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More healthy and sustainable food are nowadays desirable to improve human health and protect the planet’s resources. From this perspective, the aim of this study is to investigate artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) by-products as a potential source of phenolic compounds and to use these compounds to design new fresh egg pasta formulation. Sustainable extraction was carried out using ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and chemometric techniques, such as the Response Surface Methodology (RSM). UAE process parameters (temperature and time) and solvent composition (ethanol aqueous mixtures) were optimized using a three-level Box–Behnken design, in order to carry out the maximum yield in phenols. Under the optimal conditions (temperature: 60 °C; time: 60 min; solvent: 50% ethanol:water), the amount of phenolics (TPC) was 22.4 ± 0.2 mg GAE g−1 d.w., characterized mainly by dicaffeoylquinic acid (32.8 ± 0.6 mg CAE g−1 d.w.) and chlorogenic acid (14.1 ± 0.2 mg CAE g−1 d.w.). Hence, the polyphenols extract was used as an ingredient to design a new formulation of functional fresh egg pasta. Four recipes with soft wheat and semolina (P1 and P2) and with soft wheat alone (P3 and P4) were prepared. Compared with control pastas (P1 and P3), the enriched ones (P2 and P4) showed a higher polyphenol content, especially for P4 (1.86 ± 0.03 mg GAE g−1 d.w. for P1, 2.05 ± 0.02 mg GAE g−1 d.w. for P2, 1.92 ± 0.03 mg GAE g−1 d.w. for P3, 2.04 ± 0.02 mg GAE g−1 d.w. for P4). A high decrease in TPC was observed as a result of the cooking process, especially for the two control formulations (−71% for P1 and −70% for P3) in comparison with P2 (−64%) and P4 (−55%). At last, to assess the antimicrobial effect of artichoke by-products on fresh pasta and to monitor its spoilage, we used image analysis. Corresponding to a higher TPC content, P2 and P4 showed an extended shelf life of 16% and 33%, respectively, probably due to the antioxidant activity of artichoke. The new fresh egg pasta enriched with polyphenols extracted from artichoke by-products showed very good nutritional and technological characteristics, even after cooking, confirming the good potentiality of artichoke by-products in the design of new, healthy, and sustainable food products.

The leaves of Aster yomena (Kitam.) Honda have long been used as a traditional herb for treating disorders including coughs, asthma, and insect bites. According to recent studies, A. yomena leaf extracts have several pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-asthmatic activities. However, little information is available regarding their anti-obesity effect. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of the ethanol extracts of A. yomena leaves (EEAY) on adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis using 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. When 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were treated with various concentrations of EEAY (ranging from non-toxic), the number of lipid droplets, lipid content, and triglyceride production, the typical characteristics of adipocytes, were suppressed in a concentration-dependent manner. During this process, EEAY significantly reduced the expression of adipogenic transcription factors, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α and β, and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c. In addition, EEAY was also found to potently inhibit the expression of adipocyte-specific genes, including adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein and leptin. In particular, EEAY treatment effectively enhanced the activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway; however, the co-treatment with compound C, an inhibitor of AMPK, significantly restored the EEAY-induced inhibition of pro-adipogenic transcription factors and adipocyte-specific genes. These results indicate that EEAY may exert an anti-obesity effect by controlling the AMPK signaling pathway, suggesting that the leaf extract of A. yomena may be a potential anti-obesity agent.

