Concentrations Of Ferulic Acid Research Articles

The effects of caffeic, coumaric and ferulic acids on proliferation, superoxide production, adhesion and migration of human tumor cells in vitro

Reactive oxygen species are well-known mediators of various biological responses. In this study, we examined the effect of three phenolic acids, caffeic, coumaric and ferulic acids, on superoxide anion production, adhesion and migration of human lung (A549) and colon adenocarcinoma (HT29-D4) cancer cell lines. Proliferation of both tumor cells was inhibited by phenolic acids. Caffeic, coumaric and ferulic acids also significantly inhibited superoxide production in A549 and HT29-D4 cells. Superoxide anion production decreased by 92% and 77% at the highest tested concentration (200µM) of caffeic acid in A549 and HT29-D4 cell lines respectively. Furthermore, A549 and HT29-D4 cell adhesion was reduced by 77.9% and 79.8% respectively at the higher tested concentration of ferulic acid (200µM). Migration assay performed towards A549 cell line, revealed that tested compounds reduced significantly cell migration. At the highest concentration tested (200µM), the covered surface was 7.7%, 9.5% and 35% for caffeic, coumaric or ferulic acids, respectively. These results demonstrate that caffeic, coumaric and ferulic acids may participate as active ingredients in anticancer agents against lung and colon cancer development, at adhesion and migration steps of tumor progression.

Phenolic acid profiles and antioxidant potential of Pelargonium sidoides callus cultures

Pelargonium sidoides DC., an important medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine in South Africa and Lesotho, has been successfully developed into popular international phytomedicines. In the current study, proliferating P. sidoides callus cultures were established on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing different concentrations and combinations of picloram and thidiazuron (TDZ), and evaluated for their phenolic composition and antioxidant capacity. The concentrations of phenolic acids were determined using ultra performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS). Antioxidant potential of P. sidoides calli was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, β-carotene/linoleic acid assay and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) activity. Callus induction was significantly higher in cultures supplemented with different combinations and concentrations of picloram and TDZ compared to the control. Except for gallic acid, picloram/TDZ combinations significantly increased the concentrations of hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives, namely protocatechuic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid and salicylic acid. The concentration of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives in P. sidoides calli was variable with catechin only detected in calli produced on PGR-free MS medium whereas caffeic acid was not detected in such calli. Picloram (2.0μM) and TDZ (2.5; 5.0μM) stimulated the highest concentrations of caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid and ferulic acid. The highest antioxidant activity based on the DPPH and β-carotene/linoleic acid model systems was obtained for PGR-free-produced calli whereas picloram and TDZ combinatory treatments had a significant effect on the ORAC. The study suggests that P. sidoides calli can be manipulated on a large scale for the production of phenolic acids that exhibit potent antioxidant activity.

Enhancing the Thermostability of Feruloyl Esterase EstF27 by Directed Evolution and the Underlying Structural Basis.

To improve the thermostability of EstF27, two rounds of random mutagenesis were performed. A thermostable mutant, M6, with six amino acid substitutions was obtained. The half-life of M6 at 55 °C is 1680 h, while that of EstF27 is 0.5 h. The Kcat/Km value of M6 is 1.9-fold higher than that of EstF27. The concentrations of ferulic acid released from destarched wheat bran by EstF27 and M6 at their respective optimal temperatures were 223.2 ± 6.8 and 464.8 ± 11.9 μM, respectively. To further understand the structural basis of the enhanced thermostability, the crystal structure of M6 is determined at 2.0 Å. Structural analysis shows that a new disulfide bond and hydrophobic interactions formed by the mutations may play an important role in stabilizing the protein. This study not only provides us with a robust catalyst, but also enriches our knowledge about the structure-function relationship of feruloyl esterase.

