José Antonio Yuri

Antiplatelet, anticoagulant, and fibrinolytic activity in vitro of extracts from selected fruits and vegetables

A diet rich in fruits and vegetables is known to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, the information regarding the antithrombotic activity (antiplatelet, anticoagulant, and fibrinolytic) of fruits and vegetables is scarce. The aim of this study was to assess the antithrombotic activity of extracts from fruits and vegetables widely consumed in central Chile. The study included samples of 19 fruits and 26 vegetables, representative of the local diet. The extracts prepared from each sample included an aqueous (juice or pressed solubles) and/or methanol-soluble fraction. The extracts were evaluated for antiplatelet, anticoagulant, and fibrinolytic activity in vitro at a final concentration of 1 mg/ml. The antiplatelet activity was assessed by platelet aggregation inhibition; anticoagulant activity was measured by the prothrombin time (PT), diluted prothrombin time (dPT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), kaolin clotting time (KCT), and thrombin time. The fibrinolytic effect was determined with the euglobin clot lysis time and fibrin plate methods. Extracts of green beans and tomatoes inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP and arachidonic acid, in a concentration-dependent manner. The methanolic extracts of grapes prolonged the PT and dPT. Finally, extracts of raspberry prolonged the APTT and also presented fibrinolytic activity. In conclusion, from a screening that included a variety of fruits and vegetables, we found antiplatelet activity in green beans and tomatoes, anticoagulant activities in grapes and raspberries, whereas fibrinolytic activity was observed only in raspberries. Further investigations are necessary to advance in knowledge of the active compounds of these fruits and vegetables and their mechanisms of action.

Cracking in sweet cherries: A comprehensive review from a physiological, molecular, and genomic perspective

Rain-induced cracking in fruits of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is a problem in most producing areas of the world and causes significant economic losses. Different orchard management practices have been employed to reduce the severity of this problem, although a complete solution is not yet available. Fruit cracking is a complex phenomenon and there are many factors that seem to be involved in its development. During the last decade, genomic and biochemical approaches have provided new insights on the different mechanisms that could be involved in the differential susceptibility shown by commercial cultivars. For instance, sweet cherry genome and transcriptome sequencing information have provided new opportunities to study the expression and structure of genes involved in cracking, which may help in the development of new tolerant cultivars. The present review summarizes, discuss, and integrate most of the recently generated information in cultural practices, physiology, biochemistry, and genetics in relation to cracking in sweet cherries.

Digital Cover Photography for Estimating Leaf Area Index (LAI) in Apple Trees Using a Variable Light Extinction Coefficient

Leaf area index (LAI) is one of the key biophysical variables required for crop modeling. Direct LAI measurements are time consuming and difficult to obtain for experimental and commercial fruit orchards. Devices used to estimate LAI have shown considerable errors when compared to ground-truth or destructive measurements, requiring tedious site-specific calibrations. The objective of this study was to test the performance of a modified digital cover photography method to estimate LAI in apple trees using conventional digital photography and instantaneous measurements of incident radiation (Io) and transmitted radiation (I) through the canopy. Leaf area of 40 single apple trees were measured destructively to obtain real leaf area index (LAID), which was compared with LAI estimated by the proposed digital photography method (LAIM). Results showed that the LAIM was able to estimate LAID with an error of 25% using a constant light extinction coefficient (k = 0.68). However, when k was estimated using an exponential function based on the fraction of foliage cover (ff) derived from images, the error was reduced to 18%. Furthermore, when measurements of light intercepted by the canopy (Ic) were used as a proxy value for k, the method presented an error of only 9%. These results have shown that by using a proxy k value, estimated by Ic, helped to increase accuracy of LAI estimates using digital cover images for apple trees with different canopy sizes and under field conditions.

Effect of DPA [Diphenylamine] and 1-MCP [1-methylcyclopropene] on chemical compounds related to superficial scald of Granny Smith apples

Research was carried out to study the mode of action of diphenylamine (DPA) and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), on control of superficial scald of Granny Smith apples (Malus domestica Borkh.), and its relation with chemical compounds. Fruit was harvested from a commercial orchard in Chile, 182 and 189 days after full bloom and received the following treatments: DPA (2,000 ppm); 1-MCP (1.2 ppm) and control (no treatment). All fruit was stored for 4 or 6 months at 0 deg C. A completely randomized factorial design was used (2 harvest dates by 3 postharvest treatments). Monthly measurements were made on maturity indices, ethylene production rate (EPR), scald related compounds (alpha-farnesene (AF), conjugated trienes (CT), total anti-oxidants (AO)), and cell membrane stability. Following 4 and 6 months of storage, plus 7 days at 20 deg C, scald was evaluated. After 6 months, DPA-treated fruit, from both harvests, showed similar firmness, EPR and AO, compared to the control. However, AF and CT were lower, and cell membrane stability higher. Conversely, 1-MCP-treated fruit showed a noticeable EPR suppression and AF inhibition, along with higher firmness, lower CT and AO, compared to the control and DPA. Furthermore, cell membrane stability was superior to that of the control and similar to that of the DPA. Treated fruit (DPA and 1-MCP) showed an important reduction in scald compared to the control. The effect of 1-MCP on the investigated compounds and the reduction in scald, confirms that ethylene plays a major role on its development.