Pour obtenir un aperçu spécifique des rôles que les micro-organismes pourraient jouer dans la stéatose hépatique non alcoolique (NAFLD), certaines bactéries intestinales et lactiques et une levure (Anaerostipes caccae, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Bifidobacterium longum, Enterococcus fecalis, Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus plantarum, Weissella confusa, Saccharomyces cerevisiae) ont été caractérisées par une chromatographie liquide haute performance pour la production d'éthanol lorsqu'elles sont cultivées sur différents glucides : hexoses (glucose et fructose), pentoses (arabinose et ribose), disaccharides (lactose et lactulose) et inuline. Les quantités les plus élevées d'éthanol ont été produites par S. cerevisiae, L. fermentum et W. confusa sur le glucose et par S. cerevisiae et W. confusa sur le fructose. En raison de la mannitol-déshydrogénase exprimée dans L. fermentum, la production d'éthanol sur le fructose a été significativement réduite (P < 0,05). Le pyruvate et le citrate, deux accepteurs d'électrons potentiels pour la régénération du NAD+/NADP+, ont considérablement réduit la production d'éthanol avec de l'acétate produit à la place dans L. fermentum cultivé sur glucose et W. confusa cultivé sur glucose et fructose, respectivement. Dans les boues fécales préparées à partir des matières fécales de quatre volontaires en surpoids, on a constaté que l'éthanol était produit lors de l'ajout de fructose. L'ajout d'A. caccae, L. acidophilus, L. fermentum, ainsi que de citrate et de pyruvate, respectivement, a aboli la production d'éthanol. Cependant, l'ajout de W. confusa a entraîné une augmentation significative (P < 0,05) de la production d'éthanol. Ces résultats indiquent que des micro-organismes comme W. confusa, une bactérie lactique hétéro-fermentaire, négative à la mannitol-déshydrogénase, peuvent favoriser la NAFLD par l'éthanol produit à partir de la fermentation du sucre, tandis que d'autres bactéries intestinales et des bactéries lactiques homo- et hétéro-fermentaires mais positives à la mannitol-déshydrogénase peuvent ne pas favoriser la NAFLD. En outre, nos études indiquent que les facteurs alimentaires interférant avec le microbiote gastro-intestinal et le métabolisme microbien peuvent être importants dans la prévention ou la promotion de la NAFLD. Para obtener información específica sobre los roles que podrían desempeñar los microorganismos en la enfermedad del hígado graso no alcohólico (NAFLD, por sus siglas en inglés), algunas bacterias intestinales y del ácido láctico y una levadura (Anaerostipes caccae, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Bifidobacterium longum, Enterococcus fecalis, Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus plantarum, Weissella confusa, Saccharomyces cerevisiae) se caracterizaron por cromatografía líquida de alto rendimiento para la producción de etanol cuando se cultivaron en diferentes carbohidratos: hexosas (glucosa y fructosa), pentosas (arabinosa y ribosa), disacáridos (lactosa y lactulosa) e inulina. Las cantidades más altas de etanol fueron producidas por S. cerevisiae, L. fermentum y W. confusa en glucosa y por S. cerevisiae y W. confusa en fructosa. Debido a la manitol-deshidrogenasa expresada en L. fermentum, la producción de etanol en fructosa se redujo significativamente (P < 0.05). El piruvato y el citrato, dos aceptores de electrones potenciales para la regeneración de NAD+/NADP+, redujeron drásticamente la producción de etanol con acetato producido en su lugar en L. fermentum cultivado en glucosa y W. confusa cultivado en glucosa y fructosa, respectivamente. En suspensiones fecales preparadas a partir de heces de cuatro voluntarios con sobrepeso, se encontró que el etanol se producía tras la adición de fructosa. La adición de A. caccae, L. acidophilus, L. fermentum, así como citrato y piruvato, respectivamente, abolió la producción de etanol. Sin embargo, la adición de W. confusa resultó en un aumento significativo (P < 0.05) de la producción de etanol. Estos resultados indican que microorganismos como W. confusa, una bacteria de ácido láctico hetero-fermentativa, negativa para manitol-deshidrogenasa, pueden promover NAFLD a través del etanol producido a partir de la fermentación de azúcar, mientras