Ethanol-soluble Material Research Articles

Effects of Post-Anthesis High-Temperature Stress on Carbon Partitioning and Starch Biosynthesis in a Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Adapted to Moderate Growth Temperatures.

This study investigates carbon partitioning in the developing endosperm of a European variety of spring wheat subjected to moderately elevated daytime temperatures (27°C/16°C d/night) from anthesis to grain maturity. Elevated daytime temperatures caused significant reductions in both fresh and dry weights and reduced the starch content of harvested grains compared to plants grown under a 20°C/16°C d/night regimen. Accelerated grain development caused by elevated temperatures was accounted for by representing plant development as thermal time (°C DPA). We examined the effects of high-temperature stress (HTS) on the uptake and partitioning of [U-14C]-sucrose supplied to isolated endosperms. HTS caused reduced sucrose uptake into developing endosperms from the second major grain-filling stage (approximately 260°C DPA) up to maturity. Enzymes involved in sucrose metabolism were unaffected by HTS, whereas key enzyme activities involved in endosperm starch deposition such as ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase and soluble isoforms of starch synthase were sensitive to HTS throughout grain development. HTS caused a decrease in other major carbon sinks such as evolved CO2, ethanol-soluble material, cell walls and protein. Despite reductions in the labeling of carbon pools caused by HTS, the relative proportions of sucrose taken up by endosperm cells allocated to each cellular pool remain unchanged, except for evolved CO2, which increased under HTS and may reflect enhanced respiratory activity. The results of this study show that moderate temperature increases can cause significant yield reductions in some temperate wheat cultivars chiefly through three effects: reduced sucrose uptake by the endosperm, reduced starch synthesis and increased partitioning of carbon into evolved CO2.

In vitro Study of Different Partitionates of Alstonia scholaris (L.) R.Br. Leaf for Thrombolytic and Membrane Stabilizing Activities

Alstonia scholaris (L.) R.Br. is a medicinal herb belonging to the family Apocyanaceae. Locally it is known as Chatim and abundant with ethno-medicinal properties. The crude ethanolic extract of A. scholaris leaves along with its n-hexane, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane and aqueous soluble partitionates were assayed for their probable thrombolytic and membrane stabilizing activities. The activities of the leaf extract were compared to standard drugs, streptokinase for thrombolytic and acetyl salicylic acid for membrane stabilizing activities. In this study, among all extractives the highest thrombolytic activity was exhibited by the crude ethanolic extract (55.33±0.08%) (p < 0.001) as compared to Streptokinase (62.07±0.33%) (p < 0.001). Alternatively, ethanol soluble materials also significantly inhibited the haemolysis of human erythrocyte membrane both in induced by hypotonic solution (83.47±0.15%) (p < 0.001) and by heat (79.82±0.71%) (p < 0.001), respectively as compared to standard acetyl salicylic acid (85.09±0.8%) (p < 0.001) and (80.98±1.34%) (p < 0.001).Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Journal 21(2): 145-149, 2018

Characterization of macromolecular complexes in red wine: Composition, molecular mass distribution and particle size

Precipitates were prepared from two compositionally different Pinot noir wines with addition of excess ethanol, and contained primarily polysaccharide, tannin and protein. The ethanol-soluble material was further fractionated into polymeric (tannin) and monomeric phenolics. Tannin associated with precipitates was of a higher molecular mass than that remaining in ethanolic solution. Wine fractions were reconstituted at the ratios of the original wine and analyzed using nanoparticle tracking analysis. The average particle size of the tannin fraction was 75–89nm, and increased when combined with the precipitate (≅200nm). Addition of the monomeric fraction to the tannin–precipitate complex increased both the incidence and concentration of smaller particles, reducing the average particle size. The formation of aggregates occurred in all fractions and only minor differences in particle size distribution were found between wines. Differences in particle concentration between wines appear to be due to differences in the total concentration of macromolecules rather than compositional differences.

Variation of extractives content in heartwood and sapwood of Eucalyptus globulus trees

The variation in extractives content in sapwood and heartwood was investigated among 12 trees in each of four commercial plantations of Eucalyptus globulus in central Portugal. The study was carried out at the 15% height level and extractions used successively dichloromethane, ethanol and water. At all sites, heartwood had significantly more extractives than sapwood, on average 3.8 and 2.4%, respectively. Most extractives consisted of ethanol soluble material (on average 52% of total extractives). Among the sites, there was a statistically significant difference in the content of extractives but the most important source of variation was the within-tree variation between sapwood and heartwood. Differences in the content of extractives were also observed among trees. A strong relation between extractives content and heartwood proportion was found. The potential loss of pulp yield and problems associated with accumulation of extractives are directly related to the heartwood proportion in the eucalypt stems. Forest management should take into account heartwood development and selection for minimising heartwood extractives.

