Effect of Addition of Tannin Extract from Underutilized Resources on Allergenic Proteins, Color and Textural Properties of Egg White Gels.

Tannins, present in numerous plants, exhibit a binding affinity for proteins. In this study, we aimed to exploit this property to reduce the concentration of allergenic egg white proteins. Tannins were extracted, using hot water, from the lyophilized powder of underutilized resources, such as chestnut inner skin (CIS), young persimmon fruit (YPF), and bayberry leaves (BBLs). These extracts were then incorporated into an egg white solution (EWS) to generate an egg white gel (EWG). Allergen reduction efficacy was assessed using electrophoresis and ELISA. Our findings revealed a substantial reduction in allergenic proteins across all EWGs containing a 50% tannin extract. Notably, CIS and BBL exhibited exceptional efficacy in reducing low allergen levels. The addition of tannin extract resulted in an increase in the total polyphenol content of the EWG, with the order of effectiveness being CIS > YPF > BBL. Minimal color alteration was observed in the BBL-infused EWG compared to the other sources. Additionally, the introduction of tannin extract heightened the hardness stress, with BBL demonstrating the most significant effect, followed by CIS and YPF. In conclusion, incorporating tannin extract during EWG preparation was found to decrease the concentration of allergenic proteins while enhancing antioxidant properties and hardness stress, with BBL being particularly effective in preventing color changes in EWG.

Continuous planting of Chinese fir monocultures significantly influences dissolved organic matter content and microbial assembly processes.

Monoculture plantations in China, characterized by the continuous cultivation of a single species, pose challenges to timber accumulation and understory biodiversity, raising concerns about sustainability. This study investigated the impact of continuous monoculture plantings of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata [Lamb.] Hook.) on soil properties, dissolved organic matter (DOM), and microorganisms over multiple generations. Soil samples from first to fourth-generation plantations were analyzed for basic chemical properties, DOM composition using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry, and microorganisms via high-throughput sequencing. Results revealed a significant decline in nitrate nitrogen content with successive rotations, accompanied by an increase in easily degradable compounds like carbohydrates, aliphatic/proteins, tannins, Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen and Nitrogen- (CHON) and Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen and Sulfur- (CHOS) containing compounds. However, the recalcitrant compounds, such as lignin and carboxyl-rich alicyclic molecules (CRAMs), condensed aromatics and Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen- (CHO) containing compounds decreased. Microorganism diversity, abundance, and structure decreased with successive plantations, affecting the ecological niche breadth of fungal communities. Bacterial communities were strongly influenced by DOM composition, particularly lignin/CRAMs and tannins. Continuous monoculture led to reduced soil nitrate, lignin/CRAMs, and compromised soil quality, altering chemical properties and DOM composition, influencing microbial community assembly. This shift increased easily degraded DOM, accelerating soil carbon and nitrogen cycling, ultimately reducing soil carbon sequestration. From environmental point of view, the study emphasizes the importance of sustainable soil management practices in continuous monoculture systems. Particularly the findings offer valuable insights for addressing challenges associated with monoculture plantations and promoting long-term ecological sustainability.

Physicochemical and digestive properties of corn starch nanoparticles incorporated different polyphenols.

The corn starch nanoparticles were prepared by incorporating three kinds of polyphenols, including quercetin, proanthocyanidins and tannin acid. The physicochemical and digestive properties of corn starch nanoparticles were researched. The quercetin showed a higher complexation index than proanthocyanidins and tannin acid when they complexed with corn starch. The mean size of corn starch quercetin, proanthocyanidins and tannin acid were 168.5 nm, 179.1 nm and 188.6 nm, respectively. XRD results indicated that all the corn starch-polyphenols complex showed V-type crystalline structure, the crystallinity of corn starch-quercetin complex was 19.31 %, which showed more formation of amylose-quercetin single helical formed than the other two starch-polyphenol complexes. In vitro digestion revealed that polyphenols could resist digestion and quercetin increased the content of resistant starch from 23.32 % to 35.24 % and polyphenols can form complexes with starch through hydrophobic interactions or hydrogen bonding. This study indicated the hydrophobic polyphenols had a more significant effect on the digestibility of corn starch. And the cell toxicity assessments demonstrated that all nanoparticles were nontoxic and biocompatible.

