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Biopolymer electrolytes based on iota-carrageenan (I-carrageenan) with sodium trifluoromethanesulfonate (NaTf) were prepared by way of the conventional solution-casting technique. The biopolymer I-carrageenan was fixed as 1 g, and the concentration of NaTf was varied from 0.1 to 0.5 wt% in steps of 0.1 wt%. Distilled water was used as a solvent. Alternating current (AC) impedance measurements were carried out in the frequency window of 42 Hz–1 MHz. The same measurements were also carried out at different temperatures for all the prepared biopolymer samples. A maximum ionic conductivity of 2.6771 × 10−5 S/cm was obtained for the 0.3 wt% NaTf-added I-carrageenan system at room temperature. The temperature-dependent conductivity plot of the polymer electrolyte seemed to obey the Arrhenius relation. A low activation energy of 0.021 eV was observed for the sample with the highest ionic conductivity. From AC impedance data, dielectric parameters were obtained. The magnitude of the dielectric constant was found to increase with the increase in temperature. A low relaxation time was observed for the sample that possesses the maximum ionic conductivity.

This study aimed to evaluate the combined effect of κ-carrageenan and salted duck egg white powder (SDEWP) in improving the gel quality of threadfin bream surimi. Effects of κ-carrageenan at different levels (0-2 %) on gel properties of threadfin bream surimi without and with salted duck egg white powder at 3 % (protein equivalent) were investigated. A combination of 0.5 % κ-carrageenan and SDEWP increased breaking force of surimi gel by 139.7 % and deformation by 55.1 %, compared to the control (P 0.05). The expressible moisture content (EMC) was decreased by 50.0 % in the surimi gel added with 0.5 % κ-carrageenan and SDEWP. Hardness, cohesiveness, gumminess, and chewiness of surimi gel were also improved (P 0.05). However, springiness of surimi gel was not affected. SDEWP reduced proteolytic degradation in surimi gel. Surimi gel with augmented whiteness was attained when κ-carrageenan was added at higher levels. Microstructure of surimi gel shown that the gel became denser and more uniform when added with 0.5 % κ-carrageenan and SDEWP. Therefore, κ-carrageenan can be used to enhance the effectiveness of SDEWP and further improve the gel quality of threadfin bream surimi added with SDEWP.

A green and facile method for preparation of Kappa-Carrageenan or Iota-Carrageenan grafted N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide/Fe

The availability of adapted phantoms mimicking different body parts is fundamental to establishing the stability and reliability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods. The primary purpose of such phantoms is the mimicking of physiologically relevant, contrast-creating relaxation times

In the present study, the whole seaweed from Kappaphycus alvarezii (containing carrageenan) was used for preparation of bio-nanocomposite films by blending with metal oxide nanoparticles such as zinc oxide (ZnONPs), cupric oxide (CuONPs) and silicon dioxide (SiO

The human intestinal system is a complex of various anaerobes including extremely oxygen-sensitive (EOS) bacteria, some of which have been credited with significant health benefits. Among these, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, which is one of the most abundant anaerobic bacterial strains in the human intestinal tract, has been proved to be a promising probiotic for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases. However, because of its extremely sensitive nature, there are many difficulties when passing through the harsh environment of the gastrointestinal tract. Hence, in this study, a comprehensive physicochemical characterization was performed for the use of polysaccharides from several origins (hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, chitosan, low-methoxylated pectin, kappa-carrageenan, sodium alginate and pullulan) as encapsulating agents to protect and deliver this bacterium. First, the apparent viscosity and surface tension of the polymer solutions were tested. Then, the mechanical properties, water vapor and oxygen barrier properties of these biopolymers as self-standing films were investigated. Lastly, in vitro release profiles of small molecules and bacterial cells from these biopolymer matrices in contact with a simulated gastrointestinal tract were evaluated. The results showed that chitosan, low-methoxylated pectin, kappa-carrageenan, sodium alginate and pullulan films exhibited good oxygen barrier properties to protect EOS probiotics. Among all the biopolymers tested, sodium alginate exhibited the best oxygen barrier properties and release profile. The release kinetics can be modulated by several factors including biopolymer type, plasticizer concentration and active molecules or bacteria to be encapsulated. On that basis and integrating the other parameters analyzed, a multicriteria strategy for probiotic encapsulation was proposed.

Enteromorpha prolifera belonging to the chlorophyta phylum is the main pollutant of "green tide", and propagates rapidly in recent years. However, there is almost no high-value enteromorpha treatment method at present. This study aimed to extract cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) from enteromorpha and prepare the CNC reinforced films based on alginate, carrageenan and shellac for food packaging. The effects of alginate, κ-carrageenan, cellulose nanocrystals and glycerin on the CNC reinforced alginate/carrageenan films (AC films) properties were studied systematically in this work. The results showed that the mechanical properties, swelling properties, and barrier properties of the AC could be adjusted by the concentrations of the different components. In addition, response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the formula of the AC used for food packaging according to the requirements of the practical application. Furthermore, in order to further improve the food packaging capacity of the composite films, shellac was added to the optimized alginate/carrageenan films (OAC films) to obtain the shellac optimized alginate/carrageenan films (SOAC films). Finally, the OAC films and SOAC films showed excellent properties to extend the storage time of chicken breast and cherry tomatoes in the food storage experiment.

Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of gelatin/κ-carrageenan crosslinked polyacrylic acid hydrogel (GT-CAG-cl-polyAA) and graphene oxide incorporated hydrogel nanocomposite (GO

The aim of this study is to elucidate the relationship between the network structure of κ-carrageenan hydrogels and their mechanical properties. First κ-carrageenan hydrogels have been prepared at different gelation concentrations, and then the mechanical behavior during four cyclic deformations has been examined at the same κ-carrageenan concentration. Young's modulus is higher for the gel prepared at 5 gL

