Amount Of Acid Research Articles

Evaluation of Chemical Profile and Biological Properties of Extracts of Different Origanum vulgare Cultivars Growing in Poland.

This research studied the phenolic content compared with the antioxidant properties of various O. vulgare (Lamiaceae) cultivars grown in Poland. The research results in this paper indicate that the dominant ingredient in all oregano cultivars was rosmarinic acid, known for its strong antioxidant properties. The highest amounts of rosmarinic acid (87.16 ± 4.03 mg/g dm) were identified in the O. vulgare spp. hirtum (Link) Ietsw. Other metabolites identified in the studied extracts include luteolin O-di-glucuronide-O-di-pentoside (30.79 ± 0.38 mg/g dm in the 'Aureum' cultivar), 4'-O-glucopyranosyl-3', 4'-dihydroxy benzyl-protocatechuate (19.84 ± 0.60 mg/g dm in the 'Margerita' cultivar), and p-coumaroyl-triacetyl-hexoside (25.44 ± 0.18 mg/g dm in the 'Margerita' cultivar). 'Hot & spicy' and 'Margerita' cultivars were characterized by the highest activity in eliminating OH• and O2•- radicals. Extracts from Greek oregano had the highest ability to scavenge DPPH radicals and chelate iron ions. This research has also provided new evidence that oregano has anti-migratory, cytotoxic properties and influences the viability of gastric cancer cells (the highest cytotoxicity was attributed to the 'Hot & spicy' cultivar, which performed the worst in antioxidant properties tests). Extracts from the tested cultivars at a concentration of 0.625% effectively inhibited the growth of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa bacteria. It seems that the oregano grown in Poland is of good quality and can be successfully grown on a large scale if the appropriate use is found.

Impact of cell voltage on synthesis of caproic acid from carbon dioxide and ethanol in direct current powered microbial electrosynthesis cell

Production of medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) from CO2 through microbial electrosynthesis (MES) holds great potential. The present study investigated the effect of cathode voltages of − 0.8 V (MES-1), −1.0 V (MES-2) and −1.2 V vs Ag/AgCl (MES-3), on the production of MCFAs from CO2 and ethanol using an enriched culture. Direct current (DC) power supply was used to maintain constant cathode voltages. The highest amounts of caproic acid were produced in MES-2 at an average concentration of 1.51 ± 0.14 g/L with a maximum selectivity of 68 ± 7 %. Microbial diversity analysis showed abundance of the Clostridiaceae family that allowed chain elongation in all MES reactors. This study shows that potentiostatic control approach for MCFA synthesis, can be replaced by DC power supply in future MES setups. Using selective culture enrichment, MES efficiently produces MCFAs from CO2 and ethanol, with −1.0 V yielding the highest caproic acid.

Methanol extract of black garlic protects against hyperuricemia by xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity in-vitro

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) has been used as a medicative food for a long time. However, some individuals are averse to raw garlic owing to its pungent taste and aroma. As a result, a variety of garlic formulations have been created to minimize these characteristics without reducing their functions. Extensive in vitro and in vivo research has shown that black garlic has several benefits, including anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, anti-allergic, cardioprotective, and hepatoprotective characteristics. However, it remains unclear which compounds are active ingredients in the extract and the contributions of the main identified compounds to the extract's XO inhibitory activity are unknown. This study aims to look into the potent XO inhibitors found in black garlic methanol extract. The research methodology is experimental, involving the inhibition of xanthine oxidase activity, specifically measuring the amount of uric acid formed during the reaction catalyzed by xanthine oxidase. This is accomplished in vitro via enzymatic reactions and spectrophotometric measurements. The Maillard reaction is responsible for the production of black color in garlic, and it is influenced by heating temperature, humidity, and fermentation time. Starting on the 17th day of the fermentation process, the brownish intensity of the garlic samples heated at 70 ° C and 90% humidity changed to brown. The optimum concentration is 0.3 units/mL at an optimum temperature of 30oC and an optimum pH of 8.0 at a substratum concentration of 0.30 mM at a wavelength of 284 nm. The activity of the xanthine oxidase enzyme was inhibited by allopurinol at various concentrations, with allopurinol having the highest percentage inhibition value of 78.74 percent at a concentration of 10 ppm. The present study showed that meanwhile, the highest inhibition occurred on the 29th day of fermentation, with a percentage value of 68.01 percent, and decreased the next day

