Milena Cvikrová

Characterization of antioxidant compounds in Jaffa sweeties and white grapefruits

Antioxidant compounds and the antioxidative activities of new Israeli citrus fruit sweetie [(Oroblanco, pummelo-grapefruit hybrid (Citrus grandis×C. paradisi)] were compared with the better-known white grapefruit. Total and free phenols were determined with the Folin–Ciocalteu reagent, phenolic acids (free, esters and glycosides) by HPLC analysis and anthocyanins spectrophotometrically. The antioxidant activities were estimated with two scavenging radicals: 2, 2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate)- (ABTS) and nitric oxide (NO). Free radical scavenging properties of sweetie and grapefruit were evaluated by β-carotene bleaching (β-carotene). The results of kinetic reactions showed that both fruits differed in their capacities to quench these radicals and sweetie showed more antioxidative activity than grapefruit. Trans-hydroxycinnamic acids (caffeic, p-coumaric, ferulic, and sinapic) were more abundant in grapefruits than in sweeties. High correlation was observed between antioxidative activities and phenols (R2=0.94). Both fruits have high concentrations of natural antioxidants with high antioxidative activities. Phenol content and the antioxidative potential are significantly higher in sweetie than in grapefruit. The higher antioxidant capacity of sweetie could make these new kinds of citrus fruits preferable for diets. In summary, the studied citrus fruit has high total phenolics and high antioxidant activities in vitro. Consumption of this fruit may contribute to an adequate intake of antioxidant phytochemicals.

Comparison of the Main Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activities in Garlic and White and Red Onions after Treatment Protocols

Polish garlic and white and red onions were subjected to blanching, boiling, frying, and microwaving for different periods of time, and then their bioactive compounds (polyphenols, flavonoids, flavanols, anthocyanins, tannins, and ascorbic acid) and antioxidant activities were determined. It was found that blanching and frying and then microwaving of garlic and onions did not decrease significantly the amounts of their bioactive compounds and the level of antioxidant activities ( P > 0.05). The HPLC profiles of free and soluble ester- and glycoside-bound phenolic acids showed that trans-hydroxycinnamic acids (caffeic, p-coumaric, ferulic, and sinapic) were as much as twice higher in garlic than in onions. Quercetin quantity was the highest in red onion among the studied vegetables. The electrophoretic separation of nonreduced garlic and onion proteins after boiling demonstrated their degradation in the range from 50 to 112 kDa.

Role of phytohormones in organogenic ability of elm multiplicated shoots

The study presents the comparative analyses of endogenous contents of auxin (IAA), cytokinins (CKs), polyamines (PAs), and phenolic acids (PhAs) in apical and basal parts of elm multiplicated shoots with regard to the organogenic potential. The shoot-forming capacity was higher in the apical part than in the basal part. However, the timing of root formation was in the apical type of explant significantly delayed (compared with the organogenic potential of basal part). Significantly higher contents of free bases, ribosides and ribotides of isopentenyl adenine, zeatin and dihydrozeatin that were found in the apical segments, might be considered as the most important factor affecting in vitro shoot formation. The content of endogenous free IAA was approximately three times higher in the basal shoot parts than in the apical parts. The amounts of putrescine and spermidine were higher in the apical part which generally contains less differentiated tissues than the basal part of shoot. The predominant PhA in both types of explants was caffeic acid, and concentrations of other PhAs decreased in the following order: p-coumaric, ferulic, sinapic, vanillic, chlorogenic, p-hydroxybenzoic and gallic acids. The contents of all determined PhAs in their free forms and higher contents of glycoside-bound p-coumaric, ferulic and sinapic acids, precursors for lignin biosynthesis, were found in the basal parts.

Excretion of polyamines in alfalfa and tobacco suspension-cultured cells and its possible role in maintenance of intracellular polyamine contents

Changes in polyamines (PAs) in cells and cultivation media of alfalfa (Medicagoxa0sativa L.) and tobacco bright yellow 2 (BY-2) (Nicotianaxa0tabacum L.) cell suspension cultures were studied over their growth cycles. The total content of PAs (both free and conjugated forms) was nearly 10xa0times higher in alfalfa, with high level of free putrescine (Put) (in exponential growth phase it represented about 65–73% of the intracellular Put pool). In contrast, the high content of soluble Put conjugates was found in tobacco cells (in exponential phase about 70% of the intracellular Put). Marked differences occurred in the amount of PAs excreted into the cultivation medium: alfalfa cells excreted at the first day after inoculation 2117.0, 230.5, 29.0 and 88.0xa0nmolxa0g−1 of cell fresh weight (FW) of Put, spermidine (Spd), spermine (Spm) and cadaverine (Cad), respectively, while at the same time tobacco cells excreted only small amount of Put and Spd (12.7 and 2.4xa0nmolxa0g−1 FW, respectively). On dayxa01 the amounts of Put, Spd, Spm and Cad excreted by alfalfa cells represented 21, 38, 12 and 15% of the total pool (intra- plus extra-cellular contents) of Put, Spd, Spm and Cad, respectively. In the course of lag-phase and the beginning of exponential phase the relative contents of extracellular PAs continually decreased (with the exception of Cad). On dayxa010, the extracellular Put, Spd, Spm and Cad still represented 11.3, 10.9, 2.1 and 27% of their total pools. The extracellular PAs in tobacco cells represented from dayxa03 only 0.1% from their total pools. The possible role of PA excretion into the cultivation medium in maintenance of intracellular PA contents in the cells of the two cell culture systems, differing markedly in growth rate and PA metabolism is discussed.

The effect of DMSO on excretion of proteins and phenolic substances byNicotiana tabacum cells into culture medium

Supplement of liquid culture medium with 5 % (v/v) of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) for two subcultivation intervals increased permeability of cell suspension culture of Nicotiana tabactim L. This effect resulted in reduction of fresh mass yield, increase of relative protein content and release of protein into medium during the first subcultivation. Permeabilized cells were further cultivated either in DMSO-free or DMSO-containing medium. Recovery of cells occurred in the former medium characterized by an increase in fresh mass and changes in content and excretion of proteins similar to that found during the first subcultivation in presence of DMSO. Cells cultured for the two subcultivation intervals in DMSO-containing medium undergo a physiological stress and gradually die out. It is evident that DMSO cannot be used as permeabilization agont in long term experiments.