Laboratory evidence for the hematopoietic potential of Beta vulgaris leaf and stalk extract in a phenylhydrazine model of anemia

This study was designed to provide laboratory evidence supporting the hematopoietic effect of Beta vulgaris (beet) leaf aqueous extract in phenylhydrazine-induced anemia model in albino rats. Extraction of the leaves/stalks was done by maceration in 30% hydro-ethanol for 48 h. An intraperitoneal injection of 20 mg/kg phenylhydrazine was applied for two consecutive days to develop hemolytic anemia on the 4th day after the 1st injection in 24 of 30 male albino rats. The animals were divided into 5 groups and received the following treatments: standard (ferrous ascorbate + folic acid; 13.5 + 0.135 mg/kg), B. vulgaris extract (100 and 200 mg/kg), or left untreated (normal and diseased controls). Blood samples were taken at 0, 4, 8, and 12 days of the experiment for hematological and clinico-chemical analysis. Beet leaf extract significantly restored the levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin, and hematocrit in dose- and time-dependent manners. Blood indices have been significantly corrected. Erythropoietin level was maintained at higher levels. Erythrocytic membrane oxidation biomarker (malondialdehyde) level was significantly reduced compared to the anemic untreated group. The extract exhibited potent, concentration (4-512 μg/mL)-dependent antioxidant activity indicated by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) assay, with IC50 value of 37.91 μg/mL. Beet leaf extract resulted in detection of flavonoid and phenolic compounds that may underlie its hematinic properties. These findings may indicate B. vulgaris as a good natural source for pharmaceutical preparations with hematopoietic effects and treatment of anemia and/or associated conditions.

Estimation of genetic diversity and relationship in sugar beet pollinators based on SSR markers

Background: Genetic diversity studies are important for the selection of parents with a greater combination capacity that, when crossed, increase the chances of obtaining superior genotypes. Thus, 26 polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) primers were used to assess the genetic diversity of 140 individual samples from 12 diploid sugar beet pollinators (pollen parents) and two cytoplasmic male sterile (cms) lines (seed parents). Eight pollinators originated from three research centers in the United States Department of Agriculture, while four pollinators and cms lines were from the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, Serbia. Results: In total, 129 alleles were obtained, with a mean of 3.2 alleles per SSR marker. The observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.00 to 0.87 (mean = 0.30). Expected heterozygosity and Shannon's information index were the lowest for marker BQ590934 and the highest for markers SB15s and FDSB502s; the same markers were the most informative, with PIC values of 0.70 and 0.69, respectively. Three private alleles were found in pollinator EL0204; two in pollinator C51; and one in pollinators NS1, FC221, and C93035. Molecular variance showed that 77.34% of the total genetic variation was attributed to intrapopulation variability. Cluster and correspondence analysis grouped sugar beet pollinators according to the breeding centers, with few exceptions, which indicate that certain amount of germplasm was shared, although centers had their own breeding programs. Conclusions: The results indicate that this approach can improve the selection of pollinators as suitable parental components and could further be applied in sugar beet breeding programs.

Rhizosphere Bacterial Composition of the Sugar Beet Using SDS-PAGE Methodology

ABSTRACT The rhizosphere zone has been defined as the volume of soil directly influenced by the presence of living plant roots or soil compartment influenced by the root. During the growing season of 2014, the rhizobacteria of 23 sugar beet plants sampled from 12 sites in the west and north west of Iran were inventoried. Using a cultivation-dependent approach, a total of 217 bacteria were isolated from the rhizosphere. The bacterial isolates were tentatively grouped and documented based on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of whole-cell proteins and were found to represent 43 different protein electrotypes. The majority of the fingerprint types were found only on a single occasion. Fifty-nine percent of the strains belonged to the five bacterial species and identified as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Stenotrophomonas rhizophila and Serratia marcescens. Minor occurring fingerprint types were identified as Flavobacterium spp, Erwinia spp, Acetobacter spp, Agrobacterium spp, Enterobacter spp, Aeromonas spp and Bacillus spp.

Progress on cellulosic ethanol produced from beet pulp / 生物工程学报

Cellulosic ethanol, with the advantages of renewable resource, cleanliness and safety, is the mainstream of new energy development and has obtained extensive attention worldwide. In this review, the biological characteristics of beets were introduced, and then the superiority and application progress of beets and its by-product sugar beet pulp in the bioethanol production were stated. At last, cellulosic ethanol production coupled with the component separation and comprehensive utilization of beet pulp was proposed.