Bioethanol production from oxalic acid-pretreated biomass and hemicellulose-rich hydrolysates via a combined detoxification process

A combined detoxification process was investigated for ethanol fermentation with hemicellulose rich hydrolysates obtained from mixed hardwood and yellow poplar. Acetic acid was the most abundant compound in the hydrolysates, which also contained inhibitors such as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), furfural, and total phenolic compounds (TPC). Electrodialysis (ED) efficiently removed 100% of the acetic acid, whereas most of the HMF, furfural, and TPC remained in the hydrolysates. However, XAD-4 resin removed non-ionizable compounds such as HMF, furfural and TPC. Compared with the single detoxification processes (ED or XAD), the combined detoxification processes (ED-XAD or XAD-ED) removed fermentation inhibitors more efficiently. Compared with XAD-ED, ED-XAD produced higher ethanol yields of 0.48g/g and 0.49g/g in mixed hardwood and yellow poplar hydrolysates, respectively. Ferulic acid concentration was high in the XAD-ED treated hydrolysate compare to that of ED-XAD treated hydrolysate. For this reason, ethanol fermentability was higher with ED-XAD-treated hydrolysates compared with XAD-ED-treated hydrolysates. Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation was performed with pretreated biomass. Ethanol production was 23.20g/L with yellow poplar and 19.14g/L with mixed hardwood after 120h of fermentation.

Phenolic acids in the plow layer soil of strawberry fields and their effects on the occurrence of strawberry anthracnose

Phenolic allelochemicals have been found in both natural and managed ecosystems, where they cause numerous ecological and economic problems. Whether these problems can be mediated by some other specific phenolic acid components is unknown. In this study, we identified phenolic acids and their concentrations in plow layer soil, rhizosphere soil and decomposing strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.‘Benihoppe’.) plants susceptible to strawberry anthracnose crown rot. We also assessed the effects of exogenously added phenolic acids at varying concentrations on Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, the pathogen causing strawberry anthracnose crown rot, conidial germination and colony growth. Finally, we verified the occurrence of strawberry anthracnose crown rot and the changes in root structure in response to phenolic acids. Ten phenolic acids were identified in soil samples. The concentrations of p-coumaric acid (PA) and ferulic acid (FA) were higher than other phenolic acids. Relatively high concentrations of PA and FA could increase the occurrence of strawberry seedling anthracnose crown rot. However, when the concentrations of PA and FA were higher than respectively certain critical concentration, they could reduce the degree of the disease. Meanwhile, high concentration of FA seriously inhibited the growth of root. The trans-cinnamic acid (TA) content could be regulated to control the occurrence of strawberry anthracnose crown rot without affecting root growth. Overall, diverse phenolic acids in plow soil had different influence on strawberry anthracnose crown rot. The effects of phenolic acids were concentration-dependent and C. gloeosporioides was more sensitive to phenolic acids concentration than root.

New Polyphenols Identified in Artemisiae abrotani herba Extract.

Artemisia abrotanum L. (“southernwood”) belongs to the Artemisia genus and it is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of a variety of illnesses. Scarce data is available on the chemical composition of this medicinal plant, most research being focused on the quantitative and qualitative analyses of its essential oil. Our aim was to investigate the content and profile of polyphenols, flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic derivatives present in the Artemisiae abrotani herba extract. We conducted LC/MS analysis and we screened for 19 polyphenols, flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic derivatives. We determined the total content of these compounds and we screened for antioxidant activity. Most polyphenol acids, hydroxycinnamic derivatives and flavonoids were identified and quantified for the first time in this study. We found an original polyphenol distribution profile with high concentration of sinapic acid, rutin, quercetol, ferulic acid and patuletin. We measured the antioxidant activity, the ethanolic extract presenting a modest radical scavenging activity. The value of this study consists in its novelty as it adds new data on the chemical composition of A. abrotanum L. and it opens novel perspectives for medical and nutritional applications of this plant.

