Carotenoid coloration and coloration-linked gene expression in red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) tissues

Background Production, marketability and consumer preference of red tilapia often depends upon the intensity of coloration. Hence, new approaches to develop coloration are now geared to improve market acceptability and profit. This study evaluated the effects of carotenoid-rich diets on the phenotypic coloration, carotenoid level, weight gain and expression of coloration-linked genes in skin, fin and muscle tissues. Carotenoids were extracted from dried Daucus carota peel, Ipomoea aquatica leaves, and Moringa oleifera leaves. Eighty (80) size-14 fish were fed with carotenoid-rich treatments twice a day for 120 days. The phenotypic effect of the carotenoid extracts was measured through a color chart. Skin carotenoid level was measured through UV-vis spectrophotometer. csf1ra, Bcdo2 and StAR expression analysis was done using qRT-PCR. Results Treatments with carotenoid extracts yielded higher overall scores on phenotypic coloration and tissue carotenoid levels. Differential expression of carotenoid-linked genes such as the elevated expression in csf1ra and lower expression in Bcdo2b following supplementation of the enhanced diet supports the phenotypic redness and increased carotenoid values in red tilapia fed with D. carota peel and I. aquatica leaves. Conclusions Overall improvement in the redness of the tilapia was achieved through the supplementation of carotenoid-rich diet derived from readily available plants. Differential expression of coloration-linked genes supports the increase in the intensity of phenotypic coloration and level of carotenoids in the tissues. The study emphasizes the importance of carotenoids in the commercial tilapia industry and highlights the potential of the plant extracts for integration and development of feeds for color enhancement in red tilapia.

Chlorophyll and Carotenoid Level Comparisons of Pigeon Orchid (Dendrobium crumenatum) in Water and Light Stress Treatment

Environtmental conditions in which plants grow are always changing which when exceeding the tolerance limit will result in stress. Water and light stress affect the pigment content of photosynthesis such as chlorophyll and carotenoids. <em>Dendrobium crumenatum </em>is one of orchid species that is judged to be resistant to various types of environtmental conditions, so it can grow well in any environtment. This research aims to determine the comparison of chlorophyll and carotenoid levels of <em>D. crumenatum </em>from Bantul lowland population, Special Region of Yogyakarta which is given water and light stress treatment. The methods used are extraction with alcohol solvent (96%) and absorbtion level measurements with spectrophotometry at wavelengths 470, 645, and 663 nm. The highest chlorophyll a level contained in the leaves of <em>D. crumenatum </em>which is given water stress treatment, highest chlorophyll b level in control plant, highest total chlorophyll in the leaves which is given water stress treatment, and highest carotenoid level found in the leaves which is given light stress treatment.

Cutaneous Carotenoid Level Measured by Multiple Spatially Resolved Reflection Spectroscopy Sensors Correlates with Vegetable Intake and Is Increased by Continual Intake of Vegetable Juice

Although vegetables are beneficial for human health, in many countries, the recommended vegetable intake is not reached. To assess vegetable intake, it is important to understand vegetable consumption. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional and intervention study of 26 healthy individuals (50% women; 37.0 ± 8.9 years) and estimated vegetable intake on the basis of the cutaneous carotenoid level (CCL) with a noninvasive skin carotenoid sensor, considering that vegetable juice intake can increase CCL. Participants consumed vegetable juice containing 350 g of vegetables daily for 4 weeks. Blood carotenoid levels and CCL were measured for 12 weeks. Cross-sectional analysis showed a significant positive correlation between CCL and vegetable intake (r = 0.489). Vegetable juice consumption significantly increased CCL and the blood levels of α-carotene, β-carotene, and lycopene (p < 0.05). The correlation coefficient between the blood level and CCL for lycopene was smaller (r = 0.001) compared to that between the blood level and CCL for α-carotene (r = 0.523) and β-carotene (r = 0.460), likely because of bioavailability differences. In conclusion, noninvasive skin carotenoid measurements are effective for determining vegetable intake, and vegetable juice significantly increases CCL.

