Extraction Of Bioactive Molecules Research Articles

A Review of Extraction and Purification, Biological Properties, Structure-Activity Relationships and Future Prospects of Schisandrin C: A Major Active Constituent of Schisandra Chinensis.

Since ancient times, China has used natural medicine as the primary way to combat diseases and has a rich arsenal of natural medicines. With the progress of the times, the extraction of bioactive molecules from natural drugs has become the new development direction for natural medicines. Among the numerous natural drugs, Schisandrin C (Sch C), derived from Schisandra Chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. It has excellent potential for development and has been shown to possess various pharmacological properties, including hepatoprotective, antitumor and anti-inflammatory activities. Based on the biological properties of hepatoprotection, scholars have explored Sch C and its synthetic products in depth; some studies have shown that pentosidine has the effect of improving the symptoms of liver fibrosis and reducing the concentration of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in the serum of rats, which is an essential inspiration for the development of anti-liver fibrosis drugs. But more in vivo and ex vivo studies still need to be included. This paper focuses on Sch C's extraction and synthesis, biological activities and drug development progress. The future application prospects of Sch C are discussed to perfect its development work further.

Effect of Instant Controlled Pressure Drop (DIC) on Polyphenols, Flavonoids and Antioxidant Capacity of Green Lentils (Lens culinaris).

Instant controlled pressure drop (DIC) is one of the emerging technologies in food processing; it can be used for drying, freezing and the extraction of bioactive molecules without damaging their properties. Legumes, such as lentils, are one of the most consumed foods in the world; however, they are mainly cooked by boiling, which causes the loss of antioxidant compounds. This work evaluated the effect of 13 different DIC treatments (with pressure ranges of 0.1-0.7 MPa and times of 30-240 s) on the content of polyphenols (Folin-Ciocalteu and High Performance Liquid Chromatography HPLC) and flavonoids (2-aminoethyl diphenylborinate) as well as the antioxidant activity (DPPH and TEAC) of green lentils. The DIC 11 treatment (0.1 MPa, 135 s) obtained the best release of polyphenols, which in turn are related to antioxidant capacity. The abiotic stress generated by DIC could lead to the breakdown of the cell wall structure, which favors the availability of antioxidant compounds. Finally, the most efficient conditions for DIC to promote the release of phenolic compounds and maintain antioxidant capacity were found under low pressures (<0.1 MPa) and short times (<160 s).

Valorization of agri-food waste through the extraction of bioactive molecules. Prediction of their sunscreen action

The aim of this work was to identify the phenolic composition of 18 different vegetable residues and to determine the relationship between their phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity and sun protection factor. For this purpose, samples of agri-food residues were analyzed to quantify their antioxidant capacity, total polyphenol and flavonoid content, sun protection factor and individual phenolic compounds through HPLC-DAD-FLD. Among the different phenolic compounds found in the extracts, the phenolic acids, especially caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid and protocatechuic acid were the ones that have been most frequently identified, and, therefore, are present in a wide range of extracts. Black chai tea, lemon ginger tea and peanut extracts were the most antioxidant and photoprotective extracts. Phenolic compounds in the extracts have been found to contribute to their antioxidant activity and are closely correlated to their photoprotective capacity. A regression model that allows predicting the photoprotective capacity of any extract based on its total phenol content has been developed as a tool to determine the most suitable industrial application for each vegetable extract.

Plant Milking Technology-An Innovative and Sustainable Process to Produce Highly Active Extracts from Plant Roots.

We have used an original technology (Plant Milking Technology) based on aeroponic cultivation of plants associated with the gentle recovery of active ingredients from roots. Extraction of bioactive molecules was achieved by soaking the roots, still attached to the living plants, into a nontoxic solvent for a 2 h period. This nondestructive recovery process allows using the same root biomass for successive harvesting dates, in a recyclable way. We have applied this technology to Morus alba L. (mulberry tree), an emblematic tree of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Trees were aeroponically grown in large-scale devices (100 m2) and were submitted to nitrogen deprivation to increase the content in active molecules (prenylated flavonoids). The Plant Milking technology applied to Morus alba L. allowed to produce an extract enriched in prenylated compounds (18-fold increase when compared to commercial root extract). Prenylated flavonoids (moracenin A and B, kuwanon C, wittiorumin F, morusin) presented a high affinity for the aged-associated collagenase enzyme, which was confirmed by activity inhibition. In accordance, M. alba extract presents efficient properties to regulate the skin matrisome, which is critical during skin aging. The benefits have been especially confirmed in vivo on wrinkle reduction, in a clinical study that involved aged women. Plant Milking technology is an optimal solution to produce active ingredients from plant roots, including trees, that meet both customer expectations around sustainability, as well as the need for an efficient production system for biotechnologists.

