Platensis Biomass Research Articles

Nanocomposite formulations of titanium dioxide and algal biomass: A rheological characterization for topical cosmetics and dermal applications

This study investigates rheological properties of novel, algae-based nanocomposites developed for potential use in dermal applications. The purpose of this investigation is to develop a highly tunable, biocompatible cosmetic base formulation and demonstrate how rheology relates to spreadability in its application. It was hypothesized that Spirulina biomass could be used in conjunction with titania (TiO2) nanoparticles and crosslinking and binding agents of calcium and/or citric acid to form nanocomposite materials with highly tunable rheological characteristics in absence of chemical surfactants. In this study, Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) biomass, titanium (IV) dioxide, calcium chloride, and citric acid are used to develop a formulation that is then tested for a wide range of rheological characteristics and sensory-related properties. The rheological tests include amplitude sweep, frequency sweep, viscosity flow curve, 3-interval strain oscillatory thixotropy, and creep – recovery. Additionally, yield stress, complex viscosity, zero-shear viscosity, and power law indices were determined. The sensory-related properties that are discussed include formulation pH, static load spreadability, and dynamic shearing spreadability. After completing the investigation, it was concluded that the surfactant-free formulations were highly tunable, in terms of viscosity, rigidity, and thixotropy.

Rice plants treated with biochar derived from Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) optimize resource allocation towards seed production.

The use of biofertilizers is becoming an economical and environmentally friendly alternative to promote sustainable agriculture. Biochar from microalgae/cyanobacteria can be applied to enhance the productivity of food crops through soil improvement, slow nutrient absorption and release, increased water uptake, and long-term mitigation of greenhouse gas sequestration. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the stimulatory effects of biochar produced from Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) biomass on the development and seed production of rice plants. Biochar was produced by slow pyrolysis at 300°C, and characterization was performed through microscopy, chemical, and structural composition analyses. Molecular and physiological analyses were performed in rice plants submitted to different biochar concentrations (0.02, 0.1, and 0.5 mg mL-1) to assess growth and productivity parameters. Morphological and physicochemical characterization revealed a heterogeneous morphology and the presence of several minerals (Na, K, P, Mg, Ca, S, Fe, and Si) in the biochar composition. Chemical modification of compounds post-pyrolysis and a highly porous structure with micropores were observed. Rice plants submitted to 0.5 mg mL-1 of biochar presented a decrease in root length, followed by an increase in root dry weight. The same concentration influenced seed production, with an increase of 44% in the number of seeds per plant, 17% in the percentage of full seeds per plant, 12% in the weight of 1,000 full seeds, 53% in the seed weight per plant, and 12% in grain area. Differential proteomic analyses in shoots and roots of rice plants submitted to 0.5 mg mL-1 of biochar for 20 days revealed a fine-tuning of resource allocation towards seed production. These results suggest that biochar derived from Arthrospira platensis biomass can stimulate rice seed production.

Comparing Conventional and Modern Methods for The Phycocyanin Extraction from Spirullina sp

Spirulina platensis, a blue-green algae abundant in tropical regions, is rich in minerals, vitamins, fibers, and pigments, with low nucleic acid content. It has unique chromoproteins called phycobiliproteins, notably phycocyanin, used in various applications. This study aims to optimize phycocyanin extraction using different solvents (distilled water and sodium phosphate buffer pH 6.7) and methods (freeze-thaw and sonication). Spirulina platensis biomass was extracted in both solvents, then some of them was freeze for 24 and 48 hours followed by thawing overnight. The other was sonicated for 2.5 minutes, 50 Hz then soaked for 1, 2, and 3 hours. All of the samples were centrifuged at 6000 rpm for 10 minutes and the absorbance was measured using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer at wavelengths of 280, 620, and 650 nm. with freeze-thawing for 48 hours yielded the highest phycocyanin concentration (0.55%), with a yield of 11.07 and purity of 0.21. Sonication improved phycocyanin concentration, yield, and purity significantly, yielding 1.108, 25.85, and 0.26, respectively.

