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Cherry blossom (Prunus yedoensis) petals are used as ingredients in many cosmetics. However, despite their use in numerous products, the exact function of cherry blossom petals in cosmetics is unclear. Therefore, we need evidence-based studies to support the labeling claims that are made in cherry blossom products in the cosmetics industry. We investigated the skin anti-aging potential of non-enzymatic softening cherry blossom extract (NES-CBE) in this study. The extract desalinated, to improve its quality such that it can be used as a functional material for the skin. The anti-wrinkle effect of NES-CBE was investigated on human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) under solar UV (sUV) light exposure. We found that NES-CBE reduced the sUV-induced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 expression and modulated the transactivation of the activator protein (AP)-1. Furthermore, NES-CBE suppressed the phosphorylation of MEK1/2 and ERK proteins, indicating its regulation of sUV-induced MAPK signaling. Additionally, we observed NES-CBE reduced MMP-1 protein expression in a human skin equivalent model. Taken together, these results suggest that NES-CBE reduces sUV-induced MMP-1 protein expression through reducing AP-1 transactivation via regulation of the MEK1/2-ERK pathway.

A new series of 7-trifluoromethyl-2-pyridylquinazolin-4(3 H)-one-based acyl thiourea derivatives has been generated and tested for their cytotoxicity towards human ovarian cancer (SK-OV-3), cervical cancer (HeLa), renal cancer (Caki-2) cell lines, as well as noncancerous a human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) line. The new thiourea derivatives were found to be promisingly cytotoxic towards the cancerous cell lines. Changing the substituent at the thiourea linkage led to variations in the cytotoxic potential of the resultant derivatives towards specific cell lines. Molecules with fluorine functionality and multiple pyridyl moieties showed encouraging anticancer effects and could be used as a platform for the design of further chemotherapeutic agents. The proposed structures of the products were ascertained through FTIR, mass, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectra and elemental analyses.

Nanotechnology is a rapidly growing scientific field and has attracted a great interest over the last few years because of its abundant applications. Green nanotechnology is a multidisciplinary field that has emerged as a rapidly developing research area, serving as an important technique that emphasize on making the procedure which are clean, non-hazardous, and especially environmentally friendly, in contrast with chemical and physical methods currently employed for nanosynthesis. The biogenic routes could be termed green as these do not involve the use of highly toxic chemicals or elevated energy inputs during the synthesis. Differences in the bio-reducing agents employed for nanosynthesis can lead to the production of nanoparticles (NPs) having distinct shapes, sizes, and bioactivity. The exquitiveness of the green fabricated NPs have capacitated their potential applications in various sectors such as biomedicine, pharmacology, food science, agriculture, and environmental engineering. The present review summarizes current knowledge on various biogenic synthesis methods, relying on plants, waste biomass, and biopolymers and their reducing and stabilizing agents to fabricate nanomaterials. The main emphasis has been given on the current status and future challenges related to the wide-scale fabrication of nanoparticles for environmental remediation, pathogenicity, and agricultural applications.

This work evaluates lignocellulolytic enzymes production by a selected strain Streptomyces sp. MDS cultivated in various agricultural wastes under solid-state fermentation (SSF). Maximum activities (U/gds) of endoglucanase (132.6 ± 1.15), exoglucanase (14.6 ± 0.62), cellobiase (125.6 ± 1.75), filter paperase (19.7 ± 0.42), amylase (278.5 ± 3.53), and xylanase (342.5 ± 3.36) were produced with rice waste biomass (RWB). Operational parameters and supplementation of nitrogen sources, metal additives, and surfactants were systematically optimized with a view to maximizing enzyme production. The harvested enzyme exhibited good stability at high pH (5 to 8) and temperature (50 to 80 °C) and showed robust nature in the presence of organic solvents, surfactants, and commercial detergents. The potential of crude enzyme mixture for hydrolysis of mild alkaline pretreated RWB was demonstrated, resulting in equivalent saccharification (64.85 ± 1.11%) relative to commercial enzymes (69.41 ± 1.15%). Yeast co-culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Kluyveromyces marxianus resulted in higher ethanol production (21.12 ± 0.82 g/L) and sugar consumption (88%) from enzymatic RWB hydrolysates (50 g/L) than monoculture. Finally, the leftover spent slurry from SSF effectively decolorized individual dyes and the actual textile wastewater, which increases the practical applicability of the developed bioprocess.

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are biocatalyzed systems which can drive electrical energy by directly converting chemical energy using microbial biocatalyst and are considered as one of the important propitious technologies for sustainable energy production. Much research on MFCs experiments is under way with great potential to become an alternative to produce clean energy from renewable waste. MFCs have been one of the most promising technologies for generating clean energy industry in the future. This article summarizes the important findings in electro-active biofilm formation and the role of exo-electrogens in electron transfer in MFCs. This study provides and brings special attention on the effects of various operating and biological parameters on the biofilm formation in MFCs. In addition, it also highlights the significance of different molecular techniques used in the microbial community analysis of electro-active biofilm. It reviews the challenges as well as the emerging opportunities required to develop MFCs at commercial level, electro-active biofilms and to understand potential application of microbiological niches are also depicted. Thus, this review is believed to widen the efforts towards the development of electro-active biofilm and will provide the research directions to overcome energy and environmental challenges.

Process byproducts from the fruit industry may represent a cheap and reliable source of green reducing agents to be used in current bio-nanosynthesis. This study reports the use of orange (Citrus × clementina) peel aqueous extract (OPE) for one-pot green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with high effectiveness against various microbial pathogens as well as rat glial tumor C6 cells. The effects of various operational parameters on the synthesis of AgNPs were systematically investigated. The morphology, particle size, and properties of synthesized AgNPs were characterized using UV–visible spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy shows that the nanoparticles are mostly spherical in shape and monodispersed, with an average particle size of 15–20 nm. Notably, the OPE-synthesized AgNPs were stable up to 6 months without change in their properties. Low doses of OPE-AgNPs inhibited the growth of human pathogens Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, and Staphylococcus aureus. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of AgNPs against selected pathogenic bacteria were determined. OPE-AgNPs exhibited strong antioxidant activity in terms of ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) radical scavenging (IC50 49.6 μg/mL) and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging (IC50 63.4 μg/mL). OPE-AgNPs showed dose-dependent response against rat glial tumor C6 cells (LD50 60 μg/mL) showing a promising potential as anticancer agents. Overall, the current investigation highlighted a cheap green technology route to synthesize AgNPs using OPE byproducts and could potentially be utilized in biomedical, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industry.

