Is organically produced wheat a source of tocopherols and tocotrienols for health food?

Forty organically grown spring and winter wheat genotypes were investigated for content and compositions of tocopherol and tocotrienol. The selected genotypes belonged to five different genotypic groups, i.e. landraces, old cultivars, modern cultivars, spelt wheat, and primitive wheat. The total tocochromanols content (21.9–37.3 mg/kg) wheat were in similar ranges as previously reported for conventionally grown wheat. The vitamin E activity varied among the genotypic groups and corresponded to 12–25% of the recommended daily intake. Primitive wheat was found to contain the highest percentage of tocotrienols (74%). Content of tocochromanols and vitamin E activity are known to decrease by heating. Organic wheat is more commonly consumed as whole and sprouted grain when compared to conventional wheat and might therefore be a good source of tocochromanols in health food. The large variation in tocopherols and tocotrienols in the investigated wheat genotypes indicated a great potential for the development of specific wheat genotypes with health promoting properties in future breeding programmes.     

Investigation of ginsenosides in different parts and ages of Panax ginseng

Panax ginseng (P. ginseng) has been used as a traditional medicine for thousands of years. It includes P. ginseng root, leaf, root-hair, rhizome and stem. P. ginseng root is usually considered to be the main part for medicine, and other parts of P. ginseng are neglected. In this paper the content of ginsenosides in different parts and ages of P. ginseng was determined. Separation and determination of seven major ginsenosides, including Rg₁, Re, Rb₁, Rc, Rb₂, Rb₃ and Rd, has been achieved by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detector at 203 nm. The extraction of ginsenosides from P. ginseng material was performed by microwave-assisted extraction (MAE). The results indicate that the content of ginsenosides is higher in the leaf and root-hair, and lower in stem than that in other parts of P. ginseng. The content of ginsenosides in root and root-hair increases with increase in age of P. ginseng from one to five years. However, the total content of ginsenosides in P. ginseng leaf decreases with the increase in age.     

Simultaneous characterisation and quantitation of flavonol glycosides and aglycones in noni leaves using a validated HPLC-UV/MS method

The leaves of Morinda citrifolia L. (noni) have been utilized in a variety of commercial products marketed for their health benefits. This paper reports on a rapid and selective HPLC method for simultaneous characterization and quantitation of four flavonols in an ethanolic extract of noni leaves by using dual detectors of UV (365 nm) and ESI-MS (negative mode). The limits of detection and quantitation were between 0.012 and 0.165 μg/mL. The intra- and inter-assay precisions, in terms of percent relative standard deviation, are less than 4.38% and 3.50%, respectively. The accuracy, in terms of recovery percentage, ranged from 96.66% to 100.03%. Good linearity (correlation coefficient >0.999) for each calibration curve of standards was achieved in the range investigated. The contents of four flavonoids in the noni leaves varied from 1.16 to 371.6 mg/100 g dry weight.     

Determination of β-lactam residues in foodstuffs of animal origin using supported liquid membrane extraction and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry

β-Lactams have been used extensively both in human and veterinary medicine practices. In veterinary medicine, they are used mainly as growth promoters as well as chemotherapeutic and prophylactic agents. The occurrence of β-lactam residues in foodstuffs is a serious health hazard. In this work, a sample purification and enrichment technique involving the use of supported liquid membrane have been developed for β-lactams in milk, kidney and liver tissues. The liquid membrane made of n-undecane:di-n-hexyl ether (1:1) was used to enrich a mixture of four β-lactams namely, ampicillin, cloxacillin, penicillin V and penicillin G. Separation and detection of the enriched β-lactam extracts were performed using a high performance liquid chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer operating under positive ion electrospray mode (LC–PI–ESI–MS). The detection limits (DLs) obtained were found to be 1 ng/kg for penicillin G and penicillin V in kidney and liver tissues and 0.7 μg/L in milk. For ampicillin, the DLs were found to be 1.4 μg/kg in kidney and liver tissues and 1.7 μg/L in milk. Limits of quantification based on a minimal value of the signal-to-noise ratio of 10, were estimated to be 1.1 and 0.01 for penicillin G in kidney and liver tissues, respectively, while for penicillin V it was 0.4 and 0.01 for kidney and liver tissues, respectively. The DL values obtained using this approach were found to be 2–3 order of magnitudes lower than the stipulated tolerance levels as set by the EU and FDA.     

