B Complex Research Articles

Metabolomic Analysis of Liver from Dietary Biotin Deficient Mice.

Biotin is a water-soluble B-complex vitamin that functions as a cofactor of five carboxylases. Because biotin-dependent carboxylases catalyze indispensable cellular metabolic functions, biotin deficiency is considered to be involved in various pathological conditions. Moreover, biotin supplementation shows pharmacological effects in vivo. However, the precise mechanisms by which biotin deficiency induces pathological conditions remain unclear. Although abnormal metabolites are used as indicators for biotin deficiency, few comprehensive analyses of total metabolites have been reported. In this study, we analyzed the metabolomic profiles of liver extracts prepared from biotin-sufficient (BS) and -deficient (BD) mice. Thirteen of 126 metabolites showed significantly different concentrations between liver extracts from BD and BS mice. The concentrations of 5 essential amino acids, Met, Val, Thr, Ile, and Leu, and 2 conditionally essential amino acids, Cys and Tyr were significantly lower in BD mice than in BS mice. Among these, the concentrations of sulfur-containing amino acids, Cys and Met, were more than 1.5-fold lower in BD mice. The concentrations of Met metabolites, such as S-adenosylmethionine and S-adenosylhomocysteine were not significantly different between the two groups. The concentrations of glutathione and its reaction intermediates γ-Glu-Cys tendency to be lower in BD mice. The present study revealed that biotin deficiency induces an abnormal amino acids composition, especially among sulfur-containing amino acids and provide important information on the effect of biotin as a pharmacological agent.

Shelf Life of Millet Based Diabetic Mix

Millets are good source of nutrients such as fiber, minerals and b-complex vitamins and their regular consumption helps in reducing non communicable diseases. Hence, millets were used in the preparation of diabetic mix and a study was conducted to evaluate the shelf life of millet based diabetic mix. Parameters such as moisture, free fatty acid, peroxide value and microbial load were assessed for a period of 90 days. Significant increase in moisture, free fatty acid and peroxide value was observed at different storage period, however free fatty acid and peroxide values were in the acceptable range. Bacterial count throughout the storage period was within the safe level, whereas presence of mold and E-coli was not detected during storage period. Above findings revealed that the developed diabetic mix can be stored up to 90 days.

Photobiomodulation and B vitamins administration produces antinociception in an orofacial pain model through the modulation of glial cells and cytokines expression

Chronic constriction injury (CCI) of infraorbital nerve (IoN) results in whisker pad mechanical allodynia in rats and activation glial cells contributing to the development of orofacial pain. Whisker pad mechanical allodynia (von Frey stimuli) was tested pre and postoperatively and conducted during the treatment time. Photobiomodulation (PBM) and vitamins B complex (VBC) has been demonstrated therapeutic efficacy in ameliorate neuropathic pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antinociceptive effect of PBM, VBC or the combined treatment VBC ​+ ​PBM on orofacial pain due to CCI-IoN. Behavioral and molecular approaches were used to analyses nociception, cellular and neurochemical alterations. CCI-IoN caused mechanical allodynia and cellular alterations including increased expression of glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba-1), administration of VBC (B1/B6/B12 at 180/180/1.8 ​mg/kg, s.c., 5 times all long 10 sessions) and PBM therapy (904 ​nm, power of 75Wpico, average power of 0.0434 ​W, pulse frequency of 9500 ​Hz, area of the beam 0.13 ​cm2, 18 ​s duration, energy density 6 ​J/cm2, with an energy per point of 0.78 ​J for 10 sessions) or their combination presented improvement of the nociceptive behavior and decreased expression of GFAP and Iba-1. Additionally, CCI-IoN rats exhibited an upregulation of IL1β, IL6 and TNF-α expression and all treatments prevented this upregulation and also increased IL10 expression. Overall, the present results highlight the pain reliever effect of VBC or PBM alone or in combination, through the modulation of glial cells and cytokines expression in the spinal trigeminal nucleus of rats.

