Microencapsulation of α-linolenic acid-rich garden cress seed oil: Physical characteristics and oxidative stability

Improving the storage and oxidative stability of essential fatty acids by different encapsulation methods; a review

Linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid are the only essential fatty acids (EFAs) known to the human body. Other fatty acids (FAs) of the omega-6 and omega-3 families originate from linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid, respectively, by the biological processes of elongation and desaturation. In diets with low fish consumption or vegetarianism, these FAs play an exclusive role in providing two crucial FAs for maintaining our body's vital functions; docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid. However, these polyunsaturated FAs are inherently sensitive to oxidation, thereby adversely affecting the storage stability of oils containing them. In this study, we reviewed encapsulation as one of the promising solutions to increase the stability of EFAs. Accordingly, five main encapsulation techniques could be classified: (i) spray drying, (ii) freeze drying, (iii) emulsification, (iv) liposomal entrapment, and (v) other methods, including electrospinning/spraying, complex coacervation, etc. Among these, spray drying was the frequently applied technique for encapsulation of EFAs, followed by freeze dryers. In addition, maltodextrin and gum Arabic were the main wall materials in carriers. Paying attention to industrial scalability and lower cost of the encapsulation process by the other methods are the important aspects that should be given more attention in the future.

Targeting apoptotic anticancer response with natural glucosinolates from cell suspension culture of Lepidium sativum

BACKGROUND

Finding natural products with anticancer activity is an effective strategy to fight this disease. In this respect, Lepidium sativum or garden cress (family Brassicaceae) has been widely used worldwide for its wide therapeutic application, including anticancer and chemoprotective agents. Plant tissue culture techniques hold great promise for natural product enhancement without any climatic boundaries. In this study, glucosinolates and petroleum ether fractions were isolated from in vitro cell cultures and used against different carcinoma cell lines to investigate their anticancer potential.

METHODS

In this study, callus cultures from leaf and root explants were initiated, cell suspension cultures were established, and cell growth and viability profiles were characterized. Different amino acids were added as precursors to the cell suspension cultures to enhance glucosinolates accumulation. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis (GC-MS) of glucosinolates and petroleum ether fractions was performed, and all fractions were tested against different carcinoma cell lines.

RESULTS

The findings clarified that the maximum callus initiation percentage was obtained in the medium containing 1.0 mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) + 1.0 mg/l kinetin (Kin) (C1). The viable cell number of cell suspension cultures from leaves and roots increased until it reached the maximum values on day 15. Adding tyrosine and methionine to the cell suspension cultures was the most influential and recorded high glucosinolate percentages. 1H-Cyclopenta (b) pyridine-3-carbonitrile-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-2-methylthio-4-spirocyclohexane was the main glucosinolate compound found in tyrosine-treated leaf suspension (GLT). Fifteen compounds were detected in the petroleum ether fraction in both cell suspensions initiated from the leaf and root (OL and OR). The major compounds were benzene-1,3,5-trimethyl (12.99%) in root cell suspension (OR), and benzene-2-ethyl-1,4-dimethyl (10.66%) in leaf cell suspension (OL). All glucosinolate extracts demonstrated significant anticancer activity against the prostate (PC3), lung (A-549), colorectal (caco2), and liver (HepG2) cell lines. Glucosinolates extracted from leaf cell suspension (GL) were the most active on the hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2) among all remaining glucosinolate extracts. Treated hepatocellular carcinoma with an IC₅₀ of GL extract (47.5 ug/ml) upregulates pro-apoptotic BAX and downregulates anti-apoptotic BCL2, which disrupts the BAX/BCL2 ratio, leading to activation of caspase 3 inside treated HepG2 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

The anticancer action of the GL extract was validated by the cell cycle study of its glucosinolates, which successfully promoted apoptosis and reduced hepatocellular growth by causing S-phase arrest.

DKK3, Downregulated in Invasive Epithelial Ovarian Cancer, Is Associated with Chemoresistance and Enhanced Paclitaxel Susceptibility via Inhibition of the β-Catenin-P-Glycoprotein Signaling Pathway

Simple Summary

Dickkopf-3 (DKK3) is considered a tumor suppressor as it possesses anti-tumoral properties and is frequently downregulated in various cancers. However, the role of DKK3 in ovarian cancer is not known. In this study, we showed that DKK3 loss occurred in 56.1% of patients with ovarian cancer and that it was significantly associated with poor survival and chemoresistance. Secreted DKK3 possessed anti-tumoral properties and enhanced paclitaxel susceptibility by inhibiting the β-catenin-P-glycoprotein signaling pathway in ovarian cancer. This study revealed promising therapeutic effects of secreted DKK3, which targets paclitaxel-resistant ovarian cancer.

Abstract

Dickkopf-3 (DKK3), a tumor suppressor, is frequently downregulated in various cancers. However, the role of DKK3 in ovarian cancer has not been evaluated. This study aimed to assess aberrant DKK3 expression and its role in epithelial ovarian carcinoma. DKK3 expression was assessed using immunohistochemistry with tissue blocks from 82 patients with invasive carcinoma, and 15 normal, 19 benign, and 10 borderline tumors as controls. Survival data were analyzed using Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analysis. Paclitaxel-resistant cells were established using TOV-21G and OV-90 cell lines. Protein expression was assessed using Western blotting and immunofluorescence analysis. Cell viability was assessed using the MT assay and 3D-spheroid assay. Cell migration was determined using a migration assay. DKK3 was significantly downregulated in invasive carcinoma compared to that in normal, benign, and borderline tumors. DKK3 loss occurred in 56.1% invasive carcinomas and was significantly associated with disease-free survival and chemoresistance in serous adenocarcinoma. DKK3 was lost in paclitaxel-resistant cells, while β-catenin and P-glycoprotein were upregulated. Exogenous secreted DKK3, incorporated by cells, enhanced anti-tumoral effect and paclitaxel susceptibility in paclitaxel-resistant cells, and reduced the levels of active β-catenin and its downstream P-glycoprotein, suggesting that DKK3 can be used as a therapeutic for targeting paclitaxel-resistant cancer.

Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs): Emerging Plant and Microbial Sources, Oxidative Stability, Bioavailability, and Health Benefits-A Review

The omega−3 (n−3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acid are well known to protect against numerous metabolic disorders. In view of the alarming increase in the incidence of chronic diseases, consumer interest and demand are rapidly increasing for natural dietary sources of n−3 PUFAs. Among the plant sources, seed oils from chia (Salvia hispanica), flax (Linum usitatissimum), and garden cress (Lepidium sativum) are now widely considered to increase α-linolenic acid (ALA) in the diet. Moreover, seed oil of Echium plantagineum, Buglossoides arvensis, and Ribes sp. are widely explored as a source of stearidonic acid (SDA), a more effective source than is ALA for increasing the EPA and DHA status in the body. Further, the oil from microalgae and thraustochytrids can also directly supply EPA and DHA. Thus, these microbial sources are currently used for the commercial production of vegan EPA and DHA. Considering the nutritional and commercial importance of n−3 PUFAs, this review critically discusses the nutritional aspects of commercially exploited sources of n−3 PUFAs from plants, microalgae, macroalgae, and thraustochytrids. Moreover, we discuss issues related to oxidative stability and bioavailability of n−3 PUFAs and future prospects in these areas.

Electrospraying as a novel process for the synthesis of particles/nanoparticles loaded with poorly water-soluble bioactive molecules

Hydrophobicity and low aqueous-solubility of different drugs/nutraceuticals remain a persistent challenge for their development and clinical/food applications. A range of nanotechnology strategies have been implemented to address this issue, and amongst which a particular emphasis has been made on those that afford an improved biological performance and tunable release kinetic of bioactives through a one-step process. More recently, the technique of electrospraying (or electrohydrodynamic atomization) has attained notable impulse in virtue of its potential to tune attributes of nano/micro-structured particles (e.g., porosity, particle size, etc.), rendering a near zero-order release kinetics, diminished burst release manner, as well as its simplicity, reproducibility, and applicability to a broad spectrum of hydrophobic and poorly water-soluble bioactives. Controlled morphology or monodispersity of designed particles could be properly obtained via electrospraying, with a high encapsulation efficiency and without unfavorable denaturation of thermosensitive bioactives upon encapsulation. This paper overviews the recent technological advances in electrospraying for the encapsulation of low queues-soluble bioactive agents. State-of-the-art, advantages, applications, and challenges for its implementation in pharmaceutical/food researches are also discussed.

Evaluation of gas holes in "Queijo de Nisa" PDO cheese using computer vision

"Queijo de Nisa" is a traditional Portuguese cheese, granted with PDO label, produced with raw ewe's milk in which the aqueous extract of cardoon flower Cynara cardunculus L. is the only coagulant allowed. As in similar cheeses with no use of starter cultures or pasteurisation, the quality and food safety are depending on prevention, high hygienic standards and a proper manufacturing process. This study investigated the use of computer vision as novel method for the evaluation of gas holes in Queijo de Nisa in three different ripening dates (0, 15 and 35 days). A total of 48 samples were produced using cardoon flower from three different origins (C1, C2 and C3) and a commercial vegetable coagulant (C4). The results presented a high correlation between image-dependent attributes and physical-chemical properties during ripening time, especially within the first 15 days of ripening time, where major structural changes were observed inside the Queijo de Nisa cheese. Principal component analysis presented a strong correlation (p < 0.05) between image parameters and the physical-chemical evolution until 15 days. From 15 to 35 days, the evolution of cheeses was mainly depending on structural parameters, like G'_1 Hz and hardness. No influence was observed due to the geographical origin of cardoon flower.

Influence of Different Wall Materials on the Microencapsulation of Virgin Coconut Oil by Spray Drying

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of the different wall material combinations on the microencapsulation of virgin coconut oil (VCO) by spray drying. Maltodextrin (MD) and sodium caseinate (SC) were used as the basic wall materials and mixed with gum Arabic (GA), whey protein concentrate (WPC) and gelatin (G). The stability, viscosity and droplet size of the feed emulsions were measured. MD:SC showed the best encapsulation efficiency (80.51%) and oxidative stability while MD:SC:GA presented the lowest encapsulation efficiency (62.93%) but better oxidative stability than the other two combinations. Microcapsules produced were sphere in shape with no apparent fissures and cracks, low moisture content (2.35–2.85%) and high bulk density (0.23–0.29 g/cm3). All the particles showed relatively low peroxide value (0.34–0.82 meq peroxide/kg of oil) and good oxidative stability during storage. MD:SC:GA microencapsulated VCO had the highest antioxidant activity in both of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) (0.22 mmol butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)/kg of oil) and 2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays (1.35 mmol trolox/kg of oil).