Xylitol biosynthesis enhancement by Candida tropicalis via medium, process parameter optimization, and co-substrate supplementation.

The present study examines the impact of nitrogen sources (yeast extract, ammonium sulfate peptone, ammonium nitrate, urea, and sodium nitrate), salt solution (0.5 g/L MgSO4, 0.5 g/L KH2PO4, 0.3 g/L CaCl2), trace elements solution (0.1 g/L CuSO4, 0.1 g/L FeSO4, 0.02 g/L MnCl2, 0.02 g/L ZnSO4), operational parameters (temperature, aeration, agitation, initial pH and xylose concentration) and co- substrate supplementation (glucose, fructose, maltose, sucrose, and glycerol) on xylitol biosynthesis by Candida tropicalis ATCC 13803 using synthetic xylose. The significant medium components were identified using the Plackett Burman design followed by central composite designs to obtain the optimal concentration for the critical medium components in shaker flasks. Subsequently, the effect of operational parameters was examined using the One Factor At a Time method, followed by the impact of five co-substrates on xylitol biosynthesis in a 1 L bioreactor. The optimal media components and process parameters are as follows: peptone: 12.68 g/L, yeast extract: 6.62 g/L, salt solution (0.5 g/L MgSO4, 0.5 g/L KH2PO4, and 0.3 g/L CaCl2): 1.23 X (0.62 g/L, 0.62 g/L, and 0.37 g/L respectively), temperature: 30 °C, pH: 6, agitation: 400 rpm, aeration: 1 vvm, and xylose: 50 g/L. Optimization studies resulted in xylitol yield and productivity of 0.71 ± 0.004 g/g and 1.48 ± 0.018 g/L/h, respectively. Glycerol supplementation (2 g/L) further improved xylitol yield (0.83 ± 0.009 g/g) and productivity (1.87 ± 0.020 g/L/h) by 1.66 and 3.12 folds, respectively, higher than the unoptimized conditions thus exhibiting the potential of C. tropicalis ATCC 13803 being used for commercial xylitol production.

Effects of different food ingredients and additives on the digestibility of extruded and roller-dried maize starch and its application in low glycemic index nutritional formula powder.

BACKGROUND: Complex interactions that occur among starch, protein, and fat during food processing affect the taste, texture, and digestibility of starch-based food. The physicochemical properties of starch, in particular its slow digestibility, are greatly influenced by processing techniques such as extrusion and roller-drying. This study investigated the effects of various food ingredients and additives on the digestion properties of maize starch treated with extrusion and roller drying. It designed a nutritional formula to develop low glycemic index products. RESULTS: The extruded group containing raw maize starch, soybean protein isolate, soybean oil, lecithin and microcrystalline cellulose in the ratio of 580:250:58:20:3 had the best slow digestion properties. Nutritional formulas were designed at the above ratio, with supplements including calcium casein peptide, multi-vitamins, sodium ascorbate, fructooligosaccharides, xylitol, and peanut meal. The sample containing 10% peanut meal and a 1:3 ratio of fructooligosaccharides and xylitol additions obtained the highest sensory evaluation scores. An obvious slow digestion effect was observed in samples produced from the optimal formula. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study could contribute to the development and production of a low glycemic index, nutritional powder. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

In vitro effect of low-fluoride toothpaste supplemented with sodium trimetaphosphate, xylitol, and erythritol on enamel demineralization.

