Agrobiodiversity for Improving Nutrition, Health and Life Quality

In silico Identification of Sequential Similarities of Selected Lipid Transfer Proteins

Lucia Hovaňáková — 2024-05-31

Nonspecific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTP) are common allergen discovered and described 40 years ago. They are present in many plant species and protect plants from stressors such as heat and drought. Studies on the peach nsLTP, Pru p 3, show that nsLTP are very cross-reactive trough presented IgE epitopes shared by nsLTP from other botanically related fruits. These allergens are to varying degrees resistant to heat and digestion, and sensitization may occur through the oral, cutaneous, or inhaled routes. In the last years several web tools for prediction of allergenicity of new molecules based on their homology with known allergens have been created and have been established guidelines to assess potential allergenicity of proteins trough bioinformatics. Here, Allerbase and NCBI Protein BLAST were applied to characterize the protein sequences of nsLTPs of plant species – Malus domestica, Prunus persica, Daucus carota, Vitis vinifera and Solanum lycopersicum. Obtained primary data were evaluated by algorithm NCBI BLAST (Basic local Alignment Search Tools). This tool allows to search similar protein sequences, in this case was used Protein BLAST for comparing protein sequences. Most of the analysed sequences displayed a high probability to be allergenic according to the hight sequencing identity and sharing IgE epitopes to each other. The highest sequencing identity in preselected plant species was presented between Pru p 3 (isoform Pru p 3.0102) and Mal d 3 (isoform Mal d 3.0101), 91,32% and they share the same epitope, NNA. The lowest sequencing homology was identified between Mal d 3.0203 and Dau c LTP, 43,10% and they did not share any epitope to each other.

Assessing Crude Protein Levels and Microelement Concentrations of Flour Grain Yield of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench Cultivars

Maha Khalfalla — 2024-05-31

Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench is scientifically known as a highly adaptable cereal crop with a high nutritional value, including significant amounts of crude protein and trace components. Crude protein encompasses various amino acids essential for growth, development, and maintaining quality. Trace elements play a crucial role in metabolism and activating enzymes. By examining the levels of crude protein and trace elements in various Hungarian sorghum cultivars, the research aims to show how nitrogen's impact varies across different cultivars. The assessment research focused on six chosen cultivars: Zádor, Alföldi 1, ES Albanus, Albita, and Farmsugro180. These types displayed different hues, including red, red/brown, and white. The cultivar ES Föehn, developed by Lidea Seeds, served as the benchmark for European standards. The elements N, Fe, Zn, Cu, and Sr were selected for the intended investigation. The treatment consisted of a control group that did not get any nitrogen fertilizer and a treated group that received nitrogen fertilizer in the form of ammonium nitrate (Péti-só, 27% N). The treated group was managed with a 60 kg.ha^-1 dosage in the experimental field. The findings revealed variations in the concentrations of elements depending on the different kinds within each category. Most of the analyzed groups exhibited a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.05, as determined by the variance of non-parametric data for Fe, Cu, Zn, and Sr. For example, Zádor exhibited abundant microelement contents, such as N (15.3 mg.kg^-1), Fe (46.2 mg.kg^-1), Cu (3.5 mg.kg^-1), and Zn (23 mg.kg^-1). Strontium (Sr) mineral showed a strong correlation, with a correlation copper of r = 0.66. The variety of mineral and protein levels seen in the examined cultivars is highly recommended as a valuable source of nutritious plant-based dietary resources, especially for developing concentrated protein sources. According to the findings, brown and red grain pericarp varieties have been identified as lucrative raw materials for investments in the industrial sector, mostly because of their high crude protein qualities.

In vitro Antibacterial Efficacy of Various Natural Rapeseed Honey against Some Gram-positive and Gram-negative Bacterial Strains

