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In this study, epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) was mixed using a two-roller mixer. Water hyacinth fiber (WHF) acted as a reinforcing agent in the preparation of the rubber composite at 10 phr (ENRC/WHF). Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) was added at different concentrations (1, 5, 10, and 20 phr) as an antimicrobial and coupling agent. The tensile strength increased with a CHG content of 1 phr (4.59 MPa). The ENRC/WHF/CHG20 blend offered high hardness (38) and good morphology owing to the reduction in cavities and fiber pull-out from the rubber matrix. The swelling of the sample blends in oil and toluene decreased as the CHG content increased. Reactions of -NH 2 /epoxy groups and -NH 2 /-OH groups occurred during the preparation of the ENRC/WHF/CHG blend. The FTIR spectroscopy peak at 1730 cm -1 confirmed the reaction between the -NH 2 groups of CHG and epoxy groups of ENR. The ENRC/WHF/CHG blend at 10 phr and 20 phr exhibited zones of inhibition against three bacterial species ( Staphylococcus aureus , Escherichia coli , and Bacillus cereus ). CHG simultaneously acted as a crosslinking agent between ENR and WHF and as an antimicrobial additive for the blends. CHG also improved the tensile strength, hardness, swelling, and antimicrobial properties of ENR composites.

A co-substrate model of Candida tropicalis TISTR 5306 cultivated in 10 - 100 g/L xylose and 1 - 10 g/L glucose at the ratio of 10:1 was developed based in part on modified Monod equation. The kinetic parameters include substrate limitation as well as substrate and product inhibitions with inclusion of threshold values. A general good fitting with average RSS total , R 2 , and MS total values of 162, 0.979, and 10.8, respectively, was achieved between ten simulated profiles and experimental kinetics data. The implementation of developed model on xylitol production from non-detoxified corncob hemicellulosic hydrolysate resulted in relatively good agreement with RSS total , R 2 , and MS total values of 368, 0.988, and 24.5, respectively. The developed model can be applied to predict microbial behavior in batch xylitol production system using hemicellulosic hydrolysate over a xylose range of 10 - 100 g/L and provide useful information for subsequent design of fed-batch and continuous systems to achieve the efficient sustainable resource management of this agricultural and agro-industrial waste., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Cellulosic bioethanol production generally has a higher operating cost due to relatively expensive pretreatment strategies and low efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis. The production of other high-value chemicals such as xylitol and phenylacetylcarbinol (PAC) is, thus, necessary to offset the cost and promote economic viability. The optimal conditions of diluted sulfuric acid pretreatment under boiling water at 95°C and subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis steps for sugarcane bagasse (SCB), rice straw (RS), and corn cob (CC) were optimized using the response surface methodology via a central composite design to simplify the process on the large-scale production. The optimal pretreatment conditions (diluted sulfuric acid concentration (% w/v), treatment time (min)) for SCB (3.36, 113), RS (3.77, 109), and CC (3.89, 112) and the optimal enzymatic hydrolysis conditions (pretreated solid concentration (% w/v), hydrolysis time (h)) for SCB (12.1, 93), RS (10.9, 61), and CC (12.0, 90) were achieved. CC xylose-rich and CC glucose-rich hydrolysates obtained from the respective optimal condition of pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis steps were used for xylitol and ethanol production. The statistically significant highest ( p ≤ 0.05) xylitol and ethanol yields were 65% ± 1% and 86% ± 2% using Candida magnoliae TISTR 5664. C. magnoliae could statistically significantly degrade ( p ≤ 0.05) the inhibitors previously formed during the pretreatment step, including up to 97% w/w hydroxymethylfurfural, 76% w/w furfural, and completely degraded acetic acid during the xylitol production. This study was the first report using the mixed whole cells harvested from xylitol and ethanol production as a biocatalyst in PAC biotransformation under a two-phase emulsion system (vegetable oil/1 M phosphate (Pi) buffer). PAC concentration could be improved by 2-fold compared to a single-phase emulsion system using only 1 M Pi buffer., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2024 Porninta, Khemacheewakul, Techapun, Phimolsiripol, Jantanasakulwong, Sommanee, Mahakuntha, Feng, Htike, Moukamnerd, Zhuang, Wang, Qi, Li, Liu, Kumar, Nunta and Leksawasdi.)

A study evaluated nine kinetic data and four kinetic parameters related to growth, production of various phytase activities (PE act ), and released phosphate ion concentration ([Pi]) from five lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains cultivated in three types of media: phytate (IP6), milling stage rice bran (MsRB), and whitening stage rice bran (WsRB). Score ranking techniques were used, combining these kinetic data and parameters to select the most suitable LAB strain for each medium across three cultivation time periods (24, 48, and 72 h). In the IP6 medium, Lacticaseibacillus casei TISTR 1500 exhibited statistically significant highest ( p ≤ 0.05) normalized summation scores using a 2:1 weighting between kinetic and parameter data sets. This strain also had the statistically highest levels ( p ≤ 0.05) of produced phosphate ion concentration ([Pi]) (0.55 g/L) at 72 h and produced extracellular specific phytase activity (ExSp-PE act ) (0.278 U/mg protein ) at 48 h. For the MsRB and WsRB media, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum TISTR 877 performed exceptionally well after 72 h of cultivation. It produced ([Pi], ExSp-PE act ) pairs of (0.53 g/L, 0.0790 U/mg protein ) in MsRB and (0.85 g/L, 0.0593 U/mg protein ) in WsRB, respectively. Overall, these findings indicate the most promising LAB strains for each medium and cultivation time based on their ability to produce phosphate ions and extracellular specific phytase activity. The selection process utilized a combination of kinetic data and parameter analysis.

Pouteria cambodiana is a perennial plant that has a wide distribution in tropical regions. It is commonly referred to as 'Nom-nang' in the northern region of Thailand. The bark of this plant has been used for the purpose of promoting lactation among breastfeeding mothers. Moreover, P. cambodiana bark has a high nutraceutical potential due to the presence of saponins, which are secondary metabolites. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal conditions for ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of saponins from the bark of P. cambodiana and to assess the in vitro inhibitory activities of saponin-rich extracts. The most effective extraction conditions involved a temperature of 50 °C and a 50% concentration level of ethanol as the solvent, which allowed the extraction of saponin at a concentration of 36.04 mg/g. Saponin-rich extracts and their hydrolysates from P. cambodiana bark were evaluated for their ability to inhibit α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase. The IC50 values for saponin- and sapogenin-rich extracts inhibiting α-glucosidase were 0.10 and 2.98 mg/mL, respectively. Non-hydrolysed extracts also had a stronger inhibitory effect than acarbose. In the case of pancreatic lipase, only the hydrolysed extracts exhibited inhibitory effects on pancreatic lipase (IC 50 of 7.60 mg/mL). Thus, P. cambodiana bark may be an applicable natural resource for preparing ingredients for functional products with inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase. The phenolic contents, saponin contents, and antioxidant activities of the dried extract stored at a low temperature of 25 °C for 2 months showed the best stability, with more than 90% retention.

