Quercetin nanoparticles decorated on Arabic gum and polyvinyl alcohol composite as a film sensor for fluorescence detection of meropenem

Moving towards green chemistry to minimize the diverse effect of chemicals on human health and environment has become a great issue in chemistry. On the other hand, determination of pharmaceuticals is an important issue for both human health and environment. In this regard two natural and benign compounds such as quercetin a polyphenolic flavonoid and Arabic Gum (AG) a polysaccharide were used to construct a sensor for meropenem. Herein, a new method was established for the synthesis of AG and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite decorated by quercetin nanoparticles (QUENPs) as a fluorimetric film sensor to measure meropenem. In order to embed QUENPs in the polymer composite substrate, first QUENPs were synthesized and then added to the prepared composite solution under optimal conditions. The characteristics of AG and PVA composite (AG-PVA) and AG-PVA composite decorated by QUENPs films (QUENPs-AG-PVA), before and after the addition of meropenem was studied by TEM, FT-IR and EDX-Mapping. The developed film sensor was placed in a holder made with 3D printer. The difference in the fluorescence intensity of the fabricated film before and after the addition of meropenem was taken as the signal for measuring meropenem. The effect of different parameters on the fabrication of film fluorimetric sensor such as the concentration of polymer solutions, the volume of QUENPs and the volume of glycerol were investigated. Factors affecting the measurement of meropenem such as pH, type of buffer, volume of meropenem solution added on the sensor and time were also investigated. Under the obtained optimum conditions, the calibration graph was linear in the concentration range of 50-800 ng mL-1 with a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.9976 and the detection limit was 42.6 ng mL-1. The relative standard deviation was 3.5% and 1.4%, for eight replicate determinations of 100 ng mL-1 and 400 ng mL-1 of meropenem, respectively. The proposed method was successfully utilized for determination of meropenem in blood serum, human urine and pharmaceutical samples.

Enhancing the efficacy of nano-curcumin on cancer cells through mixture design optimization of three emulsifiers

Curcumin, a vital bioactive compound found naturally, has diverse biological applications. However, a major limitation of curcumin is its low bioavailability caused by its limited solubility in water. Hence, it is possible to overcome this problem through preparing oil in water nanodispersion of curcumin that emulsifier can play key role to produce nanodispersion. In the present study, the effect of three emulsifiers of Tween 80, Arabic Gum and Polyethylene glycol on preparing nanodispersions with desirable properties was investigated using subcritical water method and a mixture design. Zeta-potential and particle size of the achieved nanodispersions were taken into account as outcome factors. The optimum values for emulsifiers of Tween 80, Arabic Gum and Polyethylene glycol were obtained as 0.588 g, 0.639 g and 0.273 g, respectively, using the suggested model, so that obtained nanodispersion had minimum particle size (101.89 nm) and maximum zeta-potential (-24.99 mV). In fact, 102.5 nm and - 24.7 mV were obtained from experimental data at these values of emulsifiers. In addition, maximum loading potential (0.199 g/L), efficiency (99.5%), and minimum total curcumin loss (0.5%) were acquired at these optimum values. The results also show that the nanodispersion had a powerful antioxidant activity (65.27%) with extra antibacterial activity in facing with both E. coli and S. aureus strains. Moreover, curcumin nanodispersion was significantly taken up by HT-29 cells and resulted in the production of oxidative stress in the cells, leading to a decrease in the growth of cancer cells.

Green synthesis of MnO2 NPs using Arabic gum: assessing its potential antiviral activity against influenza A/H1N1

BACKGROUND

The antiviral properties of metal nanoparticles against various viruses, including those resistant to drugs, are currently a subject of intensive research. Recently, the green synthesis of nanoparticles and their anti-viral function have attracted a lot of attention. Previous studies have shown promising results in the use of Arabic gum for the green synthesis of nanoparticles with strong antiviral properties. In this study we aimed to investigate the antiviral effects of MnO2 nanoparticles (MnO2-NPs) synthesized using Arabic gum, particularly against the influenza virus.

METHODS

Arabic gum was used as a natural polymer to extract and synthesize MnO2-NPs using a green chemistry approach. The synthesized MnO2-NPs were characterized using SEM and TEM. To evaluate virus titration, cytotoxicity, and antiviral activity, TCID50, MTT, and Hemagglutination assay (HA) were performed, respectively. Molecular docking studies were also performed to investigate the potential antiviral activity of the synthesized MnO2-NPs against the influenza virus. The molecular docking was carried out using AutoDock Vina software followed by an analysis with VMD software to investigate the interaction between Arabic gum and the hemagglutinin protein.

RESULTS

Simultaneous combination treatment with the green-synthesized MnO2-NPs resulted in a 3.5 log HA decrement and 69.7% cellular protection, which demonstrated the most significant difference in cellular protection compared to the virus control group (p-value < 0.01). The docking results showed that binding affinities were between - 3.3 and - 5.8 kcal/mole relating with the interaction between target with MnO2 and beta-D-galactopyranuronic acid, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The results of the study indicated that the MnO2-NPs synthesized with Arabic gum had significant antiviral effects against the influenza virus, highlighting their potential as a natural and effective treatment for inhibition of respiratory infections.

Arabic gum grafted with phenolic acid as a novel functional stabilizer for improving the oxidation stability of oil-in-water emulsion

Three kinds of phenolic acids: ferulic acid (FA), caffeic acid (CA), and gallic acid (GA) with different chemical structures were individually grafted onto Arabic gum (AG) via a laccase mediated method, and their roles in stabilizing o/w emulsions were evaluated. The total phenolic content in modified AG increased from 2.7 ± 0.2 to 18.7 ± 0.2, 19.8 ± 0.6, 22.4 ± 0.8 mg/g after 4 h of laccase catalysis, respectively. FTIR spectra of modified AGs exhibited additional phenolic characteristics, revealing the successful grafting of phenolic acids to AG structure. Compared with natural AG, modified AGs showed remarkably enhanced thermal stability, as well as antioxidant capacity in an order of gallic acid > caffeic acid > ferulic acid. The incorporation of phenolic acids into AG dramatically improved its emulsification performance. Herein, gallic acid-modified AG evinced up to 17.6 % and 12.6 % increments in emulsifying activity and emulsion stability relative to natural AG, respectively. Moreover, the oxidative stability of AG emulsions was pronouncedly meliorated by the introduced phenolic acids, especially gallic acid, as manifested by the suppressed production of primary and secondary oxidation products.

Development of hydrophobic, mechanically reliable, and glow-in-the-dark glue using Arabic gum

A smart nanocomposite adhesive was created to facilitate a simple production of long-persistent photoluminescent and hydrophobic commercial products. Even after being left in the dark for up to 90 min, the created photoluminescent adhesive agent continued to generate light. A surface-specific nanocomposite adhesive agent consisting of lanthanide-activated strontium aluminate (LSA) nanoparticles (NPs; 5-14 nm) immobilized in the environmentally friendly Arabic gum (AG) was developed. A light-transmitting nanocomposite adhesive agent was manufactured by dispersing LSA nanoparticles evenly across the AG matrix without agglomeration. An excitation peak at 365 nm and an emission wavelength at 519 nm were observed for the prepared adhesives at different concentrations of LSA NPs. The emission spectra showed either fluorescence or afterglow phosphorescence, depending on the LSA ratio. The photochromic transition from colourless to green beneath an ultraviolet (UV) lamp and greenish yellow in a dark room was tracked. The LSA NPs in the Arabic gum matrix imparted enhanced hydrophobicity and scratch resistance to the LSA@AG nanocomposite. The LSA@AG nanocomposite demonstrated excellent durability and photostability. This study confirmed that the mass production of smart adhesives for applications such as smart windows, smart packaging, and safety directional signs in buildings is possible.

ITC study on the interaction of some bile salts with tragacanth, Arabic, and guar gums with potential cholesterol-lowering ability

Introduction

The urge of designing new safe and natural functional foods to control blood lipids and dispensable without the need of physician supervision, has increased especially after the coming into effect of the recent EU Commission regulation 2022/860, that regulates the consumption of "red yeast rice," made by fermentation of rice with Monascus purpureus, and perceived as a natural functional food, due to a health risk for frail consumers. The results of the present work are a part of the systematic study we are carrying out of the binding ability of some soluble dietary fibers (SDF) from different natural sources toward selected bile salts (BS).

Methods

Measurements were carried out by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) with the idea to shed light on the mechanism, if any, by which they show cholesterol-lowering activity.

Results and discussion

Epidemiological studies are sometimes conflicting and offer only hypothesis about the mechanism of action, the most accredited being the reduction of reabsorption of BS in the gut. Previous measurements done on negatively charged pectin and alginate, showed specific binding interaction with monomer NaDC for pectin and no interaction at all for alginate. Chitosan, positively charged and soluble only at low pH, in 100 mM acetate buffer at pH = 3 shows strong exothermic interactions with NaTC and NaTDC. Here we considered two plant exudates (Arabic gum and tragacanth gum) and guar gum, extracted from guar beans, and their interaction with the same bile salts. ITC measurements do not evidence specific interactions between gums and the studied BS, so that their cholesterol lowering ability, if any, is due to a different mechanism very probably bound to the viscosity increase. Moreover, the addition of NaC, the most abundant BS in the bile, at very low concentration (under the cmc) causes a structural change of the solution. The obtained results seem to corroborate the hypothesis that the cholesterol lowering activity is related to the increase in viscosity of guar solution favored by NaC, the major component of the bile.

Synthesis and Characterization of Environmentally Friendly Chitosan-Arabic Gum Nanoparticles for Encapsulation of Oregano Essential Oil in Pickering Emulsion

The encapsulation of bioactive agents through the utilization of biodegradable nanoparticles is a topic of considerable scientific interest. In this study, microcapsules composed of chitosan (CS) and Arabic gum (GA) nanoparticles were synthesized, encapsulating oregano essential oil (OEO) through Pickering emulsions and subsequent spray drying. The optimization of hybrid chitosan and Arabic gum (CS-GA) nanoparticle formation was carried out via complex coacervation, followed by an assessment of their behavior during the formation of the emulsion. Measurements of the size, contact angle, and interfacial tension of the formed complexes were conducted to facilitate the development of Pickering emulsions for encapsulating the oil under the most favorable conditions. The chitosan-Arabic gum capsules were physically characterized using scanning electron microscopy and fitted to the Beerkan estimation of soil transfer (BEST) model to determine their size distribution. Finally, the OEO encapsulation efficiency was also determined. The optimum scenario was achieved with the CS-GA 1-2 capsules at a concentration of 2% wt, featuring a contact angle of 89.1 degrees, which is ideal for the formation of oil/water (O/W) emulsions. Capsules of approximately 2.5 μm were obtained, accompanied by an encapsulation efficiency of approximately 60%. In addition, the hybrid nanoparticles that were obtained showed high biodegradability. The data within our study will contribute fundamental insights into CS-GA nanoparticles, and the quantitatively analyzed outcomes presented in this study will hold utility for forthcoming applications in environmentally friendly detergent formulations.

Super-amphiphobic arabic gum-based coatings on textile for on-demand oily and dye wastewater treatment

Different membrane materials have broadly been constructed for oil-containing water separation, but most of preparation routes involve corrosive or toxic chemicals and especially many materials have only single superwetting property. Herein, a novel and eco-friendly cellulose-based textile membrane is developed by incorporating the composite coating consisting of arabic gum (AG), attapulgite (APT), and iron (Fe) onto cellulose textiles. The functionalized textile is superoleophobic underwater and superhydrophobic underoil. As a result, the textile prewetted with water or oil can be employed to separate light oil layer/water and heavy oil layer/water mixtures, respectively, and the separation efficiency to the two types of mixtures is larger than 98.3 %. Results also reveal that the decorated textile possesses superior stability and recyclability in purifying oily wastewater. More importantly, such coated textile is capable of filtrating water-soluble contaminants (dyes) from polluted water. Due to the versatility and environmental compatibility of product as well as the accessibility as agricultural and forestry product as raw materials, the advanced textiles may offer effective solutions to oily wastewater purification and water-soluble contaminant removal.

Efficacy of zinc oxide and copper oxide nanoparticles on virulence genes of avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) in broilers

BACKGROUND

Colibacillosis is one of the broilers' most dominant bacterial diseases, either as a primary or a secondary infection. As E. coli antimicrobial drug resistance is rising; there is a need to develop new approaches to its control. In light of this, a comparative study of the in-vitro antibacterial activity of Arabic gum stabilized zinc and copper nanoparticles (AG-ZnNPs and AG-CuNPs) against PCR-identified field avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) strains and virulence genes (ibeA, hlyA, iss, pap C and ompA) was applied to study the therapeutic effect of zinc and copper nanoparticles to be used as an antibiotic alternative (Nanobiotic). Furthermore, the in-vivo effects of CuNPs were evaluated. Additionally, the CuNPs liver and muscle residues with or without infection were examined. The eighty broilers were divided into four groups; G1: negative control, G2: infected control with E. coli O17, G3: non-infected treated (AG-CuNPs 50 mg/kg body weight), and G4: infected treated (AG-CuNPs 50 mg/kg body weight). AG-CuNPs treatment was given to broilers for five days in drinking water.

