High Polysaccharide Content Research Articles

Opuntia plants nutritive and medicinal value: a review

The scientific name Opuntia identifies a succulent plant native to Mexico. It is now widespread in the United States, South America and the Mediterranean basin, where it has found a suitable terrain for naturalization. It is a species of cactus popularly known as Nopal in Mexico and “Fico d’India” in Italy. Cladodes, the branched leaves of the plant, are paddle shaped and covered in short spines that enable it to absorb even the tiniest drop of water. A specific and well known type of Opuntia, called Opuntia ficus-indica, can be recognized by its typical yellow flowers and is appreciated for its fleshy fruit with a pleasant taste, rich in nutrients but low in calories. It is used as a foodstuff and in particular to produce juices, jellies and other edible products. The O. ficus-indica is also well known as a source of vitamins, especially vitamin C, calcium and phosphorus and in smaller quantities of other minerals and various essential nutrients, including antioxidants. The cladodes are the part of the plant from which the extract is used to aid weight control and as a cosmetic ingredient with an emollient and soothing action. The spongy tissues of the cladodes contain high concentrations of high molecular weight polysaccharides, which are relevant for the specific properties commonly attributed to this common succulent plant. This review presents several medicinal benefits, which can be obtained using cladodes, fruits and flowers of the different Opuntia species.

Organic Matrix Derived from Host-Microbe Interplay Contributes to Pathological Renal Biomineralization.

Matrix stones are a rare form of kidney stones. They feature a high percentage of hydrogel-like organic matter, and their formation is closely associated with urinary tract infections. Herein, comprehensive materials and biochemical approaches were taken to map the organic-inorganic interface and gather insights into the host-microbe interplay in pathological renal biomineralization. Surgically extracted soft and slimy matrix stones were examined using micro-X-ray computed tomography and various microspectroscopy techniques. Higher-mineral-density laminae were positive for calcium-bound Alizarin red. Lower-mineral-density laminae revealed periodic acid-Schiff-positive organic filamentous networks of varied thickness. These organic filamentous networks, which featured a high polysaccharide content, were enriched with zinc, carbon, and sulfur elements. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) along with immune response-related proteins, including calprotectin, myeloperoxidase, CD63, and CD86, also were identified in the filamentous networks. Expressions of NETs and upregulation of polysaccharide-rich mucin secretion are proposed as a part of the host immune defense to "trap" pathogens. These host-microbe derived organic matrices can facilitate heterogeneous nucleation and precipitation of inorganic particulates, resulting in macroscale aggregates known as "matrix stones". These insights into the plausible aggregation of constituents through host-microbe interplay underscore the unique "double-edged sword" effect of the host immune response to pathogens and the resulting renal biominerals.

In Vitro Assessment of the Antioxidant and Anticancer Properties of Flammulina velutipes Stipe Extracts.

Flammulina velutipes (FV), also known as the golden needle mushroom, is an edible and medicinal fungus that contains bioactive substances regulating various physiological functions. While the fruiting bodies of FV are commonly consumed, their stipes are often discarded despite containing polysaccharides. In this study, the biological functions of FV stipes (FV-S) were investigated to reduce waste and pollution while increasing their value. The antioxidant activity of FV was evaluated using three methods: the DPPH radical-scavenging capacity assay, ferrous ion chelating assay, and reducing power analysis. The anti-cancer potential was assessed through MTT viability and immunoblotting analyses. Results showed that FV-S had higher polysaccharide and total phenolic contents and greater antioxidant abilities, particularly in ethanolic extracts. FV-S also exhibited significant anticancer properties, specifically in hot water extracts with high polysaccharide contents, and suppressed prostate cancer cell viability by inhibiting androgen receptor and PCa-specific antigen mRNA expression while inducing caspase-3/7 activation. FV-S is rich in bioactive components, possesses higher antioxidant and anticancer abilities, and has potential as an anticancer agent, which could enhance the value of FV.

Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Potential of Five Algae Cultivated in Fully Controlled Closed Systems.

