Lower Ascorbic Acid Content Research Articles

A colorimetric platform using highly active Prussian blue composite nanocubes for the rapid determination of ascorbic acid and acid phosphatase.

Cobalt-doped Prussian blue composite nanocubes (Co-PB NCs) were synthesized, which can quickly convert O2 to O2•- and 1O2. Due to the presence of cobalt and iron transition metal redox electron pairs, Co-PB NCs with high oxidase mimetic activity can rapidly oxidize the substrate 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to produce blue products (ox-TMB) without the assistance of unstable H2O2. Using ascorbic acid-2-phosphate trisodium salt (AAP) as a substrate, it can be converted to reduced ascorbic acid (AA) under acid phosphatase (ACP) hydrolysis, resulting in suppression of TMB oxidation. Therefore, an enzyme cascade signal amplification strategy for rapid colorimetric detection of AA/ACP was developed based on the high-efficiency oxidase-like activity of Co-PB NCs combined with the hydrolysis effect of ACP. The color changes at low concentrations of AA and ACP could be observed by the naked eye, and the detection limits of AA and ACP were 1.67μM and 0.0266 U/L, respectively. The developed colorimetric method was applied to the determination of AA in beverages and ACP in human serum, and the RSDs were less than 3%, showing good reproducibility. This work provides a promising strategy for the use of metal-doped Prussian blue composite material for the construction of rapid colorimetric sensing platforms that avoid the use of unstable hydrogen peroxide.

Phytochemical Screening and Biological Activity (Antioxidant and Antibacterial) of Punica granatum Fruit peel extract Cultivated in Sa'dah Governorate-Yemen

Punica granatum (Pomegranate) is a valuable source of secondary plant metabolism compounds (SMs) that are widely used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and food industries. The phytochemical screening illustrates that the Sa’dah P. granatum cultivar peel ethanol extract containsvarious beneficial components, including Flavonoids, Alkaloids, Steroids, Phenols, and Tannins. Moreover, the Sa’dah P. granatum cultivar peel ethanol extract (1.3 μg/ml) exhibited significant antioxidant activity compared to low concentrations of ascorbic acid (0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1 μg/ml). Furthermore, the Sa’dah P. granatum cultivar peel ethanol extract displays potent antibacterial activities against selected pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) compared to two nominated antibiotics (Ampicillin and Gentamicin). This remarkable performance can be attributed to the presence of phenols and flavonoid compounds, which exhibit high antioxidant activity.

Diversity of jack fruit germplasm in Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu

The present investigation was undertaken to develop a variety of jackfruit. Hence, the research was conducted on the bearing trees of different jackfruit genotypes in the Pudukkottai District of Tamil Nadu, India, during the year 2016-2019. Fifty-five jackfruit genotypes, viz., KDM-AhJ-01 to KDM-AhJ-55, were selected for the study to identify superior ones. The season of fruiting in each genotype was recorded and classified into early (March-April), mid-season (May-June), and late (July-August). The genotype 46 was found to be mid-season bearing (May-June, 2016-2019). Meanwhile, KDM-AhJ -08, KDM-AhJ -10, and KDM-AhJ -35 were found to have late season bearing (July to August 2016-2019). The genotypes KDM-AhJ 31 and KDM-AhJ 32 were produced during the main season (March-April, 2016-2019) and also during the off-season (September -November 2016-2019) production of jackfruit. The highest number of fruits per plant (43.33.00) was obtained from 08, followed by 31 (33.33). Maximum individual fruit weight was gained from 46 (16.33 kg) followed by 10 (14.33 kg), and a minimum of (4.67 kg) was observed that genotype 08 was suitable for small families. Yield varied from 62.67 kg/tree to 458.33. Yield was recorded from 10. The highest number of flakes per fruit was obtained from 10 (210.00). The highest Flakes: Seed ratio was obtained from 10 (5.30). Upper limit TSS content recorded to 08 (29.17° brix). The highest total sugar (25.20%), highest protein, lowest acidity (0.10%), and lowest ascorbic acid content were found to be 8. Maximum carotene content was recorded on KDM-AhJ- 46, followed by 8 and 10. Maximum color and appearance of 9.00 were obtained from the genotypes KDM-AhJ- 10. A maximum overall acceptability of 9.75 was observed by genotype 08, followed by 10 (9.00). Genotype 51, recorded for the TSS content of (6° brix) followed by the genotypes viz.,6, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, and 26 (7° brix), was found to have low TSS content, hence it is suitable for diabetic patients. Genotype 37 was identified for vegetable purposes in the immature stage, and ripened fruits were more suitable for table purposes. KDM-AhJ- 31 and 39 identified for thousand fruited jackfruit genotype. Flake color varied from white, yellow, whitish yellow, light yellow, bright yellow, and senthuram/deep orange. The genotypes KDM-AhJ-01, 4, 7, and 10 showed good deep orange (Senthuram color) flakes. Genotype 45 recorded pure white flakes that were very sweet in taste. The owner of this jackfruit farmer, S.Karthick, said this is for Seeni pala. Genotypes 17, 18, and 19 were identified for Tharaipala. The shelf life of flakes varied distinctly among the fifty-five jackfruit germplasms. The genotypes KDM-AhJ -08 and KDM-Ah -10 record for five days. Among the 55 genotypes, diversity was recorded for every genotype. Based on overall performance concerning vegetative growth, yield, and quality, characters were recorded to identify the superior genotypes.

Dual Stimuli-Responsive Nanoprecursor of Ascorbic Acid and Quinone Methide Disrupting Redox Homeostasis for Cancer Treatment.

Disrupting the redox balance through reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and intracellular glutathione (GSH) depletion presents a promising strategy for cancer therapy. Megadoses of ascorbic acid (AA) can induce oxidative stress in cancer cells, leading to cell death. However, achieving enhanced oxidative stress using ultrahigh doses of AA is challenging because of the intricate delivery of high-concentration AA to the targeted sites while the cancer cells could also re-establish more robust redox homeostasis by upregulating antioxidants such as GSH. Recently, quinone methide and its analogues (QMs) have been recognized as effective GSH scavengers, offering a new dimension to accelerate oxidative stress. In this study, we formulated a dual stimuli-responsive nanoprecursor of AA and QM using gold nanoparticles. The nanoprecursor can release AA in response to the intracellular acidic pH in tumor cells, elevating the intracellular ROS levels and triggering the production of ample QMs to quench excessive GSH. This positive feedback mechanism significantly amplifies oxidative stress and disrupts redox homeostasis in cancer cells at a relatively low concentration of AA, leading to selective apoptosis without affecting normal cells. These results highlight the potential of the nanoprecursor as an effective anticancer therapeutic.

Influence of Naphthalene Acetic Acid, Gibberellic Acid and Calcium Chloride on Quality Parameters of Kagzi Lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle)

An experiment was carried out to investigate the influence of Naphthalene acetic acid, Gibberellic acid and Calcium chloride on quality parameters of Kagzi lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) in the Garden, Dept. of Fruit Science, C. S. Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur (U.P.) during two cropping seasons i.e., 2021-2022, 2022-2023. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with three replications and Ten treatments viz, T1-NAA (20 ppm), T2-NAA (40 ppm), T3-NAA (60 ppm), T4-GA3 (10 ppm), T5-GA3 (20 ppm), T6-GA3 (30 ppm),T7-CaCl2 (0.10%),T8-CaCl2 (0.15%),T9-CaCl2 (0.2%) and T10-Control (water spray only). During both years of investigation, it was recorded that GA3 at 20 ppm exhibited significantly higher amount of total soluble solids (9.300Brix) andtitratable acidity (8.70%) as compared to all other treatments. Similarly, NAA treatments also contributed to an increase in the TSS and titratable acidity content with the rise in their concentrations. In terms of TSS: acid ratio, there were no significant differences were recorded within the treatments, indicating its stability. Ascorbic acid content was significantly higher in GA3 treated fruits and with the GA3 at 20 ppm maximum amount of ascorbic acid was recorded (56.47 mg/100ml juice) while the control fruits had the lowest ascorbic acid content. The juice content in fruits were increased in NAA and GA3 treatments, while in CaCl2 treatments it remained relatively stable. Higher amount of juice content (56.49%) was also recorded in fruits treated with GA3 at 20 ppm. In the context of sugar content, GA3 at 20 ppm also exhibited the highest reducing (0.86%), non-reducing (0.70%) and total sugar (1.56%) content in the plains of north India.