Nutraceutical Potential and Processing Aspects of Oyster Mushrooms (PleurotusSpecies)

Background:Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus species) have gained considerable attention of food technologist and nutritionist for their nutraceutical properties. Oyster mushrooms are considered as functional foods due to their richness in functional food ingredients. In recent times, consumption of these mushrooms has increased considerably due to their numerous health benefits. These are potential sources of bioactive components, which are sufficient enough for prevention and treatment of various lifestyle diseases. There are about 200 different species in the genus Pleurotus and these are commonly referred to as “oyster mushrooms”.Objective:The study aimed to grasp a collective information on nutraceutical and processing aspects of highly perishable but nutritious oyster mushroomResults:Pleurotus ostreatus is the most commonly consumed species all over the world due to its superior flavor, taste and nutraceutical properties. It acts as a source of natural antioxidants which might be beneficial for human health in preventing or reducing oxidative damage. Nutritionally, these species are rich sources of proteins, dietary fibres, β-glucan, vitamin B-complex, vitamin C and minerals. They contain higher proportions of certain amino acids such as methionine, cystine and aspartic acid than other edible mushrooms. Oyster mushrooms have been reported to possess hypocholesterolemic, anti-bacterial, anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, anti-arthritic, anti-carcinogenic, hepatoprotective, anti-viral activities and act as natural resources of immunotherapy activities. The use of these mushrooms can overcome the deficiency of protein in the developing countries where there is unavailability or unacceptability of good quality proteins from animal sources because of religious restrictions.Conclusion:Because of the occurrence of abundant nutritional ingredients and other bioactive components in P. ostreatus, they have a great scope as a potential source for the development of functional or specialty foods for value addition of deficient foods so as to alleviate the nutritional deficiency diseases from society.

Painfullness of lidocaine-containing and lidocaine-free injections of b complex vitamins

Painfullness of lidocaine-containing and lidocaine-free injections of b complex vitamins

Dietary habits and nutritional status of adolescents

<p>The concept of proper nutrition implies meeting the needs of the body concerning daily energy intake and a sufficient amount of nutrients and protective substances necessary to maintain the physiological functions of the body and its health. Nutrients are divided into macronutrients (proteins, carbohydrates and fats) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals). Accelerated growth and development during adolescence increase nutrient requirements. Therefore, energy and nutrition requirements must meet the needs of adolescents. During their growth and development, there is an increased need for vitamins and minerals, especially for calcium, iron, zinc and vitamin D. During intensive growth, adolescents require more vitamins, especially B-complex vitamins and vitamin C, the intake of calcium and phosphorus is necessary as well, and the insufficient needs for proteins affect the development of muscles and energy levels. Proper nutrition and eating habits during the period of growth are of the utmost importance for the appropriate physical, psychosocial and cognitive growth and development of a child. Eating disorders usually occur as a result of low or high energy intake, and the most common types of these disorders are anemia, anorexia and bulimia, obesity and comorbidities, and poor eating habits. When it comes to the implementation of various programs concerning the prevention of bad eating habits and eating disorders, the school management, expert teams and student parents should bear the overall responsibility. Once or twice a year, preventive check-ups and BMI measurements are recommended to identify eating disorders.</p>

Enzymatic biosynthesis of B-complex vitamins is supplied by diverse microbiota in the Rhodnius prolixus anterior midgut following Trypanosoma cruzi infection

Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, colonizes the gut of triatomine insects, including Rhodnius prolixus. It is believed that this colonization upsets the microbiota that are normally present, presumably switching the environment to one more favorable for parasite survival. It was previously thought that one particular bacterium, Rhodococcus rhodnii, was essential for insect survival due to its ability to produce vital B-complex vitamins. However, these bacteria are not always identified in great abundance in studies on R. prolixus microbiota. Here we sequenced the microbiota of the insect anterior midgut using shotgun metagenomic sequencing in order to obtain a high-resolution snapshot of the microbes inside at two different time points and under two conditions; in the presence or absence of parasite and immediately following infection, or three days post-infection. We identify a total of 217 metagenomic bins, and recovered one metagenome-assembled genome, which we placed in the genus Dickeya. We show that, despite Rhodococcus being present, it is not the only microbe capable of synthesizing B-complex vitamins, with the genes required for biosynthesis present in a number of different microbes. This work helps to gain a new insight into the microbial ecology of R.prolixus.

Витамины группы В в профилактике заболеваний

Витамины группы В в профилактике заболеваний

NUTRITIONAL RISK STATUS, DIETARY INTAKE AND COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE IN OLDER ADULTS WITH MOTORIC COGNITIVE RISK SYNDROME.

