Evolution in the photosynthetic oxygen rate of a Cd-resistant strain of Dictyosphaerium chlorelloides by changes in light intensity and temperature.

Environmental factors such as temperature and light are the most determinants in the photosynthetic productivity in microalgae. However, under extreme of these conditions, certain resistant microalgae strains possess additional abilities such as growth in the presence of high concentrations of metals and some can improve in combinations of more than one abiotic stress. Therefore, the aim of this research was to evaluate the efficiency in photosynthetic production through the oxygen balance to variations in photon intensity, and under temperature changes in a Cd-resistant strain (DcRCd100) compared to the wild-type strain (Dc1Mwt) of Dictyosphaerium chlorelloides. The results showed that the DcRCd100 strain has the maximum efficiency at 200  µmol m-2 s-1 on photosynthesis net (Pn) (96.32 ±â€¯3.63% nmol O2 ml-1 min-1) as the threshold light saturation, and an adaptation to maintain this maximum photosynthetic gross (Pg) rate at 30 °C (94.99 ±â€¯10.03% nmol O2 ml-1 min-1) due to possible modifications in the photosynthetic apparatus that is reflected in the net evolution rate of O2 to deal with such evaluated conditions. While, Dc1Mwt strain its maximum photosynthetic efficiency was at 300 µmol m-2 s-1 and 21 °C (97.72 ±â€¯2.99 and 99.85 ±â€¯0.30%nmol O2 ml-1 min-1, respectively) and in optimal response to the oxygen balance that is normally achieved by this mesophilic genus. These results provide a new prediction of mechanisms in the oxygen evolution in photosynthesis that rules the correlation between resistance and adaptation to extreme abiotic conditions in metal resistant strains of eukaryotic microalgae.

Antioxidant Properties of Polyphenolic Extracts from Quercus Laurina, Quercus Crassifolia, and Quercus Scytophylla Bark.

The objective of this work was to determine the concentration of total phenols, total flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids, and proanthocyanidins present in crude extracts of Quercus laurina, Q. crassifolia, and Q. scytophylla bark. They were extracted by ethanol (90%) maceration and hot water. The antioxidant capacity was determined by the ability to capture OH•, O2•−, ROO•, H2O2, NO•, and HClO. The hot water crude extract of Q. crassifolia was chosen to be concentrated and purified due to its higher extraction yield (20.04%), concentration of phenol compounds (747 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g, 25.4 mg quercetin equivalent (QE)/g, 235 mg ChAE/g, 25.7 mg chlorogenic acid equivalents (ChAE)/g), and antioxidant capacity (expressed as half maximal effective concentration (EC50, µg/mL): OH• = 918, O2•− = 80.5, ROO• = 577, H2O2 = 597, NO• ≥ 4000, HClO = 740). In a second stage, Q. crassifolia extracted with hot water was treated with ethyl acetate, concentrating the phenol compounds (860 mg GAE/g, 43.6 mg QE/g, 362 ChAE/g, 9.4 cyanidin chloride equivalents (CChE)/g) and improving the scavenging capacity (OH• = 467, O2•− = 58.1, ROO• = 716, H2O2 = 22.0, NO• ≥ 4000, HClO = 108). Q. crassifolia had the highest polyphenolic concentration and the better capacity for scavenging reactive species, being a favorable candidate to be considered in the development of new products.

Quantification of Phenolic Compounds and In Vitro Radical Scavenging Abilities with Leaf Extracts from Two Varieties of Psidium guajava L.

Guava leaf (Psidium guajava L.) extracts are used in both traditional medicine and the pharmaceutical industry. The antioxidant compounds in P. guajava leaves can have positive effects including anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperglycemic, hepatoprotective, analgesic, anti-cancer effects, as well as protecting against cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, phenolic compounds and in vitro antioxidant capacity were measured in extracts obtained with polar and non-polar solvents from leaves of two varieties of guava, Calvillo Siglo XXI and Hidrozac. The quantity of total phenolics and total flavonoids were expressed as equivalents of gallic acid and quercetin, respectively. Hydroxyl radical, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity using fluorescein (ORAC-FL) in vitro tests were used to assess the radical scavenging abilities of the extracts. The total phenolics were higher in the aqueous fraction of the variety Calvillo Siglo XXI, while in the Hidrozac variety total phenolics were higher in the acetone and chloroform fractions. Total flavonoids were higher in all fractions in the variety Calvillo Siglo XXI. Total phenolics showed a highly positive correlation for ORAC-FL, and a moderately positive correlation with hydroxyl radicals. Finally, total flavonoids showed a slightly positive correlation for ORAC-FL and hydroxyl radicals. Both varieties of guava leaf extract showed excellent antioxidant properties.

Electrochemical Study and Characterization of an Amperometric Biosensor Based on the Immobilization of Laccase in a Nanostructure of TiO2 Synthesized by the Sol-Gel Method.

Laccase amperometric biosensors were developed to detect the catechol compound. The laccase enzyme (LAC) immobilization was performed on nanostructures of (a) titania (TiO2); (b) titania/Nafion (TiO2/NAF) (both immobilized by the sol-gel method) and a third nanostructure, which consisted of a single biosensor composite of Nafion and laccase enzyme denoted as NAF/LAC. The Nafion was deposited on a graphite electrode and used to avoid "cracking" on the matrix. The TiO2 particle size was an average of 66 nm. FTIR spectroscopy vibration modes of different composites were determined. The electrochemical behavior of the biosensor was studied using electrochemical spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The biosensor based on TiO2/NAF/LAC presented the best electro-chemical properties with regard to sensitivity, stability and detection limit after a period of 22 days.

Physico-chemical parameters, bioactive compounds and microbial quality of thermo-sonicated carrot juice during storage.

Thermosonication has been successfully tested in food for microbial inactivation; however, changes in bioactive compounds and shelf-life of treated products have not been thoroughly investigated. Carrot juice was thermo-sonicated (24 kHz, 120 µm amplitude) at 50 °C, 54 °C and 58 °C for 10 min (acoustic power 2204.40, 2155.72, 2181.68 mW/mL, respectively). Quality parameters and microbial growth were evaluated after processing and during storage at 4 °C. Control and sonicated treatments at 50 °C and 54 °C had 10, 12 and 14 d of shelf-life, respectively. Samples sonicated at 58 °C had the best quality; microbial growth remained low at around 3-log for mesophiles, 4.5-log for yeasts and molds and 2-log for enterobacteria after 20 d of storage. Furthermore, thermo-sonicated juice at 58 °C retained >98% of carotenoids and 100% of ascorbic acid. Phenolic compounds increased in all stored, treated juices. Thermo-sonication is therefore a promising technology for preserving the quality of carrot juice by minimising the physicochemical changes during storage, retarding microbial growth and retaining the bioactive compounds.

As (V) biosorption in an aqueous solution using chemically treated lemon (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) residues.

UNLABELLED: The use of biosorbents to remove metals and metalloids from contaminated water systems has gained great usage in various parts of the world. The objective of the current study was to test lemon peels as biosorbents for As (V). Lemon peels were chemically characterized and arsenic contact experiments were performed to determine the adsorption capacity of the peels using different empirical models. The model that fit the experimental data was the Lagergren empirical model with a correlation coefficient of R= 0.8841. The results show that lemon peels were able to retain 474.8 µg of As (V)/g of biosorbent. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Lemon agro-industrial waste can be useful in the removal of heavy metals, such as arsenic, from aqueous media.