Phytochemical variations in Lemon verbena [Lippia citriodora H.B.K.] plantlets affected by propagation methods and soil type

Lemon verbena [Lippia citriodora H.B.K.] is an aromatic and medicinal plant of family Verbenaceae, which cultivated in North region of Iran. Evaluation of phytochemical characters in Lippia citriodora H.B.K. plantlets affected by propagation methods [micro-propagation and stem cutting] cultivated in different soil type [peat moss and mixture soil]. This study was done on the base of factorial experiment in randomized complete block design with three replications and four treatments. The treatments were propagation methods [micro-propagation and stem cutting] and soil type [peat moss and mixture soil]. The volatile oil was extracted by hydro-distillation using clevenger-type apparatus and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The results indicated that the interaction effects of different soils and plantlets types had significant effect [p<0.05] on all studied parameters. The highest content of essential oil [0.79%], geranial [53.52%], neral [31.82%], limonene [11.29%], leaf dry weight [1.43 g] and SPAD value [20.85] were observed in treatment of MPP [micro-propagation plantlets cultivated in peat moss] and the lowest of that was obtained in treatment of SCM [stem cutting plantlets cultivated in mixture soil]. The peat moss was the best bed in respect of phytochemicals and morpho-physiological traits in both types of in vitro and stem cutting propagation. The highest essential oil content was observed in treatment of micro-propagation cultivated in peat moss

Biological properties of the Chilean native moss Sphagnum magellanicum

An ethanol extract prepared from the gametophyte Chilean native moss Sphagnum magellanicum was dried out, weighed and dissolved in distilled water. This extract was then assayed for its antibacterial activity against the G(-) bacteria Azotobacter vinelandii, Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora, Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Vibrio cholerae, and the G(+) bacteria Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus, and Streptococcus type b. The growth of the cultures of E. carotovora subsp. carotovora, and V. cholerae was inhibited at a concentration of 581mg/ml of extract, while the cultures of E. coli, S. typhi and Streptococcus type b were inhibited at a concentration of 1.16 mg/mL of extract. The concentration of phenolic compounds was 4.294 mg/mL; the presence of vanillic, chlorogenic, syringic, caffeic, gallic, 3-4 hydrozybenzoic, p-coumaric and salicylic acids was identified using RP- High Pressure Liquid Chromatography.

Microhongos oportunistas asociados al "musgo pompon" desecado (Sphagnum magellanicum BRID. ) en Chile / Opportunistic microfungi associated to the desiccated "pompon moss" (Sphagnum magellanicum Brid. ) in Chile

Se analizó la presencia de propágulos fúngicos en muestras secas del musgo Sphangnum magellanicum provenientes de 2 localidades de la zona Sur del país (39 y 41ºS), mediante cultivos en agar agua y agar Sabouraud a temperaturas de 25 y 35ºC con muestras recién colectadas (2007) y almacenadas un año a temperatura ambiente (2008). Nuestro objetivo fue determinar previo a la comercialización de este vegetal desecado, la presencia/ausencia del complejo Sporothrix schenckii u otras especies oportunistas consideradas como un riesgo en salud pública en la comunidad de microhongos filamentosos viables en el tiempo en este musgo. En la primera muestra (41ºS, 2007), a 25ºC, en ambos medios, se observó un total de 31 géneros y 36 especies. Los géneros con mayor frecuencia en orden decreciente y en ambos medios fueron: Penicillium, Cladosporium, Trichoderma y Mucor representando aproximadamente el 70 por ciento del total de presencia, mientras en las muestras sembradas un año después, fueron en orden decreciente: Aspergillus, Trichoderma, Penicillium y Gelasinospora, con un total de presencia del 75,4 por ciento. A 35ºC en ambas muestras la presencia de taxa se redujo a 4-5 géneros donde las principales especies fueron A. fumigatus complex y T. longibrachiatum con altos porcentajes, Penicillium spp. y Gelasinospora caulospora. Se destaca un raro aislamiento de Neosartorya quadricincta. Ningún integrante del complejo Ophiostoma stenoceras-Sporothrix schenckii se detectó en las muestras a 25º y 35º C, pero a pesar de su ausencia deben tomarse precauciones en el manejo y distribución comercial de este musgo en Chile, debido a la sobrevivencia en el tiempo de ciertos hongos oportunistas, como los integrantes del complejo A. fumigatus y T. longibrachiatum.

