Objective:To evaluate the antibacterial activity of the methanolic extract of mango(Mangifera indica L) seed kernel.Methods:Chokanan mango seed kernel and seed kernels from assorted mango varieties were collected,clea...Objective:To evaluate the antibacterial activity of the methanolic extract of mango(Mangifera indica L) seed kernel.Methods:Chokanan mango seed kernel and seed kernels from assorted mango varieties were collected,cleaned,dried and powered.Crude methanolic extracts of mango seed kernel were analyzed for the phytochemical constituents.The free radical scavenging activity was determined by 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) assay.Antibacterial activity was evaluated by disc diffusion assay with three medically important bacterial pathogens such as methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus)(MRSA),Escherichia coli(E.coli) and Vibrio vulnificus(V.vulnificus).Results:Qualitative phytochemical analysis indicated the presence of important phytochemical compounds such as glycosides,saponins,flavanoids, tannins and alkaloids.There was no significant difference in the phytochemical content between the single and assorted mango seed kernels.However,the free radical scavenging study indicated that the assorted mango kernels showed slighdy higher activity than the single species(P【0.05). The crude methanolic extract of mango seed kernel at a concentration of 100 mg/mL is found to have potential antimicrobial activity against MRSA and E.coli compared to V.vulnificus. Study on the antibacterial activity also indicated that there was no significant difference in the antibacterial activity of the single and assorted mango seed kernel extracts.Conclusions:The present study conclusively demonstrates the free radical scavenging activity and antibacterial activities of mango seed kernel.In addition,the results also indicated that there is no significant difference in the phytochemical content and biological activity of mango kernels from single and assorted mango varieties.展开更多
The changes of kernel nutritive components and seed vigor in F1 seeds of sh2 sweet corn during seed development stage were investigated and the relationships between them were analyzed by time series regression (TSR) ...The changes of kernel nutritive components and seed vigor in F1 seeds of sh2 sweet corn during seed development stage were investigated and the relationships between them were analyzed by time series regression (TSR) analysis. The results show that total soluble sugar and reducing sugar contents gradually declined, while starch and soluble protein contents increased throughout the seed development stages. Germination percentage, energy of germination, germination index and vigor index gradually increased along with seed development and reached the highest levels at 38 d after pollination (DAP). The TSR showed that, during 14 to 42 DAP, total soluble sugar content was independent of the vigor parameters determined in present experiment, while the reducing sugar content had a significant effect on seed vigor. TSR equations between seed reducing sugar and seed vigor were also developed. There were negative correlations between the seed reducing sugar content and the germination percentage, energy of germination, germination index and vigor index, respectively. It is suggested that the seed germination, energy of germination, germination index and vigor index could be predicted by the content of reducing sugar in sweet corn seeds during seed development stages.展开更多
Seed watermelon kernel is a typical complex food with high fat and protein contents.During storage and processing,it is often affected by various factors to undergo interactions between components,which lead to its qu...Seed watermelon kernel is a typical complex food with high fat and protein contents.During storage and processing,it is often affected by various factors to undergo interactions between components,which lead to its quality change.In this experiment,seed watermelon kernels were used as research objects,and the effects of 2-Azobis(2-amidinopropane)dihydrochloride(AAPH)on seed watermelon kernel protein isolates(WMP)were investigated.The structure and digestion characteristics of WMP after oxidation were studied.The results showed that with the increase of AAPH concentration(0.05−5 mol/L),WMP showed obvious aggregation,and its solubility decreased from 6.76 mg/mL to 9.59 mg/mL.The free sulfhydryl content of WMP was 18.24 mmol/g decreased to 11.25 mmol/g,α-helix decreased andβ-sheet decreased in secondary structure,and its disulfide bond increased by 43.06 mmol/g from 39.57 mmol/g,enthalpy(H)and denaturation temperature increased(Td)(P<0.05).By mass spectrometry results of simulated gastric digestion products,it was found that oxidation adversely affected the digestion characteristics of WMP.It can be seen that the lipid oxidation product APPH of seed watermelon kernel can significantly affect the structure and function of the protein extracted from the seed kernel.展开更多
