Edible Film Based on Lallemantia peltata L. Seed Gum: Development and Characterization

A novel edible film was developed using Lallemantia peltata (L.) seed gum (LSG), and its water sensitivity, physico-mechanical, barriers, microstructural and thermal properties as a function of glycerol concentration (20, 30, 40, 50 and 60% w/w) were studied. Different models were also used to investigate the water sorption of the LSG films. Unplasticized LSG films were brittle and difficult to handle which were effectively modified by glycerol addition. Water sensitivity, oxygen permeability, and elongation of LSG films were increased with increasing glycerol concentration. Also, increasing of glycerol concentration resulted in reduction of tensile strength, glass transition temperature (Tg) and melting temperature (Tm) of the films. Electron scanning micrographs revealed a smooth surfaceand compact cross-section microstructure in LSG films.The films showed sigmoid shape type II water sorption isotherms, representing typical features of most of biopolymers. Accordingly, the results suggest that LSG films containing desired glycerol concentration could potentially be used as edible films in food packaging

Active packaging film based on lysozyme/polyvinyl alcohol / alyssum homalocarpum seeds gum

The active films composed of polyvinyl alcohol/Alyssum homolocarpum seeds gum (PVA-AHSG) in corporating lysozyme (LY) are developed and characterized. The LY affects the thickness, solubility, and water vapor permeability, mechanical, microstructural, and optical properties of PVA-AHSG films and also the antimicrobial activities of obtained films are evaluated. The LY content increased the thickness of composite films. The LY addition led to an increase in water solubility, moisture contents, and contact angle, and decreased density. The control films without LY had the lower opacity and acted as a weak barrier against the water vapor. The LY reduced elongation at break and slightly increased tensile strength and elastic modulus. The electron micrographs showed that the control films had a smoother structure, and the addition of LY formed films with a rough surface. Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectra indicated some interactions between PVA and AHSG chains and LY. Functional activities were found against Gram-positive Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus

Pullulan gum production from low-quality fig syrup using Aureobasidium pullulans

Pullulan is an important polysaccharide with several potential applications in food science, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, but high costs of pullulan production are the main limitation for commercial utilization. Therefore, a cost-effective process for pullulan production was developed using fig syrup as an exclusive nutrient source. In particular, the feasibility of using low quality fig syrup as a supplemental substrate for pullulan gum production by Aureobasidium pullulans was investigated. Fermentation was carried out over a range of fig syrup and sucrose degrees Brix (5-15%). Maximum pullulan gum production was observed after 96h using 12.5% fig syrup, yielding approximately14.06 g/L. This value of pullulan production (14.06 g/L) was higher than the amount of pullulan produced using sucrose as substrate (5.01 g/L). In conclusion, fig syrup was an effective substrate for pullulan production by Aureobasidium pullulans, and, therefore, this byproduct deserves attention for the cost-effective and environmentally friendly pullulan production

Smirnovia Iranica Whole Herb Extract: Antioxidant, Radical Scavenging, Anti-microbial and Anti-Cancer Effects

In this study, the biological activities of whole herb extract of a medicinal plant named Smirnovia Iranica were investigated. The extraction was performed using Supercritical CO2 and phytochemical compounds, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant, anti-bacterial, and anti-cancer effect were determined in the extract. Based on the results, high TPC concentration (120.36 mg GAE/100 g FW) and TFC (17.41 mg quercetin/100g FW) were obtained in the extract. Besides, the extract showed significant antioxidant activity (IC50=53.97 µg mL-1). Moreover, the extract showed a notable inhibitory effect against Escherichia coli (MIC=15.63 mg mL-1) and Salmonella enterica (MIC=31.25 mg mL-1). On the other hand, this extract showed the cytotoxic effect on glioblastoma cancer cell lines in the MTT assay. This is the first, yet comprehensive, scientific report about the chemical composition and pharmacological properties of the extract of Smirnovia Iranica whole herb. According to current results, the Smirnovia Iranica extract has excellent antioxidant properties for application as bioactive components for various objects such as as food supplements. The experiment confirmed the efficacy of the extracts as natural antimicrobials and suggested the possibility of employing them in drugs for the treatment of infectious diseases caused by the test organisms

Enhanced depolarization contrast in polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography

International audienceWe demonstrate the first application of the differential depolarization index (DDI) for depolarization imaging in polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT). Unlike the widely used degree of polarization uniformity (DOPU), the DDI is independent of the incident polarization state and, therefore, more robust to varying system and sample parameters. Moreover, it can be applied to single-input-polarization-state PS-OCT systems, and it overcomes several limitations of the emerging depolarization index used in multiple-input-polarization-state systems. Our results on tissue phantoms and human skin prove that DDI yields significant depolarization contrast improvements compared to DOPU, which highlights its potential for depolarization imaging in PS-OCT. (C) 2016 Optical Society of Americ

Improved depolarization imaging in polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography

International audienceWe demonstrate that the superior contrast of the differential depolarization index (DDI) compared with the degree of polarization uniformity makes DDI a promising candidate for characterizing depolarization with polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography images. © OSA 2016

Antifungal activities of coating incorporated with Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall mannoprotein on Aspergillus flavus growth and aflatoxin production in pistachio (Pistacia vera L.)

In this study, the effects of the mannoprotein isolated from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ScMnn) were evaluated against Aspergillus flavus growth and aflatoxin (AF) production in pistachios. The mannoprotein extracted from the cell wall of S. cerevisiae was incorporated in gelatin-based solution at different concentration (0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5% w/w) then used as coating of kernels. A. flavus spore suspension (10 4 spores/mL) was inoculated on both coated (cp) and non-coated (ncp) pistachios. In cp samples, the mycelium development was delayed and AF content decreased, compared with the ncp ones. Noteworthy, the coating containing 1.5% ScMnn decreased AFB1 up to 42.81%. The ScMnn could be considered as an operative agent to reduce A. flavus growth and AF contamination in pistachios. The edible and food grade properties are important in its application as novel additive and as bioactive agent in coatings for the control of AF in pistachios. Practical applications: Active edible coating containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae mannoprotein could be applied in pistachio industry to control Aspergillus flavus growth and reduce aflatoxin contamination. This antifungal coating could improve the safety of pistachio nuts