Formulation and characterisation of wheat bran oil-in-water nanoemulsions

Wheat bran oil (WBO) has been reported to have an important content of bioactive compounds, such as tocopherols, alkylresorcinols, steryl ferulates and other phenolic compounds; however, its poor solubility in water systems restricts its applications in the food industry. This study is focussed on the formulation of oil-in-water (O/W) nanoemulsions of WBO in order to improve the bioaccessibility of its active compounds. The influences of oil concentration, surfactant type and concentration, and emulsification method, on the droplet size and stability of the nanoemulsions were investigated. Response surface methodology was used to optimise the conditions for preparing stable nanoemulsions with the minimum droplet size. The optimal nanoemulsion was obtained when 1% of WBO and 7.3% of a surfactant mixture of Span 80 (37.4%) and Tween 80 (62.6%) were emulsified in water by high intensity ultrasonication for 50 s after pre-emulsification with a high speed blender during 5 min. The optimal nanoemulsion showed good stability over time and antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activities, which make it suitable for use in food applications.This work is part of the GALANG project (Ref.: ITC-20113029) financed by the Spanish Government through CDTI

Rhaponticum acaule (L) DC essential oil: chemical composition, in vitro antioxidant and enzyme inhibition properties

Background: α-glucosidase is a therapeutic target for diabetes mellitus (DM) and α-glucosidase inhibitors play a vital role in the treatments for the disease. Furthermore, xanthine oxidase (XO) is a key enzyme that catalyzes hypoxanthine and xanthine to uric acid which at high levels can lead to hyperuricemia which is an important cause of gout. Pancreatic lipase (PL) secreted into the duodenum plays a key role in the digestion and absorption of fats. For its importance in lipid digestion, PL represents an attractive target for obesity prevention. Methods: The flowers essential oil of Rhaponticum acaule (L) DC (R. acaule) was characterized using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The antioxidant activities of R. acaule essential oil (RaEO) were also determined using 2,2’-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), reducing power, phosphomolybdenum, and DNA nicking assays. The inhibitory power of RaEO against α-glucosidase, xanthine oxidase and pancreatic lipase was evaluated. Enzyme kinetic studies using Michaelis-Menten and the derived Lineweaver-Burk (LB) plots were performed to understand the possible mechanism of inhibition exercised by the components of this essential oil. Results: The result revealed the presence of 26 compounds (97.4%). The main constituents include germacrene D (49.2%), methyl eugenol (8.3%), (E)-β-ionone (6.2%), β-caryophyllene (5.7%), (E,E)-α-farnesene (4.2%), bicyclogermacrene (4.1%) and (Z)-α-bisabolene (3.7%). The kinetic inhibition study showed that the essential oil demonstrated a strong α-glucosidase inhibiton and it was a mixed inhibitor. On the other hand, our results evidenced that this oil exhibited important xanthine oxidase inhibitory effect, behaving as a non-competitive inhibitor. The essential oil inhibited the turkey pancreatic lipase, with maximum inhibition of 80% achieved at 2 mg/mL. Furthermore, the inhibition of turkey pancreatic lipase by RaEO was an irreversible one. Conclusion: The results revealed that the RaEO is a new promising potential source of antioxidant compounds, endowed with good practical applications for human health. Keywords: α-glucosidase, Antioxidant activity, Chemical composition, Pancreatic lipase inhibition, Rhaponticum acaule essential oil, Xanthine oxidase

Bioactive Compounds of Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.)

Rambutan, a widely popular tropical fruit encompasses rich amount of bioactive compounds. All parts of this plant (leaves, bark, root, fruits, fruit skin, pulp and seeds) finds traditional usage, and are linked with high therapeutic values. Rambutan fruits parts like that of peel, pulp and seeds have been scientifically investigated in-depth and is reported to encompass high amounts of bioactive compounds (such as polyphenol, flavonoid, alkaloid, essential mineral, dietary fiber). These compounds contribute towards antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic and anti-obesity activities. However, literature pertaining towards potential industrial applications (food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical) of rambutan fruits are limited. In the present chapter, it is intended to document some of the interesting research themes published on rambutan fruits, and identify the existing gaps to open up arena for future research work.This chapter theme is based on our ongoing project—VALORTECH, which has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 810630

Extratos etanólicos de manga como antioxidantes na alimentação de poedeiras

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de extratos etanólicos do caroço e da casca de manga, sobre o desempenho de poedeiras e sobre a qualidade e estabilidade lipídica dos ovos. Um total de 180 poedeiras comerciais Hisex White foi distribuído ao acaso em seis tratamentos, com cinco repetições de seis aves. Os tratamentos consistiram de: ração sem adição de antioxidante; ração com 200 ppm do antioxidante butilato de hidroxitolueno (BHT); ração com 200 ou 400 ppm de extrato da casca de manga (Ecas); ração com 200 ou 400 ppm de extrato de caroço de manga (Ecar). Foram avaliados: o consumo de ração, a produção de ovos, o peso do ovo, a massa de ovo produzida (grama por ave por dia), a conversão alimentar e características de qualidade dos ovos. A oxidação lipídica da gema durante o armazenamento foi determinada pela quantificação das substâncias reativas ao ácido tiobarbitúrico. As aves alimentadas com a ração sem adição de antioxidantes produziram ovos com os piores valores de unidade Haugh e maior oxidação lipídica da gema. Os teores de 400 ppm de Ecas e 200 ou 400 ppm de Ecar foram efetivos na prevenção de danos oxidativos aos ovos durante o armazenamento e podem ser utilizados na alimentação das poedeiras como substituto ao antioxidante sintético

Antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activity of mango seed kernel by product

The antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory properties of extracts of mango seed kernel (Mangifera indica L.), which is normally discarded when the fruit is processed, were studied. Extracts contained phenolic components by a high antioxidant activity, which was assessed in homogeneous solution by the 2,2-diphenyt-1-picrylhydrazyl radical and 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothialozinesulfonic acid) radical cation-scavenging assays and in an emulsion with the ferric thiocyanate test. The extracts also possessed tyrosinase inhibitory activity. Drying conditions and extraction solvent were varied, and optimum conditions for preparation of mango seed kernel extract were found to be sun-drying with ethanol extraction at room temperature. Refluxing in acidified ethanol gave an increase in yield and the obtained extract had the highest content of total phenolics, and also was the most effective antioxidant with the highest radical-scavenging, metal-chelating and tyrosinase inhibitory activity. The extracts did not cause acute irritation of rabbit skins. Our study for the first time reveals the high total phenol content, radical-scavenging, metal-chelating and tyrosinase inhibitory activities of the extract from mango seed kernel. This extract may be suitable for use in food, cosmetic, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved