Efficient Production of Adipic Acid by a Two-Step Catalytic Reaction of Biomass-Derived 2,5-Furandicarboxylic Acid.

Efficient catalytic ring-opening coupled with hydrogenation is a promising but challenging reaction for producing adipic acid (AA) from 2,5-furan dicarboxylic acid (FDCA). In this study, AA synthesis is carried out in two steps from FDCA via tetrahydrofuran-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (THFDCA) over a recyclable Ru/Al2 O3 and an ionic liquid, [MIM(CH2 )4 SO3 H]I (MIM=methylimidazolium) to deliver 99 % overall yield of AA. Ru/Al2 O3 is found to be an efficient catalyst for hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis of FDCA to deliver THFDCA and 2-hydroxyadipic acid (HAA), respectively, where ruthenium is more economically viable than well-known palladium or rhodium hydrogenation catalysts. H2 chemisorption shows that the alumina phase strongly affects the interaction between Ru nanoparticles (NPs) and supports, resulting in materials with high dispersion and small size of Ru NPs, which in turn are responsible for the high conversion of FDCA. An ionic liquid system, [MIM(CH2 )4 SO3 H]I is applied to the hydrogenolysis of THFDCA for AA production. The [MIM(CH2 )4 SO3 H]I exhibits superior activity, enables simple product isolation with high purity, and reduces the severe corrosion problems caused by the conventional hydroiodic acid catalytic system.

Furan-2,5- and Furan-2,3-dicarboxylate Esters Derived from Marine Biomass as Plasticizers for Poly(vinyl chloride).

Esters of furan dicarboxylic acids (DAFs) were synthesized by a one-pot reaction between marine biomass-derived galactaric acid and bioalcohol under solvent-free conditions and were fully characterized. The catalyst amount could be reduced without loss of reaction yields using p-xylene as the material separation agent. Also, a possible mechanism was proposed for the first time. Then the properties of four DAFs as plasticizers on the poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) matrix were investigated. The experimental results showed that DAFs exhibit competitive efficiencies of plasticization when compared to the most commercialized plasticizer, DOP. It was found that the combination of DAFs and PVC produced homogeneous smooth-surface films, indicating miscibility between them. ATR-FTIR depicted the upshift of carbonyl absorption bands after mixing with the PVC matrix, with a magnitude of at most 18-21 cm-1. TGA, DSC, and UTM data illustrated equivalent plasticization efficiencies. Due to their small molecular weights, the investigated DAFs are more volatile. However, due to bearing an oxygen atom in the aromatic furan ring, the degree of polarization of DAFs was boosted and helped inhibit leaching into the surrounding media. In brief, these synthetic compounds have promising feasibility as biobased plasticizers. Moreover, another interesting point is that the properties of furan-2,3-dicarboxylic acid derivatives were studied for the first time and herein reported.

Scopoletin Supplementation Ameliorates Steatosis and Inflammation in Diabetic Mice.

Scopoletin is a bioactive component in many edible plants and fruits. This study investigated the effects of scopoletin on hepatic steatosis and inflammation in a high-fat diet fed type 1 diabetic mice by comparison with metformin. Scopoletin (0.01%, w/w) or metformin (0.5%, w/w) was provided with a high-fat diet to streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice for 11 weeks. Both scopoletin and metformin lowered blood glucose and HbA1c , serum ALT, TNF-α and IL-6 levels, glucose intolerance, and hepatic lipid accumulation compared with the diabetic control group. Scopoletin or metformin down-regulated hepatic gene expression of triglyceride (Pparg, Plpp2, and Dgat2) and cholesterol (Hmgcr) synthesis as well as inflammation (Tlr4, Myd88, Nfkb1, Tnfa, and Il6), while it up-regulated Cyp7a1 gene. Hepatic PPARγ and DGAT2 protein levels were also down-regulated in scopoletin or metformin group compared with the control group. Scopoletin or metformin also inhibited hepatic fatty acid synthase and phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activities. These results suggest that scopoletin protects against diabetes-induced steatosis and inflammation by inhibiting lipid biosynthesis and TLR4-MyD88 pathways. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Anti-Obesity Property of Lichen Thamnolia vermicularis Extract in 3T3-L1 Cells and Diet-Induced Obese Mice.