Valorization of Agricultural Lignocellulosic Plant Byproducts through Enzymatic and Enzyme-Assisted Extraction of High-Value-Added Compounds: A Review

Extraction of bioactive molecules has become a major trend in the valorization of food and agroindustrial byproducts, allowing a sustainable production of novel ingredients with different industria...

Bioactives extraction from spent coffee grounds and liposome encapsulation by a combination of green technologies

Valorization of agro-industrial waste by the extraction of bioactive molecules and their activity preservation by encapsulation is an open topic in process engineering. In this work, a combined approach for the recovery of antioxidants from spent coffee grounds by High Pressure and Temperature Extraction and the entrapment of extract into liposomes using the Supercritical assisted Liposome formation process was proposed. High Pressure and Temperature Extraction showed that high extraction performances (43 ± 2.3 mg Caffeic Acid Equivalents /gDried Spent Coffee Grounds, 59 ± 3 μg Trolox Equivalents/L extract) can be obtained working under inert atmosphere at 150 °C, 60 min using ethanol 54 % (v/v) as solvent. For extract preservation, liposomes were produced by Supercritical assisted liposome formation, investigating different operating pressures and varying the extract cargo into liposomes. Results indicated that 100 bar as operative pressure and 18 mg Caffeic Acid Equivalents /g liposomes as total polyphenol loading allowed to obtain high encapsulation efficiency (89 %), small liposome size (about 200 nm) and without significant reduction of loading antioxidant activity (7%).

Deep eutectic solvents improve the biorefinery of alperujo by extraction of bioactive molecules in combination with industrial thermal treatments

Thermal treatments are the latest developments in the olive oil biorefinery industry to extract bioactive compounds from its by-products, mainly the alperujo. To reach these goals and reduce energy consumption the utilization of deep eutectic solvents has been studied. An initial screening led to define a eutectic mix of choline chloride, glycolic and oxalic acid (DES9) as one of the adequate solvents to increase the solubilization of phenols and sugars, with a temperature reduction from 180 °C to 120 °C. DES9 increased the concentration of acid sugars by six times and the concentration of hydroxytyrosol by 30 times, to up to 85.81 mg/g of dry matter. The activity of DES9 is not due to the activity of each component separately or to the mixture of the two acids, but to the eutectic mixture of all of them. In the future, these solvents could improve the extraction, stability and bioavailability of bioactive compounds and the biorefinery of alperujo.

Integral Valorization of Pineapple (Ananas comosus L.) By-Products through a Green Chemistry Approach towards Added Value Ingredients.

Industrial by-products are produced every day through fruit processing industries. Pineapple is not an exception; when processed, around 60% (w/w) of its weight are peels, stem, trimmings, and crown, the only used fruit part for human consumption. Due to high concerns of sustainability in the food system and negative high impact of human practice in the environment, a strategy has to be developed. Therefore, a green chemistry approach was applied to pineapple by-products to make an integrated valorization by the extraction of bioactive molecules. Two pineapple by-products (peels and stems) were studied, applying a green chemistry approach, which means the non-use of organic solvents or extreme methodologies. A subdivision of each by-product was done by the application of a juice machine. The peels and stems in the fresh state were ground separately, creating two fractions for each by-product—a juice and a wet pulp (press cake). The press cake was characterized, dried, and ground to create a fine powder flour. To the juice, a precipitation methodology with polysaccharides was applied, which allowed the bromelain separation (developing of an enzymatic fraction) from the fruit juice. The enzymatic extract was freeze-dried, and the juice was spray-dried, developing two more fine powders. Thus, three new ingredients were produced from each by-product, creating a total of six new ingredients. Overall, the enzymatic fractions represented around 0.26% (w/w) of pineapple weight. Pineapple stem juice represented 4.8% (w/w), and peel juice represented 17.3% (w/w). Pineapple stem flour represented 3.1% (w/w), and peel flour represented 11.4% (w/w) of the total pineapple weight. To valorize the by-products juices, a full characterization was performed of bioactive molecules and biological activities. When comparing the two juices, the peel juice showed lower content of total phenolic compounds, lower antioxidant capacity, and lower content of vitamin C. The different phenolic compounds were identified by HPLC analysis in the two pineapple by-products juices. However, the same compounds in both juices were quantified (chlorogenic, caffeic, and ferulic acids). On the other hand, the by-products flours had a high content of insoluble dietary fiber (IDF), mainly cellulose and hemicellulose. Therefore, the approach applied in this work opens the door to the production of green products, as a result of by-products valorization. This could be applied not only in the food industry but also in the nutraceutical and cosmetic industries.

