Nutrition tid‐bites: Essential fatty acids in health and chronic disease

Lipid Horizons: Recent Advances and Future Prospects in LBDDS for Oral Administration of Antihypertensive Agents

The lipid-based drug delivery system (LBDDS) is a well-established technique that is anticipated to bring about comprehensive transformations in the pharmaceutical field, impacting the management and administration of drugs, as well as treatment and diagnosis. Various LBDDSs verified to be an efficacious mechanism for monitoring hypertension systems are SEDDS (self-nano emulsifying drug delivery), nanoemulsion, microemulsions, vesicular systems (transferosomes and liposomes), and solid lipid nanoparticles. LBDDSs overcome the shortcomings that are associated with antihypertensive agents because around fifty percent of the antihypertensive agents experience a few drawbacks including short half-life because of hepatic first-pass metabolism, poor aqueous solubility, low permeation rate, and undesirable side effects. This review emphasizes antihypertensive agents that were encapsulated into the lipid carrier to improve their poor oral bioavailability. Incorporating cutting-edge technologies such as nanotechnology and targeted drug delivery, LBDDS holds promise in addressing the multifactorial nature of hypertension. By fine-tuning drug release profiles and enhancing drug uptake at specific sites, LBDDS can potentially target renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system components, sympathetic nervous system pathways, and endothelial dysfunction, all of which play crucial roles in hypertension pathophysiology. The future of hypertension management using LBDDS is promising, with ongoing reviews focusing on precision medicine approaches, improved biocompatibility, and reduced toxicity. As we delve deeper into understanding the intricate mechanisms underlying hypertension, LBDDS offers a pathway to develop next-generation antihypertensive therapies that are safer, more effective, and tailored to individual patient needs.

Transcriptome analysis provides insights into the high ability to synthesize fatty acids in "yellow oil" mud crab (Scylla paramamosain)

Yellow oil mud crab (YOC) is a new variant of mud crab (Scylla paramamosain), which was attracted much attention in recent years due to its high level of nutrition. However, the nutritive values and the physiological changes in YOC have not been clearly understood. In this study, we aimed to identify the nutrient compositions (including total carotenoid content (TCC), total lipid content (TLC), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and fatty acids) and differences in genes related to the biosynthesis of fatty acids using transcriptome analysis in YOC in comparison with those of normal mud crabs. As a result, observations on the morphological characteristics showed that the YOC exhibits a difference in the color of the muscle, gills (orange-yellow), and hemolymph (yellow) compared with the normal female crabs (NFC) (blue or nattier blue). The TCC and TLC (84.96 ± 9.65 μg/g in muscle and 1.39 ± 0.10 μg/mL in hemolymph) or TAC (1.52 ± 0.17 mM in hemolymph) of YOC were higher than that of NFC and normal male crab (NMC). YOC had lower saturated fatty acids, but higher unsaturated fatty acids, as well as the ratio of n-3/n-6 of fatty acids in muscle and hemolymph, compared with those of NFC and NMC. Furthermore, the transcriptome profile revealed that the unigenes in YOC were enriched in the synthesis of n-3 fatty acids. Furthermore, more unigenes related to 'Biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids' were identified in muscle and hemocytes, while fewer were in the gonads of YOC. Additionally, the positive (in muscle and hemocytes) and a negative correlation (in gonads) between expressions of unigenes and contents of TLC, TCC, and UFA were found, indicating a better synthesis ability of fatty acids in the muscle and hemocytes of YOC. Overall, compared to NFC and NMC, YOC has higher nutrients and is a better food nutrient source for humans.

Diverse uses of valuable seafood processing industry waste for sustainability: a review

Seafoods are rich in untapped bioactive compounds that have the potential to provide novel ingredients for the development of commercial functional foods and pharmaceuticals. Unfortunately, a large portion of waste or discards is generated in commercial processing setups (50-80%), which is wasted or underutilized. These by-products are a rich source of novel and valuable biomolecules, including bioactive peptides, collagen and gelatin, oligosaccharides, fatty acids, enzymes, calcium, water-soluble minerals, vitamins, carotenoids, chitin, chitosan and biopolymers. These fish components may be used in the food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, environmental, biomedical and other industries. Furthermore, they provide a viable source for the production of biofuels. As a result, the current review emphasizes the importance of effective by-product and discard reduction techniques that can provide practical and profitable solutions. Recognizing this, many initiatives have been initiated to effectively use them and generate income for the long-term sustainability of the environment and economic framework of the processing industry. This comprehensive review summarizes the current state of the art in the sustainable valorisation of seafood by-products for human consumption. The review can generate a better understanding of the techniques for seafood waste valorisation to accelerate the sector while providing significant benefits.

