The antioxidant and antibacterial properties of chitosan encapsulated with the bee pollen and the apple cider vinegar

Revolutionizing the Use of Honeybee Products in Healthcare: A Focused Review on Using Bee Pollen as a Potential Adjunct Material for Biomaterial Functionalization

The field of biomedical engineering highly demands technological improvements to allow the successful engraftment of biomaterials requested for healing damaged host tissues, tissue regeneration, and drug delivery. Polymeric materials, particularly natural polymers, are one of the primary suitable materials employed and functionalized to enhance their biocompatibility and thus confer advantageous features after graft implantation. Incorporating bioactive substances from nature is a good technique for expanding or increasing the functionality of biomaterial scaffolds, which may additionally encourage tissue healing. Our ecosystem provides natural resources, like honeybee products, comprising a rich blend of phytochemicals with interesting bioactive properties, which, when functionally coupled with biomedical biomaterials, result in the biomaterial exhibiting anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant effects. Bee pollen is a sustainable product recently discovered as a new functionalizing agent for biomaterials. This review aims to articulate the general idea of using honeybee products for biomaterial engineering, mainly focusing on describing recent literature on experimental studies on biomaterials functionalized with bee pollen. We have also described the underlying mechanism of the bioactive attributes of bee pollen and shared our perspective on how future biomedical research will benefit from the fabrication of such functionalized biomaterials.

Advances in Controllable Release Essential Oil Microcapsules and Their Promising Applications

Essential oils (EOs) have emerged as natural and popular ingredients used in the preparation of safe and sustainable products because of their unique characteristics, such as antibacterial and antioxidant activity. However, due to their high volatility, poorly solubility in water, and susceptibility to degradation and oxidation, the application of EOs is greatly limited. One of the promising strategies for overcoming these restrictions is encapsulation, which involves in the entrapment of EOs inside biocompatible materials to utilize their controllable release and good bioavailability. In this review, the microencapsulation of the controllable release EOs and their applications are investigated. The focus is on the antimicrobial mechanism of various EOs on different bacteria and fungi, release mechanism of microencapsulated EOs, and preparation research progress of the controllable EOs microcapsules. In addition, their applications are introduced in relation to the food, textiles, agriculture, and medical fields.

Development of ternary nanoformulation comprising bee pollen-thymol oil extracts and chitosan nanoparticles for anti-inflammatory and anticancer applications

Due to the beneficial nutritional and medicinal characteristics of bee honey and thymol oil as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, and antibacterial agents, they have been used since ancient times. The current study aimed to construct a ternary nanoformulation (BPE-TOE-CSNPs NF) through the immobilization of the ethanolic extract of bee pollen (BPE) with thymol oil extract (TOE) into the matrix of chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs). The antiproliferative activity of new NF (BPE-TOE-CSNPs) against HepG2 and MCF-7 cells was investigated. The BPE-TOE-CSNPs showed significant inhibitory activity for the production of the inflammatory cytokines in HepG2 and MCF-7, with p < 0.001 for both TNF-α and IL6. Moreover, the encapsulation of the BPE and TOE in CSNPs increased the efficacy of the treatment and the induction of valuable arrests for the S phase of the cell cycle. In addition, the new NF has a great capacity to trigger apoptotic mechanisms through caspase-3 expression upregulation in cancer cells by two-fold among HepG2 cell lines and nine-fold among MCF-7 which appeared to be more susceptible to the nanoformulation. Moreover, the nanoformulated compound has upregulated the expression of caspase-9 and P53 apoptotic mechanisms. This NF may shed light on its pharmacological actions by blocking specific proliferative proteins, inducing apoptosis, and interfering with the DNA replication process.

