Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction of Dictyophora rubrovolvata Volva Proteins: Process Optimization, Structural Characterization, Intermolecular Forces, and Functional Properties

Dictyophora rubrovolvata volva, an agricultural by-product, is often directly discarded resulting in environmental pollution and waste of the proteins' resources. In this study, D. rubrovolvata volva proteins (DRVPs) were recovered using the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) method. Based on one-way tests, orthogonal tests were conducted to identify the effects of the material-liquid ratio, pH, extraction time, and ultrasonic power on the extraction rate of DRVPs. Moreover, the impact of UAE on the physicochemical properties, structure characteristics, intermolecular forces, and functional attributes of DRVPs were also examined. The maximum protein extraction rate was achieved at 43.34% under the best extraction conditions of UAE (1:20 g/mL, pH 11, 25 min, and 550 W). UAE significantly altered proteins' morphology and molecular size compared to the conventional alkaline method. Furthermore, while UAE did not affect the primary structure, it dramatically changed the secondary and tertiary structure of DRVPs. Approximately 13.42% of the compact secondary structures (α-helices and β-sheets) underwent a transition to looser structures (β-turns and random coils), resulting in the exposure of hydrophobic groups previously concealed within the molecule's core. In addition, the driving forces maintaining and stabilizing the sonicated protein aggregates mainly involved hydrophobic forces, disulfide bonding, and hydrogen bonding interactions. Under specific pH and temperature conditions, the water holding capacity, oil holding capacity, foaming capacity and stability, emulsion activity, and stability of UAE increased significantly from 2.01 g/g to 2.52 g/g, 3.90 g/g to 5.53 g/g, 92.56% to 111.90%, 58.97% to 89.36%, 13.85% to 15.37%, and 100.22% to 136.53%, respectively, compared to conventional alkali extraction. The findings contributed to a new approach for the high-value utilization of agricultural waste from D. rubrovolvata.

Extraction, Purification, and Structural Characterization of Polysaccharides from Sanghuangporus vaninii with Anti-Inflammatory Activity

In order to obtain homogeneous Sanghuangporus vaninii polysaccharides with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, a response surface method (RSM) was used to compare the polysaccharide extraction rate of hot water extraction and ultrasonic-assisted extraction from Sanghuangporus vaninii. The optimal conditions for ultrasonic-assisted extraction were determined as follows: an extraction temperature of 60 °C, an extraction time of 60 min, a solid-liquid ratio of 40 g/mL, and an ultrasonic power of 70 W. An SVP (Sanghuangporus vaninii polysaccharides) extraction rate of 1.41% was achieved. Five homogeneous monosaccharides were obtained by gradient ethanol precipitation with diethylaminoethyl-cellulose (DEAE) and SephadexG-100 separation and purification. The five polysaccharides were characterized by high performance liquid chromatography, the ultraviolet spectrum, the Fourier transform infrared spectrum, TG (thermogravimetric analysis), the Zeta potential, and SEM (scanning electron microscopy). The five polysaccharides had certain levels of antioxidant activity in vitro. In addition, we the investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of polysaccharides derived from Sanghuangporus vaninii on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells and Kupffer cells. Further, we found that SVP-60 significantly inhibited the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells and promoted the level of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Our study provides theoretical support for the potential application of Sanghuangporus vaninii in the field of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in vitro.

Study on Extraction, Physicochemical Properties, and Bacterio-Static Activity of Polysaccharides from Phellinus linteus

We optimized an ultrasound-assisted extraction process of Phellinus linteus mycelium polysaccharides (PLPs) and studied their monosaccharide composition and bacteriostatic properties. Based on a single-factor experiment, a three-factor, three-level Box-Behnken design was used to optimize the ultrasound-assisted extraction process of PLP, using the yield of PLP as the index. The chemical composition and monosaccharide composition of PLP were determined by chemical analysis and HPLC analysis, respectively. Microscopic morphological analysis of the surface of PLP was performed via swept-surface electron microscopy. The bacteriostatic properties of PLP were determined using the spectrophotometric turbidimetric method. The results showed that the best extraction process of PLP with ultrasonic assistance achieved a result of 1:42 g/mL. In this method, the ultrasonic temperature was 60 °C, ultrasonic extraction was performed for 20 min, and the yield of PLP was 12.98%. The monosaccharide composition of PLP mainly contains glucose (Glc), mannose (Man), galactose (Gal), and glucuronic acid (GlcA). The intracellular polysaccharide of Phellinus igniarius Mycelia (PIP) is an irregular spherical accumulation, the surface is rough and not smooth, and the extracellular polysaccharide (PEP) is a crumbly accumulation. PIP has a stronger inhibitory ability for S. aureus and E. coli and a slightly weaker inhibitory effect for B. subtilis; the inhibitory effect of PEP on S. aureus, E. coli, and B. subtilis is slightly inferior to that of PIP.

Comprehensive Metabolite Profiling of Chemlali Olive Tree Root Extracts Using LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS, Their Cytotoxicity, and Antiviral Assessment

The large quantity of olive roots resulting from a large number of old and unfruitful trees encouraged us to look for ways of adding value to these roots. For this reason, the current research work is devoted to the valorization of olive roots by identifying active phytochemicals and assessing their biological activities, including the cytotoxicity and antiviral potential of different extracts from the Olea europaea Chemlali cultivar. The extract, obtained by ultrasonic extraction, was analyzed using the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry technique (LC-MS). The cytotoxicity was evaluated through the use of the microculture tetrazolium assay (MTT) against VERO cells. Subsequently, the antiviral activity was determined for HHV-1 (Human Herpesvirus type 1) and CVB3 (Coxsackievirus B3) replication in the infected VERO cells. LC-MS analysis allowed the identification of 40 compounds, classified as secoiridoids (53%), organic acids (13%), iridoids (10%), lignans (8%), caffeoylphenylethanoid (5%), phenylethanoids (5%),sugars and derivatives (2%), phenolic acids (2%), and flavonoids (2%). It was found that extracts were not toxic to the VERO cells. Moreover, the extracts did not influence the appearance of HHV-1 or CVB3 cytopathic effects in the infected VERO cells and failed to decrease the viral infectious titer.

