Isolation and Structural Characterization of a Water-Soluble Germination Inhibitor from Scotch Thistle (Onopordum acanthium) Cypselas

Cypsela dormancy in Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium) may be affected by the presence of chemical inhibitors. To investigate this phenomenon, a leachate from O. acanthium cypselas was tested for its ability to inhibit germination of the cypselas from which it was derived (i.e., autoinhibition). Leachates varied in their degree of autoinhibition, depending on the cypsela population from which they were prepared. Overall, removal of leachate from a group of O. acanthium cypselas increased their germinability. Using lettuce (Lactuca sativa) cypselas as an indicator species, bioactivity-guided fractionation was used to isolate a water-soluble, para-substituted benzamide from O. acanthium cypselas, which caused germination inhibition. Various chromatographic, spectroscopic, and spectrometric techniques were applied to the characterization of the bioactive compound.     

Purification and properties of polyphenol oxidase in head lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

Polyphenol oxidase (EC 1.10.3.1) in head lettuce (Lactuca sativa L) was purified by ammonium sulphate fractionation, ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The enzyme was found to be homogeneous by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be about 56 000 amu by Sephadex G-100 gel filtration. The purified enzyme quickly oxidised chlorogenic acid (5-caffeoyl quinic acid) and (—)-epicatechin. The K^m values for the enzyme, using chlorogenic acid (pH 4·5, 30°C) and (—)-epicatechin (pH 7·0, 30°C) as substrate, were 0·67 mM and 0·91 mM, respectively. The optimal pH of chlorogenic acid oxidase and (—)-epicatechin oxidase activities were 4·5 and 7·8, respectively, and both activities were stable in the pH range 6–8 at 5°C for 20 h. Potassium cyanide and sodium diethyldithiocarbamate markedly inhibited both activities of the purified enzyme. The inhibitory effect of metallic ions such as Ca²⁺, Mn²⁺, Co²⁺ and Ni²⁺ for chlorogenic acid oxidase activity was stronger than that for (—)-epicatechin oxidase activity.     

葡味笋条的工业化制作探讨

介绍以莴笋为主要原料,经切条,烫漂,沥干等工序处理,将新疆葡萄筵的烹饪工艺与工业化生产相结合,制成甜酸爽口的具有浓郁地方风味的方便 食品－－葡味笋条,讨论了影响莴笋颜色,保质期,产品质量的因素。     

复合清洗方式对鲜切散叶生菜品质的影响

目的研究复合清洗方式对鲜切生菜品质的影响,为新型清洗消毒方式在鲜切蔬菜中的应用提供理论依据。方法以鲜切散叶生菜为研究对象,分别研究在4℃贮藏条件下,自来水、次氯酸钠、酸性电解水结合次氯酸钠、臭氧结合次氯酸钠等4种清洗方式对其感官品质、理化指标和微生物生长情况的影响。结果臭氧结合次氯酸钠处理的鲜切生菜感官评分最高,可以有效保持维生素C和叶绿素的含量,抑制微生物的生长繁殖和多酚氧化酶活性,在第12天其质量损失率仍低于5%,具有食用价值。结论经臭氧结合次氯酸钠浸泡10 min处理的鲜切散叶生菜,有很好的感官品质,其货架期也得到了延长。     

Evaluation of food safety related behaviors of retail and food service employees while handling fresh and fresh-cut leafy greens

Foodborne illness outbreaks are often associated with fresh and fresh-cut produce (specifically leafy greens); however, effective training and methods of prevention have not been readily available for the retail and food service industry. The objective of this study was to assess and evaluate the current state of compliance and employee handling practices for fresh and fresh-cut produce, and to identify factors influencing employees' fresh and fresh-cut handling practices using an observational survey tool. A total of sixteen restaurants and fifteen grocery stores in Texas and Ohio were observed. The results revealed low compliance of employees' leafy green handling practices such as improper use of thermometers, lack of documentation, and poor employee hygiene. Statistical analysis results suggested that employees' food safety behaviors vary based on several factors such as operation size, cuisine, and operation type. The results of the study will provide practical guidelines for training employees handling leafy green produce at fresh and fresh-cut packing facilities, produce distribution centers, grocery stores, and restaurants.     

A Critical Review on Carotenoid Research in Sri Lankan Context and Its Outcomes

As determined by countrywide assessments, vitamin A deficiency is a public health problem in Sri Lanka. Study of carotenoid profile and content could be important to nutritionists as some carotenoids act as precursors of vitamin A. Sri Lanka has a remarkable diversity of carotenoid sources. A number of Sri Lankan sources of carotenoids have been studied by many authors. This study reviews carotenoid research done in Sri Lanka, comparing results which are generally in conflict with a few relevant studies abroad, while focusing on problems of carotenoid research and concluding that it is difficult for a dietician to predict carotenoid intake due to marked biological variation. Therefore, any database on carotenoid covering the entire country has its limitations. Further that even if carotenoid profiles are known using exhaustive sampling, there can be no single method of calculating retinol equivalent (RE) and retinol activity equivalent (RAE) especially as carotenoid uptake and bioconversion could be multifactorially affected and subject to control mechanisms. Therefore, RE and RAE should be calculated differently for different types of plant materials may even be expanded so that a unique calculation depending on plant material and method of cooking.     

超市销售条件下贮藏温度对洁净生菜保鲜效果的影响

本试验研究了模拟超市销售条件下生菜的贮藏与保鲜,超市生菜保鲜和贮藏夏天用的是(22±2)℃,冬天用的是(17±2)℃。结果表明,塑料薄膜包装的生菜低温(17±2)℃下贮藏,可以降低生菜的呼吸强度和蒸腾作用,减少还原糖、抗坏血酸、和叶绿素含量的损失,从而有利于生菜品质的保持和货架期的延长。     

Genotype and environment effects on nitrate accumulation in a diversity set of lettuce accessions at commercial maturity: the influence of nitrate uptake and assimilation, osmotic interactions and shoot weight and development

BACKGROUND: The causes of the natural variation in nitrate accumulation and associated traits are studied using a diverse population of 48 mature lettuce accessions grown hydroponically in winter and summer seasons. Information on the effects of genotype, environment and their interactions will inform future selection strategies for the production of low‐nitrate varieties more suited to meeting EU requirements for harvested produce. RESULTS: The effects of genotype (G), environment (E) and G × E interactions were all significant, with nitrate concentrations lower but covering a wider range in summer. Concentrations of nitrate‐N were positively correlated with those of water and total‐N and negatively with assimilated‐C in the shoot in both seasons, with all relationships partitioned according to morphotype and/or seasonal type. Corresponding relationships between nitrate‐N and assimilated‐N or with shoot fresh or dry weight were generally weak or inconsistent. Nitrate concentrations at an early growth stage were strongly related to those at maturity in winter, but not in summer when light levels were less variable. CONCLUSION: The effects of genotype and environment on nitrate accumulation in lettuce are strongly influenced by morphotype, with most G × E interactions between accessions within the same morphotype predominantly of the non‐crossover type. All low‐nitrate‐accumulating genotypes have increased concentrations of organic solutes (concentration regulation) and reduced water (volume regulation) to help stabilise osmotic potential within the shoots. Variability in nitrate accumulation arises more from differences in uptake than in efficiency of its chemical reduction. Genotypic differences in nitrate accumulation can be masked by changes in head morphology during maturation, provided that they are not confounded by substantial changes in intercepted light. Recent selection strategies do not appear to have produced lower‐nitrate‐accumulating cultivars. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry