Extraction optimization by response surface methodology of mucilage polysaccharide from the peel of Opuntia dillenii haw. fruits and their physicochemical properties

Mucilage-based composites films and coatings for food packaging application: A review

Developing sustainable and eco-friendly packaging solutions has garnered significant interest in recent years. Mucilage-based coatings and composites offer a promising approach due to their biodegradability, renewable nature, and ability to enhance food quality protection. This review paper discusses the impact of mucilage-based composites and coatings on various packaging applications, focusing on their physical, mechanical, morphological, barrier, and functional properties. These materials' adaptability, flexibility, transparency, and compatibility with various food products make them highly suitable for food packaging. The morphological structure of mucilage-based films contributes to improved adhesion, surface roughness, and homogeneity. Enhanced barriers against moisture, oxygen, and other gases extend the shelf life of packaged food while maintaining its quality. Mucilage from different plant sources exhibits functional properties such as antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, which enhance food preservation. These attributes and mucilage's biocompatibility and biodegradability align with the growing demand for environmentally friendly packaging options. The review also addresses cost-effectiveness, regulatory compliance, consumer acceptance, recycling infrastructure compatibility, supply chain considerations, and the need for ongoing innovation. Future advancements in mucilage-based packaging will depend on optimizing performance, scalability, and sustainability. By understanding the effects on physio-mechanical, morphological, barrier, and functional attributes, mucilage-based composites and coatings hold great potential for advancing sustainable food packaging solutions.

Structural analysis and immunological activity of a novel low molecular weight neutral polysaccharide isolated from Hemerocallis citrina Borani

A novel neutral water-soluble polysaccharide (HCBP1-1) was isolated and purified from Hemerocallis citrina Borani by column chromatography. The fine structure of HCBP1-1 was determined by a series of physical and chemical means. HCBP1-1 was a homogeneous low molecular weight polysaccharide of 7.25 kDa. Methylation and NMR analysis revealed that HCBP1-1 consisted of α-D-Glcp-(1→, →4)-α-D-Glcp-(1→, →4)-β-D-Galp-(1→, →4,6)-α-D-Glcp-(1→, →3,4)-α-D-Glcp-(1→. In particular, the main backbone of HCBP1-1 consisted of unsubstituted (4-α-D-Glcp and 4-β-D-Galp) and monosubstituted (4,6-α-D-Glcp and 3,4-α-D-Glcp) glucose and galactose units linked by α-(1 → 4) and β-(1 → 4) glycosidic linkages. The side chain consisted of α-D-Glcp-(1 → and →4)-α-D-Glcp-(1→. Furthermore, bioactivity assays show that HCBP1-1 significantly promoted the secretion of NO, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 and the expression of NF-κB p65 in RAW264.7 cells, which had good immune-enhancing activity. These results suggest that HCBP1-1 had beneficial immunomodulatory effects and could be developed into functional foods or nutraceuticals with immune-enhancing properties.

Ultrasound-assisted H2O2 degradation enhances the bioactivity of Schizophyllan for wound healing and tissue regeneration

Background

Schizophyllan (SPG), a bioactive polysaccharide from Schizophyllum commune, possesses significant anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties. The molecular weight of polysaccharides significantly impacts their structural properties and biological functions. However, the functional characteristics of low molecular weight polysaccharides derived from Schizophyllum commune remain inadequately explored.

Methods

This study developed an ultrasound-assisted hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) degradation method to produce low-molecular-weight SPG with enhanced bioactivity. The process was optimized using response surface methodology, focusing on ultrasound duration, ultrasonic power, and H2O2 concentration. This approach effectively reduced the molecular weight of SPG from 4,409,608 Da to 257,500 Da, yielding three distinct variants: SPG-a (257,500 Da), SPG-b (429,300 Da), and SPG-c (364,800 Da). The bioactivity of these variants was assessed through in vitro cell proliferation and migration assays using BJ and HaCaT cells, as well as an in vivo zebrafish larval caudal fin regeneration model.

Results

In vitro, SPG-b significantly promoted cell proliferation, increasing BJ and HaCaT cells growth by 53.69% and 14.59%, respectively, at a concentration of 300 μg/mL (p < 0.05), compared to undegraded SPG. Additionally, scratch assays revealed that SPG-a enhanced BJ cells migration by 24.13% (p < 0.05), while SPG-b exhibited most pronounced effect on HaCaT cells migration (17.12%, p < 0.05), compared to the undegraded SPG. In vivo, SPG-c (3.125 mg/mL) significantly improved fin regeneration rates by 6.97% (p < 0.05) in zebrafish larvae, compared to the undegraded SPG.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that ultrasound-assisted H2O2 degradation effectively reduces SPG molecular weight while enhancing its functional properties. These findings provide a foundation for the further development of SPG in pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications, highlighting its potential for broader utilization.

