Determination of the triacylglycerol content for the identification and assessment of purity of shea butter fat,peanut oil,and palm kernel oil using maldi-tof/tof mass spectroscopic technique

This article reports the rapid screening and identification of the triacylglycerol content of shea butter fat, palm kernel oil, and peanut oil sold in the local Ghanaian market for their characterization and identification. Samples were dissolved in chloroform with 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid as the matrix. After subjecting the samples to matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight/mass spectrometry, the spectra obtained showed the characteristic triacylglycerols as sodium adducts. Seven major triacylglycerol species were identified as dipalmitoyl olein, palmitoyl diolein, palmitoyl stearoyl olein, linoleoyl diolein, triolein, stearoyl diolein, and distearoyl olein in all three samples. Palmitoyl linoleoyl olein and tristearin were also identified. Oxygenated triacylglycerols and other species from the fragmentation of triacylglycerols were also obtained. The presence of the oxygenated triacylglycerols and the triacylglycerol fragments may be a result of poor handling and production processes.     

Identification of Drugs Inducing Phospholipidosis by Novel in vitro Data

Drug‐induced phospholipidosis (PLD) is a lysosomal storage disorder characterized by the accumulation of phospholipids within the lysosome. This adverse drug effect can occur in various tissues and is suspected to impact cellular viability. Therefore, it is important to test chemical compounds for their potential to induce PLD during the drug design process. PLD has been reported to be a side effect of many commonly used drugs, especially those with cationic amphiphilic properties. To predict drug‐induced PLD in silico, we established a high‐throughput cell‐culture‐based method to quantitatively determine the induction of PLD by chemical compounds. Using this assay, we tested 297 drug‐like compounds at two different concentrations (2.5 μM and 5.0 μM ). We were able to identify 28 previously unknown PLD‐inducing agents. Furthermore, our experimental results enabled the development of a binary classification model to predict PLD‐inducing agents based on their molecular properties. This random forest prediction system yields a bootstrapped validated accuracy of 86 %. PLD‐inducing agents overlap with those that target similar biological processes; a high degree of concordance with PLD‐inducing agents was identified for cationic amphiphilic compounds, small molecules that inhibit acid sphingomyelinase, compounds that cross the blood–brain barrier, and compounds that violate Lipinski’s rule of five. Furthermore, we were able to show that PLD‐inducing compounds applied in combination additively induce PLD.     

Structural and interaction properties of β-Lactoglobulin as studied by FTIR spectroscopy

Summary New aspects of β-Lactoglobulin (BLG) structure which have not previously been found by FT–IR spectroscopy are presented. The conformational changes of BLG and its heat-induced denaturation have been studied at low concentration and different pHs. First, it was found that the spectra of BLG in solution are concentration-dependent. Below 1%, they reveal one component in the 1620–1635 cm⁻¹ region while above this concentration, two components are present. These changes are related to the modifications of the quaternary structure of BLG, i.e. to the monomeric or dimeric forms. As shown at high temperature (85 °C), this concentration (1%) represents the threshold of protein aggregation. Second, the thermal behaviour of BLG at pH 7.4 and 4.4 is compared. The results suggest that the denaturation process and the intermolecular interactions in aggregates are different and lead to two types of aggregate. These observations are in agreement with the formation of two gel microstructures near neutral pH and near the pI of BLG as observed by Stading & Hermasson (1990). Finally, interactions between BLG and two zwitterionic phospholipids have been investigated. Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) is unaffected in the presence of BLG, suggesting that no interaction occurs. In contrast, BLG increases the lipid chain conformational disorder of milk sphinglomyelin (SM) as a consequence of hydrophobic interactions of BLG with SM. Since this effect occurs at and above the gel-to-liquid-crystalline phase transition, it is suggested that membrane fluidity plays an important role in these interactions.     

储存受损害大豆的磷脂成分变化的高效液相色谱分析

大豆在储运中因湿度和温度过高而受损害后，磷脂组份发生较大的化学变化，高效液相色谱分析表明，不可皂化部分（主要是甾醇）和磷脂酸（ＰＡ）含量增加，而主要磷脂成分磷脂酰乙醇胺（ＰＥ）、磷脂酰肌醇（ＰＩ）、磷脂酰胆碱（ＰＣ）含量减少。受损害大豆毛油水化脱胶困难及脱后油中磷含量偏高均与磷脂组份发生化学变化有关。     

The effect of feed supplementation with dietary sources of n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids,flaxseed and algae Schizochytrium sp., on their incorporation into lipid fractions of Japanese quail eggs

The influence of feed supplemented with dietary sources of n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), namely flaxseed and algae Schizochytrium sp., on the fatty acid composition of lipids from Japanese quail eggs was studied. Two groups of quails were fed for 19 weeks, starting from 6th week of life. Lipid fractions from dried egg mass of total of 4300 eggs of control and experimental group were analysed. The fatty acid profile was affected in both triacylglycerols and phospholipids. The significant (P < 0.05) increase in n‐3 PUFAs up to 7.33% in the total lipids, α‐linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3) up to 4.57% in triacylglycerols, docosahexaenoic acid (22:6, DHA) up to 23.91% in phosphatidylethanolamine and up to 4.35% in phosphatidylcholine as well as the significant (P < 0.05) reduction in n‐6/n‐3 ratio in the lipid fractions to the range of 0.9–3.7 was observed in experimental group. The incorporation of different n‐3 into lipids was selective: ALA was found in the triacylglycerol fraction, whereas EPA, DPA and DHA were detected in the phospholipid fractions, exclusively at sn‐2 position. The studies showed that the feeding quails with modified diets is effective way of biofortifying the eggs with nutritionally desired n‐3 PUFAs.     

