Differences Between Bamboo Shoots and Vegetables in Thermal Disintegration of Tissues and Polysaccharides Fractionated by Successive Extraction

Bamboo shoots were more difficult to disintegrate during cooking than other vegetables (potato, Japanese radish, carrot, burdock, and East Indian lotus). The pectic substances of bamboo shoots were fractionated with three reagents. The uronic acid composition of HCl-soluble pectin (PA), acetate buffer-soluble pectin (PB) and sodium hexame-taphosphate-soluble pectin (PC) were about 8-10%, 2-4%, and 88%, respectively. Conversely, the other vegetables contained only a small amount of PC and completely disintegrated after the extraction of PA and PB; bamboo shoots retained considerable firmness under the same conditions. Acidic polysaccharides in bamboo shoots separated by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography contained large amounts of neutral sugars. This suggested that the glucose and xylose rich PC (low methoxyl pectin) affected the solubilization of pectic polysaccharides and thermal disintegration of bamboo shoots.     

Pectin Changes in Ripening Cherry Fruit

Pectin solubilization was studied during ripening of cherry fruit. Pectic materials were isolated at specific stages during development. The proportion of alcohol-insoluble-material decreased on a fresh weight basis with ripeness, but increased per fruit. Pectic substances were divided into water-, oxalate- and acid-soluble fractions. The oxalate-and water-soluble part increased as acid-soluble components decreased. Water- and acid-soluble fractions contained many more neutral sugar residues than the oxalate-soluble fraction. Changes in individual sugars indicated the major alterations were the degradation of galactan and the absence of arabinan solubilization in acid-soluble pectic substance. Size exclusion chromatography showed absence of pectin depolymerization during ripening, indicating that fruit softening does not depend on pectin depolymerization.     

Enzymatic degradation studies of pectin and cellulose from red beets.

The influence of structural features of the cell wall polysaccharides pectin and cellulose on the enzymatic degradation of red beet was evaluated. Alcohol-insoluble substances and acetone-insoluble residues were prepared from red beets and characterized with respect to the content of dietary fibre, pectin fractions, neutral saccharide composition and water absorption. The high-methylated and high-acetylated pectin component was partly soluble in water and in EDTA. Pectin was hardly extractable from alcohol-insoluble substances as well as from red beets. Isolated pectin could not be completely degraded by pectolytic enzymes. After de-acetylation, the pectic acid from red beets was degradable in a similar rate like citrus pectic acid. From alcohol-insoluble substances, several cellulose and lignin fractions were prepared and analysed. A cellulose preparation from red beets was intensely degraded by cellulases with high activities as shown by the release of reducing end-groups, viscosity and scanning electron microscopy. Cell wall preparations from red beets were able to bind high amounts of water. A decrease in water absorption during enzymatic action or changes in viscosity and flow behaviour are sensitive markers for decomposition or depolymerization processes. Furthermore, an inhibitor of microbial enzymes was isolated from red beets and acetone-insoluble residues. The main reason for the poor enzymatic liquefaction or maceration of red beets by pectolytic and cellulolytic enzymes is the high degree of acetylation of the pectin component.     

Enzymatic degradation studies of pectin and cellulose from red beets

The influence of structural features of the cell wall polysaccharides pectin and cellulose on the enzymatic degradation of red beet was evaluated. Alcohol‐insoluble substances and acetone‐insoluble residues were prepared from red beets and characterized with respect to the content of dietary fibre, pectin fractions, neutral saccharide composition and water absorption. The high‐methylated and high‐acetylated pectin component was partly soluble in water and in EDTA. Pectin was hardly extractable from alcohol‐insoluble substances as well as from red beets. Isolated pectin could not be completely degraded by pectolytic enzymes. After de‐acetylation, the pectic acid from red beets was degradable in a similar rate like citrus pectic acid. From alcohol‐insoluble substances, several cellulose and lignin fractions were prepared and analysed. A cellulose preparation from red beets was intensely degraded by cellulases with high activities as shown by the release of reducing end‐groups, viscosity and scanning electron microscopy. Cell wall preparations from red beets were able to bind high amounts of water. A decrease in water absorption during enzymatic action or changes in viscosity and flow behaviour are sensitive markers for decomposition or depolymerization processes. Furthermore, an inhibitor of microbial enzymes was isolated from red beets and acetone‐insoluble residues. The main reason for the poor enzymatic liquefaction or maceration of red beets by pectolytic and cellulolytic enzymes is the high degree of acetylation of the pectin component.     

