Greater Antioxidant Activity Research Articles

Nutritional value and antioxidant activity of ora-pro-nobis, tamarillo and green banana biomasses

The consumption of unconventional food plants (UFP) can be a strategy to promote food and nutritional security, for which it is necessary to know their nutritional composition. The objective of this study was to analyze the nutritional value and antioxidant activity of ora-pro-nobis, tamarillo and bananas biomass (prata and nanica). Using standard methodologies (AOAC, 2005), the following compounds were analyzed in triplicate: protein, lipids, carbohydrate, calories, moisture, total fiber content, calcium, iron, vitamin C (by titrimetry), carotenoids (by High Performance Liquid Chromatography), phenolic compounds (by Folin-Ciocalteau) and antioxidant activities, by DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzothiacholine-6-sulfonic acid). Ora-pro-nobis stands out as a source of calcium, iron, carotenoids and protein, is low in fat and has good antioxidant activity. Tamarillo showed high antioxidant activity, is a protein source and low in fat. The two banana biomasses had similar results in most nutrients, but the “nanica” banana with more protein and the “prata” with greater antioxidant activity. The unconventional food plants analyzed are potential bioactive foods, because they have phenolic compounds and high antioxidant activity. Thus, UFP have the potential to promote a more diverse and nutritious diet for consumers in general.

Bioactivity-guided Separation of Antinociceptive and Antioxidant Subfractions from Alkaline Chloroform Fraction of Fenugreek Seeds (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) in an Animal Model

Background: Antinociceptive effect of fenugreek seeds (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) has been reported in different animal models in response to various chemical or thermal stimuli. In a recent study, alkaline chloroform fraction (AKC) of this plant has exhibited the greatest analgesic effect. Objective: In the present study, to isolate the active component(s) from the plant, the subfractions resulting from AKC column chromatography were evaluated in an animal model for anti-nociception effect. Methods: From the 17 separated fractions, 5 major fractions (F4, F6, F14, F15 and F16) were used for the formalin test at three different doses (2.5, 5 10 mg/kg). Antioxidant activity of the most active subfractions was studied too. Results: Subsections F16 and F14 (5, 10 mg/kg) showed the greatest analgesic effect and reduced, which was similar to morphine and even stronger than morphine in some doses. The greatest antioxidant activity was observed by F14 (radical inhibition percentage of 17.34± 0.14 in DPPH assay, reduction power percentage of 74.05±4.23 in RPA versus green tea (91.68± 3.04 and 97.59± 6.24 in DPPH assay and RPA test respectively). The absorbance of F14 was 0.25±0.11 in the FTC method in comparison to ascorbic acid 10 μg/ml and 100 μg/ml (0.72±0.33 and 0.05±0.41 respectively). Conclusion: Separated subfractions exhibited more antinociceptive effect than AKC fraction, so further separation can lead to the acquisition of antinociceptive compound (s), while AKC fraction was found to be more potent antioxidant than separated sub-fractions in all three experiments. So, most likely, the anti-nociception effect of subfractions might be achieved via other mechanisms than antioxidant activity. Based on phytochemical screening, AKC and all sub-fractions especially F14, F15 and F16 were positive for the presence of alkaloids and only F14 was positive for flavonoids.

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles (CM-AgNPs) from the Root of Chuanminshen for Improving the Cytotoxicity Effect in Cancer Cells with Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities.

The unique properties of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), such as size, surface charge, and the ability to release silver ions, contribute to DNA damage, inducing of oxidative stress, and apoptosis in cancer cells. Thus, the potential application of AgNPs in the field of biomedicine, and cancer therapy are rapidly increasing day by day. Therefore, in this study, AgNPs were synthesized by extract of Chuanminshen violaceum, and then the synthesized CM-AgNPs were fully characterized. The biological activity of CM-AgNPs was investigated for antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. The cytotoxic activity of CM-AgNPs was tested for various kinds of cancer cells including MKN45 gastric cancer cells, HCT116 human colon cancer cells, A549 human lung cancer cells, and HepG2 liver cancer cells. Among these cancer cells, the induced apoptosis activity of CM-AgNPs on HCT116 cancer cells was better and was used for further investigation. Besides, the CM-AgNPs exhibited great antioxidant activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) with 50% free radical scavenging activity, and CM-AgNPs also showed a significant antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Thus, our pilot data demonstrated that the green synthesis of CM-AgNPs would be considered a good candidate for the treatment of HCT116 cancer cells, with its strong antioxidant activity and antibacterial effects.