OBJECTIVE: Regular use of toothpaste with fluoride (F) concentrations of ≥ 1000 ppm has been shown to contribute to reducing caries increment. However, when used by children during the period of dental development, it can lead to dental fluorosis. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the in vitro effect of a toothpaste formulation with reduced fluoride (F) concentration (200 ppm) supplemented with sodium trimetaphosphate (TMP: 0.2%), Xylitol (X:16%), and Erythritol (E: 4%) on dental enamel demineralization. METHODOLOGY: Bovine enamel blocks were selected according to initial surface hardness (SHi) and then divided into seven experimental toothpaste groups (n=12). These groups included 1) no F-TMP-X-E (Placebo); 2) 16% Xylitol and 4% Erythritol (X-E); 3) 16% Xylitol, 4% Erythritol and 0.2%TMP (X-E-TMP); 4) 200 ppm F (no X-E-TMP: (200F)); 5) 200 ppm F and 0.2% TMP (200F-TMP); 200 ppm F, 16% Xylitol, 4% Erythritol, and 0.2% TMP (200F-X-E-TMP); and 7) 1,100 ppm F (1100F). Blocks were individually treated 2×/day with slurries of toothpastes and subjected to a pH cycling regimen for five days (DES: 6 hours and RE: 18 hours). Then, the percentage of surface hardness loss (%SH), integrated loss of subsurface hardness (ΔKHN), fluoride (F), calcium (Ca), and phosphorus (P) in enamel were determined. The data were analyzed by ANOVA (1-criterion) and the Student-Newman-Keuls test (p<0.001). RESULTS: We found that the 200F-X-E-TMP treatment reduced %SH by 43% compared to the 1100F treatments (p<0.001). The ΔKHN was ~ 65% higher with 200F-X-E-TMP compared to 1100F (p<0.001). The highest concentration of F in enamel was observed on the 1100F treatment (p<0.001). The 200F-X-E-TMP treatment promote higher increase of Ca and P concentration in the enamel (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The association of 200F-X-E-TMP led to a significant increase of the protective effect on enamel demineralization compared to the 1100F toothpaste.

Dietary Xylitol Supplement Ameliorated AD-related Neuronal Injury by Regulating Glucose Metabolism Relevant Amino Acids in Mice.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common irreversible degenerative diseases of the central nervous system. Recent studies have found that patients with AD generally experience abnormal glucose metabolism. Xylitol is a functional sugar alcohol, which has been reported to regulate glucose metabolism. OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to determine whether xylitol can alleviate cognitive impairment in AD mice. METHODS: In the current research, 5% xylitol was supplemented in the diet to treat APP/PS1 transgenic AD mice for 2 months. Cognitive ability was measured by the Morris water maze, and anxiety-like behaviors were examined by open-field experiment. Hippocampal cellular apoptosis and mitochondria pathway related apoptotic proteins were tested by TUNEL staining and immunoblotting, respectively. By LC-MS, plasma levels of glucose metabolism intermediates and related amino acids were evaluated. RESULTS: Results showed that xylitol could significantly ameliorate anxiety-like activity in AD mice by partially regulating expression levels of mitochondrial pathway-related apoptotic proteins. Xylitolregulated glucose metabolism may play an important role in the process. CONCLUSION: The current study suggests that xylitol may be a potential candidate for improving neuropsychiatric behavior in AD by regulating the levels of TCA cycle intermediates and related amino acids in glucose metabolism.

Complementary/Integrative Medicine for Pediatric Otitis Media.

Complementary/integrative medicine can be used in treating otitis media, especially during the watchful waiting phase. Elimination of risk factors can be important. Products such as echinacea, xylitol, and probiotics may help in prevention. Herbal eardrop formulations can relieve symptoms in some patients. Other modalities such as homeopathy can lead to faster relief of symptoms in combination with conventional therapy. Chinese, Japanese, and other forms of traditional medicine have varying formulations with unclear safety, but initial results are promising. Most studies are limited by methodological failures and small sample sizes, emphasizing the need for continued research in this area.

Selectivity Tuning by Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADESs) for Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Cytinus hypocistis-Studies of Antioxidative, Enzyme-Inhibitive Properties and LC-MS Profiles.

In the present study, the extracts of Cytinus hypocistis (L.) L using both traditional solvents (hexane, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, ethanol, ethanol/water, and water) and natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) were investigated in terms of their total polyphenolic contents and antioxidant and enzyme-inhibitive properties. The extracts were found to possess total phenolic and total flavonoid contents in the ranges of 26.47-186.13 mg GAE/g and 0.68-12.55 mg RE/g, respectively. Higher total phenolic contents were obtained for NADES extracts. Compositional differences were reported in relation to antioxidant potential studied by several assays (DPPH: 70.19-939.35 mg TE/g, ABTS: 172.56-4026.50 mg TE/g; CUPRAC: 97.41-1730.38 mg TE/g, FRAP: 84.11-1534.85 mg TE/g). Application of NADESs (choline chloride-urea 1:2, a so-called Reline) allowed one to obtain the highest number of extracts having antioxidant potential in the radical scavenging and reducing assays. NADES-B (protonated by HCl L-proline-xylitol 5:1) was the only extractant from the studied solvents that isolated a specific fraction without chelating activity. Reline extract exhibited the highest acetylcholinesterase inhibition compared to NADES-B and NADES-C (protonated by H2SO4 L-proline-xylitol 5:1) extracts, which showed no inhibition. The NADES extracts were observed to have higher tyrosinase inhibitory properties compared to extracts obtained by traditional organic solvents. Furthermore, the NADES extracts were relatively better inhibitors of the diabetic enzymes. These findings provided an interesting comparison in terms of total polyphenolic content yields, antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory properties (cholinesterase, amylase, glucosidase, and tyrosinase) between traditional solvent extracts and NADES extracts, used as an alternative. While the organic solvents showed better antioxidant activity, the NADES extracts were found to have some other improved properties, such as higher total phenolic content and enzyme-inhibiting properties, suggesting functional prospects for their use in phytonutrient extraction and fractionation. The obtained results could also be used to give a broad overview of the different biological potentials of C. hypocistis.

