Biocatalysis and agricultural biotechnology最新文献

In this study, we investigated the role of exogenous application of putrescine (Put) for alleviation of Al (III) stress responses in maize seedlings. In presence of Put, the growth and biomass improved substantially in Al (III) stressed seedlings as compared to Al (III) alone. The production of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and superoxide radical (O₂^•-) were significantly restrained in during Al (III) stress in Put supplemented seedlings. The malondialdehyde (MDA) production was significantly controlled during Al (III) stress by Put supplementation as compared to the seedlings under Al (III) stress alone. The histochemical analysis showed variation in staining intensities of diaminobenzidine (DAB) and nitoroblue tetrazolium (NBT) salt to detect the presence of H₂O₂ and O₂^•- respectively, reflected strong role of Put in regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. The staining of roots with Schiff's reagent and Evans blue dye to detect lipid peroxidation and loss of plasma membrane integrity showed that Put controls the lipid peroxidation and maintains the integrity of the plasma membrane during Al (III) stress. The proton (¹H) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis of methanolic extracts of root and shoot of maize seedlings under Al (III) stress in presence or absence of Put showed considerable disparity in terms of metabolic profiles, which include amino acids, sugars, carbohydrates, organic acids and several aliphatic and aromatic compounds. The present study exhibited the potential role of Put for mitigation of Al (III) stress by enhancing growth, regulating ROS production, reducing oxidative stress, improving antioxidant metabolism and maintaining the metabolic pool.

The fluctuation in yield, composition, antibacterial and antioxidant activity of the essential oil (EO) of rockrose (Cistus ladanifer L.) obtained from two locations in central Spain was analysed and compared over the course of one year. Fifteen kilograms of C. ladanifer, collected monthly or fortnightly from two sites with different plant age (7 and 12 years), underwent steam-distillation. GC (FID)-MS analyses were done to determine the volatile profile of EOs. Obtained EO yields varied significantly (P < 0.001) throughout the year, ranging between 0.03 and 0.19% w/d.w. (±0.05) with the highest yields (>0.1%) observed from September to February. The younger population exhibited higher EO yields that the older one. Both rockrose populations displayed a high content of α-pinene (40.4–62.0%); the other predominant constituents included allo-aromadendrene + trans-pinocarveol, limonene, bornyl acetate and viridiflorol. The higher EO yields coincided with a higher content of α-pinene and a lower content of the other components. Furthermore, EOs’ antibacterial potential was tested against Bacillus cereus. Only a weak antibacterial potency (512–1024 μg/mL) was revealed, with stronger potency in case of older rockrose population. In vitro antioxidant capacity, evaluated by ORAC method, showed similar results for both populations, with its stronger potential between February and May.

The rising global population has decreased available land, demanding food security. In reaction, sustainable sources like aquatic foods, or “blue foods,” derived from freshwater and marine ecosystems, arise from high-quality protein. Algae, a key blue food protein, is pivotal in meeting the food industry's needs. Algae are divided into two categories based on cellular structure: macroalgae, also known as seaweeds, which are large aquatic plants, and microalgae, which are tiny eukaryotic organisms. Both macro and microalgae are nutrient-dense, offering essential amino acids and bioactive compounds, making them a promising solution for the growing demand for sustainable protein sources. Algae proteins, with their remarkable functional properties such as solubility, emulsification, foaming, gelation, and coloring, can be produced sustainably without competing for agricultural land. Research has explored incorporating algae biomass into food products like cookies, bread, yogurt, snacks, and soups to boost protein content. This review delves into the origins, varieties, physical and techno-functional characteristics, and uses of macro and microalgae proteins in food, while also addressing the benefits and drawbacks of algae proteins.