Pulsed Electric Fields assisted extraction of proteins and phycocyanin from Arthrospira platensis biomass: A kinetic study

The objective of this work was the investigation of the kinetics of protein and C-phycocyanin extraction from Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) biomass assisted by Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF). Fresh, untreated and PEF-treated (7.8 kV/cm, 0–137.6 kJ/kg) biomass was suspended in water and incubated at 30–50 °C for up to 24 h. Protein and C-phycocyanin recovery kinetics exhibited a sigmoidal behavior. The increase in treatment specific energy and incubation temperature up to 40 °C led to significant extraction acceleration. A treatment of 137.6 kJ/kg prior to incubation at 40 °C led to the minimization of protein characteristic incubation time (2.3 h vs. 14.4 h and 10.4 h of untreated sample at 30 and 40 °C, respectively). At 50 °C a significant reduction of the extraction yield was observed, due to the inactivation of the proteolytic enzymes. Higher treatment specific energy led to increased C-phycocyanin purity of the extracts at 40 °C. The maximization of the C-phycocyanin extract purity factor (1.14 vs 0.66 for untreated samples) was achieved with a PEF treatment at 137.6 kJ/kg and incubation at 40 °C for 3 h.

Purification of Phycocyanin from Spirulina platensis Using Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents with Varied Hydrogen Bond Donor

Graphical Abstract Highlight Research Phycocyanin extract from Spirulina platensis was achieved. Highly pure phycocyanin was obtained through NaDES purification method. Strong antioxidant activity of phycocyanin was observed (IC50 <50 ppm). Successful removal of impurities confirmed by gel electrophoresis. Abstract Phycocyanin, a pharmacologically potent blue pigment extracted from Spirulina platensis, requires optimal purity for effective utilization. Traditional purification methods, although effective, are impeded by time and cost constraints. Addressing this challenge, aqueous two-phase systems (ATPs) incorporating natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDES) emerge as promising alternatives. These systems offer operational simplicity and cost-effectiveness, ensuring efficient purification with high purity and optimal recovery of phycocyanin. This study investigated the impact of various types of hydrogen bond donors (HBD) within choline chloride-based natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDES) on the purification of phycocyanin. Phycocyanin was extracted from Spirulina platensis biomass through ultrasonication and purified using an aqueous two-phase system with various HBD of NaDES, including urea, glycerol, and citric acid. The experimental design adhered to a completely randomized design. The initial purity index and yield of crude extract phycocyanin were 0.54±0.02 and 12.79±0.27%, respectively. The NaDES system with ChCl:citric acid exhibited superior performance, demonstrating a high purity index and recovery (2.3-fold, 71.83±2.36%) compared to ammonium sulfate (1.5-fold, 70.15±4.10%). The obtained phycocyanin was partially pure compared to commercial phycocyanin (purity index: 1.60), as indicated by SDS-PAGE. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of phycocyanin was enhanced post-purification, evident in the IC50 value of 40.54 ppm. In summary, organic acid-based NaDES has proven effective in increasing the purity and achieving a significant recovery percentage of phycocyanin compared to conventional ammonium sulfate methods. The antioxidant activity of phycocyanin was enhanced after purification. These results indicate the promising potential of NaDES-based ATP systems for producing functional protein-based ingredients, exemplified by phycocyanin.

Microalgae Biomass Production from Rice Husk as Alternative Media Cultivation and Extraction of Phycocyanin Using 3D-Printed Ohmic Heating Reactor.