Chemical constituents of two Cameroonian medicinal plants: Sida rhombifolia L. and Sida acuta Burm. f. (Malvaceae) and their antiplasmodial activity.

An extensive phytochemical investigation of the EtOH/H2O (7:3) extracts of Sida rhombifolia L. and Sida acuta Burm. f., yielded a previously undescribed ceramide named rhombifoliamide (1) and a xylitol dimer (2), naturally isolated here for the first time, as well as the thirteen known compounds viz, oleanolic acid (3), ß-amyrin glucoside (4), ursolic acid (5), ß-sitosterol glucoside (6), tiliroside (7), 1,6-dihydroxyxanthone (8), a mixture of stigmasterol (9) and ß-sitosterol (10), cryptolepine (11), 20-Hydroxyecdysone (12), (E)-suberenol (13), thamnosmonin (14) and xanthyletin (15). Their structures were elucidated by the analyses of their spectroscopic and spectrometric data (1 D and 2 D NMR, and HRESI-MS) and by comparison with the previously reported data. The crude extracts, fractions, and some isolated compounds were tested against chloroquine-sensitive (3D7) and chloroquine-resistant (Dd2) Plasmodium falciparum strains. All the tested samples demonstrated moderate and/or significant activities against 3D7 (IC50 values: 0.18-20.11 µg/mL) and Dd2 (IC50 values: 0.74-63.09 µg/mL).[Formula: see text].

High humidity aggravates the severity of arthritis in collagen-induced arthritis mice by upregulating xylitol and L-pyroglutamic acid.

BACKGROUND: Humidity was an unfavorable factor for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA disease activity was severe in high humidity conditions. However, there is no evidence to demonstrate the effects of humidity on arthritis in the animal experiments and explore its relevant mechanism. METHODS: Using the DBA/1 mice, this study addressed the effects of a high humidity (80 ± 5%) on arthritis in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice. Then, this study used the gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) to explore alterations in serum metabolome caused by the high humidity. Furthermore, xylitol and L-pyroglutamic acid, which were both significantly upregulated by the high humidity, were selected to further study their effects on arthritis in the CIA mice. RESULTS: The high humidity (80 ± 5%) could aggravate arthritis variables including increasing arthritis score and swelling, serum autoantibodies (anti-COII and anti-CCP), and proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-17A, and G-CSF). In addition, the high humidity could cause significant alterations in serum metabolome in the CIA mice. Xylitol and L-pyroglutamic acid were the representative serum metabolites that were significantly upregulated by the high humidity. Further experiments demonstrated that the supplementation of 0.4 mg/mL xylitol in drinking water after inducing the CIA model and 2.0 mg/mL in drinking water before inducing the CIA model could both aggravate arthritis in the CIA mice. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrated that high humidity was not beneficial for arthritis development and its mechanism might be associated with xylitol and L-pyroglutamic acid.

Optimization of activated charcoal detoxification and concentration of chestnut shell hydrolysate for xylitol production.

