Determination of α-methylenecyclopropylglycine in Shahi and China litchi cultivars at three different maturity stages: A quantitative study using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

This study presents the contents of α-methylenecyclopropylglycine, a potentially toxic amino acid, in the peel, pulp and seed fractions of two well-known litchi varieties, namely Shahi and China, over a span of three harvest-seasons. For analysing α-methylenecyclopropylglycine, an LC-MS/MS-based method was validated. The method-accuracies fell within 75-110 % (RSD, <15 %) at 0.1 mg/kg (LOQ) and higher levels. A comparative evaluation of the results in peel, pulp and seed at 30 days before harvest (DBH), 15-DBH, and edible-ripe stage revealed that α-methylenecyclopropylglycine content increased as the litchi seeds grew towards maturity, regardless of the cultivar. In arils, at maturity, the concentration of α-methylenecyclopropylglycine ranged from not-detected to 11.7 µg/g dry weight. The Shahi cultivar showed slightly higher α-methylenecyclopropylglycine content in comparison to China litchi. This paper presents the first known analysis of combined seasonal data on different fruit components at various growth stages for the two chosen litchi cultivars grown in India.

Obtaining and characterization of natural extracts from mango (Mangifera Indica) peel and its effect on the rheological behavior in new mango kernel starch hydrogels.

Hydrogels based on natural polymers have aroused interest from the scientific community. The aim of this investigation was to obtain natural extracts from mango peels and to evaluate their addition (1, 3, and 5%) on the rheological behavior of mango starch hydrogels. The total phenolic content, antioxidant activities, and phenolic acid profile of the natural extracts were evaluated. The viscoelastic and thixotropic behavior of hydrogels with the addition of natural extracts was evaluated. The total phenol content and antioxidant activity of the extracts increased significantly (p<0.05) with the variation of the ethanol-water ratio; the phenolic acid profile showed the contain of p-coumaric, ellagic, ferulic, chlorogenic acids, epicatechein, catechin, querecetin, and mangiferin. The viscoelastic behavior of the hydrogels showed that the storage modulus G' is larger than the loss modulus G'' indicating a viscoelastic solid behavior. The addition of extract improved the thermal stability of the hydrogels. 1% of the extracts increase viscoelastic and thixotropic properties, while concentrations of 3 to 5% decreased. The recovery percentage (%Re) decreases at concentrations from 0% to 1% of natural extracts, however, at concentrations from 3% to 5% increased.

Preparation and structural characteristics of polysaccharides from loquat peel waste, and their preliminary bioactivities.

BACKGROUND: Loquat peel, often as food waste, is a valuable source of bioactive polysaccharides. However, study of such polysaccharides is insufficient, leaving a significant gap in understanding their preparation, structure and bioactivities. RESULTS: In this study, three types of loquat peel polysaccharides (LPWP, LPHP and LPNP) were sequentially extracted using hot water, HCl and NaOH solutions, respectively. Among them, LPWP was the purest, with a yield of 3.4% and molecular weight of 470.6 kDa, and it differed from LPHP and LPNP in structure, as evidenced by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, which demonstrated that LPWP consisted of more arabinose (Ara) but less galacturonic acid, rhamnose and galactose, with molar percentages of 71.3%, 23.3%, 3.5% and 1.9%, respectively. Besides, LPWP also exhibited superior antioxidant and antihyperglycemic activities in vitro, particularly in inhibiting α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Methylation and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis confirmed that LPWP was a methyl-esterified pectic polysaccharide rich in branched arabinan, as evidenced by the notable proportion of α-Ara residues, including T-α-Araf, 1,5-α-Araf and 1,2,3,5-α-Araf, with molar percentages of 27.1%, 23.1% and 10.2%, respectively. AFM imaging further revealed its branched-chain morphology and aggregation behavior. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the potential of loquat peel polysaccharides as a bioactive ingredient with significant antioxidant and antihyperglycemic properties, particularly LPWP, which was found as a methyl-esterified pectic polysaccharide with abundant-branched arabinan. Our work provides valuable insights into the application of loquat peel polysaccharides in functional foods. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Maximizing polyphenol yield: ultrasound-assisted extraction and antimicrobial potential of mango peel.

