Hydrophilic interaction LC–MS/MS method to avoid endogenous interference in the analysis of 4-hydroxy isoleucine from dietary supplementation of fenugreek

4-Hydroxy isoleucine is one of the potent hypoglycemic active constituents of fenugreek seeds. A method capable of reducing biological interferences is required for bioavailability studies. An isocratic separation of 4-hydroxy isoleucine from endogenous interferences was achieved in ZIC-cHILIC column using 0.1% formic acid in water and acetonitrile (20:80, % v/v) pumped at 0.5 ml/min. Quantification was performed in multiple reaction monitoring mode using the transitions of m/z 148.1→102.1 and m/z 276.1→142.2 for 4-hydroxy isoleucine and homatropine (as internal standard), respectively. After full method validation, 4-hydroxy isoleucine levels in human plasma and commercial fenugreek formulations were determined. This method showed good linearity in the range of 50–2000 ng/mL. Intra- and interday accuracies were in the range of 90.64–109.0% and precision was <4.82% CV. The mean (SD) plasma concentration of 4-hydroxy isoleucine in healthy individuals at 2 h after oral administration of fenugreek tablet was found to be 1590 (260) ng/mL. Half of marketed formulations were found to contain <0.05% of 4-hydroxy isoleucine content. We developed a rapid hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for analysis of 4-hydroxy isoleucine in human plasma. This method can be applied directly to conduct the clinical pharmacokinetics studies of 4-hydroxy isoleucine in human population.     

Interspecific Variation between the American Quercus virginiana and Mediterranean Quercus Species in Terms of Seed Nutritional Composition,Phytochemical Content,and Antioxidant Activity

This study aimed to evaluate a complete nutritional composition in the seeds Quercus virginiana to compare this nutritional composition with three Mediterranean Quercus species. We analyzed the seed morphometry, proximate composition, phytochemicals, and antioxidant capacity. The seed of Q. virginiana presented the smaller seed size and weight, while Q. suber presented the highest values. Moreover, Q. virginiana seeds showed the highest amounts of sugar and total lipids, digestibility, energy, palmitic acid, and stearic acid. On the other hand, Q. virginiana seeds showed the lowest values of linoleic acid. Moreover, Q. coccifera seeds presented the highest total phenolics and flavonoids contents and antioxidant activity. The clustering analysis revealed a significant similarity in seed morphometry and nutritional composition between the Mediterranean Q. ilex and Q. suber, grouping with the American Q. virginiana, but to a considerable distance; by contrast, the Mediterranean Q. coccifera was the most distant in the clustering analysis. The content of phenolics and flavonoids and digestibility value were the variables that contributed to the separation to a greater extent in the clustering of the four species. The nutritional and biological activity assessment of plant seed may be considered as an essential mission to find new sustainable sources and novel chemical agents. In this sense, Quercus seeds may be an alternative and a competitive food source for the agri-food industry.     

Antimicrobial Activities of Plant Extracts against Solanum tuberosum L. Phytopathogens

The purpose of the study was to select an environmentally friendly plant biopesticide to protect seed potatoes against phytopathogens. The scope included the evaluation of the antimicrobial activities of 22 plant water extracts, 22 water-glycol extracts, and 3 subcritical carbon dioxide extracts using the agar diffusion method against 10 potato phytopathogens. For the most effective extracts, minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), chemical composition analysis by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and in situ assays on seed potatoes were performed. Garlic water extract was finally selected as the most effective in phytopathogen growth inhibition, both in vitro and in situ, with MIC values ranging between 6.3–25 mg/mL. 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural was determined to be the main component of this extract (33.24%). Garlic water extract was proposed as a potential biopesticide against potato phytopathogens.     

