Simultaneous extraction of hydrophobic and hydrophilic bioactive compounds from ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe)

Gingerols and shogaols: A multi-faceted review of their extraction, formulation, and analysis in drugs and biofluids to maximize their nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications

Gingerols represent the main bioactive compounds in ginger drugs mostly Zinigiber officinale (F. Zingebraceae) and account for the biological activities and the strong/pungent flavor in ginger. Ginger (Z. officinale) rhizome is one of the most valued herbal drugs for ailments' treatment in many ayurvedic medicine asides from its culinary applications as a spice. Gingerols and their dehydrated products shogaols are phenolic phytochemicals found in members of the Zingiberaceae family and account for most of their effects including anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. This review entails most of the novel trends related to the extraction, optimization, and formulations of gingerols and shogaols to insure best recoveries and efficacies from their natural resources. Further, it presents a comprehensive overview of the different analytical approaches for the determination of gingerols/shogaols' levels in nutraceuticals to ensure highest quality and for their detection in body fluids for proof of efficacy.

Research progress on ginger polysaccharides: extraction, purification and structure-bioactivity relationship

Ginger is a widespread source of herbal medicine and traditional spices. Among its various bioactive components, ginger polysaccharides (GPs) have attracted the attention of researchers worldwide because of their significant bioactivity. Recent studies have demonstrated the antioxidant, antitumour, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, hypoglycaemic, cough suppressant and thrombotic anticoagulant effects of GPs. However, the structure-bioactivity relationship of GPs has yet to be comprehensively investigated. This review aims to explore all the current published studies on GPs. It further examines various aspects, including the extraction and purification methods, structure, bioactivity, application and structure-bioactivity relationship of GPs. Thus, this review intends to provide a reference for future GP-related research and development.

Advances in efficient extraction of essential oils from spices and its application in food industry: A critical review

With the increase of people's awareness of food safety, it is crucial to find natural and green antimicrobial agents to replace traditional antimicrobial agents. Essential oils of spices (SEOs) are low toxicity or nontoxic, which exhibited antioxidants and antimicrobial activity according to many in vitro and in situ experiments. Spices are widely available and low cost as a plant raw material for the extraction of SEOs. This review summarized highly efficient extraction techniques for SEOs, such as physical field assisted extraction technology, supercritical fluid extraction, and biological-based techniques. Furthermore, purification of SEOs and components were also recapitulated. Purification techniques of SEOs improve their utilization value due to the increased content of bioactive components. Finally, the review concentrated on the applications of SEOs in food industry, including food preservation, food active packaging by means of films or coatings, antioxidant properties. In addition, addressing the problem of unstability of SEOs and its role to inhibit the pathogenic bacteria, the encapsulation of SEOs for use in the food industrial sectors reduces the safety risk to human health.

Valorisation of Zingiber officinale Roscoe postharvest residues as byproducts with antioxidant capacity

During the postharvest phase of ginger, 2.6%-5% by weight of ginger rhizome residues are generated, which are disposed in landfills and constitute a continuous source of organic contamination causing serious environmental problems. The objective of this study was to valorise ginger postharvest residues (shoot, finger, slice, trunk, root, and rootles) from district Pichanaki (Peru) as dry powdered byproducts with an antioxidant capacity similar to that of rhizome. The nutrition composition, phenolic compounds, such as total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, 6-gingerol content, and 6-shogaol content, antioxidant capacity expressed by ferric reducing antioxidant power and IC50 of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical, surface changes, and structural morphology were evaluated. In addition, the dependent variables were correlated using the Pearson's matrix and principal component analysis (PCA). The results for shoot, finger, slice, and trunk residues showed similar phenolic compound contents and antioxidant capacities to those of rhizome, but similar results were not obtained for root and rootlet residues. These results were corroborated by analyses of surface and structural morphologies. The Pearson's matrix showed that the content of phenolic compounds correlated with the antioxidant capacity and carbohydrate content for the rhizome and residues, except for the root. The PCAshowed that residues that exhibited higher contents of starch grains with reserve functions such as shoot, finger, slice, and trunk were correlated with higher contents of phenolic compounds with antioxidant capacity, while residues with higher contents of crude fibre and ash with a support function exhibited a low antioxidant capacity. Thus, the shoot, finger, slice, and trunk residues, from district Pichanaki (Peru), can be valorised and reincorporated as byproducts in the ginger value chain. They are important for the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of an extract rich in proteins obtained from Trametes versicolor

Introduction

Bioactive proteins and peptides generated from fruit, vegetables, meat or fish have great potential as functional food or substitutes for antibiotics. In recent years it has also been demonstrated that the fungus kingdom could be a source of these compounds. The study investigated the bioactivity of an extract of the lignicolous fungus Trametes versicolor and its hydrolysate.

