Characterization of cellulose acetate/gum Arabic fibers loaded with extract of Viburnum opulus L. fruit

Optimization of Enzymolysis Modification Conditions of Dietary Fiber from Bayberry Pomace and Its Structural Characteristics and Physicochemical and Functional Properties

Bayberry pomace, a nutrient-rich material abundant in dietary fiber (DF), has historically been underutilized due to a lack of thorough research. This study aimed to investigate the physicochemical and functional properties of the DF. Ultrasonic enzymatic treatment was performed to extract the total DF, which was then optimized to produce modified soluble dietary fiber (MSDF) and insoluble dietary fiber (MIDF). The optimized conditions yielded 15.14% of MSDF with a water-holding capacity (WHC) of 54.13 g/g. The DFs were evaluated for their structural, physicochemical, and functional properties. The MSDF showed a higher (p < 0.05) WHC, oil-holding capacity (OHC), swelling capacity (SC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), and glucose adsorption capacity (GAC) (about 14.15, 0.88, 1.23, 1.22, and 0.34 times) compared to the DF. Additionally, the MSDF showed strong, superior radical scavenging and blood sugar-lowering capabilities, with a more porous surface morphology. A Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy analysis indicated that enzymatic modification degraded the cellulose and hemicellulose, reducing the DF crystallinity. Overall, the results demonstrated that cellulase hydrolysis could effectively improve the physicochemical and functional properties of DF, thereby paving the way for its development into functional food products.

Electrohydrodynamic processing of natural polymers for active food packaging: A comprehensive review

The active packaging materials fabricated using natural polymers is increasing in recent years. Electrohydrodynamic processing has drawn attention in active food packaging due to its potential in fabricating materials with advanced structural and functional properties. These materials have the significant capability in enhancing food's quality, safety, and shelf-life. Through electrospinning and electrospray, fibers and particles are encapsulated with bioactive compounds for active packaging applications. Understanding the principle behind electrohydrodynamics provides fundamentals in modulating the material's physicochemical properties based on the operating parameters. This review provides a deep understanding of electrospray and electrospinning, along with their advantages and recent innovations, from food packaging perspectives. The natural polymers suitable for developing active packaging films and coatings through electrohydrodynamics are intensely focused. The critical properties of the packaging system are discussed with characterization techniques. Furthermore, the limitations and prospects for natural polymers and electrohydrodynamic processing in active packaging are summarized.

Genus Viburnum: Therapeutic Potentialities and Agro-Food-Pharma Applications

The genus Viburnum (Adoxaceae, Dipsacales) is of scientific interest due to the chemical components and diverse biological activities found across species of the genus, which includes more than 230 species of evergreen, semievergreen, or deciduous shrubs and small trees. Although frequently used as an ornament, the Viburnum species show biological properties with health-promoting effects. Fruits, flowers, and barks of certain species are used for pharmaceutical purposes or as cooking ingredients, hence containing biochemical compounds with health-promoting activity such are carotenoids, polyphenols, and flavonoids. However, its taxonomical determination is difficult, due to its wide distribution and frequent hybridizations; therefore, an objective classification would allow us to understand its biological activity based on its phytochemical components. More than sixty phytochemical compounds have been reported, where vibsanin-type diterpenes and their derivatives are the most prevalent. Leaves and twigs of V. dilatatum contain the largest number of phytochemicals among the genus. Through preclinical evidence, this study provides insight regarding antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and anticancer activities of genus Viburnum.

Characterization of a flavonol-rich antioxidant fraction from Spondias purpurea L. pulp and the effect of its incorporation on cellulose acetate-based film

BACKGROUND

Active packaging containing natural flavonoid has recently emerged as a result of its potential to inhibit the oxidation of foods by interacting with it and/or its surrounding environment, with the aim of counteracting oxidation reactions and extending the shelf-life of foods. The plant Spondias purpurea L. is widely found in northeastern Brazil and is known to contain bioactive flavonoids. The present study aimed to obtain a flavonoid-rich fraction from the pulp of S. purpurea L. and incorporate it into the cellulose acetate film to obtain biodegradable films with antioxidant properties.

