Plant In Vitro Cultures of Coleus scutellarioides (L.) Benth. "Electric Lime" and Possibilities of Modification in the Biosynthesis of Volatile Compounds

Coleus scutellarioides (L.) Benth. is a globally spread species, known for its characteristic spectacularly colorful leaves of decorative value. Thanks to its rich chemical composition, the plant is used in ethnopharmacology, and it is also regarded as having high medicinal potential. The application of in vitro cultures enables the acquisition of homogeneous certified material of high quality. Additionally, excluding the effect of biotic and abiotic factors on the plants is a way to fully recognize the influence of phytohormones on the plant morphology and the biosynthetic pathways of compound production. The best way to grow C. scutellarioides "Electric Lime" under in vitro conditions is to use the basic MS medium (Murashige and Skoog medium), enriched with naphthyl-1-acetic acid at a concentration of 0.5 mg dm-3. The analysis of volatile compounds demonstrated that the content of volatile compounds in the plants cultivated under in vivo conditions was expressed at a level of 2848.59 µg g-1, whereas in the plants bred in vitro without supplementation with phytohormones, the level was 8191.47 µg g-1. The highest content was noted for copaene, α-pinene, 1-octene-3-ol, α-selinene, sabinen, γ- and δ-cadinene, 3-octanol, and β-pinene. Aroma profiling revealed a lack of boranyl acetate, 2-hexenal, and 2-hexen-1-ol in the plants cultivated under in vivo conditions. Differences were found in the volatile composition between plants bred in vivo and in vitro, with the most significant recorded for the contents of 1-octen-3-ol and 3-octanol. The addition of plant growth regulators into the basic medium under in vitro conditions affected the percentage ratio and contents of specific compounds in plant tissues. The most intense biosynthesis of volatile compounds took place in the plants cultivated on the medium enriched with NAA at 10,579.11 µg g-1, whereas the least intense was noted for plants cultivated on the medium supplemented with BA, where it was recorded at the level of 5610.02 µg g-1. So far, there has been no research published which would pertain to the profiling of volatile compounds performed using the SPME (solid-phase microextraction) technique. Moreover, the very few studies conducted on the chemical composition of these compounds do not mention the specific variety of C. scutellarioides under analysis.

Antioxidant capacity sources of soils under different land uses

Antioxidants (AOX) in soils originate mainly from secondary plant metabolites and are pivotal in many redox processes in environment, maintaining soil quality. Still, little is known about the influence of land uses on their accumulation in soil. The aim of the paper was to determine the content of these redox-active compounds in the extracts of A horizons of abandoned fallows, arable and woodland soils. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of soils under various uses and vegetation was evaluated in different soil extracts using Folin-Ciocâlteu method. The contribution of humic acids to TAC was determined and antioxidant profiles estimated using the chromatographic GC-MS method. Forest soils exhibited the highest TAC (15.5 mg g-1) and AOX contents (4.34 mg g-1), which were positively correlated with soil organic carbon content. It was estimated that humic acids contribute to over 50% of TAC in soils. The main phenolics in woodland A horizons were isovanillic and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (p-HA), while esculetin and p-HA predominated in the abandoned fallows due to the prevalence of herbaceous vegetation. Cultivated soils were the most abundant in p-HA (56.42%). In the studied topsoils, there were considerable amounts of aliphatic organic matter, which role in redox processes should be further evaluated.

The influence of cultivation conditions on the formation of psychoactive salvinorin A, salvinorin B, rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid in Coleus scutellarioides

Coleus scutellarioides (L.) Benh. is a popular species in the world, known for its characteristic magnificent colourful leaves. The study has revealed that the contents of rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid are significantly higher in the plant tissues cultivated in vivo than when under in vitro conditions. The performed qualitative and quantitative analyses confirmed the presence (whose averaged content) of salvinorin A (6.65 µg/1 g of fresh plant) and salvinorin B (50.46 µg/1 g of fresh plant) in tissues of Coleus scutellarioides (L.) Benh. of 'Electric lime' variety. The greatest quantities of these compounds were recorded for plants cultivated in vitro on the MS medium enriched with NAA (naphthyl-1-acetic acid) at a concentration of 0.5 mg∙ dm-3. The research detected differences in the amounts of compounds between plants grown in vivo and those cultivated in vitro. Addition of plant growth regulators into the breeding medium under in vitro conditions was found affecting the amounts of compounds in plant tissues.

