Valorization of coffee bean processing waste for the sustainable extraction of biologically active pectin.

The dry method of coffee processing generates a significant amount of coffee husk, an agricultural waste for which currently there is a lack of profitable use, and their disposal constitutes a major environmental problem. Pectin was extracted from coffee husk using citric acid solution (pH 1.5) by microwave-assisted extraction method, followed by using ice-cold ethanol. The coffee husk pectin (CHP) with a yield of 40.2% was characterized using SEM, FT-IR, and XRD techniques. The CHP exhibited significant in-vitro antioxidant activity as measured by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl; (IC50 value of 395.1 ± 0.42 µg/mL), ferrous reducing antioxidant capacity (A700 nm = 0.55 ± 0.08), 2,2'-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging (42.02 ± 0.38%) and ascorbic acid auto-oxidation inhibition (92.01 ± 0.28%) assays. CHP demonstrated antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus with an inhibition diameter of 20 ± 1.01 mm and 18 ± 0.84 mm, respectively. Interestingly, CHP showed a significant anti-inflammatory effect by negatively modulating the expressions of TNF-α and TGF- ß in LPS-stimulated macrophage cell lines. Collectively, our findings suggest that the coffee husk is a potential source of commercial pectin, microwave-assisted extraction has a great potency on the commercial pectin extraction from the coffee husk and CHP demonstrates significant biological activity.

Computational screening of pathogenic missense nsSNPs in heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) gene and their structural and functional consequences.

Heme Oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) is a cytoprotective enzyme, exhibiting the highest activity in the spleen, catalyzing the heme ring breakdown into products of biological significance- biliverdin, CO, and Fe2+. In vascular cells, HMOX1 possesses strong anti-apoptotic, antioxidant, anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory actions. The majority of these activities are crucial for the prevention of atherogenesis. Single amino acid substitutions in proteins generated by missense non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (nsSNPs) in the protein-encoding regions of genes are potent enough to cause significant medical challenges due to the alteration of protein structure and function. The current study aimed at characterizing and analyzing high-risk nsSNPs associated with the human HMOX1 gene. Preliminary screening of the total available 288 missense SNPs was performed through the lens of deleteriousness and stability prediction tools. Finally, a total of seven nsSNPs (Y58D, A131T, Y134H, F166S, F167S, R183S and M186V) were found to be most deleterious by all tools that are present at highly conserved positions. Molecular dynamics simulations (MDS) analysis explained the mutational effects on the dynamic action of the wild-type and mutant proteins. In a nutshell, R183S (rs749644285) was identified as a highly detrimental mutation that could significantly render the enzymatic activity of HMOX1. The finding of this computational analysis might help subject the experimental confirmatory analysis to characterize the role of nsSNPs in HMOX1.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Neuroprotective Potential of Non-Digestible Oligosaccharides: An Overview of Experimental Evidence.

Non-digestible oligosaccharides (NDOs) from dietary sources have the potential as prebiotics for neuroprotection. Globally, diverse populations suffering from one or the other forms of neurodegenerative disorders are on the rise, and NDOs have the potential as supportive complementary therapeutic options against these oxidative-linked disorders. Elevated levels of free radicals cause oxidative damage to biological molecules like proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids associated with various neurological disorders. Therefore, investigating the therapeutic or prophylactic potential of prebiotic bioactive molecules such as NDOs as supplements for brain and cognitive health has merits. Few prebiotic NDOs have shown promise as persuasive therapeutic solutions to counter oxidative stress by neutralizing free radicals directly or indirectly. Furthermore, they are also known to modulate through brain-derived neurotrophic factors through direct and indirect mechanisms conferring neuroprotective and neuromodulating benefits. Specifically, NDOs such as fructo-oligosaccharides, xylo-oligosaccharides, isomalto-oligosaccharides, manno-oligosaccharides, pectic-oligosaccharides, and similar oligosaccharides positively influence the overall health via various mechanisms. Increasing evidence has suggested that the beneficial role of such prebiotic NDOs is not only directed towards the colon but also distal organs including the brain. Despite the wide applications of these classes of NDOs as health supplements, there is limited understanding of the possible role of these NDOs as neuroprotective therapeutics. This review provides important insights into prebiotic NDOs, their source, and production with special emphasis on existing direct and indirect evidence of their therapeutic potential in neuroprotection.

A Combination Supplement of Fructo- and Xylo-Oligosaccharides Significantly Abrogates Oxidative Impairments and Neurotoxicity in Maternal/Fetal Milieu Following Gestational Exposure to Acrylamide in Rat.

Prebiotic oligosaccharides are demonstrated to confer a wide spectrum of physiological benefits during pregnancy. In view of this, focused attempts are being directed towards understanding their role as modulators of brain chemistry and behavior. Epidemiological studies have identified that exposure to neurotoxins during prenatal/early life can profoundly impact neurodevelopment/function. In this context, we have tested the hypothesis that a combination of prebiotic supplements during gestation has the propensity to attenuate acrylamide (ACR) induced oxidative impairments, mitochondrial dysfunction and neurotoxicity in maternal and fetal brain of rats. To achieve this, pregnant dams given oral supplements of a combination of fructo- and xylooligosaccharides (FOS + XOS, 3 g/kg/day) during gestation days (GD 0-19) were exposed to ACR (200 ppm in drinking water, GD 6-19). The behavioral analysis revealed that ACR dams fed prebiotics displayed higher exploratory behavior in the open field test. The prenatal evaluation showed that ACR-induced decrements of placental/fetal weights were markedly restored with prebiotic feeding. Prebiotics significantly offset markers of oxidative stress, restored enzymic antioxidants, cholinergic and mitochondrial function in the maternal and fetal brain. Concomitantly, prebiotics restored ACR-induced depletion in the levels of dopamine and γ-aminobutyric acid in the maternal cortex that positively correlated with cecal bacterial numbers. Collectively, these data suggest that prenatal prebiotic oligosaccharide supplements protect developing brain against oxidative stress-mediated neurotoxicity. While the underlying mechanism/s by which prebiotics abrogate the impact of neurotoxicants in the developing brain merits further studies, we speculate that it may be mediated predominantly through attenuation of oxidative stress and proliferation of enteric microbiota.

Mass transfer characterization of gamma-aminobutyric acid production by Enterococcus faecium CFR 3003: encapsulation improves its survival under simulated gastro-intestinal conditions.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) production by free and Ca-alginate encapsulated cells of Enterococcus faecium CFR 3003 was investigated. Mass transfer rates characterizing the GABA production process using encapsulated cells were investigated. Experiments were performed to investigate external film and internal pore diffusion mass transfer rates. The Damkohler and Thiele analysis provides a good description of external film and internal pore diffusion resistances, respectively. The experiments revealed that the external film effects could be neglected but the process is affected to the greater extent by internal mass transfer effects and was found to be the principal rate-controlling step. Protective effect of encapsulation on cell survivability was tested under digestive environment, when challenged to salivary α-amylase, simulated gastric fluid and intestinal fluid. Viability of encapsulated cells was significantly higher under simulated gastro-intestinal conditions and could produce higher GABA than those observed with free cells. The results indicate that the Ca-alginate encapsulated probiotics could effectively be delivered to the colonic site for effective inhibitory action.