Phycocyanin is a highly valued pigment present in Spirulina platensis biomass with applications in the food industry in terms of biorefinery concepts; specifically, its antioxidant and antimicrobial capacity are an advantage that could be incorporated into a food matrix. This study aims to use rice husk as an alternative culture medium for S. platensis biomass growth and phycocyanin extraction by ohmic heating processing using a 3D-printed reactor. S. platensis was cultivated in rice husk extract (RHE) from 0-100% (v/v). The highest content of microalgal biomass was 1.75 ± 0.01 g/L, with a specific growth rate of 0.125 ± 0.01 h-1. For the phycocyanin extraction under an ohmic heating process, a 3D-printed reactor was designed and built. To optimize phycocyanin extraction, a central composite rotatable design (CCDR) was evaluated, with three factors: time (min), temperature (°C), and pH. The highest phycocyanin content was 75.80 ± 0.98 mg/g in S. platensis biomass grown with rice husk extract. Ohmic heating is a promising method for rapid phycocyanin extraction, and rice husk as a culture medium is an alternative for the growth of S. platensis biomass in the integration of second- and third-generation biorefineries.

Biodegradation Study of Styrene-Butadiene Composites with Incorporated Arthrospira platensis Biomass.

The preparation of polymer composites that incorporate material of a biogenic nature in the polymer matrices may lead to a reduction in fossil polymer consumption and a potentially higher biodegradability. Furthermore, microalgae biomass as biogenic filler has the advantage of fast growth and high tolerance to different types of culture media with higher production yields than those provided by the biomass of terrestrial crops. On the other hand, algal biomass can be a secondary product in wastewater treatment processes. For the present study, an SBS polymer composite (SBSC) containing 25% (w/w) copolymer SBS1 (linear copolymer: 30% styrene and 70% butadiene), 50% (w/w) copolymer SBS2 (linear copolymer: 40% styrene and 60% butadiene), and 25% (w/w) paraffin oil was prepared. Arthrospira platensis biomass (moisture content 6.0 ± 0.5%) was incorporated into the SBSC in 5, 10, 20, and 30% (w/w) ratios to obtain polymer composites with spirulina biomass. For the biodegradation studies, the ISO 14855-1:2012(E) standard was applied, with slight changes, as per the specificity of our experiments. The degradation of the studied materials was followed by quantitatively monitoring the CO2 resulting from the degradation process and captured by absorption in NaOH solution 0.5 mol/L. The structural and morphological changes induced by the industrial composting test on the materials were followed by physical-mechanical, FTIR, SEM, and DSC analysis. The obtained results were compared to create a picture of the material transformation during the composting period. Thus, the collected data indicate two biodegradation processes, of the polymer and the biomass, which take place at the same time at different rates, which influence each other. On the other hand, it is found that the material becomes less ordered, with a sponge-like morphology; the increase in the percentage of biomass leads to an advanced degree of degradation of the material. The FTIR analysis data suggest the possibility of the formation of peptide bonds between the aromatic nuclei in the styrene block and the molecular residues resulting from biomass biodegradation. It seems that in industrial composting conditions, the area of the polystyrene blocks from the SBS-based composite is preferentially transformed in the process.

Combined refractance window and far infrared radiation drying of Spirulina platensis biomass: Drying behavior, moisture and thermal diffusivity, and biochemical characterization

A 2 mm thin layer of wet Spirulina platensis biomass was dried using two methods: refractance window drying (RW) and combined RW and FIR drying (RWF). The effect of drying temperature (40–60 °C) and proximity to FIR heaters (5 and 10 cm) was evaluated on falling rate drying characteristics. The moisture (Deff) and thermal (α) diffusivity coefficients were obtained in the range 1.728 × 10−8 to 5.289 × 10−9 and 1.322 × 10−8 to 4.169 × 10−9 m2 s−1, respectively (R 2, 0.921–0.984). RW drying at ≥50 °C caused loss of color, phytopigments, and lipid peroxidation. At 40 °C, RW drying led to a long drying period (300.50 ± 3.53 min), poor drying rate (0.039 ± 0.002 g-H2O/min), lowest Deff and α (5.289 × 10−9 and 4.169 × 10−9 m2 s−1), and chlorophyll loss (32.2%). Combined RW and FIR drying at 40 °C and 5 cm proximity (RWF40-5cm) reduced drying time (15.1%), increased drying rate (27.8%), improved α (15%), and Deff (14.9%). RWF40-5cm dried biomass showed excellent retention of color (ΔE = 4.64 ± 1.32), protein (93.8%), γ-linolenic acid (90.1%), chlorophyll (87.9%), and phycocyanin (86.7%) from freeze-dried biomass (FD). Low-temperature RWF40-5cm drying could be a potential alternative to freeze-drying for effective and safe drying of heat-sensitive Spirulina platensis biomass.

