• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.165-175
• /
• 2017

In Japan, the primary carbonaceous particles emitted from motor vehicles and waste incinerators have been reduced due to strict regulations against exhaust gas. However, the relative contribution of carbonaceous particles derived from plants and biomass has been increasing. Accordingly, compositional analysis of carbonaceous particles has become increasingly important to determine the sources and types of particles produced. To reveal the sources of the organic particles contained in particulate matter with diameters of ${\leq}2.5{\mu}m$ ($PM_{2.5}$) and the processes involved in their generation, we analyzed molecular marker compounds (2-methyltetrols, cis-pinonic acid, and levoglucosan) derived from the plants and biomass in the $PM_{2.5}$ collected during daytime- and nighttime-sampling periods in summer (July and August) and autumn (November) in Kazo, which is in the northern area of Saitama prefecture, Japan. We also measured $^{14}C$ carbonaceous concentrations in the same $PM_{2.5}$ samples. The concentrations of 2-methyltetrols were higher in the summer than in the autumn. Because the deciduous period overlaps with this decrease in the levels of 2-methyltetrols, we considered the emission source to broad-leaved trees. In contrast, the emission source of the cis-pinonic acid precursor was considered to be conifers, because its concentration remained almost constant throughout the year. The concentration of levoglucosan was considerably increased in the autumn due to frequent biomass open burning. The ratio of plant-derived carbon to total carbon, obtained by measuring of $^{14}C$, in summer $PM_{2.5}$ sample was higher in the nighttime, and could be influenced by anthropogenic sources during the daytime.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.579-589
• /
• 2017

Glucosinolates (GSLs), beneficial secondary metabolites for human health are abundantly present in radish vegetable. Radish is a member of Brassicaceae family and its seed, leaf and root contain very important GSLs. The objective of this study was to determine the variation of individual and total GSL contents in leaves and roots of 44 radish (Raphanus spp.) germplasm (26 R. sativus L., 3 R. raphanistrum, and 15 R. sativus L. var. raphanistroides Makino), and compare the GSL contents between leaves and roots among three Raphanus species. Thirteen GSLs were identified, being the glucoraphasatin (GRS) and glucobrassicin (GBS) the most abundant aliphatic and indolyl GSLs in both the leaves and roots. Variation in individual and total GSL contents was found among the germplasm of three Raphanus species. The GRS content was higher in roots than that of leaves in all three Raphanus species but the GBS content was higher in leaves than roots. GRS was represented 87.0%, 92.7% and 94.7% of the total GSL in roots of R. sativus L., R. raphanistrum and R. sativus L. var. raphanistroides (Makino) germplasm, respectively. Germplasm of R. raphanistrum exhibited the highest (average, $79.5{\mu}mol/g\;dw$) total GSL with a ranged from 62.7 to $92.9{\mu}mol/g\;dw$. The germplasm IT119288, Joseonmu and IT119262 from R. sativus L., RA 504 and K046542 from R. raphanistrum, and Gyeongju-2003-32 (G2003-32) and IT302373 from R. sativus L. var. raphanistroides (Makino) had high total GSL contents and these could be good candidates for developing the functional compounds-rich varieties in radish breeding program.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.135-153
• /
• 2015

The aromatic amino acids, which are composed of $\small{L}$-phenylalanine, $\small{L}$-tyrosine and $\small{L}$-tryptophan, are general components of protein synthesis as well as precursors for a wide range of secondary metabolites. These aromatic amino acids-derived compounds play important roles as ingredients of diverse phenolics including pigments and cell walls, and hormones like auxin and salicylic acid in plants. Moreover, they also serve as the natural products of alkaloids and glucosinolates, which have a high potential to promote human health and nutrition. The biosynthetic pathways of aromatic amino acids share a chorismate, the common intermediate, which is originated from shikimate pathway. Then, tryptophan is synthesized via anthranilate and the other phenylalanine and tyrosine are synthesized via prephenate, as intermediates. This review reports recent studies about all the enzymatic steps involved in aromatic amino acid biosynthetic pathways and their gene regulation on transcriptional/post-transcriptional levels. Furthermore, results of metabolic engineering are introduced as efforts to improve the production of the aromatic amino acids-derived secondary metabolites in plants.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.26 no.10
• /
• pp.1196-1201
• /
• 2016