A novel poly (lactic acid) (PLA) composite with excellent mechanical properties, toughness, thermal stability, and water resistance was developed using a reactive melt-blending technique. PLA was melt mixed with epoxy resin (EPOXY) and bamboo pulp (PULP) to improve its reaction and mechanical properties. FTIR analysis confirmed the successful reaction of the PLA/EPOXY/PULP composites; the epoxy groups of EPOXY reacted with the -COOH groups of PLA and the -OH groups of PULP. The PLA/EPOXY/PULP5 composite showed a high tensile strength (67 MPa) and high toughness of 762 folding cycles, whereas the highest tensile strength was 77 MPa in the PLA/EPOXY5/PULP20 sample. SEM images presented a gap between the PLA and PULP; gap size decreased with the addition of EPOXY. The T g of the PLA decreased with the EPOXY plasticizer effect, whereas the T m did not significantly change. PULP induced crystallinity and increased Vicat softening of the PLA/PULP and PLA/EPOXY/PULP composites. The EPOXY reaction of the PLA/PULP composites improved their tensile properties, toughness, thermal stability, and water resistance.

Phenylacetylcarbinol (PAC) is a precursor for the synthesis of several pharmaceuticals, including ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and norephedrine. PAC is commonly produced through biotransformation using microbial pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC) in the form of frozen-thawed whole cells. However, the lack of microorganisms capable of high PDC activity is the main factor in the production of PAC. In addition, researchers are also looking for ways to utilize agro-industrial residues as an inexpensive carbon source through an integrated biorefinery approach in which sugars can be utilized for bioethanol production and frozen-thawed whole cells for PAC synthesis. In the present study, Candida tropicalis , Saccharomyces cerevisiae , and the co-culture of both strains were compared for their biomass and ethanol concentrations, as well as for their volumetric and specific PDC activities when cultivated in a sugarcane bagasse (SCB) hydrolysate medium (SCBHM). The co-culture that resulted in a higher level of PAC (8.65 ± 0.08 mM) with 26.4 ± 0.9 g L -1 ethanol production was chosen for further experiments. Biomass production was scaled up to 100 L and the kinetic parameters were studied. The biomass harvested from the bioreactor was utilized as frozen-thawed whole cells for the selection of an initial pyruvate (Pyr)-to-benzaldehyde (Bz) concentration ([Pyr]/[Bz]) ratio suitable for the PAC biotransformation in a single-phase emulsion system. The initial [Pyr]/[Bz] at 100/120 mM resulted in higher PAC levels with 10.5 ± 0.2 mM when compared to 200/240 mM (8.60 ± 0.01 mM). A subsequent two-phase emulsion system with Pyr in the aqueous phase, Bz in the organic phase, and frozen-thawed whole cells of the co-culture as the biocatalyst produced a 1.46-fold higher PAC level when compared to a single-phase emulsion system. In addition, the cost analysis strategy indicated preliminary costs of USD 0.82 and 1.01/kg PAC for the single-phase and two-phase emulsion systems, respectively. The results of the present study suggested that the co-culture of C. tropicalis and S. cerevisiae can effectively produce bioethanol and PAC from SCB and would decrease the overall production cost on an industrial scale utilizing the two-phase emulsion system with the proposed multiple-pass strategy.

Biodegradable starch-based polymers were developed by melt-blending modified thermoplastic starch (MTPS) with poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) blended with epoxy resin (Er). A modified thermoplastic starch blend with chlorhexidine gluconate (MTPSCh) was prepared by melt-blending cassava starch with glycerol and chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) 1.0% wt. The Er was melt-blended with PBS (PBSE) at concentrations of 0.50%, 1.0%, 2.5%, and 5.0% (wt%/wt%). The mechanical properties, water resistance, and morphology of the MTPSCh/PBSE blends were investigated. The MTPSCh/PBSE2.5% blend showed an improvement in tensile strength (8.1 MPa) and elongation at break (86%) compared to the TPSCh/PBS blend (2.6 MPa and 53%, respectively). In addition, water contact angle measurements indicated an increase in the hydrophobicity of the MTPSCh/PBSE blends. Thermogravimetric analysis showed an improvement in thermal stability when PBS was added to the MTPSCh blends. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy data confirmed a new reaction between the amino groups of CHG in MTPSCh and the epoxy groups of Er in PBSE, which improved the interfacial adhesion of the MTPSCh/PBSE blends. This reaction improved the mechanical properties, water resistance, morphology, and thermal stability of the TPSCh/PBSE blends.

The aim of the present study was to maximize the extraction of gymnemic acid (GA) from Phak Chiang Da (PCD) leaves, an indigenous medicinal plant used for diabetic treatment in Northern Thailand. The goal was to overcome the low concentration of GA in the leaves, which limits its applications among a larger population and develop a process to produce GA-enriched PCD extract powder. The solvent extraction method was employed to extract GA from PCD leaves. The effect of ethanol concentration and extraction temperature were investigated to determine the optimum extraction conditions. A process was developed to produce GA-enriched PCD extract powder, and its properties were characterized. In addition, color analysis (L*, a*, and b*) was performed to evaluate the overall appearance of the PCD extract powder. Antioxidant activity assay was conducted to assess the ability of the PCD extract powder to neutralize DPPH free radicals. The results showed that the concentration of 50% (v/v) ethanol at 70 °C for 2 h resulted in a higher GA concentration of 8307 mg/kg from dried PCD leaves. During the drying process, the use of maltodextrin at a concentration of 0.5% (w/v) was found to produce PCD extract powder with the maximum GA concentration. The color analysis revealed that the PCD extract powder had a dark greenish tint mixed with yellow. The antioxidant activity assay showed that 0.1 g of PCD extract powder was able to neutralize 75.8% of DPPH free radicals. The results concluded that PCD extract powder could potentially be used as a source of nutraceuticals or as a functional food ingredient. These findings suggest the potential value of GA-rich PCD extract powder in various applications in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, or food industries., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

An epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) blend with chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) was prepared using a two-roll mill at 130 °C. CHG was added at concentrations of 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, and 10% (w/w) as an antimicrobial additive. The ENR blend with 10% (w/w) CHG showed the best tensile strength, elastic recovery, and Shore A hardness. The ENR/CHG blend exhibited a smooth fracture surface. The appearance of a new peak in the Fourier transform infrared spectrum confirmed that the amino groups of CHG reacted with the epoxy groups of ENR. The ENR with 10% CHG exhibited an inhibition zone against Staphylococcus aureus. The proposed blending improved the mechanical properties, elasticity, morphology, and antimicrobial properties of the ENR., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

