Total Reducing Sugars Research Articles

Effect of blanching and microwave-hot air drying of Asparagus racemosus Willd. tuberous roots on shelf life

The quality of dried tuberous roots of Asparagus racemosus Willd. depends on the drying method and storage conditions. This research aims to compare three methods for drying blanched and non-blanched root slices: tray drying at 60 °C (TD 60C), microwave-assisted hot air drying at 1000W with 60 °C (MW1000+60C), and at 1500W with 60 °C (MW1500+60C). Drying efficiency was evaluated over a one-year shelf life. The blanching was carried out at 80 °C for 5min. MW1000 60C was the most suitable for brightness, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total saponin content (TSC), and sugar content. Its brightness (L⁎), TPC, TFC, and TSC were 90.90 ± 1.08, 1.96 ± 0.08mg GAE/g DW, 0.69 ± 0.07mg ECE/g DW, and 1256.8 ± 25.1mg SE/g DW, respectively. Total sugar content and total reducing sugar content were 1577.1 ± 17.1mg Glu/g DW and 47.43 ± 2.06mg Glu/g DW, respectively. Blanching before MW1000+60C decreased TPC, TFC, total sugar content, and total reducing sugar content by 31%, 25%, 20%, and 43%, respectively, but did not reduce the TSC. The optimum shelf life was 6 months. The storage for 12 months caused negative changes in moisture content, colour, TPC, TFC, sugar content, and microbial load. The saponin compounds were asparacoside, shatavarin IX, shatavarin V, asparanin A, aspafilioside B, and sarsasapogenin 3-[4''-glucosyl-6''-arabinosylglucoside]. Theasaponin E3 was found in blanched and dried roots after 12 months. Consequently, this research provided guidelines for drying methods and monitoring shelf life.

Physicochemical and Antibacterial Properties of Nepalese Honey

Nepal has a variety of honey and bee products that are dependent on floral sources available in a particular geographical region. The purpose of this study was to compare the physicochemical and antibacterial properties for the quality analysis of different honey samples. Honey samples were gathered from eight different districts of Nepal, which were assessed for their color, ash content, moisture, electrical conductivity, pH, acidity, formaldehyde content, protein concentration, reducing sugar, total reducing sugar, sucrose content, and antibacterial properties. The color and protein were determined using a colorimeter, ash content using a muffle furnace at 550°C, moisture using a refractometer, and electrical conductivity using a conductivity meter. Acidity, formaldehyde, reducing sugar, total reducing sugar, and sucrose content were determined by the titrimetric method while the antibacterial potential was determined by the agar well diffusion method. The results indicated that six honey samples were dark amber and others were light amber in color. The mean values were found ranging from 18.4+0 to 20.8+0.69% for moisture, 0.05+0.04 to 1.35+0.26% for ash, 0.03+0.01 to 1184+5.26 μs/cm for electrical conductivity, 4.5+0.06 to 7.47 +0.06 for pH, 90 to 137 meq/kg for acidity, 1 to 10 ml/kg for formaldehyde content, 0.28 to 0.73 mg/ml for protein concentration, 51.54% to 69.44% for reducing sugar, 65.35 to 80% for total reducing sugar, and 1.31 to 13.52% for sucrose. Out of the eight honey samples, four were able to show antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 while honey from Sindhupalchowk and Baitadi was also active against S. epidermidis ATCC 12228, and no other samples showed inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli ATCC 8739 and Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 19115. The honey sample from Lamjung was able to exhibit the highest antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027 at 1250 mg/ml concentration, while the lowest antimicrobial activity was shown by the sample from Chitwan at 750 mg/ml concentration against S. aureus, thus reflecting the significance of using honey as a natural remedy. This study indicated the essence of quantitative assessment of honey samples in terms of physicochemical parameters to ensure the quality of honey samples.

The Effects of Extraction Temperature on the Physicochemical Properties of Mangrove-Derived Glucomannan (Bruguiera gymnorhiza)

This study investigates the impact of different extraction temperatures on the physicochemical properties of glucomannan derived from mangrove fruits (Bruguiera gymnorhiza). Various extraction temperatures ranging from 45°C to 85°C were utilized. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in solubility (58.41% ± 2.45), total reducing sugar content (0.39% ± 0.09), yield (35.13 ± 2.95), and L* color value (71.97 ± 1.53), while no significant differences (p > 0.05) were found in a* and b* color values. These findings have implications for expanding the applications of Bruguiera and advancing research on Bruguiera glucomannan. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed an increase in the cross-linking density of glucomannan molecules.

