Search

In this work, the hydrolysis efficiency of recombinant protease_SE5 (r_SE5) on sericin was improved by protein engineering. The S166D variant, obtained from the first round of site-directed mutagenesis, exhibited a 1.4-fold increase in protease activity (602 U/mg) and sericin hydrolysis efficiency (123 μg peptide/mL). Further substitution of Ser166, located on a low-affinity calcium-binding loop, by Glu consequently improved sericin hydrolysis capability. The S166E variant showed remarkable protease activity (671 U/mg) and sericin hydrolysis efficiency (140 μg peptide/mL) with no changes in thermostability compared to r_SE5. Interestingly, the purified S166E efficiently hydrolyzed sericin, with a maximal peptide yield of 540 μg/mL within 60 min. The S166E-derived sericin peptide also exhibited higher ABTS radical scavenging activity (6470 μmol TEAC/L) and angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition activity (40%). Additionally, the identification of peptides by LC-MS/MS revealed that two smaller peptides (HHSGVNR and GWWWNSD) with a higher proportion of key amino acid residues were produced by S166E. These peptides were the potential bioactive peptides predicted by the BIOPEP database. Therefore, this study demonstrates the structure–function relevance between the low-affinity calcium-binding loop and hydrolysis of sericin by protease_SE5. S166E is a more powerful protease for producing value-added sericin hydrolysate, which can be used as an active ingredient for food and pharmaceutical applications. [Display omitted] • Mutation at low-affinity calcium binding of r_SE5 improved sericin hydrolysis capability. • Negatively charged amino acids had a positive impact on hydrolysis of sericin. • S166E variant showed a 20% increase in catalytic efficiency (k cat / K m) toward sericin. • S166E-derived sericin peptides showed a higher antioxidant and ACE inhibition activity. • Sericin hydrolysate from S166E contained two smaller antioxidative peptides based on LC-MS/MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, growing recognition of the health benefits associated with functional foods and beverages has increased the demand for products that offer more than just basic nutrition. Coffee is a widely consumed beverage, in which fermentation of green coffee beans contributes to the development of a special aroma and higher levels of antioxidants. The objectives of this study were to optimize the fermentation conditions and simultaneously improve antioxidant activity and metabolites. The conditions optimized by Box–Behnken design (BBD) suggested that the highest total esters, total phenolic content (TPC), and antioxidant activity (ABTS, DPPH, FRAP) could be reached by fermentation at 30 °C for 2 days with 13.25% sucrose (w/w) using a microbial cocktail. Two sets of selective microbial starters, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum TISTR 2265 (LP) and a cocktail of TISTR yeasts with LP (YC-LP), were further considered as powerful starters for solid-state fermentation (SSF) of Arabica and Robusta beans, enhancing antioxidant activity within the first 3 days of fermentation. Arabica beans fermented by LP reached 198.03% TPC, 44.21% ABTS, 90.35% DPPH, and 97.13% FRAP, while Robusta beans fermented by YC-LP showed 108.24% TPC, 204.19% ABTS, 170.71% DPPH, and 59.60% FRAP, higher than an uninoculated starter. The analysis of 41 fermented metabolites revealed the different metabolomic profiles for both coffee beans, offering valuable insight into the correlation between chemical constituents and functional characteristics. This study represents the first comprehensive comparison of the metabolomic profiles of fermented Arabica and Robusta green coffee beans. [Display omitted] • Functional green coffee beans were produced using microbial cocktail starters. • The optimal condition for the functional beans was incubation for 2 days at 30 °C and 13.25% sucrose. • High functional value of green Robusta coffee beans was produced using YC and LP (YC-LP). • Comparative metabolomic profiles of fermented green Arabica and Robusta beans were investigated and the 41 metabolites were observed by using UHPLC-Orbitrap-MS. • Types of microbial starters influenced the chemical and functional characteristics in the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this study were to investigate the efficiency of three non-substrate specific enzymes on chitooligosaccharides (COS) production and to examine the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of different average molecular weight (MW) COS. Two chitosans with 80 and 90 degrees of deacetylation (DD) were hydrolyzed using lysozyme, papain, or cellulase (0.003% w/w) for 0–16 h. Papain showed the highest MW reduction of chitosan DD90. After 16 h of DD90 hydrolysis with papain, the average MW was 4.3 kDa which meets the requirement to be a COS (≤10 kDa). Materials produced from chitosan DD90 and papain with different MW of 5.1 (COS5), 14.3 (COS14), and 41.1 (COS41) kDa were used to determine antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. COS5 had the highest antioxidant activities of all of the assays used, i.e., the lowest 50% effective concentration (EC 50 ) for DPPH radical scavenging activity, the highest reducing power, and the highest metal chelating activity. Escherichia coli , Salmonella typhimurium , and Salmonella enteritidis were most susceptible to COS5. All three COS were more effective against Escherichia coli than against the other pathogens. However, native chitosan inhibited Staphylococcus aureus , more efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work demonstrated a one–pot synthesis of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) using Pandanus amaryllifolius leaf extract as well as their biological activity and biocompatibility impacts. The synthesized Au NPs were characterized by UV–vis, FT–IR, XRD, XPS, DLS, ZP, SEM, element mapping, EDX, and TEM analysis. The Au NPs tested against Gram–positive and negative bacteria of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The antioxidant capacity of Au NPs showed a moderate effect. Different concentrations of Au NPs were tested on the MDA–MB–231 epithelial human breast cancer cell line, showing that IC 50 value at 118.26 μg/mL. Au NPs treated Artemia salina nauplii did not promote any mortality. By contrast, microphotographic analysis of the Au NPs found in the aggregated form inside the guts region. The 100% Au NPs treated Allium cepa root tip cell showed a mitotic index of 77.63 ± 0.42. This investigation demonstrates that Au NPs have better antioxidant and anticancer activities. In addition, the A. salina nauplii emphasized nontoxicity with biocompatibility. The Au NPs treatments showed a dose–depended response to enhance the mitotic cell divisions of A. cepa root tip cells without chromosomal aberration and no antibacterial efficiency of Au NPs against bacterial pathogens. Our study shows that this one–step synthesis is highly efficient. Near the future, synthesized Au NPs can be used for cancer therapeutic, food packaging, and cosmetic applications. • Eco-friendly synthesis of Au NPs using P. amaryllifolius leaf extract. • Au NPs characterized by UV–vis, FTIR, XRD, XPS, DLS, SEM, EDX, and TEM. • Au NPs exhibited more potential for antioxidant and anticancer activity. • Au NPs revealed non-toxicity in A. salina. • Au NPs act as a dose-dependent response to the mitotic cell division of A. cepa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the author discusses a research related to strategies for decolorizing high concentrations of methyl orange by using growing cells of Lactobacillus casei TISTR 1500. Topics discussed include batch, fed-batch, and continuous fermentation was used in the processing of methyl orange decolorization, methyl orange is an important commercial and anionic azo dye with good stability and special color characteristics, and azo dyes are carcinogens as they decompose to aromatic amines.