This study investigated the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) techniques used to enhance the polyphenols and antioxidants of mango peel extract (MPE). Additionally, it explored the bacteriostatic activity of MPE against various microorganisms. The UAE method was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) at different times, temperatures, and ratios, with optimal conditions found to be 35 minutes, 45 °C, and a 1:35 ratio. The optimized yield results for total polyphenol content (TPC) were 17.33 ± 1.57 mg GAE/g, total flavonoid content (TFC) was 12.14 ± 0.29 mg QE/g, and radical scavenging activity (RSA) was 72.11 ± 2.19%. These response models were extremely significant with p-values less than 0.05. MPE showed selective effectiveness against Bacillus cereus, Geobacillus stearothermophilus, and Escherichia coli (E. coli). The results highlight the potential of mango peel as a sustainable source of bioactive compounds, contributing to waste reduction in the food industry and the development of natural antimicrobial agents. This study contributes to further research on the application of MPE in processed foods.

Synthesis, characterization of hydroxyapatite from pomegranate fruit peel for Cr (VI) adsorption: Process modelling, kinetic and isotherm studies.

The present work focuses on preparation of hydroxyapatite from pomegranate peels by precipitation method. The hydroxyapatite derived from pomegranate fruit peels (HA-PP) was characterized by XRD, FT-IR, SEM-EDS and BET techniques. The HA-PP has mesoporous in structure and had an area of 99.021 m2/g. Further HA-PP was used as adsorbent for the removal of Cr (VI) ion particles from K2Cr2O7. The adsorption trials were executed and found the optimized solution using response surface methodology (RSM). The experiments included parameters like pH 2, initial chromium concentration 200 mg/L, adsorbent loading 0.8 g, and contact time 60 min, respectively. Cr (VI) removal was 89.4 % at the optimum combination of these process parameters. A mathematical and statistical optimizing technique response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to verify the interactive effects of various parameters on the adsorption capacity. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to predict the adequacy of the model (F 82.16) shows developed model is valid with R2 value 0.987, and p-value (>0.1). In this the Langmuir adsorption isotherm and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model are well explained for Cr (VI) adsorption onto HA-PP. This reaction is spontaneous and endothermic, as indicated by the negative change in the standard free energy (ΔG0 = -0.1732) and ΔH0 (+4.71) value at the selected temperature. The ΔS0 (+15.89) further confirms that the randomness increased at the solid-solution interface during adsorption.

Hypoglycemic Effect of Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.) Peel Polyphenols on Type 2 Diabetes Mice by Modulating Gut Microbiota and Metabolites.

SCOPE: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disease with a major global public health effect. Rambutan peel polyphenols (RPPs) have been reported to exert hypoglycemic activity. However, few studies have been explored from the viewpoint of gut microbiota and its metabolites. METHODS AND RESULTS: RPPs are administered by gavage to a mice model of T2DM established by using a high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin. It finds that RPPs treatment alleviates hyperglycemia symptoms by improving glucolipid metabolism and liver function. Immunohistochemistry indicates that the antihyperglycemic effect of RPPs is regulated by the IRS-1/PI3K/AKT/GSK3ß signaling pathway. RPPs treatment remodels the structure of gut microbiota (Odoribacter, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Lactobacillus, Turicibacter, Erysipelatoclostridium, and Tuzzerella) and enriches the metabolites (RPPs-derived urolithins, short-chain fatty acids, dehydrocholic acid, (+)-catechin, dihydroberberine, pterostilbene, and artesunate) associated with diabetes regulation in T2DM mice. The effects of RPPs in ameliorating glycolipid metabolism disorders are correlated with differential gut microbiota and metabolites. CONCLUSION: The gut microbiota and its metabolites are key targets for the hypoglycemic effects of RPPs.

Tangerine Peel-Derived Exosome-Like Nanovesicles Alleviate Hepatic Steatosis Induced by Type 2 Diabetes: Evidenced by Regulating Lipid Metabolism and Intestinal Microflora.

