Extraction Pretreatment Research Articles

Black soldier fly as a New chitin source: Extraction, purification and molecular/structural characterization

Black Soldier Fly (BSF) represents a potential chitin source that has not been fully explored in terms of characterization, extraction, and purification. In this study, different chemical and enzymatic protocols with or without pre-treatment (ultrasonication and mechanochemical milling) for chitin extraction were tested. Chitin was then accurately quantified and characterized from a molecular and structural point of view by UPLC-MS, XRD, and ESEM, and compared with chitin from shrimp shells. BSF chitin was more recalcitrant than shrimp chitin during extraction and purification, due to the strong binding of chitin to proteins. Indeed, the purity of shrimp chitin was 88.3g/100g of extract, while BSF chitin purity was 47.6–79.9g/100g. Furthermore, the chitin-bound proteins had a defined amino acid composition; their binding was also confirmed by structural characterization. Therefore, the efficiency of each step of the extraction process needs to be critically evaluated to adapt the methods used for crustaceans to insect biomass.

Study of the Effect of Water Content in Deep Eutectic Phases on the Extraction of Fatty Acids from Microalgae Biomass

Microalgae, as some of the oldest life forms on Earth, are of significant interest to industry and in terms of environmental policies, due to their ability to perform photosynthesis and consume atmospheric carbon dioxide. Moreover, they contain a wide variety of value-added compounds such as amino acids and proteins, carbohydrates, and fatty acids, which can be exploited in multiple fields like medicine, cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and for the production of biodiesel. In this article, Nannochloropsis gaditana, a type of microalgae that inhabits both fresh and salt water, is studied for fatty acid recovery using deep eutectic solvents (DES). This microalgae species is a natural source of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 compound that is commonly used in the nutritional industry. There are numerous extraction techniques and pretreatments to obtain these compounds. In this work, DES are studied as extractive agents due to their advantages as neoteric solvents. Specifically, this work focuses on an assessment of the effect of the composition of DES on the extraction yield of fatty acids from microalgae. Several DES compositions based on choline chloride, ethylene glycol, and fructose are studied to analyze the influence of water content in these phases. The results show that water content significantly influences recovery yields. The DES with higher extractive capacity were those based on choline chloride, ethylene glycol, and water at a molar ratio of 1:2:2. This composition offered 48.7% of the yield obtained with a conventional solvent like methanol for the recovery of EPA (11.2 mg/g microalgae). Furthermore, the choline chloride-fructose-based DES shows the capability of selective extractions of fatty acids with low carbon content—choline chloride:fructose:water (molar ratio 2:1:2) can extract 0.14 mg of decanoic acid/g of microalgae, indicating that this DES composition can recover 35.7% more decanoic acid in comparison to methanol.

Electron beam irradiation pretreatment for efficient extraction of pectin from spaghetti squash peel: Structural, functional, and biological properties

The effects of electron beam irradiation (EBI) pretreatment on the extraction, structure, functional, and biological properties of pectin from spaghetti squash peel were investigated. The spaghetti squash peel powder was pretreated by EBI with different doses (0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, and 150 kGy), and then pectin samples were successfully prepared in combination with acid extraction. At low doses (25 and 50 kGy), EBI had little effect on the basic structure of pectin, which was manifested by the high molecular weight, degree of esterification and viscosity of the extracted pectin. Additionally, pectin obtained at middle doses (75 and 100 kGy) exhibited high homogalacturonan (HG) domain and excellent thermal stability, while pectin extracted at high doses (125 and 150 kGy) manifested high rhamnogalacturonan Ⅰ (RG-Ⅰ) content, low molecular weight, and superior antioxidant and probiotic properties in vitro. Reasonable modulation of irradiation doses could obtain the desired pectins with different structures and properties. These findings provides valuable insights regarding the role of EBI pretreatment in the extraction and quality improvement of pectin and further promotes the appropriate application of EBI in the food industry.

