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Chitosan is an amino-polysaccharide, traditionally obtained by the partial deacetylation of chitin from exoskeletons of crustaceans. Properties such as biocompatibility, hemostasis, and the ability to absorb physiological fluids are attributed to this biopolymer. Chitosan’s biological properties are regulated by its origin, polymerization degree, and molecular weight. In addition, it possesses antibacterial and antifungal activities. It also has been used to prepare films, hydrogels, coatings, nanofibers, and absorbent sponges, all utilized for the healing of skin wounds. In in vivo studies with second-degree burns, healing has been achieved in at least 80% of the cases between the ninth and twelfth day of treatment with chitosan coatings. The crucial steps in the treatment of severe burns are the early excision of damaged tissue and adequate coverage to minimize the risk of infection. So far, partial-thickness autografting is considered the gold standard for the treatment of full-thickness burns. However, the limitations of donor sites have led to the development of skin substitutes. Therefore, the need for an appropriate dermal equivalent that functions as a regeneration template for the growth and deposition of new skin tissue has been recognized. This review describes the properties of chitosan that validate its potential in the treatment of skin burns.

Background:: The pseudo-cereal quinoa has attracted worldwide attention in recent years, due to it being considered a functional food. This stress-tolerant crop has historically been used by Andean cultures as a staple food. Nowadays, the consumption of quinoa in high-income countries is increasing due to it being associated with numerous health benefits, namely related with cardiovascular health. Objective:: We have carried out an extensive review on quinoa, including its main uses, applications, and components (nutrients, antinutrients, and bioactives) and their relationship with biological activities and cardiovascular health. Key findings and conclusions:: Quinoa possess numerous activities, including protection against cardiovascular, metabolic, and degenerative diseases, improvement of the immune system, reduction of symptoms associated with post-menopause, and promotion of muscle mass increase. Some of quinoa’s activities are due to its balanced amino acid profile, high fiber content, presence of phosphorus, iron, potassium, magnesium, vitamin E, and B vitamins. A plethora of bioactives can also be found in quinoa, such as phytosterols, saponins, phenolics, bioactive peptides, and phytoecdysteroids. More research is needed to better understand the mechanisms of action involved in the biological/therapeutic action of some quinoa components, namely those related with the potential to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk markers. The knowledge of factors that affect quinoa variability, such as processing conditions, is also of great importance for being able to obtain more benefits from this crop.

Review question / Objective: Review question: Does chitosan base nanofibers has significant wound healing therapeutics effects in animal models? A preclinical systematic review of intervention will be carried out to evaluate the therapeutic effects of chitosan nanofibers on animal skin lesions. The PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome) scheme will be used: Intervention: full-thickness skin lesions, and the application of chitosan nanofibers as treatment for animal skin lesions. Regardless of the concentration of chitosan or other added compounds used. Comparison: No intervention, topical placebo agents and standard skin lesions treatments will be included. Outcome: wound healing area, wound closure, type of wound closure (first, second or third intention), healing time, infectious processes (antibacterial/antifungal properties), blood loss (hemostatic properties) and adverse effects.

Mining is an important activity for the economic development of many countries. However, this activity produces toxic residues that pollute water and the environment. The heavy metal removal from effluents of acid mine water is crucial to avoid environmental pollution. The microalga Nannochloropsis oculata was cultured in algal medium, with the addition of 1.16, 1.74, 2.32, 3.48, and 4.64 mg Cu2+ L−1 coming from acid mine water to assess its removal capacity and the effect of copper content on the cell density and lipid productivity. The results showed that N. oculata removed up to 94.88 ± 0.43% at copper concentration than 1.74 mg Cu2+ L−1; additionally, a positive effect on the lipid content was found at copper concentration to be higher, 4.64 mg Cu2+ L−1, yielding 77.04 ± 2.60% of lipid content, twice as high as that achieved in the control culture of 33.058 ± 5.398%, thus potentiating the biodiesel production. These findings are favorable because they indicate that microalgae can remove copper added in the culture and present in acid mine water and can yield high lipid content at the same time. The cell density and growth rate decreased with increased concentrations of copper in the culture medium.

