Acid Equivalents Research Articles

A coarse-grained resource allocation model of carbon and nitrogen metabolism in unicellular microbes.

Coarse-grained resource allocation models (C-GRAMs) are simple mathematical models of cell physiology, where large components of the macromolecular composition are abstracted into single entities. The dynamics and steady-state behaviour of such models provides insights on optimal allocation of cellular resources and have explained experimentally observed cellular growth laws, but current models do not account for the uptake of compound sources of carbon and nitrogen. Here, we formulate a C-GRAM with nitrogen and carbon pathways converging on biomass production, with parametrizations accounting for respirofermentative and purely respiratory growth. The model describes the effects of the uptake of sugars, ammonium and/or compound nutrients such as amino acids on the translational resource allocation towards proteome sectors that maximized the growth rate. It robustly recovers cellular growth laws including the Monod law and the ribosomal growth law. Furthermore, we show how the growth-maximizing balance between carbon uptake, recycling, and excretion depends on the nutrient environment. Lastly, we find a robust linear correlation between the ribosome fraction and the abundance of amino acid equivalents in the optimal cell, which supports the view that simple regulation of translational gene expression can enable cells to achieve an approximately optimal growth state.

The Study on Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Taraxacum platycarpum H. Dahlstedt, Lonicera japonica Thunberg and Leonurus japonicus Houtt. Complex

Objectives: This study was designed to experiment with the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of <i>Taraxacum platycarpum</i> H. Dahlstedt, <i>Lonicera japonica</i> Thunberg, and <i>Leonurus japonicus</i> Houtt. complex (TLL) in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cell.Methods: The antioxidant activity of TLL was measured by FRAP assay, DPPH radical scavenging activity, ABTS radical scavenging activity. Total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of TLL were measured by using standard methods. The anti-inflammatory effects of TLL were measured by NO production, biomarker production (PGE<sub>2</sub>, IL-1<i>β</i>, IL-6, TNF-<i>α</i>), mRNA expression level (iNOS, COX-2, IL-1<i>β</i>, IL-6, TNF-<i>α</i>) and protein expression level (ERK, JNK, p38).Results: Total polyphenol and flavonoid contents in TLL were 58.03±1.02 ㎎ of Gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g and 16.58±0.60 mg of Quercetin equivalents (QE)/g respectively. In FRAP assay, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity, a concentration-dependent increase in TLL was observed. To explore antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of TLL, RAW 264.7 cells were treated with TLL and LPS for 24 hours. Cell viability of RAW 264.7 cells were measured by adding EZ-Cytox, It was remarkably increased at 50, 100, 200 ㎍/㎖ concentrations of TLL. NO, ROS, iNOS, IL-1<i>β</i>, IL-6, TNF-<i>α</i>, ERK, JNK and p38 were remarkably decreased at 50, 100, 200 ㎍/㎖ concentrations of TLL compared to the control group. PGE<sub>2</sub> and COX-2 were remarkably decreased at 100, 200 ㎍/㎖ concentrationsConclusion: These results suggest that TLL complex has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Optimization of Drying Parameters in the Production of Purple Carrot Puree Powder

Purple carrots are an important source of phenolic compounds and spray drying is the most advantageous method to make purple carrots more stable. Optimization analysis was carried out to determine the effects of inlet temperature, pump rate, and maltodextrin concentration on the process yield, antioxidant activity, total phenolic and anthocyanin content in the purple carrot puree powder. The optimum drying parameters obtained by maximizing the dependent variables (desirability=0.809) were determined as 16.51% (w/v) maltodextrin concentration, 180.16°C inlet temperature, and 30.39% pump rate. Process yield was 83.64%. Under optimum conditions, the dependent variables were 81.20% DPPH scavenging antioxidant activity, 5332.87 ppm total phenolic content as gallic acid equivalent, and 449.71 ppm total anthocyanin content as cyanidin-3-glucoside, and results indicated that they were preserved at 92.66, 90.43 and 83.79%, respectively.

Optimizing Ultrasonic-Assisted and Microwave-Assisted Extraction Processes to Recover Phenolics and Flavonoids from Passion Fruit Peels.