Modifiable lifestyle factors such as diet are associated with cognitive decline and dementia. Greater understanding of the nutritional intake of older adults who are at increased risk for cognitive decline may allow for the development of more effective dietary interventions to prevent or delay the onset of dementia. The purpose of this study was to characterize the nutritional status, diet quality and individual nutritional components of older adults with motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR). MCR is a pre-dementia syndrome classified by slow gait speed and subjective memory impairments. Cross-sectional analysis. A community-based senior center located in an urban setting. Twenty-five community-dwelling older adults with MCR aged 60-89 yrs. Nutritional risk status was determined using the Nestle Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). A food frequency questionnaire was used to quantify: overall dietary quality using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI); adherence to the Mediterranean-DASH for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) dietary pattern; and intake of individual nutritional components shown to be protective or harmful for cognitive function in older adults. Participants completed a computerized cognitive testing battery to assess cognitive abilities. More than one third (36%) of participants were at increased risk for malnutrition. Participants at lower risk for malnutrition had better working memory (r = 0.40, p = 0.04), executive functioning (r = 0.44, p = 0.03), and overall cognition (r = 0.44, p = 0.03). While participants generally consumed a reasonable quality diet (HEI = 65.15), 48% of participants had poor adherence to a neuroprotective MIND dietary pattern. Higher intake of B-complex vitamins was associated with better task switching (r = 0.40, p ≤ 0.05) and faster processing speeds (r = 0.39, p ≤ 0.05). Higher vitamin C intake was associated with better executive functioning (r = 0.40, p ≤ 0.05). Our findings suggest that a significant proportion of older adults with MCR may be at increased risk for malnutrition. While the diet quality of older adults with MCR appeared to need improvement, future studies should investigate the effects of more specific nutritional interventions, including the MIND diet, on cognition in at-risk older adults.

Epigenetics, Maternal Diet and Metabolic Programming

Background: The maternal environment influences embryonic and fetal life. Nutritional deficits or excesses alter the trajectory of fetus/offspring’s development. The concept of “developmental programming” and “developmental origins of health and disease” consists of the idea that maternal diet may remodel the genome and lead to epigenetic changes. These changes are induced during early life, permanently altering the phenotype in the posterior adult stage, favoring the development of metabolic diseases such as obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hyperinsulinemia, and metabolic syndrome. In this review, it is aimed to overview epigenetics, maternal diet and metabolic programming factors and determine which of these might affect future generations. Scope and Approach: Nutrients interfere with the epigenome by influencing the supply and use of methyl groups through DNA transmethylation and demethylation mechanisms. They also influence the remodeling of chromatin and arginine or lysine residues at the N-terminal tails of histone, thus altering miRNA expression. Fats, proteins, B vitamins and folates act as important cofactors in methylation processes. The metabolism of carbon in the methyl groups of choline, folic acid and methionine to S-Adenosyl Methionine (SAM), acts as methyl donors to methyl DNA, RNA, and proteins. B-complex vitamins are important since they act as coenzymes during this process. Key Findings and Conclusion: Nutrients, during pregnancy, potentially influence susceptibility to diseases in adulthood. Additionally, the deficit or excess of nutrients alter the epigenetic machinery, affecting genes and influencing the genome of the offspring and therefore, predisposing the development of chronic diseases in adults.

Thiamin supplementation does not improve left ventricular ejection fraction in ambulatory heart failure patients: a randomized controlled trial

Thiamin, a water-soluble B-complex vitamin, functions as a coenzyme in macronutrient oxidation and in the production of cellular ATP. Data suggest that thiamin depletion occurs in heart failure (HF). Therefore, thiamin supplementation in HF patients may improve cardiac function. We sought to determine whether oral thiamin supplementation improves left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), exercise tolerance, and quality of life among patients with HF and reduced LVEF. In this prospective, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial, eligible ambulatory patients with HF and reduced LVEF were recruited from 4 academic and community hospitals between 2010 and 2015. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either 200 mg oral thiamin mononitrate per day or placebo for 6 mo. Sixty-nine patients (mean±SD age: 64±12 y; 83% men; LVEF: 37%±11%) were randomly assigned: 34 received placebo and 35 received thiamin supplementation. Erythrocyte thiamin pyrophosphate and urine thiamin concentrations were significantly higher in the supplemented group than in the placebo group at 6 mo (P=0.02 and <0.001, respectively). At 6 mo, LVEF was significantly higher in the placebo group than in the thiamin group (38%; 95% CI: 36%, 39% compared with 35%; 95% CI: 33%, 37%, P=0.047) after adjusting for baseline measurements. There were no significant differences in Minnesota Living with Heart Failure score, distance walked in 6 min, and N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide concentrations between the 2 groups. One patient (2.9%) in the thiamin-supplemented group and none in the control group died at 6 mo. In ambulatory patients with HF and reduced LVEF, thiamin supplementation for 6 mo did not improve LVEF, quality of life, or exercise capacity, despite increases in thiamin concentrations. These findings do not support routine thiamin supplementation in the treatment of HF and reduced LVEF.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00959075.