Interactions of White Mugwort (Artemisia lactiflora Wall.) Extract with Food Ingredients during In Vitro Gastrointestinal Digestion and Their Impact on Bioaccessibility of Polyphenols in Various Model Systems.

The bioaccessibility of phytochemicals is an important factor for new functional food design. The interaction of white mugwort extract (FE) and food ingredients (coconut oil, egg white albumen, brown rice powder, inulin, and mixtures thereof) was determined after in vitro digestion to inform the development of a functional soup for an aging population. Coconut oil exerted a protective effect on polyphenols, showing the highest bioaccessibility (62.9%) and antioxidant activity after intestinal digestion (DPPH 12.38 mg GAE/g DW, FRAP 0.88 mol Fe(ll)/g DW). In contrast, egg white albumen had the most significant negative effect on the polyphenol stability, resulting in the lowest bioaccessibility (12.49%). Moreover, FE promoted the emulsion stability and delayed starch digestion by inhibiting amylase activity via non-specific polyphenol-protein interactions, resulting in a decrease in the total reducing sugars (TRS) released during digestion. It also limited the protein digestion, probably due to the complex formation of polyphenols and proteins, consequently reducing the bioaccessibility of both amino acids and polyphenols. These findings provide useful information for designing functional food products that could promote the bioaccessibility and bioactivity of natural extracts.

Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices for simple and nondestructive durian fruit maturity assessment

Accurately predicting durian maturity is a critically unresolved worldwide issue. Farmers currently determine durian ripeness based on their own observation and experience leading to inconsistencies in harvest timing. This reliance on human judgment often results in premature or overripe harvests, impacting fruit quality, yield, and market value. Existing technological solutions, such as sensors are often complex and require specialized expertise, hindering their adoption by farmers and consumers. Developing sensors that can accurately measure durian ripeness without damaging the fruit, are easy to use, and affordable remains a challenge. We introduce a microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD) for on-site, safe matching to meet the demands of durian maturity evaluation. The μPAD automatically collected peduncle fluid without destroying the durian fruit for dual detection of total sugar and amino acid. For determining total sugar including sucrose, glucose, and fructose, several enzymatic steps were reduced to a single step of invertase for sucrose hydrolysis before total reducing sugar was measured using gold nanoparticle (AuNP) generation. Kinetics study of invertase on the μPAD showed Vmax and Km values of 1.42 mM min−1 and 2.17 mM, respectively, that agreed with the direct study of sucrose conversion. To increase device reliability, amino acid was also simultaneously measured with sugar using the simple ninhydrin test with the addition of SnCl2. The developed sensor provided LODs of 3.50, 3.10, 3.30 μM, and 0.02 mg mL−1 for glucose, fructose, sucrose, and amino acid respectively. The μPADs were able to nondestructively discriminate between the mature and immature durians, showing high linear correlation with the standard dry weight method. The development of this μPAD technology has the potential to revolutionize durian cultivation practices, reduce post-harvest losses, and enhance the overall sustainability and profitability of the durian value chain, and can be further developed for maturity tests of other fruits.

Physicochemical and Bacteriological Assessment of Traditional Sorghum Beers in Jimeta, Nigeria

Sorghum beer popularly known as “burukutu” in Nigeria is a traditional beverage whose consumption has been passed down through generations. This beer, consumed while actively fermenting, harbors a diverse array of microorganisms. This study aims to evaluate the bacteriological and physicochemical characteristics of traditional sorghum beers sold in Jimeta, Adamawa State, Nigeria. Beer samples were obtained from eight traditional beer joints within the Jimeta metropolis, Adamawa State, Nigeria. The physicochemical analysis of the samples revealed titratable acidity ranging from 0.91% to 2.65%, pH values from 4.20 to 4.50, total reducing sugars from 10.1 mg/mL to 15.0 mg/mL, ethanol content from 3.12% to 4.69%, and total solids from 6.50 mg/mL to 7.60 mg/mL. The total bacterial count, determined using aerobic plate count, ranged from 8.0 × 10² to 1.0 × 1010 CFU/mL. Pure cultures from each sample were identified through cultural characteristics, Gram staining, motility, and biochemical tests including citrate utilization, catalase, indole, urease, methyl red, Voges-Proskauer and coagulase. Total of 44 isolates were identified, with Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus sp. being the most prevalent (8 isolates), followed by Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (6 isolates), Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter sp. (4 isolates), and Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Serratia sp. and Proteus mirabilis (2 isolates). The presence of these potential pathogens raises great concerns about the safety of these beers. Improved sanitary practices during production, handling and serving are necessary to ensure consumer safety.