Metformin Affects Cardiac Arachidonic Acid Metabolism and Cardiac Lipid Metabolite Storage in a Prediabetic Rat Model

Metformin can reduce cardiovascular risk independent of glycemic control. The mechanisms behind its non-glycemic benefits, which include decreased energy intake, lower blood pressure and improved lipid and fatty acid metabolism, are not fully understood. In our study, metformin treatment reduced myocardial accumulation of neutral lipids—triglycerides, cholesteryl esters and the lipotoxic intermediates—diacylglycerols and lysophosphatidylcholines in a prediabetic rat model (p < 0.001). We observed an association between decreased gene expression and SCD-1 activity (p < 0.05). In addition, metformin markedly improved phospholipid fatty acid composition in the myocardium, represented by decreased SFA profiles and increased n3-PUFA profiles. Known for its cardioprotective and anti-inflammatory properties, metformin also had positive effects on arachidonic acid metabolism and CYP-derived arachidonic acid metabolites. We also found an association between increased gene expression of the cardiac isoform CYP2c with increased 14,15-EET (p < 0.05) and markedly reduced 20-HETE (p < 0.001) in the myocardium. Based on these results, we conclude that metformin treatment reduces the lipogenic enzyme SCD-1 and the accumulation of the lipotoxic intermediates diacylglycerols and lysophosphatidylcholine. Increased CYP2c gene expression and beneficial effects on CYP-derived arachidonic acid metabolites in the myocardium can also be involved in cardioprotective effect of metformin.     

Recovery of Salmonella enterica serovars Typhimurium and Tennessee in peanut butter after electron beam exposure

The effect of electron beam (e-beam) radiation on the recovery of Salmonella serotypes Tennessee (ATCC 10722) and Typhimurium (ATCC 14028) in creamy peanut butter over a 14-d storage period at 22 °C was studied. Each Salmonella type was independently inoculated into peanut butter and subjected to e-beam doses that ranged from 0 to 3.1 kGy, confirmed by film dosimetry. After 2-, 4-, 6-, 8-, and 14-d of storage, microbial analyses were conducted. Survivors were recovered on growth and selective media using standard spread-plating methods. Microbial counts (CFU/g) were log-converted and differences were determined by ANOVA and Tukey's Honestly Significant Differences test. When samples were not e-beam-treated, there were no significant changes (P > 0.05) in microbial numbers over time. In e-beamed samples, microbial numbers decreased over time; however, reductions were not always significant. Initial recovery rates (R-rates) 2 d after e-beam treatment were significantly different for the 2 strains of Salmonella and between recovery media (P < 0.05); however, these differences did not persist for the remainder of the storage period (P > 0.05) indicating that injured cells were not able to survive in the high-fat, low-water activity peanut butter environment. R-rates for both strains of Salmonella were maintained until day 14 when there were significant reductions in Salmonella Typhimurium (P < 0.05). These results indicate that Salmonella Tennessee and Salmonella Typhimurium will survive in peanut butter when exposed to nonlethal doses of e-beam irradiation. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Electron beam (e-beam) irradiation is an alternative to thermal processing; this technique inactivates microorganisms and insects that might be present in a food by generating radiation by accelerated electrons that inactivate organisms directly because of interaction with cell components and indirectly by producing free radicals that disrupt integrity of the cell membrane. E-beam radiation will reduce the number of probable microbiological hazards that could be present while the food remains generally unaffected in texture, taste, and nutritional value. A recent study showed e-beam irradiation to be effective at reducing both Salmonella Tennessee and Typhimurium in peanut butter by one log after exposure to less than 1 kGy, highlighting the need to explore this process further.     

Poly(2‐(methacryloyloxy) ethyl phosphorylcholine)‐functionalized multi‐walled carbon nanotubes: Preparation,characterization, solubility,and effects on blood coagulation

Water‐soluble multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were prepared via surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of 2‐(methacryloyloxy) ethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) from carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The success of the surface functionalization of MWNTs with poly(2‐(methacryloyloxy) ethyl phosphorylcholine) (pMPC) was ascertained using fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H‐NMR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Different from the results of the previous work, in our work, we demonstrate that the amount of pMPC on CNTs can be easily regulated by ATRP approach. In addition, from TGA results, a linear relationship between the weight loss fraction of MWNT‐pMPC and the weight of MPC fed and as high as 48.1% weight loss of MWNT‐pMPC (MWNTs grafted by pMPC) are observed. Through TEM, the core‐shell structure of MWNT‐pMPC is clearly observed, which is also different from the previous report. The pMPC‐modified MWNTs are highly soluble, which can also resist pH and saline concentration changes and remain stable in physiological environment. PMPC‐modified MWNT does not significantly affect the blood coagulation as demonstrated in plasma recalcification time (PRT) test. These highly soluble MWNTs are expected to enable their wide use in biomedical areas. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009