Extraction of pectic polysaccharides from sugar‐beet cell walls

Previous methods of extracting pectin from sugar‐beet have used pulp as the starting material. As the temperature and pressure of the pulping process may modify the architecture of the cell wall, we have adapted a relatively non‐disruptive method to characterise cell wall material (CWM) isolated directly from the sugar‐beet. Cell walls from mature sugar‐beets (Beta vulgaris L Aztec) were sequentially extracted four times with imidazole and twice with sodium carbonate to produce six heterogeneous pectic polysaccharide extracts, and with KOH to produce a hemicellulosic extract which was predominantly xylans. Heterogeneity of the extracted pectins was indicated by differences in FTIR spectra, uronic acid content, % methyl esterification, % feruloylation, % acetylation, molecular weight distribution and neutral sugar composition. The highest proportion of feruloyl esters was found in polysaccharides solubilised by the second sodium carbonate extraction. Anion exchange chromatography of these polysaccharides gave three fractions, one of which contained most of the feruloyl ester. These results indicate that feruloyl esters are not randomly distributed among the different pectic polysaccharides in the sugar‐beet cell wall, and that esterification is likely to be dependent on the local sugar sequence or conformation. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Cell Wall Composition of Olives

Cell walls of olives (Olea europaea L.), Hojiblanca and Manzanilla, were isolated and fractionated into polysaccharides, and compositions compared. Pectic and hemicellulosic fractions were purified by ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography, and neutral sugar and uronic acid composition determined. Differences occurred between cultivars and seasons: Manzanilla had higher pectic polysaccharides and lower xylans. Hojiblanca showed similar but lesser differences. Arabinans were the main neutral pectic polysaccharides with arabinose > 80%. Homogalacturonans and rhamnogalacturonans were > 50% of the acidic pectic fractions. Degree of esterification and molecular weights were related to extracting solvent. Xyloglucans and galactoglucomannans were neutral hemicelluloses with molecular weights ? 260 kD. Glucuronoarabinoxylans had higher molecular weights (up to 400 kD). Acidic xylans were important in the pulp.     

Gamma-Radiation Affects Cell Wall Composition of Strawberries

Tissue softening limits the use of gamma irradiation for controlling postharvest microbial development on some produce. The carbohydrate composition of the cell wall of the strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch. cv. Chandler) fruit and of cell wall fractions was compared in untreated controls and in fruit irradiated at 4 kGy, a dose causing tissue softening. Cell wall polysaccharides were partially degraded, particularly cellulose and pectic substances. However, neutral sugars from the pectic and hemicellulose fractions were not affected by irradiation, in contrast with cell wall degradation during ripening.     

CELL WALL COMPOSITIONS AND ENZYMES OF POTATOES, JICAMAS AND CHINESE WATER CHESTNUTS

Cell wall compositions and the levels of ten enzymes of potatoes, jicamas and Chinese water chestnuts were determined to explain the differences in thermal softening of these vegetables. Cell walls were prepared from the tissues by sieving of ethanolic homogenates to remove most of the starch and analyzed for neutral sugars and uronic acids. Jicamas and water chestnuts contain less galactose but more arabinose and glucuronic acid and much more xylose than potatoes. Water chestnuts contain less galacturonic acid than jicamas and potatoes and this was confirmed by extraction of pectin under various conditions. The results suggest that resistance to thermal softening may be related to cell wall polysaccharides rich in arabinose, glucuronic acid and xylose rather than to pectic polysaccharides. The major differences in enzyme compositions are much higher β-amylase and exopolygalacturonase in jicamas and water chestnuts than in potatoes. Water chestnut exopolygalacturonase is unusually heat-stable, but the relationship of this enzyme or of β-amylase to thermal softening is not clear.     