Enhanced saccharification levels of corn starch using as a strategy a novel amylolytic complex (AmyHb) from the thermophilic fungus Humicola brevis var. thermoidea in association with commercial enzyme.

Amylases represent a versatile group of catalysts that are used for the saccharification of starch because they can hydrolyze the glycosidic bonds of starch molecules to release glucose, maltose, and short-chain oligosaccharides. The amylolytic complex of the thermophilic filamentous fungus Humicola brevis var. thermoidea (AmyHb) was produced, biochemically characterized, and compared with the commercial amylase Termamyl. In addition, the biotechnological application of AmyHb in starch saccharification was investigated. The highest production was achieved using a wheat bran medium at 50°C for 5-6days in solid-state fermentation (849.6 ± 18.2U·g-1) without the addition of inducers. Optimum amylolytic activity occurred at pH 5.0 at 60°C, and stability was maintained between pH 5.0 and 6.0, with thermal stability at 50-60°C, especially in the presence of Ca2+. These results were superior to those found with Termamyl. Both enzymes were strongly inhibited by Hg2+, Cu2+, and Ag+; however, AmyHb displayed increased activity in the presence of Mn2+ and Na+. In addition, AmyHb showed greater tolerance to a wide range of ethanol concentrations. AmyHb appears to be a complex consisting of glucoamylase and α-amylase, based on its substrate specificity and TLC. The hydrolysis tests on cornstarch flour showed that the cocktail of AmyHb50% + Termamyl50% significantly increased the release of glucose and total reducing sugars (36.6%) when compared to the enzymes alone. AmyHb exhibited promising physicochemical properties and good performance with commercial amylase; therefore, this complex is a biotechnological alternative candidate for the bioprocessing of starch sources.

Utilization of banana peel waste for the production of bioethanol and other high-value-added compounds

Bananas (Musa sp.) are one of the most produced crops worldwide, surpassing 100 million tons per year, and considering that approximately 30 % of their weight consists of peels, the annual generation of these residues is significant. Banana residues are rich in nutrients; nowadays, they are all disposed of in landfills. As a novelty, this work showed that it could be used for other things, such as alcohol, D-Limonene, and citric acid production. This study characterized the biomass, optimized pretreatment, and enzymatic hydrolysis and evaluated the fermentation process using this biomass, using the central composite design (CCD) methodology. The planning variables included sulfuric acid (H2SO4) concentration, banana peel waste mass in the pretreatment stage, and commercial cellulase enzyme (Sigma-Aldrich) concentration in the enzymatic hydrolysis stage. The responses quantified were sugars, ethanol, and acids using high-performance liquid chromatography, and the D-Limonene content was determined on a gas chromatograph coupled to a mass spectrometer. The highest yield of total reducing sugars found after enzymatic hydrolysis was 11.88 g/L, while the ethanol yield was 1.37 g/L. In the recovery of D-Limonene, the obtained value was 0.56 mg/g. The values of fermentable sugars confirm banana peel waste as a potential biomass for biorefinery processes. Furthermore, the possibility of an integrated D-Limonene recovery is essential in obtaining bioproducts. In this sense, it can be concluded that utilizing these residues is promising in reducing environmental issues and valorizing food waste.

Obtaining phenolic-rich extracts from tree nut shells biomass by room temperature green extraction: Molecular insights and attribution analysis