Amphibian skin is acknowledged to contain an antioxidant system composed of various gene-encoded antioxidant peptides, which exert significant effects on host defense. Nevertheless, recognition of such peptides is in its infancy so far. Here, we reported the antioxidant properties and underlying mechanism of a new antioxidant peptide, brevinin-1FL, identified from Fejervarya limnocharis frog skin. The cDNA sequence encoding brevinin-1FL was successfully cloned from the total cDNA of F. limnocharis and showed to contain 222 bp. The deduced mature peptide sequence of brevinin-1FL was FWERCSRWLLN. Functional analysis revealed that brevinin-1FL could concentration-dependently scavenge ABTS+, DPPH, NO, and hydroxyl radicals and alleviate iron oxidation. Besides, brevinin-1FL was found to show neuroprotective activity by reducing contents of MDA and ROS plus mitochondrial membrane potential, increasing endogenous antioxidant enzyme activity, and suppressing H2O2-induced death, apoptosis, and cycle arrest in PC12 cells which were associated with its regulation of AKT/MAPK/NF-κB signal pathways. Moreover, brevinin-1FL relieved paw edema, decreased the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, MPO, and malondialdehyde (MDA), and restored catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity plus glutathione (GSH) contents in the mouse injected by carrageenan. Together, these findings indicate that brevinin-1FL as an antioxidant has potent therapeutic potential for the diseases induced by oxidative damage. Meanwhile, this study will help us further comprehend the biological functions of amphibian skin and the mechanism by which antioxidants protect cells from oxidative stress.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is an inducible enzyme that accelerates the biosynthesis of PGs during inflammation and has emerged as an important therapeutic target for anti-inflammatory drugs. Natural compounds may serve as a source of inspiration for pharmaceutical chemists and a foundation for developing innovative COX-2 inhibitors with fewer side effects. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify the potent COX-2 inhibitor and anti-inflammatory activity of the Fimbristylis aestivalis whole plant extract (FAWE). The plant extract was found dominant with rosmarinic acid followed by catechin hydrate, syringic acid, rutin hydrate, (-) epicatechin, quercetin, myricetin, and catechol. FAWE exhibited considerable dose-dependent analgesic efficacy in all analgesic test models. FAWE also showed promising anti-inflammatory potential in carrageenan-induced inflammations in mice. This result was corroborated by molecular docking, revealing that the aforesaid natural polyphenols adopt the same orientation as celecoxib in the COX-2 active site. On the other hand, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed between the most abundant components (rosmarinic acid, catechin hydrate, and syringic acid) and COX-2. Based on hydrogen bonding, RMSD, RMSF, radius of gyration, PCA, and Gibbs free energy landscape analysis, the results demonstrated that these compounds are very stable in the active site of COX-2, indicating substantial COX-2 inhibitory activity.

HYPOTHESIS: The measurement of interfacial viscoelastic moduli provides information on the ability of surface-active agents to texture the interface. However, the contribution of the bulk rheology cannot be ignored in particular when the continuous phase exhibits a gel-like behavior, even with low modulus.EXPERIMENTS: Between 2 and 6 g/L, κ-carrageenan aqueous solutions have no significant activities at interfaces. At low concentrations or high temperatures, they behave like Newtonian liquids. Upon heating or cooling, a reversible liquid/gel transition appears with a hysteresis where the rheological behavior can be easily modulated by adjusting κ-carrageenan concentration. The frequency dependence of bulk and interfacial viscoelastic moduli are determined using a conventional shear rheometer and a drop tensiometer with a polyisobutene oil, respectively.FINDINGS: The effect of concentration and temperature is analyzed and the frequency dependence of interfacial moduli is correlated with those of the bulk. In presence of a gelled κ-carrageenan solutions, an elastic behavior of the interface appears and strengthens as the elastic modulus of the suspended phase is high. It turns out that the oscillating pendant drop method could be a sensitive indicator of the presence of very weak gels, even hardly detected by a shear classical rheometry.

Senior populations may experience nutritional deficiencies due to physiological changes that occur during aging, such as swallowing disorders, where easy-to-swallow foods are required to increase comfort during food consumption. In this context, the design of nanoemulsion-based gels (NBGs) can be an alternative for satisfying the textural requirements of seniors. This article aimed to develop NBGs with different gelling agents, evaluating their physical properties. NBGs were prepared with a base nanoemulsion (d = 188 nm) and carrageenan (CA) or agar (AG) at two concentrations (0.5–1.5% w/w). The color, rheology, texture, water-holding capacity (WHC) and FT-IR spectra were determined. The results showed that the CA-based gels were more yellow than the AG ones, with the highest hydrocolloid concentration. All gels showed a non-Newtonian flow behavior, where the gels’ consistency and shear-thinning behavior increased with the hydrocolloid concentration. Furthermore, elastic behavior predominated over viscous behavior in all the gels, being more pronounced in those with AG. Similarly, all the gels presented low values of textural parameters, indicating an adequate texture for seniors. The FT-IR spectra revealed non-covalent interactions between nanoemulsions and hydrocolloids, independent of their type and concentration. Finally, the CA-based gels presented a higher WHC than the AG ones. Therefore, NBG physical properties can be modulated according to gelling agent type in order to design foods adapted for seniors.

Aim: The reactions were carried out by one pot three-component synthesis, 3- cyanoacetylindole (1) on reaction with aromatic aldehydes (2) and β-naphthol (3) in an aqueous medium in the presence of L-proline as a catalyst under reflux for 30 min, resulting in (3-amino-1- phenyl-1H-benzo[f]chromen-2-yl) (1H-indol-3-yl)methanone (4). The method has many advantages like short reaction times, good yields, and simple workup procedure, besides being green in nature. Pharmacological evaluation of title compounds was done for anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. Anti-inflammatory activity was carried carrageenan-induced paw edema model in which indomethacin was used as standard and analgesic activity was evaluated by eddy's hot plate method using diclofenac as standard drug. Background: Benzopyrans or chromenes are an important class of heterocyclic compounds due to their broad spectrum of biological activity and a wide range of applications in medicinal chemistry. The chromene moiety is found in various natural products with interesting biological properties. Chromenes constitute the basic backbone of various types of polyphenols and are widely found in alkaloids, tocopherols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. Indoles are omnipresent in various bioactive compounds like alkaloids, agrochemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Objective: The objective of this study is to synthesize one-pot stepwise Green synthesis, antiinflammatory and analgesic activities of 3-amino-1-phenyl-1H-benzo[f]chromen-2-yl) (1H-indol-3- yl) methanones. Methods: The acute anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated by carrageenan-induced mice paw edema (Ma Rachchh et al., 2011). Edema was induced by injecting carrageenan (1% w/v, 0.1 ml) in the right hind paw of mice. The test compounds 1-12, indomethacin (10 mg/kg), and the vehicle were administered orally one hour before injection of carrageenan. Paw volume was measured with a digital plethysmometer at 0, 30, 60, 90, 120 min after injection. Percentage increase =A-B/ A *100 Results: Carrageenan induced paw edema model was used for anti-inflammatory activity in which animals treated with standard (indomethacin) and test compounds showed a significant decrease in the paw edema. Analgesic activity was estimated using Eddy’s hot plate method; animals were treated with standard (diclofenac) and test compounds showed a significant increase in the reaction time. Conclusion: A green, one-pot, step-wise and three-component synthesis of 3-amino-1-phenyl-1Hbenzo[ f]chromen-2-yl) (1H-indol-3-yl) methanone was achieved by using water as a solvent, Lproline as catalyst under reflux conditions. The reactions were carried out in eco-friendly conditions with shorter reaction times, easier workup, and high yields. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by carrageenan-induced paw edema model, where significant anti-inflammatory activity is shown by all the test compounds 4(a-l) compared to standard drug. Analgesic activity was studied by Eddy’s Hot plate method and Test compounds 4e, 4f, 4h, 4i, 4j, 4k, 4l showed significant activities compared to the reference drug.

