Approaches in biotechnological applications of natural polymers

Natural polymers, such as gums and mucilage, are biocompatible, cheap, easily available and non-toxic materials of native origin. These polymers are increasingly preferred over synthetic materials for industrial applications due to their intrinsic properties, as well as they are considered alternative sources of raw materials since they present characteristics of sustainability, biodegradability and biosafety. As definition, gums and mucilages are polysaccharides or complex carbohydrates consisting of one or more monosaccharides or their derivatives linked in bewildering variety of linkages and structures. Natural gums are considered polysaccharides naturally occurring in varieties of plant seeds and exudates, tree or shrub exudates, seaweed extracts, fungi, bacteria, and animal sources. Water-soluble gums, also known as hydrocolloids, are considered exudates and are pathological products; therefore, they do not form a part of cell wall. On the other hand, mucilages are part of cell and physiological products. It is important to highlight that gums represent the largest amounts of polymer materials derived from plants. Gums have enormously large and broad applications in both food and non-food industries, being commonly used as thickening, binding, emulsifying, suspending, stabilizing agents and matrices for drug release in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. In the food industry, their gelling properties and the ability to mold edible films and coatings are extensively studied. The use of gums depends on the intrinsic properties that they provide, often at costs below those of synthetic polymers. For upgrading the value of gums, they are being processed into various forms, including the most recent nanomaterials, for various biotechnological applications. Thus, the main natural polymers including galactomannans, cellulose, chitin, agar, carrageenan, alginate, cashew gum, pectin and starch, in addition to the current researches about them are reviewed in this article.. }To the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientfíico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for fellowships (LCBBC and MGCC) and the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nvíel Superior (CAPES) (PBSA). This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit, the Project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462) and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684) (JAT)

Izolacja i działanie cytotoksyczne in vitro 11-metyliksozydu wyizolowanego z kory Randia dumetorum Lamk.

Randia dumetorum (family Rubiaceae) is highly reputed ayurvedic medicinal tree commonly known as the Mainphal. A large deciduous thorny shrub grows up to 5 m of height. It occurs almost throughout India up to 1200 m of altitude. It is found in Himalaya from Jammu East ward ascending to 400 m and from Kashmir to East ward up to 1200 m. 11-methylixoside (compound 1), an iridoid glucoside, was isolated from the bark of this plant. The structure was characterized by using spectroscopic methods including 1D-1HNMR,13C-NMR and 2D-NMR (HSQC,HMBC, DQF-COSY) experiments and confirmed by comparison of their NMR data with those from the literature. This compound has been reported for the first time in Randia dumetorum bark. The 11-methylixoside was subjected to cytotoxic activity against MDA-MB-231 (breast cancer cell line) and SK-MEL-2 (human skin melanoma cell line), BE(2)C (neuroblastoma cell line derived from human bone marrow) and U87MG (human neuronale glioblastoma (astrozytom) cell line showed appreciable cytotoxic effect with IC50 value 63.10 µg/ml concentration for SK-MEL-2 (human skin melanoma cell line).Randia dumetorum (rodzina Apiaceae) jest rośliną cenioną w medycynie aiurwedyjskiej, znaną pod nazwą Mainphal. Duży, liściasty, ciernisty krzew osiąga wysokość 5 m. Występuje praktycznie w całych Indiach do wysokości 1200 m. Można go znaleźć w Himalajach od Jammu (400 m) do Kaszmiru (1200 m). Z kory tej rośliny wyizolowano glukozyd irydoidowy 11-metyloksyd (składnik 1). Jego strukturę zbadano za pomocą metod spektroskopowych obejmujących 1D-1HNMR,13C-NMR i 2D-NMR (HSQC,HMBC, DQF-COSY) i potwierdzono poprzez porównanie jego NMR danych z danymi literaturowymi. Obecność tego składnika stwierdzono po raz pierwszy w korze Randia dumetorum. Działanie cytotoksyczne 11-metyliksozydu było badane przeciw MDA-MB-231 (linia komórkowa raka sutka) i SK-MEL-2 (linia komórkowa czerniaka), BE(2)C (linia komórkowa neuroblastomy uzyskana z ludzkiego szpiku kostnego) i U87MG (linia komórkowa ludzkiej glioblastomy (gwiaździak). Wykazano znaczne działanie cytotoksyczne z wartością IC50 w stężeniu 63.10 µg/ml przeciw SK-MEL-2 (linia komórkowa czerniaka)

Triterpene, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Compounds from Melissa officinalis

ABSTRACT: Six new triterpenes (1–6) and four known compounds have been isolated from dried stems and leaves of Melissa officinalis. The known compounds were identified as quadranoside III, salvianic acid A, rosmarinic acid, and luteolin. The structures of compounds 1–6 were established by analysis of spectroscopic data. Free radical scavenging and antimicrobial activities of the extracts and of rosmarinic acid, the major component, were evaluated

Składniki chemiczne etanolowego wyciągu z liści i działanie przeciwślimakowe nieoczyszczonego wyciągu z Vitex trifolia Linn.

