LC-MS Analysis Research Articles

Synthesis, Characterization, and Optimization of Novel Furan-ring Fused Chalcones via Radical Cyclization of α,β-Unsaturated Ketones and Cyclic Ketone

Abstract: Novel Furan-ring Fused Chalcones (FFC) were synthesized using a radical cyclization reaction of α,β-unsaturated ketones with cyclic ketone as the model reaction to attain this goal. In this study, traditional and microwave-assisted methods for the efficient and cost-effective synthesis of furan-ring fused chalcones in mild reaction conditions are compared and optimized. The goal is to develop a reliable and adaptable synthetic technique that may be used to produce these useful chalcone derivatives quickly and effectively. The optimal experimental conditions for these reactions were carefully determined using two independent methodologies: conventional (Method A) and microwave (Method B). The results indicated that the proposed method B could be used effectively in the future to synthesize novel furans with short reaction times and acceptable yields (87-94 %), and products were purified by column chromatography and preparative thin layer chromatography (PTLC). All new compounds were characterized by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, LC-MS, and elemental analyses.

Betacyanins from red pitahaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus) exhibit antiviral response against influenza A virus

Seasonal influenza affects millions of lives worldwide, with the influenza A virus (IAV) responsible for pandemics and annual epidemics, causing the most severe illnesses resulting in patient hospitalizations or death. With IAV threatening the next global influenza pandemic, it is a race against time to search for antiviral drugs. Betacyanins are unique nitrogen-containing and water-soluble reddish-violet pigments that have been reported to possess antiviral properties against the dengue virus. This study aimed to examine the antiviral effect of betacyanins from red pitahaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus) on IAV-infected lung epithelial A549 cells. HPLC and LC-MS analysis of extracted betacyanin showed four betacyanins in the betacyanin fraction: phyllocactin, hylocerenin, betanin, and isobetanin. Cytotoxicity assay showed that betacyanin fractions were not cytotoxic to A549 cells at concentrations below 100 μg/mL. Betacyanin fraction concentrations of 12.5, 25.0, and 50.0 μg/mL prevented the formation of viral cytopathic effect and reduced virus titer in IAV-infected cells up to 72 h. A downregulation of protein and mRNA nucleoprotein expression levels was observed after treatment with 25.0 and 50.0 μg/mL of betacyanin fraction after 24 h, thereby providing evidence for the antiviral activity of betacyanin from red pitahaya against IAV in vitro.

Intensification of bio-actives extraction from pomegranate peel via microwave irradiation: Effect of factors, optimization, kinetics, and bioactive profiling

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel is an appealing agri-food byproduct due to its high content of health-beneficial phytochemicals. However, the extraction processes may alter their bioactivity. A microwave irradiation treatment was applied to enhance the extraction efficiency. Extraction time, microwave power, and temperature were examined and optimized numerically using polynomial model and genetic algorithm. Time and temperature were the most influential factors in intensifying bioactives extraction. The optimal variables were 620 W microwave power at 74 °C for 18 min (RSM), and 685 W power at 75 °C for 24 min (ANN-GA). The obtained yields of total polyphenols, flavonoids, punicalagin, ellagic acid, and total hydrolyzable tannins contents were 165.53 mg GAE/g, 40.78 mg QE/g, 91.05 mg/g, 4.28 mg/g, and 130.82 mg TAE/g of pomegranate peel, respectively. The extract showed significant antioxidant capacities, with 65.74 % DPPH inhibition and 71.26 % ABTS inhibition. Several kinetic models were studied to define the extraction kinetics, with Peleg's model being the best fitting with the highest R2 (0.963–0.987) and lowest RMSE (0.95–5.08). LCMS analysis confirms the presence of 15 hydrolyzable tannins, with punicalagin and ellagic acid being the most abundant. These findings demonstrated the significant potential of microwave irradiation for extracting bioactives from fruit byproducts.

