Triacetin.

The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety reviewed updated information that has become available since their original assessment from 2003, along with updated information regarding product types, and frequency and concentrations of use, and reaffirmed their original conclusion that Triacetin is safe as a cosmetic ingredient in the practices of use and concentration as described in this report.

Metronidazole-Loaded Camphor-Based In Situ Forming Matrix for Periodontitis Treatment.

Periodontitis is a widespread oral health problem caused by bacterial infections that lead to tooth loss and other systemic diseases. The aim of this study was to provide an alternative treatment for periodontitis by developing a metronidazole-loaded in situ forming matrix (ISM) using camphor as its matrix former. Five-percent w/w metronidazole dissolved in N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP) with varying concentrations of camphor (30-50% w/w) and triacetin (0-25% w/w) were used. The physicochemical properties and antimicrobial activities of formulations were evaluated. Results showed that as the percentage of camphor increased, viscosity, density, contact angle, surface tension, and force of injection increased, while water tolerance decreased. The same trend was observed when increasing the triacetin concentration. The optimal metronidazole-loaded ISM was obtained at 40% w/w camphor and 5% w/w triacetin, which prolonged the release of metronidazole up to 6 days with Fickian diffusion release profile. The higher concentration of triacetin slowed down the phase inversion that led to an incomplete formation of the matrix and resulted in an inefficiently prolonged release of the metronidazole. Antimicrobial activities demonstrated that the developed formulation efficiently inhibited periodontitis-induced microorganisms including Porphyromonas gingivalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. The metronidazole-loaded camphor-based ISM has potential as a new drug delivery system for periodontitis treatment.

'Menthol-Plus': a major category of cigarette found among 'concept' descriptor cigarettes from Mexico.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco companies are offering cigarettes with 'concept' descriptor names that suggest sensation and/or flavour properties (eg, Marlboro 'Velvet Fusion'). Little has been known about the identities and levels of flavour chemicals in such cigarettes. METHODS: Thirty-three filter cigarette variants from 27 packs (including two sampler packs with four variations each) from Canada and Mexico were analysed (rod + filter) for 177 flavour chemicals plus triacetin, a filter plasticiser and possible flavourant. Five brands of US mentholated filter cigarettes were also analysed. RESULTS: Twenty-seven of the 33 cigarettes (all were Mexican variants) were categorised as 'menthol-plus': significant menthol (3.0-11.9 mg/cigarette), plus varying amounts (0.32-3.4 mg/cigarette) of total other flavour chemicals (TOFCs) (excludes triacetin). For 10 of the 27, TOFCs >1.0 mg/cigarette. For 7 of the 27, the TOFCs profile was categorised as containing total fruit flavour compounds (TFFCs) >1.0 mg/cigarette. One Mexican variant was categorised as 'menthol-only' (TOFCs ≤0.15 mg/cigarette). All menthol-plus and menthol-only cigarettes contained one or two optional-crush capsules in their filters (crushed prior to analysis). All five Canadian brand variants were 'non-flavoured'. All five US brand variants were 'menthol-only'. CONCLUSIONS: All but one of the 'concept' descriptor cigarettes from Mexico were 'menthol-plus'. While the Canadian cigarettes complied with Canada's flavour chemical ban, concept descriptors on the packs may increase appeal. Given the scale of the problem posed by menthol alone, health officials seeking to decrease the appeal of smoked tobacco should examine the extent to which 'concept descriptor' cigarettes using 'menthol-plus' flavour profiling together with artful descriptors are furthering the problem of smoked tobacco.

Tuning Immobilized Enzyme Features by Combining Solid-Phase Physicochemical Modification and Mineralization.

