Biochemical Compounds Research Articles

Effect of Germination and Illumination on Melatonin and Its Metabolites, Phenolic Content, and Antioxidant Activity in Mung Bean Sprouts.

Mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) sprouts are increasingly consumed and have become part of a healthy diet. The sprouts are composed of proteins, carbohydrates, and biochemical compounds. During germination, the phytochemical compounds are significantly elevated, especially under stress conditions such as salinity, drought, extreme temperature, and illumination. The present study examined the effects of light and germination time on the bioactive compounds in mung bean sprout extracts. Mung bean seeds were sprouted under different light exposure conditions, and the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of sprout extracts were determined compared to seeds. The results show that tryptophan sharply decreased during germination. On the contrary, melatonin, polyphenols, and total phenolic content (TPC) were elevated with increased germination time, correlated with increased antioxidant activity. Sprouts germinated in the dark presented higher levels of melatonin and TPC compared with those germinated under 12 h light exposure (3.6- and 1.5-fold, respectively). In conclusion, germination can enhance valuable phytochemicals and antioxidant activity of mung bean sprouts. Mung bean sprouts may be a good alternative functional food for promoting human health.

ANALYSIS OF PHOTOCHEMICAL PROFILE AND ENDOSYMBION BIOMASS OF CORAL Symbiodinium sp

Coral reefs are important ecosystems with the highest species diversity on earth. Besides its high ecological and economic value, it turns out that coral reefs are facing global climate change. One of the environmental factors affected by the effects of global climate change is the penetration of sunlight that reaches the earth's surface. Symbiodinium as a coral endosymbiont turns out to have an adaptation pattern that is correlated with environmental conditions, especially light. The research focused on the interaction between solar radiation and Symbiodinium and its biochemical profiles, which have an important meaning for coral reef ecology and its recovery when affected by excessive light. In addition, it opens up opportunities for the use of light as a triggering factor for the production of certain biochemical compounds in cells. The micro-habitat conditions in the laboratory are made in such a way that it can provide penetration of light intensity that is at the optimal or extreme threshold for Symbiodinium. The measured light intensity is expected to trigger the process of cellular adaptation and the production of certain biochemical compounds in cells. The results are expected to show that light has a significant effect on changes in the content of biochemical compounds in Symbiodinium biomass. The increase in light intensity is expected to guide cells to increase the concentration of lipids and intracellular fibers.

Study of Primary and Secondary Metabolites of Stenospermocarpic, Parthenocarpic and Seeded Raisin Varieties

(1) Background: Stenospermocarpic (Sultani Çekirdeksiz and Black Kishmish), parthenocarpic (Black Corinth), and seeded varieties (Ekşi Kara and Gök Üzüm) are used for raisin production. To our knowledge, there is little available information about the biochemical characteristics of raisins produced from these varieties. (2) Methods: Some metabolites, such as hormones, sugars, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, including enzymatic activity, were determined in different raisin varieties. (3) Results: Seedless raisin varieties presented higher content of several hormones, vitamins, and minerals, as antioxidant capacity than the raisins produced from seeded varieties. Contrary to this, seeded raisin varieties presented higher contents of most measured sugars and amino acids than the raisins produced from seedless varieties. (4) Conclusions: Biological mechanisms of pollination and fertilization induced modifications in the primary and secondary metabolism of grapes, considerably affecting biochemical compounds and the antioxidant capacity of raisins.