Halina Tkachenko — 2024-05-31

With the ongoing threat of antibiotic resistance and the limitations of conventional antimicrobial therapies, honey represents a valuable natural alternative with the potential to complement existing treatment strategies and reduce the spread of resistant bacterial strains. Known to be rich in bioactive compounds, rapeseed honey is a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics amid growing concerns about antibiotic resistance. In the current study, in vitro antimicrobial profiling was performed on different natural rapeseed honeys produced by Polish manufacturers, which showed inhibitory activity against Gram-positive strains such as Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus Rosenbach ATCC^®25923™, Enterococcus faecalis (Andrewes and Horder) Schleifer and Kilpper-Balz ATCC^®29212™, vancomycin-susceptible Enterococcus faecalis (Andrewes and Horder) Schleifer and Kilpper-Balz ATCC^®51299™, and Gram-negative strains such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Schroeter) Migula ATCC^®27853™, Escherichia coli (Migula) Castellani and Chalmers ATCC^®25922™ and Escherichia coli (Migula) Castellani and Chalmers ATCC^®35218™. The antibacterial activity of rapeseed honeys was tested in vitro using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion technique. The results of our study showed that S. aureus subsp. aureus Rosenbach ATCC^®25923™, P. aeruginosa (Schroeter) Migula ATCC^®27853™ and E. faecalis (Andrewes and Horder) Schleifer and Kilpper-Balz ATCC^®51299™ strains were resistant to the different natural rapeseed honeys produced by Polish manufacturers. On the other hand, the E. faecalis (Andrewes and Horder) Schleifer and Kilpper-Balz ATCC^®29212™ strain was susceptible to some of the rapeseed honey samples tested. Similar trends were observed in the increase in the diameter of the inhibition zone after in vitro application of different natural rapeseed honeys against E. coli (Migula) Castellani and Chalmers ATCC^®35218™ strain, where we also observed a statistically significant increase in the zone of growth inhibition. Thus, the research highlights the potential of rapeseed honey as a valuable natural antimicrobial agent with broad-spectrum activity, offering a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics in the face of increasing antibiotic resistance.

Content of Iridoids in the Fruits of Cornus mas L. Cultivars

Volodymyr Levon — 2024-05-31

The genetic fund of the cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) cultivars at the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden (NBG), National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine includes more than 100 genotypes collected from wild and cultivated plants in Ukraine, and cultivars of Bulgarian, Slovak, English, Austrian and Georgian selection. The genetic fund of the cornelian cherry of the NBG presents a rich variety of biological and economic properties. The fruits of C. mas are valued in the food industry and medicine mainly due to their high content of bioactive compounds such as vitamin C, carotenoids, and anthocyanins. C. mas fruits also have antioxidant activity. We have given the pomological characteristics of 21 studied cultivars of C. mas, and also determined the content of iridoids. Cultivars of C. mas with early, middle, and late fruit ripening periods were studied. To determine the content of iridoids, a spectrophotometric method was used, which consists of the interaction of an iridoid compound with hydroxylamine to form an oxime. The resulting oxime is capable of forming a coordination compound with ferric iron cations. As a result of the study, it was found that the content of iridoids in the fruits of C. mas has a significant difference in cultivars. Among the early ripening cultivars of C. mas, the most promising as a source of iridoids are Pervenets and Samofertylnyi, among the cultivars of C. mas with an average fruit ripening period is Yevgenia, and among the cultivars of C. mas with a late ripening period of fruits, the most promising cultivars are Sokoline and Yuvileinyi Klymenko. These most promising cultivars should be noted for use in the food and medical sectors of the national economy.

Antibacterial Activity of Extracts Derived from Leaves of Ficus lyrata Warb. and its Cultivar Bambino against Some Fish Bacterial Strains

Halina Tkachenko — 2024-05-31

The bioactive compounds present in various plant extracts offer a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to the control of bacterial infections in farmed fish, thus contributing to the promotion of animal health, food safety and environmental sustainability in aquaculture. In the present study, we evaluated the antimicrobial activity of the ethanolic extracts of the leaves of Ficus lyrata Warb. and its F. lyrata cv. Bambino against Aeromonas sobria, Aeromonas hydrophila and Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida, Serratia liquefaciens, Yersinia ruckeri, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Shewanella putrefaciens, to evaluate their possible use of these plants in the prevention of infections caused by these fish pathogens in aquaculture. The isolates used in our studies were Aeromonas sobria (K825), Aeromonas hydrophila (K886) and Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida (St30), Serratia liquefaciens (Pt521), Yersinia ruckeri (UP 2), Pseudomonas fluorescens (Pt 433), Shewanella putrefaciens (St15). These strains, derived from freshwater fish species such as common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum), were isolated at the Department of Fish Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute in Puławy (Poland). The antimicrobial susceptibility of the tested strains was determined by the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method (1966), according to the recommendations of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (2006, 2014), with our slight modifications. The results of our study showed that a group of Aeromonas strains showed resistance to F. lyrata and F. lyrata cv. Bambino extracts compared to oxytetracycline and enrofloxacin activity. Serratia liquefaciens, Yersinia ruckeri and Pseudomonas fluorescens strains were also resistant to the ethanolic extracts from the leaves of F. lyrata and its cv. Bambino. On the other hand, the Shewanella putrefaciens strain was sensitive to the ethanolic extracts of the leaves of F. lyrata and its cv. Bambino. The percentage increase in zone inhibition diameter for the F. lyrata cv. Bambino leaf extract was 43.3% (p <0.05) compared to oxytetracycline activity. This finding suggests the presence of bioactive compounds in F. lyrata leaves with antimicrobial properties against selected bacterial strains. It highlights the potential of this botanical resource to combat bacterial infections in aquaculture. In conclusion, the antibacterial activity demonstrated by F. lyrata and F. lyrata cv. Bambino leaf extracts against fish bacterial strains highlights their potential as valuable resources for disease prevention and treatment in aquaculture. Continued research efforts to elucidate their mechanisms of action, optimise their formulation, and validate their efficacy in vivo will further enhance their utility and facilitate their integration into sustainable aquaculture production systems.

