Search Results (119)

This study employed high-pressure ultrasonic-microwave-assisted extraction (HP-UMAE) to extract gingerols from ginger. The extraction yield and total polyphenol content of the extracts were determined. Their antioxidant activity was assessed by DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays, and compared with extracts obtained by leaching extraction, reflux extraction, ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), and ultrasonic-microwave-assisted extraction (UMAE). The results demonstrated that HP-UMAE achieved the highest extraction yield and the strongest ABTS radical scavenging activity among the evaluated methods. Furthermore, HP-UMAE extracts exhibited the highest concentrations of key gingerol constituents: 6-gingerol (14.29 mg/L), 8-gingerol (0.38 mg/L), 10-gingerol (1.95 mg/L), and 6-shogaol (4.32 mg/L). This enhanced efficacy is attributed to the synergistic combination of ultrasonic cavitation and microwave-induced thermal effects under elevated pressure. This synergy creates conditions promoting cellular wall disruption, facilitating the release of intracellular components, while concurrently enhancing solvent penetration and gingerol solubility. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis confirmed the significant structural damage inflicted on ginger cell walls following HP-UMAE treatment. The process parameters for HP-UMAE were optimized using single-factor experiments. The optimal extraction conditions were determined as follows: microwave power 800 W, ultrasonic power 1000 W, liquid-to-solid ratio 55:1, and temperature 100 °C (corresponding pressure 2 MPa). Under these optimized parameters, the extraction yield and ABTS radical scavenging rate reached their peak performance, yielding values of 4.52% and 43.23%, respectively. Full article

Salicornia species are halophytic plants that thrive in environments with moderate to high salinity. Owing to its high nutritional value and diverse bioactive constituents, Salicornia holds promise for applications in the food, feed, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and bioenergy sectors. Understanding its salt tolerance mechanisms is important for developing crops suited to saline soils and water. Recent studies have revealed that Salicornia adapts to salinity through diverse physiological, biochemical, and molecular strategies. Despite these advances, a comprehensive synthesis of existing knowledge remains absent, hindering its effective application in crop improvement. In this review, recent advances in the understanding of Salicornia’s salinity tolerance are synthesized, with emphasis placed on key mechanisms: cell wall nano-mechanics, ion regulation and compartmentation, antioxidant defense, osmotic balance, phytohormonal control, signal transduction, transcriptional regulation, and the expression of salt-responsive proteins. The interactions among these mechanisms are also examined, along with their roles in conferring tolerance to additional abiotic stresses such as drought, submergence, and extreme temperatures. Finally, the potential applications of these findings in genetic engineering for improving salt tolerance in crops are discussed, along with proposed directions for future research to promote the use of halophytes in sustainable agriculture. Full article

Guayule (Parthenium argentatum A. Gray) is a valuable domestic source for rubber and resin. At its center of origin in the Northern Mexico and Southern Texas deserts, guayule, a perennial shrub, is hybridized with its relative species mariola (Parthenium incanum Kunth). As rubber and resin are the main products derived from guayule, there is interest in using guayule bagasse as a bioenergy feedstock to meet the growing bioenergy and biofuel demands. This study aimed to explore and characterize phenotypic diversity in cell wall constituents (lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose) and their yields among 51 guayule and mariola genotypes under two irrigation regimes (well-watered and water-stressed). Significant genotypic and environmental effects were observed for lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose concentrations, and yields, indicating the wide genetic variability of the collection for bioenergy-related traits. Moderate to high entry-mean heritability values for lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose suggest that selection is feasible to enhance genetic gain. Significant positive correlations were found among cellulose and hemicellulose concentrations and yields, indicating the possibility to select multiple traits together during breeding cycles. High positive correlations between rubber and resin and lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose yields highlight the opportunity to develop guayule germplasm with enhanced multi-use traits for industrial applications. Wide variations in drought stress indices (stress tolerance index, yield index, and yield stability index) underscore the environmental impact on the lignocellulosic traits. Several genotypes were identified with high stress index scores and could be parental candidates for improving guayule for arid and semi-arid sustainable agricultural systems. The current study is the first to characterize the phenotypic diversities in guayule and mariola for lignocellulosic components and yield, providing the foundation for future breeding efforts aimed at enhancing guayule’s value for diverse production goals and environmental conditions. Full article

