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The quest for eco-friendly alternatives to conventional fossil fuels intensifies amid the global transition to sustainable energy sources. With petroleum-based products dominating over 95.00% of the fuel market, concerns about their limited biodegradability and high eco-toxicity escalate. Addressing this, there's a rising demand for biobased solutions to mitigate pollution and cut greenhouse gas emissions. This study focuses on synthesizing biodiesel from waste almond seed oil (WCO) using an innovative bifunctional catalyst derived from waste animal bones and almond shells. Characterization via scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller analysis confirms the efficacy of the catalyst. Physicochemical properties of WCO and the resulting biodiesel align with ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 standards. Employing Box-Behnken design, we optimized the catalytic process by exploring key parameters, resulting in an impressive biodiesel yield of 86.20%. The optimal parameters were a methanol:oil ratio of 6.026, catalyst loading of 1.49917 wt%, reaction time of 66.8179 minutes, and temperature of 59.9806℃. Our findings underscore the potential of utilizing waste materials for sustainable biodiesel production, with the developed bifunctional catalyst offering a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative, contributing to cleaner fuel production methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Almond oils extracted from roasted kernels at different roasting times at 150 °C were analyzed to quantify quality parameters such as acidity, peroxide value, K232, K270, antioxidant activity and the oxidative stability index. The roasting process induced oxidation of the chemical compounds in the oil, resulting in increased acidity, peroxide value, K232 and K270. The antioxidant activity exhibited a decreasing trend over time, while the oxidative stability showed only slight changes. Excitation-emission matrices (EEMs) were directly scanned on almond oil samples. The combination of the EEMs with parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) provided qualitative information about the main fluorophores and their evolution with the roasting time. Quantitative information was obtained using unfolded partial least squares (U-PLS), demonstrating the effectiveness of the fluorescence technique in combination with multivariate analysis to quantify analytical parameters in almond oils. Prediction models were developed, and subjected to external validation. The coefficients of determination in the external validation were higher than 0.94 for all parameters except k270.

Almond oil is a kind of functional edible oil with rich nutrition and high medicinal value. This paper reviews the various functional properties of almond oil such as antioxidation, hypoglycemic effect and cardiovascular disease prevention, as well as the extraction and microencapsulation technology at home and abroad. The benefits and drawbacks of all these technical methods are made clear by comparing various extraction techniques, such as mechanical expression, solvent extraction, and water extraction of almond oil, as well as microencapsulation techniques, such as spray drying, complex coacervation, extrusion, and freeze-drying. The study provides a feasible, quick, effective, and secure technology for the industrial production and preparation of almond oil and might serve as a theoretical reference for its stable preparation and rational utilization.

The present study investigated the formulation development of functional oils such as linseed oil, almond oil, and walnut oil and their comparative evaluation for permeation enhancement. Pre-formulation studies like solubility study and emulsification study were performed for selecting microemulsion components. The microemulsion region was obtained by generating pseudo ternary phase diagrams. The final formulations were selected by the OFAT model and characterized for appearance, globule size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, drug content, dilution potential, centrifugation stability, and pH. Furthermore, in vitro dissolution and ex vivo permeation studies were performed. All final formulations were found colourless, clear and transparent without phase separation or precipitation. All formulations showed mean globule size below 20 nm, polydispersity index less than 0.1, and exhibited zeta potential of -30 mV. All formulations showed drug content greater than 97 % and pH in the range of 5-6. The in vitro drug release study showed 89.12 %, 91.06 % and 101.21 % drug release by linseed oil, almond oil and walnut oil-loaded microemulsions respectively whereas pure drug solution exhibited 103.48 % drug release at the end of 6 h. The drug release from all three formulations was best fitted into the Higuchi model whereas plain drug fitted into the Hixson Crowell model. An ex vivo permeation study revealed that all formulations showed higher steady state flux than the drug solution with ~1.25 fold enhancement. The study concluded that the use of functional oils significantly improved permeation and drug release which can further improve bioavailability upon in vivo assessment in the suitable animal models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Almond oil is a functional vegetable oil obtained from apricot kernel by pressing, extracting and other technologies, which has the effects of anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, anti-tumor and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. In this review, the extraction process, nutritional composition and health effect of almond oil were summarized, and the future development tendency of almond oil was prospected.

Miconazole is a synthetic derivative of imidazole, a medication with a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that is used to treat localized vaginal, skin, and nail infections. The aim of the study was to develop an innovative technique to improve the permeability and efficacy of topical miconazole nitrate. A nanoemulgel of miconazole nitrate was formulated by the incorporation of a nanoemulsion and a hydrogel. The nanoemulsion was first optimized using a self-emulsifying technique, and the drug was then loaded into the optimum formulation and evaluated prior to mixing with the hydrogel. Miconazole nitrate nanoemulgel formulations were evaluated for their physical characteristics and antifungal activity. Based on the results, the formulation with 0.4 % Carbopol showed the highest release profile (41.8 mg/ml after 2 h); thus, it was chosen as the optimum formulation. A cell diffusion test was performed to examine the ability of the Miconazole nitrate nanoemulgel to penetrate the skin and reach the bloodstream. Percentage cumulative drug releases of 29.67 % and 23.79 % after 6 h were achieved for the MNZ nanoemulgel and the commercial cream, Daktazol, respectively. The antifungal activity of the novel MNZ nanoemulgel formulation was tested against Candida albicans and compared to Daktazol cream and almond oil; the results were: 40.9 ± 2.3 mm, 25.4 ± 2.7 mm and 18 ± 1.9 mm, respectively. In conclusion, a novel MNZ nanoemulgel showing superior antifungal activity compared to that of the commercial product has been developed. This nanotechnology technique is a step toward making pharmaceutical dosage forms that has a lot of promise.