RESULTS

E. coli was isolated from diseased broilers at an average incidence rate of 20% from intestinal and liver samples. All identified serotypes (O17, O78, O91, O121, and O159) were resistant to AG-ZnNPs and sensitive to AG-CuNPs. AG-CuNPs minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC) for O17 were 7.5 and 60 mg/ml, respectively. Conventional uniplex PCR results showed that strain O17 contained virulence genes (ibeA, hlyA, iss, and papC), where AG-CuNPs significantly reduced the expression of all target genes when examined by Real-time quantitative PCR. Additionally, the bactericidal activity of AG-CuNPs on O17 was 100% at 20 minutes and 40 mg/ml and confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, no mortality was recorded in treated groups compared to G2. Subsequently, no E. coli was re-isolated from the liver in the G4 after treatment. The total protein, albumin, globulin, and lysozyme activity were significantly increased in G4 compared to G2, while the activities of liver enzymes (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)) were markedly decreased in G4 compared to G2. Additionally, uric acid, creatinine, and C-reactive protein levels were decreased in G4 compared to G2. However, the liver enzymes, kidney functions, C-reactive protein levels, and Cu residues were non-significantly changed in G4 compared to G1.

CONCLUSION

Green synthesized AG-CuNPs are recommended as an effective antimicrobial alternative against APEC strains.

Characterization of coacervation behavior between whey protein isolate and gum Arabic: Effects of heat treatment

Currently, the effect of heat treatment on the complex coacervation behavior of whey isolate protein (WPI) with gum arabic (GA) is undiscussed. In this work, the complex coacervation behavior of WPI with or without heat treatment and GA in different environments was investigated. The results showed that coacervates were formed at a mass ratio of 2:1 and a pH of 3.5, which was confirmed by the fluorescence spectroscopy results. Heat treatment increased the surface charge of WPI, reduced the saturated adsorption concentration of GA, and enhanced the sensitivity of the complex coacervation reaction to salt ions. Fourier infrared spectroscopy, intermolecular force analysis and molecular docking results confirm that the formation of coacervates is the result of electrostatic interactions. From the scanning electron microscope and differential scanning calorimetry results, it is clear that the whey isolate protein combined with gum arabic forms a gel-like conjugate with higher thermal stability and a dense structure. This study provides more in-depth theoretical guidance for the application of WPI and GA based coacervation and more advanced theoretical data for the study of hWPI.

The role of Arabic gum on astringency by modulating the polyphenol fraction-protein reaction in model wine

The potential contribution of Arabic gum to wine astringency was discussed in this study. Two universally used Arabic gum (concentration of 0.2-1.2 g/L) were investigated in model wine based on the polyphenol fractions (phenolic acids, monomeric/oligomeric, and polymeric procyanidin) and protein interaction system. Both physicochemical analyses and sensory evaluation revealed that the modulation of Arabic gum on astringency was affected by the structural properties and concentration of Arabic gum and polyphenolic fractions. Arabic gum at 0.2 g/L appeared as the optimal dose to reduce astringency compared to 0.6 and 1.2 g/L. It inhibited astringency induced by polymeric procyanidin more than that of oligomeric procyanidins and phenolic acids mainly by forming soluble ternary complexes with polyphenols and proteins, and preferentially binding proteins/polyphenols to decrease polyphenol-protein reactions. Arabic gum also inhibited the self-aggregation of polyphenols, exhibiting more binding sites when its higher molecular weight and more/longer branches, leading to competition with polyphenols for bind proteins.

Dataset of Schinus terebinthifolius essential oil microencapsulated by spray-drying

Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi has been extensively studied due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties. Recently, its seeds have been tested against some insect pests as an insecticide, repellent and antifungal agent. Microencapsulation by spray-drying is widely used in the food and drug industries, as well as in the microencapsulation of essential oils, since it protects the oils against several effects, such as oxidation and thermal degradation, thus optimising its use. The aim was to microencapsulate S. terebinthifolius essential oil by spray-drying maltodextrin and arabic gum as encapsulating agents and SiO₂ as a colloidal adjuvant. The morphology of the microcapsules was analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which evidenced mainly regular spherical-shaped particles with sizes between 5 and 10 µm. The thermal stability was studied by thermogravimetric analysis-differential scanning calorimetry (TGA-DSC), and the microcapsules were stable at temperatures up to 200°C. The microencapsulating agents and the spray-drying technique produced microcapsules capable of protecting the essential oil against external effects, such as thermal degradation.

Dynamics of Arabic gum aqueous solutions as revealed by NMR relaxometry

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this article is to study molecular dynamics through nuclear magnetic relaxation (NMR) dispersion of Arabic gum aqueous solutions analysed in terms of two-fraction exchange model.

RESULTS

The experiments revealed that relaxation of water molecules was non-monoexponential, which was interpreted in terms of a model describing the magnetization transfer due to exchange of water and polysaccharide protons. The analysis showed that water dynamics decreased slightly with gum content. Polymer-chain dynamics was assigned to regime II of the tube/reptation model. Peculiar temperature dependence of exchange rate was observed in the whole concentration range of Arabic gum solutions.

CONCLUSION

NMR relaxation probed in a broad frequency and temperature range allows probing of the molecular dynamics of complex food systems. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Naringin-loaded Arabic gum/pectin hydrogel as a potential wound healing material

Wound healing is a complicated cellular process with overlapping phases. Naringin (NAR); a flavanone glycoside, possesses numerous pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects. In the current study, Arabic gum (AG)/pectin hydrogel was utilized to encapsulate NAR. Drug-loaded AG/pectin hydrogel exhibited excellent EE% of about 99.88 ± 0.096 and high DL% of about 16.64 ± 0.013. The formulated drug-loaded hydrogel was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Zetasizer analyzer, besides determination of equilibrium degree of swelling (EDS%). Afterwards, wound healing potential of NAR-loaded AG/pectin hydrogel was evaluated in an in vivo animal model. Results manifested that NAR-loaded AG/pectin hydrogel was able to accelerate wound healing in terms of enhanced angiogenesis, re-epithelialization and collagen deposition. Furthermore, it significantly (P < 0.001) down-regulated the mRNA expression of inflammatory mediators (TNF-α) and apoptosis (BAX). In addition, NAR-loaded AG/pectin hydrogel was found to possess potent antioxidant activity as it enhanced the levels of SOD and GSH, besides decreasing the levels of MPO, MDA and nitrite. These data suggest that NAR-loaded AG/pectin hydrogel could be utilized in wound healing applications.

Maintenance shelf-life quality of cocktail tomatoes by using UV-C illumination and Arabic gum coating

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of Arabic gum (AG) coating, UV-C illumination and its combinations on postharvest quality parameters of cocktail tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Ipekce F₁ ). After harvest, mature green tomatoes were treated with 10% Arabic gum (AG10), 20% AG (AG20), 3.6 kJ m^-2 ultraviolet-C (UV-C) illumination, 3.6 kJ m^-2 UV-C+AG10 and 3.6 kJ m^-2 UV-C+AG20, and stored at 20 °C for 20 days.

