Search

The effects of stearic acid (5 %, 10 %, and 15 % w/w) and pregelatinized pink potato starch (20, 25, and 30 min) on complex formation, physicochemical properties, rheology, and release characteristics were investigated. Moisture content decreased from 14.26 % in pregelatinized starch to 13.25 %, 12.85 %, and 11.45 % in complexes with 5 %, 10 %, and 15 % stearic acid, respectively. Water-holding capacity dropped from 268.68 % to 128.26 %, 95.05 %, and 50.63 %, with increasing stearic acid concentrations. Swelling and solubility power also decreased, with swelling power reducing from 5.57 % to 3.45 % and solubility from 12.75 % to 10.34 %. Micromeritic evaluations showed improved flowability in starch-stearic acid complexes. X-ray diffraction revealed a V-type crystalline complex with characteristic peaks at 7°, 21°, 22°, and 24°, and additional peaks at 7° and 41°. FTIR spectra indicated complex formation with bands around 2917 and 1700 cm -1 . FESEM imaging showed intact granules with irregular shapes and protruding amylose fragments. Rheological assessments indicated reduced viscosity and altered viscoelastic properties in the complexes. In-vitro release studies demonstrated controlled drug release, suggesting potential applications for targeted pharmaceutical delivery. This study emphasizes the functional modifications induced by stearic acid in pregelatinized starch, enhancing material properties for industrial and biomedical applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Catalase, an enzyme central to maintaining redox balance and combating oxidative stress in plants, has emerged as a key player in plant defense mechanisms and interactions with microbes. This review article provides a comprehensive analysis of catalase-associated immune responses in plant-microbe interactions. It underscores the importance of catalase in plant defense mechanisms, highlights its influence on plant susceptibility to pathogens, and discusses its implications for understanding plant immunity and host-microbe dynamics. This review contributes to the growing body of knowledge on catalase-mediated immune responses and offers insights that can aid in the development of strategies for improved plant health and disease resistance., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Roohallah Saberi Riseh reports financial support was provided by Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan. Roohallah Saberi Riseh reports a relationship with Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan that includes: employment. Roohallah Saberi Riseh has patent Saberi Riseh pending to Saberi Riseh. Mannagement of plant protection clinics and companies If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Metastasis-promoting Lewis and sialyl Lewis antigens expressed on glycoproteins such as mucins are frequently displayed on the surface of prostate cancer cells and could thus be ideal candidates as measures of prostate cancer aggressiveness. The current study describes the altered expression of sialyl Lewis a (sLe a ) antigen attached to glycoproteins and key glycosyltransferases between normal prostate (RWPE-1) and cancerous cell lines (LNCaP and DU145). Our results suggest that the expression of sLe a on different glycoproteins correlates with the aggressiveness of prostate cancer cells, as determined by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. Blotting studies revealed that sLe a -bearing glycoproteins, similar to mucins, are predominantly expressed in the more aggressive DU145 cells, followed by LNCaP cells. Immunohistochemistry technique showed a gradient of sLe a expression, with low levels in low-grade prostate cancer (stage II/III) and increasing levels in high-grade cancer (stage IV), indicating its potential as a prognostic marker. Additionally, in qRT-PCR analysis significant upregulation of the glycosyltransferases GALNT5 and ST3GAL6 was observed, correlating with the increased sLe a expression in LNCaP (3.2- and 14.5-fold) and DU145 (3.3- and 23.75-fold) cells. Our data indicates a correlation between sLe a selectin ligand expression and prostate cancer aggressiveness. Furthermore, GALNT5 and ST3GAL6 could serve as benchmarks in PCa malignancy., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The present study aimed to explore the contribution of untreated (UtβG) and modified oat 1,4-β-D-glucan (OzβG) to the quality of gluten-free chapattis at varying concentrations (0, 1.5, 3, and 4.5 % labelled as M 0 , M 1 , M 2 and M 3 for maize chapattis and F 0 , F 1 , F 2 and F 3 for finger millet chapattis, respectively). The functionality of flours was significantly enhanced by the addition of UtβG and OzβG. However, OzβG incorporated flour exhibited a more pronounced influence on both functional and farinographic parameters when compared to flours with UtβG. Further, the hardness of the chapattis decreased with incorporation of OzβG and it was lowest for M 2 and F 2 i.e. 6.38 N and 5.27 N, respectively due to the formation of more carboxyl and hydroxyl groups, which had more affinity towards water molecules. The sensory analysis indicated that OzβG incorporated M 2 and F 2 chapattis exhibited the highest overall acceptability. Hence, this study provides valuable insights into the utilization of UtβG and OzβG for the formulation of gluten-free chapattis with better dough characteristics and chapatti-making properties., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Authors have no conflict to declare., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This review article delves into the intricate relationship between levan, a versatile polysaccharide, and its role in enhancing plant resistance against pathogens. By exploring the potential applications of levan in agriculture and biotechnology, such as crop protection, stress tolerance enhancement, and biotechnological innovations, significant advancements in sustainable agriculture are uncovered. Despite challenges in optimizing application methods and addressing regulatory hurdles, understanding the mechanisms of levan-mediated plant immunity offers promising avenues for future research. This review underscores the implications of utilizing levan to develop eco-friendly solutions, reduce reliance on chemical pesticides, and promote sustainable agricultural practices. Ultimately, by unraveling the pivotal role of levan in plant-pathogen interactions, this review sets the stage for transformative innovations in agriculture and highlights the path towards a more resilient and sustainable agricultural future., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest No conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This review article explores the fascinating world of chitosan coating applied to seeds and its profound impacts on enhancing the germination process and growth performance of plants. Chitosan, a biodegradable and non-toxic polysaccharide derived from chitin, has shown remarkable potential in seed treatment due to its bioactive properties. The review discusses the mechanisms of chitosan's effect on plant germination including promoting water uptake, enhancing nutrient absorption, and protecting seeds from biotic and abiotic stresses. Moreover, it evaluates the effects of chitosan on plant growth parameters such as root development, shoot growth, chlorophyll content, and overall yield. The review also discusses the sustainable aspects of chitosan coatings in agriculture, emphasizing their eco-friendly nature and potential for reducing reliance on synthetic chemicals. Overall, the findings underscore the significant benefits of chitosan-coated seeds in improving the overall performance of plants, paving the way for a greener and more productive agricultural future. Finally, the article will conclude with a SWOT analysis discussing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of this technology., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This review explores the role of pectin, a complex polysaccharide found in the plant cell wall, in mediating immune responses during interactions between plants and microbes. The objectives of this study were to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying pectin-mediated immune