A phylogenetic approach for identifying new sources of economically important fatty acids in plants and algae

Societal Impact StatementNew sources of essential and other nutritionally and/or pharmacologically important fatty acids for human use can be discovered through bioprospecting. Demonstrating how fatty acids in plants and algae are distributed across a phylogeny is a critical first step in this process. Here, new sources of essential omega‐3 fatty acids that are critically important to human health were identified, such as green and Chromista algae, bryophytes and some angiosperm families. The identification of certain taxa that are high in critical fatty acids is important for developing new sources of these healthful compounds.Summary Essential fatty acids (EFA) including long‐chain omega‐3 and omega‐6 EFA are key nutrients that broadly support the health of individuals and the ecosystems they inhabit. Production of these EFA is critical to global nutritional security, and therefore, it is imperative to assess the distribution patterns of FA in plants to bioprospect new resources that do not threaten biodiversity. We used a meta‐analytic approach (phylogenetic signal analysis), which incorporated a wide variety of taxa to map FA profiles including both presence and abundance of specific FA and EFA onto a plant phylogeny including algae, bryophytes, pteridophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms. Our phylogenetic signal analysis revealed that presence/absence of most FA of interest were randomly or ubiquitously distributed, while FA content was significantly clustered in specific clades for most key FA (including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and nervonic acid). Both green and Chromista algae displayed relatively high proportions of EPA and DHA, while green algae contained higher proportional amounts of stearidonic acid (SDA). Further, signal analysis revealed high proportional content of gamma‐linoleic acid (GLA) in bryophytes and some angiosperm families, suggesting potential sources for bioprospecting GLA. This analysis provides a crucial foundation for understanding the influence of phylogenetic relationships in the relative proportions of key FA in plants and algae across a diverse phylogeny. Furthermore, in demonstrating how fatty acids in plants and algae are distributed across a phylogeny, we provide a critical first step in bioprospecting for new sources of essential and other nutritionally‐ and/or pharmacologically important fatty acids for human use.

Physicochemical properties, profile of volatiles, fatty acids, lipids and concomitants from four Kadsura coccinea seed oils

The Kadsura coccinea fruit is a wild fruit that may be eaten and used medicinally. Its seeds are rich in nutrients but are typically thrown away without processing.The physicochemical characterization, volatiles, fatty acids, lipids and concomitants of cold-processed seed oils from four kinds of K. coccinea were evaluated. The average kernel yield and oil yield of K. coccinea seeds were 68.21 % and 30.44 %, respectively. The seed oil contains a moderate level of total phenolics (368.99–503.99 mgGAE/100 g), total flavonoids (95.01–126.18 mg RE/100 g), and β-sitosterol (1498.8–1712.7 mg/kg) with higher iodine value, lower acid value, saponification value and shorter induction time. GC analysis reveals appreciable amounts of linoleic acid (64.91–68.05 %) and squalene in seed oil. GC–MS analysis showed that the major volatile compounds were γ-muurolene (27.25–31.7 %), β-himachalene (19.51–20.37 %) and β-curcumene (15.78–16.78 %). Moreover, 16 terpenoids, 14 phenolics were identified by UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS. These results suggest that K. coccinea seed seems an promising alternative oilseed with biological ingredients for food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries.

Synthesis of varied oleic acid-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles using the co-precipitation technique for biosensor applications

This study successfully synthesized oleic acid (OA)-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles using the coprecipitation method for the needs of biosensor applications, as shown through the characterization of structure and morphology using XRD and TEM. This observation used 0.75 ml of OA (Fe3O4-OA(0.75)) and 1.25 ml of OA (Fe3O4-OA(1.25). A decrease in particle size distribution from 18.55 nm to 16.30 nm was observed, which means a reduction in agglomeration and increased dispersibility. Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) observations showed that the saturation magnetization of Fe3O4 particles modified with OA decreased from 47.71 emu/g to 45.90 emu/g at Fe3O4-OA(0.75) and decreased again to 42.29 emu/g at Fe3O4-OA(1.25). But they all show soft ferromagnetic properties with very low coercivity, making them suitable for Giant Magnetoresistance (GMR) biosensor applications. A series of concentrations in ethanol solution were performed to evaluate the detection sensitivity of GMR for these pure and oleic acid-modified Fe3O4 samples. Concentrations of 2, 5, 10, 15, 25, and 35 mg/ml were integrated at 2 μL each onto the surface of the GMR chip. A decrease in sensitivity was observed due to the change in saturation. Pure Fe3O4 with a sensitivity of 5.07 mV (mg/ml) decreased to 4.49 mV (mg/ml) and 3.35 mV (mg/ml) after oleic acid coating. Thus, although adding a proportional amount of oleic acid can slightly decrease the saturation magnetization, it can be a valuable method for applications such as GMR biosensors that demand high dispersibility and sensitivity that remains strong.