Purpose: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a significant global health burden, exhibiting a strong correlation with insulin resistance, obesity, and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Despite the severity of hepatic steatosis in T2DM patients, no specific drugs have been approved for clinical treatment of the disease. Tangerine peel is one kind of popular functional food and reported to possess hypoglycemic and lipid-lowering potential. In this study, we investigated the effects of Tangerine-peel-derived exosome-like nanovesicles (TNVs) on hepatic lipotoxicity associated with T2DM. Methods: The TNVs was prepared by differential centrifugation of the aqueous extract of Tangerine and chemical properties were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and LC-MS/MS. The hypoglycemic and lipid-lowering potential of TNVs were possessed by biochemical measurement, RT-PCR, 16S rRNA sequencing, GC/MS, UHPLC-MS/MS, in vivo small animal imaging assay and HE staining. Subsequently, effects of TNVs on lipid accumulation and glycolysis were investigated on 3T3-L1 and AML-12 cells. Results: TNVs significantly inhibited insulin resistance, reduced hepatic lipid accumulation, facilitate intestinal mucosal repair, rescued gut microbiota dysbiosis, regulated colonic SCFA and liver bile acid metabolism in db/db mice. Furthermore, TNVs restored the expression of key genes in glucose and lipid metabolism (ACC, AMPK, CD36, LXRα, PPAR-γ, SREBP-1) while activating the expression of genes related to glycolysis (G6Pase, GLUT2, PCK1, PEPCK) in db/db mice. Further cell-based mechanistic studies revealed that TNVs reduced lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 and AML-12 cells via regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism-related genes (UCP1, FGFR4, PRDM16, PGC-1α, Tmem26, Cpt1, Cpt2 and PPAR-α). Conclusion: We for the first time demonstrated that TNVs could significantly improve glucose and lipid metabolism via activating the expression of genes related to fatty acid ß-oxidation and glycolysis.

Protective Responses of Green Yuja Peel Extracts to Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation and Reactive Oxygen Species Production in RAW264.7 Cells.

This study assessed the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of green yuja peel hot water extract (GYW) and ethanol extract (GYE) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. GYW and GYE (50, 100, and 200 µg/mL) significantly reduced the LPS-induced production of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and reactive oxygen species in a concentration-dependent manner, without cytotoxicity. Compared with control cells, GYW and GYE significantly downregulated the protein levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and the gene expression of iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α, and IL-6. Conversely, they upregulated the gene expression of IL-10. Moreover, GYW and GYE significantly suppressed NF-κB p65 and IκB-α phosphorylation and increased the protein levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its downstream target heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) compared with control cells. These results suggest that GYW and GYE exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties by downregulating the NF-κB signaling pathway and upregulating the Nrf2/HO-1 system in LPS-activated macrophages.

Biofabrication of Nanosilver From Punica granatum Peel Extract and Their Anticoagulant Applications.

For utilizing biodegradable waste as a natural source for nanofabrication, this study was designed to highlight a simple, sustainable, safe, environmentally friendly, and energy consumption reduction waste management approach using hot aqueous extract of Punica granatum (pomegranate) peel waste (PPE) to biosynthesize silver nanoparticles (PPE-AgNPs). The fabrication of biosynthesized nanosilver was confirmed by UV-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and atomic force microscope (AFM). The initial pale brown color change upon adding silver nitrate to PPE confirmed bioreduction. For PPE, the absorption spectrum for UV-vis spectroscopy in the visible light region was 230-290 nm, while for PPE-AgNPs, the graph shows that surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectrum for nanosilver at 360-460 nm. The XRD analysis proved that the PPE-AgNPs were crystalline in nature. The SEM micrograph revealed that silver nanoparticles were sphere-shaped, homogenous accumulations with particle size in the range of 21.63-30.97 ± 0.4 nm. The EDX data analysis also proved the presence of a sharp peak of silver element with 8.83% weight at 3 keV. The 3D AFM images of Ag nanoparticles illustrated that the diameter is around 7.20-14.80 nm with a median of 7.16 ± 1.3 nm and the root mean square (RMS) value corresponds to 1.40 ± 0.4 nm. The PPE-AgNPs efficiently exhibited a potent antioxidant and dose-dependent DPPH inhibition action. Visual and microscopic observations of fresh human blood when treated with 25, 50, 75, and 100 µg/mL of PPE-AgNPs were proven to be biocompatible with no morphological changes and no coagulation. This study predicts that PPE can be utilized to synthesize biocompatible nanosilver.

Pomegranate peel mediated silver nanoparticles: antimicrobial action against crop pathogens, antioxidant potential and cytotoxicity assay.

