Celeriac Research Articles

Reasoned opinion on the modification of the existing MRL for iprodione in celeriac

Reasoned opinion on the modification of the existing MRL for iprodione in celeriac

Development and validation of a duplex real-time PCR method for the simultaneous detection of celery and white mustard in food

Celery (celery root: Apium graveolens var. Rapaceum; leaf celery: A. g. var. Secalinum; celery stalks: A. g. var. Dulce) and mustard (white or yellow mustard: Sinapis alba; black mustard: Brassica nigra; brown or oriental mustard: Brassica juncea) are frequently used as ingredients in sauces, spices, sausages and other meat-products as well as in convenience products. Within the European Union, the presence of potentially allergenic celery and mustard in foodstuffs has to be declared according to the EU legislative 2007/68/EC. The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a duplex real-time PCR method allowing the simultaneous detection of traces of celery and white mustard in food. Primers and TaqMan probes were designed for the Apium graveolens NADPH-dependent mannose-6-phosphate reductase mRNA as well as the Sinapis alba mRNA for MADS D protein. PCR was performed on the RotorGene RG-3000 from Corbett Life Sciences. With the optimized duplex assay DNA extracted from celery root, leaf celery and celery stalks as well as DNA from white mustard was amplified. The assay did not show any cross-reactivity with more than 60 food matrices, among them important members of the plant families Apiaceae and Brassicaceae, spices and different meat species. The LOD in serially diluted DNA extracts from celery root, leaf celery, celery stalks and white mustard was found to be 2 pg/μL (10 pg absolute). The PCR efficiency was 99.4% for celery root, 108.3% for celery stalks, 96.5% for leaf celery and 99.0% for white mustard. The LOD in DNA extracts obtained by extraction of model sausages was 0.005% (50 mg/kg) for celery and 0.001% (10 mg/kg) for white mustard, in both raw and brewed model sausages. The PCR efficiency was 90.0% (celery) and 101.1% (white mustard) in raw model sausages and 85.8% (celery) and 91.2% (white mustard) in brewed model sausages.

Development and validation of a novel real-time PCR method for the detection of celery (Apium graveolens) in food

The paper presents a novel real-time PCR method allowing the detection of traces of celery (Apium graveolens) in complex food matrices. The method is based on the amplification of a sequence of the gene coding for the Apium graveolens NADPH-dependent mannose-6-phosphate reductase. It allows the detection of three commonly used celery varieties, celery roots (Apium graveolens var. rapaceum), celery stalks (Apium graveolens var. dulce) and leaf celery (Apium graveolens var. secalinum) and does not show any cross-reactivity with 64 biological species, including ten members of the Apiaceae family. The limit of detection, determined by analysing serially diluted celery extracts, is 10pg celery DNA for all three celery varieties. In spiked model sausages, the LOD is 0.005% celery. The real-time PCR method was applied to 26 commercial food products. Celery DNA was found in one out of ten samples without any information about the presence of celery.

Comparative analysis of radical scavenging and antioxidant activity of phenolic compounds present in everyday use spice plants by means of spectrophotometric and chromatographic methods

Comparative analysis of radical scavenging and antioxidant activities of phenolic compounds present in everyday use spice plants was carried out by means of spectrophotometric and chromatographic methods. Six spice plant samples, namely onion (Allium cepa), parsley (Petroselinum crispum) roots and leaves, celery (Apium graveolens) roots and leaves and leaves of dill (Anethum graveolens) were analyzed. Total amount of phenolic compounds and radical scavenging activity (RSA) was the highest in celery leaves and dill extracts and was the lowest in celery roots. Comparing commonly used spectrophotometric analysis of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) RSA of extracts with the results obtained using reversed-phase chromatographic separation with on-line post-column radical scavenging reaction detection, good correlation was obtained (R(2)=0.848). Studies using HPLC system with electrochemical detector showed that bioactive phytochemicals can be separated and antioxidant activities of individual compounds evaluated without the need of a complex HPLC system with reaction detector. The results obtained using electrochemical detection correlate with the RSA assayed using spectrophotometric method (R(2)=0.893).

Pyrene Biodegradation in an Industrial Soil Exposed to Simulated Rhizodeposition: How Does It Affect Functional Microbial Abundance?

