Optimization of Drying Process for Squid-Laver Snack by a Combined Method of Fuzzy Synthetic and Response Surface Methodology

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of drying temperature (50–70°C) and drying time (3–5 h) on the physical properties and quality of squid-laver snack (SLS) using response surface methodology combined with a synthetic evaluation method to optimize the drying process conditions. Moisture content, water activity, color (L⁎, a⁎, b⁎), shear force, and overall acceptability were evaluated as responses. Increased drying times and higher temperatures significantly reduced the moisture content and water activity of SLS from 9.07% to 4.76% and 0.136 to 0.056, respectively (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the L⁎ and a⁎ values under different drying conditions. The quadratic effect of temperature and time was observed for the b⁎ value and overall acceptability of SLS. For shear force, a quadratic and interaction term for drying temperature and time on shear force was observed. In conclusion, the recommended optimal hot air-drying conditions for SLS are temperature and time of 70°C and 3 h, respectively

Influence of enzymatic hydrolysis and molecular weight fractionation on the antioxidant and lipase / α-amylase inhibitory activities in vitro of watermelon seed protein hydrolysates

This study aims to evaluate the potential in vitro antioxidant and anti-obesity activities of watermelon seed protein hydrolysates (WSPH) obtained using different combinations of enzymes alcalase–proteinase K (ALC-PK) and alcalase–actinidin (ALC-ACT). There was a direct relationship between the degree of hydrolysis (DH) and the biological activities of the WSPH, with the highest DPPH (approximately 85%) and lipase inhibitory activities (≈59%) appreciated at DH of 36–37% and 33–35% when using ALC-PK and ALC-ACT, respectively. Following molecular weight fractionation, the ALC-PK WSPH < 3 kDa (F1) assayed at 1 mg.mL−1 had the highest DPPH-radical scavenging (89.22%), ferrous chelating (FC) (79.83%), reducing power (RP) (A 0.51), lipase inhibitory (71.36%), and α-amylase inhibitory (62.08%) activities. The amino acid analysis of ALC-PK WSPH and its fractions revealed a relationship between the biological activity of the extracts and their composition. High contents of hydrophobic amino acids, arginine, and aromatic amino acids were related to high antioxidant, lipase inhibitory, and α-amylase inhibitory activities in the extracts, respectively. Overall, this study revealed that underutilized protein sources such as WSPH, using the appropriate combination of enzymes, could result in the generation of new ingredients and compounds with powerful antioxidant and anti-obesity activities with promising applications as nutraceuticals or functional foods.Department of Agriculture Food and the Marinethe ERA-NET Cofund ERA HDHL | Ref. 69629

Soybeans Ameliolate Diabetic Nephropathy in Rats

Diabetic nephropathy is one of the most frequent and serious complications of diabetes mellitus. Soybeans have been shown to reduce urinary albumin excretion and total cholesterol in non-diabetic patients with nephrotic syndrome. However, reports focusing specifically on diabetic nephropathy are scarce and the available results are inconsistent. It was reported that soybean consumption reduced urinary protein excretion in type 1 diabetic patients with diabetic nephropathy, whereas it was found to elicit an increase in urinary protein excretion when soybeans were consumed by type 2 diabetic patients. This study aims to investigate the effects of soybean in diabetic nephropathy, particularly the effects of consuming soybeans on the histopathology of diabetic nephropathy, using aquaporin (AQP) and osteopontin (OPN) expression as diagnostic markers. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to one of three groups: control, diabetic with red chow diet and diabetic with soybean diet. For histological examination, the expression of OPN and AQP, renal function and hemoglobin A1c were evaluated at the end of the study. Improvements in glomerular and tubulointerstitial lesions were demonstrated in the diabetic rat group given a soybean diet. OPN and AQP expression were suppressed in the kidney specimens of diabetic rats with the soybean diet. In conclusion, soybeans may prevent the weight loss and morphological disruption of the kidney associated with diabetes mellitus. Soybeans also may improve glycemic control. It seems likely that long-term control of blood glucose levels using a soybean diet could prevent the progression of diabetes mellitus, and therefore, nephropathy could be prevented