Formulation, Physicochemical, and Sensory Evaluation of Cookies Prepared from Sacha Inchi Oil Meal (SIOM)

Due to its substantial amounts of essential amino acids and protein, sacha inchi oil meal (SIOM) is ideal for producing protein-rich food. This study developed the cookies by blending SIOM with wheat flour at 5, 10, 20, and 30% (w/w), respectively. Physical properties, proximate composition, and sensory study were evaluated on the cookies. Data showed that 10% of wheat flour-SIOM cookies had the highest protein content (13.03%) compared to wheat flour cookies (4.89%). Cookies made with 20 and 30% SIOM were also feasible as the crude fiber content was high (48%). The hardness of wheat flour-SIOM incorporated cookies was lower (2.52–3.22 N) than wheat flour cookies (3.30 N). The water activity value of all the cookie samples during the 30-day storage was less than 0.6, indicating that the product was stable. Sensory analysis showed that the panelists preferred 10% SIOM-blend cookies over commercial cookies because of their better color, sweetness, texture, and appearance. Moreover, the overall acceptability of SIOM cookies was greater than 6 on a 9-point hedonic scale. This study concludes that SIOM can be a functional food ingredient that can help develop healthier bakery products.

Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of Direct Z‐Scheme K4Nb6O17/Carbon‐Rich Melon Heterostructures

AbstractMelon (also known as graphitic carbon nitride, g‐C3N4) holds promise for photocatalysis, but challenges such as severe charge recombination, low oxidation potential, and sluggish exciton dissociation hinder its performance. Herein, a series of carbon‐rich, melon‐based photocatalysts are synthesized via one‐pot, temperature‐induced condensation of urea with the addition of a trace amount of citric acid. The addition of citric acid enhances crystallinity, extends melon chains, increases the C/N ratio, and improves π–π layer stacking of heptazine units, thereby enhancing charge transport properties and visible‐light harvesting capacity. These carbon nitride samples are then coupled with molten salt synthesized K4Nb6O17 crystals by a straightforward self‐assembly method to construct 2D/2D heterostructure photocatalysts. Z‐scheme electron transfer from K4Nb6O17 to the melon samples is established based on their work functions and band edge positions. This efficient charge transfer in the Z‐scheme heterostructure facilitates the spatial separation of charge carriers, resulting in a nearly fivefold enhancement in photocatalytic performance compared to the individual constituents.

Volatile Fatty Acids from Household Food Waste: Production and Kinetics

Household food waste (HFW), which is rich in organic matter, is a good candidate for producing added-value bio-based chemicals, such as volatile fatty acids (VFAs), by acidogenic fermentation processes. However, the lack of design tools, such as appropriate kinetic models, hinders the implementation of this technology because the results of these processes are affected by operational factors. In this work, VFA production by the acidogenic fermentation of HFW under uncontrolled pH levels (4–5) was studied at thermophilic (55 °C) and mesophilic (35 °C) temperature conditions. Batch reactors were used to digest HFW, and VFA production and the individual acid distributions were measured at different fermentation times from 0 to 624 h. The results showed higher individual and total VFA production at 35 °C and 120 h of fermentation time as a consequence of the competition between the VFA production and decomposition reactions. Acetic and valeric acids were VFAs mainly produced as a result of a high content of proteins in the initial substrate, and a small amount of propionic and butyric acids were present. A simplified kinetic model was successfully developed to represent the complex process of VFA formation from the acidogenic fermentation of HFW. A simple mechanism for the production–decomposition of VFAs, corresponding to a zero-order reaction for the first 48 h and a single consecutive reaction from that time on, was proposed. For both mesophilic and thermophilic conditions, the suggested kinetic model was able to predict the individual and total concentrations of VFAs along the fermentation time.

