Methods of Isolation of Active Substances from Garlic (Allium sativum L.) and Its Impact on the Composition and Biological Properties of Garlic Extracts

Enhancing tomato shelf life using isolated cellulose fibers from Asian Palmyra palm coated with garlic oil

In this study, garlic-oil-combined cellulose fibers were prepared by using Borassus flabellifer (Asian Palmyra palm) to enhance the post-harvest shelf life of tomatoes. The physicochemical properties of the prepared cellulose fibers were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The B. flabellifer cellulose fibers combined with garlic oil (BCF/GO) coatings exhibited significant antifungal properties against Aspergillus flavus. In addition, the BCF/GO coating resulted in a notable extension in the shelf life of tomatoes regarding parameters such as weight loss, firmness, pH, ascorbic acid content, lycopene level, moisture content, and titratable acidity after 25 days of storage at 25-29 °C with 85 % relative humidity. The synergistic combination of BCF and GO presents a natural and sustainable solution for extending the shelf life of tomatoes with the potential to significantly reduce post-harvest losses in the food industry.

Optimization of Extraction Conditions for Biological Attributes of Newly Developed NARC-G1 Garlic Using Response Surface Methodology and Its GC-MS Characterization

The present paper is a comprehensive study on the optimization of ultrasonic assisted extraction and characterization of valued components from the newly developed garlic cultivar NARC-G1. The response surface methodology was employed to optimize the extraction time, solvent-to-solid ratio and extraction temperature, for optimal total phenolic contents (TPC), DPPH radical scavenging activity, α-amylase inhibition, and α-glucosidase inhibition. Under the optimized conditions (23 min extraction time, 60 °C temperature, and 39 : 1 solvent-to-solute ratio) the optimal TPC (13.76 mg GAE/g), DPPH radical scavenging activity (62.76 %), α-amylase inhibition (71.43 %), and α-glucosidase inhibition (79.43 %) were obtained. Significant correlations were observed between actual values and predicted values for the selected responses. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), revealed 26 high-value bioactives, with diallyl disulphide being the most abundant (16.22 %), followed by 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl, 4H-pyran-4-one and 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural. Additionally, in silico investigation indicated that stigmasterol, arbutin, squalene, α-tocopherol and linoleic acid were responsible for antihyperglycemic potential. Moreover, antimicrobial activity revealed that S. mutans (19.25±1.98 mm) and L. monocytogenes (19.34±2.04 mm) were the most sensitive, while P. aeruginosa was the least sensitive bacterial strains against the optimized NARC-G1 garlic extract. This research effectively explains the optimal recovery of high-valued components from NARC-G1 and may contribute to nutra-pharmaceutical and functional food developments.

Chitosan based ethanolicAllium Sativumextract hydrogel film: a novel skin tissue regeneration platform for 2nd degree burn wound healing

This study investigated the potential of ethanolic garlic extract-loaded chitosan hydrogel film for burn wound healing in an animal model. The ethanolic garlic extract was prepared by macerating fresh ground garlic cloves in ethanol for 24 h, followed by filtration and concentration using a rotary evaporator. Hydrogels were then prepared by casting a chitosan solution with garlic extract added at varying concentrations for optimization and, following drying, subjected to various characterization tests, including moisture adsorption (MA), water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), and water vapor permeability rate (WVPR), erosion, swelling, tensile strength, vibrational, and thermal analysis, and surface morphology. The optimized hydrogel (G2) was then analyzedin vivofor its potential for healing 2nd degree burn wounds in rats, and histological examination of skin samples on day 14 of the healing period. Results showed optimized hydrogel (G2; chitosan: 2 g, garlic extract: 1 g) had MA of 56.8% ± 2.7%, WVTR and WVPR of 0.00074 ± 0.0002, and 0.000 498 946 ± 0.0001, eroded up to 11.3% ± 0.05%, 80.7% ± 0.04% of swelling index, and tensile strength of 16.6 ± 0.9 MPa, which could be attributed to the formation of additional linkages between formulation ingredients and garlic extract constituents at OH/NH and C=O, translating into an increase in transition melting temperature and enthalpy (ΔT= 238.83 °C ± 1.2 °C, ΔH= 4.95 ± 0.8 J g-1) of the chitosan moieties compared with blank. Animal testing revealed G2 formulation significantly reduced the wound size within 14 d of the experiment (37.3 ± 6.8-187.5 ± 21.5 mm2) and had significantly higher reepithelization (86.3 ± 6.8-26.8 ± 21.5 and 38.2% ± 15.3%) compared to untreated and blank groups by hastening uniform and compact deposition of collagen fibers at the wound site, cementing developed formulation a promising platform for skin regeneration.