Bupivacaine hydrochloride (BVC) represents an option to produce long-lasting analgesia, and complexation in cyclodextrins has shown improvements in biopharmaceutical properties. This study aimed to characterize and test the cytotoxicity and antinociceptive effects of BVC complexed in sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin (SBEβCD). The kinetics and stoichiometry of complexation and BVC-SBEβCD association constant were evaluated by phase solubility study and Job's plot. Evidence of the BVC-SBEβCD complex formation was obtained from scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The cytotoxicity was evaluated in keratinocyte (HaCaT) and neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y). Antinociceptive effects were registered via orofacial pain models: the formalin test, carrageenan-induced hyperalgesia, and postoperative pain (intraoral incision). The complex formation occurred at a 1:1 BVC-SBEβCD molar ratio, with a low association constant (13.2 M

The complex behavior of the crude hordein with ι-carrageenan (Car) as a function of pH (11.0-3.0) and Hordein/Car mass ratios (20:1-1:1, w/w) was studied through zeta potential analysis, turbidimetric titration and SDS-PAGE. By preferential binding with Car, B-hordein was isolated from the crude hordein at pH

The swelling ability of kappa-carrageenan (KC) hydrogels was investigated in simulated body fluid (SBF). The SBF mimics the ionic concentrations in the vasa deferentia of human males. The study clarifies if these hydrogels can be adjusted to occlude the vasa deferentia by swelling. For this purpose, swelling to twice the initial volume is desirable. In this study, hydrogels of different primary potassium concentrations, biopolymer concentrations and ethanol-exchanged gels, were immersed in SBF either directly or after drying (pre-dried). We measured the absolute and relative swelling degree, and the swelling rates of the gels. Extensive pre-drying leads to irreversible gel densification and absolute swelling magnitudes decrease. We found that immersion into the SBF also leads to potassium ion accumulation, and network restructuring in the hydrogels. This markedly increases the storage moduli of the gel networks. The ion content in the gel structures also directly affects the swelling speed, the fastest swelling occurred in ethanol-exchanged and pre-dried gels. We found that by pre-drying and potassium content adjustment, swelling of the hydrogels is sufficient to render KC hydrogels as a possible candidate for the occlusion of the vasa deferentia.

The combination of κ-Carrageenan (KC) and konjac gum (KGM) were introduced to examine the impact on gelation and microstructural behaviors of scallop male gonads hydrolysates (SMGHs) and the involvement of intermolecular forces. In terms of G' response of SMGHs/KGM/KC, it obviously enhanced by 3.6- and 108.5-fold than controls of KGM/KC and SMGHs/KC at 0.1 Hz, accompanying increasing melting temperatures from 27.9 (KGM/KC) and 30.0 (SMGHs/KC) to 33.7°C (SMGHs/KGM/KC), respectively. Additionally, SMGHs/KGM/KC with decreasing relaxation time T

Active/intelligent packaging films were developed by incorporating purple sweetpotato anthocyanins (PSA) and purple cabbage anthocyanins (PCA) in locust bean gum/polyvinyl alcohol (LP), chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol (CP) and κ-carrageenan/polyvinyl alcohol (KP) film matrices. The joint effect of anthocyanins' source and polysaccharides' nature on the structure and functionality of the films was determined. Results showed PSA and PCA interacted with film matrices through hydrogen bonds and/or electrostatic interactions, resulting in improved film uniformity. PSA and PCA did not remarkably alter the water vapor permeability and tensile strength of the films; however, significantly improved the light barrier ability, antioxidant activity, pH-sensitivity and ammonia-sensitivity of films. For the films containing the same anthocyanins (PSA or PCA), LP-based films had relatively higher light barrier ability and storage stability, while CP-based had relatively weaker color changeable ability. When PSA and PCA were immobilized in the same film matrix, the films containing PCA had higher light barrier ability and antioxidant activity than the films containing PSA. Among the films, LP-PCA film exhibited a good potential to monitor the freshness of shrimp. Results suggested the structure and functionality of the films were influenced by the source of anthocyanins and the nature of polysaccharides.

The present study investigates the anti-inflammatory, analgesic effect, and gastric disturbance of curcumin compared with celecoxib and prednisolone. Sixty male rats divided into (Group 1 and G2: control, G3, G4, and G5: orally received celecoxib, prednisolone, and curcumin respectively then received carrageenan in paw after 14 days. Edema, oxidative markers, analgesic, ulcerogenic activity, skin expression of (nuclear factor kappa-β (NF-kappaβ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin-1β (IL1β), IL 6 and IL 10) and gastric mRNA expression of (Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), interleukin 8 (IL8), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), NFκβ and Superoxide dismutase (SOD)) were measured. This result revealed that curcumin significantly improved edema, ulcerogenic, analgesic activity, and oxidative markers like celecoxib and prednisolone effect when compared with carrageenan. Curcumin significantly downregulated mRNA expression of the inflammatory markers of skin and gastric mucosae like celecoxib and prednisolone effect when compared with carrageenan. Curcumin, celecoxib, and prednisolone significantly upregulated skin (IL10) compared with carrageenan. Curcumin significantly upregulated Ho-1, SOD, and Nrf2 compared with carrageenan, celecoxib, and prednisolone. Based on the above it could conclude that curcumin displayed anti-inflammatory and analgesic with minimum gastric disturbance, unlike celecoxib and prednisolone.