Activation of Ostwald ripening and electrical conductivity in polyHIPEs through the addition of ascorbic acid to graphene-stabilized emulsions

Ascorbic acid was employed to increase the sphere-to-sphere contact of polyHIPEs. Adding a radical inhibitor to the aqueous phase of a graphene-stabilized water-in-oil emulsion was hypothesized to delay the formation of a polymer skin around the dispersed droplet, leading to intimate contact between the surfactant-stabilized drops. Optical microscopy analysis of samples made with varying ascorbic acid concentrations showed decreased sphere size and increased size dispersity at increasing inhibitor concentrations. Electrical conductivity measurements showed an increase at low concentrations of ascorbic acid but a decrease in conductivity at higher concentrations. Our results suggest that the presence of an inhibitor does delay the formation of the polymer skin and allows more intimate contact between spheres, but at higher concentrations, it leads to Ostwald ripening. Scanning electron microscopy of polystyrene/graphene composites revealed that the inhibitor also stopped the polymerization of aqueous-dispersed monomer, leading to polymer patches on the interior of the spheres.

Berry size and weight as factors influencing the chemical composition of strawberry fruit

Size and weight are one of the most important quality factors of strawberries along with color and taste. Based on these factors, the fruit can be marked as non-marketable as fresh fruit and culled or used for further processing, even though it provides a desirable taste and colour. In this study, differences in composition among fruit of different sizes and weights within two strawberry cultivars (‘Lycia’ and ‘Clery’) were evaluated (physical parameters, TSS, organic acids, sugars, anthocyanins, and other phenolic compounds). Ascorbic acid and sugar content (per fresh weight) were higher in larger fruit for both studied cultivars. In 'Lycia', the large fruit contained on average 20% more sugars and 35% more ascorbic acid. The small fruit showed higher anthocyanin content than the large fruit by 245 and 63.4 mg kg− 1 for 'Clery' and 'Lycia', respectively. However, the total organic acids content and peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activity did not show any differences among the fruit of different sizes. Small-sized fruit can serve as a good source of antioxidants due to the high anthocyanin content and can be suitable for further processing due to the lower ascorbic acid content and higher anthocyanin content.

Effectiveness of plant oil in stabilizing the antioxidants, phenolic compounds and antimicrobial effects of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L) oil

