Impact of Chitosan and Folic Acid on Growth, Leaf Qualities, and Antioxidant Compounds of Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.)

In this study, the effects of ascorbic, folic, and salicylic acid treatments on post-harvest quality losses in 'Franklin F1' Brussels sprouts stored at 4°C for 28 days were investigated. Weight loss (%), color values (L*, a*, b*), total soluble solids (TSS, %), pH, titrable acidity (TA, %), total chlorophyll (mg/g), and CO2 concentration (ppm) were all measured at 7-day intervals. When the findings were compared to the control group, it was observed that all of the treatments were effective in reducing losses in the examined properties. At the end of the storage period, it was found that ascorbic acid was the most effective in terms of weight loss, pH, and TA features, salicylic acid in terms of L* value, and folic acid in terms of preventing pH, total chlorophyll, and CO2 concentration changes. There has been no research on the effects of ascorbic, folic, and salicylic acid treatments in Brussels sprouts during the post-harvest period, and the goal of this study is to fill in the gaps in the literature and give light on future research. It is thought that determining the appropriate doses of the treatments performed in future studies, as well as examining the efficiency of the treatments in more detail, will be beneficial.

Since the erythrocytes of ducks infected with Plasmodium lophurae contain much more folic and folinic acids than those of uninfected ducks, and since chromatography indicated that these growth factors were the same in infected and uninfected birds, it was of interest to follow changes in levels of folic and folinic acids with development of P. lophurae in red blood cells. Taking advantage of the synchronous cycle of P. lophiraae maintained in our laboratory, we found that when the parasites were in the uninucleate stage there was appreciable increase in folic acid content, and the ratio of folic to folinic acid was 3:1. However, within 24 hr when the parasites had developed to multinucleate and segmenter forms, there was a fiveto tenfold increase of folinic acid only, so that the ratio of folic to folinic acid was approximately 1:2. HIence, a marked increase in folinic acid was correlated with the development of the parasites from a uninucleate to a multinucleate stage, but there was no change in folic acid during that period. When P. lophurae was maintained in red cell suspension in vitro only a small increase in folinic acid occurred, despite the fact that the development from uninucleate to multinucleate forms was as great as that occurring in vivo. Earlier work has shown that the red cells of ducks infected with the bird malaria parasite Plasmodium lophurae contain much more folic and folinic acids than those of uninfected ducks of the same age (Trager, 1959; Siddiqui and Trager, 1964). Only a part of this increase could be accounted for by the folic and folinic acid contents of the parasites themselves. Furthermore, chromatography on paper has shown that the folic and folinic acid-active materials of normal erythrocytes and erythrocytes infected with P. lophurae are the same (Siddiqui and Trager, 1964). In view of these facts, and of the fact that the extracellular survival in vitro of P. lophurae was favored by the presence of folinic acid in the culture medium (Trager, 1958), it was suggested that the increased levels of folic and folinic acids might result from an altered metabolism of the host red cell, rather than from synthesis by the parasites. It was, therefore, of interest to follow the changes in the levels of folic and folinic acids with the development of P. lophurae in red blood cells. Received for publication 11 February 1966. * This paper was read at the Second International Conference on Protozoology, London, 1965. t Supported by Public Health Service Grant 5-T1AI-192. + Present address: Department of Preventive Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California 94304. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two-week-old ducklings were inoculated with P. lophurae in such a way as to give severe and highly synchronous infections. On the 4th day of infection (10 to 11 AMV), the parasitemias were from 60 to 100% and almost all the parasites were uninucleate (Fig. 1), but on the 5th day of infection (10 to 11 AM), most of the parasites had become multinucleate (Fig. 2). For each set of experiments a 2to 3-ml sample of blood was taken from each of three ducklings on the 4th day of infection. These samples were pooled and mixed with two volumes of uninfected duck blood to reduce the total parasite count to a level suitable for in vitro cultivation. Coagulation was prevented by mixing the blood with onetenth its volume of a solution containing 30 mg heparin and 0.85 g NaCl per 100 ml. A sample of this mixture was then prepared for microbiological assay. The rest was inoculated in 1.5-ml amounts to flasks holding 4.5 ml of a medium modified from that of Geiman et al. (1946) and previously used for maintenance of P. lophurae in erythrocyte suspensions in vitro (Trager, 1947; McGhee and Trager, 1950). The flasks were incubated at 40 C, rocked at 16 cycles per minute, and received a slow current of air with 5% C02. On the following day, the 5th day of the infection, the cells in the flasks were prepared for microbiological assay. At the same time samples were again taken from the same three ducklings bled on the previous day, and these were prepared individually for assay. Blood films stained with Giemsa were made from each sample. For all the assays the red cells were washed three times in physiological saline, hemolyzed, and incubated 90 min in a diluted buffer with ascorbic acid (Toennies, Bueding, and Phillips, 1956). The hemolysates were deproteinized by