Impact of Spirulina platensis biomass on the viability of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus strain during the freeze-drying process.

In this work, we evaluated the protective capacity of Spirulina platensis biomass in preserving Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus WDCM 00102. The L. bulgaricus strain was freeze-dried in the presence of S. platensis biomass and the freeze-dried samples were then stored at 5 and 25°C for varying periods. Subsequently, the samples were rehydrated and bacterial plate counts were determined. The results indicate that a concentration of 12% S. platensis biomass was highly effective in preserving L. bulgaricus. Commercial products with higher S. platensis biomass content exhibited greater protective capacity. While S. platensis biomass is well-known for its prebiotic properties, its protective role has not been previously reported or thoroughly explored. This study demonstrates the protective capacity of S. platensis biomass in preserving L. bulgaricus, a strain particularly sensitive to preservation processes.

Modified method for obtaining a concentrate with a high total content of phycocyanins from A. platensis

The work proposes a modified method for obtaining phycocyanin concentrate including extraction of biomass of the food cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis and subsequent stages of membrane processing, involving combined use of double microfiltration and single- stage ultrafiltration. Extraction of A. platensis biomass was carried out at a temperature of +40°C for 3 hours in potassium phosphate buffer, and the purity of the extract was 0.61. Double microfiltration of the extract and ultrafiltration increased the purity of the intermediate product to 2.7. The content of C-phycocyanin and allophycocyanin in the dry concentrate was (63.6±1.0)% and (4.3±0.4)%, respectively. The molecular weight distribution of protein and peptide fractions of intermediate and final products was characterized using high-pressure size exclusion liquid chromatography.

Effect of Arthrospira platensis on physicochemical, texture, and microstructure properties of low-density marshmallows

Marshmallow is a low-density (aerated) soft confectionery product. This research evaluated the possibility of employing novel methods to stabilize proteins, which are essential components of Arthrospira platensis, as an innovative approach. The objective of this study is to evaluate the incorporation of A. platensis biomass as an alternative stabilizer and gelling agent in aerated and foamy confectionery products and to assess the effects of substituting gelatin, marshmallows ratio, alternative stabilizer hydration (dissolution) temperature, and aeration temperature on marshmallow production. According to the fractional experiment design, A. platensis biomass was added at various concentrations (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) as a replacement for the bovine gelatin used to make marshmallows, as well as at different hydration (dissolution) temperatures (30, 60, and 80 °C) and aeration temperatures (40 and 50 °C). The temperatures at which A. platensis solution was prepared, and marshmallows were aerated significantly affected marshmallow density. The sample in which the A. platensis biomass prepared at 80 °C replaced the gelatin by 25% in the marshmallow composition obtained because the aeration process at 40 °C had the lowest density (0.474 g/cm3). Arthrospira platensis, as an innovative approach, had great potential for developing novel marshmallow production methods.