The recycling of tree nut shells biomass (TNSB), a million-tons level inedible food waste, toward food and drug applications should be one of the most promising valorization pathways. However, therein biggest opportunity and challenge is to fully dig for treasure such as its own high-value biomacromolecules and natural active ingredients. This study completed a food and drug grade extraction by using five TNSB sample (i.e., walnut shell, hazelnut shell, macadamia shell, pin nut shell, and pistachio shell), two green solvents (water and ethanol), and cleaner room temperature green extraction (RTGE) technology; and revealed the molecular basis of the raw materials and their extracts through systematic and in-depth molecular analysis. The results showed that TNSB have extremely high lignin content, and their extracts (whether water or ethanol) are rich in phenolic compounds, which results in the latters having extremely strong antioxidant activities (comparable to vitamin C) and α-amylase inhibitory activities (comparable to acarbose). More specifically, walnut shell has the highest ever lignin content of 57% in all reported biomass. The water extract of walnut shell has more excellent properties, such as 147.65 mg/g of total reducing sugars (TRS), 60.49% of total phenolic content (TPC), 0.24 mg/mL of IC50, DPPH, 0.08 mg/mL of IC50, ABTS, and 13.44% of α-amylase inhibitory activity. Further molecular information shows that these reducing sugars are glucose, fructose, arabinose and fucose, and these phenolic compounds include phenol, vanillin, vanillic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, gentisic acid, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, epicatechin, caffeic acid, and (trans)catechin. These results demonstrate fully that TNSB will become the preferred feedstock species for lignin-first biorefinery in the future, and walnut shell is undoubtedly the best one. Furthermore, TNSB-based RTGE extracts have the potential to be developed into natural antioxidants, preservatives, diabetes-therapeutic pharmaceutical preparations, nutraceutical and functional foods. In addition, we also used XLSTAT software to conduct a systematic attribution analysis, namely, principal component analysis (PCA) and agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC), revealing the inner relationship between the multifactors including TRS, TPC, DPPH, ABTS and α-amylase inhibitory activity among TNSB species.

Ultrasound-assisted hydrolysis of food waste using glucoamylase: Statistical optimization and mechanistic analysis with molecular simulations

This paper reports investigations in food waste hydrolysis using ternary approach that combines statistical optimization, ultrasound-assisted enhancement of hydrolysis kinetics, and molecular simulations that provide physical insight into the process. Initial optimization of hydrolysis parameters (Box–Behnken design) resulted in total reducing sugar yield of 263.4 mg/g biomass in 42 h. Sonication of hydrolysis mixture at 35 kHz at 20 % duty cycle yielded 4× reduction in hydrolysis time with 22 % enhancement in TRS yield (320 mg/g biomass). Analysis of GLCM's secondary structure through FTIR spectra deconvolution revealed significant changes induced by sonication. Sonication led to reduction in α-helix, and increase in random coil content. Molecular dynamics simulations unveiled majority of amino acid residues associated with GLCM binding pocket in α-helix and random coil regions. Consequently, sonication widened the binding pockets, facilitating easier transport of substrate and product. This effect translated into faster kinetics of enzymatic food waste hydrolysis.

Soy Molasses as Culture Medium for Bacillus Species Aiming at Plant Growth Promotion

Soy molasses, a by-product from the processing of soy protein concentrate, is a low-cost feedstock for fermentation processes due to its high content of fermentable sugars. This work investigates the use of soy molasses for growing Bacillus species, aiming at their potential application as plant growth promoters. Firstly, six Bacillus strains were screened for their ability to grow in increasing concentrations of soy molasses in a microplate assay. Following this, shaken-flask assays for growth and γ-polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA) production by three Bacillus strains in medium E and soy molasses media with 28 and 56 g L−1 of total reducing sugars (TRS) were carried out. An in vivo experiment evaluated the effect of the bacterial fermented broths on the germination and initial development of maize. Soy molasses supported the growth of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus licheniformis in concentrations of 28 and 56 g L−1 TRS, but it was inhibitory at 112 and 224 g L−1 TRS. In soy molasses media, growth was not always associated with γ-PGA production, which was a maximum of 56 g L−1 TRS for B. amyloliquefaciens and B. licheniformis. Fermented broths with B. subtilis and B. licheniformis in soy molasses media (56 and 28 g L−1 TRS, respectively) applied to maize seeds resulted in the highest Vigor Indexes of the seedlings, which correlated negatively with the broth pH and were not impacted by the γ-PGA and indole acetic acid produced by the bacteria. The low-cost and easily available feedstock soy molasses constitutes a potential culture medium for the growth of plant growth-promoting bacteria.

