Determination of lycopene and beta-carotene content in tomato fruits and related products: Comparison of FT-Raman, ATR-IR, and NIR spectroscopy

Tomatoes and various products derived from thermally processed tomatoes are major sources of lycopene, but apart from this micronutrient, other carotenoids such as beta-carotene also are present in the fruit. They occur in tomato fruits and various tomato products in amounts of 2.62-629.00 (lycopene) and 0.23-2.83 mg/100 g (beta-carotene). Standard methods for determining the carotenoid content require the extraction of the analyte as well as other cleanup steps. In this work, FT-Raman, ATR-IR, and NIR spectroscopy are applied in order to establish new, fast, and nondestructive calibration methods for quantification of lycopene and beta-carotene content in tomato fruits and related products. The best prediction quality was achieved using a model based on IR spectroscopy (R2 = 0.98 and 0.97, SECV = 33.20 and 0.16 for lycopene and beta-carotene, respectively). In spite of the fact that Raman spectra of tomato products show characteristic key bands of the investigated carotenoids, this method gives slightly lower reliability (R2 = 0.91 and 0.89, SECV = 74.34 and 0.34 for lycopene and beta-carotene, respectively). NIR spectroscopy, which has been used for quantification purposes in the agricultural sector for several decades, in this study shows the worse prediction quality (R2 = 0.85 and 0.80, SECV = 91.19 and 0.41 for lycopene and beta-carotene, respectively).

Transfer of resistance against the beet cyst nematode from radish (Raphanus sativus) to rape (Brassica napus) by monosomic chromosome addition

In rape ( Brassica napus), no resistance to the beet cyst nematode (BCN) Heterodera schachtii is available. This study was carried out to determine the specific chromosome(s) of resistant radish ( Raphanus sativus) carrying the gene(s) for nematode resistance as a prequisite to convert rape from a host into a trap crop for this pest. A Raphanobrassica progeny of 25 plants was analyzed which segregated for all nine chromosomes of the Raphanus genome in a genetic background of synthetic rape. The number of radish chromosomes was determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization, using the Raphanus-specific DNA probe pURsN; and their type was identified by chromosome-specific randomly amplified polymorphic DNA markers. Five different multiple rape-radish chromosome additions (comprising the whole set of nine radish chromosomes, a-i) were selected and crossed to rape. For each cross-progeny, the number of cysts on plant roots was counted 42 days after inoculation with a L2 larvae suspension. Simultaneously, the plants were characterized for the presence or absence of individual radish chromosomes, using sets of chromosome-specific markers. Thus, the effect of each radish chromosome on cyst number was tested. Chromosome d had a major resistance effect, whereas the presence/absence of the other radish chromosomes had nearly no influence on cyst number. Plants with added chromosome d showed a resistance level comparable with that of the radish donor parent. The analysis in the cross to rape of a plant monosomic only for chromosome d confirmed the strong effect of this chromosome on nematode resistance. A further experiment comprising seven crosses using winter rape breeding lines and monosomic addition line d as pollen parent provided the same results on a broader genetic basis. In each case, the added chromosome d in a single dosage caused nearly the full resistance of the radish donor. Resistance was independent of the glucosinolate content in the roots. The possibilities for stabilizing BCN resistance in rape and its use for other crops and nematodes are discussed.

Phase transformation of a liposomal dispersion into a micellar solution induced by drug-loading

PURPOSE

Loading a liposomal dispersion with drug may cause a phase transformation into a micellar solution. The present contribution presents a detailed physicochemical characterization and an overall model which describes transformation due to the properties of any drug.

METHODS

Characterization of liposomal dispersions was obtained by photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Microstructure of colloidal solutions was analysed by 31P-NMR and SAXS.

RESULTS

At weight ratios of phospholipid to drug from 16:1 to 2:1, liposomal dispersions of milky-white appearance and a mean particle size of about 200 nm were obtained. From a ratio of phospholipid to drug of 1:1 downwards, the systems became nearly transparent. The particle size decreased to a value below 25 nm. SAXS also revealed the change of the colloids. Down to a ratio of phospholipid to drug of 2:1 the systems were described as bilayer-structured. At and below the ratio of 1:1, a mixed micelle was indicated. In the 31P-NMR spectra, the transformation is emphasized by both appearance and disappearance of signals. A model based on the theory of self-assembly is presented which explains the phase transformation due to drug amphiphilicity.

CONCLUSIONS

We predict that the model presented will hold in general only due to the amphiphilic properties of the drug.

[Patients of a crisis intervention unit 3 and 9 years after their admission]

369 patients of a crisis intervention center, treated in 1985, were seen in follow-up-studies 3 and 9 years after admission. The catamnesis was done by an open questionnaire and standardized inventories. The mean value of hospital stay was 3.98 days. Complete data were received from 144 resp. 138 persons. 9 persons died by suicide during the first three years after admission. During the next 6 years most of the patients were stabilized. Minimal effectivity and stability was observed for alcoholics and drug dependent patients.

Characterization of a commercial liposome spray

The commercial liposome spray Heparin-pur-ratiopharm was physicochemically characterized. This preparation is said to result in a fine gel-film containing pure, concentrated liposomes (including drug) on the skin after application and evaporation of the water/ethanol-mixture of the system. As phospholipids tends to form lamellar structures at lower water concentrations the structural characteristics of Heparin-pur-ratiopharm were investigated in the original preparation and after a drying process, which should be comparable to application on skin. For the characterization several methods were used, e.g. photon correlation spectroscopy, electron and polarized light microscopy, small angle X-ray (SAX) scattering and SAX diffraction. The results of the present investigation indicate that there are no changes in the colloidal state of the phospholipids before and after drying and application of the spray. There seem to be only changes in the degree of dispersion of the liquid crystalline phase, i.e. from small uni- or oligolamellar liposomes in the original preparation via multilamellar vesicles to a lamellar mesophase during the drying process. Therefore, it seems that there are no differences for the application of heparin if a preparation containing small uni- or oligolamellar liposomes is used or if the phospholipids are structured differently. The major point of importance for drug application, therefore, seems to be the presence of phospholipids as they possibly work as enhancer for the uptake of the drug through the skin to achieve a quick effect.