In this study, ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized in the presence of almond oil at various molar ratios of zinc acetate and sodium hydroxide, including 0.5:1, 0.75:1, 1:1, 1.25:1, and 1.5:1, to obtain pH values of 11, 10, 9, 8, and 7, respectively. The XRD results revealed that ZnO NPs exhibit a hexagonal structure, with high crystallinity. SEM results showed that dense and large sized ZnO NPs were formed at pH 11, and relatively small (~30–40 nm) NPs were obtained at pH 9. The size distribution can be explained in terms of the presence of O H − ions at different pH levels. However, the larger size of the NPs at pH 7 compared to those at pH 8–11 were due to the coalescence of NPs suitable for antioxidant/antibacterial activities. ZnO NPs demonstrated a high degradation efficiency (~93%) in 90 min, with a high rate constant for Methyl Orange (MO), which is better than the previously reported rate. The larger sized almond oil capped ZnO NPs also showed excellent radical scavenging activity (94%) and are proven to be good carriers to resist Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food & Machinery is the property of Food & Machinery Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Miconazole is a synthetic derivative of imidazole, a medication with a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that is used to treat localized vaginal, skin, and nail infections. The aim of the study was to develop an innovative technique to improve the permeability and efficacy of topical miconazole nitrate. A nanoemulgel of miconazole nitrate was formulated by the incorporation of a nanoemulsion and a hydrogel. The nanoemulsion was first optimized using a self-emulsifying technique, and the drug was then loaded into the optimum formulation and evaluated prior to mixing with the hydrogel. Miconazole nitrate nanoemulgel formulations were evaluated for their physical characteristics and antifungal activity. Based on the results, the formulation with 0.4 % Carbopol showed the highest release profile (41.8 mg/ml after 2 h); thus, it was chosen as the optimum formulation. A cell diffusion test was performed to examine the ability of the Miconazole nitrate nanoemulgel to penetrate the skin and reach the bloodstream. Percentage cumulative drug releases of 29.67 % and 23.79 % after 6 h were achieved for the MNZ nanoemulgel and the commercial cream, Daktazol, respectively. The antifungal activity of the novel MNZ nanoemulgel formulation was tested against Candida albicans and compared to Daktazol cream and almond oil; the results were: 40.9 ± 2.3 mm, 25.4 ± 2.7 mm and 18 ± 1.9 mm, respectively. In conclusion, a novel MNZ nanoemulgel showing superior antifungal activity compared to that of the commercial product has been developed. This nanotechnology technique is a step toward making pharmaceutical dosage forms that has a lot of promise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Almond (Prunus amygdalus) oil is recommended for those for whom other treatments to remedy hair loss problems have not worked. Almond oil was studied at increasing temperatures and shear rates and we obtained the rheological parameters corresponding to the oil through regression. This paper reflects a study on the rheology of almond oil used as biodegradable lubricant using the Brookfield RVDV II I Ultra Rheometer system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Almond nuts (Prunus dulcis, Amygdalus subgenus inside the Prunus genus, Rosaceae family) are cultivated globally and 30 % of their worldwide production is derived from the Mediterranean region. The almond nut's main components, like lipids (oleic, linoleic, palmitic, palmitoleic, and stearic acid), proteins, soluble sugars, minerals, fibrous, and phytochemicals, are responsible for ROS/RNS detection. In recent years, food irradiation has been used to protect against microorganisms, oxidative processes, and radiation-induced toxicity, and this methodology is internationally recognized for effective long-term storage. The ROS/RNS detection by Electron paramagnetic resonance spin - trapping provides useful information on the susceptibility to oxidative stability of gamma (γ) - irradiated food/oils for comparative purposes. In the current study by using two different methods in vitro were evaluate and compared radical-scavenging abilities and lipid oxidative stability of almond oil, at 0 kGy, 10 kGy, 25 kGy radiation, re-oxidized at 50°C. It was found that a 10 kGy irradiation dose increased membrane protection activity in the lipid phase. 10 kGy irradiated almond oil showed high reproducibility, on the 1 min - 60 min (57.3 µmol kg-1 oil), while 25 kGy irradiated extracts showed a slight decrease. Based on the EPR signals, 10 kGy irradiated almond oil show almost commensurate singlet line intensity, but with a slight change in the g value (g = 2.0054; o -semiquinone radical originates from the polyphenol substances), as opposed to 25 kGy doses decreased signal intensity and change the g = 2.0050, compared to non-irradiated oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methotrexate-loaded oil-in-water nanoemulsion formulations were prepared using the high shear homogenization technique. A drug excipient study (ATR-FTIR) was carried out to investigate the compatibility between the drug, the polymers, and its admixtures. The thermal stability of the nanoemulsion formulations was evaluated by subjecting them to a heating and cooling cycle. The prepared nanoemulsion formulations (FNE1 to FNE6) were evaluated for particle size, PDI value, and entrapment efficiency (EE). They were analyzed for morphological information using transmission electron microscopy. The drug (methotrexate)-loaded nanoemulsion formulations (FNE2, FNE4, and FNE6) were then converted into nanoemulsion gel formulations by adding 1% chitosan (polymer) as a gelling agent. The nanoemulsion gel formulations (FNEG2, FNEG4, and FNEG6) were investigated for physicochemical parameters, viscosity, spreadability, extrudability, drug content, and skin irritation. Various penetration enhancers (olive oil, clove, and almond oil) were employed to examine the potency of the prepared nanoemulsion gel formulations. In vitro drug release, ex vivo permeation, skin drug retention, and stability tests were carried out for evaluation of the prepared nanoemulsion gel formulations (FNEG2, FNEG4, and FNEG6). The data obtained from the in vitro study were subjected to the kinetic model, and the Korsemeyer–Peppas model was best fitted to the data. The nanoemulsion gel formulation FNEG6 showed the maximum controlled drug release and followed an anomalous, non-Fickian release mechanism. The use of almond oil in the preparation of the nanoemulsion gel formulation FNEG6 helped the penetration of the drug across stratum corneum and the restructuring of the properties of skin and resulted in a higher penetration and retention of methotrexate in a deeper layer of the skin. The current study concluded that the methotrexate-loaded nanoemulsion gel formulation FNEG6 showed the best optimum release, permeation, and retention results as compared to the available oral tablets' formulations, followed by a low serum concentration and the maximum drug retention, which is beneficial in treating skin infections and reducing systemic toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of our study is to monitor the oxidative stability of different cultivars of almonds (Australian, American and Iranian) kernels/oil during the 12th month of storage at room temperature. Several physicochemical parameters free fatty acids (FFA), peroxide value (PV), p-anisidine value (p-AV), total oxidation value (TOTOX), Fourier transforms infrared spectrophotometer (FT-IR) and Gas chromatography Mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used to check the oxidative stability of almond kernel. According to the results, effects of room temperature in the early stages of oxidation, primary oxidation products remained stable, whereas secondary oxidation product levels continued to rise in the later stages. In general, FFA increased with increasing storage time, the range was observed (0.21-0.97 %), PV (1.31-16.23 meqO2/kg), p-AV (2.21-19.35), TOTOX (4.83-15.81), respectively. During storage at room temperature for up to 12th months, there was no significant shifting of the spectral band in the FT-IR study. The most bounteous fatty acid in the almond oil range was observed oleic acid C18:0 (71.01-79.56 %) followed by linoleic acid C18:2 (13.13–20.65 %), palmitic acid C16:0 (4.86-5.67 %), stearic acid C18:0 (1.20-3.81 %), and palmitoleic acid C16:1(0.21-0.47 %) in all three samples during storage. These results suggest that almond oil during the 12th month of storage keeps its good chemical properties.