Variation in Flavonoid Compounds, Volatiles and Yield Related Traits in Different Iranian Rosa damascena Mill. Cultivars Based on SPME Arrow and LC-MS/MS

Damask rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) is an aromatic industrial plant with different applications. Selection of cultivars with high-value metabolites such as flavonoids-with acceptable yields-can lead to elite cultivars for mass propagation in various industries. A field experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) to evaluate metabolites and some yield-related morphological data. In the present investigation, for the first time 13 flavonoid components of nine Iranian damask rose cultivars were compared using LC-MS/MS. As a result, 13 flavonoids were identified, most of which were reported for the first time in rose petals. Phloridzin (72.59-375.92 mg/100 g dw), diosmetin (82.48-153.16 mg/100 g dw) and biochanin A (0-1066.89 mg/100 g dw) were the most abundant, followed by trans-chalcone (0-106.29 mg/100 g dw) and diosmin (41.55-84.57 mg/100 g dw). Levels of naringenin also ranged from 3.77 in B111 to 54.70 mg/100 g dw in C294, while luteolin varied from 4.37 in B111 to 28.87 mg/100 g dw in C294. The SPME Arrow technique also was applied to determine the real aroma of the studied cultivars. Phenethyl alcohol was the most abundant compound, in the range of 69.28 to 77.58%. The highest citronellol/geraniol (C/G) was observed in D234 (4.52%) and D237 (4.30%), while the lowest amount belonged to A104 (1.28%). Rose oxide, as the most crucial factor for odor, ranged from 0.06% in D237 to 0.15% in D211. Based on cluster and principal component analysis (PCA), D234 cultivar can be suggested as a promising cultivar with high yield, high C/G content and high rose oxide, while D234 and C294 were the most valuable cultivars in terms of flavonoids with high yield. Finally, these cultivars can be introduced for further breeding programs and industrial cultivation.

Trodusquemine (MSI-1436) Restores Metabolic Flexibility and Mitochondrial Dynamics in Insulin-Resistant Equine Hepatic Progenitor Cells (HPCs)

Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is a significant global health concern in veterinary medicine. There is increasing interest in utilizing molecular agents to modulate hepatocyte function for potential clinical applications. Recent studies have shown promising results in inhibiting protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP1B) to maintain cell function in various models. In this study, we investigated the effects of the inhibitor Trodusquemine (MSI-1436) on equine hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) under lipotoxic conditions. We examined proliferative activity, glucose uptake, and mitochondrial morphogenesis. Our study found that MSI-1436 promotes HPC entry into the cell cycle and protects them from palmitate-induced apoptosis by regulating mitochondrial dynamics and biogenesis. MSI-1436 also increases glucose uptake and protects HPCs from palmitate-induced stress by reorganizing the cells' morphological architecture. Furthermore, our findings suggest that MSI-1436 enhances 2-NBDG uptake by increasing the expression of SIRT1, which is associated with liver insulin sensitivity. It also promotes mitochondrial dynamics by modulating mitochondria quantity and morphotype as well as increasing the expression of PINK1, MFN1, and MFN2. Our study provides evidence that MSI-1436 has a positive impact on equine hepatic progenitor cells, indicating its potential therapeutic value in treating EMS and insulin dysregulation.

