Changes in the content and antioxidative activity of β-carotene and its metabolite vitamin A during gastrointestinal digestion and absorption and optimisation of HPLC-based detection

The β-Carotene (BC), an important precursor of vitamin A (VA), possesses antioxidant activity but is fat-soluble and has low bioavailability. In previous in-vitro assays evaluating antioxidant and 2,2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) free radical scavenging, both BC and VA showed a strong ability to scavenge radicals and protected cells from oxidative stress. Here, we used artificially simulated gastrointestinal digestion and Caco-2 cell absorption models to evaluate the bioavailability of the BC during gastrointestinal digestion and absorption using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. We observed high absorptive and transfer rates of BC and detected retinol metabolites (Vitamin A). Therefore, BC can be detected in the acidic gastrointestinal environment using HPLC. Optimised method provided better separation of BC and VA in the column, improving the accuracy of the test results.     

Formation of acrylamide in microwave-roasted sorghum and associated dietary risk

The effect of microwave roasting parameters (300, 450 and 600 W; 5, 10 and 15 min) on acrylamide content in sorghum grain was determined using High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)-photo diode array (PDA) detector coupled with C-18 column. Samples roasted at 300 and 450 W did not possess acrylamide, whereas 600 W (15 min) favoured formation of 2740.19 µg/kg of acrylamide, levels far exceeding the defined European Union (EU) limits. The chronic daily intake (CDI) for acrylamide through consumption of such grain flour was 3.25–9.5-fold higher to Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) defined high exposure limits. The margin of exposure (MOE) values ranged from 4.3 to 12.76 and from 11.07 to 32.27 for neoplastic and neurological effects, respectively, demonstrating high exposure and serious health concerns associated with dietary intake of this toxicant. This study assesses the risk for the Indian population and highlights the importance of optimising process parameters for food product to minimise such exposure risks.     

Development of Core-Shell Nanoparticle Drug Delivery Systems Based on Biomimetic Mineralization

Among various drug-delivery systems, core-shell nanoparticles have many advantages. Inspired by nature, biomimetic synthesis has emerged as a new strategy for making core-shell nanoparticles in recent years. Biomimetic mineralization is the process by which living organisms produce minerals based on biomolecule templating that leads to the formation of hierarchically structured organic–inorganic materials. In this minireview, we mainly focus on the synthesis of core-shell nanoparticle drug-delivery systems by biomimetic mineralization. We review various biomimetic mineralization methods for fabricating core-shell nanoparticles including silica-based, calcium-based and other nanoparticles, and their applications in drug delivery. We also summarize strategies for drug loading in the biomolecule-mineralized core-shell NPs. Current challenges and future directions are also discussed.     

银杏双黄酮高效液相色谱定量分析方法研究

建立HPLC法同时测定银杏植物中阿曼托黄素、白果素、银杏黄素异构体、金松双黄酮含量。银杏叶、外种皮、白果提取液的分析采用Elite Hypersil ODS2(4.0 mm×200 mm,5μm),以甲醇-有机酸水溶液为流动相,梯度洗脱,体积流量0.8 mL/min,检测波长330 nm,柱温35℃。4种成分在各自范围内均呈良好的线性关系(r≥0.9993),平均加样回收率98.3%~101.0%,RSD为1.74%~2.23%。银杏叶和外种皮中均含有4种单组分双黄酮,其中白果中双黄酮总量最低,银杏叶中最高。方法准确稳定、重复性好,可用于银杏中双黄酮类成分含量的测定。     

利用非糖物质快速鉴别单花蜂蜜

本文利用非糖物质快速鉴别四种常见的单花蜂蜜(枸杞蜂蜜、荆条蜂蜜、枣花蜂蜜和洋槐蜂蜜)。利用固相萃取除糖提取蜂蜜非糖物质,并用高效液相色谱(HPLC)结合化学计量学进行蜂蜜花源的判定。发现了四种单花蜂蜜的非糖特征标志物。芦丁、丁香酸甲酯、阿魏酸的含量在四种蜂蜜中差异最大。对羟基苯甲酸和脱落酸在枸杞蜂蜜中平均含量分别为0.59μg/g和0.42μg/g,可作为枸杞蜂蜜的花源标志物;对香豆酸和肉桂酸在荆条蜂蜜中平均含量为0.08μg/g和0.05μg/g,可作为荆条蜂蜜的潜在花源标志物;阿魏酸、异阿魏酸是枣花蜂蜜的特征标志物,平均含量分别为0.40μg/g和0.76μg/g;洋槐蜂蜜的特征标志物是芦丁和丁香酸甲酯,平均含量为0.08μg/g和0.14μg/g。利用高效液相色谱指纹图谱结合化学计量学方法(主成分分析和判别分析),四种单花蜂蜜依据其花源被成功区分。本研究对蜂蜜真实性判定有重要参考价值,为后续蜂蜜真伪鉴别奠定基础。     

Effect of processing method on vitamin profile,antioxidant properties and total phenolic content of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) sugar syrup

Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) sugar is a more nutritious alternative sugar source as compared to sugar palm (Borassus flabellifer) and sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.). This work was aimed to investigate the browning index (BI), vitamin profile and antioxidant properties of coconut sap sugar syrups, which were produced by different processing methods: rotary evaporation (RE), microwave evaporation (ME) and open-heat evaporation (OHE). The results obtained showed that coconut sugar syrup produced by RE-60 contained high antioxidant activities [DPPH (36.71%) and ABTS (34.84%), TPC (299.87 mg per 100 g sample) and FRAP (3.74 mm )]. These values were slightly lower than those of ME and OHE. Coconut sugar syrup (RE-60) also contained higher amounts of vitamin C (1587.27 mg L⁻¹), vitamin B1 (97.44 mg L⁻¹) and vitamin B3 (19.84 mg L⁻¹) compared with those of ME and OHE coconut sugar syrups. RE-60 was the best method to produce coconut sugar syrup in a shorter time with lower browning index and higher vitamin contents.     

Detection and analysis of triterpenic compounds in apple extracts

A new technique for the rapid detection and analysis of triterpenic compounds in apple extracts using HPLC was developed and validated. The main advantage of this technique is the short duration of the analysis – this makes this technique superior to others currently applied for the routine HPLC analysis of triterpenic compounds. The developed, optimized, and validated technique was used for the evaluation of triterpenic compounds in samples of different cultivars of apples, their peels, and flesh. In total, four triterpenic compounds were isolated and identified. Ursolic acid was the dominant compound in all the tested apple samples. The highest amounts of triterpenic compounds were detected in the peels of the ‘Lodel’ apple cultivar, and thus apples of this cultivar may be potentially useful for the isolation of individual compounds and the production of functional food and dietary supplements.