Lipase B from Candida antarctica (CALB) and lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus (TLL) were immobilized on octyl agarose. Then, the biocatalysts were chemically modified using glutaraldehyde, trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid or ethylenediamine and carbodiimide, or physically coated with ionic polymers, such as polyethylenimine (PEI) and dextran sulfate. These produced alterations of the enzyme activities have, in most cases, negative effects with some substrates and positive with other ones (e.g., amination of immobilized TLL increases the activity versus p-nitro phenyl butyrate (p-NPB), reduces the activity with R-methyl mandate by half and maintains the activity with S-isomer). The modification with PEI increased the biocatalyst activity 8-fold versus R-methyl mandelate. Enzyme stability was also modified, usually showing an improvement (e.g., the modification of immobilized TLL with PEI or glutaraldehyde enabled to maintain more than 70% of the initial activity, while the unmodified enzyme maintained less than 50%). The immobilized enzymes were also mineralized by using phosphate metals (Zn2+, Co2+, Cu2+, Ni2+ or Mg2+), and this affected also the enzyme activity, specificity (e.g., immobilized TLL increased its activity after zinc mineralization versus triacetin, while decreased its activity versus all the other assayed substrates) and stability (e.g., the same modification increase the residual stability from almost 0 to more than 60%). Depending on the enzyme, a metal could be positively, neutrally or negatively affected for a specific feature. Finally, we analyzed if the chemical modification could, somehow, tune the effects of the mineralization. Effectively, the same mineralization could have very different effects on the same immobilized enzyme if it was previously submitted to different physicochemical modifications. The same mineralization could present different effects on the enzyme activity, specificity or stability, depending on the previous modification performed on the enzyme, showing that these previous enzyme modifications alter the effects of the mineralization on enzyme features. For example, TLL modified with glutaraldehyde and treated with zinc salts increased its activity using R-methyl mandelate, while almost maintaining its activity versus the other unaltered substrates, whereas the aminated TLL maintained its activity with both methyl mandelate isomers, while it decreased with p-NPB and triacetin. TLL was found to be easier to tune than CALB by the strategies used in this paper. In this way, the combination of chemical or physical modifications of enzymes before their mineralization increases the range of modification of features that the immobilized enzyme can experienced, enabling to enlarge the biocatalyst library.

Improvement of the Solubilization and Extraction of Curcumin in an Edible Ternary Solvent Mixture.

A water-free, ternary solvent mixture consisting of a natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES), ethanol, and triacetin was investigated concerning its ability to dissolve and extract curcumin from Curcuma longa L. To this purpose, 11 NADES based on choline chloride, acetylcholine, and proline were screened using UV-vis measurements. A ternary phase diagram with a particularly promising NADES, based on choline chloride and levulinic acid was recorded and the solubility domains of the monophasic region were examined and correlated with the system's structuring via light scattering experiments. At the optimum composition, close to the critical point, the solubility of curcumin could be enhanced by a factor of >1.5 with respect to acetone. In extraction experiments, conducted at the points of highest solubility and evaluated via HPLC, a total yield of ~84% curcuminoids per rhizome could be reached. Through multiple extraction cycles, reusing the extraction solvent, an enrichment of curcuminoids could be achieved while altering the solution. When counteracting the solvent change, even higher concentrated extracts can be obtained.

Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of the New 3-((2,3-Diacetoxypropanoyl)oxy)propane-1,2-diyl Diacetate Using Immobilized Lipase B from Candida antarctica and Pyridinium Chlorochromate as an Oxidizing Agent.

To exploit the hydrolytic activity and high selectivity of immobilized lipase B from Candida antarctica on octyl agarose (CALB-OC) in the hydrolysis of triacetin and also to produce new value-added compounds from glycerol, this work describes a chemoenzymatic methodology for the synthesis of the new dimeric glycerol ester 3-((2,3-diacetoxypropanoyl)oxy)propane-1,2-diyl diacetate. According to this approach, triacetin was regioselectively hydrolyzed to 1,2-diacetin with CALB-OC. The diglyceride product was subsequently oxidized with pyridinium chlorochromate (PCC) and a dimeric ester was isolated as the only product. It was found that the medium acidity during the PCC treatment and a high 1,2-diacetin concentration favored the formation of the ester. The synthesized compounds were characterized using IR, MS, HR-MS, and NMR techniques. The obtained dimeric ester was evaluated at 100 ppm against seven bacterial strains and two Candida species to identify its antimicrobial activity. The compound has no inhibitory activity against the bacterial strains used but decreased C. albicans and C. parapsilosis growth by 49% and 68%, respectively. Hemolytic activity was evaluated, and the results obtained support the use of the dimeric ester to control C. albicans and C. parapsilosis growth in non-intravenous applications because the compound shows hemolytic activity.

