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Bioactive Formulations in Agri-Food-Pharma: Source and Applications, Volume II

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A special issue of Bioengineering (ISSN 2306-5354). This special issue belongs to the section "Biochemical Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 56212

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Minaxi Sharma

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Guest Editor

Haute Ecole Provinciale de Hainaut-Condorcet, Rue Paul Pastur, 7800 Ath, Belgium
Interests: nanoemulsions; bioactive natural extracts; controlled drug delivery; nanoencapsulation; food ingredients; functional and nutraceutical foods; bioavailability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Kandi Sridhar

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Guest Editor

Department of Food Technology, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education (Deemed to be University), Coimbatore 641021, India
Interests: agri-food waste utilization; characterization and application of plant proteins; food processing; quality and functionality of the foods; extraction of bioactive compounds; functional foods; food product development; and micro/nanoencapsulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Zeba Usmani

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Guest Editor

Department of Applied Biology, University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya 793101, India
Interests: biobased waste treatment; biowaste valorization; agri-food waste utilization; enzymatic waste treatment; woody waste valorization; ionic liquids based treatment; bioenergy from waste

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bioactive compounds comprise both essential and nonessential compounds and have been shown to have a beneficial effect on agri-food pharma health. Biologically active compounds, also known as secondary metabolites (including flavonoids, phytosterols, polyphenols, and saponins), possess several biological activities (including nutraceuticals, biopharma, biosurfactant, biostimulants, cosmeceuticals, etc.) and are produced alongside primary biosynthetic and metabolic routes for compounds associated with growth and development. The advancement of the agri-food pharma-health industry depends on the development of new and novel bioactive compounds and their formulations from natural sources. Thus, progress in the identification and production of novel natural bioactives may be a critical functional source of therapeutic, commercial, and industrial importance. Observations from nature and diversity of natural bioactive complexes have encouraged researchers to engineer novel compounds from microbes as well as plant sources.

Due to their high potential, several efforts should be directed to the study and enhanced production of new bioactives as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, and anticancer compounds, among others. Additionally, bioactive components present as natural ingredients in food provide wellbeing benefits beyond the essential nutritive value of the product. Different classes of bio-phytochemicals have been identified as having a preventive effect against specific wellbeing and health-promoting activities in the agri-food pharma sector.

Extraction and purification of valuable natural products from native biological sources is very important. Further, their bioprospecting for a variety of applications in agri-food pharma is very much dependent on their efficient formulations. This Special Issue aims to compile recent developments in the production of natural compounds from various bioresources, and their formulations as bioactives. In addition, this SI will also cover in-depth engineered approaches for enhanced biological properties and potential industrial applications of new bioactive formulations through novel strategies aiming at the identification of novel compounds and bioprocess tools to improve the quantity and quality of such products. Increasing knowledge on the bioactive formulations on regulation at the genomic and molecular levels will lead to a reconsideration of health goals.

This SI will publish the articles on recent trends, applications, advancements, and engineering approaches for the biosynthesis of natural products, with a particular emphasis on bioactive formulations for applications in agri-food pharma.

Dr. Minaxi Sharma
Dr. Kandi Sridhar
Dr. Zeba Usmani
Guest Editors

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Keywords

agri-food pharma-health
anticancer
antioxidant
antimicrobial
biopharmaceuticals
biostimulants
bioactivity and chemical profiling
drug delivery
encapsulation
nanoemulsions
nanoparticles
nutraceuticals
value-added bioactives

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Published Papers (14 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

4 pages, 202 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Bioactive Formulations in Agri-Food-Pharma: Source and Applications

by Kandi Sridhar, Zeba Usmani and Minaxi Sharma

Bioengineering 2023, 10(2), 191; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10020191 - 2 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1426

Abstract

Bioactive compounds are the secondary metabolites produced by the plant cell through numerous metabolic pathways [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Formulations in Agri-Food-Pharma: Source and Applications, Volume II)