The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of moisture content, size and loading orientation on mechanical properties such as force, deformation and energy absorbed per unit volume for fracturing Irania...The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of moisture content, size and loading orientation on mechanical properties such as force, deformation and energy absorbed per unit volume for fracturing Iranian sunflower seed and its kernel （Azargol as a case study） under quasi-static loading. Sunflower seeds and their kernels were quasi-statically loaded in horizontal and vertical orientations with moisture content in three levels： 3%, 7% and 14%, and size category in three levels： small, medium and large. The obtained results showed that rupture force for both sunflower seed and its kernel decreased with increasing moisture content while the absorbed energy and deformation at rupture point increased for all size categories in both horizontal and vertical loading orientations. Also, seeds in the vertical orientation developed hull cracks at a higher level of force than those loaded in the horizontal orientation. However, for the kernels it was the opposite. In addition, the average forces required to cause kernel rupture were lower （11.64-39.9 N） than those required to rupture the seed （30.06-117.46 N） in both orientations. Seeds loaded in a vertical orientation absorbed more energy （87.67 mJ） prior to rupture than those loaded in the horizontal （46.60 mJ） orientation. However, for the kernels it was the opposite.展开更多
Objective:To examine the antidiarrhoeal activity of alcoholic and aqueous seed kernel extract of Mangifera indica(M.indica) on castor oil-induced diarrhoeul activity in Swiss albino mice.Methods:Mango seed kernels wer...Objective:To examine the antidiarrhoeal activity of alcoholic and aqueous seed kernel extract of Mangifera indica(M.indica) on castor oil-induced diarrhoeul activity in Swiss albino mice.Methods:Mango seed kernels were processed and extracted using alcohol and water. Antidiarrhoeal activity of the extracts were assessed using intestinal motility and faecal score methods.Results:Aqueous and alcoholic extracts of M.indica significantly reduced intestinal motility and faecal score in Swiss albino mice.Conclusions:The present study shows the traditional claim on the use of M.indica seed kernel for treating diarrhoea in Southern parts of India.展开更多
Objective:To evaluate the phytochemical and anti-bacterial efficacy of the seed kernel extract of Mangifera indica(M.indica) against the enteropathogen,Shigella dysenteriae(S.dysenteriae), isolated from the diarrhoeal...Objective:To evaluate the phytochemical and anti-bacterial efficacy of the seed kernel extract of Mangifera indica(M.indica) against the enteropathogen,Shigella dysenteriae(S.dysenteriae), isolated from the diarrhoeal stool specimens.Methods:The preliminary phytochemical screening was performed by the standard methods as described by Harborne.Cold extraction method was employed to extract the bioactive compounds from mango seed kernel.Disc diffusion method was adopted to screen antibacterial activity.Minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC) was evaluated by agar dilution method.The crude extracts were partially purified by thin layer chromatography(TLC) and the fractions were analyzed by high performance thin layer chromatography(HFTLC) to identify the bioactive compounds.Results:Phytochemical scrutiny of M.indica indicated the presence of phytochemical constituents such as alkaloids,gums, flavanoids,phenols,saponins,steroids,tannins and xanthoproteins.Antibacterial activity was observed in two crude extracts and various fractions viz.hexane,benzene,chlor of orm,methanol and water.MIC of methanol fraction was found to be(95±11.8)μg/mL.MIC of other fractions ranged from 130-380μg/mL Conclusions:The present study confirmed that each crude extracts and fractions of M.indica have significant antimicrobial activity against the isolated pathogen 5. dyserUeriae.The antibacterial activity may be due to the phytochemical constituents of the mango seed kernel.The phytochemical tannin could be the reason for its antibacterial activity.展开更多
Mangoes (Mangifera indica L.) are one of the most important tropical foods. The seed is one of the main by-products of mango processing. Therefore, it is important to find an economically viable use for this waste (e....Mangoes (Mangifera indica L.) are one of the most important tropical foods. The seed is one of the main by-products of mango processing. Therefore, it is important to find an economically viable use for this waste (e.g., as a food additive or supplement with high nutraceutical value). We investigated the anti-obesity effects of mango seed kernel extract with hot water (MSKE-W) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and in a high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity rat model. MSKE-W caused a significant decrease in the activity of glycerol 2-phosphate dehydrogenase in 3T3-L1 adipocytes without eliciting cell cytotoxicity and inhibited cellular lipid accumulation through down-regulation of transcription factors such as PPARγ and C/EBPα. In the animal model, rats fed an HFD containing 1% MSKE-W gained less weight than rats fed an HFD alone. The visceral fat mass in rats fed an HFD containing 1% MSKE-W tended to be lower than that in rats fed an HFD alone. Furthermore, histological examination of rat livers from an HFD showed steatohepatitis. However, rats on an HFD containning 1% MSKE-W showed no histopathological changes in liver tissue. Our results indicate that MSKE-W influences anti-obesity effects, both in vitro and in vivo, and suggest that MSKE-W provides a novel preventive potential against obesity.展开更多
