Increase in the Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Euterpe oleracea Martius Oil Complexed in β-Cyclodextrin and Hydroxypropyl-β-Cyclodextrin

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are aerobic products generated during cellular respiration, but in the case of oxidative stress, they become key factors in the development of inflammatory processes and chronic diseases such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. In this work, Euterpe oleracea oil (EOO), as well as the complexes produced by slurry (S) and kneading (K), were analyzed for antioxidant capacity in vitro, while only the β-cyclodextrin complex obtained by kneading (EOO-βCD-K), which showed better complexation, was selected for anti-inflammatory assays in vivo. In the scavenging activity of OH·, the hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin complex obtained by kneading (EOO-HPβCD-K) exhibited an activity 437% higher than the pure oil. In the paw edema assay, EOO-βCD-K reduced edema by 200% and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity by 112%. In an air pouch model, this treatment showed a reduction in leukocyte, MPO, and Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels; meanwhile those of glutathione and IL-10 were increased, demonstrating its ability to potentiate the anti-inflammatory effect of EOO.

Quality by design enabled the development of stable and effective oil-in-water emulsions at compounding pharmacy: the case of a sunscreen formulation

It is widely accepted that the use of topical sunscreens has medical importance with potential to prevent skin damage by protecting from solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) effects. Pharmaceutical emulsions require an optimal qualitative and quantitative combination of emollients, emulsifiers and others compounds such as softening agents and, for sunscreens, a combination of chemical and physical UV filters. Herein, we applied the quality by design (QbD) concept to achieve stable and effective compounded sunscreen emulsions. By using the statistical tool of design of experiments, it was possible to identify the influence of emulsifier type (with low and high Hydrophile-Lipophile Balance) and concentrations of emollient and softening agent on the achievement of formulations with suitable organoleptic and physicochemical features. Compounded emulsions with pleasant macroscopic aspects were obtained. Three formulations with physicochemical properties in targeted ranges were selected, namely pH ∼6.0, conductivity > 0.0 µS/cm², spreadability factor ∼1-1.5 g/mm², viscosity ∼12000 mPa.s and sunscreen protection factor ∼30. Freeze-thaw cycle and accelerated stability study under different storage conditions allowed selecting a stable emulsion that ensured photoprotection in biological assays. The QbD approach was essential to select the best, low-cost compounded sunscreen emulsion, with targeted physicochemical parameters.

Pediocin PA-1 production by Pediococcus pentosaceus ET34 using non-detoxified hemicellulose hydrolysate obtained from hydrothermal pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse

Listeria monocytogenes is one of the foodborne pathogens of most concern for food safety. To limit its presence in foods, bacteriocins have been proposed as natural bio-preservatives. Herein, a bacteriocin was produced on hemicellulose hydrolysate of sugarcane bagasse by Pediococcus pentosaceous ET34, whose genome sequencing revealed an operon with 100% similarity to that of pediocin PA-1. ET34 grown on hydrolysate-containing medium led to an increase in the expression of PA-1 genes and a non-optimized purification step sequence resulted in a yield of 0.8 mg·L^-1 of pure pediocin (purity > 95%). Culture conditions were optimized according to a central composite design using temperature and hydrolysate % as independent variables and validated in 3-L Erlenmeyers. Finally, a process for scaled-up implementation by sugar-ethanol industry was proposed, considering green chemistry and biorefinery concepts. This work stands up as an approach addressing a future proper sugarcane bagasse valorisation for pediocin production.

In Silico Study, Physicochemical, and In Vitro Lipase Inhibitory Activity of α,β-Amyrenone Inclusion Complexes with Cyclodextrins

α,β-amyrenone (ABAME) is a triterpene derivative with many biological activities; however, its potential pharmacological use is hindered by its low solubility in water. In this context, the present work aimed to develop inclusion complexes (ICs) of ABAME with γ- and β-cyclodextrins (CD), which were systematically characterized through molecular modeling studies as well as FTIR, XRD, DSC, TGA, and SEM analyses. In vitro analyses of lipase activity were performed to evaluate possible anti-obesity properties. Molecular modeling studies indicated that the CD:ABAME ICs prepared at a 2:1 molar ratio would be more stable to the complexation process than those prepared at a 1:1 molar ratio. The physicochemical characterization showed strong evidence that corroborates with the in silico results, and the formation of ICs with CD was capable of inducing changes in ABAME physicochemical properties. ICs was shown to be a stronger inhibitor of lipase activity than Orlistat and to potentiate the inhibitory effects of ABAME on porcine pancreatic enzymes. In conclusion, a new pharmaceutical preparation with potentially improved physicochemical characteristics and inhibitory activity toward lipases was developed in this study, which could prove to be a promising ingredient for future formulations.

Astaxanthin Delivery Systems for Skin Application: A Review

Astaxanthin (AST) is a biomolecule known for its powerful antioxidant effect, which is considered of great importance in biochemical research and has great potential for application in cosmetics, as well as food products that are beneficial to human health and medicines. Unfortunately, its poor solubility in water, chemical instability, and low oral bioavailability make its applications in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical field a major challenge for the development of new products. To favor the search for alternatives to enhance and make possible the use of AST in formulations, this article aimed to review the scientific data on its application in delivery systems. The search was made in databases without time restriction, using keywords such as astaxanthin, delivery systems, skin, cosmetic, topical, and dermal. All delivery systems found, such as liposomes, particulate systems, inclusion complexes, emulsions, and films, presented peculiar advantages able to enhance AST properties, among which are stability, antioxidant potential, biological activities, and drug release. This survey showed that further studies are needed for the industrial development of new AST-containing cosmetics and topical formulations.

Extraction and purification of Aspergillus tamarii β-fructofuranosidase with transfructosylating activity using aqueous biphasic systems (PEG/phosphate) and magnetic field

β-fructofuranosidases (FFases) are enzymes involved in sucrose hydrolysis and fructo-oligosaccharides' production which are of great interest for the food industry. FFase from Aspergillus tamarii URM4634 was extracted using PEG/Phosphate Aqueous Biphasic Systems (ABS), and the impact of magnetic field on the extraction behavior was evaluated. A 2⁴-full experimental design was employed to study the influence of molar mass of PEG, concentrations of PEG and phosphate and pH on the selected response variables, i.e., partition coefficient (K), purification factor (PF), activity yield (Y) and selectivity (S). The influence of magnetic field during partition and NaCl concentration on the same responses was also studied. The best results of FFase extraction without magnetic field (K = 0.50, PF = 4.05, Y = 72.66% and S = 0.06) were observed at pH 8.0 using 12.5% (w/w) PEG 400 and 25% (w/w) NaH₂PO₄/K₂HPO₄. Application of the magnetic field allowed improving the performance, with the best results being obtained at the longest distance between magnets (lowest magnetic field) and absence of NaCl (K = 0.93, PF = 4.22, Y = 83.79% and S = 0.09). The outcomes obtained demonstrate that ABS combination with low intensity magnetic field can be used as an efficient FFase pre-purification method.

Ferulic Acid Activity in Topical Formulations: Technological and Scientific Prospecting

INTRODUCTION

Ferulic acid is a phenolic compound widely distributed in monocotyledons, with several applications, especially in pharmaceutical and dermo-cosmetic industries. It has proven antioxidant and anti- inflammatory activities, among others, which are mainly ascribed to its molecular structure. The main factor that can lead to serious skin damages like inflammation, dryness, wrinkles, and cancer is the exposure to UV radiation that is responsible for an increased level of radical oxygen species.

OBJECTIVE

This review aims to evaluate the application of ferulic acid in topical formulations and the technologies used to enhance its bioavailability and stability, as well as to get a clearer picture of its effects by in vivo and in vitro studies.

METHODS

It covers technological publications in the WIPO, EPO, INPI, and USPTO databases and scientific publications in the PubMed, Web of Sciences, and Science Direct databases, exploring the trend and application of this compound by country and year of publication.

RESULTS

Both the scientific and technological analyses showed the importance and tendency in the association of the Ferulic Acid and other vitamins and actives. The synergic effect certainly provides a better result, performance, and stability of the compounds, which cleared the great spectrum and applicability of the Ferulic Acid in topical formulations.