Determination of Coenzyme Q10 Content in Food By-Products and Waste by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Diode Array Detection

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a vitamin-like compound found naturally in plant- and animal-derived materials. This study aimed to determine the level of CoQ10 in some food by-products (oil press cakes) and waste (fish meat and chicken hearts) to recover this compound for further use as a dietary supplement. The analytical method involved ultrasonic extraction using 2-propanol, followed by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). The HPLC-DAD method was validated in terms of linearity and measuring range, limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ), trueness, and precision. As a result, the calibration curve of CoQ10 was linear over the concentration range of 1-200 µg/mL, with an LOD of 22 µg/mL and an LOQ of 0.65 µg/mL. The CoQ10 content varied from not detected in the hempseed press cake and the fish meat to 84.80 µg/g in the pumpkin press cake and 383.25 µg/g in the lyophilized chicken hearts; very good recovery rates and relative standard deviations (RSDs) were obtained for the pumpkin press cake (100.9-116.0% with RSDs between 0.05-0.2%) and the chicken hearts (99.3-106.9% CH with RSDs between 0.5-0.7%), showing the analytical method's trueness and precision and thus its accuracy. In conclusion, a simple and reliable method for determining CoQ10 levels has been developed here.

A Systematic Review of Butterfly Pea Flower (Clitoria ternatea L.): Extraction and Application as a Food Freshness pH-Indicator for Polymer-Based Intelligent Packaging

The butterfly pea flower (Clitoria ternatea L.) (BPF) has a high anthocyanin content, which can be incorporated into polymer-based films to produce intelligent packaging for real-time food freshness indicators. The objective of this work was to systematically review the polymer characteristics used as BPF extract carriers and their application on various food products as intelligent packaging systems. This systematic review was developed based on scientific reports accessible on the databases provided by PSAS, UPM, and Google Scholar between 2010 and 2023. It covers the morphology, anthocyanin extraction, and applications of anthocyanin-rich colourants from butterfly pea flower (BPF) and as pH indicators in intelligent packaging systems. Probe ultrasonication extraction was successfully employed to extract a higher yield, which showed a 246.48% better extraction of anthocyanins from BPFs for food applications. In comparison to anthocyanins from other natural sources, BPFs have a major benefit in food packaging due to their unique colour spectrum throughout a wide range of pH values. Several studies reported that the immobilisation of BPF in different polymeric film matrixes could affect their physicochemical properties, but they could still effectively monitor the quality of perishable food in real-time. In conclusion, the development of intelligent films employing BPF's anthocyanins is a potential strategy for the future of food packaging systems.

Encapsulation Properties of Mentha piperita Leaf Extracts Prepared Using an Ultrasound-Assisted Double Emulsion Method

Double emulsions (W₁/O/W₂) have long been used in the food and pharmaceutical industries to encapsulate hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs and bioactive compounds. This study investigated the effect of different types of emulsifiers (plant- vs. animal-based proteins) on the encapsulation properties of Mentha piperita leaf extract (MLE) prepared using the double emulsion method. Using response surface methodology, the effect of ultrasound-assisted extraction conditions (amplitude 20-50%; time 10-30 min; ethanol concentration 70-90%) on the total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity (percent inhibition) of the MLE was studied. MLE under optimized conditions (ethanol concentration 76%; amplitude 39%; time 30 min) had a TPC of 62.83 mg GA equivalents/g and an antioxidant activity of 23.49%. The optimized MLE was encapsulated using soy, pea, and whey protein isolates in two emulsifying conditions: 4065× g/min and 4065× g/30 s. The droplet size, optical images, rheology, and encapsulation efficiency (EE%) of the different encapsulated MLEs were compared. The W₁/O/W₂ produced at 4065× g/min exhibited a smaller droplet size and higher EE% and viscosity than that prepared at 4065× g/30 s. The higher EE% of soy and pea protein isolates indicated their potential as an effective alternative for bioactive compound encapsulation.

Comparison of Three Different Extraction Methods on Osmanthus Volatile Oil: Aroma and Biological Activity

The osmanthus volatile oil was welcomed by consumers even if the high price since the unique and pleasant odor. Meanwhile, the low yield of osmanthus volatile oil restricts industrial production. In this work, an osmanthus volatile oil was obtained by means of a novel ultrasonic-assisted flash extraction method and was compared with the oil from hydrodistillation and supercritical fluid extraction on yield, aroma, and biological activities. The volatile oil obtained from the ultrasonic-assisted flash extraction was obtained with the petroleum ether and got a high yield at 3.51 % within a 40-min process, an increase of nearly 81 % from the single solvent extraction. This oil also showed a high aroma intensity and aroma compound concentration. Meanwhile, the oil also has the highest antioxidant ability but lower antibacterial activity against oil from hydrodistillation. It was considered that this work was helpful for the optimization of the extraction method of osmanthus volatile oil.

Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Cocoa Shell and Their Encapsulation in Gum Arabic and Maltodextrin: A Technology to Produce Functional Food Ingredients

In this study, the extraction of cocoa shell powder (CSP) was optimized, and the optimized extracts were spray-dried for encapsulation purposes. Temperature (45−65 °C), extraction time (30−60 min), and ethanol concentration (60−100%) were the extraction parameters. The response surface methodology analysis revealed that the model was significant (p ≤ 0.05) in interactions between all variables (total phenolic compound, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity as measured by 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP assays), with a lack of fit test for the model being insignificant (p > 0.05). Temperature (55 °C), time (45 min), and ethanol concentration (60%) were found to be the optimal extraction conditions. For spray-drying encapsulation, some quality metrics (e.g., water solubility, water activity) were insignificant (p > 0.05). The microcapsules were found to be spherical in shape using a scanning electron microscope. Thermogravimetric and differential thermogravimetric measurements of the microcapsules revealed nearly identical results. The gum arabic + maltodextrin microcapsule (GMM) showed potential antibacterial (zone of inhibition: 11.50 mm; lower minimum inhibitory concentration: 1.50 mg/mL) and antioxidant (DPPH: 1063 mM trolox/100g dry wt.) activities (p ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, the microcapsules in this study, particularly GMM, are promising antioxidant and antibacterial agents to be fortified as functional food ingredients for the production of nutraceutical foods with health-promoting properties.