RESULTS

The highest titratable acidity (TA), total soluble solids (TSS) and the lowest weight loss were obtained in AG20 treatments. Maximum fruit firmness and L* value were in AG20 and UV-C+AG20 treatment. The greatest h° values were recorded in AG20, UV-C+AG20 and control group. The highest vitamin C content were obtained from AG20, UV-C+AG10 and UV-C+AG20 treated tomatoes. Minimum lycopene content was determined from AG10, AG20, UV-C+AG10 and UV-C+AG20 treatments. Maximum chlorophyll content was determined from UV-C+AG20-treated tomatoes. AG10, AG20, UV-C+AG10 and UV-C+AG20 treatments resulted in lower ethylene emissions as compared to control and UV-C-treated tomatoes. AG20, UV-C+AG10 and UV-C+AG20 treatments generally had lower values than control and UV-C in term of respiration rates.

CONCLUSION

It is concluded that AG20 treatment effectively maintained the postharvest quality and biochemical properties of cocktail tomatoes as compared to other tested treatments. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

The Synthesis Methodology and Characterization of Nanogold-Coated Fe3O4 Magnetic Nanoparticles

Core-shell nanostructures are widely used in many fields, including medicine and the related areas. An example of such structures are nanogold-shelled Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles. Systems consisting of a magnetic core and a shell made from nanogold show unique optical and magnetic properties. Thus, it is essential to develop the methodology of their preparation. Here, we report the synthesis methodology of Fe₃O₄@Au developed so as to limit their agglomeration and increase their stability. For this purpose, the impact of the reaction environment was verified. The properties of the particles were characterized via UV-Vis spectrophotometry, dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDS technique). Moreover, biological investigations, including determining the cytotoxicity of the particles towards murine fibroblasts and the pro-inflammatory activity were also performed. It was demonstrated that the application of an oil and water reaction environment leads to the preparation of the particles with lower polydispersity, whose agglomerates’ disintegration is 24 times faster than the disintegration of nanoparticle agglomerates formed as a result of the reaction performed in a water environment. Importantly, developed Fe₃O₄@Au nanoparticles showed no pro-inflammatory activity regardless of their concentration and the reaction environment applied during their synthesis and the viability of cell lines incubated for 24 h with the particle suspensions was at least 92.88%. Thus, the developed synthesis methodology of the particles as well as performed investigations confirmed a great application potential of developed materials for biomedical purposes.

Highly biocompatible formulations based on Arabic gum Nano composite hydrogels: Fabrication, characterization, and biological investigation

In the study, fabrication of Arabic gum (AG) hydrogels via reverse micellization method is reported. AG hydrogels were utilized as capping agents to encapsulate zinc sulphide (ZnS), and cadmium sulphide (CdS) nanoparticles via in-situ reduction. Pristine and nanocomposite hydrogels (AG-ZnS and AG-CdS) were characterized through SEM, EDX, TEM, XRD, FTIR, TGA, UV/Visible, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The hydrogels were subjected to multiple biological assays including antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-diabetic formulation, in addition to biocompatibility test. The hydrogels were found to be more effective against bacterial and fungal strains. For instance, AG-ZnS exhibited excellent growth inhibition activity against Escherichia coli (ZoI: 12 ± 1.04 mm) and Candida albicans (35 ± 0.94 mm). Likewise, the nanocomposites hydrogel also displayed excellent DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging capacity, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and total reducing power (TRP) ability. Among the hydrogels, AG-ZnS demonstrated considerable α-amylase, and α-glucosidase inhibition potential. Above all, the hydrogels were found highly compatible with human red blood cells (hRBCs). Owing to remarkable antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and bio-compatible nature, the fabricated nanocomposites hydrogels have the potential to be explored in tissue engineering, wound healing, drug delivery, and in environmentally friendly hygiene products.

A Review on the Main Phytoconstituents, Traditional Uses, Inventions, and Patent Literature of Gum Arabic Emphasizing Acacia seyal

Acacia seyal is an important source of gum Arabic. The availability, traditional, medicinal, pharmaceutical, nutritional, and cosmetic applications of gum acacia have pronounced its high economic value and attracted global attention. In addition to summarizing the inventions/patents applications related to gum A. seyal, the present review highlights recent updates regarding its phytoconstituents. Traditional, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and medicinal uses with the possible mechanism of actions have been also reviewed. The patent search revealed the identification of 30 patents/patent applications of A. seyal. The first patent related to A. seyal was published in 1892, which was related to its use in the prophylaxis/treatment of kidney and bladder affections. The use of A. seyal to treat cancer and osteoporosis has also been patented. Some inventions provided compositions and formulations containing A. seyal or its ingredients for pharmaceutical and medical applications. The inventions related to agricultural applications, food industry, cosmetics, quality control of gum Arabic, and isolation of some chemical constituents (L-rhamnose and arabinose) from A. seyal have also been summarized. The identification of only 30 patents/patent applications from 1892 to 15 November 2021 indicates a steadily growing interest and encourages developing more inventions related to A. seyal. The authors recommend exploring these opportunities for the benefit of society.

Efficient remediation of chlorpyrifos pesticide from contaminated water by superparamagnetic adsorbent based on Arabic gum-grafted-polyamidoxime

A novel organic/inorganic biosorbent hydrogel nanocomposite based on Arabic Gum-grafted-polyamidoxime and CuFe₂O₄ magnetic nanoparticles (AG-g-PAO/CuFe₂O₄) was prepared in three steps. The prepared hydrogel nanocomposite was well characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), CHN, zeta potential, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analyses. The adsorption efficiency of the AG-g-PAO/CuFe₂O₄ for removing an organophosphorus pesticide (OPP) (chlorpyrifos) from aqueous solutions was studied. Effect of different experimental conditions such as the pH of the solution, adsorbent dosage, contact time, initial concentration on adsorption efficiency was evaluated. The experimental adsorption data described well by the Langmuir isotherm model and the maximum adsorption capacity (Q_max) of the prepared biosorbent for chlorpyrifos was found 769.23 mg/g. The adsorption kinetic data were well fitted by the pseudo-second-order model. It was suggested that the chlorpyrifos was adsorbed onto AG-g-PAO/CuFe₂O₄ hydrogel biosorbent mainly through electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bonding. The result of adsorption-desorption experiments revealed that the AG-g-PAO/CuFe₂O₄ can be excellently regenerated and reused after three sequential runs without a considerable decline in its adsorption performance.