In this study, the chemical composition and antioxidant profile of five edible macroalgae, Fucus vesiculosus, Palmaria palmata, Porphyra dioica, Ulva rigida, and Gracilaria gracilis, cultivated in fully controlled closed systems, were determined. Protein, carbohydrates, and fat contents ranged between 12.4% and 41.8%, 27.6% and 42.0%, and 0.1% and 3.4%, respectively. The tested seaweeds presented considerable amounts of Ca, Mg, K, Mn, and Fe, which reinforce their favorable nutritional profile. Regarding their polysaccharide composition, Gracilaria gracilis and Porphyra dioica were rich in sugars common to agar-producing red algae, and Fucus vesiculosus was composed mainly of uronic acids, mannose, and fucose, characteristic of alginate and fucoidans, whereas rhamnose and uronic acid, characteristic of ulvans, predominated in Ulva rigida. Comparatively, the brown F. vesiculosus clearly stood out, presenting a high polysaccharide content rich in fucoidans, and higher total phenolic content and antioxidant scavenging activity, determined by DPPH and ABTS. The remarkable potential of these marine macroalgae makes them excellent ingredients for a wide range of health, food, and industrial applications.

A novel soluble powder containing high Dendrobium huoshanense polysaccharide and its in vitro hypoglycemic activities evaluation

Dendrobium huoshanense polysaccharide possesses a variety of biologic activities, but their high viscosity leads to poor water solubility which limit their industrialized production and practical application. In this study, two granulation techniques, spray drying and wet granulation were used to prepare the powders containing high Dendrobium huoshanense polysaccharide. The yield, polysaccharides content and solubility were investigated. The results showed that the powders containing high Dendrobium huoshanense polysaccharide prepared by wet granulation (DHP-WG) were more suitable for industrialized production and practical application. The optimal product was DHP-WG-70 with a granulation yield of 78.54 ± 1.02%, polysaccharides content of 70.85 ± 1.67% and dissolution time of 60.05 ± 5.02s. The hypoglycemic activity of DHP-WG and DHP was compared by in vitro experiments including inhibition assay for α-glucosidase, kinetics of inhibition on α-glucosidase, glucose adsorption capacity, glucose dialysis retardation index and inhibition assay for α-amylase activity. In general, DHP had better hypoglycemic activity than DHP-WG. In DHP-WGs, DHP-WG-50 and DHP-WG-70 showed better hypoglycemic activity than DHP-WG-30 and DHP-WG-90. This study provided a theoretical basis for the development and production of powders with high polysaccharides content of Dendrobium huoshanense and hypoglycemic effect in the food industry.

Recent Advances in the Incorporation of Polysaccharides with Antioxidant and Antibacterial Functions to Preserve the Quality and Shelf Life of Meat Products.

Meat and meat products are susceptible to various types of natural processes such as oxidative degradation due to their high content of protein and essential amino acids. However, finding solutions to maintain the nutritional and sensory quality of meat and meat products is unavoidable. Hence, there is a pressing need to investigate alternatives to synthetic preservatives, focusing on active biomolecules of natural provenance. Polysaccharides are natural polymers of various sources that exhibit antibacterial and antioxidant properties via a variety of mechanisms, owing to their diversity and structural variation. For this reason, these biomolecules are widely studied in order to improve texture, inhibit the growth of pathogens, and improve the oxidative stability and sensory characteristics of meat products. However, the literature has not addressed their biological activity in meat and meat products. This review summarizes the various sources of polysaccharides, their antioxidant and antibacterial activities (mainly against pathogenic food strains), and their use as natural preservatives to replace synthetic additives in meat and meat products. Special attention is given to the use of polysaccharides to improve the nutritional value of meat, resulting in more nutrient-rich meat products with higher polysaccharide content and less salt, nitrites/nitrates, and cholesterol.

Stabilization and Valorization of Beer Bagasse to Obtain Bioplastics.

Beer bagasse is a residue produced in large quantities, though it is undervalued in the industry. Its high protein and polysaccharide content make it attractive for use in sectors such as the manufacture of bioplastics. However, its high water content makes it necessary to stabilize it before being considered as a raw material. The main objective of this work was to evaluate the stabilization of beer bagasse and the production of bioplastics from it. In this sense, different drying methods (freeze-drying and heat treatment at 45 and 105 °C) were studied. The bagasse was also characterized physicochemically to evaluate its potential. In addition, bagasse was used in combination with glycerol (plasticizer) to make bioplastics by injection molding, analyzing their mechanical properties, water absorption capacity and biodegradability. The results showed the great potential of bagasse, presenting a high content of proteins (18-20%) and polysaccharides (60-67%) after its stabilization, with freeze-drying being the most suitable method to avoid its denaturation. Bioplastics present appropriate properties for use in applications such as horticulture and agriculture.

