Research Update:Helianthus annuus,Sunflower Kernel.

  seminal trace...Sunflower seed Extract.sunflower seed kernel extract.Extract of sunflower,Extract of sunflower seeds,Helianthus annuus extract,Sunflower extract.HELIANTHUS ANNUUS SEED EXTRACT...

 


   Phytochemical info of Helianthus annuus,Sunflower Kernel.

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 Definition:Helianthus annuus,Sunflower Kernel. are majorly composed of
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   Research Update:Helianthus annuus,Sunflower Kernel.

  Triterpene glycosides from the flower petals of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and their anti-inflammatory activity:J Nat Prod. 2007 May;70(5):813-6. Epub 2007 May 5.

 Two new oleanane-type triterpene glycosides, named helianthosides 4 (4) and 5 (5), along with four known triterpene glycosides, helianthosides 1 (1), 2 (2), 3 (3), and B (6), were isolated from an n-butanol-soluble fraction of a methanol extract of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) petals. The structures of the two new compounds were determined on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical methods. Upon evaluation of compounds 1-6 for inhibitory activity against 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced inflammation (1.7 nmol/ear) in mice, all of the compounds tested exhibited marked anti-inflammatory activity, with ID50 values in the range 65-262 nmol per ear.

  Induction of oxidative stress by sunflower phytotoxins in germinating mustard seeds.:J Chem Ecol. 2007 Feb;33(2):251-64. Epub 2007 Jan 10.Oracz K, Bailly C, Gniazdowska A, C?me D, Corbineau F, Bogatek R.Department of Plant Physiology, Warsaw Agricultural University, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland.

 The aim of this study was to investigate the phytotoxic effect of sunflower on physiological and biochemical processes during germination of mustard seeds (Sinapis alba L. cv. Nakielska). To exclude the involvement of osmotic stress in seed reaction to phytotoxic compounds, we compared the effect of 10% (w/v) water extract from sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. cv. Ogrodowy) leaves and 28.4% (w/v) polyethylene glycol (PEG) 8000 solution characterized by an equal Psi = -1 MPa. We evaluated (1) the amount of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2); (2) activities of antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione reductase; (3) membrane permeability; and (4) level of malondialdehyde (MDA). Both, sunflower compounds and PEG solutions inhibited mustard seed germination, but only phytotoxins caused an increase in the cell membrane permeability, MDA level, H2O2 concentration, and alterations in activities of antioxidant enzymes. Our results demonstrate that despite the activation of the antioxidant system by sunflower phytotoxins, reactive oxygen species accumulation caused cellular damage, which resulted in the decrease of germinability and gradual loss of seed vigor. It seems that the negative effect of sunflower on germination of mustard seeds is mostly because of its toxicity and not to its contribution to osmotic potential.

  Comparing a selenium accumulator plant (Brassica juncea) to a nonaccumulator plant (Helianthus annuus) to investigate selenium-containing proteins.:Anal Bioanal Chem. 2006 Nov;386(5):1367-78. Epub 2006 Aug 25.Mounicou S, Vonderheide AP, Shann JR, Caruso JA.Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0172, USA.

 Selenoproteins have been identified in a diverse range of organisms, including bacteria and animals. Their occurrence and role in the plant kingdom are, however, less well-understood. This work investigated the water-soluble selenium-containing proteins extracted from a selenium-accumulating plant species (Brassica juncea) and a nonaccumulator species (Helianthus annuus) exposed to varying forms and concentrations of selenium. Firstly, protein extracts were analyzed by size exclusion chromatography coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry; specific detection was achieved by monitoring characteristic isotopes. Then, proteolytic digests of the plant extracts were analyzed by reversed phase chromatography coupled to ICP-MS in order to investigate selenoamino acid and selenopeptide content. Selenomethionine was observed to be the primary constituent of the proteins of the nonaccumulator plant, while selenocystine and selenomethionine were found in the same proportion in the accumulator extract. One main selenium-containing species was present at higher levels in the root digests than in the leaf digests; levels were greater in the nonaccumulator than in the accumulator plant.

  A bioactive annuionone from sunflower leaves.:Phytochemistry. 2005 Aug;66(16):1919-21.Anjum T, Bajwa R.Department of Mycology and Plant Pathology, University of the Punjab, Lahore - 54590, Pakistan. anjum@mpp.pu.edu.pk

 From aqueous extract of Helianthus annuus L. cv. Suncross-42 leaves, a annuionone have been isolated. The structural elucidation of the compound is based on 1H and 13C NMR spectral studies. The potential of the compound to be used as natural herbicide template has been evaluated through laboratory bioassays against five weed species. Results proved annuionone H as a potent plant growth inhibitor that can be exploit for the development of a herbicide model.

  Sunpollenol and five other rearranged 3,4-seco-tirucallane-type triterpenoids from sunflower pollen and their inhibitory effects on Epstein-Barr virus activation.:J Nat Prod. 2003 Nov;66(11):1476-9.

 Six new rearranged 3,4-seco-tirucallane-type triterpenoids (1-6) have been isolated from the diethyl ether extract of the pollen grains of sunflower (Helianthus annuus). These compounds were evaluated with respect to their inhibitory effects on the induction of Epstein-Barr virus early antigen (EBV-EA) induced by the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) in Raji cells. All of the compounds tested showed potent inhibitory effects on EBV-EA activation (97-100% inhibition at 1 x 10(3) mol ratio/TPA).


  Isolation, structural elucidation, and inhibitory effects of terpenoid and lipid constituents from sunflower pollen on Epstein-Barr virus early antigen induced by tumor promoter, TPA.:J Agric Food Chem. 2003 May 7;51(10):2949-57.

 Eight fatty acid esters of triterpene alcohols (1-8), four free triterpene alcohols (9, 12, 17, and 18), four diterpene acids (19-22), two tocopherol-related compounds (23 and 24), four estolides (25-28), three syn-alkane-4,6-diols (29-31), one 1,3-dioxoalkanoic acid (32), and one aliphatic ketone (33), along with the mixture of free fatty acids, were isolated from the diethyl ether extract of the pollen grains of sunflower (Helianthus annuus). Among these compounds, 14 (2-8, 12, 23, 25-28, and 33) were new naturally occurring compounds, and their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic methods. Twenty-four terpenoids and lipids (1-4, 6-9, 12, and 19-33) and six free triterpene triols (10, 11, and 13-16), derived from their fatty acid esters (2, 3, and 5-8) by alkaline hydrolysis, were evaluated with respect to their inhibitory effects on the induction of Epstein-Barr virus early antigen (EBV-EA) induced by the tumor promoter, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), in Raji cells, which is known to be a primary screening test for antitumor promoters. Among the 30 compounds tested, 21 compounds possessing a di- or a polycyclic ring system in the molecule (1-4, 6-16, and 19-24) showed potent inhibitory effects on EBV-EA induction (91-100% inhibition at 1 x 10(3) mol ratio/TPA).

  Bioactive terpenoids from sunflower leaves cv. Peredovick.:Phytochemistry. 2002 Nov;61(6):687-92.Mac¨ªas FA, Torres A, Galindo JL, Varela RM, Alvarez JA, Molinillo JM.Grupo de Alelopati;a, Departamento de Qui;mica Org¨¢nica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de C¨¢diz, C/. Rep¨²blica Saharaui s/n, Apdo. 40, 11510-Puerto Real, Spain. famacias@uca.es

 The CH(2)Cl(2) extract of dried leaves of Helianthus annuus L. cv. Peredovick(R) has yielded, in addition to the known sesquiterpene lactones annuolide E and leptocarpin, and the sesquiterpenes heliannuols A, C, D, F, G, H, I, the new bisnorsesquiterpene, annuionone E, and the new sesquiterpenes heliannuol L, helibisabonol A and helibisabonol B. Structural elucidation was based on extensive spectral (one and two-dimensional NMR experiments) and theoretical studies. The sesquiterpenes heliannuol A and helibisabonol A and the sesquiterpene lactone leptocarpin inhibited the growth of etiolated wheat coleoptiles.

  A species-selective allelopathic substance from germinating sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) seeds.:Phytochemistry. 2001 Mar;56(6):577-81.

 From the exudate of germinating sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) seeds was isolated a stereoisomer of diversifolide, 4, 15-dinor-3-hydroxy-1(5)-xanthene-12,8-olide (designated sundiversifolide) as determined by analysis of its IR, APCI-, ESI- and HR-MS and 13C and 1H NMR spectra. This substance inhibited shoot and root growth of cat's-eyes by about 50% at a concentration of 30 ppm. It also showed species-selective activity on the shoot and root growth of tested plants. When cat's-eyes seeds were incubated together with sunflower seeds, the cat's-eyes growth was inhibited. Furthermore, it was detected from an extract of river sand when sunflower seeds were incubated on the sand. These results indicate that sundiversifolide has an allelopathic function in sunflower plants.