The article highlights a study to compare between olive oil and almond oil to ameliorate blood parameters, liver function, blood and liver antioxidants and DNA, and liver histology in favism rats. It discusses that Almond oil restored blood parameters, liver function, blood and liver antioxidants and DNA, and liver histology more efficiently than olive oil in favism.

Copyright of Balikesir Health Sciences Journal / Balıkesir Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of Balikesir Health Sciences Journal (BAUN Health Sci J) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Fahmy UA, Ahmed OAA, Badr-Eldin SM, et al. Int J Nanomedicine. 2020;15:5253-5264. The Editor and Publisher of International Journal of Nanomedicine are retracting the above published article. An investigation by the Publisher, found overlap in images from Figure 6 of the published article above and the images from Figure 6 of the following published article: Ahmed OAA, Fahmy UA, Badr-Eldin SM, et al. Application of Nanopharmaceutics for Flibanserin Brain Delivery Augmentation Via the Nasal Route. Nanomaterials. 2020; 10(7):1270 (https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10071270). Specifically, this included: From the published article above, Figure 6B, plain in situ gel group, and 6D, optimized FLB-NLC in situ gel group, are the same images as Figure 6D, rats treated with optimized FLB-TRF hydrogel (gp4) and 6C, rats treated with raw FLB loaded in hydrogel (gp3), respectively, from Ahmed et al, 2020. Furthermore, the images in Figure 6 of the published article above are derived from the same image but used to describe different results. Specifically, this included: From the published article above, Figure 6A, Control untreated group; 6B, plain in situ gel group; 6C, raw FLB loaded in situ gel group and 6D, optimized FLB-NLC in situ gel group, are all derived from the same image but used to describe different results. The authors cooperated with the investigation and provided data and associated documents concerning the histopathological experiments from the reported study. However, the Editor and Publisher determined that the evidence provided did not establish sufficient justification for the duplication. Therefore, the Editor and Publisher are retracting the article. The authors have agreed to retract the article and have informed the Publisher that the first author, Usama A Fahmy, takes responsibility for the error which occurred. We have been informed in our decision-making by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as “Retracted”.

In this study, ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized in the presence of almond oil at various molar ratios of zinc acetate and sodium hydroxide, including 0.5:1, 0.75:1, 1:1, 1.25:1, and 1.5:1, to obtain pH values of 11, 10, 9, 8, and 7, respectively. The XRD results revealed that ZnO NPs exhibit a hexagonal structure, with high crystallinity. SEM results showed that dense and large sized ZnO NPs were formed at pH 11, and relatively small (~30–40 nm) NPs were obtained at pH 9. The size distribution can be explained in terms of the presence of OH− ions at different pH levels. However, the larger size of the NPs at pH 7 compared to those at pH 8–11 were due to the coalescence of NPs suitable for antioxidant/antibacterial activities. ZnO NPs demonstrated a high degradation efficiency (~93%) in 90 min, with a high rate constant for Methyl Orange (MO), which is better than the previously reported rate. The larger sized almond oil capped ZnO NPs also showed excellent radical scavenging activity (94%) and are proven to be good carriers to resist Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria.

