Sub-chronic toxicity study of green peas protein hydrolysate in rats

A comprehensive review of effects of ultrasound pretreatment on processing technologies for food allergens: Allergenicity, nutritional value, and technofunctional properties and safety assessment

Many proteins are essential food components but also major allergens. Reducing protein allergenicity while preserving its nutritional value and technofunctional properties has always been the goal of the food industry. Ultrasound (US) is a green processing method for modifying proteins. In addition, US pretreatment combined with other processing techniques (USPCT) has been increasingly used in the food industry. Therefore, this review presents an overview of recent advances in the impact of US and USPCT (US-combined enzymatic hydrolysis [USCE], US-combined glycation [USCG], and US-combined polyphenol conjugation [USCP]) on the allergenicity, nutritional value, and technofunctional properties of food allergens. We discuss the potential mechanisms, advantages, and limitations of these technologies for improving the properties of proteins and analyze their safety, challenges, and corresponding solutions. It was found that USPCT can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of different methods, which in turn can be more effective in reducing protein allergenicity and improving the nutritional value and functional properties of processed products. Future research should start with new processing methods, optimization of process conditions, industrial production, and the use of new research techniques to promote technical progress. This paper is expected to provide reference for the development of high-quality hypoallergenic protein raw materials.

Brazilin cream from Caesalpinia sappan inhibit periodontal disease: in vivo study

Background

Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums that is the initial cause of the development of periodontal disease by the activity of Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-κB), Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), p38, and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α). Unaddressed chronic inflammation can lead to persistent disturbances in other parts of the body. Brazilin is a naturally occurring plant chemical that may have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. Treatment based on the natural plant compound, brazilin, is developed in the form of a topical cream for easy application.

Objective

The aim is to develop the natural compound brazilin in the form of a topical cream as an anti-inflammatory agent to reduce NF-κB expression through Imunohistochemistry (IHC) methods, and the expression of pro-inflammatory genes IL-1β, IL-6, p38, and TNF-α.

Methods

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were induced with gingivitis using P. gingivalis bacteria. The observed groups included rats treated with a single application of brazilin cream and rats treated with two applications of brazilin cream. The treatment was administered for 15 days. On days 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15, anatomical wound observations and wound histology using hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's Trichrome staining were performed. NF-κB protein expression was analyzed using the IHC method. Gingival inflammation gene expression of NF-κB, IL-1β, IL-6, p38, and TNF-α was measured using q-RTPCR.

Results

Single and double applications of brazilin cream increased angiogenesis and decreased NF-κB protein expression, in addition to the IL-1β, IL-6, p38, and TNF-α gene expressions.

Conclusion

In a rat gingivitis model, Brazilin cream may function as an anti-inflammatory agent in the gingival tissue.

Peptides with biological and technofunctional properties produced by bromelain hydrolysis of proteins from different sources: A review

Bromelains are cysteine peptidases with endopeptidase action (a subfamily of papains), obtained from different parts of vegetable belonging to the Bromeliaceae family. They have some intrinsic medical activity, but this review is focused on their application (individually or mixed with other proteases) to produce bioactive peptides. When compared to other proteases, perhaps due to the fact that they are commercialized as an extract containing several proteases, the hydrolysates produced by this enzyme tends to have higher bioactivities than other common proteases. The peptides and the intensity of their final properties depend on the substrate protein and reaction conditions, being the degree of hydrolysis a determining parameter (but not always positive or negative). The produced peptides may have diverse activities such as antioxidant, antitumoral, antihypertensive or antimicrobial ones, among others or they may be utilized to improve the organoleptic properties of foods and feeds. Evolution of the use of this enzyme in this application is proposed to be based on a more intense direct application of Bromeliaceae extract, without the cost associated to enzyme purification, and the use of immobilized biocatalysts of the enzyme by simplifying the enzyme recovery and reuse, and also making the sequential hydrolysis using diverse proteases possible.