  Influence of refining steps on trace allergenic protein content in sunflower oil:J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2000 Nov;106(5):962-7. Zitouni N, Errahali Y, Metche M, Kanny G, Moneret-Vautrin DA, Nicolas JP, Fremont S.Laboratoire de Biochimie M¨¦dicale et P¨¦diatrique, Facult¨¦ de M¨¦decine (U 308), Nancy, France.

 BACKGROUND: Although allergy to sunflower seed and oil is a relatively rare occurrence, several cases of sunflower seed allergy have been observed, and we have already described one case of anaphylaxis after eating sunflower oil and margarine. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to determine and characterize the allergens from sunflower oil at the different steps of the refining process: crude pressed oil (step A), acidification and neutralization (step B), pregumming by centrifugation (step C), washing (step D), bleaching (step E), gumming by filtration (step F), and deodorization (step G). METHODS: A sample of oil from each step of the process (steps A to G) was heat extracted with PBS. The protein concentration of each extract was evaluated by using the micro-Bradford assay. Samples were run on SDS-PAGE. The immunoblot was performed with the serum of a patient sensitized to sunflower seed and oil. RESULTS: The extracts obtained after each step reveal a decrease in total protein concentration from 13.6 microg/mL to 0. 22 microg/mL. The result of SDS-PAGE shows 5 bands, from 67 kd to 145 kd, with the most abundant being the 67-kd protein. The amount of this protein decreases after each step of the process. It is, however, still present in trace amounts in the refined oil. The 67-kd protein, which is mainly present in the crude oil and slightly in the refined oil, has been shown to be allergenic. CONCLUSION: Because of the presence of allergenic proteins, refined sunflower oil may pose a threat to people highly sensitized to sunflower seeds.

  Composition of lipids from sunflower pollen (Helianthus annuus).:Phytochemistry. 2000 Jun;54(3):325-36.Schulz S, Arsene C, Tauber M, McNeil JN.Institut f¨¹r Organische Chemie, Technische Universit?t Braunschweig, Germany. stefan.schulz@tu-bs.de

 The contents of the pollen lipids of the sunflower Helianthus annuus are described. The major component is the seco-triterpene helianyl octanoate, followed by new beta-diketones as second major group of compounds. They exhibit a shorter chain length and often other positions of the functional group compared to already known beta-diketones. Of particular note are the 1-phenyl-beta-diketones, not previously reported from nature. Further lipid classes present are related hydroxyketones and diols. Interestingly, new beta-dioxoalkanoic acids are present in the extracts, which most likely are biogenetic precursors of the diketones. Additionally, we investigated the composition of the pollen coat which resembles the total extract, but lacks the dioxoalkanoic acids and certain estolides.


  Antimicrobial benzopyrans from the receptacle of sunflower.:Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 1996 Apr;60(4):664-5.

 The antimicrobial substances in sunflower (Helianthus annuus) were investigated. Two antifungal benzopyran derivatives, 6-acetyl-2,2-dimethyl-1,2-benzopyran (1) and 6-acetyl-7-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-1,2-benzopyran (2), were isolated from the ethanol extract of sunflower receptacles. The antimicrobial activities of isolated compounds 1 and 2 and their related compounds (precocenes) were evaluated by the paper disk method, using Pyricularia oryzae as the test fungus.

  Isolation and partial characterization of allergens from Helianthus annuus (sunflower) pollen:Allergy. 1994 Dec;49(10):848-54.de la Hoz F, Melero JA, Gonz¨¢lez R, Carreira J.Alergia e Inmunolog¨ªa Abell¨® SA, Madrid, Spain.

 We have purified four allergens from Helianthus annuus (sunflower) pollen, hereafter named as allergens a, b, c, and d. Under native conditions, allergen a has a mol. mass of 32, allergen b has one of 24, and allergens c and d each have one of 55 kDa. At the least, allergens b, c, and d demonstrate charge heterogeneity, and the electrophoretic mobility of allergens c and d increases when these allergens are deglycosylated with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid. Cross-reactivity among the four allergens and with the whole extract is very high, and each allergen recognizes IgE in a high proportion of patients sensitized to sunflower pollen.

  Dependence of Photosynthesis of Sunflower and Maize Leaves on Phosphate Supply, Ribulose-1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase Activity, and Ribulose-1,5-Bisphosphate Pool Size.:Plant Physiol. 1992 Mar;98(3):801-807.Jacob J, Lawlor DW.Agriculture and Food Research Council Institute of Arable Crops Research, Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom.

 Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. cv Asmer) and maize (Zea mays L. cv Eta) plants were grown under controlled environmental conditions with a nutrient solution containing 0, 0.5, or 10 millimolar inorganic phosphate. Phosphate-deficient leaves had lower photosynthetic rates at ambient and saturating CO(2) and much smaller carboxylation efficiencies than those of plants grown with ample phosphate. In addition, phosphate-deficient leaves contained smaller quantities of total soluble proteins and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) per unit area, although the relative proportions of these components remained unchanged. The specific activity of Rubisco (estimated in the crude extracts of leaves) was significantly reduced by phosphate deficiency in sunflower but not in maize. Thus, there was a strong dependence of carboxylation efficiency and CO(2)-saturated photosynthetic rate on Rubisco activity only in sunflower. Phosphate deficiency decreased the 3-phosphoglycerate and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) contents of the leaf in both species. The ratio of 3-phosphoglycerate to RuBP decreased in sunflower but increased in maize with phosphate deficiency. The calculated concentrations of RuBP and RuBP-binding sites in the chloroplast stroma decreased markedly with phosphate deficiency. The ratio of the stromal concentration of RuBP to that of RuBP-binding sites decreased in sunflower but was not affected in maize with phosphate deficiency. We suggest that a decrease in this ratio made the RuBP-binding sites more vulnerable to blockage or inactivation by tight-binding metabolites/inhibitors, causing a decrease in the initial specific activity of Rubisco in the crude extract from phosphate-deficient sunflower leaves. However, the decrease in Rubisco specific activity was much less than the decrease in the RuBP content in the leaf and its concentration in the stroma. A large ratio of RuBP to RuBP-binding sites may have maintained the Rubisco-specific activity in phosphate-deficient maize leaves. We conclude that the effect of phosphate deficiency is more on RuBP regeneration than on Rubisco activity in both sunflower and maize.

  Ent-Kaurene Biosynthesis in Extracts of Helianthus annuus L. Seedlings.:Plant Physiol. 1982 Mar;69(3):637-641.Shen-Miller J, West CA.Division of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90024.

 Kaurene synthetase B activity (conversion of copalyl pyrophosphate to ent-kaurene) is readily detectable in crude cell-free extracts of 3- to 4-day old dark-grown sunflower (Helianthus annuus cv. Mammoth) seedlings, whereas little or no kaurene synthetase AB activity (conversion of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate to ent-kaurene) can be found in these extracts under comparable assay conditions. A low amount of AB activity is evident only if an extensively dialyzed extract is used in low concentrations as the enzyme source. One factor which may contribute to the low apparent levels of AB activity is the presence of inhibitory factors in the crude sunflower extract since these extracts can be shown to act as a potent inhibitor of Marah macrocarpus endosperm kaurene synthetase AB activity. Heat treatment (100 degrees C) or dialysis of the sunflower extract reduces the amount of its inhibitory activity. Also, it was observed that low concentrations of extensively dialyzed sunflower extracts act to stimulate M. macrocarpus AB activity. There is no evidence for the presence of an inhibitory factor for M. macrocarpus kaurene synthetase B activity in sunflower extracts. However, there does appear to be present in the crude preparation of sunflower extract a dialyzable factor(s) that impedes its own B activity. There is little information to date on the nature of these inhibitory and stimulatory factors for kaurene synthetase activity or their possible roles in physiological regulation. The possible presence of such factors should be considered, however, when attempting to evaluate kaurene synthetase activities in extracts of vegetative plants.

  Inhibition of stigmasterol oxidation by antioxidants in purified sunflower oil.:J AOAC Int. 2004 Mar-Apr;87(2):499-504.Rudzi¨½ska M, Korczak J, Gramza A, Wasowicz E, Dutta PC.The August Cieszkowski Agricultural University of Pozna?, Food Technology Department, Wojska Polskiego 31, 60-624 Pozna?, Poland. magdar@owl.au.poznan.pl

 A study was conducted to analyze the effect of the antioxidants butylated hydroxytoluene, alpha-tocopherol, ethanolic extracts of rosemary, and green tea on stigmasterol resistance against degradation and formation of its oxidation products in purified triacylglycerols (TAG) from sunflower oil. The content of stigmasterol and its oxidation products 7alpha- and 7beta-hydroxy, alpha- and beta-epoxy, triol, and 7-ketostigmasterol were determined during incubation at 60 degrees C for 3, 6, and 9 days. In addition, peroxide value and fatty acid composition were also determined in the samples. Correlation between the levels of the accumulated stigmasterol oxides and peroxide value of the TAG with antioxidants during incubation was significant only for rosemary extract (R = 0.6799, p < 0.05). The lack of correlation precludes the use of peroxide values to determine the level of sterol oxidation products in the used model system. Correlation between stigmasterol content and the level of stigmasterol oxides was significant for all samples (R = 0.8874, p < 0.05). The total increase of the stigmasterol oxidation products was the lowest in samples with alpha-tocopherol, but the content of stigmasterol-triol increased the most in this sample. In all the analyzed samples, alpha-epoxy-stigmasterol was formed in the highest amounts among the analyzed stigmasterol oxidation products.


  Nutritive value of full-fat sunflower seeds in broiler diets.:Poult Sci. 2004 Mar;83(3):441-6.Selvaraj RK, Purushothaman MR.Department of Animal Nutrition, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal, India 637001. rselvaraj@ucdavis.edu

 A study was conducted to evaluate the nutritive value and inclusion level of sunflower seed (SFS) in broiler diets. SFS contained 38.7% ether extract (EE), 16.9% CP, 14.9% crude fiber (CF), 3.5% ash, 0.57% lysine, and 0.46% methionine (89.2% DM basis). The AME (kcal/ kg) content of SFS in roosters was 5,225 and in broilers at 4, 18, and 35 d of age was 3,493, 5,132, and 5,162, respectively. The CP, EE, and CF digestibilities were 80.4, 71.2, and 11.4%, respectively. In an isocaloric and isonitrogenous diet containing SFS at 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20%, SFS up to 20% did not affect weight gain and feed consumption, but the feed conversion ratio was improved (P < 0.05) when broilers were fed 15 or 20% SFS in the starter and finisher diets. CF digestibility of starter diet was significantly lower when 15 or 20% SFS was included. CF digestibility of the finisher diet and digestibility of other nutrients in starter and finisher diets were comparable in all treatment groups. Liver and muscle lipid content, plasma total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol content, muscle cholesterol content, dressing percentage, liver weight, and giblet weight (as % live weight) were comparable among all treatment groups. Abdominal fat was increased in birds fed 20% SFS. Percentage skin was decreased in broilers fed > or = 10% SFS.

  Asthma induced by canary food mix.:Allergy Asthma Proc. 2003 Jul-Aug;24(4):265-8.Rodr¨ªguez B, Rodr¨ªguez A, de Barrio M, Tornero P, Baeza ML.Servicio de Alergia, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Mara?¨®n, C/Doctor Esquerdo, 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain.

 A 42-year-old woman reported immediate rhinoconjunctivitis, asthma, and contact urticaria while handling bird food. Skin-prick tests were positive to Lolium, Cynodon, Phragmites, Cupressus sempervirens, Cupressus arizonica, Chenopodium, sunflower pollen and seed, mugwort, chamomile, Chrysanthemum, Taraxacum, canary seed, and black seed (Guizotia abyssinica). The patient's serum-specific immunoglobulin (IgE) to Taraxacum, black seed, and canary seed was positive. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay inhibition studies revealed a 97 and 27% IgE-binding inhibition of whole canary food IgE by black seed and Taraxacum pollen, respectively. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis immunoblotting showed two IgE-binding protein bands of 11 and 44 kDa in the G. abyssinica extract. These two bands were totally inhibited by sunflower seed, mugwort, and Taraxacum extracts. Specific bronchial challenge with black seed extract was positive. The patient was able to feed her canary with birdseeds after she removed black seeds. We report a case of asthma caused by black seed (G. abyssinica) used as canary food in a patient previously allergic to pollen (olea europaea, grass, and mugwort) and sunflower seeds.

  Chemical composition and nutritive value of kapok seed meal for broiler chickens.:Br Poult Sci. 2003 Jul;44(3):505-9.Narahari D, Asha Rajini R.Department of Poultry Science, Madras Veterinary College, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, India. dnarahari@scientist.com

 1. Mechanically extracted kapok (Ceiba pentandra) seed meal (KSM) contained 324 g crude protein, 97 g ether extract, 289 g fibre, 94 g ash, 128 g available carbohydrates, 3-8 g calcium, 11 g phosphorus, 10.4 g cyclopropenoid fatty acids and 15 g tannins per kg. 2. In a 4 x 2 factorial experiment, KSM was incorporated in broiler starter and finisher feeds at 0, 30, 60 and 90 g/kg, replacing sunflower meal (SFM) w/w; without and with multi-enzyme supplementation. 3. No significant differences were noticed between treatments in body weight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion efficiency, mortality or carcase yields. 4. Multi-enzyme (amylase, endoxylanase, hemicellulase, beta-glucanase, pectinase, phytase and protease) supplementation did not improve the growth performance of broilers fed on the KSM diets.

  Preservation of alpha-tocopherol in sunflower oil by herbs and spices:Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2000 Sep;51(5):327-39.Beddows CG, Jagait C, Kelly MJ.School of Health Science, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK.

 The ability of some commercially available herb and spice extracts to preserve alpha-tocopherol in sunflower oil during heating at 85-105 degrees C was assessed using sunflower oil as a model system. The Rancimat was evaluated for the heating stage and was used throughout as it was shown to be viable: alpha-tocopherol did not evaporate under the test conditions. The delay in the onset of rancidity was found to be directly related to the initial alpha-tocopherol concentration (P < 0.01). Rosemary, thyme, turmeric, sage, oregano and cumin extracts (2000 mg.kg-1) delayed rancidity (P < 0.01) and preserved alpha-tocopherol (P < 0.01). Some preservation was observed with clove extract but coriander and cardamom extracts were pro-oxidants. With thyme extract, the log of the induction time (as an indicator of the delay in rancidity) was directly proportional to the temperature (85-100 degrees C). The ethyl acetate, hexane and methanol extracts of fresh sage were effective for preserving alpha-tocopherol (P < 0.01). With thyme, rosemary and sage extracts, the increase in the preservation of alpha-tocopherol was directly related to the concentration of the herb extract (P < 0.01) and was quite effective even at 100 mg.kg-1. The increased delay in the onset of rancidity was due directly to the improved preservation of alpha-tocopherol (P < 0.01). In further experiments, the preservative effect of turmeric was shown not to be due to its reported major antioxidant, curcumin, even though it delayed rancidity. When herb/spice extracts were examined mixed with thyme, bay and turmeric showed synergism (P < 0.01) whereas bay alone was slightly inhibitory. The mode of action appeared to be due to free radical activity rather than through singlet oxygen generation.

  Studies on the energy content of pigeon feeds I. Determination of digestibility and metabolizable energy content.:Poult Sci. 1999 Dec;78(12):1757-62.Hullar I, Meleg I, Fekete S, Romvari R.Department of Animal Breeding, Nutrition and Laboratory Animal Science, University of Veterinary Science, Budapest, Hungary.

 The digestibility coefficient and metabolizable energy (ME) content of the most important pigeon feeds (corn, wheat, barley, red and white millet, sorghum, canary seed, peas, lentils, sunflower, and hemp) were determined. The experiment was carried out using 10 adult male homing pigeons. All feeds were fed alone, in a whole-grain form, ad libitum. Drinking water and grit were offered to the birds on a continuous basis. Each feedstuff was fed to five pigeons in 1-wk cycles. There was no significant difference between the values determined in pigeons and those reported in the literature for chickens among the digestibilities of the CP of the various feeds. For pigeons, the digestibility of carbohydrates (N-free extracts, NFE) was lower (e.g., 62.37 vs 83.00% for barley and 63.45 vs 77.00% for peas), whereas the ether extract (EE) was higher (e.g., 75.58 vs 61.00% for barley and 82.59 vs 80.00% for peas) in pigeons compared with chickens. As a result, the AMEn values determined in pigeons did not differ significantly from those reported for chickens but tended to be slightly higher. For feeds of high-oil content, that difference may be somewhat larger. The correlation between the CP, EE, crude fiber (CF), and NFE contents of the feeds and the ME values determined in this experiment were calculated by multivariate linear regression. It was concluded that it was more accurate to determine and tabulate the ME contents of other potential pigeon feeds directly by experimental methods rather than using an equation.


  Mycotoxins in ingredients of animal feeding stuffs: I. Determination of Alternaria mycotoxins in oilseed rape meal and sunflower seed meal.:Food Addit Contam. 1997 Apr;14(3):249-62.Nawaz S, Scudamore KA, Rainbird SC.Central Science Laboratory, Slough, Berks, UK.

