Efficacy of amino acids in sports nutrition- review of clinical evidences.

The efficacy of amino acids as popular sports supplements has triggered debates, with their impact on athletic performance varying across sports disciplines due to diversity and heterogeneity in clinical trials. This review evaluates the ergogenic potential of amino acids, by critical appraisal of results of clinical trials of Branched chain amino acids (BCAAs), arginine, glutamine, citrulline, ß-alanine, and taurine, performed on elite sportsmen from various land and water sports. Clinical trials reviewed here confirm notable physiological benefits thereby supporting the claim that BCAA, citrulline and arginine in various doses can have positive effects on endurance and overall performance in sportsperson. Furthermore, results of clinical trials and metabolomic studies indicate that in future it would be more beneficial to design precise formulations to target the requirement of specific sports. For instance, some combinations of amino acids may be more suitable for long term endurance and some others may be suitable for short burst of excessive energy. The most important insights from this review are the identification of three key areas where research is urgently needed: a) Biomarkers that can identify the physiological end points and to distinguish the specific role of amino acid as anti-fatigue or reducing muscle soreness or enhancing energy b) In-depth sports-wise clinical trials on elite sportsperson to understand the ergogenic needs for the particular sports c) Design of precision formula for similar types of sports instead of common supplements.

Single-Atomic Co-N4 Sites with CrCo Nanoparticles for Metal-Air Battery-Driven Hydrogen Evolution.

Designing highly active and robust earth abundant trifunctional electrocatalysts for energy storage and conversion applications remain an enormous challenge. Herein, we report a trifunctional electrocatalyst (CrCo/CoN4@CNT-5), synthesized at low calcination temperature (550 °C), which consists of Co-N4 single atom and CrCo alloy nanoparticles and exhibits outstanding electrocatalytic performance for the hydrogen evolution reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, and oxygen reduction reaction. The catalyst is able to deliver a current density of 10 mA cm-2 in an alkaline electrolytic cell at a very low cell voltage of ∼1.60 V. When the catalyst is equipped in a liquid rechargeable Zn-air battery, it endowed a high open-circuit voltage with excellent cycling durability and outperformed the commercial Pt/C+IrO2 catalytic system. Furthermore, the Zn-air battery powered self-driven water splitting system is displayed using CrCo/CoN4@CNT-5 as sole trifunctional catalyst, delivering a high H2 evolution rate of 168 µmol h-1. Theoretical calculations reveal synergistic interaction between Co-N4 active sites and CrCo nanoparticles, favoring the Gibbs free energy for H2 evolution. The presence of Cr not only enhances the H2O adsorption and dissociation but also tunes the electronic property of CrCo nanoparticles to provide optimized hydrogen binding capacity to Co-N4 sites, thus giving rise to accelerated H2 evolution kinetics. This work highlights the importance of the presence of small quantity of Cr in enhancing the electrocatalytic activity as well as robustness of single-atom catalyst and suggests the design of the multifunctional robust electrocatalysts for long-term H2 evolution application.

Dual Single-Atomic Co-Mn Sites in Metal-Organic-Framework-Derived N-Doped Nanoporous Carbon for Electrochemical Oxygen Reduction.

Synthesizing dual single-atom catalysts (DSACs) with atomically isolated metal pairs is a challenging task but can be an effective way to enhance the performance for electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Herein, well-defined DSACs of Co-Mn, stabilized in N-doped porous carbon polyhedra (named CoMn/NC), are synthesized using high-temperature pyrolysis of a Co/Mn-doped zeolitic imidazolate framework. The atomically isolated Co-Mn site in CoMn/NC is recognized by combining microscopic as well as spectroscopic techniques. CoMn/NC exhibited excellent ORR activities in alkaline (E1/2 = 0.89 V) as well as in acidic (E1/2 = 0.82 V) electrolytes with long-term durability and enhanced methanol tolerance. Density functional theory (DFT) suggests that the Co-Mn site is efficiently activating the O-O bond via bridging adsorption, decisive for the 4e- oxygen reduction process. Though the Co-Mn sites favor O2 activation via the dissociative ORR mechanism, stronger adsorption of the intermediates in the dissociative path degrades the overall ORR activity. Our DFT studies conclude that the ORR on an Co-Mn site mainly occurs via bridging side-on O2 adsorption following thermodynamically and kinetically favorable associative mechanistic pathways with a lower overpotential and activation barrier. CoMn/NC performed excellently as a cathode in a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell and rechargeable Zn-air battery with high peak power densities of 970 and 176 mW cm-2, respectively. This work provides the guidelines for the rational design and synthesis of nonprecious DSACs for enhancing the ORR activity as well as the robustness of DSACs and suggests a design of multifunctional robust electrocatalysts for energy storage and conversion devices.