The ovary parts of Nelumbo nucifera were extracted in 80% methanol (MeOH), and the concentrated extract was then partitioned using n-hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), n-butanol (n-BuOH), and H₂O, successively. Using an octadecyl silica gel (ODS) column, silica gel (SiO₂) column chromatography, and a HPLC purification system, five compounds were isolated from the n-hexane fraction obtained from the extract of N. nucifera ovary. The chemical structures of the metabolites were determined using several spectroscopic methods, including NMR and GC/MS and MS of 1-eicosanol (1), cycloartenol (2), trans-squalene (3), pentadecanoic acid (4), and β-sitosterol (5). This study is a first attempt to isolate and identify secondary metabolites from the ovary of N. nucifera. The results indicated that the extract of N. nucifera ovary has biological effects, such as antibacterial and -tumor activity. Therefore, it could decrease the risk of HIV transmission through breastfeeding.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.431-439
• /
• 2009

Rice Oryza sativa accelerated cell death and resistance 1 (OsACDR1) encodes a putative Raf-like mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK). We had previously reported upregulation of the OsACDR1 transcript by a range of environmental stimuli involved in eliciting defense-related pathways. Here we apply biochemical, gain and loss-of-function approaches to characterize OsACDR1 function in rice. The OsACDR1 protein showed autophosphorylation and possessed kinase activity. Rice plants overexpressing OsACDR1 exhibited spontaneous hypersensitive response (HR)-like lesions on leaves, upregulation of defense-related marker genes and accumulation of phenolic compounds and secondary metabolites (phytoalexins). These transgenic plants also acquired enhanced resistance to a fungal pathogen (Magnaporthe grisea) and showed inhibition of appressorial penetration on the leaf surface. In contrast, loss-of-function and RNA silenced OsACDR1 rice mutant plants showed downregulation of defense-related marker genes expressions and susceptibility to M. grisea. Furthermore, transient expression of an OsACDR1:GFP fusion protein in rice protoplast and onion epidermal cells revealed its localization to the nucleus. These results indicate that OsACDR1 plays an important role in the positive regulation of disease resistance in rice.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.37 no.8
• /
• pp.985-991
• /
• 2008

This study was to investigated the changes of physiologically active components in germinated brown rice treated with chitosan (CGBR) and its anti-obesity effect in rat fed a high fat diet. Contents of physiologically active compounds such as total phenolic compounds, total dietary fiber, $\gamma$-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and total phytic acid in CGBR were significantly higher than those of traditional germinated brown rice (GBR). Lipase inhibitory activity of CGBR was higher than those of GBR and brown rice (BR). High fat diets containing CGBR, GBR, and BR were administered to three groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats for four weeks. All groups showed no significant difference in body weight, total abdominal fat, and plasma lipid levels. However, CGBR group appeared to have lower body weight gain and total abdominal fat level than other groups fed high fat diets containing GBR and BR. Total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol contents in plasma of CGBR group were also lower than those of other groups. Thus, new germination method of brown rice using chitosan is a useful process, which utilizes plant defense responses to elevate the production of secondary metabolites and anti-obesity effect.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.218-229
• /
• 2021

Recently, as consumers' interest and importance in health care have significantly increased, they prefer natural and organic foods that do not use chemical pesticides. Since sprout vegetables effectively promote health and prevent diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, the consumption of sprout vegetables, a highly functional and safe food, has been increased significantly. This study aimed to investigate the effect of light on the growth and bioactive compounds of seven different sprout vegetables. After sowing the seeds of various sprout vegetables (kale, Chinese kale, broccoli, red cabbage, alfalfa, red radish, and radish), the sprouts were cultivated under light conditions (20℃, RGB 6:1:3, 130 μmol·m^-2·s^-1, 12 hours photoperiod) and dark condition for 7 days. Sprouts samples were taken at 1-day intervals from 4 to 7 days after treatment. The fresh weight, dry weight, plant height, total phenol content, and antioxidant capacity were measured. Brassica species (kale, Chinese kale, broccoli, red cabbage) and Medicago species (alfalfa) had significantly higher fresh weight values under dark conditions, while the content of bioactive compounds was increased considerably under light conditions. In contrast, the fresh weight of Raphanus genus (red radish, radish) significantly increased under the light condition, but the antioxidant phenolic compounds were significantly higher under the dark state. A negative correlation was observed between the growth and secondary metabolites in various sprout vegetables. This study confirmed the effect of light and dark conditions on different sprout vegetables' growth and nutritional value and emphasizes the importance of harvest time in producing high-quality sprout vegetables.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.134-144
• /
• 2003