Characterization of Delonix regia Flowers’ Pigment and Polysaccharides: Evaluating Their Antibacterial, Anticancer, and Antioxidant Activities and Their Application as a Natural Colorant and Sweetener in Beverages

In the present study, an attempt was made to investigate the in vitro antioxidant, anticancer, and antibacterial activities of Delonix regia, then in vivo evaluate its safety as a natural colorant and sweetener in beverages compared to synthetic colorant and sweetener in rats, then serve the beverages for sensory evaluation. Delonix regia flowers had high protein, polysaccharide, Ca, Na, Mg, K, and Fe contents. The Delonix regia pigment extract (DRPE) polysaccharides were separated and purified by gel permeation chromatography on Sephacryl S-200, characterized by rich polysaccharides (13.6 g/L). The HPLC sugar profile detected the monosaccharides in the extracted polysaccharides, composed of mannose, galactose, glucose, arabinose, and gluconic acid, and the structure of saccharides was confirmed by FTIR, which showed three active groups: carbonyl, hydrocarbon, and hydroxyl. On the other hand, the red pigment constituents of DRPE were detected by HPLC; the main compounds were delphinidin and cyanidin at 15 µg/mL. The DRPE contained a considerable amount (26.33 mg/g) of anthocyanins, phenolic compounds (64.7 mg/g), and flavonoids (10.30 mg/g), thus influencing the antioxidant activity of the DRPE, which scavenged 92% of DPPH free radicals. Additionally, it inhibited the population of pathogenic bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocyogenes, Salmonella typhimurum, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in the range of 30-90 μg/mL, in addition to inhibiting 85% of pancreatic cancer cell lines. On the in vivo level, the rats that were delivered a diet containing DRPE showed regular liver markers (AST, ALP, and ALT); kidney markers (urea and creatinine); high TP, TA, and GSH; and low MDA, while rats treated with synthetic dye and aspartame showed higher liver and kidney markers; lowered TP, TA, and GSH; and high MDA. After proving the safety of DRPE, it can be safely added to strawberry beverages. Significant sensorial traits, enhanced red color, and taste characterize the strawberry beverages supplemented with DRPE. The lightness and redness of strawberries were enhanced, and the color change ΔE values in DRPE-supplemented beverages ranged from 1.1 to 1.35 compared to 1.69 in controls, indicating the preservative role of DRPE on color. So, including DRPE in food formulation as a natural colorant and sweetener is recommended for preserving health and the environment.

Evaluation of whitening and antimicrobial activity of two strains of Bletilla striata WT and HL20.

Bletilla striata (Thunb.) Reixchb.f. is a perennial herb of the Orchid-aceae Bletilla and have various ethnopharmacological uses. As a traditional astringent hemostatic Chinese herbal medicine, B. striata has been widely used in the treatment of 127 different kinds of hemorrhagic diseases. Moreover, B. striata has been a beauty medicine since ancient times, with the first ancient records dating back to 2000 years ago, traditionally used to removing freckle and smooth the skin. Because of the high content of polysaccharides, which is considered the primary active substance of B. striata and having anti-aging, whitening, and anti-oxidation functions, this is also widely used in the cosmetics industry. We screened the germplasm resources of B. striata in the early stage and the superior HL20 strain was obtained. Our research aims to analyze and compare the whitening and antimicrobial activities of different extracts (aqueous extract, ethanol extract, and aqueous extract from ethanol extract filter residue) of the selected superior varieties (HL20) and the control (WT). L-tyrosine and L-dopa were used as substrates to establish a tyrosinase inhibition system with arbutin as the positive control and the whitening activity was measured by the inhibition rate of TYR-M and TYR-D. Besides, an in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed to assess the antimicrobial activity of the B. striata extracts. In a nutshell, the method of punching diffusion was used to thoroughly examine the effects of three extracts from two strains on the antimicrobial activity of five types of microorganism in cosmetics microbiological testing products. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of different extracts were also assessed. Results showed that the whitening and antimicrobial properties of the HL20 strain were found to be more potent than those of the WT strain. Compared with the other two extraction methods, the aqueous extract from ethanol extract filter residue of B. striata exhibited better inhibition of tyrosinase activity. The antimicrobial assay manifested that only the ethanol extract of B. striata had an inhibitory effect and had a potent antimicrobial impact on E. faecalis. In summary, we evaluated the pharmacological activity of the pre-selected excellent variety (HL20) in terms of whitening and antimicrobial activity. Our results reveal that the selected strain (HL20) has certain advantages over the control (WT). These characteristics make it a candidate additive for whitening cosmetics. Our study also provides a further contribution to the product application of B. striata in cosmetics and antimicrobial agents and the selected HL20 also lays a foundation for the breeding of superior B. striata varieties.