Cross-linking proteins by laccase: Effects on the droplet size and rheology of emulsions stabilized by sodium caseinate

The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of laccase and ferulic acid on the characteristics of oil-in-water emulsions stabilized by sodium caseinate at different pH (3, 5 and 7). Emulsions were prepared by high pressure homogenization of soybean oil with sodium caseinate solution containing varied concentrations of laccase (0, 1 and 5mg/mL) and ferulic acid (5 and 10mM). Laccase treatment and pH exerted a strong influence on the properties with a consequent effect on stability, structure and rheology of emulsions stabilized by Na-caseinate. At pH7, O/W emulsions were kinetically stable due to the negative protein charge which enabled electrostatic repulsion between oil droplets resulting in an emulsion with small droplet size, low viscosity, pseudoplasticity and viscoelastic properties. The laccase treatment led to emulsions showing shear-thinning behavior as a result of a more structured system. O/W emulsions at pH5 and 3 showed phase separation due to the proximity to protein pI, but the laccase treatment improved their stability of emulsions especially at pH3. At pH3, the addition of ferulic acid and laccase produced emulsions with larger droplet size but with narrower droplet size distribution, increased viscosity, pseudoplasticity and viscoelastic properties (gel-like behavior). Comparing laccase treatments, the combined addition of laccase and ferulic acid generally produced emulsions with lower stability (pH5), larger droplet size (pH3, 5 and 7) and higher pseudoplasticity (pH5 and 7) than emulsion with only ferulic acid. The results suggested that the cross-linking of proteins by laccase and ferulic acid improved protein emulsifying properties by changing functional mechanisms of the protein on emulsion structure and rheology, showing that sodium caseinate can be successfully used in acid products when treated with laccase.

Comparative Assessment of Phenolic Content and in Vitro Antioxidant Capacity in the Pulp and Peel of Mango Cultivars.

Mango (Mangifera indica L.), also called “the king of fruits”, is one of the most popular fruits in tropical regions. Pulp and peel samples of mango cultivars were analyzed to estimate total phenolic, total flavonoid and total anthocyanin contents. Phenolic acids, hydrophilic peroxyl radical scavenging capacity (hydro-PSC) and oxygen radical scavenging capacity (ORAC) in vitro were also determined. Total phenolics and flavonoid contents were found maximum in the peel of Xiao Tainang and Da Tainang cultivars, respectively, whereas Xiao Tainang also exhibited significant antioxidant capacity. Noteworthy, concentrations of gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, ferulic acid, chlorogenic acid and caffeic acids at 79.15, 64.33, 33.75, 27.19 and 13.62 mg/100 g fresh weight (FW) were quantified for Da Tainang, Xiao Tainang and of Jidan cultivars, respectively. Comparatively, a higher level of phenolics and significant antioxidant capacity in mango peel indicated that it might be useful as a functional food and value-added ingredient to promote human health.

Novel Halomonas sp. B15 isolated from Larnaca Salt Lake in Cyprus that generates vanillin and vanillic acid from ferulic acid.

Vanillin is a high value added product with many applications in the food, fragrance and pharmaceutical industries. A natural and low-cost method to produce vanillin is by microbial bioconversions through ferulic acid. Until now, limited microorganisms have been found capable of bioconverting ferulic acid to vanillin at high yield. This study aimed to screen halotolerant strains of bacteria from Larnaca Salt Lake which generate vanillin and vanillic acid from ferulic acid. From a total of 50 halotolenant/halophilic strains 8 grew in 1 g/L ferulic acid and only 1 Halomonas sp. B15 and 3 Halomonas elognata strains were capable of bioconverting ferulic acid to vanillic acid at 100 g NaCl/L. The highest vanillic acid (365 mg/L) at these conditions generated by Halomonas sp. B15 which corresponds to ferulic acid bioconversion yield of 36.5%. Using the resting cell technique with an initial ferulic acid concentration of 0.5 g/L at low salinity, the highest production of vanillin (245 mg/L) took place after 48 h, corresponding to a bioconversion yield of 49%. This is the first reported Halomonas sp. with high yield of vanillin production from ferulic acid at low salinity.

