Green Extraction of Forsythoside A, Phillyrin and Phillygenol from Forsythia suspensa Leaves Using a ß-Cyclodextrin-Assisted Method.

In this study, a green process of ß-cyclodextrin (ß-CD)-assisted extraction of active ingredients from Forsythia suspensa leaves was developed. Firstly, the optimal process of extraction was as follows: the ratio between Forsythia suspensa leaves and ß-CD was 3.61:5, the solid-liquid ratio was 1:36.3, the temperature was 75.25 °C and the pH was 3.94. The yields of forsythoside A, phillyrin and phillygenol were 11.80 ± 0.141%, 5.49 ± 0.078% and 0.319 ± 0.004%, respectively. Then, the structure characteristics of the ß-CD-assisted extract of Forsythia suspensa leaves (FSE-ß-CD) were analyzed using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and molecular docking to demonstrate that the natural active products from Forsythia suspensa leaves had significant interactions with the ß-CD. Additionally, the loss of forsythoside A from aqueous FSE-CD at 80 °C was only 12%, compared with Forsythia suspensa leaf extract (FSE) which decreased by 13%. In addition, the aqueous solubility of FSE-CD was significantly increased to 70.2 g/L. The EC50 for scavenging DPPH and ABTS radicals decreased to 28.98 ug/mL and 25.54 ug/mL, respectively. The results showed that the ß-CD-assisted extraction process would be a promising technology for bioactive compounds extracted from plants.

Preparation of DES lignin-chitosan aerogel and its adsorption performance for dyes, catechin and epicatechin.

Herein, DES lignin was obtained by pretreatment of grapevine with a deep eutectic solvent (ChCl-LA). A novel chitosan-DES lignin composite aerogel material (CS-LIG aerogel) was prepared to adsorb methylene blue (MB), Congo red (CR), catechin (C), and epicatechin (EC). The CS-LIG aerogel was systematically characterized by modern technological instruments. It was demonstrated that the DES lignin was successfully incorporated and had an important effect on the morphological structure and adsorption of dyes and natural products in the aerogel. The adsorption kinetic models for both adsorbed CR and MB are pseudo-second-order models. Adsorption isotherms followed Langmuir for the adsorption of CR and Freundlich for the adsorption of MB. The π-π interaction and hydrogen bonding of DES lignin aromatic groups in CS-LIG aerogels were responsible for the adsorption of C and EC with 86.42 % and 90.85 % removal rates, respectively. This study opens a new avenue for the high-value utilization of DES lignin and the preparation of chitosan-based composites for the adsorption of dyes and purification of natural products.

Isomalto-oligosaccharides ameliorate visceral hyperalgesia with repair damage of ileal epithelial ultrastructure in rats.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with probiotics has achieved effectiveness to a certain extent. Whether prebiotics will work is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of the prebiotic isomalto-oligosaccharides (IMO) on visceral hypersensitivity (VHS) in rats and to explore potential mechanism. METHODS: Water avoidance stress (WAS) was used to induce VHS in rats. The score for the abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) was determined while colorectal distension and compared between VHS group and control group in order to validate VHS preparation. Rats with VHS were then divided into an IMO-treated group (intragastric 5% IMO, 2 mL/d, 14 days) and a water-control group (intragastric water). After treatment, AWR score and intestinal transit rate (ITR) were determined, stool culture was performed, the ultrastructure of the ileum epithelium was observed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and serum cytokines were measured. RESULTS: WAS significantly increased AWR score responding to colorectal distension, and lowered the pain threshold. IMO treatment improved VHS with a reduction in AWR score on graded colorectal distension and an increase in pain threshold. SEM showed damages on the ileal epithelial ultrastructure in VHS rats, which was attenuated by IMO treatment. ITR, fecal microbiota and serum cytokine levels were comparable among control group, water-control group, and IMO-treated rats. CONCLUSION: In this randomized placebo-controlled study, the results showed that IMO ameliorated WAS-induced visceral hyperalgesia in rats, this effect may be attributed to the repair of damages on intestinal epithelial ultrastructure.

Physicochemical and functional properties of dietary fiber from maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.) liquor residue.