Moderate elimination of mycotoxins in vegetable oil triggered by superoxide anion and singlet oxygen

Establishing a moderate elimination strategy for mycotoxins with the maintained food nutrition is significant to food safety. Herein, the Au-NPs decorated defective Bi2WO6 (Au-BWO-OV) with modulated ROS generation was successfully synthesized, integrating the merits of defect-engineering and Au-NPs induced LSPR-effect. The Au-BWO-OV exhibited modified photoelectrochemical property and O2-adsorption capacity, supporting the selective generation of •O2− and 1O2 with moderate oxidizing ability. As a result, >90% of AFB1 and ZEN were eliminated within 100 and 50 min, along with the maintained nutrition in vegetable oil. Moreover, the reasonable degradation mechanism triggered by •O2− and 1O2 was proposed based on the trapping experiments, DFT calculations and LC-MS analysis for intermediate products, including the steps of hydrolysis, oxidative dissociation, cis-trans isomerization, and dehydroxylation. This work not only paved the way for balancing the contradiction between detoxification and nutrient retention, but also casted new insights into the ROS-mediated degradation mechanism.

Assessment of visible light sensitive La-doped BiOBr/ZnO for the effective degradation of malachite green dye

Environmental scientists across the globe are actively focused on developing novel materials to remove hazardous wastes from aqueous environments. Among the several methods available, photocatalysis stands out as a very efficient and environmentally beneficial process for removing organic dyes from wastewater. The present work involved the successful fabrication of lanthanum-doped bismuth oxy bromide/zinc oxide (La-doped BiOBr/ZnO, LBZ) as a photocatalyst through a facile hydrothermal technique. The synthesized LBZ composite exhibited enhanced photocatalytic degradation efficiency towards the malachite green (MG) dye molecules under visible light. The synthesized materials were characterized by different analytical techniques like FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDX, XPS, LC-MS, UV–Vis DRS, PL spectra, and mapping analysis, respectively. Various contributing factors, including irradiation time, solution pH, catalyst dosage, and initial dye concentration, were optimized using the batch mode for the maximum efficiency of the prepared catalyst. The prepared LBZ exhibited a bandgap energy of 2.78 eV as determined through UV–Vis DRS analysis. Among the prepared series of catalysts, the LBZ composite could degrade 99 % MG with a minimum irradiation time of 50 min under visible light irradiation. The involvement of h+ and O2− radicals proved to be significant during the degradation process of MG. Additionally, a proposed mechanism for the effective degradation of the photocatalytic degradation of MG was discussed, and successfully identified the mechanism pathway of MG was by employing LC-MS analysis. This investigation highlights the potential of prepared LBZ composite as an effective photocatalyst for removing toxic dye molecules commonly present in industrial effluents.

Selective pressure leads to an improved synthetic consortium fit for dye degradation

Microorganisms have great potential for bioremediation as they have powerful enzymes and machineries that can transform xenobiotics. The use of a microbial consortium provides more advantages in application point of view than pure cultures due to cross-feeding, adaptations, functional redundancies, and positive interactions among the organisms. In this study, we screened about 107 isolates for their ability to degrade dyes in aerobic conditions and without additional carbon source. From our screening results, we finally limited our synthetic consortium to Gordonia and Rhodococcus isolates. The synthetic consortium was trained and optimized for azo dye degradation using sequential treatment of small aromatic compounds such as phenols that act as selective pressure agents. After four rounds of optimization with different aims for each round, the consortium was able to decolorize and degrade various dyes after 48 h (80%–100% for brilliant black bn, methyl orange, and chromotrop 2b; 50–70% for orange II and reactive orange 16; 15–30% for chlorazol black e, reactive red 120, and allura red ac). Through rational approaches, we can show that treatment with phenolic compounds at micromolar dosages can significantly improve the degradation of bulky dyes and increase its substrate scope. Moreover, our selective pressure approach led to the production of various dye-degrading enzymes as azoreductase, laccase-like, and peroxidase-like activities were detected from the phenol-treated consortium. Evidence of degradation was also shown as metabolites arising from the degradation of methyl red and brilliant black bn were detected using HPLC and LC-MS analysis. Therefore, this study establishes the importance of rational and systematic screening and optimization of a consortium. Not only can this approach be applied to dye degradation, but this study also offers insights into how we can fully maximize microbial consortium activity for other applications, especially in biodegradation and biotransformation.

