Aqueous Extraction Process Research Articles

Survivability of low pathogenic avian influenza virus in aqueous poultry manure fertilizer

Avian influenza has been a growing problem in the United States for decades. Low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) virus causes low morbidity, while highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has a devastating effect on the poultry industry causing high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Manure from large and small poultry operations is spread on crop fields as a fertilizer. During an outbreak of avian influenza in a farm it is critical to adequately process the manure to kill the virus before its use in agriculture. Aqueous extraction of poultry manure at high temperature (55-65°C) is an attractive method for treatment of poultry manure, which extracts the nutrients and kills harmful microbes from the manure. The end product is a nutrient rich liquid that can be safely applied to fields or used in hydroponic operations, with nutrients that are more bioavailable to the plant compared to dry litter. However, we do not know whether aqueous high temperature extraction processes completely kill avian influenza virus present in the manure. Our aim in this study was to determine the competence of the aqueous extraction of poultry manure on avian influenza virus inactivation. We optimized the procedure using a LPAI virus isolate in a biosafety level 2 cabinet. Our data indicated that LPAI virus including the hemagglutinin protein of the virus were completely destroyed when the poultry manure was processed by aqueous extraction at temperatures ≥ 55°C for one hour. Future research will identify the conditions required for inactivating HPAI virus using this optimized procedure by performing the study in a BSL3 facility.

Silk fabric dyeing with Basella alba (Sri Lankan green spinach fruit) natural dyes: Mordant-free dyeing approaches

The rising demand for natural dyes creates opportunities for farmers and artisans, boosting employment and local economies. This research investigates the utilization of a natural colourant derived from Basella alba fruit, commonly recognized as Sri Lankan green spinach, for dyeing silk fabrics without mordants. The methodology involved an aqueous extraction, acidic, and alkaline extraction process of natural dyes. Additionally, in this extraction process, a solution comprising Basella alba fruit extraction and Soy Milk Solution was mixed in ratio 4:1 enriching the dyeing affinity of the natural colourants. Basella alba was chosen as the primary colourant, with investigations conducted on the influence of varying pH levels and extraction temperatures. The results of this study suggest that Basella alba fruit extract can be used as a natural dye for silk fabric dyeing. CIE La*b* and K/S data have revealed excellent reflectance on Silk fabric. The extraction process of Basella alba fruit for natural dyeing showcases the potential to yield natural pastel shades, such as yellow, pink, and purple shades. The dyed samples were assessed for their light and washing fastness, receiving grades ranging from fair to excellent. Notably, the washing fastness 4:1 ratio of Basella alba fruit with Soy Milk Solution with extract dyeing yielded particularly impressive results. It reveals enhanced washing fastness properties particularly in low-temperature (40°C) dyeing processes. This study not only highlights the technical viability of employing Basella alba fruit extract for silk fabric dyeing but also highlights its socioeconomic significance in fostering sustainable livelihoods and niche market.

An Innovative Strategy of Comprehensive Utilization of Tiger Nuts (Cyperus esculentus L.): Simultaneous Extraction of Oil and Glucose Syrup by Amylolysis-Assisted Aqueous Extraction Process

An Innovative Strategy of Comprehensive Utilization of Tiger Nuts (Cyperus esculentus L.): Simultaneous Extraction of Oil and Glucose Syrup by Amylolysis-Assisted Aqueous Extraction Process

Relationship between dietary fiber content and prebiotic potential of polysaccharides from the seaweeds of the North west coast of India

