Organic acids, sugars, vitamin C content and some pomological characteristics of eleven hawthorn species (Crataegus spp) from Turkey

BACKGROUND: The Hawthorn (Crateagus sp.) mostly occurs around the temperate region of the world with a high number of species, producing a fruit with numerous beneficial effects for human health. The aim of the study was to determine organic acid and sugar contents in the fruit of a number of hawthorn species grown in Erzincan province of Turkey. RESULTS: Citric acid was the predominant organic acid in all hawthorn species and C. pseudoheterophylla had the highest citric acid content (23.688 g/100 g). There were not statistically significant differences among hawthorn species (except C. atrosanguinea Pojark) in terms of fumaric acid content. C. pontica C.Koch had a higher content of vitamin C (9.418 mg/100 g) compared to other species. Fructose was the predominant sugar component in all species and C. monogyna subsp. monogyna Joiq had the highest fructose content (18.378 g/100 g). CONCLUSIONS: The high fruit quality of the studied species indicates the importance of this fruit in human nutrition as a natural source. The study revealed that there were differences in terms of fruit characteristics among hawthorn species and thus better quality hawthorn genotypes can be selected within the species. Hence, this study is considered to be a valuable reference for forthcoming studies. The high fruit quality of the studied species indicates the importance of this fruit in human nutrition as a natural source.

Levan from Bacillus subtilis Natto: its effects in normal and in streptozotocin-diabetic rats

Levan is an exopolysaccharide of fructose primarily linked by ƒÀ-(2¨6) glycosidic bonds with some ƒÀ-(2¨1) branched chains. Due to its chemical properties, levan has possible applications in both the food and pharmaceutical industries. Bacillus subtilis is a promising industrial levan producer, as it ferments sucrose and has a high levan-formation capacity. A new strain of B. subtilis was recently isolated from Japanese food natto, and it has produced levan in large quantities. For future pharmaceutical applications, this study aimed to investigate the effects of levan produced by B. subtilis Natto, mainly as potential hypoglycemic agent, (previously optimized with a molecular weight equal to 72.37 and 4,146 kDa) in Wistar male rats with diabetes induced by streptozotocin and non-diabetic rats and to monitor their plasma cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels. After 15 days of experimentation, the animals were sacrificed, and their blood samples were analyzed. The results, compared using analysis of variance, demonstrated that for this type of levan, a hypoglycemic effect was not observed, as there was no improvement of diabetes symptoms during the experiment. However, levan did not affect any studied parameters in normal rats, indicating that the exopolysaccharide can be used for other purposes.

Production of inulinase from Kluyveromyces marxianus using Dahlia tuber extract

Various carbon sources were evaluated for production of inulinase by yeast, Kluyveromyces marxianus MTCC 3995. Highest inulinase activity was observed with Dahlia extract (25.3 nkat mL-1) as carbon source. The enzyme activity was 1.4 folds higher than that observed in media containing pure chicory inulin (17.8 nkat mL-1). The yeast showed good growth on a simple medium containing dahlia extract (20% w/v) and yeast extract (2%w/v) as carbon and nitrogen source respectively, in 96 h. at 28°C and 120 rpm. Lowest inulinase yield (4.8 nkat mL-1) was seen in the medium containing glucose as C-source. Although varied inulinase levels were noticed on different C- sources, Inulinase: Sucrase (I/S) ratios were noticed to be similar. Among various protein sources tested, yeast extract was found to be the best source followed by beef extract (17.9 nkat mL-1) and peptone (13.8 nkat mL-1). The enzyme was optimally active at pH (4.0) and 50°C. TLC analysis of end product revealed that inulinase hydrolyzed inulin exclusively into fructose. Results suggest that the dahlia extract induced exoinulinase synthesis in Kluyveromyces marxianus and can be utilized as a potential substrate for inulinase production.