Sorghum is a cereal with little use in human diet; however, this grain can provide several nutrients and, additionally, has a high content of phenolic compounds concentrated in bran, which could be beneficial to human health due to its high antioxidant capacity. However, these bioactive compounds are bound within the cell wall matrix; it is necessary to release these compounds to take advantage of their antioxidant properties. The extrusion process increases the accessibility of bound phenolic compounds, breaking their bonds from the bran matrix. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal extrusion conditions for maximizing the phenolic compound content and antioxidant capacity of sorghum bran extrudate. The extrusion process factors evaluated were feed moisture (FM) from 25 to 35% and the fourth extrusion zone temperature (T) in the range of 140–180 °C. Analysis of variance and response surface analysis were used in the evaluation. The prediction coefficient, (FM)2, (T)2 and their interaction (FM)(T) significantly affected the free total phenolic compounds. The antioxidant capacity of the free total phenolic compounds was significantly affected by (FM)2 and (T)2. The optimal extrusion conditions were FM = 30% and T = 160 °C, which provided free total phenolic compounds with a value of 7428.95 μg GAE/g (predicted value: 7810.90 μg GAE/g) and antioxidant capacity with a value of 14.12 μmol TE/g (predicted value: 14.85 μmol TE/g). Results confirmed that extrusion process optimization was useful to increase the content of phenolic compounds and improved the antioxidant capacity of sorghum bran.

Chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPSs) were prepared from noncommercial chitosan of different molecular weights by the ionic gelation methodology. CSNPSs were applied in solid state (g) to observe the bacterial growth of Bacillus halotolerans MCC1, bacteria that appear in the biofilms of the desalinization membranes. Characterization of CSNPS of high (CSNP2), medium (CSNP3), and low (CSNP4) molecular weight (MW) was studied by TGA, DSC, SEM, EDX, DLS, and XRD. The effect of MW onto the formation of CSNPS was investigated as well as the effect of its application (0.01, 0.03, and 0.03 g at 24, 48, and 72 h) in the growth (%) of B. halotolerans MCC1. The results showed that the average size of CSNPS was in the range of 420–600.3 nm. CSNPS were considered amorphous and less thermally stable than the original chitosan where they were produced. Morphologically when the MW decreases, a reduction in the size of the particle was exhibited. When MW increase a reduction in the zeta potential from 45.7 to 29.9 mV was resulted. The essays to observe the growth (%) of B. halotolerans MCC1 indicated that CSNPS applied in solid state allows the growth of the bacteria; when the MW decreases, the growth of the bacteria increases. The maximum and minimum value of growth was obtained at 72 h, with the use of 0.05 g of CSNP4 (16.86%) and 0.05 g of CSNP2 (2.15%), respectively. The use of CSNPS indicates that the inhibitory effect depends on the MW as well as the doses of application.

In this investigation, the purified sulphoraphane from broccoli seed meal was evaluated in a range of 5–400 μg mL⁻¹ against Escherichia coli. The results showed that levels above 200 μg mL⁻¹ can inhibit 100% growth of 10⁶ CFU mL⁻¹ up to 5 h and cause a deformation of sigmoid behaviour in the growth kinetics, and even the bacterial population is reduced. On the other hand, low sulphoraphane levels such as 5–25 μg mL⁻¹ also have effects on the bacterium, such as the decrease in the maximum specific growth rate and the loss of ability to adjust to a growth model when maintained in isothermal conditions. In addition, sulphoraphane has an effect on swimming motility and swarming motility in semi‐solid medium. The interaction of natural sulphoraphane–E. coli and the effect in the short periods can draw attention in research on food science and technology.

Chronic wounds aggravate the patient’s indisposition by causing mobility, economic and social problems. Chitosan is a natural polymer that is considered a potent healing agent for skin lesions and has been used previously to manufacture dressings for wounds. The aim of this work was to evaluate the curative effect of chitosan membranes on cutaneous ulcers. The chitosan was characterized by measuring the degree of deacetylation and FTIR. The membranes were obtained by a solvent evaporation technique. Four patients with cutaneous ulcers were recruited to evaluate the effectiveness of the topical membranes. At the beginning of the in vivo assay, patients presented with infected wounds. By the end of treatment, the infection subsided, the granulation process was promoted and complete skin coverage was observed in most patients. The use of chitosan as a treatment for the healing of skin ulcers is considered highly promising for its medicinal properties, as well as for its affordability compared to traditional treatments.