A novel sample pretreatment of nanofiber-packed solid-phase extraction of aflatoxin B1, B2, G1 and G2 in foods and simultaneous determination with HPLC

A novel analytical method based on nanofiber-packed solid-phase extraction (PFSPE) combined with HPLC-FLD has been successfully developed and applied to determine aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2 in foods. In order to effectively adsorb analytes from complex food matrices, four types of nanofibers based on skeleton of polystyrene–polyvinyl pyrrolidone were prepared by electrospinning and applied as adsorbent to home-made solid-phase extraction device. The effects of type of nanofibers, pH of sample, type and concentration of salt ion, type of activation solvent, type and volume of eluent, amount of nanofibers, and extraction time on the adsorption/desorption were investigated and optimized. Under optimal conditions, the method showed satisfactory linear relationship, with limits of detection (LODs) of 0.07–0.17 ng g−1, intra-day and inter-day RSDs for spiked samples of 1.3–8.0 % and 1.9–5.8 %, and absolute recoveries in the range of 60.1–98.4 %. The results presented the great potential to be utilized to determine AFs in foodstuffs.

Antioxidant and acetylcholine esterase inhibition activity of the extract from Centella asiatica obtained by Ultrasound pre-treatment followed by Microwave-assisted extraction method

The extraction of compounds from Centella asiatica a member of the family Apiaceae by adopting Ultrasound assisted Extraction (UAE), Microwave assisted extraction (MAE) and Ultrasound pre-treatment followed by Microwave-assisted extraction were reported. The yield of the extract, phenol content, antioxidant activity and Acetylcholine esterase activity were found to be more in the extract obtained by Ultrasound pre-treatment followed by Microwave-assisted extraction method. The yield of the extract is more by 30.8% to the UAE and MAE methods. The phenol content is 1289 ± 0.57 μg GAE/mL which is 27% higher than the MAE method and 46% higher than the UAE method. HPLC analysis showed that the C. asiatica extract comprised of Madecassoside in major quantity followed by madecassic acid, asiatic acid and asiaticoside. In the antioxidant activity by DPPH assay and AChE inhibitory effect the IC50, value for C. asiatica extract obtained by UAE pre-treated and followed by MAE method is 38.24 μg mL−1 and 26.7±0.49 mg/mL respectively which are substantially higher than the other two methods. So, Ultrasound pre-treatment followed by Microwave-assisted extraction method is found to be a preferable method to get the desired compounds from C. asiatica.

Intensified extraction of anthocyanins from Berberis vulgaris L. by pulsed electric field, vacuum-cold plasma, and enzymatic pretreatments: modeling and optimization

BackgroundBerberis vulgaris L. is a valuable source of natural antioxidants, polyphenols, and anthocyanins compounds. Advanced extraction methods can increase extraction efficiency. This study investigated the efficiency of pulsed electric field, vacuum-cold plasma, and enzymatic pretreatment for anthocyanins extraction of Berberis vulgaris L.ResultsTotal polyphenols (TP), total anthocyanin (TA), and physicochemical properties of Berberis vulgaris L. were investigated. The pulsed electric field at three levels of electric intensity (3000, 5000, and 7000 V/cm) and three pulse numbers (50, 75, and 100) were applied. 7000 V/cm with the pulse number of 100 was the best condition for anthocyanin extraction (amounts of anthocyanin and polyphenol extraction were 260.28 mg/L and 462.75 mg/L, respectively). The vacuum-cold plasma was carried out at the power of 60, 70, and 80 w at different times (1, 3, and 5 min). The optimum conditions for vacuum-cold plasma were 80 w for 5 min, and anthocyanin and polyphenol amounts were 256.32 mg/L and 433.71 mg/L, respectively. The optimal conditions of enzymatic pretreatment for the maximum yield were 1.5% enzyme concentration at 60 °C (the values of extracted anthocyanin and polyphenol were 279.64 mg/L and 484.93 mg/L, respectively).ConclusionsDifferent extractionpretreatments demonstrated that the enzymatic pretreatment resulted in the highest extraction of anthocyanins and polyphenols from Berberis vulgaris L. Therefore, pectinase can act as a potential assisted extraction for the extraction process.Graphical

A three-dimensional gold nanoparticles spherical liquid array for SERS sensitive detection of pesticide residues in apple

High-performance plasmonic substrates have recently attracted much research attention. Herein, a three-dimensional gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) spherical liquid array (SLA) with high “hot spots” and tunable nanometer gap by optimizing the proportion of AuNPs colloids over chloroform was synthesized based on a water–oil interfacial self-assembly strategy. The substrate demonstrated excellent surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) performance using tetrathiafulvalene and rhodamine 6G (R6G) as probe molecules. With a simple extraction and soaking pretreatment process, the SLA exhibited high sensitivity for analysing triazophos on apple peels, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.005 µg/mL and recovery ranging from 96 to 110 %. Particularly, the chloroform produced an inherent characteristic peak at 665 cm−1, which was used as the internal standard to correct SERS signal fluctuation, leading to an improvement of the corresponding coefficient R2 from 0.97 to 0.99, thus improving the reproducibility. Therefore the SLA substrate possesses the potential for quantitative analysis of food contaminants.