Innovation in the Seafood Sector through the Valorization of By-Products

Aquatic, marine and algae, is reservoir of bioactive compounds, which have considerable potential to supply novel ingredients toward the development of commercial functional food products. Meanwhile, several valuable by-products generate during the manufacturing process. Seafood is still an intact reservoir of valuable compounds with significant potential to provide unique compounds applicable in functional food development. Seafood, as an important part of the diet all around the world, can be used as a source of functional components that are positively affecting the human health. Annually, 50–80 percent of the seafood processing is discarded as waste every year. Algae are also the novel natural resources for their biological and pharmacological properties. This chapter will be discussing the innovations in seafood and algae sector through the valorization of their by-products. Firstly, protein production, its characterization and the protein hydrolysates derived from seafood will be reviewed. Subsequently, bioactivity of the peptides obtained from these protein hydrolysates and other bioactive compounds such as carotenoid compounds derived from seafood including fish, shrimp, alga, and so on will be included. Finally, the main components of algae including sulfated polysaccharides, pigments and proteins will be surveyed

Effect of Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Moringa stenopetala Leaves on Bioactive Compounds and Their Antioxidant Activity

Moringa stenopetala je višenamjenska biljka s izraženim nutritivnim i terapeutskim svojstvima. Svrha je ovoga rada bila ispitati utjecaj vremena i temperature ekstrakcije potpomognute ultrazvukom na izdvajanje bioaktivnih spojeve i antioksidacijsku aktivnost ekstrakta lista biljke M. stenopetala. Ekstrakcija je provedena pri temperaturama od 30, 40 i 50 °C tijekom 10, 20 i 30 minuta. Ispitan je i međusobni utjecaj vremena i temperature ekstrakcije na ukupne udjele fenola i flavonoida, antioksidacijsku aktivnost (mjerenu pomoću ABTS, DPPH i FRAP metoda) i sposobnost keliranja Fe2+ iona. Nakon 20 min ekstrakcije pri 40 °C dobiven je najveći udjel ukupnih fenola u suhoj tvari, izražen kao ekvivalent galne kiseline, i to 46,6 mg/g, te najveći udjel ukupnih flavonoida u suhoj tvari, izražen kao ekvivalent katehina, i to 20,4 mg/g. Pri istim je uvjetima izmjerena najveća antioksidacijska aktivnost ekstrakata, izražena kao ekvivalent Troloxa u suhoj tvari, i to 336,5 mg/g prema DPPH metodi, 581 ,8 mg/g prema ABTS metodi i 1 33,3 mg/g prema FRAP metodi. Sposobnost keliranja, izražena u ekvivalentima EDTA u suhoj tvari, bila je 28,4 mg/g. Najmanje bioaktivnih spojeva i najmanja antioksidacijska aktivnost opaženi su u ekstraktima dobivenim nakon 30 min pri 50 °C, te nakon toga u ekstraktima dobivenim pri nižoj temperaturi (30 °C) i kraćem vremenu trajanja (10 min). Morfološka je analiza ostataka dobivenih nakon ekstrakcije pomoću pretražnog elektronskog mikroskopa pokazala veća oštećenja strukture uzorka pri duljem vremenu ekstrakcije. Stoga je zaključeno da su temperatura od 40 °C i vrijeme ekstrakcije od 20 min optimalni za izdvajanje bioaktivnih spojeva iz lišća biljke M. stenopetala.Moringa stenopetala is a multipurpose plant having high nutritional and medicinal values. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of time and temperature of ultrasound-assisted extraction on bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities of M. stenopetala leaf extract. The ultrasound-assisted extraction took place at each of 30, 40 and 50 °C for 10, 20 and 30 min. The study also included the analysis of the interaction effects of time and temperature on the total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, antioxidant activity (ABTS and DPPH assay), FRAP and chelating activity. The highest total phenolic content, expressed in mg gallic acid equivalents per g dry mass, was 46.6 and total flavonoid content, expressed in mg catechin equivalents per g dry mass, was 20.4 at 40 °C for 20 min. Under the same conditions, the highest antioxidant activities evaluated by DPPH, ABTS and FRAP, expressed in mg Trolox equivalents per g dry mass, were 336.5, 581.8 and 133.3 respectively, and chelating activity, expressed in mg EDTA equivalents per g dry mass, was 28.4. The lowest amounts of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities were observable when the extraction occurred at 50 °C for 30 min, followed by the extraction at lower temperature (30 °C) for shorter time (10 min). The morphological analysis of the residues obtained after extraction using scanning electron microscope indicated that there was a higher ultrasonic destruction of the structural components of the sample at longer extraction time. Therefore, ultrasound-assisted extraction at a temperature of 40 °C for 20 min is the best time-temperature combination to extract bioactive compounds from M. stenopetala leaves

Tetrahydroabietic Acid, a Reduced Abietic Acid, Inhibits the Production of Inflammatory Mediators in RAW264.7 Macrophages Activated with Lipopolysaccharide

