Non-polar Pigments Research Articles

Effectiveness of temperature and preparation method on stability kinetic of Curcumin nanodispersion: Cytotoxicity and in vitro release assessment

Curcumin is a natural and non-polar pigment with unique properties such as antioxidant activity that has been widely utilized in food and pharmaceutical formulations. In this study, solvent displacement and subcritical water methods were used to prepare Curcumin nanodispersions. The influences of the method and storage temperature were evaluated on physical and chemical stability of the prepared nanodispersions. Obtained results indicated that prepared transparent nanodispersions maintained their physical and chemical stability at 4 and 25 °C for 4 months. The results also showed that the prepared nanodispersions using subcritical water (temperature of 120 °C and pressure of 1.5 atm for 2 h) had a higher stability (minimum changes in the particle size) and less Curcumin loss (0.36%). Release of Curcumin from prepared nanodispersions was also evaluated at different pH values (1.2, 5.4, and 7.4) and the results indicated that its release rate was higher in pH values ranging 5 to 7. Kinetic study showed that release of Curcumin from dialysis bag was controlled by diffusion at pH value of 7.4 with a high constant rate. The viability percentage of HT-29 cells against pure Curcumin and Curcumin nanodispersions prepared using solvent displacement and subcritical water methods for 72 h incubation were 94, 30 and 18%, respectively. Moreover, In drug delivery systems, mathematical modeling and simulation play an important role in elucidating important drug release mechanisms; therefore, the results of experimental data of diffusion rate were compared with those obtained from simulation, and a good agreement was found.

Improvement in the Sequential Extraction of Phycobiliproteins from Arthrospira platensis Using Green Technologies.

Arthrospira platensis (commercially known as Spirulina) is an excellent source of phycobiliproteins, especially C-phycocyanin. Phycobiliproteins are significant bioactive compounds with useful biological applications. The extraction process plays a significant role in downstream microalga production and utilisation. The important pigments found in A. platensis include chlorophyll and carotenoids as nonpolar pigments and phycobiliproteins as polar pigments. Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) as a green extraction technology for the high-value metabolites of microalgae has potential for trends in food and human health. The nonpolar bioactive compounds, chlorophyll and carotenoids of A. platensis, were primarily separated using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) solvent-free fluid extraction pressure; the temperature and ethanol as cosolvent conditions were compared. The residue from the A. platensis cells was subjected to phycobiliprotein extraction. The phosphate and water extraction of A. platensis SFE residue were compared to evaluate phycobiliprotein extraction. The SFE results exhibited higher pressure (350 bar) and temperature extraction (50 °C) with ethanol-free extraction and increased nonpolar pigment. Phycobiliprotein yield was obtained from A. platensis SFE residue by ethanol-free buffer extraction as a suitable process with antioxidant properties. The C-phycocyanin was isolated and enhanced to 0.7 purity as food grade. This developed method can be used as a guideline and applied as a sustainable process for important pigment extraction from Arthrospira microalgae.

Pigments Content (Chlorophylls, Fucoxanthin and Phycobiliproteins) of Different Commercial Dried Algae

Algae are a complex, polyphyletic group of organisms, affordable and naturally rich in nutrients, but also valuable sources of structurally diverse bioactive substances such as natural pigments. The aim of this work was to evaluate the polar and non-polar pigment contents of different commercial dried algae (brown: Himanthalia elongata, Undaria pinnatifida, Laminaria ochroleuca; red: Porphyra spp.; and a blue-green microalga: Spirulina spp.). The pigment extraction was carried out using different solvents (100% methanol, 100% methanol acid free, 100% ethanol, 90% acetone, N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide-water (4:1, v/v) and pH 6.8 phosphate buffer), selected according to their affinity for each class of pigments. Acetone proved to be an efficient solvent to extract chlorophylls from brown and red algae, but not from Spirulina spp. Porphyra spp. presented considerably higher levels of all pigments compared to brown algae, although Spirulina spp. presented significantly higher (p < 0.05) levels of chlorophylls, carotenoids and phycobiliproteins, compared to all macroalgae. The content of fucoxanthin extracted from the three brown algae was highly correlated to the carotenoid content. Within this group, Himanthalia elongata presented the highest fucoxanthin/total carotenoids ratio. Although the yield of extraction depended on the solvent used, the algae studied herein are an interesting source of pigments of great value for a wide range of applications.

