Search Results (3,481)

Gyrinops vidalii (Thymelaeaceae), a critically endangered agarwood-producing species native to Thailand and Laos and remains phytochemically unexplored. In this study, the chemical constituents and biological activities of the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction of methanol extract of G. vidalii leaves were investigated. Phytochemical analysis led the isolation of mangiferin (1), iriflophenone 3-C-β-D-glucoside (2), aquilarinenside E (3), iriflophenone 2-O-α-L-rhamnoside (4), 5,7,4′-trimethoxyflavone (5), blumenol A (6), loliolide (7), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid methyl ester (8), and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (9). Compound 1 exhibited potent DPPH radical scavenging activity with an SC₅₀ value of 19.35 μM), whereas iriflophenone (3a), obtained by acid hydrolysis of 3, and 5 showed promising α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values 100.06 and 174.57 μM, respectively. Molecular docking demonstrated favorable binding of both compounds within the α-glucosidase active site through hydrogen bonding, aromatic, and hydrophobic interactions, with binding energies of −7.4 and −8.0 kcal/mol, respectively. Predicted ADMET properties further supported the drug-like potential of both compounds, indicating favorable aqueous solubility, high intestinal absorption, and no predicted hepatotoxicity, while differences were observed in their predicted blood–brain barrier permeability. This study represents the first phytochemical investigation of G. vidalii, provides scientific support for its traditional use, and expands the chemotaxonomic knowledge of the closely related genera Gyrinops and Aquilaria. Full article

This study evaluated the effect of chickpea and rice incorporation to replace corn in extruded snacks on protein digestibility, mineral bioaccessibility, and estimated glycemic index (eGI) using a standardized in vitro digestion model (INFOGEST 2.0). Four formulations were analyzed: a control (100% corn, CF) and chickpea-enriched snacks (F30, F60, and the commercial flavored F60 formulation, CCP). Chickpea replacement increased protein, dietary fiber, and mineral contents while reducing total starch. Protein digestibility remained high across all samples (89.5–96.6%), although slightly lower in chickpea/rice-enriched formulations. However, these formulations provided a higher amount of digestible protein because of their increased protein content. Mineral bioaccessibility varied depending on the element, but chickpea and rice incorporation generally enhanced mineral concentrations in the fraction potentially available for absorption despite the presence of phytic acid and insoluble dietary fiber. Starch hydrolysis was rapid during the early stages of digestion, leading to high estimated glycemic index (eGI) values in all samples. Nevertheless, chickpea/rice-enriched formulations exhibited lower eGI values compared to the corn control, likely due to reduced starch content and matrix effects. Overall, chickpea and rice replacement improved the nutritional profile of extruded snacks by enhancing protein quality and mineral availability, despite its impact on glycemic response being limited, highlighting opportunities for further product optimization. Full article

The increasing demand for sustainable protein sources has stimulated interest in edible insects such as the Mexican grasshopper (Sphenarium purpurascens). This study evaluated grasshopper flour as a substrate for producing protein hydrolysates by ultrasound-assisted enzymatic hydrolysis (US + EH). The flour was characterized for its proximate composition, soluble protein content, fatty acid profile, and antioxidant capacity. A $3^{3-1}$ fractional factorial design was used to evaluate the effects of enzyme-specific processing conditions, enzyme-to-substrate ratio, and ultrasound treatment time on the degree of hydrolysis (DH) and antioxidant responses. Additional validation experiments enabled the selection of two representative hydrolysates for further characterization. TA, obtained under Alcalase-specific processing conditions, exhibited the highest DH (54.88 ± 1.72%) and ORAC activity (366.24 ± 23.55 µmol TE/g dry basis), whereas TB, obtained under bromelain-specific processing conditions, showed the highest ABTS activity (26.48 ± 1.10 µmol TE/g dry basis). Both hydrolysates exhibited higher soluble protein contents than defatted grasshopper flour and distinct amino acid, molecular weight, and structural profiles. Overall, US + EH effectively modified the compositional, molecular, antioxidant, and structural characteristics of S. purpurascens protein hydrolysates, supporting their potential as protein ingredients for future food applications. Full article