Metabolomics analysis reveals the metabolite profiles of Rheum tanguticum grown under different altitudinal gradients.

BACKGROUND: Plant growth and quality are often affected by environmental factors, including geographical location, climate, and soil. In this study, we describe the effect of altitudinal differences on the growth and active ingredients in Rheum tanguticum Maxim. ex Balf. (R. tanguticum), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb known for its laxative properties. RESULTS: The results showed that plants grown at lower altitudes had better growth performances than those in higher altitude areas. The yield varied by 2.45-23.68 times with altitude, reaching a maximum of 102.01 t/ha. In addition, total anthraquinone and total sennoside contents decreased with increasing altitude, whereas total tannins increased with increasing altitude. The total anthraquinone content of the indicator compound reached 5.15% at five experimental sites, which exceeded the Chinese Pharmacopoeia standard by 70.87%. The content of the other two categories of active ingredients reached a maximum value of 0.94% (total sennosides) and 2.65% (total tannins). Redundancy analysis revealed that annual rainfall, annual average temperature, annual sunshine hours, and pH significantly affected growth and active ingredients. Moreover, key metabolites, such as flavonoids, amino acids and their derivatives, phenolic acids, lipids, and terpenes, were differentially expressed between samples from low- and high-altitude cultivation areas. These metabolites were enriched in the flavonoid and flavonol biosynthetic pathway and the monoterpene biosynthetic pathway. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that high anthraquinone content was observed in the lowest-latitude cultivation area due to low rainfall and alkaline soil pH. Key metabolites were significantly upregulated in high-latitude cultivation areas. These results provide a scientific basis for quality control and the systematic cultivation of R. tanguticum.

Phenolic concentrations and carbon/nitrogen ratio in annual shoots of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) after simulated herbivory.

Herbivory can be reduced by the production of defense compounds (secondary metabolites), but generally defenses are costly, and growth is prioritized over defense. While defense compounds may deter herbivory, nutrients may promote it. In a field study in boreal forest in Norway, we investigated how simulated herbivory affected concentrations of phenolics (generally a defense) and the carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio in annual shoots of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), a deciduous clonal dwarf shrub whose vegetative and generative parts provide forage for many boreal forest animals. We measured concentrations of total tannins, individual phenolics, nitrogen and carbon following several types and intensities of herbivory. We identified 22 phenolics: 15 flavonoids, 1 hydroquinone and 6 phenolic acids. After high levels of herbivory, the total tannin concentration and the concentration of these 22 phenolics together (called total phenolic concentration) were significantly lower in bilberry annual shoots than in the control (natural herbivory at low to intermediate levels). Low-intensive herbivory, including severe defoliation, gave no significantly different total tannin or total phenolic concentration compared with the control. Many individual phenolics followed this pattern, while phenolic acids (deterring insect herbivory) showed little response to the treatments: their concentrations were maintained after both low-intensive and severe herbivory. Contrary to our predictions, we found no significant difference in C/N ratio between treatments. Neither the Carbon:Nutrient Balance hypothesis nor the Optimal Defense hypotheses, theories predicting plant resource allocation to secondary compounds, can be used to predict changes in phenolic concentrations (including total tannin concentration) in bilberry annual shoots after herbivory: in this situation, carbon is primarily used for other functions (e.g., maintenance, growth, reproduction) than defense.

Influence of low-level tannin supplementation on comparative growth performance of Holstein and Angus × Holstein cross calf-fed concentrate-based finishing diets for 328 d.