Sustainable synthesize of beetroot extract-silver-iron oxide (BE-Ag-Fe2O3) bimetallic nanoparticles for antioxidant studies

In this work, beetroot extract is used to synthesize the silver-iron oxide (Ag-Fe2O3) bimetallic nanoparticles, which are then characterized and used for the antioxidant studies. Phenolic components were found to coat the nanoparticles, according to FT-IR analysis. Tannins and flavonoids in the extract serve as stabilizing and reducing agents. SEM revealed spherical bimetallic nanoparticles that were roughly 40 nm in size. Crystallinity and purity were shown by XRD examination, which also revealed unique reflection peaks. Particle size and zeta potential values clearly confirm that, the prepared bimetallic nanoparticles are in nano size and it is stable in nature. Furthermore, in this study, the antioxidant properties of produced bimetallic nanoparticles are examined, and their efficacy is compared to that of beetroot extract. Beetroot extract-silver-iron oxide (BE-Ag-Fe2O3) bimetallic nanoparticles showed improved radical scavenging effectiveness when compared to DPPH. Moreover, bimetallic nanoparticles demonstrated increased radical scavenging efficacy in relation to DPPH and H2O2. Surprisingly, at 20 mg/ml, the BE-Ag-Fe2O3) bimetallic nanoparticles showed good scavenging activity, reaching 84.65%. The produced bimetallic NPs had greater antioxidant activity than the plant extract, according to an analysis of the total antioxidant capacity and free radical scavenging activity data. Electron donation property of main constituent of beetroot extract was analysed by density functional theory (DFT) and Monte Carlo (MC) simulation. Consequently, this work implies that beetroot extract assisted bimetallic NPs could be a flexible material with a range of uses in the biomedical area.Graphical

Effect of phycocyanin and phycoerythrin on antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of refrigerated low-fat yogurt and cream cheese

Cyanobacterial phycobiliproteins, such as phycoerythrin (PE) and phycocyanin (PC), are colored potential bioactive proteins that have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. In this study, we formulated a new food prototype based on PE and PC-fortified low-fat yogurt and cream cheese. Four distinct low-fat yogurt and cream cheese products were manufactured, including a control group (No PE and PC), samples produced with phycoerythrin (+ PE), samples produced with phycocyanin (+ PC), and samples produced with both phycoerythrin and phycocyanin (PC + PE). Afterwards statistically compared the physicochemical composition, colorimetric properties, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, and sensory profile of the fortified foods at 4 °C and 8 °C for 28 and 42 days. Additionally, we confirmed that PE and PC are not toxic to Caenorhabditis elegans at concentrations up to 1 mg/mL. The results showed that the MIC of PE and PC against E. coli was significantly higher than against S. aureus (3.12 ± 0.05 µg/mL vs. 1.56 ± 0.01 µg/mL, respectively; p ≤ 0.05). Additionally, the maximum diameter of the inhibition zone of PE and PC against S. aureus was significantly higher than against E. coli (6.6 ± 0.011 mm vs. 11.66 ± 0.02 mm, respectively; p ≤ 0.05). Results of color parameters showed that the control group had significantly higher L* values than the samples enriched with PE and PC. Moreover PE and PC significantly increased the a* and b* values respectively. The amount of ΔE in the control yogurts and cream cheese was higher than in the samples with PE and PC. Overall, the results showed that adding PE and PC had a significant effect on all measured factors (p < 0.01). Cream cheeses and low-fat yogurts enriched with either PE or PE + PC had the greatest antioxidant activity and the lowest number of psychrophilic bacteria and mold, and yeast counts at the end of the test period. Therefore, low-fat yogurt and cream cheese containing cyanobacterial PE and PC can be considered an innovative dairy product for the food industry. This study marks the initial effort to employ PE and PC derived from Nostoc sp. and Spirulina sp. as antioxidant and antimicrobial agents in the food industry.

Quality Characteristics and Essential Oil Properties of Thymus capitatus, Mentha piperita, and Sideritis cypria Dried under Different Conditions.