This study appraised the biological qualities of blended groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) oil to determine its nutritional and pharmaceutical applications. Two sets of oils were produced; one with 100% groundnut kernels and the other produced by blending 500 g of groundnut kernels, with 100 g of onion bulbs, 100 g of ginger and 50 g of pepper. Three heavy metals (iron, lead and copper), iodine value, nitrate, thirteen phenolic compounds, thirteen antioxidants compounds, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and antimicrobial actions of both the fortified (FGKO) and the unfortified (GKO) groundnut oil were quantified. The results revealed that the fortified oil developed significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher concentrations of phenolic compounds, antioxidants parameters, iodine value, antimicrobial actions and TBARS than the unfortified oil, which it (FGKO) maintained throughout the storage period. Conversely, the GKO had significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher heavy metals and nitrate concentrations than the FGKO. This portrayed that the combination of ginger, onions and pepper oils greatly enhanced the groundnut oil’s quality. The oils (GKO and FGKO) antioxidants followed an increasing concentration trend: ascorbic acid < proanthocyanin < β-carotene < resveratrol < isoflavonoids < Flavone < tocopherol < catechin < kaempferol < aglycone < gallocatechin < ribalinidine < lunamarin, revealing that the oils had high Gallocatechin, Ribalinidine and Lunamarin concentrations, and low ascorbic acid and proanthocyanin concentrations. Likewise, the oils phenolic compounds concentration followed this increment pattern: quercetin < naringenin < anthocyanin < rutin < ferulic acid < sapogenin < spartein < vanillic acid < luteolin < hydroxytyrosol< epicatechin < coumaric acid < ellagic acid. The findings revealed that the FGKO had a lot of preservative, medicinal and nutritional values, when compared to the GKO. These results portrayed the potential of using low-cost agricultural materials for promising and novel use in the production of nutrients rich oils. The hybridization of ginger, onions and pepper oils will be a good replacement for synthetic materials in improving oil qualities, thus eliminating the high risk factors associated with the introduction of synthetic blending materials. The FGKO has these potentials in the food industry: enhancement of food shelf life though inhibition of food spoilage agents, nutrients booster and natural flavor agent.

Evaluation of Antipsychotic Drugs' Stability in Oral Fluid Samples.

Antipsychotics have narrow therapeutic windows, and their monitoring in biological fluids is therefore important; consequently, stability in those fluids must be investigated during method development and validation. This work evaluates the stability of chlorpromazine, levomepromazine, cyamemazine, clozapine, haloperidol, and quetiapine in oral fluid (OF) samples, using the dried saliva spots (DSS) sampling approach and gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Since many parameters can influence the stability of the target analytes, design of experiments was adopted to check the crucial factors that affect that stability in a multivariate fashion. The studied parameters were the presence of preservatives at different concentrations, temperature, light, and time. It was possible to observe that antipsychotic stability improved when OF samples in DSS were stored at 4 °C, with a low ascorbic acid concentration, and in the absence of light. With these conditions, chlorpromazine and quetiapine were stable for 14 days, clozapine and haloperidol were stable for 28 days, levomepromazine remained stable for 44 days, and cyamemazine was stable for the entire monitored period (146 days). This is the first study that evaluates the stability of these antipsychotics in OF samples after application to DSS cards.

Effects of Ascorbic Acid on Physiological Characteristics during Somatic Embryogenesis of Fraxinus mandshurica

Fraxinus mandshurica is one of the precious tree species in northeast China and has important economic and ecological value. Ascorbic acid (ASA) is a strong antioxidant that can significantly improve plant photosynthetic efficiency and stress resistance and participate widely in plant growth and development. In this study, we investigated the development process of mature zygotic embryos of F. mandshurica under different concentrations of ASA and found that 100 mg·L-1 exogenous ASA was the optimal concentration and that the induction rate of somatic embryos (SEs) was the highest at 72.89%, which was 7.13 times higher than that of the control group. The polyphenol content, peroxidase (POD) activity, nitric oxide (NO) content, nitrate reductase (NR) activity, total ascorbic acid (T-ASA) content, ASA content, ASA/Dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) ratio, GSH/GSSG ratio, and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity were significantly increased under the application of exogenous ASA in explants, whereas the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and catalase (CAT) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) content and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity were decreased. At the same time, the content of T-ASA and ASA, T-GSH and GSSG, and PAL and SOD had the same change pattern in the control group and the treatment group. These results suggested that high or low concentrations of ASA could not promote the somatic embryogenesis of F. mandshurica and that exogenous ASA had significant effects on the physiology of F. mandshurica explants. ASA was also highly related to somatic embryogenesis and the explant browning of F. mandshurica. Our results could provide a reference for further study on the browning mechanism of F. mandshurica explants and lay the foundation for optimizing the condition of somatic embryogenesis in F. mandshurica.