Arabic gum plus colistin coated moxifloxacin-loaded nanoparticles for the treatment of bone infection caused by Escherichia coli

Osteomyelitis is an inflammatory process of bone and bone marrow that may even lead to patient death. Even though this disease is mainly caused by Gram-positive organisms, the proportion of bone infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, has significantly increased in recent years. In this work, mesoporous silica nanoparticles have been employed as platform to engineer a nanomedicine able to eradicate E. coli- related bone infections. For that purpose, the nanoparticles have been loaded with moxifloxacin and further functionalized with Arabic gum and colistin (AG+CO-coated MX-loaded MSNs). The nanosystem demonstrated high affinity toward E. coli biofilm matrix, thanks to AG coating, and marked antibacterial effect because of the bactericidal effect of moxifloxacin and the disaggregating effect of colistin. AG+CO-coated MX-loaded MSNs were able to eradicate the infection developed on a trabecular bone in vitro and showed pronounced antibacterial efficacy in vivo against an osteomyelitis provoked by E. coli. Furthermore, AG+CO-coated MX-loaded MSNs were shown to be essentially non-cytotoxic with only slight effect on cell proliferation and mild hepatotoxicity, which might be attributed to the nature of both antibiotics. In view of these results, these nanoparticles may be considered as a promising treatment for bone infections caused by enterobacteria, such as E. coli, and introduce a general strategy against bone infections based on the implementation of antibiotics with different but complementary activity into a single nanocarrier. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: In this work, we propose a methodology to address E.coli bone infections by using moxifloxacin-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles coated with Arabic gum containing colistin (AG+CO-coated MX-loaded MSNs). The in vitro evaluation of this nanosystem demonstrated high affinity toward E. coli biofilm matrix thanks to the Arabic gum coating, a disaggregating and antibacterial effect of colistin, and a remarkable antibiofilm action because of the bactericidal ability of moxifloxacin and colistin. This anti-E. coli capacity of AG+CO-coated MX-loaded MSNs was brought out in an in vivo rabbit model of osteomyelitis where the nanosystem was able to eradicate more than 90% of the bacterial load within the infected bone.

Comparing the Effect of Arabic, Basil Seed and Salvia Macrosiphon Gums-Based Coatings on the Shelf-Life of Tomatoes

A novel edible coating containing basil seed gum (0.1, 0.3, and 0.5%), Salvia macrosiphon seed gum (0.25, 0.5, and 0.75%), and Arabic gum (10%) at normal pH and pH 5/6 has been used as a postharvest treatment to maintain tomato quality and safety. In this study, the physicochemical properties of tomatoes were investigated during 35 days of storage at 4°C. During storage, coated fruit showed increases in vitamin C retention, reduced weight loss, color changes, and accelerated softening. However, treatment of tomatoes with gum significantly delayed onset of parameters related to loss of postharvest quality, and storability was extended. All the coated samples had increased vitamin C retention compared with controls, with highest contents observed for tomatoes coated in basil seed gum 0.1% and Arabic gum at pH 5.6. In conclusion, basil seed gum 0.1%, S. macrosiphon seed gum 0.25 and 0.5%, and Arabic gum at normal pH were the best treatments for maintaining postharvest quality of tomatoes.

Comparative Study on Microencapsulation of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) and Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) Essential Oils via Spray-Drying Technique

Essential oils have been studied for various applications, including for therapeutic purposes. There is extensive literature regarding their properties; however, their low stability limits their application. Generally, the microencapsulation of essential oils allows enhanced stability and enables the potential incorporation in solid dosage forms. Lavender and peppermint oils were encapsulated in microparticles using a spray-drying technique under optimized conditions: 170 °C temperature, 35 m³/h aspiration volume flow, and 7.5 mL/min feed flow. Arabic gum and maltodextrin were used as coating polymers individually in varying concentrations from 5 to 20% (w/v) and in combination. The microparticles were studied for morphology, particle size, oil content, and flowability. The formulated powder particles showed a high yield of 71 to 84%, mean diameter 2.41 to 5.99 µm, and total oil content of up to 10.80%. The results showed that both the wall material type and concentration, as well as the type of essential oil, significantly affected the encapsulation process and the final particle characteristics. Our study has demonstrated that the encapsulation of lavender and peppermint oils in Arabic gum/maltodextrin microparticles by spray-drying represents a feasible approach for the conversion of liquids into solids regarding their further use in powder technology.

Development of Arabic gum-based AgTiO2 nanocomposite hydrogel as high efficient adsorbent of cationic dye methylene blue from water

The chemically crosslinked silver titanium dioxide embedded Arabic gum grafted polyacrylamide-polyacrylonitrile nanocomposite AgTiO₂@AG-g-P(AM-co-AN)was successfully synthesized and investigated by ATR-IR, XRD, and SEM. The synthesis optimization parameters of AG-g-P(AM-co-AN)were 5% AG, 1/0.5 AM/AN monomer molar ratio, 0.5 mg MBA cross-linker, and AgTiO₂ content (1%) gives AgTiO₂@AG-g-P(AM-co-AN) nanocomposite. While adsorption studies for AgTiO₂@AG-g-P(AM-co-AN) exhabited the maximum adsorption capacity (104.50 ± 3.02 mg/g) at concentration (150 mg/L), MB concentration (15 mg/L) and pH (8.0). The adsorption nonlinear kinetics models were used. Pseudo-second order governs the adsorption process, and the Langmuir model is more suited than Freundlich and Temkin.

Development of an Accelerated Stability Model to Estimate Purple Corn Cob Extract Powder (Moradyn) Shelf-Life

Moradyn is an Italian purple corn variety whose cobs represent a rich source of polyphenols. At the industrial level, they are used to produce a dried extract (MCE) by the addition of 20% Arabic gum. In order to evaluate the extract solid-state stability, an innovative accelerated stress protocol was developed following the isoconversion approach. The degradation kinetics of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G), the most suitable marker to monitor the overall MCE degradation status, was monitored under five temperature–humidity (RH) combinations. These data were used to build a mathematical model, able to estimate the C3G stability at 25 °C and 30% RH, whose predictiveness was further assessed by comparing the predicted vs. experimental C3G isoconversion time. Finally, by applying this model, the expiry date of the extract was calculated to be within 26–33 days, confirming that the addition of 20% Arabic gum is insufficient to stabilize MCE and highlighting the need of a new formula in order to prolong MCE shelf-life.

DNA Damage and Expression Profile of Genes Associated with Nephrotoxicity Induced by Butralin and Ameliorating Effect of Arabic Gum in Female Rats

Nephrotoxicity induced by exposure to environmental pollution, including herbicides, is becoming a global problem. Natural products are the prime alternative scientific research as they express better medicinal activity and minor side effects compared with a variety of synthetic drugs. This study was performed to evaluate the nephroprotective proficiency of Arabic gum against butralin-induced nephrotoxicity. Adult female rats were supplemented with Arabic gum (4.3 g/kg b.wt) and/or butralin (312 mg/L) in drinking water for 30 days. The results found that markers of serum kidney function, oxidative stress biomarkers, DNA damage, and expression of kidney specific genes (Acsm2, Ace, and Ace2) as well as histopathological examination in treated rats were conducted. Butralin-treated rats showed a rise in serum creatinine (41%), BUN (47.3%), and MDA (140.9%) as well as decrease in activity of the antioxidant markers (CAT (-21%); GPx (-70.7%); and TAC (43.2%)) in comparison with the control group. In addition, butralin treatment increased the DNA damage (221%); altered the expression levels of Acsm2, Ace, and Ace2 (-51.6%, 141.6%, and 143% respectively); and elevated histopathological lesions in the kidney tissues. Pretreatment of Arabic gum prevented butralin-prompted degenerative changes of kidney tissues. The results suggested that the protective effect provided by Arabic gum on renal tissues exposed to the herbicide butralin could be attributed to enhancement of antioxidants and increase the free radical scavenging activity in vivo.