This research aimed to optimize pressure (10-20 MPa) and temperature (45-60 °C) conditions for supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of Makwaen pepper ( Zanthoxylum myriacanthum ) extract (ME) in comparison to conventional hydro-distillation extraction. Various quality parameters, including yield, total phenolic compounds, antioxidants, and antimicrobial activities of the extracts, were assessed and optimized using a central composite design. The optimal SFE conditions were found to be 20 MPa at 60 °C, which resulted in the highest yield (19%) and a total phenolic compound content of 31.54 mg GAE/mL extract. IC 50 values for DPPH and ABTS assays were determined to be 26.06 and 19.90 μg/mL extract, respectively. Overall, the ME obtained through SFE exhibited significantly better physicochemical and antioxidant properties compared to ME obtained through hydro-distillation extraction. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed that beta-pinene was the major component in the ME obtained through SFE (23.10%), followed by d-limonene, alpha-pinene, and terpinen-4-ol at concentrations of 16.08, 7.47, and 6.34%, respectively. On the other hand, the hydro-distillation-extracted ME showed stronger antimicrobial properties than the SFE-extracted ME. These findings suggest that both SFE and hydro-distillation have the potential for extracting Makwaen pepper, depending on the intended purpose of use.

One-carbon nutrients play an important role in epigenetic mechanisms and cellular methylation reactions. Inadequate intake of these nutrients is linked to metabolic perturbations, yet the current intake levels of these nutrients have rarely been studied in Asia. This cross-sectional study surveyed the usual dietary intake of one-carbon nutrients (folate, choline and vitamins B2, B6 and B12) among Thai university students aged 19-30 years ( n 246). Socioeconomic background, health information, anthropometric data and 24-h dietary recall data were collected. The long-term usual intake was estimated using the multiple-source method. The average usual intake levels for men and women were (mean ± sd) 1⋅85 ± 0⋅95 and 2⋅42 ± 8⋅7 mg/d of vitamin B2, 1⋅96 ± 1⋅0 and 2⋅49 ± 8⋅7 mg/d of vitamin B6, 6⋅20 ± 9⋅5 and 6⋅28 ± 12 μg/d of vitamin B12, 195 ± 154 and 155 ± 101 μg dietary folate equivalent/d of folate, 418 ± 191 and 337 ± 164 mg/d of choline, respectively. Effect modification by sex was observed for vitamin B2 ( P -interaction = 0⋅002) and choline ( P -interaction = 0⋅02), where every 1 mg increase in vitamin B2 and 100 mg increase in choline intake were associated with a 2⋅07 ( P = 0⋅01) and 0⋅81 kg/m 2 ( P = 0⋅04) lower BMI, respectively, in men. The study results suggest that Thai young adults meet the recommended levels for vitamins B2, B6 and B12. The majority of participants had inadequate folate intake and did not achieve recommended intake levels for choline. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee at the Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University. This trial was registered at www.thaiclinicaltrials.gov (TCTR20210420007)., (© The Author(s) 2023.)

Open burning of agricultural residues causes numerous complications including particulate matter pollution in the air, soil degradation, global warming and many more. Since they possess bio-conversion potential, agro-industrial residues including sugarcane bagasse (SCB), rice straw (RS), corncob (CC) and sweet sorghum bagasse (SSB) were chosen for the study. Yeast strains, Candida tropicalis, C. shehatae, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Kluyveromyces marxianus var. marxianus were compared for their production potential of bioethanol and phenylacetylcarbinol (PAC), an intermediate in the manufacture of crucial pharmaceuticals, namely, ephedrine, and pseudoephedrine. Among the substrates and yeasts evaluated, RS cultivated with C. tropicalis produced significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher ethanol concentration at 15.3 g L -1 after 24 h cultivation. The product per substrate yield (Y eth/s ) was 0.38 g g -1 with the volumetric productivity (Q p ) of 0.64 g L -1  h -1 and fermentation efficiency of 73.6% based on a theoretical yield of 0.51 g ethanol/g glucose. C. tropicalis grown in RS medium produced 0.303 U mL -1 pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC), a key enzyme that catalyzes the production of PAC, with a specific activity of 0.400 U mg -1 protein after 24 h cultivation. This present study also compared the whole cells biomass of C. tropicalis with its partially purified PDC preparation for PAC biotransformation. The whole cells C. tropicalis PDC at 1.29 U mL -1 produced an overall concentration of 62.3 mM PAC, which was 68.4% higher when compared to partially purified enzyme preparation. The results suggest that the valorization of lignocellulosic residues into bioethanol and PAC will not only aid in mitigating the environmental challenge posed by their surroundings but also has the potential to improve the bioeconomy., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The nano-metal-treated PET films with anti-virus and anti-fogging ability were developed using sparking nano-metal particles of Ag, Zn, and Ti wires on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films. Ag nanoparticles were detected on the PET surface, while a continuous aggregate morphology was observed with Zn and Ti sparking. The color of the Ag-PET films changed to brown with increasing repeat sparking times, but not with the Zn-PET and Ti-PET films. The water contact angle of the nano-metal-treated PET films decreased with increasing repeat sparking times. The RT-PCR anti-virus test confirmed the high anti-virus efficiency of the nano-metal-treated PET films due to the fine particle distribution, high polarity, and binding of the nano-metal ions to the coronavirus, which was destroyed by heat after UV irradiation. A highly transparent, anti-fogging, and anti-virus face shield was prepared using the Zn-PET film. Sparking was an effective technique to prepare the alternative anti-virus and anti-fogging films for medical biomaterial applications because of their low cost, convenience, and fast processing.

Green soybean ( Glycine max L.) seeds (GSS) are rich in various antioxidants and phytonutrients that are linked to various health benefits. Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) technology was used for extracting the effective components from GSS. A response surface method (RSM) was used to examine the influence of liquid-to-solid ratio and extraction temperature on the bioactive compounds and antioxidant characteristics. The optimal conditions were a liquid-to-solid ratio of 25:1 and a UAE temperature of 40 °C. The observed values coincided well with the predicted values under optimal conditions. Additionally, the effects of drying methods on the procyanidins and antioxidant activities of GSS extract were evaluated. The spray-dried GSS extract contained the highest levels of procyanidins (21.4 ± 0.37 mg PC/g), DPPH (199 ± 0.85 µM Trolox eq/g), and FRAP (243 ± 0.26 µM Trolox eq/g). Spray drying could be the most time- and energy-efficient technique for drying the GSS extract. The present study also assessed the effects of storage temperature and time on procyanidins and antioxidant activities in GSS extract powder. Procyanidins were found to degrade more rapidly at 45 °C than at 25 °C and 35 °C. Storage under 25 °C was appropriate for maintaining the procyanidin contents, DPPH, and FRAP activities in the GSS extract powder. This study contributed to the body of knowledge by explaining the preparation of procyanidin extract powder from GSS, which might be employed as a low-cost supply of nutraceutical compounds for the functional food industry and pharmaceutical sector.