Determination of Fatty Acid Profile in Processed Fish and Shellfish Foods

Seafood products are a crucial dietary source of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA), which are essential for human health. However, the presence of these n-3 PUFA may be subject to changes related to different processing methods. The aim of this study was to determine the fatty acid composition, focusing on n-3 PUFA, in different processed fish and shellfish products of both EU and non-EU origin. The products were purchased from supermarkets and ethnic food shops in Messina (Italy). Gas chromatography with a flame-ionization detector (GC-FID) was used for analysis. Based on the fatty acid profile, the atherogenicity index (AI), thrombogenicity index (TI), and flesh lipid quality index (FLQ) were determined: 0.13-1.04 (AI), 0.19-0.89 (TI), and 0.41-29.90 (FLQ). The percentages of saturated (SFA), monounsaturated (MUFA), and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty acids fell within the following ranges: 13.55-50.48%, 18.91-65.58%, and 13.84-52.73%, respectively. Considering that all samples showed low AI and TI indices and that all processed fish products proved to be a good source of beneficial PUFAs, especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), their consumption is recommended for humans.

Assessment of Microbiological Quality and Physicochemical Parameters of Fruhe Made by Ovine and Goat Milk: A Sardinian (Italy) Cheese

Fruhe (Casu axedu) is a fresh cheese, traditionally manufactured in Sardinia (Italy) from sheep or goat milk, characterized by a compact coagulum obtained from raw or heat-treated whole milk. The objective of this study was to investigate the microbiological quality and physicochemical parameters of the sheep and goat Fruhe types of cheese at 21 days of cold storage. Chemical analyses showed that all Fruhe cheese samples were characterized by a pH below 4.4 and a variable content of total solid (22.75–21.06 g/100 g) proteins (5.4–10 g/100 g) and fat (3.9–15.7 g/100 g). The average residual lactose content was 2.6 g/100 g, while lactic acid content was 1.8 g/100 g. Microbial analyses revealed a high number of Lactic Acid Bacteria for both thermophilic and mesophilic streptococci (9 log CFU/g), and no pathogenic bacteria were found. The content of Free Amino Acids and Free Fatty acids point out that a good activity of rennet and microbial enzymes occurred, although Fruhe cheese is not subject to a ripening process. The present research reports the microbiological and nutritional characteristics of the sheep and goat Fruhe cheese that could represent the basis for further investigations, needful to improve its nutritional quality and to preserve its peculiarities.

Effect of Drying Methods on Lutein Content and Recovery by Supercritical Extraction from the Microalga Muriellopsis sp. (MCH35) Cultivated in the Arid North of Chile

In this study, we determined the effect of drying on extraction kinetics, yield, and lutein content and recovery of the microalga Muriellopsis sp. (MCH35) using the supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) process. The strain was cultivated in an open-raceways reactor in the presence of seawater culture media and arid outdoor conditions in the north of Chile. Spray-drying (SD) and freeze-drying (FD) techniques were used for dehydrating the microalgal biomass. Extraction experiments were performed by using Box-Behnken designs, and the parameters were studied: pressure (30–50 MPa), temperature (40–70 °C), and co-solvent (0–30% ethanol), with a CO₂ flow rate of 3.62 g/min for 60 min. Spline linear model was applied in the central point of the experimental design to obtain an overall extraction curve and to reveal extraction kinetics involved in the SFE process. A significant increase in all variables was observed when the level of ethanol (15–30% v/v) was increased. However, temperature and pressure were non-significant parameters in the SFE process. The FD method showed an increase in lutein content and recovery by 0.3–2.5-fold more than the SD method. Overall, Muriellopsis sp. (MCH35) is a potential candidate for cost-effective lutein production, especially in desert areas and for different biotechnological applications.