The Current State of Knowledge on Salvia hispanica and Salviae hispanicae semen (Chia Seeds)

Chia seeds (Salviae hispanicae semen) are obtained from Salvia hispanica L. This raw material is distinguished by its rich chemical composition and valuable nutritional properties. It is currently referred to as “health food”. The purpose of the present work was to perform a literature review on S. hispanica and chia seeds, focusing on their chemical composition, biological properties, dietary importance, and medicinal uses. The valuable biological properties of chia seeds are related to their rich chemical composition, with particularly high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, essential amino acids, polyphenols, as well as vitamins and bioelements. The available scientific literature indicates the cardioprotective, hypotensive, antidiabetic, and antiatherosclerotic effects of this raw material. In addition, studies based on in vitro assays and animal and human models have proven that chia seeds are characterized by neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. These properties indicate a valuable role of chia in the prevention of civilization diseases. Chia seeds are increasingly popular in functional food and cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. That is attributed not only to their desirable chemical composition and biological activity but also to their high availability. Nevertheless, S. hispanica is also the object of specific biotechnological studies aimed at elaboration of micropropagation protocols of this plant species.     

太赫兹成像技术对玉米种子的鉴定和识别

利用太赫兹时域光谱(THz_TDS)测试技术及透射式太赫兹逐点扫描成像技术分别对几种玉米种子DNA和胚的样品进行了光谱和成像测量;利用空间图样成份分析(component spatial pattern analysis)方法对得到的THz像进行识别运算。实验结果表明,几种样品在THz波段都有不同的吸收特性,但都没有明显的吸收峰,不能利用“特征指纹谱”进行识别。用基于THz扫描成像的空间图样成份分析方法能很好地实现不同玉米种子DNA样品的鉴定和识别。与现有的THz图像识别方法相比,这个方法只需要THz像的实验数据和样品的吸收谱信息,不需要样品的其它特征。这项研究为进一步利用THz成像技术实现无损检测、安全检查、质量监测等提供了依据,具有实际应用价值。     

Optimization of a New Extraction Technique for Analysis of Verbenone and cis-Verbenol in Pine Seeds

Results from a systematic study of the factors affecting extraction of cis-verbenol and verbenone from pine seeds are presented. Five extraction conditions were investigated: extraction solvent, method of extraction, extraction temperature, volume of solvent, and the ratio of the mass of sample to the amount of extraction solvent. The resulting optimized method uses magnetic-stirring-assisted extraction of pine seeds (5 g) with ethyl acetate (75 mL) for 20 min, at room temperature. RSDs were less than 5% for both compounds. GC–FID was used for quantification of cis-verbenol and verbenone in the extracts.     

高效凝胶过滤色谱法分离测定豆薯种子蛋白

用高效凝胶蛋白往分离豆薯种子蛋白租提液,结合光电二极管阵列检测器对分离的蛋白峰进行紫外光谱扫描来确认蛋白的纯度,测定了3种蛋白的分子量,采用邻苯二甲醛（OPA）柱后衍生法测定了豆薯种子蛋白的氨基酸含量。     

粮谷和油籽中丰索磷残留量的气相色谱及气相色谱／质谱分析

介绍应用气相色谱和气相色谱－质谱法测定及确证粮谷和油籽中丰索磷的残留含量，试样采用水－丙酮提取，提取液经液－液分配后，再以弗罗里硅土柱净化，气相色谱，火焰光度检测器测定，外标法定量，并用气相色谱－质谱针对丰索磷的选择监测离子的种类和丰度比进行敢阳性确证。     

亲水单分散聚合物基质阳离子色谱柱的制备及其应用

以自制5.0 μm单分散大孔亲水交联聚甲基丙烯酸环氧丙酯微球为基质,合成一种新型弱酸性阳离子色谱填料.选用甲烷磺酸作淋洗液,在流速为1.0 mL/min时,对6种无机阳离子(Li+, Na+, NH+4, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+)和有机胺进行了良好分离.考察了淋洗液种类、浓度以及流速对6种无机阳离子分离的影响,选择了合适的色谱分离条件.测得6种离子在一定浓度范围内具有良好的线性关系和低的检出限.将其用于决明茶中阳离子的分析,4种离子在20 min内完全分离,各离子标准加入回收率在96%～107%之间.此色谱柱的分离效果与Dionex IonPacCS12A商品柱接近,但分析时间缩短了44 min.