Exploration of the Protective Effects of Aronia Melanocarpa Extract in an in vitro Model of Parkinson’s Disease

Aim: In this study, we aimed to explore whether the Aronia melanocarpa (chokeberry) extract pre-treatment protects primary mouse astrocytes in an in vitro model of Parkinson's disease (PD) induced by the application of mitochondrial toxin 6-hydroxydopamine (OHDA) and if this effect was related to its antioxidant properties. Material and methods: Experiments were performed on primary mouse astrocytes that were exposed for 24 h to different concentrations of chokeberry extract (10, 50 or 100 µg/mL). OHDA was added to the cell culture medium for the next 72 h. Cell culture media were prepared for the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) cell cytotoxicity assay and the cell lysates for the western blot analyses. Results: We determined that the pre-treatment of astrocytes with different concentrations of chokeberry extract alone does not significantly affect the LDH activity in the cell media samples. Application of OHDA, however, significantly increased the LDH activity while the pre-treatment of cells with chokeberry extract in concentrations of 50 and 100 μg/mL decreased the intensity of cell damage. Neither OHDA application, nor aronia pre-treatment affected the expression level of antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase 1, and the OHDA-induced decrease in glutathione peroxidase 1 protein expression remained unchanged by the tested antioxidant application. Conclusions: This study points to possible protective effects of chokeberry extract in an in vitro model of PD. The exact mechanism of the protective effect is still unclear and could be the subject of further research.

Catalytic chemical vapor generation microplasma optical emission spectrometry for field detection of urea in dried blood spots

Despite widespread acceptance of dried blood spots (DBS) as a robust sampling strategy for clinical diagnosis, the analysis methods based on DBS frequently require tedious sample pretreatments, and bulky and expensive instruments, resulting in analyte loss, high reagent blank, long analysis time and limiting its field analysis. Herein, a method coupling catalytic chemical vapor generation (CVG) to miniature point discharge emission spectrometry (μPD-OES) was developed for the sensitive quantification of urea in DBS. In the presence of urease, the non-volatile urea contained in DBS could be catalytically converted to CO2 and NH3, which were separated from DBS and further swept into the μPD-OES for its quantitation via monitoring carbon atomic emission line at 193.0 nm. Compared to the conventional methods, the proposed catalytic CVG not only eliminates extraction, centrifugal separation, and other tedious pretreatments but also provides an efficient and high anti-interference sample introduction means for μPD-OES, allowing rapid, convenient, selective, and sensitive detection of blood urea. The proposed method provides a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.03 mM and a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 3.3% at 1 mM of urea with sampling 20 μL of blood. The accuracy and practicability of the catalytic CVG-μPD-OES were validated by successfully analyzing several finger blood samples. Owing to the advantages of the CVG and the μPD-OES, the proposed method also provides promising potentials for the field determination of other clinical targets spotted on DBS with small sample volume consumption and high sensitivity.

Persulfate enhanced removal of bisphenol A by copper oxide/reduced graphene oxide foam: Influencing factors, mechanism and degradation pathway

The CuO/reduced graphene oxide foam (CuO/RGF) with excellent recyclability was prepared via hydrothermal method followed by freeze drying treatment for bisphenol A (BPA) removal via activating peroxydisulfate (PDS). SEM, XRD, XPS, FT-IR, BET, and TG techniques were used to investigate the structure and property of CuO/RGF. The effect of degradation conditions (pH, PDS amount, Cl−, HCO3−, HA and FA) on BPA removal by CuO/RGF were investigated. The result presented that CuO nanosheet was inserted into the RGF carrier with three-dimensional structure. The degradation rate constant of BPA over CuO/RGF (0.00917 min−1) was 1.24 and 6.46 times higher than those of BPA over CuO (0.00714 min−1) and RGF (0.00142 min−1). More importantly, the pore structure of RGF can successfully limit the release of Cu (II) compared to pure CuO. According to quenching test as well as electron spin resonance (EPR) spectra, BPA degradation was triggered by 1O2, •OH and SO4•-, which was the combination of nonradical (1O2) and radical activation of PDS (•OH and SO4•-). The possible degradation route of BPA was proposed based on intermediates obtained by combining solid phase extraction pretreatment technique with high performance liquid-mass spectrometry. After assessing the viability of MCF-7 cells, we can see that the estrogenic activities of treated solution reduced without producing stronger endocrine disruptors.

