Chemical Composition of Lipophilic Compounds From Rice (Oryza sativa) Straw: An Attractive Feedstock for Obtaining Valuable Phytochemicals

Comprehensive Study of Lipophilic Compounds from Various Cereal Straws (Wheat, Triticale, Rye, and Tritordeum)─a Promising Source of Valuable Phytochemicals

The lipid compositions of wheat, triticale, rye, and tritordeum straws were thoroughly analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The major lipophilic compounds identified included n-fatty acids (1185-3538 mg/kg), β-diketones (891-2043 mg/kg), steroid compounds (1358-1954 mg/kg), high molecular-weight esters (444-1560 mg/kg), and n-fatty alcohols (402-1825 mg/kg). Additionally, smaller amounts of n-alkanes (140-574 mg/kg), phytol and phytyl esters (106-358 mg/kg), 2-hydroxyfatty acids (77-155 mg/kg), acylglycerides (41-277 mg/kg), tocopherols and tocopheryl esters (21-67 mg/kg), and n-aldehydes (10-23 mg/kg) were detected. The abundance and wide diversity of lipophilic compounds present in these agricultural residues highlight their great potential as a rich source of valuable phytochemicals for various industrial applications, positioning cereal straws as highly attractive feedstocks in the context of the lignocellulosic biorefinery.

Nutraceutical potential of Mediterranean agri-food waste and wild plants: Green extraction and bioactive characterization

The agricultural waste and wild plants of the Mediterranean region offer significant nutraceutical potential, rich in bioactive compounds such as phenolics, carotenoids, lipids and volatile organic compounds. These compounds exhibit health-promoting properties, including antioxidant, neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects. Advanced analytical techniques such as HPLC, GC-MS and NMR are essential for the accurate chemical characterization of these bioactives. Green extraction methods, including ultrasound-assisted, enzyme-assisted and cold plasma-assisted extractions, provide efficient and environmentally friendly alternatives to classical techniques for the isolation of bioactive compounds. The valorization of Mediterranean agricultural by-products, such as olive pomace, grape seeds, and citrus peels, exemplifies sustainable approaches to the utilization of these underutilized resources. This chapter explores the bioactive characterization and green extraction methods that contribute to unlocking the nutraceutical potential of Mediterranean plant waste and wild plants, highlighting their role in the development of functional foods and natural health products.

Seasonal Variability of Lipophilic Compounds in Oat (Avena sativa L.) Straw: A Comprehensive Chemical Study

Oat straw, a residue of Avena sativa L., is recognized for its abundance in cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin. However, its potential as a source of lipophilic compounds within the framework of a biorefinery concept still remains unexplored. In this study, we conducted an extensive investigation into the content and chemical composition of the lipophilic compounds present in acetone extracts from oat straws of two distinct oat varieties, namely, Karen and Isaura. Furthermore, we examined their seasonal variability in content and composition in straw samples from oats planted in both spring and winter seasons. The extracted lipophilic compounds were predominantly composed of high molecular weight esters (26.0-38.1%), steroids (16.6-24.0%), n-fatty alcohols (10.9-20.7%), n-fatty acids (10.9-16.0%), and n-aldehydes (10.7-15.8%), with lower amounts of n-alkanes (1.1-3.0%), acylglycerides (2.3-3.8%), phytol and phytyl esters (0.6-2.9%), β-diketones (0.1-2.5%), triterpenoids (0.9-1.2%), tocopherols and tocopheryl esters (0.2-0.7%), 2-hydroxy fatty acids (0.1-0.2%), and n-alkylresorcinols (0.1%). Notably, these different classes of compounds exhibited variations in their contents depending on the oat variety and the specific planting season. Of particular interest was the Karen variety, which presented significant amounts of high molecular weight esters, free fatty acids, and acylglycerols, especially when it was cultivated during the winter season. These findings underline the potential of oat straw as a valuable resource for lipid extraction within a biorefinery context and emphasize the importance of selecting the appropriate variety and season for optimal lipid yield.

Sustainable waste management: a comprehensive life cycle assessment of bioethanol production from agricultural and municipal waste

Biofuels have emerged as a promising and eco-friendly alternative to conventional fossil fuels. Biofuel sourced from rice straw (RS) and municipal solid waste (MSW), which are abundant residues from agricultural and municipal activities, present a sustainable solution to address waste management challenges. Utilizing life cycle assessment, this study quantifies the environmental advantages by assessing the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, and other environmental impacts linked with employing these waste materials for biofuel production. Employing a cradle-to-gate approach as the system boundary for bioethanol production, with the functional unit set as per liter of bioethanol produced, the analysis reveals that the global warming potential (GWP) for ethanol from MSW is 4.4 kg CO2 eq., whereas for RS, it is 2.1 kg CO2 eq. per functional unit. The total environmental impacts were primarily due to enzymatic hydrolysis and electricity consumption for ethanol production from MSW and RS. Despite advancements, fossil fuel consumption remains a potential energy source for biofuel production. The cumulative energy demand stands at 18.6 MJ for RS and 71.5 MJ for MSW per functional unit, underscoring the potential to significantly reduce overall impacts by transitioning to a more environmentally sustainable energy source. The uncertainty analysis acknowledges the inherent uncertainties associated with data, assumptions, and methodologies, highlighting the crucial need for ongoing research and updates to enhance the accuracy of future assessments. This analysis forms the foundation for well-informed decision-making, providing valuable insights for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and consumers.

