Optimization and Characterization of Interspecific Hybrid Crude Palm Oil Unaué HIE OxG Nanoparticles with Vegetable By-Products as Encapsulants.

Interspecific hybrid crude palm oil (HCPO) HIE OxG derived from crossbred African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) and American Caiaué (Elaeis oleifera) is prominent for its fatty acid and antioxidant compositions (carotenoids, tocopherols, and tocotrienols), lower production cost, and high pest resistance properties compared to crude palm oil. Biodegradable and sustainable encapsulants derived from vegetable byproducts were used to formulate HCPO nanoparticles. Nanoparticles with hybrid crude palm oil and jackfruit seed flour as a wall material (N-JSF) and with hybrid crude palm oil and jackfruit axis flour as a wall material (N-JAF) were optimized using a 22 experimental design. They exhibited nanoscale diameters (<250 nm) and were characterized based on their zeta potential, apparent viscosity, pH, color, and total carotenoid content. The nanoparticles demonstrated a monodisperse distribution, good uniformity, and stability (polydispersity index < 0.25; zeta potentials: N-JSF -19.50 ± 1.47 mV and N-JAF -12.50 ± 0.17 mV), as well as high encapsulation efficiency (%) (N-JSF 86.44 ± 0.01 and N-JAF 90.43 ± 1.34) and an optimal carotenoid retention (>85%). These nanoparticles show potential for use as sustainable and clean-label HCPO alternatives in the food industry.

Enhancing Anthocyanin Extraction from Wine Lees: A Comprehensive Ultrasound-Assisted Optimization Study.

Wine lees, an important by-product of the wine industry, pose a major environmental problem due to the enormous quantities of solid-liquid waste that are discarded annually without defined applications. In this study, the optimization of a method based on a Box-Behnken design with surface response has been carried out to obtain extracts with high anthocyanin content and potent antioxidant activity. Six variables have been considered: %EtOH, temperature, amplitude, cycle, pH, and ratio. The developed method exhibited important repeatability properties and intermediate precision, with less than 5% CV being achieved. Furthermore, these novel methods were successfully applied to diverse wine lees samples sourced from Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah varieties (Vitis vinifera), resulting in extracts enriched with significant anthocyanin content and noteworthy antioxidant activity. Additionally, this study evaluated the influence of grape variety, fermentation type (alcoholic or malolactic), and sample treatment on anthocyanin content and antioxidant activity, providing valuable insights for further research and application in various sectors. The potential applications of these high-quality extracts extend beyond the winemaking industry, holding promise for fields like medicine, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals, thus promoting a circular economy and mitigating environmental contamination.

Resveratrol-Loaded Attalea funifera Oil Organogel Nanoparticles: A Potential Nanocarrier against A375 Human Melanoma Cells.

This study aimed to evaluate Attalea funifera seed oil with or without resveratrol entrapped in organogel nanoparticles in vitro against A375 human melanoma tumor cells. Organogel nanoparticles with seed oil (SON) or with resveratrol entrapped in the seed oil (RSON) formed functional organogel nanoparticles that showed a particle size <100 nm, polydispersity index <0.3, negative zeta potential, and maintenance of electrical conductivity. The resveratrol entrapment efficiency in RSON was 99 ± 1%. The seed oil and SON showed no cytotoxicity against human non-tumor cells or tumor cells. Resveratrol at 50 µg/mL was cytotoxic for non-tumor cells, and was cytotoxic for tumor cells at 25 µg/mL. Resveratrol entrapped in RSON showed a decrease in cytotoxicity against non-tumor cells and cytotoxic against tumor cells at 50 µg/mL. Thus, SON is a potential new platform for the delivery of resveratrol with selective cytotoxic activity in the treatment of melanoma.

Days in milk alters the milk fatty acid profile of grazing donkeys: A preliminary study.

The aim of this study was to characterize and determine how days in milk (DIM) affect the milk fatty acid (FA) profile of grazing donkeys. Donkey milk is very similar to human milk, containing bioactive molecules such as FA and proteins. However, there is a lack of scientific and technical information on the changes in the FA profile of asinine milk in pasture-feeding systems. Seven multiparous Pega donkeys, maintained in an exclusively extensive system, were used. Milking was undertaken twice a day, once a week for 16 weeks. Milk samples were composed according to the average lactating days as follows: 55, 110, 165, 220 and 275 DIM. A descriptive analysis of the milk fat composition was performed, and the linear and quadratic effects of DIM on the milk FA profile were tested. The milk FA profile of grazing donkeys is influenced by lactation days and is characterized by high concentrations of polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) with a low n-6 to n-3 ratio (0.66 g/100 g), mainly due to the high level of linolenic acid (16.8 g/100 g). Most of the individual FAs did not change during lactation, but stearic and oleic acid linearly decreased (p < .05), and total polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) and n-3 FA increased (p < .05) with DIM. The milk profile of grazing donkeys is influenced by the day of lactation and is characterized by a high concentration of n-3 PUFA (mainly α-linolenic acid) and a lower n-6 to n-3 ratio. As the number of days of lactation increased, the concentration of n-3 PUFA also increased. Therefore, higher milk quality may be associated with higher days in milk.

Spirulina sp. LEB 18 cultivation in a raceway-type bioreactor using wastewater from desalination process: Production of carbohydrate-rich biomass.

This study aimed to evaluate the biomass production of Spirulina sp. LEB 18 cultivated in wastewater from the desalination process. The outdoor cultivations (210 L) were performed using as culture medium 100% wastewater supplemented with 25% of Zarrouk constituents (Tcs). In parallel, it was performed a control assay using 100% Zarrouk constituents. The biomass production in Tcs assay (1.14 g L-1) was only 9% lower than the control assay (1.25 g L-1). The Tcs assay showed a higher content of carbohydrates (52.29%), lipids (12.79%) and ash (2.69%) compared to the control assay (47.91; 7.59 and 1.29%, respectively). The biomass from the control and Tcs assays had mostly monounsaturated fatty acids C15:1 and C18:2n6t. The Spirulina sp. LEB 18 could use efficiently the nutrients from the wastewater, showing high removal efficiency of NO3- (96.99%), PO4 (83.11%) and Z (96.43%). At the same time, high added value biomolecules were produced for different purposes.