The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effects of tannin and monensin supplementation in feedlot diets and breed (Holstein vs. Angus × Holstein) on growth performance, energetic efficiency, and carcass characteristics. Eighty purebred Holstein calves (HOL; initial body weight (BW) = 130 ±â€…5 kg) and 80 Angus × Holstein calves (AXH; initial BW = 129 ±â€…6 kg) were blocked by initial BW and randomly assigned to 40 pens. Dietary treatments consisted of a steam-flaked corn-based diet supplemented with (1) no feed additive (CON); (2) 30 mg of monensin/kg of dry matter (DM; MON; Rumensin 90, Elanco, Greenfield, IN); (3) 1.5 g tannin)/kg of DM (TAN; ByPro, 70% condensed tannin, SilvaFeed, Indunor, S.A., Buenos Aires, Argentina); (4) M + T, the combination of MON plus TAN dietary treatments. Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block in a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement of treatments, using pens as experimental units. There were no interactions (P > 0.05) between feed additives and breed. Supplemental MON increased (P ≤ 0.04) initial 112-d BW and gain efficiency. However, there were no dietary treatment effects (P > 0.10) on overall growth performance. Monensin supplementation decreased (P = 0.04) minimum daily ruminal temperature compared with other dietary treatments during July, but TAN did not affect ruminal temperature. Holstein steers had greater (P = 0.04) overall DM intake compared with AXH, with no difference (P = 0.19) in overall ADG, leading to increased (P < 0.01) gain efficiency for AXH compared with HOL. Dietary net energy for maintenance and gain, based on growth performance, were greater (P ≤ 0.01) for AXH vs HOL. Compared with HOL, AXH steers had greater (P ≤ 0.01) carcass weight, dressing percentage, kidney, pelvic, and heart fat, 12th rib fat thickness, longissimus area, and preliminary yield grade. Holstein steers had lower (P ≤ 0.04) minimum average ruminal temperature during June compared with AXH, with no differences (P ≥ 0.14) between breeds during July or August. Results indicate that feed additives did not appreciably affect steer growth performance and carcass characteristics, but crossbred AXH steers had greater growth performance, efficiency of dietary energy utilization, and carcass quality measures compared with HOL. This study observed a reduction (4.7%) in maintenance energy expenditure in AXH compared with HOL, implying in maintenance energy coefficient of 0.086 vs 0.082 for HOL and AXH, respectively.

Effects of tannin and monensin supplementation on growth performance, energetic efficiency, and carcass characteristics were evaluated in Holstein and Angus × Holstein steers. The investigation used a factorial design to access the impacts of both feed additives and breed on the study's parameters. Tannin supplementation did not affect growth performance. There were no dietary treatment effects on overall steer growth performance. Calf Holstein steers were fed with grain diet based. Holstein steers had greater overall DM intake than Angus × Holstein steers, but breed did not affect average daily gain. Thus, gain efficiency was greater for Angus × Holstein vs Holstein steers. There was no effect of dietary treatment on carcass measures. Compared with Holsteins, Angus × Holstein steers had greater carcass weight, dressing percentage, internal and external fat, longissimus area, and marbling score than Holstein steers. The current study suggests that monensin and tannin supplementation did not affect overall steer growth performance and carcass characteristics. Compared with Holsteins, crossbred Angus × Holstein steers had increased growth performance and carcass quality measures.

A comprehensive review of Pfaffia glomerata botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, biological activities, and biotechnology.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng.) Pedersen, Amaranthaceae, is found in South America, mainly in Brazil, where it is considered a species of great medicinal interest owing to its popular use as a tonic, aphrodisiac, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic. These properties can be attributed to the presence of the phytosteroid, 20-Hydroxyecdysone (ß-ecdysone), the main compound found in its roots. AIM OF THE REVIEW: This review aims to provide information about the botanical characteristics, ethnomedicinal uses, the phytochemistry, the biological activities, and the biotechnology of P. glomerata, an important species to local communities and groups researching medicinal plants of South America. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The information available on P. glomerata was collected from scientific databases (ScienceDirect, PubMed/MEDLINE, SciELO, and Scopus) until June 7, 2023, using the search terms "Pfaffia glomerata", "Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng.) Pedersen", and "Brazilian ginseng". The review includes studies that evaluated the botanical, ethnopharmacological, and phytochemical aspects, biological properties, nutraceutical uses, and the application of biotechnology for improving the biosynthesis of metabolites of interest. RESULTS: A total of 207 studies were identified, with 81 articles read in full. Seventy-six studies were included for qualitative synthesis. Overall, 40 compounds belonging to different classes are presented in this review, including ecdysteroids, triterpenes, saponins, flavonoids, anthraquinones, tannins, coumarins, alkaloids, and polysaccharides. Among them, flavonoids, anthraquinones, tannins, coumarins, and alkaloids were only putatively identified. ß-Ecdysone, triterpenes, saponins, and polysaccharides are the chemical components most frequently identified and isolated from P. glomerata and possibly responsible for ethnopharmacological use and the biological activities of this species, with important in vitro and in vivo activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, aphrodisiac, analgesic, gastroprotective, antioxidant, and prebiotic. CONCLUSIONS: This review summarizes discussions about the P. glomerata species, highlighting its ethnopharmacological, chemical, biotechnological, and nutraceutical importance. New scientific studies on this species are encouraged in the search for new therapeutic molecules with pharmaceutical potential and nutraceutical applications.