Methyl jasmonate elicitation improves the growth performance and biosynthesis of antioxidant metabolites in Portulaca oleracea through ROS modulation

Since the erythrocytes of ducks infected with P. lophurae contain much more folic and folinic acid than those of uninfected ducks, the Rf values of these growth factors in infected and uninfected red blood cells were compared. Paper chromatography followed by bioautography was used to determine the number of components supporting growth of L. casei and P. cerevisiae. Both normal and infected erythrocytes gave identical bioautographs having two components: (1) with Rf 0.5 active only for L. casei and (2) with Rf 0.7 active both for L. casei and P. cerevisiae. This finding fits the hypothesis that the increased levels of folic and folinic acids result from an altered metabolism of the host red cell rather than from synthesis by the parasites. Livers of infected ducks had less L. casei-active material than those of normal ones, but both showed identical bioautographs. The importance of folic acid and related compounds in the metabolism of malarial parasites is indicated by several facts: (1) the favorable effect of folinic acid on Plasmodium lophurae maintained extracellularly in vitro (Trager, 1958), (2) the favoring effect of para-aminobenzoic acid (Geiman, Anfinsen, McKee, Ormsbee, and Ball, 1946) and folic acid (Glenn and Manwell, 1956) on the development of malarial parasites growing intracellularly in suspensions of intact erythrocytes in vitro, and (3) the powerful antimalarial effect of substances such as pyrimethamine, which seems to act by interfering with the formation of folinic acid (Rollo, 1955; Trager, 1961). Trager (1959) found 20to 50-fold increase in folic acid and 5to 20-fold increase in folinic acid in erythrocytes of 2-month-old ducks infected with P. lophurae. He further found that only one-fifth to one-third of the increased amounts of the two growth factors were within the parasites; the remainder presumably was in the cytoplasm of the infected erythrocytes. It therefore seemed possible that the increased folic and folinic acid were formed Received for publication 10 July 1964. * Supported by Public Health Service Grant 5-T1AI-192. by the host red cells rather than by the parasites themselves. It was of interest to compare the Rf values of these two growth factors from erythrocytes and livers of normal ducks with those from the corresponding tissues of ducks infected with P. lophurae. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two-week-old ducklings were inoculated with P. lophurae in such a way as to give severe and highly synchronous infections (Trager, 1958). On the 5th day of infection blood was taken from infected birds and from corresponding uninfected ones. The red cells were washed, hemolyzed, and incubated 90 min in a diluted buffer with ascorbic acid (Toennies, Bueding, and Phillips, 1956). The hemolysates were deproteinized by autoclaving 1.5 min at 121 C, followed by centrifugation. Extracts from livers of infected and control animals were produced by grinding weighed portions in the buffer-ascorbic acid solutions and were then treated in the same way as hemolysates. The folic and folinic acid contents were determined by microbial assay with L. casei and P. cerevisiae, respectively (Toennies, Frank, and Gallant, 1953). Bioautographic assay Paper chromatography followed by bioautographic visualization of active compounds was used to determine the Rf of the components in liver and red cells which would support the growth of L. casei and P. cerevisiae. The methods used were essentially those of Colon and Moulder (1958) and Sirotnak and co-workers (1963).

A field experiment was conducted in 2022 at the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Baghdad, Al-Jadriyah, with the aim of determination of the amount of bio-stimulants and antioxidants to produce the best chemical content of oil with a good percentage of protein in comparison with the seed yield, oil, antioxidant compounds, and oxidative activity of soybean seeds. The experiment was conducted according to a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with two factors and their interactions, and three replicates. The first factor included three levels of bio-stimulants (without spraying, 2 g L-1 humic acid, and 2 g L-1 folic acid), while the second factor included three levels of antioxidants (without spraying, 100 mg L-1 ascorbic acid, and 100 mg L-1 glutathione acid). Both factors were sprayed on the vegetative growth after one month of planting, and after one month of the first spray, during branch initiation stage, and at 50% flowering stage. The results showed that treatment with 2 g L-1 folic acid was superior in protein ratio (27.10%), total antioxidant capacity (42.90%), inhibition of free radicals (9.69%), and seed content of flavonoids (24.93 mg kg-1 dry weight). Antioxidants also affected most of the measured traits, especially 100 mg L-1 glutathione acid, which showed an increase in protein percent (25.51%), total antioxidant capacity (30.14%), inhibition of free radicals (8.40%), and flavonoid content (21.45 mg kg-1 dry weight). The combined treatment of 2 g L-1 folic acid and 100 mg L-1 glutathione acid was significant in protein ratio (27.34%), percentage of inhibition of free radicals (9.90%), total antioxidant capacity (55.00%), seed content of flavonoids (43.30 mg kg-1 dry weight), and in increasing the percentage of the effective area of the essential oil compounds, as determined by GC-MS analysis.