OBJECTIVES: To increase xylose concentration of the chestnut shell hemicellulosic hydrolysate with an acceptable phenolic compound level in order to enhance xylitol production by Candida tropicalis M43. RESULTS: The xylose concentration and total phenolic compound concentration of the hydrolysate were obtained as 33.68 g/L and 77.38 mg gallic acid equivalent/L, respectively by optimization of detoxification parameters and concentration level (60 °C, 115 min contact time, 5.942% (w/v) dosage of activated charcoal, 120 strokes/min shaking rate and 0.2 volume ratio). Xylitol production was achieved in the hydrolysate by using Candida tropicalis M43. The maximum xylitol concentration was 6.30 g/L and productivity, yield and percentage of substrate conversion were calculated as 0.11 g/L h, 19.13% and 97.79%, respectively. In addition, the chestnut shell hydrolysate fortified with xylose and the maximum xylitol concentration increased to 18.08 g/L in the hydrolysate-based medium containing 80 g/L xylose. CONCLUSIONS: Optimizing detoxification conditions with concentration level was found to be useful for enhancing xylitol production. In addition, fortification of the hydrolysate caused a three fold increase in maximum xylitol concentration.

Extraction and characterization of a pectin from coffee (Coffea arabica L.) pulp with gelling properties.

About 0.5 ton of coffee pulp is generated for each ton of coffee cherry processed. In the present study, this waste was investigated as a source of pectin. Coffea arabica L. pulp was dried, treated with ethanol and the pectin extracted with 0.1 M HNO3 (14.6 % yield). Chromatographic, colorimetric and spectroscopic methods were used for pectin characterization. It had 79.5 % galacturonic acid, high methoxyl content (63.2 %), low levels of acetylation, protein and phenolics and Mw of 3.921 × 105 g/mol. The pectin from coffee pulp was able to form gels with high concentration of sucrose or xylitol and low pH. The effect of pH (1.5-3.0), concentrations of pectin (0.5-2.5 %), sucrose (55-65 %) and xylitol (55-60 %) on the viscoelastic properties was investigated. Gels prepared with xylitol diplayed similar viscoelastic behavior to the gels prepared with sucrose. The results demonstrated that coffee pulp is a potential source of commercial pectin with gelling properties.

Xylitol acts as an anticancer monosaccharide to induce selective cancer death via regulation of the glutathione level.

Herbal medicines and their bioactive compounds are increasingly being recognized as useful drugs for cancer treatments. The parasitic fungus Cordyceps militaris is an attractive anticancer herbal since it shows very powerful anticancer activity due to its phytocompound cordycepin. We previously discovered and reported that a high amount of xylitol is present in Cordyceps militaris extract, and that xylitol unexpectedly showed anticancer activity in a cancer-selective manner. We thus hypothesized that xylitol could become a useful supplement to help prevent various cancers, if we can clarify the specific machinery by which xylitol induces cancer cell death. It is also unclear whether xylitol acts on cancer suppression in vivo as well as in vitro. Here we show for the first time that induction of the glutathione-degrading enzyme CHAC1 is the main cause of xylitol-induced apoptotic cell death in cancer cells. The induction of CHAC1 is required for the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress that is triggered by xylitol in cancer cells, and is linked to a second induction of oxidative stress in the treated cells, and eventually leads to apoptotic cell death. Our in vivo approach also demonstrated that an intravenous injection of xylitol had a tumor-suppressing effect in mice, to which the xylitol-triggered ER stress also greatly contributed. We also observed that xylitol efficiently sensitized cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs. Based on our findings, a chemotherapeutic strategy combined with xylitol might improve the outcomes of patients facing cancer.

Remineralizing Effect of Xilitol, Juniperus Communis and Camellia Sinensis Added to a Toothpaste: An In Vitro Study / Efecto remineralizante del Xilitol, Juniperus Communis y Camellia Sinensis adicionados en pastas dentales: Estudio in vitro

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to explore the remineralizing effect of toothpastes based on Xilitol, Camellia Sinensis and Juniperus Communis. An in vitro experimental study was carried out in an 18 human premolars sample, which were treated with one of the 3 evaluated toothpastes and a control fluoride one. The atomic percentages of Ca and P were evaluated by Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). In addition, the enamel surface of treated teeth was visualized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The evaluations were carried out in three stages: pre-treatment, after an artificial demineralization process and after the treatment with the toothpastes. In the statistical analysis, the one-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation tests were used. Xilitol and Juniperus Communis showed the greatest gain of P ions compared to the control group (p<0.01). As for Ca, the group treated with xylitol-based toothpaste showed more ion gain compared with the control group (p<0.01). In the Pearson correlation test between Ca and P, statistically significant correlations were observed in all groups (p<0.01), ranging between r=0.7413 (Xylitol Group) and r=0.9510 (Control Group). We concluded that Xylitol paste showed the highest remineralizing property, both in the EDS analysis and in the SEM images.