Preventing fouling is crucial for maintaining ship performance, as it reduces speed, increases fuel consumption, raises greenhouse gas emissions, and spreads invasive species. Irgarol 1051, an antifouling agent (2, methythiol-4, tert-butylamino, 6-cyclopropylamino, s-triazine), is a toxic compound that impacts various marine species. It inhibits algal growth and disrupts key metabolites, posing a threat to the marine ecosystem. This study aimed to assess the toxic effects of Irgarol 1051 on Chlorella salina and Dunaliella bardawil, two nutrient-rich marine algae commonly used in fish feed. In addition, the suitability of the Mediterranean Sea coast for algal proliferation was assessed using geospatial techniques. The data were statistically examined using a two-way ANOVA test. Lethal and sublethal effects of Irgarol 1051 were measured in the laboratory to identify the consequences of this biocide on certain metabolite compositions. EC50 for C. salina and D. bardawil was estimated to be 0.50 µg·L⁻¹ and 0.025 µg·L⁻¹ respectively. IR spectroscopy of total cell constituents, protein profile, and the damaging effects of antioxidants have been evaluated for the two algal species. The findings of this study revealed that Irgarol 1051 negatively affected all the examined metabolites in both algal species, with more pronounced impacts on the wall-less alga Dunaliella bardawil compared to the walled alga Chlorella salina. A notable increase in total antioxidants was observed in both algae as the Irgarol concentration increased. The study reveals high algal growth areas near the Nile Delta along the Egyptian coast, potentially vulnerable to the effects of Irgarol 1051 due to nutrient runoff and eutrophication. The spatial analyses showed that the growth of C. saline and D. bardawil in Egyptian seawater is high in front of the Nile delta governorates: Port Said, Damietta, and Dakhalia shores reporting 6, 4.5, and 4 mg·m⁻³, respectively. The level of mass chlorophyll “a” in front of the Egyptian northern governorates can be ordered as follows: Port Said > Damietta > Dakahlia > North Sinia > Kafr El-Sheikh > Alexandria > Matrouh. This study highlights the use of spatial analyses to assess algal distribution, pollution impact, and ecosystem vulnerability along the Egyptian Mediterranean coast for effective environmental management. Full article

Ethambutol (EMB) is a first-line anti-tuberculosis drug that is also considered in treatment regimens for infections caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). EMB targets the arabinosyl transferases EmbCAB, which are important for the synthesis of cell wall constituents. To further explore and narrow down the structural variability of EMB, we synthesized three series of new EMB analogs. We tested their activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Mycobacterium abscessus and Mycobacterium intracellulare. Only analogs that very closely resembled EMB showed comparable antimycobacterial activity. Full article

Osmotic stress impacts the cell wall properties in plants. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms involved in cell wall remodeling in etiolated (dark-grown) rice (Oryza sativa L.) shoots grown under polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced osmotic stress conditions. Shoot growth was inhibited by 70% by the treatment with 60 mM PEG for 2 days. However, when the stressed seedlings were transferred to a solution without PEG, their shoot growth rate increased significantly. A measurement of the cell wall mechanical properties revealed that the cell walls of the stressed shoots became looser and more extensible than those of unstressed shoots. Among the cell wall constituents, the amounts of cell wall-bound phenolic acids, such as ferulic acid (FA), p-coumaric acid (p-CA), and diferulic acid (DFA), per shoot and per unit of matrix polysaccharide content were significantly reduced in the stressed shoots compared to those in the unstressed shoots. Concerning the formation of cell wall-bound phenolic acids, the activity of cell wall-bound peroxidase (CW-PRX) per unit of cell wall content, which is responsible for the coupling reaction of FA to produce DFA, was 3.5 times higher in stressed shoots than in unstressed shoots, while the activity was reduced by 20% on a shoot basis in stressed shoots compared to that in unstressed shoots. The expression levels of the major class III peroxidase genes in stressed shoots were either comparable to or slightly lower than those in unstressed shoots. Conversely, the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity, which contributes to the biosynthesis of FA and p-CA, was reduced by 55% and 30% on a shoot and unit-of-protein-content basis, respectively, in stressed shoots compared to that in unstressed shoots. The expression levels of abundantly expressed PAL genes decreased by 14–46% under osmotic stress. Moreover, the gene expression levels of specific BAHD acyltransferases, which are responsible for the addition of FA and p-CA to form ester-linked moieties on cell wall constituents, decreased by 15–33% under osmotic stress. These results suggest that the downregulation of the expression of specific PAL and BAHD acyltransferase genes in osmotically stressed rice shoots is responsible for a reduction in the formation of cell wall-bound phenolic acid monomers. This, in turn, may result in a decrease in the levels of DFAs. The reduction in the formation of DFA-mediated cross-linking structures within the cell wall may contribute to an increase in the mechanical extensibility of the cell wall. The remodeling of cell walls in an extensible and loosened state could assist in maintaining the growth capacity of etiolated rice shoots grown under osmotic stress and contribute to rapid growth recovery following the alleviation of osmotic stress. Full article

