Pistachio Hull Research Articles

Assessment of content and chemical forms of arsenic, copper, lead, and chromium in sewage sludge compost as affected by various bulking agents

Abstract In current study, the effect of various organic substances as bulking agents (BAs) including wheat straw, pistachio hull wastes, and tree leaves at different levels (10, 25, 45% v/v) were investigated on total concentration and chemical forms of Cu, Pb, Cr, and As in sewage sludge (SS) compost prepared by windrow method. According to the results, the composting process (with/without BAs), due to losses of SS mass and volume, increased the total concentration of heavy metals (HMs) compared to the un-composted SS sample (RSS). Evaluation of HMs chemical forms in prepared compost sample without BAs application (CSS) showed that the composting process reduced the mobility factor of As (from 28% to 20%), Pb (from 11.6% to 9.3%), and Cr (from 14.5% to 9.2%) compared to the RSS. Application of three BAs considerably decreased the mobility factor of As (17.5-18.8%), Pb (4.8-7.9%), and Cr (1.4-6.8%) compared to CSS and RSS. Changes of Cu mobility in prepared compost samples showed an unclear trend, however in some treatments, due to transferred organic fraction into exchangeable and carbonate fractions, increasing of this factor was obvious. Generally, the composting appeared to reduce As, Pb, and Cr availability by stabilizing the three metals and making them more stable and less mobile. In addition, the BAs application effect on HMs behavior of SS compost samples were so different and no specific kind of BAs can be recommended as a superior BAs in SS composting process.

In Vitro and In Vivo Anticancer Activity of the Most Cytotoxic Fraction of Pistachio Hull Extract in Breast Cancer.

Pistacia (Pistacia vera) hulls (PV) is a health product that has been determined to contain bioactive phytochemicals which have fundamental importance for biomedical use. In this study, PV ethyl acetate extraction (PV-EA) fractions were evaluated with the use of an MTT assay to find the most cytotoxic fraction, which was found to be F13b1/PV-EA. After that, HPTLC was used for identify the most active compounds. The antioxidant activity was analyzed with DPPH and ABTS tests. Apoptosis induction in MCF-7 cells by F13b1/PV-EA was validated via flow cytometry analysis and a distinctive nuclear staining method. The representation of genes like Caspase 3, Caspase 8, Bax, Bcl-2, CAT and SOD was assessed via a reverse transcription (RT_PCR) method. Inhabitation of Tubo breast cancer cell development was examined in the BALB-neuT mouse with histopathology observations. The most abundant active components available in our extract were gallic acid and the flavonoid quercetin. The F13b1/PV-EA has antiradical activity evidence by its inhibition of ABTS and DPPH free radicals. F13b1/PV-EA displayed against MCF-7 a suppressive effect with an IC50 value of 15.2 ± 1.35 µg/mL. Also, the expression of CAT, SOD, Caspase 3, Caspase 8 and Bax increased and the expression of Bcl-2 decreased. F13b1/PV-EA dose-dependently inhibited tumor development in cancer-induced mice. Thus, this finding introduces F13b1/PV-EA as an effectual apoptosis and antitumor active agent against breast cancer.

Polysaccharides extracted from pistachio external hull: Characterization, antioxidant activity and potential application on meat as preservative

In the present study, polysaccharides were isolated from pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) external hull, with a yield of 4.10 % (w/w). The crude polysaccharides were composed by carbohydrates (80.64 ± 0.98 %), while protein (1.80 ± 0.28 %), ash (6.32 ± 0.26 %) and fat (0.04 ± 0.005 %) contents were low. Structural characteristics were determined using FTIR spectroscopy and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The results by thin layer chromatography showed that the carbohydrate fraction was mainly composed of rhamnose, glucose, galactose, mannose, xylose, arabinose, and galacturonic acid. Antioxidant activities of the crude polysaccharides were investigated by various antioxidant assays: DPPH radical-scavenging capacity (IC50 = 0.08 mg/mL), reducing power, β-carotene bleaching inhibition (IC50 = 0.068 mg/mL), and ABTS assay. The application of crude pistachio hull polysaccharides on minced meat, as preservative, reduced the lipid oxidation during chilled storage for 9 days. The obtained results also showed significant improvement of meat color stability. Overall, these findings indicated that crude polysaccharides are worthy being developed as functional and bioactive components for the food and nutraceutical industries.