RESUMEN El objetivo de este studio fue explorer el efecto remineralizante de las cremas dentales compuestas de Xilitol, Camelia Sinensis y Juniperus Communis. Se llevó a cabo un estudio experimental in vitro en una muestra de 18 premolares humanos, los cuales fueron tratados con una de las tres pastas dentales evaluadas y una fluorada. Los porcentajes atomicos de Ca y P fueron evaluados por Espectroscopia de rayos X de energía dispersive (EDS). Además, la superficie del esmalte de los dientes tratados fue examinada por Microscopia Electronica de Barrido (SEM). Las evaluaciones fueron llevadas a cabo en tres etapas: pre-tratamiento, despues de un proceso artificial de desmineralizacion y después del tratamiento con las pastas dentales. Se usaron ANOVA de una via y correlacion de Pearson para el analisis estadistico. Xilitol y Juniperus Communis mostraron la mayor ganancia de iones P comparados con el grupo control (p<0.01), con rangos entre r=0.7413 (Grupo con Xylitol) and r=0.9510 (Group Control). Se concluyó que la pasta con Xilitol mostró las mayores propiedades remineralizantes, tanto en el analisis EDS y las imágenes SEM.

Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent Extraction of Flavonoids of Scutellaria baicalensis as a Replacement for Conventional Organic Solvents.

Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) are a type of ionic liquid (IL) or deep eutectic solvent (DES), the ingredients of which are exclusively natural products (non-toxic and environmentally friendly). Here, we explore the potential of NADES as an alternative to conventional organic solvents (e.g., aqueous methanol or ethanol) for the extraction of flavonoids from Scutellaria baicalensis stem bark to investigate their extractability depending on structural variation. Four NADES, each containing citric acid in combination with ß-alanine, glucose, xylitol, or proline (at a molar ratio of 1:1), and a variable amount of water, were used to extract the flavonoid aglycones: baicalein (1), scutellarein (3), wogonin (5), and oroxylin A (7), and their glycosides, baicalin (2), scutellarin (4), wogonoside (6) and oroxyloside (8) from the powdered bark of S. baicalensis. The chemical profile and yield of the extracts were determined using HPTLC and HPLC. The extractability of individual flavonoids was found to be influenced by the concentration of water (20-60%, w/w) in the NADES. Among the tested flavonoids, the extraction yield of baicalein (1), scutellarein (3), wogonin (5), oroxylin A (7) with NADES was 2 to 6 times that of aqueous methanol. However, the amount of their corresponding glycosides (baicalin (2), wogonoside (6) and oroxyloside (8)) extracted with NADES was only 1.5-1.8 times higher than with aqueous methanol. Interestingly, the more hydrophilic glycosides were less extracted than their corresponding aglycones despite the high hydrophilicity of the NADES. These results prove that NADES may be used for extraction of compounds with a wide range of hydrophilicity.

The Emulsifying Properties of Hydrogenated Rosin Xylitol Ester as a Biomass Surfactant for Food: Effect of pH and Salts.

The xylitol ester of hydrogenated rosin (XEHR) was obtained for the first time from biomass-based hydrogenated rosin and xylitol using an environmentally friendly, high-pressure CO2 catalytic synthesis. This compound is intended for use as an emulsifier for food. Analyses by ICP-AES showed the absence of heavy metal residues in the product, such that it met food standards. Fourier transform infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies together with gel permeation chromatography confirmed the successful esterification and the formation of a monoester and diester with molar masses of 427 and 772 g/mol. The emulsification of water/soybean oil mixtures by adding the XEHR was assessed at pH values of 4, 6.86, and 10 and in the presence of NaCl, KCl, MgCl2, and CaCl2. The XEHR was found to act as an emulsifier by reducing the interfacial tension of such mixtures to less than 2 mN/m under all conditions. The highest emulsifying activity index (9.52 m2/g) and emulsifying stability index (94.53%) were obtained after adding MgCl2 (100 mM). Particle size and confocal microscopy showed that the presence of salts gave a more uniform droplet size and a finer emulsion structure. The high viscosities of the emulsions containing salts also suggested a more cohesive oil droplet network.

