Characterisation and in vivo evaluation of Araucaria angustifolia pinhão seed coat nanosuspension as a functional food source

Pinhão potential and their parts (failures, shells, and almonds) in the elaboration of yogurts containing acai pulp: physicochemical, nutritional, and functional properties, antimicrobial activity, and multi-elemental profile

This study applies natural resources, prioritizing recyclable and renewable inputs produced by pinhão cultivation, whose purpose is to use the failures, shells, and almonds as a source of bioactive compounds addition in yogurt, ensuring intelligent use of these natural resources. Thus, one açaí yogurt sample and eight yogurt formulations containing portions of pinhão byproducts between 5 % and 10 % were elaborated. These formulations were compared regarding their physicochemical, nutritional, functional properties, antimicrobial activity, and multi-elemental profile properties. Enriching açaí yogurt with pinhão byproducts does not significantly differ in protein, lipid, moisture, and mineral salt content between all samples with pinhão byproducts. Açaí yogurts enriched with pinhão byproducts had 5.71 to 26.07 % times total protein than the control sample, and total fiber also had a significant increase in samples ranging between 18.62 to 85.29 % times more than the control sample. Regarding color settings, all yogurt samples tended to be red-purple. A sample of açaí yogurt with pine nut flour and whole pine nut flour caused a biofilm mass amount of 46.58, 45.55, and 11.85 % for Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enteritidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The behavior of pathogenic bacteria is related to the total polyphenol content in yogurts enriched with pinhão byproducts, which increased from 8.27 to 18.24 mg/100 g. Yogurt with açaí enriched with whole pinhão flour showed high antioxidant capacity. The sample's antioxidant activity results increased by 47.62 % and 130.38 % in the ABTS and DPPH analyses, respectively. The compounds in pinhão failure nanosuspensions, pinhão flour, whole pinhão flour, and yogurts were identified and divided into hydrophilic and lipophilic classes. Five classes (amino acids, organic acids, sugars, phenols, and cyclitols) were identified as hydrophilic. Lipophilic compounds were identified and separated into six classes (carboxylic acids, diterpenes, alcohols, Α-hydroxy acids, sterols, and triterpenes). The addition of pinhão byproducts increased the contents of Ca, Fe, K, Na, and P. Açaí yogurt with pinhão nanosuspension, pinhão flour, and whole pinhão flour had the highest Ca content (2164.38 ± 2.16 µg/L). Açaí yogurt with pinhão flour and whole pinhão flour had the highest Fe content (84.02 ± 0.08 µg/L).

Impact of defibrillation technique on the rheological, thermo-mechanical, and nutritional properties of nanosuspensions produced from multiple fractions of pinhão seed (Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze)

This work aimed to evaluate the influence of the mechanical defibrillation technique on the pinhão nanosuspensions production obtained from the whole pinhão, its coat, and almond. The nanosuspensions were characterized concerning their composition, morphology, thermal stability, rheological behavior, compound profiling, and cytotoxicity. The results revealed a significant fiber content in pinhão coat nanosuspension (63.12 ± 0.52 %) and non-fiber carbohydrates in whole pinhão (59.00 ± 0.13 %) and almond (74.39 ± 0.23 %) nanosuspensions. The defibrillation process led to micro/nano-sized fibers in pinhão coat nanosuspensions and small-size starch granules in almond nanosuspensions. The nanosuspensions containing pinhão coat exhibited a gel-like behavior, while almond nanosuspensions displayed liquid-like characteristics. Pinhão coat nanosuspensions presented a significant content of flavonoids and phytosterols, whereas almond-based nanosuspensions contained substantial sugar amounts. No cytotoxicity was observed at the concentrations evaluated. These findings demonstrated that the defibrillation technique impacted the properties of pinhão constituents, allowing their application in new product development.

Nanofibrillated cellulose originated from Rhododendron ponticum to produce scaffolds using 3D printing for biomedical applications

Rhododendron ponticum is an invasive species that spreads rapidly and is described as one of the biggest threats to peatlands in Ireland. This study offers an innovative approach to utilizing Rhododendron waste. Initially, sawdust was submitted to a bleaching treatment and the nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) was obtained using two different methods: ultra-fine friction grinding and twin-screw extrusion with the assistance of TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy) pre-treatment. The samples processed through twin-screw extrusion exhibited the presence of NFC at five intervals, as confirmed by TEM analysis. However, these samples displayed a higher diameter deviation compared to those processed through grinding alone. Notably, after 20 extrusion steps, the NFC diameter became more uniform, reaching approximately 35 nm. Sedimentation tests showed that extrusion produced more homogeneous cellulose size than the grinder method. However, FTIR characterization for the samples showed a unique band related to C-O-C glycosidic linkage. The results showed that grinding breaks these groups resulting in crystallinity values lower than extrusion, 50 % compared 60 %. Therefore, NFC with 20 steps by grinding was blended with polycaprolactone to produce a 3D scaffold using a 3D printer at different ratios of 1-5 % addition. The effect of 1 % of NFC was unique showing significant enhanced mechanical properties compared to pure polycaprolactone (PCL), additionally, the NFC does not exhibit toxicity so these materials show promise for biomedical applications.