Health-promoting properties of bioactive proteins and peptides of garlic (Allium sativum)

Garlic is a popular food spice with diverse and well-established medicinal properties. Many research interests have been directed toward the biological activities of the phytochemical constituents of garlic. However, prospects of its bioactive proteins and peptides have been understudied to date. With the advances in food proteomics/peptide research, a review of studies on garlic bioactive proteins and peptides, especially on their nature, extraction, and biological activities, is timely. Garlic has been reported to express several proteins, endogenous and protein-derived peptides with interesting bioactivities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-proliferative, antiviral, anti-hypertensive and immunomodulatory activities, suggesting their therapeutic and pharmacological potentials. Compared to legumes, the low protein contents of garlic bulbs and their low stability are possible limitations that would hinder future applications. We suggest adopting heterologous expression systems for peptide overproduction and stability enhancement. Therefore, we recommend increased scientific interest in the bioactive peptides of garlic and other spice plants.

Mango Peels as an Industrial By-Product: A Sustainable Source of Compounds with Antioxidant, Enzymatic, and Antimicrobial Activity

Plant waste materials are important sources of bioactive compounds with remarkable health-promoting benefits. In particular, industrial by-products such as mango peels are sustainable sources of bioactive substances, with antioxidant, enzymatic, and antimicrobial activity. Appropriate processing is essential to obtain highly bioactive compounds for further use in generating value-added products for the food industry. The objective of the study was to investigate and compare the biological activity of compounds from fresh and dried mango peels obtained by different conventional methods and unconventional extraction methods using supercritical fluids (SFE). The highest total phenolic content (25.0 mg GAE/g DW) and the total content of eight phenolic compounds (829.92 µg/g DW) determined by LC-MS/MS were detected in dried mango peel extract obtained by the Soxhlet process (SE). SFE gave the highest content of proanthocyanidins (0.4 mg PAC/g DW). The ethanolic ultrasonic process (UAE) provided the highest antioxidant activity of the product (82.4%) using DPPH radical scavenging activity and total protein content (2.95 mg protein/g DW). Overall, the dried mango peels were richer in bioactive compounds (caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, catechin, and hesperidin/neohesperidin), indicating successful preservation during air drying. Furthermore, outstanding polyphenol oxidase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and lipase activities were detected in mango peel extracts. This is the first study in which remarkable antibacterial activities against the growth of Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus) were evaluated by determining the microbial growth inhibition rate after 12 and 24 h incubation periods for mango peel extracts obtained by different methods. Ethanolic SE and UAE extracts from dried mango peels resulted in the lowest minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC90) for all bacterial species tested. Mango peels are remarkable waste products that could contribute to the sustainable development of exceptional products with high-added value for various applications, especially as dietary supplements.

The utilization of natural eco-benign sources for sustainable management to preserve hides and docking analysis of identified potential phytochemicals

The industrial leather sector is one of the most ancient industries globally and continues to influence the global economic system in contemporary times significantly. Regardless of income, the leather sector is widely recognized as a significant environmentally detrimental sector because of the utilization of materials involved in preserving and processing leather. Raw hides, the primary ingredient in the leather industry, are highly susceptible to microbial attack once they have been flayed from animals. The current review provides information about the diverse operational processes employed in the beam house to produce leather goods. This paper primarily focuses on the preservation of various types of hides, including those derived from goats, cows, sheeps, deers, pigs, and other species, with particular emphasis on bio-based preservation methods. It also discusses various salt and salt-free curing methods along with their limitations. Furthermore, it reviews a viable and economically advantageous option for preserving animal hides using plant and microbial sources. Moreover, it focuses on investigating the molecular docking interactions between three critical enzymes in the phytochemical synthesis pathway, namely phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, phosphomevalonate kinase, and dihydroflavonol 4-reductase, and a set of specific modulators, followed by ADMET analyses. The objective was to determine the optimal binding affinity score for these enzyme-modulator complexes through virtual screening. The depiction of protein-ligand interactions offers potential benefits for future research endeavours, as well as valuable insights into the identification of modulators and the evaluation of the potency and efficacy of phytochemicals in the preservation of hides.

