Sheep’s milk cheeses as a source of bioactive compounds

Since ancient times, sheep`s milk cheeses have been a part of a human diet. Currently, their consumption is of great interest due to its nutritional and health values. The aim of the article was to review the chemical composition of sheep’s milk cheeses and its main bioactive ingredients in the context of nutritional and health values. Sheep’s milk cheeses are rich in functionally and physiologically active compounds such as: vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, terpenes, sialic acid, orotic acid and L-carnitine, which are largely originate from milk. Fermentation and maturation process additionally enrich them in other bioactive substances as: bioactive peptides, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) or biogenic amines. Studies show that sheep’s milk cheese consumption may be helpful in the prevention of civilization diseases, i.e. hypertension, obesity or cancer. However, due to the presence of biogenic amines, people with metabolic disorders should be careful of their intake.

Pharmacological Activity of Earthworms

Earthworms have a significant role in soil structure and organic matter dynamics. They make up a considerable amount of macrofauna biomass and are a prominent component of soil fauna communities in most habitats. Soil structure, water flow, nutrient dynamics, and plant development are all influenced by earthworms. Earthworms have long been recognized for their medicinal benefits. Because earthworm tissues are a rich source of proteins, peptides, enzymes, and physiologically active compounds, extracts produced from them have been utilized to treat a variety of illnesses. Several investigations have found that earthworm extracts include a range of macromolecules with anti-oxidative, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and other properties. Some of these efforts included the use of earthworm preparation in the wound healing process. Earthworms are utilized as a part of a nutritious diet in several nations. They have a great nutritional value because of the large percentage of different proteins in their bodies. In addition to human food, earthworms are used to feed animals (fish, chicken, etc.).

Chemical constituents and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of Piper abbreviatum Opiz

Plants of the genus Piper have long been used as medicinal herbs. The chemistry of Piper species has been widely investigated and phytochemical investigations conducted in all parts of the world have led to the isolation of a number of physiologically active compounds. Thus, this study was carried out to investigate the phytochemicals from Piper abbreviatum and their acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity, which has not been previously investigated. Fractionation and purification of the aerial parts of P. abbreviatum led to the isolation and identification of five methoxylated flavonoids, namely 5,7-dimethoxyflavone, 4ʹ,5,7-trimethoxyflavone, 3',4',5,7-tetramethoxyflavone, 5-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavone, 5-hydroxy-4ʹ,7-dimethoxyflavone, together with lupeol, lupenone, β-sitosterol, and β-sitostenone. The structures of these compounds were obtained by analysis of their spectroscopic data, as well as the comparison with that of reported data. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity revealed that all isolated flavones were found to inhibit AChE with percentage inhibition values ranged from 24.2 to 58.2%. This is the first report on the isolation of methoxylated flavonoid from P. abbreviatum. The high variants of flavonoid compounds from this species may be used as chemotaxonomic markers for this Piper species. KEY WORDS: Piperaceae, Piper, Piper abbreviatum, Flavonoid, Acetylcholinesterase Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2020, 34(3), 625-632. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v34i3.17

Biochemical characteristics of roots and quality of own-rooted planting material of grape varieties tolerant to phylloxera when using biologically active substances and hormones

The aim of the research is to conduct a comparative assessment of the biochemical status of roots and the influence of physiologically active compounds on the formation of the root system of phylloxera-tolerant grape varieties. It was established, that the hormonal status and the content of BAS in the root system of phylloxera-tolerant varieties of interspecific origin are different. It is assumed that the different survival rate of cuttings of V. vinifera L. varieties and varieties of interspecific origin are due to different hormonal status, in particular, the level of endogenous auxins and the degree of gene expression, including exogenous use of auxin drugs. On varieties of interspecific origin, with the non-root use of a solution of FAS based on cytokinin, auxin and trophic factor, in a ratio of 10:1:25, the formation of a powerful root system, an increase in the number of heel roots and the number of roots with a large diameter, an increase in the trophic potential of the elements of the root system compared with the pre-planting use of auxin preparation (NUC) is observed. this will contribute to the better development and early fruiting of root-related plants in the following years.

