Characterisation of phenolic phytochemicals and quality changes related to the harvest times from the leaves of Korean purple perilla (Perilla frutescens)

The objective of this study was to investigate the profiles of phenolic phytochemicals in the leaves of Korean purple perilla (cv. Bora, Perilla fructescens) using reversed-phase C₁₈ column chromatography and HPLC with DAD-ESI/MS analysis. Changes in their contents were also the first reported through eight different harvest times during two months. They were characterised as five anthocyanins and three phenolic acids including cyanidin-3,5-di-O-glucoside (1), cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (2), cyanidin-3-O-(6-O-caffeoyl)glucoside-5-O-glucoside (3), cyanidin-3-O-(6-O-coumaroyl)glucoside-5-O-glucoside (4), cyanidin-3-O-(6-O-coumaroyl)glucoside (5), caffeic acid (6), rosmarinic acid (7), and rosmarinic acid methylester (8). Significant differences were observed between individual and total phytochemical contents, especially, cyanidin-3-O-(6-O-coumaroyl)glucoside-5-O-glucoside (4) and rosmarinic acid (7) exhibited the predominant constituents. Among different harvest times, the highest content was found with 82.473 mg/g on 21st September, while the lowest was 39.000 mg/g on 17th August. These results may be useful in determining the optimal harvest time at which phenolic phytochemicals reaches a maximum level in mid-September.     

Inhibitory activities of hydroxyphenolic acid–amino acid conjugates on tyrosinase

The inhibitory effects of hydroxyphenolic acid–aromatic amino acid conjugates on the activity of mushroom tyrosinase were investigated. Amongst the hydroxyphenolic acid–amino acid derivatives, protocatechuic acid–amino acid amide (PA-AA-NH₂) showed highly increased tyrosinase inhibitory activity. The results show that it could strongly inhibit both the monophenolase and diphenolase activities of tyrosinase. The IC₅₀ values, inhibition type, and K_I values of these hydroxyphenolic acid derivatives (PA-F-NH₂, PA-W-NH₂, PA-Y-NH₂) were evaluated and compared. Kinetic analyses of PA-AA-NH₂ as a tyrosinase inhibitor revealed that it acted as a reversible mixed-? type inhibitor, possibly by chelating copper at the active site of tyrosinase. These results suggest that aromatic amino acid conjugation assisted PA in binding to the active site of mushroom tyrosinase where it interrupted access to the substrate.     

Biochemical characterisation of MX-4, a plant cysteine protease of broad specificity and high stability

A new proteinase, mexicain-IV (MX-4), has been purified to homogeneity from the latex fruits of Jacaratia mexicana (formely Pileus mexicanus), a plant member of the Caricaceae family. MX-4 shows a Mr of 23.7 kDa, pI of 9.3 and maximum proteolytic activity on casein and BAPNA at pH 8.0–8.5 and pH 7.0–7.5, respectively. The amino acid sequence of MX-4 and its reversible inhibition by HgCl₂ show that the proteinase belongs to the family of cysteine proteinases. This enzyme exhibits rather broad substrate specificity, although there seems to be a slight preference for cleavage of peptides having certain hydrophobic residues in the P2 position. Biochemical and circular dichroism studies revealed that this enzyme belongs to the α + β class of proteins, in agreement with the results obtained by X-ray crystallographic structure determination, and showed that MX-4 has a higher pH and thermal stability than other members of the Caricaceae family, including papain. These properties make this novel protease a suitable novel analytical tool for the proteomic analysis of peptide fragments of great potential interest in the food industry and other industries.     

Sensor-containing microspheres of chitosan crosslinked with 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulphonic acid for determination of Cu(II) in instant coffee

A novel carbon paste electrode containing chitosan microspheres for the determination of Cu(II) in instant coffee by anodic stripping voltammetry was developed. Chitosan was crosslinked with the chelating agent 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulphonic acid and glutaraldehyde. The microspheres of the crosslinked chitosan biopolymer were obtained by the spray drying technique and employed in the construction of the sensor. In acetate buffer solution (0.1 mol L⁻¹, pH 6.0), the calibration curve obtained was linear for concentrations of 5.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.4 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ (r = 0.9990); the detection limit was 5.5 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹. The relative standard deviation (n = 8) was lower than 3.0% for solutions containing 6.0 × 10⁻⁶, 5.0 × 10⁻⁵ and 1.5 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹ of Cu(II). The method was successfully employed for determination of Cu(II) in instant coffee and the results obtained showed good agreement when compared with those using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry.     

