Colour,phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of some fruits dehydrated by a combination of different methods

The objective of this study was to improve product quality of dehydrated fruits (apple, pear, papaya, mango) using combined drying techniques. This involved investigation of bioactivity, colour, and sensory assessment on colour of the dried products as well as the retention of the bio-active ingredients. The attributes of quality were compared in regard to the quality of dehydrated samples obtained from continuous heat pump (HP) drying technique. It was found that for apple, pear and mango the total colour change (ΔE) of samples dried using continuous heat pump (HP) or heat pump vacuum-microwave (HP/VM) methods was lower than of samples dried by other combined methods. However, for papaya, the lowest colour change exhibited by samples dried using hot air–cold air (HHC) method and the highest colour change was found for heat pump (HP) dehydrated samples. Sensory evaluation revealed that dehydrated pear with higher total colour change (ΔE) is more desirable because of its golden yellow appearance. In most cases the highest phenol content was found from fruits dried by HP/VM method. Judging from the quality findings on two important areas namely colour and bioactivity, it was found that combined drying method consisted of HP pre-drying followed by VM finish drying gave the best results for most dehydrated fruits studied in this work as the fruits contain first group of polyphenol compounds, which preferably requires low temperature followed by rapid drying strategy.     

The effect of addition of chokeberry, flowering quince fruits and rhubarb juice to strawberry jams on their polyphenol content, antioxidant activity and colour

The aim of the study was to establish whether the addition of berries (flowering quince, chokeberry) and rhubarb juice during jam processing improves its colour and enriches jams in polyphenol compounds other than those found in strawberries. The sum of phenolic compounds determined by HPLC was distributed in a wide concentration range depending on the cultivar. Jams prepared from Elkat cultivar had 27% more total phenolic compounds than jams prepared from Senga Sengana. The following compounds were identified in jams prepared from strawberries: p-coumaric, ferulic and ellagic acids, quercetin, kaempferol, anthocyanins, (+)-catechin, (−)-epicatechin and proanthocyanidins. Proanthocyanidins and ellagic acid are the major polyphenol compounds of all strawberries jams. The Elkat cultivar (47.34 mg/100 g) contained higher amounts of proanthocyanidins compared to Senga Sengana (29.95 mg/100 g). The addition of 10% of flowering quince and chokeberry to jams during their preparation resulted in the increase in the content of phenolic components in final products, especially for proanthocyanidins. The highest level of total polyphenols (P < 0.05) was found in strawberry mixed with chokeberry, 237.82 mg/100 g for Senga Sengana and 260.61 mg/100 g for Elkat. There has been a marked increase of proanthocyanidins content (5.4 and 4.0 times) in jams made from Senga Sengana and Elkat cultivars mixed with chokeberry. However, the addition of rhubarb juice did not increase the content of polyphenol in Senga Sengana jam (not statistically significant). Antioxidant activity of strawberry jam was determined by 2,2′azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) and ferric reducing/antioxidant power methods (FRAP). The antioxidant activity of this mixed jam was more than two times higher (P < 0.05) than control sample of strawberry jam. Rhubarb juice had high effect on L* (lightness) value in case of all strawberry varieties. The redness (a*), and yellowness (b*) were significantly different in jams with supplement. Strawberry jam with chokeberries had smaller L* value than control and other samples, and the lowest a* and b* values. This variation could be due to the nature of the pigments in these fruit cultivars and the content of anthocyanins which resulted in more reddish colour.     

Synthesis and Biological Studies of Novel Aminophosphonates and Their Metal Carbonyl Complexes (Fe,Ru)

The quest to find new inhibitors of biologically relevant targets is considered an important strategy to introduce new drug candidates for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. A series of (aminomethyl)benzylphosphonates 8a–c and their metallocarbonyl iron 9a–c and ruthenium 10a–c complexes were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their inhibitory potentials against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) by determination of IC₅₀. Metallocarbonyl derivatives, in general, did not show significant inhibition activity against these enzymes, the most potent inhibitor was the (aminomethyl)benzylphosphonate 8a (IC₅₀ = 1.215 µM against AChE). Molecular docking analysis of AChE and (aminomethyl)benzylphosphonates 8a–c showed the strongest interactions of 8a and AChE compared to isomers 8b and 8c. Cytotoxicity studies of synthesized compounds towards the V79 cell line were also performed and discussed.     