Material and Methods

The fungus was collected in a mixed forest in October, extracted and hydrolysed. To inspect the protein and peptide profiles before and after hydrolysis, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation-time-of-flight mass spectrometric analysis was performed. To evaluate the antioxidant properties of the preparations, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS•+) radical scavenging assays were used. The activity of the fungus extract and hydrolysate against Aeromonas veronii, Bacillus cereus, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella Typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, and Streptococcus uberis was determined by the minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values.

Results

The extract and its hydrolysate showed almost 100% ABTS•+ and DPPH• radical scavenging with a low half maximal inhibitory concentration. The water extract and hydrolysate of T. versicolor exhibited antimicrobial activity against two S. aureus strains, E. coli, P. aeruginosa and Salmonella Typhimurium.

Conclusion

These results provide compelling evidence that the analysed fungus extract and its hydrolysate hold promise with their antibacterial and antioxidant properties.

Advances of Imidazolium Ionic Liquids for the Extraction of Phytochemicals from Plants

In this review, we present the research from 2013 to 2022 about the character of ionic liquids, the categories of phytochemicals, and the reasons for selecting imidazolium ionic liquids for phytochemical extraction. Then we introduce the structural formulae of the imidazolium ionic liquids commonly used in the extraction of phytochemicals, the methods used to prepare imidazolium ionic liquids, and a comprehensive introduction of how imidazolium ionic liquids are applied to extract phytochemicals from plants. Importantly, we discuss the strategies for studying the extraction mechanisms of imidazolium ionic liquids to extract phytochemicals, and the recovery methods regarding imidazolium ionic liquids and their recyclability are analyzed. Then the toxicity in imidazolium ionic liquids is pointed out. Finally, the challenges and prospects of extracting phytochemicals by imidazolium ionic liquids are summarized, and they are expected to provide some references for researchers.

Bioactivities and green advanced extraction technologies of ginger oleoresin extracts: A review

Zingiber officinale Roscoe is an excellent source of bioactive compounds, mainly gingerols and shogaols compounds, that associated with various bioactivities including antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antibiofilm. Zingiber officinale Roscoe found its application in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmeceutical industries. The demand for a high quality of ginger oleoresin extracts based on the contents of gingerols and shogaols compounds for a health-benefit has dramatically increased. Various extraction techniques, including the conventional and advanced extraction techniques for gingerols and shogaols have been reported based on the literature data from 2012 to 2022. The present review examines the functional composition and bioactivities of Zingiber officinale Roscoe and the advanced green extraction technologies. Some variations in the quantity and quality of gingerols and shogaols compounds are because of the extraction method employed. This review provides a depth discussion of the various green advanced extraction technologies and the influences of process variables on the performance of the extraction process. Lower temperature with a short exposure time such as ultrasound-assisted and enzyme-assisted extraction, will lead to high quality of extracts with high content of 6-gingerol. High thermal processing, such as microwave-assisted and pressurized liquid extraction, will produce higher 6-shogaol. Meanwhile, supercritical fluid extraction promotes high quality and the safety of extracts by using non-toxic CO2. In addition, challenges and future prospects of the extraction of ginger oleoresin have been identified and discussed. The emerging green extraction methods and technologies show promising results with less energy input and higher quality extracts than conventional extraction methods.

Preparation, pungency and bioactivity of gingerols from ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe): a review

Ginger has been widely used for different purposes, such as condiment, functional food, drugs, and cosmetics. Gingerols, the main pungent component in ginger, possess a variety of bioactivities. To fully understand the significance of gingerols in the food and pharmaceutical industry, this paper first recaps the composition and physiochemical properties of gingerols, and the major extraction and synthesis methods. Furthermore, the pungency and bioactivity of gingerols are reviewed. In addition, the food application of gingerols and future perspectives are discussed. Gingerols, characterized by a 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl moiety, are divided into gingerols, shogaols, paradols, zingerone, gingerdiones and gingerdiols. At present, gingerols are extracted by conventional, innovative, and integrated extraction methods, and synthesized by chemical, biological and in vitro cell synthesis methods. Gingerols can activate transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) and induce signal transduction, thereby exhibiting its pungent properties and bioactivity. By targeted mediation of various cell signaling pathways, gingerols display potential anticancer, antibacterial, blood glucose regulatory, hepato- and renal-protective, gastrointestinal regulatory, nerve regulatory, and cardiovascular protective effects. This review contributes to the application of gingerols as functional ingredients in the food and pharmaceutical industry.

Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Flavonoids from Potentilla fruticosa L. Using Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents

A series of natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) were prepared with choline chloride, betaine, and a variety of natural organic acids in order to find new environmentally-friendly green solvents to replace the traditional solvents. The NADESs were employed to extract flavonoids from Potentilla fruticosa L. (PFL) with the help of ultrasound. The eutectic solvent diluted with an appropriate amount of water improved the extraction ability of flavonoids due to the decrease of solution viscosity. The microstructure of the raw sample and the samples subjected to ultrasonic bath in different solutions were observed using scanning electron microscope (SEM) to determine the role of the NADESs in the extraction process. The DPPH method and glucose consumption method were used to study the antioxidant and hypoglycemic ability of flavonoid compounds in PFL. Single factor method and response surface methodology (RSM) were designed to analyze the effects of three extraction parameters, including solvent/solid ratio, ultrasonic power, and extraction time, on the extraction yield, antioxidant capacity, and hypoglycemic capacity, and the corresponding second-order polynomial prediction models were established. The optimal extraction conditions for the maximum extraction yield, antioxidant capacity, and hypoglycemic capacity were predicted by RSM, and the reliability of RSM simulation results was verified by a one-off experiment.

Uses of ionic liquids to obtain bioactive compounds: insights from the main international regulations for technological applications

Ionic liquids (IL) are innovative alternative solvents to recover bioactive compounds from plant-based sources to replace toxic volatile organic solvents (VOS). ILs are tailored-made solvents with chemical and thermal stabilities, nonvolatile and noninflammable. Although ILs are versatile, cost-effective, and sustainable solutions, the European Commission (EC) has no current regulation to approve extracts obtained with ILs to be applied in foods. Herein, this paper aims to assess the overview of ILs, regulamentation, applications, and its toxic effects, to be used as solvents for extract different bioactive compounds. Studies have suggested novel applications for ILs, such as 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate and others, to obtain bioactive compounds, for instance phenolic compounds, lignans, alkaloids, carotenoids, polysaccharides, using modern approaches as ultrasound and microwave-assisted extraction. New IL methods increase the efficiency of recovering target compounds and decrease the extraction time and VOS consumption regarding the traditional techniques. Furthermore, to promote the large-scale use of IL in foods, it is essential to investigate individually the toxicity of each IL used in the extraction processes, aiming to obtain a GRAS stamp, due to the currently lack of regulamentation.

Ginger: a systematic review of clinical trials and recent advances in encapsulation of its bioactive compounds

Recently, the numbers of studies on natural products have considerably increased owing to their exceptional biological activities and health benefits. Their pharmacological attributes have played an immense role in detecting natural and safe alternative therapeutics, consequently extending their industrial applications. In this line, ginger (Zingiber officinale) has been gaining wide attention owing to its bioactive compounds, such as phenolic and terpene compounds. Ginger has a great pharmacological and biological potential in the prevention and treatment of various diseases, namely colds, nausea, arthritis, migraines and hypertension. However, these bioactive compounds are unstable and susceptible to degradation, volatilization and oxidation during extraction and processing, mainly owing to their exposure to environments with adverse conditions, such as high temperature, the presence of O2 and light. In this sense, this current review covers a wide range of topics, starting from the chemical profile and biological properties of ginger bioactive compounds (GBCs), their clinical effectiveness for the treatment of diseases and the application of different encapsulation methods (molecular inclusion, spray drying, complex coacervation, ionic strength and nanoemulsions) to protect and improve their application in food products. This work summarizes the fundamental principles of, recent progress in and effectiveness of different methods regarding the physicochemical, structural and functional properties of encapsulated GBCs. The potential use of encapsulated GBCs as a promising active ingredient to be applied in different food products is discussed in detail.