Bio-glycerol was synthesized from Cameroon palm kernel oil (PKO) through the transesterification procedure. Palm kernel oil extracted from palm kernel seeds using mechanical expression and solvent extraction was purif...Bio-glycerol was synthesized from Cameroon palm kernel oil (PKO) through the transesterification procedure. Palm kernel oil extracted from palm kernel seeds using mechanical expression and solvent extraction was purified and characterized by physico-chemical methods and used in the transesterification process to give biodiesel and bio-glycerol. The biodiesel was purified and characterized as reported in previous articles. Our focus in this article is on glycerol, an important by-product of the transesterification process which has potential pharmaceutical, cosmetic and engineering applications. The bio-glycerol was purified by acidification and the purified glycerol was subjected to physical and chemical characterization. The specific gravity of glycerol was obtained as 1.2 kg/L, viscosity at 40°C gave 1500 cSt and 500 cSt at 100°C;pH was 7.4;the flash point was 160°C, and the ASTM color was 2.0 before purification and zero after purification. The sulfur content was 0.016%w/v. This sulfur content is low thus posing no environment threat. The chemical composition of the synthesized bio-glycerol determined using IR spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) confirmed the known chemical structure of glycerol. The purification and analysis of bio-glycerol is important as it can find applications in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries inter alia.展开更多
Asparagus officinalis L.is favored by its high health function,but its hybrid seeds are expensive.The amount of seed,seed plumpness and germination rate are related to the production costs of breeding enterprises and ...Asparagus officinalis L.is favored by its high health function,but its hybrid seeds are expensive.The amount of seed,seed plumpness and germination rate are related to the production costs of breeding enterprises and large growers.Therefore,it is necessary to investigate the seed number and thousand kernel weight of A.officinalis L.This study developed a quick and accurate method to measure the seed number and thousand kernel weight of A.officinalis L.using image processing technology.Seed sample of A.officinalis L.was scanned with 200 dpi resolution,and the seed number was then obtained using Image-ProPlus software.After weighing the seeds,thousand kernel weight was finally calculated.By recording‘macro’,the batch processing of the samples can also be realized.This method is simple and accurate,and can greatly save the time of investigation.展开更多
Some engineering properties of sunflower seed and its kernel, Shahroodi variety as a case study, were investigated at various moisture content levels （3-14% d.b.） for three size categories （large, medium and small...Some engineering properties of sunflower seed and its kernel, Shahroodi variety as a case study, were investigated at various moisture content levels （3-14% d.b.） for three size categories （large, medium and small）. With increase of moisture content from 3 to 14% d.b., all the main dimensions （length, width and thickness）, geometric mean diameter, porosity, true density, terminal velocity and static coefficient of friction increased while bulk density and rupture force for both sunflower seed and its kernel decreased for all size categories. The results showed that the highest value of static coefficient of friction for both seed and kernel was on the rubber surface, followed by plywood, polyethylene, galvanized iron, and finally aluminium surfaces. The seeds required less compressive force to dehull when loaded under the horizontal as compared to the vertical orientation. But for kernels, the trend was the opposite. Also, the compressive forces needed to initiate rupture of sunflower seed hulls were higher （47.1-94.72 N） than those required to rupture the kernel （8.5-13.4 N） in both orientations.展开更多
The object of this study was to investigate the frictional properties （repose angles and friction coefficient） of Iranian sunflower seed and its kernel （Fandoghi, Azargol and Shahroodi） as a function of moisture c...The object of this study was to investigate the frictional properties （repose angles and friction coefficient） of Iranian sunflower seed and its kernel （Fandoghi, Azargol and Shahroodi） as a function of moisture content, size and variety. The static coefficient of friction were determined on five structural surfaces including aluminium, plywood, galvanized iron, polyethylene and rubber when moisture content varied between 3 and 14 % d.b. The obtained results showed that static coefficient of friction on five studied surfaces increase linearly as moisture content increase from 3 to 14% for both seed and kernel. Among the applied surfaces, rubber showed the highest value of friction coefficient for both sunflower seed and kernel followed by plywood, polyethylene, galvanized iron and aluminium. The obtained values of emptying and filling angles of repose increase linearly with an increase in moisture content. Furthermore, the values of empting and filling angles of repose for small sizes were higher than big sizes in all levels of moisture content for both seed and kernel. Also, the emptying angle of repose assumed higher values than the filling angle of repose for all varieties and categories.展开更多