Dietary Factors Concerned in Erythropoiesis—Continued

This study aims to investigate the effect of Salicylic acid (2 mM), Folic acid (5 mg L−1) and Ascorbic acid (2 mM) treatments on the shelf life and quality of 'Belstar F1' broccoli variety. Treated broccoli heads were stored at 21±2˚C for 4 days in plastic containers with lids. It is determined that at the end of the storage period, the lowest weight loss (2.74%), total soluble solids (8.07%), pH value (7.14) and the highest amount of titratable acidity (0.12%) were found in the group treated with ascorbic acid and the least change in color parameters (L*; 29.41, a*; -4.59, b*; 10.78) and the highest total chlorophyll content (0.32 mg/g) in the group treated with folic acid. It is thought that the effects of ascorbic acid, salicylic acid and folic acid treatment at postharvest storage period should be investigated in detail in molecular and biochemical studies for more concrete data.

Nutritional values, metabolic profile and radical scavenging capacities of wild asparagus ( A. acutifolius L.)

A field experiment was carried out for the year 2022 at Experimental Station A of the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences/ University of Baghdad/ Al-Jadriyah, located at latitude 33°N and longitude 44°E. The aim of the experiment was to determine the appropriate amount of bio-stimulants and antioxidants to produce the best chemical content of oil with a good protein ratio compared to seed and oil productivity, antioxidant compounds, and oxidative efficiency of soybean (Glycine max L.) seeds. The experiment was conducted according in a factorial arrangement the randomized complete block design (RCBD) for two factors and their interactions with three replication. The first factor included three levels of biostimulants: no spray, humic acid, and folic acid at a concentration of 2 g L-1 for each. The second factor included three levels of antioxidants: no spray, ascorbic acid, and glutathione acid at a concentration of 100 mg L-1 for each. Spraying was applied on vegetative system, first was one month after planting, the second after one month of the first spraying at the formation of branches stage, and the third at the 50% flowering stage. The results showed that bio stimulants had a significant effect on most growth traits, with the treatment of 2 g L-1 humic acid achieving the best results in growth traits, height plant (180.47cm), leaf area (104.15 dm-1), number of branches( 12.44 branch plant-1) ,fresh weight (450.16 g ),dry weight (308.03 g). while the treatment of 2 g L-1 folic acid achieved the best results in seed yield (289.10)g and total yield( 3.08) g . Antioxidants also had an effect on most growth and yield traits, with the spray of 100 mg L-1 ascorbic acid achieving a significant increase in leaf area( 98.01 dm2), while the treatment of 100 mg L-1 glutathione acid outperformed significantly in fresh weight (514.46 g) , dry weight (284.56 g), plant seed yield( 307.50 g plan-1), 100 seed weight(19.47 g ), total yield( 3.28 t ha-1), and oil yield (0.68 t ha-1). The combined effect of the study factors was significant in most growth and yield traits, but the treatment of 2 g L-1humic acid and 100 mg L-1ascorbic acid achieved a significant increase in plant height (148.53 cm), leaf area (110.95 dm-1). While the treatment of 2 g L-1 humic acid and 100 mg L-1Glutathione acid outperformed significantly in the number of branches (13.00 branch plant-), seed yield in the plant (337.80 g), total yield (3.60 g ) , and oil yield (0.99 t h-1). The combined effect of the treatment of 2 g L-1 folic acid and 100 mg L-1 Glutathione acid produced a significant increase in fresh weight (562.10 g) and 100 seed weight (22.00 g).