Extraction of Purple Prickly Pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) Mucilage by Microfiltration, Composition, and Physicochemical Characteristics

Mucilages are valuable to the food industry, but the solvents used to extract and concentrate them are detrimental to the environment. Therefore, environmentally friendly technologies that preserve the properties of biopolymers and reduce the use of solvents are being sought. In this work, the mucilage of Opuntia ficus-indica (mesocarp-endocarp) was extracted by two methods: In the first one, the pulp from the mesocarp-endocarp was extracted by ethanol precipitation and centrifugation cycles, then dried at room temperature. For the second, the pulp was processed in a three-step tangential microfiltration process: microfiltration (separation), diafiltration (purification), and concentration. The mucilages obtained differed significantly (p < 0.05) in color, betalains, total sugars, and proteins. The proportions of insoluble and soluble dietary fiber were similar. GC/MS analysis identified seven neutral sugars and a high content of uronic acids (31.3% in the microfiltered mucilage and 47.5% in the ethanol-precipitated mucilage). These show a low degree of esterification, which gives them a polar and hydrophilic character and the possibility of interacting with divalent ions through the carboxylic acid groups, which could form gels stabilized by an egg-box mechanism, with application as a thickening, stabilizing, gelling, or film-forming agent for foods with low sugar content.

Preparation, characteristics and antioxidant activity of mung bean peel polysaccharides

The mung bean peel polysaccharide (MBP) extracted by hot water was chemically modified. By changing the dosage of phosphorylation reagent and acetylation reagent, three kinds of phosphorylated MBP ( P-MBP-1, P-MBP-2, P-MBP-3 ) and acetylated MBP ( AC 0.6-MBP, AC 1-MBP, AC 1.4-MBP ) with different degrees of substitution were prepared. By measuring the sugar content and substitution degree of the modified products, it was found that the amount of reagent had a certain effect on both of them. The modified products were determined by infrared spectrum and nuclear magnetic resonance. The results showed that the chemical modification was successful. The in vitro antioxidant capacity (·OH scavenging ability, O2-·clearing ability, reducing capacity, resistance to lipid peroxidation) of seven polysaccharide were measured, which manifested that chemical modification could enhance the antioxidant ability of MBP to varying degrees, and the DS also had a certain impact on their antioxidant activity. This promoted the development of mung bean peel polysaccharide functional products and the utilization of mung bean peel resources.

Comparative study on chain conformations, physicochemical and rheological properties of three acidic polysaccharides from Opuntia dillenii Haw. fruits

In this study, three acidic polysaccharides (OFPP-1, OFPP-2 and OFPP-3) were isolated from the pulps of Opuntia dillenii Haw. fruits, and their chain conformations, physicochemical and rheological properties were investigated. The molecular weight and conformational parameters (Mw, Mn, Mz, Rg and Rh) of OFPPs in 0.1 M NaNO3 solution were detected by HPSEC-MALLS-RI. In addition, based on the parameters ρ and v, it was concluded that these three polysaccharide chains exhibited sphere-like conformation in 0.1 M NaNO3 solution, which was consistent with AFM and TEM observations. Furthermore, the Congo Red experiment showed that OFPP-2 had a triple-helix structure, which may be conducive to its biological activity. This study also found that OFPPs were semi-crystalline structures with high thermal and pH stability. The rheological analyses indicated that the apparent viscosity of OFPPs solutions exhibited concentration-, temperature-, and pH-dependence, and the viscoelasticity of them was affected by molecular characteristics and concentration. The results of this study are helpful to elucidate the structure-activity relationship of OFPPs. Moreover, this study can provide theoretical reference for the application of OFPPs as bioactive ingredients or functional materials in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries and the development and utilization of the O. dillenii Haw. fruits resource.

Physicochemical properties and solution conformation of polysaccharides from Toona sinensis (A. Juss) Roem leaves

In this study, two polysaccharide fractions (TSP-1 and TSP-2) were isolated from Toona sinensis leaves. The physicochemical properties and solution conformations of TSP-1 and TSP-2 were investigated. DSC and TG results showed that TSP-1 and TSP-2 had thermal stability. The intrinsic viscosities of TSP-1 and TSP-2 solutions were 11.42 and 6.13 mL/g, respectively. Rheological results showed that the viscosities of TSP-1 and TSP-2 solutions were affected by polysaccharide concentration, Ca2+ and extreme pH. Furthermore, TSP-1 exhibited a weak gel behavior at the concentrations of 0.5 %-2.0 %, while TSP-2 showed a weak gel behavior at the concentration of 2 %. HPSEC-MALLS analysis revealed that the Rg values of TSP-1 and TSP-2 were 96.8 nm and 56.2 nm, respectively. Conformation analysis indicated that TSP-1 behaved as a sphere, while TSP-2 behaved like a rigid rod. These results suggest that TSP-1 and TSP-2 can be used as additives in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

Biodegradable composite films based on mucilage from Opuntia ficus-indica (Cactaceae): Microstructural, functional and thermal properties