responses and to understand how these interactions shape plant-microbe communication. Pectin acts as a signaling molecule, triggering immune responses such as the production of antimicrobial compounds, reinforcement of the cell wall, and activation of defense-related genes. Pectin functions as a target for pathogen-derived enzymes, enabling successful colonization by certain microbial species. The document discusses the complexity of pectin-based immune signaling networks and their modulation by various factors, including pathogen effectors and host proteins. It also emphasizes the importance of understanding the crosstalk between pectin-mediated immunity and other defense pathways to develop strategies for enhancing plant resistance against diseases. The insights gained from this study have implications for the development of innovative approaches to enhance crop protection and disease management in agriculture. Further investigations into the components and mechanisms involved in pectin-mediated immunity will pave the way for future advancements in plant-microbe interaction research., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The global issue of pollution caused by the misuse and indiscriminate application of pesticides has reached critical levels. In this vein, encapsulating pesticides with carriers offers a promising approach that impacts key parameters such as pesticide release kinetics, stability, and biocompatibility, enhancing the safe and effective delivery of agrochemicals. Encapsulated pesticides hold the potential to reduce off-target effects, decrease environmental contamination, and improve overall crop protection. This review highlights the potential benefits and challenges associated with the use of both organic and in-organic carriers in pesticide encapsulation, and the current state of research in this field. Overall, the encapsulation of pesticides with carriers presents a promising approach for the safe and effective delivery of these vital agricultural compounds. By harnessing the advantages of encapsulation, this technique offers a potential solution to mitigate the adverse effects of conventional pesticides and contribute towards sustainable and environmentally conscious farming practices. Further research and development in this field is necessary to optimize the encapsulation process, carrier properties and advance towards sustainable and environmentally friendly pesticide delivery systems., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Lignin is a complex polymer found in the cell walls of plants, providing structural support and protection against pathogens. By modifying lignin composition and structure, scientists aim to optimize plant defense responses and increase resistance to pathogens. This can be achieved through various genetic engineering techniques which involve manipulating the genes responsible for lignin synthesis. By either up regulating or down regulating specific genes, researchers can alter the lignin content, composition, or distribution in plant tissues. Reducing lignin content in specific tissues like leaves can improve the effectiveness of defense mechanisms by allowing for better penetration of antimicrobial compounds. Overall, Lignin modification through techniques has shown promising results in enhancing various plants resistance against pathogens. Furthermore, lignin modification can have additional benefits beyond pathogen resistance. It can improve biomass processing for biofuel production by reducing lignin recalcitrance, making the extraction of sugars from cellulose more efficient. The complexity of lignin biosynthesis and its interactions with other plant components make it a challenging target for modification. Additionally, the potential environmental impact and regulatory considerations associated with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) require careful evaluation. Ongoing research aims to further optimize this approach and develop sustainable solutions for crop protection., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Roohallah Saberi Riseh reports was provided by Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan. Roohallah Saberi Riseh reports a relationship with Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan that includes: employment. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Frost damage remains a significant challenge for agricultural practices worldwide, leading to substantial economic losses and food insecurity. Practically, traditional methods for frost management have proven ineffective and come with several drawbacks, such as energy consumption and limited efficacy. Hence, proposing an anti-freezing coating can be an innovative idea. The potential of sodium alginate (SA) to construct anti-freezing hydrogels has been explored in several sciences. SA hydrogels can form protective films around plants as a barrier against freezing temperatures and ice crystals on the plant's surface. Sodium alginate exhibits excellent water retention, enhancing plant hydration during freezing conditions. This coating can provide insulation, effectively shielding the plant from frost damage. The advantages of SA as a coating material, such as its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and non-toxic nature, are highlighted. Therefore, the proposed use of SA as an innovative coating material holds promise for safeguarding plants from frost damage. Following SA potential and frost's huge damage, the present review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent developments in SA-based anti-freezing hydrogels, their applications, and their potential in agriculture as anti-freezing coatings. However, further research and field trials are necessary to optimize the application methods and understand the long-term effects on productivity., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Chitin is composed of N-acetylglucosamine units. Chitin a polysaccharide found in the cell walls of fungi and exoskeletons of insects and crustaceans, can elicit a potent defense response in plants. Through the activation of defense genes, stimulation of defensive compound production, and reinforcement of physical barriers, chitin enhances the plant's ability to defend against pathogens. Chitin-based treatments have shown efficacy against various plant diseases caused by fungal, bacterial, viral, and nematode pathogens, and have been integrated into sustainable agricultural practices. Furthermore, chitin treatments have demonstrated additional benefits, such as promoting plant growth and improving tolerance to abiotic stresses. Further research is necessary to optimize treatment parameters, explore chitin derivatives, and conduct long-term field studies. Continued efforts in these areas will contribute to the development of innovative and sustainable strategies for disease management in agriculture, ultimately leading to improved crop productivity and reduced reliance on chemical pesticides., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Retrograded starches have received increasing attention due to their potential excipient properties in pharmaceutical formulations. However, to evade its application-oriented challenges, modification of retrograded starch is required. The study emphasizes influence of dry heating and the dual heat treatment by dry heating amalgamation with the vacuum heat treatment on quality parameters of retrograded starch. The starch was isolated by using two different extraction media (0.05 % w/v NaOH and 0.03 % citric acid) from Alocasia macrorrhizos and then retrograded separately. Further, retrograded starches were first modified by dry heating and afterwards modified with combination of dry and vacuum heating. Modification decreased moisture, ash content and increased solubility. Modified Samples from NaOH media had higher water holding capacity and amylose content. X-ray diffraction revealed type A and B crystals with increasing crystallinity of retrograded heat-modified samples from NaOH media. Thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry confirmed thermal stability. Shear tests showed shear-thinning behavior whereas dominant storage modulus (G / ) over loss modulus (G // ), depicting gel-like behavior. Storage, loss, and complex viscosity initially increased, then decreased with temperature. In-vitro release reflects, modified retrograded starches offers versatile drug release profiles, from controlled to rapid. Tailoring starch properties enables precise drug delivery, enhancing pharmaceutical formulation flexibility and efficacy., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest There is no conflict of interest among the authors., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The study aimed to improve the quality and storage stability of novel plant-based soymilk with the incorporation of untreated (UtβG) and modified oat derived 1,4-β-D-glucan (OzβG) at varying concentrations (0, 1, and 2 % labelled as S 0 , S 1 and S 2 ). The treated soymilk was characterized for physical, chemical, nutritional, rheological, particle size, zeta potential, sensory and storage stability characteristics. The results revealed that 1, 4-β-D-glucan incorporation increased the acidity (0.67 to 0.73 %), viscosity (3.4 to 4.7 Cp) and ash content (0.74 to 0.92 %), however color remains natural. The frequency sweep and shear experiments showed that the 1,4-β-D-glucan modified the rheological parameters of the soymilk. The sensory analysis (n = 30) indicated that texture, mouthfeel and overall acceptability (8.38). Compared to OzβG-treated soymilk, UtβG soymilk, especially S 2 , exhibited superior thickening and rheological properties. The storage study indicated minimal phase separation in 1,4-β-D-glucan-incorporated samples, maintaining stability for 15 days under refrigerated conditions without compromising overall quality. Thus, this study provides valuable insights into the potential application of 1,4-β-D-glucan for improving the technological quality of soymilk that highlights possible implications for its commercialization potential., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Raft-forming systems are designed to relieve reflux symptoms by forming a physical barrier on top of the stomach. The present study aimed to evaluate the physico-chemical properties of alginate-aloe vera raft-forming systems for the first time. To achieve this goal, aloe vera was used in the proportion of 1 and 1.5 % in raft suspensions containing 5 % alginate as the main component of gel structure. Rafts were characterized by their volume, floating behavior, thickness, swelling properties, strength, resilience, reflux resistance, and acid neutralization capacity (ANC). Results showed the effectiveness of aloe vera in forming rafts that were voluminous, buoyant with greater total floating time (TFT), and stronger than formulations with no aloe vera. Furthermore, data showed that the presence of aloe vera could improve resilience time, swelling proportions, resistance to reflux under simulant conditions of movement in the stomach, and ANC values of rafts. Rafts were further characterized by oscillatory strain sweep test, differential scanning calorimetry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Evaluation of the mechanical properties of rafts displayed a viscoelastic behavior of gels corresponding to the internal cross-linked structure of rafts. This study demonstrated that designing of alginate-aloe vera rafts can be suitable for the treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux disorders., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Bacillus velezensis has been known for its high potential in controlling agricultural diseases. Technological advances have opened new perspectives for producing effective formulations by reducing some of the obstacles to their use, such as instability and loss of activity due to exposure to adverse environmental conditions. Encapsulation is one of the new approaches in agricultural science. This research describes discoveries related to processes for the microencapsulation of B. velezensis with natural gums. The efficiency, survival, and controlled release of B. velesensis BV9 encapsulated with alginate mixed with zedo gum, mastic gum, and tragacanth gum were evaluated for this aim. Furthermore, under greenhouse conditions, the encapsulated cells were assessed to control Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici in wheat. The results indicated that all tested microcapsules protected >60 % of the bacterial cells. The Alginate-Zedo Gum (Alg-ZG) microcapsules showed a better-controlled release over two months. The greenhouse study indicated that treating wheat plants with Alg-ZG microcapsules was the most efficient treatment, suppressing 100 % of the pathogen. The results indicated that Alg-ZG is the most promising mixture to improve the survivability of B. velezensis BV9. Also, using natural gums and great potential of this formulation provides an effective and affordable fertilizers for agriculture., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

This study aimed to develop a sodium alginate (Na alginate) and mung bean protein (MBP) raft complex to improve gastric reflux symptoms. Na alginate and MBP complexes with different ratios (1:1, 2:1, and 3:1, respectively) were used for raft formulations through a wet Maillard reaction. Structural properties of raft strength, reflux resistance, intrinsic fluorescence emission spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were investigated for rafts. The suspension 1:1 Na alginate/MBP with 0 h Maillard reaction time exhibited the lowest sedimentation volume among the suspensions. In contrast, 3:1 Na alginate/MBP with 6 h Maillard reaction time showed the highest sedimentation volume. Based on the results, the 3:1 Na alginate/MBP rafts had the best results, and the results were within acceptable limits. Functional properties, including antioxidant properties, the Helicobacter pylori inhibition assay, the pancreatic lipase inhibition assay, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition, were investigated for rafts. The Na alginate/MBP raft has similar characteristics to Gaviscon syrup and can be used for obesity, Helicobacter pylori infection, high blood pressure, and gastric reflux., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Post-harvest losses of fruits and vegetables pose a significant challenge to the agriculture industry worldwide. To address this issue, researchers have turned to natural and eco-friendly solutions such as chitosan coatings. Chitosan, a biopolymer derived from chitin, has gained considerable attention due to its unique properties such as non-toxicity, biodegradability, biocompatibility and potential applications in post-harvest preservation. This review article provides an in-depth analysis of the current state of research on chitosan coatings for the preservation of fruits and vegetables. Moreover, it highlights the advantages of using chitosan coatings, including its antimicrobial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties, as well as its ability to enhance shelf-life and maintain the quality attributes of fresh product. Furthermore, the review discusses the mechanisms by which chitosan interacts with fruits and vegetables, elucidating its antimicrobial activity, modified gas permeability, enhanced physical barrier and induction of host defense responses. It also examines the factors influencing the effectiveness of chitosan coatings, such as concentration, molecular weight, deacetylation degree, pH, temperature, and application methods., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The present work deals with the eco-friendly preparation of highly degradable food packaging films consisting of O-CMC (O-Carboxymethyl Chitosan) and pectin, incorporated with neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves powder and extract. This study aimed to investigate the tensile properties, antimicrobial activity, biodegradability, and thermal behavior of the composite films. The results of tensile strength and elongation at break, showed that the incorporation of neem leaves powder improved the tensile properties (7.11 MPa) of the composite films compared to the neat O-CMC and pectin films (3.02 MPa). The antimicrobial activity of the films was evaluated against a panel of microorganisms including