Amount Of Sugar Research Articles

Improvement of technology for producing wine material for Tokaj wine

The object of this study is the production technology of Tokaj-type wine materials. The material used was white and red grape varieties, withered by twisting on the vine for 4–5 days. Wine materials were prepared from these grape varieties using new technology, i.e., by adding the wort to the alcohol along with the pulp. The technology for the production of environmentally friendly Tokaj-type sweet dessert wines using technical grape varieties cultivated in the foothills of the Goy-Gol and flat zone of the Samukh region has been improved. Providing the population with environmentally friendly food products, as well as wines, is one of the most important tasks of our time. Poor quality food creates conditions for the development of various diseases. For this purpose, a technological scheme for the production of Tokaj-type wine materials has been devised. The quality indicators of Tokaj wine material prepared by fermenting in alcohol must from grapes withered by twisting on the vine for 4–5 days with pulp for 3–4 days were studied. The rates of alcohol loss were calculated based on the contraction coefficient (0.08 %) during co-fermentation with wort. For wine materials prepared from grape varieties grown under the conditions of the Samukh region, alcohol consumption is reduced. This is due to the high sugar content in the wine material. In the prepared wine material, the amount of alcohol and sugar corresponded to the norm – the alcohol content reached 14–15 % and residual sugar 16 %. As a result of the tasting, wine material prepared from the Rkatsiteli grape variety in the Samukh region was rated 9.5 points, and wine material prepared from the red Madras grape variety 9.3 points. The results make it possible to regulate the desired quality of wine material and use it in the production of Tokaj wine

Unveil the sugar diet and associated environmental compounds in the crop of the mosquito Culex pipiens

Culex pipiens (Linnaeus, 1758) mosquitoes search plant sources of sugars to cope with the energetic demand of various physiological processes. The crop as part of the digestive system is devoted to the storage of sugar-based meal obtained from various nectars sources. The profiling of sugars and metabolites in the Culex pipiens’ crop is scarce, and only few studies used Liquid Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS), which provides broad detection for biomonitoring environmental substances and even contaminants in the sugar diet of mosquitoes populations.Therefore, sugar and metabolite profiling were performed on crops obtained from mosquitoes exposed to plant nectar under laboratory or natural conditions by Ultra High-Performance LC-MS (UHPLC-MS). This method allowed us a precise quantitative and qualitative identification of sugar diet and associated environmental compounds in the crop of the mosquito C. pipiens. Under laboratory condition, mosquitoes were allowed to feed on either glucose solution, commercially-available flowers or field collected flowers. In addition, we collected mosquitoes from the field to compare those crop metabolomes with metabolome patterns occurring after nectar feeding in the lab.The sugar quantities and quality obtained from the crops of mosquitoes collected in the field were similar to those crops obtained from mosquitoes that fed on commercially-available flowers and from field collected flowers with a limit of detection of 10 μg/L for sucrose, glucose and sucrose. Next to sugar compounds, we identified 2 types of amino acids, 12 natural products, and 9 pesticides.Next to the diversity of sugar compounds, we could confirm that secondary metabolites and environmental pollutants are typically up taken from floral nectar sources by C. pipiens. The in-depth knowledge on mosquito–plant interactions may inspire the development and further optimization of mosquito trap systems and arboviral surveillance systems.

A Study on the Potentiality of Bioethanol Production from Selected Weed Species of the Asteraceae Family


 
 