Impact of seed maturity on season-long physiological performance and offspring seed quality in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Cultivated peanut produces pods of varying maturity throughout most of the plant developmental stages, often leading to a considerable proportion of immature seeds at harvest. Plants originating from immature seeds not only have reduced emergence and physiological performance, but also reduced vigor of both mature and immature seeds produced in subsequent generations. Therefore, seed maturity effects on plant performance could potentially extend from physiology to the initiation and progression of reproduction. This study aimed to elucidate the impacts of seed maturity on plant performance and productivity. In this two-year experiment, season-long physiological and reproductive performance was compared among plants established from mature and immature seed of eight peanut cultivars differing in maturity potential. Our results suggest that plants produced from mature seeds had higher emergence and canopy coverage than plants produced from immature seeds over the season. Further, descendent seed quality was also affected: plants that originated from immature seeds produced mature seeds with average 9.91 % decreased mass, particularly for those formed earliest in plant development, and average 37.18 % less mature pods formed latest in plant development. At harvest, seeds were collected and tested for biochemical characteristics. Seeds that were produced by plants originating from mature seeds generally had higher carbohydrates, protein, oleic acids and lower lipid content than seeds produced by plants originating from immature seeds. Given these results, the use of mature seeds in production appears to be of utmost importance for both the performance of the subsequent plant and the resulting quality of the seed produced by these plants. • This two-year study tested peanut plant performance and the quality of their offspring seeds that formed at different time periods (represented as cohort groups) based on whether the plants and their offspring seeds originated from mature or immature seeds. • Plants produced from mature seeds had enhanced emergence and greater canopy cover than plants produced from immature seeds over the season. • Plants originating from immature vs. mature seeds produced pods/seeds differed in the numbers of mature pods, seed mass and biochemical compounds within each cohort group. • The impact of seed maturity on plant development is highly dependent to environmental influence.

Effect of Postharvest Treatments on Biochemical and Bioactive Compounds of Custard Apple (Annona Squamosa L.) Cv. Balanagar

ABSTRACT An experiment was conducted to find out the effects of various postharvest treatments on the biochemical and bioactive compounds of custard apple cv. Balanagar fruits. In the present experiment, three chemicals viz. oxalic acid (OA) (2.5 mM, 5.0 mM, 7.5 mM, and 10 mM; salicylic acid (SA) (0.5 mM, 1.0 mM, 1.5 mM, and 2.0 mM) and Sodium Nitro Prusside (SNP) at 0.5 mM, 1.0 mM, 1.5 mM, and 2.0 mM along with control were applied. Fruits were stored at ambient condition (Temp. 25 ± 2°C and relative humidity (RH) 44 ± 2%). Results indicated that fruits treated with SNP (2.0 mM) had significantly (p≤ 0.05) higher total soluble solids (30.80°B), titratable acidity (TA) (0.33%) and retained higher total sugar content (TS) (25.09%) at the end of the 9th day of storage. At the end of storage, the least reduction in total phenol content (TPC) (492.52 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 g (11.62%) was found in SNP (2.0 mM) treated fruits. Likewise, SNP (2.0 mM) significantly (p≤ 0.05) retained higher ascorbic acid (AA) (43.20 mg/100 g), antioxidant activity (AOX) (0.92 µmol Trolox Equivalent (TE)/g), total flavonoids (TF) (71.49 µg CE/100 g) and tannin content (TC) (1.28 mg/g) compared to control during 9 days of storage. Thus, in the present investigation, SNP treatment was most suited to preserve the nutritional quality and bioactive compounds.

Effect of polycarbonate and agricultural film on production and biochemical compounds of tomato fruits

Tomato production has been enhanced significantly by management using intervention of temperature and radiation control in a protected environment. The use of plastic and/or polycarbonate covers changes the dynamics of production in tropical climate regions. The present study aimed to compare the following covered cultivation conditions: 1) polycarbonate plate (10 mm) box-shaped polycarbonate with a twin wall with anti UV-A and B (P), 2) agricultural film (AF) anti UV-A and UV-B, and 3) open field (OF) on the productivity and quality of Italian hybrid tomatoes. The study was carried out at Embrapa Agrossilvipastoril located in Sinop, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Four tomato hybrids and 03 distinct environments were used in a randomized block design in a subplot setup with five replications. The main factor was hybrid traits, and the subplots were environments with different covers. The highest productivity occurred in the P environment, with the hybrids Fascinio and Vedette with 66.64 and 55.84 t ha-1, respectively. The highest plant yield obtained was in the P environment, with an average of 3.15 kg per plant. Among the evaluated hybrids, the highest antioxidant potential was observed in Shanty, and for the content of carotenoids, lycopene, and vitamin C, no significant difference was observed between the evaluated hybrids. We can conclude that the use of polycarbonate plates box shaped with a twinwall or agricultural film in a protected tomato cultivation system under high temperature conditions increases the yield and qualitative potential of the Fascinio and Vedette hybrids.