The macroalgae are a sustainable bioresource that can be harnessed for their functional food and nutraceutical applications. This study characterized the biochemical composition and bioactive potential of natural biological macromolecules, such as macroalgal polysaccharides extracted using a green, aqueous extraction process. The in-vitro antioxidant and antiglycemic activity of these polysaccharides were evaluated using model, free radical and antiglycemic compounds. The prebiotic potential of macroalgal polysaccharides were analysed based on their ability to promote the growth of two potential probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus and L. bulgaricus and suppress the growth of enteric bacteria, Escherichia coli. Among the polysaccharides studied, the brown algal polysaccharide MPS8 MPS9 and MPS10 exhibited good antioxidant, antiglycemic and prebiotic activity. Based on infrared spectroscopy, the functional groups sulfation and carboxylation were identified in potential polysaccharides. The monosaccharide composition in the bioactive polysaccharides was determined using High Performance Anion Exchange Chromatography Pulse Amperometric detector (HPAEC-PAD). These bioactive polysaccharides were fractionated using ion exchange chromatography to purify it and further characterized using gel permeation chromatography and NMR spectroscopy. The results these polysaccharides are mainly composed of fucose and glucose which is due to the fucoidan and laminarin, respectively. Such macromolecules with high dietary fiber content and bioactivity are in global demand as functional food, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical formulations.

Ultrasonication-Assisted Aqueous Extraction of Waste Orange Peel Polyphenols: Optimization of Process Variables and Effect on Extract Composition

The citrus processing industry is responsible for the generation of large volumes of waste side streams, represented principally by fruit peels. These tissues are exceptionally rich in polyphenolic bioactive phytochemicals, and there has been a great industrial interest for their valorization. The examination presented herein targeted at developing a fast and straight-forward aqueous extraction process, based on ultrasonication, for the efficacious recovery of polyphenolic compounds from waste orange peels. After an initial single-factor examination, the response surface optimization showed that a maximum total polyphenol yield of 12.81 mg chlorogenic acid equivalents (GAE) per g−1 dry mass could be achieved by setting sonicator amplitude at 80%, for 15 min, using a duty cycle of 2/2 (2 s on/2 s off). Comparison of this methodology with a stirred-tank extraction demonstrated that the ultrasonication technique was equally effective, requiring ambient temperature and considerably shorter resident time. The combination of both techniques using the ultrasonication process as a pretreatment step did not boost extraction yield, and the extracts produced had similar polyphenolic composition and antioxidant activity. However, a slight enhancement of the recovery of individual constituents was noted. It is proposed that efficient extraction of polyphenolic substances from waste orange peels may be accomplished using the present methodology, which is a low-cost (ambient temperature, short time) and sustainable (water as solvent) process.

Optimization and Characterization of Protein Extraction from Asparagus Leafy By-Products.

Asparagus production generates significant amounts of by-products during the summer and post-harvest growth period. By-products can be good sources of nutrients and phytochemicals. The interest in increasing the availability of proteins for human consumption has led to the use of new plant sources rich in proteins. The objective of this study was to use response surface methodology (RSM) to optimize the aqueous extraction process of proteins from asparagus leafy by-products, for the production of new protein ingredients. The optimum extraction condition was at pH 9, with 40 min of extraction at 50 °C, and the concentration was fixed at 5 g·L-1. The isolate obtained presented 90.48% protein with 43.47% protein yield. Amino acids such as alanine, proline, valine, leucine/isoleucine, asparagine, and phenylalanine were identified, and the antioxidant activity for 2,2 AZINO BIS (3-ethylbenzo thiazoline 6 sulfonic acid diammonium salt) was 145.76 equivalent to Trolox μmol.100g-1 and for DPPH 65.21 equivalent to Trolox μmol.100g-1. The product presented favorable technological properties (water absorption capacity 4.49 g·g-1 and oil absorption capacity 3.47 g·g-1) and the color tended towards dark green (L* 31.91, a* -1.01, b* -2.11). The protein isolate obtained through the extraction optimization process showed high potential to be used as a protein ingredient.