Traditional Yellow Dyes Used in the 21st Century in Central Iran: The Knowledge of Master Dyers Revealed by HPLC-DAD and UHPLC-HRMS/MS.

This work provides new knowledge on natural yellows used in Iran. Seven biological sources were selected based on interviews with dye masters in Isfahan workshops (Iran). Delphinium semibarbatum, Eremostachys laevigata, Prangos ferulacea, Morus alba, Pistacia vera, Punica granatum, and Vitis vinifera are currently used in these workshops. Aiming to study the dye composition of wool samples dyed with the extracts of the selected biological sources, and the changes induced by the dyeing procedures in the original chemical composition of the plant extract, raw materials and dyed wool (by us and in the workshops) were analyzed by HPLC–DAD and UHPLC–HRMS/MS. In solutions extracted from the textiles, the main yellows for E. laevigata are luteolin-O-glycosides. In the other plant sources, the main chromophores are based on 3-O-glycosides of kaempferol, quercetin, and isorhamnetin. In pistachio hulls, myricitin derivatives were detected and we propose their use as markers. Generally, the solutions extracted from the wool displayed a higher amount of more polar compounds, but also a higher amount of aglycones. Importantly, the chromatographic profiles of the samples we prepared compared well with 17th c. yellows in Persian carpets, and therefore can be considered highly characterized references for the study of Persian yellows.

Anti-Melanogenic Activity and Cytotoxicity of Pistacia Vera Hull on Human Melanoma SKMEL-3 Cells

Pistacia vera seed is a common food and medicinal seed in Iran. It's hull (outer skin) as a significant byproduct of pistachio, is traditionally used as tonic, sedative and antidiarrheal and has been shown to be a rich source of antioxidants. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the anti-melanogenic activity of the pistachio hulls in order to discover a new alternative herbal agent to treat skin hyperpigmentation disorders. In this work, antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase activity of MeOH extract from Pistacia vera hull (MPH) were evaluated in vitro, respectively, by DPPH radical scavenging and mushroom tyrosinase activity assays. Then the effect of MPH on the melanin content, cellular tyrosinase activity and cytotoxicity (MTT assay) on human melanoma SKMEL-3 cell were determined followed by 72 h incubation. The results indicated that MPH had valuable DPPH radical scavenging effect and weak anti-tyrosinase activity when compared to the well-known antioxidant (BHT) and tyrosinase inhibitor (kojic acid), respectively. MPH, at a high dose (0.5 mg/mL), showed significant cytotoxic activity (~63%) and strong anti-melanogenic effect (~57%) on SKMEL-3 cells. The effect of MPH in the reduction of melanin content may be related to its cytotoxicity. The results obtained suggest that MPH can be used as an effective agent in the treatment of some skin hyperpigmentation disorders such as melanoma.

Activated carbon derived from pistachio hull biomass for the effective removal of parabens from aqueous solutions: isotherms, kinetics, and free energy studies

Activated carbon derived from pistachio hull biomass for the effective removal of parabens from aqueous solutions: isotherms, kinetics, and free energy studies

The Effects of Ripe Pistachio Hulls Hydroalcoholic Extract and Aerobic Training on Learning and Memory in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Male Rats.

