Pharmacological and nutritional benefits of flaxseed’s (Linum usitatissimum Linn.) biocomponents

Linum usitatissimum (Linn.), Commonly known as flaxseed or flaxseed, belongs to the family Linaceae. Flaxseed is a crop of blue flowers that produce small, flat seeds of golden yellow to reddish-brown color. It is a native of the Mediterranean and West Asia. Due to its health benefits associated with the high content of linolenic acid (ALA), flaxseed has played a major role in diet and research. The ALA is an essential omega-3-fatty acid, and also due to its presence a major lignan, i.e. secoisolaricyrcinol diglucoside (SDG). There is also a wide range of uses of flaxseed oil in skin health, anticoagulants, anticancer, ulcer treatment, muscle growth, and weight loss. The nutritional composition of flaxseed is about 30% carbohydrate, 18% protein, and 39% fat. Flaxseed contains most carbohydrates in the form of fiber and contains more than 45% omega-3 fatty acids. It also contains dietary fibers, proteins and polyunsaturated fatty acids. All the ingredients possess different health benefits. Although plant resources are the key ingredient in drug discovery, the popularity of flaxseed always fascinate scientists, the number of articles giving information about the chemical components of flaxseed and its potential clinical use is very little. This review provides a systematic summary of the research completed over the past decade and provides an up-to-date summary of the various bioactive and outlines the relationship between the nutritional and pharmacological use of chemical ingredients and its flaxseed.

Hygrophorus aurantiosquamosus (Hygrophoraceae, Agaricales), a new species of Hygrophorus section Chrysodontes from western China

In China, the European species, Hygrophorus chrysodon, is widely reported in western and northeastern provinces. After carefully comparing H. chrysodon from China and Europe, we found that the European and Chinese materials were different lineages in molecular trees, and there were also obvious differences in morphology between the two lineages. The evidence from morphology and phylogeny indicated that the presence of H. chrysodon in China is doubtful and that the Chinese material represents an undescribed species. Thus, H. aurantiosquamosus is proposed as a new species. This new taxon is characterized by its yellowish white pileus covered with golden yellow squamules, a stipe concolorous with the pileus and covered with yellow floccules, a distinct pileipellis composed of narrow hyphae with inflated terminal elements of various shapes (clavate, cylindrical, lacrymoid to subglobose), and elongate to subcylindrical basidiospores measuring 9.5–12 × 4–5.5 μm. The new species occurs in Picea forests at high elevations of western China, such as Qinghai, Sichuan, and Tibet provinces.

iTRAQ-Based Quantitative Proteomics Analysis Reveals the Mechanism of Golden-Yellow Leaf Mutant in Hybrid Paper Mulberry

Plant growth and development relies on the conversion of light energy into chemical energy, which takes place in the leaves. Chlorophyll mutant variations are important for studying certain physiological processes, including chlorophyll metabolism, chloroplast biogenesis, and photosynthesis. To uncover the mechanisms of the golden-yellow phenotype of the hybrid paper mulberry plant, this study used physiological, cytological, and iTRAQ-based proteomic analyses to compare the green and golden-yellow leaves of hybrid paper mulberry. Physiological results showed that the mutants of hybrid paper mulberry showed golden-yellow leaves, reduced chlorophyll, and carotenoid content, and increased flavonoid content compared with wild-type plants. Cytological observations revealed defective chloroplasts in the mesophyll cells of the mutants. Results demonstrated that 4766 proteins were identified from the hybrid paper mulberry leaves, of which 168 proteins displayed differential accumulations between the green and mutant leaves. The differentially accumulated proteins were primarily involved in chlorophyll synthesis, carotenoid metabolism, and photosynthesis. In addition, differentially accumulated proteins are associated with ribosome pathways and could enable plants to adapt to environmental conditions by regulating the proteome to reduce the impact of chlorophyll reduction on growth and survival. Altogether, this study provides a better understanding of the formation mechanism of the golden-yellow leaf phenotype by combining proteomic approaches.