[Determination of 16 particle-phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in herbal incense by ultrasonic extraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and analysis of emission characteristics]

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have attracted global attention because they are carcinogens and mutagenic to humans. To date, more than 200 PAHs have been found. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has designated 16 PAH species as priority control pollutants due to their highly toxic substances. Herbal incense is frequently used in daily life. As a result, it is critical to investigate its impact on human health and environmental safety. However, research on particle-phase PAHs is very limited and inapplicable. The current research focuses mainly on bamboo incense, which has a simpler formula than herbal incense.In this study, the emission factor and emission characteristics of particle-phase PAHs from herbal incense were described. A method combining ultrasonic and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was developed for the simultaneous determination of 16 particle-phase PAHs of herbal incense. The settings for extraction solvent, ultrasonic time, and instrument analysis conditions were optimized. In the test chamber, samples were collected by burning 0.8 g of herbal incense. After combustion, PAHs adsorbing on the particles of herbal incense were collected on a quartz filter. The whole filter sample was sliced and extracted with n-hexane-dichloromethane (1∶1, v/v). A rotary evaporator was used to concentrate the extract. GC-MS was used to analyze the prepared sample. The internal standard method was used to perform quantitative analysis on the target compounds. The linearities of the 16 target PAHs were good between mass concentrations of 0.1-5.0 μg/mL, with correlation coefficients greater than 0.998. The method detection limits (MDLs) of the 16 PAHs ranged from 0.4 to 3.8 ng/g. The 0.625 μg/g and 1.25 μg/g spiked recoveries ranged from 77.4% to 99.5% and 82.0% to 101.3%, respectively. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of the 16 PAHs were ranged from 0.7% to 7.2% (n=6). The emission factors of particle-phase PAHs from five different kinds of herbal incense ranged from 4.60 to 11.89 μg/g. The highest concentration of phenanthrene (Phe) was found in 16 particle-phase individual PAHs of herbal incense. Fluoranthene (Flu), pyrene (Pyr), chrysene (Chr) and anthracene (Ant) concentration were ranked after Phe. The sum of these five proportions was 73.00%-89.97%. The proportion of Phe in herbal incense particle-phase PAHs was significantly higher than that of other indoor combustion sources. As a result, Phe could be used to identify individual PAHs in the particle-phase of herbal incense. The particle-phase PAHs were mainly distributed on the 3-ring and 4-ring, with a sum of 83.84% to 96.31% on the 3-ring and 4-ring. The proportion of high-molecular weight PAHs in the samples ranged from 44.25% to 63.31%. The proportion of low-molecular weight PAHs in the samples ranged from 36.69% to 55.75%. The incense source could be distinguished from other indoor combustion sources by its distinctive Phe/Flu ratio. The established method has high sensitivity, simple operation, and requires fewer samples. This method is suitable for rapidly detecting PAHs in burning incense. At the same time, it provides scientific data for further studies on the distribution and health effects of particle-phase PAHs of herbal incense.

Determination of 31 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Plant Leaves Using Internal Standard Method with Ultrasonic Extraction-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

The method for the determination of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in plant leaves has been studied extensively, yet the quantitativemethod for measuring non-priority PAHs in plant leaves is limited. A method for the simultaneous determination of 31 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in plant leaves was established using an ultrasonic extraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-internal standard method. The samples of plant leaves were extracted with ultrasonic extraction and purified with solid-phase extraction columns. The PAHs were separated by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry equipped with a DB-EUPAH capillary column (20 m × 0.18 mm × 0.14 μm) with a selective ion monitoring (SIM) detection mode, and quantified with an internal standard. The method had good linearity in the range of 0.005~1.0 μg/mL with correlation coefficients greater than 0.99, and the method detection limit and maximum quantitative detection limit were in the ranges of 0.2~0.7 μg/kg and 0.8~2.8 μg/kg, respectively. The method was verified with spiked recovery experiments. The average spiked recovery ranged from 71.0% to 97.6% and relative standard deviations (n = 6) were less than 14%. Herein, we established a quantitativemethod for the simultaneous determination of priority and non-priority PAHs in plant leaves using GC-MS. The method is highly sensitive and qualitatively accurate, and it is suitable for the determination of PAHs in plant leaves.

Optimisation of the Green Process of Industrial Hemp-Preparation and Its Extract Characterisation

Natural medicines and products are becoming increasingly important in the pharmaceutical and food industries. The most important step in obtaining a natural remedy is the processing of the natural material. This study offers the separation of the industrial hemp plant into fractions by mechanical treatment, which has a significant impact on the selectivity of the obtained fractions. This study also offers a solution to reduce waste by fractionating industrial hemp, focusing on the fraction with the highest cannabinoid content (49.5% of CBD). The study confirmed the anticancer potential of the extract, which prevents further division of WM-266-4 melanoma cells at a concentration of 10^-3 mg/mL. However, application of the extract (c = 10^-3 mg/mL) to normal human epidermal melanocytes proved to be insignificant, as the metabolic activity of the cells was the same as in the control cell group.

Optimization of Ultrasonic-Assisted Bioactive Compound Extraction from Green Soybean (Glycine max L.) and the Effect of Drying Methods and Storage Conditions on Procyanidin Extract

Green soybean (Glycine max L.) seeds (GSS) are rich in various antioxidants and phytonutrients that are linked to various health benefits. Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) technology was used for extracting the effective components from GSS. A response surface method (RSM) was used to examine the influence of liquid-to-solid ratio and extraction temperature on the bioactive compounds and antioxidant characteristics. The optimal conditions were a liquid-to-solid ratio of 25:1 and a UAE temperature of 40 °C. The observed values coincided well with the predicted values under optimal conditions. Additionally, the effects of drying methods on the procyanidins and antioxidant activities of GSS extract were evaluated. The spray-dried GSS extract contained the highest levels of procyanidins (21.4 ± 0.37 mg PC/g), DPPH (199 ± 0.85 µM Trolox eq/g), and FRAP (243 ± 0.26 µM Trolox eq/g). Spray drying could be the most time- and energy-efficient technique for drying the GSS extract. The present study also assessed the effects of storage temperature and time on procyanidins and antioxidant activities in GSS extract powder. Procyanidins were found to degrade more rapidly at 45 °C than at 25 °C and 35 °C. Storage under 25 °C was appropriate for maintaining the procyanidin contents, DPPH, and FRAP activities in the GSS extract powder. This study contributed to the body of knowledge by explaining the preparation of procyanidin extract powder from GSS, which might be employed as a low-cost supply of nutraceutical compounds for the functional food industry and pharmaceutical sector.

Hot Air-Assisted Radio Frequency (HARF) Drying on Wild Bitter Gourd Extract

Wild bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L. var. abbreviata S.) is a kind of Chinese herbal medicine and is also a vegetable and fruit that people eat daily. Wild bitter gourd has many bioactive components, such as saponin, polysaccharide, and protein, and the extract is used to adjust blood sugar in patients with diabetes. The objective of this study was to investigate simultaneous hot air-assisted radio frequency (HARF) drying and pasteurization for bitter gourd extract, and then to evaluate its effects on blood sugar of type II diabetic mice. The results showed that the solid–liquid ratio of the wild bitter gourd powder to water was 1:10 and it was extracted using focused ultrasonic extraction (FUE) for only 10 min with 70 °C water. Then, 1 kg of concentrated bitter gourd extract was mixed with soybean fiber powder at a ratio of 2:1.1. It was dried by HARF, and the temperature of the sample could reach above 80 °C in only 12 min to simultaneously reduce moisture content (wet basis) from 58% to 15% and achieve a pasteurization effect to significantly reduce the total bacterial and mold counts. Type II diabetic mice induced by nicotinamide and streptozocin (STZ) for two weeks and then were fed four-week feeds containing 5% RF-dried wild gourd extract did not raise fasting blood glucose. Therefore, the dried powder of wild bitter gourd extracts by HARF drying had a hypoglycemic effect.

