Valorisation of waste fractions from autohydrolysis of selected lignocellulosic materials

Non‐isothermal processing of lignocellulosic materials in aqueous media (autohydrolysis reaction) under mild conditions leads to solutions containing valuable chemicals (oligosaccharides, sugars and acetic acid) and other, undesired, compounds (belonging to the extractive and acid‐soluble lignin fractions) which have to be removed in further purification treatments. Liquors obtained by non‐isothermal autohydrolysis of Eucalyptus globulus wood and corncobs under a variety of operational conditions were extracted with ethyl acetate in order to remove non‐saccharide components, and the suitability of the fraction dissolved in the organic phase was assayed for possible utilisation as an antioxidant. The yield and antioxidant activity of ethyl acetate extracts (measured by the α,α‐diphenyl‐β‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity) showed a strong dependence on the autohydrolysis conditions. The antioxidant activity of extracts obtained under selected operational conditions compared well with synthetic antioxidants. © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of Yeast Extracts Containing Propionic Acid on Bread Dough Fermentation and Bread Properties

ABSTRACT: Three commercial yeast extracts (Oxoid, Champlain, Lallemand) fermented with immobilized cells of Propionibacterium freudenreichii were added in broths and bread formulations, and their effect on growth and gas production by bakers yeast was determined. Appearance and preservation of the breads were examined. There was significantly more gas produced by the yeast when fermented yeast extracts were added to the dough. In broths, the initial growth rate was slower with media containing fermented yeast extract when compared to their unfermented equivalents. Loaves formulated with propionic acid of the fermented yeast extract contained less ethanol. Paired t-tests showed that breads formulated with fermented yeast extract were protected for a longer period against mold than those that contained non-fermented yeast extract.     

非洲爪蟾卵提取物中200nm膜泡与环形片层及核被膜上核孔复合体形成的关系

将ＬａｍｂｄａＤＮＡ引入活化的非洲爪蟾卵提取物中，在由磷酸肌酸与磷酸肌酸激酶构成的ＡＴＰ再生系统的参与下，在这种非细胞体系中能够围绕由ＬａｍｂｄａＤＮＡ诱导形成的染色质重建核被膜结构，同时在染色质外出现类似核被膜结构的环形片层。在这两种膜结构中核孔复合体的形成都与直径２００ｎｍ左右的单层圆形小膜泡密切相关，这些小膜泡可以附着在染色质表面或独立于染色质之外相互融合成扁平囊状的双层膜片层，双层膜进一步融合形成核孔，与此同时，核孔复合体在核孔上完成装配。     

An integrated downstream processing strategy for the recovery and partial purification of penicillin acylase from crude media

An integrated process strategy for the recovery of penicillin acylase was developed, based on precipitation of non‐enzymatic proteins directly from Escherichia coli homogenates or crude extracts using Rolquat (quaternary ammonium salt) and adsorption of the enzyme on Amp‐Seph (3.8 µmole ampicillin cm^?3) under pseudo‐affinity conditions. The effect of pH, concentrations of ammonium sulfate and Rolquat, and also concentrations of protein and cell debris on the precipitation of non‐enzymatic proteins from homogenates and crude extracts of penicillin acylase were analysed. The method of addition of Rolquat to homogenates and crude extracts significantly influenced the size of the precipitated particles. Improved results on the specific activity of penicillin acylase were obtained for 22% and 1% (w/v) of ammonium sulfate and Rolquat, respectively, added sequentially to enzyme solutions and at room temperature. Under these experimental conditions, the specific activity of penicillin acylase in homogenates and crude extracts was enhanced 2.5–3.0‐fold. Finally, the integrated process strategy was implemented first by precipitation of non‐enzymatic proteins and recovery of penicillin acylase directly from the enzyme solution treated with Rolquat using an adsorption/filtration system with an overall yield of 86%. This system allows simultaneously the filtration of cell debris and fine precipitated particles, in situ recovery of penicillin acylase by its adsorption on Amp‐Seph, and selective desorption of the enzyme with a specific activity of 11 IU (mg prot)^?1 and a desorption yield of 95%. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Attenuating Effects of Dieckol on Hypertensive Nephropathy in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Hypertension induces renal fibrosis or tubular interstitial fibrosis, which eventually results in end-stage renal disease. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is one of the underlying mechanisms of renal fibrosis. Though previous studies showed that Ecklonia cava extracts (ECE) and dieckol (DK) had inhibitory action on angiotensin (Ang) I-converting enzyme, which converts Ang I to Ang II. It is known that Ang II is involved in renal fibrosis; however, it was not evaluated whether ECE or DK attenuated hypertensive nephropathy by decreasing EMT. In this study, the effect of ECE and DK on decreasing Ang II and its down signal pathway of angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R)/TGFβ/SMAD, which is related with the EMT and restoring renal function in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), was investigated. Either ECE or DK significantly decreased the serum level of Ang II in the SHRs. Moreover, the renal expression of AT1R/TGFβ/SMAD was decreased by the administration of either ECE or DK. The mesenchymal cell markers in the kidney of SHRs was significantly decreased by ECE or DK. The fibrotic tissue of the kidney of SHRs was also significantly decreased by ECE or DK. The ratio of urine albumin/creatinine of SHRs was significantly decreased by ECE or DK. Overall, the results of this study indicate that ECE and DK decreased the serum levels of Ang II and expression of AT1R/TGFβ/SMAD, and then decreased the EMT and renal fibrosis in SHRs. Furthermore, the decrease in EMT and renal fibrosis could lead to the restoration of renal function. It seems that ECE or DK could be beneficial for decreasing hypertensive nephropathy by decreasing EMT and renal fibrosis.     

