Unripe Seeds Research Articles

Optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction of galactomannan from carob seeds “ceratonia siliqua L” and evaluation of their functional properties and in vitro anti-inflammatory activity

ABSTRACT Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of galactomannan from the endosperm of ripe carob seeds (LBG.S3) was investigated through response surface methodology (RSM). The optimized UAE conditions were an extraction time of 40 minutes, a temperature of 45°C, and a solid-liquid ratio of 1:50 g/mL. Under these settings, the experimental yield of galactomannan was 47.53 ± 2.55%, which is closely aligning with the expected value of 49.78 ± 3.15%. The yield of galactomannan extracted from unripe carob seeds (LBG.S2) under the same optimal conditions was significantly higher 56.73 ± 2.76% (p < 0.05) than the yield of LBG.S3. The infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) characterization revealed the existence of various functional groups in the spectrum of galactomannan extracted from unripe seeds, not found in LBG.S3. The galactomannan from ripe carob seeds exhibited superior functional properties, including solubility, emulsion and stability capacity, water and oil holding capacity, and viscosity, compared to LBG.S2. In vitro, tests demonstrated notable anti-inflammatory activity for both LBG.S2 and LBG.S3, as observed through the inhibition of bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein denaturation by heat and the membrane stabilization test. Carob galactomannan is a potential source of bioactive polysaccharides with anti-inflammatory and functional properties that can be used in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Maturation of Erythrina speciosa Andrews seeds collected in the Southeast and South Regions of Brazil

ABSTRACT: Analyzing unripe phases of orthodox seeds and the variations in traits depending on environmental conditions under which they were formed is a way of gaining knowledge on the differences and similarities between orthodox and recalcitrant seed behavior. From this perspective, in this study fruits of Erythrina speciosa Andrews were collected in Florianópolis (SC), Lajeado (RS) and Sao Paulo (SP) in August and November. Seeds were extracted and classified into six different maturation stages. Seeds were stored at 7 °C for a maximum of five days until the beginning of the experiments. Moisture content and dry matter content were measured through the oven method (103 ± 3 °C). Germination was analyzed at 25 °C and 70% of relative humidity, with evaluations being made every two days for 30 days. To induce dormancy, seeds were dried to 10% moisture content. We ran an analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s test at 5% as statistical analysis. We observed that unripe seeds showed a wide behavior variation depending on the collection period and site, for a same chronological age, reinforcing the idea that the seed behavior variation may be due to the maturation degree at the moment of seed dispersal.

Feeding ecology of monk sakis (Pithecia monachus) in a seasonally flooded forest in western Amazonia

Sakis (genus Pithecia) are frugivorous primates with a preference for seeds that complete their diet with leaves and insects. Fruit pulp and seeds are known to have different nutritional characteristics that change during the process of ripening. The consumption of seeds can be an adaptation to changes in resource availability, as unripe seeds are a more steadily available resource than ripe pulp or young leaves. Here, we present the first study of the feeding ecology of monk sakis (Pithecia monachus). We investigated dietary composition and identified important feeding plants in a seasonally flooded forest within the Área de Conservación Regional Comunal Tamshiyacu–Tahuayo in Peruvian Amazonia. Throughout 20 months, we followed groups of monk sakis by foot and canoe and recorded 459 feeding events. Seeds were the most frequently consumed food item (49%), followed by pulp (mesocarp, pericarp or aril; 25%) and arthropods (22%). Leaves, bark, and flowers were ingested only sporadically. The importance of ripe seeds and arthropods in the diet of the monk sakis differed from other studies: we recorded the consumption of mostly ripe seeds and the share of arthropods was relatively high.