Coupling Single-Ni-Atom with Ni-Co Alloy Nanoparticle for Synergistically Enhanced Oxygen Reduction Reaction.

Developing nonprecious metal-based oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts with superior activity and durability is crucial for commercializing proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. Herein, we report a metal-organic framework (MOF)-derived unique N-doped hollow carbon structure (NiCo/hNC), comprising of atomically dispersed single-Ni-atom (NiN4) and small NiCo alloy nanoparticles (NPs), for highly efficient and durable ORR catalysis in both alkaline and acidic electrolytes. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal the strong coupling between NiN4 and NiCo NPs, favoring the direct 4e- transfer ORR process by lengthening the adsorbed O-O bond. Moreover, NiCo/hNC as a cathode electrode in PEM fuel cells delivered a stable performance. Our findings not only furnish the fundamental understanding of the structure-activity relationship but also shed light on designing advanced ORR catalysts.

Immobilizing a homogeneous manganese catalyst into MOF pores for α-alkylation of methylene ketones with alcohols.

Herein, for the first time, a metal-organic framework (MOF) is reported as a catalyst for α-alkylation of ketones with alcohols. Using an encapsulation strategy via nano-confinement of a homogeneous Mn-phenanthroline complex into MOF pores, functionalized branched ketones were selectively produced. Mechanistic investigations and deuterium labelling experiments validated the utilization of the borrowing hydrogen strategy. The formation of extra Lewis acid sites, defects, and pore enhancement during catalysis helped in achieving higher activity and selectivity.

Sour beer production in India using a coculture of Saccharomyces pastorianus and Lactobacillus plantarum: optimization, microbiological, and biochemical profiling.

The study's objective was to develop a co-fermentation process with appropriate fermentation parameters to produce a sour beer (similar to a Belgium sour beer) with an ethanol content of 6-8% (v/v) using a coculture of Saccharomyces pastorianus and Lactobacillus plantarum. Statistical optimization was conducted to determine fermentation conditions to produce a sour beer with ~ 3 mg/mL of lactic acid, similar to the traditional sour beer levels. Studies were conducted on the microbial dynamics and volatile compounds produced during this fermentation and aging process. GC-MS studies revealed the generation of novel bioactive compounds as well as the depletion of some volatile compounds during co-fermentation. The study detailed a 5-day co-fermentation process of S. pastorianus and L. plantarum and a 21-day aging process to prepare a sour beer with biochemical properties along the lines of traditional lambic beers. The interrelationship between the two microorganisms and the biochemical changes in the sour beer fermentation process was elucidated and the sensorial attributes have been described.

Heterogenizing a Homogeneous Nickel Catalyst Using Nanoconfined Strategy for Selective Synthesis of Mono- and 1,2-Disubstituted Benzimidazoles.

A homogeneous Ni-phenanthroline catalyst was successfully immobilized into the cavities of a metal-organic framework, ZIF-8. The as-synthesized heterogeneous catalyst, Ni-Phen@ZIF, represents the first MOF based catalyst that enables dehydrogenative coupling of alcohols with aromatic diamines for selective synthesis of both mono- and 1,2-disubstituted benzimidazoles. The catalyst survived under harsh basic conditions, characterized by SEM, TEM, BET, PXRD, and EDX elemental mappings. The presence of the nanoconfined Ni-phenanthroline complex and the formation of extra Lewis acid sites during catalysis in the Ni-Phen@ZIF structure, confirmed by TPD analysis and kinetic experiments, might be responsible for higher activity and selectivity.

Influence of fruit-based beverages on efficacy of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG) against DSS-induced intestinal inflammation.