The marine ecosystem provides resources for various food products and nutraceuticals with multiple benefits to human health. In this study, two underexploited seaweeds such as Sargassum polycystum (Sp) and Rosenvingea intricata (Ri) were used to investigate their biological potentials. The seaweeds underwent for washing and the washed water was examined to identify the bioactive compounds by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The fucoxanthin was extracted from both seaweeds using Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE) with 100% of absolute ethanol and acetone, which resulted in higher fucoxanthin from unwashed Ri (0.8 ± 0.12 mg/g) and unwashed Sp (0.59 ± 0.03 mg/g). Further, the remnant biomass of both washed and unwashed forms was used for the fucoidan extraction by employing UAE and Microwave-Assisted Extraction (MAE). Among these, the MAE process had yielded 1.86 folds higher fucoidan after fucoxanthin extraction from unwashed Sp compared to the washed. Finally, the relic seaweed residue of Sp underwent separate hydrolysis and batch fermentation (SHF) for the production of bioethanol, which was quantified by GC-MS. Thus, this study suggests that the entire biomass of seaweed would be a plausible feedstock for producing bioproducts.

The rise in chronic diseases due to changing diets and lifestyles has pushed scientists and industry professionals to innovate, develop, and promote functional foods enriched with novel ingredients to enhance individual health, prevent illnesses, and provide cures. Resistant Starch is a promising functional food ingredient offering physiological benefits and obliterating the cause and effects of chronic diseases. Resistant Starch, as part of a regular diet, improves glycemic and insulin response, reduces blood cholesterol and lipid levels, and improves gut health, hormonal balance, and fertility. Therefore, the substitution of ordinary starch with Resistant Starch in foods in substantial amounts, as part of the balanced diet, among other lifestyle changes, is very crucial for maintaining public health and reducing health care expenditure. This review focuses on the structural and functional properties and the physiological effects of resistant starch including its potential effects on gut microbiota, highlights the crucial role of resistant starch in maintaining and promoting individual health. It also explores the impact and mechanisms of resistant starch in preventing the development and progression of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, hyperlipidemia, colon cancer, and reproductive diseases.

Propolis has several uses in human health, including its role as a nutritious and beneficial dietary component, as well as a folk medicine. In this study, we aimed to explore the phytochemical and anticancer activity of propolis collected by honeybees in Assam, India. The chloroform fraction (CF) from the ethanol extract of propolis was screened for antioxidant activity and in vitro cytotoxicity. Finally, the chemical composition of CF was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. CF was found to contain 223.44 ± 5.16 mg/g gallic acid equivalents of total phenolic content and 114.43 ± 7.087 mg quercetin/g of flavonoids. The CF presented antioxidant activities against 2, 2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2, 2′-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt free radicals, with IC₅₀ values recorded as 68.54 ± 3.1% and 7.26 ± 0.55, respectively. The fractions exhibited growth inhibition in breast cancer cells. The cell migration capacity of both MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells was significantly decreased by CF. Additionally, the fraction was observed to arrest the cell cycle of MDA-MB-231 cells at the S phase and of MCF-7 cells at the G2/M phase. In MDA-MB-231 cells, CF enhanced p53 expression and downregulated CDK2, Cyclin A, Cdc25A, and Cyclin D1, expression whereas in MCF-7 cells, CF downregulated CDK1 and Cyclin B1 expression. Furthermore, confocal microscopy revealed a decrease in the expression of the Ki-67 protein in both MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells following treatment with CF. The propolis from north-east India exhibited antioxidant and anticancer properties in vitro, suggesting its therapeutic potential for breast cancer.

