Preparation and Characterization of Durian Husk-Based Biocomposite Films Reinforced With Nanocellulose From Corn Husk and Pineapple Leaf.

This research explores the integration of corn husk nanocellulose (CHNc) and pineapple leaf nanocellulose (PLNc) as reinforcing agents in a carboxymethyl cellulose-based film derived from durian husk (CMCDH). Through a solvent-casting method, composite films were fabricated with varying nanocellulose contents (15, 30, and 45 wt%). Analysis using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction confirmed the effectiveness of alkaline and bleaching treatments in eliminating noncellulosic components. Transmission electron microscopy image revealed the rod-like morphology of CHNc and PLNc, with dimensions approximately 206.5 × 7.2 nm and 150.7 × 6.5 nm, respectively. The inclusion of nanocellulose decreased the transparency of CMCDH films while enhancing their tensile strength, thermal stability, and water vapor transmission rate. Notably, CMCDH/PLNc(30%) exhibited the highest tensile strength at 5.06 ± 0.83 MPa, representing a remarkable 220% increase compared to CMCDH biofilm. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimeter results indicated that nanocellulose incorporation delayed the film's decomposition temperature by approximately 10°C. Moreover, CMCDH/PLNc(30%) demonstrated the lowest water vapor transmission rate, marking a 20% improvement. However, the film's properties were compromised at the highest nanocellulose content (45 wt%) due to observed fiber aggregation, as revealed by scanning electron microscopy analysis.

Nutritional Composition and Therapeutic Potential of Pineapple Peel - A Comprehensive Review.

Pineapple (Ananas comosus), the succulent and vibrant tropical fruit, is a symbol of exoticism and sweetness that captures the hearts and palates of people around the world. The pineapple peel, often considered as waste, has garnered attention for its potential applications. The pineapple peel is rich in essential nutrients, including calcium, potassium, vitamin C, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, and water, making it beneficial for the digestive system, weight management, and overall balanced nutrition. It contains significant amounts of sugars such as sucrose, glucose, and fructose, along with citric acid as the predominant organic acid. The peel also contains bromelain, a proteolytic enzyme known for its digestive properties. Studies have highlighted the pharmacological properties of pineapple peel, such as its potential anti-parasitic effects, alleviation of constipation, and benefits for individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Efforts are being made to promote the utilization of pineapple peel as a valuable resource rather than mere waste. Its applications range from the production of vinegar, alcohol, and citric acid to the development of various food products, including squash, syrup, jelly, and pickles. Further research and innovation are required to fully explore the potential of pineapple peel and establish sustainable practices for its utilization, contributing to waste reduction and the development of value-added products.

First Report of Leaf Spot of Pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr Caused by Neoscytalidium dimidiatum in Malaysia.