Pharmacognostic Investigations on the Seeds of Butea Monosperma (Lam.) Taub

Butea monosperma is commonly known as Flame of forest, belonging to the family Fabaceae. It is locally called as palas, palash, mutthuga, bijasneha, dhak, khakara, chichra, Bastard Teak, Bengal Kino, Nourouc and is common throughout India, Burma and Ceylon except in very acrid parts.All parts of the plant are traditionally used for curing various diseases and disorders. The plant is traditionally reported to possess astringent, bitter, alterative, aphrodiasiac, anthelmintic, antibacterial and anti-asthmatic properties. The Seeds have anthelmintic property especially for roundworms and tapeworms. Hence, the objectives of the present work were pharmacognostic, physicochemical and phytochemical studies of Butea monosperma un-ripe and ripe seeds. Macroscopic, microscopic and powder features, phytochemical, physicochemical properties and were determined using standard methods.The Seed flat, kidney-shaped, 2.5 to 4 cm long, 1 to 3 cm wide, seeds coat raddish brown thin waxy, hilum was of simple and oblong, margin was smooth, unripe seed was creamiest whiteshgreen in colour while ripe seed was dark brown in colour. The seed; odour, faint; taste, slightly acrid and bitter. The seed is characterized by finely ridged seed coat and palisade like malpighian cells, discontinuous transparent linealucida in upper half of malpighian layers. The microscopic study showed seed was divided into four parts epicarp, mesocarp, testa and endocarp. The epicarp was single layered with thin smooth cuticle layer, polygonal parenchymatous cells. Endocarp consisted of sclerenchyma cells with oil globules; The plasmodesma was yellowish in colour with radially elongated thick walled mucilaginous cells.Palasonin and nitrogenous acidic compounds is present in seeds. Seed also contains isomonospermoside, monospermoside and allophanic acid. The parameters evaluated in physicochemical analysis were all within limits. All the extractive values of un-ripe seed were more than that of ripe seed. The crude powder of un-ripe seeds showed presence of alkaloids, phenols and glycoside while ripe seed showed presence of alkaloids. Butea monosperma seeds contain fixed oil, mixed fatty acids, and unsaponifiable matter. The parameters evaluated in this study are the diagnostic features of the unripe and ripe seeds

Evaluation of the Nutritional, Phytochemical, and Antioxidant Potential of Rourea minor Fruits: An Underutilized Species

The present study focuses on the nutritional, phytochemical composition, and antioxidant activities of the fruits of Rourea minor (Gaertn.) Alston., an underutilized plant species. The ripened seeds contained 0.28%, 12.39%, 25.70%, 1.4%, and 3.4% of fat, protein, carbohydrate, ash, and fiber, respectively, whereas ripened pulp possessed 0.19%, 0.34%, 0.90%, 0.35%, and 0.98% of fat, protein, carbohydrates, ash, and fiber, respectively. The ripened seed and pulp were also rich in mineral elements and especially microelements. The pulp, when ripe, had high levels of microelements such as boron, iron, zinc, copper, and manganese with values of 25.98, 2523.56, 499.12, 33.62, and 40.30 µg/g DW, respectively. Phytate and oxalate content were comparatively higher in ripened seeds (6.91 and 31.88 mg/g FW) than in the pulp. Acetone, absolute methanol, water, and 70% methanol were used for the extraction of phytochemicals, and 70% methanol extract contained the highest phytochemicals. The total phenolic, flavonoid, and alkaloid content of unripe seeds was 180.47 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/DW, 68.95 quercetin equivalent (QE)/g DW, and 0.35 atropine equivalent (AE)/g DW, respectively, and that of unripe pulp was 8.21 mg GAE/g DW, 2.97 mg QE/g DW and 1.20 mg AE/g DW, respectively. All the extracts showed remarkable antioxidant activity, proved by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, total antioxidant activity, and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, following a similar trend to the phytochemical composition. The study concludes that Rourea minor fruits, both seeds, and pulp, could be an excellent source of nutrients, microelements, and antioxidants.