A Comparative Metabolomic Analysis Reveals Difference Manufacture Suitability in “Yinghong 9” and “Huangyu” Teas (Camellia sinensis)

“Yinghong 9” is a widely cultivated large-leaf variety in South China, and the black tea made from it has a high aroma and strong sweet flavor. “Huangyu” is a light-sensitive tea variety with yellow leaves. It was cultivated from the bud-mutation of “Yinghong 9” and has a very low level of chlorophyll during young shoot development. Due to chlorophyll being involved in carbon fixation and assimilation, the changes in photosynthesis might potentially affect the accumulation of flavor metabolites, as well as the quality of “Huangyu” tea. Although “Huangyu” has a golden yellow color and high amino acid content, the mechanism underlying the formation of leaf color and drinking value remains unclear. The widely targeted metabolomics and GC-MS analysis were performed to reveal the differences of key metabolites in fresh and fermented leaves between “Yinghong 9” and “Huangyu.” The results showed that tea polyphenols, total chlorophyll, and carotenoids were more abundant in “Yinghong 9.” Targeted metabolomics analysis indicated that kaempferol-3-glycoside was more abundant in “Yinghong 9,” while “Huangyu” had a higher ratio of kaempferol-3-glucoside to kaempferol-3-galactoside. Compared with “Yinghong 9” fresh leaves, the contents of zeaxanthin and zeaxanthin palmitate were significantly higher in “Huangyu.” The contents of α-farnesene, β-cyclocitral, nerolidol, and trans-geranylacetone, which were from carotenoid degradation and involved in flowery-fruity-like flavor in “Huangyu” fermented leaves, were higher than those of “Yinghong 9.” Our results indicated that “Huangyu” was suitable for manufacturing non-fermented tea because of its yellow leaf and flowery-fruity-like compounds from carotenoid degradation.

Taxonomic history, comparative morphology, and variation in Astrophytum myriostigma and its subspecies tulense (Cactaceae)

Astrophytum myriostigma subsp. myriostigma and subsp. tulense are distinguished by both vegetative and reproductive characters. The stem of the nominotypical subspecies is broad and depressed becoming broadly cylindrical in age, reaching a known maximum height of ca. 52 cm. In subsp. tulense, the stem is relatively slen-der and columnar and can reach a maximum height of ca. 90 cm. Both taxa show variation in the angle and profile of the ribs. In the nominotypical subspecies, the ribs are usually obtuse with a rounded or angular profile, or moderately acute with an angular profile. In subsp. tulense, the ribs are typically moderately to very acute with an angular profile. There are exceptions to these generalities. Both taxa have a modal number of five ribs, and both have the tendency to insert additional ribs with age, although the tendency seems more pronounced in subsp. tulense. The flower of the nominotypical subspecies differs from that of subsp. tulense in having a significantly larger mean perianth diameter (P <= 0.01), a significantly higher mean number of stigma lobes (P <= 0.05), and more tepal rows (3–5 vs. 1–3). The color of the tepals is pale yellow to whitish yellow in subsp. tulense, but brighter yellow or golden yellow in the nominotypical subspecies. The seeds of the nominotypical subspecies are significantly larger (P <= 0.01) than the seeds of subsp. tulense. Morphological variation was studied in nine populations of the subsp. myriostigma and six populations of the subsp. tulense. The nominotypical subspecies displays rib angle and rib profile differences among individual plants within a population. Plants with a depressed stem and obtuse, rounded ribs are predominant at some localities. At other localities, plants with more moderately acute, angular ribs are predominant, or at least common. Populations of subsp. tulense show individual variation in stem morphology. The stem varies from attenuated (tapered) to non-attenuated and from relatively slender (diameter ca. 20% of height) to relatively broad (diameter ca. 77% of height). The plants from near Mama León and adjacent localities in Tamaulipas, have very robust stems and are the least typical of the columnar subspecies. The rela-tionships of this population to other columnar populations warrant further study. The population near Las Tablas, San Luis Potosí, shows considerable variation in the stem and rib morphology. Some plants resemble the nominotypical subspecies whereas others are similar morphologically to subsp. tulense. The perianth diameter is intermediate between those of the two subspecies. The evidence suggests that this is an area of past or ongoing hybridization between the two taxa; the question of hybridization warrants further investigation. Attenuated and non-attenuated stems are the result of differential rates of vertical and lateral growth due to cellular activity in the apical and lateral meristems, respectively. The attenuated (tapered) stem is produced by a gradually increasing lateral growth rate which remains slower than the vertical rate. A non-attenuated stem is produced by the lateral growth rate exceeding the vertical rate early in development, then stabilizing at some point and not surpassing the vertical rate.