Bacillus methylotrophicus isolated from the cucumber rhizosphere degrades ferulic acid in soil and affects antioxidant and rhizosphere enzyme activities

Ferulic acid (FA) accumulates in soil and inhibits plant growth. We examined whether the FA-degrading bacterium Bacillus methylotrophicus degrades FA in soil. B. methylotrophicus strain CSY-F1 was isolated and applied to unplanted soil and soil planted with Cucumis sativus (cucumber). We analyzed the effects of B. methylotrophicus on rhizosphere enzyme activities and antioxidant enzyme activities in cucumber and CSY-F1 exposed to FA. CSY-F1 degraded FA in culture medium and in soil, giving rise to 4-vinyl guaiacol, vanillin, vanillic acid, and protocatechuic acid. When cucumber seedlings were grown in soil treated with FA, the activities of some soil enzymes decreased, and the malonaldehyde content in cucumber leaves increased. The addition of CSY-F1 to FA-treated soil increased the activities of these soil enzymes, decreased the FA concentration in the soil, and elevated the activities of some antioxidant enzymes in seedlings. Moreover, the levels of superoxide radical, hydrogen peroxide, and malonaldehyde were reduced in cucumber leaves. FA treatment increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and monodehydroascorbate, in CSY-F1. Bacillus methylotrophicus CSY-F1 has potential applications as an FA-degrading agent in soil, as it mitigates FA stress in cucumber seedlings by activating several antioxidant and soil enzymes.

Effect of ferulic acid on cholesterol efflux in macrophage foam cell formation and potential mechanism

The formation of macrophage-derived foam cells is a typical feature of atherosclerosis (AS). Reverse cholesterol efflux (RCT) is one of important factors for the formation of macrophage foam cells. In this study, macrophage form cells were induced by oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) and then treated with different concentrations of ferulic acid, so as to observe the effect of ferulic acid on the intracellular lipid metabolism in the ox-LDL-induced macrophage foam cell formation, the cholesterol efflux and the mRNA expression and protein levels of ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) and ATP binding cassette transporter G1 (ABCG1) that mediate cholesterol efflux, and discuss the potential mechanism of ferulic acid in resisting AS. According to the findings, compared with the control group, the ox-LDL-treated group showed significant increase in intracellular lipid content, especially for the cholesterol content; whereas the intracellular lipid accumulation markedly decreased, after the treatment with ferulic acid. The data also demonstrated that the mRNA and protein expressions of ABCA1 and ABCG1 significantly increased after macrophage foam cells were treated with different concentrations of ferulic acid. In summary, ferulic acid may show the anti-atherosclerosis effect by increasing the surface ABCA1 and ABCG1 expressions of macrophage form cells and promoting cholesterol efflux.

Highly sensitive analysis of polyphenols and their metabolites in human blood cells using dispersive SPE extraction and LC-MS/MS.

Blood cells, particularly erythrocytes, present a significant compartment for distribution of drugs and endogenous compounds and have been suggested to be factored in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluations. We previously detected the binding of polyphenols to red blood cells and found indications for a facilitated uptake of the bioactive procyanidin metabolite δ-(3,4-dihydroxy-phenyl)-γ-valerolactone (M1) into human erythrocytes. The purpose of the present investigation was to develop an effective, sensitive and robust liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method to quantify low concentrations of polyphenols in human blood cells. Various sample preparation methods including classic sample clean-up techniques and variations of the QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) approach were compared regarding compound recovery, matrix effects and overall process efficiency. The QuEChERS technique which involves a liquid-liquid extraction and clean-up by dispersive solid-phase extraction yielded best results. The method was fully validated for the six analytes: (+)-catechin, ferulic acid, M1, taxifolin, caffeic acid and δ-3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenyl- γ-valerolactone (M2) in human blood cells with an optimised QuEChERS sample preparation and prior enzymatic hydrolysis of analyte conjugates. The lower limits of quantification for the analytes ranged from 0.12ng/mL for M1, M2 and taxifolin to 48.40ng/mL for caffeic acid. The application of the method to a blood cell sample of a volunteer ingesting 100mg/day of the standardised pine bark extract Pycnogenol(®) over the course of 3weeks revealed measurable steady-state concentrations of catechin, M1, taxifolin, ferulic acid and M2. To our knowledge, this is the first report of using the QuEChERS approach for detection and quantification of plant-derived compounds in human blood cells. The method can be applied in pharmacokinetic studies to determine the distribution of polyphenols and their metabolites in human whole blood, blood cells or erythrocytes. This might contribute in gaining deeper insights into the in vivo distribution of polyphenols and their metabolites.