Optimization of the extraction of bioactive molecules from Lycium barbarum fruits and evaluation of the antioxidant activity: a combined study

Novel food, super food, wolfberry, the Himalayan longevity fruit. Several different and, even more, colourful names define the fruits of Lycium barbarum L., one of the most popular food supplements and anti-aging remedies of the recent years. Goji derivatives find application at the interface between food and medicine thanks to the claimed antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. Aiming at identifying the most effective extraction protocol for processing different goji berries samples (fresh and dried, commercial and from an Italian cultivar), combinations of extractive and analytical techniques were attempted. The concentration of bioactive compounds and of total phenols were measured and the antioxidant activity of the obtained extracts was studied. The results highlight the most suitable combination of source and process to obtain an extract that can be suitable for nutraceutical applications.

Life cycle assessment of in situ mariculture in the Mediterranean Sea for the production of bioactive compounds from the sponge Sarcotragus spinosulus

Marine sponges are one of the most diverse invertebrates and show a great ability to produce valuable natural products with high biological activities. The main bottleneck for the commercial exploitation is the need of continuous biomass production in sufficient amount. In this study, the in situ cultivation of the sponge Sarcotragus spinosulus in sea-based farming structures was evaluated according to the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) standardized methodology. The results demonstrated that the cultivation aiming at the extraction of bioactive molecules had a more environmentally-friendly performance than the subsequent downstream processes, which were the main cause of the impact. Moreover, the simulation of alternative scenarios showed the possibility of achieving remarkable reductions of impact and the effect of changes in key issues of the process: the effect of different approaches in the use of boats (exclusively used for the sea-based farming plants and the sponges collection or shared for other activities) as well as the influence of the survival rate.

A simple and rapid method for calixarene-based selective extraction of bioactive molecules from natural products

Natural products derived from medicinal plants have gained an important role in drug discovery due to their complex and abundant composition of secondary metabolites, with their structurally unique molecular components bearing a significant number of stereo-centers exhibiting high specificity linked to biological activity. Usually, the extraction process of natural products involves various techniques targeting separation of a specific class of compounds from a highly complex matrix. Aiding the process entails the use of well-defined and selective molecular extractants with distinctly configured structural attributes. Calixarenes conceivably belong to that class of molecules. They have been studied intensely over the years in an effort to develop new and highly selective receptors for biomolecules. These macrocycles, which display remarkable structural architectures and properties, could help usher a new approach in the efficient separation of specific classes of compounds from complex matrices in natural products. A simple and rapid such extraction method is presented herein, based on host-guest interaction(s) between a calixarene synthetic receptor, 4-tert-butyl-calix[6]arene, and natural biomolecular targets (amino acids and peptides) from Helleborus purpurascens and Viscum album. Advanced physicochemical methods (including GC-MS and chip-based nanoESI-MS analysis) suggest that the molecular structure and specifically the calixarene cavity size are closely linked to the nature of compounds separated. Incorporation of biomolecules and modification of the macrocyclic architecture during separation were probed and confirmed by scanning electronic microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The collective results project calixarene as a promising molecular extractant candidate, facilitating the selective separation of amino acids and peptides from natural products.

Oak barks as raw materials for the extraction of polyphenols for the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors: A regional case study

Despite their potential for chemical recycling, residues from forest harvesting and wood processing are mostly used for industrial applications with low added value (energy, paper pulp, and panels). Bark of both oak species, Quercus robur L. 1753, Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl. 1784 is a by-product from sawmill and pulp mill activities. Bark is mainly used as a fuel for the same wood plants. The aim of this study is to look at the feasibility of enhancing the value of this material through the extraction of bioactive molecules, such as polyphenols (i.e. catechin, gallic, and ellagic acids). First, the effect of industrial storage of logs and bark on their polyphenol content was explored. Then, referring to the selection of tan oaks in the past, the question of an optimum harvesting age is addressed in order to maximize the polyphenol content of the barks. In the end, molecular diversity of bark is examined through the identification of molecules of interest, using different chromatographic analyses. The results show an effect of the industrial context and an effect of the raw material age on the chemical properties of the bark. First investigations also highlight molecules of interest and the molecular diversity, which needs to be further explored.

Potential of Cellulase From Bacillus megaterium for Hydrolysis of Sargassum

Bacterial cellulase can be a promising biotechnological approach in seaweed degradation to facilitate extraction of bioactive molecules. In the present study, bacterial cultures were isolated from marine and terrestrial samples and screened for cellulase production. The selected cultures were grouped by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiling, and the cultures showing a distinct banding pattern were identified by 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Cellulase from Bacillus megaterium (CB-sw1-I), a native isolate, was purified by ion-exchange chromatography with a purification fold of 6.91 and specific activity of 1.66 U. The purified enzyme with molecular weight of 43 kDa was optimally active at pH 6.0 and temperature of 60°C. The potentiality of enzyme in degradation of Sargassum thallus was evident with an increase in reducing sugar. Morphology of the thallus after 10 days digestion observed by scanning electron microscope also provided additional evidence for degrading ability of the enzyme. This enzyme could subsequently be used in hydrolysis of seaweed for extraction of bioactive molecules.