Seed maturation is a critical development transition and it largely affects the final yield and quality of crops.Abscisic acid(ABA)-activated sucrose-non-fermentation kinase subfamily 2(SnRK2s)constitute a well-known ...Seed maturation is a critical development transition and it largely affects the final yield and quality of crops.Abscisic acid(ABA)-activated sucrose-non-fermentation kinase subfamily 2(SnRK2s)constitute a well-known regulatory network that modulate seed maturation in Arabidopsis;however,the underlying genetic and regulatory mechanisms in cereal crops remain largely unknown.Here,we found that ABA levels exhibited two distinct peaks during kernel development in maize,corresponding to the lag and maturation phase,respectively.Integrated transcriptome and proteome profiling of kernels treated with exogenous ABA at the pre-maturation stage suggested that the second peak of ABA acts as a trigger for kernel maturation program.Knockout of ZmSnRK2s demonstrated that subclassⅢZmSnRK2s are required for kernel maturation in maize,and the loss-of-function of subclassⅢZmSnRK2s showed a disruption in kernel dehydration and dormancy.We identified a conserved ABA–SnRK2–b ZIP signaling pathway mediating this process in maize.Additionally,ZmSnRK2.10 overexpression accelerates kernel dehydration during maturity,achieving reduced kernel moisture content(KMC)at physiological maturity(PM).Overall,our findings establish ABA-activated SnRK2s as central regulators of kernel maturation in maize and provide valuable genetic resources for breeding maize varieties with low moisture content at harvest.展开更多
Optimum seeding density is necessary to achieve the production potential of a cultivar in all crops. To investigate the performance of different cultivars in direct seeded rice in response to various seeding densities...Optimum seeding density is necessary to achieve the production potential of a cultivar in all crops. To investigate the performance of different cultivars in direct seeded rice in response to various seeding densities, a field experiment was conducted at Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad during the kharif 2012. Super basmati (fine rice) and KSK-133 (coarse rice) were sown using seeding densities of 30, 45, 60 and 75 kg·ha-1. Results indicated that leaf area index and crop growth rate varied among rice cultivars as well as various seeding densities. The growth of rice at seeding density of 75 kg·ha-1 was higher than rest of treatments. The response of rice yield and its components like number of productive tillers, number of kernels per panicle and 1000-kernal weight differed significantly under the influence of cultivars and various seeding densities. Seeding density of 75 kg·ha-1 remained superior for both rice cultivars regarding final yield. This treatment furnished kernel yields of 3.83 and 5.49 t·ha-1 in fine and coarse rice, respectively which were significantly higher than other treatments. However, Kernel quality was improved in terms of lower number of sterile and chalky kernels at lower seeding densities (30 kg·ha-1). Based on these findings, it is concluded that using seeding density of 75 kg·ha-1 for direct seeded fine and coarse rice cultivars is beneficial in terms of better growth and higher yield but kernel quality is reduced by increasing the seeding density.展开更多
Seed dispersal of juniper and pinyon is a process in which frugivorous birds play an important role. Birds either consume and digest seeds or carry and cache them at some distance from the source tree. These transport...Seed dispersal of juniper and pinyon is a process in which frugivorous birds play an important role. Birds either consume and digest seeds or carry and cache them at some distance from the source tree. These transported and settled seeds can be described by a dispersal kernel, which captures the probability that the seed will move a certain distance by the end of the process. To model active seed dispersal of this nature, we introduce handling time probabilities into the dispersal model to generate a seed digestion kernel. In the limit of no variability in handling time the seed digestion kernel is Gaussian, whereas for uniform variability in handling time the kernel approaches a Laplace distribution. This allows us to standardize spatial movement (diffusion) and handling time (peak settling rate) parameters for all three distributions and compare. Analysis of the tails indicates that the seed digestion kernel decays at a rate intermediate between Gaussian and Laplace seed kernels. Using this seed digestion kernel, we create an invasion model to estimate the speed at which juniper and pinyon forest boundaries move. We find that the speed of seed invasion corresponding to the digestion kernel was faster than seeds resulting from Laplace and Gaussian kernels for more rapidly digested seeds. For longer handling times the speeds are bounded between the Laplace (faster) and Gaussian (slower) speeds. Using parameter values from the literature we evaluate the migration potential of pinyon and juniper, finding that pinyon may be able to migrate up to two orders of magnitude more rapidly, consistent with observations of pine migration during the Holocene.展开更多