Utilization of local corn (Zea Mays) wastes for bioethanol production by separate hydrolysis and fermentation

Maize is the second most-common crop globally. Thus, enormous maize cobs are generated annually from maize processing activities which could serve as a potential and non-edible source for biofuel production. The primary aim of this research was to assess the practicality of producing bioethanol from discarded maize cob through a distinct two-step process referred to as separate hydrolysis and co-fermentation. After a 72-hour fermentation period, the greatest ethanol yield of 66.23 ± 8.35 mL/kg was obtained. This was followed by 54.33 ± 7.27 35 mL/kg after 48 h, and 21.68 ± 2.97 35 mL/kg after 24 h. Importantly, all ethanol yields at different time points exhibited statistical significance at p < 0.05. Moreover, the study revealed a robust positive correlation (r = 0.99, p < 0.01) between glucose and Total reducing Sugars (TRS) yields, and negative correlations were observed between ethanol yield and glucose (r = -0.97, p < 0.05) as well as ethanol and TRS (r = -0.98, p < 0.05). The results indicate the potential of maize cob waste as a valuable resource for bioethanol production. Significant enhancements in operational processes are necessary to enhance the economic feasibility of producing ethanol from maize cobs. Nigeria's utilization of waste for biofuel production is bolstered by substantial policy and financial backing for renewable fuels. The economic viability of ethanol production from maize cobs relies heavily on its competitiveness relative to other waste treatment methods and the effectiveness of policy measures.

Elucidating β-1,3-Glucanase and Peroxidase Physicochemical Properties of Wheat Cell Wall Defense Mechanism against Diuraphis noxia Infestation.

Wheat plants infested by Russian wheat aphids (RWA) induce a cascade of defense responses, including the hypersensitive responses (HR) and induction of pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins, such as β-1,3-glucanase and peroxidase (POD). This study aims to characterize the physicochemical properties of cell wall-associated POD and β-1,3-glucanase and determine their synergism on the cell wall modification during RWASA2-wheat interaction. The susceptible Tugela, moderately resistant Tugela-Dn1, and resistant Tugela-Dn5 cultivars were pregerminated and planted under greenhouse conditions, fertilized 14 days after planting, and irrigated every 3 days. The plants were infested with 20 parthenogenetic individuals of the same RWASA2 clone at the 3-leaf stage, and leaves were harvested at 1 to 14 days post-infestation. The Intercellular wash fluid (IWF) was extracted using vacuum filtration and stored at -20 °C. Leaf residues were crushed into powder and used for cell wall components. POD activity and characterization were determined using 5 mM guaiacol substrate and H2O2, monitoring change in absorbance at 470 nm. β-1,3-glucanase activity, pH, and temperature optimum conditions were demonstrated by measuring the total reducing sugars in the hydrolysate with DNS reagent using β-1,3-glucan and β-1,3-1,4-glucan substrates, measuring the absorbance at 540 nm, and using glucose standard curve. The pH optimum was determined between pH 4 to 9, temperature optimum between 25 and 50 °C, and thermal stability between 30 °C and 70 °C. β-1,3-glucanase substrate specificity was determined at 25 °C and 40 °C using curdlan and barley β-1,3-1,4-glucan substrates. Additionally, the β-1,3-glucanase mode of action was determined using laminaribiose to laminaripentaose. The oligosaccharide hydrolysis product patterns were qualitatively analyzed with thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and quantitatively analyzed with HPLC. The method presented in this study demonstrates a robust approach for infesting wheat with RWA, extracting peroxidase and β-1,3-glucanase from the cell wall region and their comprehensive biochemical characterization.

Biochemical Defense Responses in Advanced Backcross-derived Rice Genotypes to Nilaparvata lugens (Stal) Infestation

BPH, Nilaparvata lugens (Delphacidae: Homoptera) infestation on most of the resistant and moderately resistant backcross derived rice genotypes and resistant checks (PTB 33 and BM 71) resulted in an increase in the phenolic content in the infested plants leaf sheath. The percentage increase in phenols in resistant and moderately resistant genotypes ranged from 14.8 % to 67.7 %. Upon infestation of BPH there was a decrease in total reducing sugars in all the resistant and moderately resistant genotypes. The highest quantity of reducing sugars was present in healthy susceptible check TN1 compared to all the resistant and moderately resistant backcross derived rice genotypes. The ascorbic acid content in the resistant and moderately resistant genotypes decreased after BPH infestation and percentage decrease ranged from 16% to 36%. The total N content in the infested resistant and moderately resistant genotypes decreased over healthy genotypes. Decrease in the N content was highest in the susceptible check TN1 (35.2%). In the resistant checks slight decrease in the N content was observed. Potassium and Phosphorous (%) increased in the resistant genotypes and resistant checks, but not in susceptible check TN1. The plants responded defensively upon infestation, resulting in production of higher amount of phenolics, potassium, phosphorous and reduced level of nitrogen, reducing sugars and ascorbic acid.