 Increasing population growth, industrialization, and the harmful impacts of fossil fuel burning on the environment fascinated the researchers to find a low-cost, environmentally friendly alternative substitute. A potential substitute feedstock for the synthesis of second-generation bioethanol is the lignocellulosic biomass from invasive weedy plants. The aim of this study was to determine the potential of bioethanol production from two weedy plant species using physical, chemical, and physiochemical pretreatment methods, as well as to optimize the pretreatment and culture conditions to obtain a higher reducing sugar amount and ethanol yield. The collected invasive weedy plants, Chromolaena odorata and Tridax procumbens, were cleaned, then pretreated with different acids and bases (4% v/v) at 121oC for 15 min. Then the filtrate was incubated with Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker‘s yeast) in the peptone yeast extract and nutrient medium (PYN) at room temperature, the pH was maintained at 5.0. T. procumbens plant substrate with the performic acid pretreatment agent produced a significant amount (0.2%) of ethanol, and further studies were conducted with the same substrate and the pretreatment agent. The conditions were optimized successively by changing one factor at a time while keeping the other variables constant. Several important hydrolysis factors were studied for the optimization, including performic acid concentration (0.2–5%), hydrolysis time (10–60 min), fermentation time (24–120 h), inoculum concentration (1.25–7.5 g/100 ml), and rotation speed (50–250 rpm). The maximum ethanol yield of 0.47% was observed at 0.6% performic acid concentration, 30 min of hydrolysis time, 48 h of fermentation time, 5 g/100 ml of inoculum concentration, and 100 rpm rotation speed with T. procumbens using S. cerevisiae.
 Keywords: Bioethanol, Lignocellulosic biomass, Acid hydrolysis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae
 
 

Minimizing the Health Issues by Potentiating the Sweetness of Sugars Through Mid‐Infrared Application

AbstractSugar in the natural state contains fibers, vitamins, and minerals, but these are absent in commonly used white sugar. Icing sugar is prepared by mixing corn starch and sugar and is used for confections. White and icing sugars, however, have been implicated in causing the rapid rise of several chronic diseases, e.g., diabetics, hence face slow market strangulation. It is possible that by potentiating the inherent sweetness of sugars, intake can be reduced, and thereby, the pronicity and risk of chronic diseases will also be reduced. In fact this is a present challenge to multi‐faculty science. It subjects the white and icing sugars to 2–6 µm mid‐infrared (mid‐IR) ray generated through recently invented mid‐IR generating atomizer (MIRGA). This technique enhances the sweetness, and thereby, 15%–30% reduce the sugar quantity requirement in prepared recipes. This method is found to be safe and economical, saves resources and chance for better health.

Comb spectroscopy of CO2 produced from microbial metabolism.

We have developed a direct frequency comb spectroscopy instrument, which we have tested on Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker's yeast) by measuring its CO2 output and production rate as we varied the environmental conditions, including the amount and type of feed sugar, the temperature, and the amount of yeast. By feeding isotopically-enhanced sugar to the yeast, we demonstrate the capability of our device to differentiate between two isotopologues of CO2, with a concentration measurement precision of 260 ppm for 12C16O2 and 175 ppm for 13C16O2. We also demonstrate the ability of our spectrometer to measure the proportion of carbon in the feed sugar converted to CO2, and estimate the amount incorporated into the yeast biomass.

Screening of native Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains from Chile for beer production.

Beer is one of the most consumed alcoholic drinks in the world, and this industry is a growing market that demands different properties to satisfy new consumers. The yeasts are used in different fermented beverages to contribute to new flavors. However, yeast strains used in the beer industry are limited so far, thus the diversity of flavors is very restricted. Therefore, the use of native yeast strains has been taking more importance with the purpose of conferring differentiated organoleptic properties to the product. Based on this observation the potentiality of native Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains obtained from different localities in Chile was researched. In this work was selected those strains that produced the highest ethanol concentration (nearly 6% v/v), consumed the highest amounts of sugars, and produced the lowest amounts of organic acids in the resulting beers. Finally, we did a beer tasting to select those strains that added different flavors to the final beer compared with a commercial strain used. In this study, two native strains that produced fruity descriptors are described, which could be used in the future in brewing, craft or industrial production.

