Economical Wet Extraction of Lipid from labyrinthula Aurantiochytrium limacinum by Using Liquefied Dimethyl Ether

Recently, a simple method for the extraction of lipids from wet biomass using liquefied dimethyl ether (DME) without drying, cell disruption, or heating was proposed. Here, the versatility of this method was evaluated for labyrinthula Aurantiochytrium limacinum (A. limacinum). The liquefied DME was passed through the extractor that filled by A. limacinum at different time intervals. The extraction of lipids from A. limacinum of moisture-rich microorganism was successfully achieved, the yield of lipid was 46.1 wt% of the dry weight of the sample. In comparison, the yields of lipid were 21.3 wt%, 43.6 wt% and 50.7 wt% when supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO2), hexane-Soxhlet and Bligh-Dyer (BD) extraction methods were applied as extractants, respectively. However, the drying and cell-disruption process were required in SCCO2, hexane-Soxhlet, and BD extraction methods

Functional Ingredients Extraction from Garcinia mangostana Pericarp by Liquefied Dimethyl Ether

The mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana Linn.) pericarp contains rich xanthone, a one kind of the polyphenols in the non-edible portion. In recent years, xanthones have been noted as a functionality such as anti-cancer effect and is expected as pharmaceuticals and health supplements. In this work, extraction of xanthones from mangosteen pericarp by using liquefied DME were investigated. Wet powder and cube samples were used as a raw material. Experimental conditions were 35°C, 0.8 MPa with various amounts of sample (1, 3, 6 g). Extracted components were analyzed by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). As a result, it was confirmed that eight kinds of xanthones such as alpha-mangostin, 3-Isomangostin, Mangostanol, 8-Desoxygartanin, Gartanin, Garcinone E, 9-Hydroxycalabaxanthone, beta-Mangostin were extracted. The highest yield of alpha-mangostin (42.9 mg/g_dry sample) was obtained with a powder sample of 6 g loaded. Final alpha-magostin corresponded to about 104% of the ethanol extraction with wet mangosteen pericarp, and 72% of the dried sample. Therefore, it was considered that in the extraction of xanthones from the mangosteen, liquefied DME extraction was valid

Omega-conotoxin MVIIA reduces neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury by inhibiting N-type voltage-dependent calcium channels on spinal dorsal horn

Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to the development of neuropathic pain. Although a multitude of pathological processes contribute to SCI-induced pain, excessive intracellular calcium accumulation and voltage-gated calcium-channel upregulation play critical roles in SCI-induced pain. However, the role of calcium-channel blockers in SCI-induced pain is unknown. Omega-conotoxin MVIIA (MVIIA) is a calcium-channel blocker that selectively inhibits N-type voltage-dependent calcium channels and demonstrates neuroprotective effects. Therefore, we investigated spinal analgesic actions and cellular mechanisms underlying the analgesic effects of MVIIA in SCI. We used SCI-induced pain model rats and conducted behavioral tests, immunohistochemical analyses, and electrophysiological experiments (in vitro whole-cell patch-clamp recording and in vivo extracellular recording). A behavior study suggested intrathecal MVIIA administration in the acute phase after SCI induced analgesia for mechanical allodynia. Immunohistochemical experiments and in vivo extracellular recordings suggested that MVIIA induces analgesia in SCI-induced pain by directly inhibiting neuronal activity in the superficial spinal dorsal horn. In vitro whole-cell patch-clamp recording showed that MVIIA inhibits presynaptic N-type voltage-dependent calcium channels expressed on primary afferent Aδ-and C-fiber terminals and suppresses the presynaptic glutamate release from substantia gelatinosa in the spinal dorsal horn. In conclusion, MVIIA administration in the acute phase after SCI may induce analgesia in SCI-induced pain by inhibiting N-type voltage-dependent calcium channels on Aδ-and C-fiber terminals in the spinal dorsal horn, resulting in decreased neuronal excitability enhanced by SCI-induced pain

Lipid extraction from microalgae covered with biomineralized cell walls using liquefied dimethyl ether

Cell disruption is regarded as an indispensable pretreatment step before the extraction of microalgae with biomineralized cell walls. Here, two typical microalgae—diatom Chaetoceros gracilis (C. gracilis) and coccolithophore Pleurochrysis carterae (P. carterae)—covered by “hard” biomineralized cell walls were used as starting materials for lipid extraction using liquefied dimethyl ether (DME) without any pretreatment such as drying or cell disruption. The liquefied DME extraction experiments were performed at 25 °C and 0.59 MPa using a semi-continuous, flow-type system. The results of the yield, elemental composition, molecular weight distribution, fatty acid composition, and trace element composition indicated that the performance of liquefied DME extraction was similar to that of Bligh–Dyer extraction and better than that of hexane Soxhlet extraction, despite the latter two methods requiring pre-drying and cell disruption processes. It was also proven that the cell wall of microalgae would not affect lipid extraction of liquefied DME, thereby the liquefied DME extraction method is suitable for extracting lipids from microalgae with biomineralized cell walls. Besides, the lipids extracted by liquefied DME can be further used for biodiesel production