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Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

16 pages, 4278 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Vascular Relaxation and Blood Pressure Lowering Effects of Prunus mume in Rats

by Cheolmin Jo, Bumjung Kim, Kyungjin Lee and Ho-Young Choi

Bioengineering 2023, 10(1), 74; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10010074 - 6 Jan 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2617

Abstract

Prunus mume Siebold et Zuccarini is mainly consumed as processed fruits in beverages, vinegar, alcohol, or fruit syrup; studies have reported various functional effects. Many pharmacological and functional studies exist on fruit extracts or processed foods using fruits, however, efficacy studies on various parts of P. mume, including the bark, branches, flowers, and leaves, have not been sufficiently conducted. A previous study revealed that a 70% ethanol extract of P. mume branches induced vascular endothelium-dependent vasorelaxant effects in rat thoracic aortic rings. Therefore, we hypothesized that various parts (the fruits, flowers, leaves, and bark) might have vasorelaxant effects. We evaluated the effects of P. mume extracts on the vascular relaxation of isolated rat thoracic aorta and hypotensive effects in spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR). A 70% ethanol extract of P. mume bark (PBaE) was the most effective, thus, we investigated its vasorelaxant mechanisms and hypotensive effects. PBaE lowered the blood pressure in SHR and induced the vascular endothelium-dependent relaxation of isolated rat aortic rings via the NO/sGC/cGMP and the PGI₂ pathways in the vascular smooth muscle. Potassium channels, such as K_Ca, K_ATP, K_V, and K_ir, were partially associated with a PBaE-induced vasorelaxation. Therefore, PBaE might help prevent and treat hypertension. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Formulations in Agri-Food-Pharma: Source and Applications, Volume II)

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14 pages, 1875 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of Novel Lipid-Based Formulations for Water-Soluble Vitamin C versus Fat-Soluble Vitamin D3

by Jie Chen, Leila Dehabadi, Yuan-Chun Ma and Lee D. Wilson

Bioengineering 2022, 9(12), 819; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering9120819 - 19 Dec 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 6235

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop a facile and novel lipid-based formulation of vitamin C and vitamin D3. Liposomes loaded with vitamin C and D3 were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and zeta potential measurements for evaluating morphology, particle size and physical stability. HPLC was employed to quantify the content of vitamin C and vitamin D3 in their liposomal forms. The UHPLC analysis of the lipid-based vitamin formulation is an easy and rapid method for the characterization as well as the quantification of all components. In addition, encapsulation efficiency, vitamin loading and stability analysis were performed by the UHPLC method, in order to evaluate the reliability of the optimized lipid-based formulation. The TEM results provided key support for the core type of liposome structure in the formulations, whereas the HPLC results indicated that the liposomal vitamin C and D3 systems were homogeneous, and did not undergo phase separation. Taken together, the results demonstrate that liposomal encapsulated vitamins (vitamin C and D3) possess a unilamellar vesicle morphology with uniform particle size, despite differences in the hydrophile–lipophile profiles of the vitamins. The highly efficient encapsulation properties of such liposomal constructs are proposed to contribute to enhanced vitamin bioavailability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Formulations in Agri-Food-Pharma: Source and Applications, Volume II)

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22 pages, 3271 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pomegranate Pomace Extract with Antioxidant, Anticancer, Antimicrobial, and Antiviral Activity Enhances the Quality of Strawberry-Yogurt Smoothie

by Nouf H. Alsubhi, Diana A. Al-Quwaie, Ghadeer I. Alrefaei, Mona Alharbi, Najat Binothman, Majidah Aljadani, Safa H. Qahl, Fatima A. Jaber, Mashael Huwaikem, Huda M. Sheikh, Jehan Alrahimi, Ahmed N. Abd Elhafez and Ahmed Saad

Bioengineering 2022, 9(12), 735; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering9120735 - 28 Nov 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3453

