Search Results (56)

Background: Plant-derived essential oils possess valuable bioactivities, but their application is limited by volatility and irritation, which may be addressed through natural polymer encapsulation. This study aimed to investigate the bioactivity of Hedychium coronarium rhizome essential oil and evaluate the effect of microencapsulation on its physicochemical characteristics, biological stability, and irritation profile. Methods: Essential oil was extracted from H. coronarium rhizomes by hydrodistillation and chemically characterized. Enzyme inhibitory activities against elastase, hyaluronidase, and tyrosinase were assessed. Microencapsulation was performed using gum Arabic or maltodextrin at 1–5% w/w oil loadings. The resulting powders were evaluated for morphology, entrapment efficiency, hygroscopicity, water activity, biological stability, and irritation potential using the hen’s egg test on the chorioallantoic membrane. Results: The essential oil demonstrated strong enzyme inhibition, particularly against hyaluronidase (IC₅₀ = 0.1 ± 0.0 µg/mL), along with notable elastase and tyrosinase inhibition. Encapsulation significantly reduced irritation scores from 13.3 ± 1.4 for the free oil to 3.6–4.2 for encapsulated systems (p < 0.05). Gum Arabic produced rough, porous particles with lower hygroscopicity, while maltodextrin yielded smoother particles with lower water activity. Both encapsulated powders significantly enhanced biological stability compared with the ethanolic solution. Conclusions: Natural polymer-based microencapsulation effectively reduced the irritation potential and improved the handling properties of H. coronarium essential oil, supporting its potential application in topical bioactive delivery systems. Full article

Edible coatings enriched with antioxidants offer a promising approach to prolong the shelf life of oxidation-sensitive foods such as nuts. Nonetheless, not all formulations provide the expected protection, and understanding why is equally important. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of an Arabic gum/gelatin/ascorbyl palmitate (GAR/GEL/AP) coating on the quality of hazelnut kernels during storage at 23 °C and ~40% relative humidity. The coating was applied by dipping hazelnuts in a 20% ethanolic solution containing GAR/GEL 75/25 blend (10% w/w), glycerol (1% w/w), Tween 80 (0.25% w/w), and AP (2% w/w), followed by drying. Control (uncoated) and coated hazelnuts were stored in plastic containers and evaluated at 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 weeks for weight loss, moisture content, hardness, color, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH*) scavenging activity, acid and peroxide values, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level. Coated hazelnuts showed higher initial moisture content (8.17%), stabilizing at 4.80% after one week, compared to 3.35% in uncoated samples. This increased moisture led to greater storage-related weight loss. The coating darkened the nuts and reduced their yellow hue. It had no significant effect on hardness, peroxide value, or TBARS index, but notably enhanced the antiradical potential. After 16 weeks, coated nuts had an acid value ~10 mg KOH/g lower than the control. In conclusion, the coating improved antioxidant capacity and reduced hydrolytic, but not oxidative, rancidity in hazelnuts. Therefore, further optimization of the coating formulation or application method is necessary to more effectively improve the shelf life of hazelnuts. Full article

In this work, the associative behavior of Gum Arabic in aqueous solutions was investigated through dynamic light scattering, nuclear magnetic resonance, and transmission and scanning electron microscopy. It was shown that in small associates, the spherical polysaccharide units have predominant sizes of 2–8 and 9–20 nm. The average hydrodynamic diameter of diffusing structural units, calculated on the basis of NMR experiment, turned out to be close to 20 nm, which corresponds with electron microscopy data. Based on geometric considerations and the composition and supramolecular structure of Gum Arabic, we calculated the parameters of branched chains of Gum Arabic. A possible “crown” model of polysaccharide chain association into spherical blocks is presented. The developed model allowed us to describe the effects observed during the time-extended association of Gum Arabic particles (molecules) in aqueous solutions, leading first to blocks’ swelling, then the appearance of local gelation, and only then to the creation of dense protective layers on the surfaces. It was established that the tendency of amphiphilic Gum Arabic molecules to form complexes both among themselves and with various surfaces and the possibility of forming viscous gel-like layers on the interfaces underly its use in many natural, food, technical, and technological applications, including emulsification. Full article