文摘Objective:To evaluate the antibacterial activity of the methanolic extract of mango(Mangifera indica L) seed kernel.Methods:Chokanan mango seed kernel and seed kernels from assorted mango varieties were collected,cleaned,dried and powered.Crude methanolic extracts of mango seed kernel were analyzed for the phytochemical constituents.The free radical scavenging activity was determined by 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) assay.Antibacterial activity was evaluated by disc diffusion assay with three medically important bacterial pathogens such as methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus)(MRSA),Escherichia coli(E.coli) and Vibrio vulnificus(V.vulnificus).Results:Qualitative phytochemical analysis indicated the presence of important phytochemical compounds such as glycosides,saponins,flavanoids, tannins and alkaloids.There was no significant difference in the phytochemical content between the single and assorted mango seed kernels.However,the free radical scavenging study indicated that the assorted mango kernels showed slighdy higher activity than the single species(P【0.05). The crude methanolic extract of mango seed kernel at a concentration of 100 mg/mL is found to have potential antimicrobial activity against MRSA and E.coli compared to V.vulnificus. Study on the antibacterial activity also indicated that there was no significant difference in the antibacterial activity of the single and assorted mango seed kernel extracts.Conclusions:The present study conclusively demonstrates the free radical scavenging activity and antibacterial activities of mango seed kernel.In addition,the results also indicated that there is no significant difference in the phytochemical content and biological activity of mango kernels from single and assorted mango varieties.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30370911)Education Department of Zhejiang Prov-ince, China (No. 20070147)
文摘The changes of kernel nutritive components and seed vigor in F1 seeds of sh2 sweet corn during seed development stage were investigated and the relationships between them were analyzed by time series regression (TSR) analysis. The results show that total soluble sugar and reducing sugar contents gradually declined, while starch and soluble protein contents increased throughout the seed development stages. Germination percentage, energy of germination, germination index and vigor index gradually increased along with seed development and reached the highest levels at 38 d after pollination (DAP). The TSR showed that, during 14 to 42 DAP, total soluble sugar content was independent of the vigor parameters determined in present experiment, while the reducing sugar content had a significant effect on seed vigor. TSR equations between seed reducing sugar and seed vigor were also developed. There were negative correlations between the seed reducing sugar content and the germination percentage, energy of germination, germination index and vigor index, respectively. It is suggested that the seed germination, energy of germination, germination index and vigor index could be predicted by the content of reducing sugar in sweet corn seeds during seed development stages.
基金This study was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(No:31760477)Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health(No:20181007)Youth Science and Technology Innovation,Leader in Corps(No:2016BC001).
文摘Seed watermelon kernel is a typical complex food with high fat and protein contents.During storage and processing,it is often affected by various factors to undergo interactions between components,which lead to its quality change.In this experiment,seed watermelon kernels were used as research objects,and the effects of 2-Azobis(2-amidinopropane)dihydrochloride(AAPH)on seed watermelon kernel protein isolates(WMP)were investigated.The structure and digestion characteristics of WMP after oxidation were studied.The results showed that with the increase of AAPH concentration(0.05−5 mol/L),WMP showed obvious aggregation,and its solubility decreased from 6.76 mg/mL to 9.59 mg/mL.The free sulfhydryl content of WMP was 18.24 mmol/g decreased to 11.25 mmol/g,α-helix decreased andβ-sheet decreased in secondary structure,and its disulfide bond increased by 43.06 mmol/g from 39.57 mmol/g,enthalpy(H)and denaturation temperature increased(Td)(P<0.05).By mass spectrometry results of simulated gastric digestion products,it was found that oxidation adversely affected the digestion characteristics of WMP.It can be seen that the lipid oxidation product APPH of seed watermelon kernel can significantly affect the structure and function of the protein extracted from the seed kernel.