Study on preparation and application of a multifunctional microspheric soil conditioner based on Arabic gum, gelatin, chitosan and β-cyclodextrin

All kinds of soil conditioners have been used to improve soil quality. The application of many traditional soil conditioners was limited by single performance. In this study, a novel multifunctional microspheric soil conditioner was prepared based on Arabic gum, gelatin, chitosan and β-cyclodextrin. Arabic gum and gelatin (AG-GL) microspheric carriers, which could load ferrous sulfate (FS), were synthesized via complex coagulation method. The AG-GL(FS) microspheres were covered by chitosan quaternary ammonium salt (CQAS) through single coagulation method. And β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was used as the outermost shell to improve chemical stability of the soil conditioner by saturated solution method. Finally, the novel multifunctional microspheric soil conditioner AG-GL/CQAS/β-CD-FS was obtained and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analyzer, polarizing microscope, scanning electron microscope and particle size analyzer. The novel soil conditioner shows good nutrient slowly-releasing, water retention, heavy metal ions adsorption and antibacterial performances with the particle size of 14-17 μm and high thermal decomposition temperature, which has the potential application in improving soil quality.

Synthesis and characterization of novel bio-nanocomposite of polyvinyl alcohol-Arabic gum-magnesium oxide via direct blending method

Due to the significance growth in application of polymer-based nanocomposites, different methods of synthesis and different reinforces have been studied in recent years for specific purposes. In this study, using the direct blending process, polyvinyl alcohol-arabic gum-magnesium oxide nanocomposites were synthesized. These synthesized nanocomposites were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray energy diffraction (EDS) spectroscopy, X-ray surface elemental mapping (X-Ray Map), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet -visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometry and thermal gravimetery analysis (TGA). The results revealed that size distributions of magnesium oxide nanoparticles and synthesized nanocomposites were between 25-40 nm and 20-90 nm, respectively. Elemental map results show the magnesium oxide nanoparticles were well distributed on polymer matrix walls.

The Ameliorative Role of Acacia senegal Gum against the Oxidative Stress and Genotoxicity Induced by the Radiographic Contrast Medium (Ioxitalamate) in Albino Rats

Arabic gum (Acacia senegal, AG) is proven effective antioxidant and cytoprotective agent. The present study was designed to test this notion by investigating the possible role of AG against the radiographic contrast medium (Ioxitalamate, Telebrix-35^®, TBX)-induced oxidative stress and genotoxicity. Albino rats were divided into four groups and supplied with either; distilled water, daily 10% (w/v) AG, an intravenous dose of TBX (1600 mg I/kg b.wt) and co-administration of TBX and AG. Rats were sacrificed and blood samples were collected to assess the genotoxicity employing the peripheral blood leucocytes fluorescent double staining; namely the acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining and alkaline comet assay. Further, chromosomal analyses were done in bone marrow cells. Serum urea and creatinine levels, in addition to malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) levels in kidney tissues were measured. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrophotometry (LC-MS-MS) was performed to identify the chemical composition of AG extract. Kidney functions, single/double-stranded DNA damage, chromosomal aberrations, mitotic index, MDA and NO levels were significantly (p < 0.001) increased in TBX-treated group compared to the control and AG-treated one. Meanwhile, CAT and GSH activities were significantly diminished and the AG supplementation significantly (p < 0.001) ameliorated these effects compared with the control and AG-treated groups. Five compounds have been identified using GNPS networking including 7,3′,4′-Trihydroxyisoflavone, Noscapine, Tetrahydropapaveroline, Costunolide, Hesperidin. In conclusion, results of the present study suggest that AG exerted a protective role against TBX-induced oxidative stress and genotoxicity which may be attributed to the active metabolites in the gum.

Use of potassium polyaspartate for stabilization of potassium bitartrate in wines: influence on colloidal stability and interactions with other additives and enological practices

The research was aimed at verifying the efficacy of potassium polyaspartate (KPA), added at bottling, for prevention of the precipitation of potassium bitartrate (KHT). The stability of KHT was determined with the mini-contact test and the cold test. The effect of KPA on the colloidal stability of white and red wines was also studied. Turbidity, color, and total anthocyanins and flavonoids (red wines only) were monitored. In the first experiment, the stabilizing effect of KPA added at bottling, with or without Arabic gum, tannins, and filtration (0.45 µm cut-off), was studied in comparison with metatartaric acid (MTA). KPA proved to have good stabilizing efficacy for prevention of KHT precipitation and maintained its effect in all trials after 1 year of bottle aging. On the contrary, all the trials with MTA became unstable after 6 months. Moreover, KPA did not modify wine turbidity and color. The filtration (0.45 µm cut-off) did not reduce its stabilizing efficacy. In the second experiment, the effect of KPA added to a white and a red wine, respectively clarified with casein and gelatin or vegetal protein and/or bentonite, was studied. KPA did not cause any increase in turbidity or appreciable changes in the color of the white wines of the different trials. A preliminary treatment with bentonite can prevent the possible formation of haze in red wines after the addition of KPA. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: KPA prevented the precipitation of KHT in unstable white and red wines. The stabilizing effect persisted after 1 year of bottle aging. The oenologist does not need to adopt special prescriptions when using KPA in combination with Arabic gum or tannins in prebottling operations. A treatment with bentonite prevented the appearance of turbidity in red wines after the addition of KPA.

Ammonia Sensing and Cytotoxicity of the Biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticle by Arabic Gum (AG)

BACKGROUND

The green synthesizing procedure of Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has been performed through the usage of a natural polysaccharide; Arabic gum (AG) as a stabilizing/ capping agent. For characterization of AgNPs, TEM, particle size analyzer and UV-Vis were used.

METHODS

The aim of our project was to identify biosynthesized AgNPs for sensing ammonia and to explore its toxicity on Neuro-2A cells. We also reviewed the patents for biosynthesized AgNO3 and ammonia sensing. The optimal conditions for the synthesis of AgNPs in AG consist of utilizing (0.1g) AG in dH2O (70 ml), 10 ml of 1 mM silver solution and 0.1 mM (AA) at 70°C stirring for 30 minutes. The AgNPs cytotoxicity was evaluated on Neuro-2A cells; consequently, ammonia was sensed with the lowest possible concentration of 10-6.

