Histochemical Analysis of Anthocyanins, Carotenoids, and Flavan-3-ols/Proanthocyanidins in L. Fruits during Ripening.

As a result of the high variability of fruit properties in the European plum , a histochemical analysis of fruits at different stages of development was performed to understand the ripening process in cv. 'Colora' (yellow-red skinned) and cv. 'Topfive' (purple skinned).

Bioactive Compounds of Strawberry and Blueberry and Their Potential Health Effects Based on Human Intervention Studies: A Brief Overview.

Strawberries and blueberries are two of the most commonly consumed berries. Berries, in general, are characterized by their highly nutritive compounds, including minerals, vitamins, fatty acids, and dietary fiber, as well as their high content and wide diversity of bioactive compounds, such as phenolic compounds and organic acids. These bioactive compounds have been associated with protective effects against chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, Alzheimer's and other disorders.

DNA and Flavonoids Leach out from Active Nuclei of Taxus and Tsuga after Extreme Climate Stresses.

Severe over-stresses of climate caused dramatic changes in the intracellular distribution of the flavonoids. This was studied in needles from the current year's growth of the following species and varieties: Tsuga canadensis, Taxus baccata, T. aurea, T.

Loss of nuclear flavanols during drought periods in Taxus baccata.

Normally, needles of Taxus baccata during the growth period prominently stain blue for nuclear flavanols with the histochemical DMACA procedure. However, under excess heat and drought conditions, nuclear flavanols of current-year needles decline to zero. Nevertheless, greenish-yellow-coloured flavonols (quercetin derivatives) were still observed in nuclei.

Two-photon excitation with pico-second fluorescence lifetime imaging to detect nuclear association of flavanols.

Two-photon excitation enabled for the first time the observation and measurement of excited state fluorescence lifetimes from three flavanols in solution, which were ~1.0 ns for catechin and epicatechin, but <45 ps for epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). The shorter lifetime for EGCG is in line with a lower fluorescence quantum yield of 0.

Nuclei of Tsuga canadensis: role of flavanols in chromatin organization.

Needle primordia of Tsuga canadensis (hemlock) arising from flank meristems of a shoot apex, form cell lineages consisting of four or eight cells. Within a recently established lineage there is striking uniformity in the pattern of nuclear flavanols. This fact points to an identical transcriptional expression of these flavanols during cell cycling.

Microspore development of three coniferous species: affinity of nuclei for flavonoids.

The nuclear localization of blue-staining flavanols was investigated histochemically throughout microsporogenesis in yellow cypress (Callitropsis nootkatensis (D. Don) Oerst., formerly Cupressus nootkatensis), juniper (Juniperus communis L.

Flavanols in somatic cell division and male meiosis of tea (Camellia sinensis) anthers.

Young anthers excised from closed tea flower buds ( Camellia sinensis L.) were stained as fresh tissues with p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde reagent to localize flavanols associated with nuclei and chromosomes, apart from those flavanols stored in vacuoles. This staining reagent yields a blue colour for flavanols.

Nuclei of tea flowers as targets for flavanols.

The tea plant (Camellia sinensis L.) is famous for its flavanol-based constituents being valuable for human health. These flavanols associate with the nuclei of tea flowers, which is demonstrated histochemically by blue colouration using the selective staining reagent p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (DMACA).

Influence of polyphenols on bacterial biofilm formation and quorum-sensing.

Many bacteria utilize sophisticated regulatory systems to ensure that some functions are only expressed when a particular population density has been reached. The term 'quorum-sensing' has been coined to describe this form of density-dependent gene regulation which relies on the production and perception of small signal molecules by bacterial cells. As in many pathogenic bacteria the production of virulence factors is quorum-sensing regulated, it has been suggested that this form of gene regulation allows the bacteria to remain invisible to the defence systems of the host until the population is sufficiently large to successfully establish the infection.

Flavanol binding of nuclei from tree species.

Light microscopy was used to examine the nuclei of five tree species with respect to the presence of flavanols. Flavanols develop a blue colouration in the presence of a special p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (DMACA) reagent that enables those nuclei loaded with flavanols to be recognized. Staining of the nuclei was most pronounced in both Tsuga canadensis and Taxus baccata, variable in Metasequoia glyptostroboides, faint in Coffea arabica and minimal in Prunus avium.

Nuclei of plants as a sink for flavanols.

Onion cepa (L.) and Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr.

Role of flavanols in yellowing beech trees of the Black Forest.

Beech leaves were sampled at the end of a prolonged hot dry period at a tree decline site in the Black Forest, Germany to investigate the potential role of flavanols in defense mechanisms against environmental stress. Green and yellowing leaves were harvested from the uppermost canopy of trees that were more than 200 years old and 30 m high. Yellowing leaves had a 7.

Developmental changes in the phenol concentrations of 'golden delicious' apple fruits and leaves.

The phenolic content of apple fruit skin and leaves was determined at the developmental stage of each organ. Phenolic levels decreased on a dry weight basis during the seasonal development of fruits and leaves with respect to their ontogenesis but the single compounds did not behave uniformly. A shift in flavanol pools from monomeric to oligomeric structures during fruit growth indicated the biosynthetic tendency towards the formation of procyanidins at the end of the growing period.

Accumulation of flavanols in yellowing beech leaves from forest decline sites.

Beech leaves were sampled during two consecutive years from three sites characterized by forest decline. Both monomeric and oligomeric flavanols from green and yellowing leaves were determined quantitatively by reversed-phase, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) combined with a chemical reaction detection technique (CRD). Yellowing leaves generally contained more than twice the quantity of flavanols than normal green leaves.

Localization and quantitative determination of catechins and proanthocyanidins in the phloem of elm and cherry.

The localization of catechins and proanthocyanidins in the phloem of elm (Ulmus minor Mill.) and cherry (Prunus avium L.) was determined histochemically by use of 4-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (DMACA) reagent.

A new method for selective localization of flavan-3-ols in plant tissues involving glycolmethacrylate embedding and microwave irradiation.

A method for selective staining of flavan-3-ols in plant tissues fixed with glutaraldehyde is given. The use of glycolmethacrylate as embedding medium allows the sulphuric acid-containing staining solution to be heated without destroying the fine structure of the tissue. The distribution of flavan-3-ols and proanthocyanidins in different plant tissues is discussed.

[Function and structure of families with an epileptic child].

Although the impact of psycho-social factors on the individual patient with epilepsy has been widely investigated, the influence of the illness on the family as a whole is still underestimated. By means of the Family Assessment Measure (FAM III), a well-validated instrument, we investigated which measurable influence the epilepsy of one child had on the functioning of the families. Data from a group of 72 families with a child suffering from epilepsy (EG), but without any other handicap were analysed and compared with those of 75 families with a child with severe mental retardation (SMG) and 76 control families (CG).

Inhibition of growth and xylogenesis and promotion of vacuolation in prunus callus by the flavanone prunin.

Callus tissue of Prunus avium L. responded to supplied prunin (naringen in 7-glucoside) showing vaculoation and storage of oligomeric proanthocyanidins. In addition, prunin caused restricted callus initiation and/or less callus growth.