Application of Extracellular Polymeric Substances during Cultivation of Microalgae Biomass

Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) produced by microorganisms contain polymers that are used for the bioflocculation of microalgae; however, these polymers are also organic compounds that might be used as carbon sources. The study analyzed two strategies for the introduction of EPS for Tetraselmis subcordiformis, Chlorella sp., and Arthrospira platensis biomass harvesting. In the first variant, EPS in the dose of 100 mg TOC/g were added to the photobioreactor every other day from the beginning of the cultivation, while in the second variant, EPS in the two doses of 100 mg TOC/g and 300 mg TOC/g were only added at the end of cultivation. In the first variant, the results proved that microalgae/cyanobacteria can use the EPS as external carbon sources. The cultures were characterized by a faster increase in biomass concentration, which contained less chlorophyll. However, the EPS content did not change. In the second variant, the addition of EPS did not affect the EPS content and the sedimentation of the Chlorella sp. biomass. The biomass of T. subcordiformis was characterized by a much better sedimentation coefficient. The greatest differences were observed in the A. platensis culture: the biomass concentration increased from 1.2 ± 0.2 g/L to 1.9 ± 0.2 g/L, EPS content increased by 16%, and sedimentation efficiency increased to 72%.

Chitosan Sponges for Efficient Accumulation and Controlled Release of C-Phycocyanin.

The paper proposed a new porous material for wound healing based on chitosan and C-phycocyanin (C-PC). In this work, C-PC was extracted from the cyanobacteria Arthrospira platensis biomass and purified through ammonium sulfate precipitation. The obtained C-PC with a purity index (PI) of 3.36 ± 0.24 was loaded into a chitosan sponge from aqueous solutions of various concentrations (250, 500, and 1000 mg/L). According to the FTIR study, chitosan did not form new bonds with C-PC, but acted as a carrier. The encapsulation efficiency value exceeded 90%, and the maximum loading capacity was 172.67 ± 0.47 mg/g. The release of C-PC from the polymer matrix into the saline medium was estimated, and it was found 50% of C-PC was released in the first hour and the maximum concentration was reached in 5-7 h after the sponge immersion. The PI of the released C-PC was 3.79 and 4.43 depending on the concentration of the initial solution.

Spirulina Cultivation Under Different light-emitting Diodes for Boosting Biomass and Protein Production.

Microalgae biomass and pigments have a high economic value due to their many biological and commercial applications. In this sense, Spirulina platensis was grown under different (LEDs) light-emitting diodes. The current examination aims to increase the biomass production of S. platensis by formulating an optimal growth condition under different LED lights. Light-emitting diodes have a precise wavelength that has an encouraging effect on microalgae biomass production. For this purpose, the light intensity of 3000lx was used to illuminate the culture medium, resulting in enhanced S. platensis biomass production. The highest optical density of 0.576 and dry cell weight of 0.343g/L was recorded for the white light-emitting diode, and the red light-emitting diode, the optical density of 0.479 and dry cell weight of 0.321g/L was recorded. The highest protein content of 66.10 ± 0.44% was registered with a blue light-emitting diode, followed by a white light-emitting diode with a protein content of 60.86 ± 0.39%. This research is an essential step in defining the light condition that might be useful to increase the biomass production of S. platensis. The study's findings demonstrated that exposure to various light-emitting diode colors could enhance both the quality and quantity of biomass produced in S. platensis cultures and encourage the use of light-emitting diodes as a light source for S. platensis farming without any undesirable effects on growth.

Partitioning Recovery of Natural Pigments from Spirulina platensis.

In the last few decades, the recovery of high-added value compounds with high food potential using microalgae as feedstock has been one of the main challenges for both research and industry. This study provides a simple, affordable, and cost-saving approach for the selective recovery of C-phycocyanin (C-PC), chlorophyll a and carotenoids from Spirulina platensis biomass by using biocompatible and industrially approved solvents (such as CaCl2 and ethanol). The concentration and yield of each pigment in the liquid extract have been spectrophotometrically detected, whereas the decolorized protein-rich biomass has been analyzed by CIELab parameters. The most concentrated (566.4μg/mL) and food-grade C-PC extract (purity index 0.7) was obtained by applying a biomass/solvent ratio (1:10) for the first round of extraction (20min), followed by a second round at 1:5 using CaCl2 1.5% (w/v) aqueous solution. Additionally, the same trial enabled the production of the brightest decolorized protein-rich biomass (L* = 46.2), characterized by a yellow-orange tonality (h° values = 81.3°).