Ferulic Acid Attenuates TGF-β1-Induced Renal Cellular Fibrosis in NRK-52E Cells by Inhibiting Smad/ILK/Snail Pathway.

Renal fibrosis is a common cause of renal dysfunction with chronic kidney disease. Central to this process is epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) of proximal tubular epithelial cells driven by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) signaling. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of Ferulic acid (FA) on EMT of renal proximal tubular epithelial cell line (NRK-52E) induced by TGF-β1 and to elucidate its underlying mechanism against EMT related to TGF-β1/Smads pathway. The NRK-52E cells were treated for 48 h with TGF-β1 (5 ng/mL) in different concentrations of FA (0 to 200 µM). Fibronectin, a mesenchymal marker, was assessed by western blotting. Western blotting was also used to examine the EMT markers (E-cadherin, and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)), signal transducer (p-Smad2/3), and EMT initiator (Snail). ILK was also assayed by western blotting. The results showed that TGF-β1 induced spindle-like morphological transition in NRK-52E cells. Smad2/3 signaling pathway activation, increased fibronectin, α-SMA, ILK, and Snail expression, and decreased E-cadherin expression in TGF-β1-treated NRK-52E cells. FA efficiently blocked P-Smad2/3 activation and attenuated all these EMT changes induced by TGF-β1. These findings suggest that FA may serve as a potential fibrosis antagonist for renal proximal tubule cells by inhibiting EMT process.

Statistical Optimization of Laccase Production and Delignification of Sugarcane Bagasse by Pleurotus ostreatus in Solid-State Fermentation.

Laccases are oxidative enzymes related to the degradation of phenolic compounds, including lignin units, with concomitant reduction of oxygen to water. Delignification is a necessary pretreatment step in the process of converting plant biomass into fermentable sugars. The objective of this work was to optimize the production of laccases and to evaluate the delignification of sugarcane bagasse by Pleurotus ostreatus in solid-state fermentation. Among eight variables (pH, water activity, temperature, and concentrations of CuSO4, (NH4)2SO4, KH2PO4, asparagine, and yeast extract), copper sulfate and ammonium sulfate concentrations were demonstrated to significantly influence laccase production. The replacement of ammonium sulfate by yeast extract and the addition of ferulic acid as inducer provided increases of 5.7- and 2.0-fold, respectively, in laccase activity. Optimization of laccase production as a function of yeast extract, copper sulfate, and ferulic acid concentrations was performed by response surface methodology and optimal concentrations were 6.4 g/L, 172.6 μM, and 1.86 mM, respectively. Experimentally, the maximum laccase activity of 151.6 U/g was produced at the 5th day of solid-state fermentation. Lignin content in sugarcane bagasse was reduced from 31.89% to 26.36% after 5 days and to 20.79% after 15 days by the biological treatment of solid-state fermentation.