Cosmetics made from either natural or synthetic components are almost in regular use universally in many different forms for enhancing the beauty. Azadirachta indica and Nyctanthes arbor-tristis are medicinal plants; these plants are used traditionally from ancient years in various herbal medicinal systems such as Ayurvedic, Homeopathic and Siddha. The dried leaves of Azadirachta indica and dried leaves of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory analgesic activity. The present research is focused on the formulation of polyherbal cream and their evaluation by using various evaluation parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of German International Journal of Modern Science / Deutsche Internationale Zeitschrift für Zeitgenössische Wissenschaft is the property of Artmedia24 and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Summary: The study was conducted to produce ergocalciferol (Vit‐D2) loaded oil‐in‐water (O/W) emulsions utilising the onion skin waste saponins (OSW) as a natural emulsifier and almond oil as carrier oil. The impact of different formulations upon the digestibility of lipids, LCT (long‐chain triglycerides) or MCT (medium‐chain triglycerides), and bioaccessibility of Vit‐D2 was analysed. The mean particle size diameter of almond oil‐based O/W emulsions was decreased with increasing homogenisation pressure and emulsifier concentration. During 120 mins of digestion in small intestinal fluids (SIF), almond oil in high‐lipid emulsions (5% w/w) was not fully digested, resulting in a lower bioaccessibility of ergocalciferol than low‐lipid samples. Almond oil emulsions with larger particle size have a slower rate of lipid digestion than the smaller size particles, but the release rate of free fatty acids was constant throughout the digestion process. Moreover, almond oil emulsions showed similar Vit‐D2 bioaccessibility to the oil‐based emulsions but were much higher than MCTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of our study is to monitor the oxidative stability of different cultivars of almonds (Australian, American and Iranian) kernels/oil during the 12th month of storage at room temperature. Several physicochemical parameters free fatty acids (FFA), peroxide value (PV), panisidine value (p-AV), total oxidation value (TOTOX), Fourier transforms infrared spectrophotometer (FT-IR) and Gas chromatography Mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used to check the oxidative stability of almond kernel. According to the results, effects of room temperature in the early stages of oxidation, primary oxidation products remained stable, whereas secondary oxidation product levels continued to rise in the later stages. In general, FFA increased with increasing storage time, the range was observed (0.21-0.97 %), PV (1.31-16.23 meqO2/kg), p-AV (2.21-19.35), TOTOX (4.83-15.81), respectively. During storage at room temperature for up to 12th months, there was no significant shifting of the spectral band in the FT-IR study. The most bounteous fatty acid in the almond oil range was observed oleic acid C18:0 (71.01-79.56 %) followed by linoleic acid C18:2 (13.13-20.65 %), palmitic acid C16:0 (4.86-5.67 %), stearic acid C18:0 (1.20-3.81 %), and palmitoleic acid C16:1(0.21-0.47 %) in all three samples during storage. These results suggest that almond oil during the 12th month of storage keeps its good chemical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oils and lipids are common food components and efficient sources of energy. Both the quantity and the quality of oils and lipids are important with regard to health and disease. Fatty acid ester of hydroxy fatty acid (FAHFA) is a novel lipid class that was discovered as an endogenous lipid; FAHFAs have shown anti-diabetic effects in a mammalian system. We analyzed the overall FAHFA composition in nut oils and other common oils: almond (raw, roasted), walnut, peanut, olive, palm, soybean, and rapeseed oils. We developed a method of liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-ESI/MS/MS) for a comprehensive target analysis of FAHFAs. The analysis revealed wide variation in the FAHFA profiles (15 compounds and 62 peaks). For 7-11 compounds of FAHFA, a total level of 8-29 pmol/mg oil was detected in nuts oils; for 11 compounds, 4.9 pmol/mg oil was detected in olive oil, and for 4-9 compounds, < 2 pmol/mg oil was detected in palm, soy, and rapeseed oils. The major FAHFAs were FAHFA 36:3, FAHFA 36:2, and FAHFA 36:4 in nut oil, FAHFA 36:2, FAHFA 34:1, and FAHFA 36:1 in olive oil, and FAHFA 32:1, FAHFA 34:0, FAHFA 36:0, and FAHFA 36:1 in all of the common oils. The composition of FAHFAs in nut oils is mainly unsaturated fatty acids, whereas those in olive oil are unsaturated fatty acids and saturated fatty acids. The composition of FAHFAs in common oils was mainly saturated fats. This is the first report to demonstrate the quality and quantity of the FAHFAs in the nut oils. Nuts have been described to be a great source of many nutrients and to be beneficial for our health. Our present findings comprise additional evidence that the intake of nuts in daily diets may prevent metabolic and inflammatory-based diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Usama A Fahmy,1 Osama AA Ahmed,1 Shaimaa M Badr-Eldin,1,2 Hibah M Aldawsari,1 Solomon Z Okbazghi,3 Zuhier A Awan,4 Muhammed A Bakhrebah,5 Mohammad N Alomary,5 Wesam H Abdulaal,6 Carlos Medina,7 Nabil A Alhakamy1 1Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 3Global Analytical and Pharmaceutical Development, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, New Haven, Connecticut, NE 06510, USA; 4Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 5Life Science and Environment Research Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 6Department of Biochemistry, Cancer Metabolism and Epigenetic Unit, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 7School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin IrelandCorrespondence: Shaimaa M Badr-Eldin Email sbadr5@hotmail.comBackground and Aim: Flibanserin (FLB) is a multifunctional serotonergic agent used for treating hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women via oral administration. FLB has a reported limited oral bioavailability of 33% that could be attributed to the drug’s first-pass metabolism. In addition, FLB has a pH-dependent solubility that could be a challenging factor for drug dissolution in the body neutral fluid, and consequently, absorption via mucosal barriers. Thus, this work aims at investigating the potential of utilizing nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and to enhance nose-to-brain drug delivery.Methods: Box-Behnken design was applied to explore the impact of solid lipid % (SL%, X1), liquid lipid % (LL%, X2), and sonication time (ST, X3) on particle size. The optimized NLC formulation was characterized and incorporated into gellan gum in situ gel. The prepared gel was subjected to in vitro drug release, in vivo pharmacokinetic performance, and histopathological assessment in rats.Results: Statistical analysis revealed a significant negative effect for both SL% and ST on NLCs size. In contrast, a significant positive effect was observed for the LL%. The optimized formulation showed spherical shape with vesicular size of 114.63 nm. The optimized FLB-NLC in situ gel exhibited adequate stability and enhanced in vitro release compared to raw FLB control gel. The plasma and brain concentrations of the drug after nasal administration in rats increased by more than 3– 6-fold, respectively, compared to raw FLB in situ gel. In addition, the histopathological studies revealed the absence of any pathological signs.Conclusion: The aforementioned results highlight the safety of FLB-NLC in situ nasal gel and its potential to improve the drug bioavailability and brain delivery.Keywords: flibanserin, nanostructured lipid carrier, Compritol® 888 ATO, almond oil, gellan gum, pharmacokinetics

Background: Despite the advances in treatment, fatigue is a common symptom experienced by many patients undergoing hemodialysis, and is associated with poor health-related quality of life. The aim of the present study was to explore the impact of foot massage with chamomile oil and almond oil on the severity of fatigue and quality of life of Hemodialysis patients. Methods: In these four parallel groups controlled clinical trial, 120 male patients under hemodialysis were randomly assigned to foot massage groups and control (30 in each group) from June 2016 to April 2017 in Urmia, Iran. foot massage using either chamomile oil, almond oil or no oils was provided to patients undergoing hemodialysis for two months. The primary outcome measures were the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and secondary outcomes included quality of life using the Short-Form Quality of Life for Renal Patients questionnaire (KDQOL-SF). Data were analyzed using ANOVA, Tukey’s and paired t-test in SPSS the (Version 16) at the significance level P Results: The mean FSS scores after the implementation of foot massage in all intervention groups were significantly lower than the control group (P=0.005). Mean KDQOL-SF scores after the intervention in all intervention groups increased compared to the control group, but this increase was not statistically significant (P=0.34). Conclusion: Foot massage appears to be effective in reducing fatigue and improving quality of life in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Further studies are needed to confirm and extend these results. Furthermore, involvement of patients’ companions as family caregivers in massage therapy can lead to continuation of this effective intervention at home.