Ultrasound assisted membrane-assisted solvent extraction for the simultaneous assessment of some drugs involved in drug-facilitated sexual assaults by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A simple and highly efficient ultrasound assisted membrane-assisted solvent extraction (MASE) pre-treatment method for urine has been developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of twenty-two drugs involved in drug-facilitated sexual assaults (DFSAs) by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. MASE was performed with 4.0 mL of urine (pH adjusted at 12), 400 μL of hexane as an organic solvent inside the polypropylene membrane, and ultrasonication (45 kHz, 120 W) for 10 min. A pre-concentration factor of 40 was achieved after evaporation (N2 stream) and re-dissolution in 100 µL of methanol. Analytes were separated using a Zorbax Eclipse Plus C18 column under gradient elution with aqueous 10 mM NH4HCO3 (pH 8.0) and methanol as mobile phases. Matrix-matched calibrations allowed the assessment of DFSA drugs of quite different octanol–water partition coefficients (Ko/w), from 1.32 101 for pregabalin to 2.45 105 for clomipramine (Log P values from 1.12 (pregabalin) to 5.39 (clomipramine)). The limit of detection (LOD) was between 0.0075 to 0.37 µg L−1, with analytical recoveries ranging from 73 to 103%, and relative standard deviations (RSDs) within the 2–20% range. The applicability of the method was demonstrated after analysing urine samples under forensic investigation.

Determination of kojic acid in fermented foods by solid-phase extraction coupled with ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Kojic acid naturally appears in fermented foods and can be formed during the aerobic fermentation process induced by Aspergillus and Penicillium fungi. It is widely used in the food industry because it exhibits antibacterial and antifungal properties and does not affect food taste. However, recent studies indicate that kojic acid may be a potential carcinogen. Therefore, assessing the health risks of kojic acid in fermented foods are of great importance, and developing a sensitive and accurate analytical method for this compound is a significant endeavor. Much efforts have been devoted to the detection of kojic acid using electrochemistry, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). HPLC and HPLC-MS/MS are the analytical techniques most often employed for this purpose. Of these two methods, HPLC-MS/MS displays excellent sensitivity and is the optimal selective technique. Pretreatment is usually necessary for kojic acid determination because of the complex matrix effects of fermented foods. However, few researches on the determination of kojic acid in food are available, and, to the best of our knowledge, the determination of kojic acid using solid-phase extraction (SPE) pretreatment has not been reported yet. Herein, a convenient, sensitive, and accurate method was developed to determine kojic acid in fermented foods using solid-phase extraction-ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (SPE-UPLC-MS/MS). The pretreatment conditions, such as the extraction solvent, cartridge, rinse solvent, and eluent, were systematically optimized. The samples, including soy sauce, vinegar, liquor, sauce, fermented soya bean, and fermented bean curd, were extracted with 0.1% formic acid-absolute ethyl alcohol and purified using a PRiME HLB cartridge. Kojic acid was separated using an ACQUITY UPLC® BEH C18 column (100 mm×2.1 mm, 1.7 μm) with formic acid-acetonitrile (1∶999, v/v) and formic acid-5 mmol/L ammonium acetate (1∶999, v/v) solutions as the mobile phases under gradient elution mode. MS was performed in electrospray positive ionization (ESI+) and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) modes. An internal standard method was used for quantification. Under optimized conditions, good linearity was achieved at mass concentrations of 5.0-100.0 μg/L, with a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.9994. The limits of detection and quantification of the method for kojic acid were 2-5 μg/kg and 6-15 μg/kg, respectively. Good recoveries of 86.8%-111.7%, intra-day precisions of 1.0%-7.9% (n=6), and inter-day precisions of 2.7%-10.2% (n=5) were also obtained. The matrix effect was evaluated by establishing a matrix-matching calibration curve, and weak inhibitory effects were found in vinegar and liquor; moderate inhibitory effects in fermented bean curd, fermented soya bean, and soy sauce; and a strong inhibitory effect in sauce. The developed method was used to detect kojic acid in 240 fermented foods, and the results showed that the detection rate of vinegar was the highest, followed by liquor, sauce, soy sauce, fermented soya bean, and fermented bean curd, the contents were 5.69-2272 μg/kg. Matrix interferences can be significantly reduced by optimizing the pretreatment and detection procedures. The proposed method is sensitive, accurate, and can be used to analyze kojic acid in fermented foods.