This study evaluated the feasibility of using cactus mucilage (CM) to elaborate biobased composite films blended with styrene-butadiene rubber latex (SBL). The CM was extracted and precipitated with ethanol (CMET) and isopropanol (CMIS). Mucilage-based films were formulated using three levels of mucilage (4, 6, and 8 wt%). The microstructure, thickness, moisture content, density, water contact angle, water vapor permeability, film solubility, thermal stability, and toughness of mucilage films blended with SBL (SBL/CMET and SBL/CMIS) were measured. The properties of mucilage-based films varied systematically, depending on the concentration of mucilage. The addition of SBL to CM film produces compatible, hydrophobic, flexible, and stiffer films with low moisture contents and good barrier properties. The mucilage film incorporated with 6 wt% CMET and CMIS reached the highest Young's modulus of 1512 ± 21 and 1988 ± 55 MPa, respectively. The DSC of produced films reveals that the Tg of SBL/CMIS is lower than that of SBL/CMIS. The synthesized films were structurally stable at high temperatures. The biodegradability of the composite films buried in the ground shows that the produced films are 100 % biodegradable after 40 days. Thus, CM blended with SBL can benefit specific applications, especially food packaging.

Exploration of browning reactions during alkaline thermal hydrolysis of sludge: Maillard reaction, caramelization and humic acid desorption

The browning reaction produces melanoidins, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and humic acids which influence subsequent anaerobic digestion and protein recovery. This paper systematically evaluates the variation of organics that make sludge browning with heating temperature and reaction time, the effect of browning organics on protein recovery and anaerobic digestion, and finally proposes a pathway for the occurrence of the Maillard reaction (MR) in the sludge environment. The results show that the browning of sludge hydrolysate is related to the comprehensive influence of the MR, caramelization and humic acid desorption. The increase of temperature (80 °C-150 °C) and pH (9-13) will promote the extent of browning of sludge hydrolysate, and the sludge browning reaction basically stabilizes at the reaction time of 1 h. Humic acid and melanoidin could co-precipitate with the protein, thereby reducing the purity of the recovered protein. The inhibition of anaerobic digestion starts when the melanoidin concentration is 8.01 mmol/L. The three-dimensional fluorescence, GC-MS and FT-IR analysis show that melanoidins have the same functional groups and fluorescence properties as humic acid does, and the humic acid in the supernatant of the sludge treated with ATH was not only converted at its adsorbed state, but also possibly generated by the reaction of the dissolved proteins with polysaccharides. Finally, LC-MS/MS was used to identify the intermediate products of the MR and the possible structural formula of melanoidin. This study further clarifies the browning reaction in hydrothermal sludge treatment and provides help for the accuracy of subsequent studies.

A novel source of food hydrocolloids from Trigonella elliptica seeds: extraction of mucilage and comprehensive characterization

BACKGROUND

In this study, the effects of seed weight (4, 8, and 12 g), extraction temperature (30, 60, and 90 °C), and pH (4, 7, and 10) on the yield of mucilage extraction from fenugreek seeds and its chemical properties were investigated using response-surface methodology.

RESULTS

The optimum condition for mucilage extraction was a seed weight of 8.30 g, a temperature of 86.10 °C, and pH 6.90. The results showed that the dry weight of extracted mucilage increased with increase and decrease of extraction temperature and pH respectively at high seed weight. Increasing temperature and pH increased the extraction yield, and the effect was more considerable at low seed weight. The maximum carbohydrate content of mucilage was achieved at average levels of variables. The protein, flavonoid, and total phenolic contents of extracted mucilage increased with increasing temperature. Both flavonoid and total phenolic contents were maximum at neutral pH, but they were maximum at moderate and low levels of seed weight respectively. Maximum antioxidant activity was obtained at the highest extraction temperature, seed weight of 8 g, and neutral pH. The study of rheological properties indicated that extracted mucilage solution showed mainly elastic and shear-thinning behavior.

CONCLUSION

The Fourier transform infrared spectra of extracted mucilage exhibited the existence of polysaccharides and protein chains in fenugreek seeds mucilage. The X-ray diffraction corroborated the presence of crystals in the mucilage structure. The proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra confirmed the polysaccharides and protein composition of extracted mucilage. The maximum mucilage mass loss was observed at 190-350 °C using thermogravimetric analysis. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Use of Opuntia ficus-indica Fruit Peel as a Novel Source of Mucilage with Coagulant Physicochemical/Molecular Characteristics

The peels obtained as a byproduct from the processing of fruits (prickly pears) of the Cactaceae family are a rich source of mucilage, a hydrocolloid biopolymer that may have potential application in water/wastewater treatment as a natural coagulant. In this study, the structural (UPLC-QTOF-MS, FTIR, Raman, NMR, XRD, and zeta potential), morphological (SEM), and thermal (DSC/TGA) characterizations of the mucilage extracted from the peels of Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) fruits were carried out. UPLC-QTOF-MS results revealed the presence of a branched polymer with an average molecular weight of 0.44 KDa for this mucilage in aqua media. The NMR spectra of mucilage in DMSO-d6 indicated that it seemed well-suited as a coagulant with its typical oligosaccharide structure. FTIR studies confirmed the presence of hydroxyl and carboxyl functional groups in the mucilage, indicating its polyelectrolyte nature that could provide coagulating properties through binding and adsorption mechanisms. Likewise, the zeta potential of −23.63 ± 0.55 mV showed an anionic nature of the mucilage. Power XRD technique evidenced the presence of crystalline poly(glycine-β-alanine), glutamic acid, and syn-whewellite. SEM images revealed an irregular and amorphous morphology with cracks, which are suitable characteristics for adsorption mechanisms. The mucilage exhibited two endothermic transitions, with a decomposition temperature in uronic acid of 423.10 °C. These findings revealed that mucilage obtained from OFI fruit peels has molecular and physicochemical characteristics that are suited to its possible application as a natural coagulant in water/wastewater treatments.