Hot-pressurized fluid extraction of flavonoids and phenolic acids from Brazilian propolis and their cytotoxic assay in vitro

This work has examined the hot-pressurized fluid extraction of seven flavonoids, caffeic acid phenethyl ester and four phenolic acids from Brazilian propolis lumps generating, during the process, fat- and water-soluble extracts. The solid content of water-soluble extract obtained by hot-pressurized water in the presence of 29% natural surfactant was 35.2 mg/mL and was 44% greater than that obtained without natural surfactant. Furthermore the amount of the seven flavonoids and caffeic acid phenethyl ester in the fat-soluble extract exceeded those in the water-soluble sample while, on the other hand, the amount of the four phenolic acids in the water-soluble extract was more than those in the fat-soluble extract. Our findings show that the total solid content and the amount of these 12 active compounds produced by the emulsified hot-pressurized water are 36% and 7% higher, respectively, than those produced by emulsified water at atmospheric pressure. The EC₅₀ value of the free radical scavenging activity of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl of the emulsified hot-pressurized water extract was the lowest, and presented the strongest anti-oxidation ability among all the extracts. In vitro cytotoxicity indicated that the water-soluble extract strongly suppressed the growth of leukemia (HL-60, U937), lung cancer (A549, CH27) and liver cancer (Hep G2, Hep 3B) cells in a concentration-dependent behavior.     

向日葵茎髓提取物的抑菌活性及机制

以向日葵茎髓为原料,制得3种不同极性向日葵茎髓提取物。采用琼脂扩散法测定3种不同极性向日葵茎髓提取物对4种受试菌的抑菌活性;并以其中的金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠杆菌为研究对象,探讨了乙酸乙酯萃取部位(EE)的抑菌机制。结果显示:不同极性萃取部位对4种受试菌均有一定抑制作用。其中,EE处理金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠杆菌的最低抑菌质量浓度(MIC)均为0.78 g/L,半数抑制质量浓度(IC50)分别为(1.11?0.01)和(1.59?0.03)g/L;抑菌作用与其总酚、总黄酮含量呈显著正相关性(P0.05)。通过SEM分析发现,EE处理引起菌体形态变化,破坏菌体的细胞膜结构;EE可增加金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠杆菌细胞膜结构的通透性,使菌体内的电解质、蛋白质、碱性磷酸酶向胞外泄露;应用4?,6-二脒基-2-苯基吲哚(DAPI)染色和荧光检测发现,EE能干扰细菌遗传物质(DNA)的复制,最终抑制受试菌增殖。     

黄荆提取物对几种害虫的杀虫活性

研究了黄荆种子二氯甲烷提取物对5种害虫的杀虫活性以及对天敌异色瓢虫的安全性。结果表明：黄荆提取物对菜青虫、小菜蛾、麦长管蚜和桃蚜都有较高的杀虫活性，尤其是对菜青虫的活性最高，稀释100倍，处理4龄幼虫死亡率可达93．3％。但对大猿叶甲的杀虫活性则很低。黄荆提取物对异色瓢虫幼虫有一定的杀虫活性，但对其成虫无任何影响。本研究结果为开发利用这一新的杀虫植物资源提供了依据。