In June 2017, severe leaf spots symptoms were observed by growers on pineapple leaves of Josapine variety in in Alor Pongsu (5°01'60.00" N, 100°34' 59.99" E), Perak, northwest of Peninsular Malaysia. The early infection stage shows that several brown spots could be observed, which then would merge to form large brown to creamy white lesions that cover all the leaf surface. This infection finally caused the plant to die after a while. Disease observations conducted from 2018 - 2023 showed that 10-15% incidences of the disease were observed in several pineapple farms located in Johor, Kedah, and Sarawak. The aim of this study to confirm the causal pathogen of the disease by performing isolation, pathogenicity testing, and identification of the primary causal pathogen from 20 samples of infected leaves collected from Alor Pongsu. The leaf tissues between infected and healthy were cut into small pieces (0.5 cm 0.5 cm), and surface sterilized with 1% sodium hypochlorite for 30 seconds, followed by 70% ethanol for 30 seconds, and rinsed thrice with sterilized water before placing on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA). The PDA plates were incubated at room temperature (28 ± 2℃) in natural light. After five days of incubation, the potential causal pathogen was purified using a single conidial isolation technique for morphological and molecular characterizations. All 32 isolates displayed similar phenotypes. Based on morphological observation on PDA, the colonies were initially white of aerial mycelia but gradually darkened as the culture aged. Microscopic features of the 14-day-old fungal culture showed that the mycelia were branched with 0- 1 septa, pigmented, and brown. Arthroconidia were ellipsoid to ovoid or round shaped, hyaline, with rounded apex, truncate base, and occurring singly or in chains averaging 9 ± 3 × 5 ± 2 µm (n = 20).  Based on the morphological characteristics, the fungal isolates were tentatively identified as Neoscytalidium species. A representative isolate of Neoscytalidium coded as UiTMPMD2 was further identified through PCR implication of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region using ITS1 and ITS4 primers and BLAST homology search as Neoscytalidium dimidiatum (Penz.) Crous & Slippers based on 100% similarity (575 bp out of 575 bp) to a reference sequence (accession no. KU204558.1). The sequence was deposited in Gen Bank (accession no. OR366479) with reference sequence code of INBio:30A. Pathogenicity tests were performed on 10 whole plants of Josapine pineapple (4 months old) using a leaf inoculating method (Wu et al. 2022) in a glasshouse (25-32°C) and repeated twice. Four mature leaves per each plant were wounded at two points and inoculated with mycelium PDA plugs from 7-days-old cultures of N. dimidiatum. Control plants were wounded in the same manner but inoculated with sterilized PDA plugs. Seven days post inoculation, leaf spot symptoms were observed on treated plants with the pathogen, while the control plants remained symptomless. Pathogen was successfully reisolated from brown leaf spot symptoms in which the cultural and morphological characteristics were identical to those of the originals. Neoscytalidium dimidiatum has a wide range of hosts and it has been reported in Malaysia to cause stem canker on pitahaya (Mohd et al. 2003; Khoo et al. 2023 ) and fruit rot of guava (Ismail et al. 2021). To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of N. dimidiatum causing leaf spots on pineapples in Malaysia. This report establishes a foundation for further study of N. dimidiatum that can effectively address the disease in pineapple.

Molecular insights into the anti-inflammatory activity of fermented pineapple juice using multimodal computational studies.

Pineapple has been recognized for its potential to enhance health and well-being. This study aimed to gain molecular insights into the anti-inflammatory properties of fermented pineapple juice using multimodal computational studies. In this study, pineapple juice was fermented using Lactobacillus paracasei, and the solution underwent liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Network pharmacology was applied to investigate compound interactions and targets. In silico methods assessed compound bioactivities. Protein-protein interactions, network topology, and enrichment analysis identified key compounds. Molecular docking explored compound-receptor interactions in inflammation regulation. Molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to confirm the stability of interactions between the identified crucial compounds and their respective receptors. The study revealed several compounds including short-chain fatty acids, peptides, dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids, and glycerides that exhibited promising anti-inflammatory properties. Leucyl-leucyl-norleucine and Leu-Leu-Tyr exhibited robust and stable interactions with mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 and IκB kinase ß, respectively, indicating their potential as promising therapeutic agents for inflammation modulation. This proposition is grounded in the pivotal involvement of these two proteins in inflammatory signaling pathways. These findings provide valuable insights into the anti-inflammatory potential of these compounds, serving as a foundation for further experimental validation and exploration. Future studies can build upon these results to advance the development of these compounds as effective anti-inflammatory agents.

Green synthesis of copper nanoparticles by using pineapple peel waste: in vitro characterizations and antibacterial potential.

A considerable amount of fruit waste is being produced every day worldwide. The green synthesis of metal nanoparticles from fruit peel waste can be an innovative, cost-effective, and eco-friendly alternative to traditional methods. Copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) were synthesized by a green method using the pineapple peels extract (PLX) and copper sulfate pentahydrate. The formation of CuNPs was visually identified and detected by UV-Visible spectroscopy. The CuNPs were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, particle size analyzer, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The antioxidant and reducing power of CuNPs were conducted by %DPPH scavenging and electron transfer-based ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, respectively. The antibacterial properties of CuNPs were determined in gram-positive, and gram-negative bacteria. The results showed that the CuNPs were spherical in shape with mean particle size 290.5 nm. The zeta potential of the nanoparticles was found to be - 12.3 mV indicating the instability in the colloidal state. The FTIR study confirmed the peaks of phytochemicals present in the PLX and the nanoparticles supporting the use of pineapple peels as stabilizing, reducing and capping agents. Both the DPPH and reducing power assay depicted that the synthesized CuNPs had significant antioxidant activity. However, the synthesized CuNPs had strong inhibitory capacity against both gram-positive and gram-negative test organisms. Thus, the CuNPS could be used for its viable antibacterial potential to preserve fruits, flowers, and vegetables from bacterial contamination.