Increasing trends in food safety awareness drive consumer demands for fresher healthier diets and has led to the development of low-cost pH-sensitive indicator films to evaluate deterioration levels in fresh foods. Arrowroot starch/iota-carrageenan-based films were combined with 10, 30, 50% Kyoho skin extract (KSE) to produce indicator films with halochromic abilities. The KSE indicator films were characterized based on their physico-mechanical, functional, and crystallinity properties; thermal stability; and their pH-dependent color changes in in situ anthocyanin-based monitoring of shrimp freshness. All KSE indicator films displayed compact structure under scanning electron microscope analysis and increased tensile strength, exhibited UV-vis barrier ability, and presented low water wettability. Moreover, FTIR signaled strong hydrogen bond interactions among polymers and KSE that strengthened peak crystallinity in XRD analysis and lowered weight loss at melting temperature, which indicated thermal stability of the indicator films. Furthermore, pH-sensitivity of the indicator films integrated with natural KSE anthocyanin demonstrated color changes from purple to red under acidic conditions, purple to green in an ammonium environment, and yellow appeared in high alkaline conditions. Finally, this study demonstrated the food packaging and halochromic capacity of biopolymer-based pH-sensitivity of the KSE indicator films in real-time monitoring of shrimp at room storage temperatures.

As a common used food additive, the threat of carrageenan to colon health is controversial, and is inseparable from personal eating habits. However, no detailed descriptions are available concerning the influence of different dietary patterns on the risk of carrageenan-induced colitis. In this study, we explored the risk of κ-carrageenan-induced colitis under high-sucrose or high-salt diet in mice. Intervention with carrageenan under high-sucrose diet significantly reduced colon length and induced more serious deepening of the crypts. In addition, the intake of carrageenan under high-sucrose/high-salt diet induced more serious goblet cell reduction and increased intestinal permeability. 16S rRNA sequencing and LC-MS based metabonomic approaches were conducted to explore the changes of gut microbiota and metabolites. It was found that the intake of carrageenan under high-sucrose/high-salt diet significantly reduced the abundance of anti-inflammatory bacterium and increased the abundance of harmful bacterium, which was significantly related to the decrease of anti-inflammatory metabolites in colon, such as methyl caffeate, spermine, oleanolic acid and senecionine. Overall, high-sucrose or high-salt diet increased the risk of carrageenan-induced colitis. This reminds us to maintain good eating habits, do not prefer high-sugar or high-salt foods, and try not to consume large amounts of carrageenan continuously to maintain gut health.

Natural polysaccharides are essential to a wide range of fields, including medicine, food, and cosmetics, for their various physiochemical and biological properties. However, they still have adverse effects limiting their further applications. Consequently, possible structural modifications should be carried out on the polysaccharides for their valorization. Recently, polysaccharides complexed with metal ions have been reported to enhance their bioactivities. In this paper, we synthesized a new crosslinked biopolymer based on sodium alginate (AG) and carrageenan (CAR) polysaccharides. The biopolymer was then exploited to form complexes with different metal salts including MnCl2·4H2O, FeCl3·6H2O, NiCl2·6H2O, and CuCl2·2H2O. The four polymeric complexes were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), elemental analysis, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), magnetic susceptibility, molar conductivity methods, and thermogravimetric analysis. The X-ray crystal structure of the Mn(II) complex is tetrahedral and belongs to the monoclinic crystal system with the space group P121/n1. The Fe(III) complex is octahedral and crystal data fit with the cubic crystal system with the space group Pm-3m. The Ni(II) complex is tetrahedral and crystal data correspond to the cubic crystal arrangement with the space group Pm-3m. The data estimated for the Cu(II) polymeric complex revealed that it is tetrahedral and belongs to the cubic system with the space group Fm-3m. The antibacterial study showed significant activity of all the complexes against both Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus luteus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium) pathogenic strains. Similarly, the various complexes revealed an antifungal activity against Candida albicans. The Cu(II) polymeric complex recorded a higher antimicrobial activity with an inhibitory zone reaching 4.5 cm against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria and the best antifungal effect of 4 cm. Furthermore, higher antioxidant values of the four complexes were obtained with DPPH scavenging activity varying from 73 to 94%. The two more biologically effective complexes were then selected for the viability cell assessments and in vitro anticancer assays. The polymeric complexes revealed excellent cytocompatibility with normal human breast epithelial cells (MCF10A) and a high anticancer potential with human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) which increase significantly in a dose-dependent manner.

The aim of the study was a synthesis and investigation of the dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effect of new thiourea derivatives of naproxen with selected aromatic amines and esters of aromatic amino acids. The results of the in vivo study indicate that derivatives of m-anisidine (4) and N-methyl tryptophan methyl ester (7) showed the most potent anti-inflammatory activity four hours after injection of carrageenan, with the percentage of inhibition of 54.01% and 54.12%, respectively. In vitro assays of COX-2 inhibition demonstrated that none of the tested compounds achieved 50% inhibition at concentrations lower than 100 µM. On the other hand, the aromatic amine derivatives (1–5) accomplished significant inhibition of 5-LOX, and the lowest IC50 value was observed for compound 4 (0.30 μM). High anti-edematous activity of compound 4 in the rat paw edema model, together with potent inhibition of 5-LOX, highlight this compound as a promising anti-inflammatory agent.

The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Allium species plants have been reported in studies. However, no study was found showing the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Allium scorodoprasum L. ethanolic extract (ASE) in the experimental carrageenan (Carr) induced paw edema mice model. This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of ASE in Carr-induced paw edema mice model. The polyphenolic compounds of ASE were analyzed with HPLC. A total of 30 male Balb/C mice were randomly divided into Control, Carr, Carr + Diclofenac Sodium, Carr + ASE200, Carr + ASE400, and Carr + ASE600 groups (n=5/group). The mice paw edema was induced by 0.05 ml subplantar injection of 1% Carr. Different groups of mice with Carr-induced paw edema were administered by oral gavage with 10 mg/kg Diclofenac Sodium and 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg ASE, respectively. Orally administered ASE at 400 and 600 mg/kg significantly decreased paw swelling, and serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, AST, ALT, and ALP. ASE also decreased MDA levels and total oxidant status (TOS) but increased total antioxidant status (TAS) in the liver. In addition, ASE decreased paw and liver histopathologic values and neutrophil counts in paw tissues. The results of this study showed that ASE has an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect through strong polyphenolic compounds., CÜBAP; V-093

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented health and economic crisis, highlighting the importance of developing new molecular tools to monitor and detect SARS-CoV-2. Hence, this study proposed to employ the carrageenan extracted from Gigartina skottsbergii algae as a probe for SARS-CoV-2 virus binding capacity and potential use in molecular methods. G. skottsbergii specimens were collected in the Chilean subantarctic ecoregion, and the carrageenan was extracted —using a modified version of Webber’s method—, characterized, and quantified. After 24 h of incubation with an inactivated viral suspension, the carrageenan’s capacity to bind SARS-CoV-2 was tested. The probe-bound viral RNA was quantified using the reverse transcription and reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) methods. Our findings showed that carrageenan extraction from seaweed has a similar spectrum to commercial carrageenan, achieving an excellent proportion of binding to SARS-CoV-2, with a yield of 8.3%. Viral RNA was also detected in the RT-LAMP assay. This study shows, for the first time, the binding capacity of carrageenan extracted from G. skottsbergii, which proved to be a low-cost and highly efficient method of binding to SARS-CoV-2 viral particles.