Optimization and Characterization of Mesoporous Sulfonated Carbon Catalyst and Its Application in Modeling and Optimization of Acetin Production.

In this study, an optimized mesoporous sulfonated carbon (OMSC) catalyst derived from palm kernel shell biomass was developed using template carbonization and subsequent sulfonation under different temperatures and time conditions. The OMSC catalyst was characterized using acid-base titration, elemental analysis, XRD, Raman, FTIR, XPS, TPD-NH3, TGA-DTA, SEM, and N2 adsorption-desorption analysis to reveal its properties. Results proved that the OMSC catalyst is mesoporous and amorphous in structure with improved textural, acidic, and thermal properties. Both FTIR and XPS confirmed the presence of -SO3H, -OH, and -COOH functional groups on the surface of the catalyst. The OMSC catalyst was found to be efficient in catalyzing glycerol conversion to acetin via an acetylation reaction with acetic acid within a short period of 3 h. Response surface methodology (RSM), based on a two-level, three-factor, face-centered central composite design, was used to optimize the reaction conditions. The results showed that the optimized temperature, glycerol-to-acetic acid mole ratio, and catalyst load were 126 °C, 1:10.4, and 0.45 g, respectively. Under these optimum conditions, 97% glycerol conversion (GC) and selectivities of 4.9, 27.8, and 66.5% monoacetin (MA), diacetin (DA), and triacetin (TA), respectively, were achieved and found to be close to the predicted values. Statistical analysis showed that the regression model, as well as the model terms, were significant with the predicted R2 in reasonable agreement with the adjusted R2 (<0.2). The OMSC catalyst maintained excellent performance in GC for the five reaction cycles. The selectivity to TA, the most valuable product, was not stable until the fourth cycle, attributable to the leaching of the acid sites.

One-Step Partially Purified Lipases (ScLipA and ScLipB) from Schizophyllum commune UTARA1 Obtained via Solid State Fermentation and Their Applications.

Lipases with unique characteristics are of value in industrial applications, especially those targeting cost-effectiveness and less downstream processes. The aims of this research were to: (i) optimize the fermentation parameters via solid state fermentation (SSF); and (ii) study the performance in hydrolysis and esterification processes of the one-step partially purified Schizophyllum commune UTARA1 lipases. Lipase was produced by cultivating S. commune UTARA1 on sugarcane bagasse (SB) with used cooking oil (UCO) via SSF and its production was optimized using Design-Expert® 7.0.0. Fractions 30% (ScLipA) and 70% (ScLipB) which contained high lipase activity were obtained by stepwise (NH4)2SO4 precipitation. Crude fish oil, coconut oil and butter were used to investigate the lipase hydrolysis capabilities by a free glycerol assay. Results showed that ScLipA has affinities for long, medium and short chain triglycerides, as all the oils investigated were degraded, whereas ScLipB has affinities for long chain triglycerides as it only degrades crude fish oil. During esterification, ScLipA was able to synthesize trilaurin and triacetin. Conversely, ScLipB was specific towards the formation of 2-mono-olein and triacetin. From the results obtained, it was determined that ScLipA and ScLipB are sn-2 regioselective lipases. Hence, the one-step partial purification strategy proved to be feasible for partial purification of S. commune UTARA1 lipases that has potential use in industrial applications.

Studies on self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system of flurbiprofen employing long, medium and short chain triglycerides.