The article discusses optimization processes utilized to suppress the biosynthesis of exopolysaccharides (EPS) in lactic acid bacteria (LAB)Lactobacillus confusus . It reports that high salinity stress can enhance EPS production in solid state fermentation. The overproduction of EPSs due to high salinity stress in solid state fermentation performed on an agar surface was demonstrated through response surface methodology via a central composite design (CCD) analysis.

The article presents a study on the cellulase-free production of xylanase through thermphilic bacteria, Streptomyces thennovuigaris. The study used the response surface methodology for the optimizaiton of xylanse production. It notes that both potenial of hydrogen (pH) and temperature are significant in xylanase production.

The article presents a study on the use of coconut water and sugar-cane juice to carried out extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) production by Lactobacillus confusus in liquid and solid state fermentation. The study showed that high concentrations of EPS of sugarcane juice and coconut water were produced in solid state fermentation by reducing nitrogen sources. Moreover, it mentions that coconut water and sugar-cane juice were subjected to solid state fermentation in enhancing EPS production.

Many microorganisms are able to synthesize polysaccharides and then secrete them into the external environment; these compounds are known as exopolysaccharides (EPS). The EPS are produced for various purposes including protection, adhesion, biofilm formation, and as a nutrient source. These polymers can be produced by microbes such as archaea, bacteria, and fungi. On an industrial scale, it is beneficial to use microbes because they can be cultivated using controlled conditions and produce a large quantity of EPS within short periods. Fermentation techniques, therefore, are important strategies that are used to improve product yield and productivity. These techniques can be done using submerged fermentation and solid-state fermentation. In addition, the application of optimization techniques are able to be used to obtain the maximum yield of microbial EPS. Some EPS (called bioactive EPS) derived from microbes show bioactivities such as anticancer, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory activities. There are many factors influencing their bioactivities including their structure, molecular weight, functional groups, and monosaccharide compositions. Moreover, there are many reports where various methods have been used to modify microbial EPS to improve their bioactivities. The modification methods include biological, physical, chemical, and biomolecular modifications. Additionally, immunomodulatory EPS have been extensively studied. The immune stimulating activities of EPS have been investigated both in vitro and in vivo , and some reports have suggested possible pathways for activating the immune response. This review will focus on resources, fermentation, modification, and bioactivities of EPS, and review possible mechanisms of microbial EPS stimulating immune responses. Image 1 • Microbial exopolysaccharides exhibit various biological activities. • Structural modifications can improve bioactivities of exopolysaccharides. • Immunomodulatory exopolysaccharides activate the immune system via NF-кB and MAPK pathways. • Microbial exopolysaccharides have a prebiotic property and modulate the immune system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the dual role of copper ions in catalysis and complexation during the oxidation of lignosulfonates with hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) under alkaline conditions. The presence of copper ions reduces partial oxidation by 86 % compared to H 2 O 2 treatment alone, enhancing overall conversion efficiency to 63 % under increased oxidative conditions. Analyses reveal that copper-lignosulfonate complexes facilitate redox cycling and hydroxyl radical generation through interactions with H 2 O 2 , confirming copper's dual functions. This mechanism mitigates the hindrance of sulfonic groups on hydroperoxide anions, leading to lignosulfonate degradation into dicarboxylic acids. These findings provide novel insights into the copper-lignosulfonate/H 2 O 2 system, expanding the understanding of oxidative degradation mechanisms beyond traditional Fenton-like reactions. Furthermore, this system offers a simplified and efficient alternative for industrial applications, particularly in integration with the sulfite pretreatment process of woody biomass for producing valuable co-products., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Phisit Seesuriyachan reports financial support was provided by the Thailand Science Research and Innovation, Thailand Research Fund (TRF), and National Research Council of Thailand. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The research study suggested using plasma-activated water (PAW) along with auxiliary technologies, such as micro/nanobubbles (MNB), ultraviolet (UV) photolysis, and ultrasonication (US), to increase the effectiveness of sterilization. By using Factorial Design of Experiments (DOE) techniques, the characteristics and optimal production that contributed to disinfecting pathogens were assessed. Analysis revealed that Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ) infection rate was most significantly influenced by factors including duration of MNB, UV, and the interaction term between MNB*UV. The optimal conditions for S. aureus reduction in chicken and beef of 8.41 and 8.20 log 10 CFU/ml, respectively, which were found when PAW was combined with UV and US for 20 min of treatment. This study arrives to the conclusion that combining PAW with appropriate supplementary technologies increased efficiency and enhance disinfection effectiveness in chicken and beef which could be implemented for another alternative pathogen inactivation in food industry. © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Crude polysaccharides were extracted from the white jellyfish ( Lobonema smithii ) using water extraction and fractionated using ion-exchange chromatography to obtain three different fractions (JF1, JF2, and JF3). The chemical characteristics of four polysaccharides were investigated, along with their anti-inflammatory effect in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. All samples mainly consisted of neutral sugars with minor contents of proteins and sulphates in various proportions. Glucose, galactose, and mannose were the main constituents of the monosaccharides. The molecular weights of the crude polysaccharides and the JF1, JF2, and JF3 fractions were 865.0, 477.6, 524.1, and 293.0 kDa, respectively. All polysaccharides were able to decrease NO production, especially JF3, which showed inhibitory activity. JF3 effectively suppressed iNOS, COX-2, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α expression, while IL-10 expression was induced. JF3 could inhibit phosphorylated ERK, JNK, p38, and NF-κB p65. Furthermore, flow cytometry showed the impact of JF3 on inhibiting CD11b and CD40 expression. These results suggest that JF3 could inhibit NF-κB and MAPK-related inflammatory pathways. The structural characterisation revealed that (1→3)-linked glucopyranosyl, (1→3,6)-linked galactopyranosyl, and (1→3,6)-linked glucopyranosyl residues comprised the main backbone of JF3. Therefore, L. smithii polysaccharides exhibit good anti-inflammatory activity and could thus be applied as an alternative therapeutic agent against inflammation.

Garlic, a common culinary spice, is cultivated and used around the globe. Consumption of garlic and its supplements reduces the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease and boosts the immune system with antibacterial, antifungal, anti-aging, and anti-cancer properties. Diallyl sulfide, diallyl disulfide, triallyl trisulfide, phenolics, flavonoids, and others are the most commercially recognized active ingredients in garlic and its products. In recent years, global demand for medicinal or functional garlic has surged, introducing several products such as garlic oil, aged garlic, black garlic, and inulin into the market. Garlic processing has been demonstrated to directly impact the availability of bioactive ingredients and the functionality of products. Depending on the anticipated functional qualities, it is also recommended that one or a combination of processing techniques be deemed desirable over the others. This work describes the steps involved in processing fresh garlic into products and their physicochemical alterations during processing. Their nutritional, phytochemical, and functional properties are also reviewed. Considering the high demand for functional food, this review has been compiled to provide guidance for food producers on the industrial utilization and suitability of garlic for new product development., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Sunanta, Kontogiorgos, Pankasemsuk, Jantanasakulwong, Rachtanapun, Seesuriyachan and Sommano.)

This study investigated the effects of different saccharides (inulin and fructooligosaccharides (FOS)), pH (8-10) and thermal treatment time (6-24 h) at 70 °C on the structural, functional properties and antioxidant activities of conjugated cricket protein (CCPs) by wet heating Maillard reaction (MR). Results suggested that the browning intensity, color development and degree of glycation were significantly increased (p < 0.05) under increasing thermal treatment with FOS. SDS-PAGE and FTIR confirmed the formation of a higher molecular weight of CCPs. Water solubility, oil holding capacity, emulsifying properties, and antioxidant properties of CCPs were all superior to the unconjugated products. However, the over-conditioning (treatment time > 6 h, pH > 9) in MR could contribute to a significant decrease (p < 0.05) of CCPs functional properties. The results suggested that the conjugation of cricket protein isolate (CPI) with MR is the most promising way to improve cricket protein properties for food industry applications., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

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

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