High surface area activated carbon from a pineapple (ananas comosus) crown via microwave-ZnCl2 activation for crystal violet and methylene blue dye removal: adsorption optimization and mechanism.

In this investigation, microwave irradiation assisted by ZnCl2 was used to transform pineapple crown (PN) waste into mesoporous activated carbon (PNAC). Complementary techniques were employed to examine the physicochemical characteristics of PNAC, including BET, FTIR, SEM-EDX, XRD, and pH at the point-of-zero-charge (pHpzc). PNAC is mesoporous adsorbent with a surface area of 1070 m2/g. The statistical optimization for the adsorption process of two model cationic dyes (methylene blue: MB and, crystal violet: CV) was conducted using the response surface methodology-Box-Behnken design (RSM-BBD). The parameters include solution pH (4-10), contact time (2-12) min, and PNAC dosage (0.02-0.1 g/100 mL). The Freundlich and Langmuir models adequately described the dye adsorption isotherm results for the MB and CV systems, whereas the pseudo-second order kinetic model accounted for the time dependent adsorption results. The maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) for PNAC with the two tested dyes are listed: 263.9 mg/g for CV and 274.8 mg/g for MB. The unique adsorption mechanism of MB and CV dyes by PNAC implicates multiple contributions to the adsorption process such as pore filling, electrostatic forces, H-bonding, and π-π interactions. This study illustrates the possibility of transforming PN into activated carbon (PNAC) with the potential to remove two cationic dyes from aqueous media.

The novelty of this research work stems from the conversion of pineapple (Ananas comosus) crown wastes with no monetary value into an efficient activated carbon adsorbent with relatively high surface area. Furthermore, a fast and convenient microwave assisted ZnCl₂ activation method was applied for producing the activated carbon (AC). The effectiveness of the produced AC was tested for the removal of two different cationic dyes: crystal violet (CV) and methylene blue (MB). A statistical optimization that employs a response surface methodology with the Box-Behnken design was employed to optimize the adsorption variables for the optimal dye removal. Moreover, the dye adsorption kinetics and thermodynamics, equilibrium isotherms, and the details of the adsorption process were reported herein.

The pineapple reference genome: Telomere-to-telomere assembly, manually curated annotation, and comparative analysis.

Pineapple is the third most crucial tropical fruit worldwide and available in five varieties. Genomes of different pineapple varieties have been released to date; however, none of them are complete, with all exhibiting substantial gaps and representing only two of the five pineapple varieties. This significantly hinders the advancement of pineapple breeding efforts. In this study, we sequenced the genomes of three varieties: a wild pineapple variety, a fiber pineapple variety, and a globally cultivated edible pineapple variety. We constructed the first gap-free reference genome (Ref) for pineapple. By consolidating multiple sources of evidence and manually revising each gene structure annotation, we identified 26,656 protein-coding genes. The BUSCO evaluation indicated a completeness of 99.2%, demonstrating the high quality of the gene structure annotations in this genome. Utilizing these resources, we identified 7,209 structural variations across the three varieties. Approximately 30.8% of pineapple genes were located within ±5 kb of structural variations, including 30 genes associated with anthocyanin synthesis. Further analysis and functional experiments demonstrated that the high expression of AcMYB528 aligns with the accumulation of anthocyanins in the leaves, both of which may be affected by a 1.9-kb insertion fragment. In addition, we developed the Ananas Genome Database, which offers data browsing, retrieval, analysis, and download functions. The construction of this database addresses the lack of pineapple genome resource databases. In summary, we acquired a seamless pineapple reference genome with high-quality gene structure annotations, providing a solid foundation for pineapple genomics and a valuable reference for pineapple breeding.

Valorization of Pineapple (Ananas comosus) By-Products in Milk Coffee Beverage: Influence on Bioaccessibility of Phenolic Compounds.