Effect of Coprinus atramentarius on the metabolism of ethanol in mice.

Abstract The ethanol-soluble material extracted from Coprinus atramentarius was more toxic to mice, as measured by the LD50 and potentiation of the ethanol-induced sleeping time, than the whole mushroom or the residue remaining after ethanol extraction. Also, the ethanol-soluble fraction when fed to mice 4 h before administration of ethanol markedly increased the blood acetaldehyde and ethanol levels.

Antitussive activity of polysaccharides isolated from the Malian medicinal plants

From the leaves of popular Malian medicinal plants Trichilia emetica (TE) and Opilia celtidifolia (OC), and fruits of Crossopteryx febrifuga (CF) water and water–ethanol soluble polysaccharide materials were isolated. The results of chemical analysis of the crude polysaccharides showed the dominance of the arabinogalactan (∼54%) and the rhamnogalacturonan (∼30%) in T. emetica leaves, the arabinogalactan (∼60%), the rhamnogalacturonan (∼14%) and the glucuronoxylan (∼14%) in O. celtidifolia leaves, and pectic type of polysaccharides (∼75%) with a lower content of the arabinogalactan (∼17%) in C. febrifuga fruits . The plant polysaccharides showed various biological effects on the citric acid-induced cough reflex and reactivity of airways smooth muscle in vivo conditions. T. emetica and O. celtidifolia polysaccharides possessed significant cough-suppressive effect on chemically induced cough. Furthermore, values of specific airways resistance pointed on bronchodilatory property of polysaccharides isolated from O. celtidifolia. However, the crude extract from C. febrifuga in the same dose as T. emetica and O. celtidifolia did not influence the experimentally induced cough as well as reactivity of airways smooth muscle despite of the fact that the water–ethanol extract is recommended for cough therapy in Mali in the form of syrup.

Is Thiosulfate Sulfurtransferase the Colonic Sulfide Oxidase?

Neither sodium sulfide nor sodium thiosulfate is soluble in ethanol but NaHS.H20 is. We then removed insoluble material from our preparations by centrifugation and discarded it. The ethanol-soluble material was used in the experiments. In this later study we were able to show that removal of thiosulfate sulfurtransferase (TST), using a specific antiserum, from preparations of purified rhodanese removed its ability to metabolise sulfide whereas removal of mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MST) from this preparation did not. (TST and MST are sulfurtransferases which copurify as rhodanese due to close structural and size similarities [3]). We concluded that TST was the component of rhodanese responsible for actions against sulfide. If Wilson et al. had contacted us they would have found us receptive to the concept of sulfide oxidase. We ourselves have reservations about the role of TST as completely explaining sulfide metabolism in vivo. We would have enjoyed collaboration to take this research forward and are disappointed that they chose not to do this.

INTERVASCULAR PITTING ACROSS THE ANNUAL RING BOUNDARY IN BETULA PLATYPHYLLA VAR. JAPONICA AND FRAXINUS MANDSHURICA VAR. JAPONICA

The structure of intervascular pits, located at the boundary between the outermost and the second youngest annual rings in Betula platyphylla var. japonica and Fraxinus mandshurica var. japonica was examined by field-emission scanning electron microscopy. Unilaterally compound pits were present in the intervascular common wall at the annual ring boundary in both species. On the outer annual ring side of the unilaterally compound pits, outlines of pit membranes were curved or trifoliate, and each pit aperture was often elongated and curved. The porosity of the intervascular pit membranes differed between the two species. In B. platyphylla var. japonica, microfibrils were loosely packed in the peripheral region of each pit membrane, and openings of up to 300 nm in width were observed. By contrast, microfibrils were densely packed throughout the entire pit membranes in F. mandshurica var. japonica, and no openings perforating the pit membranes entirely were found. In addition, each species exhibited some unique features. In B. platyphylla var. japonica, extensive ethanol-soluble material was detected not only in the intervascular pits but also on scalariform perforation plates. In F. mandshurica var. japonica, we observed fine curly fibrils of unkown chemical composition in the intervascular pit membranes.