Encapsulation of Formosa Papaya (Carica papaya L.) Seed Extract: Physicochemical Characteristics of Particles, and Study of Stability and Release of Encapsulated Phenolic Compounds

Papaya seeds are a promising source of phenolic compounds, but these are unstable, and the papaya extract has a bitter taste. This study aimed to encapsulate papaya seed extracts at different maturation levels, and to characterize the obtained microparticles for their physicochemical properties, chemical stability and release of bioactives. Extracts of papaya (unripe and ripe) seeds were spray-dried using concentrations of 0, 15 and 30% of maltodextrin and inlet air temperatures of 130 and 150 °C. The powders were analyzed for yield, moisture, Aw, hygroscopicity, dispersibility, color parameters, morphology, mean diameter, total phenolics, antioxidant activity, stability during storage and release of phenolics in simulated gastrointestinal fluids. Powders produced with maltodextrin showed better results regarding particle diameter, hygroscopicity, dispersibility, and phenolic stability during storage. All powders showed antioxidant action and significant values of total phenolic compounds. Samples without maltodextrin underwent caking. Drying temperatures had little influence on the characteristics of the powders. Encapsulated phenolic compounds were released in large amounts in the intestinal phase (86.6–100%). Powders produced with unripe seeds, 15% of maltodextrin and an inlet air temperature of 130 °C showed the best results. Thus, encapsulation was efficient, and encapsulated papaya seed extract has potential for food application as a natural additive.

Application of foliar fertilization with Agrochelate fertilizer on melon seed crops

The results are reflected, which confirm the effectiveness of foliar fertilizing with organic fertilizer Agrohelate for melon plants of early varieties Tamanskaya and Strelchanka. A single treatment of plants in the seed plots in the flowering phase and the beginning of the growth of the first ovary contributed to better pollination. More than half of the fruits with typical varietal characteristics were selected for seed extraction: Tamanskaya varieties – 51.4% and Strelchanka varieties – 51.0%. The mass of fruits in the Tamanskaya variety increased noticeably by 0.16...0.23 kg on average, in the Strelchanka variety – by 0.12...0.42 kg. The data on the increase in the content of dry soluble substances in the pulp of the fruits of the first two harvests of melon variety Strelchanka by 0.8 ... 1.6% are given. In the pulp of Tamanskaya melon fruits, there was a tendency to increase the content of dry soluble substances. Fertilizer Agrochelate had an impact on the seed productivity of melon varieties. In the fruits of the Tamanskaya variety, 122–145 more seeds were ripened, and the number of feeble and unripe seeds was 5.5–7.2% less than in the fruits of the control variant. The number of puny and unripened seeds in the fruits of Strelchanka melon variety was 10% less. In weight terms, on average, 2.6 g more seeds were isolated from each fruit of the Tamanskaya variety than in the variant without treatment. A noticeable increase in the yield of seeds in the variety Strelchanka was not observed. Application of foliar application with organic mineral fertilizer Agrochelate did not affect the mass of seeds. The indicators of sowing qualities of seeds were high in all variants of the experiment: germination energy – from 58.1 to 81.5% and germination - from 90.7 to 97.3%. The analysis of the obtained results substantiates the feasibility of applying top dressing with Agrochelate organic fertilizer.

Pulsed resources and the resource‐prediction strategy: a field‐test using a 36‐year study of small mammals

Pulsed resource environments are known for their marked variations in resource availability over space and time. Animals living in such environments usually increase reproduction after resources become available. Some small mammal populations, however, may use environmental cues that precede large crops of seeds (e.g. pollen, flowers, unripe seeds) to ‘predict' mast‐seeding events and reproduce in advance. In other words, these populations exhibit a resource‐prediction strategy based on future fitness prospects. Habitat selection might play a key role in the resource‐prediction strategy, but our understanding of habitat selection in pulsed resource environments is extremely limited. We used a 36‐year dataset on small mammal trapping and seed availability collected in Maine (USA) to test if American red squirrels Tamiasciurus hudsonicus, eastern chipmunks Tamias striatus, white‐footed mice Peromyscus leucopus and southern red‐backed voles Myodes gapperi select habitats based on upcoming resources and examine the consequences to individual fitness. Small mammal trapping was conducted in summer before seeds were available, thus trapping occurred when only the cues of an upcoming mast event were available. Using home‐range estimations and capture data, we performed resource selection analyses to assess if individuals select habitat to maximize future resource acquisitions. Using capture–mark–recapture models, we also estimated individual survival (a proxy for fitness). Our results do not support habitat selection as a mechanism underlying the resource‐prediction hypothesis, indicating that individuals do not select habitats based on the upcoming seed availability. Nevertheless, we found that white‐footed mice with home ranges in areas characterized by a greater quantity of white oak acorns have up to a 15% higher survival rate. Our empirical study advances the understanding of predator response to pulsed resources by not supporting a key mechanism thought to underpin the anticipatory responses that have been observed in many ecosystems worldwide.