CONCLUSION

The present literature survey revealed that ferulic acid exerts an important activity in several formulations for topical application and improved the stability and bioavailability when combined with new technologies and methods, showing an open path to target the treatment of skin disorders.

Characterization of levan produced by a Paenibacillus sp. isolated from Brazilian crude oil

A levan-type fructooligosaccharide was produced by a Paenibacillus strain isolated from Brazilian crude oil, the purity of which was 98.5% after precipitation with ethanol and dialysis. Characterization by FTIR, NMR spectroscopy, GC-FID and ESI-MS revealed that it is a mixture of linear β(2 → 6) fructosyl polymers with average degree of polymerization (DP) of 18 and branching ratio of 20. Morphological structure and physicochemical properties were investigated to assess levan microstructure, degradation temperature and thermomechanical features. Thermal Gravimetric Analysis highlighted degradation temperature of 218 °C, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) glass transition at 81.47 °C, and Dynamic Mechanical Analysis three frequency-dependent transition peaks. These peaks, corresponding to a first thermomechanical transition event at 86.60 °C related to the DSC endothermic event, a second at 170.9 °C and a third at 185.2 °C, were attributed to different glass transition temperatures of oligo and polyfructans with different DP. Levan showed high morphological versatility and technological potential for the food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries.

Role of model organisms and nanocompounds in human health risk assessment

Safeguarding the environment is one of the most serious modern challenges, as increasing amounts of chemical compounds are produced and released into the environment, causing a serious threat to the future health of the Earth as well as organisms and humans on a global scale. Ecotoxicology is an integrative science involving different physical, chemical, biological, and social aspects concerned with the study of toxic effects caused by natural or synthetic pollutants on any constituents of ecosystems, including animals (including humans), plants, or microorganisms, in an integral context. In recent decades, this science has undergone considerable development by addressing environmental risk assessments through the biomonitoring of indicator species using biomarkers, model organisms, and nanocompounds in toxicological assays. Since a single taxon cannot be representative of complex ecotoxicological effects and mechanisms of action of a chemical, the use of test batteries is widely accepted in ecotoxicology. Test batteries include properly chosen organisms that are easy to breed, adapt easily to laboratory conditions, and are representative of the environmental compartment under consideration. One of the main issues of toxicological and ecotoxicological research is to gain a deeper understanding of how data should be obtained through laboratory and field approaches using experimental models and how they could be extrapolated to humans. There is a tendency to replace animal tests with in vitro systems and to perform them according to standardized analytical methods and the rules of the so-called good laboratory practice (GLP). This paper aims to review this topic to stimulate both efforts to understand the toxicological and ecotoxicological properties of natural and synthetic chemicals and the possible use of such data for application to humans.

Repetitive non-destructive extraction of lipids from Chlorella vulgaris grown under stress conditions

The aim of this study was the investigation of non-destructive lipid extraction from Chlorella vulgaris grown under stress conditions of nutrient limitation and salinity. To select a suitable solvent for extraction, the performances of decane, dodecane and hexadecane were tested based on their effect on lipid extraction and cell viability. The results showed that dodecane was the most suitable solvent for the extraction process. The concentration of extracted lipids from stressed cells was 2762.52 ± 11.38 mg L^-1, i.e. a value 1.75 times higher than that obtained from unstressed cells. Long-term extraction was also evaluated with continuous dodecane recirculation during five-stage extraction and a recovery time of 24 h between the extraction steps, which yielded after the fifth extraction stage a total lipid amount as high as 9811.56 mg L^-1. These results showed that non-destructive lipid recovery can be effectively performed by applying stress conditions and in repetitive extractions.

Incorporation of Caprylic Acid into a Single Cell Oil Rich in Docosahexaenoic Acid for the Production of Specialty Lipids

Research background

New sources of docosahexaenoic acid have recently been investigated aiming at infant formula fortification and dietary supplementation, among which the single cell oil with 40-50% of this acid.

Experimental approach

For this purpose, such an oil was blended with caprylic acid in amount substance ratio ranging from 1:1 to 5:1 and the blends were interesterified using either Novozym 435 or Lipozyme TL IM as the catalyst. The influence of the amount of excess free caprylic acid in the substrate, as well as the type of enzyme on the triacylglycerol rearrangement resulting from the synthesis of the structured lipids were evaluated.