The industrial processing of pineapples generates a substantial quantity of by-products, including shell, crown, and core. Bromelain, a proteolytic enzyme found naturally in pineapple, including its by-products, may positively influence the bioaccessibility of phenolics from milk coffee. Therefore, this study aimed to assess how the inclusion of extracts from pineapple by-products, namely shell, crown and core, could impact the bioaccessibility of coffee phenolics when combined with milk. After measuring the proteolytic activity of pineapple by-products, the standardized in vitro digestion model of INFOGEST was employed to evaluate changes in total phenolic content, total antioxidant capacity, and individual phenolic compounds in different coffee formulations. The results showed that incorporating extracts from the crown or core in both black and milk coffee increased the bioaccessibility of total phenolics (from 93 to 114% to 105-129%) and antioxidants (from 54 to 56% to 84-87%), while this effect was not observed for the shell. Moreover, adding core extracts also enhanced the bioaccessibility of caffeoylquinic acids and gallic acid in milk coffee (from 0.72 to 0.85% and 109-155%, respectively). Overall, the findings of this study highlight that bromelain from pineapple core may have a favorable effect on the recovery of phenolic compounds in milk coffee, possibly due to its ability to cleave proteins. These outcomes point out that industrial by-products can be transformed into economic value by being reintroduced into the production process through suitable treatment instead of disposal.

Understanding consumer preferences to develop dahi using pineapple pomace powder and monk-fruit extract.

Consumer preferences refer to the subjective assessments of products and services expressed by individuals. The objective of this investigation aims to examine the preferences of consumers regarding dahi, followed by the development of a corresponding product. The initial phase of the experimental design involves understanding the interests of consumers and the variables that influence their purchasing intentions through the administration of a questionnaire. The subsequent phase entails the development of dahi in accordance with consumer preferences, followed by an assessment of its nutritional value, sensory acceptability, and storage study. Subsequently, a significant proportion of consumers (91%) expressed an interest for the introduction of a pineapple-flavour (61.5%) spoon-able dahi (77%) containing natural sugar (65%) and packaged in a cup (71.5%) within the market. To adjust the sweetness intensity of monk fruit, a series of preliminary experiments were carried out to regulate the concentration to a level that can be considered sensory acceptable, specifically 05 g/100 ml. Afterwards, dahi was prepared by altering the concentration of FPP (freeze-dried pine-apple pomace powder) within the range of 0.5 to 2.5 g/100 ml. Prepared dahi were further subjected to sensory evaluation and storage study. Based on the obtained results and sensory analyst feedback, we conclude that the dahi formulation TPM2 exhibits considerable organoleptic acceptance and also has the potential for industrial-scale production to cater wider consumer demands. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-023-05919-5.

Valorization of pineapple rind for bromelain extraction using microwave assisted technique: optimization, purification, and structural characterization.

Huge amount of waste is generated by the pineapple processing industries which raises concerns regarding its safe disposal into the environment. This ever-increasing problem of waste management can be solved by the valorization of pineapple by-products to high-value compounds. The extraction of proteolytic enzyme, bromelain from pineapple rind using green techniques can help to overcome the drawbacks associated with conventional methods. In the present study, the extraction of bromelain from pineapple rind using microwave assisted technique resulted in considerable amount of proteolytic activity (127.8 U/mL) and protein content (2.55 mg/mL). The optimized extraction conditions were found as 200 W microwave power, 1:5 solid/ liquid ratio and after treatment time of 10 min. Highest specific activity (512 U/mg) of bromelain was obtained after using gel filtration chromatography. FTIR result confirmed the presence of functional groups in bromelain, whereas, XRD analysis indicated the semi-crystalline nature of bromelain. The results indicated MAE as an effective green technique for the extraction of bromelain from pineapple rind. The proteolytic action of the extracted bromelain makes it a suitable functional ingredient for its applications in bakery, dairy, and seafood processing industries.

Influence of °Brix/Acid, and flow rate of pineapple juice and electric field strength on the performance of continuous ohmic heating system.

A lab-scale continuous ohmic heating (COH) system was developed, and its performance was studied for pineapple juice heating as a model sample. The effect of independent parameters [°Brix/Acid (unstandardized, 18, 22, 26) and flow rate (80-120 mL/min) of juice and electric field strength (EFS: 25-45 V/cm)] were analysed for responses viz. come-up-time, heating rate (HR) and system performance coefficient (SPC). The full factorial experimental design was used for this study. The results showed that with an increase in °Brix/Acid, the % acidity and electrical conductivity decreased significantly (p < 0.05); thus, the come-up-time to reach 90 °C increased significantly. The HR was significantly (p < 0.05) influenced by °Brix/Acid and EFS but less so by flow rates at higher EFS. The SPC was more than 0.90 and reduced significantly (p < 0.05) with an increase in °Brix/Acid and flow rate. The HR was modeled using a feed-forward back-propagation artificial neural network (ANN) with the best topology of 3, 5, and 1 neurons in the input (independent), hidden, and output (response) layers, respectively. The model performed efficiently, which is evident from the high R2 (0.998) and low RMSE (1.255). Thus, the COH, with its high efficiency and HR, can effectively be used to process fruit juice. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-024-05961-x.