HPLC analysis and antioxidant activity of Ulmus davidiana and some flavonoids

In this study, we investigated the antioxidative activities of (−)-catechin (1), (−)-catechin-7-O-β-d-apiofuranoside (2) and (−)-catechin-7-O-β-d-xylopyranoside (3) in terms of their abilities to promote metal chelation, prevent lipid peroxidation, and inhibit DNA cleavage. In addition, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to quantify compounds (1–3) in each of various solvent extracts from Ulmus davidiana.     

Simultaneous determination of nine lignans using pressurized liquid extraction and HPLC-DAD in the fruits of Schisandra chinensis

The pressurized liquid extraction and HPLC-DAD was developed for extraction and determination of bioactive lignans in Schisandra chinensis. The efficient PLE conditions employed methanol as extraction solvent, 125 °C of extraction temperature, 5 min of static extraction time and only one cycle. A rapid HPLC-DAD method was described for simultaneous determination of nine lignans, including schisandrol A, gomisin J, schisandrol B, tigloylgomisin H, angeloylgomisin H, schisandrin A, γ-schisandrin, gomisin N and schisandrin C. The extraction efficiency of PLE was observed to be comparable with reflux and sonication. In addition, the contents of nine lignans in S. chinensis from different regions were analysed by PLE and HPLC-DAD method.     

Chemical composition and in vitro antioxidative activity of a lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) extract

The leaf material of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) was extracted with 450 ml/l aqueous ethanol by medium pressure liquid-solid extraction. The total phenolic content of the extract was estimated as gallic acid equivalents by Folin-Ciocalteu reagent method and a qualitative-quantitative compositional analysis was carried out using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array detection. The lemon balm extract contained hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives and flavonoids with caffeic acid, m-coumaric acid, eriodictyol-7-O-glucoside, naringin, hesperidin, rosmarinic acid, naringenin, hesperetin being identified based on their chromatographic behaviour and spectral characteristics. The extract was also investigated for potential in vitro antioxidant properties in iron(III) reduction, iron(II) chelation, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate), superoxide anion and nitric oxide free-radical scavenging, and inhibition of β-carotene-linoleic acid bleaching assays. The extract demonstrated antioxidant activity in all the assays. However, it was not as potent as the positive controls except in the β-carotene-linoleic acid bleaching assay, where its activity was superior to that of gallic and caffeic acids and statistically indistinguishable from quercetin and BHA. The exceptionally high antioxidant activity and the fact that this assay is of biological relevance warrants further investigation of lemon balm extract in ex vivo and in vivo models of oxidative stress.     

Combinations of High Intensity Light Pulses and Thermosonication for the inactivation of Escherichia coli in orange juice

The non-thermal technologies High Intensity Light Pulses (HILP) and Thermosonication (TS) were applied alone and in combination to study their effect on Escherichia coli inactivation in orange juice. Two different energy settings were chosen in the current study, ‘Low’ (L) and ‘High’ (H), being the combinations applied: HILP(L) (4.03 J/cm²), HILP(H) (5.1 J/cm²), TS(L) (2.8 min residence time at 40 °C) and TS(H) (5 min residence time at 50 °C). Both the individual technologies and their combinations (HILP&TS and TS&HILP) were studied. Results showed inactivation ranging from 1.10 (TS(H)) to 2.42 (HILP(H)) log cfu/ml for the hurdles when applied individually and from 2.5 (HILP(L)&TS(H)) to 3.93 (HILP(H)&TS(L)) log cfu/ml for the combined treatments. Similar reductions in E. coli populations were achieved in orange juice by all treatment combinations irrespective of the sequence in which they were applied.     

Potential bioactive phenolics of Macedonian Sideritis species used for medicinal “Mountain Tea”

Twenty four phenolic compounds have been characterised in medicinal Sideritis species (aerial parts) from Macedonia by liquid chromatography–UV diode array coupled to ion-trap mass spectrometry with electrospray ionisation interface (negative mode).     