Optimization of the recovery yield of the enzymatic aqueous extraction of oil from wet açaí decocts using Design of Experiment

These last decades, açaí oil has been extensively studied for its biological properties and has gained interest from the health industry. It has thus become necessary to develop eco-friendly extraction techniques. The main objective of this study was the use of experimental designs for the maximization of the recovery yield of the enzymatic aqueous extraction process of açaí oil from wet decocts. A Simplex-Lattice Mixture Design was employed for the optimization of the proportion of three commercial enzymatic preparations. Subsequently, a Central Composite Design was used to identify the optimal values for total enzymatic concentration (0.5-4.5%) and extraction time (2-12h). The “Response Surface Methodology” (RSM) revealed that the maximum yield (60.55 ± 5.98%) was obtained using a 0.49:0.25:0.28 ternary mixture of Celluclast 1.5 L, Viscozyme L and Ultrazym AFP-L at a total enzymatic concentration of 2.85% for 10.9 hours. This study concluded that the enzymatic aqueous extraction of açaí oil is an efficient and sustainable process.

Effects of sucrase enzymatic hydrolysis combined with Maillard reaction on soy protein hydrolysates: Bitterness and functional properties

In this study, sucrase was added to convert non-reducing sugars into reducing sugars in skim obtained by enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction processing (EAEP), then the variation of soy protein hydrolysates (SPH) from the skim under different Maillard reaction times were studied. We conducted one-factor experiment and selected 2 mg/mL sucrase for enzymatic hydrolysis for 2 h. The structure of SPH was investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy, and amino acid composition. Results showed that the Maillard reaction loosened the SPH structure and produced new functional groups. Sensory evaluation, electronic tongue, electronic nose and GC–MS were used to study the sensory characteristics of SPH, we found that the bitterness value was significantly reduced to 1.71 from 4.63 after 2 h of the Maillard reaction. The change of bitterness was related to amino acid composition and the production of pyrazine. Additionally, the iron reduction ability, DPPH free radical scavenging ability, and emulsifying activity reached the highest at 2 h of reaction with 0.80, 73.94 %, and 56.09 %. The solubility, emulsifying stability, and foaming capacity increased and gradually stabilized with the increasing reaction time. Therefore, this paper presents an effective method for generating SPH with low bitterness and high functional properties.

Improving enzyme accessibility in the aqueous enzymatic extraction process by microwave-induced porous cell walls to increase oil body and protein yields

Aqueous enzymatic extraction (AEE) is a green and sustainable extraction method. However, the intact cell wall hinders the accessibility of enzymes, severely limiting the efficiency and application of the AEE method. In this study, microwave-assisted aqueous enzymatic extraction (MAAEE) was used to degrade the peanut cell wall and improve the yield of oil and protein. Transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, BET-specific surface area, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and chemical composition analysis were used to characterize the structure and chemical changes of the peanut cell wall. The results showed that microwave treatment could break the structure of the peanut cell wall, increase the porosity of raw materials, accelerate the efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis, and promote the extraction of oil and protein. Compared with raw peanut powder (MC-0), microwaved peanut powder (MC-4) had a higher oil body yield (>44%) and protein release rate (>76%). At the microscopic level, cell wall rupture, oil accumulation, and cell contents scattered outside the cell were observed. The mean pore size, pore volume, and specific surface area increased by 54.1%, 149.4%, and 63.5%, respectively, while the crystallinity decreased by 4.4%. The content of hemicellulose and CDTA-soluble pectin (CSP) decreased by 18.6% and 32.9%, respectively. The degradation rates of cellulase and pectinase on cell wall components were significantly increased by 8.5%–43.2% (p < 0.05). In summary, microwave-induced porous cell walls could significantly improve enzyme accessibility, accelerate enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency, and promote oil and protein extraction.

