Biotransformation of geniposide in Gardenia jasminoides to genipin by Trichoderma harzianum CGMCC 2979

Proteases: Importance, Immobilization Protocols, Potential of Activated Carbon as Support, and the Importance of Modifying Supports for Immobilization

Although enzymes have been used for thousands of years, their application in industrial processes has gained importance since the 20th century due to technological and scientific advances in several areas, including biochemistry [...].

Targeted intervention of natural medicinal active ingredients and traditional Chinese medicine on epigenetic modification: Possible strategies for prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND

Atherosclerosis is a deadly consequence of cardiovascular disease and has very high mortality rate worldwide. The epigenetic modifications can regulate the pervasiveness and progression of atherosclerosis through its involvement in regulation of inflammation, oxidative stress, lipid metabolism and several other factors. Specific non-coding RNAs, DNA methylation, and histone modifications are key regulatory factors of atherosclerosis. Natural products from traditional Chinese medicine have shown promising therapeutic potential against atherosclerosis by means of regulating the expression of specific genes, stabilizing arterial plaques and protecting vascular endothelial cells.

OBJECTIVE

Our study is focusing to explore the pathophysiology and probability of traditional Chinese medicine and natural medicinal active ingredients to treat atherosclerosis.

METHODS

Comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar and China National Knowledge Infrastructure with a core focus on natural medicinal active ingredients and traditional Chinese medicine prying in epigenetic modification related to atherosclerosis.

RESULTS

Accumulated evidence demonstrated that natural medicinal active ingredients and traditional Chinese medicine have been widely studied as substances that can regulate epigenetic modification. They can participate in the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis through inflammation, oxidative stress, lipid metabolism, cell proliferation and migration, macrophage polarization and autophagy respectively.

CONCLUSION

The function of natural medicinal active ingredients and traditional Chinese medicine in regulating epigenetic modification may provide a new potential strategy for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis. However, more extensive research is essential to determine the potential of these natural medicinal active ingredients to treat atherosclerosis because of least clinical data.

High efficiency biosynthesis of gardenia blue and red pigment by lactic acid bacteria: A great potential for natural color pigments

Current production methods of the food colorants, gardenia blue (GB) and red (GR) pigments have low efficiency. One potential approach involves using lactic acid bacteria (LAB), which produce a high level of β-glucosidase, produce the GB and GR using non-toxic and harmless process. The isolated strain Lactobacillus plantarum S3 and the reference strain Lb. plantarum KCTC3104 showed high β-glucosidase activity levels of 1.01 and 1.44 unit/mL, respectively. The 12-h bioconversion yield of geniposide to genipin using two strains were 93.4% and 100%, respectively, which are high conversion percentage. For GB, the maximal production yield obtained using Lb. plantarum S3 and Lb. plantarum KCTC3104 under optimal conditions were 2.17 and 2.18 mg/mL, respectively. For GR, glutamic acid (Glu) with Lb. plantarum S3 is the best combination. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of an effective alternative method for the production of natural food colorants using LAB.

Separation and purification of plant terpenoids from biotransformation

The production of plant terpenoids through biotransformation has undoubtedly become one of the research hotspots, and the continuous upgrading of the corresponding downstream technology is also particularly important. Downstream technology is the indispensable technical channel for the industrialization of plant terpenoids. How to efficiently separate high-purity products from complex microbial fermentation broths or enzyme-catalyzed reactions to achieve high separation rates, high returns and environmental friendliness has become the focus of research in recent years. This review mainly introduces the common separation methods of plant terpenoids based on biotransformation from the perspectives of engineering strain construction, unit separation technology, product properties and added value. Then, further attention was paid to the application prospects of intelligent cell factories and control in the separation of plant terpenoids. Finally, some current challenges and prospects are proposed, which provide possible directions and guidance for the separation and purification of terpenoids and even industrialization.

Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Semi-Defatted Unripe Genipap (Genipa americana L.): Selective Conditions for the Recovery of Natural Colorants

Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of semi-defatted unripe genipap (SDG) using supercritical CO2 was performed to enhance the recovery of natural colorant iridoids genipin and geniposide. There are currently few natural sources of iridoids, and their application as colorants is scarce. The UAE resulted in extracts with blue and green colors using water and ethanol, respectively. The highest global yield and genipin content was recovered with water, and the geniposide was significantly recovered with ethanol. With water at 450 W, the UAE raised the maximum global yield (25.50 g/100 g raw material). At 150 W and 7 min, the maximum content of genipin (121.7 mg/g extract) and geniposide (312 mg/g extract) was recovered. The total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant capacity with the oxygen reactive antioxidant capacity (ORAC) assay were also high in aqueous extracts. Ethanolic extracts showed high ferric-reducing ability antioxidant potential (FRAP) values. UAE showed an efficient and fast method to obtain different extracts’ fractions from SDG, which have a wide spectrum of applications, especially as natural food colorants.

Biotransformation of Geniposide into Genipin by Immobilized Trichoderma reesei and Conformational Study of Genipin

Trichoderma reesei QM9414, Trichoderma viride 3.316, Aspergillus niger M85, and Aspergillus niger M92 were screened for hydrolyzing geniposide into genipin. T. reesei was selected according to the β-glucosidase activity of the fermentation broths using geniposide as a substrate. T. reesei was immobilized by embedding method using sodium alginate as the carrier. Geniposide was hydrolyzed by immobilized T. reesei at 28°C (200 rpm) for 34 h, and the yield of genipin was 89%. The product was purified and identified by UV, IR, EIMS, and ¹H-NMR. Since there were two sets of signals in ¹H-NMR spectra, a series of experiments were performed and verified that the existence of two conformations was the main reason. Generally, biotransformation of geniposide into genipin by immobilized T. reesei provides a promising solution to the genipin production.