Abietic acid (AA), the main component of the rosin fraction of oleoresin synthesized by conifer species, has been reported to have anti-inflammatory effects. AA is a weak contact allergen; however, compounds resulting from its oxidation by air elicit stronger allergic response. Hydrogenation of the conjugated double bonds of AA, as in tetrahydroabietic acid (THAA), decreases its susceptibility to air oxidation and would thus reduce the allergenicity of AA. The aim of this study was to investigate whether THAA could exert anti-inflammatory effects to the same extent as AA in RAW264.7 macrophages activated with the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS). THAA and AA inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 by suppressing the expression of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2, respectively, in LPS-activated RAW264.7 macrophages. They also inhibited the LPS-induced production of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α. Both THAA and AA prevented the LPS-induced nuclear translocation of the nuclear factor-κB/p65 subunit, suggesting that THAA may inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory mediators through the same mechanism as AA. In comparison, the anti-inflammatory effects of THAA and AA were almost identical, indicating that THAA retains the anti-inflammatory activity of AA at least in LPS-activated RAW264.7 macrophages

Complete genome sequence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis K from a Korean high school outbreak, belonging to the Beijing family

Mycobacterium tuberculosis K, a member of the Beijing family, was first identified in 1999 as the most prevalent genotype in South Korea among clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis from high school outbreaks. M. tuberculosis K is an aerobic, non-motile, Gram-positive, and non-spore-forming rod-shaped bacillus. A transmission electron microscopy analysis displayed an abundance of lipid bodies in the cytosol. The genome of the M. tuberculosis K strain was sequenced using two independent sequencing methods (Sanger and Illumina). Here, we present the genomic features of the 4,385,518-bp-long complete genome sequence of M. tuberculosis K (one chromosome, no plasmid, and 65.59 % G + C content) and its annotation, which consists of 4194 genes (3447 genes with predicted functions), 48 RNA genes (3 rRNA and 45 tRNA) and 261 genes with peptide signals.

A novel gene mutation, c.82delC (p.Arg28 Alafs5), in a Korean family with X-linked agammaglobulinemia

X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is a hereditary humoral immunodeficiency that results from Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) gene mutations. These mutations cause defects in B-cell development, resulting in the virtual absence of these lymphocytes from the peripheral circulation. Consequently, this absence leads to a profound deficiency of lg all isotypes, and an increased susceptibility to encapsulated bacterial infections. A 15-month-old Korean boy presented with recurrent sinusitis and otitis media after 6 months of age, and had a family history of 2 maternal uncles with XLA. Laboratory tests revealed a profound deficiency of Ig isotypes, and a decreased count of CD19+ B cells in the peripheral circulation. Based on his family history and our laboratory test results, he was diagnosed with XLA. We performed BTK gene analysis of peripheral blood samples obtained from family members to confirm the diagnosis. Mutational analysis revealed a novel hemizygous frameshift mutation (c.82delC, p.Arg28Alafs*5), in the BTK gene. His mother and maternal grandmother were heterozygous carriers of this mutation and his two maternal uncles were hemizygous at the same position. After XLA diagnosis, intravenous immunoglobulin (400 mg/kg, monthly) treatment was initiated; recurrent sinusitis and otitis media were subsequently brought under control. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a Korean pedigree with a novel mutation in the BTK gene

Sclerostin inhibits Wnt signaling through tandem interaction with two LRP6 ectodomains

Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6) is a coreceptor of the beta -catenin-dependent Wnt signaling pathway. The LRP6 ectodomain binds Wnt proteins, as well as Wnt inhibitors such as sclerostin (SOST), which negatively regulates Wnt signaling in osteocytes. Although LRP6 ectodomain 1 (E1) is known to interact with SOST, several unresolved questions remain, such as the reason why SOST binds to LRP6 E1E2 with higher affinity than to the E1 domain alone. Here, we present the crystal structure of the LRP6 E1E2-SOST complex with two interaction sites in tandem. The unexpected additional binding site was identified between the C-terminus of SOST and the LRP6 E2 domain. This interaction was confirmed by in vitro binding and cell-based signaling assays. Its functional significance was further demonstrated in vivo using Xenopus laevis embryos. Our results provide insights into the inhibitory mechanism of SOST on Wnt signaling. The low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6) is a co-receptor of the beta -catenin-dependent Wnt signaling pathway and interacts with the Wnt inhibitor sclerostin (SOST). Here the authors present the crystal structure of SOST in complex with the LRP6 E1E2 ectodomain construct, which reveals that the SOST C-terminus binds to the LRP6 E2 domain, and further validate this binding site with in vitro and in vivo experiments.Y