Microbiological Quality of Cyperus esculentus L. Products Sold in Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso (Burkina Faso)

This study aimed to assess the microbiological quality of tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus L.) products sold in Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso. The microbial load of tubers and tiger nut milk was determined using ISO 4833-1 (2003) standard (total mesophilic aerobic flora), NF ISO 7954 (1998) standard (yeasts and molds), and ISO 4832 (2006) standard (total coliforms, thermotolerant coliforms). The results showed that tiger nut tubers had an average microbial load between 4.86 ± 7.03 × 106 UFC/g and 1.82 ± 2.30 × 107 UFC/g for total mesophilic aerobic flora, from 4.34 ± 10.6 × 105 UFC/g to 3.52 ± 4.54 × 106 UFC/g for yeasts and molds, from 2.23 ± 2.25 × 105 UFC/g to 1.41 ± 2.16 × 105 UFC/g for total coliforms and from 1.83 ± 2.03 × 105 UFC/g to 7.0 ± 10.8 × 104 CFU/g for thermotolerant coliforms. For tiger nut milk samples, the average microbial load varied from 3.48 ± 2.98 × 106 CFU/g to 2.80 ± 5.69 × 107 CFU/g for total mesophilic aerobic flora, from 5.00 ± 7.21 × 104 CFU/g to 1.88 ± 3.31 × 105 CFU/g for yeasts and molds, from 4.58 ± 10.4 × 104 CFU/g to 6.31 ± 9.17 × 105 CFU/g for total coliforms and 7.00 ± 7.00 × 103 CFU/g to 2.87 ± 5.86 × 105 CFU/g for thermotolerant coliforms. This study revealed that the tubers and tiger nut milk sold in Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso had a high microbial load which could lead to the degradation of these products and food poisoning for consumers.

Synergistic Mixture of Cyperus esculentus, Phoenix dactylifera and Cocos nucifera Aqueous Extract: Its Liver and Kidney Benefits in Male Albino Rat Model

Background: The synergistic mixture of Cyperus esculentus, Phoenix dactylifera and Cocos nucifera (STCD) aqueous extract is a common drink in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. It is assumed to have various health benefits. However, the synergistic mixture of the content has not been studied scientifically, hence the need to evaluate its effect on the liver and kidney being part of the body’s metabolic organs. Aim: This study evaluated the synergistic mixture of Cyperus esculentus, Phoenix dactylifera and Cocos nucifera (STCD) aqueous extract in male albino rats. Methods: Acute toxicity LD50 of STCD was carried out, afterwards, fifteen male albino rats were grouped into three groups with 5 rats in each group;Control, 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg STCD. The rats were administered STCD orally 24 hourly, for 21 days, with feed and water ad libitum. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis of the liver and kidney biomarkers, while the liver and kidney tissues were harvested for histopathological examination using standard laboratory methods. Descriptive statistics were computed and expressed as Mean ± SD. One-way ANOVA and Turkeys test was performed. P value ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Acute toxicity LD50 of STCD was observed to be ≥2404.2 mg/kg body weight. An increase in the percentage body weight difference of 8.39% and 2.86% was observed for 200 and 400 mg/kg STCD groups. Also, the liver weight was observed to increase in 400 mg/kg (3.92 ± 1.42) in comparison to the control group (3.48 ± 1.61), a decrease in the kidney weight was observed in all groups administered STCD in comparison to the control group. Administration of STCD at both 200 and 400 mg/kg revealed a decrease in the concentration of the hepatic biomarkers AST, ALT, ALP, TP, Albumin, Total and conjugated bilirubin. The kidney biomarker Urea was observed to decrease in concentration for 200 mg/kg STCD (4.60 ± 1.83) and 400 mg/kg STCD (4.76 ± 0.74) when compared to the control group (6.32 ± 2.74). A decrease in Creatinine was observed in 200 mg/kg (91.80 ± 34.69) and 400 mg/kg (98.60 ± 15.53) in comparison to the control group (117.60 ± 42.88). The histological examination of the liver of rats administered STCD revealed structural normal central vein, hepatocytes and portal tract. The kidney examination revealed normal glomeruli and normal tubule. Conclusion: The findings of this study opine that STCD improved the health of both the liver and kidney as evidenced via the biomarkers and histological examinations of the liver and kidney. This study therefore recommends the intake of STCD at moderate doses for improved liver and kidney function due to its bioactive compounds and nutritional content.

WEPS模型在乌兰布和沙漠油莎豆(Cyperus esculentus)种植区的应用

为探究WEPS模型的风蚀预测效果,在内蒙古乌兰布和沙漠油莎豆(Cyperus esculentus)种植区,对全采收(CK)、留4采6、留6采6油莎豆纯作和油莎豆-梭梭间作留茬4种不同采收模式地表进行风蚀监测,并利用2020年11月15日和12月26日2次实测风蚀数据对WEPS模型风蚀预测结果进行验证。结果表明:(1)与全采收相比,3种留茬模式均能有效降低风力对种植区地表的侵蚀作用,地表防风固沙能力随留茬数量的增加而提高。(2)WEPS模型预测单宽风蚀量与实测结果有明显差异,模型值最大为实测值的10.16倍,最小为实测值的0.58倍;模型预测质量有不确定性,在植被覆盖度较高的地表预测效果较差。(3)模型预测的单宽输沙量随实测值的增加呈幂函数增加,能够较准确地预测不同地表特征风蚀量变化趋势;在风蚀定量化估算上,WEPS模型还需根据实际风蚀环境对公式及参数进行修正。

油莎豆种质资源遗传多样性的RAPD分析

本研究利用RAPD分子标记技术对19份油莎豆资源和1份香附子资源进行遗传多样性分析,从96个引物中筛选出24个条带清晰且重复性好的引物,扩增得到134个位点,其中94个位点具有多态性,多态性率为70.15%。NTSYS聚类分析显示,供试油莎豆与香附子遗传相似系数的变化幅度0.41~0.46,供试油莎豆材料间遗传相似系数的变化幅度为0.92~1.00,以遗传相似系数0.40为阈值,可将供试油莎豆与香附子聚成两大类。结果表明,供试油莎豆材料之间相似性较高,遗传基础相近,且油莎豆材料地域性不明显;莎草属种间遗传多样性丰富。RAPD分析结果为后续研究莎草族种质间的遗传多样性提供理论依据。

油莎豆转录组测序及生物信息学分析

为获得油莎豆的基因数据和初步了解其基因功能,本研究基于RNA-Seq技术对油莎豆幼苗叶片和根的混合样品进行转录组测序和生物信息学相关分析。对测序数据进行序列组装共获得19 607条Unigene,总长度为21 274 744 bp。将获得Unigene分别与COG、GO、KEGG、KOG、Pfam、Swissprot和Nr数据库进行比对,共计12 896条Unigene被注释,占总数的65.77%。其中7 527条Unigene在GO数据库中比对获得注释,根据功能分为细胞组分、分子功能和生物进程3大类52个亚类;12 288条Unigene在Nr数据库中获得注释,注释的同源序列主要来自菠萝;通过KOG数据库比对,7 271条Unigene被注释到25个类别中,其中参与一般功能、翻译后修饰及信号传导的注释基因最多。在所有Unigene中共检索到154 456个SNP位点,以碱基转换类型为主。本研究为油莎豆功能基因挖掘和分子标记开发提供理论基础。