This study investigates the influence of Lewis acids on a novel stratified (Co²⁺,Pd²⁺)₂SiO₄-Pd⁰ olivine catalyst for the Heck–Mizoroki coupling of iodobenzene and methyl acrylate. Comprehensive characterization (ICP-OES, Raman, P-XRD, XPS) confirms the successful synthesis of a material with surface-incorporated Pd²⁺ and bulk Pd⁰ nanoparticles within a Co₂SiO₄ matrix. The promoter-free system with triethylamine base achieved the highest initial rate of 3.92 × 10⁻⁷ mol.s⁻¹ with an average rate of 1.18 × 10⁻⁷ mol.s⁻¹, despite a 30 min induction period. However, ZnCl₂, the weakest acid, showed the most substrate activation and lowered the induction period to 10 min, while AlCl₃ also reduced the induction period to 20 min. FeCl₃ showed the poorest performance, attributed to redox-mediated site poisoning rather than hydrolysis. Selectivity over the catalyst was maintained at >99 mol% towards methyl cinnamate irrespective of the Lewis acid or base used. However, recycling of the catalyst led to a gradual decrease in selectivity toward methyl cinnamate from >99 mol% to ~94.6 mol% over three cycles, while conversion remained consistently high at >99 mol% across all cycles, indicating that the catalyst’s primary activity was largely preserved despite surface evolution toward side-product formation. Lewis acids were found to function primarily as surface modifiers and/or productive substrate activators, with stronger Lewis acids also targeting the olivine framework, as seen from the preferential leaching of Co relative to Pd. Full article

Phytate is a strong chelator of macro- and microminerals in the gastrointestinal tract. Under an environment in which phytate is rapidly hydrolyzed, the digestion and absorption of Ca, P, Zn and other cations from raw materials can be increased. This study investigated the performance, mineral excretion and bone mineralization of broilers fed diets formulated to optimize phytate hydrolysis and supplemented with Zn in the form of a Zn amino acid complex (Zn-AA) or as Zn sulfate (Zn-S). A total of 5040 day-old Ross 308 straight-run broiler chicks were allocated to 84 pens in a complete randomized block design, with 7 treatments and 12 replicates per treatment. Treatments 1 and 2 followed the breed recommendations (RECs) for Ca and P inclusion according to a three-phase feeding program and were supplemented with 90 ppm Zn as Zn-S, with (treatment 1) or without phytase (treatment 2), where treatment 1 is representative of a typical commercial-type diet. The remaining five treatments followed the University of Maryland (UMD) REC for Ca and P inclusion in a five-phase feeding program. The UMD diets were supplemented with either 90 ppm Zn-S (treatment 3) or graded levels of Zn-AA at 20, 40, 60, and 80 ppm (treatments 4–7). Phytase (2000 FTU/kg) was added to all diets except treatment 2. Data were analyzed in JMP 16.0 using one-way ANOVA regression analysis for Zn-AA treatments and Rao–Scott chi-square analysis for categorical data. Broilers fed 80 ppm Zn-AA resulted in heavier (p < 0.05) bodyweight (BW) on d 10, 16, 24, 30, and 37 when compared to all birds fed Zn-S at 90 ppm. On d 10, broilers fed 80 ppm Zn-AA had a higher (p < 0.05) tibia ash and tibia Zn content compared to those fed 90 ppm Zn-S (285.34 vs. 258.53 mg/tibia; and 12.00 vs. 10.62 mg Zn). Breast yield was also higher when comparing 80 ppm Zn-AA and 90 ppm Zn-S using the UMD REC (30.12 vs. 29.32%). Furthermore, broilers fed 40 ppm and above of organic Zn had less severe back scratches at term. It was therefore concluded that supplementation of Zn-AA following the UMD Ca and P REC resulted in increased growth performance and promoted higher breast yield of broilers whilst improving welfare. Full article

The transition toward sustainable biorefinery processes requires efficient strategies for lignocellulosic biomass deconstruction and valorization. In this study, an integrated enzymatic system combining fungal holocellulases and laccases with a bacterial galactolipase was developed and evaluated. The consortium, composed of Trametes hirsuta GMA-01, Mycothermus thermophilus CBS 619.91, and Burkholderia lata BL02, was produced using agro-industrial substrates and applied to the hydrolysis of different lignocellulosic biomasses. The incorporation of galactolipase activity enhanced the saccharification yields for leaf-derived substrates, reaching up to 292.0 mg/g for spinach leaves and 236.0 mg/g for corn straw, compared to fungal systems alone. This effect is associated with the selective hydrolysis of membrane-associated galactolipids, improving substrate accessibility to holocellulolytic enzymes. Proteomic analysis confirmed the partial identification of the BL02 enzyme as an ester hydrolase, while structural modeling based on homologous Burkholderia lipases provided preliminary insights into features that may be compatible with the accommodation of bulky polar substrates. In addition, the enzyme catalyzed the synthesis of sugar fatty acid esters with conversion yields above 50% for glucose and xylose in binary solvent systems. These findings support the role of galactolipases as accessory enzymes and highlight their potential application in integrated and sustainable biorefinery processes. Full article