Sex hormone-binding globulin improves lipid metabolism and reduces inflammation in subcutaneous adipose tissue of metabolic syndrome-affected horses

Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is a steadily growing endocrine disorder representing a real challenge in veterinary practice. As a multifactorial condition, EMS is characterized by three main metabolic abnormalities including insulin resistance, increased adiposity or obesity and hoof laminitis. Adipose tissue dysfunction is recognized as a core pathophysiological determinant of EMS, as it strongly participates to lipotoxicity and systemic metaflammation, both of which have been closely linked to the development of generalized insulin resistance. Besides, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) is an important sex steroids transporters that has been recently proposed as an important metabolic mediator. Therefore, the aim of this study was to verify whether SHBG treatment may ameliorate subcutaneous adipose tissue metabolic failure under EMS condition in terms of lipidome homeostasis, lipid metabolism programs, insulin signalling and local inflammation. Subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) biopsies were collected post-mortem from healthy (n = 3) and EMS (n = 3) slaughtered horses. SHBG protein has been applied to SAT samples from EMS horses for 24 h at a final concentration of 50 nM, while control groups (healthy and untreated EMS) were cultured in the presence of SHBG-vehicle only. Tissues from all groups were afterwards secured for downstream analysis of gene expression using RT-qPCR, protein levels by Western blot and ELISA assay and lipidomics through GC-MS technique. Obtained results showcased that SHBG intervention efficiently normalized the altered fatty acids (FAs) profiles by lowering the accumulation of saturated and trans FAs, as well as the pro-inflammatory arachidonic and linoleic acids. Moreover, SHBG showed promising value for the regulation of adipocyte lipolysis and engorgement by lowering the levels of perilipin-1. SHBG exerted moderated effect toward SCD1 and FASN enzymes expression, but increased the LPL abundance. Interestingly, SHBG exhibited a negative regulatory effect on pro-adipogenic stimulators and induced higher expression of KLF3, IRF3 and β-catenin, known as strong adipogenesis repressors. Finally, SHBG protein showed remarkable ability in restoring the insulin signal transduction, IR/IRS/Pi3K/AKT phosphorylation events and GLUT4 transporter abundance, and further attenuate pro-inflammatory response by lowering IL-6 tissue levels and targeting the PDIA3/ERK axis. Overall, the obtained data clearly demonstrate the benefice of SHBG treatment in the regulation of adipose tissue metabolism in the course of EMS and provide new insights for the development of molecular therapies with potential translational application to human metabolic disorders.

The Influence of the Vacuum Impregnation, Beetroot Juice, and Various Drying Methods on Selected Properties of Courgette and Broccoli Snacks

The drying process is used in the food industry to extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables without the use of preservatives. As quality, visual, and aroma characteristics are important determinants of consumer interest, they play a key role in the development of new foods. In the present study, vacuum impregnation (VI) was used prior to vacuum drying (VD) and freeze drying (FD) of courgette and broccoli. Organic beet juice was used to produce the novel snacks. The study showed that the use of vacuum impregnation significantly affected the VOCs profile (volatile organic compounds profile), in which the following compounds were found: viz: 2-(E)-hexen-1-ol, 2-(Z)-hexen-1-ol and aceto-phenone. VI caused a decrease in volumetric gel index (VGI), drying shrinkage (S), water activity (AW), decreased color saturation (∆C), and increased dry matter content (DM). All these properties testify to the positive effect of the pretreatment used. The drying methods used had a significant effect on the properties of the dried vegetables. The dries obtained by the FD method showed higher density and water activity, as well as better preserved color (lower ∆E) and higher VOCs, so it is considered that freeze drying is a suitable method for obtaining novel courgette and broccoli snacks.

Application of Composts' Biochar as Potential Sorbent to Reduce VOCs Emission during Kitchen Waste Storage

It is expected that due to the new European Union regulation focus on waste management, managing kitchen waste will become more important in the future, especially in households. Therefore, it is crucial to develop user-friendly and odour-free containers to store kitchen waste. The study aimed to test the effectiveness of composts' biochar in reducing noxious odours and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released during kitchen waste storage. Various amounts of compost biochar (0%, 1%, 5%, and 10%) were added to food waste samples and incubated for seven days at 20 °C. The released VOCs were analysed on days 1, 3, and 7 of the storage simulation process. The results indicated that adding 5-10% of composts' biochar to kitchen waste significantly reduced the emissions in 70% of the detected VOCs compounds. Furthermore, composts' biochar can be used to eliminate potential odour components and specific dangerous VOCs such as ethylbenzene, o-xylene, acetic acid, and naphthalene. A new composts' biochar with a unique composition was particularly effective in reducing VOCs and could be an excellent solution for eliminating odours in kitchen waste containers.

