Dry pasteurization of paprika (Capsicum annuum L.) by short time intensive microwave-infrared radiation: Inactivation of Salmonella Typhimurium and Aspergillus flavus considering quality degradation kinetics.

The inactivation of S. Typhimurium and A. flavus along with quality degradation kinetics was studied during combined microwave-infrared (MW-IR) heating of paprika. The spatial changes in the distribution of temperature and variation in water activity (aw) of the paprika samples resulted in a 7.389 log reduction in S. Typhimurium, and 6.182 log reduction in A. flavus. During heating, the deterioration of red pigments was more pronounced compared to that of the yellow pigments. The alteration of color was observed to be due to the increase in a large number of brown pigments. The inhibition of DPPH radicals accelerated with an increase in the power level of MW-IR radiation; the inhibition rate increased from 0.0859 to 0.1485 s-1. Also, the pungency of dried paprika was found to increase due to moisture reduction, inactivation of peroxidase, and the short-duration of heating.

Ferulic acid grafted self-assembled fructo-oligosaccharide micro particle for targeted delivery to colon.

Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly occurring malignancy and is ranked second among the leading cause of cancer death globally. The colorectal cancer is attributed to the life style and poor dietary habits. Ferulic acid is known to have anti-cancer activity, anti-oxidant activity and also known to be less toxic to normal cells under high doses. The purpose of this research is to develop an oral dietary intervention by grafting ferulic acid to fructo oligosaccharide and there by self-assembling them in to microparticles for targeted delivery to colon. The microparticle is characterized by using Solid state NMR and FTIR. Their morphological features were studied using SEM, XRD and particle size analyzer. The stability of the microparticle under simulated gastric and intestinal digestion were investigated. The physico-chemical characteristics of the microparticle was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis and by differential scanning calorimetry. Finally the antioxidant activity and anti-cancer activity of the microparticles were investigated in-vitro.

An infection of Enterobacter ludwigii affects development and causes age-dependent neurodegeneration in Drosophila melanogaster.

The effects of teeth-blackening bacteria Enterobacter ludwigii on the physiological system were investigated using the model organism Drosophila melanogaster. The bacteria were mixed with the fly food, and its effect was checked on the growth, development and behaviour of Drosophila. Microbes generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) within the haemolymph of the larvae once it enters into the body. The increased amount of ROS was evidenced by the NBT assay and using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate dye, which indicates the mitochondrial ROS. The increased amount of ROS resulted in a number of abnormal nuclei within the gut. Besides that larvae walking became sluggish in comparison with wild type although the larvae crawling path did not change much. Flies hatched from the infectious larvae have the posterior scutellar bristle absent from the thorax and abnormal mechanosensory hairs in the eye, and they undergo time-dependent neurodegeneration as evidenced by the geotrophic and phototrophic assays. To decipher the mechanism of neurodegeneration, flies were checked for the presence of four important bioamines: tyramine, cadaverine, putrescine and histamine. Out of these four, histamine was found to be absent in infected flies. Histamine is a key molecule required for the functioning of the photoreceptor as well as mechanoreceptors. The mechanism via which mouth infectious bacteria E. ludwigii can affect the development and cause age-dependent neurodegeneration is explained in this paper.

Rapid colorimetric sensing of gadolinium by EGCG-derived AgNPs: the development of a nanohybrid bioimaging probe.

Polyphenol functionalized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been developed and demonstrated as colorimetric sensors for the selective detection of gadolinium. The newly obtained AgNP-Gd3+ conjugates exhibit high aqueous dispersibility and excitation dependent fluorescence emission. The conjugates offer multicolor bioimaging potential owing to their excellent luminescence properties.

Phyto-assisted synthesis of bio-functionalised silver nanoparticles and their potential anti-oxidant, anti-microbial and wound healing activities.

Bio- synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was made by using the aqueous leaf extract of Ardisia solanacea. Rapid formation of AgNPs was observed from silver nitrate upon treatment with the aqueous extract of A. solanacea leaf. The formation and stability of the AgNPs in the colloidal solution were monitored by UV-visible spectrophotometer. The mean particle diameter of AgNPs was calculated from the DLS with an average size ∼4 nm and ∼65 nm. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of alcohols, aldehydes, flavonoids, phenols and nitro compounds in the leaf which act as the stabilizing agent. Antimicrobial activity of the synthesized AgNPs was performed using agar well diffusion and broth dilution method against the Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Further, robust anti-oxidative potential was evaluated by DPPH assay. The highest antimicrobial activity of synthesized AgNPs was found against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (28.2 ± 0.52 mm) whereas moderate activity was found against Bacillus subtilis (16.1 ± 0.76), Candida kruseii (13.0 ± 1.0), and Trichophyton mentagrophytes (12.6 ± 1.52). Moreover, the potential wound healing activity was observed against the BJ-5Ta normal fibroblast cell line. Current research revealed that A. solanacea was found to be a suitable source for the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles.

Antimicrobial, Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized by Leaf Extract of Erythrina suberosa (Roxb.).