Phytocannabinoids are isoprenylated resorcinyl polyketides produced mostly in glandular trichomes of Cannabis sativa L. These discoveries led to the identification of cannabinoid receptors, which modulate psychotropic and pharmacological reactions and are found primarily in the human central nervous system. As a result of the biogenetic process, aliphatic ketide phytocannabinoids are exclusively found in the cannabis species and have a limited natural distribution, whereas phenethyl-type phytocannabinoids are present in higher plants, liverworts, and fungi. The development of cannabinomics has uncovered evidence of new sources containing various phytocannabinoid derivatives. Phytocannabinoids have been isolated as artifacts from their carboxylated forms (pre-cannabinoids or acidic cannabinoids) from plant sources. In this review, the overview of the phytocannabinoid biosynthesis is presented. Different non-cannabis plant sources are described either from those belonging to the angiosperm species and bryophytes, together with their metabolomic structures. Lastly, we discuss the legal framework for the ingestion of these biological materials which currently receive the attention as a legal high.

Prebiotics are functional food ingredients that assist probiotic growth and render many other health benefits. Mango peel is the biomass of the processing industry and has recently been value-added as a dietary fiber pectin. Besides its general use as a food additive, mango peel pectin (MPP) is partially hydrolyzed by pectinase to obtain pectic oligosaccharides (POSs) that have recently gained attention as novel prebiotic products and in medical research. This review describes probiotic candidates responsible for the digestion of pectin derivatives and the advantages of POSs as functional additives and their current best retrieval options. Mango pectic oligosaccharide (MPOS) recovery from low methoxyl MPP from mango with prebiotic performance both in vivo and in vitro environments is discussed. Current research gaps and potential developments in the field are also explored. The overall worthiness of this article is the potential use of the cheap-green food processing bioresource for high-value components., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Wongkaew, Tangjaidee, Leksawasdi, Jantanasakulwong, Rachtanapun, Seesuriyachan, Phimolsiripol, Chaiyaso, Ruksiriwanich, Jantrawut and Sommano.)

Poly(lactic acid) was melt-blended with epoxy resin without hardener and chitosan (CTS) to prepare modified PLA (PLAEC). Epoxy resin 5% and CTS 1-20% (wt/wt) were incorporated into PLA during melt mixing. PLAEC was melt-blended with an epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) 80/20 wt. The PLAEC CTS 1% blended with ENR (PLAEC1/ENR) showed a high tensile strength (30 MPa) and elongation at break (7%). The annealing process at 80 °C for 0-15 min maintained a tensile strength of approximately 30 MPa. SEM images of the PLAE/ENR blend showed phase inversion from co-continuous to ENR particle dispersion in the PLA matrix with the addition of CTS, whereas the annealing time reduced the hole sizes of the extracted ENR phase due to the shrinkage of PLA by crystallization. Thermal properties were observed by DSC and a Vicat softening test. The annealing process increased the crystallinity and Vicat softening temperature of the PLAEC1/ENR blend. Reactions of -COOH/epoxy groups and epoxy/-NH 2 groups occurred during PLAE and PLAEC preparation, respectively. FTIR confirmed the reaction between the -NH 2 groups of CTS in PLAEC and the epoxy groups of ENR. This reaction increased the mechanical properties, while the annealing process improved the morphology and thermal properties of the blend.

Green soybean ( Glycine max L.) pods (GSP) are agro-industrial waste from the production of frozen green soybean and milk. These pods contain natural antioxidants and various bioactive compounds that are still underutilized. Polyphenols and flavonoids in GSP were extracted by ultrasound technique and used in the antioxidant fortification of green soybean milk. The ultrasound extraction that yielded the highest total polyphenol content and antioxidant activities was 50% amplitude for 10 min. Response surface methodology was applied to analyze an optimum ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) condition of these variables. The highest desirability was found to be 50% amplitude with an extraction time of 10.5 min. Under these conditions, the experimental total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity were well matched with the predicted values (R 2 > 0.70). Fortification of the GSP extracts (1-3% v / v ) in green soybean milk resulted in higher levels of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity in a dose-dependent manner. Procyanidins were found to be the main polyphenols in dried GSP crude extracts, which were present at a concentration of 0.72 ± 0.01 mg/100 g. The addition of GSP extracts obtained by using an ultrasound technique to green soybean milk increased its bioactive compound content, especially procyanidins, as well as its antioxidant activity.

Carboxymethyl rice starch films were prepared from carboxymethyl rice starch (CMSr) treated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at 10-50% w / v . The objective of this research was to determine the effect of NaOH concentrations on morphology, mechanical properties, and water barrier properties of the CMSr films. The degree of substitution (DS) and morphology of native rice starch and CMSr powders were examined. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to investigate the chemical structure, crystallinity, and thermal properties of the CMSr films. As the NaOH concentrations increased, the DS of CMSr powders increased, which affected the morphology of CMSr powders; a polyhedral shape of the native rice starch was deformed. In addition, the increase in NaOH concentrations of the synthesis of CMSr resulted in an increase in water solubility, elongation at break, and water vapor permeability (WVP) of CMSr films. On the other hand, the water contact angle, melting temperature, and the tensile strength of the CMSr films decreased with increasing NaOH concentrations. However, the tensile strength of the CMSr films was relatively low. Therefore, such a property needs to be improved and the application of the developed films should be investigated in the future work.

Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCH) from native chitosan of high molecular weight (H, 310-375 kDa) was synthesized for improving water solubility. The water solubility of high-molecular-weight carboxymethyl chitosan (H-CMCH) was higher than that of native chitosan by 89%. The application of H-CMCH as enhancing the moisturizer in mangosteen extract deodorant cream was evaluated. Different concentrations of H-CMCH (0.5-2.5%) were investigated in physicochemical characteristics of creams, including appearance, phase separation, pH, and viscosity, by an accelerated stability test. The different degrees of skin moisturizing (DM) on pig skin after applying H-CMCH solution, compared with untreated skin, water, and propylene glycol for 15 and 30 min using a Corneometer ® , were investigated. The results showed that the 0.5% H-CMCH provided the best DM after applying the solution on pig skin for 30 min. Trans-2-nonenal, as an unsatisfied odor component, was also evaluated against components of the mangosteen extract deodorant cream, which were compared to the standard, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). In addition, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and antibacterial activities were examined for the mangosteen extract deodorant cream using 0.5% H-CMCH. Results indicated that the mangosteen extract synergized with H-CMCH, which had a good potential as an effective skin moisturizing agent enhancer, deodorizing activity on trans-2-nonenal odor, antioxidant properties, and antibacterial properties.