Synthesis and characterization of silver nanomaterial from aqueous extract of Commelina forskaolii and its potential antimicrobial activity against Gram negative pathogens

AimGreen synthesis of silver nanoparticles from medicinal plants have been progressively acquiring attractiveness to the researchers due to its sustainable nature, nontoxic and economically beneficial. The present study was to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from aqueous extract of Commelina forskaolii Vahl and exhibit its potential antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity. Material and MethodsThe whole plant of Commelina forskaolii was used to synthesize AgNPs. The synthesized AgNPs was then characterized by UV – visible spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The AgNps are widely tested for antibacterial, antifungal and cytotoxic property. ResultsThe phytochemical screening of the aqueous extract showed the presence of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, phenols, saponins, steroids, glycosides and proteins. The UV – vis absorption spectrum exhibited key peaks at 425 nm. FTIR spectrum revealed that the biochemical compounds are responsible for the reduction and capping material of AgNPs. SEM analysis showed, the average size of synthesized AgNPs ranged from 18 to 27 nm. TEM micrographs revealed that the particle size was to be 30–40 nm. The AgNPs exhibited potential antimicrobial activity against bacterial species (Enterococcus fecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) showed MIC at about 62.5 µg/ml and 125 µg/ml respectively and fungal species (Candida albicans and Aspergilus niger) 250 µg/ml and 31.2 µg/ml respectively. The synthesized AgNPs showed potential cytotoxic activity against human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) with the IC50 value of 50.2 µg/ml. The present investigation concludes the effectiveness of confirmed AgNPs might be used in pharmacological field for the treatment of bacterial, fungal and breast cancer.

Effect of Supercritical Process Parameters on Phenolic Compound

Carica papaya belonging to the Caricaceae family is an effective medicinal herb that is used as a folk medicine for the treatment of various diseases throughout the world. The present study was designed for evaluation of bioactive compound of dried papaya leaves extract received in supercritical fluid extraction method with special emphasis to the biochemical compound like phenol as well as the effect of various parameters like temperature, pressure, time and particle size on the phenol content. Maximunm phenol amount 1868.25 mg/100 gm was obtained at the at the 70°C and 250 bar pressure and minimum phenol 508.20 mg/100 gm was found at 70°C with 100 bar pressure in the supercritical fluid extraction method.

A Mini Review: The Application of Eupatorium Plants as Potential Cosmetic Ingredients

The Eupatorium plant has been well used in medication and as a decorative plant. Some studies have reported that this herb has biochemical compounds, such as sesquiterpenes, phenolics, polysaccharides, and pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Thus, it has pharmacological effects, including antifungal, antibacterial, cytotoxic, and antinociceptive properties, that can be utilized for cosmetic purposes. However, only a few published works have summarized the active compounds and the application of Eupatorium plants as cosmetic agents. Therefore, this article aims to review the application of Eupatorium plants as a potential cosmetic agent. The active compounds of Eupatorium are contained in the whole plant, as well as the stems, leaves, roots, and aerial parts (flower, fruit, and seeds). In terms of cosmetic applications, the activities of Eupathorium are antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase, anti-melanin/melanogenesis, anti-acne, and anti-inflammatory. This review aims to contribute to a better understanding for expanding the utilization of this plant for cosmetic purposes by using these active compounds.

In Vitro Gene Expression Responses of Bovine Rumen Epithelial Cells to Different pH Stresses.

