Ultrasonic-assisted extraction process of crude polysaccharides from Yunzhi mushroom and its effect on hydroxyproline and glycosaminoglycan levels

Polysaccharides from pineapple core as a canning by-product: Extraction optimization, chemical structure, antioxidant and functional properties

Ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) technique has been investigated to extract polysaccharides from pineapple core as a by-product using response surface methodology. A Box-Behnken design was employed to optimize the conditions for the maximum extraction yield of polysaccharides. The results demonstrated that the optimum extraction conditions were as follows: water/solid material ratio of 29.5 mL/g, extraction temperature of 66.3 °C and extraction time of 46.7 min. Under these conditions, the extraction yield of pineapple core polysaccharides (PCPs) was 16.7%. The structure of PCPs was analyzed by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis, X-ray diffractometry (XRD), SEM (scanning electron microscope) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results of thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the PCPs had a good thermal stability at temperatures below 250 °C. The extracted polysaccharides had a porous structure with rough surface. The extracted polysaccharides had strong scavenging activities on DPPH and hydroxyl radicals. Furthermore, they demonstrated interesting water-holding and fat-binding capacities (3.11 and 4.25 g/g, respectively). The results revealed that polysaccharides displayed good emulsifying and foaming properties. Overall, the findings suggest that PCPs are a promising source of antioxidants and may have potential applications in functional food industries.

Anticancer, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities of low molecular weight bioactive subfractions isolated from cultures of wood degrading fungus Cerrena unicolor

The aim of this study is to investigate in vitro the anticancer, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities of three low molecular weight subfractions I, II and III isolated from secondary metabolites produced by the wood degrading fungus Cerrena unicolor. The present study demonstrated that the low molecular weight subfractions III exhibited the strongest inhibitory activity towards breast carcinoma cells MDA-MB-231, prostatic carcinoma cells PC3, and breast cancer cells MCF7 with the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value of 52,25 μg/mL, 60,66 μg/mL, and 54,92 μg/mL, respectively. The highest percentage of inhibition was noted at a concentration of 300 μg/mL in all the examined tumor lines. A significant percentage (59.08%) of ex-LMSIII inhibition of the MDA-MB-231 tumor line was reached at a concentration of 15 μg/ml, while the concentration applied did not affect normal human fibroblast cells. The low molecular weight subfraction III was the most effective and additionally showed the highest free radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl scavenging activity (IC₅₀ 20.39 μg/mL) followed by the low molecular weight subfraction I (IC₅₀ 64.14 μg/mL) and II (IC₅₀ 49.22 μg/mL). The antibacterial activity of the tested preparations was evaluated against three microorganisms: Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. The MIC minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for the low molecular weight subfraction I, II, and III showed a stronger inhibition effect on S. aureus than on B. subtilis and E. coli cells. The MIC values for the low molecular weight subfraction II against S. aureus, B. subtilis, and E. coli were 6.25, 12.5, and 100 mg/mL, respectively.

Therapeutic potential effect of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells on chronic liver disease in murine Schistosomiasis Mansoni

Some reports have shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) therapy could ameliorate chemically-induced hepatic fibrosis. This research assesses the therapeutic action of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) on chronic diseased liver in Schistosoma mansoni infected mice. All infected female mice divided into three groups, one group (15 mice) treated with oral praziquantel (PZQ), second group (15 mice) received intravenous injection of BM-MSCs and third group (15 mice) treated with both MSCs + PZQ. Two control groups (15 mice each) subdivided into one infected and second healthy one. BM-MSCs were obtained from bones of both femur and tibia of male mice (30 mice), then cultured and characterized morphologically by detection of CD105 by flow cytometer. Liver tissues for all groups were examined histopathologically. Measuring of the collagen 1 gene expression was done by real-time PCR and immunohistochemical study to detect stem cells differentiation for detection of MSCs engraftments in liver tissue. MSCs treatment caused marked improvement and regression of fibrosis, and prevents deposition of collagen and reduced the expression of collagen 1 gene in infected mice on their liver tissues, especially when used with PZQ in mice treatment. It can be concluded that, MSCs is a good therapeutic method for liver fibrosis caused by S. mansoni infection.

Ameliorative effect of bone marrow-derived stem cells on injured liver of mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni

The technique of stem cells or hepatocytes transplantation has recently improved in order to bridge the time before whole-organ liver transplantation. In the present study, unfractionated bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) were harvested from the tibial and femoral marrow compartments of male mice, which were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) with and without hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and then transplanted into Schistosoma mansoni-infected female mice on their 8th week post-infection. Mice were sacrificed monthly until the third month of bone marrow transplantation, serum was collected, and albumin concentration, ALT, AST, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities were assayed. On the other hand, immunohistopathological and immunohistochemical changes of granuloma size and number, collagen content, and cells expressing OV-6 were detected for identification of liver fibrosis. BMSCs were shown to differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells. Serum ALT, AST, and ALP were markedly reduced in the group of mice treated with BMSCs than in the untreated control group. Also, granuloma showed a marked decrease in size and number as compared to the BMSCs untreated group. Collagen content showed marked decrease after the third month of treatment with BMSCs. On the other hand, the expression of OV-6 increased detecting the presence of newly formed hepatocytes after BMSCs treatment. BMSCs with or without HGF infusion significantly enhanced hepatic regeneration in S. mansoni-induced fibrotic liver model and have pathologic and immunohistopathologic therapeutic effects. Also, this new therapeutic trend could generate new hepatocytes to improve the overall liver functions.

Optimization of ultrasonic extraction of polysaccharides from Ziziphus jujuba Mill. by response surface methodology

BACKGROUND

Ziziphus jujuba Mill. is nutritious and used as food and medicine for more than two thousand years. It has many pharmacological effects, such as elimination of fatigue, dilation of blood vessels, etc. The polysaccharide in it is one of the bioactive substances. In this paper, the ultrasonic extraction effects on the yield and activity of polysaccharide were studied.

RESULTS

The optimum ultrasonic extraction conditions were investigated based on a Box-Behnken statistical experimental design. Response surface methodology (RSM) of three factors (ultrasonic power, extraction time and extraction temperature) and three levels was employed to optimize the yield and the antioxidant activity of the polysaccharides. The experimental data were fitted to quadratic response surface models using multiple regression analysis. The best extraction conditions were 120 W, 15 min. and 55°C for highest yield, and 80 W, 15 min. and 40°C for highest hydroxyl radical scavenging activity.

CONCLUSION

The study showed that high ultrasonic power was good for obtaining high yield but bad for keeping the antioxidant activity of the polysaccharides.