Gene prediction for leaf margin phenotype and fruit flesh color in pineapple (Ananas comosus) using haplotype-resolved genome sequencing.

Pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.) is one of the most economically important tropical fruit species. The major aim of the breeding programs in several countries, including Japan, is quality improvement, mainly for the fresh market. 'Yugafu', a Japanese cultivar with distinctive pipe-type leaf margin phenotype and white flesh color, is popular for fresh consumption. Therefore, genome sequencing of 'Yugafu' is expected to assist pineapple breeding. Here, we developed a haplotype-resolved assembly for the heterozygous genome of 'Yugafu' using long-read sequencing technology and obtained a pair of 25 pseudomolecule sequences inherited from the parental accessions 'Cream pineapple' and 'HI101'. The causative genes for leaf margin and fruit flesh color were identified. Fine mapping revealed a 162-kb region on CLG23 for the leaf margin phenotype. In this region, 20 kb of inverted repeat was specifically observed in the 'Cream pineapple' derived allele, and the WUSCHEL-related homeobox 3 (AcWOX3) gene was predicted as the key gene for leaf margin morphogenesis. Dominantly repressed AcWOX3 via RNAi was suggested to be the cause of the pipe-type leaf margin phenotype. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis revealed that the terminal region of CLG08 contributed to white flesh and low carotenoid content. Carotenoid cleaved dioxygenase 4 (AcCCD4), a key gene for carotenoid degradation underlying this QTL, was predicted as the key gene for white flesh color through expression analysis. These findings could assist in modern pineapple breeding and facilitate marker-assisted selection for important traits.

Effect of plant growth regulators DA-6 and COS on drought tolerance of pineapple through bromelain and oxidative stress.

BACKGROUND: Due to global warming, drought climates frequently occur on land, and despite being drought resistant, pineapples are still subjected to varying degrees of drought stress. Plant growth regulators can regulate the stress tolerance of plants through hormonal effects. This experiment aims to investigate the regulatory effects of different plant growth regulators on Tainong- 16 and MD-2 Pineapple when subjected to drought stress. RESULTS: In this experiment, we examined the regulatory effects of two different plant growth regulators, sprayed on two pineapple varieties: MD-2 Pineapple and Tainong-16. The main component of T1 was diethyl aminoethyl hexanoate (DA-6) and that of T2 is chitosan oligosaccharide (COS). An environment similar to a natural drought was simulated in the drought stress treatments. Then, pineapples at different periods were sampled and a series of indicators were measured. The experimental results showed that the drought treatments treated with T1 and T2 plant growth regulators had a decrease in malondialdehyde, an increase in bromelain and antioxidant enzyme indicators, and an increase in phenotypic and yield indicators. CONCLUSION: This experiment demonstrated that DA-6 and COS can enhance the drought resistance of pineapple plants to a certain extent through bromelain and oxidative stress. Therefore, DA-6 and COS have potential applications and this experiment lays the foundation for further research.

Modeling and optimizing concentration of exogenous application of γ-aminobutyric acid on NaCl-stressed pineapple mint (Mentha suaveolens) using response surface methodology: an investigation into secondary metabolites and physiological parameters.