The optimization of oil extraction by surfactant-assisted aqueous extraction process of rice bran (Oryza sativa L.) using Box-Behnken design

Surfactant-assisted aqueous extraction process (SAAEP) is used as an environmentally friendly alternative method for oil extraction. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most widely produced and consumed foods, and it produces bran as a by-product. Therefore, this study aims to determine the optimum conditions for SAAEP from rice bran. The response surface methodology (RSM) technique was used to determine the optimum conditions. Furthermore, the Box-Behnken design (BBD) was selected as the study design with three factors and three levels. The independent variables used were surfactant and oil ratio (SOR) (3, 3.5, and 4), ultrasonication amplitude (60%, 70%, and 80%), and ultrasonication contact time (15, 20, and 25 mins. Meanwhile, the dependent variable used was oil content. The extraction was carried out based on SAEEP. Also, the rice bran used was the IR 32 SR variety which passed the stabilization stage with a moisture content of 4.25%, extracted oil of 20.64%, and 2.04 meqO2/kg FFA levels. The optimal point was predicted to produce an extracted oil of 19.326%. Furthermore, the prediction results were evaluated by experimental extraction at the optimal level. The results showed an extracted oil of 18.52±0.04%, which is a difference of about 0.81% from the predicted values. It was concluded that the rice bran oil content can be successfully optimized using the RSM technique. Therefore, the optimum conditions for extracting rice bran oil are within the specified range of factors

A sequential fractionation approach to understanding the physicochemical and functional properties of aqueous and enzyme-assisted aqueous extracted black bean proteins

Black bean proteins were sequentially extracted and characterized to determine the contribution of protein classes to the extractability, thermal behavior, and functionality of protein extracts produced by aqueous (AEP) and enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction processes (EAEP). Osborne fractionation showed that 56% of black bean proteins were water-soluble (albumin-rich), 22% salt-soluble (globulin-rich), 16% alkaline-soluble (glutelin-rich) and 0.65% alcohol-soluble (prolamin-rich). Protein extraction yields of 75 and 81% were achieved by AEP (pH 9.0, 50 °C, 1:10 solids-to-liquid ratio, 60 min) and EAEP (same conditions as AEP with 0.5% (w/w) alkaline protease), respectively. Gel electrophoresis demonstrated differences in the protein molecular weight profile in each fraction, as well as extensive proteolysis of major storage proteins in the EAEP. Proteomics revealed that similar proteins were present among the albumin-, globulin-, and glutelin-rich fractions, but in different proportions to yield distinct protein profiles. AEP and EAEP proteins had similar denaturation temperatures (Td = 92 °C) but were lower than the albumin- and globulin-rich fractions. There was not a clear association between solubility, emulsifying, and foaming properties for the protein classes, which highlighted the complex nature of the protein extracts, as well as potential impacts of the honogemization process on the surface properties of the proteins. Proteolysis significantly increased solubility at pH 4.5 (50 vs. 93%) and decreased foaming capacity at pH 4.5 and 7.0, while emulsifying capacity was not affected. Overall, the results demonstrate that enzyme-assisted extraction is a feasible method to increase black bean protein extractability while retaining thermal stability and modifying some functional properties.

Extraction of protein from apricot kernel oil press cake (AKOPC) through innovative techniques and the formulation ofsupplemented yogurt.

The apricot kernel oil press cake (AKOPC) is a high protein natural by-product of oil mechanical expression with potential uses in cosmetics, medicines, and food. The purpose of this research was to improve the protein extraction process from apricot kernel oil press cake by using enzymatic extraction (EEP), aqueous extraction (AEP), and ultrasound extraction (UEP) process. Protein extraction by AEP was facilitated by a low solid-liquid ratio (SLR) (1:15.97) and prolonged reaction durations (3.30 h), resulting in extraction yields of 68%. When compared to the AEP by similar reaction time, increased enzyme utilization (0.90%) in the EEP resulted in greater protein extraction yields (70%) in a shorter reaction time. In addition to AEP and EEP, ultrasound extraction was also used to improve protein extractability. Temperature (50°C), power density (225 W/L), and extraction duration (20 min) were shown to be the best extraction points. Protein yield was found to be 56.47% at ideal UEP conditions. The experimental values for these reactions were found to be equivalent to the predicted values formed by the mathematical models. When supplementary skimmed milk powder (SMP) was substituted with apricot kernel protein (AKP) in the yogurt manufacturing process, the total solids, average titratable acidity, total protein, and fat contents of the yogurt were increased. In contrast, pH and syneresis values decreased as AKP increased in the resulting yogurt, whether fresh or after 7 days of cold storage. Substitution of additional SMP with AKP in yogurt production might be recommended up to 35%.