Chemical Investigations in Kelussia odoratissima Mozaff. Leaves Based on Comprehensive Analytical Methods: LC-MS, SPME, and GC-MS Analyses

Kelussia odoratissima Mozaff. is a species of Apiaceae endemic to the Zagros Mountains in Iran. In the present investigation, for the first time, the polyphenolic compounds and flavonoids of its leaves were determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). As a result, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, acetyl phloroglucinol, vanillic acid, m-coumaric acid, and 4-methylsiringol were determined as the main phenolic compounds, while 3-hydroxyflavone, flavone, quercetin, rutin, neohesperidin, polydatin, and diosmin were the main flavonoid components, of which chlorogenic acid (303.08 µL/gDW), neohesperidin (38.37 µL/gDw), and diosmin (28.62 µL/gDW) were the most abundant. Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) was also used to determine the chemical compounds. Based on SPME, (Z)-undec-6-en-2-one (17.48%) and (Z)-butylidenephthalide (4.348%) were the major components. Based on GC-MS analyses, (Z)-ligustilide was the main compound; however, some new compounds were also determined, including 3-ethylisobenzofuran-1 (3H)-one, (E)-ligugustilide, and E-n-butylidene phthalide. Also, for the first time, we have identified EOs ethyl and isobutyl phthalides on the basis of the obtained EI-MS spectra. Finally, the fragmentation of phthalides is also discussed in this research.

Evaluation of bioactive compounds, volatile compounds, drying process kinetics and selected physical properties of vacuum impregnation celery dried by different methods

We have developed a new healthy snack based on celery root enriched with vegetable juices. Vacuum impregnation was used the task of which was to introduce additional valuable substances, improving properties. Thus, prepared material was dried by various methods (sublimation, vacuum, convection) using optimal conditions for the process. In the tested sample, 41 bioactive compounds and 73 volatile compounds were identified. Vacuum impregnation of celery root in the juices of onion, kale and celery stalks significantly affected the profile of bioactive compounds, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), total phenolic content, antioxidant properties, drying process kinetics and physical properties of the dried products. The highest nutrient values were recorded in celery samples after impregnation with kale and onion juice. Due to its good functional and nutritional properties, the material such as celery obtained as a result vacuum impregnation process can be envisioned as the future in creating novel functional foods.

Natural Appetite Control: Consumer Perception of Food-Based Appetite Regulating Aromas

According to the WHO, the number of overweight people (BMI ≥ 25) and obese people (BMI ≥ 30) is constantly growing. On the other hand, the number of elderly people (≥60 years old) in 2020 reached 1.4 billion worldwide. Both mentioned groups demonstrate their individual and characteristic appetite disorders. In light of the side effects of appetite stimulating drugs, which interfere with diabetics, hypertension and thrombosis medicines or diet supplements with doubtful effectiveness in reducing appetite, new and natural alternatives are highly demanded. Therefore, the present study focusses on the search for natural food aromas, which may have potential for appetite regulation. A survey was carried out among consumers with excess body weight (BMI ≥ 25) and the elderly (≥60 years old). Food products and meals pointed out by the survey participants were subjected to volatile analysis by HS-SPME Arrow followed by GC-MS. As a result, a group of volatiles and their odor characteristic were determined for appetite stimulation or reduction, which may suggest that the actual composition of food aroma is more significant than the character of the aroma. Those results may be a basis for designing appetite regulating agents, in which the mechanism of action will be based only on olfaction activity.

