Antioxidant Activities of Essential Oils and Their Major Components in Scavenging Free Radicals, Inhibiting Lipid Oxidation and Reducing Cellular Oxidative Stress.

Antioxidant activities of five essential oils (cinnamon, thyme, clove, lavender and peppermint oils) and their major components (eugenol, thymol, linalool, and menthol) were evaluated on scavenging DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1 picrylhydrazyl) free radicals, inhibiting polyunsaturated fatty acid oxidation in fish oil emulsion (FOE), and reducing oxidative stress in human red blood cells (RBC). The essential oils from cinnamon, thyme, clove and their main components, eugenol and thymol, exhibited the highest antioxidant activity in the FOE and RBC systems. It was found that the antioxidant activity of essential oils was positively correlated to the content of eugenol and thymol, while lavender and peppermint oils and their main components, linalool and menthol, had very low antioxidant activity.

Microscopic Observations on Form and Structure of the Worm Enchytraeus buchholzi (Clitellata: Enchytraeidae).

The worm Enchytraeus buchholzi is a new record species for Shaanxi, China, and a key pest on American ginseng Panax quinquefolium. To distinguish the species, the authors prepared its whole mounts and paraffin-embedded sections, and microscopically observed, photographed and measured. Besides, we conducted an experimental study on its DNA barcode.

Collagens made from giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) skin and their odorants.

Two collagens were made from giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) skin by using acid and pepsin extraction methods. The yields of acid-soluble and pepsin-soluble collagens were 26.9 and 58.

Aroma characterization of Hanzhong black tea (Camellia sinensis) using solid phase extraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and olfactometry and sensory analysis.

The unique aroma of the Hanzhong black tea is due to the special location of the harvesting place and specific manufacturing processes. In this study, a solid phase extraction method (SPE) as sample preparation tool was combined with gas chromatography (GC) as separation technique and several detection systems such as mass spectrometry (MS), flame ionization (FID) and olfactometry (O), which, together with sensorial analysis were used to characterize aroma compounds in Hanzhong black tea infusion. Seventy three aroma compounds were identified and quantified in the tea infusion by the GC-MS and GC-FID methods, respectively.

Selectively screen the antibacterial peptide from the hydrolysates of highland barley.

Highland barley is one of the most important industrial crops in Tibetan plateau. Previous research indicated that highland barley has many medical functions. In this work, the antibacterial abilities of highland barley were investigated.

Effects of high hydrostatic pressure on the growth and beta-carotene production of Rhodotorula glutinis.

The effects of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) on the biomass and beta-carotene biosynthesis of Rhodotorula glutinis R68 were studied. After treatment with five repeated cycles at 300 MPa for 15 min, the barotolerant mutant PR68 was obtained. After 72 h of culture, the biomass of mutant PR68 was 21.