Natural colorants, with their sustainable origins, offer a promising alternative for various applications. Advanced studies have unveiled the remarkable properties, resilience, and durability of these ancient dyes, which our ancestors developed through sustainable material processing. This serves as a testament to the potential of sustainable solutions in our field. As part of our research, we prepared three medieval temperas using gum arabic, parchment glue, and casein glue. These tempera were explicitly designed to protect the purples obtained from Chrozophora tinctoria extracts. A comprehensive multi-analytical approach guides our research on natural colorants. Central to this approach is the use of molecular fluorescence by microspectrofluorimetry, a key tool in our study. By analyzing the emission and excitation spectra in the visible range, we can identify specific formulations. This method is further supported by fingerprinting techniques, including Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Diode Array Detection (HPLC-DAD). These are further complemented by Fiber Optics Reflectance Spectroscopy (FORS) and colorimetry. Building on our understanding of orcein purples, we have extended our research to purples derived from Chrozophora tinctoria extracts. Our findings reveal the unique properties of Chrozophora tinctoria, which can be accurately distinguished from orcein purples, highlighting the distinctiveness of each. Full article

The present study aims to evaluate the best way to use the fruit of the Jussara Palm (Euterpe edulis Martius), whether as pulp or acidified extract, in microencapsulation by spray drying, to develop a natural dye with attractive, stable color characteristics, and high anthocyanin content. The anthocyanins were extracted using a hydroalcoholic solution (70%) acidified with citric acid, and the microcapsules were produced in a proportion of in a 1:3 ratio (pulp/extract: agent), using maltodextrin and gum arabic as encapsulating agents. The microcapsule samples showed high values of encapsulation efficiency and retention of total anthocyanins, with the pulp showing higher levels of bioactive compounds compared to the extract. Regarding characterization, the microcapsules obtained from pulp showed better results for total anthocyanins (77.5 mg cyanidin-3-O-glucoside/100 g), phenolic compounds (492.48 mg EAG/100 g) and antioxidant activity (85.82%). The best color stability, with storage at room temperature, was also observed in microcapsules obtained from Jussara pulp (ΔE 6.25). Thus, the pulp presents better technological characteristics for microcapsule preparation by spray drying, with potential application as a natural dye in food matrices. Full article

Composite edible coatings based on arabic gum with mango peel hydrocolloids and mango seed extracts were prepared and used to evaluate grape conservation. Hydroethanolic solutions were used for the obtention of mango seed extracts, by microwave-assisted extraction, with total phenolic compounds (5.48 and 9.85 GAE/g of extract) and antioxidant activity (<13.03 µmol Trolox/g of extract). The extracts were selected for the development of edible coatings. The rheological properties of edible coating solutions present a non-Newtonian behavior-type shear thinning fluid; the addition of extracts improves their viscoelastic properties, favoring their application into grapes. The coated grapes maintained physicochemical parameters, such as weight, pH, acidity, soluble solids, and color during the 15 days of storage. The results of this research offer the possibility of using by-products from fruit industries, especially mango, to obtain functional ingredients and their application in food systems, taking advantage of their biological activity. Full article

Polysaccharides and proteins are the primary components of edible films used for food packaging. Adding plasticizers such as glycerol or sorbitol during manufacturing can help enhance the properties of films derived from biopolymer combinations. In this study, we aimed to produce sodium alginate/gum arabic/gluten edible films and evaluate the effects of various concentrations of glycerol and sorbitol used as plasticizers on the films’ physical, mechanical, barrier, and optical properties. Using solvent casting, an edible film based on sodium alginate/gum arabic/gluten was plasticized with either glycerol or sorbitol at concentrations of 2, 4, and 6% (w/v). The properties of the edible films were then characterized. Decreases in solubility, tensile strength, and water vapor transmission rate were observed when higher glycerol and sorbitol concentrations were added. The films plasticized with 6% glycerol and 6% sorbitol had the lowest solubility, tensile strength, and water vapor transmission rates. In addition, the films plasticized with glycerol, regardless of concentration, had lower transparency values than those plasticized with sorbitol. The addition of glycerol and sorbitol had insignificant effects on the thickness properties and L values of the films. The absorption peaks of the Fourier-transform infrared spectra patterns of the films plasticized with sorbitol and glycerol were similar, confirming there was an interaction between the plasticizers and polymers. Together, the results demonstrate that sorbitol and glycerol are compatible with sodium alginate/gum arabic/gluten film-forming solutions, indicating that the films obtained could be employed for food packaging. Full article

