Betalain extraction from Hylocereus polyrhizus for natural food coloring purposes.

Coloring preparations from Hylocereus polyrhizus have recently received attention because peel and/or aril of the fruit exhibit a high content of betacyanins. These pigments are of special interest due to their potential as a red food colorants with a high stability at neutral pH. To improve production yield and to obtain a concentrated Hylocereus fruit extract, Pectinex Ultra SP–L in various dosages was applied to degrade the mucilage and make seed removal easier. Analytical methods were used to assess characteristic quality parameters of the treated samples against a control. Colour stability and overall betacyanin retention was assessed to monitor pigment retention. Moreover, individual betacyanin stability for each sample was monitored by comparing peak areas of the respective pigments. Betanin, phyllocactin, hylocerenin, and their respective C15 –isomers were identified as the major betacyanin components in treated samplesInterestingly, these isomers appeared to be indicative of enzymation, while the control showed rather little contents. In addition, betanin and isobetanin presented best stability in all treatments whereas phyllocactin degraded fastest as reflected in lower values for the phyllocactin isomerization index

Use of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill extracts from Brazilian Caatinga as an alternative of natural moisturizer in cosmetic formulations

ABSTRACT The aim of this work was the obtainment of Opuntia fícus-indica (L.) Mill extract for the development of cosmetic formulations and in vivo evaluation of its moisturizing effects. The formulations were tested for preliminary and accelerated stability. Organoleptic characteristics, pH values and rheological behavior were assessed. The evaluation of moisturizing efficacy of the emulsions formulated with 3.0% of Polyacrylamide (and) C13-14 Isoparaffin (and) Laureth-7 containing 1.0 and 3.0% of O. ficus-indica hydroglycolic extract (EHG001) was performed using the capacitance method (Corneometer(r)) and the transepidermal water loss - TEWL evaluation (Tewameter(r)). The emulsions formulated were stable, exhibiting pseudoplastic and thixotropic behavior. The results of evaluation of moisturizing efficacy showed increased skin hydration after five hours by mainly increasing the skin barrier effect. The formulations containing 1.0 and 3.0% of EHG001 enhanced the skin barrier effect by reducing TEWL up to four hours after application. The results observed suggest that O. ficus-indica hydroglycolic extract may act through a humectant and occlusion mechanism

Investigations of Willow Mistletoe on Various Human Tumor Cell Lines in vitro

Traditionally, pharmaceutically produced mistletoe preparations from willow tree are often used for treating bladder and renal cell carcinomas. However, only little data from preparations from willow mistletoe have been published so far and the underlying mechanisms are not completely known. The inhibitory effects of an extract from mistletoe from willow tree (Iscucin ® Salicis) on the viability of cancer cells and feasible mechanisms were investigated using different assays. Furthermore, the inhibition of cell migration was analysed. Results The extract inhibited cell growth and migration in vitro, with varying intensity depending on the respective cell line. Especially neuro-epithelial tumor cells and bronchial carcinoma cells showed a good response. Moreover, pro-apoptotic markers were activated. Clinical investigations should clarify, which types of cancer have the highest potential for a treatment with Iscucin ® Salicis