Previous studies reported that some plants, including butternut squash, exert positive effects on the brain. However, few studies have examined the effects of butternut squash on learning, memory, and neurogenesis. Th...Previous studies reported that some plants, including butternut squash, exert positive effects on the brain. However, few studies have examined the effects of butternut squash on learning, memory, and neurogenesis. This study studied the effects of butternut squash extract on spatial learning and cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus of healthy male rats. Thirty-five male Wistar rats were intraperitoneally injected with 0, 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg butternut squash extract once daily for 2 months. After the last administration, rat＇s spatial memory was studied using the Morris water maze. Finally, rats were sacrificed and hippocampal sections were prepared for light microscopy and bromodeoxyuridine immunohistochemistry studies. The results revealed that escape latency and swim distance decreased in all treatment groups compared with the control rats, and that the number of bromodeoxyuridine-positive cells in the dentate gyrus was significantly increased in the treatment groups compared with the controls. These findings suggest that butternut squash extract improves the learning and memory abilities of male rats, and increases the proliferation of dentate gyrus cells.展开更多
Research shows that producing fermented camel milk is hard because of the milk’s inability to form a firm coagulum, attributed to low levels of κ-casein and ꞵ-lactoglobulin and the large casein micelle size, leading...Research shows that producing fermented camel milk is hard because of the milk’s inability to form a firm coagulum, attributed to low levels of κ-casein and ꞵ-lactoglobulin and the large casein micelle size, leading to a weak network of casein formation. In an effort to address this issue, researchers turned to corn starch as a thickening agent, discovering that a concentration of 2.0% effectively improved the viscosity and significantly reduced syneresis in stirred camel milk yoghurt and cultured camel milk. This study explores alternatives to corn starch, focusing on butternut squash seeds as a promising substitute due to their hydrocolloid composition. By incorporating butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata) seed powder (BSSP) as a thickening agent, this study aimed at enhancing the chemical and rheological properties of stirred camel milk yoghurt and cultured camel milk. Fermented camel milk was prepared using 4 litres of camel milk, 2% starter cultures (thermophilic culture for yoghurt and mesophilic aromatic culture for stirred cultured camel milk) and BSSP 0.0% (negative control), 0.4%, 0.8%, 1.2%, 1.6%, 2.0% mixed with 0.4% gelatin. 2.0% corn starch mixed with 0.4% gelatin was used as a standard for comparison. Results showed that increasing the BSSP level significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the moisture content while increasing the total solid content of stirred fermented camel milk products. There was an increase in ash content with an increase in BSSP levels. There was a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the pH, with an increase in BSSP levels in stirred fermented camel milk samples. Increasing the concentration of BSSP from 0.4% to 2.0% resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) increase in viscosity and a reduction in syneresis of stirred camel milk yoghurt and stirred cultured camel milk samples. This study demonstrated that BSSP effectively enhances the viscosity, reduces syneresis and increases acidity in stirred fermented camel milk products during storage.展开更多
Species of Ophiognomonia are leaf-inhabiting endophytes,pathogens,and saprobes that infect plants in the families Betulaceae,Fagaceae,Juglandaceae,Lauraceae,Malvaceae,Platanaceae,Rosaceae,Salicaceae,and Sapindaceae.Ba...Species of Ophiognomonia are leaf-inhabiting endophytes,pathogens,and saprobes that infect plants in the families Betulaceae,Fagaceae,Juglandaceae,Lauraceae,Malvaceae,Platanaceae,Rosaceae,Salicaceae,and Sapindaceae.Based on extensive collecting,this speciesrich genus is now known to have a world wide distribution in primarily temperate areas,although some species are known from the subtropics.Analyses of DNA sequences from three markers including guanine nucleotide-binding protein subunit beta-like protein(MS204),translation elongation factor 1α(tef-1α),and the ITS region including ITS1,5.8 S rDNA and ITS2 regions(ITS)were used to define phylogenetic species in Ophiognomonia.Host plant association correlated with these species.Twenty-five new species of Ophiognomonia and two new combinations are proposed with descriptions and illustrations.In addition,descriptions and illustrations are provided for 12 other species of Ophiognomonia.A key is provided to the 45 currently accepted species of Ophiognomonia.The disposition of additional names in Ophiognomonia is also discussed.展开更多
基金a grant from the Research Institute for Islamic and Complementary Medicine (RICM),Tehran University of Medical Sciences,No. p26/m/t/1088
文摘Previous studies reported that some plants, including butternut squash, exert positive effects on the brain. However, few studies have examined the effects of butternut squash on learning, memory, and neurogenesis. This study studied the effects of butternut squash extract on spatial learning and cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus of healthy male rats. Thirty-five male Wistar rats were intraperitoneally injected with 0, 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg butternut squash extract once daily for 2 months. After the last administration, rat＇s spatial memory was studied using the Morris water maze. Finally, rats were sacrificed and hippocampal sections were prepared for light microscopy and bromodeoxyuridine immunohistochemistry studies. The results revealed that escape latency and swim distance decreased in all treatment groups compared with the control rats, and that the number of bromodeoxyuridine-positive cells in the dentate gyrus was significantly increased in the treatment groups compared with the controls. These findings suggest that butternut squash extract improves the learning and memory abilities of male rats, and increases the proliferation of dentate gyrus cells.
