Purification and Characterization of Organic Solvent and Detergent Tolerant Lipase from Thermotolerant Bacillus sp. RN2

The aim of this study was to characterize the organic solvent and detergent tolerant properties of recombinant lipase isolated from thermotolerant Bacillus sp. RN2 (Lip-SBRN2). The isolation of the lipase-coding gene was achieved by the use of inverse and direct PCR. The complete DNA sequencing of the gene revealed that the lip-SBRN2 gene contains 576 nucleotides which corresponded to 192 deduced amino acids. The purified enzyme was homogeneous with the estimated molecular mass of 19 kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE and gel filtration. The Lip-SBRN2 was stable in a pH range of 9-11 and temperature range of 45-60 °C. The enzyme was a non metallo-monomeric protein and was active against pNP-caprylate (C8) and pNP-laurate (C12) and coconut oil. The Lip-SBRN2 exhibited a high level of activity in the presence of 108% benzene, 102.4% diethylether and 112% SDS. It is anticipated that the organic solvent and detergent tolerant enzyme secreted by Bacillus sp. RN2 will be applicable as catalysts for reaction in the presence of organic solvents and detergents.     

Production of 5-aminolevulinic acid by Propionibacterium acidipropionici TISTR442

Propionibacterium acidipropionici TISTR442 produced the highest amount of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) when cultivated in medium supplemented with glycine at 18g/l. ALA production correlated with ALA synthase activity, whereas ALA dehydratase activity was maintained at a low level. ALA yield reached 405mg/l after prolonged cultivation for 1 month.     

Cloning, Expression, and Characterization of Thermotolerant Manganese Superoxide Dismutase from Bacillus sp. MHS47

A superoxide dismutase gene from thermotolerant Bacillus sp. MHS47 (MnSOD47) was cloned, sequenced, and expressed. The gene has an open reading frame of 612 bp, corresponding to 203 deduced amino acids, with high homology to the amino acid sequences of B. thuringiensis (accession no. EEN01322), B. anthracis (accession no. NP_846724), B. cereus (accession no. ZP_04187911), B. weihenstephanensis (accession no. YP_001646918), and B. pseudomycoides. The conserved manganese-binding sites (H28, H83, D165, and H169) show that MnSOD47 has the specific characteristics of the manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) enzymes. MnSOD47 expressed an enzyme with a molecular weight of approximately 22.65 kDa and a specific activity of 3537.75 U/mg. The enzyme is active in the pH range 7-8.5, with an optimum pH of 7.5, and at temperatures in the range 30-45 °C, with an optimum temperature of 37 °C. Tests of inhibitors and metal ions indicated that the enzyme activity is inhibited by sodium azide, but not by hydrogen peroxide or potassium cyanide. These data should benefit future studies of MnSODs in other microorganisms and the biotechnological production of MnSOD47, and could also be used to develop a biosensor for the detection of antioxidants and free radical activity. In the future, this basic knowledge could be applicable to the detection of cancer risks in humans and therapeutic treatments.     

Comparative Evaluation of Physical Properties of Edible Chitosan Films Prepared by Different Drying Methods

Edible films are alternative packaging, which have recently received much attention due mainly to environmental reasons. Edible films may be formed from edible biomaterials such as polysaccharides, proteins, or lipids. Among these biopolymers, chitosan is of interest because it has a good film-forming property and is biodegradable, biocompatible, and nontoxic. Several techniques have been used to prepare edible chitosan films with various degrees of success. However, it is always interesting to find an alternative technique to produce films of superior quality at shorter processing (drying) time. In this study, the influences of different drying methods and conditions on the drying kinetics and various properties of chitosan films were investigated. Drying at control conditions (ambient air drying and hot air drying at 40°C) as well as vacuum drying and low-pressure superheated steam drying (LPSSD) at an absolute pressure of 10 kPa were carried out at different drying temperatures (70, 80, and 90°C). The properties of chitosan films, in terms of color, tensile strength, percent elongation, water vapor permeability (WVP), glass transition temperature (T _g ), and crystallinity, were also determined. Based on the results of both the drying behavior and film properties, LPSSD at 70°C was proposed as the most favorable conditions for drying chitosan films.     

Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Indian gooseberry and galangal extracts

The antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Indian gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica Linn.) and galangal (Alpinia galanga) extracts were investigated. Two different methods (disc diffusion and agar dilution methods) were employed to evaluate the antimicrobial activities of plant extracts against Staphylococcus aureus. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of Indian gooseberry and galangal extracts were found to be 13.97 and 0.78 mg/ml and the minimum biocidal concentration (MBC) values were 13.97 and 2.34 mg/ml, respectively. The antioxidant activities of Indian gooseberry and galangal extracts, which were evaluated by the β-carotene bleaching method, were 86.4% and 70.3%, respectively. The total phenolic contents of Indian gooseberry and galangal extracts, as determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, were 290.4±0.7 and 40.9±0.2 mg/g plant extract (in GAE), respectively. The GC-MS analysis showed that the main compounds of galangal extract are 1,8-cineole (20.95%), β-bisabolene (13.16%), β-caryophyllene (17.95%) and β-selinene (10.56%). On the other hand, the use of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection indicated many compounds within the Indian gooseberry extract.     