Crude glycerol-water organosolv delignification of sugarcane bagasse to produce fermentable sugars

This study evaluated the organosolv pretreatment with crude glycerol as a cosolvent for the delignification of raw sugarcane bagasse and the release of fermentable sugars from enriched-cellulose fraction by enzymatic hydrolysis. The pretreated solid fractions were characterized by pulp yield, weight loss, cellulose and hemicellulose content, lignin content, and delignification extent. Condition 9 (210 ºC, 60 min, 8 mL g-1) led to the highest delignification (~79%) with high total reducing sugars (TRS) concentration (~300 g L-1) and lower carbohydrate preservation (&lt; 41%). While condition 1 (180 ºC, 150 min, 8 mL g-1) led to the highest cellulose preservation (~70%) and TRS (&gt; 412 g L-1), even with a lower delignification extent (&gt; 69%). This work contributed to an effective and optimized strategy to reuse crude glycerol in organosolv pretreatment as a facilitator of lignocellulose delignification, in addition to validating new protocols for the biorefinery production chain, providing sustainable biomaterials with added value.

Valorization of Sugarcane Bagasse for Co-Production of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and Bacteriocin Using Bacillus cereus Strain S356.

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P(3HB)) is an attractive biodegradable plastic alternative to petroleum-based plastic. However, the cost of microbial-based bioplastic production mainly lies in the cultivation medium. In this study, we screened the isolates capable of synthesizing P(3HB) using sugarcane bagasse (SCB) waste as a carbon source from 79 Bacillus isolates that had previously shown P(3HB) production using a commercial medium. The results revealed that isolate S356, identified as Bacillus cereus using 16S rDNA and gyrB gene analysis, had the highest P(3HB) accumulation. The highest P(3HB) yield (5.16 g/L, 85.3% of dry cell weight) was achieved by cultivating B. cereus S356 in an optimal medium with 1.5% total reducing sugar with SCB hydrolysate as the carbon source and 0.25% yeast extract as the nitrogen source. Transmission electron microscopy analysis showed the accumulation of approximately 3-5 P(3HB) granules in each B. cereus S356 cell. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses confirmed that the polymer extracted from B. cereus S356 was P(3HB). Notably, during cultivation for P(3HB) plastic production, B. cereus S356 also secreted bacteriocin, which had high antibacterial activity against the same species (Bacillus cereus). Overall, this work demonstrated the possibility of co-producing eco-friendly biodegradable plastic P(3HB) and bacteriocin from renewable resources using the potential of B. cereus S356.

Evaluation of co-culture of cellulolytic fungi for enhanced cellulase and xylanase activity and saccharification of untreated lignocellulosic material.

Bioethanol production from lignocellulosic materials is hindered by the high costs of pretreatment and the enzymes. The present study aimed to evaluate whether co-cultivation of four selected cellulolytic fungi yields higher cellulase and xylanase activities compared to the monocultures and to investigate whether the enzymes from the co-cultures yield higher saccharification on selected plant materials without thermo-chemical pretreatment. The fungal isolates, Trichoderma reesei F118, Penicillium javanicum FS7, Talaromyces sp. F113, and Talaromyces pinophilus FM9, were grown as monocultures and binary co-cultures under submerged conditions for 7days. The cellulase and xylanase activities of the culture filtrates were measured, and the culture filtrates were employed for the saccharification of sugarcane leaves, Guinea grass leaves, and water hyacinth stems and leaves. Total reducing sugars and individual sugars released from each plant material were quantified. The co-culture of Talaromyces sp. F113 with Penicillium javanicum FS7 and of T. reesei F118 with T. pinophilus FM9 produced significantly higher cellulase activities compared to the corresponding monocultures whereas no effect was observed on xylanase activities. Overall, the highest amounts of total reducing sugars and individual sugars were obtained from Guinea grass leaves saccharified with the co-culture of T. reesei F118 with T. pinophilus FM9, yielding 63.5% saccharification. Guinea grass leaves were found to be the most susceptible to enzymatic saccharification without pre-treatment, while water hyacinth stems and leaves were the least. Accordingly, the study suggests that fungal co-cultivation could be a promising approach for the saccharification of lignocellulosic materials for bioethanol production.