Structural characterization and tumor microvascular inhibition activity of total polysaccharide from Trametes sanguinea Lloyd

Trametes sanguinea Lloyd total polysaccharide (TsLTP), was obtained by water extraction and ethanol precipitation from T. sanguinea . The structural characterization of TsLTP was elucidated mutually by TsL1 and TsL2, whose mass ratio is 1 : 4. TsL1 is mainly composed of mannose, glucose, galactose, and fucose, and consist of T-Linked-Fuc p , T-Linked-Man p , T-Linked-Gal p , 1,4-Linked-Man p , 1,4-Linked-Glc p , 1,6-Linked-Man p , 1,6-Linked-Gal p , 1,3,4-Linked-Glc p , 1,4,6-Linked-Glc p and 1,3,6- Linked-Glc p , with a molar ratio of 2.1 : 1.7 : 1.4 : 1.0 : 3.6 : 2.0 : 8.6 : 1.3: 2.2: 1.2, while TsL2 mainly comprise of glucose and consist of T-Linked-Glc p , 1,3-Linked-Glc p , 1,4-Linked-Glc p and 1,4,6-Linked-Glc p , with a molar ratio of 1.0 : 2.1 : 7.6 : 1.4. TsLTP exhibited strong inhibitory effects on the migration, invasion, and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (iHUVECs) and chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) angiogenesis, whereas no inhibitory activity on human TNBC cell lines. Taken together, our study suggests that TsLTP possesses a significant inhibition of tumor microvascular activity both in vitro and in vivo . The study of TsLTP with novel monosaccharide composition and tumor microvascular inhibitory activity might be a beneficial attempt for application of polysaccharide from the genus Trametes in tumor therapy.

Polysaccharide Based Polymers Produced by Scabby Cankered Cactus Pear (Opuntia ficus-indica L.) Infected by Neofusicoccum batangarum: Composition, Structure, and Chemico-Physical Properties

Neofusiccocum batangarum is the causal agent of scabby canker of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica L.). The symptoms of this disease are characterized by crusty, perennial cankers, with a leathery, brown halo. Characteristically, a viscous polysaccharide exudate, caking on contact with air, leaks from cankers and forms strips or cerebriform masses on the surface of cactus pear cladodes. When this polysaccharide mass was partial purified, surprisingly, generated a gel. The TLC analysis and the HPLC profile of methyl 2-(polyhydroxyalkyl)-3-(o-tolylthiocarbomoyl)-thiazolidine-4R-carboxylates obtained from the mixture of monosaccharides produced by acid hydrolysis of the three EPSs examined in this research work [the polysaccharide component of the exudate (EPSC) and the EPSs extracted from asymptomatic (EPSH) and symptomatic (EPSD) cladodes] showed the presence of d-galactose, l-rhamnose, and d-glucose in a 1:1:0.5 ratio in EPSC while d-galactose, l-rhamnose, d-glucose, and d-xylose at the same ratio were observed in EPSH and EPSD. The presence of uronic acid residues in EPSC was also showed by solid state NMR and IR investigation. Furthermore, this manuscript reports the chemical-physical characterization of the gel produced by the infected cactus pear.

Mucilages: sources, extraction methods, and characteristics for their use as encapsulation agents

The increasing interest in the use of natural ingredients has driven keen research and commercial interest in the use of mucilages for a range of applications. Typically, mucilages are polysaccharide hydrocolloids with distinct physicochemical and structural diversity, possessing characteristic functional and health benefits. Apart from their role as binding, thickening, stabilizing, and humidifying agents, they are valued for their antimicrobial, antihypertensive, antioxidant, antiasthmatic, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic activities. The focus of this review is to present the range of mucilages that have been explored as encapsulating agents. Encapsulation of food ingredients, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical ingredients is an attractive technique to enhance the stability of targeted compounds, apart from providing benefits on delivery characteristics. The most widely adopted conventional and emerging extraction and purification methods are explained and supplemented with information on the key criteria involved in characterizing the physicochemical and functional properties of mucilages. The unique traits and benefits of using mucilages as encapsulation agents are detailed with the different methods used by researchers to encapsulate different food and bioactive compounds.