A colorimetry-enhanced tri-functional film with high stability by polyphenol-anthocyanin co-pigmentation/conjugate: New prospect for active intelligent food packaging.

A highly stable "tannin-anthocyanin conjugated" trifunctional active intelligent film was developed by incorporating bilberry anthocyanins (BA) as an indicator and tannin acids (TA) as a co-pigment into a sodium alginate-carrageenan polysaccharide matrix (SC-BA/TA). The doping of TA conferred outstanding antioxidant (DPPH scavenging rate > 90%) and antibacterial properties to the film, particularly effective against S. aureus. The SC-BA/TA films effectively blocked UV rays (close to 0%, effectively impeding most UVA, as well as nearly all UVC and UVB) within the range of 200-320 nm. The TA-BA co-pigment effect significantly improved the anthocyanins' storage and color stability (retention rate > 70% under UV and natural light conditions). TA forms conjugate with anthocyanins by π-π stacking and hydrogen bonding interactions with co-pigmentation rate increases of 10.5% and 11.0% for pH 2 and pH 3, respectively. The film exhibited good responsiveness to volatile amines within 4 min, and offered real-time monitoring of beef freshness, as indicated by visualizing color changes (from red to dark yellow color). Furthermore, the integration of the film's RGB value with beef quality via a smartphone App effectively reduces the variability in visual recognition among individuals. To sum up, composite films based on the "tannin-anthocyanin conjugate" approach hold great potential in the field of food freshness monitoring, opening new possibilities for the development of highly stable active smart packaging films.

Multi-functional polyvinyl alcohol/tannin acid composite films incorporated with lignin nanoparticles loaded by potassium sorbate.

The biocompatible, biodegradable and strong polyvinyl alcohol-based films have been widely investigated and used in the field of active packaging. To endow with diverse function, this paper firstly prepared lignin nanoparticles loaded with potassium sorbate (LNP@PS) as additives to exploit additional antibacterial, UV blocking, oxygen barrier, and water barrier properties. Besides, tannin acid (TA) was incorporated for compensating and further enhancing mechanical properties. Results showed that the PVA-based composite films containing 3 % LNP@PS and 5 % TA could achieve the optimal tensile strength at 74.51 MPa, water vapor permeability at 7.015·10-13·g·cm/cm2·s·Pa and oxygen permeability at 1.93 cm3/m2·24 h MPa, which was an 165 % of increase, 47 % and 112 % of reduction respectively compared to pure PVA films. Additionally, the composite films exhibited apparently superior bacteria and oxygen resistance properties evidenced by microbial infection and free radical scavenging performance. In addition, the slow-release effect of PS assisted the strawberry preservation with an extension of 3 days, which provided a promising novel route to prepare active food packaging material.

Structure and composition of dissolved organic matters in sludge by ultrasonic treatment.

The leaching of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from the sludge into the liquid phase is induced by ultrasound. However, there is limited investigation into the structure and molecular composition of sludge DOM in this process. The molecular structure and composition of sludge DOM in ultrasonic treatment were comprehensively elucidated in this study. The sludge dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy (3D-EEM) image had most significant change at 15-min ultrasonic time and 1.2 W/mL ultrasonic density, respectively. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis indicated that ultrasonic treatment of sludge reduced the macromolecules to small molecules in DOM. Then, electrospray ionization Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI FT-ICR-MS) analysis revealed that lignin, tannins, and carbohydrates were the main components of sludge DOMs after ultrasound treatment. analysis revealed that lignin, tannins, and carbohydrates were the main components of sludge DOMs after ultrasound treatment. Furthermore, through the Van Krevelen analysis, the major components were CHO (48.50%) and CHOS (23.20%) in the DOM of ultrasonicated sludge. This research provides the basis for the practical application of ultrasonic treatment of sludge and provides basic information for DOM components.

Apple polyphenol extract ameliorates sugary-diet-induced depression-like behaviors in male C57BL/6 mice by inhibiting the inflammation of the gut-brain axis.

