Synthesis of alternan-stabilized zinc nanoparticles: morphological, thermal, antioxidant and antimicrobial characterization.

This study aimed to synthesize zinc nanoparticles with antimicrobial and antioxidant activities using alternan (ZnNPs-Alt) produced by Lactobacillus reuteri E81 as the stabilizing agent. For the characterization of the ZnNPs-Alt, UV-vis spectroscopy, SEM, TEM and EDX analysis, XRD, FTIR and DSC analysis were applied. The functional role of ZnNPs-Alt was tested by determination of their antioxidant activities by DPPH and CUPRAC methodologies and their antibacterial and antifungal activities. Results of this study demonstrated that alternan was utilized as a successful stabilizer to produce crystalline, thermally stabile ZnNPs-Alt with a particle size of ∼ 100 nm. Importantly, strong antioxidant and antimicrobial activities were observed for ZnNPs-Alt in a concentration dependent manner. These findings confirmed the role of alternan as a stabilizing agent for the production of ZnNPs-Alt with functional roles.

Pomological features, nutritional quality, polyphenol content analysis, and antioxidant properties of domesticated and 3 wild ecotype forms of raspberries (Rubus idaeus L.).

The raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) is an economically important berry crop that contains many phenolic compounds with potential health benefits. In this study, important pomological features, including nutrient content and antioxidant properties, of a domesticated and 3 wild (Yayla, Yavuzlar, and Yedigöl) raspberry fruits were evaluated. Also, the amount of total phenolics and flavonoids in lyophilized aqueous extracts of domesticated and wild ecotypes of raspberry fruits were calculated as gallic acid equivalents (GAEs) and quercetin equivalents (QE). The highest phenolic compounds were found in wild Yayla ecotype (26.66 ± 3.26 GAE/mg extract). Whilst, the highest flavonoids were determined in wild Yedigöl ecotype (6.09 ± 1.21 QA/mg extract). The antioxidant activity of lyophilized aqueous extracts of domesticated and wild ecotypes of raspberry fruits were investigated as trolox equivalents using different in vitro assays including DPPH(•), ABTS(•+), DMPD(•+), and O(•-)(2) radical scavenging activities, H(2)O(2) scavenging activity, ferric (Fe(3+)) and cupric ions (Cu(2+)) reducing abilities, ferrous ions (Fe(2+)) chelating activity. In addition, quantitative amounts of caffeic acid, ferulic acid, syringic acid, ellagic acid, quercetin, α-tocopherol, pyrogallol, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillin, p-coumaric acid, gallic acid, and ascorbic acid in lyophilized aqueous extracts of domesticated and wild ecotypes of raspberry fruits were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). The results clearly show that p-coumaric acid is the main phenolic acid responsible for the antioxidant and radical scavenging activity of lyophilized aqueous extracts of domesticated and wild ecotypes of raspberry fruits.