Bioactivities, chemical composition and nutritional value of Cynara cardunculus L. seeds

In the present study, the nutritional value, bioactive properties, and chemical composition of various cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.) genotypes cultivated in central Greece were investigated. The results demonstrated that Cynara seeds are a good source of fat and protein, while they also contain considerable amounts of K, Mg, and Fe and low amount of Na. Sucrose, oxalic acid, and α-tocopherol were the only free sugar, organic acid, and tocopherol isoform respectively, found among the studied genotypes. The most abundant fatty acids were linoleic, oleic and palmitic acid, while PUFA was the most abundant fatty acid class. All the tested seeds contained only two phenolic compounds, namely 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid and 3,5-O-caffeoylquinic acid, while significant antioxidant activities and cytotoxicity against tumor cell lines and antimicrobial effects were also observed. In conclusion, cardoon seed extracts could be exploited in the food and pharmaceutical industries as alternative sources of natural compounds with bioactive properties.

Isolation of Linoleic Acid from Sambucus williamsii Seed Oil Extracted by High Pressure Fluid and Its Antioxidant, Antiglycemic, Hypolipidemic Activities

Linoleic acid was isolated effectively from Sambucus williamsii (SW) seed oil which was extracted by high-pressure fluid and its biological activities were investigated. Linoleic acid was isolated from the oil by urea inclusion, the yield was 65.81% and the purity was 92.12%. 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay was used to determine the antioxidant activity of linoleic acid. IC50 of DPPH radical scavenging activity of linoleic acid was 61.92 mg/mL. The antiglycemic activity of linoleic acid was evaluated by determining its inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase. The results showed that α-glucosidase was inhibited to a certain extent by linoleic acid (1.56–25 mg/mL). In addition, the hypolipidemic activity of linoleic acid was investigated in vivo using hyperlipidemia mice models fed with the linoleic acid at doses of 1, 2, 4 g/kg BW (body weight). The results showed that serum lipid levels were highly significantly (p<0.01) improved, which indicated the hypolipidemic activity of linoleic acid. The linoleic acid extracted from SW seed oil was proved to possess good antioxidant, antiglycemic and hypolipidemic activity in human diets, which may have industrial use.

Obtenção de ácidos graxos por cristalização do óleo de pescado fracionado por hidrólise enzimática

Este trabalho teve por objetivo estabelecer um processo para obter e caracterizar os produtos da cristalização das frações do óleo de pescado hidrolisado com lipase pancreática. A hidrólise enzimática foi realizada em 60 minutos com uma concentração de substrato de 1262 mmols, 38 °C, pH 8 e com uma concentração de extrato enzimático de 7,647 mg.mL-1. Os produtos da hidrólise foram separados por cromatografia em coluna e caracterizados por cromatografia em camada delgada e cromatografia em fase gasosa. A temperatura de cristalização foi controlada entre 5 °C e -18 °C. A fração TAG foi melhor cristalizada a 0 °C enquanto que as frações DAG + AGL e MAG foram cristalizadas a 5 °C. Foi observado que o ácido docosahexaenoico (DHA) concentra-se na fase líquida da fração DAG + AGL representando 97,17% em relação ao óleo de pescado. O ácido palmítico foi cristalizado na fração DAG, perfazendo aproximadamente 50% do total de ácidos graxos. Foi observado que os ácidos graxos insaturados de cadeia longa, principalmente o EPA, concentram-se na fase sólida da fração TAG, esses resultados sugerem que o processo combinado de hidrólise enzimática seguido de cristalização possibilita a obtenção destes ácidos graxos do óleo de pescado.