Virulence of Entomopathogenic Fungi Metarhizium anisopliae and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus for the Microbial Control of Spodoptera exigua

The beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is difficult to control using chemical insecticides because of the development of insecticide resistance. Several pest control agents are used to control the beet armyworm. Entomopathogenic fungi are one of the candidates for eco-friendly pest control instead of chemical control agents. In this study, among various entomopathogenic fungal strains isolated from soil two isolates were selected as high virulence pathogens against larva of beet armyworm. Control efficacy of fungal conidia was influenced by conidia concentration, temperature, and relative humidity (RH). The isolates Metarhizium anisopliae FT83 showed 100% cumulative mortality against second instar larvae of S. exigua 3 days after treatment at 1 x 10(7) conidia/mL and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus FG340 caused 100% mortality 6 days after treatment at 1 x 10(4) conidia/mL. Both M. anisopliae FT83 and P. fumosoroseus FG340 effectively controlled the moth at 20~30degrees C. M. anisopliae FT83 was significantly affected mortality by RH: mortality was 86.7% at 85% RH and 13.4% at 45% RH. P. fumosoroseus FG340 showed high mortality as 90% at 45% RH and 100% at 75% RH 6 days after conidia treatments. These results suggest that P. fumosoroseus FG340 and M. anisopliae FT83 have high potential to develop as a biocontrol agent against the beet armyworm.

High density process to cultivate Lactobacillus plantarum biomass using wheat stillage and sugar beet molasses

Background: Owing to the growing interest in biofuels, the concept of a biorefinery where biomass is converted to a variety of useful products is gaining ground. We here present how distillery waste is combined with a by-product from a sugar production, molasses, to form a medium for the growth of Lactobacillus plantarum with yields and biomass densities comparable with conventional industrial media. Such approach enables a cost-effective utilization of the problematic wastewater from ethanol and a by-product from sugar production. It is the first approach that attempts to find low-cost media for the production of Lactobacillus plantarum biomass. Results: This study suggests that sieved wheat stillage enriched by adding 1.77 g/l yeast extract and 10 percent molasses (v/v), with NH4OH used for pH adjustment, may be used as a media for large-scale cultivation of L. plantarum. Such composition of the medium permits a high density of lactic acid bacteria (1.6 x 10(10) cfu/ml) to be achieved. Conclusions: The use of a fermentation medium consisting of distillery wastewater and molasses to obtain value-added products (such as LAB biomass and lactic acid) is a possible step for classical ethanol production to move towards a biorefinery model production in which all by and waste products are utilized to increase produced values and reduce waste production. This enables a cost-effective utilization of the problematic wastewater from ethanol and sugar production.

Optimizing Production Conditions of Germinated Brown Rice Cookie Prepared with Beet Powder

This study was conducted to develop an optimal composite recipe for nutritional cookies containing beet powder. Flour was substituted with whole wheat flour containing germinated brown rice powder. The sensory optimal composite recipe was determined by making cookies containing two levels of beet powder (A) or butter (B) according to Central Composite Design (CCD) and by conducting the sensory evaluation and instrumental analysis according to Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Using CCD, the results of physical measurement for ten conditions with two variables were obtained. The values of lightness (L), redness (a), and yellowness (b) were in the range of 36.65~49.03, 22.15~29.31, and 13.96~19.34, respectively. Lightness decreased significantly (P<0.001) and redness increased significantly (P<0.01) upon an increase in beet powder. The results of sensory evaluation showed very significant values in color (P<0.05), texture (P<0.05), flavor (P<0.01), taste (P<0.05), and overall quality (P<0.05), whereas those of the instrumental analysis showed significant values in lightness (P<0.001), redness (P<0.01), spread ratio (P<0.01), and hardness (P<0.05). As a result, the optimal sensory ratio of beet cookie was calculated for beet powder 7.75 g and butter 77.88 g.

Biosurfactant production in sugar beet molasses by some Pseudomonas spp.