Lovastatin is a blood cholesterol reduction medicine and can be produced as a fungal secondary metabolite. Although the industrial production of lovastatin is generally achieved by Aspergillus terreus fungus in submerged culture, it was previously found that a membrane gradostat bioreactor (MGB) is more suitable than a stirred tank due to the absence of shear stress. However, a major challenge in these bioreactors is that oxygen penetration reduces as the biofilm thickness increases, which depreciates lovastatin production. To overcome this problem, two novel approaches are proposed for cultivating A. terreus in MGB. It was found that using monosodium glutamate (MSG) as a nitrogen source prevents biofilm growth and improves lovastatin production as a secondary metabolite. Therefore, implementing a two-stage feeding is proposed. In this strategy, the first four days were dedicated to biofilm growth to achieve a desirable biofilm thickness, and yeast extract was used as a nitrogen source. The next six days were dedicated to lovastatin production and the nitrogen source was changed to MSG to prevent biofilm growth and improve lovastatin production. Implementing this strategy, lovastatin production was approximately 6.5 times higher than the maximum lovastatin production using only yeast extract as the nitrogen source. Moreover, the effect of magnesium silicate (talc) microparticles was examined, and results showed an improvement in oxygen penetration to the inner layers of the biofilm. Thus, using talc in the inoculation stage is proposed. In this approach without changing the nitrogen source, lovastatin production increased by 48% Compared to the control run.

The synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) through green methods, particularly using plant extracts, has gained substantial attention due to its environmentally friendly and cost-effective nature. This review examines the recent advancements in the green synthesis of AuNPs, exploring the role of phytochemicals in reducing and capping, which facilitate nanoparticle formation. The review highlights key factors influencing the properties of AuNPs, such as extract concentration, pH, temperature, and reaction time, and their subsequent characterization using techniques like UV–visible spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, TEM, and SEM. The resulting nanoparticles, which vary in size and shape, demonstrate significant potential in biomedical applications, including imaging, diagnostics, drug delivery, cancer therapy, and antimicrobial activity, owing to their biocompatibility and low toxicity. This review emphasizes the need for further research to gain deeper mechanistic insights into phytochemical reduction processes, optimize synthesis parameters, and explore advanced surface functionalization strategies. These efforts will enhance the control over the physicochemical properties of AuNPs, broadening their applicability in diverse biomedical fields.

Broccoli is a well-known and high-value vegetable crop for its abundance of antioxidants and minerals. Despite its popularity, its production faces significant challenges from various abiotic stressors, particularly drought stress. Melatonin a multifunctional molecule within plants modulates environmental stresses including drought stress. Therefore, the current study aimed to evaluate the effect of melatonin application (0 and 100 μM) on broccoli under 100% field capacity (FC) (well-watered) and drought stress (50% field capacity). Foliar application of melatonin helped overcome drought-induced losses and enhanced plant height (23.72%), root length (43.47%), total chlorophyll contents (46%), carotenoids (60%) and yield (34.23%), glycine betaine (GB) (77.7%), whereas reducing the oxidative activities of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) (20%) and leaf water potential (LWP) (33.35%) in broccoli plants. Antioxidant activities, i.e., superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxide (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate (APX) were further enhanced under melatonin treatment with 28.53%, 26.10%, 35.26%, and 33.33% respectively. Melatonin application significantly increased gas exchange characteristics by increasing stomatal conductance. Pearson correlation matrix and biplot were developed for the determination of trait association and treatment performance. Exogenous melatonin application decreased the oxidative damage brought on by the drought and increased the yield of broccoli.

Coffee is one of the world’s most valuable, traded, and widely consumed beverages. As one of the processing steps of coffee, fermentation has gained the attention of researchers as it can be employed to improve coffee quality. The current review presents the latest knowledge regarding the application of fermentation in the coffee industry, including fermenting coffee beans to produce new materials and converting coffee by-products into value-added foods. Fermentation using various microorganisms has been employed to diversify the production of unique food materials from green coffee beans. These products are considered superior to unfermented coffee bean-derrived ones. On the other hand, by-products of coffee processing offer an opportunity to produce microbial metabolites with applications in food. Research indicates that fermentation of coffee by-products shows excellent potential for producing value-added beverages, enzymes, organic acids, and oligosaccharides. As a result, the fermentation process of coffee beans and by-products produces valuable food materials with improved health benefits.Examples of such foods include probiotic coffee, instant coffee with low toxicants, speciality coffee, and coffee wine. Consequently, fermentationhas not only improved the quality of coffee beans but has also offered a viable way to manage waste problems, aiming to create an eco-friendly environment.