The drying of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) is one of the main preservation methods for these products that can prolong their shelf life, if performed properly. The current study aimed to examine the effects of different drying conditions (sun, shade, and oven drying at 42 °C) on the quality characteristics of Thymus capitatus, Mentha piperita, and Sideritis cypria; their essential oil (EO) yield; and their biological properties (antioxidant and antibacterial activities). According to the results of the current study, oven drying resulted in faster moisture loss for all investigated species and slightly darker products. For T. capitatus, sun drying resulted in higher EO carvacrol content, whereas EOs obtained from shade and oven drying (at 42 °C) presented high total phenolic content and great antimicrobial activity. For M. piperita, shade drying resulted in a higher EO yield and higher iso-menthone content, whilst the EO obtained from oven-dried mint plants presented great antibacterial activity against the investigated foodborne pathogens. S. cypria plants dried in an air-ventilated oven produced an EO rich in β-caryophyllene and α-pinene, which also presented great antioxidant and antibacterial activity. The findings of the current study indicate that traditional drying methods, such as sun and shade, can result in good-quality dried MAPs that can yield EOs with significant biological activities, along with minimum energy consumption and lower carbon dioxide production (lower environmental carbon footprint), as opposed to oven drying. However, the drying-process duration could be a limitation at the industrial scale.

POST-HARVEST QUALITY IN THE ‘TOMMY ATKINS’ MANGO FOR DIFFERENT HARVEST TIMES

Determining the correct harvest time is essential for maintaining post-harvest fruit quality. The aim of the present study was to investigate the biochemical and physiological effect of three different harvest times on maintaining post-harvest quality in ‘Tommy Atkins’ mangoes from the state of Roraima, sold in markets in the city of Manaus. The treatments consisted of the different harvest times: control, harvested 90 days after anthesis; early harvest, harvested 70 days after anthesis; and late harvest, harvested 105 days after anthesis. At the end of the experimental period, mangoes harvested at 70 DAA were found to have a low carotenoid content, with the pulp unable to reach commercial maturity; the pulp had a high level of firmness, with the highest concentrations of vitamin C and phenolics, and the greatest antioxidant activity. When the mangoes were harvested at 105 DAA, the pulp had the least firmness and a sugar content very close to that of the early-harvested fruit, with lower concentrations of phenolics and vitamin C, and lower antioxidant activity. On the other hand, the fruit harvested at 90 DAA showed adequate physical resistance and acceptable results for sensory quality, functional compounds and antioxidant activity.

Ultrasound-cellulase synergy for the extraction of total flavonoids from Astragali complanati Semen and its antioxidant properties

The present study was conducted to optimize ultrasound-cellulase synergy extraction (UCSE) process of flavonoids from Astragali complanati Semen (ACS) adopting response surface methodology (RSM). The extraction efficiency of different extraction progress by UCSE under the 240 W and 480 W were compared, and the antioxidant activities were evaluated in vitro. The effects of five independent variables (cellulase addition, liquid-solid ratio, extraction time, extraction temperature, and ultrasonic power) on the extraction efficiency were explored, and four major factors (cellulase addition, liquid-solid ratio, extraction temperature and ultrasonic power) showing great influences were chosen to study their interactions by RSM. The relationships between ultrasound power 240 W and 480 W on substrates and cellulase were further explored by scanning electron microscopy and 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) method, respectively. The antioxidant activities on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl radical (DPPH) and 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate) radical (ABTS+) were evaluated in vitro. The optimal conditions: cellulase addition 930 U/g, liquid-solid ratio 24 mL/g, extraction time 75 min, extraction temperature 64°C and ultrasonic power 234 W, under the adjusted conditions, the extraction rate was 1.937 g/100 g ACS. Ultrasound power 240 W assisted extraction with cellulase improved the extraction efficiency of the antioxidant. From scanning electron microscopy, the substrate particles were finer and the pores were larger under the function of 240 W, and the enzyme activity test further determined that 480 W could reduce the effect of the cellulase. The UCSE extract exhibited great antioxidant activity in vitro, the IC50 of DPPH is 11.851 µg/mL, and of ABTS+ is 23.426 µg/mL.