que otras bacterias intestinales y bacterias de ácido láctico homo- y hetero-fermentativas pero positivas para manitol-deshidrogenasa pueden no promover NAFLD. Además, nuestros estudios indican que los factores dietéticos que interfieren con la microbiota gastrointestinal y el metabolismo microbiano pueden ser importantes para prevenir o promover la EHGNA. To gain some specific insight into the roles microorganisms might play in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), some intestinal and lactic acid bacteria and one yeast (Anaerostipes caccae, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Bifidobacterium longum, Enterococcus fecalis, Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus plantarum, Weissella confusa, Saccharomyces cerevisiae) were characterized by high performance liquid chromatography for production of ethanol when grown on different carbohydrates: hexoses (glucose and fructose), pentoses (arabinose and ribose), disaccharides (lactose and lactulose), and inulin. Highest amounts of ethanol were produced by S. cerevisiae, L. fermentum and W. confusa on glucose and by S. cerevisiae and W. confusa on fructose. Due to mannitol-dehydrogenase expressed in L. fermentum, ethanol production on fructose was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced. Pyruvate and citrate, two potential electron acceptors for regeneration of NAD+/NADP+, drastically reduced ethanol production with acetate produced instead in L. fermentum grown on glucose and W. confusa grown on glucose and fructose, respectively. In fecal slurries prepared from feces of four overweight volunteers, ethanol was found to be produced upon addition of fructose. Addition of A. caccae, L. acidophilus, L. fermentum, as well as citrate and pyruvate, respectively, abolished ethanol production. However, addition of W. confusa resulted in significantly (P < 0.05) increased production of ethanol. These results indicate that microorganisms like W. confusa, a hetero-fermentative, mannitol-dehydrogenase negative lactic acid bacterium, may promote NAFLD through ethanol produced from sugar fermentation, while other intestinal bacteria and homo- and hetero-fermentative but mannitol-dehydrogenase positive lactic acid bacteria may not promote NAFLD. Also, our studies indicate that dietary factors interfering with gastrointestinal microbiota and microbial metabolism may be important in preventing or promoting NAFLD. لاكتساب بعض الأفكار المحددة حول الأدوار التي قد تلعبها الكائنات الحية الدقيقة في مرض الكبد الدهني غير الكحولي (NAFLD)، تميزت بعض بكتيريا حمض الأمعاء واللاكتيك وخميرة واحدة (Anaerostipes caccae، Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron، Bifidobacterium longum، Enterococcus fecalis، Escherichia coli، Lactobacillus acidophilus، Lactobacillus fermentum، Lactobacillus plantarum، Weissella confusa، Saccharomyces cerevisiae) بتصوير سائل عالي الأداء لإنتاج الإيثانول عند زراعته على كربوهيدرات مختلفة: hexoses (الجلوكوز والفركتوز)، pentoses (الأرابينوز والريبوز)، disaccharides (اللاكتوز واللاكتولوز)، و inulin. تم إنتاج أعلى كميات من الإيثانول بواسطة S. cerevisiae و L. fermentum و W. confusa على الجلوكوز و S. cerevisiae و W. confusa على الفركتوز. بسبب نازعة هيدروجين المانيتول المعبر عنها في L. fermentum، انخفض إنتاج الإيثانول على الفركتوز بشكل كبير (P < 0.05). قلل البيروفات والسيترات، وهما مستقبلان محتملان للإلكترون لتجديد NAD +/NADP+، بشكل كبير من إنتاج الإيثانول مع الأسيتات المنتجة بدلاً من ذلك في L. fermentum المزروع على الجلوكوز و W. confusa المزروع على الجلوكوز والفركتوز، على التوالي. في الملاط البرازي الذي تم تحضيره من براز أربعة متطوعين يعانون من زيادة الوزن، وجد أن الإيثانول يتم إنتاجه عند إضافة الفركتوز. إضافة A. caccae، L. acidophilus، L. fermentum، وكذلك السترات والبيروفات، على التوالي، ألغت إنتاج الإيثانول. ومع ذلك، أدت إضافة W. confusa إلى زيادة كبيرة في إنتاج الإيثانول (P < 0.05). تشير هذه النتائج إلى أن الكائنات الحية الدقيقة مثل W. confusa، وهي بكتيريا حمض اللاكتيك السلبية غير المتجانسة، قد تعزز NAFLD من خلال الإيثانول المنتج من تخمير السكر، في حين أن البكتيريا المعوية الأخرى وبكتيريا حمض اللاكتيك الإيجابية غير المتجانسة ولكن غير المتجانسة قد لا تعزز NAFLD. أيضًا، تشير دراساتنا إلى أن العوامل الغذائية التي تتداخل مع الكائنات الحية الدقيقة في الجهاز الهضمي والتمثيل الغذائي الميكروبي قد تكون مهمة في منع أو تعزيز NAFLD.