Improved radical scavenging activity and stabilised colour of nipa palm syrup after ultrasound-assisted glycation with glycine

The effects of ultrasound-assisted glycation with 1 m glycine at room temperature in comparison with thermal glycation on the colour and radical scavenging activity of nipa palm (Nypa fruticans Wurmb.) syrup were investigated. The pH of both treatments decreased with increasing reaction time. The browning development occurred after induction period of 10 min for thermal glycation and 60 min for ultrasound-assisted glycation. A shorter time of ultrasound rendered the syrup light brown to amber in colour with some green. With long-term ultrasound, the syrup turned brighter, yellower and greener. The increased DPPH^· scavenging activity of the thermal syrup was due to the brown pigments as shown by a marked increase in the A₄₂₀ and a* value. The scavenging activity of ultrasound-treated syrup was improved by 53–57% due to the accumulation of UV-intermediate products as shown by a higher A₂₉₄/A₄₂₀. Thus, ultrasonication for 30–60 min was recommended in order to prevent dark colour development of the final syrup.     

Effects of drying methods and conditions on antimicrobial activity of edible chitosan films enriched with galangal extract

The aim of this work was to study the effects of drying methods and conditions (i.e., ambient drying, hot air drying at 40 °C, vacuum drying and low-pressure superheated steam drying within the temperature range of 70–90 °C at an absolute pressure of 10 kPa) as well as the concentration of galangal extract on the antimicrobial activity of edible chitosan films against Staphylococcus aureus. Galangal extract was added to the film forming solution as a natural antimicrobial agent in the concentration range of 0.3–0.9 g/100 g. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra and swelling of the films were also evaluated to investigate interaction between chitosan and the galangal extract. The antimicrobial activity of the films was evaluated by the disc diffusion and viable cell count method, while the morphology of bacteria treated with the antimicrobial films was observed via transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The antimicrobial activity, swelling and functional group interaction of the antimicrobial films were found to be affected by the drying methods and conditions as well as the concentration of the galangal extract. The electron microscopic observations revealed that cell wall and cell membrane of S. aureus treated by the antimicrobial films were significantly damaged.     

Effects of drying methods and conditions on release characteristics of edible chitosan films enriched with Indian gooseberry extract

The present work was aimed at studying the effects of drying methods and conditions (i.e., ambient drying, hot air drying at 40 °C, vacuum drying and low-pressure superheated steam drying within the temperature range of 70–90 °C at an absolute pressure of 10 kPa), as well as the concentration of Indian gooseberry extract, (added to edible chitosan film-forming solution as a natural antioxidant, at concentrations of 1, 2 and 3/100 g), on the residual total phenolic content (TPC) of the films. The swelling and release behaviour of TPC from the films were also studied. Drying methods and conditions were found to have significant effects on the percentage of residual TPC. The release characteristics, swelling and functional group interaction of the antioxidant films, as assessed by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, were found to be affected by the drying methods and conditions, as well as the concentration of the Indian gooseberry extract.     

Physicochemical and Thermal Properties of Extruded Instant Functional Rice Porridge Powder as Affected by the Addition of Soybean or Mung Bean

Legumes contain protein, micronutrients, and bioactive compounds, which provide various health benefits. In this study, soybean or mung bean was mixed in rice flour to produce by extrusion instant functional legume‐rice porridge powder. The effects of the type and percentage (10%, 20%, or 30%, w/w) of legumes on the expansion ratio of the extrudates were first evaluated. Amino acid composition, color, and selected physicochemical (bulk density, water absorption index, and water solubility index), thermal (onset temperature, peak temperature, and transition enthalpy), and pasting (peak viscosity, trough viscosity, and final viscosity) properties of the powder were determined. The crystalline structure and formation of amylose–lipid complexes and the total phenolics content (TPC) and antioxidant activity of the powder were also measured. Soybean‐blended porridge powder exhibited higher TPC, 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging capacity, ferric reducing antioxidant power, amino acid, and fat contents than the mung bean–blended porridge powder. Incorporating either legume affected the product properties by decreasing the lightness and bulk density, while increasing the greenness and yellowness and the peak temperature and transition enthalpy. Expansion capacity of the extrudates increased with percentage of mung bean in the mixture but decreased as the percentage of soybean increased. Amylose–lipid complexes formation was confirmed by X‐ray diffraction analysis results. Addition of soybean or mung bean resulted in significant pasting property changes of the porridge powder.