Artemisia Absinthium Extract Attenuates the Quinolinic Acid-Induced Cell Injury in OLN-93 Cells.

Increased quinolinic acid (QA) accumulation has been found in many neurodegenerative diseases. Artemisia absinthium (A. absinthium) has been reported to have neuroprotective and antioxidant activities. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of A. absinthium in QAinduced neurotoxicity in OLN-93 Cells. OLN-93 cells were cultured in a DMEM medium containing 10% (v/v) fetal bovine serum, 100 units/ml penicillin, and 100 μg/ml streptomycin. The cells were pretreated with concentrations of A. absinthium extract for two h and then exposed to QA for 24 h. After 24 h cell viability, the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and apoptotic cells were quantitated in OLN-93 Cells. Pretreatment with A. absinthium extract prevented the loss of cell viability in OLN-93 cells. ROS generation, lipid peroxidation, and apoptosis in QA-injured OLN-93 cells were reduced following A. absinthium extract pretreatment. A. absinthium extract exerts its neuroprotective effect against QA-induced neurotoxicity via oxidative stress and apoptosis modulation.

Pilot-scale bioethanol production from the starch of avocado seeds using a combination of dilute acid-based hydrolysis and alcoholic fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

BackgroundA processing methodology of raw starch extraction from avocado seeds (ASs) and a sequential hydrolysis and fermentation bioprocess in just a few steps was successfully obtained for the bioethanol production by a single yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain and this research was also to investigate the optimum conditions for the pretreatment of biomass and technical procedures for the production of bioethanol. It successfully resulted in high yields and productivity of all the experiments from the laboratory scale and the pilot plant. Ethanol yields from pretreated starch are comparable with those in commercial industries that use molasses and hydrolyzed starch as raw materials.ResultsBefore the pilot-scale bioethanol production, studies of starch extraction and dilute sulfuric acid-based pretreatment was carefully conducted. The amount of starch extracted from dry and fresh avocado seed was 16.85 g ± 0.34 g and 29.79 ± 3.18 g of dry starch, representing a yield of ∼17% and 30%, respectively. After a dilute sulfuric acid pretreatment of starch, the released reducing sugars (RRS) were obtained and the hydrolysate slurries containing glucose (109.79 ± 1.14 g/L), xylose (0.99 ± 0.06 g/L), and arabinose (0.38 ± 0.01 g/L). The efficiency of total sugar conversion was 73.40%, with a productivity of 9.26 g/L/h. The ethanol fermentation in a 125 mL flask fermenter showed that Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Fali, active dry yeast) produced the maximum ethanol concentration, pmax at 49.05 g/L (6.22% v/v) with a yield coefficient, Yp/s of 0.44 gEthanol/gGlucose, a productivity or production rate, rp at 2.01 g/L/h and an efficiency, Ef of 85.37%. The pilot scale experiments of the ethanol fermentation using the 40-L fermenter were also successfully achieved with essentially good results. The values of pmax,Yp/s, rp, and Ef of the 40-L scale were at 50.94 g/L (6.46% v/v), 0.45 gEthanol/gGlucose, 2.11 g/L/h, and 88.74%, respectively. Because of using raw starch, major by-products, i.e., acetic acid in the two scales were very low, in ranges of 0.88–2.45 g/L, and lactic acid was not produced, which are less than those values in the industries.ConclusionsThe sequential hydrolysis and fermentation process of two scales for ethanol production using the combination of hydrolysis by utilizing dilute sulfuric acid-based pretreatment and fermentation by a single yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain is practicable and feasible for realistic and effective scale-up strategies of bioethanol production from the starch of avocado seeds.

Pomegranate Peel Extract Attenuates Isoprenaline-Induced Takotsubo-like Myocardial Injury in Rats.

