The potential application of supercritical CO2 in microbial inactivation of food raw materials and products.

The purpose of this study was to review the possibility of using supercritical CO2 as a green and sustainable technology for microbial inactivation of raw material for further application in the food industry. The history of the development of supercritical CO2 microbial inactivation has been widely described in this article. The fundamental scientific part of the process like mechanism of bactericidal action of CO2 or inactivation of key enzymes were characterized in detail. In summary, this study provides an overview of the latest literature on the use of supercritical carbon dioxide in microbial inactivation of food raw materials and products.

In-silico Exploration of Channel Type and Efflux Silicon Transporters and Silicification Proteins in 80 Sequenced Viridiplantae Genomes.

Silicon (Si) accumulation protects plants from biotic and abiotic stresses. It is transported and distributed within the plant body through a cooperative system of channel type (e.g., OsLsi1) and efflux (Lsi2s e.g., OsLsi2) Si transporters (SITs) that belong to Noduline-26 like intrinsic protein family of aquaporins and an uncharacterized anion transporter family, respectively. Si is deposited in plant tissues as phytoliths and the process is known as biosilicification but the knowledge about the proteins involved in this process is limited. In the present study, we explored channel type SITs and Lsi2s, and siliplant1 protein (Slp1) in 80 green plant species. We found 80 channel type SITs and 133 Lsi2s. The channel type SITs characterized by the presence of two NPA motifs, GSGR or STAR selectivity filter, and 108 amino acids between two NPA motifs were absent from Chlorophytes, while Streptophytes evolved two different types of channel type SITs with different selectivity filters. Both channel type SITs and Lsi2s evolved two types of gene structures each, however, Lsi2s are ancient and were also found in Chlorophyta. Homologs of Slp1 (225) were present in almost all Streptophytes regardless of their Si accumulation capacity. In Si accumulator plant species, the Slp1s were characterized by the presence of H, D-rich domain, P, K, E-rich domain, and P, T, Y-rich domain, while moderate Si accumulators lacked H, D-rich domain and P, T, Y-rich domains. The digital expression analysis and coexpression networks highlighted the role of channel type and Lsi2s, and how Slp1 homologs were ameliorating plants' ability to withstand different stresses by co-expressing with genes related to structural integrity and signaling. Together, the in-silico exploration made in this study increases our knowledge of the process of biosilicification in plants.

Phytolith Formation in Plants: From Soil to Cell.

Silica is deposited extra- and intracellularly in plants in solid form, as phytoliths. Phytoliths have emerged as accepted taxonomic tools and proxies for reconstructing ancient flora, agricultural economies, environment, and climate. The discovery of silicon transporter genes has aided in the understanding of the mechanism of silicon transport and deposition within the plant body and reconstructing plant phylogeny that is based on the ability of plants to accumulate silica. However, a precise understanding of the process of silica deposition and the formation of phytoliths is still an enigma and the information regarding the proteins that are involved in plant biosilicification is still scarce. With the observation of various shapes and morphologies of phytoliths, it is essential to understand which factors control this mechanism. During the last two decades, significant research has been done in this regard and silicon research has expanded as an Earth-life science superdiscipline. We review and integrate the recent knowledge and concepts on the uptake and transport of silica and its deposition as phytoliths in plants. We also discuss how different factors define the shape, size, and chemistry of the phytoliths and how biosilicification evolved in plants. The role of channel-type and efflux silicon transporters, proline-rich proteins, and siliplant1 protein in transport and deposition of silica is presented. The role of phytoliths against biotic and abiotic stress, as mechanical barriers, and their use as taxonomic tools and proxies, is highlighted.

Panax ginseng components and the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (Review).

Ginseng is one of the main representatives of traditional Chinese medicine and presents a wide range of pharmacological actions. Ginsenosides are the main class of active compounds found in ginseng. They demonstrate unique biological activity and medicinal value, namely anti-tumour, anti­inflammatory and antioxidant properties, as well as anti-apoptotic properties. Increasing levels of stress in life are responsible for the increased incidence of nervous system diseases. Neurological diseases create a huge burden on the lives and health of individuals. In recent years, studies have indicated that ginsenosides play a pronounced positive role in the prevention and treatment of neurological diseases. Nevertheless, research is still at an early stage of development, and the complex mechanisms of action involved remain largely unknown. This review aimed to shed light into what is currently known about the mechanisms of action of ginsenosides in relation to Alzheimer's disease. Scientific material and theoretical bases for the treatment of nervous system diseases with purified Panax ginseng extracts are also discussed.