FACTORS AFFECT ON THE TOTAL POLYSACCHARIDE CONTENT IN GANODERMA LUCIDUM (LEYSS EX.FR.) KARST, GANODERMATACEAE

Background: Ganoderma lucidum is a precious remedy with the active ingredient polysaccharides effective in treating diseases such as diabetes, hepatitis, cancer, etc. During cultivation, factors such as harvest time, temperature, and humidity affect the obtained polysaccharide content. At the same time, in the extraction process, the polysaccharide content is also affected by the material/solvent ratio, extraction time, extraction temperature, and the number of repetitions of extraction. Objectives: To determine the growing conditions and the time of harvesting and extracting conditions of Ganoderma lucidum with the highest polysaccharide content. Materials and methods: Using phenol-sulfuric acid reagent (concentrated) to determine the polysaccharide content, the growth stage and extraction conditions leading to the most polysaccharide content. Results: The highest polysaccharide content was obtained in mushrooms on the 75th day, based on bagasse with growing environments from the 1st to the 34th day: temperature of 25-30⁰C and humidity of 60-70%; that from the 35th to the 67th day: temperature of 22-28 ⁰C and humidity of 80-90%; that from the 68th to the 75th day: temperature of 22-28⁰C and humidity of 60-70%. The best extraction conditions: medicinal/solvent ratio: 1/40, temperature: 80⁰C, time: 90 minutes, and the number of extractions: 3 times. Conclusion: Ganoderma lucidum should be grown, harvested, and extracted under the above conditions to obtain the highest polysaccharide content.

Mushrooms Ability to Deter Diabetes: A Review

For its potential as a supplement to conventional drugs and therapies, mushrooms have been the subject of substantial medical investigation. Many in vitro and in vivo studies using animal and human models have demonstrated that the polysaccharides, oligosaccharides, dietary fibres, peptides, amino acids, fatty acids, micronutrients, and phenolic bioactives present in mushrooms impart a wide range of medical and therapeutic approaches properties. These components, either individually or together, follow complex routes to display biological and functional activity. These higher classes of fungi have a range of medicinal properties, including antioxidant potential, anti-inflammatory action, and anti-aging, as a result of their high fibre and polysaccharide content. Several dietary fibres and saccharides have immunosuppression, anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive, and anti-hyperlipidemic properties. Terpenoids and phenolic compounds in the mushroom are responsible for its protective benefits on the heart, liver, neurons, kidneys, and liver. Among other anti-diabetic mushrooms are Pleurotusostreatus, Ganodermalucidum, Grifolafrondosa, and Lentinusedodes. In addition to reducing cholesterol production and absorption, mushrooms also reduce food consumption, promoting a healthy gastrointestinal system, and promote healthier. We compiled the most recent research on the benefits of consuming edible mushrooms for your health in this article. So, it can be concluded that regularly including mushrooms in your diet may aid in the prevention of diabetes

Fermentation performance of oleaginous yeasts on Eucommia ulmoides Oliver hydrolysate: Impacts of the mixed strains fermentation