The current investigation highlighted a novel cost-effective green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Argyreia nervosa leaves extract (ANE) as a potential reducing and capping agent. Surface plasmon resonance confirmed the formation of AgNPs with maximum absorbance at λ max = 435 nm. FTIR revealed the involvement of biological macromolecules of ANE in the synthesis and stabilization of AgNPs. HRTEM images showed that the size of the spherical AgNPs ranged between 5 and 40 nm with average particle size of about 15 nm. The ANE-AgNPs showed inhibition activity against carbohydrate digestive enzymes α-amylase and α-glucosidase, with EC50 of 55.5 and 51.7 µg/mL, respectively, indicating its antidiabetic potential. The in vitro antioxidant activity of ANE-AgNPs was evaluated in terms of ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) free radicals scavenging assays with IC50 value of 44.3 and 55.9 µg/mL, respectively. The AgNPs displayed strong antibacterial activity against foodborne bacteria with zone of inhibition 16.0 and 12.5 mm for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively, and also exhibited strong synergistic antibacterial activity together with standard antibiotics. The biological activity in terms of antioxidant, antidiabetic and antibacterial potential could be useful in various bio-applications such as cosmetics, food, and biomedical industry.

Sesamol is a phenol derivative of sesame oil and a potent anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-hepatotoxic, and anti-aging compound. We investigated the effects of sesamol on the molecular mechanisms of adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. The intracellular lipid accumulation accompanied by increased extracellular release of free glycerol was decreased during differentiation on treating 3T3-L1 with sesamol. Sesamol treatment on 3T3-L1 inhibited adipogenic differentiation by down-regulating adipogenesis-related factors (C/EBPα, PPARγ, and SREBP-1). Lipid accumulation was repressed by decreasing fatty acid synthase and by up-regulating lipolysis-response genes (HSL and LPL). The molecular mechanisms of sesamol-induced inhibition in adipogenesis were mediated by increased levels of phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase and its substrate acetyl-CoA carboxylase. Sesamol treatment, in turn, modulated the different members of the mitogenactivated protein kinase family by suppressing phosphorylation of ERK 1/2 and JNK and by increasing the phosphorylation of p38. In summary, sesamol inhibits adipogenic differentiation by reducing phosphorylation levels of ERK 1/2 and JNK while inducing lipolysis by activating p38 and AMPK. Our results demonstrate that the molecular mechanisms of in vitro anti-obesity effects of sesamol are due to the combined effects of preventing both lipid accumulation and adipogenesis.

Cancer accounts for a number of deaths each year. Consequently, prevention of this deadly disease is more challenging and hence the invention of new anticancer agents is of utmost importance. The current review elaborates the importance of indole designs as patented in the form of anticancer druglike molecules targeting different cites of biological arena. Specific attention was given to kinases such as platelet-derived growth factor receptor, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor and fibroblast growth factor receptor, Bruton's tyrosine kinase, anaplastic lymphoma kinase, Janus kinase, cyclin-dependent kinase aurora kinases A, B and C, checkpoint kinases, protein kinase R, Pim kinases, phosphoinositide 3- kinase, altered proteins kinases, polo-like kinase and many more. Moreover, the article summarizes the mode of action through the particular functions of kinases and the inhibitory potential of indole derivatives toward specific kinase. Certain patents gathered in the existing review article suggest that indole core can be a versatile foundation to discover drug-like kinase inhibitor molecules and modification of substituents existing on the indole moiety may have important impact on the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics aspects of the resultant scaffolds. The information presented here would gather a great deal of interest to identify the new molecular designs bearing indole nucleus presenting novel anticancer drugs with a wide variety of biological targets involved in cancer pathology focusing on the inhibition of tyrosine kinases, serine/threonine-specific protein kinases, cyclin-dependent kinases, lipid kinases and altered protein kinases.

Fermentation has been applied since antiquity as a way to preserve foodstuff or as a necessary step in the production of a variety of products. The research was initially focused on accurate description of production procedure and identification of parameters that may affect the composition and dynamics of the developing micro-communities, since the major aim was standardization and commercial exploitation of the products. Soon it was realized that consumption of these products was associated with an array of health benefits, such as anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-carcinogenic and anti-allergenic activities. These were credited to the microorganisms present in the fermented products as well as their metabolic activities and the bio-transformations that took place during the fermentation process. Aging has been defined as a gradual decline in the physiological function and concomitantly homeostasis, which is experienced by all living beings over time, leading inevitably to age-associated injuries, diseases, and finally death. Research has focused on effective strategies to delay this process and thus increase both lifespan and well-being. Fermented food products seem to be a promising alternative due to the immunomodulatory effect of microorganisms and elevated amounts of bioactive compounds. Indeed, a series of anti-aging related benefits have been reported, some of which have been attributed to specific compounds such as genistein and daidzein in soybeans, while others are yet to be discovered. The present article aims to collect and critically discuss all available literature regarding the anti-aging properties of fermented food products.

Medicinal herbs are one of the imperative sources of drugs all over the world. Star anise (Illicium verum), an evergreen, medium-sized tree with star-shaped fruit, is an important herb with wide distribution throughout southwestern parts of the Asian continent. Besides its use as spice in culinary, star anise is one of the vital ingredients of the Chinese medicinal herbs and is widely known for its antiviral effects. It is also the source of the precursor molecule, shikimic acid, which is used in the manufacture of oseltamivir (Tamiflu®), an antiviral medication for influenza A and influenza B. Besides, several other molecules with numerous biological benefits including the antiviral effects have been reported from the same plant. Except the antiviral potential, star anise possesses a number of other potentials such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal, anthelmintic, insecticidal, secretolytic, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective, sedative properties, expectorant and spasmolytic, and estrogenic effects. This review aimed to integrate the information on the customary attributes of the plant star anise with a specific prominence on its antiviral properties and the phytochemical constituents along with its clinical aptness.