Investigation of the chemical composition and biological activities of Eremurus spectabilis M. Bieb through antioxidant, enzyme inhibition, COX-2 and iNOS assessment.

Eremurus spectabilis is widespread and used primarily for medicinal and culinary purposes. This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition, antiradical and antioxidant activities, enzyme inhibitory activities, and anti-inflammatory properties of various extracts from the aerial parts of E. spectabilis. Various assays were used to investigate the antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory properties. The chemical composition of the tested extracts was analyzed using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionization Tandem Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS). Additionally, the extracts were tested on isolated mouse colon tissue challenged with E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to replicate the inflammation and oxidative stress burden characteristic of inflammatory bowel diseases. In the chemical composition, vanillic, ferulic, 4-hydroxybenzoic acids were the prominent compounds. The greatest antioxidant activity was observed in the methanol and water extracts from the aerial parts. Enzyme inhibition tests showed that the ethyl acetate extract had the highest anti-acetylcholinesterase activity. The gene expression of pro-inflammatory cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and pro-oxidant inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) biomarkers were assayed. Among the extracts, the methanol extract was the most effective in blunting LPS-induced gene expression of COX-2. E. spectabilis may serve as a valuable source of phytochemicals for combating oxidative stress and inflammation-driven diseases, with a particular emphasis on colon inflammatory condition.

Spider web-reinforced chitosan/starch biopolymer for active biodegradable food packaging

In this study, starch (ST), chitosan (CH), spider silk (SW), and their hybrid composite bioplastics were fabricated and examined for physicochemical and mechanical properties. The essential oils (EOs) of Rosmarinus officinalis were encapsulated to enhance their biological application. The prepared composite films were characterized using various spectroscopic techniques such as XRD, SEM, GCMS–, UV–VIS, TGA, and FTIR spectroscopy. The antimicrobial activity of the prepared film was tested against S. aureus bacterial and C. albican fungal strains which showed a greater zone of inhibition for the composite film encapsulated with EOs. The biodegradability of the synthesized film was evaluated for 60 days in soil under laboratory conditions. The composite film containing spider web and essential oil significantly improved mechanical properties. The physicochemical results, such as moisture, solubility, swelling, transmittance, opacity, and water vapor permeability, of the prepared bioplastic were comparable with those of the control plastic. The EO-based film had greater antioxidant activity against DPPH, hydrogen peroxide, and phosphomolybdenum assays, with an inhibition range of 60–70 %. The addition of spider web and essential oil to the chitosan/ starch film significantly increased the shelf life of injera and tomatoes for 7 and 10 days, respectively for the EO-based film. The biodegradability of the synthesized film has shown a great reduction in the weight and growth of microorganisms. In general, the CH/ST/SW and CH/ST/SW/EOs composite films have greater mechanical, biological, physicochemical, and potential improvement of food shelf life applied as either coating or packaging material.

Aktivitas Antioksidan Formula Nano Gel Kombinasi Daun Sonneratia caseolaris dan Trigona sp. Propolis

Sonneratia caseolaris and Kelulut propolis (Trigona sp.) are used by people to protect the face from sun exposure. Both have antioxidant potential, but until now no one has used the combination of these two natural ingredients as an antioxidant. The aims of this research were to obtain antioxidant activity from nano gel formula combination of Sonneratia caseolaris and Trigona sp Propolis extracts. The nano gel formulation was made into 3 formulations with concentrations of F1 (1:1), F2 (1:2) and F3 (2:1) by evaluating the preparation and antioxidant activity by using DPPH method. The evaluation results showed that all of the nano gel formulas were in accordance with the standard characteristics of the preparation and strong antioxidant activities with IC50 (µg/mL) result : F1 (17.568), F2 (35.112) and F3 (14.503). Based on the IC50 results, the greatest antioxidant activity was obtained in Formula 1.