High-Efficient photocatalytic degradation of Levofloxacin via a novel ternary Fe2O3/CeO2/ZnO Heterostructure: Synthesis Optimization, Characterization, toxicity assessment and mechanism insight

Considering the serious problem of lack of freshwater worldwide and the effectiveness of the photocatalysis process in water purification, we prepared a novel Ternary Fe2O3/CeO2/ZnO photocatalyst toward degradation of Levofloxacin (LEF) antibiotic. In this study, the CeO2 was synthesized through the hydrothermal route and the nanocomposite was prepared using a simple-impregnation method. Then the synthesized materials with various weight percentages 5 %FeCe (10, 20, 30 and 40 %) on the ZnO were completely characterized in the aspects of structural, morphological and optical properties with the aid of XRD, XPS, BET, TEM, SEM, EIS, ESR, Band-gap, Photocurrent, Mott Schottky, etc. The XPS analysis depicts the successful construction of required bonds among FeCe/ZnO materials. The enhancement of LEF decomposition was investigated utilizing RSM-CCD method, considering factors such as the amount of catalyst used, irradiation time, pH levels, and the initial concentration of LEF. The trapping experiments of free radicals highlight the significant contributions of the •OH and •O2– radicals. A notable degradation rate of 98.9 % was achieved under optimal operational conditions, which included catalyst dosage of 0.69 g/L, irradiation period of 83.64 min, initial LEF concentration of 37.9 mg/L, and pH of 6.18. Furthermore, the findings of EIS, photocurrent, and Mott-Schottky analyses allowed for proposing a suitable charge transfer mechanism and demonstrated effective separation of photo-generated electron-hole pairs. Additionally, LC-MS analysis was utilized to elucidate the intermediate products generated during the photodegradation of LEF, leading to the proposal of plausible degradation pathways. The exceptional efficiency of the 30FeCe/ZnO photocatalyst highlights its promising potential for the efficient treatment of persistent organic pollutants on a large scale in wastewater treatment plants.

Vaccinium myrtillus L. Leaf Waste as a Source of Biologically Potent Compounds: Optimization of Polyphenol Extractions, Chemical Profile, and Biological Properties of the Extracts.

The aims of the present research include (1) optimization of extraction from Vaccinium myrtillus leaf waste via investigation of plant material:medium ratio, extraction medium, and extraction period, employing extractions at room and high temperatures, or using ultrasound and microwaves (M, HAE, UAE, and MAE, respectively), (2) physicochemical characterization, and (3) investigation of extract biological potential. The statistical analysis revealed that optimal levels of parameters for the greatest polyphenolic yield were a proportion of 1:30 g/mL, ethyl alcohol 50% (v/v) during 2 min of microwave irradiation. By LC-MS analysis, 29 phenolic components were detected; HAE showed the highest richness of almost all determined polyphenols, while chlorogenic acid and quercetin 3-O-glucuronide were dominant. All extracts showed a high inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus growth. The effect of different parameters on extracts' antioxidant capacity depended on the used tests. The extracts also showed a stimulative influence on keratinocyte viability and anti-inflammatory activity (proven in cell-based ELISA and erythrocyte stabilization assays). The extraction procedure significantly affected the extraction yield (MAE ≥ maceration ≥ UAE ≥ HAE), whereas conductivity, density, surface tension, and viscosity varied in a narrow range. The presented research provides evidence on the optimal extraction conditions and technique, chemical composition, and antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and keratinocyte viability properties of bilberry extracts for potential applications in pharmacy and cosmetics.