Biologically produced silver nanoparticles are becoming a more appealing option than chemically produced antioxidants and antimicrobial agents, because they are safer, easier to manufacture and have medicinal properties at lower concentrations. In this work, we employed the aqueous pomegranate peel extract (PPE) to synthesize silver nanoparticles (PPE-AgNPs), as peel extract is a rich source of phytochemicals which functions as reducing agent for the synthesis of PPE-AgNPs. Additionally, the PPE was examined quantitatively for total phenolics and total flavonoids content. PPE-AgNPs were characterized using analytical techniques including UV-Vis spectroscopy, DLS, FTIR, XRD, HRTEM and FESEM, evaluated in vitro against the plant pathogenic microbes and also for antioxidant activities. Analytical techniques (HRTEM and FESEM) confirmed the spherical shape and XRD technique revealed the crystalline nature of synthesized PPE-AgNPs. Quantitative analysis revealed the presence of total phenolics (269.93 ± 1.01 mg GAE/g) and total flavonoids (119.70 ± 0.83 mg CE/g). Biosynthesized PPE-AgNPs exhibited significant antibacterial activity against Klebsiella aerogenes and Xanthomonas axonopodis, antifungal activity against Colletotrichum graminicola and Colletotrichum gloesporioides at 50 µg/mL concentration. The antioxidant potential of biosynthesized PPE-AgNPs was analysed via ABTS (IC50 4.25 µg/mL), DPPH (IC50 5.22 µg/mL), total antioxidant (86.68 g AAE/mL at 10 µg/mL) and FRAP (1.93 mM Fe(II)/mL at 10 µg/mL) assays. Cytotoxicity of PPE-AgNPs was valuated using MTT assay and cell viability of 83.32% was determined at 100 µg/mL concentration. These investigations suggest that synthesized PPE-AgNPs might prove useful for agricultural and medicinal purposes in the future.

Effects of mandarin peel powder on growth, biochemical, immune, and intestinal health in Oreochromis niloticus at suboptimal temperatures.

This 60-day study aimed to examine the efficacy of a diet supplemented with mandarin peel powder (MP) in enhancing the health and survival of Oreochromis niloticus under suboptimal temperature conditions (21 ℃). One hundred and eighty Nile tilapia fish (22.51 ± 0.04 g) were randomly distributed into four experimental groups; each of 3 replicates (15 fish per replicate). The first group (CONT) received a basal diet without MP. The second (MP10%), third (MP15%), and fourth (MP20%) groups were fed diets containing 10, 15, and 20% MP powder, respectively. At the end of the feeding trail, growth performance, serum growth hormone, α-amylase enzyme, lysozyme activity, nitric oxide, protease activity, globulin, serum levels of IL-1ß, antioxidant status, and intestinal histology were measured. The results showed insignificant differences between CONT, MP15%, and MP20% groups in the final body weight and specific growth rate. The growth hormones in the MP15% and MP20% groups did not show a significant difference compared to fish fed a normal basal diet (CONT). However, the amylase enzymes were significantly greater in both groups. The MP20% and MP15% groups showed a significant increase in antioxidant, lysozyme, nitric oxide, and protease activities compared to CONT. The results also showed that fish that were fed a diet with MP had significantly less of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 beta, and their intestinal villi got wider, especially in the MP20% group. It could be concluded that feeding tilapia on a diet with 20% MP is an effective strategy to improve their health when the temperature is below 21 °C. This is because the fish exhibit higher levels of antioxidant activity, reduced pro-inflammatory responses, and improved intestinal health without difference in the growth performance in compared to control group.

Effect of pectin modification on the properties of cellulose nanofibrils prepared from citrus peel.

Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) from non-woody biomass, including citrus peel (CpCNFs), are promising naturally occurring nanomaterials; however, their properties depend on the composition of non-cellulosic components, including pectin. In this study, the effects of pectin modifications on CpCNFs were examined, including demethylesterification using alkaline treatment and enzymatic degradation of pectin using pectinase. CpCNFs could be redispersed in water with little aggregation after drying; however, the redispersibilities of both alkaline-treated (AT-CpCNFs) and pectinase-treated CpCNFs (PT-CpCNFs) were improved. Both AT-CpCNFs and PT-CpCNFs exhibited higher viscosity than untreated CpCNFs (UT-CpCNFs); redispersion in water after drying further increased the viscosity. A quartz crystal microbalance revealed that interactions between AT-CpCNFs were barely detectable, and interactions between PT-CpCNFs were stronger than those between UT-CpCNFs. The increase in the carboxylate groups of pectin due to demethylesterification in AT-CpCNF may have increased the viscosity and reduced the interactions between AT-CpCNFs, explaining the improved redispersibility. The increase in the viscosity of PT-CpCNFs may be attributed to the increased purity of CNFs, which is assumed to be more viscous than pectin. Our results show that the properties of CpCNFs are affected by the structure, properties, and content of pectin and can be controlled by pectin modification.