高效阴离子色谱法测定当归果胶多糖中的糖醛酸含量

建立高效阴离子色谱-脉冲安培检测(HPAEC-PAD)当归果胶多糖中糖醛酸的定性、定量方法,并对测试样品的预处理方法进行研究。分别对多糖样品进行不同预处理,采用外标法测定糖醛酸含量。结果表明,多糖样品需经脱脂处理并结合弱酸水解和酶解才能获得准确、真实的结果;建立了半乳糖醛酸(GalA)和葡萄糖醛酸(GlcA)的线性回归方程,相关系数均为0.9990。经计算,HPAEC-PAD法测定当归多糖的GalA含量为53.62%,与比色法(58.27%)的相对误差为8.67%,并具有良好的重现性。采用HPAEC-PAD法对糖醛酸定性、定量,无需衍生化,且灵敏度高、重现性好,是快速测定糖醛酸含量的有效方法。     

Cultivar and Maturity Effects on Muskmelon ( Cucumis melo) Colour,Texture and Cell Wall Polysaccharide Composition

Cell wall polysaccharides (CWP) of two types of melons were isolated and purified. Fractionations were performed using cyclohexanetrans-1,2-diamine tetraacetate (CDTA), Na₂CO₃, guanidinium thiocyanate (GTC) and KOH. Alditol acetate derivatives of neutral sugars from each CWP fraction were prepared and analysed by gas chromatography. Trifluoro-acetic acid insoluble fractions were analysed colorimetrically and uronic acid was determined. The CDTA and Na₂CO₃ fractions were found to be composed of typical pectic materialscontaining primarily galacturonic acid with the neutral sugars arabinose, galactose, rhamnose and a smaller amount of xylose. As maturity increased, CDTA fraction yields increased, though total neutral sugar CWP compositions decreased. GTC and KOH fractions were typical of hemicellulose, and contained principally xylose, glucose, galactose, mannose and fucose, with very small amounts of uronic acid, arabinose and rhamnose. The residues contained principally glucose and galactose, with smaller amounts of mannose, xylose, arabinose and fucose. With the exception of xylose and glucose, all neutral sugars decreased significantly during ripening in both the Cantaloupe and Honey Dew melons. Total uronic acid did not change as maturity increased, except for Cantaloupe, where total uronic acid decreased from the ripe to overripe stages. Relationships between firmness, drip loss and other composition measurements, as well as the total CWP sugar composition, were also determined. Only the CDTA fraction yields were negatively correlated with the changes in firmness of both melons and positively correlated with changes in drip loss as maturity increased.     

番茄果实打浆温度对番茄酱中果胶物质的影响

通过研究热打浆和冷打浆番茄酱中低分子糖类物质和水溶性多糖类物质的变化,探讨了番茄果实打浆温度对番茄酱果胶物质的影响。糖分析结果表明,热打浆和冷打浆番茄酱中低分子糖的组成比例有明显的差异;热打浆番茄酱水溶性多糖(HPS)和冷打浆番茄酱水溶性多糖(CPS)均为果胶物质,但是HPS的得率以及半乳糖醛酸含量明显高于CPS。凝胶柱层析分析结果显示,HPS中高分子果胶物质比例较高,而CPS中低分子果胶物质的比例较高。番茄酱加工过程中番茄果实打浆温度对番茄酱果胶物质有显著的影响。     

Cell Wall Changes and Partial Prevention of Fruit Softening in Prestorage Heat Treated ‘Anna’ Apples

Prestorage heat treatment (38°C for 4 days) retarded the softening of ‘Anna’ apple fruits during 0°C storage. Fruit softening of unheated apples during storage was accompanied by changes in pectic substances: a decrease in uronic acid content in the carbonate-soluble fraction and an increase in the water-soluble fraction. Heat treatment partially inhibited the degradation of uronic acids in the cell wall. The degree of pectin methylation in both heated and non-heated fruit decreased during storage. In heat treated apple fruit the content of galactose and arabinose in the cell wall decreased during storage; in non-heated fruit only galactose decreased. We suggest that the inhibition of solubilisation of the carbonate soluble pectin fraction is one of the main factors contributing to the firmness retention caused by heat treatment. The loss of both arabinose and galactose in heat treated fruits may also play an as yet undefined role in the effect of heat treatment on fruit softening.     

Cell Wall Characteristics of Gamma-Radiated Refrigerated Cucumber Pickles

The effect of gamma radiation (0, 0.5, and 1.0 kGy) on firmness and changes in cell wall polysaccharides of mesocarp tissue from refrigerated cucumber pickles was examined. Softening of mesocarp tissue of pickles exposed to 1.0 kGy was a response associated with altered solubility characteristics of pectic substances. Ionizing radiation reduced nonsoluble and alkali soluble pectic substances, while levels of water and chelator soluble pectic substances were increased. Radiation reduced the degree of esterification of pectic substances and increased the amount of bound calcium. Except for a small reduction in galactose caused by 1.0 kGy, levels of other neutral sugars in the cell wall were not significantly affected by any of the treatments.     