Cell wall extensibility is a key biophysical characteristic that defines the rate of plant cell growth. It depends on the wall structure and is controlled by numerous proteins that cut and/or (re)form links between the wall constituents. Cell wall extensibility is currently estimated by different in vitro biomechanical tests. We used the creep method, in which isolated cell walls are extended under a constant load and their time-dependent deformation (creep) is recorded to reveal the biophysical basis of growth inhibition of Arabidopsis thaliana hypocotyls in the presence of 24-epibrassinolide (EBL), one of the most active natural brassinosteroids. We found that EBL rendered the walls of hypocotyl cells softer, i.e., more deformable under mechanical force, which was revealed using heat-inactivated cell walls to eliminate endogenous activities of cell-wall-loosening/tightening proteins. This effect was caused by the altered arrangement of cellulose microfibrils. At the same time, EBL made the walls less extensible, which was detected with native walls under conditions optimized for activities of endogenous cell-wall-loosening proteins. These apparently conflicting changes in the wall mechanics can be an adaptation by which EBL enables plant cells to grow under stress conditions. Full article

Lignin is one of the three major components of the cell wall of lignocellulosic biomaterials. It is the second-most abundant polymer in nature. It is a complex and heterogeneous polymer found in the cell walls of lignocellulosic biomass. Lignin’s predominant composition, which is rich in carbon and aromatic structures, enhances its value by enabling the development of high-value chemicals and bio-based materials. As one of the most affluent natural renewable sources of aromatic structures and the world’s second-largest renewable source of carbon, lignin possesses a thermal value comparable to that of carbon. Its aromatic constituents exhibit unique chemical properties and significant bioactive effects, making lignin a crucial material in various advanced applications. Different chemical fractionation methods have been designed to overcome the obstacles to extracting the lignin biopolymer from lignocellulosic biomass. Lignin fractionation is a process that involves separating lignin from other components of biomass feedstock, such as cellulose and hemicellulose. This process is commonly used in the paper and pulp industry to obtain valuable lignin derivatives that can be used in various applications, including, among others, biofuels, chemicals, and biomaterials. In the brief overview described in this proceedings paper, we provide a comprehensive chemical overview of the current processes for extracting technical lignin from wood and lignocellulosic biomass, critically evaluating the advantages and limitations of each method. Full article

Background: Infectious diseases caused by bacteria are life-threating and are among the major causes of death in the world. Antibiotics have offered humans a new approach to infection control. Antibiotics are reckoned as the “magic bullets” for the fight against bacterial infections, therefore increasing life expectancy and decreasing mortality and morbidity. However, the overuse of antibiotics has resulted in the persistent growth of resistant bacterial pathogens. New antimicrobial approaches against resistant pathogens are being examined. Mushrooms seem to be a promising, and possibly more efficient, alternative method to that of conventional antimicrobials. This work aimed to investigate the phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial potential of ethanolic, aqueous, and dual solvent extracts of mushroom Ganoderma lucidum. Methods: The antimicrobial studies were carried out by broth dilution against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli. The present research work was also carried out to examine genomic changes associated with ethanolic, aqueous, and dual solvent extracts of G. lucidum in S. aureus and E. coli. Results: Our data quantitatively showed that all the extracts of G. lucidum were found to exhibit various degrees of antimicrobial effects against S. aureus and E. coli where the ethanolic extract exhibited the most potent antimicrobial activity. SEM images showed untreated cells with normal cell characteristics while, after treatment with extracts of G. lucidum, cells appeared damaged with irregular cell surfaces and cell wall defacement. The results of HPLC analysis showed that ethanolic and aqueous extract of G. lucidum consisted of beta[1-3] glucans, ganoderic acid, and triterpenoids. Genomic analysis identified selective sweeps in several genes associated with growth, biosynthesis transport, and stress. Conclusions: This study concludes that the extracts of three solvents of G. lucidum have antimicrobial activity against infectious bacteria causing morphological changes and the acquisition of mutations in genes. Therefore, the extracts of G. lucidum may be candidates for preventing infectious diseases in the future. Ganoderma lucidum mushroom is therefore a reliable source of antimicrobial agent that can be used against infectious diseases. Full article