In the past few decades, rapid industrialization led to increasing the demand for textile products which leads to increase in water pollution. Effluent released by the textile industry pose a threat to environmental safety throughout the world. Bioremediation approaches could be considered as an efficient and effective way to treat textile effluent relative to existing physical and chemical methods. This book chapter describes various methods used to treat textile industry wastewater. Bioremediation approaches using live cells system, enzymes, and phytoremediation approaches and their detailed mechanisms have also been discussed. Further discussion on the various types of the bioreactors employed to treat textile industry wastewater at large scale is summarized. The performance of the system and their key challenges and future technological aspects are also briefly discussed. The aim of this chapter is to provide an overview of bioremediation approaches to resolve issues related to textile industry wastewater and to minimize pollution and control their associated effects on the environment.

Quality of beef and detect changes in freshness during storage was evaluated using freshness indicator. The freshness indicator can indicate spoilage or freshness of the packaged product through color changes directly detected by the naked eye. We also monitored changes in pH, 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, volatile basic nitrogen, and total bacterial count. A change in the color of the indicator reflects the pH of the headspace of the beef packaging. Beef was stored at 20 °C for 24 h, after which the color of the freshness indicator changed. Results of color change from freshness indicator are similar to quality parameters including chemical, microbiological, and sensory evaluation that are commonly used to characterize the freshness of beef. The results show that this freshness indicator is useful for determining the shelf life of beef products by monitoring physicochemical changes and microbial safety.

Cacao (Theobroma cacao) has a significant polyphenol content and has been reported to elicit anti-obesity effects. Previous studies have focused on the properties of cacao extract and procyanidins, while the potential mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Here, we investigated the inhibitory effects of procyanidin metabolites on adipogenic cocktail-induced adipogenesis and lipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. It was observed that 5-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)-γ-valerolactone (DHPV), a major procyanidin metabolite, exhibited the greatest inhibitory effects on adipogenesis and lipogenesis. DHPV dose-dependently reduced the expression levels of proteins involved in adipogenesis including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR γ) and CCAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBP α), as well as lipogenesis-related factors such as fatty acid synthase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase. These inhibitory effects were primarily due to G1 phase arrest and the suppression of cell proliferation during mitotic clonal expansion, the early stage of adipogenesis. In an extensive kinase array, DHPV directly suppressed activation of the CDK2/cyclin O complex, and inhibited the phosphorylation of C/EBP β, which is responsible for the induction of PPAR γ and C/EBP α. Taken together, these findings suggest that DHPV is a highly biologically active compound with potential anti-obesity effects and works by inhibiting the intracellular lipid content and cell differentiation.

Background Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.(Ib) has high content of various beneficial nutrients which helps in improving and maintaining human health. It is well known as a functional food and also a valuable source of unique natural products. It contains various phenolic and flavonoid bioactive compounds. Methods In this study, using the outer peel of two varieties of Ib : Korean red skin sweet potato and Korean pumpkin sweet potato, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized (termed Ib1-AgNps and Ib2-AgNps), respectively. Characterization of Ib1-AgNPs and Ib2-AgNPs was carried out through scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray powder diffraction and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Further, the bio-potential of the synthesized AgNPs was investigated by antidiabetic (α-glucosidase assay), antioxidant (free radical scavenging assays), antibacterial (disc diffusion method) and cytotoxicity assays (cell viability against HepG2 cells). Results FT-IR spectroscopy revealed the contribution of bioactive compounds existing in Ib1 and Ib2 extracts, in the biosynthesis and equilibrium of the AgNPs. Although the Ib2-AgNPs had a higher atomic percentage of Ag in comparison with Ib1-AgNPs, in the antidiabetic assay, the inhibition percentage of α-glucosidase was higher for AgNPs of Ib1 than Ib2, at all three concentrations examined. From the cytotoxicity results, HepG2 cancer cells were more sensitive to the Ib1-AgNPs in comparison to the Ib2-AgNPs-treated HepG2 cells. The antioxidant prospective was higher in Ib2-AgNPs than Ib1-AgNPs. Moreover, the Ib2-AgNPs showed inhibitory action against all five tested pathogenic bacteria, producing an inhibition zone of 8.74–11.52 mm while Ib1-AgNPs had an inhibitory effect on four of them, with an 8.67–11.23 (mm) inhibition zone. Conclusions Overall, the results concluded that the Ib2-AgNPs exhibited relatively higher functional activity than Ib1-AgNPs, which might be credited to the greater abundance of bioactive compounds existing in Ib2 extract that acted as reducing as well as capping agents in the synthesis of Ib2-AgNPs. Overall, the current study highlights a novel cost-effective and eco-friendly AgNPs synthesis using food waste peels with biocompatibility and could be potentially utilized in biomedical and pharmaceutical industries.

Red Ginseng is well-known functional food in Asia which is produced by steaming and drying fresh ginseng (Panax ginseng). In the production of red ginseng extract, around 65% of the original material is left over as by-product and discarded. Most studies on ginseng are focused on ginsenosides. Many functional substances other than ginsenoside are found in red ginseng, but they have not been studied and are usually discarded. Acidic polysaccharides, which are functional polysaccharides found in the by-product of red ginseng, can be utilized as excellent high-value-added material. In this study, we developed red ginseng by-product polysaccharides (RGBPs) by applying an enzyme-linked high-pressure process (ELHPP). We have demonstrated the antioxidant, anti-aging, and anti-atopic dermatitis efficacy of ELHPP-RGBPs in this study. In acute oral toxicity and skin irritation tests, ELHPP-RGBPs were found to be very low in toxicity. ELHPP-RGBPs inhibited solar ultraviolet-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) protein through activator protein-1 (AP-1), a major transcription factor for MMP-1. ELHPP-RGBP attenuated DFE-induced AD-like symptoms as assessed by skin lesion analyses, dermatitis score, and skin thickness. Taken together, these results suggest that ELHPP-RGBP may have potential as a nutraceutical ingredient for skin health. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This paper presents a new method of using ginseng by-product that has not been used and discarded. The use of polysaccharides in ginseng by-product has been shown to prevent skin wrinkles and atopic dermatitis. This is an economical new functional food material.