Production of high-grade antimony oxide from smelter slag via leaching and hydrolysis process

This study aimed to investigate the recovery of antimony (Sb) from slag generated in an antimony smelting plant using leaching followed by hydrolysis processes. The leaching behaviors of rare earth elements (REEs) were also examined. The physicochemical properties of the slag were determined using various analytical techniques. The slag (4.12 % Sb) was mainly composed of quartz and minor minerals, including microline, magnetite, hedenbergite, and stibiconite. The Sb types in the slag determined by XPS were found to be in the oxide form. The concentrations of REEs (La, Y, Ce, and Nd) in the slag were 169.21 g/t. Preliminary leaching experiment results indicate that (i) HCl was selected rather than other acids due to its high extraction ability on the Sb from the slag, (ii) a sample with a d50 of < 25 µm should be used, (iii) the slurry should be mixed at 300 rpm. In the following leaching tests, the effects of leaching parameters (HCl acid concentration, amount of tartaric acid, solid-to-liquid ratio, reaction temperature, and time) on the extraction rates of Sb, impurities, and REEs were investigated. At the best leaching conditions (HCl: 8 M, amount of tartaric acid: 1 g/L, stirring speed: 300 rpm, reaction temperature: 75 °C, and time: 180 min), the extraction rates of Sb from the slag were determined to be 91.19 %, but the extraction rates of REEs were measured to be ≤ 50 %. The activation energy (Ea) for Sb leaching was found to be 46.75 kJ/mol, indicating that the reaction was governed by the chemically controlled mechanism. In particular, it was understood from the additional experimental results that the leaching procedure should be carried out for 20 h to extract La with an extraction rate of > 90 %. However, the extraction rate of Sb was negligible in extended times. It was determined that using tartaric acid positively affected La’s leaching mechanism, and the required leaching time for La decreased to 180 min from 20 h with the increase of tartaric acid from 1 g/L to 6 g/L. Hydrolysis tests were conducted using the Taguchi approach (L32, 2^1 4^3). The effects of the alkaline type (NH4OH and NaOH), stirring speed (100, 200, 300, and 400 rpm), temperature (50, 60, 70, and 80 °C), and pH (1.5, 2, 2.5, and 3) on the precipitation of Sb from the PLS were investigated. NH4OH was suggested for use in the hydrolysis test to obtain precipitates with higher purities. The product obtained under the optimal conditions comprised 81.43 % Sb, 16.23 % O, and 2.34 % Fe. The product was identified as antimony oxide by XRD.

Combination of contact ultrasound and infrared radiation for improving the quality and flavor of air-dried beef during hot air drying

Air-dried beef, a traditional dry fermented meat product in China, whose quality is largely influenced by processing conditions. In this study, contact ultrasound (CU) and infrared radiation (IR) were employed to enhance hot air drying (HAD), with an investigation into the mechanisms underlying improvements in quality and flavor. Samples subjected to CU and IR treatments during HAD (CU-IRD) demonstrated superior color (L* = 42.68, a* = 5.05, b* = −3.86) and tenderness (140.59 N) than HAD group, primarily attributed to reduced drying times and alterations in ultrastructure. Analyses utilizing SDS-PAGE and total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) revealed that HAD and CU-HAD resulted in significant protein oxidation (197.85 mg TVB-N/kg and 202.23 mg TVB-N/kg, respectively), while IR treatments were associated with increased thermal degradation of proteins, producing lower molecular weight peptides. Compared with HAD group, the activities of certain lipases and proteases were enhanced by ultrasound and infrared treatments, leading to the release of greater amounts of free fatty acids and flavor amino acids. Furthermore, the thermal effects of infrared and the cavitation effects of ultrasound contributed to increased fat oxidation, amino acid Strecker degradation, and esterification reactions, thereby augmenting the diversity and concentration of volatile flavor compounds, including alkanes, ketones, aldehydes, and esters. These findings indicate that the synergistic application of CU and IR represents a promising strategy for enhancing the quality of air-dried beef.