Rhizodeposition is an important biogeochemical process for the phytoremediation of contaminated substrates. This study investigated the effects of various rhizodeposition components from celery (Apium graveolens) on pyrene biodegradation and microbial abundance in a long-term contaminated soil. Batch microcosms simulating in situ contaminated soil were amended with lipophilic extract, water-soluble extract, or debris from celery root to mimic plant rhizodeposition within 70 days. Soil was intermittently analyzed for pyrene concentration and target gene abundance estimated by real-time PCR. Lipophilic extract was the major simulated rhizodeposit enhancing pyrene biodegradation, while water-soluble extract stimulated microbial growth most efficiently. The relative abundance of total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) degraders was enhanced by lipophilic extract but inhibited by the other two rhizodeposits, indicating that these components exerted different selective pressures on PAH degrader community. Moreover, PAH catabolic pathway may involve in the pollutant detoxification and fatty acid metabolism by microorganisms, which were also affected by rhizodeposition. These results provide insights into plant-microbe interactions responsible for PAH biodegradation and offer opportunities to facilitate PAH phytoremediation in industrial sites.

RoBuST: an integrated genomics resource for the root and bulb crop families Apiaceae and Alliaceae

BackgroundRoot and bulb vegetables (RBV) include carrots, celeriac (root celery), parsnips (Apiaceae), onions, garlic, and leek (Alliaceae)—food crops grown globally and consumed worldwide. Few data analysis platforms are currently available where data collection, annotation and integration initiatives are focused on RBV plant groups. Scientists working on RBV include breeders, geneticists, taxonomists, plant pathologists, and plant physiologists who use genomic data for a wide range of activities including the development of molecular genetic maps, delineation of taxonomic relationships, and investigation of molecular aspects of gene expression in biochemical pathways and disease responses. With genomic data coming from such diverse areas of plant science, availability of a community resource focused on these RBV data types would be of great interest to this scientific community.DescriptionThe RoBuST database has been developed to initiate a platform for collecting and organizing genomic information useful for RBV researchers. The current release of RoBuST contains genomics data for 294 Alliaceae and 816 Apiaceae plant species and has the following features: (1) comprehensive sequence annotations of 3663 genes 5959 RNAs, 22,723 ESTs and 11,438 regulatory sequence elements from Apiaceae and Alliaceae plant families; (2) graphical tools for visualization and analysis of sequence data; (3) access to traits, biosynthetic pathways, genetic linkage maps and molecular taxonomy data associated with Alliaceae and Apiaceae plants; and (4) comprehensive plant splice signal repository of 659,369 splice signals collected from 6015 plant species for comparative analysis of plant splicing patterns.ConclusionsRoBuST, available at http://robust.genome.com, provides an integrated platform for researchers to effortlessly explore and analyze genomic data associated with root and bulb vegetables.

Fruit and Vegetables Disinfection at SAMRO, Ltd. Using Hygienic Packaging by Means of Ozone and UV Radiation

At the SAMRO AG plant in Burgdorf, Switzerland, the Ventafresh technology has been adopted for cleaning, disinfecting, and storage of potatoes. Ventafresh technologies include washing raw potatoes with ozone-containing water, then treatment with UV radiation in a specially designed “disinfection tunnel”. Ozone wash water disinfects the potatoes while field detritus is removed. UV radiation continues the disinfection and simultaneously destroys remaining ozone. After being processed in the Ventafresh tunnel, cleansed and disinfected potatoes are stored in a clean warehouse at high humidity in an atmosphere containing a lower concentration of ozone. When ready for marketing, the stored potatoes are washed with ozone/water, dried and graded, then washed in another bath with ultrasound and UV radiation, washed again in ozone/water, passed through a tunnel while being exposed to UV radiation (185 and 254 nm), passed through a bath of electrolyzed water, through another UV tunnel, packaged in a nitrogen + CO2 atmosphere, and distributed. The process is applicable to all root vegetables, plus root celery and asparagus, and also to certain fruits (apples, pears, kiwis, tomatoes, and Sharon fruits).

Modification of the existing MRLs for prosulfocarb in carrots and celeriac

Modification of the existing MRLs for prosulfocarb in carrots and celeriac

Modification of the existing MRL for fludioxonil in celeriac

Modification of the existing MRL for fludioxonil in celeriac

EVALUATION OF PRODUCTIVITY AND BIOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF EDIBLE ROOT CELERY

EVALUATION OF PRODUCTIVITY AND BIOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF EDIBLE ROOT CELERY

Protective effects of celery juice in treatments with Doxorubicin.

The aim of this work was to investigate possible protective effect of celery juice in doxorubicin treatment. The following biochemical parameters were determined: content of reduced glutathione, activities of catalase, xanthine oxidase, glutathione peroxidase, peroxidase, and lipid peroxidation intensity in liver homogenate and blood hemolysate. We examined influence of diluted pure celery leaves and roots juices and their combinations with doxorubicine on analyzed biochemical parameters. Celery roots and leaves juices influenced the examined biochemical parameters and showed protective effects when applied with doxorubicine.