Dietary natural products as a potential inhibitor towards advanced glycation end products and hyperglycemic complications: A phytotherapy approaches

Natural products exist in various natural foods such as plants, herbs, fruits, and vegetables. Furthermore, marine life offers potential natural products with significant biological activity. The biochemical reaction is known as advanced glycation end products (AGEs) occurs in the human body. On the other hand, foods are capable of a wide range of processing conditions resulting in the generation of exogenous AGEs adducts. Protein glycation and the formation of advanced glycation end products both contribute to the pathogenesis of hyperglycemic complications. AGEs also play a pivotal role in microvascular and macrovascular complications progression by receptors for advanced glycation end products (RAGE). RAGE activate by AGEs leads to up-regulation of transcriptional factor NF-kB and inflammatory genes. Around the globe, researchers are working in various approaches for therapeutical implications on controlling AGEs mediated disease complications. In this regard, one of the potential promising agents observed with a wide range of AGEs inhibition by food-derived natural products. Current biotechnological tools have been turned to natural products or phytochemicals to manufacture the molecules without compromising their functionality. Metabolic engineering and bioinformatics perspectives have recently enabled the generation of a few potent metabolites with anti-diabetic activity. As the primary focus, this review article will also discuss multidisciplinary approaches that emphasize current advances in anti-diabetic therapeutic action and future perspectives of natural products.

A biorefinery strategy for spent industrial ginger waste

An integrated biorefinery approach using spent industrial ginger waste for resource recovery is reported. Valuable products including ginger oil, starch, microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), bio-oil and hydrochar were obtained. Approximately 4 % ginger oil, with a profile similar to commercial ginger oil, can be recovered via Soxhlet or Supercritical CO2 + 10 %EtOH extraction. The oil-free ginger residues were processed using two microwave techniques: starch, MFC and sugar-rich hydrolysates were firstly gained through hydrothermal microwave processing (120-200 °C in water alone), whilst chemical-rich bio-oils and energy-dense hydrochar (20-24.5 MJ kg-1) were obtained via conventional microwave pyrolysis (220-280 °C). The ginger MFC exhibited increased propensity to form microfibrillated cellulose (as evidenced by Transmission Electron Microscopy) with increasing temperature. Nanocrystalline cellulose was produced at the highest processing temperature (200 °C). These changes are commensurate with the leaching and decomposition of the amorphous regions within cellulose. The molecules and materials isolated have further downstream applications and, thus, compared to current low value resolution methods (dumping, burning or animal feed), spent industrial ginger waste is a significant resource for consideration within a biorefinery concept.

Ultrasonic-Assisted Ionic Liquid Extraction of Two Biflavonoids from Selaginella tamariscina

Selaginella tamariscina, a traditional Chinese medicine, contains a variety of bioactive components, among which biflavonoids are the main active ingredients and have antioxidant, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, ultrasonic-assisted ionic liquid extraction (UAILE) is used for the first time to extract two main biflavonoids (amentoflavone (AME) and hinokiflavone (HIN)) from S. tamariscina. A high-performance liquid chromatography method is used for the simultaneous determination of AME and HIN in S. tamariscina. Then, three novel ILs are synthesized for the first time by a one-step method using benzoxazole and three acids or acid salts as raw materials, and the structures of the synthesized ILs are characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and NMR spectroscopy, as well as the thermal stability of the ILs is evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis. After screening the extraction effects of three benzoxazole ILs, three pyridine ILs, and three imidazole ILs, it is found that [Bpy]BF4 is the best and therefore selected as the extractant. The optimal extraction process is explored in terms of the yields of AME and HIN from S. tamariscina by a single-factor experiments and response surface analysis. Under the optimal level of each influencing factor (IL concentration of 0.15 mol/L, solid-liquid ratio of 1:12 g/mL, ultrasonic power of 280 W, ultrasonic time of 30 min, and three extraction cycles), the extraction rates of AME and HIN from S. tamariscina are 13.51 and 6.74 mg/g, respectively. Moreover, the recovery experiment of [Bpy]BF4 on the extraction of biflavonoids shows that the recovered IL can repeatedly extract targets six times and the extraction rate is about 90%, which indicates that the IL can be effectively reused. UAILE can effectively and selectively extract AME and HIN, laying the foundation for the application of S. tamariscina.