Abstract

Valorizing the wastes of the food industry sector as additives in foods and beverages enhances human health and preserves the environment. In this study, pomegranate pomace (PP) was obtained from the company Schweppes and exposed to the production of polyphenols and fiber-enriched fractions, which were subsequently included in a strawberry-yogurt smoothie (SYS). The PP is rich in carbohydrates and fibers and has high water-absorption capacity (WAC) and oil-absorption capacity (OAC) values. The LC/MS phenolic profile of the PP extract indicated that punicalagin (199 g/L) was the main compound, followed by granatin B (60 g/L) and pedunculagin A (52 g/L). Because of the high phenolic content of PP extract, it (p ≤ 0.05) has high antioxidant activity with SC50 of 200 µg/mL, besides scavenging 95% of DPPH radicals compared to ascorbic acid (92%); consequently, it reduced lung cancer cell lines’ viability to 86%, and increased caspase-3 activity. Additionally, it inhibited the growth of pathogenic bacteria and fungi i.e., L. monocytogenes, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumonia, A. niger, and C. glabrata, in the 45–160 µg/mL concentration range while killing the tested isolates with 80–290 µg/mL concentrations. These isolates were selected based on the microbial count of spoiled smoothie samples and were identified at the gene level by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The interaction between Spike and ACE2 was inhibited by 75.6%. The PP extract at four levels (0.4, 0.8, 1.2, and 1.4 mg/mL) was added to strawberry-yogurt smoothie formulations. During 2 months storage at 4 °C, the pH values, vitamin C, and total sugars of all SYS decreased. However, the decreases were gradually mitigated in PP-SYS because of the high phenolic content in the PP extract compared to the control. The PP-SYS3 and PP-SYS4 scored higher in flavor, color, and texture than in other samples. In contrast, acidity, fat, and total soluble solids (TSS) increased at the end of the storage period. High fat and TSS content are observed in PP-SYS because of the high fiber content in PP. The PP extract (1.2 and 1.6 mg/mL) decreases the color differences and reduces harmful microbes in PP-SYS compared to the control. Using pomegranate pomace as a source of polyphenols and fiber in functional foods enhances SYS’s physiochemical and sensory qualities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Formulations in Agri-Food-Pharma: Source and Applications, Volume II)

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15 pages, 2242 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Global Regulator AdpA_1075 Regulates Morphological Differentiation and Ansamitocin Production in Actinosynnema pretiosum subsp. auranticum

by Siyu Guo, Tingting Leng, Xueyuan Sun, Jiawei Zheng, Ruihua Li, Jun Chen, Fengxian Hu, Feng Liu and Qiang Hua

Bioengineering 2022, 9(11), 719; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering9110719 - 21 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2031

Abstract

Actinosynnema pretiosum is a well-known producer of maytansinoid antibiotic ansamitocin P-3 (AP-3). Growth of A. pretiosum in submerged culture was characterized by the formation of complex mycelial particles strongly affecting AP-3 production. However, the genetic determinants involved in mycelial morphology are poorly understood in this genus. Herein a continuum of morphological types of a morphologically stable variant was observed during submerged cultures. Expression analysis revealed that the ssgA_6663 and ftsZ_5883 genes are involved in mycelial aggregation and entanglement. Combing morphology observation and morphology engineering, ssgA_6663 was identified to be responsible for the mycelial intertwining during liquid culture. However, down-regulation of ssgA_6663 transcription was caused by inactivation of adpA_1075, gene coding for an AdpA-like protein. Additionally, the overexpression of adpA_1075 led to an 85% increase in AP-3 production. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) revealed that AdpA_1075 may bind the promoter regions of asm28 gene in asm gene cluster as well as the promoter regions of ssgA_6663. These results confirm that adpA_1075 plays a positive role in AP-3 biosynthesis and morphological differentiation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Formulations in Agri-Food-Pharma: Source and Applications, Volume II)