Ultrasonic-assisted aqueous two-phase extraction of polysaccharides from the fruits of Ilex cornuta (Lindl. Et Paxt.): Process optimization, structural characterization and antioxidant activity study

The aqueous two-phase extraction process (APTE) was utilized for the extraction of polysaccharides from the fruits of Ilex cornuta (Lindl. et Paxt.) (PFIC). After screening and selection of isopropanol/ammonium sulfate as the aqueous two-phase system, various parameters of crude extract amount, ultrasonic time, extraction temperature and extraction time on the extraction process was investigated in detail and optimized by response surface methodology (RSM). Under the optimal conditions in which crude extract amount was 2.23 g, ultrasonic time was 17.5 min, extraction temperature was 69 °C and extraction time was 1.55 h, the yield of polysaccharides reached 50.87% which was close to the predicted value of 50.78%. Structural features of PFIC were investigated by GPC, GC–MS and FT-IR analysis. And the results indicated that PFIC with a molecular weight of 3.89 kDa was composed of monosaccharides including rhamnose (1.83%), arabinose (11.70%), xylose (3.30%), mannose (3.55%), glucose (61.88%) and galactose (17.74%). The bioactivity experiments showed that PFIC had strong scavenging ability on DPPH radical, fine scavenging ability on hydroxyl radical and certain scavenging ability on superoxide anion radical. Overall, these results suggested that PFIC exhibiting fine to good antioxidant capacities could be potentially developed as a natural antioxidant.

One positive part of copper ion on biocatalysts: CNPs@Cu-Trypsin-assisted aqueous extraction technique for simultaneous exploration of edible insect oil and protein

Edible insects are rich in oil and protein resources, and has it become increasingly important to develop them reasonably when resources are increasingly scarce. However, due to the challenges in recovering enzymes in the enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction technique and the remaining organic solvents in the extraction process based on organic solvent, it is difficult to achieve simultaneous utilization of oil and protein from edible insects. Hence, an improved enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction process based on the assistance of chitosan cross-linked Fe3O4 nanoparticles (CNPs) immobilized enzymes and divalent copper ions chelation, CNPs@Cu-Trypsin-assisted aqueous extraction technique, was first proposed. The hydrolysis activity was significantly increased by 6.16 times, and the value of Kcat/Km was increased by 1.7 times for the results of the formation of the hydrophilic microenvironment. Furthermore, the extraction ratio of silkworm pupae oil extracted via CNPs@Cu-Trypsin-assisted aqueous extraction technique could be increased to 93%, and the oil extraction rate could be maintained above 65% after 10 times reused. Improvement of enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction under the addition of divalent copper ions could achieve an ideal effect of oil extracted from silkworm pupae with less time. Additionally, the quality of silkworm pupae oil was significantly improved and the silkworm pupae protein hydrolysate also showed improved biological activity. Therefore, the enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction enhancement by trypsin immobilization and divalent copper ion chelation is a promising strategy for the green and sustainable exploration of edible insect oil and protein without the use of organic solvents.

Thermogravimetric Characteristics and Pyrolysis Kinetics of Nigerian Oil Sands.