Pomegranate Peel Extract as 6-Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase (6PGD) Inhibitor for Treatment of Breast Cancer.

Targeting the enzymes of Pentose Phosphate Pathway (PPP) has been emerged as a novel strategy for treatment of cancer. 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD) is third enzyme of PPP and converts 6-phosphogluconate (6-PG) into ribulose 5-phosphate (R-5-P) and produces NADPH. The overexpression of 6PGD has been reported in many human cancers especially in breast cancer and is emerged as the potential anti-cancer drug target. The current study is focused to screen an already established library of plant extracts against 6PGD, among which Pomegranate peel extract showed significant 6PGD inhibitory activity with IC50 value = 0.090 µg/mL. Pomegranate peel competitively inhibited NADP+ and 6-phosphogluconate to 6PGD enzyme having Ki constant value = 12.72 ± 5.54 ng/mL. Moreover, anti-breast cancer activity against MCF-7 cells determined Pomegranate peel as the potent inhibitor of cancerous cells with IC50 value = 3.138 µg/mL. Toxicity profiling of pomegranate peel extract (2000mg/kg) did not show any adverse effect on mice. Moreover, Ont the base of literature a library of known compounds of pomegranate was prepared and established and screened against 6PGD for the identification of actual responsible phytochemicals of 6PGD activity by using molecular docking. Computational tools were used to evaluate selected potent hits. Out of 26 compounds, three potent phytochemicals (Procyanidin, Delphinidin and Cyanidin) exhibited the best binding affinities with 6PGD. In addition, these phytochemicals displayed the best favorable hydrogen bonding, binding energy, and protein-ligand interactions as compare to 3PG. Molecular dynamics simulation suggested that these hits form a stable binding complex with the active site of 6PGD. These findings suggest that Pomegranate peel and its secondary metabolites as the potent inhibitors of 6PGD and the best drug candidate for treatment of breast cancer.

Musa paradisiaca L. peel extract-bioinspired anisotropic nano-silver with the multipurpose of hydrogenation eco-catalyst and antimicrobial resistance.

In an effort to pursue a green synthesis approach, the biosynthesis of nano-silver (nAg) using plant extracts has garnered significant attention, particularly for its antimicrobial resistance and medical applications, which have been the focus of numerous studies. However, there remains a gap in surface catalytic studies, especially regarding the hydrogenation of 4-nitrophenol. While some studies have addressed catalytic kinetics, thermodynamic aspects have been largely overlooked, leaving the catalytic mechanisms of biosynthesized nAg unclear. In this context, the present work offers a straightforward, eco-friendly, and efficient protocol to obtain nano-silver inspired by Musa paradisiaca L. peel extract. This nAg serves multiple purposes, including antimicrobial resistance and as an eco-catalyst for hydrogenation. Predominantly consisting of zero-valent silver with anisotropic polyhedral shapes, mainly decahedra with an edge length of 50 nm, this nAg demonstrated effective antimicrobial action against both S. aureus and E. coli bacteria. More importantly, both kinetic and thermodynamic studies on the hydrogenation of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol catalyzed by this bio-inspired nAg revealed that the rate-limiting step is not diffusion-limited. Instead, the adsorbed hydrogen and 4-nitrophenolate react together via electron transfer on the surface of the nAg. The activation energy of 26.24 kJ mol-1 indicates a highly efficient eco-catalyst for such hydrogenation processes.

Synthesis, characterization and As(III) scavenging behaviours of mango peel waste loaded with Zr(IV) ion from contaminated water.