AbstractObjective: The marked increase in the prevalence of obesity in the United States has recently been attributed to the increased fructose consumption. To determine if and how fructose might promote obesity in an animal model, we measured body composition, energy intake, energy expenditure, substrate oxidation, and several endocrine parameters related to energy homeostasis in mice consuming fructose.Research Methods and Procedures: We compared the effects of ad libitum access to fructose (15% solution in water), sucrose (10%, popular soft drink), and artificial sweetener (0% calories, popular diet soft drink) on adipogenesis and energy metabolism in mice.Results: Exposure to fructose water increased adiposity, whereas increased fat mass after consumption of soft drinks or diet soft drinks did not reach statistical significance (n = 9 each group). Total intake of energy was unaltered, because mice proportionally reduced their caloric intake from chow. There was a trend toward reduced energy expenditure and increased respiratory quotient, albeit not significant, in the fructose group. Furthermore, fructose produced a hepatic lipid accumulation with a characteristic pericentral pattern.Discussion: These data are compatible with the conclusion that a high intake of fructose selectively enhances adipogenesis, possibly through a shift of substrate use to lipogenesis.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are ubiquitous, obligatory plant symbionts that have a beneficial influence on plants in contaminated environments. This study focused on evaluating the biomass and biodiversity of the AMF and microbial communities associated with Poa trivialis and Phragmites australis plants sampled at an aged site contaminated with phenol and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and an uncontaminated control site. We analyzed the soil phospholipid fatty acid profile to describe the general structure of microbial communities. PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis with primers targeting the 18S ribosomal RNA gene was used to characterize the biodiversity of the AMF communities and identify dominant AMF species associated with the host plants in the polluted and control environments. The root mycorrhizal colonization and AMF biomass in the soil were negatively affected by the presence of PAHs and phenol, with no significant differences between the studied plant species, whereas the biodiversity of the AMF communities were influenced by the soil contamination and plant species. Soil contamination was more detrimental to the biodiversity of AMF communities associated with Ph. australis, compared to P. trivialis. Both species favored the development of different AMF species, which might be related to the specific features of their different root systems and soil microbial communities. The contaminated site was dominated by AMF generalists like Funneliformis and Rhizophagus, whereas in the control site Dominikia, Archaeospora, Claroideoglomus, Glomus, and Diversispora were also detected.

Sustainable nitrogen (N) management in agriculture is one of the most important issues affecting the environmental performance of modern agriculture. It is actually well perceived that coordinated efforts and holistic approaches are required to regulate N use by farmers. The purpose of this study was to provide an initial examination of stakeholders’ views in Japan regarding N use in agriculture and challenges to increase its sustainability. The analysis was based on a questionnaire study of five types of stakeholders (farmers, advisors, researchers, suppliers, policy makers). By means of multivariate analysis techniques it was revealed that consensus was lacking either in the acknowledgment of the causes and effects of unsustainable N management or in the challenges that need to be addressed. N losses from farms and the effects of N use were perceived but not conceived equally by all stakeholders. Organic farming and mandatory measures were the most controversial challenges, while those involving awareness, training and advisory were the most popular. This study cannot provide safe conclusions that can be generalized in the Japanese context, but it indicates domains where further research is required and orientations for future policy design towards more sustainable N use.