Two series of sulfonylpiperazines linked [1,3]dioxolo[4,5-g]chromenones were synthesized featuring phenyl (7a-k) and chalcone (12a-k) bridge representing flavones or homoisoflavonoids core. New molecules are synthesized utilizing aldol condensation to inspect as antioxidants against DPPH and ABTS + and antiproliferative agents toward selected human cancer cell lines. Cytotoxicity of new compounds was confirmed using SRB assay against non-cancer MDCK cell line. The results concluded that both individual structures of 7 and 12 were vital for modulating pharmacological potencies and presence of different electron withdrawing and electron donating functional group(s) on the phenylsulfonyl entity yielded varied biological effects. Substituent h (OCF3) and j, k (OCH3) were found to play a crucial role scavenging DPPH and ABTS + as well as inhibiting cancer cell lines SK-OV-3 and HT-29. Moreover, molecules bearing halogen atom(s) such as substituent b-g expressed excellent inhibitory potential against HeLa and A-549 cancerous cell lines. Bioassay data displayed some interesting structure-activity relationships which are discussed in this paper. The results justified that tested derivatives are promising antioxidants and cytotoxic agents and warrant further structural optimization and bioassay studies. Spectroscopic techniques such as FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and elemental analysis (CHN) were carried out to confirm the final structures.

Lignin, is the most abundant, renewable and degradable biopolymer available in the nature. The present study exploited purified lignin from wheat straw as reducing, capping and stabilizing agent for the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Li-AgNPs) under optimized conditions. The analytical studies revealed synthesized Li-AgNPs having a face centered cubic crystalline structure, size ranging ~15–20 nm and the biomolecules comprising majorly phenolic, hydroxyl and carboxylic group of lignin coated on the surface of AgNPs. Li-AgNPs showed significant antimicrobial efficacy against human pathogens namely; Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and also determined their minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentration (MIC and MBC). Li-AgNPs also displayed substantial antioxidant activity in terms of well-known enzyme marker viz.; ABTS and DPPH free radical scavenging assay relative to commercial AgNPs. In vitro cytotoxicity assay of Li-AgNPs demonstrated dose-dependent toxicity effects in SKOV3 ovarian cancer cell line (LD50; 150 μg/mL) indicative of promising anticancer agent. Further, H2O2 sensing ability of stabilized Li-AgNPs exhibited its vital role in determining reactive oxygen species. Synthesis of Li-AgNPs is a cheap green technology and could exhibit its commercial use in biomedical, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industry.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are appealing as an important alternative to replace synthetic plastics owing to its comparable physicochemical properties to that of synthetic plastics, and biodegradable and biocompatible nature. This review gives an inclusive overview of the current research activities dealing with PHA production by utilizing different waste fluxes generated from food, milk and sugar processing industries. Valorization of these waste fluxes makes the process cost effective and practically applicable. Recent advances in the approaches adopted for waste treatment, fermentation strategies, and genetic engineering can give insights to the researchers for future direction of waste to bioplastics production. Lastly, synthesis and application of PHA-nanocomposites, research and development challenges, future perspectives for sustainable and cost-effective PHB production are also discussed. In addition, the review addresses the useful information about the opportunities and confines associated with the sustainable PHA production using different waste streams and their evaluation for commercial implementation within a biorefinery.

In the food processing environment, Listeria monocytogenes has the ability to persist on the surfaces, resulting in serious safety concerns. This study aimed to determine the anti-biofilm activity of N-Mannich bases of berberine linking piperazine (MBP) against L. monocytogenes. Among the MBPs used in this study, MBP5 and MBP6 (200 μg/mL) showed a significant decrease in the L. monocytogenes biofilm on the surface of polystyrene at low (4 °C) and high (37 °C) temperatures (approximately ≥ 50% reduction). Both MBPs also reduced the L. monocytogenes biofilm on the surface of stainless steel at low and high temperatures (approximately ≥ 1 log CFU/cm2 reduction). According to fluorescence and scanning electron microscopic analyses, both MBPs prevented the clustered and aggregated forms of L. monocytogenes, which are typical biofilm characteristics; thus, suggesting that both MBPs effectively reduced the L. monocytogenes biofilm. In addition, XTT reduction and ATP production clearly showed that the viability of L. monocytogenes was obviously decreased in the presence of MBP5 and MBP6. Collectively, these results suggest that MBP5 and MBP6 might be used as promising anti-biofilm agents to prevent the L. monocytogenes biofilm.

In this study, Lysinibacillus sp. RGS was evaluated to synthesize polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) from a broad range of pure carbon sources and residual sugars of chemically pretreated sugarcane bagasse (SCB) hydrolysates. Effects of supplementation of nutrients and various experimental variables to enhance PHB accumulation were investigated. Results of optimized parameters were identified as 48 h, 37 °C, pH 7; inoculums concentration (2.5% v/v) and shaking condition (100 rpm). Growth kinetics and bioprocess parameters of Lysinibacillus sp. using SCB hydrolysates with corn steep liquor (2%) accounted for the maximum cell growth (8.65 g/L) and PHA accumulation (61.5%) with PHB titer of (5.31 g/L) under optimal conditions. The produced biopolymer was studied by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and the results revealed the obtained to be PHB. Thus Lysinibaciluus sp. exhibits high potential in industrial scale manufacture of PHB using SCB as an inexpensive substrate.

A method has been developed and validated for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the electronic liquid/gas (e-liquid/e-gas) of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and ignitable/non-ignitable smokeless cigarettes by high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection. The proposed method was further applied to detect the presence of PAHs in 16 commercially available smoking cessation aids. The analytical method for benz [a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo [b]fluoranthene, benzo [k]fluoranthene, benzo [a]pyrene, dibenz [a,h]anthracene, and benzo [g,h,i]perylene (BghiP) was validated in terms of linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, recovery (%), accuracy (%), and precision (%). Results showed low levels of PAHs in all samples, except for the non-ignitable cigarettes. In particular, BghiP was detected in e-liquid even though a mixture of food-grade propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin was used, and at least one PAH was present in the e-gas of all e-cigarettes, except for one. From these results, it is necessary to prepare an accurate quantitative analysis method and investigate unexpected hazardous materials generated from smoking cessation aids to prevent health problems and provide the scientific basis for safety management.

There is much interest in the fishery industry in developing freshness indicator which can reflect the storage history of products and their quality. Freshness is one of the main considerations for the fishery industry and consumption. In this study, a freshness indicator of fish products, especially skate (Raja kenojei), was developed. The release of amines especially ammonia from decomposing fish is concentrated in headspace and they can be detected by pH-sensitive sensor unit. The sensor unit was organized with polymer matrix solution, which contains bromothymol blue-phenol red as pHsensitive dye to monitor visible color changes from yellow to purple. We investigated the sensor unit formulation, which responds to the ammonia formation in fish products. The color change of the sensor unit was evaluated as well as the selection of the proper weight of fish products and packaging material. Results will be useful to establish a basis for development of a freshness indicator and to determine the suitability of freshness indicator formulations for intelligent food packaging applications.