Simultaneous microwave-assisted extraction of bioactive compounds from aged garlic

In this work, the simultaneous extraction of bioactives (organosulfur compounds, such as S-allyl-L-cysteine (SAC), carbohydrates, such as neokestose and neonystose, and total phenolic compounds) from aged garlic has been optimized for the first time to obtain multifunctional extracts for further application as food ingredients. Analytical methods using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) and by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography with evaporative light scattering detection (HILIC-ELSD) were also previously optimized. High sensitivity (limits of detection between 0.013 and 0.77 µg mL^-1) and appropriate repeatability (< 12%) and accuracy (> 92%) for the analysis of bioactives were achieved. After selecting water as the extraction solvent and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) as the most efficient technique, operation conditions were optimized using a Box-Behnken experimental design (60 min; 120 °C; 0.05 g mL^-1; 1 cycle) to maximize the content of bioactives from different aged garlic samples. Regarding organosulfur compounds, only SAC (traces-2.32 mg g^-1 dry sample) and cycloalliin (1.23-3.01 mg g^-1 dry sample) were detected in all samples, while amino acids such as arginine (0.24-3.45 mg g^-1 dry sample) and proline (0.43-3.91 mg g^-1 dry sample) were, in general, the most abundant. Bioactive carbohydrates (from trisaccharides to nonasaccharides) were only detected in fresh garlic and aged garlic processed under mild conditions, whereas all garlic extracts showed antioxidant activity. The developed MAE methodology is shown as a successful alternative to other procedures for the simultaneous extraction of aged garlic bioactives intended by the food and nutraceutical industries, among others.

Phytochemical Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity of Several Allium Extracts

Microbial infections affect both the human population and animals. The appearance of more and more microbial strains resistant to classical treatments led to the need to develop new treatments. Allium plants are known for their antimicrobial properties due to their high content of thiosulfinates, especially allicin, polyphenols or flavonoids. The hydroalcoholic extracts of six Allium species obtained by cold percolation were analyzed regarding their phytochemical compounds and antimicrobial activity. Among the six extracts, Allium sativum L. and Allium ursinum L. have similar contents of thiosulfinates (approx. 300 μg allicin equivalents/g), and the contents of polyphenols and flavonoids were different between the tested species. The HPLC-DAD method was used to detail the phytochemical composition of species rich in thiosulfinates. A. sativum is richer in allicin (280 μg/g) than A. ursinum (130 μg/g). The antimicrobial activity of A. sativum and A. ursinum extracts against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis can be correlated with the presence of large amounts of thiosulfinates. Both extracts have shown results against Candida species (inhibition zones of 20-35 mm) and against Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus (inhibition zones of 15-25 mm). These results demonstrate the antimicrobial effect of the extracts and suggest their use as an adjuvant treatment for microbial infections.

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) in diabetes and its complications: Recent advances in mechanisms of action

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease characterized by chronic hyperglycemia and impaired islet secretion that places a heavy burden on the global health care system due to its high incidence rate, long disease course and many complications. Fortunately, garlic (Allium sativum L.), a well-known medicinal plant and functional food without the toxicity and side effects of conventional drugs, has shown positive effects in the treatment of diabetes and its complications. With interdisciplinary development and in-depth exploration, we offer a clear and comprehensive summary of the research from the past ten years, focusing on the mechanisms and development processes of garlic in the treatment of diabetes and its complications, aiming to provide a new perspective for the treatment of diabetes and promote the efficient development of this field.

Characterization and Valorization of 'Sulmona Red Garlic' Peels and Small Bulbs

'Sulmona red garlic' is an Italian variety characterized by a red tunica surrounding a white bulb. Red tunicae and non-commercial small bulbs are food wastes that must be studied for their added value. Hydroalcoholic extracts, obtained by separated inner and outer tunicae and peeled bulbs of small commercial 'Sulmona red garlic' bulbs, harvested at two different years, were first characterized with respect to their color, polyphenolic content, and antiradical activity. Then, an untargeted metabolic profile by means of electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (ESI FT-ICR) mass spectrometry led to a comparative evaluation of the chemical diversity of six different samples. The study was completed by biological tests aiming to evaluate the associated health potential. Data on monocytes/macrophages showed good biocompatibility and a promising cytoprotective effect under oxidative stress conditions of all the extracts. At a molecular level, all the garlic extracts were able to downregulate the hydrogen peroxide-induced cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression through the modulation of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-ĸB) and peroxynitrite intracellular amounts, at different extents depending on the extract, the cell type, and the concentration. On the whole, data highlight an associated health potential of the extracts of this waste plant material both in terms of cytoprotection and of anti-inflammatory activity.