Structural changes in cell wall pectic polymers contribute to freezing tolerance induced by cold acclimation in plants

Subzero temperatures are often lethal to plants. Many temperate herbaceous plants have a cold acclimation mechanism that allows them to sense a drop in temperature and prepare for freezing stress through accumulation of soluble sugars and cryoprotective proteins. As ice formation primarily occurs in the apoplast (the cell wall space), cell wall functional properties are important for plant freezing tolerance. Although previous studies have shown that the amounts of constituent sugars of the cell wall, in particular those of pectic polysaccharides, are altered by cold acclimation, the significance of this change during cold acclimation has not been clarified. We found that β-1,4-galactan, which forms neutral side chains of the acidic pectic rhamnogalacturonan-I, accumulates in the cell walls of Arabidopsis and various freezing-tolerant vegetables during cold acclimation. The gals1 gals2 gals3 triple mutant, which has reduced β-1,4-galactan in the cell wall, exhibited impaired freezing tolerance compared with wild-type Arabidopsis during initial stages of cold acclimation. Expression of genes involved in the galactan biosynthesis pathway, such as galactan synthases and UDP-glucose 4-epimerases, was induced during cold acclimation in Arabidopsis, explaining the galactan accumulation. Cold acclimation resulted in a decrease in extensibility and an increase in rigidity of the cell wall in the wild type, whereas these changes were not observed in the gals1 gals2 gals3 triple mutant. These results indicate that the accumulation of pectic β-1,4-galactan contributes to acquired freezing tolerance by cold acclimation, likely via changes in cell wall mechanical properties.

The Ethanol Production from Sugar Beet Pulp Supported by Microbial Hydrolysis with Trichoderma viride

Despite the significant progress in the research, the problem of finding an efficient method for producing bioethanol from renewable lignocellulosic waste materials remains unresolved. Our investigation aimed to assess the efficacy of ethanol production from sugar beet pulp (SBP) utilising various approaches, including pretreatment variations, enzymatic processes, and microbial hydrolysis. Our research involved using the post-cultivation concentrate of T. viride LOCK 0588 grown in the SBP-based medium as a source of enzymes. The SBP hydrolysis process was carried out for 48 h at 50 °C. The quantity of sugar released, up to 61 g dm−3, through the utilisation of this extract proved to be on par with the outcomes achieved by the application of the commercial Cellic Ctec2 preparation. The final yields of the ethanol production with the use of the coculture of S. cerevisiae (Ethanol Red) and Scheffersomyces stipitis LOCK 0047 strain were in the range 5.1 ± 0.11 kg 100 kg−1 ÷ 5.38 ± 0.11 kg 100 kg−1. These results provide a solid basis for improving larger-scale industrial procedures that involve converting SBP into bioethanol using a cost-efficient approach of microbial hydrolysis with T. viride and a blend of pentose and hexose fermenting yeast.

Ethanol production from sugarcane bagasse by modified PDMS membrane in a membrane bioreactor: pervaporation technique

AbstractBACKGROUNDBioethanol is considered a highly promising alternative to fossil fuels due to its derivation from renewable sources. Reducing the disadvantages of conventional fermentation requires removing the product from the fermentation broth after its formation. Therefore, coupling the membrane separation with a biological process in a single unit leads a reduction of substrate and product inhibitions.RESULTSIn this work, bioethanol production was investigated in a membrane bioreactor (MBR) with sugarcane bagasse (lignocellulose waste) as a renewable source by the sulfuric acid hydrolysis process. Firstly, the optimum conditions to produce the maximum amount of sugar by acid hydrolysis were determined. Second, the membrane bioreactor and pervaporation unit equipped with poly(dimethyl siloxane) carbon nanotube/Tetrazole membrane (PDMS‐CNT/Tetrazole) was fabricated. Third, bioethanol production in a conventional batch reactor (CBR) and the novel MBR was implemented. The outcomes of the two kinds of reactors were then compared. The results illustrated that the optimum conditions for acid hydrolysis are at a temperature of 199.4 °C, an operation time of 30.77 min, and an acid concentration of 1.12%. The obtained data shows that the ethanol production in MBR was increased by 103.6% over conventional fermentation. Furthermore, the pervaporated ethanol concentration was higher than that of the broth because of the high membrane selectivity, where a maximum ethanol concentration of 165.7 g L−1 in the cold trap was achieved.CONCLUSIONFinally, the results illustrate that the MBR can decrease the cell density growth rate and dominate any substrate and product inhibitions, while keeping process productivity for ethanol quite high. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).