Study of kinetic parameters related to dyes oxidation in ascorbic acid-mediated Fenton processes

Ascorbic acid (AA) is a natural reducer that has been used as a prooxidant additive to improve dyes oxidation via Fenton processes (Fe2+/H2O2 and Fe3+/H2O2). In the present work, low concentration of AA (10 μmol L1) enhanced Bismarck Brown Y (BBY), Safranin T (ST), Rhodamine B (RB), and Reactive Black 5 (RB5) decolorizations in solution, mainly in reactions initially containing Fe3+ as a catalyst (Fe3+-reactions), e.g., Fe3+/H2O2 decolorization of RB5 was increased from 54 % to 73 % after 60 min due to added AA. Decolorization increased from 0 up to 60–90 μmol L−1 of added reducer. At higher concentrations, AA did not improve decolorization. The dyes were decolorized below 10 % when incubated with 1 % tert-butanol, indicating that HO• radical is the main oxidant involved in the reactions. The kinetic analysis showed that the 1st- and 2nd-order kinetic models fitted well to both Fe2+- and Fe3+-reaction data. The BMG kinetic model also fitted well to the Fe2+-reactions (with and without AA), along with Fe3+/H2O2/AA. Based on these kinetic models, we verified that reaction rate constants were increased due to added AA. There was a decrease in activation energy (Ea) in decolorizing ST from added AA by varying the reaction temperatures. For example, Ea decreased from 111.6 to 81.8 kJ mol−1 for Fe3+-reactions and from 72.6 to only 69.3 kJ mol−1 for Fe2+-reactions. The AA/H2O2 system was least effective in decolorizing ST since Ea was 130 kJ mol−1. In summary, ascorbic acid decreases the energy barrier to improve Fenton-based ST oxidation.

Preparation of Fruit Leather by Blending Guava and Papaya

The present experiment entitled “Preparation of Fruit Leather by Blending Guava and Papaya” was carried out in post-harvest lab, Department of Horticulture, Sam Higginbottom university of Agriculture Technology and sciences, during the winter season 2021-2022.The experiment was laid out in CRD (Completely Randomized Design) with 7 treatments and 3 replications. Physico - chemical and sensory parameters were observed. the evaluation for other parameters like moisture content, acidity, TSS, ascorbic acid, total sugar, pH as well as organoleptic attribute colour, flavour, taste and overall acceptability of guava and papaya leather were evaluated 0 days to 90 days of storage. The highest moisture content (16.82%) in fruit bar at 0 days of storage was recorded in T1 with (100%) guava pulp. The highest titrable acidity (1.15%) was recorded in fruit bar with 100 percent guava pulp T1 and (0.75%) in 60 percent guava pulp + 40 percent papaya pulp T3 at 90 days of storage. The highest total soluble solids 76.55°Brix was recorded in fruit bar with 60 percent guava pulp + 40 percent papaya pulp T3 and low in 71.66°Brix in 100 percent guava pulp T1 at 0 day of storage. In contrast, the lowest ascorbic acid content 109.56mg/100g was recorded in fruit bar with 100 percent guava pulp T1 at 0days of storage. The highest total sugars of (58.37) percent was recorded in fruit bar made by 60 percent guava pulp + 40 percent papaya pulp T3. The highest pH of 4.68 was recorded in fruit bar with 60 percent guava pulp + 40 percent papaya pulp T3. Overall acceptability score had decreased with the advancement of storage period. Hence, the above parameters were taken for shelf life and better quality. An overall result of guava and papaya leather was found best in the treatment T3 (Guava 60% + papaya 40%) proved to be best in terms of all aspects.