Accumulation of Total Content of Polyphenol Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Echinacea Moench Species

Olena Vergun — 2024-05-31

Echinacea Moench species (Asteraceae Bercht. & J. Presl) are one of the most known medicinal and ornamental plants with numerous pharmacological activities. The objects of this study were plant raw materials of Echinacea angustifolia DC. (Kherson Oblast, Ukraine) and E. purpurea (L.) Moench (Kherson and Poltava Oblast, Ukraine) was collected at the start of the vegetation, budding, flowering, and seed ripening period in 2021–2022. It was determined The total polyphenol content (TPC) by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, the total flavonoid content (TFC) by the aluminum chloride method, and the total phenolic acid content (TPAC) with Arnova reagent. The antioxidant activity of investigated plant extracts was conducted by the phosphomolybdenum method (molybdenum-reducing power, MRP) and DPPH method (free radical scavenging activity with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical). The TPC was determined in the amount of 21.15–78.34 mg GAE.g^-1, TFC in the amount of 8.23–47.98 mg QE.g^-1, and TPAC in the amount of 7.34–29.21 mg CAE.g^-1 depending on species, stage, and region of growth. The MRP of investigated extracts was in the range of 54.32–161.34 mg TE.g^-1 and FRSA in the range of 6.12–9.69 mg TE.g^-1 depending on species, stage, and region of growth. The lowest content of TPC, TFC, and TPAC was determined in the extracts of E. angustifolia in all investigated periods. The highest content of the TPC, TFC, and TPAC was detected in the extracts of E. purpurea from the Kherson region of Ukraine. A positive strong correlation was found between investigated parameters in spring growth, budding, and flowering (r = 0.675–0.998). The negative weak correlation was found in the seed ripening period between TFC and MRP (r = -0.079). The obtained results showed that the accumulation of the total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity of ethanol extracts of Echinacea plants depended on species, period, and region of growth. It can be useful for further pharmacological and biochemical investigations.

In vitro Clonal Propagation Studies of Paulownia spp. Plants Through Nodal Explants

Svetlana Smerea — 2024-05-31

The research carried out a comparative study of the micropropagation capacity of Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud plants and 2 hybrid clones (Paulownia elongata x Paulownia fortunei) in vitro 112 and Cotevisa 2, depending on the culture media. Specificity depending on the genotyp and culture medium, regarding the number of initiation shoots per explant, was attested. The variation limits of the average values of the proliferation coefficient for the 3 genotypes fluctuate depending on the culture medium, being 0.75 ÷ 8.00 for Cotevisa 2; 0.67 ÷ 5.00 for the In vitro 112 clone and 1.00 ÷ 6.00 in the case of the P. tomentosa. The proliferation coefficient in the MS 7 variant increased by 3.16 times, 1.94 and 1.45 times compared to the MS 1, MS 2, and MS 5 media in the Cotevisa 2, and for P. tomentosa and the in vitro clone 112 1.76–1.68 and 2.48–2.12 times, respectively. Application of the ANOVA test revealed a significant influence of culture medium on the proliferation coefficient with a confidential level of 99.9%. In our experiments, the genotype and the interaction of both factors genotype-culture medium did not present a source of variation at p ≤0.05. Minishoots cut and transferred to rhizogenesis on basal MS medium supplemented with 0.2 mg.L^-1 NAA and 0.4 mg.L^-1 IBA started to form roots after 7 days. The established conditions that ensure 100% rate rooting and ex vitro acclimatization conditions for survival on soil substrate offer increased possibilities for mass multiplication of paulownia.

Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defence in Muscle Tissue of Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus Mitchill after in vitro Treatment with Extracts from the Roots and Stems of Chelidonium majus L.

Halina Tkachenko — 2024-05-31

Greater celandine (Chelidonium majus L., GC) exhibits a range of biological activities that support its traditional use in folk medicine and highlight its potential therapeutic applications in modern healthcare. This study was designed to investigate the effects of GC root and stem extracts on lipid peroxidation, oxidative protein modification, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, SOD, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, GPx) in Atlantic sturgeon muscle tissue after in vitro treatment. The plant material (stems and roots) was collected from natural habitats on the territory of the South Park in Słupsk, Pomeranian Province (northern part of Poland). The supernatant obtained from Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus Mitchill) muscle tissue was used for incubation with GC root and stem extracts in vitro (at a final concentration of 5 mg/mL) at room temperature. The untreated control samples (muscle tissue) were incubated with 100 mM Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.2) in the same way as the GC-treated samples. The incubation time was 2 hours. Biomarkers of lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation, TAC, and antioxidant enzyme activities were analysed in the incubated homogenates (control untreated samples and samples treated with GC root and stem extracts). We observed an increase in the levels of aldehyde and ketone derivatives of oxidatively modified proteins with a simultaneous increase in TAC levels after in vitro incubation of sturgeon muscle tissue with GC stem and root extracts. The intensity of lipid peroxidation was not altered. SOD and catalase activities were statistically significantly decreased, while GPx activity was not altered, suggesting the maintenance of antioxidant activity of sturgeon muscle tissue by this antioxidant enzyme. The results of this study highlight the pro-oxidative potential of GC extracts at the doses studied as potent natural oxidants to enhance antioxidant defences, but these processes are accompanied by the induction of oxidative protein modification in sturgeon muscle tissue. Future research should focus on elucidating the specific bioactive compounds responsible for the observed effects, optimising extraction methods to enhance the bioavailability of antioxidants, and evaluating the long-term effects of dietary supplementation with GC extracts on fish performance and product quality.

Distribution of Photosynthetic Pigments and Nitrate Nitrogen in the Leaves of Non-Traditional Fruit Crops as an Indicator of the Physiological State of Plants under the Conditions of Joint Cultivation

Tetyana Venediktova — 2024-05-31

The peculiarities of the accumulation of photosynthetic pigments and nitrate nitrogen in the leaves of Actinidia arguta (Sieboldet. Zucc.) Planch. ex Miq., Schisandra chinensis (Tucrz.) Bail., Malus domestica Borkh., Cornus mas L., Chaenomeles japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. ex Spach when grown in vegetation experiments with different ratios of the number of plants in containers, namely 50:50%, 33:67%, and 67:33%, were investigated. One-species plantings were used as a control. It was shown that the ratio between plants when grown together, affects the content of photosynthetic pigments and nitrate nitrogen in the leaves. Mixed plantings can reduce the concentration of photosynthetic pigments in the leaves of A. argutа. In mixed plantings, suppression of photosynthetic pigments in A. argutа leaves is observed, except for the variant with C. japonica. At the same time, a positive effect of actinidia was established for all other research cultures. When determining the compatibility of plants, the most indicative information is the ratio of the amount of chlorophylls to carotenoids. The opposite pattern was revealed between the content of photosynthetic pigments and nitrate nitrogen in the leaves of experimental crops. According to modern ideas, the biosynthesis of photosynthetic pigments should increase with a decrease in the concentration of nitrate nitrogen in the leaves, which was confirmed in our experiments. These results can be used in further allelopathic, physiological, and ecological investigations of different fruit plants.