Role of epigenetics in the regulation of skin aging and geroprotective intervention: A new sight

Multiple epigenetic factors play a regulatory role in maintaining the homeostasis of cutaneous components and are implicated in the aging process of the skin. They have been associated with the activation of the senescence program, which is the primary contributor to age-related decline in the skin. Senescent species drive a series of interconnected processes that impact the immediate surroundings, leading to structural changes, diminished functionality, and heightened vulnerability to infections. Geroprotective medicines that may restore the epigenetic balance represent valid therapeutic alliances against skin aging. Most of them are well-known Western medications such as metformin, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), rapamycin, and histone deacetylase inhibitors, while others belong to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) remedies for which the scientific literature provides limited information. With the help of the Geroprotectors.org database and a comprehensive analysis of the referenced literature, we have compiled data on compounds and formulae that have shown potential in preventing skin aging and have been identified as epigenetic modulators.

Validation, dissipation kinetics and monitoring of flonicamid and dinotefuran residues in paddy grain, straw, its processed produces and bran oil using LC-MS/MS

Flonicamid and dinotefuran are highly effective insecticides in paddy but residue persistence in crop and transmission into food and feed is unknown. This study aimed to examine initial deposits and dissipation kinetics of flonicamid and dinotefuran in paddy matrices and processed products including bran oil. The method was validated following acetonitrile extraction, dispersive solid phase clean-up and finally determination using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry. Recoveries ranged from 76.6 to 109.7 percent for the paddy matrices tested. In a field experiment, flonicamid and dinotefuran were applied to paddy crops to study dissipation patterns. The half-lives of flonicamid and dinotefuran residues in paddy ranged from 2.0 to 3.0 days. However, at harvest time paddy grain and straw samples were found free from residues. Monitoring of residues in farm gate and market samples revealed that paddy products were not contaminated with flonicamid or dinotefuran residues.

Improved bioenergy value of residual rice straw by increased lipid levels from upregulation of fatty acid biosynthesis

BACKGROUND

Rice (Oryza sativa) straw is a common waste product that represents a considerable amount of bound energy. This energy can be used for biogas production, but the rate and level of methane produced from rice straw is still low. To investigate the potential for an increased biogas production from rice straw, we have here utilized WRINKLED1 (WRI1), a plant AP2/ERF transcription factor, to increase triacylglycerol (TAG) biosynthesis in rice plants. Two forms of Arabidopsis thaliana WRI1 were evaluated by transient expression and stable transformation of rice plants, and transgenic plants were analyzed both for TAG levels and biogas production from straw.

RESULTS

Both full-length AtWRI1, and a truncated form lacking the initial 141 amino acids (including the N-terminal AP2 domain), increased fatty acid and TAG levels in vegetative and reproductive tissues of Indica rice. The stimulatory effect of the truncated AtWRI1 was significantly lower than that of the full-length protein, suggesting a role for the deleted AP2 domain in WRI1 activity. Full-length AtWRI1 increased TAG levels also in Japonica rice, indicating a conserved effect of WRI1 in rice lipid biosynthesis. The bio-methane production from rice straw was 20% higher in transformants than in the wild type. Moreover, a higher producing rate and final yield of methane was obtained for rice straw compared with rice husks, suggesting positive links between methane production and a high amount of fatty acids.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that heterologous WRI1 expression in transgenic plants can be used to improve the metabolic potential for bioenergy purposes, in particular methane production.

Dynamic variation of bacterial community assemblage and functional profiles during rice straw degradation

Bacteria is one of the most important drivers of straw degradation. However, the changes in bacterial community assemblage and straw-decomposing profiles during straw decomposition are not well understood. Based on cultivation-dependent and independent technologies, this study revealed that the "common species" greatly contributed to the dynamic variation of bacterial community during straw decomposition. Twenty-three functional strains involved in straw decomposition were isolated, but only seven were detected in the high-throughput sequencing data. The straw decomposers, including the isolated strains and the agents determined by functional prediction, constituted only 0.024% (on average) of the total bacterial community. The ecological network showed that most of the identified decomposers were self-existent without associations with other species. These results showed that during straw composition, community assembly might be greatly determined by the majority, but straw decomposition functions might be largely determined by the minority and emphasized the importance of the rare species in community-specific functions.

Chemical composition of the lipophilic compounds from the rind and pith of papyrus (Cyperus papyrus L.) stems

Papyrus (Cyperus papyrus L.) is a sedge plant with a high rate of biomass productivity that represents an interesting raw material to produce chemicals, materials and fuels, which are currently still obtained from fossil resources, in the context of a lignocellulosic biorefinery. In this work, the content and chemical composition of the lipids present in papyrus stems were thoroughly studied. For this, the papyrus stems were separated into the rind and the pith. The lipid content accounted for 4.1% in the rind and 4.9% in the pith (based on dry matter). The main compounds identified in both parts of the papyrus stem were hydrocarbons, n-fatty acids, 2-hydroxyfatty acids, alcohols, alkylamides, mono- and diglycerides, steroids (sterols, ketones, hydrocarbons, esters and glycosides), tocopherols, tocopherol esters, phytol, phytol esters, alkyl ferulates, ω-carboxyalkyl ferulates (and their monoglycerides), and acylglycerol glycosides. The rind presented a predominance of n-fatty acids (6790 mg/kg; that represented 28.6% of all identified compounds), steroid compounds (6255 mg/kg; 26.3%), phytol and phytol esters (4985 mg/kg; 21.0%), and isoprenoid hydrocarbons, namely phytadiene and squalene (2660 mg/kg; 11.2%), while the most abundant lipids in the pith were steroids (8600 mg/kg; 44.4% of all identified compounds) and fatty acids (6245 mg/kg; 32.2%). Due to the great diversity and significant abundance of the compounds identified in papyrus, it can be considered as a potential raw material for biorefineries to obtain valuable phytochemicals of interest to various industrial sectors.