Degradation characteristics of isolated and in situ cell wall lucerne pectic polysaccharides by mixed ruminal microbes

Two pectic polysaccharide fractions were isolated form lucerne (Medicago sativa L) leaves and used in fermentation experiments with mixed ruminal microbes. Both fractions were similar in chemical composition, containing galacturonic acid (52-58 mol%) and the neutral sugars arabinose (14-18 mol%), galactose (6-8 mol%) and rhamnose (8-12 mol%). Fermentation of both fractions was rapid and complete with a half-life of approximately 4 h. Production of total volatile fatty acids matched the degradation profile reaching a maximum level shortly after the rate of degradation began to decrease. The fermentation characteristics of citrus pectin and polygalacturonic acid were similar to those of the lucerne pectic fractions but galacturonic acid was much slower in its rate of degradation while soluble arabinogalactan from larchwood was virtually undegraded. Leaves of early bud stage lucerne and lower nodes and internodes of stems from full bloom lucerne were also fermented by mixed ruminal microbes. Pectic polysaccharides were rapidly and extensively degraded from both tissues. Initial rates were faster for leaves than for stems and the extent of pectic degradation was greater in leaves (8% residual) than in stems (17% residual). Selection of forage lines with increased pectic polysaccharides would provide greater amounts of rapidly available energy that could result in more efficient utilisation of the rapidly degraded protein in lucerne.     

旧报纸漂白脱墨浆中DCS组分及其对纸浆滤水性能的影响

首先对旧新闻纸漂白脱墨浆(BDIP)中溶解与胶体物质(DCS)的组分进行了分析,研究了DCS及其不同组分的模型物对漂白脱墨浆滤水性能的影响。结果表明,BDIP中DCS的主要组分包括木素类物质、脂肪酸和树脂酸以及各种糖类和糖醛酸,如十六酸、9,12-亚油酸、9-油酸、十八酸和海松酸、异海松酸、脱氢枞酸、枞酸以及葡萄糖醛酸和半乳糖醛酸等。DCS的加入能够降低BDIP的滤水性能。当其加入量为总体积的40%时,脱墨浆滤水速率的下降超过37%。PEI的加入能够改善脱墨浆的滤水性能。果胶、木素、脂肪酸和松香酸的加入导致脱墨浆的滤水速度下降,其中主要影响因素是它们本身的电荷密度。     

SOLUBILIZATION OF CELL WALLS BY TOMATO POLYGALACTURONASES: EFFECTS OF PECTINESTERASES

The susceptibility of isolated cell walls to solubilization by polygalacturonase and the effect of pectinesterase on the solubilization were examined. The two polygalacturonases in ripe tomatoes were purified to remove pectinesterase. Both polygalacturonases solubilized uronic acid from pectinesterase-free tomato cell walls most rapidly at about pH 3.5, well below p H 4.5, the pH optimum for their hydrolysis of pectic acid. At p H 3.5, very low levels of pectinesterase increased cell wall solubilization by the polygalacturonases seueralfold, whereas high concentrations of pectinesterase completely inhibited solubilization. A t pH 5, pectinesterase also increased cell wall solubilization, but higher concentrations were required than at pH 3.5 and high levels were not inhibitory. The materials solubilized at pH 3.5 were galacturonan with a molecular weight of about 110,000 and two fractions of much higher molecular weights consisting primarily of neutral sugars. Galactose accounted for about two-thirds of the monosaccharides in the neutral polysaccharides.     

