Core-Shell Encapsulation of Lipophilic Substance in Jelly Fig (Ficus awkeotsang Makino) Polysaccharides Using an Inexpensive Acrylic-Based Millifluidic Device.

The polysaccharides extracted from the achenes of jelly fig, Ficus awkeotsang Makino, were mainly composed of low methyl pectin and used as a novel shell material for encapsulating lipophilic bioactives in the core of microcapsule. The polysaccharide microcapsules with oil core were prepared using a novel acrylic-based millifluidic device developed in this study. To investigate the physiochemical properties of and find the suitable formula of polysaccharide shells, the films casted with jelly fig polysaccharide were thoroughly characterized. For the preparation of microcapsules, the millifluidic device was optimized by controlling the flow rate to obtain uniform spherical shape with a core diameter of 1.4-1.9 mm and the outer diameter of 2.1-2.8 mm. The encapsulation efficiency was around 90%, and the microcapsules displayed a clear boundary between the polysaccharide shell and oil core. Encapsulation of curcumin in the microcapsules was prepared to test the applicability of the device and processes developed in this study, and the results showed that the microencapsulation could enhance the stability of curcumin against external environment. Overall, the results suggested that the jelly fig polysaccharides and the developed millifluidic device can be useful for the preparation of core-shell microcapsules for encapsulation of lipophilic bioactives.

Phytochemical profile, antioxidative and anti-inflammatory potentials of Gynura bicolor DC.

BACKGROUND: The phytochemical composition of aqueous and ethanol extracts from Gynura bicolor DC., a vegetable, was determined. Human umbilical vein endothelial (HUVE) cells were used to examine the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory potentials of these extracts at 1, 2 or 4% (v/v) against high-glucose-induced injury. RESULTS: Both aqueous and ethanol extracts contained phenolic acids, flavonoids, carotenoids and anthocyanins in the ranges 1428-1569, 1934-2175, 921-1007 and 2135-2407 mg per 100 g dry weight respectively. Both extracts were rich in quercetin, lutein, malvidin and pelargonidin. Addition of these extracts at test doses decreased reactive oxygen species formation, preserved glutathione content and retained glutathione peroxide and catalase activities in high-glucose-treated HUVE cells (P < 0.05). Treatments with these extracts at 2 and 4% lowered interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and prostaglandin E2 production and reduced cyclooxygenase-2 activity (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that this vegetable could be considered as a functional food and might provide antioxidative and anti-inflammatory protection.

Designing supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of rice bran oil that contain oryzanols using response surface methodology.

This study examines the supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO(2)) extraction of oryzanols contained rice bran oil from powdered rice bran. The extraction efficiencies and concentration factors of oryzanols, free fatty acids and triglycerides in the SC-CO(2) extracts were determined. With top-flow type SC-CO(2) extraction the total oil yield was 18.1% and the extraction efficiencies of oryzanols and triglycerides were 88.5 and 91.3% respectively, when 2750 g CO(2 )was consumed during the extraction of 35 g rice bran powder. The concentration factors of oryzanols and triglycerides in SC-CO(2)-extracted oil were higher than in the Soxhlet n-hexane extracted oil. SC-CO(2) extractions indicated that pressure can be used more effectively than temperature to enhance the extraction efficiency and concentration factor of oryzanols. A two-factor central composite scheme of response surface methodology was employed to determine the optimal pressure (300 bar) and temperature (313 K) for increasing the concentration of oryzanols in the SC-CO(2) extracted oil.

Antioxidant activities of Toona Sinensis leaves extracts using different antioxidant models.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the antioxidant activity of aqueous extracts of Toona sinensis (TS; 0-100 microg/mL) and gallic acid (0-50 microg/mL), with the purified natural phenolic components evaluated using different antioxidant models. It was found that the TS extracts and gallic acid possess effective antioxidant activity against various oxidative systems in vitro, including the scavenging of free and superoxide anion radicals, reducing power, and metal chelation. However, antioxidant activity in terms of metal chelation was not observed for the gallic acid. Moreover, TS extracts and gallic acid appear to possess powerful antioxidant properties with respect to oxidative modification of human LDL induced by CuSO4, AAPH or sodium nitroprusside, as assessed by the relative electrophoretic mobility, TBARS formation, and cholesterol degradation of oxidized LDL. Furthermore, AAPH-induced oxidative hemolysis, lipid peroxidation, and decline in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in human erythrocytes were prevented by both the TS extracts and the gallic acid. Our findings suggest that T. sinensis may act as a chemopreventative agent, providing antioxidant properties and offering effective protection from atherogenesis.

Designed polar cosolvent-modified supercritical CO2 removing caffeine from and retaining catechins in green tea powder using response surface methodology.

This study examines cosolvent-modified supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) to remove caffeine from and to retain catechins in green tea powder. The response surface method was adopted to determine the optimal operation conditions in terms of the extraction efficiencies and concentration factors of caffeine and catechins during the extractions. When SC-CO2 was used at 333 K and 300 bar, 91.5% of the caffeine was removed and 80.8% of catechins were retained in the tea: 3600 g of carbon dioxide was used in the extraction of 4 g of tea soaked with 1 g of water. Under the same extraction conditions, 10 g of water was added to <800 g of carbon dioxide in an extraction that completely removed caffeine (that is, the caffeine extraction efficiency was 100%). The optimal result as predicted by three-factor response surface methodology and supported by experimental data was that in 1.5 h of extraction, 640 g of carbon dioxide at 323 K and 275 bar with the addition of 6 g of water extracted 71.9% of the caffeine while leaving 67.8% of the catechins in 8 g of tea. Experimental data indicated that supercritical carbon dioxide decaffeination increased the concentrations of caffeine in the SC-CO2 extracts at 353 K.

Anti-inflammatory potential of Antrodia Camphorata through inhibition of iNOS, COX-2 and cytokines via the NF-kappaB pathway.

Antrodia camphorata (A. camphorata), well known in Taiwan as a traditional Chinese medicine, has been shown to exhibit antioxidant and anticancer effects. In the present study, therefore, we have examined the effects of the fermented culture broth of A. camphorata (25-100 microg/ml) in terms of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein expression in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Our results indicate concentration-dependent A. camphorata inhibition of LPS-induced NO and PGE2 production, without appreciable cytotoxicity on the RAW 264.7 cells. A. camphorata also attenuates the production of LPS-induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) and interleukin (IL)-1beta. Furthermore, A. camphorata blocks the IkappaB-alpha degradation induced by LPS. These results indicate that A. camphorata inhibits LPS induction of cytokine, iNOS and COX-2 expression by blocking NF-kappaB activation. Therefore, we report the first confirmation of the anti-inflammatory potential of this traditionally employed herbal medicine in vitro.