Production of antioxidant xylooligosaccharides from lignocellulosic materials using Bacillus amyloliquifaciens NRRL B-14393 xylanase.

The present study aimed to evaluate the enzymatic production of XOS, antioxidant activities together with total phenolic contents from different lignocellulosic materials and birchwoodxylan using both crude and pure forms of Bacillus amyloliquifaciens NRRL B-14393 xylanase respectively. The mode of action of the pure xylanase was studied by HPLC and the end products analysis of birchwoodxylan revealed that xylose, xylobiose and xylotriose were the only end products. The resulted XOS mixture exhibited potent antioxidant activity of 87.36 % and high total phenolic content of 182.88 mg GAE/ liter of extract. XOS were obtained from different alkali pretreated agricultural residues by the crude xylanase action with a yield in a range from 54.4% to85.5%.Maximum scavenging abilities and total phenolic contents of XOS mixtures of all the tested materials were determined. XOS mixtures of orange and mango peels revealed relatively higher antioxidant activities (96% and 76.84%, respectively) and total phenolic acid contents (156.32 and 133.74 mg GAE/ liter of extract, respectively) compared to the other XOS mixtures. In conclusion, Bacillus amyloliquifaciens NRRL B-14393 xylanase could be a promising source for production of XOS with high phenolic contents and antioxidant activities.

Effect of myrrh and thyme on Trichinella spiralisenteral and parenteral phases with inducible nitric oxide expression in mice

Trichinellosis is a serious disease with no satisfactory treatment. We aimed to assess the effect of myrrh (Commiphora molmol) and, for the first time, thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) against enteral and encysted (parenteral) phases of Trichinella spiralis in mice compared with albendazole, and detect their effect on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression. Oral administration of 500 mg/kg of myrrh and thyme led to adult reduction (90.9%, 79.4%), while 1,000 mg/kg led to larvae reduction (79.6%, 71.3%), respectively. Administration of 50 mg/kg of albendazole resulted in adult and larvae reduction (94.2%, 90.9%). Positive immunostaining of inflammatory cells infiltrating intestinal mucosa and submucosa of all treated groups was detected. Myrrh-treated mice showed the highest iNOS expression followed by albendazole, then thyme. On the other hand, both myrrh and thyme-treated groups showed stronger iNOS expression of inflammatory cells infiltrating and surrounding encapsulated T. spiralis larvae than albendazole treated group. In conclusion, myrrh and thyme extracts are highly effective against both phases of T. spiralis and showed strong iNOS expressions, especially myrrh which could be a promising alternative drug. This experiment provides a basis for further exploration of this plant by isolation and retesting the active principles of both extracts against different stages of T. spiralis.