New Sources of Pectin: Extraction, Processing, and Industrial Applications

One of the most important polysaccharides in the vegetal kingdom is pectin. This class of natural polysaccharide is found primarily in citrus fruits and apple pomace. Pectin has been used in different sectors of the industry, among which the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and paper industries stand out. Today, there is a growing demand for this type of hydrocolloid, where both the scientific and industrial fields have focused on using new sources of pectin and developing novel extraction methods. This chapter describes the chemical structure of pectin and its main chemical characteristics. Then, the conventional sources from which pectin is obtained are exposed as well as its main industrial applications. Subsequently, the physicochemical and functional properties of pectins obtained from unconventional sources are described and analyzed as well as the main technologies used for their extraction. Finally, the most recent advances in the role played by pectin in the industrial sector are described

Gestión del conocimiento. Perspectiva multidisciplinaria. Volumen 17

El libro “Gestión del Conocimiento. Perspectiva Multidisciplinaria”, Volumen 17 de la Colección Unión Global, es resultado de investigaciones. Los capítulos del libro, son resultados de investigaciones desarrolladas por sus autores. El libro es una publicación internacional, seriada, continua, arbitrada, de acceso abierto a todas las áreas del conocimiento, orientada a contribuir con procesos de gestión del conocimiento científico, tecnológico y humanístico. Con esta colección, se aspira contribuir con el cultivo, la comprensión, la recopilación y la apropiación social del conocimiento en cuanto a patrimonio intangible de la humanidad, con el propósito de hacer aportes con la transformación de las relaciones socioculturales que sustentan la construcción social de los saberes y su reconocimiento como bien público

TA Instruments -Applications Note Thermodynamics of Micelle Formation

Abstract Micelles are organized molecular assemblies of surfactants. In aqueous solution, the hydrophilic head of the surfactant is in contact with solvent, and the hydrophobic tail is sequestered within the center of the micelle. Micelles are usually spherical in shape, and can be cationic, anionic, ampholitic (zwitterionic), or nonionic depending on the chemical structure of the surfactant. Knowledge of the micellar phases of naturally occurring molecules or drugs is essential for determining how they may influence biological events. Mixed micelle formations that include amphipathic drug molecules, may result in decreased biological activity, and hence decreased therapeutic response. The propensity of drug molecules to aggregate is of great biological importance, and identifying the chemical details of the aggregation process could enhance control of micelle-encapsulated drugs. Enthalpies of micelle formation and critical micelle concentration were determined with isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) for two model micelle systems, sodiumdodecylsulphate (SDS) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)

Optimización del secado por aspersión de mucílago de pitahaya (hylocereus undatus)

Instituto Politécnico Nacional CIIDIR Unidad Oaxac

Cross-Linking Chitosan into Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose for the Preparation of Neem Oil Coating for Postharvest Storage of Pitaya (Stenocereus pruinosus)

The market trend for pitaya is increasing, although the preservation of the quality of this fruit after the harvest is challenging due to microbial decay, dehydration, and oxidation. In this work, the application of antimicrobial chitosan-based coatings achieved successful postharvest preservation of pitaya (Stenocereus pruinosus) during storage at 10 ± 2 °C with a relative humidity of 80 ± 5%. The solution of cross-linked chitosan with hydroxypropylmethylcellulose with entrapped Neem oil (16 g·L−1) displayed the best postharvest fruit characteristics. The reduction of physiological weight loss and fungal contamination, with an increased redness index and release of azadirachtin from the microencapsulated oil, resulted in up to a 15 day shelf life for this fruit. This postharvest procedure has the potential to increase commercial exploitation of fresh pitaya, owing to its good taste and high content of antioxidants

Engineering Considerations to Produce Bioactive Compounds from Plant Cell Suspension Culture in Bioreactors