Efficiency of foliar application with organic fertilizer agrochelate on seed plots of summer sowing watermelon

Relevance. In the central zone of the Krasnodar Territory, the mobility and availability of the main elements of mineral nutrition can be limited in certain phases of the growing season of melons and gourds, especially with a decrease in soil moisture and high temperatures. An important additional and corrective element of nutritional technology is foliar feeding, which increase the absorption of fertilizers during critical periods of plant growth and development.Material and methods. The purpose of the research is to determine the effectiveness of foliar application with organic fertilizer AGROCHELATE to maximize the biological potential of watermelon varieties on seed plots during summer sowing. The research was carried out at the seed-growing area of the vegetable growing department in the "Federal Scientific Rice Centre" in 2020-2021. The object of research was selected varieties of watermelon selection “Federal Scientific Rice Centre” Tersky early and Yubilyar with a growing season of 65-75 days. Organic fertilizer AGROCHELATE was used to treat the leaf surface of plants with a consumption rate of 100 ml/ha. A single spraying was used during the flowering phase of the plants. For the isolation of seeds, fruits were selected that were characteristic of the varietal phenotype in the phase of biological ripeness: in shape, size, color and pattern of the bark, color of the pulp, size and color of seeds.Results. In the Terskiy early variety, during spring sowing, fruits weighing 3.5-4.0 kg are formed. With summer sowing, the weight of fruits was significantly inferior and did not exceed 2.36 kg. The size of the Yubilyar watermelon fruit corresponded to the declared varietal parameters. The use of foliar application with organic fertilizer AGROCHELATE during the flowering phase did not affect the fruit weight. Analysis of the results of the content of dry soluble substances (DRS) in the pulp of the fruits showed a positive varietal response to the use of feeding. The share of influence on the improvement of the pulp quality indicator was 64.1%. On seed plots, after application of fertilizing with organic fertilizer AGROCHELATE, 0.81-3.09 t more than from control plots, selected fruits corresponding to varietal characteristics. The seed yield is largely influenced by the number of fruits selected for seed isolation. A one-time application of sheet processing made it possible to select a larger number of fruits on the Tersky Early variety - by 289 pieces./ha, on the Yubilyar variety – by 495 pcs./ha. Treatment of plants with organic fertilizer AGROCHELATE in the flowering phase contributed to an increase in the number of seeds in each fruit in the Tersky early watermelon by 19-127 pieces, in the Yubilyar variety by 9-111 pieces, respectively. Unripe seeds in fruits by varieties were 0.9-5.0% less than in untreated plants. In general, watermelon seeds obtained during summer sowing, regardless of the use of agricultural practices, corresponded to the elite category that can be used to grow marketable products.

Antibiofilm and anticancer activities of unripe and ripe Azadirachta indica (neem) seed extracts