Introduction:Diabetes mellitus has harmful effects on body functions, such as learning and memory. According to the role of exercise and medicinal plants on body health, the purpose of this study was to survey the effect of combined aerobic training and the use of Ripe Pistachio Hulls (RPH) hydro-alcoholic extract on learning and memory in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rats.Methods:In this experimental study, 42 male Wistar rats weighing 250–280 g were used in 6 groups with an equal number of 7 rats in each one. Streptozotocin (STZ) (50 mg / kg)was used to induce diabetes, and the test protocol was applied for 8 weeks. Passive avoidance memory was assessed using a step-through passive avoidance apparatus (shuttle box). SPSS software was used to analyze the data and P<0.05 was significant.Results:The results showed that step-through latency in the acquisition trial (STLa) was not significantly different among groups. Step-through latency in retrieval (STLr 24) test significantly reduced and time spent in The Dark Compartment (TDC) decreased in treated groups compared with the diabetic control groups (P<0.001). Also, there was no significant difference between the STZ and saline diabetic groups.Conclusion:The findings of this study revealed that the RPH hydro-alcoholic extract and aerobic exercise could improve passive avoidance memory in streptozotocin diabetic rats. Meanwhile, they might be an adjuvant therapy combined with other traditional medicine.

Nanoliposomes encapsulation of enriched phenolic fraction from pistachio hulls and its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-melanogenic activities

Aims: Owhadi is a popular commercial pistachio cultivar in Iran which could be an attractive source for natural bioactive compounds with health-promoting activity.Methods: The hulls subjected to fractionation and ethyl acetate fraction was a phenolic-enriched fraction (PEF). The PEF was encapsulated in nanoliposomes (PEF-NLs) as a newly developed delivery system. The phytochemical analysis of PEF-NLs confirmed the presence of phenolic and flavonoid compounds.Results: The PEF-NLs indicated the strong antioxidant activity through up-regulation of the antioxidant-related genes in the murine hepatocyte. The PEF-NLs indicated the notable anti-inflammatory activity by scavenging the nitric oxide (NO) and reducing the NO production in the murine macrophage cells. The PEF-NLs have also exhibited the anti-melanogenic activity through direct tyrosinase enzyme inhibition and by modulating melanin biosynthesis genes in B16F10 melanoma cells.Conclusion: The PEF-NLs possessed the promising potential to be used for controlling skin pigmentation disorders and as a skin-whitening agent in the cosmetic industry.

OPTIMIZATION OF DIFFERENT PARAMETERS FOR THE EXTRACTION OF POLYPHENOLS AND PROANTHOCYANIDINS FROM PISTACIA VERA HULLS

Objective: Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) hull are usually discarded as waste, which can lead to environmental pollution even a significant portion of polyphenols are often present in high concentrations in the outer parts of fruits. In this way, using a pistachio hull as a source of bioactive compounds will increase the value of pistachio production and offer valorization for a useless by-product.&#x0D; Methods: Different ethanol concentrations (5, 10, 25, 50, 75 and 95 %) were investigated and the extraction efficiency at extraction temperature from 20 to 90 °C and extraction times from 5 to 45 min was studied. The extraction yield of total polyphenols and proanthocyanidins from the pistachio hull and the antioxidant activity of the extract were evaluated.&#x0D; Results: The obtained results indicated relationships between the tested parameters and extraction yield. The maximum yield for total polyphenols and proanthocyanidins was obtained with 25% ethanol at 60 °C for 15 min (13.91±0.72 and 5.86±0.45 g/100g dry weight, respectively). DPPH radical scavenging activities of extracts were proved to have a linear relationship with the polyphenols yield in the extracts (R2=0.9907) with a maximum DPPH radical scavenging activity of 60.25%.&#x0D; Conclusion: These findings propose that pistachio hull extracts can be a valuable source of bioactive compounds.

Co-processing of common plastics with pistachio hulls via hydrothermal liquefaction