Results and conclusions

The regiospecific lipase Lipozyme TL IM seemed to induce transesterification among single cell oil triacylglycerols preferably by acidolysis with caprylic acid, which was directly proportional to the ratio of this acid in the substrate. In reactions catalyzed by the non-regiospecific lipase Novozym 435, a higher incorporation of caprylic acid into single cell oil triacylglycerols was observed than when using Lipozyme TL IM, independently of the oil/caprylic acid molar ratio.

Novelty and scientific contribution

These results revealed the importance of combining the choice of the type of lipase, either regiospecific or not, with the amount ratios of free fatty acids and the substrate in acidolysis when aiming to produce structured lipids as a source of docosahexaenoic acid.

Therapeutic Potential of Melaleuca alternifolia Essential Oil in New Drug Delivery Systems

Medicinal plants produce secondary metabolites with special biological activities, which may be used as new therapeutic alternatives. For instance, tea tree essential oil (TTO) was shown to exert antimicrobial, antifungal, anthelmintic, antiviral, anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory activities. Due to their thermal instability, active principles can be easily degraded by physicochemical processes; therefore, they must be protected to increase their time of action and improve their controlled release. The aim of this review is to discuss formulations incorporating encapsulated TTO as the active ingredient. Micro and nanoencapsulated systems proved to be more thermostable than TTO and to exert better antimicrobial, antifungal, antiparasitic and larvicidal effects. Nanoencapsulation also reduced oil toxicity. Emulsified and hybrid systems developed by various methods showed improved repellent, antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory activities, thereby proving promising for the pharmaceutical industry. Liposomal formulations produced by hydration of lipid films exhibited constant rate of terpinen-4-ol release. In addition, their incorporation into biomaterials, such as sponges, nanofibers and films, showed great potential for treating infections. Mainly due to the advantages of their incorporation into new drug delivery systems over conventional formulations, there is an interest in the development of systems containing TTO as a pharmaceutical ingredient of plant origin.

Soymilk fermentation: effect of cooling protocol on cell viability during storage and in vitro gastrointestinal stress

This work covers soymilk fermentation by starter and probiotic cultures and explores the influence of cooling protocol on cell viability, organic acid production, sugar consumption, fatty acid profile, and cell survival to in vitro gastrointestinal stress. After fermentation at 37 °C by mono- or co-cultures of Streptococcus thermophilus (St), Lactobacillus bulgaricus (Lb), and Lactobacillus paracasei (Lp), fermented soymilk was cooled directly at 4 °C for 28 days or cooled in two phases (TPC), i.e., by preceding that step by another at 25 °C for 8 h. Soybean milk fermentation by Lb alone lasted longer (15 h) than by StLb or StLbLp (9 h). In ternary culture, TPC increased Lp viability, linoleic, and lactic acid concentrations by 3.8, 22.6, and 96.2%, respectively, whereas the cooling protocol did not influence Lp and St counts after in vitro gastrointestinal stress. Graphical abstract.

Optimization of protease production and sequence analysis of the purified enzyme from the cold adapted yeast Rhodotorula mucilaginosa CBMAI 1528

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A protease from a psychrotolerant yeast was characterized.

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Protease production was dependent on temperature and medium composition.

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Mass spectrometry analysis indicated that the protein belongs to the pepsin family.

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We propose that the enzyme reported here could be Rodothorulapepsin.

Enzymes from cold-adapted microorganisms are of high interest to industries due to their high activity at low and mild temperatures, which makes them suitable for their use in several processes that either require a supply of exogenous energy or involve the use of heat labile products. In this work, the protease production by the strain Rhodotorula mucilaginosa CBMAI 1528, previously isolated from the Antarctic continent, was optimized, and the purified enzyme analyzed. It was found that protease production was dependent on culture medium composition and growth temperature, being 20 °C and a culture medium containing both glucose and casein peptone (20 and 10 g/L, respectively) the optimal growing conditions in batch as well as in bioreactor. Moreover, mass spectrometry analysis revealed that the enzyme under study has a 100 % sequence identity with the deduced amino acid sequence of a putative aspartic protease from Rhodotorula sp. JG-1b (protein ID: KWU42276.1). This result was confirmed by the decrease of 95 % proteolytic activity by pepstatin A, a specific inhibitor of aspartic proteases. We propose that the enzyme reported here could be Rodothorulapepsin, a protein characterized in 1972 that did not have an associated sequence to date and has been classified as an orphan enzyme.