To explore whether apple polyphenol extract (APE) ameliorates sugary-diet-induced depression-like behaviors, thirty male C57BL/6 mice (3-4 weeks old) were assigned to three groups randomly to receive different treatments for 8 consecutive weeks: (1) control group (CON), (2) S-HSD group (60% high sucrose diet feeding with 0.1 mg mL-1 sucralose solution as drinking water), and (3) S-APE group (S-HSD feeding with 500 mg per (kg bw day) APE solution gavage). The S-HSD group showed significant depression-like behaviors compared with the CON group, which was manifested by an increased number of buried marbles in the marble burying test, prolonged immobility time in both the tail suspension test and forced swimming test, and cognitive impairment based on the Morris water maze test. However, APE intervention significantly improved the depression-like behaviors by reducing serum levels of corticosterone and adrenocorticotropic hormone, and increasing the serum level of IL-10. Moreover, APE intervention inhibited the activation of the NF-κB inflammatory pathway, elevated colonic MUC-2 protein expression, and elevated the colonic and hippocampal tight junction proteins of occludin and ZO-1. Furthermore, APE intervention increased the richness and diversity of gut microbiota by regulating the composition of microbiota, with increased relative abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidota, decreased relative abundance of Verrucomicrobiota at the phylum level, significantly lowered relative abundance of Akkermansia at the genus level, and rebalanced abnormal relative abundance of Muribaculaceae_unclassified, Coriobacteriaceae_UCG-002, and Lachnoclostridium induced by S-HSD feeding. Thus, our study supports the potential application of APE as a dietary intervention for ameliorating depression-like behavioral disorders.

Adapting the in vitro rumen incubation method to evaluate the effect of a plant extract on the exsheathment inhibition of Haemonchus contortus infective larvae.

This study adapted the in vitro rumen incubation (IVRI) method to evaluate the biological activity of a Gymnopodium floribundum leaves extract against the exsheathment of Haemonchus contortus infective larvae (L3), and to determine the role of plant polyphenols on the biological activity. The incubation protocol followed the IVRI method, adding polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a polyphenol-blocking agent. The L3 were incubated in ruminal liquor (RL), ruminal liquor with PEG (RL+PEG), ruminal liquor with G. floribundum extract (RLE), and ruminal liquor with G. floribundum extract and PEG (RLE+PEG). Incubation condition controls included phosphate buffered saline (PBS), PBS with PEG (PBS+PEG), incubation medium (without ruminal liquor) (IM), and incubation medium with PEG (IM+PEG). The L3 were recovered after incubation times of 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, and 24 h (39 °C). The respective L3 exsheathment kinetics were estimated for the different treatments (RL, RL+PEG, RLE, and RLE+PEG) using Log-Logistic models. The parameters of the different models were compared to determine the impact of the extract, with or without PEG, on the L3 exsheathment kinetics. The exsheathment in PBS and PBS+PEG remained < 2.71% at each incubation time. The exsheathment in IM and IM+PEG reached 13.58% and 17.18% at 24 h, respectively. The exsheathment percentages for RLE were lower than those for RL at 3, 6 and 9 h of incubation. The inflection point, indicating the time required to reach 50% of the maximal exsheathment (T50), was the only parameter that differed between the ruminal liquor models. The T50 in RLE (7.106 h) was higher than the values obtained for RL (5.385 h) and RL+PEG (4.923 h) (99.99% probability of being different). Such delay resulted in a reduction of exsheathment in RLE of 62% at 3 h, 38% at 6 h, and 12% at 9 h, relative to RL values. When PEG was added with the extract (RLE+PEG), the T50 (5.045 h) was similar to that of RL and RL+PEG. The IVRI method was adapted as an in vitro rumen exsheathment test (IVRET). The IVRET showed that H. contortus L3 exposed to G. floribundum extract delayed their exsheathment kinetics at different time points. The exsheathment delay was attributed to the polyphenol content of the extract.

Developing high performance biodegradable film based on crosslinking of cellulose acetate and tannin using caprolactone.

