A new source of galactomannan isolated from Gleditsia caspica (Persian honey locust) seeds: Extraction and comprehensive characterization

Determination of physicochemical, functional,and morphological properties of Prosopis farcta (Çeti̇) seed galactomannan as a new hydrocolloid source: Comparison with locust bean gum

The present study investigated the properties of galactomannan, a water-soluble polysaccharide extracted from the Prosopis farcta (Çeti) plant. These properties encompassed its functional characteristics, chemical composition, rheological behavior, and morphological structure. The results were systematically compared with those of the commercially utilized locust bean gum (LBG). Following ethanol precipitation, the yield of Prosopis farcta galactomannan (PFG) was determined to be 22.4 ± 0.5 %. The mannose-to-galactose (M: G) ratios of PFG and LBG were calculated as 1.7:1 and 3.3:1, respectively. The solubility of PFG exhibited a temperature-dependent increase akin to that of LBG. Notably, PFG demonstrated superior emulsion capacity and stability even at low concentrations. Additionally, the X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed asymmetric broad peaks around the 2θ = 20° diffraction angle, signifying the amorphous nature of PFG. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, obtained after dissolving both PFG and LBG in deionized water and freeze-drying them, displayed a fibrous filament network structure in both samples.

Green preparation of low-molecular-weight galactomannan from Gleditsia sinensis and mechanistic investigation on ameliorating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Galactomannan comes from a wide range of plant resources and has some biological activities, but its bioavailability is limited due to its large molecular weight and complex structure. In this study, three degradation methods (H2O2, ultrasound, and β-mannanase) combined with ethanol fractional precipitation (25 %, 50 %, and 75 %) were used to degrade and separate Gleditsia sinensis galactomannans (GSG), and the physicochemical properties and biological activities of GSG after degradation were analyzed. Comprehensive comparison indicates that H2O2 exhibits had a better degradation effect. After 4 h of degradation using 4 % H2O2, the yield of GSG precipitated with 50 % ethanol was 37.06 % (the yield of undigested GSG is 1.80 %). Simultaneously, the molecular weight (reduced from 225.25 to 36.87 kDa) and viscosity were significantly reduced under this condition, while the solubility was increased. In addition, the low-molecular-weight GSG (LGSG) obtained by 4 % H2O2/50 % ethanol showed the strongest free radical scavenging activity in vitro. Furthermore, the results of in vivo antioxidant assays showed that LGSG inhibited Aflatoxin B1-induced developmental toxicity by regulating gene expression in the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway. LGSG also promoted Nrf2-mediated expression of the lipid metabolism genes ppar-α and cpt1, while suppressing expression of the fatty acid synthesis genes fas and scd-1. Therefore, the liver recovered from lipid peroxidation induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The present study introduces a method for green and efficient preparation of LGSG, indicates its potential as a nutritional product.

Comparative study on metabolites, nutrients, and antioxidant capacity of endosperm in Gymnocladus chinensis, Gleditsia sinensis, and Gleditsia japonica var. delavayi

'Zaojiaomi' is a traditional food derived from Gleditsia sinensis or Gleditsia japonica var. delavayi endosperm. However, metabolite profile of Gymnocladus chinensis endosperm and its comparison to the aforementioned species remains understudied. This research employed a UPLC-MS based metabolomics approach to investigate and compare metabolite composition of G. chinensis endosperm with that of G. sinensis and G. japonica endosperm. A total of 1177 metabolites were identified, with 579 and 577 differentially abundant metabolites found between G. chinensis vs. G. japonica and G. chinensis vs. G. sinensis, respectively. They were mainly enriched in pathways related to flavonoid biosynthesis, suggesting potential for enhanced antioxidant activity, compared to G. japonica and G. sinensis. Additionally, G. chinensis endosperm was found to be rich in L-arginine, L-aspartic acid, and zinc elements, which have various health benefits. These findings provide valuable insights into metabolic composition of G. chinensis endosperm and its potential as a functional food source.

