showing a better color than the blank. This effect is attributed to the formation of chlorophyll complexes with copper and zinc cations. Also the combined effect of different concentrations of zinc and copper salts along with various pH values was evaluated through a response surface analysis. The best response was obtained in the following conditions: zinc chloride 120 ppm, copper chloride 12 ppm, and pH 5.5.     

孕鼠补充苏氨酸锌对仔鼠生长及其相关基因表达的影响

为研究母体补充苏氨酸锌对子代生长水平的影响,实验将40只受孕SD大鼠随机分为5组,于孕鼠妊娠期第6~15天分别灌胃补充高、中、低剂量苏氨酸锌(灌胃剂量分别为250、500、1 000 mg/(kg·d)),孕鼠分娩后将仔鼠常规饲养,并测量1月龄仔鼠的生长指标和相关基因的表达。结果表明,苏氨酸锌各剂量组仔鼠体质量与对照组相比有显著提高(P0.05);苏氨酸锌各剂量组与对照组相比较,其组织中锌转运体Zn T1基因的相对表达量都有显著提高(P0.05);苏氨酸锌高剂量组与对照组相比较,其组织中胰岛素样生长因子IGF1基因相对表达量都有显著提高(P0.05);且胰岛素样生长因子受体基因IGF1R的表达与IGF1的表达趋势基本保持一致。实验说明妊娠期补充苏氨酸锌能在一定程度上提升仔鼠的生长性能,能显著提高仔鼠锌转运体Zn T1、胰岛素样生长因子IGF1及其受体IGF1R基因表达水平。     

中国野生菰米对大鼠血脂及炎性因子表达的影响

目的：研究中国野生菰米对高脂膳食诱导的胰岛素抵抗大鼠血脂浓度以及炎性因子水平的影响。方法：50 只雄性SD大鼠随机分成阴性对照组,胰岛素抵抗模型组,高、低剂量菰米组和米面组。连续喂养8 周,实验前、后测定各组大鼠的体质量及总胆固醇（total cholesterol,TC）、甘油三酯（triglyceride,TG）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（low density lipoprotein cholesterol,LDL-C）和高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,HDL-C）浓度,同时测定高敏C反应蛋白（hypersensitive C-reactive protein,hs-CRP）、肿瘤坏死因子-α（tumor necrosis factor,TNF-α）、白介素-6（interleukin-6,IL-6）含量,用SPSS 18.0软件对数据进行统计分析。结果：高剂量菰米组大鼠与米面组及胰岛素抵抗模型组大鼠相比,HDL-C浓度显著上升（P＜0.05）,体质量和TC、TG、LDL-C浓度均显著下降（P＜0.05）。与胰岛素抵抗模型组相比,高剂量菰米组的TNF-α及IL-6含量显著下降（P＜0.05）。与阴性对照组相比,低、高剂量菰米组IL-6含量均显著升高（P＜0.05）。结论：中国野生菰米具有改善高脂膳食诱导的大鼠胰岛素抵抗作用,该作用的机制可能是通过降低血脂浓度,调节炎性因子的表达,从而改善胰岛素抵抗。     

黄酒对大鼠体重影响的初步研究

通过动物实验,初步研究了黄酒对体重的影响.按不同剂量给雄性SD大鼠灌喂黄酒10周,大鼠的体重增长率依次为对照组>中剂量组>高剂量组>低剂量组,但经方差分析,各组间的P>0.05,说明黄酒对大鼠的体重无明显影响.     

Assessing the labile arsenic pool in contaminated paddy soils by isotopic dilution techniques and simple extractions

Arsenic (As) contamination of paddy soils threatens rice cultivation and the health of populations relying on rice as a staple crop. In the present study, isotopic dilution techniques were used to determine the chemically labile (E value) and phytoavailable (L value) pools of As in a range of paddy soils from Bangladesh, India, and China and two arable soils from the UK varying in the degree and sources of As contamination. The E value accounted for 6.2-21.4% of the total As, suggesting that a large proportion of soil As is chemically nonlabile. L values measured with rice grown under anaerobic conditions were generally larger than those under aerobic conditions, indicating increased potentially phytoavailable pool of As in flooded soils. In an incubation study, As was mobilized into soil pore water mainly as arsenite under flooded conditions, with Bangladeshi soils contaminated by irrigation of groundwater showing a greater potential of As mobilization than other soils. Arsenic mobilization was best predicted by phosphate-extractable As in the soils.     