文摘The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of moisture content, size and loading orientation on mechanical properties such as force, deformation and energy absorbed per unit volume for fracturing Iranian sunflower seed and its kernel （Azargol as a case study） under quasi-static loading. Sunflower seeds and their kernels were quasi-statically loaded in horizontal and vertical orientations with moisture content in three levels： 3%, 7% and 14%, and size category in three levels： small, medium and large. The obtained results showed that rupture force for both sunflower seed and its kernel decreased with increasing moisture content while the absorbed energy and deformation at rupture point increased for all size categories in both horizontal and vertical loading orientations. Also, seeds in the vertical orientation developed hull cracks at a higher level of force than those loaded in the horizontal orientation. However, for the kernels it was the opposite. In addition, the average forces required to cause kernel rupture were lower （11.64-39.9 N） than those required to rupture the seed （30.06-117.46 N） in both orientations. Seeds loaded in a vertical orientation absorbed more energy （87.67 mJ） prior to rupture than those loaded in the horizontal （46.60 mJ） orientation. However, for the kernels it was the opposite.
文摘Objective:To examine the antidiarrhoeal activity of alcoholic and aqueous seed kernel extract of Mangifera indica(M.indica) on castor oil-induced diarrhoeul activity in Swiss albino mice.Methods:Mango seed kernels were processed and extracted using alcohol and water. Antidiarrhoeal activity of the extracts were assessed using intestinal motility and faecal score methods.Results:Aqueous and alcoholic extracts of M.indica significantly reduced intestinal motility and faecal score in Swiss albino mice.Conclusions:The present study shows the traditional claim on the use of M.indica seed kernel for treating diarrhoea in Southern parts of India.
文摘Objective:To evaluate the phytochemical and anti-bacterial efficacy of the seed kernel extract of Mangifera indica(M.indica) against the enteropathogen,Shigella dysenteriae(S.dysenteriae), isolated from the diarrhoeal stool specimens.Methods:The preliminary phytochemical screening was performed by the standard methods as described by Harborne.Cold extraction method was employed to extract the bioactive compounds from mango seed kernel.Disc diffusion method was adopted to screen antibacterial activity.Minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC) was evaluated by agar dilution method.The crude extracts were partially purified by thin layer chromatography(TLC) and the fractions were analyzed by high performance thin layer chromatography(HFTLC) to identify the bioactive compounds.Results:Phytochemical scrutiny of M.indica indicated the presence of phytochemical constituents such as alkaloids,gums, flavanoids,phenols,saponins,steroids,tannins and xanthoproteins.Antibacterial activity was observed in two crude extracts and various fractions viz.hexane,benzene,chlor of orm,methanol and water.MIC of methanol fraction was found to be(95±11.8)μg/mL.MIC of other fractions ranged from 130-380μg/mL Conclusions:The present study confirmed that each crude extracts and fractions of M.indica have significant antimicrobial activity against the isolated pathogen 5. dyserUeriae.The antibacterial activity may be due to the phytochemical constituents of the mango seed kernel.The phytochemical tannin could be the reason for its antibacterial activity.
