Sustainable vine shoots-to-ethanol valorisation by a sequential acid/organosolv pretreatment

In this study, a fractionation and valorisation scheme for vine shoots is proposed for biofuel and lignin production. This agricultural waste was fractionated by acid/organosolv sequential pretreatment. In the first step, acid pretreatment was optimised at 150ºC and 1.2% H2SO4 to release hemicellulosic sugars, of which 76% could be recovered. This sugar stream was co-fermented by E. coli with an ethanol yield higher than 98% after detoxification with resins or NH4OH. The solid obtained under optimal acid pretreatment conditions was delignified by organosolv treatment, and a delignification rate of 43% was reached at 180ºC. This substrate with 83% enzymatic digestibility was bio-converted into ethanol by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation, with a yield of 76%. Additionally, lignin was recovered from the organosolv liquor, aiming for the full valorisation of the biomass, which showed a syringyl/guaiacyl ratio of 0.92 by nuclear magnetic resonance, complying with the data provided for Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and confirming the aromaticity of this fraction for further valorisation.MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe” Grant PID2020-112594RB-C31, PID2020-112594RB-C33. Junta de Andalucía, predoctoral contract PREDOC_01931

Grapevine shoot extract rich in trans-resveratrol and trans-ε-viniferin: evaluation of their potential use for cardiac health

A grapevine shoot extract (GSE) was obtained using ultrasound-assisted extraction and characterized. The main phenolic constituents were identified as stilbenoids. Among them, trans-resveratrol and trans-ε-viniferin stood out. The GSE was administered to an isoproterenol-induced myocardial injury animal model. The extract alleviated the associated symptoms of the administration of the drug, i.e., the plasma lipid profile was improved, while the disturbed plasma ion concentration, the cardiac dysfunction markers, the DNA laddering, and the necrosis of myocardial tissue were diminished. This effect could be related to the anti-oxidative potential of GSE associated with its antioxidant properties, the increased levels of endogenous antioxidants (glutathione and enzymatic antioxidants), and the diminished lipid peroxidative markers in the heart. The results also revealed angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory activity, which indicated the potential of GSE to deal with cardiovascular disease events. This work suggests that not only trans-resveratrol has a protective role in heart function but also GSE containing this biomolecule and derivatives. Therefore, GSE has the potential to be utilized in the creation of innovative functional ingredients.Ministry of Science and Innovation (MCIN) of Spain for the Ramón y Cajal grant (RYC2020-030546-I/AEI/10.13039/501100011033). European Social Fund. “Programme of Requalification of the Spanish University System” 2021–2023—Margarita Salas. MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, grant PID2020-112594RB-C31, “ERDF A way of making Europe”. “Researchers Supporting Project (RSP2023R17) at King Saud University

Veronica plants-drifting from farm to traditional healing, food application, and phytopharmacology

The Veronica genus, with more than 200 species, belongs to the Plantaginaceae family and is distributed over most of the Northern Hemisphere and in many parts of Southern Hemisphere. These plants are traditionally used in medicine for wound healing, in the treatment of rheumatism, and in different human diseases. This paper reviews the chemical composition of some valuable Veronica species, the possibilities Veronica extracts have in food preservation and as food ingredients, and their functional properties. Veronica species represent a valuable source of biological active secondary metabolites, including iridoid glycosides and phenolic compounds. In particular, due to presence of these phytochemicals, Veronica species exhibit a wide spectrum of biological activities, including antimicrobial and antioxidant. In fact, some studies suggest that some Veronica extracts can inhibit foodborne pathogens, such as Listeria monocytogenes, but only a few of them were performed in food systems. Moreover, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and other bioactivities were reported in vitro and in vivo. The bioactivity of Veronica plants was demonstrated, but further studies in food systems and in humans are required.M.d.M.C. is grateful for funding from the “Acción 6 del Plan de Apoyo a la Investigación de la Universidad de Jaén, 2017–2019”. N. Martins would like to thank the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT-Portugal) for the Strategic project ref. UID/BIM/04293/2013 and “NORTE2020 – Northern Regional Operational Program” (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000012)

The therapeutic potential of the labdane diterpenoid forskolin

© 2019 by the authors. Forskolin is mainly found in the root of a plant called Coleus forskohlii (Willd.) Briq., which has been used in the traditional medicine of Indian Ayurvedic and Southeast Asia since ancient times. Forskolin is responsible for the pharmacological activity of this species. Forskolin is a labdane diterpenoid with a wide biological effect. Several studies suggested a positive role of forskolin on heart complications, respiratory disorders, high blood pressure, obesity, and asthma. There are numerous clinical and pre-clinical studies representing the effect of forskolin on the above-mentioned disorders but more clinical studies need to be performed to support its efficacy

Electroweak parameters of the z0 resonance and the standard model

Contains fulltext : 124399.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access

Antihypertensive peptides from animal proteins

Hypertension is considered a major health problem throughout the world among adults, adolescents, as well as children and several preventive and therapeutic interventions are available. In addition to the pharmaceutical drugs and lifestyle changes, significant milestones have been achieved in the past decades in the identification of bioactive peptides from animal proteins with useful antihypertensive activities. The antihypertensive properties of these peptides are attributed to several mechanisms ranging from mineral-binding, opioid-like and antithrombotic properties to inhibition of ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme). ACE-inhibitory peptides are the most widely studied bioactive peptides with promising potential in hypertension management. In addition to milk and dairy products, which are the major sources of antihypertensive peptides, a remarkable increase has been observed in the documentation of peptides from other animal proteins, such as meat, with demonstrated in vitro and in vivo antihypertensive properties. Numerous opportunities exist in the global market for the development of novel food products and additives based on these antihypertensive peptides for the dietary management of hypertension. This chapter reviews the antihypertensive peptides derived from meat proteins and examines their possible role as a functional ingredient in foods for the management of hypertension