Ascorbic acid and ascorbyl palmitate-loaded liposomes: Development, characterization, stability evaluation, in vitro security profile, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities

The objective of this work was to prepare and characterize liposomes containing co-encapsulated ascorbic acid (AA) and ascorbyl palmitate (AP), as well as to evaluate their stability, cytotoxicity, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activity. Through the pre-formulation studies, it was possible to improve the formulation, as leaving it more stable and with a greater antioxidant activity, resulting in a formulation designated LIP-AAP, with 161 nm vesicle size, 0.215 polydispersity index, −31.7 mV zeta potential, and pH of 3.34. Encapsulation efficiencies were 37% for AA and 79% for AP, and the content was 1 mg/mL for each compound. The optimized liposomes demonstrated stability under refrigeration for 60 days, significant antioxidant activity (31.4 μMol of TE/mL), and non-toxicity, but no antimicrobial effects against bacteria and fungi were observed. These findings confirm that the co-encapsulated liposomes are potent, stable antioxidants that maintain their physical and chemical properties under optimal storage conditions.

Enhancing bioactive phenolic extraction from unfermented Cabernet Sauvignon pomace through tailored synergies of pH, proteolysis, and microwave processing

The impact of enzyme-assisted (EAE), microwave-assisted (MAE), and microwave enzyme-assisted (MEAE) extractions using water were evaluated and compared to aqueous (AEP), conventional ethanolic (CSE), and microwave ethanolic (MSE) controls for the release of phenolics from Cabernet Sauvignon grape pomace. Optimization of extract total phenolic content (TPC) involved stepwise screening of time, temperature, slurry pH, solids-to-liquid ratio, and enzyme conditions. The use of 0.1 % alkaline protease in MEAE (1:10 g pomace/mL water, pH 11.5, 70 °C, 30 min) reduced extraction time by 50 % compared to AEP, EAE, and CSE methods, doubling the TPC of the extracts to 100.9 mg GAE/g dry weight pomace compared to ethanolic extractions. MAE and MEAE extracts exhibited in vitro antioxidant activities (ABTS and ORAC) similar to ethanolic extracts and had greater antioxidant activities than AEP/EAE extracts while boosting relative contents of catechins, procyanidins, trans-piceid, and malvidin-3,5-diglucoside as detected by untargeted metabolomics. Quantitation by HPLC showed increased levels of gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid, polymeric phenols, and polymeric pigments in MEAE compared to hydroethanolic methods. Scanning electron microscopy further supported the synergistic role of microwave processing and proteolysis in disrupting the grape cell structure to aid in releasing valuable bioactive phenolic compounds.

Effect of &lt;i&gt;Cymbopogon schoenanthus&lt;/i&gt; L. Spreng Extract on Gentamicin-Induced Renal Toxicity in Rats

This study’s objective is to assess phytochemicals content and the protective effect of Cymbopogon schoenanthus hydroethanolic extract on gentamicin-induced renal toxicity in rats. Phytoconstituents were determined by using colorimetric tests. Three methods were used for the evaluation of antioxidant activity. The experiment used gentamicin in six different groups of albino rats. The biochemical analysis of current results displayed a significant reduction in blood urea and creatinine in groups intoxicated with gentamicin and administered two doses of the extract. While the concentration of total proteins and albumins has been increased. In addition, this plant decreased oxidative stress which was translated into a decrease in malondialdehyde content, and increased levels of antioxidant parameters, consequently an improvement in kidney functions. This study revealed a higher content of phenolic compounds, greater antioxidant activity and nephroprotective qualities of Cymbopogon shoenanthus extract for the first time.

Eco-safe hot water dip alleviates antioxidant level and sensory quality of Indian jujube fruits

Indian jujube (Ber) is highly perishable climacteric fruit owing to high decay index limiting its marketability and demands interventions to prolong shelf life. Fungicides are normally used to control rot during postharvest storage, however, residues left necessitate eco-safe alternatives like hot water dipping. Mature, pre-climacteric jujubes were dipped in 45, 50 or 55 °C water for 8, 6 or 4 min, respectively and then stored at 5 °C for periodic quality evaluation. Dipping fruits in 55 °C water resulted in 32.69 and 35.27, 64.21 and 58.57, 30.41 and 30.42, 38.50 and 52.20 % lower weight loss, decay index, malondialdehyde (MDA) and electrolyte leakage, whereas 15.40 and 16.77, 19.51 and 20.48 % greater antioxidant activity and ascorbic acid respectively for Umran and Pakwhite compared to 25 °C water dip. The highest glucose, fructose, malic, citric, and tartaric acids were 23.44 ± 1.04 and 29.9 ± 0.95, 30.68 ± 1.72 and 41.17 ± 2.34 mg/100 g, 138.1 ± 6.45 and 112.97 ± 6.16, 57.49 ± 1.71 and 53.78 ± 1.90, 79.58 ± 5.1 and 65.3 ± 4.83 μg/100 g whereas lower sucrose 12.34 ± 0.94 and 16.33 ± 1.05 mg/100 g were respectively recorded in 55 °C water dipped Umran and Pakwhite fruits. High dip water temperature (55 °C) exhibited better quality with the lowest decay index and weight loss, greater membrane integrity, bioactives content and sensory acceptance scores. Hence, hot water dipping was shown to be an effective residue-free option to extend the marketable period of jujubes to capture distant markets.