Process intensification for curcumin nanodispersion preparation using subcritical water—Optimization and characterization

Curcumin, a natural and non-polar pigment of turmeric, was used to produce oil in water nanodispersion based on intensified process using subcritical water and Tween 20 as solvent and emulsifier, respectively. Response surface methodology was used to obtain optimum temperature, ranging 100–140 °C, and heating time, from 60 to 180 min, at constant pressure of 1.5 atm to prepare nanodispersions. Curcumin nanodispersion with minimum particles size of 15.15 nm and polydispersity index of 0.345, and maximum zeta potential of -13.24 mV was successfully formed using temperature and heating time of 115 °C and 155 min, respectively. Further analysis indicated that transparency colloidal solution containing dispersed and spherical curcumin nanoparticles had yellow colour with positive b* value of 2.75, L* value of 2.95 and turbidity of 0.065 NTU with apparent viscosity of 1.19 mPa.s. In addition, maximum loading ability of 0.181 g/L and efficiency of 90.5 %, and minimum total curcumin loss of 9.5 % were achieved at optimum preparation conditions. Results revealed that prepared curcumin nanodispersion had potent antioxidant activity (55.3%) with high bactericidal activity toward both S. aureus and E. coli, based on created clear zones with diameters of 26 and 24 mm, respectively.

Decoloration of Molasses by Ultrafiltration and Nanofiltration: Unraveling the Mechanisms of High Sucrose Retention

Membrane technology provides a green approach to recover sucrose from cane molasses. However, the trade-off between color removal and sucrose permeation by membrane filtration debases the efficiency and limits the application. In this study, ten commercially-available and one self-made ultrafiltration (UF) and nanofiltration (NF) membranes were used for decoloration of molasses. By investigating the effect of membrane properties, molasses components, and operating parameters on the molasses filtration behaviors, the mechanisms of high sucrose retention were clarified. For polyether sulfone (PES) membrane, the high retention of pigments and sucrose was mainly caused by the serious irreversible fouling as an additional selective layer. Polyamide (PA) NF membranes showed high antifouling ability, and a suitable pore size (~ 500 Da) was important to achieve high color removal and sucrose permeation. Although regenerated cellulose (RC) membranes exhibited excellent antifouling performance to molasses, the severe membrane swelling induced by salts and high temperature (60 °C) limited their application. Reducing sugar in molasses produced negligible effect on the sucrose retention, while inorganic salts resulted in pore swelling and solute dehydration due to “salting-out” effect, thus improving the sucrose permeation. However, such positive effect was weakened or eliminated by the pigments in molasses, and irreversible fouling became more serious in the presence of the molasses salts, especially for PES membranes. Based on the underlying mechanisms, the pore swelling and sucrose dehydration effects were “reappeared” by simply removing the non-polar pigments via macroporous resin adsorption, thus decreasing sucrose retention. High temperature could accelerate the sucrose permeation, but it also attenuated concentration polarization layer, thus intensifying the sucrose retention increase induced by high permeate flux. If a loose NF membrane was selected for decoloration of molasses, minimizing fouling formation, reappearing salt effect on membrane and sucrose, operating at high temperature and low permeate flux could minimize sucrose retention.

Cell disruption by cationic surfactants affects bioproduct recovery from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803

Cationic surfactants can be used to improve extraction of high-value products from microalgae, but the best way to apply cationic surfactants has not been established. We evaluated the impacts of contact time and concentration for two cationic surfactants – dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) – on extraction of lipids and nonpolar pigments, carotenoids and chlorophyll a, from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. For the most dose-effective concentration, pigment extraction was better with the longer alkyl-chain length, i.e., CTAB > DTAB, because the longer alkyl chain of CTAB increased cell membrane permeability, causing cell lysis that allowed solvent-pigment contact. A CTAB dose of 25 mM and treatment for 5 h gave the highest pigment extraction, nearly 30 and 12 mg/g dried biomass for chlorophyll a and carotenoids, respectively. In contrast, lipid recovery was better with the shorter alkyl-chain length, DTAB > CTAB. DTAB disrupted the cells less, which allowed the solvent to access more lipids held in the cells. Thus, the selection of surfactant and dosing strategy depends on which products are targeted. With moderate cell disruption, a moderate dose of CTAB (10 mM) was effective for recovering pigments and lipids simultaneously.

