Castor Bean Cake Protein-based Biodegradable Films: Gallic Acid Effect

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of gallic acid (GA) concentration on some physical properties and biodegradability of films produced with proteins extracted from the castor bean cake. The films, prepared by the casting technique, showed homogeneous and brownish appearance. As the GA concentration increased (from 0 to 10 g/100 g protein), the films gradually became darker and more opaque; while the gloss had few significant differences. Solubility, tensile strength and elasticity modulus values of films varied due to changing concentrations of gallic acid. Elongation at break and water vapor permeability values did not have significant changes. A 60% mineralization value of the film containing GA was obtained at 21 days, evidencing its biodegradability. These dark and opaque films could be used in agriculture, specifically in seedling bags as the dark color decrease the incidence of light, preventing root weakening, and the seedlings can be transplanted directly without removal of the film.

Sandfly (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) species diversity in an urban area of the municipality of Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico

Monitoring phlebotomine sandflies in urban areas is key for epidemiological studies in susceptible populations. This paper describes sandfly fauna that were present in an urban area of the municipality of Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico, and were captured with Shannon and CDC light traps. During February and March of 2014, 1,442 sandflies were captured, specifically Lutzomyia cruciata (Coquillet) (98.8%), Lutzomyia cayennensis cayennensis (Floch and Abonnenc) (0.8%), Lutzomyia chiapanensis (Dampf) (0.3%) and Lutzomyia atulapai (De León) (0.1%). Lu. cruciata was the most abundant and the most frequently trapped species. This is the first record of its remarkable ability to adapt to urban green areas. The three other species trapped represent new records of geographic distribution for the study region. These results indicate the need to establish measures for reducing both human contact with this vector and the risk of possible sites of infection.

Sugars, organic acids, and phenolic compounds of ancient grape cultivars (Vitis vinifera L.) from Igdir province of Eastern Turkey

BACKGROUND: The Eurasian grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is the most widely cultivated and economically important horticultural crop in the world. As a one of the origin area, Anatolia played an important role in the diversification and spread of the cultivated form V. vinifera ssp. vinifera cultivars and also the wild form V. vinifera ssp. sylvestris ecotypes. Although several biodiversity studies have been conducted with local cultivars in different regions of Anatolia, no information has been reported so far on the biochemical (organic acids, sugars, phenolic acids, vitamin C) and antioxidant diversity of local historical table V. vinifera cultivars grown in Igdir province. In this work, we studied these traits in nine local table grape cultivars viz. 'Beyaz Kismis' (synonym name of Sultanina or Thompson seedless), 'Askeri', 'El Hakki', 'Kirmizi Kismis', 'Inek Emcegi', 'Hacabas', 'Kerim Gandi', 'Yazen Dayi', and 'Miskali' spread in the Igdir province of Eastern part of Turkey. RESULTS: Variability of all studied parameters is strongly influenced by cultivars (P < 0.01). Among the cultivars investigated, 'Miskali' showed the highest citric acid content (0.959 g/l) while 'Kirmizi Kismis' produced predominant contents in tartaric acid (12.71 g/l). The highest glucose (16.47 g/100 g) and fructose (15.55 g/100 g) contents were provided with 'Beyaz Kismis'. 'Kirmizi Kismis' cultivar had also the highest quercetin (0.55 mg/l), o-coumaric acid (1.90 mg/l), and caffeic acid (2.73 mg/l) content. The highest ferulic acid (0.94 mg/l), and syringic acid (2.00 mg/l) contents were observed with 'Beyaz Kismis' cultivar. The highest antioxidant capacity was obtained as 9.09 μmol TE g-1 from 'Inek Emcegi' in TEAC (Trolox equivalent Antioxidant Capacity) assay. 'Hacabas' cultivar had the highest vitamin C content of 35.74 mg/100 g. CONCLUSIONS: Present results illustrated that the historical table grape cultivars grown in Igdir province of Eastern part of Turkey contained diverse and valuable sugars, organic acids, phenolic acids, Vitamin C values and demonstrated important antioxidant capacity for human health benefits. Further preservation and use of this gene pool will be helpful to avoid genetic erosion and to promote continued agriculture in the region.

Characterization and application of tannase produced by Aspergillus niger ITCC 6514.07 on pomegranate rind

Extracellular tannase and gallic acid were produced optimally under submerged fermentation at 37 0C, 72 h, pH 5.0, 10 percent(v/v) inoculum and 4 percent(w/v) of the agroresidue pomegranate rind (PR) powder by an Aspergillus niger isolate. Tannic acid (1 percent) stimulated the enzyme production by 245.9 percent while with 0.5 percent glucose, increase was marginal. Tannase production was inhibited by gallic acid and nitrogen sources such as NH4NO3, NH4Cl, KNO3, asparatic acid, urea and EDTA. The partially purified enzyme showed temperature and pH optima of 35 0C and 6.2 respectively which shifted to 40 0C and 5.8 on immobilization in alginate beads. Activity of the enzyme was inhibited by Zn+2, Ca+, Mn+2, Mg+2, Ba+2and Ag+. The immobilized enzyme removed 68.8 percent tannin from juice of aonla/myrobalan (Phyllanthus emblica), a tropical fruit, rich in vitamin C and other essential nutrients. The enzymatic treatment of the juice with minimum reduction in vitamin C is encouraging as non enzymatic treatments of myrobalan juice results in vitamin C removal.

A new approach to microbial production of gallic acid / Uma nova abordagem para produção microbiana de ácido gálico

In a new approach to microbial gallic acid production by Aspergillus fischeri MTCC 150, 40gL-1 oftannic acid was added in two installments during the bioconversion phase of the process (25gL-1 and 15gL-1 at 32 and 44h respectively). The optimum parameters for the bioconversion phase were found to be temperature: 35ºC, pH: slightly acidic (3.3-3.5), aeration: nil and agitation: 250 rpm. A maximum of 71.4 percent conversion was obtained after 71h fermentation with 83.3 percent product recovery. The yield was 7.35 g of gallic acid per g of biomass accumulated and the fermenter productivity was 0.56 g of gallic acid produced per liter of medium per hour.

Em uma nova abordagem para produção de ácido gálico por Aspergillus fischeri MTCC 150, adiciona-se 40 g.L-1 de ácido tânico em dois momentos da fase de bioconversão do processo (25 g.L-1 e 15 g.L-1 a 32h e 44h, respectivamente). Os parâmetros ótimos para a fase de bioconversão foram: temperatura 35ºC, pH levemente ácido (3,3 a 3,5), nenhuma aeração e agitação 250 rpm. Um máximo de 71,4 por cento de conversão foi obtido após 71h de fermentação, com 83,3 por cento de recuperação do produto. O rendimento foi 7,35g de ácido gálico por g de biomassa acumulada e a produtividade do fermentador foi 0,56g de ácido gálico por litro de meio por hora.