Abstract In the first side-by-side large-scale trials of these two C4 crops in the U.S. Corn Belt, Miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus) was 59% more productive than grain maize (Zea mays). Total productivity is the product of the total solar radiation incident per unit land area and the efficiencies of light interception (ϵ i) and its conversion into aboveground biomass (ϵ ca). Averaged over two growing seasons, ϵ ca did not differ, but ϵ i was 61% higher for Miscanthus, which developed a leaf canopy earlier and maintained it later. The diurnal course of photosynthesis was measured on sunlit and shaded leaves of each species on 26 dates. The daily integral of leaf-level photosynthetic CO2 uptake differed slightly when integrated across two growing seasons but was up to 60% higher in maize in mid-summer. The average leaf area of Miscanthus was double that of maize, with the result that calculated canopy photosynthesis was 44% higher in Miscanthus, corresponding closely to the biomass differences. To determine the basis of differences in mid-season leaf photosynthesis, light and CO2 responses were analyzed to determine in vivo biochemical limitations. Maize had a higher maximum velocity of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylation, velocity of phosphoenolpyruvate regeneration, light saturated rate of photosynthesis, and higher maximum quantum efficiency of CO2 assimilation. These biochemical differences, however, were more than offset by the larger leaf area and its longer duration in Miscanthus. The results indicate that the full potential of C4 photosynthetic productivity is not achieved by modern temperate maize cultivars.

The phenotypic and genotypic characterization of eight rhizobial isolates obtained from Arachis hypogaea nodules grown under stress environment was performed. Isolates were screened for their ability to tolerate different abiotic stresses (high temperature (60° C), salinity (1–5% (w/v) NaCl), and pH (1–12). The genomic analysis of 16S rRNA and housekeeping genes (atpD, recA, and glnII) demonstrated that native groundnut rhizobia from these stress soils are representatives of fast growers and phylogenetically related to Rhizobium sp. The phenotypic characterization (generation time, carbon source utilization) also revealed the isolates as fast-growing rhizobia. All the isolates can tolerate NaCl up to 3% and were able to grow between 20 and 37 °C with a pH between 5 to 10, indicating that the isolates were alkali and salt-tolerant. The tested isolates effectively utilize mono and disaccharides as carbon source. Out of eight, three rhizobial isolates (BN-20, BN-23, and BN-50) were able to nodulate their host plant, exhibiting their potential to be used as native groundnut rhizobial inoculum. The plant growth promoting characterization of all isolates revealed their effectiveness to solubilize inorganic phosphate (56–290 µg mL−1), synthesize indole acetic acid (IAA) (24–71 µg mL−1), and amplification of nitrogen fixing nifH gene, exploring their ability to be used as groundnut biofertilizer to enhance yield and N2-fixation for the resource poor farmers of rainfed Pothwar region.

Nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) regulates energy conversion in photosystem II and protects plants from photoinhibition. Here we analyze NPQ capacity in a number of rice cultivars. NPQ was strongly induced under medium and high light intensities in rice leaves. Japonica cultivars generally showed higher NPQ capacities than Indica cultivars when we measured a rice core collection. We mapped NPQ regulator and identified a locus ( qNPQ1-2 ) that seems to be responsible for the difference in NPQ capacity between Indica and Japonica. One of the two rice PsbS homologues ( OsPsbS1 ) was found within the qNPQ1-2 region. PsbS protein was not accumulated in the leaf blade of the mutant harboring transferred DNA insertion in OsPsbS1 . NPQ capacity increased as OsPsbS1 expression increased in a series of transgenic lines ectopically expressing OsPsbS1 in an Indica cultivar. Indica cultivars lack a 2.7-kb region at the point 0.4 kb upstream of the OsPsbS1 gene, suggesting evolutionary discrimination of this gene.