PIGMENTS CHARACTERIZATION OF MACROALGAE IN DRINI BEACH, GUNUNGKIDUL, YOGYAKARTA FOR SYSTEMATICS STUDY

<p>Drini Beach is one of beaches in Gunungkidul, D.I. Yogyakarta with dead-coral reefs as the landform. Dead-coral reef is a good habitat for macroalgae. Based on the pigment content, the macroalgae are divided into Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta, and Rhodophyta with their specific pigments chlorophyta, carotenoid and phycobiliprotein, respectively. These pigments are potentially used as a marker for identification and classification. The research aimed to identify and quantify pigments content of macroalgae in Drini Beach, Gunungkidul, DIY. Samples collection was done in June, 2013. Pigment extractions were done for polar and nonpolar pigments and then the extracts were analyzed using spectrophotometry UV-VIS Shimadzu Genesys <br />10. The result showed that nonpolar extraction of Chaetomorpha had a maximum absorption peak between 320-380, 400-500, and 670 nm ; Borgesenia has maximum peak of 340, 440, and 670 nm; Cladophora in wavelenght of 340, 415, 435, 470, and 665 nm ; and Dictyosphaeria in wavelenght between 330-370, 415, 435, 470, and 665 nm of macroalgae samples; Padina in wavelenght of 340, 380, 440, 665 ; Gelidiella between 305-345 nm ; Gracilaria in wavelenght 330 nm ; Laurencia in wavelength between 310-340, 500, 550, 625, and 680 nm ; and Amphiroa in wavelenght 330 dan 400 nm. Besides, polar extraction using distilled water of Rhodhophyta showed maximum absorption peak of genus Gelidiella between 330-340, 410, and 665 nm; Gracilaria between 330-345, 410, 565, 665 nm ; Laurencia between 330-345, 435, and 665 nm ; and Amphiroa in wavelenght 335, 415, and 665 nm. Based on the results, it could be concluded that Chlorophyta has chlorophyll a, b and carotenoid; Phaeophyta has chlorophyll a, b, and, c; and Rhodophyta has chlorophyll a, carotenoid, and phycoeritrine.</p><p><br /><strong>Keywords</strong> :, macroalgae, Gunung Kidul, pigment, spectrophotometry</p>

Physicochemical properties of tamarillo (Solanum betaceum Cav.) hydrocolloid fractions

Tamarillo (Solanum betaceum Cav.) is an underutilised fruit in Malaysia. The fruit, however, contains good proportions of soluble fibre, protein, starch, anthocyanins and carotenoids. Amongst the fruits, only tamarillo mesocarp contains both polar (anthocyanins) and non-polar (carotenoids) pigments. The ability to retain both polar and non-polar pigments in the mesocarp could be related to the unique properties of its hydrocolloids. To understand the pigment–hydrocolloid interaction in the fruit, information on the physicochemical characteristics of the hydrocolloids is required. Therefore, hydrocolloids from the anthocyanin-rich seed mucilage fraction of the tamarillo and its carotenoid-rich pulp fraction were extracted and characterised. Water and 1% citric acid were used to extract the seed mucilage hydrocolloid while 72% ethanol and 20mM HEPES buffer were used for pulp hydrocolloid extraction. Seed mucilage hydrocolloid was primarily composed of arabinogalactan protein-associated pectin whereas pulp hydrocolloid was composed of hemicellulosic polysaccharides with some naturally interacting proteins and neutral polysaccharides.

Carotenoids of two freshwater amphipod species ( Gammarus pulex and G. roeseli) and their common acanthocephalan parasite Polymorphus minutus

Carotenoid compositions of two freshwater Gammarus species (Crustacea: Amphipoda) and of their common acanthocephalan parasite Polymorphus minutus were characterized. The effect of carotenoid uptake by the parasite was addressed by comparing the carotenoid content of uninfected and infected female hosts. Using high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), co-chromatography of reference pigments and electron ionization mass spectrometry of collected HPLC fractions (EI-MS), several xanthophylls and non-polar compounds were identified. Seven kinds of carotenoids, mainly xanthophylls, were identified in gammarids. Astaxanthin was predominant, amounting to 40 wt.% of total carotenoid in both uninfected G. pulex and G. roeseli. By contrast, we found only non-polar compounds with a predominance of esterified forms of astaxanthin in P. minutus larvae. No significant effect of infection on carotenoid content was evidenced in G. pulex and G. roeseli females. Our study highlights the use of a Matrix Solid Phase Dispersion as an efficient extraction method of both xanthophylls and non-polar pigments in small samples, including lipid-rich ones as P. minutus parasite. We discuss on the presumptive pathway leading to the formation of free astaxanthin in gammarids via hydroxy compounds, and on the accumulation of esters of astaxanthin in parasites.