Raw mango peel (RMP) was first saponified to yield saponified mango peel (SMP), which was then loaded with Zr(IV) ions to form a biosorbent for As(III) scavenging.The biosorption behaviors and mechanisms of As(III) scavenging using RMP and Zr(IV)-loaded saponified mango peel (Zr(IV)-SMP) were investigated batchwise. The As(III) scavenging efficiency of RMP increased from 20.13 % to 87.32 % after Zr(IV) loading. Optimum contact time of 6 h has been investigated for As(III) scavenging by Zr(IV)-SMP, and the data on kinetics is well fitted to the pseudo-second-order (PSO) model. Similarly, isotherm data of Zr(IV)-SMP fitted well to the Langmuir isotherm model with the maximum As(III) scavenging potential of 45.52 mg/g. Chloride (Cl-) and nitrate (NO3 -) have negligible influence on As(III) scavenging, but sulphate (SO4 2-) interferes significantly. The exhausted Zr(IV)-SMP could be easily regenerated by treating with 2MNaOH. A mechanistic study indicates that As(III) scavenging is primarily contributed to electrostatic interaction and ligand exchange, which is confirmed from both instrumental and chemical characterizations techniques. Tubewell underground water polluted with a trace amount of arsenic (98.63 µg/L) could be successfully lowered down to the WHO standard (10 µg/L) by applying a small amount of Zr(IV)-SMP. Therefore, the Zr(IV)-SMP investigated in this work can be a low-cost, environmentally benign, and promising alternative for scavenging trace levels of arsenic from contaminated water.

All-Cellulose-based flexible Zinc-Ion battery enabled by waste pomelo peel.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries are attracting extensive attention due to the long-term service life and credible safety as well as the superior price performance between the low cost of manufacture and high energy density. The fabrication of inexpensive, high-performance flexible solid-state zinc-ion batteries, thus, are urgently need for the blooming wearable electronics. Herein, as a proof-of-concept study of waste into wealth, cellulose flakes derived from waste pomelo peel are utilized as the substrate for electrodes and hydrogel electrolytes into a flexible rocking-chair zinc-ion battery. The unique sandwich-type structure holding the flake-like cellulose substrate and linear carbon nanotubes endows the flexible cathode and anode with fast ion and electron transportation. The obtained cellulose-based hydrogel electrolytes on account of special affinity with aqueous ZnSO4 electrolyte output an excellent ionic conductivity. The assembled flexible rocking-chair zinc-ion battery benefitting from the synergistic effect of sandwich-type electrodes and cellulose-based hydrogel electrolytes demonstrates outstanding electrochemical performance and mechanical properties. This work not only puts up an effective roadmap for flexible battery devices, but also reveals the great potential of waste biomass materials in energy storage applications.

Combined Metabolome and Transcriptome Analysis Revealed the Accumulation of Anthocyanins in Grape Berry (Vitis vinifera L.) under High-Temperature Stress.

In grape (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivation, high temperatures (HTs) usually reduce the accumulation of anthocyanins. In order to elucidate the regulatory mechanism of anthocyanin biosynthesis under high-temperature environments, we investigated the effects of HT stress at veraison (5% coloring of grape ears) on fruit coloration and anthocyanin biosynthesis in 'Summer Black' (XH) and 'Flame seedless' (FL) grapevines. Compared to the control group (35 °C), the total anthocyanin content of XH and FL grapes subjected to a high-temperature (HT) treatment group (40 °C) decreased significantly as the HT treatment continued, but showed an upward trend with fruit development. However, the concentration of procyanidins increased significantly following HT treatment but decreased with fruit development. Nonetheless, FL grapes showed some resistance to the HT condition, producing anthocyanin content at ripeness comparable to the control group, demonstrating a greater adaptability to HT conditions than XH grapes. Based on the CIRG index, at stage S4, the fruit of FL was classified as dark red, while XH was classified as blue-black in the control group. Anthocyanin-targeted metabonomics identified eight different types of anthocyanins accumulating in the peels of XH and FL grapes during ripening, including cyanidins, delphinidins, malvidins, pelargonidins, peonidins, petunidins, procyanidins, and flavonoids. Malvidins were the most abundant in the two grape varieties, with malvidin-3-O-glucoside being more sensitive to high temperatures. HT treatment also down-regulated the expression of structural genes and regulators involved in the anthocyanin synthesis pathways. We used the WGCNA method to identify two modules that were significantly correlated with total anthocyanin and procyanidin contents. Among them, MYBCS1, bHLH137, WRKY65, WRKY75, MYB113-like, bZIP44, and GST3 were predicted to be involved in grape anthocyanin biosynthesis. In conclusion, this study conducted in-depth research on the HT inhibition of the biosynthesis of anthocyanins in XH and FL grapes, for reference.