Arginine, taurine, and choline are conditionally essential nutrients, and their dietary deficiency manifests as certain hepatic disorders. Arginine is an amino acid protein that aids in the detoxification and treatment of hepatic lesions. Taurine is a nonprotein amino acid that protects liver cells against oxidative stress and against various drugs. Choline is a water-soluble vitamin, and its deficiency is related to liver dysfunction. This review focuses on the scientific evidence that links arginine, taurine, and choline to the liver and liver diseases.

Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide. This disease is described as accelerated and uncontrolled cell multiplication. In recent decades, chemoprevention has been advocated to reduce the risk of cancer or prevent its recurrence. An example of chemopreventives is antioxidant vitamins, which inhibit angiogenesis and cancer cell metastasis. In addition, vitamin C, vitamin D and vitamin E decrease the side effects caused by chemotherapy during cancer treatment. This review provides a complete update on the therapeutic potential of vitamins C, D and E against cancer. Unfortunately, most studies suggest the need to conducting rigorous clinical trials to confirm the benefits of these vitamins. In addition, chemopreventive regimens should be adjusted for a greater range of cancer types.

Nowadays due to the concern with the environmental impact of analytical techniques and in order to reduce the ecological footprint there is a tendency to use more efficient and faster procedures that use a smaller amount of organic solvents. Polyphenols have been widely studied in plant-based matrices due to their wide and potent biological properties ; however there are no standardized procedures both for sample preparation and analysis of these compounds. The second of a two-part review will carry out a critical review of the extraction procedures and analytical methods applied to polyphenols and their selection criteria over a wide range of factors in relation to commerce- associated, environmental, and economic factors. It is foreseen that in the future the analysis of polyphenols in plant-based matrices includes the use of techniques that allow the simultaneous determination of different subclasses of polyphenols using fast, sophisticated, and automated techniques that allow the minimal consumption of solvents

Sulforaphane has received attention in recent years due to its biological properties; it is found in broccoli seeds but must be released by enzymatic action from its precursor molecule. In this study, a novel process to purification of sulforaphane from broccoli seeds is described. The procedure is divided in three consecutive steps: 1) hydrolysis and extraction, 2) adsorption/desorption of crude extract, and 3) bleaching step. The adsorption capacity (65–74 mg/g) and sulforaphane recovery (67–79%) were consistent in the adsorption/desorption step, which is important because it is possible to obtain up to 40% of sulforaphane content. Maximum bleaching was reached at 15–20 min, increasing the purity of sulforaphane considerably. It is possible to obtain 90% of bleaching and good recoveries. Purified sulforaphane from broccoli seed extracts was identified by mass spectrometry. Infrared and ultraviolet spectroscopy confirms the presence of sulforaphane in each step as well its separation and purification.

Chitosan is a biodegradable, non-toxic, and antimicrobial polymer. Chitosan films can be used as a dressing because they promote the healing of cutaneous ulcers. In this study, the mechanical, physical, and microbiological properties films of pure chitosan and films formulated with a glycerol-honey mixture were characterized. The films were smooth, homogenous, transparent, and porous, with no fractures or cracks. Additionally, it was found that all were resistant to breaking, that the tearing force was directly related to the chitosan concentration, and that the addition of honey and glycerol improved the elongation percentage. When evaluating the antimicrobial activity of the films against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae, the films were found to have an effect only by direct contact. In the films formulated with honey, the area of contact increased to 44%. The excellent color, structural, antimicrobial, and surface morphological properties of the newly developed films make them a promising alternative for use as a dressing for the healing of skin ulcers.