An integrative therapy for paraplegia dog with ehrlichiosis

An eight-months-old male Golden Retriever was referred to Veterinary Teaching Hospitalof IPB University with clinical signs of non-ambulatory paraplegia, tail paralysis, urinary and faecal incontinence, pale mucosa, and loss of sensory and motoric responses on both pelvic limbs. The hematology examination showed thrombocytopenia (125x103/µL), monocytopenia (0.09x103/µL),and no significant decreased of hematocrit (36.88%). Rapid diagnostic test and blood smears were positive for Ehrlichiacanis infection. Abdominalsonogram showed splenomegaly and hepatomegaly with hepatic vessels dilatation. An integrative therapy was done using medications (vitamin B-complex, cyproheptadine, methylprednisolone, doxycycline, and Fundamin E®), herbal (Gui Pi Tang® and Fu Fang Ejiao Jiang®), acupuncture, micro-radar, and Tuina massage. The dog was able to walk and run after 10th session of the intensivetreatment then discharged from the hospital after two months. One week after, the dog started dragging his toe. A customized shoe then made to prevent furtherinjury to the affected limb. The acupuncture was continued once a week for the following two months. The dog is still able to walk and run at his last visit 5 months later. This shows that an integrative therapycan give a good performance in recovering ambulation of paraplegia dog with ehrlichiosis

A new etiology for variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome: bariatric surgery

Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for obesity. However, the number of acute or chronic neurological complications after bariatric surgery, including Guillain-Barré syndrome, is increasingly reported. We present here two cases which developed acute motor sensory polyneuropathy a couple months after bariatric surgery which rapidly progressed over the following month. Both patients used received parenteral vitamin B complex replacement after surgery. The first case responded well to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatment. However, the second case required plasmapheresis and physical rehabilitation for recovery after IVIg treatment. It is thought that minerals, vitamins, and trace element deficiencies can develop after bariatric surgery. These deficiencies may trigger inflammatory and autoimmune mechanisms and cause acute polyneuropathies. In such cases, it should be kept in mind that immune therapies may be beneficial, as well as vitamins.

Neurological complications of alcoholic disease and ways of their correction

The problem of alcohol abuse and its social and medical consequences has remained relevant for many years. Damage to the nervous system is one of the most common manifestations of alcoholic disease. The effect of ethanol and its metabolites results in damage to all parts of the nervous system and skeletal muscles. The paper provides a brief overview of Russian and foreign literature on the neurological manifestations of chronic alcohol intoxication. It considers modern ideas about the pathogenesis of alcoholic neuropathy (APN). It also discusses differences in the clinical presentation, course, and developmental mechanisms of the main (chronic toxic and acute/subacute) forms of APN associated with thiamine deficiency. The paper notes difficulties in diagnosing peripheral nerve damage, especially in the early stages of the disease and describes modern methods for objectifying damage to thin nerve fibers in chronic APN. It presents approaches to treating alcohol-induced damage to the peripheral nervous system, by taking into account the leading mechanisms of pathogenesis. Special attention is paid to B-complex vitamins and alpha-lipoic acid preparations frequently used in this disease, to the mechanisms of their therapeutic action, and to the evaluation of their efficacy in APN.

Quantitative analysis of bioactive compounds present in Iranian royal jelly

In this article, quantitative analysis of bioactive compounds present in Iranian royal jelly consisted of 10-HDA, acetylcholine, total proteins, soluble proteins including albumin, beta-glubolin, gamma globulin and insoluble proteins, nucleotides and ATP, free amino acids namely proline, lysine, aspartic acid, serine, threonine, alanine, cystine, valine, B-complex vitamins namely thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, niacin, folic acid, and potassium as an important mineral have been determined. This research has shown that the Iranian royal jelly has a fairly good quality as compared to the foreign ones. Royal jelly samples were selected from three different climatical regions of Iran including Mashhad (hot and dry), Amol (moderate and wet) and Ardabil (cold and dry). Statistical analysis have shown that the bioactive compounds in royal jelly from Mashhad and Amol were significantly different which were 16.775 and 12.253 g/100g, respectively. Among the proteins available in Iranian royal jelly, albumin has the highest concentration that makes up about 50% of total proteins. Among the main amino acids in Iranian royal jelly, proline, aspartic acid, and lysine have the highest concentrations in respective decreasing order. The results have shown that royal jelly obtained from dry and arid regions has higher nutritional value as compared to moderate regions particularly the contents of 10-HDA and amino acids. It seems these components are increased in hot or cold and dry survey areas such as Mashhad and Ardebil due to less rainfall and more aromatic and medicinal vegetation in comparison with rainy area such as Amol.