This study optimized the ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) processes to acquire phenolics and flavonoids from passion fruit peels using a mixture of ethanol, acetone, and water. An augmented simplex-centroid design was employed to find the suitable volume ratio among solvent ingredients to attain the highest extraction yield of phenolics and flavonoids. One-factor experiments were conducted to investigate the influence of UAE and MAE parameters on the recovery yield of phenolics and flavonoids before the two processes were optimized using Box-Behnken Design (BBD) models. The optimal UAE conditions for recovering phenolics and flavonoids from passion fruit peel powder (PFP) were 28 mL/g of liquid-to-solid ratio (LSR), 608 W of ultrasonic power, and 63 °C for 20 min to acquire total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) at 39.38 mg of gallic acid equivalents per gram of dried basis (mg GAE/g db) and 25.79 mg of rutin equivalents per gram of dried basis (mg RE/g db), respectively. MAE conditions for attaining phenolics and flavonoids from PFP were 26 mL/g of LSR and 606 W of microwave power for 2 min to recover TPC and TFC at 17.74 mg GAE/g db and 8.11 mg RE/g db, respectively. The second-order kinetic model was employed to determine the UAE and MAE mechanism of TPC and TFC and the thermodynamic parameters of the extraction processes. The antioxidant activities of passion fruit peel extracts at optimal conditions were examined to compare the efficiency of UAE and MAE. This study establishes an effective approach for obtaining phenolics and flavonoids from passion fruit peels.

Glyphosate-induced biochemical changes in female Cynopoecilus sp. inhabiting temporary wetlands

Glyphosate is Brazil’s most widely used pesticide, often applied to different crops that may be close to temporary wetlands. This pesticide poses a threat to populations of annual killifish that live in these locations. Few studies have explored the toxicodynamics of pesticides in annual killifish. Here females of Cynopoecilus sp. at different development stages (young-adult and senile) are exposed to Roundup Original DI® herbicide (65, 130 and 260 µg/L of acid equivalent of N-phosphomethyl glycine (glyphosate)) to analyze its impact on oxidative balance and lipoperoxidation, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and SOD/CAT ratio, as well as markers of intermediary metabolism such as total proteins (TPs), glycogen, and uric acid (UA). Senile females showed increased CAT and glutathione S-transferase activities and a decreased SOD/CAT ratio. Total protein and UA values were increased. Two-way ANOVA demonstrated correlations between age and different exposure groups for lipoperoxidation, SOD, CAT, GST, TPs, and UA, especially in senile females. Although it is not considered a target species, Cynopoecilus sp. suffers harmful effects from the interaction with this herbicide even at environmentally relevant concentrations. This impact was observed in senile females, which may result in reduced life cycle and reproduction quality.

Effects of Antidesma thwaitesianum Müll. Arg. Fruit Extract on Radical Scavenging and Apoptotic Properties

Antidesma thwaitesianum Müll. Arg. is one of a tropical fruit which is a good source of phenolic compounds. Here, we investigated the in vitro radical scavenging activity and effect of chlorogenic acid (CGA) and A. thwaitesianum fruit extract (AFE) against H2O2-induced cytotoxicity in RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Chemical components in the extract were analyzed by colorimetric method and high performance liquid chromatography. The results exhibited that the amount of total phenolic and total flavonoid contents in AFE were 25.486 ± 0.370 mg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g extract and 7.264 ± 0.312 mg of catechin equivalents (CE)/g extract, respectively, while 114 μg/g crude extract CGA was detected in AFE. AFE showed scavenging activity against ABTS and DPPH radicals, with a 50% inhibition concentration of 11.435 ± 0.381 and 2.063 ± 0.022 mg/mL, respectively. Pretreatment with both CGA (10 µg/mL) and AFE (400 µg/mL) significantly restored cell viability in H2O2-induced cytotoxicity in RAW264.7 macrophage cells, and only CGA at the concentrations of 5 and 10 µg/mL could protect cells from apoptosis. In conclusion, CGA-containing AFE has potent in vitro antioxidant activity and can increase the cell survival in H2O2-induced RAW264.7 macrophage cells. These results support the nutritional and medical value of A. thwaitesianum fruit for health-promoting benefits. Keywords: Antidesma thwaitesianum Müll. Arg., Chlorogenic acid, Antioxidant activity, Anti-apoptotic activity, RAW264.7 macrophage cells

Impact of 2,4-D and glyphosate-based herbicides on morphofunctional and biochemical markers in Scinax squalirostris tadpoles (Anura, Hylidae)