BackgroundAntibiotic resistances of pathogens and breast cancer warrant the search for new alternative strategies. Phytoextracts can eradicate microbe-borne diseases as well as cancer with lower side effects compared to conventional antibiotics.AimUnripe and ripe Azadirachta indica (neem) seed extracts were explored as potential antibiofilm and anticancer agents in combating multidrug-resistant infectious bacteria as well as anticancer agents against the MDR breast cancer cell lines.Methods Shed-dried neem seeds (both unripe and ripe) were pulverized and extracted using methanol. The chemical components were identified with FTIR and gas chromatography - mass spectrometry. Antibiofilm activity of neem seed extracts were assessed in terms of minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC), minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC), and fluorescence microscopic studies on Staphylococcus aureus and Vibrio cholerae. Bacterial cells were studied by fluorescence microscopy using acridine orange/ethidium bromide as the staining agents. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values were evaluated to observe the antibacterial activities. Cytotoxicity of the extracts against human blood lymphocytes and the anticancer activity against drug-resistant breast cancer cell lines were assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) studies.Results 4-Ethyl-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentene-1-one, phthalic acid, and 2-hexyl-tetrahydro thiophane were the major compounds in unripe neem seed, whereas 3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-2,3-dihydro-4-H-pyran-4-one and 4-ethylbenzamide were predominant in ripe neem seed. Triazine derivatives were also common for both the extracts. MBIC values of unripe and ripe neem seed extracts for S. aureus are 75 and 100 µg/mL, respectively, and for V. cholerae, they are 100 and 300 µg/mL, respectively. MBEC values of unripe and ripe seed extracts are 500 and 300 µg/mL, respectively for S. aureus and for V. cholerae the values are 700 and 500 µg/mL, respectively. Fluorescence microscopic studies at 16 and 24 h, after bacterial culture, demonstrate enhanced antibiofilm activity for the ripe seed extract than that of the unripe seeds for both the bacteria. MTT assay reveals lower cytotoxicity of both the extracts towards normal blood lymphocytes, and anticancer activity against breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231) with superior activity of ripe seed extract. FACS studies further supported higher anticancer activity for ripe seed extract.ConclusionsMethanolic extract of neem seeds could substantially inhibit and eradicate biofilm along with their potent antibacterial and anticancer activities. Both the extracts showed higher antibiofilm and antibacterial activity against S. aureus (gram-positive) than V. cholerae (gram-negative). Moreover, ripe seed extract showed higher antibiofilm and anticancer activity than unripe extracts.Graphical

Chemical Composition of Pinus nigra Arn. Unripe Seeds from Bulgaria.

The present paper aims to investigate the chemical composition of unripe black pine seeds obtained from Bulgaria. The lipid fraction was evaluated in unripe seeds, and the cellulose, total carbohydrates, glucose, fructose, and sucrose were evaluated in seedcakes. The major fatty acid identified in the Pinus nigra seed oil was unsaturated linoleic acid (44.2%), followed by the saturated palmitic acid (31.2%). The amount of unsaturated pinolenic (10.5%) and oleic acids (8.8%) was also rather high. The amino acid composition of the protein fraction of seedcakes was also determined. The amino acid composition was represented mainly by asparagine (3.92 mg/g), serine (3.79 mg/g), alanine (3.65 mg/g), arginine (3.32 mg/g), phenylalanine (2.98 mg/g), lysine (2.85 mg/g), proline (2.69 g/mg), tryptophan (2.44 mg/g), valine (2.33 mg/g), isoleucine (2.28 mg/g), and tyrosine (2.05 mg/g). The mineral content (N, P, K, Mg, Na, and Cu) of the seedcakes was evaluated, as the amount of K (8048.00 mg/kg) and Mg (172.99 mg/kg) were the highest in the samples. These findings emphasized the potential use of the unripe black pine seeds in different areas due to their chemical importance and values.

Effect of maturity on the phytonutrient composition of Cape gooseberry seeds (Physalis peruviana L.)

The seeds of Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) remain as a by-product from juice production, but they can also be a potential resource of valuable nutrients. The objective of this study was to analyze the phytonutrient composition of the seeds isolated from fruit at two maturity stages unsuitable for regular realization (unripe and under-ripe), with the aim of identifying the possibility for utilization of such non-standard or discarded agricultural production. The results showed about 3-time lower oil content in the unripe seeds than in the under-ripe seeds (6.60% vs. 21.75%), but no significant differences in the content of protein (18.44% and 17.83%) and cellulose (26.63% and 26.14%). The total tocopherol content slightly decreased with the progress of fruit maturity (from 8354 mg/kg to 7118 mg/kg). Significant changes in the amino acid composition were found only with regard to aspartic acid, glutamic acid, tyrosine and methionine. The content of macro and micro minerals was lower in the under-ripe seeds (about 1.5-2-time). The results from this baseline study suggested that the seeds from both unripe and under-ripe fruit could also be considered for nutritive purposes (animal feed, food products).