A gas freshness indicator consisting of the pH-sensitive dye bromothymol blue-phenol red (BTB-PR) was investigated for visible color changes of fish product quality based on the quantity of volatile amines. Chromaticity values of the gas indicator accurately tracked an increase in the ammonia content in the packaging headspace of fish products, especially skate (Raja kenojei). Gradual color changes of the gas indicator response correlated with the quality of fish including pH values during storage. Ammonia content was evaluated during the fish storage using headspace solid-phase microextraction analysis with gas chromatography-flame ionization detection. The validation results suggested that good linearity (R²=0.99) and recovery of 84.00%. The limits of detection and quantification were 8.70 and 26.30 mg/L, respectively. A pH values of skate and chromaticity of gas indicator were measured and the correlation with ammonia content was evaluated. Results of this study could prove the application of gas indicator as intelligent package for improvement of food safety.

The Seven Sister states of northeast India are characterized by diverse population with different ethnic backgrounds. Indigenous and fermented foods are an intrinsic part of diet of these ethnic tribes. It is the oldest and most economical methods for development of a diversity of aromas, flavors, and textures as well as for food preservation and biological enrichment by manipulation of different microbial populations. Wild fruits and vegetables have more nutritional value than cultivated fruits and contribute to sustainable food production and security. Fermented products are region-specific and have their own unique substrates and preparation methods. Soybeans, bamboo shoots, and locally available vegetables are commonly fermented by most tribes. Fermented alcoholic beverages prepared in this region are unique and bear deep attachment with socio-cultural lives of local people. These products serve as a source of income to many rural people, who prepare them at home and market them locally. Detai...

Spent coffee grounds (SCG) are an important waste product millions of tons generated from coffee consumption and could be effectively utilized for various applications due to their high organic content. SCG can be used as a potential feedstock to develop coffee-based biorefinery towards value-added products generation through various biotechnological processes. Considerable developments have been reported on emerging SCG-based processes/products in various environmental fields such as removal of heavy metals and cationic dyes and in wastewater treatment. In addition, SCG are also utilized to produce biochar and biofuels. This review addressed the details of innovative processes used to produce polymers and catalysts from SCG. Moreover, the application of these developed products is provided and future directions of the circular economy for SCG utilization.

Equisetum arvense is well known to hold numerous bioactive phytochemicals. In biosynthesis of nanoparticles (NPs), the bioactive compounds existing in natural materials like medicinal fern act as reducing and capping elements and this NPs synthesis process do not comprise of any toxic elements making them advantageous from other NPs synthesis process. After collection, identification and extraction of Equisetum arvense (Ea) aqueous extract, the biosynthesis of AgNPs was achieved followed by its characterization and multi-biopotential activity studies. The UV–visible spectroscopy, confirmed the biosynthesis of Ea-AgNPs. X-ray diffraction configurations (XRD) identified the crystalline nature of the NPs. The Elemental composition of the NPs was elucidated by the energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the structure of Ea-AgNPs. Bioactive compounds existing in Ea-extract accounting for Ag + ion reduction, capping and stabilization of NPs was detected by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and the zeta potential was carried out to know the size and charge of Ea-AgNPs. The Ea-AgNPs exhibited high antidiabetic effect in terms of α-glucosidase inhibition, high cytotoxic effect against HepG2 cell lines along with antibacterial and antioxidant effect. This study reports biosynthesis of Ea-AgNPs using aqueous extract of Ea, its substantial anticancer, antidiabetic, antioxidant and antibacterial effects, which could be advantageous to pharmaceutical industries in the controlling of various diseases including diabetes, cancer, and antibacterial related diseases.

A potential natural melanogenesis inhibitor was discovered in the form of a sesquiterpene isolated from the flowers of Inula britannica, specifically 6-O-isobutyrylbritannilactone (IBL). We evaluated the antimelanogenesis effects of IBL on B16F10 melanocytes and zebrafish embryos. As a result, we found that 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX)-induced melanin production was reduced in a dose-dependent manner in B16F10 cells by IBL. We also analyzed B16F10 cells that were and were not treated with IBMX, investigating the melanin concentration, tyrosinase activity, mRNA levels. We also studied the protein expressions of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase, and tyrosinase-related proteins (TRP1, and TRP2). Furthermore, we found that melanin synthesis and tyrosinase expression were also inhibited by IBL through the modulation of the following signaling pathways: ERK, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT, and CREB. In addition, we studied antimelanogenic activity using zebrafish embryos and found that the embryos had significantly reduced pigmentation in the IBL-treated specimens compared to the untreated controls.

This study investigated a one-pot green and sustainable silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesis by utilizing Portulaca oleracea leaves (PNL) aqueous extract as a reducing agent. The physical and chemical characteristics of the produced AgNPs were studied by employing numerous standard analytical techniques. The analytical outcomes suggest that PNL-AgNPs were crystalline in nature, fabricated with PNL phytochemicals, and circular in shape measuring ∼20 nm in size. Biosynthesized PNL-AgNPs exhibited a significant photocatalytic activity for degrading various reactive textile dyes without the need of any reducing agent. Particularly, of the reactive textile dyes, PNL-AgNPs exhibited higher photocatalytic degradation of Reactive Green 19A (RG19A), wherein its deterioration was studied by measuring the reduction in chemical oxygen demand (COD; 84%) and total organic carbon (TOC; 75%) within 60 min of incubation. The effects of various influencing operational factors, such as temperature, pH, light condition, photocatalyst amount, and dye concentrations, on the photocatalytic degradation of RG19A were systematically examined. The catalytic activity of PNL-AgNPs remains stable up to three repeated cycles, which upsurges the real-world applicability of PNL-AgNPs in textile wastewater treatment. PNL-AgNPs showed significant antibacterial activity and synergy with commercial antibiotics against human pathogenic bacteria. The mechanism underlying antibacterial activity was determined based on bacterial cell membrane disruption and cytoplasmic content leakage. PNL-AgNPs potentially constrain the activity of α-glucosidase and α-amylase enzymes, which are marker enzymes of diabetes. The results obtained indicate the potential application of synthesized PNL-AgNPs in environmental and nano-biomedical applications.