Optimization of Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction of Total Flavonoids from Abrus Cantoniensis (Abriherba) by Response Surface Methodology and Evaluation of Its Anti-Inflammatory Effect

Abrus cantoniensis is a Chinese herbal medicine with efficacy in clearing heat and detoxification, as well as relieving liver pain. The whole plant, except the seeds, can be used and consumed. Flavonoids have been found in modern pharmacological studies to have important biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant properties. The antibacterial and antioxidant bioactivities of the total flavonoids of Abrus cantoniensis (ATF) have been widely reported in national and international journals, but there are fewer studies on their anti-inflammatory effects. The present study focused on the optimization of the ultrasonic extraction process of ATF by response surface methodology and the study of its anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that the factors that had a great impact on the ATF extraction were the material-to-liquid ratio, ultrasonic extraction cycles and ethanol concentration. The best extraction process used a material-to-liquid ratio of 1:47, ultrasonic extraction cycles of 4 times, an ethanol concentration of 50%, an ultrasonic extraction time of 40 min and an ultrasonic power of 125 W. Under these conditions, the actual extraction rate of total flavonoids was 3.68%, which was not significantly different from the predicted value of 3.71%. In an in vitro anti-inflammatory assay, ATF was found to be effective in alleviating LPS (lipopolysaccharide)-induced inflammation in mouse peritoneal macrophages. In an in vivo anti-inflammatory assay, ATF was found to have a significant inhibitory effect on xylene-induced ear swelling in mice and cotton ball granuloma in mice, and the inhibitory effect was close to that of the positive control drug dexamethasone. This may provide a theoretical basis for the further development of the medicinal value of Abrus cantoniensis.

Ultrasonic Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Green Soybean Pods and Application in Green Soybean Milk Antioxidants Fortification

Green soybean (Glycine max L.) pods (GSP) are agro-industrial waste from the production of frozen green soybean and milk. These pods contain natural antioxidants and various bioactive compounds that are still underutilized. Polyphenols and flavonoids in GSP were extracted by ultrasound technique and used in the antioxidant fortification of green soybean milk. The ultrasound extraction that yielded the highest total polyphenol content and antioxidant activities was 50% amplitude for 10 min. Response surface methodology was applied to analyze an optimum ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) condition of these variables. The highest desirability was found to be 50% amplitude with an extraction time of 10.5 min. Under these conditions, the experimental total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity were well matched with the predicted values (R² > 0.70). Fortification of the GSP extracts (1-3% v/v) in green soybean milk resulted in higher levels of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity in a dose-dependent manner. Procyanidins were found to be the main polyphenols in dried GSP crude extracts, which were present at a concentration of 0.72 ± 0.01 mg/100 g. The addition of GSP extracts obtained by using an ultrasound technique to green soybean milk increased its bioactive compound content, especially procyanidins, as well as its antioxidant activity.

[Simultaneous determination of 24 corticosteroids in sediments based on ultrasonic extraction, solid-phase extraction, liquid chromatography, and tandem mass spectrometry]

Corticosteroids (CSs) are widely used to treat various inflammatory and immune diseases in humans and animals, such as arthritis and lupus. Thus far, CSs have been frequently detected in diverse pollution sources, such as in the influent and effluent of traditional wastewater treatment plants, livestock farms, and aquaculture. Owing to incomplete removal or limited treatment, CSs can enter the water environment and eventually be adsorbed in the sediment. Due to hydrodynamic effects, CSs can re-enter the surface water through the resuspension of sediments, and pose a hazard to the ecosystem and human health via the enrichment of aquatic organisms and transmission through the food chain. Therefore, trace analysis of CSs in sediments is significant for exploring their prevalence and behavior in multiple environments. However, existing research mainly focuses on the determination of glucocorticoids in water samples, and studies on the systematic quantitative analysis of CSs in environmental solid samples with more complex matrices are scarce. Moreover, majority of previous investigations focused on a limited number of glucocorticoids, making it important to widen the range of target compounds to be studied, including mineralocorticoids. In this study, the main factors which could influence the accuracy and sensitivity in the determination of 24 target CSs were systematically optimized in the sample pretreatment and instrument analysis. A novel method based on ultrasonic extraction coupled with solid phase extraction (SPE) for sample pretreatment was developed for the simultaneous determination of the 24 CSs in sediments using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The sediment sample was ground to homogenize the particle sizes after freeze-drying. The analytes from 2.0 g of the sample were ultrasonicated and extracted with methanol-acetone (1∶1, v/v). After concentrating and diluting each extract, SPE was performed. The water sample was extracted and purified using hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) cartridges, following which the extract was further purified with LC-NH2 cartridges. The extracts were concentrated using a rotary evaporator, dried under a gentle stream of nitrogen, and re-dissolved in methanol for instrumental analysis. Chromatographic separation was conducted on an Agilent ZORBAX Eclipse Plus C8 column (100 mm×2.1 mm, 1.8 μm), with a column flow rate of 0.3 mL/min and a gradient of mobile phases A (water with 0.1% acetic acid) and B (acetonitrile). The column temperature was set to 30 ℃ and the injection volume was fixed at 5 μL. Electrospray ionization MS in the dynamic multiple reaction monitoring (DMRM) and selected ion monitoring (SIM) modes were performed in the positive mode for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the target compounds. Quantitation of the target compounds was carried out using the internal standard method. The effects of different extraction solvents, purification conditions, and MS conditions on the recoveries of the target compounds were investigated. The limits of detection (LODs) (S/N≥3) and limits of quantification (LOQs) (S/N≥10) of all 24 compounds were in the ranges of 0.14-1.25 μg/kg and 0.26-2.26 μg/kg, respectively. The correlation coefficients of linear calibration curves were higher than 0.995 in the range of 1.0-100 μg/L. The recoveries of the 24 CSs at 5, 20, and 50 μg/kg spiked levels ranged from 64.9% to 125.1% with relative standard deviations of 0.4%-12.6% (n=5). The developed method was applied to analyze the CSs in three sediment samples from the rivers of the Pearl River Delta. In all, 11 target compounds were detected in these samples, with contents in the range of 1.25-29.38 μg/kg. The characteristic of this method is efficient, sensitive, reliable, and suitable for the trace determination of varieties of natural and synthesized CSs in environmental sediments.