Arabinoxylan and rhamnogalacturonan mucilage: Outgoing and potential trends of pharmaceutical, environmental, and medicinal merits

Demand for safe, environmentally friendly and minimally processed food additives with intrinsic technological (stabilizing, texturizing, structuring) and functional potential is already on the rise. There are actually several natural excipients eligible for pharmaceutical formulation. Mucilage, as a class constitutes arabinoxylan and rhamnogalacturonan-based biomolecules used in the pharmaceutical, environmental as well as phytoremediation industries owing to its particular structure and properties. These compounds are widely used in pharmaceutical, food and cosmetics, as well as, in agriculture, paper industries. This review emphasizes mucilage valuable applications in the pharmaceutical and industrial fields. In this context, much focus has recently been given to the valorization of mucilage as an ingredient for food or nutraceutical applications. Furthermore, different optimization and extraction techniques are presented to develop better utilization and/or enhanced yield of mucilage. The highlighted mucilage extraction methods warrant assessing up-scale processes to encourage for its industrial applications. The current article capitalizes on cutting-edge characteristics of mucilage and posing for other possible innovative applications in non-food industries. Here, the first holistic overview of mucilage with regards to its physicochemical properties and potential novel usages is presented.

Statistical Optimization by the Response Surface Methodology of Direct Recycled Aluminum-Alumina Metal Matrix Composite (MMC-AlR) Employing the Metal Forming Process

In this study, the response surface methodology (RSM) and desirability function (DF) were utilized to optimize the recycling conditions of aluminum (AA6061) chips, in the presence of particulate alumina (Al2O3), to obtain a metal matrix composite of recycled aluminum (MMC-AlR) using hot press forging processes. The effects of temperature (430–530 °C) and holding time (60–120 min) were investigated. The introduction of 2.0 wt. % of Al2O3 to the aluminum matrix was based on preliminary research and some pilot tests. This study employed the 2k factorial design of experiments that should satisfy the operating temperatures (T) of 430 °C and 530 °C with holding times (t) of 60 min and 120 min. The central composite design (CCD) was utilized for RSM with the axial and center point to evaluate the responses to the ultimate tensile strength (UTS), elongation to failure (ETF), and microhardness (MH). Based on RSM, with the desirability of 97.6%, the significant parameters T = 530 °C and t = 120 min were suggested to yield an optimized composite performance with UTS = 317.99 MPa, ETF = 20.45%, and MH = 86.656 HV. Three confirmation runs were performed based on the suggested optimum parameters, and the error revealed was less than 25%. The mathematical models suggested by RSM could adequately describe the MMC-AlR responses of the factors being investigated.

A low-molecular-weight ascophyllan prepared from Ascophyllum nodosum: Optimization, analysis and biological activities

In this study, a low-molecular-weight saccharide fragment (LMWAs-L) was prepared from alginate lyase (EC 4.2.2.3) hydrolyzed ascophyllan by ultra-filtration separation method. LMWAs-L was a homogeneous saccharide fraction with an average molecular weight of 6.96 kDa. Enzymolysis process optimization experiments revealed that the optimum process parameters for preparing LMWAs-L were the enzyme concentration 0.02 U/mL, initial pH 6.8, and enzymolysis temperature 43 °C. After optimization, the yield of LMWAs-L was increased to 9.74% higher than that without optimization. Interestingly, LMWAs-L exhibited stronger enhancing activities on the proliferation and migration of human skin fibroblasts cells in vitro and better antibacterial activities as compared to native ascophyllan at the same mass concentration. Our study establishes a simple way to prepare low-molecular-weight saccharide with beneficial bioactivities from ascophyllan efficiently. This is the first report to reveal that ascophyllan and its low-molecular-weight saccharide have the potentials to be developed as natural biological dressing and antibacterial agents.

Preparation and modeling of electrospun polyhydroxybutyrate/polyaniline composite scaffold modified by plasma and printed by an inkjet method and its cellular study

The reconstruction of the nerve tissue engineering scaffold is always of particular interest due to the inability to recover and repair neural tissues after being damaged by diseases or physical injuries. The primary purpose of this study was obtaining a model used to predict the diameter of the fibers of electrospun polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) scaffolds. Accordingly, the range of operating parameters, namely the applied voltage, the distance between the nozzle to the collector, and solution concentration, was designed for the electrospinning process at three different levels, giving seventeen experiments. These data were modeled utilizing response surface methodology and artificial neural network method using Design Expert and Matlab software.The effect of process parameters on the diameter, as well as their interactions were investigated in detail, and the corresponding models were suggested. Both the RSM and ANN models showed an excellent agreement between the experimental and predicted response values. In the second phase of the study, PHB natural polymer was electrospun into scaffolds with high biocompatibility, resulting in a 224-360 nm diameter range .To further modify the scaffold in order to improve the compatibility of PHB, the fibrous surface of scaffolds was exposed to oxygenated plasma gas radiation under controlled conditions. Next, polyaniline (PANI) nanoparticles were then synthesized and printed on the surface of scaffolds as parallel lines. Then samples were exposed to the electric field. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, water contact angle, optical and electron microscopy, tensile test, and cell viability analysis were performed to study properties of resulting scaffolds. The results indicated the fact that modification of the scaffolds by oxygen plasma and printing PANI nanoparticles in particular patterns had a favorable impact on cell adhesion and direction of cell growth, showing the potential of resulting scaffolds for nerve tissue engineering applications.

