Microencapsulation of enriched extracts of two Satureja species by spray drying, evaluation of the controlled release mechanism and cytotoxicity

Background: Phenolic compounds are one of the main groups of secondary metabolites responsible for multiple biological and pharmacological properties that play a vital role in improving human health quality. Encapsulation by spray dryer creates protection toward the phenolic compounds as an efficient way for increasing product performance. Method: The phenolic compounds of Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad (SKH) and S. rechingeri Jamzad (SRH) were enriched based on adsorbent resin column chromatography and the enrichment index was confirmed by HPLC-UV analysis. Gum Arabic, carboxylated chitosan, and pectin with the optimum percentage of 1% w/w used to encapsulate SKH and SRH by the spray drying technique. Result: Encapsulation yield was 38.18 – 59.00 %, particle size ranged 2.278 - 4.689 µm, and release time was between 4.08 - 82.08 min. The gum Arabic-based capsules showed the fastest and pectin-based revealed the slowest release time. The best statistical model explained a release mechanism was Korsmeyer model. Anomalous transport was observed from all formulas except SKH-gum Arabic (case-I transport), SKH-pectin, and SRH-carboxylated-chitosan (super case-II transport). The cytotoxic activity of encapsulate SKH’s revealed reducing the viability of AGS evaluated by the MTT compared with SRH’s. Conclusion: Encapsulation by spray drying has proven to be a promising technique to improve the bioavailability, release time, and mechanism of functional polyphenolic compounds as medicines, food supplements, and food additives.

Comparison of U-spatial statistics method with Classical Statistics results in the determination of geochemical anomalies of Epithermal Gold in Khoshnameh area, Hashtjin, Iran

In this study, methods based on the distribution model (with and without personal opinion) were used for the separation of anomalous zones, which include two different methods of U-spatial statistics and mean plus values of standard deviation (). The primary purpose is to compare the results of these methods with each other. To increase the accuracy of comparison, regional geochemical data were used where occurrences and mineralization zones of epithermal gold have been introduced. The study area is part of the Hashtjin geological map, which is structurally part of the folded and thrust belt and part of the Alborz Tertiary magmatic complex. Samples were taken from secondary lithogeochemical environments. Au element data concerning epithermal gold reserves were used to investigate the efficacy of these two methods. In the U- spatial statistics method, and criteria were used to determine the threshold, and in the method, the element enrichment index of the region rock units was obtained with grouping these units. The anomalous areas were identified by, and criteria. Comparison of methods was made considering the position of discovered occurrences and the occurrences obtained from these methods, the flexibility of the methods in separating the anomalous zones, and the two-dimensional spatial correlation of the three elements As, Pb, and Ag with Au element. The ability of two methods to identify potential areas is acceptable. Among these methods, it seems the method with criteria has a high degree of flexibility in separating anomalous regions in the case of epithermal type gold deposits.

The Effect of Botanicals with Nematicidal Activity on the Structural and Functional Characteristics of the Soil Nematode Community

We investigated the effects of three botanicals with nematicidal properties (anise-Pimpinella anisum, parsley-Petroselinum crispum, and rocket-Eruca sativa) on the soil nematode community, in terms of trophic structure and nematode genera composition. We compared effects with those of fluopyram (synthetic nematicide) and Nemagold (bionematicide). We assessed the role of time, by sampling 15 and 45 days after treatments and analyzing nematode genera and microbial phospholipid fatty acid biomarkers (PLFA). Soil incorporation of botanicals reduced plant parasitic nematodes, increased bacterivores, especially the enrichment opportunists and among them Rhabditis, having no effect on fungivores and non-parasitic plant feeders. Neither the number nor the composition and dominance hierarchy of nematode genera were affected. Nemagold did not induce any significant change, while fluopyram decreased both free-living and parasitic nematodes, but with no uniform effect against all genera. The least affected genus was the fungivorous Aphelenchus. While most microbial PLFAs increased with time, the abundances of nematode genera did not change, except the Meloidogyne incognita second stage juveniles, which emerged in soil only 45 days after treatments. The low enrichment index and high channel index values of the fluopyram soil samples indicated a stressful environment. The opposite was observed in the botanical treatments, especially parsley and rocket.

Sensitivity of Nematode Community Analysis to Agricultural Management Practices and Inoculation with Local Effective Microorganisms in the Southeastern United States

In order to ensure a soil system’s sustained ability to carry out ecosystem services, indicators that assess soil health are needed. We examined the capacity of nematode maturity index (MI), structure index (SI), enrichment index (EI), and trophic groups as measures of soil health, by determining soil nematodes’ sensitivity to cropping systems: rotation, perturbation, fertilization, and inoculation with local effective microorganisms (LEM). Plots were managed for two years under different rotations, annual ryegrass/fallow (ARF) and cereal rye/edamame soybean (CRS). In the third year of the study, all of the plots were managed exactly the same as a wheat/edamame rotation. Data were collected in both winter and summer of this year. In all three years, three inoculant treatments (LEM, False-LEM and No inoculate) were applied. In CRS plots, which received the most tillage and fertilization, there were greater SI values in soils that received LEM application. Nematode community structure described by each MI, SI, and EI were sensitive enough to reflect changes due to differences in soil management practices from previous years. Principal components analysis confirmed that nitrogen mineralization is an important measure to include when using nematode community analysis in the development of a soil health index.