The efficient removal of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CIP) from aqueous samples using magnetic nanosorbents prepared using three sulfated polysaccharides, κ-, ι- and λ-carrageenan and an alkoxysilane agent containing a reactive epoxide ring is described. The prepared nanosorbents were characterized in detail using FTIR spectroscopy, solid-state 29Si and 13C NMR spectroscopy and elemental microanalysis. The synthesis method was more effective for incorporating higher amounts of κ-carrageenan in the siliceous shells. Although being less sulfated, κ-carrageenan is cheaper than the other carrageenan tested. The CIP adsorption was a cooperative process, well described by the Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm, with maximum adsorption capacities of 878, 969 and 865 mg/g for κ-, ι- and λ-carrageenan sorbents, respectively. Overall, the produced magnetic nanosorbents are among the best magnetic systems with high adsorptive efficiency for CIP. It is suggested that protonated CIP molecules are exchanged with ester sulfate counterions of carrageenan at the particles’ surface as the main pathway for CIP adsorption. The adsorption process was exothermic and entropically favorable for the three sorbents. However, at 298 K, the adsorption was spontaneous for κ-carrageenan-based sorbents and non-spontaneous for ι- and λ-carrageenan particles. The magnetic sorbents could be reused and maintained their ability towards CIP removal up to four cycles. The removal efficiency in wastewater was enhanced with the sorbent dose. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.] Magnetic carrageenan nanosorbents were prepared using three carrageenan polysaccharides (κ-, ι-, and λ-carrageenan). The resulting magnetic particles removed the antibiotic ciprofloxacin efficiently from ultra-pure water and wastewater samples. Magnetic features enabled the fast magnetic separation of the nanosorbents from water. published

Background: Inducible nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS) plays a key role in the progression of inflammatory diseases by accelerating the production of NO, which makes it an intriguing target to treat inflammation in complex diseases. Therefore, the search is on to develop molecules as selective iNOS inhibitors. Objective: The present work was aimed to design, synthesize and evaluate benzimidazole-coumarin coupled molecules as anti-iNOS agents through in silico and pharmacological studies. Methods: A critical study of literature reports on iNOS inhibitors led to the selection of a (un)substituted coumarin nucleus, 2-aminobenzimidazole, and a 4-atom linker as important structural components for iNOS inhibition. Two series of compounds (7-16 and 17-26) were designed and synthesized by coupling these components. The compounds were subjected to docking using iNOS (1QW4) and nNOS (1QW6) as targets. All compounds were evaluated for NO and iNOS inhibitory activities in vitro. The selected compound was finally evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity in vivo using the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema model. Results: All compounds showed moderate to good inhibition of NO and iNOS in vitro. Compound 12 was the most potent inhibitor of NO and iNOS. Hence, it was evaluated in vivo for toxicity and anti-inflammatory activity. It was found to be safe in acute toxicity studies, and effective in reducing the rat paw edema significantly. Its anti-inflammatory behaviour was similar to that of aminoguanidine, which is a selective iNOS inhibitor. Conclusion: The newly synthesized benzimidazole-coumarin hybrids may serve as potential leads for the development of novel anti-iNOS agents.

Three dimensional (3D) substrates based on natural and synthetic polymers enhance the osteogenic and mechanical properties of the bone tissue engineering scaffolds. Here, a novel bioactive composite scaffolds from polycaprolactone /kappa-carrageenan were developed for bone regeneration applications. 3D PCL scaffolds were fabricated by 3D printing method followed by coating with carboxymethyl kappa-carrageenan. This organic film was used to create calcium and strontium phosphate layers via a modified alternate soaking process in CaCl

Benzimidazole ring system is an important pharmacophore with diverse pharmacological activities. In this study, we explored the anti-arthritic effects of newly synthesized acetamide derivatives of 2-aminobenzimidazole (N1 and N2) in rats. FTIR and NMR spectroscopies were used to characterize these compounds. Carrageenan (CRG) induced paw edema model was used to test the acute anti-inflammatory activity of various doses (10, 20 and 30 mg/kg) of N1 and N2 compounds. Based on acute anti-inflammatory effects, the most potent dose of each compound was selected and investigated in complete freund's adjuvant (CFA) induced inflammatory arthritis (RA) model (n = 4 in each group). Histopathological, hematological, radiographic, and RT-qPCR analyses were performed to assess the progression or resolution of inflammatory arthritis. The tested compounds produced a dose-dependent anti-inflammatory activity against CRG induced paw inflammation and similarly reduced edema in CFA induced inflammatory arthritis model. Histopathological and X-ray analyses of ankle joints revealed minimal inflammation and normal joint structures in N1 and N2 treated groups. The tested compounds also reduced the levels of autoantibodies and restored hematological parameters. Interestingly, the tested compounds did not elevate aspartate aminotransferase and alanine transaminase levels and displayed a better safety profile than methotrexate. N1 and N2 compounds also attenuated the transcript levels of IRAK1, NF-kB1, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL17 and MMP1. In addition, N1 displayed a greater inhibition of mRNA levels of COX1, COX2, mPGES1 and PTGDS as compared to N2. Our findings demonstrate that N1 and N2 compounds possess strong anti-arthritic activity which can be attributed to the suppression of pro-inflammatory mediators.

Evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity in vivo and in vitro of cis-(±)-acetate of 4-chloro-6-(naphtalene-1-yl)-tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl) methyl 2-(2-(2,6-diclorofenylamine) phenyl (LS19). Male Swiss mice were analyzed in the paw edema, ear edema, and air pouch tests, and in vitro COX inhibition, cytotoxicity evaluation, and cytokine and nitric oxide determination tests. The compound showed effect on the carrageenan- and bradykinin-induced paw edema and capsaicin-induced ear edema tests. In addition, the compound was able to inhibit leukocyte migration to decrease the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and to increase the levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. The compound was also able to reduce levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and nitric oxide in the RAW 264.7 cell line and to inhibit COX activity. LS19 did not induce any significant changes in the viability of RAW 264.7 cells, demonstrating safety for these cell lines. The compound LS19 did not reduce the production of gastric mucus and induced a smaller increase in the extent of gastric lesions than that developed by the administration of diclofenac. In summary, the new compound proved to be safer and it had additional mechanisms compared to diclofenac.

Abstract: Cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation and the spread of cells to other tissues and remains one of the worldwide problems waiting to be solved. There are various treatment strategies for cancer, such as chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, although it varies according to its type and stage. Many chemotherapeutic agents have limited clinical use due to lack of efficacy, off-target toxicity, metabolic instability, or poor pharmacokinetics. One possible solution to this high rate of clinical failure is to design drug delivery systems that deliver drugs in a controlled and specific manner and are not toxic to normal cells. Marine systems contain biodiversity, including components and materials that can be used in biomedical applications and therapy. Biomaterials such as chitin, chitosan, alginate, carrageenan, fucoidan, hyaluronan, agarose, and ulvan obtained from marine organisms have found use in DDSs today. These polysaccharides are biocompatible, non-toxic, biodegradable, and cost-effective, making them ideal raw materials for increasingly complex DDSs with a potentially regulated release. In this review, the contributions of polysaccharides from the marine environment to the development of anticancer drugs in DDSs will be discussed.

The current study explores the effect of the extracted novel Mushroom polysaccharides and its formulation onto Alginate (Alg.)/kappa carrageenan microcapsules to exert immunotherapeutic effect upon activating gut resident natural killer cells (NK) against colon cancer. The extracted polysaccharides of Agaricus bisporus MH751906 was microcapsulated in Alg/κ-carrageenan microcapsules as an oral delivery system for colon cancer. The microcapsule is characterized by SEM, FTIR, Raman and TGA; and showed a superior acidic stability, controlled release, and thermal stability at high temperature with higher hydrogel swelling rate in colon-mimicking pH. Upon activation of human NK cells with microcapsules (

筋損傷など外観から損傷の程度が不明な場合には，過度な安静や不動状態をとる可能性がある。一方，我々は関節固定による不活動状態では組織損傷を伴わない疼痛が生じることを報告している。これらを合わせて考えると，損傷後の不必要な安静・固定も疼痛発生や損傷からの回復に影響を及ぼす可能性がある。これらについて調べるためには，筋損傷モデル動物を作製する必要がある。今回はカラゲニンによる筋炎が筋損傷モデルとして有用かどうか調べることとした。カラゲニンを腓腹筋に注入し，その24時間，72時間後に筋組織を取り出して横断切片を作製し，ヘマトキシリン―エオシン（H―E）染色ならびにマクロファージとジストロフィンを免疫組織染色した。その結果，細胞浸潤がごく一部で認められたが，細胞膜構造に損傷はほとんど認められず，筋損傷モデルとして用いることは難しいと判断した。今後は別の方法で筋損傷モデル作製を目指す必要がある。

Oxidative stress and inflammation play important roles in pleurisy. Leonurine (Leo) has been confirmed to exert antioxidative and antiinflammatory effects in many preclinical experiments, but these effects have not been studied in pleurisy. The aim of this study was to explore the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Leo in a carrageenan (CAR)-induced pleurisy model. In this study, we found that the increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and malondialdehyde (MDA) and decrease of glutathione (GSH) induced by CAR could be reversed by the treatment of Leo. Leo effectively reduced the levels of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and the percentages of mature macrophages and increased the levels of antiinflammatory cytokines (IL-10). Furthermore, Western blotting revealed that Leo significantly activated the Nrf2 pathway to restrain the thioredoxin-interacting protein/NOD-like receptor protein 3 (TXNIP/NLRP3) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) pathways. However, the protective effect of Leo was significantly weakened in Nrf2-deficient mice. These results indicate that Leo confers potent protection against CAR-induced pleurisy by inhibiting the TXNIP/NLRP3 and NF-κB pathways dependent on Nrf2, which may serve as a promising agent for attenuating pleurisy.

Nigella species have been widely used in traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antiinflammatory and analgesic potentials of Nigella orientalis L. seeds fixed oil (NOO). The acetic acid writhing test and the formaldehyde-induced licking paw were performed to assess the analgesic activity of the oil. The antiinflammatory activity was first evaluated in vitro by the erythrocyte membrane stabilization then in vivo by xylene- and carrageenan-induced ear and paw edema, respectively. To further understand the molecular mechanism of action of the Nigella extract, lipopolysaccharide-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages were used. Nitric oxide (NO) production was measured by Griess reaction and cell viability by MTT assay. The gene and protein expression of inflammatory mediators were assessed by RT-PCR and western blot, respectively. NOO exerted a potent analgesic effect in in vivo models of writhing test and induced edema. The analyzed molecular mechanisms revealed a role for NO and prostaglandins as molecules mediating the pharmacological effects of the extract through a mechanism involving nuclear factor-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinases. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that the fixed oil of N. orientalis has strong antinociceptive and antiinflammatory properties and might be a promising agent for the treatment of certain inflammation-related diseases.

Aiming to address the practical problems of a low utilization rate and the serious waste of soybean residue, novel composite hydrogels based on okara cellulose before and after 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine oxide (TEMPO) oxidation and high polymers of chitosan (CH), carrageenan (CA) or Arabic gum (AG) were prepared by a homogeneous mixture in ionic liquid.In the present study, composite hydrogels fabricated from okara cellulose and CH, CA or AG were prepared by dissolving them in an ionic liquid, followed by heating (100 °C, 3 h) and then soaking them in a 1:1 water-isopropanol solution. The composite hydrogels prepared from TEMPO oxidation-treated cellulose were physically cross-linked to CH, CA or AG. The results showed that the intramolecular hydrogen bonds in the amorphous regions of the cellulose were disrupted, whereas the intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the biopolymers were increased, which promoted the formation of composite gels with crystalline structures. The TEMPO treatment increased the gel strength. For example, for the cellulose/CA gels, the hardness, fracturability, springiness and cohesiveness values were 5.9-, 4.3-, 2.4- and 3.6-fold higher compared to the non-treated ones, respectively. The composite hydrogels exhibited good thermal stability, swelling properties and mechanical properties. These novel composite polysaccharide-based hydrogels may therefore have great potential in various food and non-food fields.In summary, the addition of polymers (CH, CA or AG) and TEMPO oxidized cellulose was suitable for increasing the swelling, textural properties, thermal stability and rheological properties of hydrogels, which provides new ideas and new methods for the preparation of bio-based composite hydrogels. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