This paper presents the novel development of a shape memory polymer foam based on polymer–polymer nanocomposites. Herein, polylactide (PLA)/biosourced polyamide (PA) foams are fabricated by in situ fibrillation of polymer blends and a subsequent supercritical CO₂ foaming technique. In this system, PLA serves as a shape memory polymer to endow this foam with a shape memory effect (SME), and in situ generated PA nanofibers are employed to reinforce the PLA cell walls and provide an additional permanent phase. A concentration of PA, 5 wt.%, was chosen to form an entangled nanofibrillar network. Foams of PLA/PA nanoblends with the same content of constituents were fabricated to reveal the effect of minor phase morphology on the cell structure and shape memory behavior of polymer foams. Profiting from the reinforcing effect of PA nanofibers, the PLA/PA nanocomposite foam exhibits smaller foam cells, a narrower cell size distribution and a comparable cell concentration than the PLA/PA nanoblend foam. In addition, PA nanofibers, unlike PA nanodroplets, favor the shape fixation ratio and recovery ratio and shorten the shape recovery time. Full article

Excessive alcohol consumption has led to the prevalence of gastrointestinal ailments. Alleviating gastric disorders attributed to alcohol-induced thinning of the mucus layer has centered on enhancing mucin secretion as a pivotal approach. In this study, foxtail millet bran polyphenol BPIS was divided into two components with MW < 200 D and MW > 200 D by molecular interception technology. Combined with MTT, cell morphology observation, and trypan blue staining, isoferulic acid (IFA) within the MW < 200 D fraction was determined as the effective constituent to mitigate ethanol-induced damage of gastric epithelial cells. Furthermore, a Wistar rat model with similar clinical features to alcohol-induced gastric mucosal injury was established. Then, gastric morphological observation, H&E staining, and assessments of changes in gastric hexosamine content and gastric wall binding mucus levels were carried out, and the results revealed that IFA (10 mg/Kg) significantly ameliorated alcohol-induced gastric mucosal damage. Finally, we applied techniques including Co-IP, molecular docking, and fluorescence spectroscopy and found that IFA inhibited the alcohol-induced downregulation of N-acetylgalactosamintransferase 2 (GALNT2) activity related to mucus synthesis through direct interaction with GALNT2 in gastric epithelial cells, thus promoting mucin synthesis. Our study lays a foundation for whole grain dietary intervention tailored to individuals suffering from alcoholic gastric mucosal injury. Full article