Apple Peel Supplemented Diet Reduces Parameters of Metabolic Syndrome and Atherogenic Progression in ApoE−/− Mice

Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD) represent about 30% of all causes of death worldwide. The development of CVD is related in many cases with the previous existence of metabolic syndrome (MS). It is known that apple consumption has a cardiovascular protecting effect, containing phenolic compounds with antioxidant effect, which are concentrated in the fruit peel. The objective of this study was to test the effect of apple peel consumption in a murine model of MS and apoE−/− mice. Apple supplemented diets reduced the biochemical parameters (glycaemia, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, ureic nitrogen, triglycerides, insulin, and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA)) of MS model in CF1 mice significantly. The model apoE−/− mouse was used to evaluate the capacity of the apple peel to revert the progression of the atherogenesis. FD with HAP reverts cholesterol significantly and slows down the progression of the plate diminishing the cholesterol accumulation area. With these results, it can be concluded that the consumption of apple peel reduces several MS parameters and the atherogenic progression in mice.

Effect of the Cooling System and 1-MCP on the Incidence of Superficial Scald in Granny Smith Apples

A study was carried out to determine the effects of two cooling systems and the application of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP, SmartFresh TM )�ontheincidenceofsuperficialscaldinapples�(Malus domestica Borkh.) cv. Granny Smith. Fruit were collected from a commercial orchard (Colbun, Maule Region, Chile) during 2004-2005 season. A completely randomized design was used in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement, using cooling systems (normal and step-wise cooling) and application of 1-MCP (0 and 625 nL L -1 i.a.) as the main factors. Fruit from normal cooling were kept at 0 °C throughout the storage period (180 days). Step-wise cooling consisted of storing the fruit at 10 °C for 10 days; 4 °C for the next 20 days and 0 °C for the remaining 150 days. Every month, maturity indices and the chemicals, global antioxidant content (AO), α-farnesene�(AF)�andconjugatedtrienes�(TC),�weremeasured.�Incidenceofsuperficial� scald was determined after 180 days of storage, plus 10 days at 20 °C. The application of 1-MCP with both cooling systemswascapableofmaintainingfirmnessvaluesaround�8.2�kguptotheendofthestorageperiod,�aswellas� decreasingtheconcentrationofAF,�TCandAOduringstorage.�Incidenceofsuperficialscaldonfruitwith�1-MCP� was 0%, regardless of the type of cooling. Among treatments without 1-MCP, step-wise-cooling was more effective inpreventingsuperficialscald,�resultingin�1.3%�incidencecomparedto�75.6%�withthenormalcoolingsystem.� Nevertheless,�fromthefourthmonthonwardsfirmnesswaslowerthanthatrequiredforexport.

Evolución de Madurez en Pre y Postcosecha y Potencialidad de Almacenaje de Peras Packham's Triumph

A B S T R A C T Packham’s Triumph pears (Pyrus communis L.) were evaluated from four weeks before harvest for maturity and ethylene production. Firmness and soluble solids showed the highest correlations (r = -0.97 y 0.98, respectively) with days after full bloom (DDPF). Ethylene production was low (< 0.07 mg kg -1 ) and was not correlated with DDPF. Fruit harvested with 7.8 (E1) and 7.0 kg (E2) were stored in conventional cold air (0°C) and two controlled atmosphere conditions (AC1: 2-2.5% O 2 /1-1.5% CO 2 and AC2: 1-1.3% O 2 / 0.5-0.8% CO 2 ), -1°C, for six months. Changes in maturity, and ethylene production were measured (monthly) and incidence of physiological disorders was assessed (after four and six months). Additionally, the ethylene production rate (TPE) was monitored for seven days at room temperature, after each storage period. Fruit from both harvests, stored under AC1 and AC2 were firmer, greener and had lower ethylene production than those of FC. There were no significant differences in ripening between AC1 and AC2. Ethylene accumulation was exponential and occurred earlier and with higher values in FC (900 mg kg -1 maximum at the 5 th month), with respect to AC (146 and 230 mg kg -1 for E1 and E2 at the end of the storage period). At room temperature, the TPE of the three storage conditions increased from the second month, but the climacteric peak was observed only in FC. After six months, fruit from FC and from both harvests developed superficial scald (17% for E1 and 20% for E2).

Construcción de la cultura de apreciación de la fruta: aporte de Las mil y una noches

This article examines what the Muslim world contributed to the materialization of a cultural appraisal of fruits and the trees that bear them. This contribution was not only carried out through the propagation and incorporation of these plants, particularly from Al Andalus, but also by providing them with considerable cultural significance with their inclusion in Arabian Nights. While Andalusian botanists and agronomists achieved significant scientific breakthroughs in the methods involved in the cultivation and proper utilization of fruit trees, Muslim literary tales complimented these developments by placing both fruits and fruit trees in the cultural spotlight, in highly prominent locations (gardens, palaces, halls) and by bonding them with sensuality, beauty and pleasure. Muslims acted as biocultural intermediaries.

Variedades de Pomáceas (Chile y Cuyo 1700-1850)

The present study illustrates the traditional Pome (apple, pear and quince) fruit varieties grown in Chile and Cuyo between 1700 and 1850. The data of the study were obtained from notary and justice archives of Chile, San Juan and Mendoza. Eleven varieties of pear, seven of apple and two varieties of quince were identified. Also, some correspondence with the Muslim fruit culture of al-Andalus in Spain was detected.

Variedades de carozos (Chile y Cuyo 1700-1850)

El estudio hace visibles las variedades tradicionales de carozos (durazneros, ciruelos, damascos, guindos y cerezos), cultivados en Chile y Cuyo entre 1700 y 1850. A partir del corpus documental de fondos notariales y judiciales de los archivos de Chile, San Juan y Mendoza se identificaron nueve variedades de duraznos, nueve de ciruelos, cuatro de damascos y dos de guindos. Asimismo, se han encontrado vinculaciones respecto a la apreciacion de la cultura de la fruta entre la tradicion musulmana de al-Andalus y la tradicion iberoamericana