RESULTS

Particle size analyzer displayed the mean diameter of about 70 nm for the sphericalshaped Ag-NPs. UV-Vis revealed that the prepared AgNPs were ammonia sensitive in solution as the concentration of ammonia was increased. The cytotoxicity of AgNPs indicated lower Cell viability at higher concentrations of the AG-capped AgNPs.

CONCLUSION

By synthesis of AgNPs in GA by using AA, we successfully prepared a sensor to diagnose ammonia in a cell and sensing its level at concentrations of 10-6 M. In this study, no therapeutic application has been shown, but this method could be utilized industrially for therapeutic purposes in the future.

The influence of spray drying parameters and carrier material on the physico-chemical properties and quality of chokeberry juice powder

Chokeberry juice is used in the food industry because of its antioxidant activity as well as anti-diabetes, anti-mutagenic, bacteriostatic, anti-inflammatory and anti-virus properties. However in a liquid form its active ingredients can be unstable, so conversion into powder form is required. To improve the quality of the final product and extend information about the properties of chokeberry powder the aim of the study was to examine the relationship of inlet air temperature (160 °C, 200 °C) and carrier type maltodextrin (MD) 10DE and 15.6DE, arabic gum (AG) and their mixtures (AG:MD10 and AG:MD15—1:1, 1:3, 3:1) with the amounts of anthocyanins and polyphenols and selected physical properties of powders obtained after spray drying. Moreover stability of anthocyanin was tested after storage Obtained powders were characterized by low water activity (< 0.26), high dry matter content (97–99%) and good hygroscopic properties. Saccharification level of maltodextrin had no impact on the amount of bioactive components enclosed inside the capsules. Moreover, the mixtures of carriers, AG:MD appeared to have a large potential to ensure a high quality of chokeberry powder with high content of anthocyanin (1694–2028 mg/100 g) and polyphenols (about 3000 mg/100 g d.m.). Storage temperature mostly has no statistically significant influence on content of active ingredients, but an increase in colour coefficents was observed. The contents of anthocyanins and polyphenols were higher in powders stored at 4 °C than at 25 °C.

Azurite in medieval illuminated manuscripts: a reflection-FTIR study concerning the characterization of binding media

In illuminated manuscripts, a reliable identification of oxyanion pigments such as azurite by rFTIR is simple, as several combination and overtone bands are strongly enhanced compared to transmission mode. However, the characterization of the used binding media is rather difficult, as the analysis of four medieval manuscripts from the late thirteenth to the fifteenth century (e.g. Cod. slav. 8 in the collection of the Austrian National Library), as well as the earliest known map of Vienna (Albertinischer Plan from 1421, Wien Museum) showed. According to the literature, mainly glair (egg white) and plant gums were applied as binding media for azurite. Moreover, both were used in many cases also as "varnishes" in order to improve optical and mechanical properties of the paint layer. In order to assess the possibilities and to distinguish between proteinaceous and carbohydrate binders, mock-ups with azurite were prepared on parchment support with various quantities of binders. Additionally, some of the specimen were varnished using the binders mentioned above. Furthermore, mock-ups on aluminium foil were prepared to evaluate the influence of the support on the reflection spectra. The results showed that the binding medium content in the mock-ups usually was too low for a reliable determination by rFTIR (except the ones with the highest contents), whereas it was possible to characterize the varnish materials. Only an insignificant influence of the support on the spectra from the mock-ups was observed. However, the spectra obtained from three manuscripts suggested a certain influence of the parchment support, which indicates thinner paint layers.

Echium oil with oxidative stability increased by emulsion preparation in the presence of the phenolic compound sinapic acid followed by dehydration by spray and freeze drying processes

Echium oil is rich in omega-3, however, is unstable. The objective of this work was the co-encapsulation of echium oil and sinapic acid (SA) by emulsification using Arabic gum as emulsifier/carrier, followed by spray or freeze-drying. Eight treatments (S0, S200, S600 and S1000: particles spray dried with different concentrations of SA; L0, L200, L600 and L1000: particles freeze dried with different concentrations of SA) were analyzed in relation to microscopy, water activity (Aw), hygroscopicity, moisture, solubility, particle size, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry and accelerated oxidation. Particles of rounded shape and undefined form were obtained by spray and freeze-drying, besides ideal physicochemical properties for application (values from 0.091 to 0.365, 3.22 to 4.89%, 57 to 68% and 2.32 to 12.42 µm for Aw, moisture, solubility and particle size, respectively). All treatments protected the oil against oxidation, obtaining induction time of 5.31 h for oil and from 7.88 to 12.94 h for treatments. The better protection to oil was obtained with it emulsified and freeze-dried (L600); the encapsulation increased oxidative stability of the oil, besides facilitating its application over the fact the material is in powder form.

The Effect of Arabic Gum on Renal Function in Reversible Unilateral Ureteric Obstruction

Arabic gum (AG) has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the effect of AG in ureteric obstruction (UO) has not been investigated yet. Male rats underwent reversible left unilateral UO (UUO) for 72 h. Group AG-1 (n = 12) received AG 15 g/kg/day dissolved in drinking water starting seven days before and continuing throughout the period of the UUO, whereas group Vx-1 (n = 8) had only water. Group AG-2 (n = 12) and Vx-2 (n = 8) had similar protocols as AG-1 and Vx-1, respectively, but underwent terminal experiments to measure renal functions, six days post-UUO reversal. Arabic gum significantly attenuated the UUO-induced increase in the tissue level of malonedialdehyde and superoxide dismutase and the rise in the gene expression of TNF-α, TGF-β1, and p53 in AG-1 compared to Vx-1. It also attenuated the severity of tubular dilatation. However, AG did not affect the alterations in the renal blood flow or glomerular filtration rate. The fractional sodium excretion was lower in AG-2 but did not reach statistical significance (0.40 ± 0.11 vs 0.74 ± 0.12, p = 0.07). AG attenuated the UUO-induced rise in oxidative stress markers and proinflammatory and profibrotic cytokines and the degree of renal tubular dilatation, indicating a protective effect in obstructive nephropathy.