The aim of the study was to successfully design, formulate and evaluate self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) of poorly aqueous soluble drug viz. flurbiprofen using long (LCT), medium (MCT) and short chain triglycerides (SCT). The SNEDDS are thermodynamically stable lipid based drug delivery systems which consist of mixture of oil, surfactant and co-surfactant. Upon aqueous dilution, this mixture produces nano-emulsion spontaneously on slight agitation. The excipients intended to be used were screened for their potential to dissolve the drug and to form clear dispersion upon aqueous dilution. Labrafil M 1944 CS, capryol-90 and triacetin were selected as long, medium and short chain triglycerides, respectively, as lipids while tween-80 and polyethylene glycol-400 (PEG-400)/ethanol (3:1 ratio) were selected as surfactant and co-surfactant, respectively. The excipients were studied at every possible combination ratios using pseudo-ternary diagram. The LCT, MCT and SCT-SNEDDS were optimized using thermodynamic studies, percentage transmittance value, viscosity, refractive index (RI), electrical conductivity, globule size analysis and in-vitro drug release studies. The drug release profiles of optimized SNEDDS were then compared with market product at different pH mediums. The LCT-SNEDDS was considered to be superior for enhancement of the drug bioavailability when compared with other SNEDDS formulations and market product.

Solubility parameters of hypromellose acetate succinate and plasticization in dry coating procedures.

Solubility parameters of HPMCAS have not yet been investigated intensively. On this account, total and three-dimensional solubility parameters of HPMCAS were determined by using different experimental as well as computational methods. In addition, solubility properties of HPMCAS in a huge number of solvents were tested and a Teas plot for HPMCAS was created. The total solubility parameter of about 24 MPa(0.5) was confirmed by various procedures and compared with values of plasticizers. Twenty common pharmaceutical plasticizers were evaluated in terms of their suitability for supporting film formation of HPMCAS under dry coating conditions. Therefore, glass transition temperatures of mixtures of polymer and plasticizers were inspected and film formation of potential ones was further investigated in dry coating of pellets. Contact angles of plasticizers on HPMCAS were determined in order to give a hint of achievable coating efficiencies in dry coating, but none was found to spread on HPMCAS. A few common substances, e.g. dimethyl phthalate, glycerol monocaprylate, and polyethylene glycol 400, enabled plasticization of HPMCAS; however, only triethyl citrate and triacetin were found to be suitable for use in dry coating. Addition of acetylated monoglycerides to triacetin increased coating efficiency, which was likewise previously demonstrated for triethyl citrate.

Acetate supplementation as a means of inducing glioblastoma stem-like cell growth arrest.

Glioblastoma (GBM), the most common primary adult malignant brain tumor, is associated with a poor prognosis due, in part, to tumor recurrence mediated by chemotherapy and radiation resistant glioma stem-like cells (GSCs). The metabolic and epigenetic state of GSCs differs from their non-GSC counterparts, with GSCs exhibiting greater glycolytic metabolism and global hypoacetylation. However, little attention has been focused on the potential use of acetate supplementation as a therapeutic approach. N-acetyl-l-aspartate (NAA), the primary storage form of brain acetate, and aspartoacylase (ASPA), the enzyme responsible for NAA catalysis, are significantly reduced in GBM tumors. We recently demonstrated that NAA supplementation is not an appropriate therapeutic approach since it increases GSC proliferation and pursued an alternative acetate source. The FDA approved food additive Triacetin (glyceryl triacetate, GTA) has been safely used for acetate supplementation therapy in Canavan disease, a leukodystrophy due to ASPA mutation. This study characterized the effects of GTA on the proliferation and differentiation of six primary GBM-derived GSCs relative to established U87 and U251 GBM cell lines, normal human cerebral cortical astrocytes, and murine neural stem cells. GTA reduced proliferation of GSCs greater than established GBM lines. Moreover, GTA reduced growth of the more aggressive mesenchymal GSCs greater than proneural GSCs. Although sodium acetate induced a dose-dependent reduction of GSC growth, it also reduced cell viability. GTA-mediated growth inhibition was not associated with differentiation, but increased protein acetylation. These data suggest that GTA-mediated acetate supplementation is a novel therapeutic strategy to inhibit GSC growth.