Kinetics of the redistribution of porphyrins between the proteins of blood and membranes

A comparative investigation of the kinetics of the redistribution of porphyrins between the lipoproteins of plasma and biological membranes is made. Isolated proteins were colored by the derivatives of chlorin e6 and Zn-phthalocyanine, and the dynamics of the redistribution of pigments from the protein-carrier onto biological membranes (unilamellar lipid vesicles) were recorded by fluorescent methods. It is found that the rate of redistribution depends on the polarity of the molecule of the pigment. The time needed to attain equilibrium distribution of porphyrin increases on decrease in the degree of polarity from several seconds for chlorin e6 to tens of minutes for nonpolar pigments. Very slow redistribution (several hours) was observed on displacement of the trimethyl ester of chlorin e6 and Zn-phthalocyanine from low-density lipoproteins. It is shown that this effect can be attributed to the specific features of the localization of the centers of binding extremely nonpolar porphyrins in the composition of low-density lipoproteins.

Vehicle-Pigment Interaction and Flow Properties of Pigment Dispersion

The effect of polar pendant groups on flow properties of pigment dispersions were studied with xylene solution of acryl co-polymers.The co-polymer having hydroxyl group as the pendant group (F-1), the co-polymer having carboxyl group (F-2) and the co-polymer without any pendant group (F-3) were polymerized in xylene and diluted to 33% non volatile content. The pigments chosen were titanium dioxide as polar pigment and phthalocyanin blue as non-polar pigment. These pigments were dispersed in the above mentioned co-polymer solution in 1.5-16.2vol% concentration, and the flow properties were determined.TiO2-F-1 systems showed Newtonian flow in this concentration range. With any other systems, however, Newtonian flow was observed only in the lower concentration range. The Cassons's equation agreed very well in all the systems studied. The yield value S0 and residual viscosity η∞ were calculated from these data.The hydrodynamic volume of pigments in these systems has been discussed in terms of Mooney's equation. It appears that in the polar pigment--- polar vehicle system, the hydrodynamic volume ratio of pigment is unaffected by the concentration of dispersed phase, but in the other systems, the hydrodynamic volume ratio is dependent on the concentration of dispersed phase.In comparing the calculated values of a parameter indicating the cohesive force of flocculate, it is concluded that the hydroxyl group has much more effect on the flow properties of titanium dioxide dispersion than the carboxyl group. Of phthalocyanin blue dispersions, only slight difference has been observed as made regarding whether with or without polar pendant groups, or in their, flow properties.

Nonsaponifiable lipids of representative pleuropneumonia-like organisms.

Rothblat, George H. (University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia), and Paul F. Smith. Nonsaponifiable lipids of representative pleuropneumonia-like organisms. J. Bacteriol. 82:479-491. 1961.-The fate of cholesterol and the nature of carotenoid pigments in various strains of pleuropneumonia-like organisms have been determined by characterization of their nonsaponifiable lipids. All of the cholesterol removed from the medium by a nonfermentative sterol-requiring strain remains unchanged except for a portion of it being esterified. A fermentative sterol-requiring strain of avian origin converts part of the cholesterol to cholesteryl-beta-d-glucoside, the amount in the glucoside form being governed by the amount of glucose supplied in the growth medium. This cholesteryl-beta-d-glucoside was found to be formed by a fermentative, nonsterol-requiring strain only when supplied exogenous cholesterol. No cholesterol or its derivatives were found in nonsterol-requiring strains when grown in the absence of cholesterol. Three carotenoid pigments were isolated from nonsterol-requiring strains. The most nonpolar pigment was identified as neurosporene. The second pigment appearing in chromatographic column eluates appears to be a hydroxylated neurosporene, based on its polarity and absorption spectrum. The most polar pigment was found to contain reducing sugar following acid hydrolysis and appears to be a carotenoid-glucose complex. When the nonsterol-requiring strains are grown in the presence of cholesterol, cholesterol partially supplants the role of carotenoids and decreases the amount of carotenoids synthesized. The role of steroids and carotenoids in these organisms is discussed.