Different lines of evidences from clinical, epidemiological and biochemical studies have established that optimal nutrition including probiotic and fruit phenolics can mitigate the risk and morbidity associated with some chronic diseases. The basis for this observation is the potential synergies that may exist between probiotic strains and different bioactive components of food matrices. This study was conceptualized to compare the efficiency of a probiotic strain in two different fruit matrices. Two fruits, viz., sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) (SBT) and apples (Malus pumila) (APJ) were chosen and the anti-inflammatory effects of L. rhamnosus GG (ATCC 53103) (LR) fortified in SBT and APJ were analysed against dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) induced colitis in zebrafish (Danio rerio). The results showed that administration of probiotic (LR) fortified, malt supplemented SBT beverage (SBT + M + LR) had better restorative potential on the intestinal barrier function and mucosal damage, in comparison to LR fortified, malt supplemented APJ beverage (APJ + M + LR). SBT + M + LR demonstrated adequate anti-oxidant potential by enhancing the CAT, SOD, GPx and GSH activities, impaired due to DSS administration. The increase in the expressions of toll like receptor (TLR)-2, TLR-4 and TLR-5 induced by DSS were significantly inhibited by SBT + M + LR administration. Gene expression of pro-inflammatory markers, (NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, CCL20, MPO and MMP9) were attenuated by SBT + M + LR treatment in intestinal tissues of DSS-treated zebrafishes. Notably, SBT + M + LR increased the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10. The study provides evidence that specific interactions between fruit matrix and probiotic strain can provide adjunct therapeutic strategy to manage intestinal inflammation.

Probiotics-targeting new milestones from gut health to mental health.

Conventional probiotic food research was primarily focused on their benefits for gut health. Recently with the confirmation that the gut microbiota has a bidirectional connection with the brain, it is being proposed that modification of the microbiota can possibly extirpate neurological diseases. Development of probiotic foods and formulations for neural health benefits has garnered interest, with a renewed focus. In this context, this review discusses the evidences collected on the anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of probiotics, especially during the time span of 2015-till now. Although, more clinical trials are necessary to elucidate the exact mechanism of probiotic mode of action but several of the established probiotic strains have been investigated and it appears that few of them have demonstrated their potential as 'psychobiotics'. The formulation of new psychobiotic-based therapeutics is in the spotlight. It is expected that in near future, biological effect of probiotics on neurological conditions will open up an entirely new avenue for personalized medication and healthcare in mental health, and they can be tailored according to the gut-microbiota of specific individuals.

Tailoring functional beverages from fruits and vegetables for specific disease conditions-are we there yet?

On-the-go beverages that may deliver health, increase stamina, reduce stress and provide longevity have captivated consumers and catapulted the food industry into the era of functional food and beverages. The industry initially responded with rapid growth. However, with time product diversification has become somewhat compromised, since most products contain the same bioactive components. Advancement in product technology has to be backed with research. Mere fortification of tea, juices and water, without any scientific evaluation of their functionality, has to be discouraged. Fruits and vegetable juices are excellent matrices for delivery of physiologically active component. Science backed designing will get us closer to tailoring fruits and vegetable juices into 'smart' beverages. As a case study two fruit-based products, probiotic and fruit wines (non-grape) have been considered here. This review explores the possibility of what more may be done to take the fruit and vegetable beverages to next step.

Adhesion and anti-inflammatory potential of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG in a sea buckthorn based beverage matrix.