Chemistry behind Quality-Emission of Volatile Enantiomers from Mentha spp. Plant Tissue in Relationship to Odor Sensory Quality

The quality of food, considering increasing consumer demands and competition among producers, is a highly important issue. Quality concerns are also applicable to the odor quality of herbs and spices (HSs). Meanwhile, HSs commonly are graded based on their essential oils (EOs) content and analysis; but does the instrumental analysis really provide general information about the HSs sensory quality? Three chemotypes of Mentha spp. were used in the present study. From samples diversified by convective drying at different temperatures, EOs were hydrodistillated and analyzed by enantioselective GC-MS; moreover, the source plant material's volatile profile was analyzed by the HS-SPME technique. The instrumental analysis was confronted with the results of the sensory panel. Changes in enantiomeric composition were observed during the drying process, although no clear correlations or trends could be found for individual chiral components. Furthermore, even with significant differences in particular volatiles' contribution to plants' EOs and their volatile profiles, judges were not able to match the sample EOs and plant samples with sufficient effectiveness (~40%). Based on those results, we suggest that volatile enantiomeric distribution does not have an actual influence on odor quality and that the sensory analysis should not be replaced with instrumental analysis, which cannot predict general sensory quality.

The Potential Use of Plant Growth Regulators for Modification of the Industrially Valuable Volatile Compounds Synthesis in Hylocreus undatus Stems

The pitaya (dragon fruit) Hylocereus is a genus which belongs to the Cactaceae family. It is native to Mexico, occurring also in other regions of Central and South America. Pitaya fruit is mainly intended for consumption and for this reason the species is grown commercially. The fruit is a rich source of vitamins, biologically active compounds, and dietary fibre. Using in vitro culture can accelerate the process of reproduction and growth of pitaya plants. Profiling of volatile compounds contained in the stem of Hylocereus undatus was carried out using the SPME-GC-MS technique. The main compounds present were hexanal, 2-hexenal and 1-hexanol. The results showed differences in the occurrence of volatile compounds between plants grown in media with an addition of BA (6-benzylaminopurine) and IAA (indole-3-acetic acid), which have been used as plant growth regulators. Statistically significant differences between the contents of volatile compounds were observed in the case of 2-hexenal and 1-hexanol. The effect of BA on reducing the amount of volatile compounds was observed. However, introduction of IAA to the in vitro medium resulted in more compounds being synthesized. This study is the first to describe the volatile compounds in the pitaya stem. The results indicate that plant hormones are able to modify the profile of volatile compounds.

Chemical investigation on Salvia officinalis L. Affected by multiple drying techniques - The comprehensive analytical approach (HS-SPME, GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, GC-O and NMR)

In light of large scale production of Salvia officinalis L. and its complex storage and delivery chain, the efficient preservation process is required. At this moment, the most popular preservation method is drying, therefore a comprehensive experiment to evaluate the influence of multiple drying techniques on sage was conducted. Convective drying at 40, 50 and 60 °C, vacuum-microwave drying with powers 240, 360 and 480 W and combined drying consisting of convective pre-drying at 50 °C followed by vacuum-microwave finish-drying with power 360 W were applied. To evaluate the effect of particular procedures chemical analyses were performed, namely evaluation of changes in bioactive volatile constituents, odour-active compounds and various groups of non-volatile bioactive constituents of sage. The obtained results shown, that to receive the product with expected quality, it is necessary to identify the designation of the product before treatment, since particular groups of phytochemicals react differently during drying.