人参桂圆红枣黄酒的酿制和功能研究

为了研制出一种比传统黄酒更具养生作用的人参桂圆红枣黄酒,以传统黄酒为正常对照,采取给小鼠喂养相同剂量的人参桂圆红枣黄酒,观察其对小鼠的毛色状况、体重、耐力和生存能力的影响。结果表明：人参桂圆红枣黄酒对增加小鼠的毛色亮度、增加体重、增强耐力和耐饥渴生存能力有显著作用。因此,适量饮用人参桂圆红枣黄酒具有比传统黄酒更有营养保健和滋补功能。     

黄酒对高血脂大鼠血清总胆固醇含量的影响

通过动物实验，对黄酒的降血清胆固醇功能进行了初步研究。给雄性SD成年大鼠喂高胆固醇饲料，造成高血脂动物模型，再给模型鼠按不同剂量灌喂浓缩的黄酒。结果显示，黄酒浓缩物具有降血清胆固醇的作用。     

生姜提取物对苯并芘染毒大鼠抗氧化酶及Ⅱ相解毒酶活性的影响

探讨生姜提取物对苯并芘染毒大鼠抗氧化酶及II相解毒酶的影响。用不同剂量的生姜提取物(100、200和400 mg/kg(bw)对Wistar大鼠连续灌胃14 d后,一次性腹腔注射20 mg/kg·bw的苯并芘染毒,检测肝脏和肾脏中的抗氧化酶和II相解毒酶的活性。结果表明,三个剂量的生姜提取物灌胃处理对大鼠体重无显著影响(p>0.05),同时对肝、肺和肾的脏体比也无显著影响(p>0.05)。与苯并芘处理组相比,200和400 mg/kg·bw的生姜提取物能明显提高肝脏中谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GPx)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)的活力,以及肝和肾中醌还原酶(NQO1)和谷胱甘肽硫转移酶(GST)的活力(p<0.05)。以上结果表明,生姜提取物能显著提高大鼠肝脏中抗氧化酶及II相解毒酶的活性。      

香蕉皮总黄酮对糖尿病及其并发症的影响

目的:研究香蕉皮总黄酮粗提物降血糖作用。方法:将实验大鼠分成正常对照组、模型对照组、药物组和低、中、高香蕉皮总黄酮剂量组,喂养4周。检测大鼠体质量、血糖、总胆固醇（TC）、甘油三酯（TG）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）和高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）的水平。结果:中、高剂量的香蕉皮总黄酮粗提物可显著降低四氧嘧啶诱导的糖尿病大鼠血糖、TC、TG和LDL-C含量（p<0.05）,升高大鼠体质量和HDL-C（p<0.05）。结论:一定剂量的香蕉皮总黄酮提取物具有降血糖作用,并且能改善由糖尿病引起脂代谢紊乱状况。      

Foliar potassium fertilization improves fruit quality of field‐grown muskmelon on calcareous soils in south Texas

BACKGROUND: Among plant nutrients, potassium (K) has the strongest influence on crop quality parameters that determine consumer preference. However, soil and plant factors often limit adequate soil K uptake to satisfy quality requirements during fruit development stages. The objectives of this multiyear field study with muskmelon were to determine if this apparent K deficiency and the associated fruit quality limitations can be alleviated by supplementing soil‐derived K with foliar K nutrition, and whether differences exist among potential foliar K salts. RESULTS: Foliar K treatments increased tissue K concentrations, fruit sugars and bioactive compounds (ascorbic acid and β‐carotene) by 19%, 21% and 15%, respectively, even though soil K levels were high, indicating that soil K alone was inadequate to improve these quality traits. All the K salts evaluated increased tissue K and fruit quality traits; however, no clear trends in the relative magnitudes of these enhancements were apparent among K sources, except for KNO₃ which consistently resulted in non‐significant effects. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that late‐season foliar K feeding can improve fruit quality of muskmelons grown on calcareous soils. The data also reveal differences among K salts and suggest a reassessment of K management strategies aimed at improving quality. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry