The Maturation and Senescence in Relation to Ca^2+,CaMContent and Ca^2+-ATPase Activity and Active OxygenMetabolism in Strawberry Fruits

The changes in content of Ca2 + and CaM, Ca2 + -ATPase activity and active oxygen metabolism during strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch. cv. Chunxing) fruits maturation and senescence were investigated in this study. The results showed that the soluble Ca2+ content and SOD activity in fruits tended to decline and O2 production rate to increase, the Ca2 + -ATPase activity peaked at first and then declined during fruits maturation and senescence. There were the highest CaM content at white stage in preharvest fruits and at marked senescence stage in postharvest ones. The above biochemical changes in fruits stored at low temperature (4℃)were slower than those stored at normal temperature(25℃). Thus, it indicated that the stimulation of calcium messenger system and accumulation of active oxygen free radical were closely related to fruits maturation and senescence.

Antioxidant Activity of Pigment Extracted from Green-Wheat-Bran

The anthocyanin pigment extracted from green-wheat-bran was studied to identify its antioxidant activity.The antioxidant activities of the pigment were evaluated by anti-lipid peroxidation,total antioxidant activity （TAA）,superoxide anion radical scavenging activity （SARSA）,active oxygen scavenging activity （AOSA）,and DPPH （1,1-diphenyl-2 picrylhydrazyl free radical） radical scavenging activity.The results showed that the pigment had higher antioxidant activity and TAA,SARSA,AOSA and DPPH.scavenging activities at a certain concentration than Vc （antiscorbutic vitamin,vitamin C）,and the capacity increased with the increase of pigment concentration.Its TAA was 51.06 U mL-1,1.73 times of Vc,and SARSA 18 025.21 U mL-1,2.26% higher than Vc,and AOSA 3 776.31 U mL-1,1.24 times of Vc.As to the DPPH.scavenging activity of the pigment,there was a trend that higher concentration performed higher activity significantly improved with the company of Vc.The pigment showed significant antioxidant activities evaluated by different assays.Results will provide a better understanding on antioxidant activity of green wheat and allow the screening or breeding of green wheat varieties with higher antioxidant activity for food processing.

Cadmium Accumulation and Its Toxicity in Brittle Culm 1(bc1),a Fragile Rice Mutant

Cadmium （Cd） accumulation and toxicity in rice plants were characterized and identified by using brittle culm 1 （bcl）, a fragile rice mutant and its wild type （Shuangkezao, an indica rice） as materials by hydroponics. The low Cd level didn＇t obviously affect the growth parameters in both rice genotypes, but under high Cd levels （1.0 and 5.0 μmol/L）, the growth of both rice plants were substantially inhibited. Moreover, bcl tended to suffer more seriously from Cd toxicity than Shuangkezao. Cd accumulation in both rice plants increased with the increase of Cd levels. There was a significant difference in Cd accumulation between the two rice genotypes with constantly higher Cd concentration in bcl, which also accumulated more Cd at 0, 0.1, and 1.0 μmol/L Cd levels. The same case was found in the two rice plants grown on Cd-contaminated soil. This suggested that cell wall might play an important role in Cd accumulation in rice plants by the physiological mechanisms. The malondialdehyde （MDA） content, superoxide dismutase （SOD） and peroxidase （POD） activities in rice plants were affected differently under Cd treatments, and which implied that POD might play the main role in detoxifying active oxygen free radical. A significant difference in antioxidative system between the two rice genotypes was found with constantly higher MDA content, SOD and POD activities in bcl. In summary, bcl accumulated more Cd and appeared to be more sensitive to Cd stress compared with its wild type.

The Potential Effect of Puerarin in Preventing Atherosclerosis

Objective To study the activity of Puerarin (Pue) in scavenging oxygen free radical (OFR) and its inhibitory effect on the oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein (LDL). Methods Riboflavin-light system was used to generate superoxide anion, and Fenton reaction to generate hydroxyl free radical to study the activity of Pue in scavenging OFR. Hydrogen peroxide-induced hemolysis was used to study the effect of Pue on erythrocyte hemolysis and malondialdehyde (MDA) production. And ultraviolet ray and cupric sulfate were used to cause the oxidative modification of LDL for studying the inhibitory effect of Pue on LDL oxidative modification. Results (1) Pue could, at concentration of 0. 01 – 1.0 mmol/L, scavenge superoxide anion radical and at concentration of 7.5–75μmol/L scavenge hydroxyl radical in a concentration dependent manner. (2) Pue could, at concentration of 0.1–10 mmol/L, inhibit significantly oxidative hemolysis and MDA production of erythrocyte induced by hydrogen peroxide. (3) Pue of 0.01–1.0 mmol/L could inhibit the oxidative modification of LDL in a concentration dependent manner. Conclusion Pue has an anti-peroxidation effect and shows a potential effect in preventing atherosclerosis.