Methotrexate-loaded oil-in-water nanoemulsion formulations were prepared using the high shear homogenization technique. A drug excipient study (ATR-FTIR) was carried out to investigate the compatibility between the drug, the polymers, and its admixtures. The thermal stability of the nanoemulsion formulations was evaluated by subjecting them to a heating and cooling cycle. The prepared nanoemulsion formulations (FNE1 to FNE6) were evaluated for particle size, PDI value, and entrapment efficiency (EE). They were analyzed for morphological information using transmission electron microscopy. The drug (methotrexate)-loaded nanoemulsion formulations (FNE2, FNE4, and FNE6) were then converted into nanoemulsion gel formulations by adding 1% chitosan (polymer) as a gelling agent. The nanoemulsion gel formulations (FNEG2, FNEG4, and FNEG6) were investigated for physicochemical parameters, viscosity, spreadability, extrudability, drug content, and skin irritation. Various penetration enhancers (olive oil, clove, and almond oil) were employed to examine the potency of the prepared nanoemulsion gel formulations. In vitro drug release, ex vivo permeation, skin drug retention, and stability tests were carried out for evaluation of the prepared nanoemulsion gel formulations (FNEG2, FNEG4, and FNEG6). The data obtained from the in vitro study were subjected to the kinetic model, and the Korsemeyer–Peppas model was best fitted to the data. The nanoemulsion gel formulation FNEG6 showed the maximum controlled drug release and followed an anomalous, non-Fickian release mechanism. The use of almond oil in the preparation of the nanoemulsion gel formulation FNEG6 helped the penetration of the drug across stratum corneum and the restructuring of the properties of skin and resulted in a higher penetration and retention of methotrexate in a deeper layer of the skin. The current study concluded that the methotrexate-loaded nanoemulsion gel formulation FNEG6 showed the best optimum release, permeation, and retention results as compared to the available oral tablets’ formulations, followed by a low serum concentration and the maximum drug retention, which is beneficial in treating skin infections and reducing systemic toxicity.

The current investigation was undertaken to develop Ready to Use (RTU) and Ready to Reconstitute (RTR) health beverage supplemented with functional ingredients. It was developed using double toned milk and replacing part of double toned milk with whey at 20, 30 & 40 %, the addition of Stevia:sugar blend (25:75, 50:50 & 100:00), the addition of almond oil or walnut oil at 2, 3 & 4 % and tea decoction at 10, 15 & 20 % later subjected to sensory evaluation. Finally, based on sensory scores, replacement of double toned milk with 30 % whey, addition 100:0 Stevia:sugar blend, 2 % almond oil or walnut oil and 15 % tea decoction was optimised. The optimised health beverage was concentrated to 31 % total solids and spray dried (inlet 180±10 and outlet 80±10 °C temperatures) to obtain ready to reconstitute health beverage powder which was packed in plastic pouches and stored at ambient temperature for further studies. The effect of reconstitution on the sensory characteristics was determined for different ratios. Among all ratios, 1:8 reconstituted health beverage was awarded the highest sensory score, which was comparable to control.

Almond oil, a rich source of macronutrients and micronutrients, is extracted for food flavorings and the cosmetics industry. In recent years, the need for high‐quality and high‐quantity production of almond oil for human consumption has been increased. The present review examines the chemical composition of almond oil, storage conditions, and clinical evidence supporting the health benefits of almond oil. From the reviewed studies, it appears that almond oil contains a significant proportion of poly and monounsaturated fatty acids, with oleic acid as the main compound, and an important amount of tocopherol and phytosterol content. Some variations in almond oil composition can be found depending on the kernel's origin and the extraction system used. Some new technologies such as ultrasonic‐assisted extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, subcritical fluid extraction, and salt‐assisted aqueous extraction have emerged as the most promising extraction techniques that allow eco‐friendly and effective recovery of almond oil. This safe oil was reported by several clinical studies to have potential roles in cardiovascular risk management, glucose homeostasis, oxidative stress reduction, neuroprotection, and many dermatologic and cosmetic applications. However, the anticarcinogenic and fertility benefits of almond oil have yet to be experimentally verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many different substances for cerumenolysis have been evaluated in clinical trials. We carried out a systematic review and network meta‐analysis to compare their effectiveness. Methods: Electronic databases were searched for randomised clinical trials conducted in patients with impacted cerumen evaluating cerumenolytics. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with wax clearance using manual techniques. Rankogram plot was used to assess the "best" cerumenolytic. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) was the effect estimate. Results: Twenty‐six studies were included in the systematic review and 25 in the meta‐analysis. Sodium bicarbonate (OR: 2.68, 95% CI: 1.2, 6.1) and paradichlorobenzene (OR: 30.9, 95% CI: 5.9, 161.3) were associated with significantly greater proportions of patients with wax clearance following syringing compared to normal saline. Rankogram plot revealed paradichlorobenzene to have the highest probability of being the "best" cerumenolytic. Chlorobutanol was observed to be significantly better than normal saline in adults as well as following single application. Following multiple applications, glycerol, docusate sodium, hydrogen peroxide, oil, paradichlorobenzene, hydrogen peroxide/glycerol and arachis oil/chlorobutanol/paradichlorobenzene were observed with significant cerumenolytic activities. Urea/hydrogen peroxide/glycerol was observed with a significant cerumenolytic activity without the need for further interventions such as syringing/aspiration/suction. Conclusion: We observed several cerumenolytics to be effective in the treatment of impacted earwax when accompanied by additional manual techniques such as syringing/aspiration/suction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the water solubility of thymoquinone (TQ), a major constituent of Nigella sativa seed oil, a TQ-loaded selfnanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) was prepared. The SNEDDS formulation was optimized using almond oil (AO) (Oil; X1), tween 80 (surfactant; X2) and polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG 200) (cosurfactant; X3) compounds as independent variables. The results showed that the globule size ranged from 65 to 320 nm. In addition, a strong agreement was reached between the system estimation and the experimental values of globule size. To evaluate the gastroprotective effect of optimized TQ-loaded SNEDDS against indomethacin (Indo.)-induced gastric ulcers in comparison with non-emulsified TQ, the ulcer index and histopathological changes were estimated. Optimized TQ-loaded SNEDDS showed improved gastroprotective activity against Indo.-induced ulcers relative to the non-emulsified TQ. In addition, the gastroprotective index was improved by 2-fold in TQ-loaded SNEDDS as compared to non-emulsified TQ. This is attributed to the strong antioxidant and the cytoprotective activities of the TQ. These results demonstrate enhancement of the efficacy of TQ through the optimized SNEDDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Gaceta Médica de Caracas is the property of Academia Nacional de Medicina and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

For the increase in oxidative stability and phytonutrient contents of walnut oil (WO), 5, 10, 20 and 30% blends with almond oil (AO) were prepared. The fatty acid compositions and the micronutrients of the oil samples such as tocopherol, phytosterol and squalene were measured by GC-MS and HPLC. It was found that the proportions of PUFAs/SFAs in blended oils with high AO contents were lowered, and the blends contained higher levels of tocopherols, phytosterols and squalene than those of pure WO. The 60 °C oven accelerated oxidation test was used to determine the oxidative stability of the blended oil. The fatty acid composition, micronutrients and oxidation products were determined. The results showed that the oxidation stability of the blended oil increased with an increasing proportion of AO. In addition, a significant negative correlation between micronutrient and oxidation products was observed as the number of days of oxidation increased.