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is an acute heart failure syndrome characterised by catecholamine-induced oxidative tissue damage. Punica granatum, a fruit-bearing tree, is known to have high polyphenolic content and has been proven to be a potent antioxidant. This study aimed to investigate the effects of pomegranate peel extract (PoPEx) pre-treatment on isoprenaline-induced takotsubo-like myocardial injury in rats. Male Wistar rats were randomised into four groups. Animals in the PoPEx(P) and PoPEx + isoprenaline group (P + I) were pre-treated for 7 days with 100 mg/kg/day of PoPEx. On the sixth and the seventh day, TTS-like syndrome was induced in rats from the isoprenaline(I) and P + I groups by administering 85 mg/kg/day of isoprenaline. PoPEx pre-treatment led to the elevation of superoxide dismutase and catalase (p < 0.05), reduced glutathione (p < 0.001) levels, decreased the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (p < 0.001), H2O2, O2- (p < 0.05), and NO2- (p < 0.001), in the P + I group, when compared to the I group. In addition, a significant reduction in the levels of cardiac damage markers, as well as a reduction in the extent of cardiac damage, was found. In conclusion, PoPEx pre-treatment significantly attenuated the isoprenaline-induced myocardial damage, primarily via the preservation of endogenous antioxidant capacity in the rat model of takotsubo-like cardiomyopathy.

Optimisation of ultrasonication pretreatment on microalgae Chlorella Vulgaris &Nannochloropsis Oculata for lipid extraction in biodiesel production

A wide variety of nutritious products and biofuels can be produced from microalgae. Their applications span across various sectors such as food, medical, and energy industries. Microalgal cell disruption is a crucial aspect in the production processes as it facilitates the extraction of bio-products stored within them. One of the commonly extracted compounds from microalgae is lipids, which constitute a high percentage of their composition. In this study, we conducted ultrasonic pre-treatment on two different microalgae species, namely Chlorella vulgaris and Nannochloropsis oculata. The pre-treatment involved ultrasonic frequencies of 37 and 80 kHz, exposure times of 10, 15, and 20 min, and extraction times of 2, 3, and 4 h. By utilising ultrasonic frequencies, we induced acoustic cavitation to break the microalgae cell walls and extract lipids. The experimental design followed a Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to evaluate the effect of ultrasonication pretreatment parameters on lipid extraction. In comparison to previously published studies, our findings indicate that higher frequencies of ultrasonication lead to increased lipid extraction from microalgae. The highest lipid yield achieved in our study was 11.54% for Chlorella vulgaris and 17.91% for Nannochloropsis oculata, using the input factors of 80 kHz frequency, 20 min of running time, and 4 h of extraction time. Our results contribute to the existing body of knowledge by demonstrating the efficacy of ultrasonic pre-treatment in lipid extraction from microalgae. By providing a quantitative comparison with previous studies, this study highlight the novel aspects of work and its potential implications for the production of biofuels and other valuable products from microalgae.

Tailored pretreatment of serum samples and biomarker extraction afforded by ionic liquids as constituents of aqueous biphasic systems

Prostate cancer serum biomarkers, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved prostate specific antigen (PSA), are valuable markers of diagnosis, response to treatment and disease progression. Despite the expected benefits of using PSA to better manage the mortality and morbidity associated to prostate cancer, sample complexity and interference within analysis make its quantification in serum a high-cost and strenuous assignment. Here, we make use of the simple preparation, water-rich environment, and selectivity of aqueous biphasic systems (ABS) to develop alternative serum pretreatment strategies. A set of ammonium- and phosphonium-based ionic liquids (ILs) were used as either main phase-forming agents in IL-salt ABS or as adjuvants in polymer-salt ABS, allowing to explore the IL designer solvent nature and versatile role in ABS formation and performance. Serum pretreatment efficiency was evaluated by the capacity of each ABS to simultaneously deplete high abundance serum proteins (immunoglobulin G, IgG, and human serum albumin, HSA) at the systems’ interphase (thus, generating a three-phase partitioning system – ABS-TPP) and extract PSA to a single ABS phase. Regardless of the ABS typology under appraisal (IL-salt or polymer-salt-IL), the proper design of the IL structure is critical for both the ability to deplete high abundance serum proteins and extract PSA. The results demonstrate that, in addition to the proper choice of the ABS typology, a careful adjustment of the IL hydrophobicity is key to achieve the simultaneous depletion of high-abundance proteins and complete PSA extraction in a single step, creating new approaches for PSA analysis and its application in diagnosis/prognosis.