β-sitosterol and two triterpenoids: ursolic acid acetate and platanic acid have been isolated from ethanolic extract of Vitex trifola leaves. β-sitosterol was previously isolated from the leaves, stem and seeds of Vitex trifolia. Ursolic acid acetate has been isolated for the first time in this plant species. Platanic acid has been reported for the first time in Vitex trifolia and even in the family of this plant: Verbenaceae. These compounds were characterized using spectroscopic methods including 1D-1HNMR, 13CNMR, ESIMS and 2D-NMR (HSQC, HMBC, COSY) experiments and confirmed by comparison of their NMR data with those from the literature. A preliminary molluscicidal test for ethanol, chloroform and n-hexane extracts of leaves of Vitex trifolia against Biomphalaria alexandrina adult snails showed that ethanol extract of leaves with LC50 value 26.42 mg/l (27.92 mg/l – 24.99 mg/l) was more effective than n-hexane extract with LC50 value 35.48 mg/l (43.81 mg/l – 28.72mg/l) and chloroform extract with LC50 value 46.77 mg/l (53.59 mg/l – 43.81 mg/l) after 24 h exposure.Z etanolowego wyciągu z liści Vitex trifola wyizolowano β-sitosterol i dwa triterpenoidy: octan kwasu ursolowego i kwas platanowy. Poprzednio z liści, łodyg i nasion Vitex trifola był wyizolowant β-sitosterol. Octan kwasu ursolowego został wyizolowany po raz pierwszy z rośliny tego gatunku. Występowanie kwasu platanowego w Vitex trifolia oraz w rodzinie Verbenaceae zostało opisane po raz pierwszy. Składniki te scharakteryzowano, używając metod spektroskopowych, stosując badania 1D-1HNMR, 13CNMR, ESIMS and 2D-NMR (HSQC, HMBC, COSY) oraz potwierdzono porównaniem ich danych NMR z danymi literaturowymi. Wstępny test działania przeciwślimakowego wyciągów etanolowego, chloroformowego i n-heksanowego z liści Vitex trifolia przeciw dorosłym ślimakom Biomphalari

Exploitation and valorization of agro-food wastes from grape harvesting: Production, characterization of Mae-extracts from Vitis Vinifera leaves and stabilization in microparticulate powder form

Grape harvesting generates a high amount of wastes, mostly leaves, which represent an economic and ecological problem for farmers. New products can be generated through these wastes, giving environmental, social, and economic advantages while also meeting the industry demand for novel natural ingredients. In this study, aqueous leaf-extracts from two cultivars of Vitis vinifera Aglianico (Agl) and Greco di Tufo (Gre) were produced by microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and evaluated in composition by ATR- FTIR and HPLC to identify the main phenolic compounds, especially quercetin and kaempferol. The results showed that leaves extracts confirm to be a potential source of phenolic compounds. Dry extracts, although highly functional, show critical handling characteristics, being sticky and unstable in normal post-processing conditions. A stable and easy handling microparticulate ingredient was produced by spray drying containing the most phenolicrich obtained extract (AGL-28). The microparticle powder form based on pectin/maltodextrin matrix was produced with high process efficiency. The microstructures were able to confer functional and chemical stability to the extract while also showing good technological characteristics (high water dissolution rate and flow properties), transforming the extract into a handling ingredient able to meet new industrial uses

Innovative Phytodefense Colloidal Delivery System Based On Chestnut Spiny Bur Extract

Exploiting agri-food by-products is a pertinent strategy in the context of implementing the circular economy concept in the agri-food industry. In this context, the hydroalcoholic extract (CSB-H) of chestnut spiny burs of C. Sativa Mill and its main compounds (hydrolysable tannins and flavonoids) showed a marked free radical scavenging activity and efficacy in the inhibition of phytopathogenic fungi such as Alternaria alternata, Fusarium solani and Botrytis cinerea, responsible for foodstuffs deterioration [1-2]. The functional activity highlighted suggests its potential use in the phytodefense of IV range plants. Although the extract has higher and demonstrated functional efficacy, its use in the dry form has poor applicability due to different critical issues such as unpleasant organoleptic characteristics, poor solubility in water, and lower stability. This work aimed to develop a technological-formulation protocol using the spray-drying technique to convert raw extract (CSB-H) into a stable, water-soluble, easy-to-handle ingredient useful in the phyto-defence of seedlings of the fourth range[3]. This work aimed to develop a technological approach to convert raw hydroalcoholic extract (CSB-H) of chestnut spiny burs into a stable, water-soluble ingredient useful in phytodefense. The design of an adequate multicomponent polymer matrix, of natural origin/derivation, (inulin/sodium carboxymethylcellulose/SLS) and of the spray drying process parameters have improved its technological and biological characteristics, obtaining a functional ingredient in the form of a water-dispersible powder, easy to dose and manipulate, with improved stability that make it useful in agriculture field. In vivo studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of the ingredient in the field. Even the powder not loaded with the extract (blank) acts synergistically, providing some protection to the leaves, due to the film-forming properties of its components. The developed technological approach led to obtaining high production yields (greater than 60%), and higher encapsulation efficiency of 100%. Finally, in the dissolution and permeation assays, a technological improvement was observed for both profiles for the microparticle powder containing the extract, compared to the unprocessed extract, suggesting an increase in bioavailability after in vivo administration. These results show that the selected technological approach combined widelivery system designs parameters and a careful design of the delivery system led to obtaining a stable and functional microparticulate powder, potentially useful as an innovative ingredient in phytodefense, and scalable to an industrial approach

Exploring microencapsulation potential: Multicomponent spray dried delivery systems for improvement of Chlorella vulgaris extract preservation and solubility

The potential of Lutein-rich extract from Chlorella vulgaris (CHL) as a health product ingredient is hindered by stability and solubility issues. We propose a method to produce a stable microparticulate powder using spray- drying and a multicomponent carrier consisting of modified starch (OSA-MS), low molecular weight Inulin, and Lecithin. The influence of matrix selection, spray drying, and storage conditions on powder properties and chemical-physical stability was investigated. The resulting powder exhibited improved flow characteristics, wettability, and enhanced water dissolution rate of CHL. After 12 months of storage, the powder (PURIL-CHL) retained approximately 65 % of Lutein, twice the retention of the raw extract. The properties of the spray-dried powder were well-preserved, and bioactive dissolution remained above 80%. This study provides an approach to upgrade Lutein-rich CHL extract in powder form, suitable for various applications in the health products industry