A combined technique of temperature preconditioning and modified atmosphere packaging to prolong the storage life of papaya

Papaya is a popular tropical fruit for human consumption over the world. However, it has a relatively short shelf life due to rapid ripening and anthracnose infection after harvest. Generally, papaya is stored at the optimum temperature of 12°C and can last only two weeks. After this period, the fruit will begin to ripen and spoil. Theoretically, fruit stored at lower temperatures will have a longer shelf life. However, papaya is prone to chilling injuries characterised by pitting and inability to ripen if stored at sub-optimum temperature, which may also cause secondary postharvest disease attacks if held for a longer period. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a combination of temperature preconditioning treatment and modified atmospheric packaging (MAP) in prolonging the storage life of papaya under sub-optimum temperature. In terms of visual appearance, no chilling injury symptoms were observed in samples stored at a suboptimum temperature of 7°C throughout the storage period. No significant differences were recorded in the parameters of total soluble solids (TSS), total titratable acidity (TTA) and TSS: TTA ratio. Relatively lower ascorbic acid content and higher firmness value were recorded in fruits subjected to the combined technique of temperature conditioning and MAP, which could be associated with delayed ripening. A combination of temperature preconditioning and MAP techniques maintains the papaya quality under storage at sub-optimum temperatures as low as 7°C without chilling injury problems, with a longer shelf life (4 weeks) than only 2 weeks for conventional handling techniques. The fruits can be ripened by being exposed to ethylene when they are ready to be marketed. The technology is helpful for the industry, farmers, wholesalers, and exporters, particularly for the delivery of more extended distribution and periods.

High light stress induces H2O2 production and accelerates fruit ripening in tomato

Increased synthesis of H2O2 is observed during the initiation of fruit ripening. However, its association with plant cell processes triggering the maturation of fruit has not yet been demonstrated. The aim of this work is to investigate whether H2O2 participates in the tomato ripening process and particularly through its association with the ethylene signaling pathway. The experiments were carried out with two ethyl methanesulfonate mutant lines of Micro-Tom tomato deficient in GDP-L-galactose phosphorylase activity and displaying lower ascorbic acid content than the corresponding parental genotype (i.e. wild type). Plants were subjected to a high irradiance (HI) treatment to stimulate H2O2 synthesis. HI treatment enhanced H2O2 production and reduced the timing of fruit ripening in both mutants and wild-type fruits. These results could be linked to an increase of the expression of H2O2-related genes and changes in the expression of ethylene-related genes. The fruit H2O2 production increased or decreased after applying the treatments that induced ethylene synthesis or blocked its action, respectively. The results presented in this work give an evidence of the association of redox and hormonal components during fruit ripening in which H2O2 participates downstream in the events regulated by ethylene.

Recent Advancements in Enhancing Antimicrobial Activity of Plant-Derived Polyphenols by Biochemical Means

Plants are a reservoir of phytochemicals, which are known to possess several beneficial health properties. Along with all the secondary metabolites, polyphenols have emerged as potential replacements for synthetic additives due to their lower toxicity and fewer side effects. However, controlling microbial growth using these preservatives requires very high doses of plant-derived compounds, which limits their use to only specific conditions. Their use at high concentrations leads to unavoidable changes in the organoleptic properties of foods. Therefore, the biochemical modification of natural preservatives can be a promising alternative to enhance the antimicrobial efficacy of plant-derived compounds/polyphenols. Amongst these modifications, low concentration of ascorbic acid (AA)–Cu (II), degradation products of ascorbic acid (DPAA), Maillard reaction products (MRPs), laccase–mediator (Lac–Med) and horse radish peroxidase (HRP)–H2O2 systems standout. This review reveals the importance of plant polyphenols, their role as antimicrobial agents, the mechanism of the biochemical methods and the ways these methods may be used in enhancing the antimicrobial potency of the plant polyphenols. Ultimately, this study may act as a base for the development of potent antimicrobial agents that may find their use in food applications.