Planctomycetes of the genus Singulisphaera are common inhabitants of soils and peatlands. Although described members of this genus are characterized as possessing hydrolytic capabilities, the ability to degrade chitin has not yet been reported for these bacteria. In this study, a novel Singulisphaera representative, strain Ch08, was isolated from a chitinolytic enrichment culture obtained from a boreal fen in Northern European Russia. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of this isolate displayed 98.2% similarity to that of Singulisphaera acidiphila MOB10^T. Substrate utilization tests confirmed that strain Ch08 is capable of growth on amorphous chitin. The complete genome of strain Ch08 determined in this study was 10.85 Mb in size and encoded two predicted chitinases, which were only distantly related to each other and affiliated with the glycoside hydrolase family GH18. One of these chitinases had a close homologue in the genome of S. acidiphila MOB10^T. The experimental verification of S. acidiphila MOB10^T growth on amorphous chitin was also positive. Transcriptome analysis performed with glucose- and chitin-growth cells of strain Ch08 showed upregulation of the predicted chitinase shared by strain Ch08 and S. acidiphila MOB10^T. The gene encoding this protein was expressed in Escherichia coli, and the endochitinase activity of the recombinant enzyme was confirmed. The ability to utilize chitin, a major constituent of fungal cell walls and arthropod exoskeletons, appears to be one of the previously unrecognized ecological functions of Singulisphaera-like planctomycetes. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of supercritical CO₂ (SC-CO₂) extraction in enhancing the extraction rate, purity, and antioxidant activity of Indocalamus latifolius (Keng) McClure (Poaceae) leaf terpenoids (ILLTs). Crude extracts obtained from leaves were subjected to qualitative and quantitative analyses, revealing neophytadiene, phytol, β-sitosterol, β-amyrone, squalene, and friedelin as the primary terpenoid constituents, identified through gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Compared with steam distillation extraction (SD), simultaneous distillation extraction (SDE), ultra-high pressure-assisted n-hexane extraction (UHPE-Hex), ultra-high pressure-assisted ethanol extraction (UHPE-EtOH), ultrasound-assisted n-hexane extraction (UE-Hex), and ultrasound-assisted ethanol extraction (UE-EtOH), SC-CO₂ exhibited a superior ILLT extraction rate, purity, and antioxidant activity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations of the residues further revealed more severe damage to both the residues and their cell walls after SC-CO₂ extraction. Under optimal parameters (4.5 h, 26 MPa, 39 °C, and 20% ethyl alcohol), the ILLT extraction rate with SC-CO₂ reached 1.44 ± 0.12 mg/g, which was significantly higher than the rates obtained by the other six methods. The subsequent separation and purification using WelFlash C18-l, BUCHI-C18, and Sephadex LH-20 led to an increase in the purity of the six terpenoid components from 12.91% to 93.34%. Furthermore, the ILLTs demonstrated cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells with an IC₅₀ value of 148.93 ± 9.93 μg/mL. Additionally, with increasing concentrations, the ILLTs exhibited an enhanced cellular antioxidant status, as evidenced by reductions in both reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Full article

Higher plants produce secondary metabolites expressing antimicrobial effects as a defense mechanism against opportunistic microorganisms living in close proximity with the plant. Fermentation leads to bioconversion of plant substrates to these bioactive compounds and their subsequent release via breakdown of plant cell walls. Fermented feed products have recently started to become implemented in the pig industry to reduce overall disease pressure and have been found to reduce events such as post-weaning diarrhea. In this study, we investigate the antimicrobial potential of fermented soybean- and rapeseed-based pig feed supplements with and without added seaweed. The antimicrobial effect was tested in a plate well diffusion assay against a range of known human and livestock pathogenic bacteria. Further, we investigate the metabolite profiles based on liquid-chromatography mass-spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis of the fermented products in comparison to their unfermented constituents. We observed a pronounced release of potential antimicrobial secondary metabolites such as benzoic acids when the plant material was fermented, and a significantly increased antimicrobial effect compared to the unfermented controls against several pathogenic bacteria, especially Salmonella enterica Typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, Yersinia enterocolitica, and a strain of atopic dermatitis causing Staphylococcus aureus CC1. In conclusion, fermentation significantly enhances the antimicrobial properties of rapeseed, soybean, and seaweed, offering a promising alternative to zinc oxide for controlling pathogens in piglet feed. This effect is attributed to the release of bioactive metabolites effective against pig production-relevant bacteria. Full article

Lignin, a complex and abundant biopolymer, is a major constituent of plant cell walls. Due to its chemical and structural complexity, lignin degradation is a challenging task for both natural and engineered systems. Therefore, investigation of lignin degradation using so called “model compounds” has been the focus of many research efforts in recent years. This study addresses the utility of guaiacylglycerol-β-guaiacyl ether (Gβ2) as a model compound for evaluating the β-O-4 bond cleavage under diverse thermal and aqueous medium conditions. Experimental conditions included varied pH (3–10), microbial biodegradation, subcritical water environment (150–250 °C), and mild pyrolysis (150–250 °C). A high-performance liquid chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry was employed for accurate detection and quantification of both Gβ2 and its degradation/modification products in an aqueous environment. Pyrolysis experiments were performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis with a pyrolyzer. The results showed that Gβ2 remained stable under exposure to moderate pH and several bacterial strains, which were successfully used previously for biodegradation of other recalcitrant pollutants. We report, for the first time, differing Gβ2 breakdown pathways for subcritical water treatment vs. pyrolysis under an inert atmosphere. The scientific novelty lies in the presentation of differences in the degradation pathways of Gβ2 during subcritical water treatment compared to pyrolysis in an inert atmosphere, with water playing a key role. The observed differences are ascribed to the suppression of homolytic reactions by water as a solvent. Full article