Vegetables as biocatalysts in stereoselective hydrolysis of labile organic compounds

Hydrolysis of labile esters of β-hydroxyketones has been performed with whole plant tissue from various vegetables. The pheromone 5-hydroxy-4-methyl-3-heptanone (1) was used as the model compound. Hydrolysis of acetates and benzoates of 1 was unsuccessful using normal conditions of ester hydrolysis, both by chemical hydrolysis and by the means of commercial lipases. When, however, whole cells of carrot, celery root, eggplant, parsley root, parsnip and potato were used as reagents, hydrolysis of the acetates was successful. At low conversion the hydrolysis was stereoselective and at total conversion virtually no formation of by-products was observed. The selectivity varied among the eight vegetables that were evaluated. Methods of preparation and substrate-to-plant ratio were examined. Furthermore, acetates and benzoates of three analogous compounds [5-hydroxy-3-heptanone (2), 5-hydroxy-5-methyl-3-heptanone (3) and 5-ethyl-6-hydroxy-4-octanone (4)] were hydrolyzed by potato and sweet potato to various degrees, indicating that the method is general for the mild and stereoselective hydrolysis of secondary β-alkoxy- and β-aryloxyketones.

Effects on Mineral Content of Different Methods of Preparing Frozen Root Vegetables

Contents of ash and P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Cr, and Ni were determined in raw carrot, root celery, parsnip, and red beet before and after blanching and cooking, and also after 12 months of refrigerated storage. The treatments applied before freezing included washing, peeling, grinding, and blanching or cooking, which caused significant decreases in the content of most analysed elements in carrot, root celery, and parsnip. Red beet was not peeled when it was thermally processed, this avoided mineral losses and no significant changes were found between raw and boiled samples. Carrot, root celery, and parsnip previously cooked and then frozen, had a significant higher content of sodium and manganese, while chromium content did not change. There were no differences found in manganese, zinc, nickel or phosphorus content in carrot and parsnip. Depending on vegetables, differences in other minerals were not significant or their content was higher in cooked than in blanched samples before freezing.

Partial purification and characterisation of polyphenol oxidase from celery root (Apium graveolens L.) and the investigation of the effects on the enzyme activity of some inhibitors

SummaryPolyphenol oxidase (PPO) of celery root was extracted and partially purified by (NH4)2SO4 fractionation and dialysis. Optimum pH and temperature were found at pH 7.0 and 30 °C, and Km and Vmax values were 29 mm and 5560 U mL−1 min−1 with catechol, respectively. The activation energy of the enzyme with catechol was 17.9 kJ mol−1 at pH 7.0. In electrophoretic seperation, six isoenzymes were detected with dl‐dopa substrate. PPO showed activity to catechol, 4‐methylcatechol, pyrogallol, gallic acid, dl‐dopa. l‐Tyrosine was also tested but was not oxidised by celery root PPO. β‐Mercaptoethanol was found to be the most effective inhibitor. (NH4)2SO4, NaCl, KCl and sucrose appeared to be protective agents of celery root PPO against thermal denaturation. Metal ions (Cu2+, Zn2+, Mn2+) were poor inhibitors of the celery root PPO at 1 mm. PPO activity was also inhibited by CaCl2, NaCl, BaCl2, FeSO4 and NiCl2.

Effect of celery (Apium graveolens) extracts on some biochemical parameters of oxidative Stress in mice treated with carbon tetrachloride

Extracts of celery leaves and roots in ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water were evaporated to dryness and dissolved in 50% ethanol to make 10% (w[sol ]v) solutions. The potential protective action of the extracts was assessed by the corresponding in vitro and in vivo tests. In the in vitro experiments crude methanol extracts were tested as potential scavengers of free OH* and DPPH* radicals, as well as inhibitors of liposomal peroxidation (LPx). Analogous experiments were also carried out with the extracts of celery root, for comparison. The results obtained show that both the extracts of root and leaves are good scavengers of OH* and DPPH* radicals and reduce LPx intensity in liposomes, which points to their protective (antioxidant) activity. In vivo experiments were concerned with antioxidant systems (activities of GSHPx, GSHR, Px, CAT, XOD, GSH content and intensity of LPx) in liver homogenate and blood of mice after their treatment with extracts of celery leaves, or in combination with CCl4. On the basis of the results obtained it can be concluded that the examined extracts showed a certain protective effect. Of all the extracts the n-butanol extract showed the highest protective effect. Combined treatments with CCl4 and extracts showed both positive and negative synergism - inducing or suppressing the impact of CCl4 alone. The differences observed in the action of particular extracts are probably due to the different contents of flavonoids and some other antioxidant compounds.

Determination of the mass transfer coefficient during hot-air-drying of celery root

The objective of this study was to determine the mass transfer coefficient during hot-air-drying of celery root under natural convection conditions. The shrinking of the material during drying was taken into account. The inverse problem formulation approach was applied for simultaneous determination of the mass transfer coefficient and effective moisture diffusivity. The results were compared with literature data and the values received based on the Chilton–Colburn analogy. It was found that the inverse problem formulation approach enabled to obtain the most accurate and reliable values of the mass transfer coefficient. It was also found that mass transfer coefficient determination based on the Chilton–Colburn analogy was burdened with gross errors.