Understanding the effects of pesticides on non-target organisms is essential to assess the impact of these xenobiotics on the environment, allowing for a more informative and safer usage. The present study sought to evaluate the response of Scinax squalirostris tadpoles when exposed to different concentrations of two herbicides, DEZ® (i.e., dichlorophenoxyacetic acid or 2,4-D) and Roundup® Original (i.e., glyphosate). We collected 140 tadpoles between Gosner's 25 and 34 stages in a preservation area of the South American jelly palm Butia odorata. The animals were separated into eight groups and maintained in aquariums: acclimatization control (17 days), exposure control (24 days), and six exposure groups (7 days), including three concentration groups of each pesticide (4 μg/L, 15 μg/L, and 30 μg/L 2,4-D acid equivalent; 65 μg/L, 250 μg/L, and 500 μg/L glyphosate acid equivalent). Markers of body condition (length, body mass, K and Kn index) and oxidative balance (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione S-transferase, TBARS, and carbonyl proteins) were analyzed. After 24 days (17 days of acclimation plus 7 days of exposure), tadpoles exposed to 15 μg/L of 2,4-D and 65 μg/L of glyphosate grew at higher than expected concentrations. They also had less lipoperoxidation than control tadpoles and higher superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione S-transferase activity, specifically at the highest herbicide concentrations (2,4-D: 30 μg/L; glyphosate: 500 μg/L of glyphosate). Only the highest concentration of 2,4-D determined an increase in the levels of carbonyl proteins, indicating oxidative damage induced. DEZ® required more antioxidant defenses and induced a concentration-dependent answer of carbonylated proteins, suggesting oxidative stress and more toxic potential. These results may help government agencies make more conscious decisions regarding the usage of these chemicals and consider a balance between the conservation of amphibian species and agribusiness economic sustenance.

Essential oil extraction from lavender using negative pressure cavitation extraction and coating to extend grape shelf life

The purpose of this investigation was to extract the essential oil from lavender using the negative pressure cavitation extraction (NPCE) method and compare it to conventional hydro-distillation, as well as to assess the effect of extraction techniques on the yield and physicochemical activity of lavender essential oil. Linalyl acetate, camphor, 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol), borneol, terpinen-4-ol, caryophyllene, geraniol, geranyl acetate, and bisabolol are some of the primary compounds extracted from lavender essential oil. The total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of essential oil were measured. The lavender essential oil extracted using the NPCE technique had a total phenolic content of 73.17 ± 0.97mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100ml. Half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) refers to the ability of lavender essential oil extract to scavenge 50% of the original DPPH radicals. The lavender essential oil extracted using the NPCE process has an IC50 of 285.70 ± 0.46g/mL. The impact of sodium alginate edible coating in conjunction with lavender volatile oil (0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2% w/v) on overall grape quality was studied over 9 days period at 4°C. It was revealed that the sodium alginate coating infused with lavender essential oil preserved grape quality. The most effective application, however, was sodium alginate combined with lavender essential oil of 1%. Furthermore, the inclusion of lavender volatile oil in the sodium alginate coating decreased the microbial load.

Acid-Catalyzed Organosolv Treatment of Potato Peels to Boost Release of Polyphenolic Compounds Using 1- and 2-Propanol

The current study aimed at developing an effective organosolv treatment, with the objective to obtain potato peel extracts highly enriched in polyphenols. To this end, two low-cost solvents were employed, 1- and 2-propanol, which are considered green, but they have been rather poorly studied compared to other conventional solvents, such as ethanol. Treatment development also embraced the use of sulfuric acid, a well-examined catalyst in organosolv processes. Treatment evaluation on the basis of response surface optimization and severity demonstrated that 1-propanol was a more effective solvent, providing a maximum yield in total polyphenols of 19.28 mg chlorogenic acid equivalents per g of dry potato peel weight, attained with 40% 1-propanol/1.5% (w/v) sulfuric acid at a treatment time of 60 min and a temperature of 90 °C. This treatment was of lower severity compared to the one with 2-propanol, and it also provided almost 24% higher total polyphenol yield. The extracts produced contained chlorogenic acid as the major constituent, accompanied by caffeic acid and minor amounts of p-coumaric acid. This is the first report on such an organosolv treatment of potato peels to recover polyphenolic compounds with high efficiency.