Phytochemicals Determination, and Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Anti-Inflammatory and Anticancer Activities of Blackberry Fruits

A comprehensive characterization of the phytochemicals present in a blackberry fruit extract by HPLC-TOF-MS has been carried out. The main compounds in the extract were ursane-type terpenoids which, along with phenolic compounds, may be responsible for the bioactivity of the extract. In vitro antioxidant capacity was assessed through Folin–Ciocalteu (31.05 ± 4.9 mg GAE/g d.w.), FRAP (637.8 ± 3.2 μmol Fe2+/g d.w.), DPPH (IC50 97.1 ± 2.4 μg d.w./mL) and TEAC (576.6 ± 8.3 μmol TE/g d.w.) assays. Furthermore, the extract exerted remarkable effects on in vitro cellular antioxidant activity in HUVEC cells at a concentration of 5 mg/mL. Antimicrobial activity of the extract was also tested. Most sensible microorganisms were Gram-positive bacteria, such as E. faecalis, B. cereus and Gram-negative E. coli (MBC of 12.5 mg/mL). IC50 values against colon tumoral cells HT-29 (4.9 ± 0.2 mg/mL), T-84 (5.9 ± 0.3 mg/mL) and SW-837 (5.9 ± 0.2 mg/mL) were also obtained. Furthermore, blackberry extract demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity inhibiting the secretion of pro-inflammatory IL-8 cytokines in two cellular models (HT-29 and T-84) in a concentration-dependent manner. These results support that blackberry fruits are an interesting source of bioactive compounds that may be useful in the prevention and treatment of different diseases, mainly related to oxidative stress.

Emulsion-Based Delivery Systems to Enhance the Functionality of Bioactive Compounds: Towards the Use of Ingredients from Natural, Sustainable Sources

In recent years, the trend in the population towards consuming more natural and sustainable foods has increased significantly. This claim has led to the search for new sources of bioactive compounds and extraction methods that have less impact on the environment. Moreover, the formulation of systems to protect these compounds is also focusing on the use of ingredients of natural origin. This article reviews novel, natural alternative sources of bioactive compounds with a positive impact on sustainability. In addition, it also contains information on the most recent studies based on the use of natural (especially from plants) emulsifiers in the design of emulsion-based delivery systems to protect bioactive compounds. The properties of these natural-based emulsion-delivery systems, as well as their functionality, including in vitro and in vivo studies, are also discussed. This review provides relevant information on the latest advances in the development of emulsion delivery systems based on ingredients from sustainable natural sources.

GC-MS based metabolite profiling, antioxidant and antiurolithiatic properties of apple cider vinegar

Aim

To perform in vitro analysis of antioxidant and antiurolithiasis to carry out GC-MS-based metabolite profile.

Materials & methods

The effect of apple cider vinegar (ACV) in vitro, antioxidant and GC-MS analysis was evaluated. The antioxidant studies were performed. In vitro techniques included nucleation, aggregation and growth assay.

Results & conclusion

The presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids and carbohydrates was shown. Concentrations from 5-30 μg/ml could dissolve calcium oxalate (p < 0.05) in vitro. The IC₅₀ value of ACV in DPPH was found to be around 7 μg/ml and the IC₅₀ value of the ACV in ABTS assay was around 9 μg/ml. Different phytocompounds were obtained from GC-MS analysis. ACV can be consumed to prevent kidney stones which seems helpful to the current therapy.

Antifungal Activity of Water-Based Adhesives Derived from Pineapple Stem Flour with Apple Cider Vinegar as an Additive

As a byproduct of bromelain extraction procedures, pineapple stem flour is underutilized. Since water glues derived from gelatinization typically have poor mold resistance, this study aims to produce flour-based value-added products, such as mold-resistant water-based adhesives. To address this issue, this study explored the use of apple cider vinegar (ACV) as a low-cost, non-toxic, commercially available antifungal agent to improve the mold resistance of adhesives. Furthermore, laurate flour was produced via a transesterification of the flour and methyl laurate using a K2CO3 catalyst. Both the unmodified flour and the functionalized flour were employed to prepare water-based adhesives. For both flour systems, adding ACV at concentrations of at least 2.0% v/v enhanced the mold resistance of the adhesives and completely inhibited the development of A. niger mycelia for up to 90 days of storage. The adhesives made from the transesterified flour exhibited a higher shear strength for the paper bonding (ca. 8%) than the unmodified ones. Additionally, the ACV additive had no negative effects on the shear strengths of the water-based adhesives. All of the flour-based adhesives developed in this study had a higher shear strength for paper substrates than two locally available commercial water glues.