Antioxidant activity, extraction and application of psyllium mucilage in chocolate drink

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to extract psyllium mucilage and evaluate its antioxidant compounds (in the best extraction condition) and its application in a chocolate drink.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the extraction by ultrasonic bath was evaluated, followed by water bath extraction, and as there was no difference between the methods, a water bath experimental design was carried out to evaluate the best extraction conditions for psyllium mucilage, having response variables, yield and emulsion stability. A chocolate drink with psyllium mucilage was produced and evaluated in the best extraction condition to compare with xanthan gum.

Findings

The best extraction conditions for psyllium mucilage were 60°C for 2 h and 1:80 ratio (seed:water). It can be verified that psyllium is rich in antioxidant compounds (0.71 mg GAE/g and 6.67 Mmol ET/g by 2,2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline sulfonic acid-6), and 9.65 Mmol ET/g for ferric reducing antioxidant power), which can greatly contribute to its application in food products. The use of mucilage in chocolate drink is feasible, as among its several attributes there was no significant difference between samples, highlighting texture attributes in which mucilage samples did not differ from the control containing xanthan gum (being the grades approximated 6.84).

Originality/value

Psyllium presented several antioxidant compounds that are very desirable in food products. In the chocolate drink, psyllium mucilage showed potential use as a thickener, so it is important for further studies to improve the product’s development, but it is currently feasible to be produced in an industrial scale.

Active Compound Identification in Extracts of N. lappaceum Peel and Evaluation of Antioxidant Capacity

Nephelium lappaceum and its by-products have great potential in the agricultural, pharmaceutical, and food industries. Some studies have shown that N. lappaceum by-products exhibit antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anticancer properties. However, studies focused on identifying these compounds are rare. The availability of polyphenolic compounds can vary according to environmental conditions, soil, plant variety, and agronomic management. Therefore, in this study, the active compounds in extracts of the N. lappaceum peel were identified, and their antioxidant properties were evaluated using various extraction solvents and both ultrasonic and boiling extraction techniques. The chemical characterization of the N. lappaceum peel exhibited carbohydrate and reducing sugar contents of 12 and 2%, respectively. Phytochemical analysis indicated the presence of flavonoids, tannins, terpenes, and steroids. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents and total antioxidant capacity were the highest in the hydroethanolic extract obtained by ultrasound, with values of 340 mg gallic acid equivalents g−1, 76 mg quercetin equivalents g−1, and 2.9 mmol of Trolox equivalents g−1, respectively. Contrarily, the total anthocyanin content was higher in the acid extract obtained by ultrasound, with a value of 0.7 mg cyanidin-3-O-glucoside equivalents g−1. A total of 18 compounds—including hydroxybenzene, phenolic acid, flavonoids, fatty acids (saturated, unsaturated, and ester), vitamin, arenecarbaldehyde, and phthalate—were identified for the first time in the N. lappaceum peel using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The identified compounds have been previously isolated from other plants and reportedly exhibit anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities. Thus, the N. lappaceum peel was shown to be a potential source of bioactive compounds of immense importance in the pharmacological and food industries.

Multiple fingerprint and fingerprint-activity relationship for quality assessment of polysaccharides from Flammulina velutipes

Polysaccharides are known as one of the most important bioactive compounds in Flammulina velutipes. However, there is no accurate and comprehensive assessment method to evaluate and authenticate F. velutipes polysaccharides (FVPs) from different sources. In this study, a multiple fingerprint analysis method including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was established. The inhibitory activities of FVPs against HepG2 were measured and introduced into multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis to investigate fingerprint-activity relationship. The principal component analysis (PCA) scores showed that the polysaccharides extracted from 20 batches of different F. velutipes were highly similar, and substandard samples could be distinguished from the authentic polysaccharides clearly. The glucuronic acid could be considered as a marker for discrimination of white and yellow F. velutipes polysaccharides in HPLC fingerprints. Moreover, the HPLC fingerprint-growth inhibitory activity relationship illuminated that monosaccharides composition played an important role on the HepG2 growth inhibitory activity, and activity-associated markers (mannose, rhamnose, xylose, and galactose) were chosen to assess FVPs from different sources. The suggested HPLC fingerprint-activity relationship method provides an integrated strategy for the quality control of F. velutipes and its related products.

Cactus Mucilage for Food Packaging Applications

Natural polymers have been widely investigated for the development of eco-friendly materials. Among these bio-polymers, cactus mucilage is attracting increasing interest regardless of the plant species or the plant organ used for extraction. Mucilage, which is a highly branched heteropolysaccharide, has been previously studied for its chemical composition, structural features, and biotechnological applications. This review highlights the mucilage application in the food packaging industry, by developing films and coatings. These cactus-based biomaterials will be discussed for their functional properties and their potential in preserving food quality and extending shelf life.

