Biochemical indicators of woody plants in the diagnosis of air condition

It is found that anthropogenic pollution has a significant effect on the change in the content of total nitrogen, glutathione and vitamin E, which increases the resistance of woody plants to stress. A series of woody plants with regard to their sensitivity to aerosol pollution has been compiled: according to the degree of decrease in total nitrogen – Picea abies > Thuja occidentalis > Syringa vulgaris > Acer platanoides > Tilia cordata > Sorbus aucuparia; the degree of decrease in glutathione content – Picea abies > Thuja occidentalis > Syringa vulgaris > Acer platanoides > Tilia cordata > Sorbus aucuparia; the degree of decrease in the content of vitamin E – Picea abies > Thuja occidentalis > Sorbus aucuparia > Tilia cordata > Syringa vulgaris > Acer platanoides. A positive correlation was revealed between the biochemical parameters of woody plants and the monitoring complex indices proposed by the Russian meteorological service. A close direct regression dependence of the air pollution index and the average stability coefficient for the content of total nitrogen, vitamin E and glutathione in the biomass of model woody plants was revealed: with an increase in the degree of air pollution, the average stability coefficient for certain biochemical indicators increases.

The Effects of Sorbus aucuparia L. Fruit Extracts on Oxidative/Nitrative Modifications of Human Fibrinogen, Impact on Enzymatic Properties of Thrombin, and Hyaluronidase Activity In Vitro

Sorbus aucuparia L. fruits (rowanberries) are food products with acknowledged nutritional value, high phenolic content, and traditional application in diabetes. In this study, the effects of rowanberry extracts (phytochemically standardised, i.a., by LC-MS/MS) on some aspects of plasma haemostasis and vascular conditions were evaluated in vitro as possible mechanisms connected with cardiovascular complications of diabetes. The analyses of structural modifications of human fibrinogen under oxidative stress conditions (C-ELISA, SDS-PAGE and Western blot) revealed that the extracts (at a concentration of 1–5 µg/mL) considerably reduced the nitration of tyrosine residues and formation of high-molecular-weight aggregates. Moreover, they inhibited the enzymatic activity of thrombin (both amidolytic and proteolytic). Additionally, some promising outcomes might be expected regarding endothelial functions from the extracts ability to inhibit hyaluronidase. Parallel experiments on model polyphenols and correlation studies formed the basis for determining the contribution of different compounds, including hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, flavonols, and low- or high-molecular-weight flavan-3-ols derivatives (proanthocyanidins), to the observed effects. The possible synergistic activity of individual constituents was also noticed. These results broaden the knowledge on the biological activity of rowanberries, partly confirming their health-promoting properties, and indicating that their functional applications might be promising.

STUDY OF THE CONTENT OF ANTIOXIDANTS AND THEIR ACTIVITY IN CONCENTRATED EXTRACTS OF CRANBERRY (VACCINIUM OXYCOCCUS), SEA BUCKTHORN (HIPPOPHAE RHAMNOIDES L.), BLACKBERRY (RUBUS FRUTICOSUS), VIBURNUM (VIBURNUM OPULUS L) AND MOUNTAIN ASH (SORBUS AUCUPARIA L.

Extracts and their concentrates can be considered as a source of biologically active ingredients of food products and as food additives to increase the consumption of useful substances of berries. The benefits gained from their use lead to the development of advanced technologies that can allow them to be extracted from the feedstock without significantly compromising the biological activity from the feedstock. In this paper, we studied the content of antioxidants and their activity in concentrated extracts of cranberry (Vaccinium Oxycoccus), sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.), blackberry (Rubus fruticosus), viburnum (Viburnum opulus L.) and mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia L.) berries. For all extracts, the total content of phenolic compounds, flavonoids and anthocyanins, antioxidant activity according to the DPPH method and iron-reducing antioxidant activity (FRAP) were determined. Concentrated extracts of viburnum contain the largest amount of phenolic compounds (9.3±0.3 mol HA/l), flavonoids (1.96±0.08 mol K/l) and anthocyanins (0.26±0.02 mol CG/l) among the studied extracts. There is also a high total content of phenolic substances and flavonoids in blackberry and rowan extracts (5.7 mol HA/l, 1.33 mol K/l and 4.7 mol HA/l, 192 mol K / l, respectively). The antioxidant activity of the extract of viburnum berries showed a directly proportional dependence on the content of biologically active compounds in it: DPPH-method-2.4 mg / ml; FRAP-method-39.99 mmol Fe2+ / kg. Also, high levels were found in concentrated extracts of blackberries, sea buckthorn and mountain ash. It is the extracts of viburnum, blackberry and mountain ash that are recommended to be used in the production of food products to enrich them with biologically active substances and give them antioxidant properties. Cranberry and sea buckthorn extracts can be used in combination with other extracts.