In this study, rhamnolipid biosurfactant production was investigated in eighteen strains of Pseudomonas spp.. Rhamnolipid by these strains was determined by a spectrophotometric method in nutrient broth medium (NB). From the 18 strains screened, two Pseudomonas strains (Pseudomonas luteola B17 and Pseudomonas putida B12) which had produced the highest percentage yield of rhamnolipid were examined for rhamnolipid production at different incubation times (24, 48 and 72 hr) and different sugar beet molasses concentrations [1-5 % w/v concentration (1-5 g molasses/100 ml water)]. The rhamnolipid production increased with the increase in the concentration of molasses and maximum production occurred when 5 % (w/v) of molasses were used. At the same time, maximum rhamnolipid production occurred after 72 hr of incubation. When the amount of rhamnolipid produced at different incubation times (24, 48 and 72 hr) and with different concentrations of molasses [1-5 % w/v concentration (1-5 g molasses/100 ml water)] by Pseudomonas spp.; was compared, no significant difference in amount of production was seen. These studies show that the waste product from sugar industry may be suggested for important biotechnological processes such as rhamnolipid production.

Red beet (Beta vulgaris L.) leaf supplementation improves antioxidant status in C57BL/6J mice fed high fat high cholesterol diet

The effect of diet supplemented with red beet (Beta vulgaris L.) leaf on antioxidant status of plasma and tissue was investigated in C57BL/6J mice. The mice were randomly divided into two groups after one-week acclimation, and fed a high fat (20%) and high cholesterol (1%) diet without (control group) or with 8% freeze-dried red beet leaf (RBL group) for 4 weeks. In RBL mice, lipid peroxidation determined as 2-thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS value) was significantly reduced in the plasma and selected organs (liver, heart, and kidney). Levels of antioxidants (glutathione and beta-carotene) and the activities of antioxidant enzyme (glutathione peroxidase) in plasma and liver were considerably increased, suggesting that antioxidant defenses were improved by RBL diet. Comet parameters such as tail DNA (%), tail extent moment, olive tail moment and tail length were significantly reduced by 25.1%, 49.4%, 35.4%, and 23.7%, respectively, in plasma lymphocyte DNA of RBL mice compared with control mice, and indicated the increased resistance of lymphocyte DNA to oxidative damage. In addition, the RBL diet controlled body weight together with a significant reduction of fat pad (retroperitoneal, epididymal, inguinal fat, and total fat). Therefore, the present study suggested that the supplementation of 8% red beet leaf in high fat high cholesterol diet could prevent lipid peroxidation and improve antioxidant defense system in the plasma and tissue of C57BL/6J mice.

Effect of onion and beet on plasma and liver lipids, platelet aggregation, and erythrocyte Na efflux in simvastatin treated hypercholesterolmic rats

This study was purposed to investigate the effect of onion or beet on plasma and liver lipids, erythrocyte Na efflux channels and platelet aggregation in simvastatin (SIM) treated hypercholesterolemic rats. Forty Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups and fed 0.5% cholesterol based diets containing 2 mg/kg BW simvastatin or simvastatin with 5% onion or beet powder. Plasma total cholesterol was significantly increased in SIM group compared with the control (p<0.01), and the elevated plasma total cholesterol of SIM group was significantly decreased in SIM-onion and SIM-beet groups (p<0.05). HDL-cholesterol in SIM-beet group was significantly increased compared with other groups (p<0.05). Platelet aggregation in both the maximum and initial slope was significantly decreased in SIM group compared with SIM-onion group (p<0.05). Na-K ATPase was significantly decreased in SIM group compared with the control, SIM-onion and SIM-beet groups (p<0.05). Na passive leak was significantly increased in all groups treated with SIM compared with the control (p<0.05). The total Na efflux was decreased in SIM group and increased in SIM-onion group and the difference between these two groups was significant (p<0.05). There was no difference in intracellular Na among groups. In present study, simvastatin, a HMG CoA reductase inhibitor at dose of 2mg/kg BW/day rather increased plasma total cholesterol in rats, inferring that the action mechanism of simvastatin on cholesterol metabolism differ between rat and human. Onion and beet play favorable roles in cardiovascular system by restoring the reduced Na efflux through Na-K ATPase and Na-K cotransport in SIM treated rats.

