Mechanisms of arsenate adsorption by highly-ordered nano-structured silicate media impregnated with metal oxides

The highly ordered mesoporous silica media, SBA-15, was synthesized and incorporated with iron, aluminum, and zinc oxides using an incipientwetness impregnation technique. Adsorption capacities and kinetics of metal-impregnated SBA-15 were compared with activated alumina which is widely used for arsenic removal. Media impregnated with 10% of aluminum by weight (designated to Al10SBA-15) had 1.9-2.7 times greater arsenate adsorption capacities in a wide range of initial arsenate concentrations and a 15 times greater initial sorption rate at pH 7.2 than activated alumina. By employing one- and two-site models, surface complexation modeling was conducted to investigate the relationship between the aluminum oxidation states in different media and adsorption behaviors shown by adsorption isotherms and kinetics since the oxidation phase of aluminum incorporated onto the surface of SBA-15 was Al-O, which has a lower oxidation state than activated alumina (Al2O3). Surface complexation modeling results for arsenate adsorption edges conducted with different pH indicated thatthe monodentate complex (SAsO(4)2-) was dominant in Al10SBA-15, while bidentate complexes (XHAsO4 and XAsO4-) were dominant in activated alumina at pH 7.2, respectively. In kinetic studies at pH 7.2 + 0.02, Al10SBA-15 had only a fast-rate step of initial adsorption, while activated alumina had fast- and slow-rate steps of arsenate adsorption. Therefore, it can be inferred that the monodentate arsenate complex, predominant in Al10SBA-15, leads to faster adsorption rates than bidentate arsenate complexes favored with activated alumina. An arsenate adsorption behavior and arsenate surface complexation were thought to be well explained by aluminum oxidation states and surface structural properties of media.     

Functional properties of different Korean sweet potato varieties

Eight different varieties of Korean sweet potatoes (SPs) were investigated to develop new healthy foods. The purple-fleshed SPs, ‘Shinjami’ and ‘Borami’, the orange-fleshed SPs, ‘Juwhangmi’ and ‘Shinwhangmi’, and the white/cream-fleshed dry-type SPs, ‘Shinyulmi’, ‘Shinchunmi’, ‘Yeonwhangmi’, and ‘Jeungmi’, were used. Alcohol insoluble solids (AIS), total dietary fiber (TDF), anthocyanin, carotenoid, and phenolic compounds contents for SP powders vary significantly (p<0.05) between different varieties. The TDF, anthocyanin, and the total phenolic compounds of SPs had the highest values in the purple-fleshed SPs (10.11–10.87%, 2.43–3.35 mg/g, and 454.13–638.79%, respectively) and the lowest values in the white/cream-fleshed dry-type SPs. The carotenoids of the orange-fleshed SPs were higher in ‘Juwhangmi’ than in ‘Shinwhangmi’. The color differences among the purple-fleshed SPs were 3–4 times larger than those of other SPs. The antioxidant activities of the purple-fleshed SPs were higher than those of other SPs.     

Effect of rapeseed protein–gelatin film containing grapefruit seed extract on ‘Maehyang’ strawberry quality

To develop a packaging film for ‘Maehyang’ strawberries, an edible film containing antimicrobial grapefruit seed extract (GSE) was manufactured. Addition of GSE to the rapeseed protein–gelatin (RG) film inhibited the growth of pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes. Packaging of ‘Maehyang’ strawberries with the RG film containing 1.0% GSE decreased the populations of total aerobic bacteria and of yeast and moulds in the strawberries by 1.03 and 1.34 log CFU g^?1, respectively, after 14 days of storage, compared to that of the control. Sensory evaluation of the GSE‐RG film‐packaged strawberries produced better sensory scores than did the control. These results suggest that RG film containing GSE can be used to package strawberries and to extend shelf life.     