This present study mainly focused on the investigation and optimization of the fermentation performance of oleaginous yeasts on Eucommia ulmoides Oliver hydrolysate (EUOH), which contains abundant and diverse sugars. More importantly, the impacts of the mixed strains fermentation compared with the single strain fermentation were analyzed and evaluated, through systematic investigations of substrate metabolism, cell growth, polysaccharide and lipid production, COD and ammonia-nitrogen removals. It was found that the mixed strains fermentation could effectively promote a more comprehensive and thorough utilization of the various sugars in EUOH, greatly improve COD removal effect, biomass and yeast polysaccharide production, but could not significantly improve the overall lipid content and ammonia nitrogen removal effect. In this study, when the two strains with the highest lipid content (i.e. L. starkeyi and R. toruloides) were mixed-cultured, the maximum lipid yield of 3.82 g/L was achieved, and the yeast polysaccharide yield, COD and ammonia-nitrogen removal rates of the fermentation (LS+RT) were 1.64 g/L, 67.4% and 74.9% respectively. When the strain with the highest polysaccharide content (i.e. R. toruloides) was mixed-cultured with the strains with strong growth activity (i.e. T. cutaneum and T. dermatis), a large amount of yeast polysaccharides could be obtained, which were 2.33 g/L (RT+TC) and 2.38 g/L (RT+TD) respectively. And the lipid yield, COD and ammonia-nitrogen removal rates of the fermentation (RT+TC), (RT+TD) were 3.09 g/L, 77.7%, 81.4% and 2.54 g/L, 74.9%, 80.4%, respectively.

Astragalus polysaccharides combined with simvastatin as an immunostimulant enhances the immune adjuvanticity of oil-in-water emulsion and immune responses in mice.

Oil-in-water emulsion-based adjuvants have demonstrated acceptable safety in many disease indications, while their adjuvant activities for vaccines still need to be improved. Recently, the strategy of combining adjuvants with multiple types of immunostimulants has been shown to enhance immune responses. In this study, astragalus polysaccharides were combined with simvastatin as an immunostimulant to construct a compound O/W emulsion adjuvant. The formulations were optimized according to the OVA-specific antibody responses induced in mice. For this reason, high (5mg/mL), medium (2.5mg/mL), and low (1.25mg/mL) concentrations of astragalus polysaccharides and high (10mg/mL), medium (1mg/mL), and low (0.1mg/mL) concentrations of simvastatin were selected. The final optimal formulation of the immunostimulant was a high concentration of astragalus polysaccharides combined with a medium concentration of simvastatin. The optimal compound O/W emulsion adjuvant could induce effective humoral and cellular immune responses that were stronger and more stable than those induced by aluminum adjuvant and Freund's adjuvant. The OVA/HAPS-MSim-OE induced dramatically strong and persistent IgG expressions and Th1-polarized immune responses. What's more, the highest CD4+/CD8+lymphocyte ratios were observed in OVA/HAPS-MSim-OE group. In addition, compound O/W emulsion adjuvant groups significantly promoted the secretion of IFN-γ and IL-6, which also indicated that the compound O/W emulsion adjuvants could induce both enhanced Th1 and Th2-mediated immune responses but prefer the Th1-mediated ones. This study would contribute to an interesting and promising direction in the development of emulsion-based adjuvants.

Flow Sorting-Assisted Optical Mapping.

Optical mapping-a technique that visualizes short sequence motives along DNA molecules of hundred kilobases to megabase in size-has found an important place in genome research. It is widely used to facilitate genome sequence assemblies and analyses of genome structural variations. Application of the technique is conditional on availability of highly pure ultra-long high-molecular-weight DNA (uHMW DNA), which is challenging to achieve in plants due to the presence of the cell wall, chloroplasts, and secondary metabolites, just as a high content of polysaccharides and DNA nucleases in some species. These obstacles can be overcome by employment of flow cytometry, enabling a fast and highly efficient purification of cell nuclei or metaphase chromosomes, which are afterward embedded in agarose plugs and used to isolate the uHMW DNA in situ. Here, we provide a detailed protocol for the flow sorting-assisted uHMW DNA preparation that has been successfully used to construct whole-genome as well as chromosomal optical maps for 20 plant species from several plant families.

Enhanced Yield of Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activities in Four Fermented Beans of Phellinus linteus Strains (Agaricomycetes) by Solid-State Fermentation.