Overall Quality of “Early” Potato Tubers as Affected by Organic Cultivation

Understanding the nature of the perceived quality advantage of organically-grown early crop potatoes over conventionally-grown ones is of relevance given the expansion in demand for foodstuffs produced by environmentally friendly agricultural practices. The effect of the cultivation system (organic vs. conventional) on physicochemical (skin color, firmness, skin thickness, pH, titratable acidity), nutritional (dry matter, ascorbic acid, total phenolics content, antioxidant activity), and sensorial (for boiled and fried tubers) traits of early potatoes were explored in a field trial conducted during two-seasons in Sicily (Southern Italy) and involving five yellow-fleshed genotypes. The organic cultivation system, averaged across seasons and genotypes, produced tubers displaying a more attractive skin color, with higher skin thickness and firmness, higher dry matter content (19.0 vs. 17.9%), and total phenolics content (350 vs. 232 mg GAE 100 g−1 dry weight) but lower ascorbic acid content (76 vs. 103 mg 100 g−1 dry weight) and antioxidant activity (42 vs. 56% DPPH reduction). The organic cultivation did not affect attributes after boiling but improved all sensory attributes (crispness, typical taste, and browning degree) after frying, highlighting that the superiority of the organic potatoes does not cover all aspects of quality. The positive effects of organic cultivation on physicochemical, nutritional, and sensorial quality were particularly evident in Arinda, Ditta, and ISCI 4F88. Even if the response of organic cultivation on overall quality also depended upon seasonal conditions, cultivar choice plays a key role in optimizing this production system, highlighting the importance of breeding programs.

Physico-chemical properties, rheological characteristics, and storage stability of cold-break processed tomato paste enriched with rice flour

Tomato pastes (TP) enriched with rice flour (RF) were evaluated for physico-chemical properties, rheological characteristics, and storage stability. TP was prepared from fresh tomato fruits with the addition of RF at the levels of 2, 4, and 6% (w/w) using the cold break method and stored for 12 weeks at ambient temperature. Insignificant changes in the chemical compositions of TP samples were observed. Pastes contained RF revealed higher L* values than control. During storage, L* and a* values of TP decreased, while b* values increased. The a*/b* ratio of TP contained RF were approximately stable during storage and were at acceptable levels. Samples contained RF showed higher pH and total soluble solids (TSS) with lower ascorbic acid content (AAC), acidity, and Bostwick than control. The AAC and pH decreased, whereas acidity, TSS, and Bostwick increased during storage. The paste containing 4% RF showed the highest sensory scores among all tested samples at zero time and during storage. Such findings may be helpful particularly for the low-income population as it is a low-cost preservation method.

Identification and determination of organic acids in some selected medicinal plants grown in Sudan.

The aim of this study is to determine acetic acid, ascorbic acid, citric acid, oxalic acid and tartaric acid in Sudanese medicinal plants (Adansonia digitata fruit pulp, Hibiscus sabdriffa calyx, Hyphaene thebaica fruit pulp and Tamarindus indica pulp) by RP-HPLC-UV method. The method used is based on using an ultrasonic bath for extracting organic acids. The investigation showed that concentrations of ascorbic acid (1.65 mg/g ±0.099), citric acid (56.00 mg/g ±0.22), and oxalic acid (1.35 mg/g ±0.039). The highest values for Adansonia digitata compared to other plants in this study. Tamarindus indica showed higher concentration of tartaric acid (23.75 mg/g ± 0.0.36) compare to other plants, and Hypheane thebaica showed lower concentration of ascorbic acid (0.02 mg/g ±0.242). These Sudanese medicinal plants are recommended as a promising source for the above mentioned organic acids; could contribute considerably towards meeting human nutritional requirements for normal growth and protection against several diseases.