Simple SummaryDietary changes and improper pasture feeding management can lead to subacute rumen acidosis or acute rumen acidosis in cattle. When acidosis occurs, the rumen pH rapidly decreases to an abnormal level and induces lipopolysaccharide (LPS) release by rumen microorganisms. The entry of LPS into the blood through the rumen epithelium induces systemic inflammatory reactions that ultimately result in body damage, reduced performance, and even the death of animals. However, the manner in which genes in the rumen epithelium are regulated in response to pH reduction remains unclear. In this study, transcriptome sequencing and metabolome analysis were performed on rumen epithelial cells at different pH values in vitro to determine the adaptive expressions of genes and metabolites in rumen epithelial cells during the occurrence of rumen acidosis. Our results contribute to a deeper understanding of the response mechanism of the rumen epithelium during the occurrence of rumen acidosis.Ruminal acidosis often occurs in production, which greatly affects animal health and production efficiency. Subacute rumen acidosis (SARA) occurs when rumen pH drops rapidly to 5.5–5.8, and acute rumen acidosis (ARA) occurs when rumen pH drops below 5.0, but the molecular regulation mechanism of the rumen epithelium after the rapid decrease in pH is still unclear. Bovine rumen epithelial cells (BRECs) were cultured at pH = 7.4 (control), 5.5 (SARA), and 4.5 (ARA). Transcriptome and metabolomic methods were used to obtain the molecular-based response of BRECs to different pH treatments; pH = 4.5 can significantly induce apoptosis of BRECs. The RNA-seq experiments revealed 1381 differently expressed genes (DEGs) in the control vs. SARA groups (p < 0.05). Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) were upregulated 4.25 and 6.86 fold, respectively, and TLR4 was downregulated 0.58 fold. In addition, 283 DEGs were identified in the control vs. ARA comparison (p < 0.05), and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PSTG2) was downregulated 0.54 fold. Our research reveals that the MAPK/TNF signaling pathway regulates the inflammatory response of BRECs. Metabolomics identified 35 biochemical compounds that were significantly affected (p < 0.05) in control vs. SARA and 51 in control vs. ARA. Bioinformatics analysis using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway database revealed that drug metabolism-cytochrome P450 metabolic and alpha-linolenic acid metabolism changes occurred. These transcriptional and metabolic changes are related to the adaptation of BRECs to low-pH stresses. In conclusion, the combined data analyses presented a worthy strategy to characterize the cellular, transcriptomic, and metabonomic adaptation of BRECs to pH in vitro. We demonstrated transcriptional expression changes in BRECs under pH stress and activation of the molecular mechanisms controlling inflammation.

A comparative study on the quality attributes, phenolic content and antioxidant activity of cultivated and wild asparagus as influenced by seasonal variations

AbstractThe wild asparagus Asparagus acutifolius L. is common in the Mediterranean Basin. Wild asparagus spears are an important food source within their native range, and can be used as a sustainable nutrition source. In addition, interest has risen in wild relative species of Asparagus as a source of genetic improvement in Asparagus officinalis L. In this study, the quality traits (spear colour, total soluble solid content, dry matter content and chlorophyll and sugar fractions) and health-related compounds (total phenolics and antioxidant capacity) of fresh spears of wild and cultivated asparagus grown in Turkey were compared using the same three harvest periods for two consecutive years. The results of this study indicated that spears of wild asparagus contained a higher level of greenness (–a*), hue angle, total soluble solid, dry matter, chlorophyll, sugars, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity, compared to cultivated asparagus. Although there was no significant difference in the total soluble solid, glucose, sucrose and antioxidant activity in the contents of the spears of both species throughout the season, the colour, dry matter, chlorophyll, fructose, total sugar and total phenolic content were subject to seasonal variations. Colour, chlorophyll and total phenolic content showed some minor fluctuations over the course of the season, but the patterns of fructose and total sugar differed, which tended to increase throughout the harvest season. The present work suggests greater quality traits and biochemical compounds of the spears of A. acutifolius compared with those of commonly cultivated species.

Comparative Analysis of a Family of Sliding Mode Observers under Real-Time Conditions for the Monitoring in the Bioethanol Production

Online monitoring of fermentation processes is a necessary task to determine concentrations of key biochemical compounds, diagnose faults in process operations, and implement feedback controllers. However, obtaining the signals of all-important variables in a real process is a task that may be difficult and expensive due to the lack of adequate sensors, or simply because some variables cannot be directly measured. From the above, a model-based approach such as state observers may be a viable alternative to solve the estimation problem. This work shows a comparative analysis of the real-time performance of a family of sliding-mode observers for reconstructing key variables in a batch bioreactor for fermentative ethanol production. These observers were selected for their robust performance under model uncertainties and finite-time estimation convergence. The selected sliding-mode observers were the first-order sliding mode observer, the proportional sliding mode observer, and the high-order sliding mode observer. For estimation purposes, a power law kinetic model for ethanol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae was performed. A hybrid methodology allows the kinetic parameters to be adjusted, and an approach based on inference diagrams allows the observability of the model to be determined. The experimental results reported here show that the observers under analysis were robust to modeling errors and measurement noise. Moreover, the proportional sliding-mode observer was the algorithm that exhibited the best performance.