Physiological and molecular changes of onion (Allium cepa L.) seeds under different aging conditions

BackgroundOnion seeds have limited storage capacity compared to other vegetable seeds. It is crucial to identify the mechanisms that induce tolerance to storage conditions and reduce seed deterioration. To address this goal, an experiment was conducted to evaluate changes in germination, biochemical, physiological, and molecular characteristics of onion seed landraces (Horand, Kazerun landraces and Zargan cultivar) at different aging levels (control, three-days and six-days accelerated aging, and natural aging for one year).ResultsThe findings suggest that there was an increase in glucose, fructose, total sugar, and electrolyte leakage in the Horand (HOR), Kazerun (KAZ) landraces, and Zarghan (ZAR) cultivar, with Kazerun exhibiting the greatest increase. The percentage and rate of germination of Kazerun decreased by 54% and 33%, respectively, in six-day accelerated aging compared to the control, while it decreased by 12% and 14%, respectively, in Horand. Protein content decreased with increasing levels of aging, with a decrease of 26% in Kazerun landrace at six days of aging, while it was 16% in Horand landrace. The antioxidant activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase decreased more intensively in Kazerun. The expression of AMY1, BMY1, CTR1, and NPR1 genes were lower in Kazerun landraces than in Horand and Zargan at different aging levels.ConclusionsThe AMY1, BMY1, CTR1, and NPR1 genes play a pivotal role in onion seed germination, and their downregulation under stressful conditions has been shown to decrease germination rates. In addition, the activity of CAT, SOD, and GPx enzymes decreased by seed aging, and the amount of glucose, fructose, total sugar and electrolyte leakage increased, which ultimately led to seed deterioration. Based on the results of this experiment, it is recommended to conduct further studies into the molecular aspects involved in onion seed deterioration. More research on the genes related to this process is suggested, as well as investigating the impact of different priming treatments on the genes expression involved in the onion seed aging process.

Morphological and physiological response of amphibious Rotala rotundifolia from emergent to submerged form.

Rotala rotundifolia is an amphibious aquatic plant that can live in submerged and emergent forms. It is superior in nitrogen and phosphorus removal. To elucidate its adaptation strategies from emergent to submerged conditions, phenotypic and physiological responses of R. rotundifolia were investigated during three months of submergence, at water levels of 0cm (CK), 50cm (W50), and 90cm (W90). Results showed that submergence stress reduced the relative growth rate of plant height, fresh weight, and biomass accumulation, leading to root degradation and a significant decline in the root-shoot ratio. The amounts of soluble protein (SP), soluble sugar (SS), and starch in the aerial leaves of W50 and W90 decreased during the early stages of submergence compared to CK, whereas the total chlorophyll and proline contents, and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) increased. The contents of endogenous hormones, including abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellin (GA), and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), decreased during the change in leaf shape; the decline in ABA was more obvious. The leaf primordium generated transition leaves and submerged leaves to resolve the "carbon starvation" of plants. The maximum values of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) in the leaves of W50 and W90 occurred at day 30, reaching 14.0 mg g- 1and 10.5 mg g- 1, respectively. The contents of SP and starch, activities of SOD and CAT of the roots in submerged treatments increased, while SS and proline content decreased at day 7. These results demonstrated that developing heterophyllous leaves, increasing chlorophyll content, and regulating plant carbon allocation and consumption were important mechanisms of R. rotundifolia to adapt to underwater habitats.