Development of an effective pretreatment method is a vital stage to enhance biomass-based biopolymers production. The present study aims on the pretreatment of wheat waste biomass (WS) with alkaline and in combination with ultrasound (US) treatment to enhance enzymatic saccharification of WS into monomeric sugars. Effects of chemical dosage, substrate loading, US power and US pretreatment time on the pretreatment efficiency were systematically investigated. Under optimized conditions; US + NaOH pretreatment attained maximum 70% delignification of WS, with 84.5% hydrolysis yield, 90% glucose yield and 65% xylose yield after enzymatic hydrolysis (30 FPU/g of dry WS) which is substantially higher than the individual pretreatment. Analytical studies (XRD, FTIR, and SEM) revealed that the combined US + NaOH pretreatment can effectively destroyed the ultrastructure of biomass and improved the accessibility to hydrolyzing enzymes. The resulted enzymatic hydrolysates were utilized as a possible biomass feedstock for polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) production using Ralstonia eutropha. Effects of supplementation of nutrients, stressing agents and initial concentration of US + NaOH pretreated WS hydrolysates (20 to 40 g/L) on PHB production were evaluated. The maximum 74% PHA accumulation, PHB titer of 7.85 g/L and yield of PHB about 0.441 g/g of reducing sugar production was obtained. Analytical characterization and thermal characteristics of extracted biopolymer showed the poperies of standard PHB. The foregoing results suggested the potential of WS as an alternate renewable resource for sustainable biopolymer production and enables WS waste biomass disposal concerns.

Present day rising necessity for rare earth elements (REE) is of great interest for its recovery through processing various waste materials concerning both economic and environmental benefits. The present study investigates the recovery potential of yttrium from fluorescent lamp waste using a hydrometallurgical process. Leaching of metals from the waste was studied by applying acids viz. hydrochloric acid (HCl), nitric acid (HNO3) and sulfuric acid (H2SO4). Influence of various factors (solid:liquid ratio, reaction temperature, reaction time, and acid concentration) were conducted by full factorial design for the recovery of yttrium. Experimental variables such as decomposition, leaching and the oxide preparation were studied and the mechanisms responsible during the progress in each step was systematically investigated. The optimal experimental conditions attained with 40% solid/liquid ratio, at 45 °C in 0.5 h at 150 rpm, with 3N H2SO4 concentration. Whereas, HCl and HNO3 leachants showed poor performance. Leaching process conducted in this study were best suited to ‘ash diffusion control dense constant size-spherical particles model’, which means that the diffusion process through the ash is the rate regulatory step in the leaching process. With increase in the concentration of oxalic acid as precipitating agent, a reduction in the nuclear induction period resulted indicating a higher sedimentation rate and shorter equilibration time. In addition, crystal nucleation rate and crystal growth rate, showed that the reaction velocity of the crystal nucleation ‘p’ is 2.88 and the crystal growth degree and value increases with the increase in the concentration of oxalic acid (n: 0.3437–0.4872). The precipitation rate was improved with the rise in temperature (from 25 °C to 45 °C) while the sedimentation rate was found negligible above 45 °C. This detailed study methodology can be considered as a feasible process thus creating a possibility to treat fluorescent waste lamp powders for various industrial applications.

Aminoglycosides (AMGs) have been extensively used to treat infectious diseases caused by Gram-negative bacteria in livestock and humans. A selective and sensitive colorimetric probe for the determination of streptomycin and kanamycin was proposed based on chlortetracycline-coated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs&ndash, CTC) as the sensing element. Almost all of the tested aminoglycoside antibiotics can rapidly induce the aggregation of AgNPs, along with a color change from yellow to orange/red. The selective detection of aminoglycoside antibiotics, including tobramycin, streptomycin, amikacin, gentamicin, neomycin, and kanamycin, with other types of antibiotics, can be achieved by ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy. This developed colorimetric assay has ability to detect various AMGs using in-depth surface plasmon resonance (SPR) studies. With this determination of streptomycin and kanamycin was achieved at the picomolar level (pM) by using a UV&ndash, visible spectrophotometer. Under aqueous conditions, the linear range of the colorimetric sensor for streptomycin and kanamycin was 1000&ndash, 1,1000 and 120&ndash, 480 pM, respectively. The corresponding limit of detection was 2000 pM and 120 pM, respectively. Thus, the validated dual colorimetric and ratiometric method can find various analytical applications for the ultrasensitive and rapid detection of AMG antibiotics in water samples.

2&alpha, Hydroxyeudesma-4,11(13)-dien-8&beta, 12-olide (HEDO), a eudesmane-type sesquiterpene lactone belonging to large group of plant terpenoids isolated from Inula britannica, displays cytotoxic activity against diffuse large B cell lymphoma cells in vitro. However, the molecular mechanism of the anticancer effect remains unclear. In this study, we showed that HEDO inhibits cell growth by inducing apoptosis in lymphoma cell lines through its antiproliferative activity. HEDO increases the depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential and upregulated intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, we examined the cell cycle effect, and our results provided evidence that the arrest of the cell cycle at the SubG0/G1 phase plays an important role in the ability of HEDO to inhibit cell growth in Ontario Cancer Institute (OCI)-LY3 lymphoma cells by preventing nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-&kappa, B) signaling. In addition, HEDO induced apoptosis by instigating the activation of Bcl-2-associated X (BAX) and cleaved caspase-3, decreasing B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2), B-cell lymphoma-extra large (BCL-XL), and procaspase 3 expression levels. Based on these findings, we suggest that HEDO has potential as an anticancer drug of lymphoma by inducing ROS-dependent accumulation of SubG0/G1 arrest and apoptosis in OCI-LY3 cells.

The present investigation aimed to develop analytical methods to determine carbonyl compounds and nicotine and to assess the carbonyl compounds and nicotine concentrations in commercial refill solutions for electronic no-smoking aids (ENSAs). The analytical methods for carbonyl compounds and nicotine in refill solutions for ENSAs were developed and analyzed from 30 popular branded products by gas chromatography and liquid chromatography. They were then validated in terms of linearity of the calibration curve, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), accuracy (%), and precision (%). Further, the existence of carbonyl compounds and nicotine in the refill solutions for ENSAs was also evaluated. None of the samples contained nicotine, but carbonyl compounds were sensed in a concentration range from 0.9 to 11.65 μg/mL. Manufacturers of ENSA refill solutions have advertised no-smoking aids as less harmful than tobacco cigarettes and as free from harmful substances. However, carbonyl compounds were detected in all 30 samples. The investigation of ENSA refill solutions needs to be broadened to gain a better accepting of the existence of harmful materials in ENSA refill solutions and prevent unsuspected ill-health effects.