文摘Mangoes (Mangifera indica L.) are one of the most important tropical foods. The seed is one of the main by-products of mango processing. Therefore, it is important to find an economically viable use for this waste (e.g., as a food additive or supplement with high nutraceutical value). We investigated the anti-obesity effects of mango seed kernel extract with hot water (MSKE-W) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and in a high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity rat model. MSKE-W caused a significant decrease in the activity of glycerol 2-phosphate dehydrogenase in 3T3-L1 adipocytes without eliciting cell cytotoxicity and inhibited cellular lipid accumulation through down-regulation of transcription factors such as PPARγ and C/EBPα. In the animal model, rats fed an HFD containing 1% MSKE-W gained less weight than rats fed an HFD alone. The visceral fat mass in rats fed an HFD containing 1% MSKE-W tended to be lower than that in rats fed an HFD alone. Furthermore, histological examination of rat livers from an HFD showed steatohepatitis. However, rats on an HFD containning 1% MSKE-W showed no histopathological changes in liver tissue. Our results indicate that MSKE-W influences anti-obesity effects, both in vitro and in vivo, and suggest that MSKE-W provides a novel preventive potential against obesity.
文摘Bio-glycerol was synthesized from Cameroon palm kernel oil (PKO) through the transesterification procedure. Palm kernel oil extracted from palm kernel seeds using mechanical expression and solvent extraction was purified and characterized by physico-chemical methods and used in the transesterification process to give biodiesel and bio-glycerol. The biodiesel was purified and characterized as reported in previous articles. Our focus in this article is on glycerol, an important by-product of the transesterification process which has potential pharmaceutical, cosmetic and engineering applications. The bio-glycerol was purified by acidification and the purified glycerol was subjected to physical and chemical characterization. The specific gravity of glycerol was obtained as 1.2 kg/L, viscosity at 40°C gave 1500 cSt and 500 cSt at 100°C;pH was 7.4;the flash point was 160°C, and the ASTM color was 2.0 before purification and zero after purification. The sulfur content was 0.016%w/v. This sulfur content is low thus posing no environment threat. The chemical composition of the synthesized bio-glycerol determined using IR spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) confirmed the known chemical structure of glycerol. The purification and analysis of bio-glycerol is important as it can find applications in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries inter alia.
基金Modern Agricultural Industry Technology System Project(CARS-23-G-05)Modern Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Project of Hebei Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences(2019-3-2-1)the Third Batch of"Giant Plan"Vegetable Scientific Research and Innovation Team Project in Hebei Province.
文摘Asparagus officinalis L.is favored by its high health function,but its hybrid seeds are expensive.The amount of seed,seed plumpness and germination rate are related to the production costs of breeding enterprises and large growers.Therefore,it is necessary to investigate the seed number and thousand kernel weight of A.officinalis L.This study developed a quick and accurate method to measure the seed number and thousand kernel weight of A.officinalis L.using image processing technology.Seed sample of A.officinalis L.was scanned with 200 dpi resolution,and the seed number was then obtained using Image-ProPlus software.After weighing the seeds,thousand kernel weight was finally calculated.By recording‘macro’,the batch processing of the samples can also be realized.This method is simple and accurate,and can greatly save the time of investigation.
文摘Some engineering properties of sunflower seed and its kernel, Shahroodi variety as a case study, were investigated at various moisture content levels （3-14% d.b.） for three size categories （large, medium and small）. With increase of moisture content from 3 to 14% d.b., all the main dimensions （length, width and thickness）, geometric mean diameter, porosity, true density, terminal velocity and static coefficient of friction increased while bulk density and rupture force for both sunflower seed and its kernel decreased for all size categories. The results showed that the highest value of static coefficient of friction for both seed and kernel was on the rubber surface, followed by plywood, polyethylene, galvanized iron, and finally aluminium surfaces. The seeds required less compressive force to dehull when loaded under the horizontal as compared to the vertical orientation. But for kernels, the trend was the opposite. Also, the compressive forces needed to initiate rupture of sunflower seed hulls were higher （47.1-94.72 N） than those required to rupture the kernel （8.5-13.4 N） in both orientations.