Ripe and unripe seed of Xanthium italicum – elemental composition

Elements content in plants varies considerably, which is a consequence of various factors, such as plant species, vegetative stage, pedological characteristics of the soil and environmental conditions. The subject of this work is an investigation of the elemental composition of Xanthium italicum ripe and unripe seed collected in Temska using ICP OES. Out of the analyzed macroelements, potassium is the one with the highest concentration, and its content significantly differs in the ripe and unripe seeds. Iron showed five times higher concentration in unripe (27.7 µg/g) compared to ripe (6.2 µg/g) seed. The content of Ba, Cr, Cu, Mn, Pb, and Zn also differ in the ripe and unripe stages of the analyzed seed, which indices that elemental composition is affected by the vegetative stage. Lead and arsenic content are higher than permissible limits, which might affect honey production in this region.

English

Since chemical insecticides favor the emergence of resistance and have disastrous consequences for the environment, we became interested in an alternative control method against Spodoptera frugiperda, more respectful for the environment. We therefore evaluated the effectiveness of the bio-insecticidal effects of plants extracts and oil of castor against the fall armyworm in the laboratory. The laboratory bioassays consisted of evaluating the toxicity of the castor plants extracts and oil by contact and ingestion on fourth instar larvae of Spodoptera frugiperda using a leaf dipping method. It emerges from this study that the mortality of the larvae treated with the bio-insecticide and the control solution varies significantly and that the mortality rate was 100% for dose 1; 85% for dose 2 and 70% for dose 3. The mortality rate for the control solution is 10%. These results testify to the good larvicidal activity of the organic insecticide based on oil, leaves and unripe seeds of castor bean on the fall armyworm.

Ethnobotanical survey on medicinal plants (Carica papaya L. and Agelanthus dodoneifolius (DC.) Polhill &amp; Wiens) used in the treatment of Hepatitis in Burkina Faso, phytochemistry and antioxidant activity

Hepatitis are pathologies of various etiologies affecting millions persons and the management by modern medicines still faces many difficulties. Our study aimed to make a repertory of medicinal plants used in the treatment of hepatitis in the Urbans areas of Bobo-Dioulasso, Dédougou and Fada N'Gourma followed by the phytochemical quantification and antioxidant activity of the most cited ones. We conducted an ethnobotanical survey among traditional Heath practitioners in the three studied locations to achieve this objective. Methanolic extracts of the plant organs were obtained using an extractor apparatus. Polyphenolic compounds contents quantification was done by spectrophotometry using Follin-Ciocalteu reagent and aluminum trichloride. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by three methods (ABTS●+, DPPH●, FRAP) and the reading of optical densities was performed with the spectrophotometer. A total of, 101 traditional healers were interviewed and 52 species were inventoried as being used in hepatitis care in the three localities. Among the species regularly cited in the different localities were Carica papaya (8%) and Agelanthus dodoneifolius (13%), and these two species were selected for the further investigation. Among the parts of plants most used there are roots (45%). Phytochemical investigations of C. papaya and A. dodoneifolius revealed that the best polyphenolic compound content was obtained by the unripe seeds of C. papaya with respectively 14.06±0.68 mg EAG and 4.37±0.57 mg EQ for 100 mg of extract. A. dodoneifolius extract was given the best antioxidant activity on ABTS●+ radical inhibition method with 9279.19±416.37 µmol EAA/g. All these activities could partially justify the use of screened species in the traditional treatment of hepatitis.