Diversity and determinants of bitterness, astringency, and fat content in cultivated Nacional and native Amazonian cocoa accessions from Ecuador.

Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) is the only tree that can produce cocoa. Cocoa beans are highly sought after by chocolate makers to produce chocolate. Cocoa can be fine aromatic, characterized by floral and fruity notes, or it can be described as standard cocoa with a more pronounced cocoa aroma and bitterness. In this study, the genetic and biochemical determinants of sensorial notes and nonvolatile compounds related to bitterness, astringency, fat content, and protein content will be investigated in two populations: a cultivated modern Nacional population and a population of cocoa accessions collected recently in the Ecuadorian South Amazonia area of origin of the Nacional ancestral variety. For this purpose, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was carried out on both populations, with results of biochemical compounds evaluated by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) assays and with sensory evaluations. Twenty areas of associations were detected for sensorial data especially bitterness and astringency. Fifty-three areas of associations were detected linked to nonvolatile compounds. A total of 81 candidate genes could be identified in the areas of the association.

In vitro multiplication of Mentha piperita L. and comparative evaluation of some biochemical compounds in plants regenerated by micropropagation and conventional method

The aim of this study was to elaborate an efficient in vitro multiplication protocol for Mentha piperita L. (peppermint) and to perform a comparative evaluation of some biochemical compounds in plants regenerated by micropropagation and conventional method. The use of a plain Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium favored the induction of regenerative processes, the percentage of explants that started to grow four weeks after inoculation being 92%. The highest multiplication rate (7.12 shoots/explant) and the highest average shoot length (8.11 cm) were obtained on the MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/L benzylaminopurine, when nodal fragments were used as explants. The rooting phase was not necessary, the shoots developing roots on the multiplication medium. The acclimatization rate of in vitro regenerated plants to ex vitro conditions was 96%. Although biochemical investigations revealed some differences between in vitro regenerated plants and those obtained by conventional methods, the results obtained show that micropropagation can be used successfully to obtain high-quality peppermint biological material, a potential source of bioactive compounds with therapeutic effect.

Exogenous Proline, Methionine, and Melatonin Stimulate Growth, Quality, and Drought Tolerance in Cauliflower Plants

The impact of proline, methionine, and melatonin on cauliflower plants under drought stress is still unclear in the available publications. So, this research aims to study these biochemical compounds’ effects on cauliflower plants grown under well-irrigated and drought-stressed conditions. The obtained results showed that under drought-stressed conditions, foliar application of proline, methionine, and melatonin significantly (p ≤ 0.05) enhanced leaf area, leaf chlorophyll content, leaf relative water content (RWC), vitamin C, proline, total soluble sugar, reducing sugar, and non-reducing sugar compared to the untreated plants. These treatments also significantly increased curd height, curd diameter, curd freshness, and dry matter compared to untreated plants. Conversely, the phenolic-related enzymes including polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) were significantly reduced compared to the untreated plants. A similar trend was observed in glucosinolates, abscisic acid (ABA), malondialdehyde (MDA), and total phenols. Eventually, it can be concluded that the foliar application of proline, methionine, and melatonin can be considered a proper strategy for enhancing the growth performance and productivity of cauliflower grown under drought-stressed conditions.

