Soil Chemical Analysis

Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants, 2nd edition, H. Marschner. Academic Press, London (1995), 889, (ISBN 0-12-473543-6). Price: 29.95 Pound Sterling

The egg the exoskeleton growth and moulting the epidermis musculature the nervous system the pseudocoelom the secretory-excretory system the digestive system the reproductive system nematode pathology.

The Structure of Nematodes

Background A large amount of food wastes and by-products are produced from farm to plate. They represent valuable sources for the production of high-added value compounds such as pectin. Pectin is the methylated ester of polygalacturonic acid and presents a wide range of applications in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products as well as in food industry such as gelling agent in fruit-based products, stabilizer in fruit and milk beverages and fruit filling for bakery and confectionary products, among others. Therefore, pectin recovery is of great importance. Scope and Approach The commercially available pectin is almost exclusively derived from citrus peels or apple pomace, by-products from fruit juice manufacturing. But, nowadays the number of novel food waste and by-products sources for pectin extraction are increasing. Moreover, the application of innovative approaches is necessary due to the limitation of conventional processes. The present review will focus on the conventional and innovative processing techniques (microwave extraction, enzymatic extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction) to extract pectin from different wastes and by-products. Key Findings and Conclusions The pectin extraction differs according to the matrix studied as well as temperature, pH, time, solvents, and solid to liquid ratio. The use of innovative extraction processes such as ultrasound, microwave and enzymes can be a useful tool to increase pectin yield and quality, and reducing extraction time, temperature, use of toxic solvents and strong acidic conditions for pectin recovery. Moreover, the combination of solvent modelling and the use of particular extraction processes can enable the selective recovery of pectin.

An overview of the traditional and innovative approaches for pectin extraction from plant food wastes and by-products: Ultrasound-, microwaves-, and enzyme-assisted extraction

The terpenoids constitute the largest class of natural products and many interesting products are extensively applied in the industrial sector as flavors, fragrances, spices and are also used in perfumery and cosmetics. Many terpenoids have biological activities and also used for medical purposes. In higher plants, the conventional acetate-mevalonic acid pathway operates mainly in the cytosol and mitochondria and synthesizes sterols, sesquiterpenes and ubiquinones mainly. In the plastid, the non-mevalonic acid pathway takes place and synthesizes hemi-, mono-, sesqui-, and diterpenes along with carotenoids and phytol tail of chlorophyll. In this review paper, recent developments in the biosynthesis of terpenoids, indepth description of terpene synthases and their phylogenetic analysis, regulation of terpene biosynthesis as well as updates of terpenes which have entered in the clinical studies are reviewed thoroughly.

https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs13205-014-0220-2.pdf

Plant terpenes: defense responses, phylogenetic analysis, regulation and clinical applications

Plants represent the main source of molecules for the development of new drugs, which intensifies the interest of transnational industries in searching for substances obtained from plant sources, especially since the vast majority of species have not yet been studied chemically or biologically, particularly concerning anti-inflammatory action. Anti-inflammatory drugs can interfere in the pathophysiological process of inflammation, to minimize tissue damage and provide greater comfort to the patient. Therefore, it is important to note that due to the existence of a large number of species available for research, the successful development of new naturally occurring anti-inflammatory drugs depends mainly on a multidisciplinary effort to find new molecules. Although many review articles have been published in this regard, the majority presented the subject from a limited regional perspective. Thus, the current article presents highlights from the published literature on plants as sources of anti-inflammatory agents.

Plants as Sources of Anti-Inflammatory Agents.

The aroma and fragrance industry is a billion-dollar world market which grows annually. Essential oils comprise the majority of compounds used by these industries. These sets of metabolites are formed mainly by monoterpenes, which are products of the plants' secondary metabolism. Biosynthesized from mevalonate and methylerythitol phosphate, the essential oil production depends not only on genetic factors and the developmental stage of plants, but also on environmental factors which could result in biochemical and physiological alterations in plants modifying the quantity and quality of the essential oil. These modifications impair aromatic plant production aimed at essential oil by reducing their quality. It is desirable to develop techniques of agronomical management to improve essential oil products and their specific compounds. Among other factors influencing essential oil production are plant growth regulators or plant hormones. Endogenous levels as well exogenous application could affect essential oil production and chemical composition. In this review we will present research in which plant growth regulators or their synthetic analogs were used and their effects on essential oil production.