Analisis Pengaruh Konsumsi Gula Nasional, Produksi Gula Nasional, Dan Jumlah Penduduk Indonesia Terhadap Jumlah Impor Gula Di Indonesia

This research aims to determine the influence of national sugar consumption, national sugar production, and population in Indonesia on the amount of sugar imported. In this research, the data analysis techniques used are stationarity tests, regression tests, classical assumption tests, and statistical tests. The research results show that the national sugar consumption variable partially does not significantly and positively influence the amount of sugar imports. The federal sugar production variable has a powerful and negative impact on the amount of sugar imports. Meanwhile, the Indonesian population variable significantly influences the amount of sugar imports. The research results simultaneously or together with all independent variables (national sugar consumption, national sugar production, and population) significantly influence the dependent variable (amount of sugar imports).

Assessing the Competitiveness and Trends of Indian Sugar in Global Market: A 1999- 2018 Analysis

Sugar is one of the most produced and traded commodities in the world. India is the second-largest producer and largest consumer of sugar in the world. Therefore, the study was conducted to assess the position of Indian sugar in the international market. The study was based on Time series data of years 1999-2018. To assess the trend, trend analysis was done and, for appraising the competitiveness, export performance ratio and nominal protection coefficient was computed. The cubic model was found best fit for all the particulars considered in the models. Results revealed that production, import quantity and value of sugar had increasing trend while export quantity, value, unit price of export and import of sugar exhibited fluctuating trend. The trade of Indian sugar was found inconsistent in the decadal analysis but overall had a relative advantage in the international market with an EPR vale of 1.11. The higher NPC value of 1.02 pointed out a matter of concern as the Indian sugar was non-competitive in the international market.

Functional Characterization of CsSWEET5a, a Cucumber Hexose Transporter That Mediates the Hexose Supply for Pollen Development and Rescues Male Fertility in Arabidopsis.

Pollen cells require large amounts of sugars from the anther to support their development, which is critical for plant sexual reproduction and crop yield. Sugars Will Eventually be Exported Transporters (SWEETs) have been shown to play an important role in the apoplasmic unloading of sugars from anther tissues into symplasmically isolated developing pollen cells and thereby affect the sugar supply for pollen development. However, among the 17 CsSWEET genes identified in the cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) genome, the CsSWEET gene involved in this process has not been identified. Here, a member of the SWEET gene family, CsSWEET5a, was identified and characterized. The quantitative real-time PCR and β-glucuronidase expression analysis revealed that CsSWEET5a is highly expressed in the anthers and pollen cells of male cucumber flowers from the microsporocyte stage (stage 9) to the mature pollen stage (stage 12). Its subcellular localization indicated that the CsSWEET5a protein is localized to the plasma membrane. The heterologous expression assays in yeast demonstrated that CsSWEET5a encodes a hexose transporter that can complement both glucose and fructose transport deficiencies. CsSWEET5a can significantly rescue the pollen viability and fertility of atsweet8 mutant Arabidopsis plants. The possible role of CsSWEET5a in supplying hexose to developing pollen cells via the apoplast is also discussed.

Optimization of the filtration and centrifugation steps for the isolation of exosome-like nanoparticles (ELNs) from grapes

ABSTRACT Exosome-like nanoparticles (ELNs) are a class of nanosized extracellular vesicles from plants that can deliver drugs, siRNA, DNA, and proteins to various types of cells. Purification of ELNs from plants are tricky when compared to that from body fluids or cell culture medium because the initial suspension of the former contains high amounts of sugar, fiber, fat, etc. In this study, we have optimized the different steps for the isolation of ELNs from grapes. After preparing the juice, the bulk density was measured by Brix analysis and followed the same bulk density whenever doing the isolation. Differential centrifugation at various speeds and times and membrane filtration using different pore-size membranes were also optimized before the final step of ELN separation by ultracentrifugation. The size, zeta potential, and PDI value of the isolated ELNs were measured using a Malvern Zeta Sizer. SEM analysis showed that the grape ELN has an average size of 140.8 ± 10.75 nm. The results indicated that filtration and centrifugation at different levels are essential before the ultracentrifugation for isolating homogenous grape ELNs with desired size, zeta potential and PDI value. From the optimized method, we have obtained 4.8 ± 0.509 mg protein equivalents of ELNs from 100 g of grapes.