Salinity, a severe worldwide issue, compromises the economic production of medicinal plants including mints and causes drug-yield decline. γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a tolerance-inducing signaling bio-molecule in various plant physiological processes. Pineapple mint (Mentha suaveolens Ehrh.) is a valuable medicinal herb with an exhilarating scent of citrus fruit. Piperitenone oxide is the major bioactive constituent of its essential oil, having significant demand by pharmaceutical industries. Nonetheless, modeling and optimizing the effective concentration of GABA remain within twin foci of interest. Therefore, a two factor-five level (NaCl 0-150 mM and GABA 0-2.4 mM) central composite design was conducted to model and optimize drug yield and physiological responses of M. suaveolens. Based on the design of experiments (DoE) approach, different linear, quadratic, cubic, and quartic models were assigned to the response variables. Change trends of shoot and root dry weights followed a simple linear model, whereas sophisticated models (i.e., multiple polynomial regression) were fitted to the other traits. NaCl stress inevitably reduced root and shoot dry weight, piperitenone oxide content, relative water content, pigments content, and maximum quantum yield of PSII. However, content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and total flavonoid, and DPPH radical scavenging activity were increased under salinity. Under severe NaCl stress (150 mM), the essential oil content (0.53%) was increased three times in comparison with control (0.18%). Optimization analysis demonstrated that the highest amount of essential oil (0.6%) and piperitenone oxide (81%) as a drug yield-determining component would be achievable by application of 0.1-0.2 mM GABA under 100 mM NaCl. The highest dry weight of root and shoot was predicted to be achieved at 2.4 mM GABA. Overall, extremely severe NaCl stress (i.e., more than 100 mM) in which a sharp drop in yield components value was observed seemed to be out of M. suaveolens salinity tolerance range. Hence, it is rationale to compensate the decrease of drug yield by foliar application of a dilute GABA solution (i.e., 0.1-0.2 mM) under 100 mM NaCl stress or lower levels.

Valorization of pineapple peel waste for fungal pigment production using Talaromyces albobiverticillius: Insights into antibacterial, antioxidant and textile dyeing properties.

The present study explores natural pigments as sustainable alternatives to synthetic textile dyes. Due to their therapeutic applications and easy production, fungal pigments have gained attention. However, data on pigment production using solid-state fermentation and optimization is limited. Milk whey was used to grow Talaromyces sp., followed by an evaluation of pigment production in solid and liquid media. Pineapple peels were used as a cost-effective substrate for pigment production, and a one-factor-at-a-time approach was used to enhance pigment production. Pineapple peel-based media produced 0.523 ± 0.231 mg/g of pigment after eight days of incubation. The crude pigment had promising antibacterial and significant antioxidant properties. The extraction fungal pigment's possible use as an eco-friendly textile dye was assessed through fabric dyeing experiments with different mordants. This work contributes to the valorization of agricultural waste and provides insight into using fungal pigments as sustainable alternatives to synthetic textile dyes.

Pineapple peel waste valorization for extraction of bio-active compounds and protein: Microwave assisted method and Box Behnken design optimization.

Pineapple peel waste (PPW) is obtained in huge quantities out of pineapple canning industries and it is found to be rich in bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity and an opulent source of bromelain protein having commercial importance. To fulfil the purpose, microwave assisted extraction was considered. Three parameters varied were solvent to substrate ratio, microwave power and extraction time. The independent variables were solvent to substrate ratio (10:1 mL/g to 20:1 mL/g), microwave power (300 W-600 W) and extraction time (40 min-50 min). Optimization was done with three factors and three level Box- Behnken Design (BBD). Each of the experiment has been analysed for Total phenolic content (TPC), Total flavonoid content (TFC), Total tannin content (TTC) as well as for protein content. The Folin- Ciocalteu method was utilized for analysing TPC, TTC and the colorimetric method (AlCl3) was used for the analysis of TFC, protein content was analysed by lowry's method and antioxidant activity making use of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The p values were less than 0.05 which showed all the four models were significant. The experimental values and the predicted values were harmonious for the optimum conditions. The optimum condition obtained out of BBD were solvent to substrate ratio of 20:1 mL/g, microwave power of 600 W and extraction time 40 min. Antioxidant activity for the extract was found out by DPPH assay under the optimized conditions was 75% along with proteolytic activity of bromelain as 1647.612 GDUgconcentrate-1.

Genome-wide identification and characterization of the BBX gene family in pineapple reveals that candidate genes are involved in floral induction and flowering.