Comparative Evaluation of Efficacy of "Green Tea" and "Green Tea with Xylitol" Mouthwashes on the Salivary Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus Colony Count in Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

AIM: Green tea is an antimicrobial agent that has beneficial effects on oral and dental health. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of "green tea" and "green tea with xylitol" mouthwashes on the salivary Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus colony count in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial, 64 children aged 6-12 years were randomly divided into two groups. Subjects were instructed to wash their mouth with 5% "green tea" or 20% "green tea with xylitol" mouthwashes twice a day for a period of 2 weeks. Salivary counts of bacteria were determined at the baseline and after 2 weeks of intervention. RESULTS: A significant difference was found between the average number of bacterial colonies between the two groups after intervention (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Findings of this study suggest that the effect of the "green tea with xylitol" mouthwash on reducing the number of salivary colonies of S. mutans and Lactobacillus is significantly higher than that of the "green tea" mouthwash. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The green tea mouthwash can be advised for dental and oral health of children. How to cite this article: Hajiahmadi M, Yegdaneh A, Homayoni A, et al. Comparative Evaluation of Efficacy of "Green Tea" and "Green Tea with Xylitol" Mouthwashes on the Salivary Streptococcus Mutans and Lactobacillus Colony Count in Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial. J Contemp Dent Pract 2019;20(10):1190-1194.

3D printed mold-based capsaicin candy for the treatment of oral ulcer.

Oral ulcer is one common mucosal disease with high prevalence. Here, capsaicin candies were prepared based on the stereolithographically (SLA) 3D printed molds. The molds can be freely designed depending on the needs of patients, involving symmetric shapes (e.g., round, four-lead clover and cube), asymmetric shapes (e.g., car) and various color (e.g., blue, red and yellow). A two-part-combined mold was filled with the xylitol-based material and separated to obtain hard candies. Capsaicin was amorphous in the candies according to the differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction. Poloxamer 188 improved the release of capsaicin from the candies. Rat oral ulcer models were established on the tongue with phenol liquids. The blank candy, 0.05% capsaicin candy and dexamethasone were respectively administered on the ulcer once daily. On Day 7, a healing rate of 97.8% was achieved by the capsaicin candy, much higher than those in the other groups. Moreover, the blank candy also showed the remarkable ulcer healing effect due to the presence of xylitol and poloxamer. Capsaicin remarkably enhanced the reepithelialization of ulcer tissues and showed strong anti-inflammatory effect by reducing the expressions of THF-α and IL-6. 3D printing-based capsaicin candies provide an interesting therapeutic choice for the people with oral ulcer.

Natural deep eutectic solvents for sample preparation prior to elemental analysis by plasma-based techniques.

Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) based on xylitol, citric acid, and malic acid were synthesized and were then characterized using infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), also density and viscosity were measurements. The deep eutectic solvents were used as solvent in ultrasound-assisted extraction (DES-UAE) of plant samples prior to elemental analysis. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) were employed for the determination of As, Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, and Zn in the extracts. The infrared analyses of the NADES revealed bands characteristic of the initial reagents, with the presence of hydrogen bonds, which confirmed the formation of a NADES. The thermal analyses showed decomposition temperatures of around 170 °C and endothermic events related to degradation of the NADES. The viscosity and density parameters were found to be related to the presence of hydrogen bonds. The extraction recoveries ranged from 80% to 120%, with some analytes presenting poor recoveries. There were no significant differences between the NADES, in terms of the concentrations of the analytes found in the extracts. However, there were differences between the analyte concentrations obtained using the NADES extraction method and the concentrations obtained using microwave-assisted acid digestion (MW-AD), possibly due to the different types of interactions between the solvents and the analytes. Plant tissues are complex matrices containing substantial amounts of silica, so some elements may be tightly bound and consequently difficult to release. The results indicated that UAE using NADES is a promising technique for the elemental extraction of plant samples.