Phenolic glucosides in the course of ligulate flower development in diploid and tetraploid Matricaria chamomilla

The main secondary metabolites of Matricaria chamomilla ligulate flowers are apigenin-7-O-glucoside derivatives and (Z)- and (E)-2-β-d-glucopyranosyloxy-4-methoxy cinnamic acids (GMCAs), which are the precursors of herniarin. The quantities of these compounds were determinated in six phases of development of ligulate flowers in diploid and tetraploid cultivar. The content of the apigenin glucoside and its main acylated derivatives in ligulate flowers of diploid plants was found to be significantly higher before the start of flowering in comparison with tetraploid plants. During the flowering and post-flowering phase their content decreased and no difference between diploid and tetraploid plants was observed. The (E)-izomer was the dominant form of 2-β-d-glucopyranosyloxy-4-methoxy cinnamic acid. These secondary stress metabolite precursors were accumulated in higher concentrations in young growing ligulate flowers, but during flowering and post-flowering phases their content decreased. Significantly higher content was found in tetraploid plants in comparison with diploid plants. Aglycones of glycosides were found in low concentrations.     

Anti-complementary activity of flavonoids from Gnaphalium affine D. Don

Gnaphalium affine D. Don, is used as a vegetable as well as a folk medicine in China for its anti-inflammatory, antitussive, and expectorant activities. Phytochemical investigation of the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction of this plant led to isolation of three new acylated flavonol glycosides, apigenin 4′-O-β-d-(6″-E-caffeoyl)-glucopyranoside, luteolin 4′-O-β-d-(6″-E-caffeoyl)-glucopyranoside, and quercetin 4′-O-β-d-(6″-E-caffeoyl)-glucopyranoside, together with 24 known compounds. The structures of these compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods. All compounds were evaluated for their anti-complementary activity on the classical pathway of the complement system in vitro, and luteolin 4′-O-β-d-(6″-E-caffeoyl)-glucopyranoside exhibited highest anti-complementary activity with an IC₅₀ value of 0.045 ± 0.005 mg/ml. This is the first report of anti-complementary activity of G. affine D. Don, which displays the initial evidence that this plant is a potent complement inhibitor.     

Determination of polyphenolic compounds in commercial herbal drugs and spices from Lamiaceae: thyme,wild thyme and sweet marjoram by chromatographic techniques

HPLC and HPTLC methods were used for a qualitative and quantitative determination of luteolin-7-O-β-glucuronide, lithospermic acid, rosmarinic acid and mthyl rosmarinate, together with other known compounds, in commercial herbal drugs and spices from lamiaceous species: Thymi herba, Serpylli herba and Majoranae herba. The contents of analyzed compounds in the studied hydrophilic extracts, prepared form herbal sources, were established using a C18 column with acetonitrile–water–formic acid as a mobile phase. The HPLC method was validated for linearity, precision and accuracy. Luteolin-7-O-β-glucuronide and lithospermic acid were identified as new wild thyme constituents, luteolin-7-O-β-glucuronide and methyl rosmarinate as new compounds in sweet marjoram. Methyl rosmarinate was isolated for the first time from thyme. The investigated herbal drugs and spices provide polyphenols in high amounts, even up to 84.3 mg per 1 g of a dried herb.     

基于QuEChERS-高效液相色谱法测定油炸食品中丙烯酰胺含量

目的：简化油炸食品中丙烯酰胺含量检测的前处理过程及对昂贵检测仪器的依赖。方法：使用C₁₈和Z-Sep⁺作为净化材料,甲醇作为提取溶剂,采用C₁₈色谱柱进行分离,以甲醇—水为流动相进行等度洗脱,于197 nm下进行检测。结果：试验方法的丙烯酰胺含量在0.1～2.0 mg/L范围内具有良好的线性关系（R²>0.999）,检出限为0.007 mg/kg,对质控样品进行6次平行测定,相对标准偏差为0.66%,对丙烯酰胺进行0.2,0.5,1.0 mg/L 3个水平的加标试验,回收率为91.5%～94.4%,RSD为0.62%～1.88%,日内精密度为1.00%,日间精密度为0.14%。结论：该方法前处理操作简单,对仪器要求低,可以满足传统油炸小吃中丙烯酰胺含量的分析。     

Tocols of selected spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), einkorn wheat (Triticum monococcum L.) and wild emmer (Triticum dicoccum Schuebl [Schrank]) varieties