A Glimpse into the Extraction Methods of Active Compounds from Plants

Naturally active compounds are usually contained inside plants and materials thereof. Thus, the extraction of the active compounds from plants needs appropriate extraction methods. The commonly employed extraction methods are mostly based on solid-liquid extraction. Frequently used conventional extraction methods such as maceration, heat-assisted extraction, Soxhlet extraction, and hydrodistillation are often criticized for large solvent consumption and long extraction times. Therefore, many advanced extraction methods incorporating various technologies such as ultrasound, microwaves, high pressure, high voltage, enzyme hydrolysis, innovative solvent systems, adsorption, and mechanical forces have been studied. These advanced extraction methods are often better than conventional methods in terms of higher yields, higher selectivity, lower solvent consumption, shorter processing time, better energy efficiency, and potential to avoid organic solvents. They are usually designed to be greener, more sustainable, and environment friendly. In this review, we have critically described recently developed extraction methods pertaining to obtaining active compounds from plants and materials thereof. Main factors that affect the extraction performances are tuned, and extraction methods are chosen in line with the properties of targeted active compounds or the objectives of extraction. The review also highlights the advancements in extraction procedures by using combinations of extraction methods to obtain high overall yields or high purity extracts.

Magnetic solid-phase extraction of gingerols in ginger containing products

In this study, a graphene oxide/magnetite (GO-Fe₃O₄) nanocomposite was synthesized and used as a sorbent in the magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) of gingerols from fresh ginger rhizomes, ginger extracts, commercial tea samples, ginger candies, thermogenic supplements, and tonic water. An MSPE method was developed, and the main influencing parameters in the sample preparation process were investigated. After GO-Fe₃O₄ based MSPE, 6-gingerol, 8-gingerol, and 10-gingerol were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The whole GO-Fe₃O₄-MSPE-LC-MS/MS method proved high selectivity and consistent analytical confidence. The limits of detection (LOD) ranged between 2 and 3 μg L-1. Intra-day and inter-day RSDs fluctuated between 1.7 - 13.4% and 0.4-10.9%, respectively. Weighted calibration revealed good linearity within the studied range (5-200 μg L^-1) and guaranteed appropriate accuracy (relative residues < 25%). MSPE with GO-Fe₃O₄ demonstrated to be a practical, fast, efficient, high-throughput, and environmental-friendly sample preparation technique for determining of gingerols in commercial products, and its hyphenation with LC-MS/MS analysis yield a valuable analytical tool for the confident quality control of commercial ginger-containing products.

Study on the synthesis of dual-chain ionic liquids and their application in the extraction of flavonoids

Ionic liquids, as tuneable, highly soluble, non-flammable, non-volatile and reusable extractants, have attracted extensive attention in the extraction of flavonoids from plants. In the present work, novel dual-chain imidazolium-derived ionic liquids were synthesized by a simple and efficient method and characterized (NMR spectroscopy, thermal stability, viscosity, conductivity, and polarity). Then, the imidazolium ionic liquids with different cation were used in the microwave-assisted extraction of flavonoids from Pinus massoniana Lamb. The results showed that the ionic liquid [Bmbim]Br, with a relatively low viscosity, conductivity and π* as well as a relatively large β, offered the best extraction efficiency and selectivity for flavonoids. Subsequently, the parameters of the extraction procedure for flavonoids were optimized as follows: extraction temperature of 80 °C, extraction time of 60 min, microwave power of 300 W, solid-liquid ratio of 1:20, and [Bmbim]Br solution concentration of 1.0 mol/L. The extraction yield of total flavonoids was 41.07 mg/g. Finally, a recovery method of the ionic liquid had been demonstrated, and the recovery rate of ionic liquid was 73.14%.

Ultrasonication-assisted synthesis of alcohol-based deep eutectic solvents for extraction of active compounds from ginger

An ultrasonication-assisted synthesis of alcohol-based deep eutectic solvents (DESs) is described. Several DESs were synthesized simultaneously under the same conditions. The prepared DESs were used for the extraction of gingerols from ginger powder via ultrasonication-assisted extraction. Notably, some of the prepared DESs exhibited superior extraction performance than those in traditional organic solvents. The viscosity of the DESs, which was suggested to be typically lower than 100 mPa*s had a critical effect on extraction performance. However, the higher gingerol contents in the extracts did not translate to higher active antioxidant abilities. The extraction temperature was found to be a key determinant of the antioxidant capability of the extracted gingerols while the use of higher temperatures (>50 °C) induced degradation and loss of phenolic compounds during extraction. Response surface methodology was applied for determining the optimal extraction conditions to achieve maximum antioxidant capacity with suitable gingerol content. All compounds used for the preparation of the DESs in this study have been widely employed in cosmetic and pharmaceutical fields. Therefore, the extracts in these DES solutions can be considered for direct application development without further product isolation.