Thamnolia vermicularis (TV) is an edible lichen that is prevalent in the alpine zone of East Asia. This study evaluated the feasibility of using TV acetone extracts as a functional food based on experiments using cell line and obese mice. The cellular triglyceride levels and Oil red O staining of 3T3-L1 cells indicated that TV extracts (5 and 10 µg/mL) dose-dependently suppressed adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation compared with the control. The TV extract (0.4%, w/w) in a high-fat diet (HFD) was supplemented to C57BL/6N mice for 12 weeks, and TV extract supplement significantly reduced visceral fat mass and body weight compared with HFD feeding alone. The TV extract also induced significant decreases in serum and hepatic lipids, whereas it increased the serum high-density lipoproteins-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio and fecal lipids levels. Moreover, the TV extract led to significantly lower homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance in diet-induced obese mice. Taken together, these results suggest that the TV extract may have anti-obesity effects, including lipid-lowering, and it is a natural resource with the potential for use in obesity management.

Production of novel vinegar having antioxidant and anti-fatigue activities from Salicornia herbacea L.

BACKGROUND: Salicornia herbacea L. is a halophyte that grows in salt marshes and contains significant amounts of salts and minerals. Because it is known as a folk medication to treat diseases, various processed products such as powder, globular type of powder, laver and extract have been developed. However, it is difficult to process as a drink because of its high salinity. In the present study, glasswort vinegar (GV) containing high amounts of organic acids and minerals was developed via two-step fermentation with unpolished rice substrates and investigated its antioxidant and anti-fatigue activities. RESULTS: GV showed various free radical scavenging effects, reducing power, oxidized-LDL inhibition and superoxide dismutase-like activities. Compared with the control group (orally administered 7 g kg(-1) distilled water), the GV supplementation group showed increased running endurance and had higher glycogen accumulation in liver and muscles of rats exhausted by exercise. Furthermore, the GV-administered group demonstrated significantly elevated lactate and ATP metabolism, promoting enzyme activities such as muscle creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase, whereas serum fatigue biomarkers such as ammonia, lactate and inorganic acid were markedly decreased. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that GV can be used as a functional food for the development of a dietary beverage to alleviate fatigue.

Anti-visceral obesity and antioxidant effects of powdered sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) leaf tea in diet-induced obese mice.

The potential health benefits of tea have long been studied. This study examined the role of powdered sea buckthorn leaf tea (SLT) in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. The mice were fed two different doses of SLT (1% and 5%, wt/wt) for six weeks. SLT suppressed body weight gain in a dose-dependent manner and significantly reduced visceral fat, plasma levels of leptin, triglyceride and total cholesterol and ALT activity compared with the high-fat-fed control mice. SLT also decreased hepatic triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations and lipid accumulation, whereas elevated fecal lipid excretion. High-fat feeding resulted in simultaneously decreasing hepatic FAS and G6PD activities and increasing PAP, ß-oxidation and CPT activities. However, SLT supplementation during high-fat feeding led to a significant decrease in PAP, ß-oxidation and CPT activities with a simultaneous increase in G6PD activity. The hepatic CYP2E1 activity and hepatic and erythrocyte lipid peroxides were significantly lowered with SLT supplements. Hepatic and erythrocyte SOD and CAT activities were also increased with SLT supplements in a dose-dependent manner, whereas GSH-Px activity was increased in erythrocytes only. These results indicate that SLT has potential anti-visceral obesity and antioxidant effects mediated by the regulation of lipid and antioxidant metabolism in high-fat diet-induced obese mice.