THE INFLUENCE OF HYDROGEN SULFIDE ON WHEATGRASS (Triticum æstivum L.) DE‐ETIOLATION

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is involved in many physiological processes and responses to the abiotic types of stress. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of sodium hydrogen sulfide (NaHS) and the time of application on the physiological properties of etiolated wheatgrass plants. Two genotypes of wheatgrass were grown under controlled conditions for five days without light and then with a 12-hour photoperiod, watered for three consecutive days with 100, 200, and 500 mM NaHS solutions. The plants were watered in three variants, 7-9, 10-12, and 13-15 days after sowing, respectively. The highest content of phenols, flavonoids, and hydrogen peroxide was found in wheatgrass plants watered with 100 mM of NaHS solution. The highest proline content and lipid peroxidation levels were found in the plants at 500 mM of NaHS solution. Also, the significant influence of the watering period on the examined physiological parameters was determined. The results show that H2S significantly affects the de-etiolation process and concentration of physiologically active compounds in wheatgrass plants.

Essential Oil Headspace Volatiles Prevent Invasive Box Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis) Oviposition—Insights from Electrophysiology and Behaviour

The box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis Walker) is an invasive species in Europe causing severe damage both in natural and ornamental boxwood (Buxus spp.) vegetation. Pest management tactics are often based on the use of chemical insecticides, whereas environmentally-friendly control solutions are not available against this insect. The application of essential oils may provide effective protection against oviposition and subsequent larval damage. Oviposition deterrence of cinnamon, eucalyptus and lavender essential oils was tested on female C. perspectalis in behavioural bioassays. Our results indicate that all the studied essential oils may be adequate deterrents; however, cinnamon oil exhibited the strongest effect. To determine the physiologically active compounds in the headspace of the essential oils, gas chromatography coupled with electroantennography recordings were performed in parallel with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify the volatile constituents. In addition, the release rates of various components from vial-wick dispensers were measured during the oviposition bioassay. These results may serve as a basis for the development of a practical and insecticide-free plant protection method against this invasive moth species.

GAS TRANSMITTER CYCLES IN THE MAMMAL ORGANISM

The proposed concept of the cyclic organization of gas transmitters allows us to answer the question: how do living organisms provide regulation and stabilization of these physiologically active compounds involved in intracellular and intercellular signaling.

THE FEATURES OF THE ACCUMULATION OF FLAVONOIDS IN BIOTECHNOLOGICAL RAW MATERIAL OF IRIS SIBIRICA L. THE DEVELOPMENT OF METHODS OF QUANTIFICATION

Identification of scientific regularities of accumulation of physiologically active compounds is relevant to the issues of plant biology, as it can create conditions for the rapid development of biotechnological approaches and the solution of a number of environmental and economic problems associated with the use of plant raw materials. The aim of this work was to identify the features of the accumulation of flavonoids and the development of methods of differential spectrophotometry allows to assess the quality of biotechnological raw materials Iris sibirica L. (Siberian iris) on the content of flavonoids. The most important regulators of the synthesis of secondary compounds in plant tissue cultures include such components of nutrient media as hormones. As a result of our experiments it was noted for I. sibirica characteristic relationship between the accumulation of biomass and the content of quercetin and rutin. On the medium with 5.0 µm BAP, supplemented by auxins with an increase in the total height of the shoots, the quercetin content and rutin in the phytomass decreased dramaticly. To maintain a balance between biomass accumulation and flavonoid content for I. sibirica, we recommend using media with 2.5 µm BAP supplemented with auxins. The developed method allows to determine the content of the total of flavonoids in Iris sibirica raw materials in the presence of other compounds, is simple in execution and does not require expensive equipment. A validation evaluation of the technique indicates its suitability for quality control of biotechnological raw materials Iris sibirica.