An economic demand-based framework for prioritization strategies in response to transient amino acid limitations

Cells contain disparate amounts of distinct amino acids, each of which has different metabolic and chemical origins, but the supply cost vs demand requirements of each is unclear. Here, using yeast we quantify the restoration-responses after disrupting amino acid supply, and uncover a hierarchically prioritized restoration strategy for distinct amino acids. We comprehensively calculate individual amino acid biosynthetic supply costs, quantify total demand for an amino acid, and estimate cumulative supply/demand requirements for each amino acid. Through this, we discover that the restoration priority is driven by the gross demand for an amino acid, which is itself coupled to low supply costs for that amino acid. Demand from metabolic requirements dominate the demand-pulls for an amino acid, as exemplified by the largest restoration response upon disrupting arginine supply. Collectively, this demand-driven framework that drives the amino acid economy can identify novel amino acid responses, and help design metabolic engineering applications.

Reaction under Ball-Milling: Solvent- and Metal-Free One-Pot Diastereoselective Synthesis of Tetrahydroquinoline Derivatives as Potential Antibacterial and Anticancer Agents

AbstractA mild and efficient one-pot, three-component ball-mill-assisted reaction of aldehydes, anilines, and dihydrofuran (or dihydropyran and cyclohexenone) has been described for the first time in the presence of the catalytic amount of aqueous perchloric acid (8 mol%) at room temperature under organic solvent- and metal-free conditions. The reactions are fast (1 h), providing the products with excellent yields and high diastereoselectivity. This procedure endows a simple, efficient, and cost-effective method for the diastereoselective synthesis of furano- and pyrano-tetrahydroquinolines and phenanthridinone derivatives, which are important biological compounds. The diastereomers with cis configuration were isolated as major products. The H–H COSY, NOESY experiments and X-ray crystallographic analysis of selected compounds were performed to confirm the cis isomer. The synthesized tetrahydroquinolines have been evaluated in vitro for their antibacterial and anticancer activities, and it was found that both the prepared compounds showed significant antibacterial and anticancer properties.

Dry deposition fluxes, source, and potential ecological impact of amino acids in the Danjiangkou Reservoir of China's South-to-North water transfer project

As a nitrogen source for biological growth, amino compounds can participate in global nitrogen cycle processes and directly impact ecosystems. Dry deposition samples were collected from September 2020 to August 2021 from the Danjiangkou Reservoir of the South-to-North Water Transfer Project. The dry deposition characteristics of amino acids in the reservoir area were analyzed, their sources were resolved, and the potential ecological impacts were evaluated. The results showed that the dry deposition flux of dissolved free amino acids was 0.48 kg N ha−1 yr−1 and that of dissolved combined amino acids was 1.09 kg N ha−1 yr−1 in Danjiangkou Reservoir. The dominant amino acid fractions were glutamic acid and aspartic acid. Agricultural activities, coal combustion, and primary biogenic particles influenced the amino acid deposition in the reservoir area. The potential source areas for amino acid deposition mainly influenced the northeast, southwest, northwest, and south of the reservoir. The amounts of amino acids entering the water bodies via dry deposition was 85.72 t N yr−1, contributing 0.83 g C m−2 yr−1 of new production to the reservoir water bodies. To summarize, this research depicted that the potential ecological impact of dry deposition of amino acids on artificial freshwater lakes should not be overlooked.

Synthesis of melanin-like amino acid surfactant with enzymatic hydrolysates from silk degumming water

The degummed wastewater from silk processing contains a huge amount of amino acids and polypeptides from sericin. The silk degumming water is far from being exploited fully. Sericin in the degumming water is generally wasted and causes environmental pollution. In this study, simulated silk degumming water was hydrolyzed by alkaline protease to produce abundant amino acids and polypeptides. After enzymatic hydrolysis, the maximum free amino groups concentration in the silk degumming water was approximately 54 mM. It facilitated the recycling of silk degumming water for the production of melanin-like amino acid surfactants as raw materials. 4-Tert-butylcatechol was used as the starting material to generate o-quinone via oxidation by ceric ammonium nitrate. o-Quinone was coupled with free amino groups in enzymatic hydrolysates of silk degumming water to synthesize a sericin-based amino acid surfactant as hydrophobic and hydrophilic group, respectively. Through the green and simple synthesis route, the product was characterized to have a novel melanin-like structure. The product exhibited superior surface-active properties by lowering the surface tension to 32.39 mN m−1. Furthermore, it demonstrated good foaming ability and foam stability, with the initial foam volume of 37 mL and the foam half-life time of more than 25 min. The product owned a good emulsification ability in the oil-water emulsion with delamination time of 297 s and 291 s for emulsion formed by soybean oil and liquid paraffin, respectively. The wetting time of the canvas sheet was only 134 s. Consequently, the product showed low surface tension, good foaming, emulsifying, and wetting properties.