The Val34Met,Thr164Ile and Ser220Cys Polymorphisms of the β2-Adrenergic Receptor and Their Consequences on the Receptor Conformational Features: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study

The gene encoding the β2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) is polymorphic, which results in possible differences in a primary structure of this protein. It has been shown that certain types of polymorphisms are correlated with some clinical features of asthma, including airways reactivity, whereas the influence of other is not yet understood. Among polymorphisms affecting amino acids at positions 16, 27, 34, 164 and 220, the latter three are present in the crystal structure of β2-AR, which facilitates studying them by means of molecular dynamics simulations. The current study was focused on investigating to what extent the three polymorphisms of β2-AR (i.e., Val34Met, Thr164Ile and Ser220Cys) affect the interaction of β2-AR with its natural molecular environment which includes: lipid bilayer (in the case of all three polymorphs) and Gs protein (which participates in β2-AR-mediated signaling; in the case of Ser220Cys). We have designed and carried out a series of molecular dynamics simulations at different level of resolution (i.e., either coarse-grained or atomistic simulations), accompanied by thermodynamic integration protocol, in order to identify potential polymorphism-induced alterations in structural, conformational or energetic features of β2-AR. The results indicate the lack of significant differences in the case of energies involved in the β2-AR-lipid bilayer interactions. Some differences have been observed when considering the polymorphism-induced alterations in β2-AR-Gs protein binding, but their magnitude is also negligible in relation to the absolute free energy difference correlated with the β2-AR-Gs affinity. The Val34Met and Thr164Ile polymorphisms are weakly correlated with alteration of the conformational features of the receptor around polymorphic sites. On the contrary, it has been concluded that the Ser220Cys polymorphism is correlated with several structural alterations located in the intracellular region of β2-AR, which can induce G-protein binding and, subsequently, the polymorphism-correlated therapeutic responses. More precisely, these alterations involve vicinity of intracellular loops and, in part, are the direct consequence of disturbed interactions of Ser/Cys220 sidechain within 5th transmembrane domain. Structurally, the dynamic structure exhibited by the β2-AR^Ser220 polymorph is closer to the Gs-compatible structure of β2-AR.     

Influence of Heat Treatment of Electrospun Carbon Nanofibers on Biological Response

The main aim of this study is to investigate the effect of fragmentation of electrospun carbon nanofibers (eCNFs) obtained at different temperatures, i.e., at 750 °C, 1000 °C, 1500 °C, 1750 °C and 2000 °C on the cellular response in vitro. In order to assess the influence of nanofibers on biological response, it was necessary to conduct physicochemical, microstructural and structural studies such as SEM, XPS, Raman spectroscopy, HRTEM and surface wettability of the obtained materials. During the in vitro study, all samples made contact with the human chondrocyte CHON-001 cell lines. The key study was to assess the genotoxicity of eCNFs using the comet test after 1 h or 24 h. Special attention was paid to the degree of crystallinity of the nanofibers, the dimensions of the degradation products and the presence of functional groups on their surface. A detailed analysis showed that the key determinant of the genotoxic effect is the surface chemistry. The presence of nitrogen-containing groups as a product of the decomposition of nitrile groups has an influence on the biological response, leading to mutations in the DNA. This effect was observed only for samples carbonized at lower temperatures, i.e., 750 °C and 1000 °C. These results are important with respect to selecting the temperature of thermal treatment of eCNFs dedicated for medical and environmental functions due to the minimization of the genotoxic effect of these materials.     

Anticancer Activity of Amantadine and Evaluation of Its Interactions with Selected Cytostatics in Relation to Human Melanoma Cells