Antioxidant activity of cyanidins isolated from Ogapy (Acanthopanax divaricatus var. albeofructus) fruits in U937 macrophages

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are continuously produced in aerobic organisms. Overproduction of ROS is known to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of many cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis and hypertension. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) play critical roles on the removal of excess ROS. In the present study, we investigated the antioxidant activity of cyanidins from ogapy (Acanthopanax divaricatus var. albeofructus, ADA) fruits against oxidative stress in hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-pretreated U937 macrophages, and explored the plausibility of the therapeutic effect of cyanidins on atherosclerosis. As a result, H₂O₂ generation and lipid peroxidation induced by H₂O₂-pretreatment was decreased by the treatment of cyanidins in U937 macrophages. In addition, increased activity of SOD and CAT was shown in H₂O₂-pretreated cells when treated with cyanidins. Overall, the results obtained in this study showed that cyanidin 3-galactoside and cyanidin 3-lathyroside from ADA fruits could protect macrophages against the damaging effects of H₂O₂ treatment.     

Antioxidant activity and β-glucan contents of hydrothermal extracts from maitake (Grifola frondosa)

Maitake (Grifola frondosa) was hydrothermally extracted at 4 different temperatures (121, 130, 140, and 150°C) for 30 and 60 min, and the total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity, and β-glucan content of the extracts was evaluated. The highest TPC was detected in the extract at 150°C treated for 60 min with 13.61 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g. The antioxidant activity of the maitake extracts, evaluated by determining DPPH radical scavenging activity (RSA), ABTS RSA, reducing power, and tyrosinase inhibitory activity increased with increasing treatment temperature and time. The content of β-glucan was the highest (5.13%) in the extract prepared at 140°C for 30min. These results suggest that hydrothermal extraction could be used as a tool to increase the antioxidant activity of maitake extracts.     

Deep-sea water supplementation and swimming exercise improves bone metabolism in growing rats fed a high-fat diet

This study was examined the effects of deepsea water (DSW) supplementation and swimming exercise on bone metabolism in growing male rats. Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley male rats, 6 weeks of age, were randomly divided into high-fat diet sedentary (HS, n=8) or exercised group (HE, n=8) and DSW supplemented sedentary (DS, n=8) or exercised group (DE, n=8), given a high fat diet to all groups for 8 weeks. In the results, serum osteocalcin level of the DS was significantly lower than that of the HS (p<0.01). In addition, femoral bone mineral density (BMD), tibial bone mineral content (BMC), and breaking force of the DS were significantly higher than that of the HS (p<0.05). Furthermore, femoral BMD and tibial weight of DE were significantly higher than that of the HE (p<0.05). These results suggest that drinking deep-sea water and exercise has a crucial role for prevent osteoporosis and increase peak bone mass in growing male rats.     

Lipid production in Porphyridium cruentum grown under different culture conditions

Autotrophic growth of Porphyridium cruentum under 18:12 h and 12:12 h light:dark cycles showed the maximum cell concentration of 2.1 g-dry wt./L, whereas the specific growth rate, 0.042 (1/h), at 18:6 h is faster than that of 12:12 h, 0.031 (1/h), respectively. The highest lipid accumulation level, 19.3 (%, w/w), was achieved at 12:12 h cycle. Under dark cultivation condition with 10 g/L of glucose, the lipid accumulation in the cell was 10.9 (%, w/w), whereas the heterotrophic growth with glycerol as the carbon resource showed low level of cell concentration and lipid production, compared to that of glucose. The glucose was decided to be a suitable carbon resource for the heterotrophic growth of P. cruentum. The lipids from P. cruentum seemed be feasible for biodiesel production, because over 30% of the lipid was C₁₆–C_18:1. The cultivation time and temperature were important factors to increase the maximum cell concentration. Extending the cultivation time helps maintain the maximum cell concentration, and higher lipid accumulation was achieved at 25 °C, compared to 35 °C. The fed-batch cultures showed that, under the light condition, the specific production rate was slightly decreased to 0.4% lipid/g-dry wt./day at the later stage, whereas, under the dark condition, the specific production rate was maintained to be a maximum value of 1.1% lipid/g-dry wt./day, even in the later stage of cultivation. The results indicate that the heterotrophic or 12:12 h cyclic mixotrophic growth of P. cruentum could be used for the production of biodiesel in long-term fed-batch cultivation of P. cruentum.