Effect of enzyme addition on the digestibilities of cell wall polysaccharides and oligosaccharides from whole, dehulled, and ethanol-extracted white lupins in chickens

Three experiments were conducted to examine the effects of a commercial enzyme preparation on chicks performance and digestibilities of nonstarch polysaccharides (NSP), raffinose (R), stachyose (S), and total oligosaccharides (O) in diets containing whole and dehulled lupin and ethanol-extracted dehulled lupin meal. Ethanol extract was also used to produce a rich oligosaccharide fraction. In the first experiment, the dehulling treatment and the addition of enzyme to the diet improved (P < 0.05) weight gain (24 and 15%), feed-to-gain ratio (13 and 9%), dry matter retention (32 and 8%), apparent protein digestibility (6 and 3%) and ileal digestibilities of raffinose (19 and 119%), stachyose (85 and 204%), and total oligosaccharides (68 and 178%), respectively. In addition, enzyme treatment improved (P < 0.05) excreta digestibility values for NSP (from -1.7 to 5.5%), R (from 64.6 to 92.6%), S (from 48.8 to 82.4%), and O (from 55.8 to 83.5%). In the second experiment, extraction of the ethanol soluble components from dehulled lupin decreased (P < 0.0001) weight gain (51%), and increased (P < 0.0001) feed consumption (34%), feed-to-gain ratio (32%), relative gizzard weight (14%), and the relative ceca length (20%). The addition of the isolated fraction of oligosacharides to the corn-extracted lupin diet (7.5 and 15%) yielded performance values similar to those obtained with the unextracted dehulled lupin. The addition of enzymes to the diets significantly improved the weight gain (11%) and feed to gain ratio (6%), and decreased relative gizzard weight (12%) and relative ceca length (7%). Ileal digestibilities of R, S, and O were considerably lower than corresponding excreta digestibilities. The excreta digestibility of NSP and excreta and ileal digestibilities of R, S, and O were lower (P < 0.05) in chicks fed the lupin diet containing the high concentration of extract compared with those fed the same diet containing the lower concentration of extract. Enzymes, when added to the diets, increased (P < 0.05) the digestibilities of R, S, and O with the relative effects being much greater for ileal than excreta samples. In the third experiment, the ethanol extract (7.5 and 15%) added to a corn-soybean diet improved weight gain, feed consumption, and feed-to-gain ratio by 19, 13, and 6%, respectively. Ileal digestibilities of R, S, and O were low (< 45%), especially in chicks fed the diets containing the high amount of added oligosaccharide fraction. There was no effect of enzyme addition on the performance parameters. However, supplemental dietary enzymes improved (P < 0.05) ileal and excreta digestibilities of oligosaccharides from 15.6 and 68.6% to 52.3 and 84.8%, respectively. In summary, dehulling greatly improved the nutritional value of lupin, while removal of the ethanol soluble materials, including raffinose and stachyose considerably decreased its value. The oligosaccharide fraction does not seem to have an antinutritive effect and the addition of enzymes increased the digestibilities of NSP, raffinose, and stachyose but did not significantly improve chick performance.

FTIR and absorption edge studies on tungsten oxide based precursor materials synthesized by sol–gel technique

The sol–gel technique has been employed for synthesizing three precursor materials for the deposition of tungsten oxide based electrochromic films. The ion-exchange route yields tungstic acid precursor (ITA) which has a strong tendency to polymerize rapidly. Addition of hydrogen peroxide and/or acetic acid suppresses the gelation process and an ethanol soluble precursor material (AIPTA) possessing a low degree of polymerization and high chemical stability is obtained. Another precursor material APTA endowed with similar desirable characteristics is produced from direct reaction between tungsten metal powder and a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid. These materials were characterized by FTIR and absorption edge studies and compared in terms of their degree of polymerization and modes of association of various functionalities with the tungsten metal ion.

Partial chemical composition of bambara pea [ Vigna subterranea (L.) Verde

A partial chemical analysis of bambara peas [ Vigna subterranea (L.) Verde], which are widely consumed in West and Central Africa, was undertaken. A flour sample of bambara pea was extracted with hot ethanol. The yield of crude lipids present in the ethanol-soluble material was 3.7% of the dry weight of sample flour. The water-soluble components present in the delipidated flour represent 10% of the dry weight of sample flour. The fatty acids, the sugars and the amino acids were analyzed. Linoleic, palmitic and linolenic acids were the most predominant fatty acids with average values of 44, 30 and 21%, respectively. Stearic acid was present in small quantities. Sugar analysis showed that 30% of the neutral sugars were present and identified essentially as glucose and galactose. The total essential amino acids amounted to an average of 32.7%. Lysine was the most predominant essential amino acid with average value of 10.3%.