Co-production of chondroitin sulfate and peptide from liquefied chicken sternal cartilage by hot-pressure

Co-production of chondroitin sulfate (CS) and peptides was realized from the liquid fraction of chicken sternal cartilage subjected to hot-pressure (HP) by membrane combination separation technology. Cartilage was liquefied via the HP treatment at 110 °C (0.07 MPa) and 120 °C (0.1 MPa) for 0.5 - 2.5 h, respectively. The optimized co-production procedure was as follows: enzymolysis temperature, 61.2 °C; the enzyme ratio of trypsin and papain, 1.3:1 (W/W); enzymolysis time ratio, 2:2 (h/h), under which the highest yields of CS and peptides were 18.85% and 67.99%, and the recoveries were 93.63% and 92.69%. The average molecular weight of CS sample was 67.79 kDa. CS sample was confirmed using agarose-gel electrophoresis, and the structure was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance. Taken together, HP can be as a pretreatment method to liquefy cartilage for the industrial co-production of CS and peptides with eco-friendly.

Opuntia dillenii: A Forgotten Plant with Promising Pharmacological Properties

Generative and vegetative parts of the cactuses have had a long-lasting position in folk medicine and their effects could partly be confirmed in scientific experiments. Nowadays, the cactus, fruits, and cladodes are the focus of many studies because of their desirable properties. Therefore, the summarized reports of valuable properties of medicinal plants may be a good way to familiarize researches with a new source of drugs with lower side effects and higher efficacy.

Opuntia dillenii, a well-known member of the Cactaceae family, is used as a medicinal plant in various countries and grows in the desert, semi-desert, tropical and sub-tropical areas. It shows diverse pharmacological activities such as: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, hypotensive etc. OD fruit also possesses valuable constitutes for instance: betalains, ascorbic acid, total phenol, protein as well as essential elements which suggest the significant potential of this plant as a complementary therapy against several pathological conditions. This review describes experimental evidence about pharmacological and therapeutic potential of OD in order to give the basis of its application in the prevention and treatment of some chronic diseases. More studies on OD can help better understanding of its pharmacological mechanism of action to explain its traditional uses and to identify its potential new therapeutic applications.

Liquefaction of chicken sternal cartilage by steam explosion to isolate chondroitin sulfate

Chondroitin sulfate (CS), together with peptide, was isolated from the liquid fraction of chicken sternal cartilage subjected to steam explosion (SE) by membrane separation. Cartilage was liquefied via the SE conditions, including various pressures (1.0-1.6 MPa) and times (60-140 s). The extraction procedure was optimized as follows: the amount of papain added, 0.11%; enzymolysis time, 10.5 h; and enzymolysis temperature, 56.5 °C, under which the highest recovery and total yield of CS were 92.15% and 18.55% at 1.4 MPa for120 s, and the counterparts of peptides were 87.35% (1.0 MPa, 140 s) and 63.07% (1.6 MPa, 140 s). The average molecular weight of CS samples ranged from 30 to 35 kDa. CS sample was confirmed using agarose-gel electrophoresis, and the structure was analysed Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance. Taken together, SE can be an eco-friendly pretreatment method to liquefy cartilage for CS isolation.

Chicken leg bone as a source of chondroitin sulfate

In this work, chondroitin sulfate (CS) was extracted from chicken leg bone soup using the heat-resin static adsorption extraction (HSAE) method. The HSAE method was optimized as follows: resin dosage, 10%; adsorption time, 4.3 h; eluent concentration, 2 M; eluent time, 1.3 h, under which the yield of CS1 from the bone soup reached 0.14% and the recovery rate was 67.35%. CS2, as reference, was obtained from the ends of chicken leg bone using enzymatic method. CS1 and CS2, together with other glycosaminoglycans, were confirmed using agarose-gel electrophoresis. The average molecular weight of CS1 and CS2 was 35.81 kDa and 37.18 kDa, respectively. The structures of CS1 and CS2 were compared using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography, and no significant difference was observed. Overall, the HSAE method was proposed to be a promising approach for the coproduction of CS and bone soup.

Opuntia (Cactaceae) plant compounds, biological activities and prospects - A comprehensive review

Opuntia species are utilized as local medicinal interventions for chronic diseases and as food sources mainly because they possess nutritional properties and biological activities. The Opuntia plant is distributed worldwide and has great economic potential. Differences in Opuntia species phytochemical composition exist between wild and domesticated species, and within species. Opuntia aerial and underground parts exhibit beneficial properties due to their phenolic content, other antioxidants (for example ascorbate), pigments (carotenoids, betalains), and other unidentified components. This work comprehensively reviews the phytochemical composition of the different aerial and underground plant parts of Opuntia species. The applications of Opuntia compounds and their biological activities are also discussed. Other topical aspects covered include Opuntia spp. taurine composition, Opuntia side effects, Opuntia by-products valorisation and the role of Opuntia spp. in tackling antimicrobial resistance. Although biological activities have been extensively researched, much less information is available on reaction mechanisms, herbal mixtures toxicology and commercialisation prospects - aspects which should be considered for future research in this area.