Mixed, wet, plastic streams containing food waste residues are being increasingly collected at point of use, but are extremely challenging to recycle and are therefore largely sent to landfill. While a challenging waste problem, this also represents an underutilised feedstock, which could be co-processed with biomass, increasing the scope of products, easing out seasonal variation in biomass production and increasing the production capacity of a traditional biorefinery. One promising method of biomass conversion is hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), where lignocellulosic residues are broken down in water at high temperatures and pressures to produce a bio-crude oil, a solid residue and an aqueous fertiliser. In this study, the co-processing of common plastic waste with pistachio hulls was assessed to investigate the suitability of the HTL approach. The HTL of pistachio hulls was undertaken at 350 °C over 15 and 60 min, with four commonly used plastics: polyethylene, polypropylene, PET and nylon-6, in blends of up to 20 wt% plastic to biomass. A novel FT-IR method was developed to estimate the conversion of plastics in the system, and the product phases were fully analysed. High yields of up to 35% bio-crude were achieved, and under optimal conditions, nylon-6 and PET were found to break down almost completely in the system. PET generated numerous products that distributed predominantly into the aqueous phase; the major decomposition product of nylon-6 was found to be the monomer ∊-caprolactam, also largely partitioning into the aqueous phase. The polyolefins were less reactive; a limited degree of decomposition formed oxidised products, which distributed into the bio-crude phase. This result represents a highly promising method for waste plastic valorisation.

Changes in Pistachios Essential Oil Composition during Fruit Ripening

Pistacia vera is an agricultural product cultivated in semi-arid regions worldwide. Iran is the major cultivator, producing approximately 230 000 metric tons annually. Some studies have shown that the pistachio hull is rich in volatiles. The essential oil (EO) content and composition of pistachio skin were studied at different fruit ripening stages. The quantity and quality of the EO samples were studied at three different fruit ripening stages including green-hull, green-red hull and red hull. The oil was extracted by the hydro-distillation method and analyzed using GC/MS. Hydro-distillation of each sample resulted in diverse amounts of colorless essential oil lighter than water. Oil yield was the lowest (0.33 %) at the green stage and increased significantly (p < 0.01) reaching the maximum values of 0.67 % at the red stage. Depending on the developmental stage of the plant, different compounds were detected and qualitative variations in the chemical compound categories were observed during fruit ripening. However, familiar monoterpenes, such as α-terpinolene, α-pinene, limonene, α-bornyl acetate, Δ-3-carene, etc., were the most dominantconstituents in all stages. In conclusion, the fruit developmental stage significantly (p < 0.01) affect the EO content of pistachio, and change the major EO components. The appearance of the mentioned EO constituents can be considered as the main factors for the scented smell of each cultivar and their presence in pistachio hulls could aid in protection against pests and herbivores. As well as, this aids to produce plant material with the promising required oil composition to meet the specific needs of active pharmaceutical ingredients.

Bioassay-guided fractionation and identification of wound healing active compound from Pistacia vera L. hull extract.

Pistachio hull has traditionally been used to treat peptic ulcer, hemorrhoids, oral and cutaneous wounds. On the basis of its traditional uses and previous pharmacological reports, a bioassay guided fractionation procedures on pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) hulls was performed to define the fractions and bioactive compound that are responsible for wound healing activity of hulls. A bioassay-guided fractionation of the total extract (MeOH 80%) of Pistacia vera L. hulls was carried out to evaluate wound healing activity by scratch assay on NIH/3T3 murine fibroblast cells. A combination of solvent-solvent partitioning, column chromatography, preparative thin layer chromatography and crystallization were used to obtain fractions/sub-fractions and pure compound. The wound healing potential of isolated compound was examined by fibroblasts migration and proliferation using scratch assay and CFSC dilution assay, respectively. In addition, we evaluated the gene expression of some inflammatory markers which are involved in healing process using Real Time PCR. Chemical structure of active compound was elucidated by spectrometric methods. Due to the higher wound healing activity of CHCl3 fraction from P. vera hulls, it was fractionated by successive chromatographic techniques to yield the active compound. 3-Epimasticadienolic acid was isolated and crystallized as a white powder. This active compound (200 μg/ml) significantly increased the fibroblast proliferation and migration, resulting in reduction of the scratch area about 45%. It showed a strong inhibitory effect on gene expression of IL-6 and TNF-α, and a stimulation effect on NF-κB gene expression at the same dose. The present study supported the traditional uses of P. vera hulls for wound-healing and 3-epimasticadienolic acid showed significantly potent on wound repair.

The inhibitory effect of nitric oxide on enzymatic browning reactions of in-package fresh pistachios (Pistacia vera L.)