Impact of the invasive plant Solidago gigantea on soil nematodes in a semi-natural grassland and a temperate broadleaved mixed forest

Relationships between alien plant species and their aboveground effects have been relatively well studied, but little is known about the effects of invasive plants on belowground faunal communities. Nematodes are abundant, ubiquitous and diverse soil biota, and alterations of their community compositions can illustrate changes in belowground ecosystems. In 2016 and 2017, we determined the response of species diversity, community composition and trophic composition of the soil nematode communities to invasion by the alien plant Solidago gigantea in two ecosystems, forest and grassland, where invasion takes place. Nematode abundance was higher and number of identified nematode species was lower at invaded than uninvaded sites, indicated by lower species diversity, regardless of ecosystem. Herbivorous nematodes were the most affected trophic group. Herbivore abundance was higher at invaded than uninvaded sites and in grassland than forest. The herbivorous species Boleodorus thylactus, Geocenamus sp., Helicotylenchus spp., Paratylenchus bukowinensis, Pratylenchoides crenicauda and Rotylenchus robustus were more abundant at the invaded sites. Abundances of nematodes in the other tropic groups were limited or not affected. The invasion did not significantly affect the ecological and functional indices, except for the Channel Index in 2016. Differences were observed in values of Enrichment Index (indicator of resource availability), Channel Index (indicator of ascendant bacterial/fungal decomposition channel) and Basal Index (indicator of depleted-perturbed soil food webs) between grassland and forests. We can thus conclude that invasion by S. gigantea significantly alters nematode community indicators (abundance, species diversity and specific trophic groups); however, this effect seems to be significantly influenced by the type of ecosystem where invasion takes place.

Soil nematodes in alpine meadows of the Tatra National Park (Slovak Republic)

Summary The assemblages of soil nematodes were studied at five alpine meadow sites, 1763-2200 m. a. s. I., in the Tatra National Park in the Slovak Republic. A total of 110 species were distinguished, 19 species were recorded in the Slovak Republic for the first time. The interesting new records are the occurrence of Sphaeronema alni at the elevation of 2003 m a . s. I. and the populations of Coomansus menzeli at four sites. The total numbers of species at individual sites varied from 45 to 72. The most abundant nematode genera were Aglenchus, Plectus. Acrobeloides, Paratylenchus, Eudorylaimus, Helicotylechus, and Aphelenchoides. The total mean abundance ranged from 704 to 2054 × 103ind.m-2 and the total mean biomass from 442 to 1531 mg.m-2. The lowest values of the Maturity Indices (ΣMI, Ml) were found at the highest elevation. The significantly highest values of the Plant Parasite Index were at the lowest elevation. The mean values of the of the Enrichment Index varied from 16.3 to 38.4, the mean values of the Structure Index from 64.1 to 85.4. The Structure metabolic footprints were significantly greater at the lowest elevation than at the highest elevation. Cluster Analysis and Principal Component Analysis performed on species presence and absence, genera abundance and genera metabolic footprints showed nematode assemblages at sites of high­er elevations different from those at sites of lower elevations.

Geochemistry of some ferruginous soils of Kerala, India

The four representative ferruginous soils on lateritic cover developed over Precambrian rocks in parts of Kottayam of Kerala were studied to understand the weathering pattern and genesis through geochemistry. These soils are strongly to moderately acidic, reddish brown with low Cation exchange capacity CEC and base saturation having SiO2 - 33 to 57%, Al2O3 - 16-31%, Fe2O3 - 8 to 15% and TiO2 -0.7 to 1.4%. Kanjirapalli (P3) and Athirampuzha (P4) soil series were more intensely weathered as compared to the Kinalur (P1) and Chingavanam series (P2) with silica to alumina -iron ratio less than 2 and had a significant negative relationship with Chemical index of alteration CIA ( -0.75**), Harnois index ( -0.678**), Richie index (-0.953**) and Plagioclase Index of Weathering (-0.705**). The trace elemental concentration ranges were above the values of world soils having an enrichment index more than 1 in Kanjirapalli series (P3) and Ni contamination in genetic horizons (Ni > 200µgg-1 ). The cluster analysis showed similar major oxide concentration pattern in Group -1 and Group - 2 but varied in trace elemental pattern with Cr > Ba > Cu in Group - 1 and Cu > Cr > Ba in Group- 2 soils whereas Zr > Ni > Mn in Group - 3 to Ni > Mn > Zr in Group - 4 soils. The study further showed that differential rate of weathering in soils under tropical climate was further accelerated due to anthropogenic activities such as improper land use practices and deforestation on sleep slopes.

Mercury and other Heavy Metal Pollution in Soil-Vegetation System around Compact Fluorescent Lamp Production Town in China

There is an increasing concern about heavy metal contamination in farmland in China and worldwide.In order to reveal the spatial features of heavy metals in the soil-vegetable system in the CFL manufacturing area, a total of 18 pairs of soil and vegetable samples were collected from Gaohong, Southeastern China. Most of the heavy metals in soil were much higher than its corresponding background value in Zhejiang province,Most of the heavy metals in the vegetable exceeded the Safe Agricultural Product Standard in China.Compared to other heavy metals, Hg had the highest enrichment index. The CFL manufacturing companies were the main source of heavy metal Hg pollution in this area. There are strong correlation between THg in soil and vegetable.