Phellinus linteus is a famous medicinal mushroom which exhibits various biological activities. This study aimed to investigate the effects of solid-state fermentation by Ph. linteus on the yield of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities of beans. Four bean substrates were prepared and inoculated with inoculum of three strains of Ph. linteus, respectively. During the cultivation, the harvested samples were dried, grounded, extracted, and determined the contents of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities. The results indicated that the mung bean fermented by Ph. linteus 04 had the highest polysaccharide content (98.8 mg/g). The highest total phenolic and flavonoid contents were in fermented soybeans by Ph. linteus 03 (15.03 mg gallic acid equivalents/g and 63.24 mg rutin equivalents/g, respectively). The 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging activities of hot water extracts were higher than those of ethanolic extracts for fermented beans by three Ph. linteus strains. However, the superoxide anion radical scavenging ability of ethanolic extracts was higher than those of hot water extracts in the fermented beans of the three strains. The ferrous ion (Fe2+)-chelating abilities of hot water extracts were higher than those of ethanolic extracts in fermented beans by Ph. linteus 03 and 04. In contrast, ethanolic extracts were higher than hot water extracts in fermented beans by Ph. linteus 06. Overall, these results indicate that the fermentation by Ph. linteus strains increased the bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities of four beans.

A comparative investigation of anionic polysaccharides (sulfated fucan, ι-carrageenan, κ-carrageenan, and alginate) on the fabrication, stability, rheology, and digestion of multilayer emulsion

In this study, four important marine polysaccharides (sulfated fucan, ι-carrageenan, κ - carrageenan, and alginate) were selected and tailored to a similar molecular weight using heterologously overexpressed enzymes. These “standardized” polysaccharides were firstly used to elucidate the effect of anionic polysaccharides on the formation, stability, rheology, and digestion of the multilayer emulsions. Results showed that the four polysaccharides were all capable of adsorbing to the surfaces of lipid droplets at the pH values of 5, 4, and 3. ι-Carrageenan could adsorb to the surface of the droplet at a higher pH (pH 6) than the other three polysaccharides (pH 5). Stable multilayer emulsions were formed at a higher polysaccharide concentration (0.05 wt%) for κ-carrageenan compared with sulfated fucan, ι-carrageenan, and alginate (0.04 wt%). The emulsion containing alginate was susceptible to flocculation at low pH 3 and polysaccharide concentration >0.1 wt%. Multilayer emulsions fabricated by ι-carrageenan were stable under all the examined NaCl concentrations (0–400 mM). Multilayer emulsion fabricated by sulfated fucan showed less aggregation in the stomach stage, which is a good choice to encapsulate acid-intolerant substances. Multilayer emulsions fabricated by κ-carrageenan and alginate showed higher apparent viscosity, and the rheological curves of multilayer emulsions fabricated FUC or ICA were very similar. Moreover, multilayer emulsions fabricated by κ-carrageenan showed the fastest digestion rate and the highest digestion extent. These findings would facilitate the targeted design of multilayer emulsions by selecting suitable polysaccharides. • Four polysaccharides were tailed to similar molar mass by a repertoire of enzymes. • Multilayer emulsion with targeted functions was fabricated using polysaccharides. • ι-Carrageenan can fabricate multilayer emulsion with high salt stability demand. • κ-Carrageenan can form multilayer emulsion with the demand of rapid digestion. • Emulsion contained sulfated fucan had less aggregation in the stomach stage.

Effects of traditional and advanced drying techniques on the physicochemical properties of Lycium barbarum L. polysaccharides and the formation of Maillard reaction products in its dried berries

This study explored the effect of three different industrial drying methods on the physicochemical, nutritional, and safety profile of goji berries. The hot-air (HD) and microwave drying (MD) methods yielded berries with relatively high polysaccharide content, while vacuum freeze-drying (FD) yielded dried berries with better sensory qualities but relatively less polysaccharide content. The polysaccharides obtained from the HD and MD berries had lower molecular weight, high antioxidant activity and high degrees of Maillard reaction. Further investigations revealed that all three methods, in particular HD and MD, generated high levels of intermediate Maillard reaction products (55.8–86.3 mg/kg) and advanced glycation end-products (fluorescent intensity of 26784–51712), based on significant reduction of reducing sugar and amino acids in the HD and MD berries (p < 0.05). These findings highlight the need to scrutinize the effectiveness of traditional and emerging drying technologies used to produce safe fruits.