The consumption of probiotic based foods due to their health promoting effects has increased over the years. The consumption of probiotic based foods, due to their health promoting effects, has increased over the years. Due to this rising demands, the application platforms of the food industry have directed their efforts in the development of novel functional probiotic beverages. The presence of dietary phenolics and other beneficial components has made fruit-based matrices more popular for probiotic delivery. However, very few studies to date have evaluated the impact of carrier matrices on the in vivo functionality of probiotic strains with specific biomarkers and targeted towards specific disease conditions. In this study, we investigated the effect of a sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) based, malt supplemented, beverage matrix (SBT + M) on the physiological characteristics of the probiotic strain L. rhamnosus GG (ATCC 53103) (LR). No significant difference in the auto-aggregation and co-aggregation rates of LR fortified in SBT + M was observed compared to LR alone. Storage conditions (4 °C for 14 days) did not affect the survival and the adhesion potential of LR to the HCT116 cell line. More importantly, this study also determined the protective effect of SBT + M on the in vivo functionality of LR in alleviating LPS induced inflammation in zebrafish (Danio rerio). The results showed that administration with SBT + M + LR significantly alleviated the LPS induced colonic damage, evidenced by the decrease in the overall histological and goblet cell scores compared to the LPS-treated group. The protective effect of SBT + M + LR was higher compared to the effects of SBT + M or LR alone. The colonic expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1ß) showed a marked decline by 84.7% and 86.5% respectively. The highest expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was recorded in the SBT + M + LR treated group (p < 0.001). The overall results reveal that the administration of SBT + M + LR showed the best effects in alleviating the LPS induced intestinal damage compared to the other test groups (SBT + M and LR). These protective effects could be attributed to the phenolic compounds present in the SBT matrix. Our study indicates the contributory role of the carrier matrix and merits further investigation for its use as a potential therapeutic agent for gastrointestinal inflammation.

Evaluation of Probiotic-Beverage Matrix Interaction for Efficient Control of Enterobacter aerogenes and Staphylococcus aureus.

HIGHLIGHTS: L. rhamnosus GG in sea buckthorn matrix inhibited E. aerogenes and S. aureus. L. rhamnosus GG was more efficient in sea buckthorn than in apple matrix. Enhanced protection in sea buckthorn matrix may be due to higher phenolic content. WPC and the probiotic increased the pseudoplasticity of the juice matrices.

Matrix-wise evaluation of in vivo and in vitro efficiencies of L. rhamnosus GG-fortified beverages.

The interactions between phenolic compounds and gut microbiota, have gained much attention due to their beneficial effect on humans. The study was also conceived keeping in view the growing popularity of probiotics and emerging interest in designing plant based matrices for probiotic delivery. The synergistic relationship between probiotic, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LR) (ATCC 53103) and phenolic compounds of fruit matrices, sea buckthorn (SBT) and apple juice (APJ) was evaluated on TNBS induced enterocolitis in a zebrafish model (Danio rerio). Addition of LR to SBT matrix conferred higher protection against inflammation than LR in APJ matrix. This could be due to higher content of phenolic compounds in SBT. Isorhamnetin was identified as the predominant phenolic in SBT. The juice matrices were also evaluated for their flow and viscoelastic properties. The consistency index (K) and flow behaviour index (η) were derived from evaluating the shear strength. All the tested juice matrices demonstrated shear-thinning properties. Effect of the matrices on other functionalities of LR during storage period of 14 days was also evaluated. No significant changes were observed on cell surface hydrophobicity depicting protective action of the matrix components on the probiotic strain. Gastrointestinal tolerance increased on Day 7 and 14. Principal Component Analysis of the anti-microbial potential of the probiotic beverage formulations against pathogenic and food spoilage strains showed higher antagonistic ability of LR in SBT during the 14 days storage. The key findings suggest probiotic strain may behave differently in different food matrices. The sustainable functionality of the probiotic strain can be achieved even during the shelf period by optimum design of the delivery matrix.

Effects of co-fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Issatchenkia orientalis on sea buckthorn juice.

This work relates to the development of a co-fermented product of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) with Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Issatchenkia orientalis. Besides malic acid degradation, the parameters of present production technology were also standardized with emphasis on the retainability of total phenolic content (TPC) of sea buckthorn juice. The effect of co-fermentation on physico-chemical characteristics, organic acids, flavonoids, TPC and antioxidant activities was studied. The high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed 55% reduction in malic acid content after the co-fermentation of sea buckthorn juice. The TPC of sea buckthorn product was 2.18 g gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/l. The estimated scavenging effect on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radicals was 2.63 Trolox equivalent (TE) mmol/l. Ferric-reducing antioxidant power and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenz-thiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) assays also showed that sea buckthorn product was on a par with commercial wines (Cabernet Shiraz and Beaujolais). We conclude that the process of co-fermentation resulted in a significant antioxidant potential of sea buckthorn product.

Fermentation responses and in vitro radical scavenging activities of Fagopyrum esculentum.