Almonds rejected as inedible are often used for production of almond oil. However, low-quality almonds are frequently contaminated with aflatoxins, and little is known regarding transfer of aflatoxins to almond oil during processing. In this study, oil was produced from reject almonds by hexane extraction. Of 19 almond samples that were naturally contaminated with aflatoxins, 17 oil samples contained measurable amounts of aflatoxins, and aflatoxin content of contaminated oil was correlated with aflatoxin content of the nuts. However, oil aflatoxin levels were not correlated with the oxidation level of the oil as measured by percent free fatty acids and peroxide value. Adsorbents used in oil refining were tested for their ability to remove aflatoxins from contaminated oil. Fuller’s earth and bentonite were the most effective, removing 96 and 86% of total aflatoxins from contaminated oil samples, respectively. Treatment with diatomaceous earth, in contrast, had no effect on aflatoxin levels in oil. These results show that oil refining steps using mineral clay adsorbents may also function to remove aflatoxins from contaminated oil [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil content of almond kernels ranged from 36.7% in the cultivar T12 to 79.0% in genotype T27. The major fatty acid in almond oil is oleic (62.43% in T7-76.34% in T4) followed by linoleic (13.97% in T4-29.55% in T3) and palmitic (4.97% in T2-7.51% inT3). The main tocopherol in almond oil was α-tocopherol (44.25 mg/100 g in T25-75.56 mg/100 g in T13) that was 44 folds higher than other tocopherols in the oil. Total tocopherol contents of almond oils ranged between 47.42 mg/100 g (T14) and 80.15 mg/100 g (T16). Among macro minerals, K was the highest (5238–14,683 mg/kg), followed by P (3475–11,123 mgkg), Ca (1798–5946 mg/kg), and Mg (2192–3591 mg/kg), whereas Na was the least (334–786 mg/kg) in almond kernel. The total polyphenol was observed in T16 (98.67 mg GAE/100 g), while the least was found in T24 (23.75 mg GAE/100 g). Antioxidant activity was high in T7 (91.18%) and low in T12 (44.59%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the increase in oxidative stability and phytonutrient contents of walnut oil (WO), 5, 10, 20 and 30% blends with almond oil (AO) were prepared. The fatty acid compositions and the micronutrients of the oil samples such as tocopherol, phytosterol and squalene were measured by GC-MS and HPLC. It was found that the proportions of PUFAs/SFAs in blended oils with high AO contents were lowered, and the blends contained higher levels of tocopherols, phytosterols and squalene than those of pure WO. The 60 °C oven accelerated oxidation test was used to determine the oxidative stability of the blended oil. The fatty acid composition, micronutrients and oxidation products were determined. The results showed that the oxidation stability of the blended oil increased with an increasing proportion of AO. In addition, a significant negative correlation between micronutrient and oxidation products was observed as the number of days of oxidation increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND The study of almond fat stability is essential from a quality control perspective meanly because, in most of the cases, almonds are sold skinned and thermally treated. In this work an alternative method to Rancimat test based on attenuated total reflectance‐Fourier‐transform infrared (ATR‐FTIR) spectrometry was adapted for checking the induced degradation at 75 °C of seven almond oil cultivars, three of the top Californian producing varieties, and, four traditional cultivars harvested in Spain. RESULTS: The thermal oil degradation evolution was followed by measuring the changes in the absorbance of the selected FTIR spectra bands (3470, 3006, 1730, 1630, 988 and 970 cm−1). A first‐order kinetic behaviour was observed, after an induction time in all bands. CONCLUSIONS: Kinetic coefficients and induction times were easily obtained as the absorbance values (from difference spectra) fitted to pseudo‐first‐order kinetics after the induction time. Principal component analysis was applied to the kinetic parameters to visualize which variables could be useful to classify the almond cultivars based on their resistance to thermal oxidation processes. It was found that selecting only the induction times corresponding to the bands 3470, 3006, 1630 and 970 cm−1 a separate classification of the Californian cultivars from the Spanish ones was possible. Finally, a linear discriminant analysis was assayed using only the four induction times previously selected. Validated classification and correct in 100% of the cases was obtained for all the samples based on their Spanish or Californian origin. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrophobic oleic acid/water interfaces are negatively charged. Hence, the use of cationic nanocelluloses as stabilizers of Pickering emulsions could improve the colloidal stability due to the electrostatic complexation at the oil-water interface. Two cationic nanofibrillated cellulose (cNFCs) with two degrees of substitution were prepared and used as stabilizers of Pickering emulsions. The adsorption of cNFCs at the oil: water interface was evaluated by interfacial tension, atomic force microscopy, and centrifugation measurements. LUMiSizer and optical microscopy techniques were used to analyze the colloidal stability and oil droplets morphology, respectively. Besides, the rheological behavior of the continuous aqueous phase was determined through flow and stress sweep curves. Finally, the dispersion of cNFCs in a diluted emulsion was visualized by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). Cationic NFCs were more efficient in partitioning to the oil:water interface compared to their anionic analogous, oCNF. The electrostatic attraction between the positively charged trimethylammonium groups and the negatively charged deprotonated oleic acid reduced the interfacial tension and improved the colloidal stability of O/W Pickering emulsions. cNFCs dispersed in the aqueous phase were found to increase the viscosity, decelerating the oil drops coalescence. Therefore, the stabilization of cNFCs Pickering emulsions had a synergistic effect from the electrostatic complexation at the liquid-liquid interface