RESULTS

The fractionation in SiO₂ open-column chromatography of the S. purpurea pulp crude extract furnished an antioxidant active fraction containing the flavonols quercetin 3-O-rutinoside and kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside as the major compounds. This active fraction was incorporated (10, 20 and 30 g kg^-1 ) into the substance produced with the casting method for cellulose acetate films. The films produced were characterized concerning mechanical properties, water vapor permeability (WVP) and antioxidant activity.

CONCLUSION

The incorporation of the active flavonoid fraction from S. purpurea in the cellulose acetate films decreases WVP and elongation at break, at the same time as increasing antioxidant activity, tensile strength and elastic modulus. Thus, the S. purpurea pulps may be an alternative as a source of antioxidants for use in cellulose acetate films. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Electrospun fibers based on carbohydrate gum polymers and their multifaceted applications

Electrospinning has garnered significant attention in view of its many advantages such as feasibility for various polymers, scalability required for mass production, and ease of processing. Extensive studies have been devoted to the use of electrospinning to fabricate various electrospun nanofibers derived from carbohydrate gum polymers in combination with synthetic polymers and/or additives of inorganic or organic materials with gums. In view of the versatility and the widespread choice of precursors that can be deployed for electrospinning, various gums from both, the plants and microbial-based gum carbohydrates are holistically and/or partially included in the electrospinning solution for the preparation of functional composite nanofibers. Moreover, our strategy encompasses a combination of natural gums with other polymers/inorganic or nanoparticles to ensue distinct properties. This early established milestone in functional carbohydrate gum polymer-based composite nanofibers may be deployed by specialized researchers in the field of nanoscience and technology, and especially for exploiting electrospinning of natural gums composites for diverse applications.

Dissolution mechanism of sodium alginate and properties of its regenerated fiber under low temperature

Sodium alginate (SA) solution with high quality fraction was prepared by NaOH/urea, NaOH/thiourea/urea, NaOH/thiourea and LiOH/urea at low temperature. The results showed that we got 5.5 wt% SA solution by using 5.5 wt% LiOH/20 wt% urea. The viscosity of the solution was 62.44 Pa·s, which had declined by 64% compared to that of 5 wt% SA solution (176.12 Pa·s). The difference from the traditional low temperature dissolution principle is that the urea is mainly wrapped on the SA surface by the interaction between the OH^- in LiOH through the ether bond (O) and the π bond in the SA instead of the -OH in the SA. Only the crystallization peak of urea appeared in the XRD spectrum. It indicated that urea was successfully wrapped on the surface of SA to form urea-LiOH-SA inclusion complex. The ²³Na NMR showed that the interaction between Na⁺ and other ions or molecules around it increased at low temperature. Breaking strength of regenerated CA was 2.44 cN/dtex, which rose by about 21.39% compared to that of CA fiber (2.01 cN/dtex). The "groove" on the surface of regenerated fiber is denser and the section is more loosely compared with those of CA fiber.

Sodium alginate-polyethylene glycol diacrylate based double network fiber: Rheological properties of fiber forming solution with semi-interpenetrating network structure

In order to prepare the high mechanical properties fiber with double network, sodium alginate (SA)/polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) gel solution with semi-interpenetrating network structure was prepared by using "one-pot" method. Rheological properties of SA/PEGDA gel solution were studied at steady state mode and dynamic mode respectively. The results showed that the SA/PEGDA solution's apparent viscosity was 0.67 Pa·s at PEGDA of 20 wt%, smaller 92.8% than that of the pure SA solution. When PEGDA content was 20 wt%, the consistency coefficient (k) of the solution reached the minimum (0.57). It meant the flow properties of the solution were the optimal at PEGDA of 20 wt%. Moreover, changes in the storage modulus (G') and the loss modulus (G″) were found to be dependent on PEGDA content and temperature. The tanδ was greater higher than 1, which meant the spinning solution exhibited viscoelastic behavior of liquid-like properties.