Association between Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Diseases and the Blood Concentration of Carotenoids among the General Population without Apparent Illness

Several studies have demonstrated that carotenoid-rich vegetables are useful against cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, it is still unclear when a healthy population should start eating these vegetables to prevent CVDs. In this study, we evaluated the role of carotenoids in CVD markers in healthy subjects using age-stratified analysis. We selected 1350 subjects with no history of apparent illness who were undergoing health examinations. We then evaluated the relationship between the serum concentrations of six major carotenoids as well as their total, and nine CVD markers (i.e., body mass index (BMI), pulse wave velocity (PWV), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), blood insulin, fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglycerides (TGs), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol) using multiple regression analysis. It was found that the total carotenoid level was significantly associated with seven markers other than BMI and FBG in males and with eight markers other than DBP in females. Many of these relationships were independent of lifestyle habits. Many significant relationships were found in young males (aged 20–39) and middle-aged females (aged 40–59). These findings can be used as lifestyle guidance for disease prevention although the causal relationships should be confirmed.

The 2,2’ Dipyridyl-Induced Iron Starvation and its Effects on Growth and Photosynthesis in Cyanobacterium Nostoc punctiforme ATCC 29133

Iron is essential for growth of most organisms, including cyanobacteria, a ubiquitous and ecologically important group of microorganisms in nature. The present study was initiated to investigate the effects of iron starvation on the growth, frequency of heterocysts (the sites for nitrogen-fixation), photosynthetic pigments and photosynthesis in the filamentous, nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium Nostoc punctiforme ATCC 29133. Iron starvation was achieved in cyanobacterial cultures by growing them in medium free of combined nitrogen containing 2,2’dipyridyl (a high affinity iron-chelator) without any addition of iron source. Compared to iron-sufficient control cultures, the iron-starved cultures showed decrease in growth determined for 15 days. The reduction in growth was coupled with a decreased heterocyst (N2-fixation sites) frequency and the number of cells per filament measured after 2 and 4 days of iron-starvation. Similarly, a considerable drop in the concentration of photosynthetic pigments such as, phycocyanin and chlorophyll a were also noticed in iron-starved cultures. Carotenoid level, however, was higher in iron-starved cultures compared to control. The maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II photochemistry indicating the photosynthetic efficiency was severely affected in iron-starved Nostoc punctiforme ATCC 29133. Overall, the results presented in this study suggest that deficiency of iron negatively impacts growth, photosynthesis and perhaps nitrogen-fixation in the cyanobacterium N. punctiforme ATCC 29133. Given the role of cyanobacteria in biofertilizer technology, it is suggested that iron bio-availability in agricultural fields may strongly impact the biofertilizer potential of diazotrophic cyanobacteria. Therefore, efforts to improve biofertilizer potential of cyanobacteria may be directed towards identifying strains which can better adapt to iron deficiency.

Skin Carotenoid Level as an Alternative Marker of Serum Total Carotenoid Concentration and Vegetable Intake Correlates with Biomarkers of Circulatory Diseases and Metabolic Syndrome

To confirm the usefulness of noninvasive measurements of skin carotenoids to indicate vegetable intake and to elucidate relationships between skin carotenoid levels and biomarkers of circulatory diseases and metabolic syndrome, we conducted a cross-sectional study on a resident-based health checkup (n = 811; 58% women; 49.5 ± 15.1 years). Skin and serum carotenoid levels were measured via reflectance spectroscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography, respectively. Vegetable intake was estimated using a dietary questionnaire. Levels of 9 biomarkers (body mass index [BMI], brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity [baPWV], systolic and diastolic blood pressure [SBP and DBP], homeostasis model assessment as an index of insulin resistance [HOMA-IR], blood insulin, fasting blood glucose [FBG], triglycerides [TGs], and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C]) were determined. Skin carotenoid levels were significantly positively correlated with serum total carotenoids and vegetable intake (r = 0.678 and 0.210, respectively). In women, higher skin carotenoid levels were significantly associated with lower BMI, SBP, DBP, HOMA-IR, blood insulin, and TGs levels and higher HDL-C levels. In men, it was also significantly correlated with BMI and blood insulin levels. In conclusion, dermal carotenoid level may indicate vegetable intake, and the higher level of dermal carotenoids are associated with a lower risk of circulatory diseases and metabolic syndrome.