both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria as well as fungi. The composite films exhibited excellent antimicrobial activity with a zone of inhibition (12-17.6 mm) against the tested microorganisms. The opacity of the composite films ranges from 1.14 to 4.40 mm -1 and the addition of fiber causes a decrease in opacity value. Biodegradability studies were conducted by Soil burial method and the films demonstrated complete biodegradability within 75 days. The results of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of composite films show that they are thermally stable and might be used in food packaging., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The author(s) declared no potential competing of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Apple (Malus domestica) is a popular and ancient fruit of the Myrtaceae family. Apple fruit is well-known for its great nutritional and phytochemical content consisted of beneficial compounds such as polyphenols, polysaccharides, sterols, and organic acids. Polysaccharides extracted from different parts of the apple fruit, including the peel, pomace, or the whole fruit, have been extensively studied. Researchers have investigated the structural characteristics of these polysaccharides, such as molecular weight, type of monosaccharide unit, type of linkage and its position and arrangement. Besides this, functional properties and physicochemical and of apple polysaccharides have also been studied, along with the effects of extraction procedures, storage, and processing on cell wall polysaccharides. Various extraction techniques, including hot water extraction, enzymatic extraction, and solvent-assisted extraction, have been studied. From the findings, it was evident that apple polysaccharides are mainly composed of (1 → 3), (1 → 6): α-β-glycosidic linkage. Moreover, the apple polysaccharides were demonstrated to exhibit antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-cancer, hypoilipidemic, and enzyme inhibitory properties in vitro and in vivo. The potential applications of apple polysaccharides in the food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical industries have also been explored in the present review. Overall, the research on apple polysaccharides highlights their significant potential as a source of biologically active compounds with various health benefits and practical applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) and induced systemic resistance (ISR) are caused by various factors, including both pathogenic and non-pathogenic ones. β-glucan primarily originates from bacteria and fungi, some species of these organisms work as biological agents in causing diseases. When β-glucan enters plants, it triggers the defense system, leading to various reactions such as the production of proteins related to pathogenicity and defense enzymes. By extracting β-glucan from disturbed microorganisms and using it as an inducing agent, plant diseases can be effectively controlled by activating the plant's defense system. β-glucan plays a crucial role during the interaction between plants and pathogens. Therefore, modeling the plant-pathogen relationship and using the molecules involved in this interaction can help in controlling plant diseases, as pathogens have genes related to resistance against pathogenicity. Thus, it is reasonable to identify and use biological induction agents at a large scale by extracting these compounds., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The smart combination of agriculture and other sciences can greatly reduce the limits of fertilizer use. Chitosan is a linear amino polysaccharide with a rigid structure which has hydrophilic and crystal properties. The formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds the presence of reactive groups and cross-linking, the formation of salts with organic and inorganic acids with complexing and chelating properties ionic conductivity, film formation are the characteristics of chitosan. With the presence of amino groups, chitosan can form a complex with other compounds and also enter the vascular system of plants and lead to the activation of metabolic-physiological pathways of plants. This polymeric compound can bond with other natural polymers and in combination with fertilizers and nutritional elements, on the one hand, it can provide the nutritional needs of the plant and on the other hand, it also helps to improve the soil texture. Chitosan nanomaterials as a Next-generation fertilizers act as plant immune system enhancers through slow, controlled, and targeted delivery of nutrients to plants. Chitosan can assist agricultural researchers and has become an ideal and effective option with its many applications in various fields., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The epithelium recovery of skin-burned wounds has been currently achieved by several therapies, for example, hydrogel-based dressings and photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT). Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the healing activity of Cassia grandis seeds' galactomannan gel, associated or not with PBMT, in second-degree burns. Sixty male Wistar rats were assigned to four groups: Control (CG), Gel (GG), Laser/PBMT (LG), and Laser+Gel (GLG). Burns were made with an aluminum bar (90 °C), and submitted to clinical observations diary and area measurements at specific days. Microscopic analysis was based on histological criteria. The results showed that GG, LG, and GLG had a higher contraction rate (p < 0.05) than CG on the 14th experimental day, not differing from each other (∼95 %). At 21 days, all groups showed complete contraction (p > 0.05). Considering the histological results, LG and GLG showed excellent pro-wound healing properties after 14 days; at 21 days, all groups showed wound recovery compared to previous days. In view of the macroscopic and microscopic observations, the isolated treatments (Gel or Laser) effectively accelerated healing; however, the association (Laser+Gel) promoted re-epithelialization and stromal remodeling with better evolution of epithelium recovery due to the positive synergistic effect, thus emerging as a promising therapeutic alternative in the repair of burns., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Overusing pesticides, fertilizers, and synthetic dyes has significantly increased their presence in various parts of the environment. The transportation of these pollutants into agricultural soil and water through rivers, soils, and groundwater has seriously threatened human and ecosystem health. Applying techniques and materials to clean up agricultural sources from pesticides, heavy metals (HMs), and synthetic dyes (SDs) is one of the major challenges in this century. The sorption technique offers a viable solution to remediate these chemical pollutants (CHPs). Cellulose-based materials have become popular in nano and micro scales because they are widely available, safe to use, biodegradable, and have a significant ability to absorb substances. Nanoscale cellulose-based materials exhibit greater capacity in absorbing pollutants compared to their microscale counterparts because they possess a larger surface area. Many available hydroxyl groups (-OH) and chemical and physical modifications enable the incorporation of CHPs on to cellulose-based materials. Following this potential, this review aims to comprehensively summarize recent advancements in the field of nano- and micro-cellulose-based materials as effective adsorbents for CHPs, given the abundance of cellulosic waste materials from agricultural residues. The recent developments pertaining to the enhancement of the sorption capacity of cellulose-based materials against pesticides, HMs, and SDs, are deliberated., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Wound healing is a complex and dynamic process that needs an appropriate environment to overcome infection and inflammation to progress well. Wounds lead to morbidity, mortality, and a significant economic burden, often due to the non-availability of suitable treatments. Hence, this field has lured the attention of researchers and pharmaceutical industries for decades. As a result, the global wound