A blend of cassava starch (CS), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and paraffin was prepared as a coating material to maintain the quality of eggs during 4 wk of storage at different temperatures. The efficacy of the CS/CMC/paraffin (6/1/0.5% w/v) coating was investigated in terms of the Haugh unit (HU), weight loss, pH, and microbial load at the end of storage. The best egg storage temperature was 4°C, which maintained an HU of grade AA in coated and uncoated eggs for 4 wk. Lower weight loss (2.14%) was observed in coated eggs at 4°C storage than at 30°C storage (3.26%). The pH in the albumen of coated and uncoated eggs at 4°C increased from 6.84 to 6.88 and 7.01 to 7.03, respectively, after 4 wk of storage. No microbes were detected in the coated and uncoated eggs at 4°C. The maximum microbial count was 728 ± 35 cfu/mL in uncoated eggs at 30°C storage. Egg coating prevented microbial contamination of eggs stored at 30°C for 4 wk. The freshness of the eggs did not affect the nutrient content. The egg-coating material effectively maintained egg quality, prevented microbial contamination of eggs, and increased the shelf life of eggs at storage temperatures of 25 and 30°C., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The kinetic profiles of Candida tropicalis TISTR 5306 cultivation based on modified yeast-malt (MYM), assorted grade fresh longan juice (AsgLG) and longan solid waste extract (LSWE) medium were evaluated in 1 l batch mode. The highest ethanol concentration level (25.5 ± 0.8 g/l) and ethanol yield - Yp/s of 0.491 ± 0.017 g ethanol/g consumed substrate, dried biomass concentration level (9.44 ± 0.05 g/l) and dried biomass yield - Yp/s of 0.533 ± 0.170 g dried biomass/g consumed substrate, specific pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC) activity (0.037 ± 0.003 U/mg protein) were achieved (p ≤ 0.05) in AsgLG medium. Scores ranking strategy were employed and AsgLG medium was subsequently selected with in the highest total score (p ≤ 0.05) of 698 ± 7 at 48 h. The cultivation in fed-batch mode with three rounds of pulse feeding (PF) in 1 l AsgLG medium was carried out. The apparent highest ethanol and dried biomass concentration levels with corresponding yields relative to time zero were (28.3 ± 0.5 g/l, 0.482 ± 0.012 g/g) at 120 h of PF2 and (9.39 ± 0.04 g/l, 0.110 ± 0.001 g/g) at 192 h of PF3. The maximum specific PDC activity was 0.057 ± 0.006 U/mg protein during PF1 feeding.

Concerns regarding the overconsumption of natural resources has provoked the recovery of biopolymers from food processing biomass. Furthermore, the current market opportunity for pectin in other areas has increased, necessitating the search for alternative pectin resources. This is also a step towards the sustainable and circular green economy. Mango peel is the byproduct of agro-processing and has been used for high value-added components such as polysaccharide biopolymers. Pectin derived from the peel is yet to be exploited to its greatest extent, particularly in terms of its separation and physiochemical properties, which limit its applicability to dietary fiber in culinary applications. The functionality of the mango peel pectin (MPP) strongly depends on the molecular size and degree of esterification which highlight the importance of isolation and characterisation of pectin from this novel resource. This article therefore provides a useful overview of mango peel as a potential biomaterial for the recovery of MPP. Different extraction techniques and the integrated recovery were also discussed. The utilisation of MPP in different industrial schemes are also detailed out from different perspectives such as the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. This review convincingly expresses the significance of MPP, providing a sustainable opportunity for food and pharmaceutical development.

Viral infections may cause serious human diseases. For instance, the recent appearance of the novel virus, SARS-CoV-2, causing COVID-19, has spread globally and is a serious public health concern. The consumption of healthy, proper, functional, and nutrient-rich foods has an important role in enhancing an individual's immune system and preventing viral infections. Several polysaccharides from natural sources such as algae, bacteria, and fungi have been considered as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the US Food and Drug Administration. They are safe, low-toxicity, biodegradable, and have biological activities. In this review, the bioactive polysaccharides derived from various microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and algae were evaluated. Antiviral mechanisms of these polysaccharides were discussed. Finally, the potential use of microbial and algal polysaccharides as an antiviral and immune boosting strategy was addressed. The microbial polysaccharides exhibited several bioactivities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antitumor, and immunomodulatory activities. Some microbes are able to produce sulfated polysaccharides, which are well-known to exert a board spectrum of biological activities, especially antiviral properties. Microbial polysaccharide can inhibit various viruses using different mechanisms. Furthermore, these microbial polysaccharides are also able to modulate immune responses to prevent and/or inhibit virus infections. There are many molecular factors influencing their bioactivities, e.g., functional groups, conformations, compositions, and molecular weight. At this stage of development, microbial polysaccharides will be used as adjuvants, nutrient supplements, and for drug delivery to prevent several virus infections, especially SARS-CoV-2 infection., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Chaisuwan, Phimolsiripol, Chaiyaso, Techapun, Leksawasdi, Jantanasakulwong, Rachtanapun, Wangtueai, Sommano, You, Regenstein, Barba and Seesuriyachan.)

An egg-coating material was developed to extend the shelf-life and freshness of eggs by blending cassava starch (CS) with gelling agents and waxes. The effects of the properties of this egg coating on egg quality were investigated. Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), beeswax, and paraffin wax were used. CS blended with low-molecular-weight paraffin (Paraffin(L)) and CMC coating material displayed a tensile strength of 4 MPa, 34% elongation at break, 0.0039 g day -1 m -2 water vapor permeability, and a water contact angle of 89° at 3 min. Eggs coated with CS/CMC/Paraffin(L) solutions had a Haugh unit value of 72 (AA grade) and exhibited a weight loss of 2.4% in 4 weeks. CMC improved the compatibility of CS and Paraffin(L). This improvement and the hydrophobicity of Paraffin(L) provided suitable mechanical and water-resistance properties to the coating material that helped to maintain the quality of the coated AA-grade eggs with low weight loss for 4 weeks.

In this study, the mucilage polysaccharide (MP) from Amanita hemibapha subspecies javanica was prepared by hot water extraction and ethanol precipitation and then fractionated using anion-exchange chromatography equipped with a DEAE Sepharose fast flow column. The most immune-enhancing polysaccharide fraction 2 (MPF2) was subjected to a structural modification such as hydrolysis or over-sulphation. The sulphate and molecular weight (Mw) of over-sulphated (OS1-3) and hydrolysed (HS1-3) derivatives of MPF2 differed between 9.85% and 14.2% and 32.8 and 88.1 × 10 3 g/mol, respectively. Further, the immune-enhancing properties of MPF2 and its derivatives were tested on RAW264.7 and NK cells through various in vitro assays. Interestingly, a low molecular weight of HS1-3 significantly increased the nitric oxide (NO) production ( p < 0.05) more than MPF2, indicating that Mw is a major factor in RAW264.7 cell stimulation. In addition, RAW264.7 cells produced various cytokines by up-regulating mRNA expression levels and the activation of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. On the other hand, OS1-3-treated natural killer (NK) cells induced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells through the expression of IFN-γ, Grandzyme-B, perforin, NKp30, and FasL. These results demonstrated that sulphate derivatives play an important role in NK cell activation. Further, this study also explores how polysaccharide binds to RAW264.7 and NK cells. MPF2 and HS3 may activate RAW264.7 cells via binding to TLR4 receptors, and OS2 could be activated through the CR3 signalling pathways.

