A. Kulma - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Uploads
Papers by A. Kulma
Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology, 2011
Molecules, 2014
Flavonoids are small molecular secondary metabolites synthesized by plants with various biologica... more Flavonoids are small molecular secondary metabolites synthesized by plants with various biological activities. Due to their physical and biochemical properties, they are capable of participating in plants' interactions with other organisms (microorganisms, animals and other plants) and their reactions to environmental stresses. The majority of their functions result from their strong antioxidative properties. Although an increasing number of studies focus on the application of flavonoids in medicine or the food industry, their relevance for the plants themselves also deserves extensive investigations. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the functions of flavonoids in the physiology of plants and their relations with the environment.
Cellular & molecular biology letters, 2001
An antimutagenic activity of fluphenazine, todralazine, anthocyanins and alkylresorcinols was est... more An antimutagenic activity of fluphenazine, todralazine, anthocyanins and alkylresorcinols was established in a battery of short-term cytogenetic tests. One of the possible mechanisms of their antimutagenic action could be an increase in apoptotic elimination of heavily-damaged cells from a culture. In this paper we provide data on quantitative estimation of the antimutagens' impact on apoptosis in lymphocyte cultures exposed in the G(0)-phase to genotoxic agents: hydrogen peroxide (0.2mM, 20 min.) or benzo[a]pyrene (40 microM, 90 min.), and then cultured for 36 hrs in the presence of a lectin (PHA-M, 1% v/v) and each of the tested antimutagens. Apoptosis was estimated by means of microscopic examination of cell smears stained with a mixture of fluorochromes (ethidium bromide/acridine orange) as well as of the results of DNA separation with the field inversion gel electrophoresis. By microscopic examination we assessed that the frequencies of cells exhibiting morphological featur...
Industrial Crops and Products, 2014
ABSTRACT Flax (Linum usitatissimum) is an annual plant with a long history of cultivation and a g... more ABSTRACT Flax (Linum usitatissimum) is an annual plant with a long history of cultivation and a great significance in medicine and industry. To increase the valuable qualities of flax products, the flax genome has been genetically modified, with the specific aims to improve flax properties and usefulness for various industries. Through introduction of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) synthesis genes from Ralstonia eutropha into flax genome, biomechanical properties of fiber have been improved. In this paper, we report that those fibers contain higher quantities of phenolics in addition to PHB thus making the modified fibers a very suitable material for biomedical application, provided that the fabric is not treated chemically. The linen PHB-fabric promotes human fibroblast proliferation and has been shown to have antimicrobial activity in the in vitro studies. Based on this quality of the fabric, the new dressing for chronic wounds was developed and proven to be successful in a pre-clinical trial. Therefore, it was demonstrated that modified flax fibers are suitable material for biomedical industry.
Industrial Crops and Products, 2014
ABSTRACT Flax, being an ancient crop, has performed a significant role throughout human history. ... more ABSTRACT Flax, being an ancient crop, has performed a significant role throughout human history. The principal use of flax was industrial, manufacturing textiles from fiber and paints and varnishes from oil. However, in the last decades decline in flax cultivation has been observed. Nevertheless, recently the renewed interest in flax products has been noticed. This is due to research findings suggesting that the flax raw material provides a variety of industrial and health benefits. Flax oil is characterized by high content of linolenic acid (ω-3 group) increasingly used as a human diet supplement protecting against atherosclerosis. Flax fiber gains more and more applications, like in the automobile and construction industries as recyclable composite material. Unique flax fibers are equipped, by genetic engineering, with polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) since they are compatible with synthetic polymers (polypropylene and polystyrene) and facilitate their biodegradability. The PHB-fiber embedded in polylactide may also serve as a scaffold for tissue engineering and has been shown to be useful as biodegradable implant. The soluble and insoluble fibers are becoming increasingly used in human nutrition.
Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology, 2011
Molecules, 2014
Flavonoids are small molecular secondary metabolites synthesized by plants with various biologica... more Flavonoids are small molecular secondary metabolites synthesized by plants with various biological activities. Due to their physical and biochemical properties, they are capable of participating in plants' interactions with other organisms (microorganisms, animals and other plants) and their reactions to environmental stresses. The majority of their functions result from their strong antioxidative properties. Although an increasing number of studies focus on the application of flavonoids in medicine or the food industry, their relevance for the plants themselves also deserves extensive investigations. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the functions of flavonoids in the physiology of plants and their relations with the environment.
Cellular & molecular biology letters, 2001
An antimutagenic activity of fluphenazine, todralazine, anthocyanins and alkylresorcinols was est... more An antimutagenic activity of fluphenazine, todralazine, anthocyanins and alkylresorcinols was established in a battery of short-term cytogenetic tests. One of the possible mechanisms of their antimutagenic action could be an increase in apoptotic elimination of heavily-damaged cells from a culture. In this paper we provide data on quantitative estimation of the antimutagens' impact on apoptosis in lymphocyte cultures exposed in the G(0)-phase to genotoxic agents: hydrogen peroxide (0.2mM, 20 min.) or benzo[a]pyrene (40 microM, 90 min.), and then cultured for 36 hrs in the presence of a lectin (PHA-M, 1% v/v) and each of the tested antimutagens. Apoptosis was estimated by means of microscopic examination of cell smears stained with a mixture of fluorochromes (ethidium bromide/acridine orange) as well as of the results of DNA separation with the field inversion gel electrophoresis. By microscopic examination we assessed that the frequencies of cells exhibiting morphological featur...
Industrial Crops and Products, 2014
ABSTRACT Flax (Linum usitatissimum) is an annual plant with a long history of cultivation and a g... more ABSTRACT Flax (Linum usitatissimum) is an annual plant with a long history of cultivation and a great significance in medicine and industry. To increase the valuable qualities of flax products, the flax genome has been genetically modified, with the specific aims to improve flax properties and usefulness for various industries. Through introduction of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) synthesis genes from Ralstonia eutropha into flax genome, biomechanical properties of fiber have been improved. In this paper, we report that those fibers contain higher quantities of phenolics in addition to PHB thus making the modified fibers a very suitable material for biomedical application, provided that the fabric is not treated chemically. The linen PHB-fabric promotes human fibroblast proliferation and has been shown to have antimicrobial activity in the in vitro studies. Based on this quality of the fabric, the new dressing for chronic wounds was developed and proven to be successful in a pre-clinical trial. Therefore, it was demonstrated that modified flax fibers are suitable material for biomedical industry.
Industrial Crops and Products, 2014
ABSTRACT Flax, being an ancient crop, has performed a significant role throughout human history. ... more ABSTRACT Flax, being an ancient crop, has performed a significant role throughout human history. The principal use of flax was industrial, manufacturing textiles from fiber and paints and varnishes from oil. However, in the last decades decline in flax cultivation has been observed. Nevertheless, recently the renewed interest in flax products has been noticed. This is due to research findings suggesting that the flax raw material provides a variety of industrial and health benefits. Flax oil is characterized by high content of linolenic acid (ω-3 group) increasingly used as a human diet supplement protecting against atherosclerosis. Flax fiber gains more and more applications, like in the automobile and construction industries as recyclable composite material. Unique flax fibers are equipped, by genetic engineering, with polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) since they are compatible with synthetic polymers (polypropylene and polystyrene) and facilitate their biodegradability. The PHB-fiber embedded in polylactide may also serve as a scaffold for tissue engineering and has been shown to be useful as biodegradable implant. The soluble and insoluble fibers are becoming increasingly used in human nutrition.