This study explores the potential of using natural textile packaging infused with algae-based coatings as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional plastic packaging for extending fruit shelf life. Traditional plastic packaging is known to release harmful chemicals into both food and the environment, which underscores the need for safer, more sustainable alternatives. This study investigates algae from three distinct groups—green, red, and brown algae—renowned for their rich bioactive compounds that exhibit natural preservative properties. Algae powders were prepared via immersion in purified water, boiling, and mixing with gum arabic to form a gelatinous coating solution. The algae coating was applied to knitted fabric, which was then crafted into bags for storing fruits such as tomatoes and apples. Over 21 days, the texture, weight loss, and juice content of the fruits stored in algae-coated bags were monitored and compared to those stored in uncoated packaging. The results showed that fruits in algae-coated packaging demonstrated significantly less weight loss and retained better texture. In terms of weight, the combination of red, green, and brown algae-coated packaging demonstrated the lowest reduction in weight for tomatoes (4.2%) and apples (3.8%) after 21 days, outperforming uncoated packaging, which exhibited reductions of 11.2% and 10.8%, respectively. These findings support the potential of algae-coated textile packaging to reduce reliance on conventional plastics while maintaining fruit quality during storage. Full article

Liquid vermicompost (LVC) is one of the organic ingredients for improving plant growth. This study aims to investigate the impact of the application of LVC coating formulations in distinct ratios on seeding emergence, seedling growth parameters, and nitrogen content as well as the systemic uptake characteristics in seedlings. Coating formulations contained gum arabic (GA) mixed with 5–15% of LVC and were applied to pumpkin seeds and compared to non-coated seeds. All samples were stored under cold and ambient conditions for 3 months to evaluate the performance of the coating. Results showed no statistical distinctions in the percentage of seedling emergence. Nevertheless, the 5LVC-GA in the organic formulation significantly increased shoot length, seedling growth rate (SGR), seedling vigor index (SVI), and nitrogen content (%) in the coated seedlings. Additionally, the evaluation of seedling uptake was achieved using rhodamine B as a fluorescent tracer which was diluted in the organic formulation. This explored the transportation of the treatment within a seedling. Therefore, the application of an optimum concentration of 5LVC-GA treatment can improve seedling growth and nitrogen accumulation. This could be confirmed with fluorescence imaging of translocation to seedling organs. However, seed storability declines over three months, emphasizing the need for better coatings and packaging solutions. Full article

This study evaluated Maltodextrin (MD), Gum Arabic (GA), and Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) in different ratios as coating materials to encapsulate citrus pomace phenolic compounds. Citrus encapsulates were obtained by ultrasound-assisted extraction followed by the freeze-drying process and were characterized regarding the microencapsulation efficiency, physical, and chemical properties. Carrier material choice reflected a significant effect on encapsulation efficiency, phenolic compounds retention, and reconstitution properties of encapsulated extract. The encapsulation efficiency of prepared encapsulates ranked from 50.909% to 84.000%, and it was strongly dependent upon CMC addition. A wide range of reconstitution parameters (water absorption index-WAI and water solubility index-WSI) suggested possible release mechanism modifications. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of three main phenolic compounds, namely Hesperidin, Naringin, and Rutin. A wall material mixture of MD, GA, and CMC in the same proportions was optimal for freeze-drying. This combination resulted in encapsulates with a low moisture content (1.936 ± 0.012%) and a low water activity (0.110 ± 0.001), indicating prolonged stability. Based on the obtained results, freeze-drying as an encapsulation technique should be considered as a promising solution to recover compounds from industry byproducts and protect them from environmental and gastrointestinal circumstances. Full article