The presence of fungal propagules in desiccated samples of Sphangnum magellanicum moss collected from two southern zones of the country (39 and 41ºS) was analyzed by means of water agar and Sabouraud agar, at 25 and 35ºC temperatures using freshly gathered samples (2007) and stored for a year at room temperature (2008). Our aim was to determine, prior to the marketing of this desiccated vegetable, the presence/absence of the Sporothix schenckii complex or other opportunistic species which are considered to be a risk in public health, in the community of filamentous microfungi that are viable with time in this moss. The first sample (41ºS, 2007),at 25ºC, in both media revealed 31 genera and 36 species as a total. Genera most frequently found, in decreasing order, were: Penicillium, Cladosporium, Trichoderma and Mucor, which represented about 70 percent of the overall occurrence, whereas samples cultured one year later showed, in decreasing order, the presence of : Aspergillus, Trichoderma, Penicillium and Gelasinospora, meaning a 75.4 percent occurrence. At 35ºC, the presence of taxa became reduced in both samples to 4-5 genera, main species being A. fumigatus complex and T. longibrachiatum in high percentages, Penicillium spp. and Gelasinospora caulospora. Besides, it is remarkable a rare isolation of Neosartorya quadricincta. None component of the Ophiostoma stenoceras-Sporothrix schenkii complex was detected in samples at 25º and 35º C yet although its absence, caution must be made in handling and commercial distribution of this moss in Chile due to the survival in time of certain opportunistic fungi such as those found in the A. fumigatus complex and T.longibrachiatum.

Optimización de una formulación de queques (cakes) con características funcionales a partir de almidones resistentes, Sphagnum magellanicum y harina desgrasada de avellana (Gevuina avellana Mol) / Optimization of a cake formulation with functional characteristics using resistant starch, Sphagnum magellanicum moss and deffated hazel nut flour (Gevuina avellana, Mol)

Resistant starch (RS) Hi Maize 260, Sphagnum magellanicum Moss (SM) both natural resources rich in total dietary fiber, and defatted hazel nut flour (DHN) as protein resource were used in the development of a pastry product (queque) with functional characteristics. Taguchi methodology was utilized in the optimization process using the orthogonal array L934 with four control factors: RS, SM. DHN and Master Gluten 4000 (MG), 3 factor levels and 9 experimental trials. The best result of Sensory Quality (SQ) and signal to noise ratio (S/N) was obtained combining the minor levels of the independent variables. Main effect (average effects of factor) analysis and anova analysis showed that SM and DHN were the control factors with a significant influence (p<0.05) on the CS with a relative contribution of 83%. It is important to emphasize the total dietary fiber (8.7%) and protein (7.2%) values, the formers due to the presence of RS and SM. Shelf life study showed that the sensory characteristics flavour, appearance and texture were not affected when samples were stored at refrigerated temperatures but not at 20 degrees C, specifically flavour always kept a good preference during the whole period of time. Samples of optimized cakes showed very good results when they were submitted to hedonic test with 100% of favorable consumer's opinions.

Almidón resistente (AR) "Hi Maize 260", musgo Sphagnum magellanicum (SM), recursos naturales ricos en fibra dietaria total y harina desgrasada de avellana (HDA) como fuente de proteínas, se utilizaron en el diseño y formulación de un producto de pastelería (queques) con características funcionales. La metodología Taguchi fue utilizada en el proceso de optimización trabajando con la matriz ortogonal L934 con cuatro factores de control AR; SM; HDA y Master Gluten 4000 (MG), 3 niveles de trabajo y 9 corridas experimentales. La mejor respuesta de calidad sensorial (CS) y relación Señal/Ruido (índice de Robustez) equivalentes a buena/muy buena se obtuvo combinando las variables independientes en sus mínimos niveles de trabajo, información interesante por la importancia económica que tiene este resultado. Análisis de efectos promedios y ANOVA demostraron que los factores de control SM y HDA influyeron significativamente (p<0,05) en la CS con un porcentaje de contribución relativa de 83%. En la caracterización química de la formulación optimizada es importante destacar su alto contenido en fibra dietaria total (8.67%) atribuido principalmente a la presencia de AR y SM, y su aporte proteico (7.22%). El producto almacenado a temperatura de refrigeración no alteró significativamente las características sensoriales sabor, apariencia y textura destacando la buena preferencia demostrada para el sabor. Sin embargo no ocurrió lo mismo cuando se almacenó a 20ºC. Resultados del test hedónico mostraron una opinión muy favorable del producto alcanzando un 100% de aceptabilidad, información que permite predecir una buena recepción de este producto a nivel de segmentos de consumidores interesados en proteger su salud.

Seasonal pattern of metal bioaccumulation and their toxicity on Sphagnum squarrosum.

Present study was undertaken as an attempt to study the effect of pollutants on biological responses of Sphagnum growing at Kainchi, Kumaon hills (Uttranchal). Sphagnum plants of almost identical size, collected from the marked sites of Kainchi in different seasons viz., monsoon, winter, summer and again in monsoon, were analysed for chlorophyll, protein, shoot length and nitrate reductase and peroxidase activities. Maximum chlorophyll, protein, shoots length and nitrate reductase activities were observed during the monsoon while minimum in summers. The abundance of Sphagnum and two other bryophytes, Marchantia and Plagiochasma was also higher in monsoon than in other seasons. The study also indicated that Sphagnum has more bioaccumulation and tolerance potential for heavy metals than Marchantia and Plagiochasma.