Green and efficient extraction of polyphenols from the leaves of Quercus dentata Thunb and in vitro antioxidant activities of polyphenol extract

The ultrasonic-coupled deep eutectic solvents method was firstly applied to extract phenolic compounds efficiently from the leaves of Quercus dentata Thunb. Five factors including type of deep eutectic solvent, water content, solid-liquid ratio, extraction time and extraction temperature were investigated based on total polyphenol content. The optimal extraction parameters were obtained through response surface methodology, that is, the deep eutectic solvent was composed of choline chloride and 1, 4-butanediol (molar ratio 1:2) with water content of 38%, the solid-liquid ratio was 1:30 g/mL, the extraction time was 31 min, the extraction temperature was 55 °C. At this condition, total polyphenol content reached the highest value of 78.56 ± 2.44 mg gallic acid/g. In addition, eleven phenolic compounds were identified by high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole/time-of flight mass spectrometry as flavonol glycosides. And then, the extraction showed good antioxidant activities in reducing transition metals (Fe3+, Cu2+, Mo6+) and scavenging free radicals (DPPH·, ABTS+·, O2−· and ·OH). Among them, the IC50 values of scavenging DPPH·, ABTS+·, O2−· and ·OH free radicals were 10.87 ± 0.25 μg mL−1, 8.04 ± 0.24 μg/mL, 149.47 ± 5.27 μg/mL and 131.73 ± 5.31 μg/mL, respectively. On the other hand, the extraction at the cellular level exerted its protective effect on PC12 cells by increasing the cell survival rate of H2O2-induced damaged cells, weakening the level of reactive oxygen species in damaged cells. Overall, this study provided a green and high-efficient strategy for extracting phenolic compounds with great antioxidant activities from Q. dentata leaves.

Unraveling the structural aspects of microwave-assisted OrganoCat-based coconut shell lignins: An eco-friendly route for obtaining bio-based antioxidants

New routes for biomass valorization have been developing by the scientific community. The aim of this work was developing a novel OrganoCat-based protocol and deeply understand the structure of the obtained lignins. Microwave-assisted OrganoCat-based process was performed using a biphasic system (ethyl acetate and oxalic acid or HCl) at mild conditions. OrganoCat-based lignins (OCLs) were characterized by compositional analysis, FTIR, 1H, 13C, 1H13C HSQC, 31P NMR, TGA and GPC. The solubility of OCLs in different organic solvents and their antioxidant capacity against DPPH were investigated. The spectroscopic analyses showed that OCLs have high residual extractives and the lignin motifs were preserved. OCLs have presented lower thermal stability than MWL, but showed great antioxidant activities and high solubility in a wide range of organic solvents. A novel biorefinery protocol yielded coconut shell lignins with peculiar structural and compositional features and several technological applications through an eco-friendly, sustainable and relatively low-cost biphasic pulping process.

Antibacterial Effect of Spanish Honeys of Different Botanical Origins against Staphylococcus epidermidis.

Honey is traditionally used for its medicinal properties attributed to its antibacterial and antioxidant effects. It is considered a natural alternative to conventional antibiotics. This effect has been attributed to their physico-chemical properties, as various chemical parameters can synergistically influence this effect. The aim of this study is to assess Spanish honeys of diverse botanical origins for their antibacterial efficacy against Staphylococcus epidermidis, correlating their physico-chemical attributes, (poly)phenol content, and antioxidant activity. The methods included colour determination via two methodologies, acidity, pH, moisture content, and sugar concentration. (Poly)phenol content was quantified using the Folin-Ciocalteau method, while antioxidant activity was evaluated via the FRAP method. Subsequently, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against S. epidermidis were investigated with different concentrations of honeys. The results revealed a direct relationship between honey darkness, (poly)phenol concentration, antioxidant activity, and antibacterial efficacy. Darker honeys exhibited higher (poly)phenol levels, greater antioxidant activity, and consequently, lower MIC and MBC values, showing enhanced antibacterial properties. These findings underscore the potential of honey as a therapeutic agent against S. epidermidis, particularly in wound healing applications to avoid infection. Further research into honey's multifaceted properties is warranted to unveil novel therapeutic avenues in healthcare.