Garambullo fruit (Myrtillocactus geometrizans) is a rich source of phytochemical compounds that exhibit antioxidant, anti-hyperglycemic, and anti-inflammatory activities, helping to prevent diseases associated with oxidative stress. The objective of this study was to evaluate phenolic compound (PC), betalain (BL), betaxanthin (BX), and betacyanin (BC) contents, and in vitro biological activities (antioxidant, anti-hyperglycemic, and anti-inflammatory) in microencapsulated garambullo extract during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion and storage. Microencapsulation was performed using spray drying. Arabic Gum (GA, 10% in feed solution) and soy protein isolate (SPI, 7% in feed solution) were used as wall materials. After in vitro digestion, the microcapsules (GA, SPI) exhibited higher bioaccessibility (p ≤ 0.05) of PC, BL, BX, and BC, and higher antioxidant activity (AA), compared to the non-encapsulated extract. Both microcapsules showed bioaccessibility in anti-hyperglycemic activity: α-amylase (GA: 90.58%, SPI: 84.73%), α-glucosidase (GA: 76.93%, SPI: 68.17%), and Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) (GA: 52.81%, SPI: 53.03%); and in anti-inflammatory activity: cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) (GA: 78.14%, SPI: 77.90%) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) (GA: 82.77%, SPI: 84.99%). During storage, both microcapsules showed a similar trend with a significant decrease (p ≤ 0.05) in PC (GA: 39.29%, SPI: 39.34%), BL (GA: 21.17%, SPI: 21.62%), BX (GA: 23.89%, SPI: 23.45%), BC (GA: 19.55%, SPI: 19.84%), and AA (GA: 41.59%, SPI: 42.51%) after 60 days at 30 °C. Both microcapsules retained anti-hyperglycemic activity evaluated by the inhibitory activity of α-amylase (GA: 68.84%, SPI: 70.18%), α-glucosidase (GA: 59.93%, SPI: 58.69%), and DPP-4 (GA: 52.81%, SPI: 53.01%), and anti-inflammatory activity evaluated by the inhibitory activity of COX-1 (GA: 82.18%, SPI: 82.81%) and COX-2 (GA: 81.11%, SPI: 81.08%). Microencapsulation protected the phytochemical compounds and in vitro biological activities by allowing controlled release during in vitro digestion compared to the non-encapsulated extract. However, after 60 days storage at 30 °C, 60% of PC and AA, 80% of BL, BX, and BC, and 20–45% of the anti-hyperglycemic and anti-inflammatory activity were lost. Full article

A green synthesis method for producing zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) was presented using natural Gum Arabic (GA) as a natural stabilizing agent. For the first time, the as-synthesized ZnO NPs were employed to photodegrade the toxic Congo Red (CR) dye in an aqueous solution. The structural and morphological characterizations confirmed the successful synthesis of ZnO NPs. The ZnO NPs possessed an average crystallite size of 42.7 nm. In addition, it was found that a concentration of 20 mg L⁻¹ of CR dye yielded the most favorable photodegradation results, and 4 mg mL⁻¹ of the photocatalyst was the optimal amount. The results showed a maximum degradation percentage of 99.5% at pH 8 after 30 min of irradiation. This indicates that the as-synthesized ZnO NPs have remarkable photocatalytic properties. Moreover, the study demonstrated the suitability of the pseudo-first-order kinetic model for representing the photodegradation process through kinetic studies of the photocatalyst process of CR dye by ZnO NPs using the Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) model. Full article