Seminal fructose in various classes of infertile patients

A great number of substances have been found in sperm plasma but so far it has not been possible to provide evidence of clinical significance for all of them. Fructose occupies the most important place on biochemical investigations. Fructose acts as a donor of energy to the spermatozoa. Fructose is secreted from the seminal vesicles and the accessory sex glands. It is the major carbohydrate found in seminal plasma, and appears essential for normal sperm motility. We present results of a prospective study of seminal fructose in patients referred for routine semen analysis prior to infertility treatment. Qualitative measurement of fructose in seminal fluid was carried out by Resorcinol method. Fructose level in various groups of male infertility, and sperm concentration in various groups was estimated. They were classified as azoospermic, oligozoospermic, polyzoospermic, normozoospermic, asthenozoospermic, and teratozoospermic on the basis of sperm concentrations, motility and morphology respectively. It is indicated that the true corrected fructose level is a simple method for assessment of the seminal vesicular function

Impact of infection on the secretory capacity of the male accessory glands

INTRODUCTION: Studies that compare the impact of different infectious entities of the male reproductive tract (MRT) on the male accessory gland function are controversial. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Semen analyses of 71 patients with proven infections of the MRT were compared with the results of 40 healthy non-infected volunteers. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to their diagnosis: chronic prostatitis NIH type II (n = 38), chronic epididymitis (n = 12), and chronic urethritis (n = 21). RESULTS: The bacteriological analysis revealed 9 different types of microorganisms, considered to be the etiological agents, isolated in different secretions, including: urine, expressed prostatic secretions, semen and urethral smears: E. Coli (n = 20), Klebsiella (n = 2), Proteus spp. (n = 1), Enterococcus (n = 20), Staphylococcus spp. (n = 1), M. tuberculosis (n = 2), N. gonorrhea (n = 8), Chlamydia tr. (n = 16) and, Ureaplasma urealyticum (n = 1). The infection group had significantly (p < 0.05) lower: semen volume, alpha-glucosidase, fructose, and zinc in seminal plasma and, higher pH than the control group. None of these parameters was sufficiently accurate in the ROC analysis to discriminate between infected and non-infected men. CONCLUSION: Proven bacterial infections of the MRT impact negatively on all the accessory gland function parameters evaluated in semen, suggesting impairment of the secretory capacity of the epididymis, seminal vesicles and prostate. These findings were associated with an infectious related significant increase of semen pH. None of the semen parameters evaluated can be suggested as a diagnostic tool for infection.

concentration of semen fructose, zinc and plasma reproductive hormones in subfertile men

The current study was conducted to evaluate the role of semen fructose [an indicator of seminal vesicular function], zinc [an indicator of prostatic function] and plasma concentrations of luteinising hormone [LH]. Follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH] and testosterone [Te] to ascertain the cause of male sub-fertility. Semen fructose and zinc concentrations in healthy virile adults [n=11] were found to be 329.64 +/- 12.91 mg/dl and 2.89 +/- 0.52 micromol/ejaculate, respectively. Semen fructose was found to be significantly [P <0.01] decreased in oligospermic [n=7] and azospermic [n=28] groups but semen zinc revealed no change. Plasma FSH and LH values showed a significant [P < 0.01] rise with a subsequent fall, though insignificant in Te concentration in oligospermic and azoospermic men. These results indicate that a correlation of plasma reproductive hormonal profiles, semen fructose concentration and the morphological analysis of sperm are helpful in determining the cause of male subfertility

Frutose no sêmen e sua relaçäo com a contagem de espermatozóides / Fructose in the semen and its relation with the sperm count

A correlaçäo entre a frutose seminal e a contagem de espermatozóide foi investigada em pacientes normais, polizoospérmico, oligozoospérmicos e azoospermicos näo vasectomizados e vasectomizados à contagem de espermatozóides. A análise estatística dos dados obtidos mostrou uma diferença significativa na concentraçäo de frutose em pacientes azoospérmicos näo vasectomizados (p < 0,01) e vasectomizados (p < 0,05). Nenhuma diferença significativa foi encontrada em pacientes polizoospérmicos e oligozoospérmicos (p > 0,05)