Study on the bacteriostasis of lemon essential oil and the application of lemon essential oil nanoemulsion on fresh-cut kiwifruit

Fresh-cut fruit has been popularized for use by consumers in recent years, but its shelf life is very short. Plant essential oils have received attention for their bioactive properties, such as antibacterial and antioxidant properties, but their volatile nature limited their application in foods. In this study, the bacteriostasis of lemon essential oil (LEO) was verified, and LEO nanoemulsion was prepared to preserve fresh-cut kiwifruit. Compared with those of gram-negative bacteria, the inhibition zone diameters of LEO against gram-positive bacteria were significantly greater, measuring 12.20 ± 0.67 mm (Staphylococcus aureus) and 14.23 ± 0.61 mm (Listeria monocytogenes), compared to 9.50 ± 1.08 mm (Escherichia coli). At a concentration of 50 mg/mL, LEO exhibited DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging rates of 84.88 and 83.01%, respectively, which were comparable to those of 10 mg/L vitamin C (VC). Konjac glucomannan, whey protein and LEO were used to prepare nanoemulsion. When 2.0% LEO was added, the nanoemulsion exhibited great stability, which resulted in a decrease in particle size to 220.80 nm, a decrease in PDI to 0.238, and an increase in zeta potential to-27.83 mV. The stability of the nanoemulsion with added LEO was superior to that of the nanoemulsion without LEO on the 15th day. Preservation tests on fresh-cut kiwifruit demonstrated that, on the 8th day, compared with no treatment, nanoemulsion containing 2.0% LEO reduced the weight loss rate from 3.20 to 1.16%, increased the firmness from 20.459 to 38.23, and decreased the decay rate from 80.69 to 41.74% compared to untreated kiwifruit. It also effectively maintained the original color of fresh-cut kiwifruit and had positive effects on the soluble solid content, titratable acid content, VC content, and total colony count. LEO has great bacteriostatic and antioxidant activity, and the use of LEO nanoemulsions on fresh-cut kiwifruit can effectively maintain various indicators of fresh kiwifruit after a 8-day storage period.

Fabrication and characterization of transdermal delivery of ribociclib nanoemulgel in breast cancer treatment

The objective of this study is to create a nanoemulgel formulation of Ribociclib (RIBO), a highly selective inhibitor of CDK4/6 through the utilization of spontaneous emulsification method. An experimental investigation was conducted to construct pseudo-ternary phase diagram for the most favourable formulation utilizing rice bran oil, which is known for its diverse anticancer properties. The formulation consisted of varying combination of the surfactant and as the co-surfactant (Tween 80 and Transcutol, respectively) referred to as Smix and the trials were optimized to get the desired outcome. The nanoemulsion (NE) formulations that were developed exhibited a droplet size of 179.39 nm, accompanied with a PDI of 0.211. According to the data released by Opt-RIBO-NE, it can be inferred that the Higuchi model had the most favourable fit among many kinetics models considered. The results indicate that the use of nanogel preparations for the topical delivery of RIBO in breast cancer therapy, specifically RIBO-NE-G, is viable. This is supported by the extended release of the RIBO, and the appropriate level of drug permeation observed in Opt-RIBO-NE-G. Due to RIBO and Rice Bran oil, RIBO-NE-G had greater antioxidant activity, indicating its effectiveness as antioxidants. The stability of the RIBO-NE-G was observed over a period of three months, indicating a favourable shelf life. Therefore, this study proposes the utilization of an optimized formulation of RIBO-NE-G may enhance the efficacy of anticancer treatment and mitigate the occurrence of systemic side effects in breast cancer patients, as compared to the use of suspension preparation of RIBO.