Molecular protocol to develop β-carotene-biofortified rice events via molecular optimization

Providing food with nutrition and functionality is crucial for sustaining human life. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a representative staple crop with high carbohydrate content but low amounts of essential amino acids, micronutrients, and carotenoids such as provitamin A. To improve the nutritional quality, rice endosperm was biofortified to accumulate carotenoids such as β-carotene through genetic engineering (i.e., using synthetic carotenoid biosynthetic genes, a nonmammalian viral polycistronic sequence, and an optimized promoter and transit peptide) and high-throughput rice transformation (approximately 300 transgenic plants per construct). To facilitate the safety assessment of genetically modified food, molecular characterization was performed to select elite lines equipped with a single intergenic insertion of T-DNA, high transgene expression, in this case leading to high carotenoid content, and with phenotypic and compositional substantial equivalence. In this study, we present β-carotene-biofortified rice event candidate lines eligible for commercial use and a disclosed molecular protocol for the development of biotech rice crops.

Markers for egg quality in European eel derived from offspring of females subjected to different gonadotropic treatments

Broodstock management techniques in general, and gonadotropic treatments for vitellogenesis induction in particular, can influence the maternal provisioning of different compounds to the eggs, thus affecting embryo and larval competence. Among these, the abundance of certain transcripts as well as lipid content and fatty acid composition have been used as egg quality markers alongside other egg morphological parameters, such as egg size and the occurrence of abnormal cleavages during the first stages of embryonic development. Here, we evaluated the use of different markers of egg quality from farmed-raised European eel, Anguilla anguilla, broodstock reared on the same formulated diet but subjected to different pituitary extract administration schemes: weekly injections of salmon pituitary extract (SPE) in a constant dose or weekly injections of carp pituitary extract (CPE) at a stepwise increasing dose. Egg batches were categorized in two quality groups (high and low) according to their survival to the first feeding larval stage. In agreement with previous studies, unfertilized eggs and 4-h post fertilization embryos (16-cell stage) from SPE treated females had higher epcam expression levels than CPE ones, which is a molecule involved in cell-cell adhesion. When comparing treatments, batches from the SPE treatment had a lower incidence of cleavage abnormalities which could originate from compromised cell adhesion. On the other hand, this difference was not observed when comparing high-quality batches (i.e. those surviving up to the first-feeding stage) and low-quality ones. From the five genes analysed: epcam, dcbld1, plec, cenpf, and cenpk, only the latter had a differential expression between high- and low-quality groups both in unfertilized eggs and 4 h-post-fertilization embryos. This gene, cenpk, is involved in kinetochore assemblage during cell division and appears to be promising as egg quality marker in European eel in combination with epcam and dcbld1. Common biomarkers, such as egg size, total protein and lipid content, were similar between groups. However, although fatty acid composition was similar between quality groups, DHA and EPA content in unfertilized eggs was affected by the gonadotropic treatment applied to the female broodstock, and higher for the CPE treated females than the SPE ones. This entails that the hormonal treatments applied for vitellogenesis induction can influence the amount of specific fatty acids being transferred to the eggs, even for female broodstock that were fed the same high-quality diet.

Impact of thermal processing on polyphenols, carotenoids, glucosinolates, and ascorbic acid in fruit and vegetables and their cardiovascular benefits.