Eficácia de um dentifrício sem flúor no controle de Streptococcus mutans in vitro / Effectiveness of a non-fluoridated dentifrice in control of Streptococcus mutans in vitro

Objetivo: avaliar a eficácia de um dentifrício, que contém em sua composição extratos vegetais e xilitol para inibição de Streptococcus mutans (UA159). Materiais e método: para verificação da atividade antimicrobiana, foram realizados ensaios in vitro de difusão de ágar, baseados na metodologia da norma M2A8 Anvisa. O estudo foi feito utilizando inóculo de 108 UFC/mL da cepa de S. mutans. O princípio básico foi a difusão de uma solução de dentifrício na superfície do ágar a partir de um disco impregnado. O ensaio foi realizado utilizando como controle negativo água deionizada estéril e como controle positivo clorexidina 0,12%, e foram comparados aos dentifrícios Orgânico Natural® e Colgate Total 12®. O resultado foi analisado a partir da medição dos halos de inibição (mm). Resultados: a clorexidina 0,12% teve maior halo de inibição (21,08 ± 1,02), seguida do dentifrício Orgânico Natural® (11,33 ± 4,35) e do dentifrício Colgate Total 12 (3,93 ± 4,67) P<0,05. Conclusão: a inibição da cepa de S. mutans evidenciada neste ensaio in vitro demonstra o potencial antimicrobiano do dentifrício Orgânico Natural®, mesmo como um possível auxiliar no controle do biofilme dental cariogênico. (AU)

Objective: the goal was to evaluate the effectiveness of a dentifrice that has a chemical composition of plant extracts and xylitol to inhibit the Streptococcus mutans (UA159). Materials and methods: based on the methodology of the M2A8 Anvisa standard, in vitro agar diffusion assays were performed to verify antimicrobial activity. The study was carried out using inoculum of 108 CFU / mL of S. mutans strain. The principle was the diffusion of a dentifrice solution on the agar surface, from a disc impregnated therewith. The assay was performed using as a negative control the sterile deionized water, 0.12% chlorhexidine as a positive control compared to Orgânico Natural® and Colgate Total 12® toothpastes. The result was analyzed from the inhibition halos measurement (mm). Results: the chlorhexidine 0.12% had the biggest inhibition halo (21,08 ± 1,02) followed by the Orgânico Natural® dentifrice (11,33 ± 4,35) and the Colgate Total 12® dentifrice (3,93 ± 4,67) P<0,05. Conclusion: the inhibition of the S. mutans strain realized in these in vitro assay by the Orgânico Natural® dentifrice demonstrate the antimicrobial potential of the same as a possible aid in the control of the cariogenic dental biofilm. (AU)

Effects of xylitol and stevioside on the physical and rheological properties of gelatin from cod skin.

Jelly and confectionery products are high in sugar and calories. Xylitol and stevioside are natural low-calorie sweeteners and they can be used as an alternative; however, their effects on fish gelatin are unknown. The gelatin was extracted from cod skins and added to xylitol or stevioside (0, 2, 6, 10, 14, and 20% (w/v)) to form gel products. This paper investigated how xylitol and stevioside affected the physical and rheological behaviors of fish gelatin, such as color, gel strength, texture profile analysis, storage modulus (G'), loss modulus (G″), and viscosity. Results showed that the change of color and viscosity in gel products were similar when various concentrations of xylitol or stevioside were added to the fish gelatin. But the effects of xylitol/stevioside on texture profile analysis and G', G″ were different, which might due to the structure variation in xylitol and stevioside. The linear structure of xylitol resulted in ionic interaction, hydrogen bonding, van der Waals forces, and hydrophobic association between xylitol and fish gelatin. Therefore, xylitol is a promising sweetener substitute, which was probably related to its greater solubility and number of -OH groups.

Origin of Xylitol in Chewing Gum: A Compound-Specific Isotope Technique for the Differentiation of Corn- and Wood-Based Xylitol by LC-IRMS.

The sugar replacement compound xylitol has gained increasing attention because of its use in many commercial food products, dental-hygiene articles, and pharmaceuticals. It can be classified by the origin of the raw material used for its production. The traditional "birch xylitol" is considered a premium product, in contrast to xylitol produced from agriculture byproducts such as corn husks or sugar-cane straw. Bulk stable-isotope analysis (BSIA) and compound-specific stable-isotope analysis (CSIA) by liquid-chromatography isotope-ratio mass spectrometry (LC-IRMS) of chewing-gum extracts were used to determine the δ13C isotope signatures for xylitol. These were applied to elucidate the original plant type the xylitol was produced from on the basis of differences in isotope-fractionation processes of photosynthetic CO2 fixation. For the LC-IRMS analysis, an organic-solvent-free extraction protocol and HPLC method for the separation of xylitol from different artificial sweeteners and sugar-replacement compounds was successfully developed and applied to the analysis of 21 samples of chewing gum, from which 18 could be clearly related to the raw-material plant class.