Infections, ulcerations, gangrene and, in severe cases, extremity amputation, are common complications among diabetic subjects. Various biomaterials have been utilized for the treatment of these lesions. Chitosan is an amino sugar with a low risk of toxicity and immune response. In this study, we evaluated chitosan topical gel and film treatments for subjects with diabetic ulcerations and wounds associated with diabetes mellitus. In a pre-experimental design, we described the result of chitosan gel and film treatment for wounds and skin ulcers among patients with long-standing diabetes mellitus. We studied 8 diabetic patients with wounds and skin ulcers (long duration and Wagner degree 1–2). Initially, most lesions had some degree of infection, tissue damage and ulceration. At the end of the treatment (topical chitosan) period, the infections were cured. All patients experienced a significant improvement in the initial injury and developed granulation tissue and a healthy skin cover. This report represents one of the few published clinical experience regarding the chitosan for the treatment of skin lesions among diabetic subjects. These results are relevant and promising for the treatment of this disease.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro effectiveness of membranes developed with pure chitosan and chitosan in a mixture with glycerol-honey against gram-negative bacteria isolated from skin ulcers. The membranes were prepared by the solvent evaporation technique. The identification and antibiotic sensitivity of microorganisms were determined in microplates, and in vitro tests were developed by the agar diffusion technique. The most frequently isolated microorganism was Escherichia coli with 43.75 % prevalence. All membranes showed antimicrobial effects by direct contact against Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Morganella morganii. Antibiograms showed that most of these microorganisms are multi-resistant to antibiotics. All of this suggests that chitosan-based membranes are a safe alternative for the treatment of infected cutaneous ulcers compared to traditional antibiotics. The outcomes of this study confirm that membranes made of a biodegradable polymer, such as chitosan have activity against multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria that grow in infected skin ulcers.

La mineria representa una de las actividades economicas mas importantes para muchos paises y Mexico no es la excepcion. Sin embargo, los residuos liquidos que genera esta actividad suponen un riesgo para el ambiente debido a que se caracterizan por su elevado contenido de iones metalicos y valores bajos de pH. Actualmente, la adsorcion en quitosano constituye una alternativa a los tratamientos convencionales para la recuperacion de metales pesados en solucion acuosa. En este estudio se obtuvieron hidrogeles de quitosano puro y modificado a partir del exoesqueleto de camaron para llevar a cabo ensayos de adsorcion de cobre en solucion acida, con particular referencia a los efectos del tiempo de contacto, pH de la solucion, masa del adsorbente y concentracion inicial de cobre. Los resultados experimentales mostraron que las condiciones optimas de adsorcion de cobre fueron a pH 4, con 4.5 g de adsorbente (quitosano puro) y 4 h de tiempo de contacto, con estas condiciones se alcanzo una remocion del 99.35 %. Adicionalmente, se llevaron a cabo ensayos de adsorcion con 160, 250 y 416 ppm de concentracion de cobre en solucion acida y se observo que, a menor concentracion mayor porcentaje de remocion, con hasta 92 % de remocion para la concentracion de 160 ppm, asi como 72 y 67.3 % para las concentraciones de 250 y 416 ppm, respectivamente. Lo anterior sugiere que el hidrogel de quitosano puro en forma de perlas, puede ser usado como adsorbente efectivo en la remocion de cobre presente en lixiviados de minas.

Chitosan fibers were prepared by wet spinning in three stages. Initially, a polymer solution of chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was solidified in a mixture of potassium hydroxide and ethanol. The polymers were then crosslinked with sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) or glutaraldehyde, and finally dried in methanol or acetone. The effect of these conditions was evaluated based on scanning electron microscopy images, water-holding capacity, and swelling and mechanical properties. The miscibility of the mixture was evaluated using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The results obtained showed that chitosan fibers containing 45% (v/v) PVA and crosslinked using TPP have properties similar to those of commercial sutures prepared using other biomaterials.

Maillard reaction products (MRP) have gained increasing interest owing to their both positive and negative effects on human health. Aqueous amino acid-sugar model systems were studied in order to evaluate the antioxidant and chelating activity of MRP under conditions similar to those of food processing. Amino acids (cysteine, glycine, isoleucine and lysine) combined with different sugars (fructose or glucose) were heated to 100 and 130 °C for 30, 60 and 90 min. Antioxidant capacity was evaluated via ABTS and DPPH free radical scavenging assays, in addition to Fe2+ and Cu2+ ion chelating capacity.; Results: In the ABTS assay, the cysteine-fructose model system presented the highest antioxidant activity at 7.05 µmol mL-1 (130 °C, 60 min), expressed in Trolox equivalents. In the DPPH assay, the cysteine-glucose system presented the highest antioxidant activity at 3.79 µmol mL-1 (100 °C, 90 min). The maximum rate of chelation of Fe2+ and Cu2+ was 96.31 and 59.44% respectively in the lysine-fructose and cysteine-glucose systems (100 °C, 30 min).; Conclusion: The model systems presented antioxidant and chelating activity under the analyzed temperatures and heating times, which are similar to the processing conditions of some foods. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.; © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