Response Surface Optimization for the Enhancement of the Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Citrus limon Peel.

Citrus limon is among the species of the genus Citrus that dominates the world market. It is highly nutritious for humans as it contains twice the amount of the suggested daily intake of ascorbic acid and is also a good source of phenolic compounds, carotenoids, and other bioactive compounds. This study aimed to identify the optimal extraction procedures and parameters to obtain the maximum quantity of bioactive components from lemon peel by-products. Various extraction techniques, including stirring, ultrasound, and pulsed electric field, were evaluated, along with factors such as extraction time, temperature, and solvent composition. The results revealed that simple stirring for 150 min at 20 °C proved to be the most effective and practical method. The ideal solvent mixture consisted of 75% ethanol and 25% water, highlighting the crucial role of solvent composition in maximizing extraction efficiency. Among the extracted compounds were phenolics, ascorbic acid, and carotenoids. Under optimum extraction conditions, the extract was found to contain high total phenolic content (TPC) (51.2 mg of gallic acid equivalents, GAE/g dry weight), total flavonoid content (TFC) (7.1 mg of rutin equivalents, RtE/g dry weight), amounts of ascorbic acid (3.7 mg/g dry weight), and total carotenoids content (TCC) (64.9 μg of β-carotene equivalents, CtE/g). Notably, the extracts demonstrated potent antioxidant properties (128.9 μmol of ascorbic acid equivalents, AAE/g; and 30.3 μmol of AAE/g as evidenced by FRAP and DPPH assays, respectively), making it a promising ingredient for functional foods and cosmetics. The study's implications lie in promoting sustainable practices by converting lemon peel into valuable resources and supporting human health and wellness through the consumption of natural antioxidants.

Analysis of drying kinetic of brewer´s spent grains: effect of the temperature on the physical properties and the content of bioactive compounds

Background: Brewer´s spent grain (BSG) is a biomass by-product generated in large volumes during industrial beer production. BSG has become a growing environmental problem, as most breweries discard it inappropriately, negatively impacting the environment. Alternatives for the exploitation of this by-product have consisted of elaborating food supplements for farm animals, obtaining biofuels, developing adsorbents, and obtaining substances for the food industry. However, the high moisture content in BSG (approximately 70%), poses a significant challenge in exploring various reuse alternatives. Therefore, the implementation of a pre-drying process becomes essential. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the BSG drying kinetics at different temperatures and the effect of the drying temperature on the physical properties and the content of bioactive compounds. Methods: BSG samples were dried at different temperatures (50, 60, 70, 80, 90, and 105°C) and analyzed for their moisture ratio, water activity, total polyphenol content (TPC), and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil) radical scavenging activity. Also, four kinetics models were fitted to the drying data. Results: It was determined that the effective diffusivity was between 5.23x10-10 (m2/s) and 2.49x10-09 (m2/s), and the value of the activation energy was 28.05 kJ/mol. In addition, it was found that the content of phenolic compounds (1.27±0.120 mg gallic acid equivalents /g) and the DPPH radical scavenging activity (0.21±0.015 mg gallic acid equivalents /g) were not significantly affected by the variation in the drying temperatures studied. Conclusions: From an operational point of view, the most suitable temperature for the drying process of BSG was 105°C since it would allow to reach shorter drying times, and the TPC was not affected markedly by the range of temperature studied.

The marine diatom Thalassiosira rotula: chemical profile and antioxidant activity of hydroalcoholic extracts

The cosmopolitan centric diatom Thalassiosira rotula produces compounds in its natural habitat that can inhibit copepod reproduction. Moreover, it has been reported to possess compounds with therapeutic effects beneficial for health care. In this experiment, the extraction yield, total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging ability, ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and chemical profile by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses of T. rotula were investigated. Extractions were performed with 50% and 70% ethanol. A higher extraction yield [0.21 ± 0.01 g extract/g dry weight (DW) diatom] was observed for 70% ethanol. In addition, higher TPC (5.80 ± 0.32 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g DW diatom) and antioxidant activity [DPPH inhibition of 17.53% ± 0.56%, FRAP of 766.67 ± 34.69 µM Trolox equivalents (TE), and ORAC of 58.87 ± 2.03 µM TE] were observed for this extract. Myristic acid, palmitelaidic acid, palmitic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, 24-methylenecholesterol, and docosapentaenoic acid were identified as dominant compounds in both extracts, while extraction in 70% ethanol yielded a higher content of fatty acids such as myristic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, and sterol 24-methylenecholesterol. Thus, it can be concluded that extraction of T. rotula with 70% ethanol improves antioxidant activity and provides a higher yield of compounds such as polyunsaturated fatty acids and sterols. Therefore, the species T. rotula could be considered a sustainable source of essential fatty acids and other bioactive compounds for further applications.