Differential diagnostic value of sialic acid and L-fructose in pleural effusion

In order to discriminate between malignant, tuberculous pleural effusions and that due to cardiac failure,Sialic acid and L- fucose were determined in pleural fluid and serum in 44 patients; 16 with malignant, 21 with tuberculous effusion and 7 with effusion due to cardiac failure. Serum and pleural fluid levels of Sialic acid were significantly higher in malignant and tuberculous effusions than in those with effusions due to cardiac failure and insignificantly higher in malignant than in tuberculous effusions The levels of L-fucose were significantly higher in malignant effusions than in the other two types of effusion.Pleural fluid concentration of sialic acid showed the highest sensitivty and diagnostic accuracy in differentiating tuberculous effusion from that due to cardiac failure while pleural fluid concentration of L-fucose showed the highest sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy in differentiating malignant effusion from that due to cardiac failure. An obvious overlap in evaluating each of the two markers was observed on comparing malignant and tuberculous effusions. However, it was less marked on comparing either of them with that due to cardiac failure. Because serum and pleural fluid levels of the two markers were highest in malignant effusions, they seem promising in the differential diagnosis of pleural effusion in spite of the overlap with tuberculous effusion

Ausencia funcional de conductos eyaculadores / Functional absence of ejaculatory ducts

Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo de muestras de semen procedentes de 5 159 pacientes que se consultaron por infertilidad en un período de 8 años y 4 meses. En 188 casos se comprobó azoospermia (muestras seminales con ausencia de espermatozoides) y en 23 de los azoospérmicos se presentaron características seminales del síndrome de ausencia funcional de los conductos eyaculadores. Se compararon los valores bioquímicos del plasma seminal (fructosa, fosfatasa ácida, y glicerilfosforilcolina) de los pacientes con las características del síndrome con igual número de normozoospérmicos infértiles y azoospérmicos no obstructivos. Pudo comprobarse diferencia altamente significativa en los 3 indicadores (p < 0,005) entre los pacientes con el sídrome y los otros 2 grupos. Los resultados indican que estas determinaciones bioquímicas son útiles en el diagnóstico del síndrome sin necesidad de utilizar métodos quirúrgicos

Evaluation of semen quality in a local Libyan population.

Semen analyses was carried out in a population of 1250 randomly selected Libyan males. Two semen samples collected from each volunteer were subjected to the routine analyses following the World Health Organization recommendations. The Libyan population had a higher percentage of men with sperm density in the range of 40-60 millions/ml. The percentage of men with sperm counts above 100 millions/ml is comparatively lower than that is reported by MacLeod and Gold (9). The seminal plasma transferrin levels showed a positive correlation with sperm density and alpha-glucosidase activity with sperm motility.

Nerve glucose, fructose, sorbitol and myo-inositol in experimental diabetes

In a trial to investigate the biochemical changes associated with diabetic polyneuropathy, nerve contents of glucose, fructose, sorbitol and myoinositol were studied in 20 normal healthy rats versus 20 rats with alloxan-induced diabetes. There was significant increase in the nerve contents of glucose, fructose and sorbitol of diabetic animals as compared to controls. On the contrary, nerve myoinositol showed significant decline in diabetic rats. It appears that the accumulation of alcohol sugars leads to tissue swelling, thickening of basement membranes and reduction in the nerve conduction velocity of the affected diabetic nerves. Moreover, the decreased nerve myoinositol found in diabetic animals, could be an integral factor in the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy, since decreased nerve myoinositol inhibits series of biochemical events responsible for maintaining nerve excitability and conductivity

Análisis de azúcares por HPLC en mieles venezolanas / Sugar analyses by HPLC in venezuelan honey

El análisis de azúcares es un parámetro de calidad en el control de calidad de las mieles. En las normas nacionales para miél de abejas (COVENIN 2136-84 y COVENIN 2191-84) se seleccionaron métodos volumétricos y gravimétricos para determinar azúcares reductores y sacarosa; sin embargo, el análisis de azúcares por HPLC ofrece otras posibilidades para el estudio de las mieles. En el presente trabajo se analizaron 41 muestras de mieles comerciales procedentes de distintas regiones de Venezuela. Se empleó una columna ubondapack/Carbohydrate y un detector de índice de refracción para determinar el contenido de fructosa, glucosa, sacarosa y también la presencia de melecitosa. Las mieles genuinas presentaron rangos de 27-53 por ciento para la fructosa, 25-45 por ciento para la glucosa y 0,5-5 por ciento para la sacarosa, mientras que en las mieles fraudulentas los rangos de variación de esos azúcares fueron de 17-34 por ciento, 23-37 por ciento y 12-39 por ciento, respectivamente