In the present study, the pyrolysis behavior of Nigerian oil sands was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis. This was done with the aim of deriving kinetic models that can be relevant in the development of the natural resource. The effects of different heating rates (10, 20, and 30 °C/min) on oil sand pyrolysis were studied. The results of the study indicated that three regions comprising low-temperature oxidation, devolatilization, and high-temperature oxidation were obtained at all heating rates. The peak temperatures were observed to rise with an increasing heating rate, a phenomenon described as thermal hysteresis. Mineralogical analysis showed the presence of diffraction peaks corresponding to chlorite, quartz, aragonite, dolomite, calcite, and montmorillonite minerals and the notable absence of expandable clay minerals which are known to pose problems during tailing management and the aqueous bitumen extraction process. The kinetic analysis showed that the activation energy increased with the degree of conversion, with the highest activation energy of 14.682 kJ mol-1. The Coats-Redfern kinetic model gave the best model fit for oil sand pyrolysis.

Pumpkin seed coat pigments affected aqueous enzymatic extraction processing through interaction with its interfacial protein

In this study, the oil recovery from pumpkin seed with or without the presence of pigment was evaluated during the aqueous enzymatic extraction process (AEEP). Additionally, the interaction of pumpkin seed coat pigment—protochlorophyll (Pchl) with interfacial proteins (globulin-O/W, globulin-W, and albumin-W) during the aqueous extraction process was investigated. When Pchl was removed from pumpkin seeds, the yield of free oil was significantly increased by 50.71% after the first centrifugation. And the total oil recovery increased from 68.59% to 89.91% using enzymatic demulsification. The β-sheet percentage of globulin-O/W decreased by 5.6% with the presence of Pchl based on the circular dichroism spectra analysis. The particle size of globulin-W and albumin-W significantly increased in contrast to globulin-O/W. In addition, the increase of surface hydrophobicity and surface sulfhydryl group showed a conformational change of three protein extracts. Fluorescence spectra analyses showed that Pchl quenched the intrinsic fluorescence of globulin-W, albumin-W, and globulin-O/W in a static mode. Thermodynamic analyses indicated that the main force between Pchl and proteins was hydrophobic interactions. The hydrolysis efficiency of Papain was reduced during demulsification in AEEP with the presence of Pchl. Therefore, the removal of pumpkin seed coat pigments facilitated the aqueous extraction of seed oil by getting rid of the interaction of Pchl with its interfacial protein.

Valorization of Waste Orange Peels: Aqueous Antioxidant Polyphenol Extraction as Affected by Organic Acid Addition

Waste orange peels (WOP) are a food processing residue rich in bioactive polyphenols. However, data on aqueous extraction processes for efficient polyphenol recovery are rather limited. The present study dealt with the optimization of WOP polyphenols, using a batch stirred-tank mode and water as solvent. After a preliminary single-factor examination, the implementation of response surface methodology revealed that optimum extraction time and temperature were 60 min and 55 °C, respectively. Under these conditions, the extraction afforded a total polyphenol yield of 26.13 ± 0.78 mg gallic acid equivalents per g dry mass. The use of aqueous solutions of citric, tartaric and lactic acid showed that total polyphenol yield may be significantly increased with 1% tartaric acid or equally with 2.5% citric acid. However, the effect on individual polyphenolic constituents was rather negligible, as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The discrepancies observed in the antioxidant properties of the extracts produced with water and acidified water were putatively attributed to some differences in the polyphenolic composition. The extraction methodology proposed is environmentally green and of low cost, and it could certainly be used as an effective means of recovering WOP polyphenols.

Revitalizing Unfermented Cabernet Sauvignon Pomace Using an Eco-Friendly, Two-Stage Countercurrent Process: Role of pH on the Extractability of Bioactive Phenolics