κ-Carrageenase is an important component for κ-carrageenan oligosaccharide production. Generally, noncatalytic domains are appended to carbohydrate-active domains and potentiate catalytic activity. However, studies devoted to κ-carrageenase are relatively few. Here, a C-terminal bacterial immunoglobulin-like domain (Big_2) was identified in κ-carrageenase (PpCgk) from

The assembly of inflammasomes drives caspase-1 activation, which further promotes proinflammatory cytokine secretion and downstream pyroptosis. The discovery of novel caspase-1 inhibitors is pivotal to developing new therapeutic means for inflammasome-involved diseases. In our present study, sennoside A (Sen A), a popular ingredient in multiple weight-loss medicines and dietary supplements, is found to potently inhibit the enzymatic activity of caspase-1

Neuromorphic computing is considered a promising method for resolving the traditional von Neumann bottleneck. Natural biomaterial-based artificial synapses are popular units for constructing neuromorphic computing systems while suffering from poor linearity and limited conduction states. In this work, a AgNO

Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) is responsible for the therapeutic effects of indomethacin, while inhibition of the COX-1 enzyme and oxidative stress are responsible for its gastro-toxic effects. It has been reported that pycnogenol increases the expression of COX-1, suppresses the expression rate of COX-2 and oxidative stress. Our aim in this study is to investigate the antiinflammatory activities of indomethacin, pycnogenol, and their combination (PI) in rats and to examine their effects on stomach tissue. In the study, anti-inflammatory activity was investigated in carrageenan-induced inflammatory paw edema in albino Wistar male rats. Effects on stomach tissue were performed by applying the previous method. PI, indomethacin and pycnogenol were the best suppressors of carrageenan inflammation and oxidative stress in paw tissue, respectively. While the groups with the lowest COX-1 activity in paw tissue were IC, PIC and PC, respectively, PIC, IC and PC were the ones that best inhibited the increase in COX-2 activity. Pycnogenol inhibited the increase of malondialdehyde, the decrease of total glutathione and COX-1 in the stomach, and significantly suppressed the formation of indomethacin ulcers. Our experimental results showed that pycnogenol reduced the toxic effect of indomethacin on the stomach and increased anti-inflammatory activity. This beneficial interaction of pycnogenol and indomethacin suggests that PI will provide superior success in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

A lithium ion conducting solid biopolymer membrane (SBE) has been prepared by incorporating lithium chloride salt (LiCl) with the biopolymer K- Carrageenan (Kappa Carrageenan) using solution casting technique. One gram Kappa Carrageenan with 0.5 g LiCl yields ionic conductivity value of 1.15 × 10-2 Scm−1 which has been found by using Ac impedance analysis. The highest conducting biopolymer membrane possesses high amorphous nature among all the prepared biopolymer membranes, and XRD analysis confirms it. Highest conducting biopolymer possesses low crystallinity percentage of 8.18. Transference number analysis by Wagner’s polarization technique provides information that the major contribution for the conductivity is given by ions whereas minor contribution has been given by electrons. Transference number of ions is found to be 0.96 whereas transference number of electrons is 0.04. By using the using highest conducting composition (one gram Kappa Carrageenan: 0.5 g LiCl) as electrolyte, LiFePO4 as cathode and activated charcoal/graphite as anode, rechargeable lithium-ion conducting battery has been constructed and its voltage is found as 3.25 V. The performance of the battery has been studied by connecting a load (100 kΩ).

This work describes the electrophoretic and spectroscopic assessment of bioactive proteins from Cecropia hololeuca through SDS-PAGE, CE-UV, FT-IR and NMR, and their anti-inflammatory potential. In vitro assays were performed on murine macrophages J774A.1 and RAW 264.7 cells, and the in vivo anti-inflammatory potential on acute carrageenan edema in mice. The protein extract significantly inhibited the levels of NO, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, and the expression of NF-κB in J774A.1 and RAW 264.7 cells, without causing toxicity to cells. In in vivo and ex vivo assay, the protein extract also reduced the formation of paw edema in animals, and the expression of IL-12 in macerate in the soft tissue of the paw. In the analysis of genotoxicity, the protein extract decreased the frequency of micronucleated erythrocytes when compared to the group treated with Dexamethasone. The analysis by SDS-PAGE, CE-UV, FT-IR and NMR corroborated the presence of proteins in the analyzed samples.

The worldwide upward trend in obesity has been dramatic, but there is a lack of effective and safe drug treatment. Marine-derived algal polysaccharides, including fucoidan, alginate, polysaccharide of

Neutrophils are often responsible for pathological inflammation, as well as other immunological responses. Controlling their activity is crucial to maintaining host integrity, particularly preventing against chronic inflammation. Inflammatory oedema was induced in paw of male Wistar rats using 1% iota-carrageenan. Control group was neither induced nor treated with lactic acid bacteria (LAB), while negative control group was induced without treatment. Experimental group was orogastrically treated with Lactobacillus pentosus 124-2 (5x107 CFU/mL), while positive control group received diclofenac sodium treatment (150 mg/kg body weight) following carrageenan administration. Biochemical assays including myeloperoxidase (MPO), malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide (NO) were performed on the blood samples at t=1, 4, 24, and 72 hours, and tissue histology was done using standard methods to monitor neutrophil infiltration. LAB treated group showed marked decrease in NO and MPO activity at 4 hours following inducement as well as increase in MDA activity till 72 hours (pL. pentosus 124-2 inhibited neutrophil infiltration and activation resulting in the significant MPO reduction, while also regulating NO production.