and network formation in the aqueous phase, as visualized by cryo-TEM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the greatest challenges in the bone remodeling is to fabricate the structure resembling the extracellular matrix. This research aims to fabricate a novel bone scaffold comprising polyurethane (PU) added with almond nanofibers via electrospinning technique. The PU/almond oil nanocomposites showed smaller fiber diameter (629 ± 148.92 nm) compared to the pristine PU (890 ± 116.91 nm). The interaction of PU with almond oil was confirmed in the infrared spectrum by the strong formation of a hydrogen bond. The wettability analysis showed that the prepared PU/almond oil nanocomposites were hydrophobic in nature (107° ± 1) compared with the pure PU (100° ± 0.5774). Thermal analysis revealed enhancement of the thermal stability with the addition of the almond oil. The addition of almond oil into the PU matrix increased the surface roughness and blood compatibility properties. Further, the fabricated PU/almond oil nanocomposites showed less toxicity to red blood cells (RBCs), as indicated in the hemolytic assay. Hence, the novel fabricated scaffold possesses better physicochemical properties and is nontoxic to the RBCs, which may be utilized for bone tissue regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, human exposure to heavy metals has risen dramatically. Lead (Pb) is one of the most toxic heavy metals to human and other living organisms. Pb affects certain biochemical and physiological activities of the body. Many scientific investigations have documented the therapeutic and antioxidant properties of natural products which isolated from plant sources. The present study was therefore undertaken to evaluate the therapeutic influence of almond oil against Pb toxicity in male rats. The experimental rats were distributed into four groups. The first group was served as control. The second group was treated with 100 mg/kg body weight of Pb. The third group was subjected to almond oil (800 mg/kg body weight) and Pb. The fourth group was supplemented with almond oil. After six weeks, blood serum specimens were analyzed. In the second group, Pb produced a marked increase of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), total bilirubin, glucose, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, while the levels of total protein, albumin, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were significantly decreased. In contrast, the treatment with almond oil notably improved the biochemical changes and showed antioxidative effect. The present study disclosed the therapeutic influence of almond oil on the basis of its antioxidant effect against Pb toxicity. Moreover, these new findings indicated that the constituents of almond oil have a promising significant potential in biomedical and pharmacological studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista ION is the property of Universidad Industrial de Santander and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study designed to investigate the effects of cherry extraction, almond oil, and their combination on physiological and some biochemical parameters in oxonic acid-induced hyperuricemic rats. Hyperuricemia was induced experimentally by intraperitoneal injection of rats with oxonic acid (OA) (250mg/kg/bw) daily for two weeks. The animals were randomly divided into six groups each included six rats: normalcontrol, Hyperuricemic (HU), HU+ Allopurinolas a positive control (AP)(5mg/kg/bw), HU+ Cherry extract (500mg/kg/bw), HU+ Almond oil (3ml/kg/bw), and HU+ co-treatment of (Cherry extract+ Almond oil). The treatments were administrated orally by intragastric tube (gavage) 1 h after OA injection daily throughout the study.At the end of the experiment, the rats were fasted overnight, anesthetized then blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis and detection of oxidative stress.Results indicated that injection with OA induced hyperuricemia after two weeks in rats by increasing the level of serum uric acid significantly (P≤0.0001),and a significantelevation in the levels of BUN, SCr, XO, and LPO were observed, whereas the level of serum SOD decreased.Moreover, treatment with HU rats with AP, cherry extract and almond oil alone and in their combination group, all significantly decreased SUA, SCr, BUN (except for the almond oil group in which Scr and BUN decreased nonsignificantly) and reversing the results of oxidative stress. Finally, the results showed that the effects of combined treatment (cherry extract + almond oil) was near the actionsof allopurinol [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Almond oil is used in traditional and complementary therapies for its numerous health benefits due to high unsaturated fatty acids content. Objectives: This study investigated the composition and in vitro anticancer activity of almond oil from Northern Cyprus and compared with almond oil from Turkey. Materials and methods: Almond oil from Northern Cyprus was obtained by supercritical CO2 extraction and analyzed by GC-MS. Almond oil of Turkey was provided from Turkish pharmacies. Different concentrations of almond oils were incubated for 24 and 48 h with Colo-320 and Colo-741 cells. Cell growth and cytotoxicity were measured by MTT assays. Anticancer and antiprolifetarive activities of almond oils were investigated by immunocytochemistry using antibodies directed against to BMP-2, β-catenin, Ki-67, LGR-5 and Jagged 1. Results: Oleic acid (77.8%; 75.3%), linoleic acid (13.5%; 15.8%), palmitic acid (7.4%; 6.3%), were determined as the major compounds of almond oil from Northern Cyprus and Turkey, respectively. In the MTT assay, both almond oils were found to be active against Colo-320 and Colo-741 cells with 1:1 dilution for both 24 h and 48 h. As a result of immunohistochemical staining, while both almond oils exhibited significant antiproliferative and anticancer activity, these activities were more similar in Colo-320 cells which were treated with Northern Cyprus almond oil. Discussion and conclusion: Almond oil from Northern Cyprus and Turkey may have anticancer and antiproliferative effects on colon cancer cells through molecular signalling pathways and, thus, they could be potential novel therapeutic agents.