A novel membrane photo-electro oxidizer for advanced treatment of coal processing wastewater: Fouling control and permeate quality

This study proposed and evaluated, for the first time, a novel membrane-photo-electrochemical oxidation (MPEO) process combining electrochemical oxidation, UV irradiation, and ceramic microfiltration for the advanced treatment of coal processing wastewater. The MPEO process could achieve 600 h of sustainable and continuous operation with excellent color (∼90%) and turbidity (>90%) removal. Without electrochemical oxidation and UV irradiation, severe membrane fouling was observed during direct microfiltration due to the accumulation of high content of polysaccharides, proteins and humic-like substances contained in the feedwater on the membrane. On the other hand, in the MPEO system, these macro-organic molecules were effectively degraded into small molecules by the highly reactive hydroxyl free radical (∙OH) produced from electrochemical oxidation and UV irradiation. FT-ICR-MS analysis confirmed these results and showed a significant increase in the number of small organic molecules after MPEO treatment. The MPEO system in this study could potentially be an efficient and sustainable treatment process for treating chemical industrial wastewater containing refractory organics.

The effect of multi-carbohydrase preparations on non-starch polysaccharides degradation and growth performance of broiler chickens fed diets containing high inclusion level of canola meal

Although canola meal (CM) contains a significant amount of dietary fiber, including high concentrations of non-starch polysaccharides (NSP), it is still a valuable source of protein for poultry diets. Supplementation of CM-containing poultry diets with multi-carbohydrase enzymes is an effective approach to improve the nutrition value of CM. The enzymatic degradation of NSP will contribute to the production of NSP hydrolysis products, which may improve gut health and growth performance. A series of in vitro incubation studies was carried out to determine if various carbohydrase preparations can target NSP of CM. The most effective enzyme combination was studied further in a growth performance and NSP utilization trial (1–20 d of age) with Ross 308 broiler chickens. Broilers were assigned to 3 dietary treatments each consisting of 8 cages of 5 birds and were fed a control corn/CM-based starter and grower diets (Control) or diets supplemented with an enzyme blend at two levels: 0.3 and 1.5 g/kg. Starter (1–10d) and grower (11–20d) diets contained 270 and 290 g/kg of CM, respectively. In the in vitro studies, the highest NSP depolymerization was observed for a combination of two pectinase-like enzymes fortified with xylanase. No further improvement with other enzyme preparations was observed. In comparison to the Control diets, birds fed the diet supplemented with 1.5 g/kg of multi-carbohydrase cocktail showed higher (P < 0.05) body weight gain during the grower phase and the entire trial. The carbohydrase enzyme combination significantly increased the coefficient of apparent total tract NSP digestibility. Our research suggests that the administration of a carbohydrase cocktail in diets with high inclusion of CM can improve growth performance and NSP utilization in broiler chickens.

A Novel Natural Active Coagulant Agent Extracted from the Sugarcane Bagasse for Wastewater Treatment

The performance of extracted coagulant from the sugarcane bagasse was tested using synthetic wastewater for turbidity removal. Sugarcane bagasse was selected because it is available in abundance as a waste. This study was carried out to analyze the effect of the extraction process in optimizing the active coagulant agent of bagasse as a natural coagulant for optimum turbidity removal. Bagasse was characterized in terms of physical, chemical and morphological properties. The results showed bagasse has very high polysaccharide content which can act as an active coagulant agent together with hemicellulose and lignin. The extraction process for degradation of lignin and hemicellulose was run based on two different solvents (NaOH and H2SO4) with varying concentrations from 2% to 10% at different extraction temperatures varied from 60 °C to 180 °C for various extraction times (0.5 h to 3 h). The optimum polysaccharide content extracted from bagasse was 697.5 mg/mL by using 2% NaOH at 120 °C for 2 h extraction. The coagulation process using extracted bagasse showed the removal of suspended solids up to 95.9% under optimum conditions. The concentration of polysaccharides as the active coagulant agent plays a vital role where high polysaccharides content removes most turbidity at a lower dosage. Bagasse has the potential to be an alternative coagulating agent due to its efficiency, and eco-friendly properties for the treatment of wastewater.