The use of metal catalysts during the production process of cellulose acetate (CA) film can have an impact on the environment, due to their toxicity. Diphenyl phosphate (DPP) was used instead of toxic metal catalyst to react with cellulose acetate, tannin (T) and caprolactone (CL) for preparation of cellulose acetate-caprolactone-tannin (CA-CL-T) film. The results show that DPP can produce a cross-linked network structure composed of tannin, caprolactone and cellulose acetate. The maximum molecular weight reached 113,260 Da. The introduction of tannin and caprolactone into cellulose acetate caused the resulting CA-CL-T film acquire excellent strengthening/toughening effect, in which a tensile strength of 23 MPa and elongation at break of 18 % were attained. More importantly, the resistance of the film to UV radiation was significantly improved with the tannin addition, which was corroborated by the CA-CL-T film still exhibiting a tensile strength of 13 MPa and elongation at break around 13 % after continuous exposure to UV radiation for 9 days. On the other hand, the insertion of caprolactone provoked enhancement of the overall moisture resistance. Five days treatment of the films with Penicillium sp. induced gradual drop in quality, indicating the CA-CL-T film show response to biodegradation. In all, the effective crosslinking between the components of the developed material is responsible for the acquired set of these distinct characteristics.

May 1,3,5-Triazine derivatives be the future of leather tanning? A critical review.

Leather is produced by a multi-step process among which the tanning phase is the most relevant, transforming animal skin collagen into a stable, non-putrescible material used to produce a variety of different goods, for the footwear, automotive, garments, and sports industry. Most of the leather produced today is tanned with chromium (III) salts or alternatively with aldehydes or synthetic tannins, generating high environmental concern. Over the years, high exhaustion tanning systems have been developed to reduce the environmental impact of chromium salts, which nevertheless do not avoid the use of metals. Chrome-free alternatives such as aldehydes and phenol based synthetic tannins, are suffering from Reach restrictions due to their toxicity. Thus, the need for environmentally benign and economically sustainable tanning agents is increasingly urgent. In this review, the synthesis, use and tanning mechanism of a new class of tanning agents, 1,3,5-triazines derivatives, have been reported together with organoleptic, physical mechanical characteristics of tanned leather produced. Additionally environmental performance and economic data available for 1,3,5-triazines have been compared with those of a standard basic chromium sulphate tanning process, evidencing the high potentiality for sustainable, metal, aldehyde, and phenol free leather manufacturing.

Timing of leaf removal modulates tannin composition and the level of anthocyanins and methoxypyrazines in Pinot noir grapes and wines.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of leaf removal on concentrations of anthocyanin, tannin, and methoxypyrazines (MPs) in Pinot noir grapes and wines. Leaf removal after 7 days (LR7), 30 days (LR30), and 60 days (LR60) of flowering were compared with no leaf removal control (LRC). Grapes and resultant wines were analysed for tannin and aroma composition using liquid chromatography and two-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. All leaf removal treatments increased anthocyanin concentration in grapes and reduced MP levels in grape stems compared to LRC, indicating the effectiveness of both early and late leaf removal. Leaf removal after 7 days and 30 days were more effective in enhancing colour density, polymeric pigments, and tannin concentration in wines. Higher grape skin tannin and anthocyanin concentrations, along with lower seed tannin concentration in berries, correlated with higher tannin concentrations in wines. LR7 showed significantly higher skin-originated tannin proportion than LRC, suggesting a useful tool to manage tannin extraction. Aroma composition of resultant wines was influenced by leaf removal, although these differences were not evident in the sensory evaluation.

Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity of Polygala sadebeckiana Gürke extracts on bacterial isolates from Wound samples of patients with "Shimetere".

BACKGROUND: Modern medicine is not the choice of patients with "shimetere" in the Gurage community owing to their perception of 'parenteral medication use severely aggravates the disease'. For this reason, the root part of Polygala sadebeckiana Gürke is commonly utilized as traditional medicine in the management of the disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of Polygala sadebeckiana Gürke extract on bacterial isolates from wound samples of patients with "Shimetere". METHODS: The agar well diffusion method was used to evaluate antibacterial activity, and the agar dilution method was utilized to determine minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MICs). The crude extract was tested against isolated bacteria at concentrations of 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg/mL in triplicate (3x). The positive controls were azithromycin (15 µg) and cloxacillin disk (5 µg), and the negative control was dimethylsulfoxide (5%). The group mean comparisons were made using one-way ANOVA at a significance level of p < 0.05, and the results are presented as the mean ± standard deviation. The presence of secondary metabolites from crude extract was checked by standard testing procedures. RESULTS: S. aureus and S. pyrogen were the two identified bacteria from 9 (60%) and 3 (20%) wound samples, respectively. All identified bacterial strains were susceptible to the reference antibiotics. Tannins and saponins were the most abundant secondary metabolites found in the crude extracts. The average inhibition zones of the plant extracts with 100, 75, 50 and 25 mg/mL concentrations were 27, 20.33, 15.25, and 11.96 mm (p < 0.000) for S. aureus and 30.02, 24.50, 19.07, and 15.77 mm (p < 0.000) for S. pyrogen bacteria, respectively. The MIC and MBC of the crude extract were 1.67 and 10 mg/mL for S. aureus and 0.98 and 4 mg/mL for S. pyrogen. CONCLUSION: Polygala sadebeckiana Gürke contained significant tannins and saponins as secondary metabolites and had antibacterial activities against isolated bacteria (S. aureus and S. pyrogen) from "Shimetere". The potential mechanism of antibacterial action of the plant extract was cell wall synthesis inhibition.

