A potential natural coloring agent with antioxidant properties: Microencapsulates of Renealmia alpinia (Rottb.) Maas fruit pericarp

Microencapsulates of ethanolic extracts of Renealmia alpinia (Rottb.) Maas fruit pericarp were obtained by spray drying. Physicochemical properties (pH, °Bx, titratable acidity, maturity index, moisture content and color), bioactive compounds (anthocyanins and other phenolic compounds) and antioxidant capacity of the fresh fruit pericarp were assessed. Microencapsulates were produced by feeding a 1:3 mixtures of ethanolic extracts (encapsulated material) and different encapsulating agents (maltodextrin, gum arabic and a 1:1 mixture of both) to the spray dryer. Physical properties (yield, particle size, moisture, color, wettability, bulk and compact densities) of the resulting powders were determined while both stability of antioxidant compounds and maintenance of antioxidant capacity were evaluated during a 28-day storage at 4 and 25 °C. Fresh pericarp was an important source of phenolic compounds and anthocyanins which heavily contributed to fruit color parameters. The highest yield 21.58% and moisture content 2.45% were observed in powders with 1:1 maltodextrin-gum arabic ratio. Gum arabic microencapsulates better preserved anthocyanins (10.37 ± 2.38, 11.65 ± 0.58, mg Cyd-3-Glu/g) and phenolic (7.58 ± 0.51, 8.70 ± 1.28 mg GAE/g) at both storage temperatures 4 and 25 °C, respectively. Two individual anthocyanins were identified by HPLC: cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and delphinidin-3-O-glucoside. While maltodextrin capsules exhibited increased stability of antioxidant compounds and activity at 4 °C storage. Evaluated microencapsulates might represent a suitable alternative as a natural coloring agent with potential antioxidant activity. Keywords: Encapsulates, Antioxidant properties, Renealmia alpinia (Rottb.) Maas, Pericarp, Spray drying, Pigmen

The role of the reactive species involved in the photocatalytic degradation of hdpe microplastics using c,n-tio2 powders

Microplastics (MPs) are distributed in a wide range of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems throughout the planet. They are known to adsorb hazardous substances and can transfer them across the trophic web. To eliminate MPs pollution in an environmentally friendly process, we propose using a photocatalytic process that can easily be implemented in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). As photocatalysis involves the formation of reactive species such as holes (h+), electrons (e−), hydroxyl (OH•), and superoxide ion (O2•−) radicals, it is imperative to determine the role of those species in the degradation process to design an effective photocatalytic system. However, for MPs, this information is limited in the literature. Therefore, we present such reactive species’ role in the degradation of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) MPs using C,N-TiO2. Tert-butanol, isopropyl alcohol (IPA), Tiron, and Cu(NO3)2 were confirmed as adequate OH•, h+, O2•− and e− scavengers. These results revealed for the first time that the formation of free OH• through the pathways involving the photogenerated e− plays an essential role in the MPs’ degradation. Furthermore, the degradation behaviors observed when h+ and O2•− were removed from the reaction system suggest that these species can also perform the initiating step of degradation

Bioactives in legumes

Legumes exert several health benefits: anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, antioxidant, antimicrobial and heart protection. Bioactive compounds, namely phenolics, peptides, saponins, vitamins and lipids, are responsible for these properties. Legume wastewater was shown to contain moderate amounts of phenolics (0.3–0.6 mg/g), proteins (0.7–1.5 g/100 g) and saponins (6–14 mg/g). Phenolic compounds express all activities described above and include the following nutrients: phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, flavanols, flavones, flavanones and tannins. Bioactive peptides consists of albumin, globulin and defensin, responsible for numerous properties. Saponins inhibit cancer growth and prevent obesity, while vitamins act as anti-inflammatory and antioxidants. Certain lipids may inhibit cancer growth and act as anti-inflammatory but were not detected in legume wastewater. Vitamin content of legume cooking water has not been investigated yet, offering noteworthy opportunities to researchers. Therefore, legume wastewater might express interesting bioactivities. Industrially, this by-product could be used to extract bioactives or as a wholesome source

Anticancer activity of protein fractions from chia (Salvia hispanica L.)

Salvia hispanica demonstrated to be a source of protein fractions with anticancer activity. The effect of the protein fractions <1, 1–3, and 3–5 kDa, obtained by ultrafiltration of the S. hispanica hydrolysate, was evaluated on the cellular viability of four cancer cell lines (MCF-7, Caco2, PC-3, and HepG2) and on human fibroblasts (hFB) at different concentrations (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 mg/ml). The protein fractions did not show cytotoxic effects on hFB. The protein fraction <1 kDa at 1 mg/ml showed the highest statistical effect on the cellular viability of all evaluated cancer lines; thus, its amino acid sequence was analyzed. From the multicriteria decision analysis of the peptide sequences obtained by mass spectrometry, the peptide KLKKNL with potential anticancer activity was selected. In conclusion, protein fractions could represent a therapeutic option for cancer treatment. However, further investigations are necessary to establish conclusive arguments