Wheat contributes significantly worldwide to antioxidant income with beneficial healthy effects. Two varieties of einkorn wheat (Triticum monococcum L. – Escana and Schwedisches Einkorn), two varieties of wild emmer [Triticum dicoccum Schuebl (Schrank)] (Rudico and Kahler Emmer) and three varieties of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. – Granny, Kärtner Früher and SW Kadrilj) were evaluated for tocols – tocopherols and tocotrienols by high performance liquid chromatography – electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–ESI/MS/MS). Investigated emmer and einkorn wheat varieties have shown minor lower total tocols content in comparison with spring varieties, however significant typical levels of tocopherols and tocotrienols were found in these groups. In einkorn wheat varieties the major abundance of total tocols is represented by tocotrienols (Schwedisches Einkorn 65.0%, Escana 54.9%), in emmer wheat varieties the abundance of tocotrienols and tocopherols were similar (Rudico 48.9% of tocotrienols, Kahler Emmer 47.6%), whereas in spring bread wheat higher tocopherols (SW Kadrilj 54.5%, Kärtner Früher 60.2%, Granny 55.0%) were recorded.     

Predicting risk of ketosis in dairy cows using in-line measurements of beta-hydroxybutyrate: a biological model

Automated monitoring of individual cows to determine health status is a potentially valuable management tool, especially in large dairy herds. Herein is described the rationale, structure, and functionality of a biological model to predict risk of ketosis in individual cows using in-line measurements of the ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) in milk. The model also uses acceleration in milk yield, body fatness at calving, diseases in current lactation, and incidences of ketosis in earlier lactations as additional risk factors for ketosis. However, the model is designed to function merely on the basis of milk BHBA in the absence of other data. Values of milk BHBA are smoothed using a state space model before these are used in calculations in the biological part of the model. The model is designed to be updated each time a new BHBA measurement or a disease occurrence is available and then uses previous and current data. Outputs of the model are the risk of ketosis (value between 0 and 1, where 0 = no risk and 1 = clinical ketosis) and how many days until the next milk sample should be taken and analyzed for BHBA. At higher risks for ketosis, more frequent milk sampling is the recommended output. Test examples from cows for which BHBA has been measured extensively were used to show the functionality of the model. The model performed equally well when reductions in sampling frequency were applied, and it was also relatively robust to the addition of up to ± 2 residual SD of random noise in the BHBA values. This model has the potential to provide the basis for a useful disease monitoring and management tool. However, thorough validation awaits a much larger dataset and testing of the model under a variety of on-farm situations.     

Direct characterisation of phenolic antioxidants in infusions from four Mapuche medicinal plants by liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) and electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS)

A simple, fast and direct method was developed for the qualitative analysis of phenolic constituents from infusions of Mapuche medicinal plants. Teas made of Linum chamissonis Schiede, Quinchamalium chilensis Mol., Adesmia emarginata Clos. and Escallonia illinita K. Presl. were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) and electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). This technique allowed for the first time the tentative identification of 16 phenolic compounds in E. illinita, 27 in Q. chilensis, 10 in L. chamissonis and 19 in A. emarginata. The compounds were mainly phenolic acids, flavonoid glycosides, anthocyanins and tannins. The total phenolic and flavonoid content of the infusions was assessed as well as the free radical scavenging capacity measured by the bleaching of a solution of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH⁻) radical. From the four species, Q. chilensis exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity with highest total phenolic and flavonoid content.     

Characterisation of catechins in green and black teas using square-wave voltammetry and RP-HPLC-ECD

Eight green and three black teas have been analysed using square-wave voltammetry at a glassy-carbon electrode, at pH 2 and square-wave frequency 100 Hz. The SWV response of teas consisted of two partially resolved anodic peaks: peak 1 at around 0.372 V, and peak 2 around 0.491 V. First anodic peak was due to oxidation of pyrogallol catechins, i.e. epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and epigallocatechin (EGC), and peak 2 can be associated with oxidation of ortho-hydroquinone and galloyl groups in catechins, gallic acid, theaflavins, and other catechol-type phenolics present in tea. Peak 1 has been chosen for quantification purposes, and concentrations of catechins were calculated from the calibration plot constructed for EGC used as external standard. Amounts of catechins in green teas obtained by SWV were in good agreement with those obtained using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (RP-HPLC-ECD). For black tea samples the detector response of peak 1 was diminished due to interferences of coexisting polyphenols, and SWV obtained results were something lower than those obtained by HPLC-ECD.