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17 pages, 4650 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Neuroprotective Effect of Abelmoschus manihot Flower Extracts against the H₂O₂-Induced Cytotoxicity, Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in PC12 Cells

by Shih-Wei Wang, Chi-Chang Chang, Chin-Feng Hsuan, Tzu-Hsien Chang, Ya-Ling Chen, Yun-Ya Wang, Teng-Hung Yu, Cheng-Ching Wu and Jer-Yiing Houng

Bioengineering 2022, 9(10), 596; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering9100596 - 21 Oct 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2107

Abstract

The progression of neurodegenerative diseases is associated with oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. Abelmoschus manihot L. flower (AMf) has been shown to possess excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This study investigated the protective effect of ethanolic extract (AME), water extract (AMW) and supercritical extract (AMS) of AMf on PC12 neuronal cells under hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) stimulation. This study also explored the molecular mechanism underlying the protective effect of AME, which was the best among the three extracts. The experimental results showed that even at a concentration of 500 μg/mL, neither AME nor AMW showed toxic effects on PC12 cells, while AMS caused about 10% cell death. AME has the most protective effect on apoptosis of PC12 cells stimulated with 0.5 mM H₂O₂. This is evident by the finding when PC12 cells were treated with 500 μg/mL AME; the viability was restored from 58.7% to 80.6% in the Treatment mode (p < 0.001) and from 59.1% to 98.1% in the Prevention mode (p < 0.001). Under the stimulation of H₂O₂, AME significantly up-regulated the expression of antioxidant enzymes, such as catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase; promoted the production of the intracellular antioxidant; reduced glutathione; and reduced ROS generation in PC12 cells. When the acute inflammation was induced under the H₂O₂ stimulation, AME significantly down-regulated the pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators (e.g., TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, COX-2 and iNOS). AME pretreatment could also greatly promote the production of nucleotide excision repair (NER)-related proteins, which were down-regulated by H₂O₂. This finding indicates that AME could repair DNA damage caused by oxidative stress. Results from this study demonstrate that AME has the potential to delay the onset and progression of oxidative stress-induced neurodegenerative diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Formulations in Agri-Food-Pharma: Source and Applications, Volume II)

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10 pages, 903 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Japanese Knotweed Rhizome Bark Extract Inhibits Live SARS-CoV-2 In Vitro

by Urška Jug, Katerina Naumoska and Tadej Malovrh

Bioengineering 2022, 9(9), 429; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering9090429 - 1 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2564

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a viral infectious respiratory disease, is caused by highly contagious severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and is responsible for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Since very few drugs are known to be effective against SARS-CoV-2, there is a general need for new therapeutics, including plant-based drugs, for the prophylaxis and treatment of infections. In the current study, the activity of a 70% ethanolic_(aq) extract of the rhizome bark of Japanese knotweed, an invasive alien plant species, was tested for the first time against the wild-type SARS-CoV-2 virus using a specific and robust virus neutralization test (VNT) on Vero-E6 cells, which best mimics the mechanism of real virus–host interaction. A statistically significant antiviral effect against SARS-CoV-2 (p-value < 0.05) was observed for the 50.8 µg mL⁻¹ extract solution in cell medium. A suitable extract preparation was described to avoid loss of polyphenols throughout filtration of the extract, which was dissolved in cell medium containing fetal bovine serum (FBS). The significance of the differences between the sums of the test and control groups in the incidence of cytopathic effects (CPE) was determined using the one-way ANOVA test. A dose–response relationship was observed, with the cytotoxic effect occurring at higher concentrations of the extract (≥101.6 µg mL⁻¹). The obtained results suggest possible use of this plant material for the production of various products (e.g., packaging, hygiene products, biodisinfectants, etc.) that would be useful against the spread of and for self-protection against COVID-19. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Formulations in Agri-Food-Pharma: Source and Applications, Volume II)