Bioactive compounds in fruit and vegetables have a positive impact on human health by reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular (CV) diseases, and metabolic disorders. However, some fruit and vegetables must be heated before consumption and thermal processes can modify the amount of nutraceuticals, that is, polyphenols, carotenoids, glucosinolates, and ascorbic acid, that can increase or decrease in relation to different factors such as type of processing, temperature, and time but also the plant part (e.g., flower, leaf, tuber, and root) utilized as food. Another important aspect is related to the bioaccessibility and bioavailability of nutraceuticals. Indeed, the key stage of nutraceutical bioefficiency is oral bioavailability, which involves the release of nutraceuticals from fruit and vegetables in gastrointestinal fluids, the solubilization of nutraceuticals and their interaction with other components of gastrointestinal fluids, the absorption of nutraceuticals by the epithelial layer, and the chemical and biochemical transformations into epithelial cells. Several studies have shown that thermal processing can enhance the absorption of nutraceuticals from fruit and vegetable. Once absorbed, they reach the blood vessels and promote multiple biological effects (e.g., antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, vasoprotective, and cardioprotective). In this review, we described the impact of different thermal processes (such as boiling, steaming and superheated steaming, blanching, and microwaving) on the retention/degradation of bioactive compounds and their health-promoting effects after the intake. We then summarized the impact of heating on the absorption of nutraceuticals and the biological effects promoted by natural compounds in the CV system to provide a comprehensive overview of the potential impact of thermal processing on the CV benefits of fruit and vegetables.

Auxin-Producing Bacteria Used as Microbial Biostimulants Improve the Growth of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Seedlings in Hydroponic Systems.

Seven auxin-producing endophytic bacterial strains (Azospirillum spp., Methylobacterium symbioticum, Bacillus spp.), and two different combinations of these strains were used to verify their influence on tomato during germination and development in hydroponic conditions where, as a novelty for Canestrino di Lucca cultivar, endophytic bacteria were inoculated. To emphasize the presence of bacterial auxins in roots and stems of seedlings, both in situ staining qualitative assessment and quantitative analysis were carried out. Moreover, hypogeal and epigeal growth of the plantlets were measured, and correlation analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between the amount of indolacetic acid (IAA) produced by the bacterial strains and root and stem parameters. Plantlets treated with microbial inoculants showed a significant increase in the survival rate compared to the control treatment. The best results as IAA producers were from Azospirillum baldaniorum Sp245 and A. brasilense Cd, which also induced significant root growth. On the other hand, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and B. licheniformis induced the best rates in stem growth. These findings highlight the potential for using endophytic bacterial strains in a hydroponic co-cultivation system that enables inoculating plantlets, at an early stage of growth (5 days old).

Electrolytic biodiesel production from spent coffee grounds: Optimization through response surface methodology and artificial neural network

BackgroundThe disposal of waste spent coffee grounds (SCG) presents a pressing environmental concern, necessitating effective pre-treatment strategies to mitigate potential damage. Transesterification emerges as a viable solution for converting SCG lipids into biodiesel, offering both environmental and economic benefits. MethodsIn this study, the utilization of SCG as a renewable feedstock for biodiesel production through an innovative electrolysis process has been explored, aiming to address the dual challenges of waste management and sustainable energy production. To obtain maximum conversion of SCG oil to biodiesel, a comprehensive analysis of the fatty acid profile using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS), was conducted allowing for precise characterization of lipid content. Additionally, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was employed to categorize functional groups and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy was utilized to analyze the molecular structure of the SCG oil. Optimization of process parameters namely, catalyst concentration, electrolysis time, and direct current (DC) voltage was performed using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) techniques. The ANN model, with its ability to capture complex nonlinear relationships, was particularly effective in identifying the optimal combination of parameters, thereby maximizing biodiesel yield. Significant findingsThe extracted SCG oil was characterized using FTIR, GC–MS and 1H NMR analysis. The GC- MS analysis of bio-oil has reported 44.6 % Linoleic acid, 31.6 % Palmitic acid. The extracted oil had got significant amount of key saturated and unsaturated fatty acid making it suitable for transesterification process. Through ANN, the optimal combination of parameters for electrolytic transesterification i.e.,0.75 wt% catalyst loading, 2 h electrolysis time, and 40 V DC voltage, yielded the highest biodiesel production (98.32 wt.%). Comparative analysis indicated superior performance of the ANN model (R2 = 0.9931, MAE = 0.123) over RSM (R2 = 0.9636, MAE = 1.546). The artificial neural network (ANN) provided a more accurate forecast of the process yield; however, the RSM model effectively predicted the interactions and significance of the pyrolysis factors. The artificial neural network (ANN) provided a more accurate forecast of the process yield; however, the RSM model effectively predicted the interactions and significance of the pyrolysis factors. Biodiesel characterization via FTIR and 1H NMR analysis showed physiochemical properties within standard limits for SCG biodiesel.