Sono-physical and sono-chemical effects of ultrasound: Primary applications in extraction and freezing operations and influence on food components

Ultrasound is an advanced non-thermal food-processing technology that has received increasing amounts of interest as an alternative to, or an adjuvant method for, conventional processing techniques. This review explores the sono-physical and sono-chemical effects of ultrasound on food processing as it reviews two typical food-processing applications that are predominantly driven by sono-physical effects, namely ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and ultrasound-assisted freezing (UAF), and the components modifications to food matrices that can be triggered by sono-chemical effects. Efficiency enhancements and quality improvements in products (and extracts) using ultrasound are discussed in terms of mechanism and principles for a range of food-matrix categories, while efforts to improve existing ultrasound-assist patterns was also seen. Furthermore, the progress of experimental ultrasonic equipments for UAE and UAF as food-processing technologies, the core of the development in food-processing techniques is considered. Moreover, sono-chemical reactions that are usually overlooked, such as degradation, oxidation and other particular chemical modifications that occur in common food components under specific conditions, and the influence on bioactivity, which was also affected by food processing to varying degrees, are also summarised. Further trends as well as some challenges for, and limitations of, ultrasound technology for food processing, with UAE and UAF used as examples herein, are also taken into consideration and possible future recommendations were made.

Microalgal Derivatives as Potential Nutraceutical and Food Supplements for Human Health: A Focus on Cancer Prevention and Interception

Epidemiological studies are providing strong evidence on beneficial health effects from dietary measures, leading scientists to actively investigate which foods and which specific agents in the diet can prevent diseases. Public health officers and medical experts should collaborate toward the design of disease prevention diets for nutritional intervention. Functional foods are emerging as an instrument for dietary intervention in disease prevention. Functional food products are technologically developed ingredients with specific health benefits. Among promising sources of functional foods and chemopreventive diets of interest, microalgae are gaining worldwide attention, based on their richness in high-value products, including carotenoids, proteins, vitamins, essential amino acids, omega-rich oils and, in general, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds. Beneficial effects of microalgae on human health and/or wellness could in the future be useful in preventing or delaying the onset of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. During the past decades, microalgal biomass was predominately used in the health food market, with more than 75% of the annual microalgal biomass production being employed for the manufacture of powders, tablets, capsules or pastilles. In this review, we report and discuss the present and future role of microalgae as marine sources of functional foods/beverages for human wellbeing, focusing on perspectives in chemoprevention. We dissected this topic by analyzing the different classes of microalgal compounds with health outputs (based on their potential chemoprevention activities), the biodiversity of microalgal species and how to improve their cultivation, exploring the perspective of sustainable food from the sea.

6-Gingerol, an active pungent component of ginger, inhibits L-type Ca2+ current, contractility, and Ca2+ transients in isolated rat ventricular myocytes

Ginger has been widely used as a flavor, food, and traditional medicine for centuries. 6-Gingerol (6-Gin) is the active components of ginger and offers some beneficial effects on cardiovascular diseases. Here, the effects of 6-Gin on L-type Ca2+ current (ICa-L), contractility, and the Ca2+ transients of rat cardiomyocytes, were investigated via patch-clamp technique and the Ion Optix system. The 6-Gin decreased the ICa-L of normal and ischemic ventricular myocytes by 58.17 ± 1.05% and 55.22 ± 1.34%, respectively. 6-Gin decreased ICa-L in a concentration-dependent manner with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 31.25 μmol/L. At 300 μmol/L, 6-Gin reduced the cell shortening by 48.87 ± 5.44% and the transients by 42.5 ± 9.79%. The results indicate that the molecular mechanisms underlying the cardio-protective effects of 6-Gin may because of a decreasing of intracellular Ca2+ via the inhibition of ICa-L and contractility in rat cardiomyocytes.

Ionic Liquid Solutions as a Green Tool for the Extraction and Isolation of Natural Products

In the past few years, the application of ionic liquids (ILs) had attracted more attention of the researchers. Many studies focused on extracting active components from traditional herbals using ILs as alternative solvents so as to address the issue caused by the traditional methods for extraction of natural products (NPs) with organic chemical reagents. Through the summary of reported research work, an overview was presented for the application of ILs or IL-based materials in the extraction of NPs, including flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, phenylpropanoids and so on. Here, we mainly describe the application of ILs to rich the extraction of critical bioactive constituents that were reported possessing multiple therapeutic effects or pharmacological activities, from medicinal plants. This review could shed some light on the wide use of ILs in the field of natural products chemistry to further reduce the environmental damage caused by large quantity of organic chemical reagents.