A comparative assessment of phenotypic and molecular diversity in Doum (Hyphaene thebaica L.).

Doum palm (Hyphaene thebaica L.) has been reported as one of the most beneficial species worldwide. Its fruits are a good source of fibers, antioxidants, B-complex vitamins, essential minerals, monosaccharides, essential oil and flavonoids. Fruit extract shows anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer and pharmacological potential. However, there is a lack of investigations dealing with its genetic diversity. Therefore, a collection of twelve mature female palm landraces grown in the botanical garden of Aswan, "Egypt" were used for genetic diversity assessment based on phenotypic and molecular levels. 18 vegetal and chemical traits were evaluated. Fifteen of them showed highly significant variation among the tested landraces. Euclidian-based-dendrogram discriminated the tested landraces based on their phenotypic similarities to three main clusters showing a high level of variability. Molecular analysis using inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) vis-à-vis start codon targeted (SCoT) polymorphism markers displayed the relationships among the tested landraces molecularly. Both markers showed a reasonable degree of polymorphism, however SCoT was more effective than the ISSR by showing a higher percentage of polymorphism, polymorphism information content, resolving power and diversity index. Cluster analysis based on molecular data showed a clear relationship among the doum landraces. However, ISSR- and SCoT-based dendrograms were slightly different, and completely unlike that based on phenotypic data. Nevertheless, phenotypic and molecular evaluations might complement each other, and by data of both an excellent overview was obtained from principle coordinate analysis. The information herein is valuable and considered as a keystone for further proximate studies on doum genetic diversity to help in improvement and breeding approaches.

THE INFLUENCE OF GENOTYPE AND STORAGE CONDITION ON THE CONTENT OF SELECTED BIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES IN THE FRUIT OF PUMPKIN (CUCURBITA MOSCHATA DUCH.)

Butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata) is a significant crop in terms of the content of bioactive substances with antioxidant properties – vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenoids, polyphenol compounds – as well as B-complex and potassium vitamins are appreciated by the consumer both raw and heat treated. It is suitable for storage, consumption in the fresh state or heat treatment thanks to its interesting sensory properties. The aim of the thesis was to evaluate the influence of genotype and storage conditions on the content of selected bioactive substances in the fruit of these six varieties: Liscia, Matilda F1, Orange, Serpentine, UG 205 F1 and Waltham F1. From bioactive substances we determined the content of total carotenoids and total polyphenols in the flesh of the fruits before and after storage. The total carotenoid content in the fruit before storage was in the range of 40.62 mg.100 g-1 DS (dry substance) to 76.78 mg.100 g-1 DS, after storage the range transformed into 50.58 mg.100 g -1 DS to up to 109.81 mg.100 g-1 DS. The total polyphenol content before storage ranged from 109.95 mg GAE.100 g-1 DS to 198.96 mg GAE.100 g-1 DS, after storage in the range of 152.51 mg of GAE.100 g-1 DS to 199.83 mg of GAE.100 g-1 DS. The results show that the highest content of total carotenoids in fresh fruits after harvest was determined in the pulp of the varieties UG 205 F1 (76.78 mg.100 g-1 DS), Orange (71.40 mg.100 g-1 DS), and high content of total polyphenols was determined in the Matilda F1 strains (198.96 mg GAE.100 g-1 DS) and Orange (166.09 mg GAE.100 g-1 DS). After two months of the fruit’s storage, the total carotenoid content significantly increased in Liscia by 91%, Orange and Waltham F1 both by 54%. The total polyphenol content considerably rose in Liscia and UG 205 F1 varieties by 39%. The highest content of total polyphenols after storage was found in Serpentine fruit (199.83 mg GAE.100 g-1 DS). It follows that from the point of view of the content of total carotenoids it makes sense to store the fruits of the Orange and Waltham F1 varieties and, in terms of total polyphenols content, the fruits of the Serpentine variety. Taking into account the development of the contents of both groups of bioactive substances, storage of the Liscia variety is recommended. The effect of genotype on total carotenoid and polyphenol content in fruit was statistically significant. Storing these pumpkin varieties resulted in an increment of their total carotenoid and polyphenol content, but it did not have any statistical significance.