SnS thin films deposited at room temperature – Efficient and reusable dark catalyst for water remediation at ambient conditions

This study describes the dark catalytic degradation of cationic, anionic, and commercial dyes by SnS thin films under dark ambient conditions without the assistance of any external stimuli. The thin films were deposited by a modified SILAR (Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction) method at room temperature and characterised using XRD, XPS, FESEM, TGA, and UV–visible spectrophotometers. The dark catalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye was investigated using a spectrophotometer and validated by LCMS analysis and an adsorption desorption test. Within 15 min, 48 % of the MB dye (original concentration: 10 mg/l) had been degraded by the catalyst, and by 90 min, the degeneration was almost complete. The ROS (reactive oxygen species) scavenger test and indicator test confirmed the role of the hydroxyl radical in the degradation process. The influence of initial dye concentration, magnetic stirring, and the composition of the catalyst on the degradation efficiency was also studied. The same catalyst was used five times in succession to test its reusability, and it was then structurally and thermally characterised to test its stability. This study emphasises the possible use of SnS thin film as an effective, reliable, and reusable around-the-clock catalyst for the degradation of dye-contaminated waste water without the assistance of light or any chemical additives.

Proteomic profile of tissue-derived extracellular vesicles from benign odontogenic lesions

BackgroundBenign odontogenic lesions (BOLs) can cause severe jaw bone defects and compromise the quality of life of patients. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are well-established and versatile players in mediating pathophysiological events. EVs in the interstitial space (tissue-derived EVs or Ti-EVs) possess higher specificity and sensitivity in disease-related biomarker discovery. However, the role of Ti-EV-loaded proteins in mediating the development of BOLs has remained untapped. Herein, we aim to explore the contribution of Ti-EV-loaded proteins to the development of BOLs. MethodsSamples were obtained from 3 with dental follicle, 3 with dentigerous cyst (DC), 7 with odontogenic keratocyst (OKC), and 3 patients with ameloblastoma (AM). Tissue-derived EVs were then extracted, purified, and validated using ultracentrifugation, transmission electron microscopy, and western blotting. Proteins from Ti-EVs were analyzed using LC-ESI tandem mass spectroscopy and differentially expressed proteins were screened, which was then validated by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence assays. ResultsThe protein profile of Ti-EVs in each group was mapped by LC-MS analysis. The top 10 abundant proteins in BOL-derived Ti-EVs were COL6A3, COL6A1, ALB, HIST1H4A, HBB, ACTB, HIST1H2BD, ANXA2, COL6A2 and FBN1. Additionally, unique proteins in the Ti-EVs from various lesions were identified. Moreover, focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88) showed higher expressions in Ti-EVs derived from OKC and AM, which were confirmed by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining. ConclusionsTi-EVs containing FAK and MyD88 might be related to the development of OKC and AM, which can be potential therapeutic targets.

Three New Ionone Glycosides from Rhododendron capitatum Maxim.

Six ionone glycosides (1-3 and 5-7), including three new ones, named capitsesqsides A-C (1-3), together with an eudesmane sesquiterpenoid glycoside (4) and three known triterpenoid saponins (8-10) were isolated from Rhododendron capitatum. The structures of these compounds were determined by extensive spectroscopic techniques (MS, UV, 1D-NMR, and 2D-NMR) and comparison with data reported in the literature. The absolute configurations were determined by comparison of the experimental and theoretically calculated ECD curves and LC-MS analyses after acid hydrolysis and derivatization. The anti-inflammatory activities of these compounds were evaluated in the LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. Molecular docking demonstrated that 2 has a favorable affinity for NLRP3 and iNOS.