The development of greener processes for the sustainable utilization of raw materials is increasingly demanded for environmental and economic reasons. A rapid and chemical-free technique was proposed for the extraction of hybrid kappa/iota (6/4) carrageenan from Sarcopeltis (ex Gigartina) skottsbergii. After separation, carrageenans were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflectance, high-performance size-exclusion chromatography, and rheology. Maximum carrageenan extraction yields up to 63–64% were obtained operating at 110 or at 160 °C, for 5–7 min considering the sum of the heating and cooling periods, but the extraction of the phenolic fraction was favored at 220 °C. The recovered carrageenan showed apparent viscous values around 103 mPa at the lowest tested shear rates (0.1 1/s) and could be suitable to formulate films. Furthermore, those carrageenans obtained under 140 °C showed gel characteristics without previous separation from the liquid extract, avoiding ethanolic precipitation and energy consumption. The antiradical properties correlated with the phenolic content in the liquid phase, but no influence of temperature on the reducing properties was observed. The microwave-assisted hydrothermal treatment could be an efficient tool without needing chemicals for the extraction of carrageenans, which showed adequate rheological properties for commercial uses. Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades | Ref. RTI2018-096376- BI00 Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C 2018/54 GRC Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431G2019/06 Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades | Ref. PRE2019-090567 Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades | Ref. RYC2018-024454-I Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431F 2020/01

Herein, we report the green synthesis of flower-like carrageenan-silver nanoparticles (c-AgNPs) through a facile hydrothermal reaction at 90 °C for 2 h. The reduction of silver nitrate (AgNO3) to c-AgNPs was evident by the colour change of the solution from colourless to dark brown and further confirmed by a UV-Vis surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak at ~420 nm. The FTIR spectra showed that the abundance of functional groups present in the carrageenan were responsible for the reduction and stabilisation of the c-AgNPs. The XRD pattern confirmed the crystalline nature and face-centred cubic structure of the c-AgNPs, while the EDX analysis showed the presence of a high composition of elemental silver (85.87 wt%). Interestingly, the morphological characterisations by SEM and FE-SEM revealed the formation of flower-like c-AgNPs composed of intercrossed and random lamellar petals of approximately 50 nm in thickness. The growth mechanism of flower-like c-AgNPs were elucidated based on the TEM and AFM analyses. The c-AgNPs displayed promising antibacterial properties against E. coli and S. aureus, with zones of inhibition ranging from 8.0 ± 0.0 to 11.7 ± 0.6 mm and 7.3 ± 0.6 to 9.7 ± 0.6 mm, respectively, as the concentration of c-AgNPs increased from 0.1 to 4 mg/mL.

Background The saliva of sand flies, vectors of Leishmania parasites, contains several components that exert pharmacological activity facilitating the acquisition of blood by the insect and contributing to the establishment of infection. Previously, we demonstrated that PpSP32 is the immunodominant salivary antigen in humans exposed to Phlebotomus papatasi bites and validated its usefulness as a predictive biomarker of disease. PpSP32, whose functions are little known to date, is an intriguing protein due to its involvement in the etiopathogenesis of pemphigus, an auto-immune disease. Herein, we aimed to better decipher its role through the screening of several immunomodulatory activity either on lymphocytes or on monocytes/macrophages. Methods Peripheral mononuclear cells from healthy volunteers were stimulated with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 antibodies, phytohemagglutinin, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate/ionomycin, or lipopolysaccharide in the presence of increasing doses of PpSP32. Cell proliferation was measured after the addition of tritiated thymidine. Monocyte activation was tested by analyzing the expression of CD86 and HLA-DR molecules by flow cytometry. Cytokine production was analyzed in culture supernatants by ELISA. THP-1-derived macrophages were stimulated with LPS in the presence of increasing doses of PpSP32, and cytokine production was analyzed in culture supernatants by ELISA and multiplex technique. The effect of PpSP32 on NF-kB signaling was tested by Western blot. The anti-inflammatory activity of PpSP32 was assessed in vivo in an experimental inflammatory model of carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats. Results Our data showed that PpSP32 down-modulated the expression of activation markers in LPS-stimulated monocytes and THP1-derived macrophages. This protein negatively modulated the secretion of Th1 and Th2 cytokines by human lymphocytes as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines by monocytes, and THP1-derived macrophages. PpSP32 treatment led to a dose-dependent reduction of IκB phosphorylation. When PpSP32 was injected into the paw of carrageenan-injected rats, edema was significantly reduced. Conclusions Our data indicates that PpSP32 induces a potent immunomodulatory effect on monocytes and THP-1-derived macrophages. This inhibition could be mediated, among others, by the modulation of the NF-kB signaling pathway. The anti-inflammatory activity of PpSP32 was confirmed in vivo in the carrageenan-induced paw edema model in rats. Graphical Abstract

The impact and relative relevance of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion, processing temperature (room temper- ature or 180 ◦C), and gelling agent (GA) (carrageenan and alginate) on the bioactive compounds and oxidation status of olive and echium oils gelled formulations with 40% lipid incorporation was assessed. In vitro digestion was not affected by the GA, with >90% lipolysis in all formulations, but was the most relevant variable, pro- moting oxidation (MDA) regardless of the oil type, GA or temperature applied. Tocopherols and phenolic decreased with digestion, which could be interpreted as a protective response to pro-oxidative conditions during digestion. Temperature decreased olive oil phenolics. Gelification of echium oil using alginate reduced secondary oxidation products formation in comparison with carrageenan, with oxidation degrees after digestion equivalent to those shown with olive oil. The use of alginate with olive oil resulted in the most stable formulations, although not protecting its minor bioactive compounds from thermal degradation.

A novel integrated process for recovery of protein-enriched biomasses from 5% presalting brines and spice brines of herring (Clupea harengus) was investigated by combining carrageenan- and/or acid-driven flocculation (F) plus dissolved air flotation (DAF). The F-DAF technique with carrageenan resulted in protein and lipid recoveries from 5% presalting brine of 78 and 38%, respectively. Without flocculation or with only acidification, protein and lipid recoveries in DAF were only 13 and 10%, respectively. Low protein and lipid recoveries, 8-12 and 1.8-8.2%, respectively, were also obtained when spice brine was subjected to only acidification and DAF. The protein content in dry biomasses from 5% presalting brine and spice brine was 36-43 and 13-16%, respectively. The corresponding lipid levels were 23-31 and 9-18%, respectively, with ash levels of 11-20 and 38-45%, respectively. Biomass proteins contained ≤45% essential amino acids, and the lipids had ≤16% long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Freeze-dried spice brine biomasses were characterized by anchovy- and spice-related sensory attributes. 5% presalting brine biomasses were connected to fish and seafood attributes and showed gel forming capacity. The outlined F-DAF recovery system can thus recover both nutrients and interesting flavors from the herring process waters, which are currently lost from the food chain.