The Case of Atypical Sexual Attractiveness in a Male Domestic Dog-A Case Study

During the ovarian cycle in domestic dogs, females do not accept males during the first days of estrus but become attractive to males from the beginning of proestrus, with this attractiveness persisting until the end of the estrus phase. It is believed that increased estradiol is responsible for the female attractiveness to the males. In this paper we describe the case of strong, but atypical attractiveness of a castrated male to various, adult, intact males, influenced by the emitted semiochemical signals. Any significant changes in the level of hormones typically involved in the process connected with estrus and responsible for sexual arousal in the males were assessed. The case animal was a 4 year old castrated male Border Collie that was extremely attractive to various males, which presented high levels of sexual arousal, with intensive sniffing and licking of the preputial area, specific vocalization, increased salivation and, finally, mating attempts. Clinical examination of the castrated male revealed a lack of testes in the scrotum and abdominal cavity confirmed by USG. Laboratory tests indicated basal levels of estradiol, testosterone, and progesterone (15.23 pg/mL, <0.05 ng/mL, 0.25 ng/mL), and sex was confirmed via cytogenetic and molecular analysis. Chemical analysis (HS-SPME) of the urine indicated a huge similarity to the profile obtained from a bitch in estrus, with an elevated level of acetophenone, which has been previously postulated in the literature as being a characteristic of the estrus phase in female domestic dogs. This case presented very atypical sexual attractiveness, particularly when taking into account the basal levels of hormones which, according to current knowledge, are responsible for the creation of attractiveness. As a hypothesis requiring verification, we propose the idea of involvement of other hormones in the creation of incidental attractiveness or increased production of compounds responsible for attractiveness (sex pheromones) resulting from metabolic events unrelated to reproductive processes. To our knowledge it is the first described case presenting this phenomenon, which, with more detailed study, could shed new light on the process of creation of sexual attraction in the domestic dog.

Effect of Filtrated Osmotic Solution Based on Concentrated Chokeberry Juice and Mint Extract on the Drying Kinetics, Energy Consumption and Physicochemical Properties of Dried Apples

BACKGROUND

Filtration of osmotic solution affects selective penetration during osmotic dehydration (OD), and after drying is finished, this can influence the chemical composition of the material, which is also modified by OD.

METHODS

Osmotic dehydration was carried out in filtrated and non-filtrated concentrated chokeberry juice with the addition of mint infusion. Then, this underwent convective drying, vacuum-microwave drying and combined convective pre-drying, followed by vacuum-microwave finishing drying. Drying kinetics were presented and mathematical models were selected. The specific energy consumption for each drying method was calculated and the energy efficiency was determined.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The study revealed that filtration of osmotic solution did not have significant effect on drying kinetics; however, it affected selective penetration during OD. The highest specific energy consumption was obtained for the samples treated by convective drying (CD) (around 170 kJ·g-1 fresh weight (fw)) and the lowest for the samples treated by vacuum-microwave drying (VMD) (around 30 kJ·g-1 fw), which is due to the differences in the time of drying and when these methods are applied.

CONCLUSIONS

Filtration of the osmotic solution can be used to obtain the desired material after drying and the VMD method is the most appropriate considering both phenolic acid content and the energy aspect of drying.

Coriandrum sativum L.-Effect of Multiple Drying Techniques on Volatile and Sensory Profile

Coriandrum sativum L. is a medicinal and aromatic plant spread around the world, with beneficial properties that are well recognized. Both coriander seeds and leaves are used for pharmaceutical and flavoring purposes. Even though coriander seeds tend to be more popular, the leaves are receiving a consistently growing interest, especially because of popularization of Mexican, Northern African, and Indian cuisines. This increased attention brings about the necessity for providing the product with guaranteed quality, which will retain its valuable characteristics, even after post-harvest treatment. For this reason, it is highly necessary to determine reliable protocols for cilantro preservation, which usually include drying procedures; in order to identify the optimal drying treatments, a spectrum of drying techniques-convective, vacuum-microwave, and a combination of convective and vacuum-microwave-were evaluated. Cilantro-based dried products were examined from the perspectives of volatile organic constituent composition and sensory quality. After headspace solid-phase microextraction-GC/MS analysis and sensory tests, the results demonstrate that convective drying at 70 °C for 120 min followed by vacuum-microwave drying at 360 W and convective drying at 70 °C were the optimal drying methods for preserving cilantro aroma quality, while convective drying at 70 °C for 120 min followed by convective finishing drying at 50 °C decreased cilantro aroma quality.

MSI-1436 improves EMS adipose derived progenitor stem cells in the course of adipogenic differentiation through modulation of ER stress, apoptosis, and oxidative stress

BACKGROUND

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is one of the major negative regulators of leptin and insulin signaling, and has been strongly implicated in insulin resistance development in the course of obesity and metabolic syndrome conditions; however, its exact role in controlling adipose tissue biogenesis is still poorly understood.