Cassava starch was blended with glycerol to prepare thermoplastic starch (TPS). Thermoplastic starch was premixed with sericin (TPSS) by solution mixing and then melt-blended with polyethylene grafted maleic anhydride (PEMAH). The effect of sericin on the mechanical properties, morphology, thermal properties, rheology, and reaction mechanism was investigated. The tensile strength and elongation at break of the TPSS10/PEMAH blend were improved to 12.2 MPa and 100.4%, respectively. The TPS/PEMAH morphology presented polyethylene grafted maleic anhydride particles (2 μm) dispersed in the thermoplastic starch matrix, which decreased in size to approximately 200 nm when 5% sericin was used. The melting temperature of polyethylene grafted maleic anhydride (121 °C) decreased to 111 °C because of the small crystal size of the polyethylene grafted maleic anhydride phase. The viscosity of TPS/PEMAH increased with increasing sericin content because of the chain extension. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the reaction between the amino groups of sericin and the maleic anhydride groups of polyethylene grafted maleic anhydride. This reaction reduced the interfacial tension between thermoplastic starch and polyethylene grafted maleic anhydride, which improved the compatibility, mechanical properties, and morphology of the blend., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

This study investigated the effect of chitosan particle sizes on the properties of carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCh) powders and films. Chitosan powders with different particle sizes (75, 125, 250, 450 and 850 µm) were used to synthesize the CMCh powders. The yield, degree of substitution (DS), and water solubility of the CMCh powders were then determined. The CMCh films prepared with CMCh based on chitosan with different particle sizes were fabricated by a solution casting technique. The water solubility, mechanical properties, and water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of the CMCh films were measured. As the chitosan particle size decreased, the yield, DS, and water solubility of the synthesized CMCh powders increased. The increase in water solubility was due to an increase in the polarity of the CMCh powder, from a higher conversion of chitosan into CMCh. In addition, the higher conversion of chitosan was also related to a higher surface area in the substitution reaction provided by chitosan powder with a smaller particle size. As the particle size of chitosan decreased, the tensile strength, elongation at break, and WVTR of the CMCh films increased. This study demonstrated that a greater improvement in water solubility of the CMCh powders and films can be achieved by using chitosan powder with a smaller size.

A mixture of corn starch and glycerol plasticizer (CSG) was blended with latex natural rubber (LNR) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). The addition of 10 phr of CMC improved the Young's modulus (6.7 MPa), tensile strength (8 MPa), and elongation at break (80%) of the CSG/LNR blend. The morphology of the CSG/LNR/CMC blends showed a uniform distribution of LNR particles (1-3 µm) in the CSG matrix. The addition of CMC enhanced the swelling ability and water droplet contact angle of the blends owing to the swelling properties, interfacial crosslinking, and amphiphilic structure of CMC. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the reaction between the C=C bond of LNR and the carboxyl groups (-COO - ) of CMC, in which the Na + ions in CMC acted as a catalyst. Notably, the mechanical properties of the CSG/LNR/CMC blend were improved owing to the miscibility of CSG/CMC and the CMC/LNR interfacial reaction. The CSG/LNR/CMC biodegradable polymer with high mechanical properties and interfacial tension can be used for packaging, agriculture, and medical applications., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Blood pressure (BP) is a known cardiovascular risk factor that is hypothesised to be inversely related to choline intake. A previous study suggested that this association may be more apparent in older adults and may differ according to demographic and health characteristics. The primary study objectives are to investigate the cross-sectional associations of total choline intake with BP (n 843) and prevalent hypertension (n 2113) among USA adults aged ≥ 65 years using the sample from the 2011 to 2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Logistic and multiple linear regression models for complex surveys were employed for hypertension status and BP, respectively. Effect modification by sex, race, BMI and comorbidity status were separately investigated using an interaction term. Choline intake interacted with BMI (P-interaction = 0·04) such that choline intake tended to be associated with lower odds of hypertension among people with BMI < 18·5 kg/m2 (OR (95 % CI): 0·64 (0·4, 1·00); P = 0·052). Choline intake was not associated with systolic BP (mean ± sem change per 100 mg of choline: -1·03 ± 0·74 mmHg; P = 0·16). In contrast, its relation to diastolic BP differed by cardiovascular comorbidity (P-interaction = 0·03) with a non-significant (P = 0·13) negative direction of association observed among those who were free of comorbidities and a non-significant (P = 0·26) positive direction observed among those with comorbidities. Collectively, these results suggested that the associations of choline intake with BP levels and hypertension risk among older adults are dependent on other risk factors.

Polylactic acid (PLA) was melt-blended with epoxy resin to study the effects of the reaction on the mechanical and thermal properties of the PLA. The addition of 0.5% (wt/wt) epoxy to PLA increased the maximum tensile strength of PLA (57.5 MPa) to 67 MPa, whereas the 20% epoxy improved the elongation at break to 12%, due to crosslinking caused by the epoxy reaction. The morphology of the PLA/epoxy blends showed epoxy nanoparticle dispersion in the PLA matrix that presented a smooth fracture surface with a high epoxy content. The glass transition temperature of PLA decreased with an increasing epoxy content owing to the partial miscibility between PLA and the epoxy resin. The Vicat softening temperature of the PLA was 59 °C and increased to 64.6 °C for 0.5% epoxy. NMR confirmed the reaction between the -COOH groups of PLA and the epoxy groups of the epoxy resin. This reaction, and partial miscibility of the PLA/epoxy blend, improved the interfacial crosslinking, morphology, thermal properties, and mechanical properties of the blends.