Ultrasonic-treated fucoidan as a promising therapeutic agent

Fucoidans represent the sulfated heteropolysaccharides that possess a wide range of important pharmacological properties. The properties of a fucoidan depend on several factors, including the molecular weight and the way of extraction. However, the selection of an optimal depolymerization method is necessary to enhance its therapeutic applications. Reducing the molecular weight of fucoidans will make it possible to use them in creating nanoparticles and nanocarriers for, among others, the targeted drug delivery. The molecular mass of the polymer can be changed by means of various methods of depolymerization. In this work, the possibility of application of ultrasonic destruction for decrease in the size of fucoidan molecules for the purpose of expansion of opportunities and spheres of their therapeutic application is considered. This is one of the simple and effective methods of depolymerization of fucoidan, which leads to a decrease in molecular weight without significant structural changes in macromolecules. In addition, methods and potential applications of the ultrasonic extraction of fucoidan from seaweed and the possibilities of their combination are discussed, as well as other physical or chemical methods of extraction.

Shallot skin profilling, computational evaluation of physicochemical properties, ADMET, and molecular docking of its components against P2Y12 receptor

OBJECTIVES

Medicinal plants are a source of many compounds that are useful in the pharmaceutical field for novel drug development. Polyphenols and the flavonoid group in plants are known to have several activities, such as relieving cardio vascular disease (CVD). The outer skin of the shallot which is disposed of as waste is known to have an antiplatelet activity which was tested in vitro assay. To date, there is no study reported on the ADMET profile and physicochemical properties of the active component of the shallot skins.

METHODS

The extraction of shallot skins was conducted by ultrasonic irradiation using ethanol. The phytochemical screenings were carried out by TLC and color reaction. The profiling of its active ingredient was presented by GC-MS, HPLC and spectrophotometry UV-vis. Whereas their physicochemical properties were analyzed by ChemDraw 17.00 program and the ADMET predictions were studied using pkCSM online tool. The MVD program was operated in the docking study on protein P2Y12 (PDB ID 4PXZ).

RESULTS

The extract showed the presence of polyphenol, flavonoids, quercetin, natalensine-3,5-dinitrobenzoate; bis[2-(2-fluorophenyl)-6-fluoroquinolin-4-yl]amine, benzo[a]heptalene, N-(trifluoroacetyl) methyl-N-deacethyl-colchicine. The ADMET prediction data displayed that the compounds in the extract have good absorption so that they can be used in the oral and transdermal routes. Some components in the extract have lower MDS than clopidogrel.

CONCLUSIONS

The ultrasonicated shallot skin extract can be used as additional resources of the active pharmaceutical ingredients and to have the potency to be developed as an oral or transdermal preparation.

Ultrasound as a Promising Tool for the Green Extraction of Specialized Metabolites from Some Culinary Spices

Spices are a popular food of plant origin, rich in various phytochemicals and recognized for their numerous properties. The aim of the study was to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, as well as the content of specialized metabolites, of aqueous extracts of three spice species--garlic (Allium sativum L.), ginger (Zingiber officinalle L.) and turmeric (Curcuma longa L.)--prepared by green extraction methods. Ultrasound treatment increased the chromaticity parameter b value of turmeric and ginger extracts, thus indicating a higher yellow color predominantly due to curcuminoids characteristic of these species. Ultrasound-assisted extraction significantly increased the content of total soluble solids, phenolic compounds, total carotenoids and vitamin C. The temperature of the system was also an important factor, with the highest (70 °C) conditions in ultrasound-assisted extraction having a positive effect on thermolabile compounds (vitamin C, phenolics, total carotenoids). For example, turmeric extract treated with ultrasound at 70 °C had up to a 67% higher vitamin C content and a 69.4% higher total carotenoid content compared to samples treated conventionally at the same temperature, while ginger extracts had up to 40% higher total phenols. All different concentrations of spice extracts were not sufficient for complete inhibition of pathogenic bacterial strains of Salmonella, L. monocytogenes and S. aureus; however, only garlic extracts had an effect on slowing down the growth and number of L. monocytogenes colonies. Spice extracts obtained by ultrasonic treatment contained a significantly higher level of bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity, suggesting that the extracts obtained have significant nutritional potential and thus a significant possibility for phytotherapeutic uses.

Total Saponins Isolated from Corni Fructus via Ultrasonic Microwave-Assisted Extraction Attenuate Diabetes in Mice

Saponins have been extensively used in the food and pharmaceutical industries because of their potent bioactive and pharmacological functions including hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory, expectorant, antiulcer and androgenic properties. A lot of saponins-containing foods are recommended as nutritional supplements for diabetic patients. As a medicine and food homologous material, Corni Fructus (CF) contains various active ingredients and has the effect of treating diabetes. However, whether and how CF saponins attenuate diabetes is still largely unknown. Here, we isolated total saponins from CF (TSCF) using ultrasonic microwave-assisted extraction combined with response surface methodology. The extract was further purified by a nonpolar copolymer styrene type macroporous resin (HPD-300), with the yield of TSCF elevated to 13.96 mg/g compared to 10.87 mg/g obtained via unassisted extraction. When used to treat high-fat diet and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, TSCF significantly improved the glucose and lipid metabolisms of T2DM mice. Additionally, TSCF clearly ameliorated inflammation and oxidative stress as well as pancreas and liver damages in the diabetic mice. Mechanistically, TSCF potently regulated insulin receptor (INSR)-, glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4)-, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-, and protein kinase B (PKB/AKT)-associated signaling pathways. Thus, our data collectively demonstrated that TSCF could be a promising functional food ingredient for diabetes improvement.

Optimization of Ultrasonic Extraction to Obtain Erinacine A and Polyphenols with Antioxidant Activity from the Fungal Biomass of Hericium erinaceus

Hericium erinaceus is a medicinal fungal species that produces the active biological metabolite erinacine A with strong antioxidant activity. The classical extraction techniques used to date to obtain metabolites from this fungal species require high consumption of resources and energy and, in the end, prove to be expensive and inefficient, especially on a biomedical scale. The aim of this research is based on the development of an ultrasonic extraction (UE) method for the identification and extraction of biological compounds with high antioxidant activity from the mycelia of H. erinaceus biomass developed through a solid cultivation process. The extraction process was optimized by varying parameters to determine the best extraction yield of metabolites involved in such antioxidant activity, using the response surface methodology (RSM). The physicochemical analyses were oriented towards the investigation of polyphenols, flavonoids, and the diterpenoid erinacine A. It is highlighted that there is a very good mutual connection between the concentration of polyphenols and flavonoids in the extracts studied and the diterpenoid erinacine A. Also, this study describes an efficient and qualitative extraction method for extracting natural antioxidants from the H. erinaceus mushroom, since toxic solvents were not used in the developed extraction procedure. This biomass can be used both as a food source and as a possible phytotherapeutic tool in the prevention or treatment of various neurodegenerative disorders that require drugs with strong antioxidant activity.