Co-ingestion of almonds with carbohydrate prevents excessive increase in plasma glucose level (PGL), but information about the functional fraction is limited. Identifying the functional fraction is necessary to use almonds more efficiently in terms of controlling postprandial glycaemia after a high-carbohydrate meal. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of almond skin, oil, water-soluble fraction and water-insoluble fraction on both postprandial glycaemia and insulinaemia. The effect of almond skin was tested by comparing the effect of whole almonds with the effect of skinless almonds. Male ICR mice were administered dextrin and 4 g/kg body weight test samples. After the administration, 2-h postprandial changes in glycaemia and insulinaemia were measured. Oil was the only fraction being able to blunt postprandial glycaemia. Interestingly, when co-ingesting with dextrin, almond oil did not change the insulin level compared with the control but whole almonds or skinless almonds triggered a 4-fold increase in insulin level. The co-ingestion of whole almonds or skinless almonds similarly suppressed the PGL at 15 and 30 min (P

UVB radiations are among the major contributors for developing different skin lesions in humans and animals. This study was designed to show the photo-protective role of both natural and commercial almond oils against the skin lesions and cyclin D1 expression induced by UVB irradiations. A total of forty adult mice (six-weeks old), were employed in this study and distributed randomly to four groups (10 mice/group) as follows: Group A (control group, without UVB irradiation and treatment), Group B irradiated with UVB only, Group C (irradiated with UVB and treated with natural almond oil), and Group D (irradiated with UVB and treated with commercial almond oil). Histomorphometry was performed for each case by measuring skin layers' thickness, measuring the diameter of epidermal inclusion cysts and scoring the cyclin D1, and counting the positive cells. Group A, demonstrated the normal skin layers' thickness (Epidermis: 6.9±0.05µm, dermis: 64.1±2.16µm, hypodermis: 27±3.84µm). In group B, UVB increased the skin layers' thickness (Epidermis: 125.5±6.43µm, dermis: 148.2±7.84µm, hypodermis: 131.5±9.99µm) with a mean number 14 for epidermal inclusion cysts. Natural almond oil reduced the layers' thickness: 65.9±2.78µm (Epidermis), 98.4±6.98µm (Dermis), 112.4±7.46µm (Hypodermis), but the epidermal inclusion cysts were 15.6. While group D, the commercial almond oil was less photo-protective in comparison to the natural almond oil. Skin thickness became: 73.5±3.52µm (Epidermis), 107.5±7.73µm (Dermis), 114.4±4.33µm (Hypodermis) with increasing the epidermal inclusion cyst to 20.4. The counting system for cyclin D1 revealed 15.9±0.5, 37.9±0.45, 38.6±0.99, 36.6±1.36 for groups A-D respectively. Almond oil had a beneficial role in reducing skin thickness upon UVB irradiations, but it had the risk to develop epidermal inclusion cysts and no effective role in cyclin D1 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of different almond oil extraction techniques, namely, cold‐press extraction (CP), hydraulic press extraction (HP), and subcritical fluid extraction (SFE), on the fatty acid composition, physicochemical properties, bioactive substances, and thermal stability. The results showed that oleic acid and linoleic acid were the main unsaturated fatty acids in almond oil (AO). The overall physicochemical properties of the AO (SFE) had the better oil quality compared to cold‐press extraction and hydraulic press extraction in three kinds of varieties. Almond oil extracted from SFE contained the highest levels of total phenolics (9.58–11.75 mg/100 g), total phytosterols (92.86–244.21 mg/100 g), total tocopherols, and tocotrienols (48.03–55.74 mg/100 g). Meanwhile, the TG/DTG curves showed AO (SFE) were more thermally stable than AO (CP) and AO (HP) consistent with the result of oxidative induction time. Subcritical fluid extraction may be a useful extraction technology to produce high‐quality almond oils in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiovascular diseases currently account for nearly half of non-communicable diseases. It was shown that enjoying a handful of nuts every day can significantly reduce the risk of developing heart diseases as they contain a variety of nutrients and other bioactive substances contributing to lowering the risk of heart diseases and controlling the cholesterol. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of almond oil on the lipid profile of patients with hyperlipidemia.Methods: Ninety-seven patients were divided into the intervention (n = 49) and control (n = 48) groups. The intervention group received 10 ml of almond oil two times daily for 30 days. There was no intervention for the control group. The serum lipoproteins were measured before and after the study.Results: The total cholesterol and LDL levels decreased significantly in the intervention group (treatment difference = -16.12 ± 26.16, P = 0.009; treatment difference = -20.88 ± 18.4, p < 0.001 respectively). But regular almond oil consumption did not significantly affect the triglyceride and HDL in this sample of hyperlipidemic patients.Conclusion: Consumption of almond could reduce the total cholesterol and LDL in dyslipidemic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Propolis is known to possess antioxidant activity. However, there is no information on this activity in emulsions O/W. The protective effect of propolis on the oxidation and rheological properties of emulsions O/W containing wheat germ and almond oils was evaluated. Emulsions O/W were prepared with different concentration of propolis extract, almond oil and wheat germ oil. All emulsions physically stable without phase separation were stored at 37 °C for 9 weeks. Chemical composition of propolis was established by Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Rheological characterization of different emulsions was performed evaluating consistency index and flow behavior index. The oxidation was monitored by measuring the lipid hydroperoxides and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) methods. Flavonoids, phenolic acid esters, and aromatic acids were the main groups of compounds found in propolis. The results showed that popolis was good antioxidant in the concentration of 0.02 and 0.04% when lipid phase was constituted by almond oil. The rheological behavior is typical of a non-Newtonian fluid, being almond oil more adequate for having a higher stable O/W emulsion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Walnut and almond kernels are highly nutritious mainly due to their high oil contents. In this study, 32 factorial experimental designs were used to optimize processes for oil extraction by screw-pressing at industrial scale. Experimental designs included seed moisture content (SMC), and restriction die (RD) as the main processing parameters. Theoretical models were scanned against experimental data in order to optimize oil extraction conditions. The response variables analyzed were oil yield (OY), fine solid content (FC) in oil, and oil quality parameters. Fitted models for OY indicated maximum predicted values similar to the highest experimental values. Walnut oil extractions showed a maximum OY (84.5 ± 2.3 %) at 7.21% SMC, and 10 mm RD. For almond kernels, maximum OY (71.9 ± 3.5%) was obtained at 9.42% SMC, and 12 mm RD. Chemical quality parameters from both oils were in the ranges stated in Codex (FAO/WHO) standards for virgin (non-refined) oils.

Abstract: Growing environmental concerns over the use of mineral oil based lubricants in various fields have led to an increased attention towards the use of environmentally benign bio-lubricants. Working in this direction, the present report describes the synthesis of a homopolymer of almond oil and its copolymers with decyl acrylate. The structures of the prepared polymers were confirmed using FT-IR, NMR, and GPC analysis. Additive performances of each of the prepared polymers as viscosity index improvers and pour point depressants were evaluated by standard ASTM methods. The thermal stability of each of the polymers was investigated. Biodegradability of all the polymers was also tested as per ISO 846:1997 against fungal pathogens. A comparison of their multifunctional performances was also studied and is reported. The copolymers showed better performances as viscosity index improvers and pour point depressants. The thermal stability of the copolymers was also found to be higher than the homopolymer. As expected, the homopolymer showed better biodegradability among the other polymers.Graphical Abstract: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]