Antifungal activity of sourdough fermented wheat germ used as an ingredient for bread making

This study aimed at investigating the antifungal activity of sourdough fermented (Lactobacillus plantarum LB1 and Lactobacillus rossiae LB5) wheat germ (SFWG). Preliminarily, methanol and water/salt-soluble extracts from SFWG were assayed by agar diffusion towards Penicillium roqueforti DPPMAF1. As shown by hyphal radial growth rate, the water/salt-soluble extract showed the inhibition of various fungi isolated from bakeries. The antifungal activity was attributed to a mixture of organic acids and peptides which were synthesized during fermentation. Formic (24.7 mM) acid showed the highest antifungal activity. Four peptides, having similarities with well known antifungal sequences, were identified and chemically synthesized. The minimal inhibitory concentration was 2.5–15.2 mg/ml. Slices of bread made by addition of 4% (wt/wt) of freeze dried SFWG were packed in polyethylene bags and stored at room temperature. Slices did not show contamination by fungi until at least 28 days of storage and behaved as the calcium propionate (0.3%, wt/wt).     

Production of olive oil enriched with medium chain fatty acids catalysed by commercial immobilised lipases

Structured triacylglycerols, containing medium chain fatty acids, were produced by acidolysis of virgin olive oil with caprylic or capric acid, at a molar ratio of olive oil:fatty acid of 1:2, at 45 °C for 24 h, in solvent-free media or in n-hexane, catalysed by Thermomyces lanuginosa (Lipozyme TL IM), Rhizomucor miehei (Lipozyme RM IM) and Candida antarctica (Novozym 435) immobilised lipases. Incorporations were always greater for capric than for caprylic acid. For both acids, higher incorporations were always attained in solvent-free media: the highest caprylic acid incorporations were obtained with Novozym 435 (25.5 mol%) and Lipozyme RM IM (25.7 mol%), while similar capric acid incorporations were obtained with all biocatalysts (27.1–30.4 mol%).     

Oil and fatty acid distribution in different circles of sunflower head

Prevailing temperature at anthesis influences pollen health, fertilisation, seed filling, oil and fatty acid accumulation in different circles of sunflower head. Field experiments were conducted, during 2007 and 2008, at Pir Mehr Ali Shah, Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, to document oil and fatty acid distributions in different circles of sunflower head. Hybrid S-278 was planted in randomised complete block design with a two factors factorial experiment, with four replications. At maturity, heads were divided into three equal circles (outer, middle and central); thereafter, oil and fatty acid distributions were separately determined in each circle. Oil and fatty acid concentrations in three circles differed significantly. The outer circle accumulated high oil and oleic contents which decreased to a minimum in the central circle; however, linoleic acid consistently increased, from outer to central circle, during both the years.     

液氨爆破对稻草秸秆稀硫酸降解工艺影响

为给制取生物质乙醇提供参考,该实验对木质纤维原料进行液氨爆破预处理后稀硫酸降解工艺进行研究。以农产秸秆为原料,自制爆破装置,采用化学分析与扫描电镜、X射线衍射相结合方法,分别研究液氨爆破在温度60℃～80℃、维压时间10～30 min、压力1.0～4.0 MPa条件下,液氨爆破预处理对秸秆主要成分与稀硫酸水解还原糖得率影响。结果表明,当液氨爆破条件为温度70℃、时间20 min、压力2.5 MPa时,处理后物料纤维素含量35.99%、半纤维素含量16.71%、稀硫酸水解还原糖得率最高达38.83%;SEM与XRD显示,液氨爆破后稻草秸秆纤维形态结构受到不同程度破坏,表面断裂、空隙增加、纤维素结晶度降低,有利于稀酸水解作用。     

北京市市售乳酸菌制品质量的调查

对北京市6种市售品牌的乳酸菌制品进行随机抽样检测。结果显示,所有受检样品的蛋白质、脂肪、酸度、乳酸菌数、大肠杆菌数、霉菌和酵母菌数均符合国家标准。酸奶中的钙含量远高于活性乳酸菌饮料。4种酸奶均在第8天检测时出现乳酸菌数量的最高峰,而2种活性乳酸菌乳饮品的乳酸菌数量首次检验时出现最高峰。总之,6种品牌的乳酸菌制品的质量均合格,说明乳制品企业在控制产品质量方面均取得长足进步。     

采用生物转化技术富集大豆制品γ-氨基丁酸研究进展

大豆中含有多种活性成分,具有很高的营养价值及保健功能,开发富含γ-氨基丁酸(GABA)的功能性大豆食品前景广阔。文中综述了大豆富集GABA的方法、途径及采用生物转化技术富集大豆GABA的最新研究进展。