Glaucoma is an ocular disease caused by the improper management of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). IOP-lowering via topical administration is the first choice to prevent further progression. However, patients may forget to administer their medication, compromising IOP control. To address this problem, a prolonged active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) release system is proposed. A new prodrug (latanoprost acid–brimonidine conjugate, LBJ) was designed and expected to achieve potential long-lasting release of APIs. LBJ was synthesized by two methods. First, Steglich esterification without protecting the hydroxyl group led to a yield of 34.24%. However, the integral ratio between LPA and BM obtained from NMR was 1.25:1, indicating a potential side product resulting from further coupling through the unprotected hydroxyl group in LBJ. As an alternative route, Steglich esterification with a protecting agent, tert-butyldimethylchlorosilane (TBDMSCl), resulted in a yield of 39.35%, and the integral ratio between LPA and BM obtained from NMR was 1:1. The hydrolysis time of LBJ was investigated and compared with that of latanoprost (LP). In the presence of esterase (0.4 U/mL), the hydrolysis times of LP and LBJ were 4 h and 28 days, respectively. The prolonged hydrolysis time results in sustained APIs release, which is beneficial for the development of a sustained drug release system. Full article

The increasing demand for sustainable bioplastics is constrained by the high production costs associated with refined carbon sources, highlighting the need for low-cost, renewable feedstocks. This study evaluated the potential of spent coffee grounds (SCG), an abundant and sustainable feedstock for generating polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) using Cupriavidus necator. First, SCG was subjected to solvent extraction to remove coffee oil, followed by extraction of phenolic compounds, and the remaining biomass was referred to as SCGO. The originality of this work lies in the systematic comparison of acid, alkaline, and peracetic acid pretreatments and their subsequent evaluation for microbial PHA production. SCGO was subjected to various chemical pretreatments, including acid (H₂SO₄), alkaline (NaOH), and peracetic acid (PAA) pretreatment. The effects of the different pretreatments on SCGO delignification, hydrolysis yield, and enzymatic saccharification to release monomeric sugars were evaluated. Among the tested methods, alkaline pretreatment provided the highest delignification efficiency, enzymatic saccharification, and fermentable sugar recovery, resulting in superior bacterial growth and PHA production. Under optimized conditions, the alkaline-pretreated SCGO hydrolysate supplemented with corn steep liquor produced a maximum biomass concentration of 6.5 ± 0.26 g/L, 60.0 ± 1.45% PHA accumulation, and a PHA titer of 3.89 ± 0.14 g/L. Structural and thermal characterization confirmed that the produced polymer possessed properties comparable to those of conventional poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB). Overall, this study demonstrates that integrated valorization of spent coffee grounds can effectively generate fermentable substrates for microbial PHA production, providing a sustainable approach for converting agro-industrial residues into high-value bioplastics while supporting circular bioeconomy strategies. Full article

AgaDcat is a promising β-agarase for the production of functional neoagarooligosaccharides (NAOSs), but its limited thermal stability and poor reusability as a free enzyme increase enzyme consumption and production cost during repeated agarose hydrolysis. In this study, β-agarase AgaDcat was immobilized on nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid magnetic nanoparticles (Ni-NTA-MNPs) through His-tag/Ni-NTA affinity interactions. The successful preparation of Ni-NTA-MNPs and the immobilization of AgaDcat were verified by SEM, EDS, VSM, FT-IR, XRD, and TGA. Following optimization, the immobilized enzyme exhibited an activity retention of 80.47%. Thermal stability assays showed that the immobilized enzyme was more thermostable than the free enzyme. After incubation at 50 °C for 60 min, the immobilized enzyme retained 59.4% of its initial activity, whereas the free enzyme retained only 29.1%. Moreover, the immobilized enzyme displayed good reusability, retaining 90.59% and 58.71% of its activity after 3 and 7 cycles, respectively. HPAEC-PAD analysis showed that the immobilized enzyme reached reaction equilibrium within 4–8 h, with neoagarotetraose (NA4) and neoagarohexaose (NA6) identified as the major degradation products, whereas the free enzyme required 20 h, indicating significantly improved catalytic efficiency. These results indicate that IMAC-based immobilization improves the stability, reusability, and catalytic efficiency of β-agarase, providing a promising reusable biocatalytic strategy for the efficient production of functional neoagarooligosaccharides. Full article