/pdf/growth-regulators-and-essential-oil-production-4khl2yn1cl.pdf

Growth regulators and essential oil production

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of different species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the vegetative growth, production and composition of essential oil of Mentha arvensis L., grown in different phosphorus levels. The work was carried out under greenhouse conditions and a randomized block design was used with 20 treatments, constituted by the combination of five microbiological treatments (Glomus clarum Nicolson & Schenck, Glomus etunicatum Becker & Gerdemann, Gigaspora margarita Becker & Hall, Acaulospora scrobiculata Trappe and control) and four P levels (0, 50, 100, 200 mg kg-1), with four repetitions. Plants were harvested 65 days after transplanting. Results showed that, when no phosphorus was added, Gigaspora margarita and Glomus clarum increased, in 206% and 198%, respectively, the fresh matter production of shoots, compared to the control treatment. The highest fresh matter production (90 g por pot) was observed in plants inoculated with A. scrobiculata at 133 mg kg-1 of phosphorus. When phosphorus was not used, the essential oil content and menthol levels in the oil were smaller in plants not inoculated, and the inoculated treatments provided increments of up to 89% in the essential oil and menthol contents in relation to treatment not inoculated. No increment in essential oil and menthol contents occurred when the doses of P were increased. The highest essential oil and menthol production, 0.69 g and 0.48 g for pot, respectively, were found in plants inoculated with A. scrobiculata at the P levels and 126 and 123 mg for kg of soil, respectively.

/pdf/producao-e-qualidade-de-oleos-essenciais-de-mentha-arvensis-njmb1epvgh.pdf

Produção e qualidade de óleos essenciais de Mentha arvensis em resposta à inoculação de fungos micorrízicos arbusculares

This work reviews the production of terpenoids by endophytic fungi and their biological activities, in period of 2006 to 2010. Sixty five sesquiterpenes, 45 diterpenes, five meroterpenes and 12 other terpenes, amounting to 127 terpenoids were isolated from endophytic fungi.

/pdf/terpenoids-from-endophytic-fungi-3np3hbi4ej.pdf

Terpenoids from Endophytic Fungi

Aqueous suspension of ethanol extracts of Derris (Lonchocarpus) urucu (Leguminosae), collected in the state of Amazonas, Brazil, were tested for larvicidal activity against the mosquito Aedes aegypti (Diptera:Culicidae). The aim of this study was to observe the alterations of peritrophic matrix in Ae. aegypti larvae treated with an aqueous suspension of D. urucu extract. Different concentrations of D. urucu root extract were tested against fourth instar larvae. One hundred percent mortality was observed at 150 microg/ml (LC(50) 17.6 microg/ml) 24 h following treatment. In response to D. urucu feeding, larvae excreted a large amount of amorphous feces, while control larvae did not produce feces during the assay period. Ultrastructural studies showed tha larvae fed with 150 microg/ml of D. urucu extract for 4 h have an imperfect peritrophic matrix and extensive damage of the midgut epithelium. Data indicate a protective role for the peritrophic matrix. The structural modification of the peritrophic matrix is intrinsically associated with larval mortality.

http://www.scielo.br/pdf/mioc/v97n3/4439.pdf

Ivo José Curcino Vieira

Papers

Plants as Sources of Anti-Inflammatory Agents.

Growth regulators and essential oil production

Produção e qualidade de óleos essenciais de Mentha arvensis em resposta à inoculação de fungos micorrízicos arbusculares

Terpenoids from Endophytic Fungi

Derris (Lonchocarpus) urucu (Leguminosae) Extract Modifies the Peritrophic Matrix Structure of Aedes aegypti (Diptera:Culicidae)