The large-scale production of plant-derived secondary metabolites (PDSM) in bioreactors to meet the increasing demand for bioactive compounds for the treatment and prevention of degenerative diseases is nowadays considered an engineering challenge due to the large number of operational factors that need to be considered during their design and scale-up. The plant cell suspension culture (CSC) has presented numerous benefits over other technologies, such as the conventional whole-plant extraction, not only for avoiding the overexploitation of plant species, but also for achieving better yields and having excellent scaling-up attributes. The selection of the bioreactor configuration depends on intrinsic cell culture properties and engineering considerations related to the effect of operating conditions on thermodynamics, kinetics, and transport phenomena, which together are essential for accomplishing the large-scale production of PDSM. To this end, this review, firstly, provides a comprehensive appraisement of PDSM, essentially those with demonstrated importance and utilization in pharmaceutical industries. Then, special attention is given to PDSM obtained out of CSC. Finally, engineering aspects related to the bioreactor configuration for CSC stating the effect of the operating conditions on kinetics and transport phenomena and, hence, on the cell viability and production of PDSM are presented accordingly. The engineering analysis of the reviewed bioreactor configurations for CSC will pave the way for future research focused on their scaling up, to produce high value-added PDSM

Obtaining 2,3-Dihydrobenzofuran and 3-Epilupeol from <i>Ageratina pichinchensis</i> (Kunth) R.King & Ho.Rob. Cell Cultures Grown in Shake Flasks under Photoperiod and Darkness, and Its Scale-Up to an Airlift Bioreactor for Enhanced Production

Ageratina pichinchensis (Kunth) R.King & Ho.Rob. is a plant used in traditional Mexican medicine, and some biotechnological studies have shown that its calluses and cell suspension cultures can produce important anti-inflammatory compounds. In this study, we established a cell culture of A. pichinchensis in a 2 L airlift bioreactor and evaluated the production of the anti-inflammatory compounds 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran (1) and 3-epilupeol (2). The maximum biomass production (11.90 ± 2.48 g/L) was reached at 11 days of culture and cell viability was between 80% and 90%. Among kinetic parameters, the specific growth rate (µ) was 0.2216 days−1 and doubling time (td) was 3.13 days. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of extracts showed the maximum production of compound 1 (903.02 ± 41.06 µg/g extract) and compound 2 (561.63 ± 10.63 µg/g extract) at 7 and 14 days, respectively. This study stands out for the significant production of 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran and 3-epilupeol and by the significant reduction in production time compared to callus and cell suspension cultures, previously reported. To date, these compounds have not been found in the wild plant, i.e., its production has only been reported in cell cultures of A. pichinchensis. Therefore, plant cell cultured in an airlift reactor can be an alternative for the improved production of these anti-inflammatory compounds

Histoquímica, contenido de fenoles totales y actividad antioxidante de hoja y de madera de Litsea glaucescens Kunth (Lauraceae)

Litsea glaucescens is widely distributed in Mexico, its main uses are focused on traditional medicine in the form of teas and medicinal baths to relieve gynecological and stomach disorders. This therapeutic property is attributed to the presence of phenolic compounds through the plant body. In the present study, histochemical techniques were used to locate the presence of phenolic compounds like lignin and tannins, as well as lipids and non-structural carbohydrates in sections of leaves and wood and, to quantify total phenolic content and antioxidant activity by means of scavenging DPPH and ABTS free radicals on leaves and wood aqueous (92 °C and 25 °C) and methanolic extracts. Histochemical results show that leaves and wood displayed a considerable amount of phenolic compounds, oils and non-structural carbohydrates. Chemical characterization of leaves aqueous extracts made up at 92 °C displayed higher total phenolic content than those made with methanol. In all cases, the total phenolics were higher in leaves than in wood samples. Sapwood methanolic extracts showed higher antioxidant activity than heartwood, regardless the quantification method used. In agreement with these results, it is possible to establish an interrelationship between the content and distribution of phenolics on vegetal tissues and its antioxidant activity with its potential use for therapeutic end-uses.Litsea glaucescens (laurel) es una especie distribuida ampliamente en México, sus principales usos se centran en la medicina tradicional en forma de infusiones y baños medicinales para el alivio de desórdenes ginecológicos y estomacales. Esta propiedad terapéutica es atribuida a la presencia de compuestos fenólicos en el cuerpo de la planta. En el presente estudio se emplearon técnicas histoquímicas para localizar la presencia de compuestos fenólicos como lignina y taninos, así como lípidos y carbohidratos no estructurales en cortes de hoja y de madera; también se cuantificó el contenido de fenoles totales y la actividad antioxidante de extractos acuosos (92 °C y 25 °C) y metanólicos por los métodos de inhibición de los radicales DPPH y ABTS. Los resultados histoquímicos muestran que tanto las hojas como la madera poseen una concentración importante de compuestos fenólicos, aceites y algunos carbohidratos no estructurales. La caracterización química de los extractos acuosos de la hoja extraídos a 92 °C mostró una mayor concentración de fenoles totales que aquellos extraídos con metanol. En todos los casos, el contenido de fenoles fue mayor en las hojas que en la madera. Los extractos metanólicos obtenidos a partir de la albura mostraron mayor actividad antioxidante que los de duramen, sin importar el método de cuantificación empleado. De acuerdo con los resultados obtenidos, es posible establecer una interrelación entre el contenido y la distribución de los compuestos fenólicos en los tejidos vegetales y su actividad antioxidante con su uso potencial en la medicina tradicional