Extraction and characterization of anthocyanin pigments from Iris flowers and metal complex formation

Exploring the chemical processes and factors influencing the stability of the blue color derived from anthocyanins is a crucial objective in agricultural and food chemistry research. The ability of these compounds to bind with metals could potentially stabilize anthocyanins extracted from plant-based foods or enable modifying their hues for application as natural food colorants. This study had two core objectives - first, to extract and identify the major anthocyanin pigments responsible for iris flower coloration. Second, to selectively complex purified iris anthocyanins with aluminum (Al3+) and copper (Cu2+) ions, probing the coordination chemistry underlying synthetic metalloanthocyanin formation. Fresh iris flowers were collected and anthocyanins extracted using an optimized acidic solution. After separation, anthocyanins were complexed with metals Al3+ and Cu2+ at pH 5–6 to understand better the evolution of blue and green colors in anthocyanin-metal chelates. Characterization of anthocyanins and their metal complexes utilized UV–visible spectrometry, colorimetry (L\\* a\\*b\\* values), FTIR spectroscopy, and LC-MS. Metal complexation of anthocyanins exhibited bathochromic shifts of visible absorption maxima from 538 to 584 nm for Al-complex and 538–700 nm for Cu-complex. Color changes were accompanied by decreased lightness (L\\*, from 87 to 81) and color coefficients a\\* (+5.4 to −6.8) and b\\* (−12.2 to −4.8). LC-MS analysis identified five major anthocyanin aglycones: cyanidin (Cyd, m/z 289), delphinidin (Dpd, m/z 305), petunidin (Ptd, m/z 229), malvidin (Mv, m/z 329) and pelargonidin (m/z 273), along with various glycosylated derivatives. This work successfully isolated key iris anthocyanin pigments and elucidated their metal chelation interactions underlying expanded floral color production, bridging knowledge gaps about this underexplored genus.

Elucidation of Anti-Obesity Mechanisms of Phenolics in Artemisiae argyi Folium (Aiye) by Integrating LC-MS, Network Pharmacology, and Molecular Docking.

The global prevalence of obesity is a pressing health issue, increasing the medical burden and posing significant health risks to humans. The side effects and complications associated with conventional medication and surgery have spurred the search for anti-obesity drugs from plant resources. Previous studies have suggested that Artemisiae argyi Folium (Aiye) water extracts could inhibit pancreatic lipase activities, control body weight increase, and improve the plasma lipids profile. However, the exact components and mechanisms were not precisely understood. Therefore, this research aims to identify the chemical profile of Aiye and provide a comprehensive prediction of its anti-obesity mechanisms. The water extract of Aiye was subjected to LC-MS analysis, which identified 30 phenolics. The anti-obesity mechanisms of these phenolics were then predicted, employing network pharmacology and molecular docking. Among the 30 phenolics, 21 passed the drug-likeness screening and exhibited 486 anti-obesity targets. The enrichment analysis revealed that these phenolics may combat obesity through PI3K-Akt signaling and MAPK, prolactin, and cAMP signaling pathways. Eight phenolics and seven central targets were selected for molecular docking, and 45 out of 56 docking had a binding affinity of less than -5 kcal/mol. This research has indicated the potential therapy targets and signaling pathways of Aiye in combating obesity.

Dimesulfazet, a novel rice paddy herbicide, is an inhibitor of very long-chain fatty acid biosynthesis.

Dimesulfazet can control annual and perennial sedges in rice paddies. Here we assessed its mode of action. We performed a phenotype assay of Arabidopsis, conducted a metabolomic analysis of Echinochloa crus-galli, and analyzed the endogenous concentration of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) in Schoenoplectiella juncoides. Dimesulfazet treatment caused curling and greening symptoms in the leaves and fiddlehead-like symptoms in the inflorescences of Arabidopsis. These symptoms were visually indistinguishable from those caused by flufenacet and benfuresate, which belong to Herbicide Resistance Action Committee (HRAC) Group 15. We performed GC-MS/MS analysis of primary metabolites and LC-MS analysis of lipids in the herbicide-treated E. crus-galli, followed by Orthogonal Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis clustering. The results showed that dimesulfazet belongs to the HRAC Group 15 cluster. The endogenous concentrations of C24:0, C26:0, and C28:0 decreased in dimesulfazet-treated plants as compared to those in the control. Overall, the mode of action of dimesulfazet involves the inhibition of VLCFA biosynthesis.