Hull browning decreases the postharvest-life and marketability window of fresh pistachio fruit in which to the current study aims to evaluate the inhibitory effect of nitric oxide (NO), as an anti-browning chemical substance, on controlling enzymatic browning of harvested fresh pistachio cv. ‘Ahmad Aghaei’. Fruit were sprayed with sodium nitroprusside (nitric oxide donor) with 0 (control), 15, 30, 45 and 60 μM for 30 s and thereafter packed in plastic tray wrapped with low density polyethylene (LDPE) then stored at 2 ± 1 °C with 93 ± 2% relative humidity for 60 d. The nitric oxide treated fruit showed lower browning index and ΔE and higher normalized L* value than control. Nitric oxide also could prevent the activity of polyphenol oxidase enzyme (PPO), phenylalanine ammonialyase (PAL) and peroxidase (POD), and keep the highest activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Total phenolic, flavonoids content and antioxidant activity of fresh pistachio hull were maintained by nitric oxide treatments. Our results demonstrated that the concentration of 15 and 30 μM sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were most effective on reducing of hull browning and extending postharvest life as compared to the control treatment. From these results, it can be concluded that the percentage of acceptable fruit treated with 15 μM of SNP was higher than 30 μM, respectively. Overall, the application of SNP can be considered as an alternative approach for decreasing the hull browning and maintaining the quality of harvested fresh pistachio fruit.

The effect of Resistant Starch and pistachio hull phenolic extract feeding on feed intake, performance, Hematological and blood parameters of suckling Holstein calf

The effect of Resistant Starch and pistachio hull phenolic extract feeding on feed intake, performance, Hematological and blood parameters of suckling Holstein calf

Biosorption of Nickel (II) from Aqueous Solutions onto Pistachio Hull Waste as a Low-Cost Biosorbent

There are many different industrial wastewater containing heavy metals that contribute to environmental pollution and raw agricultural waste is an effective adsorbent for the removal of heavy metals. The adsorption behavior of pistachio hull powder (PHP) as a low-cost adsorbent, with respect to nickel (II) ions, has been studied in order to consider its application to the purification of metal finishing wastewater. In this work, adsorption of nickel on pistachio hull has been studied by batch techniques. The adsorption depends on the process time, the pH of the solution, initial concentration of metals and the adsorbent concentration in the suspension. The kinetics of adsorption were relatively fast, reaching equilibrium for less than 60 minutes. Kinetic and isotherm modeling studies demonstrated that the experimental data best fit a pseudo-second order and Freundlich model, respectively. The maximum Langmuir adsorption capacity was 14 mg/g. The optimum pH required for maximum adsorption was found to be 4-6. The initial concentration of the adsorbate and the concentration of pistachio hull strongly affect the process. No influence of particle size was evidenced. A degree of adsorption higher than 75% can be achieved for nickel (II) ions.

Preparation of activated carbon derived from biomass and its application in lithium–sulfur batteries

The most suitable activated carbon from three kinds of biomass wastes: walnut shell, peanut shell and pistachio hull is chosen to prepare the activated carbon–sulfur composites (AC-S) for rechargeable lithium–sulfur (Li–S) battery, due to the advantages of a relatively cheap, simple and non-toxic compositing progress. It indicates that the activated carbon (ACpe) derived from peanut shell owns flat, narrow and long shape macroporous structure with large micropores on its surface and is more suitable for the reaction in the Li–S battery. The ACpe/S composite containing about 57 wt% sulfur (sulfur loading of 0.83 mg cm− 2) shows a best initial discharge capacity of 943 mAhg− 1 at the rate of 0.2 C. It still retains a comparably high specific capacity of 619 mAh g− 1 with a coulombic efficiency of 95% after 100 cycles. This fact implies that the inherent flat pore construction of ACpe is beneficial for keep cycling stability for the lithium sulfur battery.