OBJECTIVES

This investigation aimed to elucidate whether selective inhibition of PTP1B using MSI-1436 compound may improve and restore the defective adipogenicity of ASCs isolated from EMS-affected horses.

METHODS

Equine ASC EMS cells were cultured under adipogenic conditions in the presence of PTP1B inhibitor and were subsequently tested for expression of the main adipogenic-related genes using RT-qPCR, changes in free fatty acid profiles by means of GC-MS technique, and for mitochondrial dynamics improvement through the analysis of mitochondrial transmembrane potential and oxidative stress.

RESULTS

Selective inhibition of PTP1B in equine ASC EMS cells improved substantially adipogenic differentiation by promoting cellular proliferation and normalizing expression of C/EBPalpha, PPARγ, and Adipoq markers that are critical for proper adipogenesis. Levels of secreted adiponectin and PPARγ were also shown to be increased in MSI-1436-conditioned cells, while total leptin levels markedly dropped under the same conditions. Moreover, MSI-1436 treatment enabled the regulation of metabolic-related transcripts that are crosslink to adipogenesis, namely Akt1, Akt2, and SHBG. The obtained results demonstrated also an obvious reduction in intracellular accumulated ROS and NO, as well as mitigated ER stress through the downregulation of Chop, Perk, Atf6, Ire1, and Xbp1 transcripts upon PTP1B inhibition. Furthermore, general fluctuations in FFA composition of all differentiated groups have been highlighted, where palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, stearic acid, and linolelaidic acid that are known to be associated with the development of metabolic disorders were found to be normalized upon PTP1B inhibition during adipogenic differentiation.

CONCLUSION

The presented data provides the evidence that the use of PTP1B inhibitor may be successful in controlling and enhancing adipogenic differentiation of impaired equine ASCs affected by metabolic syndrome, and thus offers new insights for the management of obesity through the regulation of adipose tissue dynamics.

Optimization of roasting conditions in hydroSOStainable almonds using volatile and descriptive sensory profiles and consumer acceptance

HydroSOStainable almonds are harvested from trees cultivated under controlled water stress by using a regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) strategy. The aim of this study was to investigate consumers' perception to select the best roasting temperature for the hydroSOStainable almonds and its correlation with volatile compounds, descriptive sensory attributes, instrumental color, and texture. Thirty-five volatile compounds were identified and the key compounds for the roasting process were 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, furfural, and trimethyl pyrazine. Pyrazines, furans and, in general, volatiles were higher in hydroSOStainable almonds than in control. Instrumental color and trained panel showed that almonds roasted at 190 °C presented intense color and burnt notes in both irrigation treatments, while almonds roasted at 150 °C were under-roasted. Principal component analysis (PCA) grouped together the samples of the same irrigation treatment, but separated samples roasted at different temperatures. Partial least square regression (PLS) results indicated that consumers overall liking was positively linked to specific volatiles (alkanes, alcohols, aldehydes, and furans) and sensory attributes (sweetness, roasted, almond ID, nutty, hardness, and crispiness), but, negatively correlated with pyrazines, bitterness, astringency, woody, and burnt flavor notes. Penalty analysis showed that almonds roasted at 150 and 190 °C were penalized due to low roasted aroma and soft almonds, and over-roasted samples with too intense color and burn notes, respectively. While no penalization being found for almonds roasted at 170 °C. Overall, roasting at 170 °C for 10 min in a convective oven were the optimum conditions for roasting Vairo almonds. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This research describes the link between physicochemical and sensory analysis of roasted almonds giving evidence about possible sensory quality markers. Besides, it provides valuable information for the food industry to produce roasted almonds that meet consumer demands and for the agricultural sector by encouraging reduction of irrigation water consumption by almond trees.