Efficient glycolysis of waste polyethylene terephthalate textiles over Zn-MCM-41 catalysts

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), also known as polyester, is extensively utilized in the textile industry. The most commonly used chemical degradation method of PET is ethylene glycol (EG) glycolysis, which enables a closed-loop recovery process suitable for large-scale production. In this study, a new type of heterogeneous catalyst (Zn-MCM-41) was proposed for glycolysis of waste PET textiles, and their catalytic performance is much higher than other mesoporous zeolites. Under optimal reaction conditions, over Zn-MCM-41–25 (Si/Al molar ratio of 25) catalyst PET achieved a conversion ratio of 100 %, with bis-hydroxyethyl terephthalate (BHET) yield reaching 81.4 %. XPS results show that zinc is mainly presented as the state of Zn2+, resulting in excellent stability of the catalyst. HPLC and LCMS analyses were conducted on the products obtained from PET glycolysis, revealing that only a small amount of oligomers were generated during the process. These oligomers primarily consisted of dimer [BHET]2 and trimer [BHET]3. The Zn-MCM-41–25 catalyst also demonstrates exceptional performance in colored waste PET textiles glycolysis. Furthermore, we investigated the kinetics of PET glycolysis and determined it to follow first-order kinetics with an activation energy value of 210.03 kJ mol−1. Additionally, HPLC methods was established for analyzing glycolysis products and recovering catalysts using a simple filtration technique. The results demonstrate that even after five cycles, the catalyst maintains its high catalytic activity.

Proteomics Approach to Identify Serum Biomarkers Associated with Gastric Cancer in South Indian Tamils.

Identifying cancer-specific biomarkers is a crucial step in the disease screening process at a very early stage of tumor development. In recent years, Quantitative proteomic approaches have gained importance in identifying novel candidate markers in cancer. Gastric cancer has always been known as a life-threatening medical condition with high mortality rates. The objective of our research is to adapt serum samples from Indian gastric cancer patients to identify and understand the differentially regulated proteins in comparison with healthy individuals. A total of 30 serum isolates from gastric cancer patients and healthy individuals were obtained and subjected to 2-D Gel electrophoresis, and Tandem LC-MS analysis revealed 12 differentially expressed protein spots. The functional properties of identified proteins were further analyzed using PANTHER and STRING databases. The differentially expressed protein spots were identified as three candidate proteins: Haptoglobin, Prohibitin, and Apolipoprotein. The protein interaction studies reveal that the haptoglobin fragments were upregulated, and the remaining two prohibitin and Apolipoprotein were down-regulated in gastric cancer patients. All the proteins identified as biomarkers were found to be involved in regulating cell proliferation and stabilization of oxidative metabolism in the liver; therefore, differential regulation plays a crucial role in gastric cancer progression.

Exploring the antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of Chelidonium majus extracts against oral microorganisms

Chelidonium majus (Papaveraceae) is a widely utilized medicinal plant species known for its various effective biological activities. This study investigated the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of C. majus against oral microorganisms. To assess its biological activities, C. majus fractions were obtained using 80% methanol, n-hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), n-butanol (BuOH), and water. Antioxidant assays, including DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging tests, as well as total polyphenol and flavonoid content determination, were conducted. Notably, the EtOAc fraction exhibited the highest antioxidant activity than that of the other fractions, both in terms of DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities. Furthermore, it contained the highest contents of phenolic and flavonoid compounds in the EtOAc extract (212.00 mg CAE/g, 135.70 mg NE/g). In addition, antimicrobial assays using various antimicrobial tests against oral microorganisms, namely S. mutans, S. gordonii, S. sobrinus, and S. sanguinis, were conducted to investigate the antibacterial effect, revealing that the EtOAc fraction showed the greatest inhibition. Furthermore, LC-MS analysis of the EtOAc fraction identified biologically active compounds, including phenolic compounds such as fisetin, quercetin, and coumaroylimalic acid. Based on these findings, C. majus, with its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, is a promising candidate for improving oral health.