Study of the Nutritional Quality and Therapeutic Virtues of Cassava Leaves Infected by the Mosaic Virus and Healthy in Central African Republic

Research Problem: Cassava leaves play an important role in the diet of the Central African population. Several studies have investigate the composition in nutrients of cassava leaves but only few study focused on the impact of the cassava mosaic virus disease, the main threat of the cassava production in sub-Saharan Africa, on the nutritional value of infected cassava leaves. The objective of this work is to determine the content of nutritional and anti-nutritional compounds in cassava leaves infected by the mosaic virus and healthy leaves.&#x0D; Material and Methods: The study was performed on two cassava varieties that are M66033 (susceptible to be infected by the mosaic virus) and Togo or TMS66 (resistant to the virus) planted in the locality of Bangui, the Capital of the Central African Republic. Cassava leaves were collected 3 months after planting, separated according to the mosaic severity symptoms (0 to 5) and kept at 4°C in a fridge. Biochemical analyses were performed on leaves for the determination of fiber, protein, lipid and carbohydrate contents as well as antioxidant contents.&#x0D; Result: The results showed that, the dietary fiber content is 44% in healthy leaves, it decreases from 42% to 26% in cassava leaves infected with mosaic virus. Protein content was 4% in the infected cassava leaf samples and 3% in the healthy cassava leaves. Lipid content decreases from 7% to 2% in mosaic-infected cassava leaves, it is 5% in healthy leaves. The carbohydrate content is 59% in mosaic-infected leaves and 43% in healthy leaves. The polyphenol content is 30 mgeq GA/ g in cassava leaves with mosaic symptoms and 28 mgeq GA/ g in healthy leaves. Flavonoid content decreases from 6 10-2 mgeq Q/ g to 0.510-2 mgeq Q/ g in cassava leaves with the mosaic symptom. Tannin content decreases from 6 10-2 to 0 mgeq cat/ g in mosaic infected cassava leaves. Tannin content is 210-2 mgeq cat/ g in healthy leaves. The defense mechanism developed by cassava plants infected with mosaic virus has an effect on the synthesis of biochemical compounds, fibers, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, polyphenols, Flavonoids and tannins. These results suggest that cassava leaves infected by mosaic virus are an excellent food for consumer health.

Health Status of Oilseed Rape Plants Grown under Potential Future Climatic Conditions Assessed by Invasive and Non-Invasive Techniques

Environmental conditions affect many plant traits such as biochemistry, physiology, morphology, and even their distribution around the world. Human activities have increased greenhouse gas emissions, which will promote a global rise in temperatures. The impact of climate change on natural vegetation and crops is difficult to predict, making it necessary to conduct experiments that mimic potential future climate conditions. Here, oilseed rape has been grown under environmental conditions that reproduce severe and intermediate climate change, setting the current climatic conditions as a control, with the main objective of evaluating the impact of climate change on the health status of this plant of agronomic interest. For such a purpose, two approaches (invasive and non-invasive) have been applied. Invasive quantitative measurements are based on the absorbance of biochemical compounds. Non-invasive methods such as thermal, multicolor fluorescence, and hyperspectral reflectance imaging sensors rely on the spectral properties of the plants. The results revealed that climate change induced lipid peroxidation, as well as alterations in pigment composition, transpiration, photosynthesis, and secondary plant metabolism. Those changes were more drastic the more severe the climatic condition imposed. Novel vegetation indices obtained from hyperspectral reflectance and specifically tailored to detect stress in brassicas correlated with physiological traits such as lipid peroxidation and secondary plant metabolism.

Biochemical and Proteome Analysis Reveal Different Nutritional Compound Compositions and Chloroplast Development Situations between Purple-Red and White-Yellow Tea Plant Cultivars

Across the world, most of the main tea plant cultivars are green-leaf cultivars, but colored-leaf cultivars have become increasingly popular in recent years. In this research, the differences between purple-red and white-yellow tea plant cultivars were compared on biochemical and proteome levels. White-yellow cultivars had significantly high amino acid (AA) content and low polyphenols/amino acid (PP/AA), while purple-red cultivars showed high PP/AA. Comprehensive analysis of all nutritional compounds revealed that most of them showed significant positive correlations, except AA, and that there were significant negative correlations between AA and other compounds. The nutritional compounds of some individual cultivars differed from the average trend of the classification, using color as a criterion. Twenty-one differential proteins were detected in the purple-red and yellow-white cultivars. Among these proteins, there were 16 upregulated proteins and 5 downregulated proteins in purple-red cultivars. Most of these proteins act in the photosynthetic system. This indicated that tea plants with purple-red leaves performed better in photosynthesis than yellow-white tea plant cultivars. The chloroplast development of white-yellow tea plant cultivars was obstructed and may introduce AA accumulation.

