Extraction optimization, preliminary characterization and antioxidant activities of polysaccharides from Glycine soja

Protective Effects of Glycine soja Leaf and Stem Extract against Chondrocyte Inflammation and Osteoarthritis

Wild soybean, also known as Glycine soja Sieb. et Zucc. (GS), has long been known for its various health benefits. Although various pharmacological effects of G. soja have been studied, the effects of GS leaf and stem (GSLS) on osteoarthritis (OA) have not been evaluated. Here, we examined the anti-inflammatory effects of GSLS in interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-stimulated SW1353 human chondrocytes. GSLS inhibited the expression of inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases and ameliorated the degradation of collagen type II in IL-1β-stimulated chondrocytes. Furthermore, GSLS played a protective role in chondrocytes by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB. In addition, our in vivo study demonstrated that GSLS ameliorated pain and reversed cartilage degeneration in joints by inhibiting inflammatory responses in a monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced OA rat model. GSLS remarkably reduced the MIA-induced OA symptoms, such as joint pain, and decreased the serum levels of proinflammatory mediators, cytokines, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Our findings show that GSLS exerts anti-osteoarthritic effects and reduces pain and cartilage degeneration by downregulating inflammation, suggesting that it is a useful therapeutic candidate for OA.

Emulsification characteristics of soy hull polysaccharides obtained by membrane separation

Membrane separation technology was used to separate and purify the microwave-assisted oxalic acid extraction of soy hull polysaccharides (MOSP) in order to obtain samples of different molecular weights. The emulsification characteristics of the MOSP were investigated including protein adsorption, polysaccharide adsorption, interfacial tension, emulsion index, and particle size; optical microscopy and Phenom electron microscopy were used to elucidate the emulsion structures. In addition, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and high-performance gel-filtration chromatography (HPGFC) were used to study the differences in the components and structures of MOSP in different molecular weights. The molecular weight had several important effects on the emulsifying properties of MOSP. The adsorption capacities of the emulsion droplets containing low molecular weight MOSP (L-MOSP), middle molecular weight MOSP (M-MOSP), and high molecular weight MOSP (H-MOSP) were relatively low, and those of H-MOSP were slightly higher than those of L-MOSP. With extended storage time, the particle sizes of the emulsions rich in L-MOSP, M-MOSP, and H-MOSP increased. L-MOSP, M-MOSP, and H-MOSP were mainly composed of furans. The conformation of the molecular chain was spherical. The emulsions formed with H-MOSP were the most stable.

Up-to-Date Overview of the Use of Natural Ingredients in Sunscreens

The photoprotective skincare segment is in high demand to meet consumer concerns on UV-induced skin damage, with a recent trend towards sunscreen alternatives with a natural origin. In this study, the use of natural ingredients, either from terrestrial or marine origin, in a panel of 444 sunscreen commercial formulations (2021) was analyzed. Ingredients from terrestrial organisms represent the large majority found in the analyzed sunscreen formulations (48%), whereas marine ingredients are present only in 13% of the analyzed products. A deeper analysis regarding the most prevalent families of ingredients from terrestrial and marine organisms used as top ingredients is also presented, as well as their mechanisms of action. This study provides an up-to-date overview of the sunscreen market regarding the use of natural ingredients, which is of relevance for scientists involved in the development of new sunscreens to identify opportunities for innovation.

Purification, structural characterization and antioxidant activity of a new arabinogalactan from Dorema ammoniacum gum