The effect of Arabic gum on frozen dough properties and the sensory assessments of the bread produced

The use of hydrocolloids in frozen dough has become frequent as bread improvers due to their anti-staling effect. Nevertheless, the impact of both different frozen storage and Arabic gum level in non-prefermented flat dough with following thawing procedure have not been studied. This work intended to study the effect of three different ratio of Arabic gum on rheological properties of 1, 7, and 30 days of frozen storage and the quality of the bread made from. In order to gain the least detrimental effects on gluten network, we used rapid rate freezing and microwave heating in thawing stage. Rheological results showed that the unfrozen samples to which Arabic gum had been added rendered the highest resistance to extension. The resistance of gum fortified samples were less than fresh dough, however the decline was not significant in 3.0% Arabic gum dough kept in a month storage (p > .05). The similar findings were obtained for extensibility and adhesiveness; in which the maximum incorporation of Arabic gum lessen the destructive impact of long freezing storage. Addition of 3% gum could be able to retard staling through an increment in hydrophilic bonds between water molecules and amylose during thawing (p < .05). The overall rating of Arabic gum enriched samples was similar with bread made from non-frozen dough, even after 30 days of storage as indicated by the sensory evaluation of breads.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Producing a chapatti-like fermented bread without long fermentation period. Formulation a frozen dough without using chemical additives. Introducing a proper use of a new defrosting method with the aim of achieving a better texture. Improvement in retarding staling by the use of Gum Arabic after 7 days.

Core-shell alginate-ghatti gum modified montmorillonite composite matrices for stomach-specific flurbiprofen delivery

Novel alginate-arabic gum (AG) gel membrane coated alginate-ghatti gum (GG) modified montmorillonite (MMT) composite matrices were developed for intragastric flurbiprofen (FLU) delivery by combining floating and mucoadhesion mechanisms. The clay-biopolymer composite matrices containing FLU as core were accomplished by ionic-gelation technique. Effects of polymer-blend (alginate:GG) ratios and crosslinker (CaCl₂) concentrations on drug entrapment efficiency (DEE, %) and cumulative drug release after 8h (Q_8h, %) were studied to optimize the core matrices by a 3² factorial design. The optimized matrices (F-O) demonstrated DEE of 91.69±1.43% and Q_8h of 74.96±1.56% with minimum errors in prediction. The alginate-AG gel membrane enveloped optimized matrices (F-O, coated) exhibited superior buoyancy, better ex vivo mucoadhesion and slower drug release rate. The drug release profile of FLU-loaded uncoated and coated optimized matrices was best fitted in Korsmeyer-Peppas model with anomalous diffusion and case-II transport driven mechanism, respectively. The uncoated and coated matrices containing FLU were also characterized for drug-excipients compatibility, drug crystallinity, thermal behaviour and surface morphology. Thus, the newly developed alginate-AG gel membrane coated alginate-GG modified MMT composite matrices are appropriate for intragastric delivery of FLU over an extended period of time with improved therapeutic benefits.

Using ß-cyclodextrin and Arabic Gum as Wall Materials for Encapsulation of Saffron Essential Oil

Saffron essential oil has a pleasant aroma and medicinal activities. However, it is sensible into the environmental condition. Therefore, it should be protected against unwanted changes during storage or processing. Encapsulation is introduced as a process by which liable materials are protected from unwanted changes. In the present study, different ratios (0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, and 100:0) of ß-cyclodextrin (ß-CD) and arabic gum (GA) were used as wall martial for encapsulation saffron essential oil. In order to calculate of loading capacity (LC) and encapsulation efficiency (EE), and release (RE), safranal was determined as indicator of saffron essential oil using GC. According to the results, the highest LC and EE were related to the mixture of ß-CD/GA at a 75:25 ratio. In contrast, the lowest encapsulate hygroscopicity (EH) and RE were observed when only ß-CD was applied as wall material (P≤0.05). Comparing the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermograms of the control and encapsulate of ß-CD/GA (75:25) confirmed encapsulation of saffron essential oil. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images with high magnifications showed the rhombic structure that partially coated by GA. The mixture of ß-CD/GA at a 75:25 ratio can be recommended for saffron essential oil encapsulation.

Microencapsulation of saffron petal anthocyanins with cress seed gum compared with Arabic gum through freeze drying

In this research, encapsulation efficiency of cress seed gum (CSG) as a native hydrocolloid was compared with Arabic gum (AG) and maltodextrin (dextrose equivalent of 20 (M20), and 7 (M7)) for saffron (Crocus sativus) petal's extract by freeze drying method. Combinations of CSG-M20, AG-M20, and M7-M20 with ratios of 50:50 and M20 alone (100%) were used as wall materials. A mixture of 1:5 (based on dry matter) between core (concentrated anthocyanin extract of saffron petal) and wall materials were freeze dried and stability of encapsulated anthocyanins along with color parameters (a*, b*, L*, C, H° and TCD) of final powders were measured during 10 weeks of storage (at 35°C as an accelerated method). Total anthocyanins were determined through pH differential method every week. Four prepared formulations of encapsulated powders didn't show any significant differences (P>0.01) in terms of total anthocyanin content measured immediately after production and after 10 weeks storage. AG-M20 mixture and M20 alone showed the highest and lowest TCD, respectively. The mixture of CSG-M20 in comparison with AG-M20 and M20 had the same protecting effect (P<0.01) but showed a relatively high TCD (9.33).

Enhancing arabic bread quality and shelf life stability using bread improvers

Arabic breads is produced mainly from hard red winter wheat (HRWW) and have relatively little crumb, dense texture, form pocket and are often round with golden brown crust color. The objectives of this research were to investigate the effect of different bread improvers combinations addition in enhancing the quality parameters of Arabic bread. Therefore, the ability of Arabic bread for rolling, folding and overall quality were evaluated during the Arabic bread storage period for 2 days. It was found that there was significant effect of bread improvers combinations (Arabic gum "AG" * Mongglycerides "MG" *alpha-amylase) addition on the ability of Arabic bread for rolling and folding on the second day (P ≤ 0.1). The highest white Arabic bread quality was obtained significantly from addition of low AG, high of MG and high alpha-amylase combination and high AG, low of MG and high alpha-amylase combination. While, low of AG, high of MG and low alpha-amylase combination and high of AG, high of MG and low alpha-amylase combination significantly exhibited the highest overall quality for the Arabic bread made from whole flour.

Suitable coating material for microencapsulation of spray-dried fish oil

This study was conducted to screen the most suitable coating material for the production of microencapsulated fish oil powder using ternary blends of maltodextrin (15, 25 % w/w), Arabic gum (2.5, 7.5 % w/w), and methylcellulose (0.5, 1.5 % w/w). The physical properties of fish oil emulsion and encapsulated powders were evaluated. Arabic gum (5 % w/w) showed the most significant (p < 0.05) effect on the surface mean diameter of the droplets in the emulsion. Maltodextrin had the most significant (p < 0.05) effect on the centrifuge stability of the emulsion and the amount of surface oil of the powder at 15 and 20 % (w/w) respectively, whereas methylcellulose (0.5 % w/w) had the most significant (p < 0.05) effect on the width distribution of the droplets in the emulsion. The total optimal area leading to the formation of coating material with desirable physical properties was expected to be obtained by the combination of 16 % (w/w) maltodextrin, 6.5 % (w/w) Arabic gum, and 0.88 % (w/w) methylcellulose respectively.