Promising Biomolecules with High Antioxidant Capacity Derived from Cryptophyte Algae Grown under Different Light Conditions.

Simple SummaryIn recent decades, the demand for natural and sustainable bioproducts has risen markedly. Accordingly, microalgae have received much attention as a promising biological resource with great industrial potential, since the microalgal production of biologically active compounds can be boosted by changing their cultivation conditions. Light is one of the key factors in the photosynthetic process, which directly affects cell division and the production of biochemical compounds. This study investigated the effect of light color and the species-specific capability of cryptophyte algae to produce phycoerythrin, phenolic compounds, and exopolysaccharides. The produced biomolecules were further studied for their antioxidant activity. The results showed that changes in light quality significantly affect the biochemical compositions of cryptophyte algae. Moreover, species-specific responses to changes in light quality were identified. The quantity and quality of derived biomolecules from the studied cryptophytes are remarkable and indicate that cryptophytes could be considered promising candidates for producing natural biochemical products for practical applications in various industry sectors, such as food, pharmacy, and cosmetics.The accumulation and production of biochemical compounds in microalgae are influenced by available light quality and algal species-specific features. In this study, four freshwater cryptophyte strains (Cryptomonas ozolinii, C. pyrenoidifera, C. curvata, and C. sp. (CPCC 336)) and one marine strain (Rhodomonas salina) were cultivated under white (control), blue, and green (experimental conditions) lights. Species-specific responses to light quality were detected, i.e., the color of light significantly affected cryptophyte biomass productivity and biochemical compositions, but the optimal light for the highest chemical composition with high antioxidant capacity was different for each algal strain. Overall, the highest phycoerythrin (PE) content (345 mg g−1 dry weight; DW) was reached by C. pyrenoidifera under green light. The highest phenolic (PC) contents (74, 69, and 66 mg g−1 DW) were detected in C. curvata under control conditions, in C. pyrenoidifera under green light, and in C. ozolinii under blue light, respectively. The highest exopolysaccharide (EPS) content (452 mg g−1 DW) was found in C. curvata under the control light. In terms of antioxidant activity, the biochemical compounds from the studied cryptophytes were highly active, with IC50 -values < 50 µg mL−1. Thus, in comparison to well-known commercial microalgal species, cryptophytes could be considered a possible candidate for producing beneficial biochemical compounds.

Assessing the potential of nutrient deficiency for enhancement of biodiesel production in algal resources

Depleting energy sources result in a growing interest in the conversion of microalgal biofuel to improve economic feasibility. Efficient and cost effective biomass conversion to biofuel demands an increase of carbohydrates and lipid accumulation in algal cells. In the present study, it is measured that concomitant nitrogen, phosphorous and, iron deficiency induces significant physiological and biochemical changes in microalgae Oedogonium sp., Ulothrix sp., Cladophora sp. and Spirogyra sp. by using Response surface methodology as the optimization of growth medium tool. In each of the studied algae species, nutrient deficiency reduced the growth rate of algae as well as protein and chlorophyll of individual cells. On other hand, the biochemical compounds such as carbohydrates were increased up to 0.58 mg/g in Oedogonium sp., 0.56 mg/g in Ulothrix sp., 0.61 mg/g in Cladophora sp., and 0.65 mg/g in Spirogyra sp. as compared to controls. The lipid increased by 75% in Oedogonium sp., 83% in Ulothrix sp., 78% in Cladophora sp., and 73% in Spirogyra sp. lipid content and fatty acid fractions of C16:0, C18:1 and C18:0 of algal species improve under nitrogen, phosphorus and iron deficiency that keeps the fuel properties (EN 14214, ASTM 6751 standard) in the acceptable range important to increase biodiesel quality. The results indicate that nutrient deficiency in algal biomass cultivation can enhance oil and carbohydrates and their subsequent biodiesel production on commercial scale. Highlights Improve lipid yield of algae under nutrient deficiency is studied for first time Optimization of carbohydrates and lipids of new algal resources was established Algal species could be commercialized for sustainable biodiesel production