care market is expected to be 27.8 billion USD by 2026 from 19.3 billion USD in 2021, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.6 %. Wound dressings have emerged as an effective treatment to maintain moisture, protect from pathogens, and impede wound healing. However, synthetic polymer-based dressings fail to comprehensively address optimal and quick regeneration requirements. Natural polymers like glucan and galactan-based carbohydrate dressings have received much attention due to their inherent biocompatibility, biodegradability, inexpensiveness, and natural abundance. Also, nanofibrous mesh supports better proliferation and migration of fibroblasts because of their large surface area and similarity to the extracellular matrix (ECM). Thus, nanostructured dressings derived from glucans and galactans (i.e., chitosan, agar/agarose, pullulan, curdlan, carrageenan, etc.) can overcome the limitations associated with traditional wound dressings. However, they require further development pertaining to the wireless determination of wound bed status and its clinical assessment. The present review intends to provide insight into such carbohydrate-based nanofibrous dressings and their prospects, along with some clinical case studies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Polymers-based drug delivery systems constitute one of the highly explored thrust areas in the field of the medicinal and pharmaceutical industries. In the past years, the properties of polymers have been modified in context to their solubility, release kinetics, targeted action site, absorption, and therapeutic efficacy. Despite the availability of diverse synthetic polymers for the bioavailability enhancement of drugs, the use of natural polymers is still highly recommended due to their easy availability, accessibility, and non-toxicity. The aim of the review is to provide the available literature of the last five years on oral drug delivery systems based on four natural polymers i.e., cellulose, pectin, carrageenan, and alginate in a concise and tabulated manner. In this review, most of the information is in tabulated form to provide easy accessibility to the reader. The data related to active pharmaceutical ingredients and supported components in different formulations of the mentioned polymers have been made available., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Scientists from across the world are being inspired by recent development in polysaccharides and their use in medical administration. Due to their extraordinary physical, chemical, and biological characteristics, polysaccharides are excellent materials for use in medicine. Acidic polysaccharides, which include Pectin, Xanthan gum, Carrageenan, Alginate, and Glycosaminoglycan, are natural polymers with carboxyl groups that are being researched for their potential as drug delivery systems. Most publications do not discuss how the different polysaccharides interact structurally in terms of drug delivery, which limits the scope of their use. The purpose of this review is to inform readers about the structural activity correlations between acidic polysaccharides, their different modification process and effects of combination of various acidic polysaccharides which have been used in drug delivery systems and expanding their potential applications, and bringing new perspectives to the fore., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Long-term and indiscriminate use of synthetic pesticides to mitigate plant pathogens have created serious issues of water health, soil contamination, non-target organisms, resistant species, and unpredictable environmental and human health hazards. These constraints have forced scientists to develop alternative plant disease management strategies to reduce synthetic chemical' dependency. During the last 20 years, biological agents and resistance elicitors have been the most important used alternatives. Silica-based materials/chitosan with a dual mode of action have been proposed as promising alternatives to prevent plant diseases through direct and indirect mechanisms. Moreover, the combined application of nano-silica and chitosan, due to their controllable morphology, high loading capacity, low toxicity, and efficient encapsulation, act as suitable carriers for biological agents, pesticides, and essential oils, making them proper candidates for mitigation of phytopathogens. Based on this potential, this literature study reviewed the silica and chitosan properties and their function in the plant. It also assessed their role in the fighting against soil and aerial phytopathogens, directly and indirectly, as novel hybrid formulations in future managing platforms., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors report no declaration of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In this research, chitosan nanoparticles as an efficient and reusable adsorbent with adsorption capacity of 5.79 mg/g, surface area of 62 m 2 /g and pH pzc of 8.07 were applied to remove the ethinylestradiol (as a sample of estrogen) from an aqueous wastewater. The chitosan nanoparticles were characterized by SEM, XRD and FT-IR analyses. Four independent variables involving contact time, adsorbent dosage, pH, and initial concentration of estrogen were applied to design the experiments by Design Expert software (CCD under RSM). In fact, number of experiments was minimized and the operating conditions were optimized for the maximum estrogen removal. The results indicated that three independent variables (contact time, adsorbent dosage, and pH) increment increased the estrogen removal while the estrogen initial concentration enhancement decreased the removal due to the concentration polarization phenomenon. The optimum conditions for the estrogen removal (92.50 %) on the chitosan nanoparticles were found at contact time of 220 min, adsorbent dosage of 1.45 g/l, pH of 7.3 and estrogen initial concentration of 5.7 mg/l. Moreover, the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second order models could properly legitimize estrogen adsorption process on the chitosan nanoparticles., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Climate changes, drought, the salinity of water and soil, the emergence of new breeds of pests and pathogens, the industrialization of countries, and environmental contamination are among the factors limiting the production of agricultural products. The use of chemicals (in the form of fertilizers, pesticides and fungicides) to enhance products against biotic and abiotic stresses has limitations. To eliminate the effects of agricultural chemicals, synthetic agrochemicals should be replaced with natural substances and useful microorganisms. To be more effective and efficient, plant biocontrol bacteria need a coating layer around themselves to protect them from adverse conditions. Whey protein, a valuable by-product of the cheese industry, is one of the important natural polymers. Due to its high protein content, safety, and biodegradability, whey can have many applications in agriculture and encapsulation of bacteria to resist pests and plant diseases. This compound is a rich source of amino acids that can activate plant defense systems and defense enzymes. Considering the amazing potentialities of formulation whey protein, this review attends to the efficiency of whey protein as coating layers on fruit and vegetables and in the packaging system to increase the shelf life of agricultural products against phytopathogens., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Use of natural polymer in the development of Drug Delivery Systems (DDS) has greatly increased in recent past because of their biocompatible, non-allergic and biodegradable nature. Natural polymers are usually hydrophilic supports, so in order to be a carrier of a hydrophobic drug their nature needs to be changed. Each developed system behaves differently towards different drugs in terms of loading and sustained release of the drug as well. In the present work we report differential binding of piperine & curcumin with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) modified cellulose, alginate and pectin. Difference in interaction between the piperine and