Salinity is a major threat to the sustainability of agricultural production systems. Salt stress has unfavorable implications on various plant physio-morphological and biochemical reactions, causing osmotic and ionic stress. Exogenously applied folic acid (FA) may at least provide one mechanism to evade the injurious stress effects of saline irrigation water on Plectranthus amboinicus. In this regard, two pot trials were performed during the 2018–2019 and 2019–2020 seasons in an open greenhouse of an experimental farm (29°17'N; 30°53'E) in Fayoum, Egypt. We tested four levels of saline irrigation water (SW): 34, 68, and 102 mM NaCl, plus tap water as the control = 0), combined with FA at three concentrations (25 and 50 μM, plus spray with distilled water as the control = 0). The growth parameters, biochemistry, physiology, elemental leaf status, essential oil content, and anatomical responses were assessed. Salt markedly reduced photosynthetic productivity [Fv/Fm and performance index (PI)], total chlorophyll [soil plant analysis development (SPAD)], and leaf osmoprotectant compounds, i.e., total soluble sugars (TSS), free amino acids, proline, and total phenolics, thus hampering P. amboinicus growth and essential oil yield. However, the addition of FA as a foliar spray to P. amboinicus irrigated with saline water induced increases in Fv/Fm, SPAD, and PI. These were linked with enriched stem anatomical structures, leaf osmoprotectant compounds, and enhanced leaf enzymatic activity, e.g., superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione, ascorbic acid, and antioxidant content. Under salt stress, supplementation of 25 and 50 μM FA increased the growth and production of essential oil by 27.8 and 55.6%, respectively, compared with no applied FA. The highest growth characteristics and elemental leaf contents were obtained when P. amboinicus was irrigated with 0 mM saline water and treated foliarly with 50 μM of FA compared with non-treated plants. Overall, these data showed that foliar spraying with FA reduces the impact of salt stress on P. amboinicus irrigated with saline water.

Objective Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a frequently occurring type of cancer leading loss of huge number of lives. Folic acid (FA) conjugated solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN) loaded paclitaxel (PTX) and ascorbic acid (AA) has been used as a novel approach in this study. Methods The FA conjugated SLN were prepared by following high speed homogenization and ultrasonication methods. FA conjugated SLN were used alone and in combination to evaluate their efficacy against OSCC induced animal model. FA conjugated PTX and FA conjugated AA loaded SLN were further subjected to pharmacokinetic and biodistribution. Results The FA conjugated SLN showed a biphasic drug release behavior both in in vitro as well as in vivo system. FA conjugated PTX loaded SLN and FA conjugated AA loaded SLN shows high efficiency when used in combination as compared to when used individually in vivo. FA conjugated SLN shows a better therapeutic efficacy as compared to normal drug as depicted by the observation of pharmacokinetic and biodistribution studies. Conclusion The in vitro and in vivo evaluation of the FA conjugated SLN concluded with a remark that, these SLN can be effectively used in the treatment of OSCC.

Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) and folic acid (Vitamin B9) are essential micronutrients involved in hematopoiesis, immune function, and antioxidant defense. Ascorbic acid enhances iron absorption and red blood cell (RBC) production, while folic acid is crucial for DNA synthesis and erythropoiesis. Deficiencies in these vitamins are associated with anemia and impaired immune responses. This study investigates the effects of ascorbic acid, folic acid, and their combination on hematological parameters in male rabbits, focusing on hemoglobin (Hb), RBC count, white blood cell (WBC) count, platelets (PLAT), and hematocrit (HCT). Male rabbits were divided into four experimental groups: control, ascorbic acid, folic acid, and a combination of both. Hematological parameters were assessed after treatment, and statistical significance was evaluated. The findings demonstrated that supplementation with ascorbic acid and folic acid significantly improved Hb and RBC counts compared to the control, suggesting enhanced erythropoiesis. The combination group exhibited the highest RBC count (8.60 ± 0.417 ×10⁶/µl), indicating a potential synergistic effect. The WBC count decreased in the folic acid group but remained stable in the ascorbic acid and combination groups, suggesting an immunomodulatory role. Platelet counts increased significantly in the combination group (489.12 ± 209.7 ×10³/µl), highlighting a possible stimulatory effect on megakaryocyte maturation. HCT levels were highest in the combination group (39.66 ± 1.016 ×10³/µl), indicating improved oxygen-carrying capacity.