Antioxidant and Tyrosinase Inhibitory Activities of Athamanta sicula L. Aqueous Extract

Introduction: Overexpression of tyrosinase in humans causes an increase in melanin production in the skin, which can result in hyperpigmentation consequences such as freckles, melasma, age spots, and melanoma. Free radicals also play a significant role in the increase of the biosynthesis of melanin. Tyrosinase inhibitors capable of inhibiting the biosynthesis of melanin are currently used in various hyperpigmentation and cosmetic agents to control the formation of freckles. Several synthetic tyrosinase inhibitors have been associated with several serious side effects. Also, synthetic antioxidants have many toxicological side effects, including carcinogenicity. There is an increasing interest in the search for natural tyrosinase inhibitors and antioxidant agents. Aims: The objective of this study is to evaluate total polyphenol and flavonoid contents as well as examine the antioxidative and tyrosinase inhibitory effects of A. sicula L. aqueous extract. Methods: Antioxidant activities were evaluated using superoxide radical scavenging and reducing power methods. Moreover, a tyrosinase inhibitory assay was used to determine anti-hyperpigmentation. Results: The results showed that this extract was rich in total polyphenols (58.01 ± 1.18 micrograms of gallic acid equivalents per milligrams of extract) and flavonoids (17.91 ± 1.81 micrograms quercetin equivalents per milligram of extract). A. sicula L. aqueous extract was capable of scavenging free radicals (IC50 = 11.87 ± 0.13 μg/mL) and acting as a strong reducing agent (A 0.5= 6.37 ± 0.42 μg/mL). A. sicula L. had a potent tyrosinase inhibitory potential (IC50= 12.63 ± 1.15 μg/mL), which was higher compared to kojic acid used as a standard (IC50= 25,23 ± 0,78 μg/mL, p <0.001). Conclusion: These results support that A. sicula L. could be a new source of antioxidant and cosmetic use. Further studies focusing on the isolation and characterization of active principles of antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activities are needed.

Nutritional value, elemental bioaccumulation and antioxidant activity of fruiting bodies and mycelial cultures of an unrecorded wild Lactarius hatsudake from Nanyue mountainous region in China

An unrecorded wild mushroom Lactarius hatsudake from Nanyue mountainous region in China was identified. Subsequently, comparative investigation on the nutritional value, elemental bioaccumulation, and antioxidant activity was performed in the fruiting body (FB) and mycelium (MY) samples of this species. It revealed that the contents of moisture (87.66 ± 0.16 g/100 g fw) and ash (6.97 ± 0.16 g/100 g dw) were significantly higher in FB, and the total carbohydrate, fat, and protein concentrations of FB were similar to those in MY. Among nutritionally important elements, FB possessed higher concentrations of potassium (37808.61 ± 1237.38 mg/kg dw), iron (470.69 ± 85.54 mg/kg dw), and zinc (136.13 ± 5.16 mg/kg dw), whereas MY was a better source of magnesium (1481.76 ± 18.03 mg/kg dw), calcium (2203.87 ± 69.61 mg/kg dw), and sodium (277.44 ± 22.93 mg/kg dw). According to the health risk estimation, FB might pose an aluminum-related health problem when a prolonged period of exposure, while MY was risk-free for consumers. The results of antioxidant capacity (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) assays) in FB and MY were within the range of 104.19 ± 5.70 mg ascorbic acid equivalents (AAE)/g to 169.50 ± 4.94 mg AAE/g, and half maximal effective concentration EC50 values ranged from 0.23 ± 0.01 mg/mL to 0.62 ± 0.05 mg/mL. The aqueous extracts of MY demonstrated a strong ABTS radical scavenging capacity with the highest AAE value.