The effect of different biostimulators on morphological and biochemical parameters of micropropagated Hosta ’Gold Drop’

During in vitro multiplication of Hosta ‘Gold Drop’, 20 g l-1 sucrose, 5.5 g l-1 agar and 4 concentrations (0.1-0.8 ml l-1) of Ferbanat L, Kelpak, Pentakeep-V were added to half-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium. As compared to the control and other biostimulators, plants with lower peroxidase activity, larger fresh weight, more, longer shoots and roots, larger leaves were developed on medium containing Kelpak. The best concentration was 0.4 ml l-1 for in vitro rooting, shoot formation, plant weight and ex vitro chlorophyll, carotenoid level, peroxidase activity. Pentakeep was the less efficient biostimulator, increasing of its concentration mostly decreased root and shoot values (furthermore, abnormal callus formation was observed, as non-wanted effect), chlorophyll content and sizes (length, width) of leaves, not only during in vitro propagation but also (as after-effect) acclimatization because of the high mortality and weakly developed survivor plants.

PENGARUH KONSENTRASI DAN LAMA PERENDAMAN BAHAN DENGAN ASAM LAKTAT SEBELUM PENGERINGAN TERHADAP KARAKTERISTIK BUBUK BUNGA KENIKIR (Tagetes erecta L.)

Marigold flowers (Tagetes erecta L.) have the potential as natural dyes that contain color pigments from carotenoid compounds. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of lactic acid concentration and soaking time before drying on the characteristics of kenikir flower powder and determine the concentration of lactic acid and the duration of lactic acid immersion before the best combustion to produce kenikir flower powder. This study used a randomized block design using factorial patterns with 2 factors. The first factor is the concentration of lactic acid consisting of 3 levels: 0,5, 1,0, and 1,5%. The second factor is the immersion time consisting of 3 levels: 60, 90, and 120 minutes. The results showed that the treatment of lactic acid concentration affected the total carotenoid level, brightness (L *), redness level (a *) yellowish level (b *) but did not significantly affect the water content. The treatment of immersion time did not affect the total carotenoid level, brightness level (L*), yellowish level (a*), redness level (b*) and water content. Immersion treatment with a concentration of 1,5% and 90 minutes soaking time is the best treatment for producing kenikir flower powder with characteristics namely water content 16,71%, total carotenoid content 18,77%, brightness level (L*) 38,23, redness level (a*) 29,02, yellowish level (b*) 51,93. Keywords : Tagetes erecta L., lactic acid, karotenoid, color

Determination of Resistance Cumhuriyet-75 and Selimiye-95 Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) Varieties Against to Some Abiotic Stress Factories

In this study, resistance mechanism of two wheat genotypes against salt, heavy metal, lime and drought (50%) treatments were investigated in summer Cumhuriyet-75 and winter Selimiye-95. According to results chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll and carotenoid level increased in FeCl3, drought and 225 mM NaCl in Cumhuriyet-75 but they were higher at NaCl, FeCl3 and ZnCl2 treatments in Selimiye-95 comparison to control. While H2O2 content rose all stres treatments in both varieties but Malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased in Selimiye with all applications. The amount of proline is lower in Cumhuiyet-75 but higher in Selimiye-95. Total soluble protein was found higher at salt concentartion and drought in both varieties. Ascorbate peroxidase (APX), Süperoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased in salt and FeCl3 in Selimiye-95 but SOD ativity were higher at salt treatments in Cumhuriyet-75. And also in both varieties APX and Guaiacol peroxidase (GuPX) increased at FeCl3 but Catalase (CAT) were higher in only FeCl3 in Cumhuriyet-75. As a result Selimiye-95 showed tolerance to salt and FeCl3 with high photosynthetic pigment, proline and soluble protein content with lower MDA but it is sensitive to NiCl2 and drought. Whereas Cumhuriyet-75 cultivar is resistan to drought, FeCl3 and 225 mM NaCl depended on pigment, protein content and APX, CAT, GuPX and SOD activities. When all the data are taken into consideration, it was concluded that the responses of the varieties to the treatments changed according to the type and concentration of stress, and Selimiye-95 variety was tolerant compared to Cumhuriyet-75 variety.