In vitro digestion method for estimation of copper bioaccessibility in Açaí berry

Analysis of cerium oxide and copper oxide nanoparticles bioaccessibility from radish using SP-ICP-MS

BACKGROUND

The transformation of nanoparticles (NPs) internalized in plant tissues is the human digestive system that can provide a better understanding of the impact of NPs on the human system. The presented methodology was developed to study the bioaccessibility of cerium oxide (CeO₂ ) and copper oxide (CuO) NPs from radish after the in vitro simulation of gastrointestinal digestion using single-particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS).

RESULTS

Radish plants were cultivated hydroponically in a growth medium containing: (i) CeO₂ NPs and (ii) CuO NPs. Both cerium (Ce) and copper (Cu) were found in all organs of the radish plants after analysis by standalone ICP-MS. This confirms the bioaccumulation of CeO₂ and CuO NPs and the translocation of their Ce and Cu to the aerial parts of the plant. Less Ce (4.095 μg g^-1 ) has been detected in leaves than in roots (1.156 mg g^-1 ) while Cu content in leaves was 5.245 μg g^-1 and in roots was 10.41 μg g^-1 . Analysis of the digestive extracts obtained after the in vitro simulation of gastro (pepsin) and gastrointestinal (pancreatin) digestion showed that Ce has easy access to human system at least by 73%.

CONCLUSION

The size of CeO₂ NPs in digestive extracts showed no significant changes. However, the results obtained for CuO NPs digestion were variable and suggested that CuO NPs dissolved during the digestion process. The CuO NPs were observed in roots after the gastrointestinal digestion concluding that CuO NPs recovered after the initial dissolution. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on the mineral content, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant capacity of commercial pulps of purple and white açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.)

Mineral content, total phenolic compounds (TPC), and antioxidant capacity were determined in three samples of purple-açaí (coarse-PAC, medium-PAM, and fine-PAF), and one of white-açaí (coarse-WAC) and their respective bioaccessible fractions. TPC content differed in all samples, with PAC (583.79 mgAGE/100 g) having the highest content; however, PAM showed higher bioaccessibility (32.27%). PAC presented higher antioxidant capacity in the FRAP tests (74.34 μM FeSO4/g) and ABTS (55.05 μM Trolox/g). However, no differences were found in DPPH between PAC (1986.66 EC50) and PAM (2408.88 EC50) samples. Antioxidant capacity was decreased in all samples after digestion. Potassium was in the highest proportion (7121.90 mg/100 g-PAC), followed by Ca (349.92 mg/100 g-PAM), and Mg (169.41 mg/100 g-PAM), in all the samples. However, Ca presented the highest bioaccessible fraction, followed by Mg and Mn, with the highest percentages observed in WAC samples (90.30, 74.30, and 64.52%, respectively).

PDO Rotonda’s Red Eggplant Extract: In vitro Determination of Biological Properties and Minerals Bioaccessibility

Background:

The Rotonda’s Red Eggplant belongs to the family of Solanum aethiopicum and it is cultivated in a specific area of Potenza (Basilicata, South of Italy) including villages of Rotonda, Viggianello, Castelluccio Superiore and Castelluccio Inferiore. The Red Eggplant cultivated in this area has gained the PDO, “Protected Designation of Origin”.

Objective:

The aim of this research was to evaluate the use of PDO Rotonda’s Red Eggplant extract as a possible nutraceutical supplement. The antioxidant, antihypertensive, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic properties were in vitro evaluated.

Methods:

The antioxidant activity was investigated by evaluating the scavenging properties against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-Azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radicals and by performing the Ammonium Molybdate and Folin-Ciocalteu assay. The hypoglycemic and antihypertensive activity was studied by evaluating the α-Amylase, α-Glucosidase and Angiotensin Converting Enzyme, respectively, inhibiting activity. In order to evaluate the hypolipidemic activity, the pancreatic lipase inhibiting property was determined and Oil Red O staining assay was performed. Finally, to evaluate the possible use of this extract as a minerals supplement, Selenium, Potassium and Chrome bioaccessibility was studied.

Results:

The obtained results underline the good antioxidant, hypoglycemic, antihypertensive and hypolipidemic in vitro properties of the PDO Rotonda’s Red Eggplant extract. Moreover, the obtained data show a higher minerals bioaccessibility and this higher value could be ascribable to the natural phytocomplex of PDO Rotonda’s Red Eggplant, which increases the minerals bioaccessibility if compare it with a control sample.

Conclusion:

The obtained results show that PDO Rotonda’s Red Eggplant extract, might be used as a possible nutraceutical supplement, along with traditional therapies, both for its biological properties and for its minerals bioaccessibility value.

Arsenic speciation in mushrooms using dimensional chromatography coupled to ICP-MS detector

This study concerns total arsenic (TAs) and arsenic species determination in three species of mushrooms collected in Yunnan, China. The purpose of this study was to check concentration level of arsenic in Boletus edulis, Tricholoma matsutake and Suillellus luridus, estimate arsenic bioaccessibility and find out which arsenic species occur in mushrooms to assess if they may pose a threat to human health. An analytical methodology based on ion chromatography (IC) hyphenated to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) with dynamic reaction cell (DRC) and size exclusion chromatography (SEC) with UV-Vis detection and ICP-DRC-MS detection. Ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE), microwave assisted extraction (MAE) and enzymatic assisted extraction (EAE) were applied. Quantification of As species in extracts was performed by IC/ICP-DRC-MS in the first dimension. Slightly better extraction efficiencies were obtained for MAE (from 75% to 90%) then for UAE. EAE was used for estimation of bioaccessibility by application of a modified BARGE bioaccessibility method (UBM) for in vitro studies. Bioaccessibility values were in the ranges of 73%-102%, 74%-115% and 18%-87% for step 1 (S1), for step 2 (S2) and for step 3 (S3) of EAE, respectively. Extracts obtained after EAE were subjected to SEC-UV-Vis/ICP-DRC-MS analysis as the second dimension. The main signal was obtained in the area of a molecular mass of ∼5 kDa for all mushroom extracts. Monitoring of an ⁵⁰SO⁺ ion confirmed that this signal comes from As-protein. In sample of Boletus edulis additional signal occurred which is classified as unknown As-compound. Both signals require identification with another analytical technique.