Role of apple pomace in the formulation of a novel healthy mayonnaise

Currently, there is a growing interest in valorizing agro-food byproducts having interesting bioactives with functional and health properties. This paper deals with the use of apple pomace (AP), the most abundant by-product of apple juice industry, to formulate a novel value-added mayonnaise (AP mayo). The effect of AP on the chemical and rheological characteristics, microbiological quality, and sensory attributes of the new product was studied during a 30-day storage at refrigerated temperature. A comparison with two commercial mayo samples was also carried out. The results highlighted that the AP mayo showed a total phenol content of 2.12 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g, and improved antioxidant properties (DPPH radical-scavenging activities 2.47 mg TE/g; 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt, ABTS 3.18 mg TE/g; ferric reducing antioxidant power, FRAP 2.78 mg TE/g). After 30 days, it was more stable than the other two mayo. Moreover, AP mayo showed even higher overall acceptability scores by the assessors than the commercial samples. The results confirm that the addition of AP represents a valid approach to increase the health properties of spreads and sauces, satisfying the demand of health-conscious consumers, even those who prefer plant-based foods. The proposed healthy mayonnaise confirm the AP is a multifunctional ingredient with interesting potential applications in the formulation of new spreads/sauces with antioxidant properties.

Evaluation of Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Anticancer Properties of Onion Skin Extracts

Onion skins (OS) are a by-product of onion processing that causes both biological and environmental problems. Thus, OS could be used sustainably and as means of circular economy since they contain valuable bioactive compounds that can be used for the production of high-added-value products. This study aims to evaluate the potential antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties of onion OS crude extracts. The extracts were prepared using different solvents (i.e., water, ethanol, and their mixtures) and evaluated for their total phenolic content and phytochemical composition, their antioxidant activity (using the DPPH radical scavenging assay, the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, and the hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay), anti-inflammatory properties, as well as for their antimicrobial (against Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Bacillus cereus, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, and Yersinia enterocolitica) and anticancer (against human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and human glioblastoma cells (U-87 MG)) activity. The results revealed that the extracts contained a significant amount of phenolic compounds, ranging between 348.71 and 795.11 mg gallic acid equivalents per g of dry weight. The extracts showed promising cytotoxic effects (up to ~40%) against cancer cell lines, indicating their potential as a natural source of anticancer agents. Additionally, the extracts exhibited strong antioxidant and antimicrobial activity against the tested microorganisms. The findings of this study suggest that OS crude extracts could be a promising candidate for developing natural functional foods and pharmaceuticals. They could be used as natural alternatives for the prevention and treatment of various diseases caused by oxidative stress, microbial infections, or cancer since they are a valuable source of bioactive compounds that can be used for various applications such as food preservation, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals.

Valorization of strawberry extrudate waste: Recovery of phenolic compounds by direct-hydrothermal treatment and subsequent methane production by mesophilic semi-continuous anaerobic digestion

Strawberry extrudate (SE) is an underused by-product from strawberry industry. Recovery of the phenolic compounds present in SE would represent a very interesting valorisation option. Two main challenges need to be solved, firstly, the solubilisation and recovery of the phenolic compounds contained in SE, and, after that, the stabilisation of the resulted de-phenolized SE. The present research evaluates the potential of a biorefinery process combining a hydrothermal pre-treatment, followed by a phenolic extraction process and, finally, the anaerobic digestion of the remaining SE for producing energy that will contribute to compensate the energy requirements of the whole system. Following the hydrothermal pre-treatment at 170 °C for 60 min, an extraction of 0.6 ± 0.1 g of gallic acid per kilogram of SE was achieved using an adsorbent resin, representing a recovery rate of 64 %. Long-term semi-continuous anaerobic digestion of de-phenolized SE was evaluated at different organic loading rates to evaluate the stability of the process. The anaerobic digestion of pre-treated SE achieved a stable methane production value of 243 ± 34 mL CH4·g volatile solids−1·d−1 at an organic loading rate (ORL) of 1.25 g volatile solids·L−1·d−1. During the operation at this ORL, the control parameters including pH, alkalinity, soluble chemical organic demand (sCOD), and volatile fatty acid (VFA) remained stable and consistently constant. Specifically, the VFA in the reactor during this stable period achieved a value of 102 ± 128 mg O2/L. Also, an economic balance showed that the minimal price of the generated phenolic extract for having benefited from the proposed biorefinery system was 0.812 €·(g of gallic acid equivalents)−1, a price within the range of phenolic compounds used in the food industry.