Reduced Progression of Diabetic Nephropathy in Streptozocin-Induced Diabetic rats by Lannea coromandelica Leaf Extract

Objectives: An important contributor to end-stage renal failure globally is diabetic kidney disease. The current study looked at the safeguarding results of an infusion of Ethanol from Lannea coromandelica houtt leaves (ELCL)in diabetic kidney disease that was caused by streptozotocin with the intention to treat diabetic nephropathy, creating supportive and substitute medicine is necessary. The development of DN may be slowed down by itsanti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and antioxidant qualities. The novelity lies in the plant selection for the study. Methods: Streptozotocin (45mg/kg, i.p.) was administered as a single dosage to rats to induce diabetes. During 8 weeks, oral dosages of ELCL (100mg/kg and 200mg/kg.) were given to rodents with STZ diabetes. Blood sugar amounts and body and kidney weights were measured at the conclusion of the trial period. The parameters of serum and urine were evaluated. The kidney levels of lipid peroxide and antioxidant enzymes were assessed. Results: In STZ-diabetic rats and rats treated with extract, ethylacetate extract dramatically raised body weight and decreased blood glucose, blood urea levels, blood nitrogen levels, and the creatinine levels. All kidney antioxidants, including glutathione synthetase, glutathione-S-transferase, catalase, superoxide dismutase and NAD(P) H dehydrogenase [quinone]1 were highly upregulated by the extract. Conclusion: According to research, ELCL may have antioxidant, antihyperglycemic, and anti-glycation properties that could slow the progression of diabetic nephropathy.

Assessing the nutritional quality of Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom).

There is a huge gap between food production and the exploding population demands in various parts of the world, especially developing countries. This increases the chances of malnutrition, leading to increased disease incidence and the need for functional foods to reduce mortality. Pleurotus ostreatus are edible mushrooms that are cheaply sourced and rich in nutrient with the potential to be harnessed toward addressing the present and future food crisis while serving as functional foods for disease prevention and treatment. This study evaluated the nutritional, proximate, vitamins and amino acids contents of Pleurotus ostreatus. The proximate composition of Pleurotus ostreatus in this study revealed that it contains 43.42% carbohydrate, 23.63% crude fiber, 17.06% crude protein, 8.22% ash, 1.21% lipid and a moisture content of 91.01 and 6.46% for fresh and dry samples of Pleurotus ostreatus, respectively. The monosaccharide and disaccharide profile of Pleurotus ostreatus revealed the presence of glucose (55.08 g/100 g), xylose (7.19 g/100 g), fructose (19.70 g/100 g), galactose (17.47 g/100 g), trehalose (7.37 g/100 g), chitobiose (11.79 g/100 g), maltose (29.21 g/100 g), sucrose (51.60 g/100 g) and lower amounts of cellobiose (0.01 g/100 g), erythrose (0.48 g/100 g) and other unidentified sugars. Potassium, Iron and Magnesium were the highest minerals present with 12.25 mg, 9.66 mg and 7.00 mg amounts, respectively. The vitamin profile revealed the presence of vitamin A (2.93 IU/100 g), C (16.46 mg/100 g), E (21.50 mg/100 g) and B vitamins with vitamin B2 having the highest concentration of 92.97 mg/kg. The amino acid scores showed that Pleurotus ostreatus had more non-essential amino acids (564.17 mg/100 g) than essential amino acids (67.83 mg/100 g) with a ratio of 0.11. Lysine (23.18 mg/100 g) was the highest essential amino acid while aspartic acid (492.12 mg/kg) was the highest non-essential amino acid present in Pleurotus ostreatus. It had a higher concentration of acidic amino acids, 492.12 mg/100 g (77.87%), followed by neutral amino acids, 106.66 mg/100 g (16.88%) and least were the basic amino acids, 23.18 mg/100 g (3.67%). Based on the nutritional assessment of the Pleurotus ostreatus analyzed in this study, it can be concluded that it can serve as an important functional food source that can be exploited to meet the increasing food demands and reduce micronutrient deficiencies in many parts of the world, especially developing countries.