Optimization extraction, characterization and anticancer activities of polysaccharides from mango pomace

Response surface methodology was used to optimize the extraction conditions for ultrasonic-assisted extraction of polysaccharides from mango pomace. The Optimum extraction conditions consisted of extraction temperature of 74 °C, ultrasonic power of 170 W, extraction time of 100 min, and raw material-to-water ratio of 1:40 g/mL. Under these conditions, the extraction yield was 3.71 ± 0.07%. Three novel polysaccharide fractions, MG-1, MG-2 and MG-3 were purified from the crude polysaccharides by using DEAE-52 cellulose and Sephadex G-100 column chromatography. The molecular weight and monosaccharide composition of polysaccharide fractions (MPFs) were analyzed by high performance liquid gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC) and HPLC analysis, respectively. The characterizations of MPFs were conducted with FT-IR, ¹H NMR and SEM. Furthermore, the anticancer activities of the polysaccharide fractions were also investigated in vitro. Results showed that MG-1, MG-2 and MG-3 exhibited significant anticancer activities against HepG2, MCF-7, A549, HeLa, A2780, HCT-116 and BGC-823 cells in a dose-dependent manner. MPFs were also showed to promote apoptosis as seen in the nuclear morphological examination study using calcein acetyl methoxy methyl easter (calcein-AM) and propidium iodide (PI) staining. This research could serve as a theoretical reference for the efficient utilization of MPFs in biomedical and functional food.

Extraction optimization, purification and characterization of polysaccharides from the seed coat of black soybean

In this study, the extraction of water-soluble polysaccharides from the seed coat of black soybean (BSCP) was investigated and optimized. A response surface methodology based on a Box-Behnken design (BBD) was used to optimize the extraction conditions as follows: extraction temperature, 100°C; ratio of water to material, 22.3 mL/g; and extraction time, 133.2 min. Under these conditions, the experimental yield of polysaccharides was 10.56%, which was consistent with the predictive yield. A novel galactomannan, BSCP-1, with a molecular weight of 7.55 × 105 Da determined by high-performance gel permeation chromatography, was isolated from the black soybean seed coat. Through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, BSCP-1 was identified as a galactomannan consisting of galactose, mannose and rhamnose in a molar ratio of 6.01:3.56:1.00. Cytotoxicity against the human gastric carcinoma cancer cell line was also determined.

Investigate the ultrasound energy assisted adsorption mechanism of nickel(II) ions onto modified magnetic cobalt ferrite nanoparticles: Multivariate optimization

In present study, magnetic cobalt ferrite nanoparticles modified with (E)-N-(2-nitrobenzylidene)-2-(2-(2-nitrophenyl)imidazolidine-1-yl) ethaneamine (CoFe₂O₄-NPs-NBNPIEA) was synthesized and applied as novel adsorbent for ultrasound energy assisted adsorption of nickel(II) ions (Ni²⁺) from aqueous solution. The prepared adsorbent characterized by Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscope (TEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The dependency of adsorption percentage to variables such as pH, initial Ni²⁺ ions concentration, adsorbent mass and ultrasound time were studied with response surface methodology (RSM) by considering the desirable functions. The quadratic model between the dependent and independent variables was built. The proposed method showed good agreement between the experimental data and predictive value, and it has been successfully employed to adsorption of Ni²⁺ ions from aqueous solution. Subsequently, the experimental equilibrium data at different concentration of Ni²⁺ ions and 10mg amount of adsorbent mass was fitted to conventional isotherm models like Langmuir, Freundlich, Tempkin, Dubinin-Radushkevich and it was revealed that the Langmuir is best model for explanation of behavior of experimental data. In addition, conventional kinetic models such as pseudo-first and second-order, Elovich and intraparticle diffusion were applied and it was seen that pseudo-second-order equation is suitable to fit the experimental data.

Extraction and Physicochemical Characterization of Mucilage from Opuntia cochenillifera (L.) Miller

The aim of this study was to extract mucilage from O. cochenillifera (L.) cacti and determine its functional and physicochemical properties. The best mucilage yield (31%) was obtained by nonthermal extraction with hydration. The mucilage has appreciable carbohydrate and protein contents. The phytochemical analysis shown the presence of alkaloids and terpenes/steroids. The Fourier transformed infrared (FT-IR) spectrum of the mucilage exhibits typical bands for carbohydrates as O–H, C–H, and –COO−. The mucilage demonstrated water- and oil-holding capacities of 2.78 g water/g dry mucilage and 1.80 g oil/g dry mucilage, respectively, these properties can have a positive effect on the texture of the products when used as a stabilizer. The mildly acidic pH (4.8–5) contributes to its emulsifying capacity. The presence of electrolytes in the mucilage can be of great value in flocculation processes. The mucilage forms low viscosity solutions in the same manner as gum Arabic. Finally, its potential for use as a textile dye remover was evaluated, achieving a 70% removal rate from aqueous solutions. The prepared mucilage exhibits properties that recommend it as a natural material that can be used as an additive in the chemical, food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics industries, as well as in decontamination processes.