Comparison of Conventional and Green Extraction Techniques for the Isolation of Phenolic Antioxidants from Sea Fennel

In this study, different extraction methods were compared for the isolation of bioactive phenolic compounds from sea fennel: microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and conventional solvent extraction (CSE). Total phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins were determined spectrophotometrically. In contrast, the determination of individual phenolics was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with an ultraviolet/visible detector (HPLC-UV/VIS). Two in vitro assays (ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH)) were performed to determine antioxidant activity. The maximum extraction of phenolic compounds was achieved with 50% ethanol, while the MAE method showed the highest extraction efficiency, with a total phenolic content of more than 25 mg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/mg and a chlorogenic acid content of more than 10 mg/g, respectively. The highest antioxidant potential was also observed in the samples from MAE (the FRAP value ranged from 173 to 185 µmol Fe2+/g, and the DPPH inhibition ranged from 55 to 59%), which was consistent with the extraction results. Although the phenolic antioxidants of sea fennel have been extensively studied recently, to the authors’ knowledge, this study was the first to evaluate the application of the new techniques for their isolation and to show the advantages of MAE compared to the other techniques used.

Mung bean seed coat water extract restores insulin sensitivity via upregulation of antioxidant defense system and downregulation of inflammation in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells

Insulin resistance is the main cause of type 2 diabetes. Mung bean possesses many health benefits mainly related to polyphenols, which is abundant in mung bean seed coat. Total phenolic content in mung bean seed coat water extract (MSWE) was 0.62 ± 0.00 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g extract with antioxidant activity (IC50 = 0.16 ± 0.01 mg/mL). Vitexin and isovitexin were the major flavonoids in MSWE. MSWE increased cellular glucose uptake and reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells. MSWE upregulated IRS-1, FGFR1, PI3K, and AKT expression, while downregulated FOXO1, PEPCK, and GSK3. MSWE modulated the expression of antioxidant genes including NRF2, KEAP1, HO-1, and NQO1. MSWE also downregulated genes related to inflammation (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, PTP1B, and p53). In conclusion, MSWE restored insulin sensitivity possibly through the reduction of ROS-associated inflammation by regulating GSK3/NRF2/KEAP1, downregulating PTP-1B and p53, as well as upregulating IRS-1/FGFR1/PI3K/AKT in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells.

Ethnomedicinal and antioxidant potentials of some wild fruits of Shinyanga region in Tanzania

Wild fruits are potentially natural foods, healthy and economically important in our communities. Lack of data on the nutritive and medicinal values of the wild fruits leave them neglected in our communities. Investigation on medicinal use and antioxidant potential of wild fruits in the drylands area of Shinyanga region was conducted in 2022 at Iselamagazi ward (33° 8'14.52"E to 33° 8'26.97"E and 3°32'28.44"S to 3°32'40.38"S) in Shinyanga rural District. Wild fruits were collected using standard methods from the purposely selected areas while ethnomedicinal information was collected using a questionnaire method. Extraction of plant material was done by solvent extraction method using ethanol 99.8% v/v as a solvent. Extract of the wild fruits were evaluated calorimetrically using the spectrophotometer UV-Visible model 6305 Jenway, UK. Ethnomedicinal information from the questionnaire were also collated. Antioxidant properties were obtained using 2, 2-diphenyl-1picrylhydrazyl DPPH) method. Results indicate that the wild fruits are potential natural antioxidants with total phenolic content (gallic acid equivalence) ranging from 19.513-175.983 mg GAE/g and total flavonoid content (Ruta graveolens) ranging from 9.171-176.99 mg RUE/g. Adansonia digitata showed the highest antioxidant capacity (175.983mg GAE/g) and Trema orientalis showed the lowest antioxidant capacity (17.898mg GAE/g). Scavenging ability values of the fruits ranged from 0.368-44.77 taurine (TAU) in total phenolic and 0.233-5.68 TAU in total flavonoid content. More than 20 diseases were reported to be treated by the investigated fruits based on ethnomedicinal information of the investigated community. Propagation and fruits utilization sensitization of the wild fruits in our communities will improve health and livelihood but also conserve our environments