Inhibition of insulin amyloid fibril formation by ferulic acid, a natural compound found in many vegetables and fruits

The highly ordered structures from the self-assembly of proteins/peptides, referred to as amyloid fibrils, are the major cause for many neurodegenerative diseases. Herein, we have analyzed the effect of ferulic acid (FA), one of the most abundant phenolic acids in plants, fruits and vegetables, on the inhibition of insulin (associated with type II diabetes) fibrillation. It was found that the amount of fibril formation was greatly reduced with increasing concentration of FA as evidenced from turbidity measurements. ThT binding experiments confirm the inhibition in which enhanced fluorescence, characteristic of amyloid fibrillation, was not observed in the presence of FA. Atomic force microscopy further confirms inhibition by FA where no typical insulin amyloid fibril has been detected. The characteristic conformational transition from α-helix to β-sheet was arrested in the presence of FA demonstrating that FA protects the native structure of insulin and thereby prevents the conformational change required for its amyloid fibril formation in vitro. The percentage of insulin fibril inhibition was found to be dependent on the concentration of FA. The current results demonstrate that FA can inhibit the insulin amyloid fibril formation and thus FA, in addition to other phenolic compounds, provides a possible therapeutic strategy to prevent or treat insulin amyloidosis.

Effect of the dose of exogenous fibrolytic enzyme preparations on preingestive fiber hydrolysis, ruminal fermentation, and in vitro digestibility of bermudagrass haylage

Our objectives were to evaluate the effects of the dose rates of 5 Trichoderma reesei and Aspergillus oryzae exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (EFE; 1A, 2A, 11C, 13D, and 15D) on in vitro digestibility, fermentation characteristics, and preingestive hydrolysis of bermudagrass haylage and to identify the optimal dose of each EFE for subsequent in vitro and in vivo studies. In experiment 1, EFE were diluted in citrate-phosphate buffer (pH 6) and applied in quadruplicate in each of 2 runs at 0× (control), 0.5×, 1×, 2×, and 3×; where 1× was the respective manufacturer-recommended dose (2.25, 2.25, 10, 15, and 15g of EFE/kg of dry matter). The suspension was incubated for 24h at 25°C and for a further 24h at 39°C after the addition of ruminal fluid. In experiment 2, a similar approach to that in experiment 1 was used to evaluate simulated preingestive effects, except that sodium azide (0.02% wt/vol) was added to the EFE solution. The suspension was incubated for 24h at 25°C and then 15mL of water was added before filtration to extract water-soluble compounds. For both experiments, data for each enzyme were analyzed separately as a completely randomized block design with a model that included effects of EFE dose, run, and their interaction. In experiment 1, increasing the EFE dose rate nonlinearly increased the DM digestibility of 1A, 2A, 11C, and 13D and the neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD) of 1A, 2A, 11C, and 13D. Optimal doses of 1A, 2A, 11C, 13D, and 15D, as indicated by the greatest increases in NDFD at the lowest dose tested, were 2×, 2×, 1×, 0.5×, and 0.5×, respectively. Increasing the dose rate of 2A, 11C, and 13D nonlinearly increased concentrations of total volatile fatty acids and propionate (mM), decreased their acetate-to-propionate ratios and linearly decreased those of samples treated with 1A and 15D. In experiment 2, increasing the dose rate of each EFE nonlinearly decreased concentrations of netural detergent fiber; also, increasing the dose rate of 1A, 2A, 11C, and 1D nonlinearly increased concentrations of water-soluble carbohydrates and free ferulic acid (μg/g). Application of increasing doses of the EFE increased NDF hydrolysis, NDFD, and ruminal fluid fermentation of bermudagrass haylage, but the optimal dose varied with the EFE.