and its antioxidant activity

The ultrasonic extraction (UE) technology, possessed the advantages of effective, energy-saving, and environmental-friendly, was applied to extract the anthocyanin from Lycium ruthenicum (LR). The extraction parameters of UE were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM) with Box-Behnken design (BBD). Anthocyanin composition in LR fruits grown in China was systematically identified and quantified by HPLC-ESI-MS. The result showed that PRG was the major anthocyanin, and delphinidin, petunidin, and malvidin were the major anthocyanidins in LR fruits. There was the same anthocyanin composition of LR and great variation in anthocyanins content of LR from different areas in China. However, there was no significant difference between wild and cultivated LR in the same region. A clear separation of LR according to geographical origins was revealed by hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA), and the discrimination model for the anthocyanin concentrations were developed using these two analysis methods. Furthermore, on-line HPLC-DPPH assay and scavenging activity of three kinds of radicals (DPPH·, ·OH, and O 2 - · ) in vitro were well applied to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the LR anthocyanin extract (LRAE). And its results indicated the LRAE could be a credible antioxidant agent for applications in cosmetics, food, and medicine.

Multi-residue analytical method for trace detection of new-generation pesticides in vegetables using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A GC-MS/MS method with low solvent consumption and easy operation was developed to simultaneously determine ten new-generation pesticides, namely fenobucarb, acetochlor, pretilachlor, fipronil, trifloxystrobin, fluazifop-p-butyl, isoprothiolane, tebuconazole, cypermethrin and difenoconazole in leafy vegetables. Influences from ultrasonic sample extraction and the clean-up steps to reduce matrix effects were investigated. Under suitable conditions, good linearity (deviation of back calculated concentration from true concentration lower than 20%) was achieved for all studied pesticides; the method detection limits (MDLs) ranged from 1.4 to 3.6 ng g^-1 wet weight. For mustard green and green onion the method yielded good recoveries at two spiking levels (20¹ and 100 ng g^-1) ranging from 80% to 111% (n = 5). The repeatability, expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD), was lower than 11% (n = 5). The method was successfully used to quantify pesticide residues in 207 vegetable samples (green onions, mustard greens, and lettuce) collected in Thua Thien Hue and Quang Binh Provinces, Central Vietnam. The insecticide cypermethrin was found at critical levels in 98% of the vegetable samples. Green onions had high pesticide residues with a significant number of samples containing pesticides at concentrations exceeding the maximum residue levels (MRLs).

Optimization of Scorpion Protein Extraction and Characterization of the Proteins' Functional Properties

Scorpion has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine, because whole scorpion body extract has anti-cancer, analgesic, anti-thrombotic blood anti-coagulation, immune modulating, anti-epileptic, and other functions. The purpose of this study was to find an efficient extraction method and investigate some of physical and chemical parameters, like water solubility, emulsification, foaming properties, and oil-holding capacity of obtained scorpion proteins. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used for the determination of optimal parameters of ultrasonic extraction (UE). Based on single factor experiments, three factors (ultrasonic power (w), liquid/solid (mL/g) ratio, and extraction time (min)) were used for the determination of scorpion proteins (SPs). The order of the effects of the three factors on the protein content and yield were ultrasonic power > extraction time > liquid/solid ratio, and the optimum conditions of extraction proteins were as follows: extraction time = 50.00 min, ultrasonic power = 400.00 w, and liquid/solid ratio = 18.00 mL/g. For the optimal conditions, the protein content of the ultrasonic extraction and yield were 78.94% and 24.80%, respectively. The solubility, emulsification and foaming properties, and water and oil holding capacity of scorpion proteins were investigated. The results of this study suggest that scorpion proteins can be considered as an important ingredient and raw material for the creation of water-soluble supramolecular complexes for drugs.

Quickly Identifying High-Risk Variables of Ultrasonic Extraction Oil from Multi-Dimensional Risk Variable Patterns and a Comparative Evaluation of Different Extraction Methods on the Quality of Forsythia suspensa Seed Oil

Generally, essential oils and components of interest are extracted from plants using organic solvent, distillation, ultrasound and supercritical extraction methods. Ultrasonic extraction (UE) has the advantage of high efficiency, but its process is complicated and it has numerous variables. In this study, an L18-Hunter experimental design was applied for the first time to investigate the practicability of applying UE to Forsythia suspensa seed oil. Six potential high-risk variables, including numerical and non-numeric types, were obtained from the risk analysis and their impacts on global yield and antioxidant activity were screened. Furthermore, oils obtained by different extraction processes (i.e., UE, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), soxhlet extraction (SE) and hydrodistillation extraction (HD)) were analyzed. A comparative study of these oils was characterized and compared by FT-IR, GC-MS and antioxidant activity. The obtained results show that the type of solvent, solvent-to-solid ratio, extraction power and time were the significant variables affecting the extraction yield, whereas antioxidant activity was only affected by the type of solvent. The regression coefficients of the yield and antioxidant activity models were 0.79 and 0.91, and the ANOVA of the models were 0.013 and <0.0001, respectively. Beta-Pinene was the main abundant component in the oils for the UE, SFE, SE and HD methods and the content was about 46%~52.4%. In conclusion, the L18-Hunter design could be used as an effective experimental design method for rapid screening of high-risk variables. Regarding extraction efficiency, chemical composition and biological activity, UE not only offered a robust Forsythia suspensa seed oil extraction process, but also provided a time- and cost-effective advantage to the food and pharmaceutical industry when compared to the SFE, SE and HD extraction processes.

Ultrasonic Extraction of Tropane Alkaloids from Radix physochlainae Using as Extractant an Ionic Liquid with Similar Structure

In this research, tropane alkaloids in Radix physochlainae were extracted by tropine-type ionic liquid (IL) aqueous solutions under ultrasound assistance, and N-propyltropine hexafluorophosphate ([C₃Tr][PF₆]) was found to be the most ideal IL in this extraction mode after comprehensive screening. When 0.03 mol/L [C₃Tr][PF₆] aqueous solution was chosen as the extraction solvent, the solid-liquid ratio of raw material powders and ionic liquid aqueous solution was 1:20 (g/mL), ultrasonic power was 90 W and extraction time was 30 min, the extraction efficiency of tropane alkaloids has reached 121.3%. Compared with common heating extraction, it can further shorten the extraction time, improve extraction efficiency and decrease IL consumption. Furthermore, extraction mechanism together with potential toxicity of IL have been explored and discussed.