Optimization of microwave-assisted extraction of bioactive compounds from pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) hull

ABSTRACTPhenolic compounds were extracted from pistachio hull using microwave-assisted solvent extraction (MASE). The effects of four parameters, microwave power, extraction time, solvent to sample ratio, and ethanol concentration were evaluated. The extraction conditions were optimized by response surface methodology to enhance the total phenolic content (TPC). Optimal conditions were found as 140 W microwave power, 4.5 min extraction time, 19:1 (v/w) solvent to sample ratio, and 56% ethanol concentration to get maximum TPC (62.24 mg GAE/g dry hull). Also, MASE was compared with conventional solvent extraction (CSE) and MASE gave higher TPC, yield, and antioxidant activity.

In vitro evaluation of the activity of an essential oil from Pistacia vera L. variety Bronte hull against Candida sp.

BackgroundCandida sp. represent the most common cause of fungal infections worldwide. In the present work, we have evaluated the activity of an essential oil extracted from pistachio hulls against a number of standard and clinical strains of Candida sp.MethodsC. albicans ATCC 64550, C. parapsilosis ATCC 22019, 4 clinical strains of C. albicans, 3 clinical strains of C. parapsilosis and 3 clinical strains of C. glabrata were used. All clinical isolates were identified by species-specific PCR-based methods. Susceptibility studies were performed using pistachio hull essential oil alone or in combination with antifungal compounds. The interactions between pistachio hull essential oil and selected antifungal compounds were also evaluated using the checkerboard method and the mechanisms of interaction investigated by droplet size distribution.ResultsPistachio hull essential oil was fungicidal at the concentrations between 2.50 and 5.0 mg/ml. D-limonene and 3-Carene were the components with major activity. An antagonistic effect was observed with all combinations tested.ConclusionThe antifungal activity of pistachio hull essential oil could be used to help control resistance in Candida species. More studies need to be performed to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for the activity of pistachio hull essential oil.

Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) Hull as a Potential Source of Phenolic Compounds: Evaluation of Ethanol–Water Binary Solvent Extraction on Antioxidant Activity and Phenolic Content of Pistachio Hull Extracts

Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) hull is the largest by-product of pistachio industry which is accumulated every year at harvest time and can lead to environmental pollution. This study investigated the microwave-assisted ethanol–water binary solvent extraction of phenolic compounds from pistachio hull. The effect of different ethanol/water ratios was investigated on the changes in extraction yield, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. The obtained results indicated relationships between the tested parameters, i.e. ethanol concentration and extraction yield. The maximum yield was obtained with 50% ethanol (32.9 g dry extract/100 g dry matter). Total phenolic content of the extracts was found in the range of 21.3–39.3 mg/g extract as gallic acid equivalent. Antioxidant activity was determined by using three different tests. Using the DPPH test, the best antioxidant activity with the lowest IC50 value (0.70 mg/mL) was obtained for 40% ethanol and the least antioxidant activity was obtained for 100% ethanol with the highest IC50 value of 2.73 mg/mL. Using the β-carotene bleaching assay, the pistachio hull extracts showed antioxidant activity at 5000 mg/L in the range of 44–97%. The ORAC test showed that 50% ethanol extract had the highest antioxidant activity (260.9 µmol Trolox equivalents/g extract). Using HPLC assay, the gallic acid was the main phenolic compound of hull extracts which ranged between 1.18 and 19.83 mg/g crude extract. These findings propose that pistachio hull extracts can be a valuable source of bioactive compounds.

Evaluation of polyphenolic compounds in membrane concentrated pistachio hull extract.

Pistachio hull is a substantial source of natural polyphenols, but a substantial volume is being wasted annually. Aqueous pistachio green hull extract (PGHE) was subjected to two-stage membrane process in order to separate a polyphenol rich fraction. The membrane conditions of each stage were investigated. Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu and DPPH· assay; also membrane fouling was monitored. The use of the 1 kDa cellulose membrane accompanied by 4 bar pressure and 250 rpm stirring speed was observed to be successful in the separation of a fraction with the highest amount of phenolic compound and antioxidant activity, in the retentate part. UHPLC/MSn characterization of PGHE polyphenols enabled us to identify 34 compounds, including the most abundant galloylshikimic acids, gallic acid, theogallin, galloyl-O-hexoside, quercetin-O-hexoside and pyrogallol.