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Practical Application Inulin, a prebiotic utilized in the food and pharmaceutical industries, promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria in the colon, thereby enhancing human health. Although inulin is commercially produced from chicory and artichoke, Inula helenium roots offer a high potential for inulin production. The aim of this study is to investigate the prebiotic activity of inulin (inulin‐P) from I. helenium roots on Lactobacillus rhamnosus, as well as its ability to produce synbiotic microcapsules and the effects on probiotic viability during freeze‐drying, in vitro gastrointestinal (GI) digestion, and storage. First, the effect of inulin‐P on L. rhamnosus viability and short‐chain fatty acid (SCFA) production was compared to other commonly utilized prebiotics. The findings revealed that inulin‐P remarkably promoted the growth and SCFA yield of L. rhamnosus for 48 h of fermentation and 28 days of storage. Then, L. rhamnosus was encapsulated with inulin‐P and commercial inulin to compare its survival throughout storage and the GI tract. Inulin‐P microcapsules outperformed in terms of viability during storage (7.98 log CFU/g after 30 days at 4°C). Furthermore, inulin‐P microcapsules were heat‐resistant and protected L. rhamnosus from GI conditions, resulting in a high survival rate (89.52%) following large intestine simulation, which is ideal for increasing customer benefits. Additionally, inulin‐P microcapsules exhibited similar physical characteristics to commercial inulin. Consequently, this study revealed that inulin‐P, which is easy to produce, low‐cost, and has industrial application potential, could be used as a good carrier for the synbiotic encapsulation of L. rhamnosus.Inulin is a prebiotic that promotes the activity and growth of beneficial bacteria in the human gut. Although commercial inulin is currently produced from chicory root and artichoke, Inula helenium root is a potential raw material for inulin production. In this study, inulin was produced from I. helenium roots with a low‐cost and easy production method, and it was determined that this inulin was an effective carrier in the synbiotic encapsulation of L. rhamnosus. This inulin exhibits superior prebiotic activity and encapsulation efficiency compared to commercial inulins like Orafti® GR and HPX and can be easily integrated into industrial production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inula helenium roots are consumed as natural flavor components and raw or cooked as food, and their extracts are rich in sesquiterpene lactones such as alantolactone (AL) and isoalantolactone (IAL), which have recently attracted great attention due to their pharmacological properties. The industrial utilization of these compounds requires the development of green, efficient, cost‐effective, and sustainable extraction protocols. Therefore, this study focused on the optimization of microwave‐assisted extraction (MAE) process variables using Face‐Centered Central Composite Design (FC‐CCD). Then, maceration was applied as a conventional technique, and these techniques were compared in terms of extraction efficiency, morphological changes, antimicrobial activities, carbon emissions, and energy consumption. As a result, optimal MAE conditions, i.e., EtOH: water ratio (X1) = 100:0, liquid/sample ratio (X2) = 30:1 mL/g, microwave power (X3) = 300 W, and irradiation time (X4) = 5 min, were obtained with AL and IAL yields of 54.99 ± 0.11 (mg/g) and 48.40 ± 0.19 (mg/g), respectively. The extract obtained by MAE had similar or better activity than positive controls in most cases and formed the largest inhibition zones against E. coli (29.5 ± 0.71 mm) and A. niger (34.75 ± 1.06 mm). Morphological changes of I. helenium roots after extraction were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Additionally, MAE was 43.4 times faster than maceration, resulting in 228.6 times less energy consumption and carbon emissions. Based on these findings, it is recommended to use MAE as an industrial green technique for the extraction of sesquiterpene lactones with potential applications in nutraceuticals and food products in terms of sustainable economy and environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycyrrhiza spp., one of the most widely used herbal medicine for centuries in the world, contain a large number of bioactive such as triterpene saponins and flavonoids which are the main constituents and show broad biological activity. The present study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical profile of extracts from different parts (roots, stems and leaves) of all wild Glycyrrhiza spp. grown in Turkey and to reveal that other parts besides the roots are a rich source of bioactive compounds with potential use in the pharmaceutical and food industries. For this purpose, extracted bioactive compounds from different parts of five Glycyrrhiza spp. collected in different provinces of Turkey were determined and compared. The microwave-assisted extraction method, which is mentioned as a green technique and requires low solvent and extraction time, was applied. Determination of bioactives was performed using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). Among the collected Glycyrrhiza spp.; in leaf parts, the highest glycyrrhizin (GL) (2.05±0.07 mg g-1) and glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) (0.107±0.005 mg g-1) contents were found in Glycyrrhiza flavescens ssp. flavescens; the highest carbenoxolone (CBX) (0.133±0.006 mg g-1) and liquiritin (LQ) (1.644±0.014mg g-1) contents were in Glycyrrhiza glabra grown in Polatlı. In stem parts, the highest GL (2.735±0.04 mg g-1), CBX (0.069±0.004 mg g-1) and LQ (0.602±0.010 mg g-1) contents were determined in G. glabra plant growing in Ankara. In root parts, the highest GL (14.68±0.09 mg g-1) and LQ (9.735±0.046 mg g-1) contents were detected in G. glabra plant growing in Gaziantep while the highest GA (0.136±0.005 mg g-1) and CBX (0.188±0.067 mg g-1) contents in Glycyrrhiza flavescens ssp. antalyensis. Thus, it was determined which location in Turkey and which parts of Glycyrrhiza spp. that grow wild in Turkey can be used as a priority for the food and pharmaceutical industry with this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared the extraction efficiency of 3 different techniques, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), microwaveassisted extraction (MAE), and the classical extraction method, in obtaining some bioactive and allergen compounds, namely liquiritin (LQ), glycyrrhizin (GL), glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), and carbenoxolone (CBX), from liquorice samples of Glycyrrhiza glabra grown in Turkey. Extraction parameters for each technique were optimised by the response surface methodology-central composite design approach. Concentrations of LQ, GL, GA, and CBX, which were selected as the responses of selected independent variables, were determined by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry. One-way variance analysis was performed to evaluate the significance of the results. MAE was revealed as the most effective technique for extracting LQ (mean: 8.52 mg g-1), GL (mean: 76.65 mg g-1), and GA (mean: 1138.84 µg g-1) from liquorice, while the classical technique was the most effective for obtaining CBX (mean: 5.75 µg g-1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]