Gum ammoniacum is a polymer obtained from Dorema ammoniacum and its medicinal use was already known to the ancient times. In this study, a new D. ammoniacum carbohydrate (DAC-1) with a molecular weight of 27.1 kDa was extracted by hot water and then purified on DEAE-52-cellulose and Sephadex G-100 columns. The structural features of DAC-1 were investigated by partial acid hydrolysis, fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), methylation, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID), and 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1D & 2D NMR). The results indicated that DAC-1 was an arabinogalactan including galactose, arabinose, rhamnose, glucuronic acid and 4-O-methyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl uronic acid (meGlcpA) with a relative percentage of 44.63%, 23.30%, 13.46%. 12.47%, and 6.14%. The structure units of DAC-1 were elucidated as 3,1)-β-_D-Galp-(6 → 1)-β-_D-Galp-(3,6 → containing four branch chains of →1,6)-β-_D-Galp-(3 → 1)-α-_L-Araf-(5 → 1)-β-_D-GlcpA-(4 → 1)-α-_L-Rhap-T (two times), →1,6)-β-_D-Galp-(3→1)-β-_D-Galp-(3 → 1)-β-_D-Galp-(3 → 1)-β-_D-Galp-(3  →  1)-α-_L-Araf-T and →1,6)-β-_D-Galp-(3 → 1)-α-_L-Araf-(5 → 1)-β-_D-meGlcpA-T. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern indicated a semi-crystalline structure. Thermal behavior of the polysaccharide was evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and revealed temperatures higher than 200 °C as dominant region of weight loss. DAC-1 showed acceptable antioxidant activity when analyzed by DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and OH radical removal methods.

Comparison of Phenolic and Flavonoid Compound Profiles and Antioxidant and α-Glucosidase Inhibition Properties of Cultivated Soybean (Glycine max) and Wild Soybean (Glycine soja)

Wild soybean (Glycine soja Sieb.et Zucc; WS) has been used as a traditional food in China for many years and contains significantly higher levels of isoflavones than cultivated soybean (Glycine max; CS), but the secondary metabolites, including flavonoids and the phenolic composition differences between them, remain unclear. The results showed that WS possessed significantly higher total phenolic and flavonoid content and exhibited better antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibition activities as well as excellent protective effects against H₂O₂-induced oxidative injury in a human endothelial cell line. Through metabolomic analysis, 642 metabolites were identified, and 238 showed differential expression, with 151 upregulated and 87 downregulated. A total of 79 flavonoid compounds were identified, 42 of which were upregulated in WS. 2'-Hydroxygenistein, garbanzol, protocatechuic aldehyde, ligustilide, and resveratrol were the most discriminated compounds in WS. The metabolic pathway analysis of differential metabolites related to the biosynthesis of flavonoids and phenolic acids were the biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, isoflavonoids, flavones, and flavonols. This study substantially elucidated differences in the content of flavonoids and biological activities between WS and CS, which is useful information for the effective utilization of these two black soybean species in food processing.

Optimization of trypsin extraction technology of Allium cepa L. polysaccharide by response surface methodology and the antitumor effects through immunomodulation

The trypsin-assisted extraction of polysaccharides from Allium cepa L. was optimized using the response surface methodology (RSM). The optimum extraction conditions were extraction temperature, extraction time, extraction pH, and enzyme amount of 37.16°C, 180 min, 8.57, and 5.16%, respectively. Under the optimized conditions, the yield of A. cepa L. polysaccharides (ACP) reached 9.69%, which was comparable with the predicted yield (9.73%). Mid- and high-dose ACP significantly inhibited the tumor growth (43.93%) and the tumor inhibition percentage (38.05%), which were more than 30%. The ACP could extend the survival time of H₂₂ ascites tumor-bearing mice. Furthermore, the ACP could reduce the thymus and the spleen atrophy and significantly promoted the Con A-induced proliferation of splenocytes and elevated the serum IFN-γ and IL-2 levels. Therefore, the ACP could inhibit the tumor growth in tumor-bearing mice and regulated the immune function of mice.

Practical ApplicationsThe trypsin-assisted extraction has high efficiency, is carried out through the polysaccharide extraction and the deproteinization at the same time, and is more convenient and fast than traditional methods. No detailed study on the optimization of the trypsin extraction of onion polysaccharides is available. Thus, this experiment aims to use the BBD (4 factors and 3 levels) to optimize the roles of extraction temperature, extraction time, extraction pH, and amount of enzyme on the yield of polysaccharides obtained from the fruit of A. cepa L. In addition, when looking for high-quality biological functional principles for the pharmaceutical industry, the antitumor activity of ACP was evaluated. A. cepa L. is one of the most widely cultivated and consumed crops worldwide. Polysaccharides are the main active ingredient, and studies have shown that a high intake of Allium vegetables is associated with reduced risk of cancers.