Patients with Parkinson’s disease are prone to a higher incidence of melanoma. Amantadine (an anti-Parkinson drug) possesses the antiproliferative potential that can be favorable when combined with other chemotherapeutics. Cisplatin (CDDP) and mitoxantrone (MTO) are drugs used in melanoma chemotherapy, but they have many side effects. (1) Clinical observations revealed a high incidence of malignant melanoma in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Amantadine as an anti-Parkinson drug alleviates symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and theoretically, it should have anti-melanoma properties. (2) To characterize the interaction profile for combinations of amantadine with CDDP and MTO in four human melanoma cell lines (A375, SK-MEL 28, FM55P and FM55M2), type I isobolographic analysis was used in the MTT test. (3) Amantadine produces the anti-proliferative effects in various melanoma cell lines. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that amantadine induced apoptosis and G1/S phase cell cycle arrest. Western blotting analysis showed that amantadine markedly decreased cyclin-D1 protein levels and increased p21 levels. Additionally, amantadine significantly increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. The combined application of amantadine with CDDP at the fixed-ratio of 1:1 exerted an additive interaction in the four studied cell lines in the MTT test. In contrast, the combination of amantadine with MTO (ratio of 1:1) produced synergistic interaction in the FM55M2 cell line in the MTT (* p < 0.05). The combination of amantadine with MTO was also additive in the remaining tested cell lines (A375, FM55P and SK-MEL28) in the MTT test. (4) Amantadine combined with MTO exerted the most desirable synergistic interaction, as assessed isobolographically. Additionally, the exposure of melanoma cell lines to amantadine in combination with CDDP or MTO augmented the induction of apoptosis mediated by amantadine alone.     

Molecular Pathways of Cellular Senescence and Placental Aging in Late Fetal Growth Restriction and Stillbirth

Abnormally accelerated, premature placental senescence plays a crucial role in the genesis of pregnancy pathologies. Abnormal growth in the third trimester can present as small for gestational age fetuses or fetal growth restriction. One differs from the other by the presence of signs of placental insufficiency and the risk of stillbirth. The majority of stillbirths occur in normally grown fetuses and are classified as “unexplained”, which often leads to conclusions that they were unpreventable. The main characteristic of aging is a gradual decline in the function of cells, tissues, and organs. These changes result in the accumulation of senescent cells in mitotic tissues. These cells begin the aging process that disrupts tissues’ normal functions by affecting neighboring cells, degrading the extracellular matrix, and reducing tissues’ regeneration capacity. Different degrees of abnormal placentation result in the severity of fetal growth restriction and its sequelae, including fetal death. This review aims to present the current knowledge and identify future research directions to understand better placental aging in late fetal growth restriction and unexplained stillbirth. We hypothesized that the final diagnosis of placental insufficiency can be made only using markers of placental senescence.     

Impact of processing on polysaccharides obtained from button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus)

Agaricus bisporus fruiting bodies were subjected to processing: blanching, boiling in water and blanching followed by lactic acid fermentation. Water soluble polysaccharides were obtained from fruiting bodies, quantified and analysed in terms of chemical composition, antioxidant capacity and antiproliferative activity towards cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and T-47D). The content of water soluble polysaccharides ranged from 7.35 ± 0.12 to 6.90 ± 0.17 mg g⁻¹ fresh weight of sample. Boiling in water and blanching followed by fermenting caused minor decrease in the content. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy of the extracted polysaccharides showed that both α- and β-linkages are present in the samples. Size exclusion chromatography confirmed the presence of 163.3 and 1.9 kDa molecules. The processing caused changes in chemical composition (protein and phenolics content decreased). The isolated polysaccharides exerted antioxidant and antiproliferative activities. Both the activities were slightly lowered as the result of the processing.     

Reducing Flower Competition for Assimilates by Half Results in Higher Yield of Fagopyrum esculentum

Despite abundant flowering throughout the season, common buckwheat develops a very low number of kernels probably due to competition for assimilates. We hypothesized that plants with a shorter flowering period may give a higher seed yield. To verify the hypothesis, we studied nutrient stress in vitro and in planta and analyzed different embryological and yield parameters, including hormone profile in the flowers. In vitro cultivated flowers on media with strongly reduced nutrient content demonstrated a drastic increase in degenerated embryo sacs. In in planta experiments, where 50% or 75% of flowers or all lateral ramifications were removed, the reduction of the flower competition by half turned out to be the most promising treatment for improving yield. This treatment increased the frequency of properly developed embryo sacs, the average number of mature seeds per plant, and their mass. Strong seed compensation under 50% inflorescence removal could result from increased production of salicylic and jasmonic acid that both favor more effective pollinator attraction. Plants in single-shoot cultivation finished their vegetation earlier, and they demonstrated greater single seed mass per plant than in control. This result suggests that plants of common buckwheat with shorter blooming period could deliver higher seed yield.