Characterization of enzymatic hydrolyzed snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) by-product fractions: a source of high-valued biomolecules

Snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) constitutes valuable and nutritional sources of components, such as proteins, lipids and chitin. The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the feasibility of applying a pilot scale enzymatic hydrolysis process of snow crab by-products, followed by fractionation, in order to recover enriched high-valued compounds. The yield of snow crab by-products recovered after manual processing; on a dry weight was 87.4%. The by-products (raw materials) were mainly moist (approximately 78%), and contained 42.9% proteins, 14.8% lipids, 25.7% minerals, 16.2% chitin, all expressed on a dry weight. The fatty acid profile of snow crab by-products and all fractions obtained following processing showed a higher content in mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs; approximately 50%), followed by polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs; approximately 20%) and saturated fatty acids (SFAs; approximately 15%). The n-3/n-6 ratio was approximately 10 and represents a good index of nutritional value for snow crab oil by-products. Most protein enriched fractions demonstrate a well-balanced amino acid composition, notably the most essential amino acids. These protein fractions are characterized by biomolecules having a relatively low molecular weight (35 kDa and less) range. The enzymatic hydrolysis process developed in this study shows that snow crab by-products should to be viewed as having the potential of being identified as high-valued products. Even though the process could be optimized, it is controllable, and depending on hydrolyses conditions, the products obtained are reproducible and well defined. Results presented in this study indicate that snow crab by-products may serve as excellent nutritional components for future applications in the health and food sectors.

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography purification of methyl esters of C16–C28 polyunsaturated fatty acids in microalgae, including octacosaoctaenoic acid [28:8(n-3)]

A preparative reversed-phase (RP; C(18)) high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with gradient elution using acetonitrile (MeCN)-chloroform (CHCl(3)) (or dichloromethane (DCM)) and evaporative light-scattering detection (ELSD) with automatic multiple injection and fraction collection was used to purify milligram quantities of microalgal polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), separated as methyl esters (ME). PUFA-ME purified included methyl esters of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6(n-3)), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5(n-3)) and the unusual very long-chain (C(28)) highly unsaturated fatty acid (VLC-HUFA), octacosaoctaenoic acid [28:8(n-3)(4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25)] from the marine dinoflagellate Scrippsiella sp. CS-295/c. Other PUFA purified from various microalgae using this RP-HPLC method to greater than 95% purity included 16:3(n-4), 16:4(n-3), 16:4(n-1) and 18:5(n-3). The number of injections required was variable and depended on the abundance of the desired PUFA-ME, and resolution from closely eluting PUFA-ME, which determined the maximum loading. The purity of these fatty acids was determined by electron impact (EI) GC-MS and the chain length and location of double bonds was determined by EI GC-MS of 4,4-dimethyl oxazoline (DMOX) derivatives formed using a low temperature method. Advantages over silver-ion HPLC for purifying PUFA-ME is that separation occurs according to chain length as well as degree of unsaturation enabling separation of PUFA-ME with the same degree of unsaturation but different chain length (i.e. between 18:5(n-3) and 20:5(n-3)). In addition, PUFA-ME are not strongly adsorbed, but elute earlier than their more saturated corresponding FAME of the same chain length. This method is robust, simple, and requires only a short re-equilibration time. It is a useful tool for preparing milligram quantities of pure PUFA-ME for bioactive screening (as free fatty acids), although many multiple injections may be required for minor PUFA-ME. It also enabled dose-response and structure-activity studies to be carried out. It can be used for the enrichment of low levels of VLC-HUFA-ME to facilitate elucidation of their chemical structure and so is a useful adjunct to EI GC-MS of DMOX derivatives and other techniques such as NMR, which requires milligram quantities of purified compounds.

Downstream Processing in Marine Biotechnology

Downstream processing is one of the most underestimated steps in bioprocesses and this is not only the case in marine biotechnology. However, it is well known, especially in the pharmaceutical industry, that downstreaming is the most expensive and unfortunately the most ineffective part of a bioprocess. Thus, one might assume that new developments are widely described in the literature. Unfortunately this is not the case. Only a few working groups focus on new and more effective procedures to separate products from marine organisms. A major characteristic of marine biotechnology is the wide variety of products. Due to this variety a broad spectrum of separation techniques must be applied. In this chapter we will give an overview of existing general techniques for downstream processing which are suitable for marine bioprocesses, with some examples focussing on special products such as proteins (enzymes), polysaccharides, polyunsaturated fatty acids and other low molecular weight products. The application of a new membrane adsorber is described as well as the use of solvent extraction in marine biotechnology.