Protein utilization efficiency is a key determinant of metabolic health, body composition, and muscle function, particularly under high-protein dietary conditions and when using plant-based protein sources with lower digestibility. However, the extent to which enhancing early gastric proteolysis translates into improved whole-body protein utilization remains unclear. The present in vivo study investigated whether supplementation with an actinidin-enriched kiwifruit concentrate (Kwd+^®) modulates protein utilization efficiency and physiological outcomes under normoproteic and hyperproteic dietary conditions using casein or pea protein as dietary sources. Rats were fed normoproteic casein (NP), high-protein casein (CHP), or high-protein pea (PHP) diets with or without Kwd+^® supplementation for 8 weeks. Gastric protein hydrolysis patterns were evaluated by SDS–PAGE, while metabolic outcomes were assessed through body composition, plasma amino acid profiling, skeletal muscle morphology, and contractile function. Kwd+^® supplementation enhanced gastric proteolysis in a protein source-dependent manner. Despite the absence of significant changes in circulating amino acid concentrations after multiple comparison correction, Kwd+^® improved markers of protein utilization efficiency depending on dietary protein source. In animals fed a high-protein pea diet, supplementation significantly reduced fat mass relative to accumulated protein intake, indicating improved nutrient partitioning. In contrast, in animals fed a high-protein casein diet, Kwd+^® increased muscle mass relative to protein intake, suggesting enhanced anabolic efficiency. Under normoproteic conditions, Kwd+^® supplementation was associated with an increased muscle fiber cross-sectional area and improved fatigue resistance without alterations in fiber type composition or contractile protein abundance. These findings demonstrate that modulation of early gastric proteolysis through actinidin produces protein source-dependent effects on protein utilization efficiency, nutrient partitioning, and muscle function. This work highlights a novel nutritional strategy to improve metabolic outcomes and muscle performance, particularly in the context of high-protein and plant-based diets. Full article

Background: Soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis), traditionally used for both medicinal and culinary purposes, is rich in high-quality protein and amino acids, making it an excellent raw material for the preparation of bioactive peptides. In recent years, soft-shelled turtle peptides have gradually become a research focus due to their significant physiological functions, including antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-fatigue activities. Methods: This review systematically sorts out and analyzes 76 relevant research papers published from 2002 to 2026 and comprehensively elaborates on the current state of soft-shelled turtle peptide research, encompassing sources, preparation, and purification strategies, while placing special emphasis on the diverse functional activities and the molecular mechanisms underlying the observed bioactivities. Results: For preparation, enzymatic hydrolysis has become the mainstream method due to its high efficiency and mild conditions; fermentation offers the advantages of low cost and the ability to simultaneously remove odours and enhance flavour, demonstrating good application potential. This review summarizes five key bioactivities, including antioxidant, anti-fatigue, antihypertensive, antitumor, and immunomodulatory effects, and specifically focusing on the current evidence from in vitro and animal studies. Antioxidant and antihypertensive activities have been validated in vivo, whereas the rest remain only tested in vitro, highlighting the need for deeper mechanistic investigation. Conclusions: The review provides an in-depth analysis of the molecular mechanisms through which soft-shelled turtle peptides exert their physiological activities, including free radical scavenging and the regulation of signaling pathways. This review highlights the potential of soft-shelled turtles as a sustainable source of bioactive peptides and offers strategic recommendations for future research. Full article

Although some lactic acid bacteria species harbor genes encoding α-glucanotransferases (4,6-α-GTase and 4,3-α-GTase), the technological and functional implications of these enzymes within sourdough ecosystems remain poorly understood. This study investigated the effects associated with α-GTase-positive and α-GTase-negative strains of Limosilactobacillus reuteri and L. fermentum on sourdough microbiota, bread quality, and starch digestibility. Starter culture inoculation steered the assembly of the sourdough microbiota, resulting in stable acidification and altered microbial community structures. High-throughput sequencing analysis showed that starter culture addition generally increased taxonomic richness, while Shannon and Simpson diversity indices varied according to strain genotype and inoculation level. Sourdoughs fermented with α-GTase-positive strains exhibited higher viscosity while maintaining shear-thinning behavior, which was putatively linked to in situ enzymatic synthesis. Additionally, inoculation with these strains improved bread specific volume, suggesting a possible structural modification of the starch matrix or the overlapping effects of fermentation metabolites. During storage, the 4,3-α-GTase-positive L. fermentum PFC282 strain delayed the increase in bread hardness, reflecting a possible mitigation of amylopectin retrogradation and indicating a potential anti-staling effect. In addition, the 4,6-α-GTase-positive L. reuteri PFC338 strain produced breads with lower estimated glycemic index values, suggesting a lower susceptibility to enzymatic starch hydrolysis likely due to the hypothesized alterations in structural linkages. Overall, the findings highlight the potential of α-GTase-positive sourdough starter cultures to modulate the technological and nutritional properties of bread. Full article