Data-Driven Multicriteria Decision Analysis of Bundles of Care for Patients with Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia

Objective. The study focused on the nursing strategies of patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) in nursing supervision, so as to improve the survival rate and prognosis of patients with VAP. Methods. 200 patients of the database in the ICU who required mechanical ventilation were selected as research subjects. They were divided into control group and intervention group according to different nursing measures. The incidence of VAP was compared between the two groups, and 15 experts were consulted on the prevention measures of VAP. On the basis of ARIMA-GARCH mathematical modeling, using the method of multicriteria decision analysis, the cluster nursing strategy for ventilator-associated pneumonia patients was developed and verified. Results. In the control group, of the 34 patients infected with VAP, Gram-positive bacteria were detected in 11 cases, including 6 cases of Streptococcus pneumoniae, 3 cases of Escherichia coli, and 2 cases of golden yellow Staphylococcus. Gram-negative bacteria were detected in 10 cases, including 5 (50%) cases of Acinetobacter baumannii, 2 cases of Klebsiella pneumoniae, 2 cases of Brucella Bacillus, and 1 case of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In the intervention group, 18 cases were diagnosed with VAP, including 4 (44.4%) cases of bacterial infection, 3 (44.4%) cases of virus infection, and 2 (22.2%) cases of fungal infection. According to the opinions of the 15 experts, a total of 6 bundled measures were adopted to prevent VAP, including 0.1% chlorhexidine for oral care; strict implementation of hand hygiene; the daily wake-up for spontaneous breath training and extubation assessment; continuous subglottic suction; raising the bed head by 30°–45°; and nasal feeding through the nasal tube without special condition. Conclusion. There are many factors that affect the occurrence of VAP in mechanically ventilated patients in the ICU, and the imperfect measures of bundles of care are the main one. The implementation rates of distinct intervention strategies are different. The implementation rate of 2 measures is lower than 95%, which are the continuous subglottic suction and daily wake-up for spontaneous breath training and extubation assessment.

Review on Pharmacognosy, phytochemistry and pharmacological activity of Taraxacum officinale (Dandelion plant)

Taraxacum officinale (dandelion), a member of the Asteraceae family, commonly found in the temperate zone of the Northern hemisphere, is the perennial herb, forming a rosette leaf, golden yellow flowers that bloom year round. Dandelion leaves, roots and flowers is used in many traditional and modern herbal medicinal systems. On phytochemical investigation, Dandelion herb contains one or more vital phytochemical constituents. Similarly Among the most important compounds in dandelion Contains sesquiterpene lactones which is a bitter element, principally contains taraxacin and taraxacerin, which is principally important in mechanism of liver functions related with hepatoprotective action. Besides that result of the phytochemical investigation revealed the presence of sterols, phenolic acids, flavonoids, that have been shown to be associated with numerous pharmacological effects such as Antioxidants, anti immflammatory, antidiabetics, antitumor activity. Along with that the Dandelion leaves are a high efficient source of vitamins and minerals, including beta carotene, non-provitamin A carotenoids, xanthophylls, chlorophyll, vitamins C and D, many of the B-complex vitamins, choline, iron, silicon, magnesium, sodium, potassium, zinc, manganese, copper, and phosphorous which is also useful as a several nutritive action. This review will point out areas for future research of phytochemicals containing Taraxacum officinale where they shows more effective against various ailments and shows recent effective pharmacological activity