Characterization of crude extracts from willow barks and their performance as proanthocyanidin -based coagulants in water treatment

This work investigates the proanthocyanidin profile of willow bark crude extracts and these materials were cationized and preliminarily tested as biocoagulants for water treatment. The characteristics of crude extracts proanthocyanidin were investigated using size exclusion chromatography (SEC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XPS analysis indicates that the crude extracts contain significant amounts of sugars. Furthermore, SEC and liquid-state NMR spectroscopy showed that crude extract contains roughly 3–4 flavan-3-ol units with procyanidin (PC)/ prodelphinidin (PD) ratio of roughly 3–5. Thus, the modified form of tannin (proanthocyanidin-enriched) coagulants obtained the higher cationic charge density. The coagulation experiments with kaolin-river water mixture suggested that all the selected willow hybrids’ tannin coagulants were effective in settling the particles down. This study indicates that the value of willow bark can be significantly improved by the usage of crude extracts for water treatment.

Characterization of a Hyaluronate Lyase from Variovorax sp. J25

ABSTRACT Oligosaccharides produced by degradation of hyaluronan (HA) can be applied in functional foods. In this study, Variovorax sp. J25 with high secreted HA lyase activity (16.0 U/mL), was isolated from soil, and its properties were investigated. The activities toward chondroitin sulfates A and C (CS-A and CS-C) were much lower, at 0.439 and 0.325 U/mL, respectively. The molecular weight of the purified HA lyase was around 73 kDa. The optimal reaction pH and temperature were approximately 6.7 and 50°C, respectively. The amounts of sugar produced from HA, CS-A, and CS-C were 550, 175, and 271 mg/g after reaction for 24 h, respectively. The degradation of CS-A and CS-C proceeded gradually. The major product from HA was disaccharide [ΔUA–GlcNAc], and tetrasaccharide [(ΔUA–GlcNAc)2] was also detected (GlcNAc: N-acetylglucosamine, ΔUA: 4-deoxy-α-L-threo-hex-4-enepyranosyluronic acid). In the degradation of CS-A and CS-C, disaccharide [ΔUA–GalNAc-OSO3H] was released (GalNAc: N-acetylgalactosamine).

Influence of dietary and lifestyle factors on levels of inflammatory markers (IL-6, IFN-γ and TNF-α) in obese subjects.

The low-grade inflammation occurring in obese individuals leads to many diseases, including cardiovascular disease (CVD). Dietary patterns, food groups or nutrients in a well-balanced diet may reduce the level of pro-inflammatory markers and the risk of obesity-related morbidities. Our study aims to describe three cytokines in obese patients in relation to dietary habits, lifestyle and body composition. Serum samples were collected from 84 obese adult volunteer subjects [body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2] to analyze the concentrations of interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interferon γ (IFN-γ). The subjects were tested by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and completed a three-day food diary and original questionnaire with the FFQ-6 food consumption frequency questionnaire. Higher serum levels of IL-6 and IFN-γ were found in patients with atherosclerosis, but the group was too small for a reliable correlation. Subcutaneous but not visceral adipose tissue correlated positively with IL-6 levels. Dietary factors such as amount of sugars, including galactose and sucrose, in the diet and the frequency of consumption of sweet flavored dairy products correlated positively with the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, while the frequency of alcohol consumption negatively correlated with the level of IL-6. The greater the frequency of sports, the higher was the level of IL-6. In obese individuals, the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines could predispose to atherosclerosis and is associated with dietary factors and lifestyle.