Evaluation of the quality and safety of commercial complementary foods: Implications for nutrient adequacy and conformance with national and international standards.

Optimal nutrition in early childhood increases growth and development while preventing morbidity and mortality in later life. This study focused on the quality and safety of 32 commercially produced complementary foods collected from supermarkets in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The proximate composition (moisture, protein, fat, crude fibre, and ash); and the mineral profile (calcium, iron, zinc, manganese, and magnesium) were determined using the AOAC method. The determination of antinutritional factors (Condensed tannin and oxalate) was done using a UV spectrophotometer. A rapid visco analyzer was used to measure the rheological property. The microbial load of commercially produced complimentary foods was identified using aerobic colony counts for mold and yeast. Labeling practice was evaluated using the WHO and Ethiopian standard tools. The results of proximate compositions were: protein (0.92-18.16 g/100g), fat (0.63-6.44 g/100g), crude fiber (1.04-13.2 g/100g), energy (410-337 kcal/100g), moisture (0.03-17 g/100g), and ash (0.60-4.67 g/100g). The protein and fat content of all the products is below international standards. Only three products met the standards for energy. Moisture and ash contents partially met the requirement, while all of the carbohydrate contents of the products fell under the specified standard. The lowest and highest mineral contents of the products were: Fe (1.38 to 15.10 mg/100g), Zn (0.64 to 6.78 mg/100g), Ca (30.55 to 364.45 mg/100g), Mg (1.2 to 34.2 mg/100g), and Mn (0.80 to 32 mg/100g). Based on these, 21.5% of the foods met the Fe standard, and 31.5% didn't meet the Zn standard. The Ca and Mg of all the products met the requirement. Except for one product, all met standards. The highest and lowest results for the tannin and oxalate content of the products were 49.20 to 90.09 mg/100g and 0.47 to 30.10 mg/100g, respectively and this shows that the products are below the permissible range for tannin and oxalate. The counts of yeast and mold were 0.00-2.95 log10 cfu/g and 0.00-2.91 log10 cfu/g, respectively. Only one product fell below the standard for yeast count, and none of the products showed a mold count that exceeded the standard. The final viscosity was 63.5-3476 RVU, and only 31.25% of the samples fell under the permissible peak viscosity range, of 83-250 RVU. Thus, regular monitoring of the raw material and processing trends and the inclusion of animal sources in the raw material are suggested for having well-enriched complementary foods. Regulatory bodies should also conduct frequent market surveillance to safeguard the health of the consumer.

In vitro digestion and colonic fermentation of phenolic compounds and their antioxidant potential in Australian beach-cast seaweeds.