Characterization of Gels and Films Produced from Pinhão Seed Coat Nanocellulose as a Potential Use for Wound Healing Dressings and Screening of Its Compounds towards Antitumour Effects

The reuse of agro-industrial waste assumes great importance today. Pinhão is the seed of Araucaria angustifolia, which is native to the mountains of southern Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. The coat is a by-product of this seed and is rich in phenolic compounds. The present study aimed to use the residue as a precursor material for the production of nanocellulose through the mechanical defibrillation process and perform the characterization of the films and the gel to investigate the effect on the physical and regenerative properties when incorporated with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The modulus of elasticity was higher when the MFC of pinhão was added to the PVA. Film and gel had their cytotoxicity tested by MTT assay using 3T3 fibroblast and Schwann cancer cells, and a migration assay was also performed using the scratch test on HaCat keratinocyte cells. For the scratch test, film and gel samples with low concentration presented a complete scratch closure in 72 h. Molecular docking was performed and quercetin had the ideal interaction score values, so it was used with the PACAP protein which presented a slightly moderate interaction with the protein synthesis of Schwann cells, presenting compactness of the compound after 14 ns.

A biocide delivery system composed of nanosilica loaded with neem oil is effective in reducing plant toxicity of this biocide

One possible way to reduce the environmental impacts of pesticides is by nanostructuring biocides in nanocarriers because this promotes high and localized biocidal activity and can avoid toxicity to non-target organisms. Neem oil (NO) is a natural pesticide with toxicity concerns to plants, fish, and other organisms. Thus, loading NO in a safe nanocarrier can contribute to minimizing its toxicity. For this study, we have characterized the integrity of a nanosilica-neem oil-based biocide delivery system (SiO₂NP#NO BDS) and evaluated its effectiveness in reducing NO toxicity by the Allium cepa test. NO, mainly consisted of unsaturated fatty acids, was well binded to the SiO₂NP with BTCA crosslinker. Overall, this material presented all of its pores filled with the NO with fatty acid groups at both the surface and bulk level of the nanoparticle. The thermal stability of NO was enhanced after synthesis, and the NO was released as zero-order model with a total of 20 days without burst release. The SiO₂NP#NO BDS was effective in reducing the individual toxicity of NO to the plant system. NO in single form inhibited the seed germination of A. cepa (EC₅₀ of 0.38 g L^-1), and the effect was no longer observed at the BDS condition. Contrarily to the literature, the tested NO did not present cyto- and geno-toxic effects in A. cepa, which may relate to the concentration level and composition.

Bioactivity screening of pinhão (Araucaria Angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze) seed extracts: the inhibition of cholinesterases and α-amylases, and cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities

The objective of this work was to determine the potential bioactive properties of extracts from bio-residues of pinhão (Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze) seeds, namely the α-amylase and cholinesterase inhibition, cytotoxicity, and anti-inflammatory properties. The pinhão extracts evaluated were obtained from cooking water (CW) and as an ethanolic extract from residual pinhão seed shells (PS). Catechin was the major compound found in both extracts. The PS extract presented higher antioxidant levels and the better inhibition of human salivary and porcine pancreatic α-amylases when compared to the CW extract. Also, based on in vivo evaluations, the PS extract did not differ significantly from acarbose when compared to a control group. The most potent inhibitor of cholinesterases was the CW extract. No cytotoxicity toward normal cells was detected, and neither extract showed anti-inflammatory activity. The PS extract presented cytotoxic activity toward non-small-cell lung, cervical, hepatocellular and breast carcinoma cell lines. Overall, the results demonstrated the potential bioactivity of extracts obtained from pinhão bio-residues.

Yerba Mate Extract in Microfibrillated Cellulose and Corn Starch Films as a Potential Wound Healing Bandage

Microfibrillated cellulose films have been gathering considerable attention due to their high mechanical properties and cheap cost. Additionally, it is possible to include compounds within the fibrillated structure in order to confer desirable properties. Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil, yerba mate leaf extract has been reported to possess a high quantity of caffeoylquinic acids that may be beneficial for other applications instead of its conventional use as a hot beverage. Therefore, we investigate the effect of blending yerba mate extract during and after defibrillation of Eucalyptus sp. bleached kraft paper by ultrafine grinding. Blending the extract during defibrillation increased the mechanical and thermal properties, besides being able to use the whole extract. Afterwards, this material was also investigated with high content loadings of starch and glycerine. The results present that yerba mate extract increases film resistance, and the defibrillated cellulose is able to protect the bioactive compounds from the extract. Additionally, the films present antibacterial activity against two known pathogens S. aureus and E. coli, with high antioxidant activity and increased cell proliferation. This was attributed to the bioactive compounds that presented faster in vitro wound healing, suggesting that microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) films containing extract of yerba mate can be a potential alternative as wound healing bandages.