B-box zinc finger proteins contain one or two B-box domains, and sometimes, a CCT domain, which are involved in many biological processes, such as photomorphogenesis, flowering, anthocyanin synthesis and abiotic stress resistance. But the BBX gene family in pineapple has not been systematically studied. Nineteen BBX genes were detected in pineapple genome and divided into five groups according to phylogenetic analysis. The results of transcriptome analysis and RT-qPCR showed that most of AcBBX members were highly expressed during the flowering process, indicating that AcBBX gene may be involved in flower bud differentiation and morphogenesis. Transcriptional activation analysis showed that AcBBX6 and AcBBX18 had transcriptional activity and were located in the nucleus. Overexpression of AcBBX18 promoted flowering in Arabidopsis thaliana. These results provided a basis for further study functions and regulatory mechanism of BBX members in pineapple floral induction and flower development.

Mesoporous activated carbon derived from fruit by-product by pyrolysis induced chemical activation: optimization and mechanism for fuchsin basic dye removal.

In this study, pineapple crown (PC) feedstock residues were utilized as a potential precursor toward producing activated carbon (PCAC) via pyrolysis induced with ZnCl2 activation. The PCAC has a surface area (457.8 m2/g) and a mesoporous structure with an average pore diameter of 3.35 nm, according to the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller estimate. The removal of cationic dye (Fuchsin basic; FB) was used for investigating the adsorption parameters of PCAC. The optimization of significant adsorption variables (A: PCAC dose (0.02-0.1 g/100 mL); B: pH (4-10); C: time (10-90); and D: initial FB concentration (10-50 mg/L) was conducted using the Box-Behnken design (BBD). The pseudo-second-order (PSO) model characterized the dye adsorption kinetic profile, whereas the Freundlich model reflected the equilibrium adsorption profile. The maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) of PCAC for FB dye was determined to be 171.5 mg/g. Numerous factors contribute to the FB dye adsorption mechanism onto the surface of PCAC, which include electrostatic attraction, H-bonding, pore diffusion, and π-π stacking. This study illustrates the utilization of PC biomass feedstock for the fabrication of PCAC and its successful application in wastewater remediation.

Efficacy and safety of bromelain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Pineapple has an important role in ethnopharmacology and its enzyme, bromelain, has been extensively investigated for its medicinal properties. Aim: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess clinical evidence concerning the efficacy and safety of bromelain. Methods: A systematic search was conducted from conception to August 2022 using CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Thai Journal Online (TJO). The risk of bias was assessed using Risk of Bias 2 or ROBIN-I. A random-effect model with inverse variance weighting and DerSimonian and Laird method was used for meta-analysis. The heterogeneity was evaluated by I2 statistics. Results: We included 54 articles for qualitative summary and 39 articles for meta-analysis. The systematic review found that bromelain presented in serum with retained proteolytic activity after oral absorption. Bromelain may be effective against sinusitis but was not effective for cardiovascular diseases. Pain reduction from oral bromelain was slightly but significantly better than controls (mean difference in pain score = -0.27; 95% CI: -0.45, -0.08; n = 9; I2 = 29%). Adverse events included flatulence, nausea, and headache. Topical bromelain significantly reduced the time to complete debridement (mean difference in time = -6.89 days; 95% CI: -7.94, -5.83; n = 4; I2 = 2%). Adverse events may be irrelevant and include burning sensation, pain, fever, and sepsis. Conclusions: Moderate-quality studies demonstrated the potential of oral bromelain in pain control and topical bromelain in wound care. Major health risks were not reported during the treatment with bromelain.

Integrated Metabolome and Transcriptome Analysis Reveals a Potential Mechanism for Water Accumulation Mediated Translucency in Pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.) Fruit.

A physiological disease of the pineapple fruit called pineapple translucency causes the pulp to become water-soaked, which affects the fruit's taste, flavor, shelf life, and integrity. In the present study, we analyzed seven pineapple varieties, of which three were watery and four were non-watery. There were no apparent macronutritional (K, P, or N) differences in their pulp, but the non-watery pineapple varieties had higher dry matter and soluble sugar content. The metabolomic analysis found 641 metabolites and revealed differential expression of alkaloids, phenolic acids, nucleotide derivatives, lipids, and other metabolites among the seven species. Transcriptome analysis and further KEGG enrichment showed downregulation of 'flavonoid biosynthesis' pathways, differential expression of metabolic pathways, secondary metabolites biosynthesis, plant-pathogen interaction, and plant hormone signal transduction. We believe this study will provide critical molecular data supporting a deeper understanding of pineapple translucency formation and greatly benefit future research on this commercially important crop.