Agricultural waste valorization offers a sustainable route for developing advanced materials for renewable energy applications. In this study, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were extracted from melon agricultural residues through hydrochloric, sulfuric, and phosphoric acid hydrolysis and incorporated into a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrix to fabricate proton exchange membranes for potential applications in glucose biofuel cells. The influence of CNC surface chemistry on membrane morphology, crystallinity, thermal stability, mechanical properties, proton conductivity, and glucose permeability was systematically investigated. CNC incorporation improved membrane compactness, crystallinity, and physicochemical stability compared with neat PVA. Among the developed membranes, PVA/CNC-S exhibited the best overall performance, showing the highest proton conductivity (1.032 × 10⁻² mS·cm⁻¹ at 50 °C) and the lowest glucose permeability (3.25 × 10⁻⁹$\pm 0.15$ cm²·s⁻¹). Furthermore, the composite membranes exhibited enhanced thermal and oxidative stability due to strong intermolecular interactions between PVA and functionalized CNCs. The results reveal that CNC surface chemistry plays a crucial role in regulating membrane transport properties and structural organization. In particular, sulfate-functionalized CNCs improved proton transport while minimizing glucose crossover. These findings highlight the potential of agricultural waste-derived PVA/CNC membranes as sustainable, low-cost, and efficient proton exchange membranes for potential applications in glucose biofuel cells and related bioelectrochemical energy systems. Full article

Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and other resin-bonded wood panels pose significant end-of-life management challenges due to the presence of urea–formaldehyde (UF) resins, which hinder material recovery and circular valorization. This study evaluates hydrolysis-based methods for removing UF resins from waste MDF, melamine-faced MDF, oriented strand board (OSB), and plywood generated in a technological industrial park in Montevideo, Uruguay. The evaluated hydrolysis treatments comprised acid, alkaline, and water hydrolysis at 80 °C under agitation, and steam-assisted hydrolysis in an autoclave. Treatment performance was evaluated using total Kjeldahl nitrogen analysis, elemental analysis, mass loss determination, and semi-quantitative formaldehyde measurements using Quantofix^® indicator strips. Among the evaluated treatments, solvent-assisted hydrolysis using 0.1 M oxalic acid achieved the highest resin removal efficiency, reaching nitrogen removal values of up to 95%, while steam-assisted hydrolysis achieved removals above 90% using only distilled water. Treatment efficiency was strongly influenced by the solid-to-liquid ratio (S/L ratio) and the processed mass, highlighting key operational variables for process optimization. Overall, the proposed hydrolysis routes constitute effective pretreatment strategies for producing wood fibers with substantially reduced urea–formaldehyde resin content, thereby supporting the circular valorization of resin-bonded wood waste. Full article

Acidogenic fermentation offers a promising approach to convert chicken manure into carbon-rich liquid products for various practical applications. However, the high nitrogen content in chicken manure hinders acidogenesis and limits product utilization due to ammonium accumulation. To address this, a 320-day fermentation experiment was conducted in a two-stage operation (Stage I: uncontrolled pH; Stage II: pH controlled at 5.0). pH adjustment was conducted by adding HCl. The continuously stirred tank fermentation reactor was operated at 37 °C and manually fed daily. Results showed that pH adjustment shifted the metabolic pathway from volatile fatty acid (VFA)-dominated production to lactic acid-enriched production: lactic acid increased from 12.6 to 35.7 g-COD/L, total VFAs decreased by 58%, while acetic acid remained at a relatively high level of chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 17.6 gCOD/L. Total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) decreased from 7.0 to 3.1 g/L, increasing the ratio of soluble COD (SCOD) to TAN from 19:1 to 38:1. The ammonium reduction was primarily due to selective inhibition of uric acid degradation under low pH, while protein hydrolysis remained largely unaffected. These findings demonstrate the potential of pH-regulated chicken manure fermentation liquor as a high-value product. Full article