Evaluation of nutritional composition, physico-chemical and sensory properties of ‘Robo’ (a Nigerian traditional snack) produced from watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) seeds

This study evaluated the nutritional composition, physico-chemical and sensory properties of ‘Robo’ (a Nigerian traditional snack) produced from watermelon seeds in order to improve the utilization of watermelon seeds in producing value-added products, acceptable to the consumers. Watermelon seeds were dehulled, dried and used to prepared ‘Robo’ in the laboratory and control samples were prepared from melon seeds. The proximate analysis, amino acid profile, vitamin, mineral and heavy metal profile and consumer acceptance of the ‘Robo’ samples were determined using standard methods. The results showed that there were no significant differences (p≥0.05) in the proximate composition of the ‘Robo’ samples from watermelon and melon seeds. There were significant differences (p≤0.05) in amino acid, vitamin and mineral profile of ‘Robo’ samples from watermelon and melon seeds. The amino acid concentration in g/100 g crude protein of ‘Robo’ for lysine, arginine and leucine were 4.58±0.01, 1.82±0.00 and 4.92±0.01 respectively for ‘Robo’ produced from watermelon seeds while 4.91±0.01, 2.01±0.00 and 5.16±0.01 respectively were recorded for ‘Robo’ produced from melon seeds. The study showed that the ‘Robo’ samples contained high amounts of vitamin Bcomplex and minerals and low amounts of heavy metals. In conclusion, the ‘Robo’ samples from watermelon seeds and control samples had high sensory scores and were well acceptable to the consumers. With these research findings, watermelon seeds could be used for the production of ‘Robo’ as a promising raw material. This will create readymade market for the underutilized watermelon seeds and as well as creating more income to watermelon farmers.

Rumen cannulation of sheep by Hecker method - a case study

A modified fistulation technique described by Hecker in 1969 was adopted for the first time in Sri Lanka in sheep, in order to establish a cannulated rumen fistula. Pre-operative procedures included administration of tetanus toxoid 14 days prior to surgery, withholding feed and water for twenty-four hours, Vitamin B-complex and antibiotic injections on the day prior to surgery, and preparation of the left flank region for surgery. Immediately prior to the surgery parenteral analgesic injection was administered and left para-vertebral nerve block was performed. The rumen wall was exteriorized through a laparotomy incision and a metal clamp was applied. Simple interrupted sutures were placed using nylon through the skin, rumen wall and the clamp. After 7 – 9 days the exteriorized rumen wall sloughed off leaving a fistula. A tight rubber cannula was inserted through the fistula and the cannula was closed with a ring and stopper. The antibiotic and analgesic were repeated post-operatively for three days. The cannulated animals were used for a one-year research project and the animals were clinically normal throughout the project.

Quantitative metabolomics approach reveals dynamics of primary metabolites in ‘Kinnow’ mandarin (C. nobilis × C. deliciosa) during advanced stages of fruit maturation under contrasting growing climates

ABSTRACTThis study employs a quantitative metabolomics approach to study the dynamics of primary metabolites in ‘Kinnow’ mandarin as influenced by maturation and ripening under contrasting growing climates. Fruit samples were harvested at regular intervals during the advanced stages of maturation and ripening from two contrasting growing locations, one under subtropical–arid (STA) climate and the other under subtropical–humid (STH) climate. Fruit juice samples were analysed using a targeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) technique for identification and quantitation of primary metabolites such as sugars, organic acids and some vitamins. Significant (p < 0.05) differences in the metabolite concentrations were observed to be influenced by maturation stage and growing location. An increase in the concentration of sugars and B-complex vitamins was observed during the final stages of maturation approaching commercial maturity, whereas organic acids and vitamin C concentrations decreased. Fruit grown under STA climate exhibited a higher concentration of vitamin C and a lower concentration of organic acids than those grown under STH climate. The results suggest that fruit metabolism during the final stages of maturation and ripening under arid versus humid climatic conditions is a key determinant of the flavour and nutritional quality of ‘Kinnow’ mandarin.