curcumin with supports has been visualized using in-vitro as well as in-silico studies. Initial results obtained after in-silico studies have been validated via time dependent anti-trypsin, serum protein binding, anti-cathepsin, anti-oxidant, and anti-α-amylase activities. FT-IR, SEM, fluorescence and Particle size have been used to characterize the piperine loaded on CTAB-modified polymeric supports., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All the authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The chemistry of metal ions with human pathogens is essential for their survival, energy generation, redox signaling, and niche dominance. To regulate and manipulate the metal ions, various enzymes and metal chelators are present in pathogenic bacteria. Metalloenzymes incorporate transition metal such as iron, zinc, cobalt, and copper in their reaction centers to perform essential metabolic functions; however, iron and copper have gained more importance. Multicopper oxidases have the ability to perform redox reaction on phenolic substrates with the help of copper ions. They have been reported from Enterobacteriaceae, namely Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, and Yersinia enterocolitica, but their role in virulence is still poorly understood. Similarly, superoxide dismutases participate in reducing oxidative stress and allow the survival of pathogens. Their role in virulence and survival is well established in Salmonella typhimurium and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Further, to ensure survival against stress, like metal starvation or metal toxicity, redox metalloenzymes and metal transportation systems of pathogens actively participate in metal homeostasis. Recently, the omics and protein structure biology studies have helped to predict new targets for regulation the colonization potential of the pathogenic strains. The current review is focused on the major roles of redox metalloenzymes, especially MCOs and SODs of human pathogenic bacteria., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest This work has no competing interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Pullulan, an α-glucan polysaccharide, is colorless, odorless, non-toxic, non-carcinogenic, highly biocompatible, edible and biodegradable in nature. The long chains of glucopyranose rings in pullulan structure are linked together by α-(1 → 4) and α-(1 → 6) glycosidic linkages. The occurrence of both glycosidic linkages in the pullulan structure contributes to its distinctive properties. The unique structure of pullulan makes it a potent candidate for both pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical applications. In pharmaceuticals, it can be used as a drug carrier and in various dosage formulations. It has been widely used in drug targeting, implants, ocular dosage forms, topical formulations, oral dosage forms, and oral liquid formulations, etc. Pullulan can be used as a potential carrier of active ingredients and their site-specific delivery to skin layers for cosmeceutical applications. It has been extensively used in cosmeceutical formulations like creams, shampoo, lotions, sunscreen, facial packs, etc. The current review highlights applications of pullulan in pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile is one of the most abundant aquatic vascular higher plants in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Posidoniaceas family. It is considered as a valuable natural source for multiple uses either for ecological functions or industrial applications. Nevertheless, this marine phanerogam is commonly confused with macroalgae, or seaweeds, known also as cryptogams. The present note intends to discuss the mis-use of the associated terminology of P. oceanica as algae in the scientific literature in order to avoid the widespread of this issue in the future. Thus, an extensive assessment of some important published woks has been conducted. This note will certainly allow the accurate nomenclature of this promising endemic species, which will continue its valorizations' ascension in several potential applications., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Human awareness of the need for health and wellness practices that enhance disease resilience has increased as a result of recent health risks. Plant-derived polysaccharides with biological activity are good candidates to fight diseases because of their low toxicity. Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Hook.f. & Thomson polysaccharides extract from different plant parts have been reported to possess significant biological activity such as anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, immunomodulatory, anti-diabetic, radioprotective and hepatoprotective. Several extraction and purification techniques have been used to isolate and characterize T. cordifolia polysaccharides. Along with hot-water extraction (HWE), other novel techniques like microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), pulsed electric field (PEF), supercritical-fluid extraction (SFE), and enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE) are used to extract T cordifolia polysaccharides. SFE is a revolutionary technology that gives the best yield and purity of low-molecular-weight polysaccharides. According to the findings, polysaccharides extracted and purified from T. cordifolia have a significant impact on their structure and biological activity. As a result, the methods of extraction, structural characterization, and biological activity of T. cordifolia polysaccharides are covered in this review. Research on T. cordifolia polysaccharides and their potential applications will benefit greatly from the findings presented in this review., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All persons who meet authorship criteria are listed as authors, and all authors certify that they have participated sufficiently in the work to take public responsibility for the content, including participation in the concept, design, writing, or revision of the manuscript. I hereby confirm that this work is original and has not been published elsewhere nor is it currently under consideration for publication elsewhere. The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The present study was framed to develop modified potato starch by various physical (microwave treatment, ultrasonication, pre-gelatinization) and chemical (alcohol-alkali) methods. Both native and modified starches were characterized on the basis of physicochemical, functional, and morphological attributes. Compared to native potato starch, modified starches exhibited improved water absorption capacity and water solubility index. The particle size of the starches was found to be in the range of 10.01-10.36 μm with negative zeta potential values. FTIR results revealed that modification in the peaks is attributed to the change in the structural configuration and re-organization of the microstructure between molecules of the starch during the treatments. The results of X-ray diffraction suggested that the typical peaks varied to a little extent with modifications and relative crystallinity was decreased for all treated starches. SEM Micrographs revealed the complete structural changes and irregularities in pre-gelatinized and chemically modified starches, whereas other modification methods maintained the structural integrity of starch granules. An increase in pasting temperature of modified starches represented a higher resistance to swelling and rupture, whereas rheologically, starches exhibited non-newtonian behavior with the shear-thinning property. Thus, the characteristics of modified starches will assist in the selection of potato starch for better applications in the food industry., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to affect the work reported in the paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The present study developed a novel complex coacervate based on succinyl mung bean protein (SMBP) and gum arabic (GA) to encapsulate curcumin. The optimum pH and succinylprotein/polysaccharide ratio for complex coacervation were 3.0 and 1:1, respectively, measured by turbidity evaluation. Fluorescence spectroscopy