Ameliorate effects of soybean soluble polysaccharide on adenine-induced chronic renal failure in mice

In the present study, the kidney protection effects of soluble soybean polysaccharide (SSPS) were evaluated. To address the issues, a mice model of Chronic renal failure (CRF) was established by gavage 0.2% (w/w) adenine for 3 weeks. In vivo results showed that SSPS could change the concentrations of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (CRE), total protein (TP) and albumin (ALB), thereby affecting kidney function. In addition, Masson histopathology analysis indicated that SSPS could decrease the area of collagen fiber in the kidney tissues of CRF mice. Moreover, the results of mRNA expression and western experiment suggested that SSPS treatment could increase the expression of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), Smad3 and P-Smad3, while reduce the expression of α smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) when compared with the model group. These results indicated that SSPS potentially improve kidney function through TGF/Smad pathway in CRF mice.

Neglected treasures in the wild - legume wild relatives in food security and human health

The legume family (Fabaceae) is the third-largest flowering family with over 18 000 species worldwide that are rich in proteins, oils, and nutrients. However, the production potential of legume-derived food cannot meet increasing global demand. Wild legumes represent a large group of wild species adaptive to diverse habitats and harbor rich genetic diversity for the improvement of the agronomic, nutritional, and medicinal values of the domesticated legumes. Accumulating evidence suggests that the genetic variation retained in these under-exploited leguminous wild relatives can be used to improve crop yield, nutrient contents, and resistance/tolerance to environmental stresses via the integration of omics, genetics, and genome-editing technologies.

Extraction Optimization, Physicochemical Characteristics, and Antioxidant Activities of Polysaccharides from Kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis Planch.)

In order to evaluate effects of extraction techniques on the physicochemical characteristics and antioxidant activities of kiwifruit polysaccharides (KPS), and further explore KPS as functional food ingredients, both microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) were optimized for the extraction of KPS. Furthermore, the physicochemical structures and antioxidant activities of KPS extracted by different techniques were investigated. The optimal extraction conditions of UAE and MAE for the extraction of KPS were obtained by response surface methodology. Different extraction techniques significantly affected the contents of uronic acids, molecular weights, molar ratios of constituent monosaccharides, and the degree of esterification of KPS. Results showed that KPS exhibited remarkable DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities, and reducing power. The high antioxidant activities observed in KPS extracted by the MAE method (KPS-M) might be partially attributed to its low molecular weight and high content of unmethylated galacturonic acid. Results suggested that the MAE method could be a good potential technique for the extraction of KPS with high antioxidant activity, and KPS could be further explored as functional food ingredients.

Comparative study on the physicochemical and functional properties of the mucilage in the carpel of Nymphaea odorata using ultrasonic and classical heating extractions

The cooked carpel of Nymphaea odorata has a large amount of transparent mucilage; however, the basic characteristics of this mucilage have not yet been reported. This study compared the physicochemical and functional properties of this mucilage obtained using conventional hot water extraction (HWM) and ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAM). Neither HWM nor UAM affected the viability of mouse skin fibroblasts (NIH/3 T3) below 100 μg/mL. UAM had a higher yield production, phenol concentration, and in vitro antioxidant activity, but it had a lower viscosity and water-holding capacity than that of HWM. The Fourier transform infrared spectra revealed that the dialyzed HWM and UAM, named HWMD and UAMD, respectively, appeared to have major spectral differences at 1730 cm^-1 and 1605 cm^-1, implying that the degree of methylation was different between HWMD and UAMD. Compared to HWMD, UAMD in low-molecular weight polysaccharides increased. Indeed, the basic characteristics of native mucilage in the carpel of N. odorata were greatly changed by various extractions. Nevertheless, sugar analysis indicated that glucuronic acid was the main composition of HWMD and UAMD.