文摘The object of this study was to investigate the frictional properties （repose angles and friction coefficient） of Iranian sunflower seed and its kernel （Fandoghi, Azargol and Shahroodi） as a function of moisture content, size and variety. The static coefficient of friction were determined on five structural surfaces including aluminium, plywood, galvanized iron, polyethylene and rubber when moisture content varied between 3 and 14 % d.b. The obtained results showed that static coefficient of friction on five studied surfaces increase linearly as moisture content increase from 3 to 14% for both seed and kernel. Among the applied surfaces, rubber showed the highest value of friction coefficient for both sunflower seed and kernel followed by plywood, polyethylene, galvanized iron and aluminium. The obtained values of emptying and filling angles of repose increase linearly with an increase in moisture content. Furthermore, the values of empting and filling angles of repose for small sizes were higher than big sizes in all levels of moisture content for both seed and kernel. Also, the emptying angle of repose assumed higher values than the filling angle of repose for all varieties and categories.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32201696)the Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province(23NSFSC4071)。
文摘Seed maturation is a critical development transition and it largely affects the final yield and quality of crops.Abscisic acid(ABA)-activated sucrose-non-fermentation kinase subfamily 2(SnRK2s)constitute a well-known regulatory network that modulate seed maturation in Arabidopsis;however,the underlying genetic and regulatory mechanisms in cereal crops remain largely unknown.Here,we found that ABA levels exhibited two distinct peaks during kernel development in maize,corresponding to the lag and maturation phase,respectively.Integrated transcriptome and proteome profiling of kernels treated with exogenous ABA at the pre-maturation stage suggested that the second peak of ABA acts as a trigger for kernel maturation program.Knockout of ZmSnRK2s demonstrated that subclassⅢZmSnRK2s are required for kernel maturation in maize,and the loss-of-function of subclassⅢZmSnRK2s showed a disruption in kernel dehydration and dormancy.We identified a conserved ABA–SnRK2–b ZIP signaling pathway mediating this process in maize.Additionally,ZmSnRK2.10 overexpression accelerates kernel dehydration during maturity,achieving reduced kernel moisture content(KMC)at physiological maturity(PM).Overall,our findings establish ABA-activated SnRK2s as central regulators of kernel maturation in maize and provide valuable genetic resources for breeding maize varieties with low moisture content at harvest.
文摘Optimum seeding density is necessary to achieve the production potential of a cultivar in all crops. To investigate the performance of different cultivars in direct seeded rice in response to various seeding densities, a field experiment was conducted at Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad during the kharif 2012. Super basmati (fine rice) and KSK-133 (coarse rice) were sown using seeding densities of 30, 45, 60 and 75 kg·ha-1. Results indicated that leaf area index and crop growth rate varied among rice cultivars as well as various seeding densities. The growth of rice at seeding density of 75 kg·ha-1 was higher than rest of treatments. The response of rice yield and its components like number of productive tillers, number of kernels per panicle and 1000-kernal weight differed significantly under the influence of cultivars and various seeding densities. Seeding density of 75 kg·ha-1 remained superior for both rice cultivars regarding final yield. This treatment furnished kernel yields of 3.83 and 5.49 t·ha-1 in fine and coarse rice, respectively which were significantly higher than other treatments. However, Kernel quality was improved in terms of lower number of sterile and chalky kernels at lower seeding densities (30 kg·ha-1). Based on these findings, it is concluded that using seeding density of 75 kg·ha-1 for direct seeded fine and coarse rice cultivars is beneficial in terms of better growth and higher yield but kernel quality is reduced by increasing the seeding density.
文摘Seed dispersal of juniper and pinyon is a process in which frugivorous birds play an important role. Birds either consume and digest seeds or carry and cache them at some distance from the source tree. These transported and settled seeds can be described by a dispersal kernel, which captures the probability that the seed will move a certain distance by the end of the process. To model active seed dispersal of this nature, we introduce handling time probabilities into the dispersal model to generate a seed digestion kernel. In the limit of no variability in handling time the seed digestion kernel is Gaussian, whereas for uniform variability in handling time the kernel approaches a Laplace distribution. This allows us to standardize spatial movement (diffusion) and handling time (peak settling rate) parameters for all three distributions and compare. Analysis of the tails indicates that the seed digestion kernel decays at a rate intermediate between Gaussian and Laplace seed kernels. Using this seed digestion kernel, we create an invasion model to estimate the speed at which juniper and pinyon forest boundaries move. We find that the speed of seed invasion corresponding to the digestion kernel was faster than seeds resulting from Laplace and Gaussian kernels for more rapidly digested seeds. For longer handling times the speeds are bounded between the Laplace (faster) and Gaussian (slower) speeds. Using parameter values from the literature we evaluate the migration potential of pinyon and juniper, finding that pinyon may be able to migrate up to two orders of magnitude more rapidly, consistent with observations of pine migration during the Holocene.