This study aimed to select thermotolerant yeast for bioethanol production from cellulose-rich corncob (CRC) residue. An effective yeast strain was identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae TC-5. Bioethanol production from CRC residue via separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF), simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF), and prehydrolysis-SSF (pre-SSF) using this strain were examined at 35-42 °C compared with the use of commercial S. cerevisiae . Temperatures up to 40 °C did not affect ethanol production by TC-5. The ethanol concentration obtained via the commercial S. cerevisiae decreased with increasing temperatures. The highest bioethanol concentrations obtained via SHF, SSF, and pre-SSF at 35-40 °C of strain TC-5 were not significantly different (20.13-21.64 g/L). The SSF process, with the highest ethanol productivity (0.291 g/L/h), was chosen to study the effect of solid loading at 40 °C. A CRC level of 12.5% ( w / v ) via fed-batch SSF resulted in the highest ethanol concentrations of 38.23 g/L. Thereafter, bioethanol production via fed-batch SSF with 12.5% ( w / v ) CRC was performed in 5-L bioreactor. The maximum ethanol concentration and ethanol productivity values were 31.96 g/L and 0.222 g/L/h, respectively. The thermotolerant S. cerevisiae TC-5 is promising yeast for bioethanol production under elevated temperatures via SSF and the use of second-generation substrates.

The (R)-phenylacetylcarbinol (PAC) batch biotransformation kinetics for partially purified Candida tropicalis TISTR 5350 pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC) were determined to validate a comprehensive mathematical model in 250 mL scale with 250 mM phosphate buffer/pH 7.0. PDC could convert initial 100/120 mM benzaldehyde/pyruvate substrates to the statistical significantly highest (p ≤ 0.05) maximum PAC concentration (95.8 ± 0.1 mM) and production rate (0.639 ± 0.001 mM min -1 ). A parameter search strategy aimed at minimizing overall residual sum of square (RSS T ) based on a system of six ordinary differential equations was applied to PAC biotransformation profiles with initial benzaldehyde/pyruvate concentration of 100/120 and 30/36 mM. Ten important biotransformation kinetic parameters were then elucidated including the zeroth order activation rate constant due to phosphate buffer species (k a ) of (9.38 ±  < 0.01) ×  10 -6 % relative PDC activity min -1  mM -1 . The validation of this model to independent biotransformation kinetics with initial benzaldehyde/pyruvate concentration of 50/60 mM resulted in relatively good fitting with RSS T , mean sum of square error (MSE), and coefficient of determination (R 2 ) values of 662, 17.4, and 0.9863, respectively.

The effect of ultrasonication on the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of Ceylon spinach ( Basella alba ) extracts (CE) and the shelf life of chilled pork with CE were studied. The CE were ultrasonicated at different power levels (60-100%) for 10-40 min in an ultrasonic bath with the rise of antioxidant activities ( p ≤ 0.05) proportional to the ultrasonication time. The additional investigation of antibacterial activities showed that the ultrasonicated extracts (100 mg/mL) could inhibit and inactivate Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli with the optimal condition of 80% power for 40 min. For shelf-life testing, fresh pork treated with the ultrasonicated extracts at 100 and 120 mg/mL had lower values of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) than the control (without dipping). For food safety as measured by the total microbial count, the fresh pork dipped with 100-120 mg/mL CE extract could be kept at 0 °C for 7 days, 2 to 3 days longer than control meat at 0 and 4 °C, respectively. A sensory evaluation using a nine-point hedonic scale showed that fresh pork dipped with 100-mg/mL CE extracts was accepted by consumers. It is suggested that CE extracts can be applied in the food industry to enhance the quality and extend the shelf life of meat products.

Curcumin is a phenolic compound derived from turmeric roots ( Curcuma longa L.). This research studied the effects of curcumin extract on the properties of chitosan films. The film characteristics measured included mechanical properties, visual aspects, color parameters, light transmission, moisture content, water solubility, water vapor permeability, infrared spectroscopy, and antioxidant activity. The results suggest that adding curcumin to chitosan-based films increases yellowness and light barriers. Infrared spectroscopy analysis showed interactions between the phenolic compounds of the extract and the chitosan, which may have improved the mechanical properties and reduced the moisture content, water solubility, and water vapor permeability of the films. The antioxidant activity of the films increased with increasing concentrations of the curcumin extract. This study shows the potential benefits of incorporating curcumin extract into chitosan films used as active packaging.

Pectin recovered from mango peel biomass can be used as a potential source for pectic oligosaccharide hydrolysate with excellent probiotic growth-enhancing performance and prebiotic potentials. Consequently, the objectives of the current study were to optimise the enzyme hydrolysis treatment of mango peel pectin (MPP) and to evaluate the pectic oligosaccharide effects of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 and Bifidobacterium animalis TISTR 2195. Mango of "chok anan" variety was chosen due to its excessive volume of biomass in processing and high pectin content. The optimal treatment for mango peel pectic oligosaccharide (MPOS) valorisation was 24 h of fermentation with 0.3% ( v/v ) pectinase. This condition provided small oligosaccharides with the molecular weight of 643 Da that demonstrated the highest score of prebiotic activity for both of B. animalis TISTR 2195 (7.76) and L. reuteri DSM 17938 (6.87). The major sugar compositions of the oligosaccharide were fructose (24.41% ( w/w )) and glucose (19.52% ( w/w )). For the simulation of prebiotic fermentation, B. animalis TISTR 2195 showed higher proliferation in 4% ( w/v ) of MPOS supplemented (8.92 log CFU/mL) than that of L. reuteri (8.53 CFU/mL) at 72 h of the fermentation time. The main short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) derived from MPOS were acetic acid and propionic acid. The highest value of total SCFA was achieved from the 4% ( w/v ) MPOS supplementation for both of B. animalis (68.57 mM) and L. reuteri (69.15 mM). The result of this study therefore conclusively advises that MPOS is a novel pectic oligosaccharide resource providing the opportunity for the sustainable development approach through utilising by-products from the fruit industry.

Nata de coco has been used as a raw material for food preparation. In this study, the production of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) film from nata de coco and the effect of monochloroacetic acid on carboxymethyl bacterial cellulose (CMC n ) and its film were investigated. Bacterial cellulose from nata de coco was modified into CMC form via carboxymethylation using various concentrations of monochloroacetic acid (MCA) at 6, 12, 18, and 24 g per 15 g of cellulose. The results showed that different concentrations of MCA affected the degree of substitution (DS), chemical structure, viscosity, color, crystallinity, and morphology of CMC n . The optimum treatment for carboxymethylation was found using 24 g of MCA per 15 g of cellulose, which provided the highest DS at 0.83. The morphology of CMC n was related to DS value; a higher DS value showed denser and smoother surface than nata de coco cellulose. The various MCA concentrations increased the mechanical properties (tensile strength and percentage of elongation at break) and water vapor permeability of CMC n , which were related to the DS value.

