Structural characterization and immunomodulatory activity of an arabinogalactan from Jasminum sambac (L.) Aiton tea processing waste

An arabinogalactan named JSP-1a was isolated from Jasmine tea processing waste by DEAE Sepharose FF and Sephacryl S-200 HR chromatography. Polysaccharide JSP-1a, with an average molecular weight of 87.5 kDa, was composed of galactose (59.60 %), arabinose (33.89 %), mannose (4.81 %), and rhamnose (1.70 %). JSP-1a was found to be a type II arabinogalactan comprising the main backbone of 1, 6-linked Galp residues, and the side chain containing α-T-Araf, α-1,5-Araf, β-T-Galp, β-1,3-Galp, and β-1,4-Manp residues was attached to the O-3 position of β-1,3,6-Galp residues. Evidence from bioactivity assays indicated that JSP-1a possessed potent immunomodulatory effects on RAW264.7 macrophages: treatment with JSP-1a increased phagocytosis, activated NF-κB p65 translocation, and promoted the production of NO, reactive oxygen species (ROS), the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-6. Furthermore, inhibition of Toll-like receptor 4 caused the suppression of NO release and cytokines secretion, which indicated that TLR-4/NF-κB pathway might play a significant role in JSP-1a-induced macrophages' immune response. The results of this study could provide a theoretical basis of JSP-1a as a safe immunostimulatory functional foods or a treatment for immunological diseases.

Current advances of functional phytochemicals in Nicotiana plant and related potential value of tobacco processing waste: A review

Tobacco is grown in large quantities worldwide as a widely distributed commercial crop. From the harvest of the field to the process into the final product, a series of procedures generate enormous amount of waste materials that are rarely recycled. In recent years, numerous potential bioactive compounds have been isolated from tobacco, and the molecular regulatory mechanisms related to the performance of some functionalities have been identified. This review describes the source of tobacco waste and expounds a large amount of biomass during the tobacco processing, and the necessity of exploring the reuse of tobacco waste. In addition, the review summarizes the bioactive compounds from tobacco that have been discovered so far, and links them to various functions from tobacco extracts, including anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antibacterial, and antioxidant, thus proving the potential value from tobacco waste reuse. In this regard, nornicotine in tobacco is the culprit of many health issues, while the polyphenols and polysaccharides often contribute to the health benefits of tobacco extract. In addition, it is hard to ignore that realization of these functions of tobacco extracts require the involvement of intestinal flora metabolism, which should be considered in the development of new product dosage forms.

Effect of fertilisation with black table olive wastewater solutions on production and quality of tomatoes cultivated under open field conditions

This study was aimed at making progress on the valorisation of table olive wastewater that currently represent a big environmental problem for factories. Concentrates from vacuum evaporation of the wastewater generated during processing of black ripe olives treated with KOH were tested as fertilisers of tomato plants in open field assays for three consecutive crops. Fertilisation was performed by drip irrigation every 15 days; the first treatment being 15 days after transplanting, and a total of five fertilisation treatments were carried out. A phytotoxic effect was not observed on plants or fruit in any case but higher yield (fruit/plant and g/plant) was obtained in comparison to irrigation with only tap water. Moreover, the combined use of the olive concentrate with inorganic nitrogen supply (NH₄NO₃), in order to comply with the nutrient needs of plants, was also tested. The results demonstrated that the olive concentrates could be a good substitute for inorganic potassium (as KNO₃) during the cultivation of tomato plants without any negative effect on the tomato quality (pH, °Brix, sugars, organic acids) or content of bioactive substances (phenolic compounds and carotenoids).

Development of red apple pomace extract/chitosan-based films reinforced by TiO2 nanoparticles as a multifunctional packaging material

A chitosan-based (CS) film was developed with nanosized TiO₂ and red apple pomace extract (APE). The intermolecular interactions of CS, TiO₂ and APE were evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. TiO₂ nanoparticles remarkably improved the water vapor and UV-Vis light barrier properties, mechanical strength and thermal stability of CS-APE films. The strong antioxidant abilities of CS-APE and CS-TiO₂-APE films were characterized. Nano-TiO₂ and APE showed a synergistic enhancement of the antimicrobial activity in CS matrix. The addition of TiO₂ nano-particles into CS-APE films resulted the sensitive color variations, which applied successfully as an indicator to monitor the freshness of salmon fillets. Consequently, the development of CS-APE-TiO₂ film provides a new solution to convert rad apple pomace to an active and multifunctional food packaging material with considerable mechanical, antibacterial, antioxidant and pH-responsive color-changing properties.