depicted that the curcumin was loaded in the hydrophobic core of SMBP/GA. The evaluated FTIR and XRD showed that the encapsulation of curcumin in the complex coacervate hydrophobic core was successful, followed by minor changes in SMBP conformation caused by the succinylation process. The zeta potential showed that the succinylation of MBP led to a decrease in the zeta potential of SMBP and confirmed that the SMBP/GA was produced successfully at pH 3.0. The EE and LA of c-SMBP/GA were 99.79 ± 0.03 % and 24.94 ± 0.05 μg·mg -1 , respectively, which were significant. SMBP showed enhanced antioxidant activity compared with MBP, and c-MBP/GA showed significant antioxidant activity measured by ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging assays. SMBP is a biopolymer that can be used to encapsulate bioactive compounds like curcumin and shows enhanced antioxidant activity. The c-SMBP/GA is a promising tool for encapsulating curcumin in food matrices with enhanced dispersity characteristics and release behavior., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Allium cepa (onion) and Allium sativum (garlic) are important members of the Amaryllidaceae (Alliaceae) family and are being used both as food and medicine for centuries in different parts of the world. Polysaccharides have been extracted from different parts of onion and garlic such as bulb, straw and cell wall. The current literature portrays several studies on the extraction of polysaccharides from onion and garlic, their modification and determination of their structural (molecular weight, monosaccharide unit and their arrangement, type and position of glycosidic bond or linkage, degree of polymerization, chain conformation) and functional properties (emulsifying property, moisture retention, hygroscopicity, thermal stability, foaming ability, fat-binding capacity). In this line, this review, summarizes the various extraction techniques used for polysaccharides from onion and garlic, involving methods like solvent extraction method. Furthermore, the antioxidant, anticancer, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic properties of onion and garlic polysaccharides as reported in in vivo and in vitro studies are also critically assessed in this review. Different studies have proved onion and garlic polysaccharides as potential antioxidant and immunomodulatory agent. Studies have implemented to improve the functionality of onion and garlic polysaccharides through various modification approaches. Further studies are warranted for utilizing onion and garlic polysaccharides in the food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Hydrogels are ideal for various food applications because of their softness, elasticity, absorbent nature, flexibility, and hygroscopic nature. Polysaccharide hydrogels are particularly suitable because of the hydrophilic nature, their food compatibility, and their non-immunogenic character. Such hydrogels offer a wide range of successful applications such as food preservation, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and food packaging. Additionally, polysaccharide hydrogels have proven to play a significant role in the formulation of food flavor carrier systems, thus diversifying the horizons of newer developments in food processing sector. Polysaccharide hydrogels are comprised of natural polymers such as alginate, chitosan, starch, pectin and hyaluronic acid when crosslinked physically or chemically. Hydrogels with interchangeable, antimicrobial and barrier properties are referred to as smart hydrogels. This review brings together the recent and relevant polysaccharide research in these polysaccharide hydrogel applications areas and seeks to point the way forward for future research and interventions. Applications in carrying out the process of flavor carrier system directly through their incorporation in food matrices, broadening the domain for food application innovations. The classification and important features of polysaccharide-based hydrogels in food processing are the topics of the current review study., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Worldwide consumption of oats is gaining popularity due to its composition and multifunctional benefits of individual components. Oat starch being the major component accounts up to 60% of the dry weight of kernel, possess small granule size and high lipid content. Properties of starch substantially affect the quality of the product. Modification and characterization of starch is important for their specific applications that increase the utilization of oat starch. Different modification techniques greatly affect the functional, pasting, gelatinisation, textural, rheological, retrogradation properties and enzymatic digestibility of oat starches in comparison to native starch. Modified oat starch competes against other abundant and inexpensive cereal starches (rice and corn) that are available in modified forms in the market. This review summarises the current knowledge of physicochemical, morphological, pasting, functional, rheological and gelatinization properties, developments in the extraction and modification (physical, chemical and enzymatic) and applications of oat starch. Thus, this review will upgrade the scientific basis on oat starch being a unique source of starch for variety of applications., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Owing to numerous biological activities of different parts of Moringa oleifera Lam., various studies have been carried out to isolate and explore the activities of its various bioactive compounds including polysaccharides. Polysaccharides of M. oleifera have been reported to possess a variety of biofunctionalities including antihyperlipidemic, anti-diabetic, immunomodulatory, antihypertensive and gastrointestinal protection. In addition to bioactive polysaccharides, the gum exudated by stem of this plant is of commercial importance with wide range of applications in pharmaceutical industries. Various extraction and purification methods as well as combination of methods have been used to isolate and purify moringa polysaccharides. Studies suggest that extraction methods influence the structure of polysaccharides and thus their biological activity. This review summarizes all the available literature to provide updated information related to extraction, purification, modification, structural characterization, bioactivities and potential applications of moringa polysaccharides. This review will provide novel insights for future research and applications of moringa polysaccharides., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Pullulan is a microbial polymer, commercially produced from Aureobasidium pullulans. Downstream processing of pullulan involves a multi-stage process which should be efficient, safe and reproducible. In liquid-liquid separations, firstly cell free extract is separated. Cell biomass can be separated after fermentation either by centrifugation or filtration. Due to practically insolubility of pullulan in organic solvents, ethanol and isopropanol are the most commonly used organic solvents for its recovery. Pullulan can also be purified by chromatographic techniques, but these are not cost effective for the purification of pullulan. Efficient aqueous two-phase system can be used for the purification of pullulan. The current review describes the methods and perspectives used for solid-liquid separation, liquid-liquid separations and finishing steps for the recovery of pullulan. Techniques used to determine the structural attributes of pullulan have also been highlighted., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In this study, the effect of marjoram essential oil (MEO) on the mechanical, barrier, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of mung bean protein isolate (MPI)/pullulan (PU) composite films and its influence on the quality of minced beef meat during 14 days storage at 4 °C was studied. The Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results confirmed the compatibility between components. Also, depend on the different ratios of combination of MEO and MPI/PU, tensile strength (TS) and elongation at break (EAB) were varied. The results showed that