Antioxidant properties of lipote (Syzygium polycephaloides (C.B. Rob.) Merr.) flesh and seeds as affected by maturity and processing method

Lipote (Syzygium polycephaloides (C. B. Rob.) Merr.) is a Philippine endemic tree whose berries have a potential for functional food development. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the maturity stage (unripe, half-ripe or fully ripe) and processing (blanching at 90±5°C for 2 mins and steaming at 105±5°C for 5 mins) on the antioxidant content (total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and total anthocyanin content (TAC)) and antioxidant activity by DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays, of lipote flesh and skin (referred herein as flesh) and seeds. Results showed that maturity and processing significantly affect the antioxidant contents and activities of fresh lipote flesh and seeds. Blanched lipote flesh generally had higher TPC, TFC, and antioxidant activities than their unprocessed and steamed counterparts. Blanched unripe flesh had the highest TPC (33.57±0.27 mg gallic acid equivalents [GAE]/g) and antioxidant activity measured by ABTS, FRAP, and DPPH assay (92.31±1.28 mg Trolox equivalents [TE]/g, 123.83±0.86 mg TE/g, and 74.02±0.33 mg TE/g, respectively) while blanched fully ripe flesh had the highest TFC (27.98±0.08 mg quercetin equivalents [QE]/g) and TAC (18.11±0.11 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalents [C3GE]/g). Lipote seeds, especially unripe ones, have appreciable antioxidant contents and antioxidant activity, even greater than that of lipote flesh. Unprocessed unripe seeds had the greatest TPC, TFC and antioxidant activity by DPPH assay (123.56±0.94 mg GAE/g, 111.90±0.14 mg QE/g and 465.89±1.86 mg TE/g, respectively). It is recommended that blanching be used as a processing step to increase the antioxidant content of lipote flesh while lipote seeds should be investigated further for nutraceutical applications due to their high antioxidant properties.

Comparative Study of the Phytochemical and Bio-activities of the Essential Oils from Ripe and Unripe Seeds of Azadirachta indica

This study determines the secondary metabolites of the essential oils of ripe and unripe seeds of Azadirachta indica and then evaluated their antioxidant and antimicrobial potentials. Ripe and unripe seeds were subjected to hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus and analyzed using gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the volatile oils were also investigated using 2,2- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and agar well diffusion methods, respectively. The GC-MS analysis showed that the essential oils of ripe and unripe seeds contained fourteen (14) and twenty-three (23) therapeutically active compounds, respectively. Compounds present in high quantity in the essential oil of ripe seeds were: 5-hydroxymethyltetrahydro-2- furanol (35.5%) and 2,5-dimethyl-1,5-heptadiene-3,4-diol (11.8%), palmitic acid (5.0%) and methyl-9-octadecenoate (5.0%), while 2-methyl-2-pentanethiol (31.9%), cis-oleic acid (21.0%), 4-methyl-5-nonanone (10.5%), toluene (6.0%) and o-xylene (6.0%) were the principal compounds in the essential oil of the unripe seeds. Essential oils of both ripe and unripe seeds showed high inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus. The essential oil of the unripe seeds showed moderate to high inhibition against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Free radical scavenging of the two essential oils gave IC50 values of 2.00 and 2.50 for ripe and unripe seeds essential oil, respectively. Essential oil of unripe seeds has higher antimicrobial strength than that of the ripe seed. Essential oils of the seeds of A. indica could serve as a good source of pharmaceuticals and industrially useful compounds.

Endozoochorous seed dispersal by golden snub-nosed monkeys in a temperate forest.