Synthesis and Investigation of Physicochemical and Biological Properties of Films Containing Encapsulated Propolis in Hyaluronic Matrix

The dynamic development of nanotechnology has enabled the development of innovative and novel techniques for the production and use of nanomaterials. One of them is the use of nanocapsules based on biodegradable biopolymer composites. Closing compounds with antimicrobial activity inside the nanocapsule cause the gradual release of biologically active substances into the environment, and the effect on pathogens is regular, prolonged and targeted. Known and used in medicine for years, propolis, thanks to the synergistic effect of active ingredients, has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. Biodegradable and flexible biofilms were obtained, the morphology of the composite was determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and particle size was measured by the dynamic light scattering (DLS) method. Antimicrobial properties of biofoils were examined on commensal skin bacteria and pathogenic Candida isolates based on the growth inhibition zones. The research confirmed the presence of spherical nanocapsules with sizes in the nano/micrometric scale. The properties of the composites were characterized by infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy. It has been proven that hyaluronic acid is a suitable matrix for the preparation of nanocapsules, as no significant interactions between hyaluronan and the tested compounds have been demonstrated. Color analysis and thermal properties, as well as the thickness and mechanical properties of the obtained films, were determined. Antimicrobial properties of the obtained nanocomposites were strong in relation to all analyzed bacterial and yeast strains isolated from various regions of the human body. These results suggest high potential applicability of the tested biofilms as effective materials for dressings to be applied on infected wounds.

Simultaneous Administration of Bevacizumab with Bee-Pollen Extract-Loaded Hybrid Protein Hydrogel NPs Is a Promising Targeted Strategy against Cancer Cells

Bevacizumab (Bev) a humanized monoclonal antibody that fights vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A). It was the first specifically considered angiogenesis inhibitor and it has now become the normative first-line therapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In the current study, polyphenolic compounds were isolated from bee pollen (PCIBP) and encapsulated (EPCIBP) inside moieties of hybrid peptide-protein hydrogel nanoparticles in which bovine serum albumin (BSA) was combined with protamine-free sulfate and targeted with folic acid (FA). The apoptotic effects of PCIBP and its encapsulation (EPCIBP) were further investigated using A549 and MCF-7 cell lines, providing significant upregulation of Bax and caspase 3 genes and downregulation of Bcl2, HRAS, and MAPK as well. This effect was synergistically improved in combination with Bev. Our findings may contribute to the use of EPCIBP simultaneously with chemotherapy to strengthen the effectiveness and minimize the required dose.

An Overview on Wood Waste Valorization as Biopolymers and Biocomposites: Definition, Classification, Production, Properties and Applications

Bio-based polymers, obtained from natural biomass, are nowadays considered good candidates for the replacement of traditional fossil-derived plastics. The need for substituting traditional synthetic plastics is mainly driven by many concerns about their detrimental effects on the environment and human health. The most innovative way to produce bioplastics involves the use of raw materials derived from wastes. Raw materials are of vital importance for human and animal health and due to their economic and environmental benefits. Among these, wood waste is gaining popularity as an innovative raw material for biopolymer manufacturing. On the other hand, the use of wastes as a source to produce biopolymers and biocomposites is still under development and the processing methods are currently being studied in order to reach a high reproducibility and thus increase the yield of production. This study therefore aimed to cover the current developments in the classification, manufacturing, performances and fields of application of bio-based polymers, especially focusing on wood waste sources. The work was carried out using both a descriptive and an analytical methodology: first, a description of the state of art as it exists at present was reported, then the available information was analyzed to make a critical evaluation of the results. A second way to employ wood scraps involves their use as bio-reinforcements for composites; therefore, the increase in the mechanical response obtained by the addition of wood waste in different bio-based matrices was explored in this work. Results showed an increase in Young's modulus up to 9 GPa for wood-reinforced PLA and up to 6 GPa for wood-reinforced PHA.