As the major byproduct of the winemaking industry, grape pomace remains an untapped source of valuable bioactive phenolic compounds. This study elucidated the optimal aqueous extraction parameters for maximizing phenolic extractability, while avoiding the use of harsh conventional solvents and limiting water usage, from Cabernet Sauvignon grape pomace in which the red grape was processed for white wine. In the single-stage aqueous extraction process (AEP), the concurrent impact of pH (2.64–9.36), solids-to-liquid ratio (SLR, g pomace/mL water) (1:50–1:5), and temperature (41.6–58.4 °C) on the total phenolic content (TPC) of Cabernet Sauvignon pomace was evaluated alongside a kinetic study (15–90 min). Optimal single-stage extraction conditions (pH 9.36, 1:50 SLR, 50 °C, 75 min) guided the development of a two-stage countercurrent extraction process (pH 9.36, 1:10 SLR, 50 °C, 75 min) to further reduce water consumption without compromising overall extractability. The countercurrent process reduced fresh water usage by 80%, increased the TPC of the extracts by 18%, and improved the in vitro antioxidant activities (ABTS and ORAC) of the extracts. Untargeted metabolomics enabled the identification of a diverse pool of phenolics, especially flavonol glycosides, associated with grape pomace, while further phenolic quantitation detected improvements in the release of commonly bound phenolics such as ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, syringic acid, and protocatechuic acid in alkaline extracts compared to the ethanolic extract. This investigation provides an efficient, eco-friendly extraction strategy suitable for applications in functional food, beverage, nutraceutical, and cosmetic industries.

Aqueous and chemical extraction of saponin of Acacia concinna (Willd.) Dc.: An effective Bio-surfactant solution to extract silk fibroin from muga silk cocoons

• Extraction of silk fibroin by utilizing bio-surfactant saponin. • Aqueous and Chemical extraction process utilized to extract silk fibroin. • Acacia concinna (Willd.) Dc. is utilized for the extraction process. • Formation of micelles to eliminate the sericin from silk fibroin . • Analysis of the degummed fibers properties by SEM, XRD, TGA/DSC, tensile strength. Silk fibroin is generated from the silkworms and enclosed in a glue-like protein called sericin. In recent years, silk fibroin has been recognized for its significant biomedical significance, especially in tissue engineering, wound dressing, and drug and gene delivery. Numerous degumming methods have already been employed to extract the fibroin protein from the silk cocoons, which discharges large volumes of toxic admixture of sericin and chemicals through effluents. A sustainable, cleaner and environmentally promising silk fibroin extraction technique of muga silk have been investigated by utilizing the bio-surfactant saponin that has been isolated from the Acacia concinna (Willd.) Dc. in two different extraction processes aqueous extraction and chemical extraction. The degumming efficacy has been performed with respect to saponin concentration, degumming period, and temperature. After the completion of the degumming process, the silk samples were subjected to examination by SEM, XRD, TGA/DSC, and mechanical (tensile) capacity study. This novel and greener degumming treatment was potentially applied to extract the silk fibroin from the silk cocoons in a cleaned state. The toxicity level generated in the degumming process was observed to be very low owing to the adoption of non-toxic chemicals. Overall study ascertains about can be an effective usage of the extracted silk fibroin for medical applications because of its low toxicity.

The Antibacterial Effect of Humulus lupulus (Hops) against Mycobacterium bovis BCG: A Promising Alternative in the Fight against Bovine Tuberculosis?

The female flowers of the Humulus lupulus plant or Hops have been used extensively within the brewing industry for their aroma and bitterness properties. It was also found that beer that contained hops was less likely to spoil, thus revealing the antimicrobial potential of these plants. One species of bacteria, Mycobacterium spp., is of particular interest as it is the causative agent of both human and animal forms of tuberculosis (TB). In this study an aqueous extraction process was employed to analyse the antibacterial properties of 50 hop extracts (45 individual variants); against M. bovis BCG. Using an agar well diffusion assay we found that all hops exhibited a level of inhibitory activity which ranged from 1.2 mm (+/− 0.08 mm) in the case of hop variant; Target, to 15.7 mm (+/− 0.45 mm) in the case of hop variant Citra. The Citra variant had a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 16% v/v. This is the first study to analyse a wide range of hops for their antimicrobial potential against M. bovis BCG and recommends that further research focuses on other Mycobacteria spp., the potential for antimicrobial synergy and the antibacterial effect of individual components.