Innovative and sustainable cultivation strategy for the production of Spirulina platensis using anaerobic digestates diluted with residual geothermal water

The following study investigates the possibility of growing the Spirulina platensis (S. platensis) cyanobacteria on two agro-industrial anaerobic digestion (AD) digestates diluted with geothermal water. The two digestates (FAWD: Food and Agricultural Wastes Digestate and CDD: Cheese Diary Digestate) were selected based on their different chemical characteristics, attributed to the type of feedstock and the operating conditions used during the AD process. In the first part of the study, a screening experiment was performed in 200 mL glass tubes to evaluate the appropriate dilution factor to generate the maximum S. platensis growth using both AD digestates individually and geothermal water as sustainable alternative dilution agent. Based on the different growth parameters measured, dilution rates of 5x and 40x were chosen for CDD and FAWD respectively, as a trade-off between growth performances and quantity of water to use. Volumetric productivities of 33 ± 1 mg/L/d and 56 ± 8 mg/L/d combined with maximal concentrations of 0.52 ± 0.02 g/L and 0.69 ± 0.02 g/L were achieved when cultivating S. platensis on CDD and FAWD, respectively. In the second part, the selected experimental results were scaled-up to 6 L flat panels bioreactors and S. platensis biomass productivities of 71 and 101 mg/L/d were obtained for CDD and FAWD, respectively using sodium bicarbonate as inorganic carbon source. When regulating the pH to 8.5 with carbon dioxide (CO2) injection, cultures were able to produce up to 1.13 g/L and 0.79 g/L of S. platensis corresponding to biomass productivities of 81 and 136 mg/L/d for CDD and FAWD, respectively. In addition, S. platensis properly assimilated the ammonium present in the digestate-based culture media, with removal efficiency up to 98% in the case of the CDD substrate. The characterization of the final S. platensis biomass revealed the presence of high concentration of carbohydrates (48.6–70.3 % of dry weight) in the culture supplemented with both AD digestates. The experimental findings show the potential of reusing liquid digestate, CO2 as well as geothermal water for the sustainable production of carbohydrate-rich S. platensis biomass.

Pengaruh Perbedaan Jenis dan Konsentrasi Sumber Nitrogen (NaNO3 dan urea) terhadap Produksi Biomasa Spirulina Platensis

The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of the concentration and the type of nitrogen sources in the cultivation medium on the production of biomass and biochemical content (carbohydrates, proteins, fats) in the Spirulina platensis biomass. Types of nitrogen sources included NaNO3 and urea, where the concentrations were varied from 0.5 to 3.5 g/L. The results showed that the use of urea tended to produce more S. platensis biomass than the use of NaNO3. The best concentrations that produced the highest biomass were NaNO3 2.5 g/L (biomass 0.6745 g/L) and urea 0.5 g/L (biomass 0.7158 g/L). The use of urea also tended to produce a higher specific growth rate and a shorter doubling time than the use of NaNO3. The high concentration of nitrogen sources caused the pH of the medium to increase more rapidly due to the accumulation of ammonium in the medium. Using NaNO3 can produce biomass with a higher protein content (28.34-36.98%) than using urea (25.86-33.52%).