Phytochemical Profile of Rhizophora apiculata, Bruguiera gymnorhiza, and Bruguiera cylindrica for Wood Identification

Identification of wood species that are difficult to distinguish from their anatomical structure can be done through phytochemical (extractive substance) profiling. This research aimed to analyze the phytochemical profile as a sorter for three species of mangrove wood from Indramayu and Cilacap Regencies, Indonesia, using the liquid chromatography-mass spectrum. The phytochemical markers of taxonomic were the dominant compounds only found in one wood species. The results showed that the three types of wood are dominated by phytochemicals dissolved in ethanol. The results of LCMS analysis of the ethanol extract showed that the phytochemical markers were triterpenoid, flavonoid, and fatty acyls glycoside groups for Rhizophora apiculata, steroid and naphthalene groups for Bruguiera gymnorhiza, and alkaloid as well as fatty amide group for Bruguiera cylindrica. The dominant compounds that characterize these can be used in sorting between mangrove wood species. Keywords: characterizer, compound, mangrove, phytochemicals

Unlocking the potential of spent coffee grounds via a comprehensive biorefinery approach: production of microbial oil and carotenoids under fed-batch fermentation.

The valorization of renewable feedstock to produce a plethora of value-added products could promote the transition towards a circular bioeconomy. This study presents the development of cascade processes to bioconvert spent coffee grounds (SCGs) into microbial oil and carotenoids employing sustainable practices. The stepwise recovery of crude phenolic extract and coffee oil was carried out using green or recyclable solvents, i.e., aqueous ethanol and hexane. Palmitic acid (43.3%) and linoleic acid (38.9%) were the major fatty acids in the oil fraction of SCGs. The LC-MS analysis of crude phenolic extracts revealed that chlorogenic acid dominated (45.7%), while neochlorogenic acid was also detected in substantial amounts (24.0%). SCGs free of coffee oil and phenolic compounds were subjected to microwave-assisted pretreatment under different irradiations and solvents to enhance subsequent enzymatic saccharification. Microwave/water pretreatment at 400 W, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis with proteases, hemicellulases, and cellulases, at 50g/L initial SCGs, led to satisfying overall yields of cellulose (75.4%), hemicellulose (50.3%), and holocellulose (55.3%). Mannan was the most extractable polysaccharide followed by galactan and arabinan. SCGs hydrolysate was used in fed-batch bioreactor fermentations with Rhodosporidium toruloides to produce 24.0g/L microbial oil and carotenoids of 432.9μg/g biomass.

Torenia sp. Extracts Contain Multiple Potent Antitumor Compounds with Nematocidal Activity, Triggering an Activated DNA Damage Checkpoint and Defective Meiotic Progression.

Previously, we analyzed 316 herbal extracts to evaluate their potential nematocidal properties in Caenorhabditis elegans. In this study, our attention was directed towards Torenia sp., resulting in reduced survival and heightened larval arrest/lethality, alongside a noticeable decrease in DAPI-stained bivalent structures and disrupted meiotic progression, thus disrupting developmental processes. Notably, Torenia sp. extracts activated a DNA damage checkpoint response via the ATM/ATR and CHK-1 pathways, hindering germline development. LC-MS analysis revealed 13 compounds in the Torenia sp. extracts, including flavonoids, terpenoids, tanshinones, an analog of resveratrol, iridoids, carotenoids, fatty acids, and alkaloids. Of these, 10 are known for their antitumor activity, suggesting the potential of Torenia species beyond traditional gardening, extending into pharmaceutical and therapeutic applications.