Beach-cast seaweed has recently garnered attention for its nutrient-rich composition, including proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. This study focuses on the phenolic content and antioxidant potential of five Australian beach-cast seaweed species during in vitro digestion and colonic fermentation. The bioaccessibility of the selected phenolic compounds was estimated and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production was determined. Cystophora sp., showed a notable increase in phenolic content (23.1 mg GAE/g) and antioxidant capacity (0.42 mg CE/g) during the intestinal and gastric phases of in vitro digestion. Durvillaea sp. demonstrated a significant release of flavonoids (0.35 mg QE/g), while Phyllosphora comosa released high levels of tannins (0.72 mg CE/g) during the intestinal phase. During colonic fermentation, P. comosa released the highest levels of phenolic compounds (4.3 mg GAE/g) after 2 h, followed by an increase in flavonoids (0.15 mg QE/g), tannins (0.07 mg CE/g), and antioxidant activity (DPPH: 0.12 mg CE/g; FRAP: 0.61 mg CE/g) after 4 h. Moreover, P. comosa released a considerable amount of phenolic compounds during both in vitro digestion and colonic fermentation. All species consistently released phenolic compounds throughout the study. Phloroglucinol, gallic acid, and protocatechuic acid were identified as the most bioaccessible phenolic compounds in all five Australian beach-cast seaweeds in the in vitro digestion. Nevertheless, compound levels declined during the colonic fermentation phase due to decomposition and fermentation by gut microbiota. With regard to SCFAs, P. comosa displayed elevated levels of acetic (0.51 mmol/L) and propionic acid (0.36 mmol/L) at 2 h, while Durvillaea sp. showed increased butyric (0.42 mmol/L) and valeric (0.26 mmol/L) production acid after 8 h. These findings suggest that seaweed such as Cystophora sp., Durvillaea sp., and P. comosa are promising candidates for food fortification or nutraceutical applications, given their rich phenolic content and antioxidant properties that potentially offer gut health benefits.

Pharmacokinetics of four tannin compounds from Sanguisorba officinalis L. before and after processing by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Sanguisorba officinalis L. possesses detoxifying, analgesic, and hemostatic properties. After charred processing, S. officinalis exhibits significantly enhanced medicinal effects. Currently, most pharmacokinetic studies focus on the chemical constituents of unprocessed S. officinalis. There is limited research on the comparison of chemical constituents before and after processing. This study established a pharmacokinetic method using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy (UHPLC-MS/MS) to simultaneously determine the levels of four tannin compounds in rat plasma. In negative ion mode, MS/MS detection was performed using an electrospray ionization source. Chromatographic separation was performed using WATERS ACQUITY HSS T3 column (2.1 × 100 mm, 1.8 µm) with a gradient elution of water and acetonitrile as the mobile phase. The pharmacokinetic results indicate that all four compounds reached peak concentrations within 2 h, demonstrating rapid absorption into the bloodstream within the gastrointestinal tract. Notably, the absorption was generally faster in the charred compound of S. officinalis after processing. These four compounds exhibited slower elimination in rat plasma, while in S. officinalis charcoal, the compounds were eliminated more rapidly. The pharmacokinetic results have revealed the pharmacokinetic characteristics of the four analytes in rat plasma which provides valuable reference information for further investigating the in vivo absorption process of S. officinalis after processing.

Mucin coated protein-polyphenol microcarriers for daidzein delivery.

Daidzein, an isoflavone found abundantly in legumes, may benefit from bypassing upper gut absorption to reach the colon where it can be metabolized into the potent estrogen equol by the gut microbiome. To achieve this, we developed mucin coated protein-tannin multilayer microcarriers. Highly porous functionalized calcium carbonate (FCC) microparticles efficiently absorbed daidzein from a dimethyl sulfoxide solution, with a loading capacity of 21.6 ± 1.8 wt% as measured by ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). Daidzein-containing FCC microparticles were then coated with a bovine serum albumin (BSA)-tannin n-layer film terminated with mucin ((BSA-TA)n-mucin) by layer-by-layer deposition from corresponding aqueous solutions followed by FCC decomposition with HCl. Raman spectroscopy confirmed mucin-tannin complexation involving both hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding. The resulting multilayer microcarriers contained 54 wt% of nanocrystalline daidzein as confirmed by X-ray diffraction and UPLC-MS. Preliminary screening of several types of mucin coatings using an in vitro INFOGEST digestion model demonstrated that mucin type III from porcine stomach provided the highest protection against upper intestinal digestion. (BSA-TA)8-mucin and (BSA-TA)4-mucin microcarriers retained 71 ± 16.4% and 68 ± 4.6% of daidzein, respectively, at the end of the small intestinal phase. Mucin-free (BSA-TA)8 retained a lower daidzein amount of 46%. Daidzein release and further conversion into equol were observed during in vitro colonic studies with fecal microbiota from a healthy non-equol-producing donor and Slackia equolifaciens. The developed approach has potential for encapsulating other hydrophobic nutraceuticals or therapeutics, enhancing their bioaccessibility in the colon.