Praseodymium(III) Removal from Aqueous Solutions Using Living and Non-Living Arthrospira platensis Biomass

Praseodymium, the sixth-most abundant rare-earth element, is widely used in the aircraft industry for the elaboration of refractory substances, coloring materials, lighting equipment, and fiber optical cables. Living and non-living Arthrospira platensis biomass was applied for Pr(III) removal from aqueous solutions. In bioaccumulation experiments, the effect of Pr(III), introduced into the medium in a concentration range of 10–30 mg/L, on biomass productivity, biochemical composition, and antioxidant activity was assessed. The biomass showed high accumulation capacity (more than 99%) toward Pr(III). Supplementation of the cultivation medium with Pr(III) led to a decrease in carbohydrate and lipid content, but it did not significantly influence biomass productivity or the content of proteins and pigments. In experiments with non-living biomass, the effect of pH, Pr(III) concentration, temperature, and contact time on the efficiency of metal removal was investigated. The maximum uptake of Pr(III) was achieved at pH 3.0 after 3.0 min of interaction. The equilibrium data were explained using the Langmuir and Freundlich models, while the kinetics of the process was described by applying pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and Elovich models. The maximum sorption capacity of Arthrospira platensis biomass calculated from the Langmuir model was 99.3 mg/g. According to the thermodynamic calculations, the process of Pr(III) removal was spontaneous and exothermic in nature. The obtained data can be used for the development of environmentally-friendly technology for Pr(III) recovery from wastewater as well as to understand the effect of Pr(III) on aquatic organisms.

Lacticaseibacillus casei improves textural, functional, and sensory properties and phenolics’ bioaccessibility of frozen desserts prepared using water-soluble extract of rice by-product and Spirulina platensis

The impact of probiotic (Lacticaseibacillus casei, 8 log CFU/g) and/or prebiotic (polydextrose, 5 g/100 g) on the technological and sensory properties, phenolics bioaccessibility, and functional properties (in vitro antidiabetic, anti-hypertensive, and antioxidant activities) of frozen desserts processed with water-soluble extract of rice by-product and Spirulina platensis biomass was evaluated during storage (120 days/-18 °C). Prebiotic products were more consistent and cohesive and showed higher melting rates. Probiotic and/or synbiotic products had higher phenolic compounds bioaccessibility (gallic acid, epigallocatechin gallate, epicatechin gallate, and chlorogenic acid) and functional properties (antioxidant, ACE, ⍺-amylase, and ⍺-glucosidase inhibitory activities), lower thrombogenic and atherogenic indices and improved technological (lower firmness, consistency, cohesiveness, and viscosity) and sensory (increased mint aroma and flavor intensity) properties. L. casei survived in simulated gastrointestinal conditions (>6 log CFU/g) and did not impair sensory acceptance. In conclusion, probiotic and synbiotic frozen desserts show improved functional, technological, and sensory properties.

Mycotoxins associated with maize wastes treated with comprised capsule of Spirulina platensis biomass

Spirulina platensis has roles in biotechnological product advancement due to its safety for humans and animals. Analysis of S. platensis extract by high-performance liquid chromatography reflected the presence of 14 phenolic and flavonoid compounds with different concentrations such as ellagic acid (333 µg/g), gallic acid (294 µg/g), methyl gallate (147 µg/g), naringenin (144 µg/g), and chlorogenic acid (142 µg/g). The isolated Aspergillus flavus from silage of maize was tested to evaluate the effect of S. platensis extract on aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 production. The treated silage with S. platensis extract showed the presence of 37±0.33 ppb, 0.59±0.16 ppb, 0.26±0.22 ppb, and 0.21±0.18 ppb compared to un-treated silage that showed 3.14±0.15 ppb, 0.81±0.08 ppb, 0.46±0.05 ppb, and 0.26±0.23 ppb aflatoxins of B1, B2, G1, and G2. These results were shown on the 10th day of incubation. On the 15th day of incubation, the treated silage showed less mycotoxins than un-treated silage. At different incubation periods, glucosamine was estimated as a growth development biomarker. The content of glucosamine was inhibited as a result of the effect of S. platensis extract on fungus growth with 53.71%, 49.19%, 47.84%, 38.47%, and 35.72% inhibition on the 3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th, and 15th day.