Extraction of Fungal Chitosan by Leveraging Pineapple Peel Substrate for Sustainable Biopolymer Production.

The cost-effective production of commercially important biopolymers, such as chitosan, has gained momentum in recent decades owing to its versatile material properties. The seasonal variability in the availability of crustacean waste and fish waste, routinely used for chitosan extraction, has triggered a focus on fungal chitosan as a sustainable alternative. This study demonstrates a cost-effective strategy for cultivating an endophytic fungus isolated from Pichavaram mangrove soil in a pineapple peel-based medium for harvesting fungal biomass. Chitosan was extracted using alkali and acid treatment methods from various combinations of media. The highest chitosan yield (139 ± 0.25 mg/L) was obtained from the pineapple peel waste-derived medium supplemented with peptone. The extracted polymer was characterized by FTIR, XRD, DSC, and TGA analysis. The antioxidant activity of the fungal chitosan was evaluated using DPPH assay and showed an IC50 value of 0.22 mg/L. Subsequently, a transparent chitosan film was fabricated using the extracted fungal chitosan, and its biodegradability was assessed using a soil burial test for 50 days. Biodegradation tests revealed that, after 50 days, a degradation rate of 28.92 ± 0.75% (w/w) was recorded. Thus, this study emphasizes a cost-effective strategy for the production of biopolymers with significant antioxidant activity, which may have promising applications in food packaging if additional investigations are carried out in the future.

Carbon Dioxide Adsorption over Activated Biocarbons Derived from Lemon Peel.

The rising concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is approaching critical levels, posing a significant threat to life on Earth. Porous carbons derived from biobased materials, particularly waste byproducts, offer a viable solution for selective CO2 adsorption from large-scale industrial sources, potentially mitigating atmospheric CO2 emissions. In this study, we developed highly porous carbons from lemon peel waste through a two-step process, consisting of temperature pretreatment (500 °C) followed by chemical activation by KOH at 850 °C. The largest specific surface area (2821 m2/g), total pore volume (1.39 cm3/g), and micropore volume (0.70 cm3/g) were obtained at the highest KOH-to-carbon ratio of 4. In contrast, the sample activated with a KOH-to-carbon ratio of 2 demonstrated the greatest micropore distribution. This activated biocarbon exhibited superior CO2 adsorption capacity, reaching 5.69 mmol/g at 0 °C and 100 kPa. The remarkable adsorption performance can be attributed to the significant volume of micropores with diameters smaller than 0.859 nm. The Radke-Prausnitz equation, traditionally employed to model the adsorption equilibrium of organic compounds from liquid solutions, has been shown to be equally applicable for describing the gas-solid adsorption equilibrium. Furthermore, equations describing the temperature dependence of the Radke-Prausnitz equation's parameters have been developed.

Study on the removal of Cd from dewatered sludge by combined extraction agents: Peel extract and compound chemical extraction agent.

The recycling of fruit peel resources is a current research hotspot. This study screened and configured a composite extractant consisting of peel and chemical extractant through extraction experiments and explored the heavy metals(HMs) release effect. The results showed that citrus reticulata(CR), citrullus lanatus (CL), 0.16 mol·L-1 nitrilotriacetic acid(NTA) with 0.04 mol·L-1 oxalic acid(NO5), and 0.12 mol·L-1NTA with 0.08 mol·L-1tartaric acid(NT4) had the strongest extraction ability. After the cross-combination was optimized, CR-NO5 (1:50, 6 h, 35 °C) and CL-NT4 (1:50, 36 h, 45 °C) had the highest extraction rates for Cd and Zn, which were 92.6 % and 98.4 %, respectively. The CL series increased the nutrient content of sludge (157.75-177.88 g·kg-1). The four combined extractants increased the proportion of soluble components of HMs in sludge (14-36 %). Therefore, the combined leaching agent will provide a valuable reference for the harmless treatment of HMs in sludge and the resource utilization of peel waste.