A continuous adsorption study in a fixed-bed column was carried out using a chitosan–glutaraldehyde biosorbent for the removal of the textile dye Direct Blue 71 from an aqueous solution. The biosorbent was prepared from shrimp shells and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The effects of chitosan–glutaraldehyde bed height (3–12 cm), inlet Direct Blue 71 concentration (15–50 mg l−1), and feed flow rate (1–3 ml min−1) on the column performance were analyzed. The highest bed capacity of 343.59 mg Direct Blue 71 per gram of chitosan–glutaraldehyde adsorbent was obtained using 1 ml min−1 flow rate, 50 mg l−1 inlet Direct Blue 71 concentration, and 3 cm bed height. The breakthrough curve was analyzed using the Adams–Bohart, Thomas, and bed depth service time mathematical models. The behaviors of the breakthrough curves were defined by the Thomas model at different conditions. The bed depth service time model showed good agreement with the experimental data, and the high values of correlation coefficients (R2 ≥ 0.9646) obtained indicate the validity of the bed depth service time model for the present column system.

Astaxanthin is a red pigment found in marine animals and microorganisms, whereas lutein and zeaxanthin are yellow pigments found in vegetables and fruits. These xanthophyll carotenoids can act as antioxidants by capturing free radicals and oxygen singlets. In addition, they are involved in the prevention of degenerative neurological and cardiovascular diseases and in the protection of tissues against damage caused by sunlight. This chapter describes the potential of astaxanthin, lutein, and zeaxanthin as dietary supplements based on their natural availability and benefits to human health.

Chitosan is a natural polysaccharide with biocompatibility, biodegradability, nontoxicity, antimicrobial, and hemostatic properties. This biopolymer has been used in different pharmaceutical forms; therefore, it has an attractive potential for dermal applications in veterinary medicine. The aim of this review is to assess the healing potential of chitosan, based on its dermatological effects on animals, to enrich the therapeutic options of veterinary clinicians. A systematic review was conducted based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) strategy, retrieving 1,032 studies and selecting 39 after the inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. The studies included reports with confirmed positive effects (n = 46/99, 46.5 %) (P < 0.05), with positive effects (n = 49.5/99, 49.5 %), and with no effect (n = 4/99, 4 %); none of the studies reported adverse effects. There is an association between frequency of application and a decrease in healing time (P = 0.038); applying chitosan "every 48-72 hours" was the most recommended frequency (n = 10/19, 52.9 %). Chitosan, when applied to skin lesions on animals, produces positive effects on healing, potentially becoming a safe biomaterial for skin treatments in veterinary practice. As an initial protocol, we suggest applying chitosan every 48-72 hours for at least 2 weeks (7 applications).

Biocomposites of polylactic acid, thermoplastic starch, chitosan powder, and chitosan lyophilized powder were prepared using an extrusion process. The color, thermal, structural, mechanical, morphology, and antimicrobial properties were evaluated. The addition of thermoplastic starch and chitosan (chitosan powder and chitosan lyophilized powder) produced significant changes in color and heterogeneous surface morphology of the polylactic acid biocomposites. The thermal, mechanical, and morphometric properties of the material showed changes with the addition of thermoplastic starch and chitosan (chitosan powder and chitosan lyophilized powder). The biocomposites formulated with chitosan powder and chitosan lyophilized powder showed antifungal activity when evaluating this property. The biocomposites produced could be used in packaging applications.

A fixed bed column packed with chitosan-sodium tripolyphosphate (CTPP) beads was used to remove aqueous Fe (III) ions. The adsorption of Fe (III) ions on CTPP beads was found to be dependent on operating conditions, such as the flow rate, adsorbent bed length, and feed concentration. The experimental data were assessed with Thomas, Adams-Bohart and Yoon-Nelson models to predict the breakthrough curves using linear regression. The breakthrough curves were better fitted with the Thomas and Yoon-Nelson models when the flow rate was varied and the feed concentration and the bed height of the column were fixed. Therefore, chemical adsorption may be the limiting step that controls the continuous adsorption process. The Adams-Bohart model presented a good fit to the experimental data, showing that external mass transfer was controlling the adsorption process in the initial part of the breakthrough curves. The parameters obtained from the continuous adsorption assays may be used as a basis for designing columns packed with CTPP beads for the removal of Fe (III) ions.