Nano Delivery Chitosan-Protein/Hydrolysate of Green Peas Bromelain (PHGPB) Synthesized by Colloidal-Spray Drying Method

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) suffer persistent decreased kidney function. Previous study of protein hydrolysate of green pea (Pisum sativum) bromelain (PHGPB) has shown promising results as an antifibrotic in glucose-induced renal mesangial culture cells, by decreasing their TGF-β levels. To be effective, protein derived from PHGPB must provide adequate protein intake and reach the target organs. This paper presents a drug delivery system for the formulation of PHGPB using chitosan as polymeric nanoparticles. A PHGPB nano delivery system was synthesized by precipitation with fixed chitosan 0.1 wt.%, followed by a spray drying process at different aerosol flow rates of 1, 3, and 5 L/min. FTIR results showed that the PHGPB was entrapped in the chitosan polymer particles. Homogeneous size and spherical morphology of NDs were obtained for the chitosan-PHGPB with a flow rate of 1 L/min. Our in vivo study showed that the highest entrapment efficiency, solubility, and sustained release were achieved by the delivery system method at 1 L/min. It was concluded that the chitosan-PHGPB delivery system developed in this study improves pharmacokinetics compared to pure PHGPB.

In vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg (seedless breadfruit) fruit pulp protein hydrolysates

Protein hydrolysates from dietary sources possess many physiological and biological properties. Artocarpus altilis is an evergreen multipurpose plant with many benefits. Therefore, this study evaluates in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of A. altilis protein hydrolysates. Protein was isolated from A. altilis and hydrolysed with pepsin and trypsin separately using different enzyme: substrate ratios (1:8, 1:16, 1:32). Antioxidant properties investigated included Fe²⁺-chelating, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging activities. Anti-inflammatory activities were determined using effects on hypotonic solution-induced cell lysis on red blood cell membrane stabilisation and heat-induced protein denaturation. The degree of hydrolysis of trypsin hydrolysate increased with increasing enzyme-substrate ratio, while pepsin hydrolysate decreased as the enzyme-substrate ratio increased. The dominant amino acids in A. altilis protein and hydrolysates were glutamate, aspartate and leucine. Protein hydrolysates obtained from pepsin and trypsin digestion had DPPH scavenging abilities of 43.0 ± 0.01% and 22.2 ± 0.01%, respectively. However, trypsin-hydrolysed protein had a high Fe²⁺-chelating ability, while pepsin-hydrolysed protein had high hydrogen peroxide scavenging ability. Trypsin-hydrolysed protein showed good membrane stability and inhibition of protein denaturation. The results indicated that A. altilis protein hydrolysates possess significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and can further lend support to food industries as functional foods.

Acute and sub-chronic toxicity study of Rang Chuet (Thunbergia laurifolia Lindl.) extracts and its antioxidant activities

Rang Chuet (Thunbergia laurifolia Lindl.) is a Thai medicinal plant with pharmacological properties: it can be used as an antidote, for decreasing body temperature and it is addictive. This study investigated total phenolic contents and antioxidant activities of Rang Chuet extracts, and its acute and sub-chronic toxicities of Rang Chuet extracts. To investigate the acute toxicity of Rang Chuet, male and female Wistar rats were orally gavaged with a single dose of 2000 and 15,000 mg/kg body weight of Rang Chuet leaf extracts prepared by three different extraction solvents, namely water, ethanol, and acetone. The Rang Chuet water extract showed the highest total phenolic contents at 2643 ± 195.05 mg GAE/100 g while the Rang Chuet acetone extract showed the lowest IC50 at 52.91 mg/ml by DPPH assay. The sub-chronic toxicity study was performed using Wistar rats of both sexes which were gavaged with ethanol and water Rang Chuet extracts for 90 days. Rats were gavaged with the equivalent dose of Rang Chuet in a typical consumer drink (to be taken 3 times a day, at dose 1460 mg/kg/day for water extract and 1025 mg/kg/day for ethanol extract), 3000 and 5000 mg/kg. The satellite group was given the same dose of both extracts for 90 days and observed thereafter for 14 days in order to study the reversibility of the adverse effects. The results revealed that none of the Rang Chuet extracts altered the general behavior or mortality or changes in the gross morphology and any histology of the rats' visceral organs. For sub-chronic toxicity, the result showed that the treatment of ethanol and water Rang Chuet extracts had no significant effect on average body weight, relative organ weights, histopathology of organs, clinical biochemistry, hematological parameters or liver enzymes. This analysis of by-products of a lipid peroxidation study suggested a trend of decreasing malondialdehyde levels in most of the Rang Chuet treated groups. In conclusion, the safety value of Rang Chuet water extract and Rang Chuet ethanol extract in rats is 50 mg/kg body weight which indicate safe dose of Rang Chuet dried powder is 10.27 g/60 kg body weight per day.