In vitro evaluation of suspoemulsions for in situ-forming polymeric microspheres and controlled release of progesterone.

One possibility to obtain a higher dose of drug in a lower formulation volume can be by using of saturated quantity of drug in one of the phases of an emulsion. These formulations are called suspoemulsions (S/O/W). When a hydrophobic polymer is added to the organic phase of suspoemulsions, these formulations can be used to entrap the drug inside microspheres after in situ precipitation of the polymer-drug-excipients mix. In this work, performance and stability of progesterone suspensions in triacetin as organic phase of suspoemulsions were evaluated. These formulations were compared with O/W emulsions. Mathematical models were used to study in vitro release profiles. The results confirmed that S/O/W systems could be an attractive alternative to O/W formulations for the entrapment of progesterone inside poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres. Diffusive-based models fit the in vitro release of progesterone from in situ-formed microspheres. For longer release periods, a time-dependent diffusion coefficient was successfully estimated.

Triacetin-based acetate supplementation as a chemotherapeutic adjuvant therapy in glioma.

Cancer is associated with epigenetic (i.e., histone hypoacetylation) and metabolic (i.e., aerobic glycolysis) alterations. Levels of N-acetyl-L-aspartate (NAA), the primary storage form of acetate in the brain, and aspartoacylase (ASPA), the enzyme responsible for NAA catalysis to generate acetate, are reduced in glioma; yet, few studies have investigated acetate as a potential therapeutic agent. This preclinical study sought to test the efficacy of the food additive Triacetin (glyceryl triacetate, GTA) as a novel therapy to increase acetate bioavailability in glioma cells. The growth-inhibitory effects of GTA, compared to the histone deacetylase inhibitor Vorinostat (SAHA), were assessed in established human glioma cell lines (HOG and Hs683 oligodendroglioma, U87 and U251 glioblastoma) and primary tumor-derived glioma stem-like cells (GSCs), relative to an oligodendrocyte progenitor line (Oli-Neu), normal astrocytes, and neural stem cells (NSCs) in vitro. GTA was also tested as a chemotherapeutic adjuvant with temozolomide (TMZ) in orthotopically grafted GSCs. GTA-induced cytostatic growth arrest in vitro comparable to Vorinostat, but, unlike Vorinostat, GTA did not alter astrocyte growth and promoted NSC expansion. GTA alone increased survival of mice engrafted with glioblastoma GSCs and potentiated TMZ to extend survival longer than TMZ alone. GTA was most effective on GSCs with a mesenchymal cell phenotype. Given that GTA has been chronically administered safely to infants with Canavan disease, a leukodystrophy due to ASPA mutation, GTA-mediated acetate supplementation may provide a novel, safe chemotherapeutic adjuvant to reduce the growth of glioma tumors, most notably the more rapidly proliferating, glycolytic and hypoacetylated mesenchymal glioma tumors.

Determination of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from wrapping films and wrapped PDO Italian cheeses by using HS-SPME and GC/MS.