Bael (Aegle marmelos) fruit-based effervescent tablet formulations: Impact on physicochemical properties, bioactive compounds, and sensory attributes

This study investigates the formulation and optimization of effervescent tablets made from freeze-dried bael (Aegle marmelos) fruit pulp, focusing on selecting appropriate excipients to enhance stability and ensure the effective release of its bioactive compounds for health benefits. The formulations-S0 (100 % fruit pulp), S1 (20 % citric acid), S2 (10 % citric acid and 10 % ascorbic acid), and S3 (20 % ascorbic acid) combined with equal parts of dried bael pulp, sodium bicarbonate, sugar, polyethylene glycol, and stevia were assessed for their physicochemical properties, bioactive compounds, and sensory study. The S1 demonstrated the fastest dissolution time (189 s), along with the lowest bulk density (0.488 ± 0.001 g/mL), tapped density (0.525 ± 0.001 g/mL), Hausner ratio (1.104 ± 0.114), and Cohesiveness index (0.075 ± 0.002), indicating better physicochemical properties. Among the formulations, the S3 showed the highest vitamin C (788 ± 0.05 μM AAE/g DM), total phenolic content (1289.17 μg GAE/g of DM), and total carotenoid content (19.3 ± 1.37 μM β-carotene E/g DM). The antioxidant and antidiabetic activity ranked: S2 ≈ S3>S1>S0. The presence of polyphenolic compounds in the bael fruit pulp was confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. According to the sensory study, S1 stands out for its superior color, flavor, and satisfactory overall sensory experience; it exhibited a strong positive correlation with PC1, and highlights the critical sensory attributes influencing consumer perception. Therefore, these findings suggest that bael fruit-based effervescent tablets offer promising potential as a ready-to-drink product with beneficial health properties.

Isolation, structural, biological activity and application of Gleditsia species seeds galactomannans

Gleditsia fruits have been known as a valuable traditional Chinese herb for tens of centuries. Previous studies showed that the galactomannans are considered as one of the major bioactive components in Gleditsia fruits seeds (GSGs). Here, we systematically review the major studies of GSGs in recent years to promote their better understanding. The extraction methods of GSGs mainly include hot water extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, ultrasonic extraction, acid extraction, and alkali extraction. The analysis revealed that GGSs exhibited in the form of semi-flexible coils, and its molecular weight ranged from 0.018 × 103 to 2.778 × 103 KDa. GSGs are composed of various monosaccharide constituents such as mannose, galactose, glucose, and arabinose. In terms of pharmacological effects, GSGs exhibit excellent activity in antioxidation, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, anti-inflammation. Moreover, GSGs have excellent bioavailability, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, which make them used in food additives, food packaging, pharmaceutical field, industry and agriculture. Of cause, the shortcomings of the current research and the potential development and future research are also highlighted. We believe our work provides comprehensive knowledge and underpinnings for further research and development of GSGs.

Extraction, characterization and biological activity of Galactomannan rich endosperm of Borassus flabellifer (Linn.) suitable for biofabrication of tissue scaffolds

The study deals with the isolation, purification and characterization of galactomannan from the endosperm of Borassus labellifer (Linn.) to be used for biomaterial fabrication in tissue engineering (TE) applications. The isolated Borassus flabellifer (Linn.) galactomannan (BFG) through a sequential aqueous dissolution, centrifugation and ethanol precipitation presented a total yield of 19.77 ± 1.05 % (w/w) with advantageous compositional and functional properties. BFG was found to have mannose to galactose (M/G) ratio of 1.4:1. The molecular weight of BFG was found to be 4.9 × 105 g/mol and the molecular structure analysis by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy revealed the presence of α-linked, d-galactopyranose units and β-linked, D-mannopyranose units. Further characterization by rheometer confirmed the non-Newtonian and pseudo-plastic behavior of different BFG concentrations and structural analysis by XRD and SEM confirmed the amorphous nature of BFG with the presence of pores and cervices on the rough surface. Finally, the favorable biological activity demonstrated in response to fibroblast cells against different BFG concentrations substantiates its relevance to be used in biofabrication of tissue scaffolds.

Impact of the Season on Total Polyphenol and Antioxidant Properties of Tea Cultivars of Industrial Importance in Northeast India

Tocklai vegetative (TV) cultivars are extensively planted in the tea-growing regions of Northeast India. The present investigation explores the impact of season on the total polyphenol (TP) content and the antioxidant activity of thirty-one TV cultivars (TV1-TV31) and four other commercially popular cultivars, namely, Betjan, Kharijan, S.3A/3, and T.3E/3. The TP content of the cultivars was observed to be highest in the monsoon season, with values ranging from 230.57 to 283.53 mg g-1. In the pre-monsoon season and autumn, the TP content ranged from 197.87 to 256.77 mg g-1 and from 169.97 to 223.50 mg g-1, respectively. Antioxidant activity was measured through DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and lipid peroxidation inhibition assays. The cultivars showed the highest antioxidant activity in the monsoon in tandem with TP content. A bivariate correlation indicated a highly significant (p ≤ 0.01) positive correlation of antioxidant activity with TP content (R2 = 0.83-0.96).