Cheese whey permeate fermentation by Kluyveromyces lactis: a combined approach to wastewater treatment and bioethanol production

Cheese whey is a dairy industry by-product responsible for serious environmental problems. Its fermentation would allow reducing its environmental impact and producing, at the same time, high-value products, hence ensuring cleaner production. Batch fermentations of cheese whey permeate, either as such or 1.5-fold or twice-concentrated, by Kluyveromyces lactis CBS2359 were performed in flasks with or without agitation to select the best conditions to produce simultaneously ethanol and biomass with high β-galactosidase activity. In shake cultures, the highest ethanol concentration (15.0 g L^-1), yield on consumed lactose (0.47 g g^-1) and productivity (0.31 g L^-1 h^-1), were obtained on cheese whey permeate as such, corresponding to 87.4% fermentation efficiency, but β-galactosidase activity was disappointing (449.3-680.0 U g^-1). In static cultures on twice-concentrated whey permeate, despite a decrease in fermentation efficiency and yield, ethanol production increased by 48% and β-galactosidase activity by no less than 209-367%. Therefore, cheese whey should be considered an alternative feedstock rather than an undesirable dairy industry by-product.

Production and partial purification by PEG/citrate ATPS of a β-galactosidase from the new promising isolate Cladosporium tenuissimum URM 7803

β-Galactosidase production, partial purification and characterization by a new fungal were investigated. Partial purification was performed by aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) using polyethylene glycol (PEG) molar mass, PEG concentration, citrate concentration and pH as the independent variables. Purification factor (PF), partition coefficient (K) and yield (Y) were the responses. After identification by rDNA sequencing and classification as Cladosporium tenuissimum URM 7803, this isolate achieved a maximum cell concentration and β-galactosidase activity of 0.48 g/L and 462.1 U/mL, respectively. β-Galactosidase partitioned preferentially for bottom salt-rich phase likely due to hydrophobicity and volume exclusion effect caused in the top phase by the high PEG concentration and molar mass. The highest value of PF (12.94) was obtained using 24% (w/w) PEG 8000 g/mol and 15% (w/w) citrate, while that of Y (79.76%) using 20% (w/w) PEG 400 g/mol and 25% (w/w) citrate, both at pH 6. The enzyme exhibited optimum temperature in crude and ATPS extracts in the ranges 35-50 °C and 40-55 °C, respectively, and optimum pH in the range 3.0-4.5, with a fall of enzyme activity under alkaline conditions. Some metal ions and detergents inhibited, while others stimulated enzyme activity. Finally, C. tenuissimum URM 7803 β-galactosidase showed a profile suitable for prebiotics production.

Production, characterization, evaluation and toxicity assessment of a Bacillus cereus UCP 1615 biosurfactant for marine oil spills bioremediation

In this study, Bacillus cereus was cultivated in a mineral medium composed of 2% frying oil and 0.12% peptone to produce a biosurfactant. The production was scaled up from flasks to 1.2-, 3.0- and 50-L bioreactors, where surface tension achieved 28.7, 27.5 and 32 mN/m and biosurfactant concentration 4.3, 4.6 and 4.7 g/L, respectively. The biosurfactant was characterized as anionic, while nuclear magnetic resonance, thin-layer chromatography and gas chromatography analyses revealed its lipopeptide nature. Toxicity tests showed survival rates of the fish Poecilia vivipara and the bivalve Anomalocardia brasiliana higher than 90% and 55%, respectively, thus suggesting the use of this biosurfactant in marine environment depollution. Moreover, the biosurfactant stimulated the growth of autochthonous microorganisms independently of the presence of motor oil in bioassays performed in seawater. These results demonstrate that the biosurfactant is biocompatible and has potential for industrial-scale production and application to bioremediation of oil spills-polluted marine environment.