Punica granatum (Pomegranate) Peel Extract Pre-Treatment Alleviates Fenpropathrin-Induced Testicular Injury via Suppression of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Adult Male Rats.

Fenpropathrin (FNP) is one of the commonly used insecticides in agriculture and domestically, leading to environmental and health problems. The goal of the current investigation was to determine how well pomegranate peel extract (PGPE) could prevent the testicular toxicity and oxidative stress induced by FNP. Four groups of male Wistar rats were randomly assigned: negative control (corn oil), PGPE (500 mg/kg BW), positive control (FNP; 15 mg/kg BW, 1/15 LD50), and PGPE + FNP. For four weeks, the rats received their doses daily and orally via gavage. The major phytochemical components (total phenolic, flavonoids, and tannins contents) detected in PGPE by GC-MS included ellagic acid, hydroxymethylfurfurole, guanosine, and pyrogallol with high total phenolic, flavonoids, and tannin contents. FNP-treated rats showed a marked elevation in testicular levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, hydrogen peroxide, and protein carbonyl content, as well as the activity of aminotransferases and phosphatases. Meanwhile. a significant decline in body weight, gonadosomatic index, glutathione, protein contents, enzymatic antioxidants, and hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β HSD, and 17β HSD) activity was observed. In addition, significant alterations in testicular P53, Cas-3, Bcl-2, IL-β, IL-10, testosterone, follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones, and sperm quality were detected. Furthermore, biochemical and molecular changes were corroborated testicular histological abnormalities. Moreover, PGPE-pretreated FNP-intoxicated rats demonstrated considerable improvement in the majority of the studied parameters, when compared to FNP-treated groups. Conclusively, PGPE provided a potent protective effect against the testicular toxicity caused by FNP, due to its antioxidant-active components.

Optimization of liquid hot water pretreatment for extraction of nanocellulose crystal from South African waste corncobs

This study extracted nanocellulose crystals from South African waste corncobs via liquid hot water pretreatment and alkali treatment. The pretreatment process was designed and optimized using Central Composite Design (CCD) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM), respectively setting temperature (150–200 °C), time (10–60 min), and solid loading rate (3–10% w/w) as input variables. After pretreatment, the residue was treated with sodium hydroxide (2%wt) at 90 °C for 90 min. The extracted nanocellulose crystal was filtered, washed with deionized water, and dried in an oven. The characterization of the nanocellulose crystal was carried out based on standard procedures. The positive correlations between the input variables were observed, whereby a rise in the pretreatment conditions improved the nanocellulose crystal yield. Hence, the study obtained an optimum yield of 55.5% at 200 °C, 10% w/w, and 60 min. The surface morphology showed a more porous and rougher surface, and the crystallinity analysis indicated that run 7 had the most crystalline nanocellulose crystal with a crystallinity index of 57.3%. The study revealed that nanocellulose crystals could be extracted from corncobs via liquid hot water pretreatment and alkali treatment.

Digested Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum J. Presl) Bark Extract Modulates Claudin-2 Gene Expression and Protein Levels under TNFα/IL-1β Inflammatory Stimulus.

Epigenetic changes, host-gut microbiota interactions, and environmental factors contribute to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) onset and progression. A healthy lifestyle may help to slow down the chronic or remitting/relapsing intestinal tract inflammation characteristic of IBD. In this scenario, the employment of a nutritional strategy to prevent the onset or supplement disease therapies included functional food consumption. Its formulation consists of the addition of a phytoextract enriched in bioactive molecules. A good candidate as an ingredient is the Cinnamon verum aqueous extract. Indeed, this extract, subjected to a process of gastrointestinal digestion simulation (INFOGEST), exhibits beneficial antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in an in vitro model of the inflamed intestinal barrier. Here, we deepen the study of the mechanisms related to the effect of digested cinnamon extract pre-treatment, showing a correlation between transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) decrement and alterations in claudin-2 expression under Tumor necrosis factor-α/Interleukin-1β (TNF-α/IL-1) β cytokine administration. Our results show that pre-treatment with cinnamon extract prevents TEER loss by claudin-2 protein level regulation, influencing both gene transcription and autophagy-mediated degradation. Hence, cinnamon polyphenols and their metabolites probably work as mediators in gene regulation and receptor/pathway activation, leading to an adaptive response against renewed insults.