Effect of Steam Treatment on the Chemical Composition of Wheat Straw

A study was carried out on the effects of steam treatment at 120°C/2 bar for different periods of time on the chemical composition of wheat straw cell wall material. The contents of weakly acidic pectic polysaccharide (WAPP), 80% ethanol soluble material, lignin, hemicelluloses and α-cellulose were determined by successive extractions with 0.25% ammonium oxalate solution, 80% ethanol, acidic sodium chlorite solution and 24% potassium hydroxide with 2% boric acid solution from the residues of 15, 30, 60, 120, 180 and 300min steam treated wheat straw, respectively. The yields of WAPP, hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin extracted from the treated straw ranged from 1.8 to 2.6%, 29.8 to 34.0%, 42.1 to 45.6% and 20.0 to 22.7%, respectively. The neutral sugars in the extracts were measured by gas chromatography. The contents of phenolic acids and aldehydes resulting from alkaline nitrobenzene oxidation of lignin remaining in hemicellulose and cellulose extracted from steam treated wheat straw ranged between 0.14 and 0.33%. The results showed that steam treatment removed some portion of pectic substances and hemicelluloses. In addition, for treatment periods greater than 120min, the treated straw contained higher amounts of lignin and cellulose than untreated straw.

Influence of drum-drying and twin-screw extrusion cooking on wheat carbohydrates. I. A comparison between wheat starch and flours of different extraction

Wheat starch and two wheat flours of different extraction rates were processed under identical conditions by drum-drying and twin-screw extrusion cooking. Extrusion cooking of flours decreased the amounts of 80% ethanol-soluble carbohydrates. Both processes increased the amounts of 40% ethanol-soluble materials very slightly and did not produce malto-oligosaccharides smaller than about 15 glucose units. Neither process affected dietary fibre and starch contents, but the amount of starch measured depended on sample preparation. Extrusion cooking increased the water solubility more than did drum-drying, but in both cases solubility decreased in the order starch > 80% extraction wheat flour > 98 % extraction flour. Extrusion cooking led to slight starch degradation, as shown by gel-filtration chromatography. The extents of starch breakdown in flours and pure starch were the same, showing that the proteinaceous and fibrous matrix did not protect starch from degradation. Starch digestion rates assessed in vitro with four different amylases, were similar in all samples. Thus, water solubility, breakdown and in vitro digestion rate of starch were not related.

Comparison of Testa Development in Normal and Hull-Less Seeded Strains of Cucurbita pepo L.

Testa development was compared in normal and hull-less strains of Cucurbita pepo L. Histochemical studies showed that both normal and hull-less mutant seeds develop a five-zoned testa between 5 and 10 days post-anthesis Because of limited secondary wall development in the epidermis, hypodermis, and sclerenchyma in testae of the hull-less mutant cultivars, individual tissue layers began to compress between 20 days post-anthesis until the seed reached maturity. In the hull-less mutant, complete desiccation of seeds removed from the fruit resulted in complete collapse of the hypodermis, sclerenchyma, and parenchyma. These tissues remain largely intact in normal seeds. Expression of the mutant phenotype was particularly evident in the seed margin where hypodermal tissue normally contributes substantially to overall testa thickness. Analyses of testa composition revealed a marked reduction in lignin (83%), cellulose/hemicelluloses (67%), and protein (54%), and increases in ethanol-soluble material (58%) and lipids (45%) in hull-less mutant strains as compared with normal strains

Phytotoxic material from associations betweenErwinia amylovora and pear tissue culture: Possible role in necrotic symptomatology of fireblight disease

Pear cell suspension cultures (PCSC) inoculated with virulent strains of the fireblight bacterium,Erwinia amylovora, exhibited massive necrosis within 7 days, whereas avirulentE. amylovora strains and other enterobacteria generally elicited very slight or no necrotic reactions. These results were generally repeated when pear seedlings (1–2 months old) were inoculated with these same bacterial strains. Fractions derived from massively necrotized PCSC were tested for biological activity against healthy PCSC and pear seedling cuttings. Of these fractions, the dialyzable, 70%-ethanol-soluble material—remaining after precipitation by ethanol of high-molecular-weight polysaccharides (“amylovorin”)—exclusively inhibited growth of pear callus, plasmolyzed and disintegrated pear cells in PCSC, and caused some browning of pear callus. Although cuttings of young pear seedlings placed in solutions containing this dialyzable, ethanol-soluble material generally became massively necrotized within 3 days, some residual methodological problems with this bioassay procedure must be solved. These observations suggest that some relatively small molecule(s) formed in PCSC inoculated with virulentE. amylovora can exert antagonistic biological activity against pear tissue and may play a role in the symptomatology characteristic of the fireblight disease.