文摘Research shows that producing fermented camel milk is hard because of the milk’s inability to form a firm coagulum, attributed to low levels of κ-casein and ꞵ-lactoglobulin and the large casein micelle size, leading to a weak network of casein formation. In an effort to address this issue, researchers turned to corn starch as a thickening agent, discovering that a concentration of 2.0% effectively improved the viscosity and significantly reduced syneresis in stirred camel milk yoghurt and cultured camel milk. This study explores alternatives to corn starch, focusing on butternut squash seeds as a promising substitute due to their hydrocolloid composition. By incorporating butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata) seed powder (BSSP) as a thickening agent, this study aimed at enhancing the chemical and rheological properties of stirred camel milk yoghurt and cultured camel milk. Fermented camel milk was prepared using 4 litres of camel milk, 2% starter cultures (thermophilic culture for yoghurt and mesophilic aromatic culture for stirred cultured camel milk) and BSSP 0.0% (negative control), 0.4%, 0.8%, 1.2%, 1.6%, 2.0% mixed with 0.4% gelatin. 2.0% corn starch mixed with 0.4% gelatin was used as a standard for comparison. Results showed that increasing the BSSP level significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the moisture content while increasing the total solid content of stirred fermented camel milk products. There was an increase in ash content with an increase in BSSP levels. There was a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the pH, with an increase in BSSP levels in stirred fermented camel milk samples. Increasing the concentration of BSSP from 0.4% to 2.0% resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) increase in viscosity and a reduction in syneresis of stirred camel milk yoghurt and stirred cultured camel milk samples. This study demonstrated that BSSP effectively enhances the viscosity, reduces syneresis and increases acidity in stirred fermented camel milk products during storage.
基金This project was funded by the National Science Foundation Partnerships for Enhancing Expertise in Taxonomy(NSF 03-28364).Additional funding for field work by DMW was received through Rutgers University,New Brunswick,NJ,from the C.Reed Funk Student Award by the Department of Plant Biology and Pathology,also the Backus Award and Everett Lutrell Mentor Student Travel Award from the Mycological Society of America.DMW also thanks Jo Anne Crouch and Adam Bazinet for assistance with data analyses,Kentaro Hosaka,Shinobu Inoue,Takao Kobayashi,Tsuyoshi Hosoya,Yousuke Degawa for hosting a collecting trip to Japan and Yuuri Hirooka for coordinating the visit,Christian Feuillet and Drew Minnis for discussions about nomenclature,Ryan Vo and Tunesha Phipps for technical assistance,and Larissa Vasilyeva,Alain Gardiennet,Yannick Mourgues,Marc Chovillon,Jacques Fornier,and Mikhail Sogonov for collection of fresh specimens for examination.
文摘Species of Ophiognomonia are leaf-inhabiting endophytes,pathogens,and saprobes that infect plants in the families Betulaceae,Fagaceae,Juglandaceae,Lauraceae,Malvaceae,Platanaceae,Rosaceae,Salicaceae,and Sapindaceae.Based on extensive collecting,this speciesrich genus is now known to have a world wide distribution in primarily temperate areas,although some species are known from the subtropics.Analyses of DNA sequences from three markers including guanine nucleotide-binding protein subunit beta-like protein(MS204),translation elongation factor 1α(tef-1α),and the ITS region including ITS1,5.8 S rDNA and ITS2 regions(ITS)were used to define phylogenetic species in Ophiognomonia.Host plant association correlated with these species.Twenty-five new species of Ophiognomonia and two new combinations are proposed with descriptions and illustrations.In addition,descriptions and illustrations are provided for 12 other species of Ophiognomonia.A key is provided to the 45 currently accepted species of Ophiognomonia.The disposition of additional names in Ophiognomonia is also discussed.
