I. Kosieradzka

Transgenic Potato Plants with Overexpression of Dihydroflavonol Reductase Can Serve as Efficient Nutrition Sources

Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is considered to be one of the most important crops cultivated in Europe and the entire world. The tubers of the potato are characterized by rich starch and protein contents and high concentrations of antioxidants, such as vitamin C and flavonoids. Notably, the presence of the phenolic antioxidants is of high importance as they have health-related properties. They are known to reduce the incidence of atherosclerosis, prevent certain kinds of cancer, and aid with many other kinds of diseases. The aim of this study was to find the most efficient way to increase the content of phenolic antioxidants in potato tubers through transgenesis. The results showed that the most efficacious way to achieve this goal was the overexpression of the dihydroflavonol reductase gene (DFR). The produced transgenic potato plants served as a nutrition source for laboratory rats; the study has confirmed their nontoxicity and nutritional benefits on the tested animals.

Effect of Dose and Administration Period of Seed Cake of Genetically Modified and Non-Modified Flax on Selected Antioxidative Activities in Rats

Flaxseed cake containing antioxidants is a valuable dietary component. Its nutritional effect may be diminished by the presence of anti-nutrients. The work was aimed at determining the effect of different contents of flaxseed cake in diets and their administration period on the development of rats and selected parameters of their health status. Diets with 15% and 30% addition of genetically modified (GM) flax seed cake with enhanced synthesis of polyphenols, as well as Linola non-GM flax were administered in short-term (33 days) and long-term (90 days) experiments. The 30% addition of flaxseed cake reduced digestibility of dietary nutrients, GM flaxseed cake lowered body weight gains. The relative weight of selected organs, hematological blood markers and serum activities of aspartate and alanine aminotransferases (AST, ALT) were not affected. Flaxseed cake consumption reduced serum concentration of albumins and increased globulins. Administration of 30% flaxseed cake improved plasma total antioxidant status and 30% GM flaxseed cake lowered liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. The activities of superoxide dismutase in erythrocytes, glutathione peroxidase in plasma and the liver concentration of 8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine were not changed. Most morphometric parameters of the small intestine did not differ between feeding groups. The administration of diets with 30% addition of flaxseed cake for 90 days improved the antioxidant status in rats.

Genetically Modified Flax Expressing NAP-SsGT1 Transgene: Examination of Anti-Inflammatory Action

The aim of the work was to define the influence of dietary supplementation with GM (genetically modified) GT#4 flaxseed cake enriched in polyphenols on inflammation development in mice liver. Mice were given ad libitum isoprotein diets: (1) standard diet; (2) high-fat diet rich in lard, high-fat diet enriched with 30% of (3) isogenic flax Linola seed cake; and (4) GM GT#4 flaxseed cake; for 96 days. Administration of transgenic and isogenic seed cake lowered body weight gain, of transgenic to the standard diet level. Serum total antioxidant status was statistically significantly improved in GT#4 flaxseed cake group and did not differ from Linola. Serum thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, lipid profile and the liver concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α were ameliorated by GM and isogenic flaxseed cake consumption. The level of pro-inflammatory cytokine interferon-γ did not differ between mice obtaining GM GT#4 and non-GM flaxseed cakes. The C-reactive protein concentration was reduced in animals fed GT#4 flaxseed cake and did not differ from those fed non-GM flaxseed cake-based diet. Similarly, the liver structure of mice consuming diets enriched in flaxseed cake was improved. Dietetic enrichment with GM GT#4 and non-GM flaxseed cakes may be a promising solution for health problems resulting from improper diet.