Establishment of an Efficient Chloroplast Gene Transformation System in Sugar Beet(Beta vulgaris L.)and Obtainment of Insect and Herbicide Resistant Sugar Beet Plants / 生物化学与生物物理进展

Insects pests and weeds are the main factors that reduce the yield of sugar beet. Genetic engineering breeding is an effective method to breed insect-resisitant and herbicide-resisitant sugar beet. A transformation system for foreign genes in sugar beet chloroplast was established. The expression of the foreign genes can confers resistance in transgenic sugar beet plants to insects pests and weeds. The chloroplast transformation vector pSKARBt/bar, which carries Bt cry1Ac gene and bar gene expression cassettes, was constructed by using molecular method. The Bt gene expression cassette contained the 3.5 kb Bt cry1Ac gene under the control of psbA promoter and terminator cloned from sugar beet chloroplast genome. The bar gene expression cassette contained the bar gene, 16 S promoter and terminator cloned from sugar beet chloroplast genome, The atpB and rbcL gene cloned from sugar beet chloroplast genome were used as homologous fragment, the bar gene was the selective marker. Plasmid pSKARBt/bar were transformed into the petioles of sugar beet with particle bombardment method. The petioles were planced onto the shoot-inducing selection medium which contained spectinomycin (20 mg/L), 6-BA (1.5 mg/L) and NAA (0.2 mg/L) at first. And when the green shoots regenerated, the green shoots were transfered into the shoot-propagation medium for optimal shoot development which contained spectinomycin (20 mg/L) and 6-BA (0.5 mg/L) and NAA (1.0 mg/L) one subculture at 20-day intervals, and then the shoots were transfered into the shoot-propagation medium for optimal shoot development with herbicide (PPT 10 mg/L) several subcultures. The shoots were transfered into the root-induction medium with herbicide (PPT 10 mg/L) and the transgenic plants were obtained at last. The transgenic sugar beet plants were testsed by PCR and Southern blot. The results showed that the Bt gene and bar gene had been transferred into the chloroplast genome of sugar beet. The transgenic plants had tolerance to both PPT and bioassays testsed. The insecticidal activity (the mortality of larvaes was 33%～80%) and herbicide resistance of the transgenic plants indicated that the relevant protein had been expressed already in sugar beet. The study showed that the bar gene can also be used as an efficient selective marker gene besides antibiotic resistant markers in plant transformation. Efficient transformation system in sugar beet chloroplast had been established.

Two Faces of "Green Juice" / 대한간학회지

No abstract availalbe

Subsídios para o estabelecimento de metodologia para o controle de corantes naturais em alimentos / A contribution to the method for controlling natural dyes for foods

Dezessete amostras de corante urucum, 6 de cúrcuma, 9 de cochonilha, 10 de vermelho de beterraba, 4 de antocianinas de casca de uva e 4 de clorofilina cúprica, num total de 50 amostras de corantes naturais, foram analisadas para verificar se estes corantes atendiam às Normas de Identidade e Qualidade estabeleci das pela "Food Agricultural Organization/World Health Organization". Para todas as amostras foram traçados espectros de absorção na região do ultravioleta e visível para caracterização do corante natural. Também foram pesquisadas impurezas, tais como arsênico e chumbo, além de adulterantes, como corantes artificiais. Do total de 50 amostras analisadas, 20 apresentaram especificações fora dos padrões de Identidade e Qualidade da "FAO/WHO", bem como dos padrões propostos nas monografias de um grupo brasileiro de estudo de corantes naturais para alimentos (AU).

Increase in membrane permeability of electrolytes and betacyanin in beet root disc by fenitrothion.

Effect of fenitrothion (phosphorothioic acid, 0,0-dimethyl 0–4-nitro-m-tolyl ester), an organophosphorous insecticide, on membrane permeability employing the leakage of betacyanin and electrolytes as the criteria were studied in beet root (Beta vulgaris) discs. The leakage of both betacyanin and electrolytes increased with increasing concentrations (10-150 ppm) of fenitrothion in the incubation medium. At 0.33 mM the increase in electrolyte leakage was approximately linear for the first 6 h, while the increase in betacyanin leakage started with a lag of about 2 h. Long term incubation (24 h) showed a biphasic nature (in the semilog plot) for the increase in betacyanin leakage, while the increase in electrolyte leakage appeared more complex. In the control sample, the Arrhenius plots (25-50°C) of leakage showed a break at 40°C. In treated samples no breax was observed, but the slope decreased (for both electrolyte and betacyanin leakage) as compared to the respective slopes in the control in the temperature region greater than 40°C. The results are discussed in terms of the possible effect of the insecticide on the active transport in plant membranes