In this experiment, biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using aqueous leaf extract of Erythrina suberosa (Roxb.). The biosynthesis of silver nanoparticle was continuously followed by UV-vis spectrophotometric analysis. The response of the phytoconstituents resides in E. suberusa during synthesis of stable AgNPs were analyzed by ATR- fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Further, the size, charge, and polydispersity nature of AgNPs were studied using dynamic light scattering spectroscopy. The morphology of the nanoparticles was determined by scanning electron microscopy. Current result shows core involvement of plant extracts containing glycosides, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds played a crucial role in the biosynthesis of AgNPs. The antimicrobial activities of silver nanoparticles were evaluated against different pathogenic bacterium and fungi. The antioxidant property was studied by radical scavenging (DPPH) assay and cytotoxic activity was evaluated against A-431 osteosarcoma cell line by MTT assay. The characteristics of the synthesized silver nanoparticles suggest their application as a potential antimicrobial and anticancer agent.

A Review on Kombucha Tea-Microbiology, Composition, Fermentation, Beneficial Effects, Toxicity, and Tea Fungus.

Fermentation of sugared tea with a symbiotic culture of acetic acid bacteria and yeast (tea fungus) yields kombucha tea which is consumed worldwide for its refreshing and beneficial properties on human health. Important progress has been made in the past decade concerning research findings on kombucha tea and reports claiming that drinking kombucha can prevent various types of cancer and cardiovascular diseases, promote liver functions, and stimulate the immune system. Considering the widespread reports on kombucha, we recognized the need to review and update the research conducted in relation to kombucha tea, its products and tea fungus. Existing reports have suggested that the protective effects of kombucha tea are as good as those of black tea, however, more studies on kombucha tea and its composition are needed before final conclusions can be made.

Immobilization of a mediator onto carbon cloth electrode and employment of the modified electrode to an electroenzymatic bioreactor.

5,5'-Dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) was selected as an electron transfer mediator and was covalently immobilized onto high porosity carbon cloth to employ as a working electrode in an electrochemical NAD(+)-regeneration process, which was coupled to an enzymatic reaction. The voltammetric behavior of DTNB attached to carbon cloth resembled that of DTNB in buffered aqueous solution, and the electrocatalytic anodic current grew continuously upon addition of NADH at different concentrations, indicating that DTNB is immobilized to carbon cloth effectively and the immobilized DTNB is active as a soluble one. The bioelectrocatalytic NAD+ regeneration was coupled to the conversion of L-glutamate into alpha-ketoglutarate by L-glutamate dehydrogenase within the same microreactor. The conversion at 3 mM monosodium glutamate was very rapid, up to 12 h, to result in 90%, and then slow up to 24 h, showing 94%, followed by slight decrease. Low conversion was shown when substrate concentration exceeding 4 mM was tested, suggesting that L-glutamate dehydrogenase is inhibited by alpha-ketoglutarate. However, our electrochemical NAD+ regeneration procedure looks advantageous over the enzymatic procedure using NADH oxidase, from the viewpoint of reaction time to completion.

Preservation of kombucha tea-effect of temperature on tea components and free radical scavenging properties.

Kombucha tea is sugared black tea fermented with a consortium of acetic acid bacteria and yeasts (tea fungus) for 14 days. The tea tastes slightly sweet and acidic. The formation of tea fungal biofilms during storage is a big problem when kombucha tea is being stored and commercialized. Various thermal treatments have been tried for long-term storage of kombucha tea. The present study revealed the influence of heat on the biochemical constituents and the free radical scavenging properties of kombucha tea. Heat treatment at 60, 65, and 68 degrees C for 1 min controlled biofilm formation in kombucha tea without changing its clarity, taste, and flavor. However, tea polyphenols and black tea quality parameters showed varying stability during the storage period. A decrease in free radical scavenging properties was also found during the storage period. Because the biological activities of kombucha tea depended on the biochemical constituents, it was concluded that heat treatment was not a suitable method for kombucha tea preservation.

Liquid-phase separation of reactive dye by wood-rotting fungus: a biotechnological approach.

The live and pretreated mycelial pellets/biomass of Trametes versicolor was used for the biosorption of a textile dye, reactive blue MR (RBMR) from aqueous solution. The parameters that affect the biosorption of RBMR, such as contact time, concentration of dye and pH, on the extent of RBMR adsorption were investigated. To develop an effective and accurate design model for removal of dye, adsorption kinetics and equilibrium data are essential basic requirements. Lagergren first-order, second-order and Bangham's model were used to fit the experimental data. Results of the kinetic studies showed that the second order kinetic model fitted well for the present experimental data. The Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin adsorption models were used for the mathematical description of the biosorption equilibrium. The biosorption equilibrium data obeyed well for Langmuir isotherm and the maximum adsorption capacities were found to be 49.8, 51.6, 47.4 and 46.7 mg/g for live, autoclaved, acid- and alkali-pretreated biomass. The dye uptake capacity order of the fungal biomass was found as autoclaved > live > acid-treated > alkali-pretreated. The Freundlich and Temkin models were also able to describe the biosorption equilibrium on RBMR on live and pretreated fungal biomass. Acidic pH was favorable for the adsorption of dye. Studies on pH effect and desorption show that chemisorption seems to play a major role in the adsorption process. On comparison with fixed bed adsorption, batch mode adsorption was more efficient in adsorption of RBMR.