In vitro antioxidant activity and phenolic profiles of tropical fruit by-products

Peel and seeds of red-skinned passion fruit, mango, longan, rambutan, white-flesh and red-flesh dragon fruit were screened for their in vitro antioxidant activity, and determination of a detailed profile of phenolic compounds. Rambutan peel and mango seed extracts exhibited the highest total phenolic content and antioxidant activities (DPPH, ABTS and FRAP values). By using UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS analysis, the profiles of soluble and bound phenolics in the fruit by-products were obtained. Ellagic acid, geraniin, quercetin hexoside, gallic and galloyshikimic acid were predominant in rambutan peel, whereas, mangiferin, ellagic acid and galloy(di)glucoside were the major phenolic compounds in mango seed. Main phenolic compounds in longan peel were ellagic acid, galloyldiglucoside, and gallic acid, while in dragon fruit peel this was isorhamnetin glycoside, isorhamnetin glucorhamoside. Meanwhile, rutin and quercetin hexoside were predominant in passion fruit peel. These findings contribute significantly to the database of phenolic profiles of by-products of tropical fruits.     

Polysaccharide Constituents of Coffee-Bean Mucilage

Alcohol‐insoluble residues (AIRs) were isolated from hand‐dissected and commercial mucilages of depulped coffee beans. Both AIRs had similar polysaccharide composition: pectic substances (about 30%), cellulose (about 8%), and neutral noncellulosic polysaccharides (about 18%). Crude pectins were extracted from AIRs (dry‐matter yield: about 23% to 35%) with dilute nitric acid (pH 1.5, 90 °C). Both pectins contained about 60% uronic acids with high degree of methyl esterification (about 62%) and moderate degree of acetylation (about 5%). Their molecular weights were low (about12 to 29 kDa). They did not gel in the presence of sucrose at acidic pH.     

红肉番石榴果胶的理化特性及其体外降脂作用

以红肉番石榴果皮、果肉为原料,采用超声辅助柠檬酸酸提取法从番石榴果皮、果肉中提取水溶性果胶,并研究其官能团的特征、单糖组成、热稳定性、流变学特性、微观结构,然后通过体外实验评价番石榴果皮和果肉果胶对脂肪、胆固醇胶束、胆酸盐的结合能力。结果表明,番石榴果皮果胶酯化度为56.29%;重均分子量有两个级份,分别为618.40 kDa（43.4%）和93.90 kDa（56.6%）;中性糖组成:0.58%±0.02%鼠李糖、0.02%±0.01%岩藻糖、88.48%±0.07%阿拉伯糖、0.78%±0.06%木糖、0.07%±0.02%甘露糖、0.40%±0.03%葡萄糖、9.68%±0.03%半乳糖。番石榴果肉果胶酯化度为48.57%,重均分子量有三个级分,分别为1168.00 kDa（11.0%）、120.30 kDa（53.9%）和64.94 kDa（35.1%）;中性糖组成:0.47%±0.03%鼠李糖、0.03%±0.01%岩藻糖、83.86%±0.04%阿拉伯糖、0.76%±0.05%木糖、0.08%±0.01%甘露糖、0.43%±0.02%葡萄糖、14.37%±0.05%半乳糖。溶液中果皮果胶粒径显著小于果肉果胶（P<0.05）;两种果胶均呈现假塑性流体的特性,但同一浓度下,果肉果胶溶液表观黏度高于果皮果胶;扫描电镜图显示,两种果胶微观形态有差别,其中果皮果胶边缘有较多触角状细丝,果肉果胶褶皱更深。果肉果胶对脂肪的吸附、对胆固醇胶束、胆酸盐的结合量显著优于果皮果胶（P<0.05）,表明二者均具有体外降脂功能,其中果肉果胶的效果优于果皮果胶,这在于二者的分子结构不同而导致的生物活性差异。     

The isolation and analysis of cell wall material from the alcohol-insoluble residue of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)

Cell wall material (CWM) was isolated from the wet ball-milled alcohol-insoluble residue of cabbage by treatment with Pronase, phenol-acetic acid-water and 90% aqueous dimethyl sulphoxide to remove precipitated proteins, starch and other intracellular compounds. Some solubilisation (mainly of pectic material) occurred during the purification stages. Methylation analysis of the cold water-soluble polysaccharides showed that the main neutral glycosidic linkages in descending order of concentration, were: non-reducing terminal arabinose groups, 5-linked arabinose and 4-linked galactose. The CWM contained a high level of arabinose-containing pectic polysaccharides. The main linkages present in the non-cellulosic polysaccharides were 4-linked galacturonic acid, non-reducing terminal arabinose groups and 5-linked arabinose; doubly branched arabinose residues were also present. Sequential extraction of the CWM by aqueous inorganic solvents yielded further information on the types of polysaccharides present. The general structural features of the CWM are discussed in the light of these results.