Bacterial cellulose from nata de coco was prepared from the fermentation of coconut juice with Acetobacter xylinum for 10 days at room temperature under sterile conditions. Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was transformed from the bacterial cellulose from the nata de coco by carboxymethylation using different concentrations of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and monochloroacetic acid (MCA) in an isopropyl (IPA) medium. The effects of various NaOH concentrations on the degree of substitution (DS), chemical structure, viscosity, color, crystallinity, morphology and the thermal properties of carboxymethyl bacterial cellulose powder from nata de coco (CMCn) were evaluated. In the carboxymethylation process, the optimal condition resulted from NaOH amount of 30 g/100 mL, as this provided the highest DS value (0.92). The crystallinity of CMCn declined after synthesis but seemed to be the same in each condition. The mechanical properties (tensile strength and percentage of elongation at break), water vapor permeability (WVP) and morphology of CMCn films obtained from CMCn synthesis using different NaOH concentrations were investigated. The tensile strength of CMCn film synthesized with a NaOH concentration of 30 g/100 mL increased, however it declined when the amount of NaOH concentration was too high. This result correlated with the DS value. The highest percent elongation at break was obtained from CMCn films synthesized with 50 g/100 mL NaOH, whereas the elongation at break decreased when NaOH concentration increased to 60 g/100 mL.

Cellulose from Asparagus officinalis stalk end was extracted and synthesized to carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC as ) using monochloroacetic acid (MCA) via carboxymethylation reaction with various sodium hydroxide (NaOH) concentrations starting from 20% to 60%. The cellulose and CMC as were characterized by the physical properties, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). In addition, mechanical properties of CMC as films were also investigated. The optimum condition for producing CMC as was found to be 30% of NaOH concentration for the carboxymethylation reaction, which provided the highest percent yield of CMC as at 44.04% with the highest degree of substitution (DS) at 0.98. The melting point of CMC as decreased with increasing NaOH concentrations. Crystallinity of CMC as was significantly deformed ( p < 0.05) after synthesis at a high concentration. The L* value of the CMC as was significantly lower at a high NaOH concentration compared to the cellulose. The highest tensile strength (44.59 MPa) was found in CMC as film synthesized with 40% of NaOH concentration and the highest percent elongation at break (24.99%) was obtained in CMC as film treated with 30% of NaOH concentration. The applications of asparagus stalk end are as biomaterials in drug delivery system, tissue engineering, coating, and food packaging.

The aim of this work was to synthesize carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and produce CMC films from the cellulose of palm bunch and bagasse agricultural waste. The effect of various amounts of H 2 O 2 (0-40% v / v ) during delignification on the properties of cellulose, CMC, and CMC films was studied. As the H 2 O 2 content increased, yield and the lignin content of the cellulose from palm bunch and bagasse decreased, whereas lightness ( L* ) and whiteness index (WI) increased. FTIR confirmed the substitution of a carboxymethyl group on the cellulose structure. A higher degree of substitution of CMC from both sources was found when 20%-30% H 2 O 2 was employed. The trend in the L* and WI values of each CMC and CMC film was related to those values in their respective cellulose. Bleaching each cellulose with 20% H 2 O 2 provided the cellulose with the highest viscosity and the CMC films with the greatest mechanical (higher tensile strength and elongation at break) and soluble attributes, but the lowest water vapor barrier. This evidence indicates that cellulose delignification with H 2 O 2 has a strong effect on the appearance and physical properties of both CMCs.

This research aimed to synthesize carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCH) from different molecular weights of chitosan including low MW (L, 50-190 kDa), medium MW (M, 210-300 kDa) and high MW (H, 310-375 kDa) on the antioxidant and moisturizing properties. The L-CMCH, M-CMCH and H-CMCH improved the water solubility by about 96%, 90% and 89%, respectively when compared to native chitosan. Higher MW resulted in more viscous of CMCH. For antioxidant properties, IC 50 values of DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity for L-CMCH were 1.70 and 1.37 mg/mL, respectively. The L-CMCH had higher antioxidant properties by DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assay and FRAP. The moisturizing properties on pig skin using a Corneometer ® showed that 0.5% H-CMCH significantly presented ( p ≤ 0.05) greater moisturizing effect than that of untreated-skin, distilled water, propylene glycol and pure chitosan from three molecular weights., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Thermoplastic starch (TPS) was prepared by melt-mixing cassava starch with glycerol. Polyethylene (PE), polyethylene-grafted-maleic anhydride (PE-MAH) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) solutions at 2% ( w/v ) were used to coat TPS using the dip coating process. The tensile strength of TPS increased with the dip coating solution technique, especially for PLA coating. Swelling index, water-soluble matter and water droplet contact angle confirmed the water resistant improvement of TPS by PE-MAH and the PLA dip coating solution. Plasticizer bleeding was found in uncoated TPS after storage, but not in the coated TPS. Coating TPS with PE-MAH and PLA improved the tensile properties, water resistance and conquered plasticizer bleeding problems in TPS.

Non-model yeasts within basidiomycetes have considerable importance in agriculture, industry, and environment, but they are not as well studied as ascomycetous yeasts. Serving as a basic technique, nuclear DNA staining is widely used in physiology, ecology, cell biology, and genetics. However, it is unclear whether the classical nuclear DNA staining method for ascomycetous yeasts is applicable to basidiomycetous yeasts. In this study, 5 yeasts ineffectively stained by the classical propidium iodide (PI) staining method were identified from 23 representative basidiomycetous yeasts. Pretreatment of cells using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or snailase markedly improved cell penetration to PI and thus enabled DNA content determination by flow cytometry on the recalcitrant yeasts. The pretreatments are efficient, simple, and fast, avoiding tedious mutagenesis or genetic engineering used in previous reports. The heterogeneity of cell penetration to PI among basidiomycetous yeasts was attributed to the discrepancy in cell wall polysaccharides instead of capsule or plasma membrane. This study also indicated that care must be taken in attributing PI-negative staining as viable cells when studying non-model microorganisms.

Saccharification of lignocellulose is a necessary procedure for deconstructing the complex structure for building a sugar platform that can be used for producing biofuel and high-value chemicals. In this study, a carbon-based solid acid catalyst derived from sodium lignosulfonate, a waste by-product from the paper industry, was successfully prepared and used for the hydrolysis of hemicellulose in corncob. The optimum preparation conditions for the catalyst were determined to be carbonization at 250 °C for 6 h, followed by sulfonation with concentrated H 2 SO 4 (98%) and oxidation with 10% H 2 O 2 (solid-liquid ratio of 1 : 75 g mL -1 ) at 50 °C for 90 min. SEM, XRD, FT-IR, elemental analysis and acid-base titration were used for the characterization of the catalysts. It was found that 0.68 mmol g -1 SO 3 H and 4.78 mmol g -1 total acid were loaded onto the catalyst. When corncob was hydrolyzed by this catalyst at 130 °C for 12 h, the catalyst exhibited high selectivity and produced a relatively high xylose yield of up to 84.2% (w/w) with a few by-products. Under these conditions, the retention rate of cellulose was 82.5%, and the selectivity reached 86.75%. After 5 cycles of reuse, the catalyst still showed high catalytic activity, with slightly decreased yields of xylose from 84.2% to 70.7%., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)