Cooking-related carcinogens are formed during the heating or processing of foods. To date, numerous studies analyzing carcinogens present in cooking ingredients or formed through different cooking methods have been conducted. However, combined risk assessment is important for practical reasons. The purpose of this study was to conduct a combined risk assessment of five cooking-related genotoxic carcinogens encompassing 25 chemicals: heterocyclic amines, acrylamide, furan, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and nitrosamines. Oral Slope Factor (OSF) and benchmark dose lower-bound confidence limit 10% (BMDL10) of the compounds were obtained from public databases, and the values for the compounds that did not have published reference values were approximated using related toxicity values. The high-risk contributing food items and cooking methods for each carcinogen were selected for the study based on the Korean Total Diet Study (TDS) and Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Exposure to the carcinogens from selected dishes per serving was estimated based on concentrations determined in TDS and consumption data gathered from 24-h recalls in the 2014 to 2016 KNHANES. The combined cancer risks were obtained by summing the risks of individual compounds in a dish, which were calculated by multiplying the OSF values by the concentrations of carcinogens per serving. The combined risks were used to compare the risk of different dishes, not to calculate the lifetime risk from the individual dishes. The risks of the dishes prepared with potatoes were found to be high, whereas namul (vegetable dish) had the lowest risk. Soup or stew dishes exhibited relatively high risks. Estimated combined risks based on BMDL10 showed similar trends, except for fried potatoes and roasted or fried meat dishes. Combined risks of cooking-related carcinogens may vary based on the major contributors of individual carcinogens. The results of this study could provide an insightful guideline for selecting menus for consumers.

The current investigation was performed to evaluate the chemical analytical techniques for PAHs (organic, carcinogenic and mutagenic compounds) in food. It also determines the content of eight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in frequently consumed fruit, vegetables, meats and their products. The methodology included saponification or ultrasonication, liquid-liquid extraction with solvents like n-hexane, clean-up using a silica solid phase extraction cartridge and a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry technique. A good linearity (R2 > 0.99) was achieved for the PAHs at different concentrations. Recovery results for PAHs extended from 88.75 to ∼100.00%. The limit of detection was 0.08–0.25 µg/kg and the limit of quantification was 0.24–0.75 µg/kg. The mean concentration (n = 3) of benzo[a]pyrene was not identified in fruits, was 0.05 µg/kg in vegetables, and 0.64 µg/kg in meat products. Overall concentration of the eight PAHs was 0.67 µg/kg in fruits, 0.82 µg/kg in vegetables, and 3.37 µg/kg in meat products.

In these studies, we analyzed substituted piperazine based berberine analogs conjugated through a pentyloxy side chain for their in vitro and in silico biological effects. All the final analogs were screened for their in vitro antiviral action against a collection of different influenza virus strains using the CPE assay and SRB assay. Moreover, their cytotoxicity towards non-cancer cell lines was examined employing Madin–Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell lines. The anti-influenza activities of berberine-piperazine derivatives (BPD) were evaluated in the range from 35.16 μg/mL to 90.25 μg/mL of the IC50s along with cytotoxicity level which was observed in the range 44.8 μg/mL to 3890.6 μg/mL of CC50s towards MDCK cells. In an effort to know the mechanism of action of BPD1-BPD23, results of Neuraminidase inhibition assay and Molecular docking studies carried out against neuraminidase as the target enzyme revealed that titled compounds are potential neuraminidase inhibitors that merge to the active site of neuraminidase, with moderate to high binding energy.

The vegetation of the Steel City (Rourkela) of Odisha, India has high ethnobotanical values by virtue of its rich floral diversity. People in the urban area are highly dependent on the plants available in and around the city for their primary needs. The present study highlights the use of local flora, explore, identification, ethnobotany and conservation of wild and cultivated plant species in the city of Rourkela, Odisha, India. It also pays heed to the proper utilization of urban flora as a way of highlighting its ethnopharmacological importance. A field survey was conducted to collect information about floral diversity in and around the city. Data on the use of plants was collected with a semi-structured questionnaire and from the peer-reviewed literature. A total of 154 plant species, belonging to 128 genera and 55 families, were identified, along with their botanical name, vernacular name, family and habitat. Of these plant species, 53 are medicinal, 43 are ornamental, and 33 are edible, while 23 are weeds. Paderia foetida and Saraca asoka fall into the RET (rare, endangered and threatened) group and are very effective against various diseases. Traditional uses of local plants in an urban area like Rourkela are very interesting. This shows that, not only rural and tribal areas are rich in useful bio-resources but so are urban or semi-urban areas. The documentation of all useful flora with ethnomedicinal potential is helpful in conserving plant biodiversity as well as in environmental studies along with potential applications in drug discovery and oriental medicine.

Flavonoids are integral components of various vegetation and in foods; consequently, they represent an inevitable part of the diet. Historical and epidemiological proof recommend that diet plans consisting of flavonoids such as quercetin have positive health benefits, especially on the heart. Flavonoids have been proven to be active against hypertension, inflammation, diabetes and vascular diseases. Quercetin exhibits significant heart related benefits as inhibition of LDL oxidation, endothelium-independent vasodilator effects, reduction of adhesion molecules and other inflammatory markers, the protective effect on nitric oxide and endothelial function under conditions of oxidative stress, prevention of neuronal oxidative and inflammatory damage and platelet antiaggregant effects. Searching for experimental evidence to validate the cardioprotective effects of quercetin, we review here the recent detailed in vivo studies. Quercetin and its derivatives lead to an enhancement in heart features, indicating the prospective for quercetin to be used therapeutically in the treatment of cardiac diseases. Several evidence-based studies suggest mechanisms to observe cardiovascular diseases such as aging effects, hypertension, angiotensin-converting enzyme activity and endothelial-dependent and independent functions. Different animal models including human are also used to elucidate the in vivo role of quercetin in cardiovascular diseases. The role of quercetin and its derivatives may go beyond their existence in food and has potential as a lead molecule in drug development programs.

