Surface Activity and Emulsifying Effect of Non-Toxic Starch Nanocrystal.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the surface activity of starch nanocrystals (SNC), material derived from starch, and confirm their usefulness as a surfactant. In order to evaluate the surface activity, the surface tension change of suspended SNC solution via the Wilhelmy plate method was measured and the values were compared with various synthetic surfactants. The effect of SNC as emulsifier was evaluated on emulsion formation and physical stability. The surface tension of the SNC-dispersed solution was decreased while its concentration was increased. When the 5.0% (w/v) of SNC was added, the surface tension was decreased from 70.3 to 49.5 mN/m. It was confirmed that the physical stability of the emulsion prepared by adding the SNC was improved compared to that of surface inactivity material (PEG 400). The phase separation was observed within 1 hour after preparation of the emulsion containing PEG 400, but the emulsion containing SNC was stable for 5 hours or more. To summarize this study, SNC, a natural-derived and non-toxic material, exhibits sufficient surface activity, thereby confirming the possibility of being applied to the food and pharmaceutical industry.

Preparation and Evaluation of Nanostructured Lipid Carrier for Topical Delivery of Velutin: Synthetic Tyrosinase Inhibitor.

The purpose of this study is to produce nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) that can solubilize poorly water-soluble velutin and verify an improved tyrosinase synthesis inhibition. A solubility test for velutin was conducted. Cetyl palmitate and caprylic/capric triglyceride were selected as solubilizer. The lipid matrix was produced using the ultrasound dispersion method. The morphology and size distribution of the produced NLC was analyzed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS), and the release and tyrosinase inhibition of velutin was evaluated through the Franz diffusion cell method and tyrosinase inhibition assay. Lipid matrix nanoparticles showed an average size of approximately 250 nm and polydispersity of 0.2, and it was confirmed that the velutin incorporated within nanoparticles sustained release at a constant rate over 36 hours. Due to extremely low aqueous solubility, the tyrosinase synthesis inhibition of velutin suspension was 0%, and the value of velutin incorporated within the NLC formulation was greatly improved 56.5% (40 µg/mL). As a result, it was verified that lipid-based NLC nanoparticles are an efficient formulation for the topical delivery of poorly water-soluble flavonoids such as velutin.

Improvement of Lipids and Reduction of Oxidative Stress With Octacosanol After Taekwondo Training.

PURPOSE: Athletes in combat sports undergo rapid changes in body weight prior to competition in order to gain a size advantage over their opponent. However, these large weight changes with concomitant high-intensity exercise training create poor lipid profiles and high levels of oxidative stress, which can be detrimental to health and sport performance. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of the nutritional supplement octacosanol to combat the physiological detriments that occur in taekwondo players during rapid weight loss with high-intensity exercise training. METHODS: A total of 26 male taekwondo players were randomly divided into 2 groups: An experimental group performed a 5% weight-loss and taekwondo training program with 40-mg octacosanol intake (OCT; n = 13) for 6 d, and a control group performed the same weight-loss and taekwondo training program with a placebo (CON; n = 13). RESULTS: There were significant (P < .05) group × time interactions for low-density lipoprotein and triglycerides, which significantly decreased (Δ18 [5] mg/dL and Δ80 [7] mg/dL, respectively), and high-density lipoprotein, which significantly increased (Δ10 [7] mg/dL), in the OCT group compared with the CON group. There were also significant (P < .05) group × time interactions for superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and malondialdehyde (MDA), with SOD increasing (Δ226 [121] U/gHb) in the OCT group, while GPx decreased (Δ20 [13] U/gHb) and MDA increased (Δ72 [0.04] nmol/mL) in the CON group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that octacosanol may be a beneficial supplement to protect against the poor cholesterol levels and oxidative stress that occurs during taekwondo training.