Using maca (Lepidium meyenii) liquor residue as the raw material, dietary fiber (DF) was prepared by chemical (MCDF) and enzymatic (MEDF) methods, respectively, of which the physicochemical and functional properties were comparatively studied. High contents of DF were found in MCDF (55.63%) and MEDF (81.10%). Both fibers showed good functional properties, including swelling capacity, water holding capacity, oil holding capacity, glucose adsorption capacity and glucose retardation index. MEDF showed better functional properties, which could be attributed to its higher content of DF, more irregular surface and more abundant monosaccharide composition. The results herein suggest that maca DF prepared by enzymatic method from liquor residue is a good functional ingredient in food products.

Identification of maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.) and its adulterants by a DNA-barcoding approach based on the ITS sequence.

Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is an herbaceous plant that grows in high plateaus and has been used as both food and folk medicine for centuries because of its benefits to human health. In the present study, ITS (internal transcribed spacer) sequences of forty-three maca samples, collected from different regions or vendors, were amplified and analyzed. The ITS sequences of nineteen potential adulterants of maca were also collected and analyzed. The results indicated that the ITS sequence of maca was consistent in all samples and unique when compared with its adulterants. Therefore, this DNA-barcoding approach based on the ITS sequence can be used for the molecular identification of maca and its adulterants.

Effect of drying methods on physicochemical properties and antioxidant activities of wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) polysaccharide.

In this study, an efficient drying process of Lycium barbarum L. polysaccharide (LBP) suitable for industrial production was developed and optimized. Three drying methods, including hot air drying (40-80°C), vacuum drying (40-60°C) and spray drying were test and compared. Hot air drying and vacuum drying cost long time and produced a brown product which needs further process due to the agglomeration or alveolation form. The condition of spray drying (without any excipient) was optimized by orthogonal experiment, which gave different optimum conditions based on LBP recovery rate (LBP solution concentration 1.06 g/mL, inlet air temperature 170°C, sample flow rate 15 mL/min and air speed 4.2m(3)/min) or LBP transparency (LBP solution concentration 1.04 g/mL, inlet air temperature 170°C, sample flow rate 20 mL/min and air speed 2.8m(3)/min). Pilot scale experiments showed preferable stability of LBP product quality and process parameters. Sample of spray drying (SD) had the highest scavenging free radical effects, the best appearance (LBP transparency), and uniform morphology with hollow sphere which are important properties for the reconstitution of the powder product. Considering the product appearance and product activity, the spray drying was selected to apply in industrial production.

[Collagen quantitation by detection of marker peptides with HPLC-MS].

A method for quantitation of collagen was established by detecting marker peptide with high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Theoretical marker peptides were selected by sequence comparison. Bovine collagen type I was digested with trypsin. Marker peptides typical for collagen type I were identified with HPLC-MS. The relationship between the abundance of marker peptides and collagen concentration was established. The results show that GEAGPSGPAGPTGAR and the other 5 peptides showed high resolution during chromatographic separation and high signal intensity during MS analysis. Peptide signal intensity and collagen concentration showed a good linear relationship in the range from 0.1 to 3 mg/mL. Bovine tendon and collagen sponge were used as actual samples and collagen contents were determined as 90.2% and 93.4% respectively. Quantitation of marker peptides of collagen was a feasible method to identify and quantify collagens in medical device research and development.

Extraction, purification and antioxidant activities of the polysaccharides from maca (Lepidium meyenii).

Water-soluble polysaccharides were separated from maca (Lepidium meyenii) aqueous extract (MAE). The crude polysaccharides were deproteinized by Sevag method. During the preparation process of maca polysaccharides, amylase and glucoamylase effectively removed starch in maca polysaccharides. Four Lepidium meyenii polysaccharides (LMPs) were obtained by changing the concentration of ethanol in the process of polysaccharide precipitation. All of the LMPs were composed of rhamnose, arabinose, glucose and galactose. Antioxidant activity tests revealed that LMP-60 showed good capability of scavenging hydroxyl free radical and superoxide radical at 2.0mg/mL, the scavenging rate was 52.9% and 85.8%, respectively. Therefore, the results showed that maca polysaccharides had a high antioxidant activity and could be explored as the source of bioactive compounds.