Copper selenide nanoparticles (Cu_2-x Se NPs) have received a lot of attention in recent decades due to their interesting properties and potential applications in various areas such as electronics, health, solar cells, etc. In this study, details of the synthesis and characterization of copper selenide nanoparticles modified with gum arabic (GA) are reported. Also, through transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) analysis, the transformation of the morphology and particle size of copper selenide nanoparticles in aqueous solution was studied. In addition, we present an antimicrobial study with different microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Candida albiacans (C. albicans). Copper selenide nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry analysis (DSC) and TEM. XRD confirmed the crystal-line structure of the nanoparticles such as cubic berzelanite with a particle size of 6 nm ± 0.5. FTIR and TGA corroborated the surface modification of copper selenide nanoparticles with gum arabic, and DSC suggested a change in the structural phase from cubic to hexagonal. TEM analysis demonstrated that the surface modification of the Cu_2-x Se NPs stabilized the nanostructure of the particles, preventing changes in the morphology and particle size. The antimicrobial susceptibility analysis of copper selenide nanoparticles indicated that they have the ability to inhibit the microbial growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. Full article

Up to the 1930s, the Italian pictorialism movement dominated photography, and many handcrafted procedures started appearing. Each operator had his own working method and his own secrets to create special effects that moved away from the standard processes. Here, a methodology that combines X-ray fluorescence and infrared analysis spectroscopy with unsupervised learning techniques was developed on an unconventional Italian photographic print collection (the Piero Vanni Collection, 1889–1939) to unveil the artistic technique by the extraction of spectroscopic benchmarks. The methodology allowed the distinction of hidden elements, such as iodine and manganese in silver halide printing, or highlighted slight differences in the same printing technique and unveiled the stylistic practice. Spectroscopic benchmarks were extracted to identify the elemental and molecular fingerprint layers, as the oil-based prints were obscured by the proteinaceous binder. It was identified that the pigments used were silicates or iron oxide introduced into the solution or that they retraced the practice of reusing materials to produce completely different printing techniques. In general, four main groups were extracted, in this way recreating the ‘artistic palette’ of the unconventional photography of the artist. The four groups were the following: (1) Cr, Fe, K, potassium dichromate, and gum arabic bands characterized the dichromate salts; (2) Ag, Ba, Sr, Mn, Fe, S, Ba, gelatin, and albumen characterized the silver halide emulsions on the baryta layer; (3) the carbon prints were benchmarked by K, Cr, dichromate salts, and pigmented gelatin; and (4) the heterogeneous class of bromoil prints was characterized by Ba, Fe, Cr, Ca, K, Ag, Si, dichromate salts, and iron-based pigments. Some exceptions were found, such as the baryta layer being divided into gum bichromate groups or the use of albumen in silver particles suspended in gelatin, to underline the unconventional photography at the end of the 10th century. Full article

Drilling through shale formations can be expensive and time-consuming due to the instability of the wellbore. Further, there is a need to develop inhibitors that are environmentally friendly. Our study discovered a cost-effective solution to this problem using Gum Arabic (ArG). We evaluated the inhibition potential of an ArG clay swelling inhibitor and fluid loss controller in water-based mud (WBM) by conducting a linear swelling test, capillary suction timer test, and zeta potential, fluid loss, and rheology tests. Our results displayed a significant reduction in linear swelling of bentonite clay (Na-Ben) by up to 36.1% at a concentration of 1.0 wt. % ArG. The capillary suction timer (CST) showed that capillary suction time also increased with the increase in the concentration of ArG, which indicates the fluid-loss-controlling potential of ArG. Adding ArG to the drilling mud prominently decreased fluid loss by up to 50%. Further, ArG reduced the shear stresses of the base mud, showing its inhibition and friction-reducing effect. These findings suggest that ArG is a strong candidate for an alternate green swelling inhibitor and fluid loss controller in WBM. Introducing this new green additive could significantly reduce non-productive time and costs associated with wellbore instability while drilling. Further, a dynamic linear swelling model, based on machine learning (ML), was created to forecast the linear swelling capacity of clay samples treated with ArG. The ML model proposed demonstrates exceptional accuracy (R² score = 0.998 on testing) in predicting the swelling properties of ArG in drilling mud. Full article