an increase in the level of the MPI led to a significant increment in TS and water-proof properties of the composite films. Also, with addition of MEO, the EAB of the antimicrobial blend-films was decreased, while TS and water-proof properties were increased. In addition, enrichment of the films with MEO led to a considerable positive effect on DPPH radical scavenging and antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli). Based on the bacterial and chemical analyses of the minced meat samples, MEO-incorporation in MPI/PU films enhanced oxidative stability of minced beef samples, and also showed effective antimicrobial activity against all of the tested bacteria., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Nanotechnology has proven as progressive technology that enables to contribute, develop several effective and sustainable changes in food products. Incorporating nanomaterials like TiO 2 , SiO 2 , Halloysite nano clay, Copper sulfide, Bentonite nano clay, in carrageenan to develop innovative packaging materials with augmented mechanical and antimicrobial properties along with moisture and gas barrier properties that can produce safe and healthy foods. Intervention of carrageenan-based bio-nanocomposites as food packaging constituents has shown promising results in increasing the shelf stability and food quality by arresting the microbial growth. Nanomaterials can be incorporated within the carrageenan for developing active packaging systems for continuous protection of food products under different storage environments from farm to the fork to ensure quality and safety of foods. Carrageenan based bio nanocomposite packaging materials can be helpful to reduce the environmental concerns due to their high biodegradability index. This review gives insight about the current trends in the applications of carrageenan-based bio nanocomposites for different food packaging applications., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Peppermint oil (PO) is the most prominent oil using in pharmaceutical formulations with its significant therapeutic value. In this sense, this oil is attracting considerable attention from the scientific community due to its traditional therapeutic claim, biological and pharmacological potential in recent research. An organic solvent-free and environment-friendly electrohydrodynamic assisted (EHDA) technique was employed to prepared PO-loaded alginate microbeads. The current study deals with the development, optimization, in vitro characterization, in vivo gastrointestinal tract drug distribution and ex-vivo mucoadhesive properties, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects of PO-loaded alginate microbeads. The optimization results indicated the voltage and flow rate have a significant influence on microbeads size and sphericity factor and encapsulation efficiency. All these optimized microbeads showed a better drug release profile in simulated intestinal fluid (pH 6.8) at 2 h. However, a minor release was found in acidic media (pH 1.2) at 2 h. The optimized formulation showed excellent mucoadhesive properties in ex-vivo and good swelling characterization in intestine media. The microbeads were found to be well distributed in various parts of the intestine in in vivo study. PO-loaded alginate microbeads similarly showed potential antioxidant effects with drug release. The formulation exhibited possible improvement of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in MO-induced rats. It significantly suppressed proinflammatory cytokines, i.e., interleukin- IL-1β, and upregulated anti-inflammatory cytokine expression, i.e., IL-10. It would be a promising approach for targeted drug release after oral administration and could be considered an anti-inflammatory therapeutic strategy for treating IBS., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The objective of present research was to develop an easy, precise and accurate HPTLC densitometry method for quantification of fructooligosaccharides (FOSs) from inulin hydrolysate. The chromatographic separation of FOSs was performed on pre-coated silica gel (60, F 254 ) TLC plates using a mobile phase (butanol:ethanol:water, 60:24:16), and densitometry evaluation of FOSs was performed at A 500 . Both kestose and nystose were successfully resolved with R f value of 0.43 and 0.34, respectively. The accuracy, reliability and reproducibility of developed method was assessed by percent relative standard deviation of kestose and nystose for instrument precision (1.43% and 1.50%), repeatability (1.48% and 1.56%), intra-day precision (1.60% and 1.63%), inter-day precision (1.62% and 1.66%), limit of detection (4.58 ng/spot and 4.58 ng/spot), limit of quantification (13.87 ng/spot and 13.89 ng/spot) and recovery (98.81% and 98.69%). Moreover, overlapping spectra of test sample with standard confirms the specificity of developed method, which was validated as per ICH guidelines., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest No conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Pullulan is an imperative microbial exo-polymer commercially produced by yeast like fungus Aureobasidium pullulans. Its structure contains maltosyl repeating units which comprises two α-(1 → 4) linked glucopyranose rings attached to one glucopyranose ring through α-(1 → 6) glycosidic bond. The co-existence of α-(1 → 6) and α-(1 → 4) glycosidic linkages endows distinctive physico-chemical properties to pullulan. It is highly biocompatible, non-toxic and non-carcinogenic in nature. It is extremely resistant to any mutagenicity or immunogenicity. The unique properties of pullulan make it a potent candidate for biomedical applications viz. drug delivery, gene delivery, tissue engineering, molecular chaperon, plasma expander, vaccination, etc. This review highlights the potential of pullulan in biomedical research and development., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Statistical optimization of hydrolytic conditions for the production of fructooligosaccharides (FOSs) from pure inulin using Aspergillus tritici endoinulinase was carried out in a batch system. FOSs yield 99.19% was obtained under the optimized hydrolytic conditions i.e. inulin concentration (7.3%), enzyme load (65 IU), hydrolysis time (13 h) and agitation (100 rpm). The closeness of value of co-efficient of determination (R 2 ) to 1, good agreement between model's predicted and experimental values, low percentage error (<5%), high adequate precision (>4%) and F value (11,634.32), and low Lack of fit (0.60) of the designed model authenticates its fitness. High substrate concentration, low enzyme load and short hydrolysis span justifies efficiency of developed process for the preparation of FOSs from inulin using fungal endoinulinase. TLC chromatographic and densitometry studies confirmed the synthesis of short-chain length FOSs. FOSs preparation contained 33.85% GF2 (ketose), 24.50% GF3 (nystose), 7.26% GF4 (fructofuranosylnystose) and 33.58% FOSs of DP5-9., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest No conflict of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study focuses on the effect of co-processing on physicochemical and drug release properties of starch mixtures. Different mixtures of native maize and potato starch were pregelatinized for different time intervals. The pregelatinized starch mixture was observed to have higher amylose content than that of native starches. The flow properties of starch mixtures were found to improve after pregelatinization. FTIR and XRD showed changes in structure and crystallinity of native starch due to pregelatinization. The FESEM images showed complete disruption of granular structure of native starch. Native starch was found to be more viscous than pregelatinized starch and all starch samples exhibited Non-Newtonian shear thinning behaviour. The tablets prepared from native starch showed rapid release of drug compared to the modified starches, and increase in the amount of potato starch resulted in sustained drug release. This indicates the utility of pregelatinized starch mixtures with high proportion of potato starch in sustained drug delivery systems., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)