PREVALENCE AND ETIOLOGICAL FACTORS CAUSING THE RETENTION OF THE PLACENTA IN COWS

Among the main reasons for the retention of the membranes, weakening of the contractile function of the uterus, as well as fusion of caruncles with cotyledons as a result of inflammatory processes arising in them. At the same time, hemodynamic disorders and hypotonia of the uterus, according, noticeably prevail over the rest. The reason for the retention of the membranes, should be considered the blood circulation in the maternal part of the placenta, due to the high concentration of unbound heparin in it and the low concentration of ascorbic acid. Hyperkinesia, allocated by a number of authors animals, in all likelihood, does not play such a big role. Purpose. To study the prevalence and etiological factors responsible for the retention of membranes in cows. Materials and methods. For the period from 2015 to 2021, in the herds of cows belonging to the Krasnodarskoe EF and the Kuban EF and were under supervision, 194 cases of pathogenic process due to the retention of membranes in cows. The number of dairy cows in the herd in different years ranged from 795 to 845, and averaged 830 heads. Of these, in 2015, the retention of membranes was registered in 22 cows (2.65%), in 2016 in 19 (2.29%), in 2017 in 32 (3.86%), in 2018 in 35 (4 , 2%), in 2019 for 29 (3.5%), in 2020 for 26 (3.02%) and in 2021 for 31 cows (3.73%). The research results were subjected to mathematical processing using standard statistical analysis programs for the IBM PC. The reliability of the results was determined by the parametric Student’s test. Results. The results of processing the obtained data indicate that from the second half of April to August, the rate of retention of membranes in cows, in relation to the average annual, increases markedly and reaches 12.35% of all calving cows. Meanwhile, many studies carried out in the conditions of farms and complexes indicate that in the warm season, the pathology of childbirth associated with the retention of the membranes is significantly reduced. In this regard, we made an attempt to analyze the conditions of keeping, feeding and insemination of cows prior to the development of this pathology in animals in training and experimental farms. Conclusion. Analyzing the etiological factors that determine the retention of the membranes in cows of educational and experimental farms, it can be concluded that the development of this pathology of the birth period in cows is in close connection with the state of the fodder base in farms and with the presence of helminth infestation in animals. A regularity was revealed between the presence of traumatic foreign objects in the cows’ net, causing traumatic reticulitis, and the subsequent occurrence of chronic placentitis in them, leading to the retention of the membranes.

Состояние еловых насаждений в районе южнотаежных лесов таежной зоны в Удмуртской Республике

The study results of coniferous stands and the description of stands in the southern taiga forests of the taiga zone within the Udmurt Republic (on the territory of the Yakshur-Bodya, Igrinsky and Kez forest districts) are presented. The climatic indicators of the study year are presented in comparison with the average long-term data for the studied areas. The taxational characteristics of forest stands are given, the indicators of the morphological profile, humidity, and cellulose-decomposing activity of forest litter are presented. Studies have shown that the cellulose-decomposing activity of forest litter depends on its moisture content, which is associated with the values of the basal area per hectar of stands in the studied sample areas. No differences in the indicator of cellulose-decomposing activity were found in the sample areas in the Igrinsky forestry. The highest values of this indicator were determined in the sample area No. 1 in the Kez forestry. The lowest values of the cellulose-decomposing activity of forest litter were observed in the sample areas No. 1 and No. 3 in the Yakshur-Bodya forest area. The physiological and biochemical parameters of Siberian spruce (Pícea obováta Ledeb.) were analyzed and compared in trees of good and satisfactory living conditions, which did not show statistically significant differences in the content of chlorophylls and carotenoids in the needles. A significantly high content of photosynthetic pigments and tannins in Siberian spruce conifers was found in the sample areas in the Igrinsky forest area. Similar results were obtained for individuals of a satisfactory living condition, with the exception of the content of tannins in conifers. It was found that the high content of chlorophyll a in Siberian spruce needles is usually accompanied by an increased content of tannins and a low concentration of ascorbic acid. It is shown that in general, the potential of Siberian spruce individuals associated with the biochemical level of the formation of adaptive reactions is highest in plants in the northern regions of the republic, i.e. in areas with more extreme growing conditions. Materials were obtained on the basis of which it is possible to develop a program for monitoring plantings and restoring forest stands.