In this study, the impact of fermentation of Fagopyrum esculentum (buckwheat) by Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis was investigated. The interaction between starter culture and buckwheat dough matrix was evaluated with respect to microbial count, final pH, organic acids, total phenolic content and antioxidant potential. An increase of one log cycle from 8.76 to 9.92 log CFU(Colony Forming Unit)/g was observed during fermentation. Lactic acid content increased up to 1350 µg/g within 24 h of fermentation. The most significant result of this study was an observed increase in the total phenolic content of the dough, from 2.73 to 7.64 mg GAE(Gallic Acid Equivalence)/g. Antioxidant potential of fermented buckwheat also showed an increased percentage of 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity from 44.32% to 88.98% and ferric reducing antioxidant power potential increased from 14.43 to 25.68 µM Fe(II)/g after 72 h of fermentation. We conclude that lactic acid fermentation of buckwheat dough has a potential to be a functional food, with enhanced antioxidant activity.

Protective effects of a novel sea buckthorn wine on oxidative stress and hypercholesterolemia.

We developed a novel sea buckthorn wine containing significant in vitro free radical-scavenging activity. High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of the sea buckthorn wine revealed that it contains high rutin, myricetin and quercetin levels compared to Cabernet Shiraz wine. In this study, we evaluated the protective effects of sea buckthorn wine against phorone-induced oxidative stress and high-cholesterol diet induced hypercholesterolemia in male LACA mice. Oral administration of sea buckthorn wine increased the redox ratio accompanied by reduction of oxidized glutathione levels leading to attenuation of phorone-induced oxidative stress. Furthermore, the sea buckthorn wine supplementation reduced hepatic lipid peroxidation and increased the superoxide dismutase activity indicating improved resistance to oxidative stress. In addition, high-cholesterol-fed mice administered with sea buckthorn wine exhibited a 197% increase in the HDL-C/LDL-C ratio compared to high-cholesterol diet treated mice. These studies provide important evidence that sea buckthorn wine exerts protective effects against oxidative stress and hypercholesterolemia.

Profiling C6-C3 and C6-C1 phenolic metabolites in Cocos nucifera.

This paper reports the detection and identification of phenolic metabolites (C6-C3 and C6-C1 compounds) in Cocos nucifera. An HPLC/UV system was used to analyze the soluble and wall-associated phenolics in mesocarp and leaf tissues of C. nucifera. Alkaline hydrolysis of the cell wall material of the mesocarpic and leaf tissues yielded 4-hydroxybenzoic acid as the major phenolic compound. Other phenolic acids identified were ferulic acid, 4-coumaric acid, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and vanillic acid. No significant qualitative differences in composition were observed between leaf and mesocarp, but there were quantitative variations in the metabolite levels.

Immobilization of alpha-amylase produced by Bacillus circulans GRS 313

A maltooligosaccharide-forming amylase from B circulans GRS 313 was immobilized by entrapment in calcium alginate beads. The immobilized activity was affected by the size of the bead and bead size of 2mm was found to be most effective for hydrolysis. Kinetics constants, Km and Vmax were estimated and were found to be affected by the bead size. The catalytic activity of the enzyme was studied in presence of various starchy residues and metal ions. HgCl2, CuSO4 and FeCl3 caused inhibition of the enzyme. The reaction conditions, pH and temperature, was optimized using response surface methodology. At the optimum pH and temperature of 4.9 and 57ºC, the apparent activity was 25.6U/g of beads, resulting in almost 2-fold increase in activity. The immobilized enzyme showed a high operational stability by retaining almost 85 percent of the initial activity after seventh use

Immobilization of alpha-amylase from Bacillus circulans GRS 313 on coconut fiber.

A simple and inexpensive method for immobilizing alpha-amylase from Bacillus circulans GRS 313 on coconut fiber was developed. The immobilization conditions for highest efficiency were optimized with respect to immobilization pH of 5.5, 30 degrees C, contact time of 4 h, and enzyme to support a ratio of 1:1 containing 0.12 mg/mL of protein. The catalytic properties of the immobilized enzyme were compared with that of the free enzyme. The activity of amylase adsorbed on coconut fiber was 38.7 U/g of fiber at its optimum pH of 5.7 and 48 degrees C, compared with the maximum activity of 40.2 U/mL of free enzyme at the optimum pH of 4.9 and 48 degrees C. The reutilization capacity of the immobilized enzyme was up to three cycles.