Chromatic leucism in the flap shell turtle, Lissemys punctata from Bangladesh

The spotted flap shell turtle, Lissemys punctata (Bonnaterre, 1789) has a distribution in Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan. In Bangladesh, this species is widely distributed throughout the freshwater wetlands and the low-lying floodplains, coastal islands, and hill districts. This species is listed in CITES (Appendix II) and protected by Bangladesh Wildlife Conservation & Security Act 2012 (Schedule II), where commercial trade is strictly prohibited. Lissemys punctata has an oval and domed carapace with olive-green colour spotted by dark yellow blotches. The head is also olive green often with yellow blotches, whereas the plastron is whitish or pale yellow. The colour of this species may vary depending on its habitat and defence strategy. Colour aberration in animals may occur due to a lack of melanin. Golden yellow colour aberration (chromatic leucism) is rare in animals, especially in turtles. This might be because of the absence of melanin in the outer dermis. The presence of high xanthophores and yellow pteridine pigments in the skin are also responsible for the golden yellow colour aberration.

Effects of Roasting Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L. Lam.): Quality, Volatile Compound Composition and Sensory Evaluation

Roasting can increase the Maillard reaction and caramelization of sweet potatoes to create an attractive appearance, color, aroma, and taste, and is rapidly increasing in the commercial market. This study mainly analyzed the influence of roasting sweet potatoes, with and without the peel, on sweet potato quality and flavor characteristics combined with sensory qualities. The results showed that the a* value (1.65–8.10), browning degree (58.30–108.91), total acidity (0.14–0.21 g/100 g, DW), and maltose content (0.00–46.16 g/100 g, DW) of roasted sweet potatoes increased with roasting time. A total of 46 volatile compounds were detected and 2-furanmethanol, furfural, and maltol were identified as the main sources of the aroma of roasted sweet potatoes. A sensory evaluation based on a comprehensive nine-point acceptance test and descriptive analysis showed that roasting for 1 to 2 h resulted in the highest acceptance score (6.20–6.65), including a golden-yellow color, sweet taste, and fibrous texture. The sweet potatoes became brown after roasting for 2.5 to 3 h and gained a burnt and sour taste, which reduced the acceptance score (4.65–5.75). These results can provide a reference for increased quality in the food industry production of roasted sweet potatoes.

Multivariate analysis to characterize flaxseed production environments in Brazil

The environments for flaxseed production and its soil-plant-atmosphere relationship, it is essential for distinguish and adapt them to the soil and crop management to obtain high sustainable yields and food diversification. Our goal was to characterize the main edaphoclimatic conditions for flaxseed production in South-Central, Brazil. The experiments were carried out in two locations representative of the edaphoclimatic conditions of South-Central, Brazil: 1 - Dourados, MS, with an Aw climate and LATOSSOLO VERMELHO Distroférrico (Haplustox) and 2 - Curitibanos, SC, with a Cfb climate and CAMBISSOLO HÚMICO (Haplumbrept), both cultivated with four flaxseed varieties: Aguará and Caburé from Argentina, UFSC (reddish-brown color) and Golden (golden-yellow color) from Brazil, grown under no-tillage system and few resources. Data from weather (air temperature and rainfall), plant growth, soil chemical and physical-hydric attributes, and post-harvest quality of flaxseed were monitored. The data were submitted to Pearson’s correlation matrix (P < 0.05) and multivariate principal component analysis (PCA). PCA segregated edaphoclimatic environments and varieties into four distinct groups. Each edaphoclimatic condition there was specific attributes discriminated by PCA ( > 78%). The lowest plant height ( < 0.85m), shorter cycle length (120-142 days) and high yield (≈1.13 Mg ha-1), especially golden-yellow flaxseed, were found in Dourados. The soil organic carbon and rainfall acted directly in Curitibanos, while charge balance and air temperature responded in Dourados influence flaxseed production. Soil physical and grain attributes were similar between the environments investigated. Both agricultural environments showed feasibility for flaxseed sustainable production in Brazil, it is important to emphasize that these results are pioneers, especially the edaphoclimatic conditions from Dourados.