Time-Dependent Effects of Caraway Essential Oil on the Total Antioxidant Capacity of Rapeseed, Olive, and Grapeseed Oils

Maryna Opryshko — 2024-05-31

The use of essential oils in food preservation supports innovation in food technology and the development of healthier and more sustainable foods for consumers. The incorporation of essential oils into edible oil formulations or food products can help to extend shelf life, improve sensory attributes, and maintain nutritional quality, thus contributing to the development of healthier and more sustainable food products. This study aimed to investigate the effects of commercial caraway essential oil (CEO) as an antioxidant on the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of rapeseed, olive, and grapeseed oils during 120 days of storage. Commercial CEO was provided by the Polish essential oil producer (Etja, Elbląg, Poland). The rapeseed, olive, and grapeseed oil samples (5 mL) were incubated with 0.1 mL CEO (final concentration 20 μg/mL) at 25 °C for 240 days. This reaction mixture was gently shaken at fixed intervals during incubation at 25 °C. Samples were collected for analysis after 0, 8, 15, 30, 60, and 120 days of storage. The rapeseed, olive, and grapeseed oil samples without additives were used as control samples. These oils showed different responses to the addition of CEO at different time intervals, highlighting the importance of considering temporal dynamics when assessing antioxidant effects. The addition of CEO to rapeseed oil increased the TAC in rapeseed oil at 30 and 120 days of storage, while the addition of CEO to olive oil increased the TAC at 30 and 60 days of storage. The addition of the CEO increased the TAC in grapeseed oil at 7, 30, and 120 days of storage. Our results suggest that the addition of CEO did not increase the antioxidant capacity of rapeseed and olive oils, especially during the early stages of storage. However, this effect changed over time, indicating a time-dependent increase in antioxidant potency. Interestingly, grapeseed oil showed a sustained increase in TAC after the incorporation of CEO after 30 days of storage, suggesting a potential synergistic relationship between the two components that warrants further investigation. Further research is warranted to optimise antioxidant formulations, elucidate underlying mechanisms, and assess safety considerations for wider use in food preservation and other food industry applications.

Comparison of Old and Local Varieties Phaseolus vulgaris L. in the Variability of Some Morphological Characters of Seeds

Vladimíra Horčinová Sedláčková — 2024-05-31

Many growers and family farmers in the countryside still conserved original and culinary important old and local crop varieties. These varieties are the basis of the food security of the rural population. Under the conditions of Slovakia, the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) has always been an important legume crop, evidenced by the hundreds of old and local varieties still grown nowadays. The research focused on determining the economic value of a selected collection of old and local varieties of common beans widespread in Slovakia for selected morphological characters of seeds for their classification, cataloguing, and long-term preservation. We determined morphometric parameters of seeds for all specimens the range for the length of seeds 12.08–17.66 mm (V% of 4.65–12.21), width of seeds 7.19–10.19 mm (V% of 3.88–8.62), thickness of seeds 5.22–7.85 mm (V% of 4.94–9.33), length of hilum 2.13–2.63 mm (V% of 5.51–19.00), width of hilum 0.89–1.55 mm (V% of 7.78–29.35), weight of 50 seeds 19.73–38.74 (V% of 21.71), length/width shape index 1.39–2.03 (V% 4.30–16.20), width/thickness shape index 1.15–1.80 (V% 4.36–13.46). The obtained results document the importance of preserving evaluated old and local varieties in gene banks and as on farm production for our cultural heritage and biological genetic diversity.

Morphological Structure of Infructescence, Fruits, and Seeds of Some Species of the Genus Liquidambar L. in Species Identification

Nina Smilyanets — 2024-05-31

To improve the human living space in an urbanized environment, there is a growing need to use new species and forms of ornamental trees and shrubs in urban landscaping. Plants of the genus Liquidambar L. are increasingly used in the landscapes of large cities and industrial centers. The genus Liquidambar includes 15 species, 3 of which are found in Ukraine: Liquidambar formosana Hance, L. orientalis Mill., L. styraciflua L. In the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine National Botanic Garden (NBG), studies of the distribution of these species were carried out, but the most urgent task of these studies is to determine the species belonging to plants, which is extremely important for botanical institutions that have a significant assortment of trees and shrubs that are the most ecologically stable and tested. The morphological structure of fruits and seeds is one of the most important in determining the species. Morphological studies of infructescences, fruits, and seeds of the plants of Liquidambar species were conducted at the NBG, and its species affiliation was determined. The following characteristics were studied: the shape and structure of the infructescence, peduncle, fruit, seed, and wing; features of the location of the fruits; form of extrafloral structures; shape and size of cells of the seed coat. By comparing the obtained data with the morphological descriptions of L. orientalis and L. styraciflua, it was possible to determine the species belonging to the plants of the Liquidambar genus growing in the NBG. Based on these features, it was determined that an unidentified species, collected in NBG, belong to the species L. styraciflua. Identifying the species of the genus Liquidambar for the botanical institution provides an opportunity to conduct research and recommend L. styraciflua for wider use in Ukraine.