Phylogeny of Maleae (Rosaceae) Based on Complete Chloroplast Genomes Supports the Distinction of Aria, Chamaemespilus and Torminalis as Separate Genera, Different from Sorbus sp.

Several genera formerly contained within the genus Sorbus L. sensu lato have been proposed as separate taxa, including Aria, Chamaemespilus and Torminalis. However, molecular evidence for such distinctions are rather scarce. We assembled the complete chloroplast genome of Sorbus aucuparia, another representative of Sorbus s.s., and performed detailed comparisons with the available genomes of Aria edulis, Chamaemespilus alpina and Torminalis glaberrima. Additionally, using 110 complete chloroplast genomes of the Maleae representatives, we constructed the phylogenetic tree of the tribe using Maximum Likelihood methods. The chloroplast genome of S. aucuparia was found to be similar to other species within Maleae. The phylogenetic tree of the Maleae tribe indicated that A. edulis, C. alpina and T. glaberrima formed a concise group belonging to a different clade (related to Malus) than the one including Sorbus s.s. (related to Pyrus). However, Aria and Chamaemespilus appeared to be more closely related to each other than to Torminalis. Our results provide additional support for considering Aria, Chamaemespilus and Torminalis as separate genera different from Sorbus s.s.

INFLUENCE OF BIOTECHNOLOGICAL FACTORS ON THE YIELD OF BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE COMPOUNDS FROM SORBUS AUCUPARIA

Currently, the diet of almost all population groups in Russia is characterized by a deficiency of vitamins, essential amino acids, macro- and micronutrients, as well as biologically active substances (flavonoids, carotenoids, etc.). Replenishment of the lack of these components in the diet of the population due to natural sources of plant origin is an important and actual task of national health care. The rational use of natural components of plant materials containing a wide range of natural biologically active substances using biocatalytic methods, as well as the selection of optimal conditions for obtaining commodity forms of ingredients, will allow to create preventive products that have a beneficial effect on the human body. Theoretical research in the field of promising sources of food and biologically active ingredients among wild species of plant materials were carried out. Biomedical properties of Sorbus aucuparia were described. The technological characteristics of the biologically active substances extraction from dried plant raw materials was investigated. Thus, it was revealed that the degree of dried berries grinding about 0.2–0.8 mm, the hydromodule 1 : 10 and the extraction duration 240 minutes are most effective for the extractive substances yield. The enzymatic complex, allowing the maximum to release biologically valuable components to extract was selected. The amino acid composition of rowanberry with the use of high-performance liquid chromatography was investigated. Produced fermentalizates contain complex of biologically active compounds, including amino acids, vitamins, carotenoids, phenolic substances, that makes these ingredients promising for creation of various foodstuffs to improve quality, nutritional and biological value, taste and other consumer properties.

BIOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF FRUITS OF SOME REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GENUS SORBUS L. IN COL-LECTION OF THE SOUTH-URAL BOTANICAL GARDEN

Mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia L.) is a valuable medicinal and food plant that is widely used in practical medicine and in amateur horticulture. The purpose of this study was to determine the content of ascorbic acid, organic acids, tanning substances and flavonoids in the fruits of some representatives of the Sorbus genus of the collection of the South-Ural Botanical Garden-Institute and to identify the most promising taxa. For analysis, fruits were collected in the full ripening phase and dried to air-dry state. Phytochemical studies were carried out according to conventional methods. The object of comparison was the official pharmacopoeia species – Sorbus aucuparia. Analysis of the obtained data found that the fruits × Sorbocotoneaster pozdnijkovii and Sorbus sibirica outperformed the natural form (Sorbus aucuparia) in terms of ascorbic acid content by 11.54 and 43.27%; Organic acids by 24.11 and 60.84%; Tanning substances by 3.49 and 43.23%; Flavonoids by 44.19 and 12.79%, respectively. The obtained results allow to recommend these taxa as promising sources of raw materials for production of biologically active substances in production of natural food products and food additives.