Method development and application for triazine herbicides analysis in water, soil and sediment samples from KwaZulu-Natal

This study reports on the development and application of solid phase extraction (SPE) and ultrasonic extraction (UE) methods for the analysis of triazine herbicides in water, soil and sediment samples. The extraction parameters such as conditioning solvent, sample loading volume, eluting solvent, extraction time and sample mass were optimized due to their influence on the extraction efficiency of the analytes. To assess the applicability of the SPE and UE methods, spiked distilled water or soil samples were extracted and analyzed using an LC-PDA instrument. The recoveries obtained under optimum conditions were between 65-94% and 75-100% for SPE and UE, respectively. The relative standard deviations obtained were less than 0.36% for SPE and less than 4.6% for UE. The limit of detection (LOD) ranged from 0.026-0.084 µg/L for SPE and 0.0028-0.0083 mg/kg for UE. The limit of quantification (LOQ) was between 0.088-0.28 µg/L for SPE and 0.0089-0.028 mg/kg for UE. The concentrations of triazines were found to be between 0.96-7.4 µg/L and 0.79-15 µg/L in river water and wastewater effluent samples, respectively. In sediment samples, the triazine concentrations were found to be between 0.032-0.93 mg/kg, while in soil samples they were between 0.12-1.03 mg/kg.

Application of Ultrasound in Food Science and Technology: A Perspective

Ultrasound is composed of mechanical sound waves that originate from molecular movements that oscillate in a propagation medium. The waves have a very high frequency, equal to approximately 20 kHz, are divided into two categories (i.e., low-intensity and high-intensity waves) and cannot be perceived by the human ear. Nature has created the first ultrasound applications. Bats use ultrasound to navigate in the dark, and many cetaceans use echolocation to detect prey or obstacles using ultrasound produced by their vocal system. Ultrasound is commonly associated with the biomedical field. Today, ultrasound-based methods and equipment are available to detect organs, motion, tumour masses, and pre/post-natal handicaps, and for kidney stone removal, physiotherapy, and aesthetic cures. However, ultrasound has found multiple applications in many other fields as well. In particular, ultrasound has recently been used in the food industry to develop various effective and reliable food processing applications. Therefore, this review summarizes the major applications of ultrasound in the food industry. The most common applications in the food industry include cell destruction and extraction of intracellular material. Depending on its intensity, ultrasound is used for the activation or deactivation of enzymes, mixing and homogenization, emulsification, dispersion, preservation, stabilization, dissolution and crystallization, hydrogenation, tenderization of meat, ripening, ageing and oxidation, and as an adjuvant for solid-liquid extraction for maceration to accelerate and to improve the extraction of active ingredients from different matrices, as well as the degassing and atomization of food preparations.

Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Cannabinoids from Cannabis Sativa L. Optimized by Response Surface Methodology

Ultrasonication was used to extract bioactive compounds from Cannabis sativa L. such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and cannabinoids. The influence of 3 independent factors (time, input power, and methanol concentration) was evaluated on the extraction of total phenols (TPC), flavonoids (TF), ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and the overall yield. A face-centered central composite design was used for statistical modelling of the response data, followed by regression and analysis of variance in order to determine the significance of the model and factors. Both the solvent composition and the time significantly affected the extraction while the sonication power had no significant impact on the responses. The response predictions obtained at optimum extraction conditions of 15 min time, 130 W power, and 80% methanol were 314.822 mg GAE/g DW of TPC, 28.173 mg QE/g DW of TF, 18.79 mM AAE/g DW of FRAP, and 10.86% of yield. A good correlation was observed between the predicted and experimental values of the responses, which validated the mathematical model. On comparing the ultrasonic process with the control extraction, noticeably higher values were obtained for each of the responses. Additionally, ultrasound considerably improved the extraction of cannabinoids present in Cannabis.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

Low frequency ultrasound was employed to extract bioactive compounds from the inflorescence part of Cannabis. The responses evaluated were-total phenols, flavonoids, ferric reducing assay and yield. The solvent composition and time significantly influenced the extraction process. Appreciably higher extraction of cannabinoids was achieved on sonication against control.

Determination of Trace Perfluoroalkyl Carboxylic Acids in Edible Crop Matrices: Matrix Effect and Method Development

A robust method was developed for simultaneous determination of nine trace perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) in various edible crop matrices including cereal (grain), root vegetable (carrot), leafy vegetable (lettuce), and melon vegetable (pumpkin) using ultrasonic extraction followed by solid-phase extraction cleanup and high liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The varieties of extractants and cleanup cartridges, the usage of Supelclean graphitized carbon, and the matrix effect and its potential influencing factors were estimated to gain an optimal extraction procedure. The developed method presented high sensitivity and accuracy with the method detection limits and the recoveries at four fortification levels in various matrices ranging from 0.017 to 0.180 ng/g (dry weight) and from 70% to 114%, respectively. The successful application of the developed method to determine PFCAs in various crops sampled from several farms demonstrated its practicability for regular monitoring of PFCAs in real crops.

Extraction of Chelerythrine and its Effects on Pathogenic Fungus Spore Germination

BACKGROUND

Chemical fungicides are widely used to control crop diseases, but these chemicals have adverse effects. They destroy the ecological environment and even have toxic effects on human beings. In this context, the development of botanical pesticides is relevant. One potential botanical pesticide is chelerythrine, a main alkaloid of Chelidonium majus L., which has high antitumor, fungistasis, and antiphlogosis bioactivity.

OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to present an ultrasonic extraction method for chelerythrine and spore germination experiments to inhibit pathogenic fungi. Fungistasis of chelerythrine is now centralized in basic microbiology experiments, such as observing bacteriostatic rings. This study investigates chelerythrine based on pathogenic fungal spore germination and the influence of germ tube elongation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Samples of C. majus L., which were wild used in this experiment, were picked from Harbin experimental forest farm of Northeast Forestry University. An L9 (34) orthogonal experiment was designed to optimize the ultrasonic extraction method. All the plant pathogenic fungus strains used in the experiment were preservation strains of Northeast Forestry University Microbial preservation center. Pathogenic fungi were cultivated by joining chelerythrine with and observed germ tube growth and spore germination.

RESULTS

The optimum ultrasonication extraction process for chelerythrine has a liquid/solid ratio of 1:8, 35 min of extraction time, 85% of ultrasonic frequency, and 75% of ethanol concentration. When the concentration of chelerythrine was 1.7 × 10-2 mg/ml, the inhibition rates of Septoria microspora Speg. spores and Curvularia lunata were 96.67% and 84.94%, respectively. Moreover, when the concentration of chelerythrine was 1.7 × 10-6 mg/ml, the inhibition rates of S. microspora spores and C. lunata were 47.64% and 12.05%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Fungistasis activity reached a high level with 1.7 × 10-6 mg/ml of chelerythrine. Chelerythrine has the characteristics of less dosage and obvious fungistasis and has a good prospect for botanical fungicide development.