Sulforaphane is a phytochemical that has received attention in recent years due to its chemopreventive properties. However, the uses and applications of this compound are very limited, because is an unstable molecule that is degraded mainly by changes in temperature and pH. In this research, the use of food grade polymers for microencapsulation of sulforaphane was studied by a complex coacervation method using the interaction of oppositely charged polymers as gelatin/gum arabic and gelatin/pectin. The polymers used were previously characterized in moisture content, ash and nitrogen. The encapsulation yield was over 80%. The gelatin/pectin complex had highest encapsulation efficiency with 17.91%. The presence of sulforaphane in the complexes was confirmed by FTIR and UV/visible spectroscopy. The materials used in this work could be a new and attractive option for the protection of sulforaphane.

This study focuses on the isolation and quantification of astaxanthin and its esters in the oils extracted from shrimp waste. The content of astaxanthin was determined by high performance liquid chromatography and ranged from 1.5 to 2.1 mg g−1. The astaxanthin and its esters were isolated by thin layer chromatography in three fractions: free astaxanthin, monoester, and diester of astaxanthin, with percentages of 44, 32, and 26%, respectively. Oleic acid was the major fatty acid in the monoester fraction, while palmitic, oleic, and stearic acids were present predominantly in the diester fraction. Free radical-scavenging activity of the oils and the three fractions was evaluated. All oils showed an effect on the decrease in the absorbtion of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl solutions, while among the fractions no significant difference occurred. Pigmented oil from shrimp waste is an organic source of pigment and antioxidant astaxanthin, the esters, and fatty acids, such as eicosapentaenoic and docosahe...

Moringa oleifera tree has been recognized internationally for its nutritional, therapeutic and medicinal properties. Dry seeds are rich sources of oil with a high potential of commercial exploitation. The present study reports the physicochemical characterization, polyphenol content, DPPH radical scavenging capacity and fatty acid profile of moringa seed oil, and the chemical composition of the seed cultivated in Sonora, Mexico. Moisture, ash, protein and lipid contents in the seed were found to be 4.7, 5.8, 26 and 39%, respectively. The oil showed a refractive index of 1.4642. The saponification number was 183 mg KOH/g oil, iodine value: 75 g I/100 g of oil, acid value: 0.49 (% oleic acid). The polyphenol content was 0.137 mg of gallic acid equivalent/g and DPPH radical scavenging capacity was 87.39%. The moringa seed oil was rich (68%) in the major fatty acid, oleic acid (C18:1n9). Moringa oil extracted by sonication showed a fatty acid profile and physicochemical properties comparable to the oil from s...

Genistein (4', 5, 7-trihydroxyisoflavone), a naturally occurring flavonoid characteristic of Leguminoseae plants, is a phyto-oestrogen exerting oestrogenic activity as both an agonist and an antagonist substance. A large body of evidence suggests that genistein possesses many physiological and pharmacological properties that make this molecule a potential agent for the prevention and treatment of a number of chronic diseases. Growing evidence suggests that genistein could act as a vasodilating, anti-thrombotic, and anti-atherosclerotic agent, exerting these effects through different mechanisms of action. This paper aims to review data from the literature assessing the beneficial effects of genistein on hypertension, one of the most important cardiovascular disease risk factors along with hyperglycemia and hyperlidipemia. In addition, we discuss the chemistry, main sources and bioavailability of genistein. Scientific findings support genistein's potential as a promising anti-hypertensive agent in different experimental models. However, clinical trials are very limited and more research will be required before genistein intake can be recommended as part of therapies targeting raised blood pressure. A. Sureda was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality (CIBEROBN - CB12/03/30038). Transparency document Transparency info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Background: There are many plants with interesting pharmaceutical activities but Aloe vera is probably the most applied medicinal plant worldwide. Since biblical times, aloe has been used for its purgative effect, skin disorders healing and beauty treatments. Scope and approach: For this study, an extensive review on Aloe vera was carried out, including its main uses, components (both nutrients and bioactives), biological activities, and applications. Future trends were also assessed. Key findings and conclusions: Aloe possesses numerous activities including, anticancer, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, antiulcer and antidiabetic. Some of these activities are due to the presence of polysaccharides (acemamman; glucomannan). A wide variety of commercial products based on Aloe vera are available on the market. However, the knowledge of the relationship between biological and therapeutic properties and its components has to be clearly defined in order to know the exact mechanism of action to develop effective new products, namely pharmaceuticals. The knowledge of the factors that affect Aloe vera variability, such as processing conditions, is also of great importance to be able to standardize the final products. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