Enhancing nutritional quality and bioactivity of wheat bran through acid and alkaline pretreatments

The effect of chemical processing, such as acid and alkaline pretreatments, on the phenolic profile, lipid components, and hydrosoluble protein content (HPC) in wheat bran (WB) was investigated. After acid pretreatment, the results provided an increase of over twofold in total reducing sugar (TRS). The sugars that have been identified are maltose, glucose, and fructose. After acid pretreatment, the total phenolic content increased by 41.95% compared with the untreated sample. Antioxidant potential, as assessed by the DPPH assay, significantly increased from 95.08 ± 1.13 μM TE/g DW in the untreated sample to 575.83 ± 2.41 μM TE/g DW following acid pretreatment. In the alkaline-treated sample, the total HPC increased to 16.58 ± 0.38 mg/100 g DW from 4.01 ± 0.17 mg/100 g DW. The fatty acid profile confirmed the presence of oleic acid (C18:1, n-9), linoleic acid (C18:2, n-6), and palmitic acid (16:0) as major components in analyzed samples. Chemical pretreatments significantly influenced all 13 identified phenolic compounds in WB, including avenanthramides, cinnamic acids (e.g., p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, synaptic acid), and benzoic acids (e.g., vanillic acid). The study provides valuable insights into the development of sustainable approaches for using cereal bran to produce bioactive compounds with potential health benefits.

Vinasse treated with charcoal as a molasses diluent for ethanol fermentation.

The demand for new products derived from agro-industrial residues has increased recently. Furthermore, vinasse, a wastewater from ethanol production, needs treatment to be reused in the sugarcane industry, reducing industrial water consumption. This study performed vinasse filtration with charcoal from industrial sugarcane residues and used filtered molasses dilution in ethanolic fermentation. There were five treatments in randomized blocks with three repetitions. The treatments included deionized water and natural vinasse as positive and negative controls, respectively, and filtered vinasse from charcoal made from bamboo, sugarcane bagasse, and straw. Hence, fermentation for ethanol production was performed. Compared with natural vinasse, filtered vinasse with all types of charcoal showed lower soluble solids, total residual reducing sugars, higher ethanol concentrations, and greater fermentative efficiency. Filtered vinasse from bagasse and straw charcoals had efficiencies of 81.14% and 77.98%, respectively, in terms of ethanol production, which are close to those of deionized water (81.49%). In a hypothetical industry, vinasse charcoal filtration and charcoal regeneration should prevent 84.12% of water consumption from environmental resources. This process is feasible because it uses a product of sugarcane residue to treat wastewater and reduce industrial water consumption and vinasse disposal.

Standardization and Quality Assessment of Drakshavaleha: Insights from Three Marketed Brands

Drakshavaleha, a traditional Ayurvedic formulation, is widely used for its therapeutic benefits in treating respiratory and digestive ailments. This study aims to standardize and evaluate the quality of Drakshavaleha from three different marketed brands through a comprehensive assessment of their physicochemical and pharmacognostical properties, alongside an estimation of toxic heavy metals content and microbial contamination, and phytochemical profiles. Materials and Methods: Three brands of Drakshavaleha were meticulously assessed through a range of tests, including organoleptic analysis, physicochemical evaluations, heavy metal content analysis, microbial contamination assessments, and qualitative phytochemical screenings. Standardized protocols and methodologies from pharmacopoeias were used for all evaluations to ensure reliable and consistent results. Results and Discussion: The findings indicated notable variations in the evaluation parameters of the different brands. Physicochemical and Pharmaceutical analysis revealed disparities in pH levels and total reducing sugar levels. Heavy metal testing and microbial contamination levels were within acceptable ranges for all samples. The qualitative phytochemical screening identified differences in the concentration of key active ingredients, potentially impacting therapeutic efficacy. Conclusion: This study underscores the importance of standardization in maintaining the safety and efficacy of Ayurvedic formulations. By identifying variations in quality and safety parameters, it provides critical insights for manufacturers to improve their production processes. Ultimately, this research advocates for enhanced quality assurance practices to uphold the integrity of Ayurvedic medicine in the global market.