A rhizobacterium Pseudomonas cholororaphis O6 produced several secondary metabolites, such as phenazines, protease, and HCN that may be involved in inhibition of the growth of phytopathogenic fungi. In field study, P. chlororaphis O6 treatment on wheat seed suppressed root rot disease caused by Fusarium culmorum. The major organic acids of cucumber root exudates were fumaric acid, malic acid, benzoic acid, and succinic acid. Glucose and fructose were major monosaccharides in cucumber root exudates. The total amount of organic acids was ten times higher than that of the sugars. P. chlororaphis O6 grew well on cucumber root exudates. The dctA gene of P. chlororaphis O6 consisted of a 1,335 bp open reading frame with a deduced amino acid sequence of 444 residues, corresponding to a molecular size of about 47 kD and pI 8.2. The deduced dctA sequence has ten putative transmembrane domains, as expected of a membrane-embedded protein. Our results indicated that organic acids in cucumber root exudates may play an important role in providing nutrient source for root colonization of biological control bacteria, and the dctA gene of P. chlororaphis O6 may be an important bacterial trait that is involved in utilization of root exudates.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.33 no.9
• /
• pp.2971-2975
• /
• 2012

Second-order rate constants $k_N$ have been measured spectrophotometrically for nucleophilic substitution reactions of t-butyl 4-pyridyl carbonate 8 with a series of alicyclic secondary amines in $H_2O$ at $25.0{\pm}0.1^{\circ}C$. The Br${\emptyset}$nsted-type plot for the reactions of 8 is linear with ${\beta}_{nuc}$ = 0.84. The ${\beta}_{nuc}$ value obtained for the reactions of 8 is much larger than that reported for the corresponding reactions of t-butyl 2-pyridyl carbonate 6 (i.e., ${\beta}_{nuc}$ = 0.44), which was proposed to proceed through a forced concerted mechanism. Thus, the aminolysis of 8 has been concluded to proceed through a stepwise mechanism with a zwitterionic tetrahedral intermediate $T^{\pm}$, in which expulsion of the leaving-group from $T^{\pm}$ occurs at the rate-determining step (RDS). In contrast, aminolysis of benzyl 4-pyridyl carbonate 7 has been reported to proceed through two intermediates, $T^{\pm}$ and its deprotonated form $T^-$ on the basis of the fact that the plots of pseudo-first-order rate constant $k_{obsd}$ vs. amine concentration curve upward. The current study has demonstrated convincingly that the nature of the leaving and nonleaving groups governs the reaction mechanism. The contrasting reaction mechanisms have been rationalized in terms of an intramolecular H-bonding interaction, steric acceleration, and steric inhibition.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.33 no.5
• /
• pp.763-769
• /
• 2020

Objective: The experiment was conducted to study the effect of rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum) fruit peel powder (RP) on feed consumption, digestibility of nutrients, ruminal fermentation dynamics and microbial population in Thai breed cattle. Methods: Four, 2-year old (250±15 kg) beef bull crossbreds (75% Brahman×25% local breed) were allotted to experimental treatments using a 4×4 Latin square design. Four dietary supplementation treatments were imposed; non-supplementation (control, T1); supplementation of RP fed at 2% of dry matter intake (DMI) (low, T2); supplementation of RP fed at 4% of DMI (medium, T3) and supplementation of RP fed at 6% of DMI (high, T4). All cattle were given a concentrate supplement at 1% of body weight while Napier grass was provided as a free choice. Results: The findings revealed that RP supplementation did not negatively affect (p>0.05) DMI of Napier grass, while RP intake and total DMI were the greatest in the RP supplementation at 4% and 6% DMI. Nevertheless, the nutrients (dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber) digestibilities were not changed in the RP supplementation groups. Rumen fermentation parameters especially those of total volatile fatty acids, acetate and butyrate were not significantly changed. However, the propionate concentration was remarkably increased (p<0.05) in the RP supplementation. Notably, the ratio of acetate to propionate, the number of protozoa, as well as the methane estimation were significantly reduced in the RP supplemented groups (4% and 6% of DMI), while the counts of bacteria was not altered. Conclusion: Supplementation of RP (4% of DMI) improved rumen propionate production, reduced protozoal population and methane estimation (p<0.05) without a negative effect on feed consumption and nutrients total tract digestibilities in beef cattle. Using dietary rambutan fruit peel powder has potential promise as a rumen regulator.