Nowadays food wrapping assures attractive presentation and simplifies self-service shopping. Polyvinylchloride (PVC)- and polyethylene (PE)-based cling-films are widely used worldwide for wrapping cheeses. For this purpose, films used in retail possess suitable technical properties such as clinginess and unrolling capacity, that are achieved by using specific plasticizers during their manufacturing process. In the present study, the main VOCs of three cling-films (either PVC-based or PE-based) for retail use were characterized by means of Solid-Phase Micro-Extraction and GC/MS. In addition, the effects of cling film type and contact time on the migration of VOCs from the films to four different PDO Italian cheeses during cold storage under light or dark were also investigated. Among the VOCs isolated from cling-films, PVC released 2-ethylhexanol and triacetin. These compounds can likely be considered as a "non-intentionally added substance". These same compounds were also detected in cheeses wrapped in PVC films with the highest concentration found after 20 days storage. The PE cling-film was shown to possess a simpler VOC profile, lacking some molecules peculiar to PVC films. The same conclusions can be drawn for cheeses wrapped in the PE cling-film. Other VOCs found in wrapped cheeses were likely to have been released either by direct transfer from the materials used for the manufacture of cling-films or from contamination of the films. Overall, HS-SPME is shown to be a rapid and solvent free technique to screen the VOCs profile of cling-films, and to detect VOCs migration from cling-films to cheese under real retail storage conditions.

Biodegradable injectable in situ implants and microparticles for sustained release of montelukast: in vitro release, pharmacokinetics, and stability.

The objective of this study was to investigate the sustained release of a hydrophilic drug, montelukast (MK), from two biodegradable polymeric drug delivery systems, in situ implant (ISI) and in situ microparticles (ISM). N-Methyl pyrrolidone (NMP), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), triacetin, and ethyl acetate were selected as solvents. The release of 10% (w/v) MK from both systems containing poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) as the biodegradable polymer was compared. Upon contact with the aqueous medium, the PLGA in ISI and ISM systems solidified resulting in implants and microparticles, respectively. The in vitro drug release from the ISI system showed marked difference from miscible solvents (NMP and DMSO) than the partially miscible ones (triacetin and ethyl acetate), and the drug release decreased with increased PLGA concentration. In the ISM system, the initial in vitro drug release decreased with decreased ratio of polymer phase to external oil phase. In vivo studies in rats showed that ISM had slower drug release than the drug release from ISI. Also, the ISM system when compared to ISI system had significantly reduced initial burst effect. In vitro as well as the in vivo studies for both ISI and ISM systems showed sustained release of MK. The ISM system is suitable for sustained release of MK over 4-week period with a lower initial burst compared to the ISI system. Stability studies of the ISI and ISM formulations showed that MK is stable in the formulations stored at 4°C for more than 2 years.

Tuning almond lipase features by the buffer used during immobilization: The apparent biocatalysts stability depends on the immobilization and inactivation buffers and the substrate utilized.

The lipase from Prunus dulcis almonds was inactivated under different conditions. At pH 5 and 9, enzyme stability remained similar under the different studied buffers. However, when the inactivation was performed at pH 7, there were some clear differences on enzyme stability depending on the buffer used. The enzyme was more stable in Gly than when Tris was employed for inactivation. Then, the enzyme was immobilized on methacrylate beads coated with octadecyl groups at pH 7 in the presence of Gly, Tris, phosphate and HEPES. Its activity was assayed versus triacetin and S-methyl mandelate. The biocatalyst prepared in phosphate was more active versus S-methyl mandelate, while the other ones were more active versus triacetin. The immobilized enzyme stability at pH 7 depends on the buffer used for enzyme immobilization. The buffer used in the inactivation and the substrate used determined the activity. For example, glycine was the buffer that promoted the lowest or the highest stabilities depending on the substrate used to quantify the activities.

A comprehensive evaluation of the toxicology resulting from laser-generated ventilation holes in cigarette filters.

CONTEXT: Recent technological advances allow ventilation holes in (or adjacent to) cigarette filters to be produced using lasers instead of using the mechanical procedures of earlier techniques. OBJECTIVE: Analytical chemistry can be used to compare the composition of mainstream smoke from experimental cigarettes having filters with mechanically produced ventilation holes to that of cigarettes with ventilation holes that were produced using laser technology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Established procedures were used to analyze the smoke composition of 38 constituents of mainstream smoke generated using standard conditions. RESULTS: There were no differences between the smoke composition of cigarettes with filter ventilation holes that were produced mechanically or through use of laser technology. CONCLUSION: The two methods for producing ventilation holes in cigarette filters are equivalent in terms of resulting mainstream smoke chemistry, at two quite different filter ventilation percentages.