Bioavailability comparison between ligusticum wallichii microemulsion and decoction in rabbits

Objective To compare the difference in bioavailability of ligusticum wallichii microemulsion and decoction by detecting the concentration of Ferulic acid in rabbit plasma. Methods RP-HPLC was used to detect the concentration of Ferulic acid in rabbits plasma at different times, and software 3p87 was used to analyze the pharmacokinetics parameter. Results The pharmacokinetics parameters of ligusticum wallichii microemulsion and decoction were as follows： AUC0-9=2 123.6 μg/（ml·min）, Cmax=5.086 μg/ml, Tpeak=56.26 min for microemulsion;Decoction：AUC0-9=878.35 μg/（ml·min）, Cmax=2.427μg/ml, Tpeak=128.86 min for decoction, F（%）=241.77. Conclusion Microemulsion of ligusticum wallichii has a higher biological availability and shorter peak time than decoction. Key words: Ligusticum wallichii; Microemulsion; HPLC; Bioavailability

Inhibition profile of a series of phenolic acids on bovine lactoperoxidase enzyme

Lactoperoxidase (LPO) catalyzes the oxidation of numerous of organic and inorganic substrates by hydrogen peroxide. It has very vital activity in the innate immune system by decreasing or stopping the activation of the bacteria in milk and mucosal secretions. This study’s purpose was to investigate in vitro effect of some phenolic acids (ellagic, gallic, ferulic, caffeic, quercetin, p-coumaric, syringic, catechol and epicatechin) on the purified LPO. This enzyme was purified from milk by using different methods such as Amberlite CG-50 resin, CM-Sephadex C-50 ion-exchange and Sephadex G-100 gel filtration chromatography. LPO was purified 28.7-fold with a yield of 20.03%. We found phenolic acids have inhibition effects on bovine LPO enzyme to different concentrations. Our study showed lower concentrations of caffeic acid, ferulic acid and quercetin exhibited much higher inhibitory effect on enzyme, so these three of them were clearly a more potent inhibitor than the others were. All of compounds were non-competitive inhibitors.

Multi-analytical approach to understand biomineralization of gold using rice bran: A novel and economical route

Biomimetic fabrication of gold nanoparticles (AuNP) has received significant attention worldwide. However, most of the reports were unable to clearly indicate the responsible biomolecule involved in the production of AuNP. The present study aimed to address this challenge by critically identifying the active component of rice bran responsible for the biomineralization of gold. Fractionation of rice bran extract by HPLC and further characterization using LC-MS revealed that ferulic acid is the functional molecule responsible for the bioconversion of Au3+ to Au0. Real time monitoring of heat changes by isothermal titration calorimetry indicated biosynthesis of AuNP was exothermic in nature. Additionally, reaction between ferulic acid and HAuCl4 for AuNP formation was observed to follow first order kinetics and finally various thermodynamic parameters were estimated by measuring residual ferulic acid concentration. Combinatorial observation of all these studies might lead the way to decipher the exact mechanism of nanoparticle biosynthesis.

Antiproliferative activity of ferulic acid-encapsulated electrospun PLGA/PEO nanofibers against MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells.

Ferulic acid (FA) is a polyphenolic phytonutrient which possesses strong antiproliferative effect; however, it has limited therapeutic applications due to its physiochemical instability and low bioavailability at the tumor site. In present study, these shortcomings associated with FA were overcome by fabricating FA-encapsulated poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide)/polyethylene oxide (PLGA/PEO) blend nanofibers using electrospinning technique. FESEM and fluorescence microscopic analysis imitates the smooth morphology and even distribution of FA within the polymeric nanofibers at optimum 2 wt% concentration of FA. The average diameters were recorded to be 150 ± 47.4 and 200 ± 79 nm for PLGA/PEO and FA-encapsulated PLGA/PEO nanofibers, respectively. The encapsulation, compatibility, and physical state of FA within the nanofibers were further confirmed by FTIR, TGA and XRD analysis. In vitro drug delivery studies demonstrated initial burst liberation of FA within 24 h followed by a sustained release for the subsequent time. MTT assay revealed the effectiveness of FA-encapsulated nanofibers against human breast carcinoma cells (MCF-7) cells as compared to control. FESEM and fluorescence microscopic analysis further confirmed the apoptotic effect of FA-encapsulated PLGA/PEO nanofibers against MCF-7. These fabricated nanofibers hold enormous potential to be used as a therapeutic agent for various biomedical applications.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13205-014-0229-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.