Chemical profiling and cytotoxic activity of 150-year old original sample of Jerusalem Balsam

Herbal formulations have been used in ethnomedicine and pharmacy around the world for thousands of years. One of them is Jerusalem Balsam (JB), which came into use in the seventeenth century. Today, people still produce and use it regularly as prophylactic supplement. JB has been widely used in Europe since the nineteenth century, as a remedy possessing antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory activities. The composition of the product was not known, although possible formulations were reported. In this study the original sample, which dated back to 1870, was investigated for chemical composition and cytotoxic activity. The obtained results were compared with results from more recently produced samples. Several tests were carried out, namely GC-MS, UPLC-PDA-Q-TOF-MS and MTT. Only the 150-year old sample showed a significant cytotoxic activity on cancer cell lines. At a concentration of 125 μg/mL after 72 h of incubation, the original sample inhibited almost 90% of cell metabolic activity, while contemporary samples showed none or little activity. None of the tested samples showed a significant impact on normal cells. These results may be attributed to the activities of benzoic acid and its derivatives, cinnamic acid derivatives, vanillin, group of sesquiterpenes and cembrene.

Essential Oils as Antimicrobial Agents-Myth or Real Alternative?

Herbs and the essential oils derived from them have been used from the beginning of human history for different purposes. Their beneficial properties have been applied to mask unpleasant odors, attract the attention of other people, add flavor and aroma properties to prepared dishes, perfumes, and cosmetics, etc. Herbs and essential oils (EOs) have also been used in medicine because of their biological properties, such as larvicidal action, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, antioxidant, fungicide, and antitumor activities, and many more. Many EOs exhibit antimicrobial properties, which is extremely important in fields of science and industry, such as medicine, agriculture, or cosmetology. Among the 250 EOs which are commercially available, about a dozen possess high antimicrobial potential. According to available papers and patents, EOs seem to be a potential alternative to synthetic compounds, especially because of the resistance that has been increasingly developed by pathogenic microorganisms. In this review we summarize the latest research studies about the most-active EOs that are known and used because of their antimicrobial properties. Finally, it is noteworthy that the antimicrobial activities of EOs are not preeminent for all strains. Further investigations should, thus, focus on targeting EOs and microorganisms.

HS-SPME Analysis of True Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) Leaves Treated by Various Drying Methods

True lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) is a widely used flavoring and medicinal plant, which strong aroma is mainly composed of linalool and linalyl acetate. The most valuable parts of the plant are the flowers, however leaves are also abundant in volatile constituents. One of the main factors responsible for its quality is the preservation procedure, which usually comes down to a drying process. For this reason an attempt to verify the influence of various drying methods (convective drying, vacuum-microwave drying and combined convection pre-drying with vacuum-microwave finishing drying) on the quality of true lavender leaves was carried out by determination of the volatile constituents profile by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with GC-MS technique. Total essential oil (EO) content was also verified. The study has revealed that the optimal drying method is strongly dependent on the purpose of the product. For flavoring properties convective drying at 60 °C is the most optimal method, while the best for preserving the highest amount of EO is vacuum-microwave drying at 480 W. Furthermore, SPME analysis had shown that drying may increase the value of true lavender leaves by significantly affecting the linalool to linalyl acetate to camphor ratio in the volatile profile.

Quantification of VOC Emissions from Carbonized Refuse-Derived Fuel Using Solid-Phase Microextraction and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

In this work, for the first time, the volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from carbonized refuse-derived fuel (CRDF) were quantified on a laboratory scale. The analyzed CRDF was generated from the torrefaction of municipal waste. Headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to identify 84 VOCs, including many that are toxic, e.g., derivatives of benzene or toluene. The highest emissions were measured for nonanal, octanal, and heptanal. The top 10 most emitted VOCs contributed to almost 65% of the total emissions. The VOC mixture emitted from torrefied CRDF differed from that emitted by other types of pyrolyzed biochars, produced from different types of feedstock, and under different pyrolysis conditions. SPME was a useful technology for surveying VOC emissions. Results provide an initial database of the types and relative quantities of VOCs emitted from CRDF. This data is needed for further development of CRDF technology and comprehensive assessment of environmental impact and practical storage, transport, and potential adoption of CRDF as means of energy and resource recovery from municipal waste.