Microorganism live inside the human body and thus the human are inimitable reservoir for diverse and vibrant group of microbes. These microbial species primarily modulates the host internal environment for the edification in the host health. This spectacular symbiotic relationship is under extensive research in recent years. The significance of these organisms in various metabolic activities inside the body is very crucial. Therefore any alterations in their diversity may results in several fatal diseases and disorders. The efficacy of the classical therapy is consecutively demising with the emergence of tolerance as well as resistance to these therapeutic drugs. Henceforth, a simple, cheaper, receptive and intrinsic means for health benefactor is a vital compulsion of the present era which could be achieved by the means of probiotics. Research have proved that probiotics supplementation against various enteric pathogens has shown promising results with their exceptional ability to compete with pathogenic microbes for various purposes by initiating the activation of specific genes of localized host cells. In the current chapter, the beneficial effect of probiotics consumption in human health and medical sectors has been discussed.

This study focuses on development of calcium peroxide (CaO2) pretreatment that removes major part of lignin but retaining most of sugar components of kenaf core powder (KCP) biomass. In chemical pretreatment, usually higher loss of biomass occurs which was less during this pretreatment strategy. Supplementation of inorganic salts; manganese sulfate (MnSO4) and cobalt chloride (COCl2) in CaO2 pretreatment resulted in maximum delignification of KCP relative to individual CaO2 pretreatment. Maximum glucose yield (98%) and hydrolysis yield (80.5%) was achieved after enzymatic hydrolysis (30 FPU/g of KCP) under optimized conditions. Analytical results proved effective lignin removal and significant destruction of KCP with this pretreatment strategy. Finally, utilization of KCP enzymatic hydrolysates by developed strain Klebsiella pneumoniae KMK05 resulted in maximum 2,3-butanediol (BDO) production (10.42 g/L) and BDO titer (0.385 g/g of sugar). BDO titer achieved with KCP derived sugars were found comparable with the mixture of standard sugars which is notable.

This study was carried out to investigate contents of 8 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from frequently consumed seafood and dairy products and to evaluate their chemical analysis methods. Samples were collected from markets of 9 cities in Korea chosen as the population reference and evaluated. The methodology involved saponification, extraction with n-hexane, clean-up on Sep-Pak silica cartridges and gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry analysis. Validation proceeded on 2 matrices. Recoveries for 8 PAHs ranged from 86.87 to 103.57%. The limit of detection (LOD) 8 PAHs was 0.04~0.20 µg/kg, and limit of quantification (LOQ) of 8 PAHs was 0.12~0.60 µg/kg. The mean concentration of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) was 0.34 µg/kg from seafood and 0.34 µg/kg from dairy products. The total PAHs concentration was 1.06 µg/kg in seafood and 1.52 µg/kg in dairy products.

The antioxidant activity and oxidative stability of spice extract-added mayonnaise during storage were evaluated. Antioxidant activities of spices were evaluated using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging activity testing, along with total phenol and total flavonoid contents. Total phenol contents of ethanol extracts from rosemary, oregano, ginger, and black pepper were 19.30, 23.49, 5.97, and 8.85 mg/100 g, respectively. Total flavonoid contents were 12.11, 16.98, 2.19, and 3.58 mg/100 g, respectively. The order of the largest DPPH radical scavenging activities were vitamin C, rosemary, tocopherol, oregano, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), black pepper, and ginger. Ethanol spice extracts were effective DPPH and ABTS radical scavengers, with volatile compound formation. Antioxidant activity testing showed a relationship between antioxidant activities, and total phenolic and flavonoid contents.

The effects of sesame oil (SO) on lipogenic gene expression and lipid metabolism were observed. One percent of SO was added into the high-fat diet (HFD) used to feed C57BL/6 male mice for 8 weeks. SO significantly lowered adipose tissue mass than that of the high-fat control group. In addition, serum and hepatic lipid contents were markedly lower than those of the high-fat control group. Especially, the ratio of HDL/LDL was much higher than that of the HFD group. The gene expression of key lipogenic enzymes, Ppar-γ, Srebp-1c, Scd-1, Fas, Acc, Lpl, and malic enzyme, was significantly downregulated in the liver and adipose tissue of mice fed sesame oil. This study suggests that high proportion of oleic acid in SO might be strongly associated with lowering serum and hepatic lipid profile and suppressing lipogenic gene expression.

Mercury is a well-known environmental pollutant that can cause nephropathic diseases, including acute kidney injury (AKI). Although quercetin (QC), a natural flavonoid, has been reported to have medicinal properties, its potential protective effects against mercury-induced AKI have not been evaluated. In this study, the protective effect of QC against mercury-induced AKI was investigated using biochemical parameters, new protein-based urinary biomarkers, and a histopathological approach. A 250 mg/kg dose of QC was administered orally to Sprague-Dawley male rats for 3 days before administration of mercury chloride (HgCl2). All animals were sacrificed at 24 h after HgCl2 treatment, and biomarkers associated with nephrotoxicity were measured. Our data showed that QC absolutely prevented HgCl2-induced AKI, as indicated by biochemical parameters such as blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (sCr). In particular, QC markedly decreased the accumulation of Hg in the kidney. Urinary excretion of protein-based biomarkers, including clusterin, kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in response to HgCl2 administration were significantly decreased by QC pretreatment relative to that in the HgCl2-treated group. Furthermore, urinary excretion of metallothionein and Hg were significantly elevated by QC pretreatment. Histopathological examination indicated that QC protected against HgCl2-induced proximal tubular damage in the kidney. A TUNEL assay indicated that QC pretreatment significantly reduced apoptotic cell death in the kidney. The administration of QC provided significant protective effects against mercury-induced AKI.

Chemical properties of perilla oils under a variety of roasting conditions were evaluated. Roasting was performed in a hot-air roaster, with inlet air temperatures of 150–240 °C. The major fatty acid contents in perilla oil were α-linolenic, oleic, and linoleic acid. Trans-fatty acid content was 0.10–0.31 % from perilla oil under different roasting conditions. Maillard reaction products increased significantly from perilla oils exposed to higher temperatures for longer times. In particular, 2-methylpyrazine and 2,5-dimethylpyrazine were highest in the P210/30 (roasting temp. 210 °C, roasting time 30 min) and P210/30 treatments, respectively. Total benzo[a]pyrene of 0.21 µg/kg was detected in perilla oil under different roasting conditions. Evaluation of radical scavenging activity revealed that antioxidant function of perilla oil was promoted by increasing the roasting temperature of perilla seeds. As roasting temperature and time increased, the oxidative stability of perilla oils increased. The average iodine value of perilla oil under different roasting conditions was 154.23. Oxidation stability increased in the P240/20 group.