 A multi-toxin method was developed for the detection of some of the known Alternaria mycotoxins, altenuene, iso-altenuene, alternariol, alternariol monomethyl ether, tenuazonic acid and altertoxin I in oilseed rape meal and sunflower seed meal. The method involves extraction of the toxins with an acidified mixture of acetonitrile: aqueous potassium chloride solution, followed by liquid-liquid extraction and further purification using gel permeation chromatography. The final extract is then examined on a reverse phase high performance liquid chromatographic gradient system with both fluorescence and UV detection. The average recoveries found were 94, 84, 109, 85, 66 and 93% for spiked oilseed rape meal samples and 91, 89, 96, 75, 61 and 102% for spiked sunflower meal samples with limits of determination of about 40, 50, 50, 40, 350 and 200 micrograms/kg for the above toxins, respectively. Detection limits were about 30% of these values. Thirty samples of oilseed rape meal and 22 samples of sunflower meal were examined using the methods developed. Twenty of the oilseed rape products which had been grown in the UK were free from contamination while 10 contained one or more of tenuazonic acid, alternariol and alternariol monomethyl ether. In contrast, all of the sunflower meal samples, of Argentinean, Indian or EC origin, were contaminated with one or more of alternariol, alternariol monomethyl ether and tenuazonic acid. Average levels of alternariol, alternariol monomethyl ether and tenuazonic acid were 68, 55 and 730 micrograms/kg, respectively for the contaminated samples of oilseed rape meal and 180, 100 and 1900 micrograms/kg, respectively for the contaminated samples of sunflower seed meal.

  Comparison of fullfat soybean, sunflower seed and protected fat as fat supplements for their effect on the performance of growing-finishing bulls and carcass fatty acid composition.:Acta Vet Hung. 1997;45(2):151-63.Eweedah N, R¨®zsa L, Gundel J, V¨¢rhegyi J.Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt.

 One hundred and twelve Holstein bulls (179-203 kg) were allotted to four dietary treatment groups (I: control; II: fullfat soybean diet; III: sunflower seed diet, and IV: protected fat diet) and used in a 120-day comparative feedlot trial to evaluate the effect of toasted fullfat soybean, whole sunflower seed and protected fat (calcium soap) on their weight gain, feed conversion and carcass fatty acid composition. The diets consisted of 45-46% concentrate and 55-54% corn silage. Digestibility, nutritive value as well as degradability were also determined. The apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, N-free extract and crude protein as well as nutritive value were almost similar for the four diets. However, crude fibre, acid detergent fibre (ADF) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) digestibilities decreased with increasing fat level but the differences were not significant. The inclusion of fullfat soybean or whole sunflower seed significantly (P < 0.05) increased the digestion of fat. Ruminal degradability of protein and dry matter were significantly (P < 0.01) lower for toasted fullfat soybean mixture compared to whole sunflower mixture. The inclusion of toasted fullfat soybean, whole sunflower seed and calcium soap in the diets was not effective in improving the bulls' weight gain or feed conversion in this trial. As both toasted fullfat soybean and whole sunflower seed increased the proportions of C18:1, C18:2 and C18:3 in adipose fat tissue and decreased the proportion of C16:0, they consequently significantly (P < 0.01) increased the ratio of unsaturated fatty acids. Whole sunflower seed was more effective than fullfat soybean. However, inclusion of the calcium soap had no effect on the fatty acid profiles in the present study.

  Antioxidant effects of "beta catechin".:Biochem Mol Biol Int. 1995 Apr;35(5):995-1008.

 The free radical scavenging effect of "beta catechin", an antioxidant preparation containing green tea extract, ascorbic acid, sunflower seed extract, dunaliella carotene and natural vitamin E, was evaluated. Two techniques were used: electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry to measure radical-scavenging activity, and measurement of its effect on iron-induced lipid peroxidation in brain. A 0.05% solution of "beta catechin" completely scavenged 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals (6.1 x 10(15)spins/ml). A 10% solution of "beta catechin" completely scavenged superoxide (4.2 x 10(15) spins/ml) generated by the hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase system. An undiluted solution of "beta catechin" scavenged about 90% of hydroxyl radicals (3.5 x 10(15) spins/ml) generated by the Fenton reaction. "beta catechin"s effect on the accumulation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) was evaluated from tissue obtained from the ipsilateral cortex of FeCl3-induced epileptic rats. Oral administration of "beta catechin" (1 or 2ml/kg body weight) both inhibited TBARS formation and increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the ipsilateral cortex 30 min after iron-salt injection into the left sensory motor cortex. These data suggest that "beta catechin" has an antioxidant effect and may have a prophylactic effect against aging and other neurological diseases related to free radical mechanisms.

  Purification and characterization of a fatty acyl-ester hydrolase from post-germinated sunflower seeds.:Biochim Biophys Acta. 1995 Mar 16;1255(2):105-12.Teiss¨¨re M, Borel M, Caillol B, Nari J, Gardies AM, Noat G.Laboratoire de Lipolyse Enzymatique, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Marseille, France.