SUMMARY

S. microspora spores in chelerythrine concentration of 1.7 × 10-6 mg/ml have an inhibition rate of 47.64%. For chelerythrine concentrations 1.7 × 10-5, 1.7 × 10-4, and 1.7 × 10-3 mg/ml, the inhibition rate is 70%, 80%, and 90%, respectively. When the concentration of chelerythrine was original 1.7 × 10-2 mg/ml, the inhibition rate was 96.67%. As shown in the diagram, the germinal tubes of S. microspora spores were shorter than 50 µm with 1.7 × 10-6, 1.7 × 10-5, and 1.7 × 10-4 mg/ml concentrations of chelerythrine. However, the germinal tubes of spores without chelerythrine could reach 80 µm. With 1.7 × 10-3 mg/ml liquid concentration, the germination was severely inhibited; the germination under concentrate chelerythrine was limited. The inhibitory effect of chelerythrine was greatest in S. microspora. Abbreviations used:C. majus L.: Chelidonium majus L.; Sphaerulina juglandis: S. juglandis; Septoria microspora Speg.: S. microspora; Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Lycopersici: F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici; F. oxysporum f. cucumerinum: F. oxysporum f. cucumerinum; Curvularia lunata: C. lunata.

Ultrasonic extraction of anthocyanin from Clitoria ternatea flowers using response surface methodology

The ultrasonic extraction (UE) method of anthocyanin from Clitoria ternatea flowers using response surface methodology (RSM) was performed in this study. By using RSM, the objective is to optimise the extraction yield of anthocyanin from C. ternatea which is influenced by various factors, including the extraction temperature, time, ratio of solvent to solid and ultrasonic power. The empirical model was investigated by performing first-level optimisation in a two-level factorial design with Design Expert 7 software. In comparison with the conventional solvent extraction, UE showed a 246.48% better extraction yield and produced an anthocyanin extract with a radical scavenging activity of 68.48% at the optimised factors of 50°C, 150 min, 15 mL/g and 240 W.

by response surface methodology

BACKGROUND

Ziziphus jujuba Mill. is nutritious and used as food and medicine for more than two thousand years. It has many pharmacological effects, such as elimination of fatigue, dilation of blood vessels, etc. The polysaccharide in it is one of the bioactive substances. In this paper, the ultrasonic extraction effects on the yield and activity of polysaccharide were studied.

RESULTS

The optimum ultrasonic extraction conditions were investigated based on a Box-Behnken statistical experimental design. Response surface methodology (RSM) of three factors (ultrasonic power, extraction time and extraction temperature) and three levels was employed to optimize the yield and the antioxidant activity of the polysaccharides. The experimental data were fitted to quadratic response surface models using multiple regression analysis. The best extraction conditions were 120 W, 15 min. and 55°C for highest yield, and 80 W, 15 min. and 40°C for highest hydroxyl radical scavenging activity.

CONCLUSION

The study showed that high ultrasonic power was good for obtaining high yield but bad for keeping the antioxidant activity of the polysaccharides.

A study on hypoglycaemic health care function of Stigma maydis polysaccharides

The objective of this paper was to study the therapeutic effect of Stigma maydis polysaccharides in diabetic mice. Mouse models of types 1 and 2 diabetes were established. The body weight, food intake, water intake as well as blood sugar level and glucose tolerance of mice were measured. Stigma maydis polysaccharides can improve the symptoms of weight loss and polydipsia in diabetic mice, and had an obvious antagonistic effect on alloxan-induced hyperglycaemia. The glucose tolerance test also showed that the Stigma maydis polysaccharides had very good effects on suppression and prevention of acute hyperglycaemia. Stigma maydis polysaccharides have some improvement effect on alloxan-induced types 1 and 2 diabetes.

Optimizing ultrasonic ellagic acid extraction conditions from infructescence of Platycarya strobilacea using response surface methodology

The infructescence of Platycarya strobilacea is a rich source of ellagic acid (EA) which has shown antioxidant, anticancer and antimutagen properties. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the conditions for ultrasonic extraction of EA from infructescence of P. strobilacea. A central composite design (CCD) was used for experimental design and analysis of the results to obtain the optimal processing parameters. The content of EA in the extracts was determined by HPLC with UV detection. Three independent variables such as ultrasonic extraction temperature (°C), liquid:solid ratio (mL/g), and ultrasonic extraction time (min) were investigated. The experimental data obtained were fitted to a quadratic equation using multiple regression analysis and also analyzed by appropriate statistical methods. The 3-D response surface and the contour plots derived from the mathematical models were applied to determine the optimal conditions. The optimum ultrasonic extraction conditions were as follows: ultrasonic extraction temperature 70 °C, liquid:solid ratio 22.5, and ultrasonic extraction time 40 min. Under these conditions, the experimental percentage value was 1.961%, which is in close agreement with the value predicted by the model.

A cost effective, sensitive, and environmentally friendly sample preparation method for determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in solid samples

A simple, cost effective, and yet sensitive sample preparation technique was investigated for determining Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in solid samples. The method comprises ultrasonic extraction, Stir Bar Sorptive Extraction (SBSE), and thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to increase analytical capacity in laboratories. This method required no clean-up, satisfied PAHs recovery, and significantly advances cost performance over conventional extraction methods, such as Soxhlet and Microwave Assisted Extraction (MAE). This study evaluated three operational parameters for ultrasonic extraction: solvent composition, extraction time, and sample load. A standard material, SRM 1649 a (urban dust), was used as the solid sample matrix, and 12 priority PAHs on the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) list were analyzed. Combination of non-polar and polar solvents ameliorated extraction efficiency. Acetone/hexane mixtures of 2:3 and 1:1 (v/v) gave the most satisfactory results: recoveries ranged from 63.3% to 122%. Single composition solvents (methanol, hexane, and dichloromethane) showed fewer recoveries. Comparing 20 min with 60 min sonication, longer sonication diminished extraction efficiencies in general. Furthermore, sample load became a critical factor in certain solvent systems, particularly MeOH. MAE was also compared to the ultrasonic extraction, and results determined that the 20-min ultrasonic extraction using acetone/hexane (2:3, v/v) was as potent as MAE. The SBSE method using 20 mL of 30% alcohol-fortified solution rendered a limit of detection ranging from 1.7 to 32 ng L(-1) and a limit of quantitation ranging from 5.8 to 110 ng L(-1) for the 16 US EPA PAHs.