Seed dispersal is essential for plant recruitment and the maintenance of biodiversity. Colobine monkeys are primarily folivorous, but they also consume fruits and are often assumed to be seed predators. Although they are known to be epizoochorous seed dispersers, their role as endozoochorous seed dispersers needs reassessment. We examined potential endozoochory in golden snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) at Dalongtan in Shennongjia National Park, central China, by assessing potential germination of ingested seeds (n = 1806, 9 species) from fecal samples. Intact seeds were in almost all fecal samples (ranging from 5-130 seeds), and ingested seeds were from small seeded species (seed width <4.5 mm). The 2 most abundant species were Actinidia arguta (73%) and Rosa caudata (15%). The fruits of A. arguta were unripe when ingested (i.e. effective seed predation) and the ingested seeds did not germinate in the trials. Therefore, ingestion of unripe seeds does not lead to effective seed dispersal. However, germination rates of defecated R. caudata (9%) were greater than control seeds (6% and 0%), demonstrating potential endozoochorous seed dispersal. Thus, colobine monkeys do indeed disperse mainly small-seeded from multi-seeded fruits through potential endozoochory and this process enhances the recruitment of seedlings.

Nutrition profile, chemical analysis and biological activities of Areca catechu L. seeds (Areca nut) from Borneo

This study objective was to investigate nutrient profile, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, major chemical components, as well as biological activities of Areca catechu seeds. The nutrients analysis revealed that both unripe fruit and ripe fruit seeds contained high carbohydrates and high crude fiber. The pure compound was isolated using various chromatographic techniques, and the structure was elucidated based on the spectral data which included Gas Chromatography-Mas Spectroscopy (GC-MS), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). The total phenolic content of both extracts ranged from 568.19 mg GAE/g to 813.56 mg GAE/g. Meanwhile, the total flavonoid content (TFC) of these extracts was ranged from 125.03 mg QUE/g to 190.44 mg QUE/g. In addition, the antioxidant activity which was determined by using the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay showed that the inhibition concentration, IC50 values were ranged from 7.29 μg/mL to 9.56 μg/mL. It was observed that the methanol extract of ripe fruit exhibited higher antioxidant activity. These results suggest that areca nut has the potential to prevent oxidative damage in normal cells due to their antioxidant characteristics. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus (SA), S. pyogenes (SP), Escherichia coli (EC), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) were also performed by using (MIC) and (MBC) assays. Both the methanol and extracts of unripe fruit and ripe fruit revealed strong antimicrobial activities with MIC and MBC values of 450 μg/mL for SA, EC, PA while the MIC and MBC values of 225 μg/mL for SP. This indicates that A. catechu has health benefits when consumed in a small amount. Hence, it has excellent potential as an alternative antibacterial agent and may be marketed as other pharmaceutical products.

PENGARUH PERBEDAAN WAKTU PANEN TERHADAP KARAKTERISTIK KIMIA BIJI KECIPIR

In Indonesia, the utilization of winged bean seeds as a food source is very limited. Currently there is inadequate information on the characteristics of the seeds, especially the chemical properties associated with its maturity. This research aimed to analyze the chemical properties of winged bean obtained from different harvesting time. Three different harvesting times were investigated, i.e. eight (K1), twelve (K2), and as six (6) weeks after the first flowering stage as a control. K1 and K2 were dried at 40°C (24 h) to mimic the conventional preparation of beans practiced in Indonesia, while K3 was unripe seeds commonly consumed fresh thus it is analyzed as fresh seeds. K1 and K2 have water content between 12.3-13.0% (wb), ash content 4.7-4.8% (db), lipid content 13.4-15.4% (db), protein content 38.9-40.7% (db), carbo-hydrate content 40.8-41.0% (db), total phenolic content 7.6 and 5.3 mg GAE/g (db), antioxidant activity (IC50) 558.3 and 511.1 µg/mL, starch content 25.6-29.1%, reducing sugar content 1.3-1.7 mg/g. Mean-while, the unripe winged bean seeds (K3) has water content of 75.5% (wb), ash content 5.0% (db), protein content 19.6% (db), carbohydrate content 68.4% (db), total phenolic content of 59.4 mg GAE/g (db), anti-oxidant activity (IC50) 485.6 µg/mL, starch content 7.2% and reducing sugar 5.4 mg/g. Based on these che-mical properties and time efficiency, harvesting winged bean at 8 weeks (K1) was sufficient to produce winged bean potential as protein source, as well as a potential functional foods with good antioxidant acti-vity, total phenolic content, low starch and reducing sugar.