A low molecular weight factor from sea urchin eggs elevates sperm cyclic nucleotide concentrations and respiration rates

A factor associated with sea urchin eggs that increases sperm cyclic nucleotide concentrations and respiration rates was identified as having a low molecular weight. The factor was more potent at elevating cyclic GMP concentrations than cyclic AMP concentrations, and represents the first demonstration of a factor associated with eggs that is capable of causing elevations of sperm cyclic GMP. Concentration-response curves of the crude mixture of egg factors to increase sperm cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP concentrations and respiratory rates were very similar, and comparable losses of these three activities were observed after extensive dialysis and heat treatment of the crude egg factors. The factor was partly purified by ethanol precipitation of a large molecular weight egg jelly component, and by charcoal adsorption and LH-20 chromatography of the resultant ethanol-soluble material. The factor was not extracted into a variety of organic solvents and had an apparent molecular weight of between 1000 and 2000, as estimated by gel filtration.

Nectar secretion in excised flowers. V. Effects of indoleacetic acid and sugar supply on distribution of [14C]sucrose in flower tissues and nectar

Movement and distribution of [14C]sucrose was studied in snapdragon flowers cultured on sucrose solutions in relation to the timing and extent of the characteristic reduction of nectar yield by 1AA, the question of whether IAA acts in the nectary cells or by reducing sugar movement to the nectary, and competition for sugar between nectaries and other tissues.There was a 50% reduction in accumulated nectar yield in flowers treated with IAA within 18 h; thereafter, the capacity to secrete nectar was virtually abolished. Within 6 h, IAA caused a significant increase in the incorporation of 14C into protein. Most of the 14C activity lost to nectar in flowers treated with IAA was recovered in the ethanol-soluble materials and protein of the flowers. Radioactivity continued to accumulate in the secretory tissue after secretion had stopped. The percentage reduction in nectar by IAA was not diminished under conditions of minimal growth and sugar transport distance. It was concluded that IAA acts on the secretory process in the nectary cells rather than on movement of sugar to the nectary.The influence of differences in sugar supply appeared mainly in the distribution of 14C activity between peduncles and nectar: as sugar supply was increased, a smaller percentage remained in the peduncles and a larger percentage was secreted. The secretory process competed strongly with floral tissues for sugar even when the latter were undersupplied.

Primary metabolites of Phaseolus vulgaris nodules

More ethanol soluble material (carbohydrate and amino nitrogen) was found in both host cell and bacteroid components of Phaseolus vulgaris nodules from plants grown at 28 W/m 2 than from plants grown at 7 W/m 2. The range of compounds identified was similar at the two irradiances. On feeding 14CO 2 to the plant tops at either irradiance the labelling patterns of carbohydrates and organic acids in the nodule host cells and bacteroids suggested that any or all of the following substances could be donated by the host to the bacteroids for general metabolism: sucrose, fructose, glucose, an unidentified carbohydrate, malic acid and an organic acid co-chromatographing with 6-phosphogluconate. Distribution and labelling patterns of nodule amino compounds were consistent with the hypothesis that ammonia is the primary product of nitrogen fixation within bacteroids, and that this ammonia is transported to host cells for assimilation, initially into glutamine and glutamate.

Lignification in eucalyptus: metabolism of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylalanine

Tritiated 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylalanine was fed to shoots of Eucalyptus botryoides and its metabolic products identified. No free ferulic acid was found but alkaline hydrolysis produced labelled ferulic acid from both the ethanol-soluble material and the residue. Rapid disappearance of the precursor in the shoot and the absence of free ferulic acid point to deamination of an esterified 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylalanine. Radioactive vanillin was recovered from nitrobenzene oxidation products of the residue even after alkaline hydrolysis. Syringaldehyde from oxidation of the alkali-soluble material was weakly radioactive. The results show that the 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl units were built into the lignin but very little 5 methoxylation of these took place in 24 hr.

Labeling Pattern of Translocated Stachyose in Squash

One mature blade of each squash plant was continuously labeled with (14)CO(2) for 15, 30, or 70 minutes in light. The ethanol soluble materials from serial sections of petioles were extracted and separated by paper chromatography. The ratios of label in the various components of this fraction were determined. Stachyose, which contained the major portion of the label of this fraction, was hydrolyzed and the resultant hydrolysate was separated by paper chromatography. Specific activities of the hexoses derived from stachyose were determined. It was found that the glucose and fructose moieties of stachyose became labeled at the same rates; however, the galactose moiety became labeled more rapidly.