Effect of Plant Growth Regulators on Different Explants of Artemisia ludoviciana under Photoperiod and Darkness Conditions and Their Influence on Achillin Production

Species of the genus Artemisia mainly biosynthesize sesquiterpene lactones. Achillin is a guaianolide-type sesquiterpene lactone isolated from Artemisia ludoviciana; it has shown antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. In addition, achillin exhibits a significant chemosensitizing effect on hepatocellular carcinoma cells resistant to paclitaxel (PTX). The objective of this study was to establish a callus culture from different explants under conditions of light and total darkness to produce achillin. To obtain in vitro cultures, explants of leaves, nodes, internodes, and roots were used, and they were cultured in MS medium with 0.1 mg/L of kinetin (KIN) or benzyl amino purine (BAP) and/or naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridine carboxylic acid (PIC) at 0.1 and 1.0 mg/L. Of all treatments, internodes with BAP (0.1 mg/L) and PIC (1.0 mg/L) grown under photoperiod showed the best friable callus induction, however, GC-MS analysis showed higher achillin content (1703.05 &micro;g/mL) in leaf calluses with PIC (1.0) and KIN (0.1) under photoperiod, and in node plantlets (1880.01 &micro;g/mL) with PIC (0.1) and BAP (0.1). From 12.34 g of dry leaves of Artemisia ludoviciana, 257 mg of achillin were isolated and purified, which was used as a reference in the quantification of achillin in the in vitro culture

Elaboración de una bebida funcional, fuente de omega 3 y antioxidantes microencapsulados de cáscaras de camu camu y mango, para promover el desarrollo comercial de la biodiversidad peruana

El objetivo del proyecto es prevenir los riesgos de deficiencia nutricional y de enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles en personas en situación de mayor vulnerabilidad. Para ello se ofrecerán prácticas saludables de consumo de alimentos, así como una oferta sostenida y competitiva de alimentos funcionales de origen nacional. El proyecto desarrollará alimentos funcionales mediante la incorporación de microcápsulas de aceite de sacha inchi, rico en omega 3, y de antioxidantes de la biodiversidad peruana. De esta forma, se cierra un ciclo más del estudio liderado por la misma investigadora y se abre el camino a la transferencia tecnológica y a la producción a gran escala.El objetivo del proyecto es prevenir los riesgos de deficiencia nutricional y de enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles en personas en situación de mayor vulnerabilidad. Para ello se ofrecerán prácticas saludables de consumo de alimentos, así como una oferta sostenida y competitiva de alimentos funcionales de origen nacional. El proyecto desarrollará alimentos funcionales mediante la incorporación de microcápsulas de aceite de sacha inchi, rico en omega 3, y de antioxidantes de la biodiversidad peruana. De esta forma, se cierra un ciclo más del estudio liderado por la misma investigadora y se abre el camino a la transferencia tecnológica y a la producción a gran escala