The aim of this paper was to characterize chitosan samples from the shrimp shells for the later development of antimicrobial active systems. These systems include 100 % chitosan-based films obtained by casting, polyamide films with 5 and 10 % of chitosan obtained by extrusion and polyethylene/polyethylene terephthalate films with a coating of 0.6 % of chitosan. For that purpose, several analytical techniques including IR, 1H NMR, GPC, and microscopic techniques (scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy) were used. Within the studied samples, C1 showed the lowest DA and MW and consequently presented the most suitable properties for the development of an active packaging. Additionally, mechanical properties were performed. The effectiveness of the developed systems was evaluated by means of microbiological assays. The tested films showed antimicrobial capacity against coliform enterobacteria, mesophilic aerobic microorganism, and yeast and moulds. This work was funded under Project no. 95935 from FONCICYT C002-2008-1/ALA 127 249. The authors are grateful to “Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad” for the Predoctoral fellowship FPI (Ref. BES-2012-051993) awarded to Miguel Ángel Lago. Raquel Sendón is grateful to the “Parga Pondal” program financed by Consellería de Innovación e Industria, Xunta de Galicia” for her postdoctoral contract.

Lycopene and oleoresin extraction from powder of tomato over-ripe by three agitation methods and four solvents have been evaluated. Also, tomato powder and the oleoresins were characterized biochemically. On average, the moisture content of powder was found to be 4.30, ash 8.90, proteins 11.23 and lipids 4.35 g 100 g−1. The best oleoresin extraction yield was achieved by combining sonication and acetone at 1.43 g 100 g−1. The greatest amount of lycopene (65.57 ± 0.33 mg 100 g−1) was also obtained using the same treatment. The presence of trans-lycopene was positively confirmed by HPLC and FTIR. In oleoresins, linoleic acid (C18:2n6) was the predominant with 50% of total fatty acids, whereas stearic acid (C18:0) is presented in a smaller proportion (5%). A simple and suitable method for extraction of lycopene from over-ripe tomato was optimized. In industrial applications, tomato by-products are a viable source of analytes, such as lycopene and unsaturated fatty acids.

This work was funded under Project no. 95935 by FONCICYT C002-2008-1/ALA – 127 249. The authors are grateful for the postdoctoral contract of Ana Sanches Silva in the frame of the Program ‘Science 2007’, funded by Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia, Portugal.

Aloin is an anthraquinone-C-glycoside present in Aloe vera. This compound is extremely variable among different species and highly depends on the growing conditions of the plants. The quantification of aloin in different extraction preparations has been a frequent problem due to the high instability of the compound. The aim of the present study is to develop and validated an analytical method for aloin detection in fresh and dry samples of Aloe barbadensis gel and latex using high performance liquid chromatography coupled to a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). Phosphate buffered saline (pH 3) was selected as the extraction solvent. The aloin was separated using a Zorbax Eclipse AAA column (4.6 × 150 mm) at 35°C, and water and acetonitrile were used as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.9 mL/min. The linearity was satisfactory with a correlation coefficient greater than 0.999. Under these conditions, the method precision (relative standard deviation) was 3.71% for FL, 4.41% for dry latex, 0.81% for fresh gel and 4.42% for dry gel samples. Aloe latex was determined to have a greater amount of aloin than aloe gel. The method validation was satisfactory and exhibited adequate linearity, repeatability and accuracy. This research was financed by project PROFAPI no. 2016-0025 from Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Maillard reaction products (MRP) have gained increasing interest owing to their both positive and negative effects on human health. Aqueous amino acid-sugar model systems were studied in order to evaluate the antioxidant and chelating activity of MRP under conditions similar to those of food processing. Amino acids (cysteine, glycine, isoleucine and lysine) combined with different sugars (fructose or glucose) were heated to 100 and 130 °C for 30, 60 and 90 min. Antioxidant capacity was evaluated via ABTS and DPPH free radical scavenging assays, in addition to FeIn the ABTS assay, the cysteine-fructose model system presented the highest antioxidant activity at 7.05 µmol mLThe model systems presented antioxidant and chelating activity under the analyzed temperatures and heating times, which are similar to the processing conditions of some foods. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.