Synthesis of structured lipids by lipase-catalyzed interesterification of triacetin with camellia oil methyl esters and preliminary evaluation of their plasma lipid-lowering effect in mice.

Structured lipids (SLCTs triacylglycerols with short- and long-chain acyl residues) were synthesized by interesterification of triacetin and fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) from camellia oil, followed by molecular distillation for purification. Different commercial immobilized lipases (Lipozyme RM IM and Novozyme 435), the substrate molar ratios of FAMEs to triacetin, the reaction temperatures and the lipase amounts were studied for their efficiency in producing SLCTs. Results showed that Novozyme 435 was more suitable for this reaction system. Moreover, the optimal reaction conditions for the highest conversion of FAMEs and the highest LLS-TAGs (triacylglycerols with one short- and two long-chain acyl residues) yields were achieved at a molar ratio of FAMEs to triacetin of 3:1, 50 °C of reaction temperature and a lipase amount of 4% (w/v). Scale-up was conducted based on the optimized reaction conditions. Results showed that after 24 h of reaction , the conversion rate of FAMEs was 82.4% and the rate of disubstituted triacetin was 52.4 mol%. The final product yield rate was 94.6%. The effects of the synthesized SLCTs on the plasma lipid level of fasting mice were also studied. The SLCTs could effectively lessen the total triacylglycerol levels in plasma compared to the triacylglycerol group in fasting NIH mice. It suggested that this type of structured lipid might be beneficial for human health, especially for the prevention of obesity.

Novel green production of natural-like vanilla extract from curcuminoids.

The demand for natural vanilla extract, and vanillin in particular, by far exceeds the current production, as both the cultivation of vanilla beans and the extraction of vanillin are laborious. For this purpose, most vanillin used today is produced synthetically, contrary to the general trend toward bio-based products. The present study deals with the synthesis of nature-based vanillin, starting with the more accessible rhizomes of the plant Curcuma longa. Besides vanillin, vanillic acid and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde are synthesized that way, which are also found in the natural vanilla bean. The extraction of the curcuminoids and, finally, their conversion to the flavors are performed using visible light and food-grade chemicals only. A binary mixture of ethanol and triacetin, as well as a surfactant-free microemulsion consisting of water, ethanol, and triacetin, are investigated in this context. The results exceed the literature values for Soxhlet extraction of vanilla beans by a factor > 7.

Dietary triacetin, but not medium chain triacylglycerides, blunts weight gain in diet-induced rat model of obesity.

Consumption of a Western diet (WD) is known to increase the risk of obesity. Short or medium chain fatty acids influence energy metabolism, and triacetin, a synthetic short chain triacylglyceride, has been shown to lower body fat under normal conditions. This study aimed to investigate if triacetin as part of a WD modifies rat weight and body fat. Male rats were fed a control diet or WD for 8 weeks. At week 8, rats in the WD group were maintained on a WD diet or switched to a WD diet containing 30% energy from medium-chain triacylglyceride (WD-MCT) or triacetin (WD-T) for another 8 weeks. At week 16, rats were euthanized and liver, adipose and blood were collected. Tissue fatty acids (FAs) were quantified by gas chromatography (GC) and hepatic FAs were measured by GC-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry for δ13 C-palmitic acid (PAM)-a novel marker of de novo lipogenesis (DNL). Rats fed WD-T had a body weight not statistically different to the control group, and gained less body weight than rats fed WD alone. Furthermore, WD-T fed rats had a lower fat mass, and lower total liver and plasma FAs compared to the WD group. Rats fed WD-T did not differ from WD in blood ketone or glucose levels, however, had a significantly lower hepatic δ13 C-PAM value than WD fed rats; suggestive of lower DNL. In summary, we show that triacetin has the potential to blunt weight gain and adipose tissue accumulation in a rodent model of obesity, possibly due to a decrease in DNL.