Allergieauslösende Nahrungsmittel im Laufe der Zeit – eine Statistik der Jahre 1978 – 1998

The frequency of allergies to particular foods in adults has never been documented over time. Therefore, it is not possible to give evidence about a possible shift in the spectrum of food allergens over the years. There are periodic analyses of the patients of the Allergy Unit of the Department for Dermatology at the University Hospital of Zurich that were diagnosed with food allergies between 1978 - 1998. Detailed data about food allergens are taken from previous published data. In order to detect trends in food allergens, the yearly frequency of food, responsible for systemic allergic reactions among food allergic patients diagnosed in these publications, is calculated for the observation period. Between 1978 - 1982: 173, between 1983 -1987: 229, between 1990 - 1994: 383 and in the year 1998: 87 patients have been evaluated to have a food allergy. Over the entire observation period of 20 years, celery root was the most frequent allergen. The frequency of carot allergy was stable, but - in respect to celery - over all relatively low. Since the 90s, a marked increase of the following food allergies can be observed: allergies to peanuts and soy, which are both legumes, as well as to nuts (hazelnuts and almonds), exotic fruits (kiwis and bananas), and, in the year 1998, to crustaceans. The possible explanations for these findings, for example an increase of pollen allergies and, consequently, of pollen-associated food allergies (birch fruits vegetables nuts mugwort celery spices syndrom), the latex fruit syndrome, the fast advancing and globalization of the American fast food culture (peanuts), among others are discussed.

Determination of the heat transfer coefficient by inverse problem formulation during celery root drying

The main objective of the study was to determine, based on inverse problem formulation, changes in the heat transfer coefficient during celery root drying under natural convection conditions, and to compare them with those obtained using dimensionless equations. Another aim was to estimate the effects of particle geometry and heat exchange area adopted in the study on the above values. The rate of the process depends first of all on external heat exchange conditions. The solving of an inverse problem enables to obtain much more accurate values of heat transfer coefficient, compared with dimensionless numbers. In this process the heat transfer coefficient determined by inverse problem formulation is practically constant (8.1 ± 0.4 W m −2 K −1) and does not depend on moisture content of raw material within the range of its changes from an initial level of 9.200 kg water kg db - 1 to about 0.3 kg water kg db - 1 . A mathematical model of the heat transfer coefficient, considering a surface water jet, well approximates the target values ( R 2 = 0.9509). Simplifications assumed for the simulation models analyzed affect the calculated values of heat transfer coefficient.

Polyacetylenes from the Apiaceae Vegetables Carrot, Celery, Fennel, Parsley, and Parsnip and Their Cytotoxic Activities

A dichloromethane extract of root celery yielded falcarinol, falcarindiol, panaxydiol, and the new polyacetylene 8-O-methylfalcarindiol. The structure of the new compound was established by one- and two-dimensional (1D and 2D) NMR, mass spectrometry, and optical rotation data. Nonpolar extracts of roots and bulbs of carrots, celery, fennel, parsley, and parsnip were investigated for their content of polyacetylenes by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). All five species contained polyacetylenes, although carrots and fennel only in minor amounts. Additionally, the cytotoxicity of the four polyacetylenes against five different cell lines was evaluated by the annexin V-PI assay. Falcarinol proved to be the most active compound with a pronounced toxicity against acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line CEM-C7H2, with an IC(50) of 3.5 micromol/L. The possible chemopreventive impact of the presented findings is discussed briefly.

Some Biochemical Properties of Polyphenol Oxidase from Celery

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO, EC 1.14.18.1) was extracted from celery roots (Apium graveolens L.) with 0.1 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.0. The PPO was partially purified by (NH4)2SO4 and dialysis. Substrate specificity experiments were carried out with catechol, pyrogallol, L‐DOPA, p‐cresol, resorcinol, and tyrosine. The K m for pyrogallol, catechol, and L‐DOPA were 4.5, 8.3, and 6.2 mM, respectively, at 25°C. Data for V max/K m values, which represent catalytic efficiency, show that pyrogallol has the highest value. The optimum pH and temperature were determined with catechol, pyrogallol, and L‐DOPA. Optimum pH was 7.0 for catechol and L‐DOPA, and 7.5 for pyrogallol. Optimum temperatures for maximum PPO activity were 25°C for pyrogallol, 40°C for catechol, and 45°C for L‐DOPA. Heat inactivation studies showed a decrease in enzymatic activity at temperatures above 60°C. The order of inhibitor effectiveness was: L‐cysteine > ascorbic acid > glycine > resorcinol > NaCl.