In Vitro Influence of Extracts from Snail Helix aspersa Müller on the Colon Cancer Cell Line Caco-2

Colorectal cancer is the third most widely diagnosed cancer. Extracts from snails may modulate growth and development of colorectal cancer cells. The objective of this study was to determine the chemical composition of tissues derived from Helix aspersa Müller and red-ox properties of tissue extracts. Then, the influence of extracts and their fractions of different molecular weights on viability of Caco-2 cells was examined. Tissue lyophilisates contained antioxidants that could be important in the prevention of colorectal cancer. Moreover, we confirmed the presence of a wide array of compounds that might be used in treatment of this disease. The decrease of cell viability after the application of extracts from lyophilized mucus and foot tissues was affirmed. The effect of extract from mucus could be related to the content of some proteins and peptides, proper essential amino acids (EAA)/non-essential amino acids (NEAA) ratio, Met restriction and the presence of Cu, Ca, Zn, Se. The influence of the extract from foot tissues could be assigned additionally to the presence of eicosapentaenoic, α-linolenic, linoleic and γ-linolenic acids. The opposite effect was demonstrated by extract from lyophilized shells which increased cell viability. Further studies are needed to know whether dietary supplying of H. aspersa Müller tissues can be used as an approach in colorectal cancer management.

Nutritive and Dietetic Value of Genetically-Modified Tomatoes Expressing Thaumatin Gene

Abstract Genetically-modified (GM) tomatoes, carrying thaumatin gene encoding sweet-tasting protein may be a component of diet with high sensory values, constituting a valuable source of nutrients and substances with a health-promoting role. Good utilization and a lack of the effect on animal growth, value of hematological parameters, concentration of immunoglobulins and most of chemical blood parameters of laboratory rats were demonstrated in the nutritional studies on fruits of tomato GM plants. The biological response of the rats receiving GMO or its isogenic equivalent in the diet was recognized as similar. However, the unfavourable effect of the diets containing addition of tomatoes with the recombined thaumatin on the degree of oxidative degradation of DNA of rats liver was recorded. At the same time, the discussed dietary component had no effect on values of the remaining parameters of the oxidative status of tissue of the above mentioned organ and its histological image

Effects of feed enzymes on nutritive value of hybrid triticale x Agrotriticum kernels for broiler chickens

The nutritional value of hybrid triticale x Agrotriticum (Triticum aestivum x Agropyron) kernels (TW) for broiler chickens was evaluated. An experiment was carried out on 40 threeweek-old broiler chickens, kept in individual cages and allocated to 4 groups, 10 birds per group. Four experimental diets were formulated, two basal wheat- and soyabean meal-based diets, unsupplemented (B) or supplemented with a xylanase preparation (BX) and two diets composed of TW mixed in a 1:1 proportion with basal diets B or BX, the latter supplemented with a β-glucanase preparation at a rate of 1 g per kg of TW. Trypsin inhibitor activity in TW seeds was 1.46 TUI/g, the amino acid composition of protein was similar as triticale protein. Ileal digesta viscosity in the group fed the diet with 50% TW seeds reached 5.1 mPas . s and decreased to 3.1 mPas · s after xylanase and β-glucanase supplementation. The apparent protein, fat and NFE digestibility of TW seeds was 88, 71 and 91%, respectively; protein and fat digestibility increased after enzyme supplementation. It may be concluded that TW seeds can be a valuable component of poultry diets after xylanase and β-glucanase supplementation.

The effect of a high-fat diet on redox homeostasis indicators and nonspecific immunity in rats

Growing Wistar rats (30 animals) were divided into 3 groups of 10 each and fed semisynthetic diets: control (C), high-fat (67%) containing soyabean oil (O) or lard (L). After 5 weeks the animals were anesthetized and blood was sampled for analysis of nonspecific immunity indicators, antioxidant enzymatic activity, and blood count. Diet L (lard) led to increased activity of stimulated neutrophils and monocytes. The oxidative burst of neutrophils, activated by E. coli, was stimulated by the consumption of an energy-dense diet (lard and oil vs control), whereas the number of phagocytosing cells with reactive oxygen species was smaller in the group of animals fed lard. Moreover, disorders of redox homeostasis were found; diminished superoxide dismutase activity was accompanied by increased GPx activity in rats receiving a high level of dietary fat.