Effect of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on prepubertal rat testis

The testes of prepubertal male rats (N -12) aged 21 days were stimulated with low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (1.5-MHz frequency, 1-KHz repetion pulse rate, 200-*s pulse width, 30-V peak-to-peak amplitude and 20-mW/cm* intensity) applied to the skin for 20 min/day for 7 days. Control rats (N-8) were manipulated in the same manner but not submitted to ultrasound. Ultrasound stimulation promoted a significant increase in plasma testosterone (62%) leading to a significant increase in seminal vesicle relative weight (35%) as well as an increase in the fructose (92%) and DNA (200%) contents of the gland. No differences were detected between ultrasound-treated and control animals, in terms of body weight and the relative weights of testis, cauda epididymidis, testis DNA and mitosis

Bioquímica do líquido espermático: relaçäo entre as dosagens de frutose e ácido cítrico e a contagem de espermatozóides / Seminal fluid biochemistry: fructose and citric acid dosages and their correlation with sperm count

Foram estudadas 300 amostras de líquido espermático de pacientes normospérmicos que näo apresentavam evidências de patologias das glândulas acessórias do trato reprodutor masculino ou de deficiência hormonal androgênica. Em todas as amostras realizou-se as dosagens bioquímicas de frutose e ácido cétrico correlacionando-as com a srespectivas contagens de espermatozóides. A análise revelou näo haver diferenca significativa entre os grupos estudados quanto às concentraçöes de frutose e ácido cítrico (p > 0,05) em relaçäo ao número de espermatozóides presentes nas amostras

Fructosa seminal como índice de fertilidad y de estímulo androgénico / Seminal fructose as an index of fertility and of andrgenic stimulus

Se llevó a cabo un análisis en forma prospectiva de 97 varones a quienes se les realizó un espermograma y mediciones de testosterona plasmática y fructosa seminal. El 82% de pacientes se encontraban entre la segunda y tercera década de la vida. La abstinecia sexual fue de tres a cinco en 80.4% de la muestra. Al analizar el coeficiente de Pearson entre fructosa seminal y la motilidad espermática, y entre el azúcar y la testosterona plasmática, no se encontró correlación. Los niveles de fructosa en el semen tampoco se vieron afectados por la cuenta espermática. De lo anterior se concluye que la medición de fructosa en el líquido seminal, no representa un índice de fertilidad y tampoco de estímulo androgénico

Estudo sobre a bioquimica do sêmen humano: I. Frutose / The biochemistry of human semen: I. Fructose

Foram realizadas determinaçöes dos níveis de frutose no plasma seminal em 141 amostras de sêmen obtidas de homens clinicamente normais, cujas esposas estavam grávidas no momento da realizaçäo do exame. Também foram estudadas as correlaçöes entre os níveis de frutose no plasma seminal e idade do doador, número de espermatozóides/ml ou motilidade espermática. Os percentís 5§, 50§ (mediana e 95§ dos níveis de frutose foram, respectivamente, 121,4, 398,2 e 688,5 mg/100 ml. Por outro lado, näo se demonstrou correlaçäo entre os níveis de frutose e a idade do paciente, concentraçäo de espermatozódes ou motilidade espermática

Dosagem da frutose espermática: método simplificado / Dosage of spermatic fructose: a simplified method

Os autores modifcaram a técnica de Roe modificada pro Mann (1964), suprimindo a fase de desproteinizaçäo, obtendo método de dosagem da frutose espermática, com boa reprodutibilidade. Demonstram os meios de controle de qualidade para uso de rotina. Soluçäo aquosa de resorcina foi introduzida no método

Vesículas seminais: correlaçäo clínico-bioquimico-radiológica / Seminal vesicles: radiological clinical-bioquimical correlation

Apresentamos o estudo praticado em 203 pacientes, correlacionando as alteraçöes dos níveis de frutose no estudo seminológico comparativo com o radiológico da via seminal e o clínico dos pacientes. Aproximadamente, 74% apresentavam frutose abaixo dos valores normais no plasma seminal e, o restante, valores elevados. Citamos e analisamos as causas desta afecçäo, concluindo-se pela grande utilidae da dosagem da frutose no estudo do plasma seminal