Background and objective: The reliability and efficacy of multivitamin pharmaceutical products containing ascorbic acid and folic acid vary due to differences in manufacturing processes and ingredient selection. This research paper presents the development and validation of derivative spectrophotometric and mean-centering methods for the simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid and folic acid both in their pure form and in pharmaceutical formulations. Furthermore, an assessment of the environmental impact of the proposed methods is conducted utilizing the analytical procedure index as a measure of its "greenness" profile. Methods: Analytical procedures that are simple, accurate, and environmentally friendly were devised to concurrently determine the levels of ascorbic acid and folic acid. These methods include the ratio derivative and mean-centering spectrophotometric techniques, ensuring precise measurements of both substances. Results: The ratio derivative and mean-centering spectrophotometric techniques for the determination of ascorbic acid and folic acid showed a measurable amplitude and substantial linearity. The ratio spectra derivative, at the amplitude 247.2 nm (1DD 247.2) and 270 nm (1DD 270) ascorbic acid showed linearity from (0.5-15.0 μg/mL) and (0.5-15.0μg/mL) with a detection limit of (0.17 μg/mL) and (0.298 μg/mL), respectively, while folic acid displayed observable amplitude at 314.4 nm (1DD 314.4) with linearity (2.0-15.0μg/mL) and a detection limit of (0.37 μg/mL). The mean-centering method for ascorbic acid and folic acid illustrated assessable peak-to-baseline (356.8 nm) and (346 nm) with the linearity of (0.5-12.0μg/mL) and (2.0-15.0μg/mL), and a detection limit of (0.15 μg/mL) and (0.49 μg/mL), respectively. Conclusion: The proposed methods were effectively utilized for the simultaneous quantification of both ascorbic acid and folic acid in laboratory-prepared synthetic mixtures as well as pharmaceutical formulations with reasonable levels of precision, accuracy, and recovery.

As food production faces major challenges, modern agricultural practices are increasingly focused on conserving resources, reducing negative environmental impacts and sustainably producing food with a high content of health-promoting phytochemicals. During production, many factors can affect the quality and chemical composition of a final food product. Proper selection of cultivating conditions, especially a balanced nutrition, can significantly increase nutritional value and result in foods with strong biological and functional properties. Stinging nettle is a rich source of minerals, vitamins, pigments, phenols and other bioactive compounds and can be consumed as a green leafy vegetable with beneficial effects on human health. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the nutritional quality and antioxidant capacity of stinging nettle leaves under the influence of different nutrient solution (NS) treatments and three harvest cycles. The experiment was conducted in a floating hydroponic system in which treatments with different nutrient solutions were applied and three harvest cycles were carried out. After each harvest, the following treatments were applied: treatment 1 - depletion of nutrient solution by adding water, treatment 2 - supplementation of nutrient solution by adding initial nutrient solution and treatment 3 - correction of nutrient solution by adding nutrients. Among the bioactive compounds, minerals, ascorbic acid, phenols and photosynthetic pigments content, as well as antioxidant capacity were analysed spectrophotometrically, while individual phenols were determined by liquid chromatography. Different nutrition solution treatments and the number of harvest cycles had a significant effect on the content of the analysed bioactive compounds. The highest mass fraction (on fresh mass basis) of total phenols expressed as gallic acid equivalents (377.04 mg/100 g), total flavonoids expressed as catechol equivalents (279.54 mg/100 g), ascorbic acid (112.37 mg/100 g) and pigments (total chlorophylls 1.84, and total carotenoids 0.36 mg/g) as well as the highest antioxidant capacity expressed as Trolox equivalents (35.47 µmol/g) were recorded in the samples supplemented with nutrient solution (treatment NS2) and analysed after the third harvest. This is the first time that stinging nettle leaves have been produced in a floating hydroponic system by controlled plant nutrition. We have set this type of nutritional manipulation with multiple harvest cycles as an innovative technique for the production of novel food with improved nutritional value that can be consumed as green leafy vegetables.

One hundred percent fruit juices can help consumers increase the nutrient content of the diet since these beverages can be naturally rich in micronutrients. Micronutrient-fortified low-calorie beverages are an important alternative to those wishing to minimize their calorie intakes. However, little is known about the bioavailability of nutrients from fortified beverages relative to 100% fruit juices. The present study examined the bioavailability of ascorbic acid (AA) and folic acid (FA) in 100% orange juice (OJ) and a low-calorie beverage fortified with these nutrients. In a within-subjects, cross-over design, 12 adult men consumed a 591 mL serving of OJ, a low-calorie beverage fortified with AA and FA, and 1% low fat milk. Participants were aged 20 to 35 y, with body mass indexes between 20 and 30 kg/m(2). Blood plasma concentrations of AA and serum concentrations of FA were assayed by serial blood draws, made at 30 min intervals for 4.5 h. Blood plasma concentration of AA was significantly greater after ingestion of the fortified beverage compared to after OJ ingestion. However, the bioavailability of AA did not significantly differ from that of OJ. Analyses of FA indicated no significant difference between fortified beverage and OJ. Consumption of both vitamin containing beverages led to higher concentrations of AA and FA than the milk control. This study showed that similar levels of AA and FA bioavailability can be attained through ingestion of 100% OJ and a fortified beverage.