 Fatty acyl-ester hydrolase was not detectable in dry sunflower seeds using various p-nitrophenyl-acyl-esters, 1,2-O-didodecyl-rac-glycero-3-glutaric acid-resorufin ester or emulsified sunflower oil as substrate. After inhibition of the seeds, acyl-ester hydrolase activity slowly developed in cotyledon extracts and was maximal after 5 days. No activity was directly measurable on oil bodies. The enzyme was purified 615-fold to apparent homogeneity, as determined by performing SDS-PAGE electrophoresis, and biochemically characterized. With p-nitrophenyl-caprylate the optimum pH was around 8.0. The purification procedure involved an acetone powder from 5-day dark-germinated seedlings, chloroform-butanol extraction and three chromatography steps. We obtained 35 micrograms of pure enzyme from 250 g of fresh cotyledons with an activity yield of around 7%. It should be possible to subsequently improve this low recovery as we gave priority here, in the first instance, to purity at the expense of the yield. The enzyme consisted of one glycosylated polypeptide chain with a molecular mass of approx. 45 kDa and, as far as we could tell, it did not seem to require metal ions to be fully active, as it was not inhibited by EDTA or o-phenanthroline and not activated by various mono or bivalent metal ions. The amino acid composition showed the presence of four cysteine and four tryptophan residues. The enzyme was partially inhibited by dithiothreitol, DTNB and PCMB. The fact that high inhibition was observed in the presence of PMSF indicates that a serine residue may possibly be involved in the catalytic mechanism. The hydrophobicity index was about 53.6% which places this enzyme in the class of the soluble proteins in good agreement with the fact that it was mainly present in the soluble part of the crude extract. Partial characterization of glycan chains, using antiglycan antibodies, showed the presence of complex Asn-linked glycans. The enzyme was active on purified sunflower glycerol derivatives. It was also able to hydrolyze monooleyl and dioleyl glycerols, as well as phosphatidylcholine, but not cholesteryl esters. Using p-nitrophenyl-acyl-esters as substrate, the highest activity was observed with middle-chain derivatives (C6 and C8). Its maximum activity was about 0.015 units mg-1 with sunflower oil. It was not activated by an organic solvent such as isooctane. This enzyme probably is involved in acyl-ester hydrolysis which follows triacylglycerol mobilization by true lipases.

  A case of anaphylaxis caused by sunflower seed:

 A 14 years old boy experienced an anaphylactic reaction of dyspnea, vomiting, urticaria and hypotension after he ate sunflower seeds. Specific IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to sunflower seen extract was demonstrated by skin tests and radioallergosorbent test (RAST). By immunoblotting test analysis (SDS-PAGE, Western blotting method), the allergenic activity of sunflower seem were shown to be in the MW range of 13.5 Kd.


  The prececal digestibility of corn, sunflower, cottonseed, linseed and soybean extract meal in swine with ileocecal anastomoses:Arch Tierernahr. 1993;43(3):215-26. German. Hennig U, W¨¹nsche J, Souffrant WB, Peters G, Kreienbring F.Forschungsinstitut f¨²r die Biologie landwirtschaftlicher Nutztiere, Dummerstorf-Rostock, Forschungsbereich Ern?hrungsphysiologie Oskar Kellner, Germany.

 Five pigs were each surgically prepared with end-to-side (E.t.S.) and end-to-end (E.t.E.) ileorectal anastomoses (IRA). The ileo-caecal valve was preserved in both modifications. The animals were fed diets with maize or solvent extracted oil seed meals from sunflower, cottonseed, linseed or soybean and maize in combination with one of these oil seed meals. The aim of the experiment was to estimate the influence of both IRA-techniques on the precaecal nutrient digestibility and amino acid (AA) absorption. The crude carbohydrate digestibility in two of the five single protein diets and in three of the four blends were significantly higher in the E.t.S.--than in the E.t.E.--IRA group. There were no significant differences between the two IRA-modifications in crude protein (CP) and crude fat digestibility. No differences were observed in AA absorption for the single components maize, sunflower- and cottonseed meal. The absorption values of isoleucine, leucine and valine from linseed meal were significantly more than 5%-units higher in the E.t.S.-group than in E.t.E.-animals. There were similar results in soybean meal for four essential AA but with differences below 5%-units. Accordingly the two IRA-modifications did not influence the AA absorption to a practically important extent.


  Scientific References:

  1.Research Update:Helianthus annuus,Sunflower Kernel.