Methods of concentrated ingredients forms based on rowanberry (Sorbus aucuparia) producing

В данной работе исследована возможность концентрирования ингредиентов различного состава, полученных с применением ферментативных систем целевого назначения, на современных мембранных установках. Наработаны опытные образцы товарных форм ингредиентов из рябины сушеной. In this work, we investigated the possibility of concentrating ingredients of various compositions, obtained with the use of targeted enzymatic systems, in modern membrane installations. Prototypes of commercial forms of ingredients from dried mountain ash have been developed.

Determining Statistically Robust Changes in Ungulate Browsing Pressure as a Basis for Adaptive Wildlife Management

Ungulate browsing has a major impact on the composition and structure of forests. Repeatedly conducted, large-scale regeneration inventories can monitor the extent of browsing pressure and its impacts on forest regeneration development. Based on the respective results, the necessity and extent of wildlife management activities such as hunting, fencing, etc., can be identified at a landscape scale. However, such inventories have rarely been integrated into wildlife management decision making. In this article, we evaluate a regeneration inventory method which was carried out in the Bavarian Forest National Park between 2007 and 2018. We predict the browsing impact by calculating browsing probabilities using a logistic mixed effect model. To provide wildlife managers with feedback on their activities, we developed a test which can assess significant changes in browsing probability between different inventory periods. To find the minimum observable browsing probability change, we simulated ungulate browsing based on the data of a potential browsing indicator species (Sorbus aucuparia) in the National Park. Sorbus aucuparia is evenly distributed, commonly found, selectively browsed and meets the ecosystem development objectives in our study area. We were able to verify a browsing probability change down to ±5 percentage points with a sample size of about 1,000 observations per inventory run. In view of the size of the National Park and the annual fluctuations in browsing pressure, this estimation accuracy seems sufficient. In seeking the maximal cost-efficiency, we were able to reduce this sample size in a sensitivity analysis by about two thirds without severe loss of information for wildlife management. Based on our findings, the presented inventory method combined with our evaluation tool has the potential to be a robust and efficient instrument to assess the impact of herbivores that are in the National Park and other regions.

Genetic Diversity and Structure of Rear Edge Populations of Sorbus aucuparia (Rosaceae) in the Hyrcanian Forest

Sorbus aucuparia (Rosaceae) is a small tree species widely distributed in Eurasia. The Hyrcanian forest is the southernmost distribution limit of this species. Severe habitat degradation and inadequate human interventions have endangered the long-term survival of this species in this region, and it is necessary to develop and apply appropriate management methods to prevent the loss of its genetic diversity. In this study, we used 10 SSR markers in order to evaluate the genetic diversity of this taxon. Leaf samples were collected from five known populations of S. aucuparia throughout its distribution area in the Hyrcanian forest. Expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.61 (ASH) to 0.73, and according to the M-ratio, all populations showed a significant reduction in effective population size, indicating a genetic bottleneck. Global FST was not statistically significant and attained the same values with and without excluding null alleles (ENA) correction (FST = 0.12). Bayesian analysis performed with STRUCTURE defined two genetic clusters among the five known populations, while the results of discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) identified three distinct groups. The average proportion of migrants was 22. In general, the gene flow was asymmetrical, with the biggest differences between immigration and emigration in Barzekoh and Asbehriseh. The Mantel test showed that there was no significant correlation between genetic distance (FST) and geographic distance in S. aucuparia. The best pathway for theoretical gene flow is located across the coast of the Caspian Sea and significant spatial autocorrelation was observed in only one population. In order to reduce the extinction risk of very small and scattered populations of S. aucuparia in the Hyrcanian forest, it is very important to establish and/or enhance the connectivity through habitat restoration or genetic exchange.