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15 pages, 2128 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Biotechnological Approach for the Production of Pharmaceutically Active Human Interferon-α from Raphanus sativus L. Plants

by Rashad Kebeish, Emad Hamdy, Omar Al-Zoubi, Talaat Habeeb, Raha Osailan and Yassin El-Ayouty

Bioengineering 2022, 9(8), 381; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering9080381 - 10 Aug 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2285

Abstract

Human interferon (IFN) is a type of cytokine that regulates the immune system’s response to viral and bacterial infections. Recombinant IFN-α has been approved for use in the treatment of a variety of viral infections as well as an anticancer medication for various forms of leukemia. The objective of the current study is to produce a functionally active recombinant human IFN-α2a from transgenic Raphanus sativus L. plants. Therefore, a binary plant expression construct containing the IFN-α2a gene coding sequence, under the regulation of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35SS promoter, was established. Agrobacterium-mediated floral dip transformation was used to introduce the IFN-α2a expression cassette into the nuclear genome of red and white rooted Raphanus sativus L. plants. From each genotype, three independent transgenic lines were established. The anticancer and antiviral activities of the partially purified recombinant IFN-α2a proteins were examined. The isolated IFN-α2a has been demonstrated to inhibit the spread of the Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV). In addition, cytotoxicity and cell apoptosis assays against Hep-G2 cells (Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma) show the efficacy of the generated IFN-α2a as an anticancer agent. In comparison to bacterial, yeast, and animal cell culture systems, the overall observed results demonstrated the efficacy of using Raphanus sativus L. plants as a safe, cost-effective, and easy-to-use expression system for generating active human IFN-α2a. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Formulations in Agri-Food-Pharma: Source and Applications, Volume II)

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17 pages, 1682 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Storage Stability and In Vitro Bioaccessibility of Microencapsulated Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum L.) Pomace Extract

by Luiz C. Corrêa-Filho, Diana I. Santos, Luísa Brito, Margarida Moldão-Martins and Vítor D. Alves

Bioengineering 2022, 9(7), 311; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering9070311 - 13 Jul 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2473

Abstract

Tomato pomace is rich in carotenoids (mainly lycopene), which are related to important bioactive properties. In general, carotenoids are known to react easily under environmental conditions, which may create a barrier in producing stable functional components for food. This work intended to evaluate the storage stability and in vitro release of lycopene from encapsulated tomato pomace extract, and its bioaccessibility when encapsulates were incorporated in yogurt. Microencapsulation assays were carried out with tomato pomace extract as the core material and arabic gum or inulin (10 and 20 wt%) as wall materials by spray drying (160 and 200 °C). The storage stability results indicate that lycopene degradation was highly influenced by the presence of oxygen and light, even when encapsulated. In vitro release studies revealed that 63% of encapsulated lycopene was released from the arabic gum particles in simulated gastric fluid, whereas for the inulin particles, the release was only around 13%. The feed composition with 20% inulin showed the best protective ability and the one that enabled releasing the bioactives preferentially in the intestine. The bioaccessibility of the microencapsulated lycopene added to yogurt increased during simulated gastrointestinal digestion as compared to the microencapsulated lycopene alone. We anticipate a high potential for the inulin microparticles containing lycopene to be used in functional food formulations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Formulations in Agri-Food-Pharma: Source and Applications, Volume II)

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15 pages, 26032 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improvement of Enzymatic Saccharification and Ethanol Production from Rice Straw Using Recycled Ionic Liquid: The Effect of Anti-Solvent Mixture

by Santi Chuetor, Elizabeth Jayex Panakkal, Thanagorn Ruensodsai, Kraipat Cheenkachorn, Suchata Kirdponpattara, Yu-Shen Cheng and Malinee Sriariyanun

Bioengineering 2022, 9(3), 115; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering9030115 - 11 Mar 2022

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 3341

Abstract

One of the major concerns for utilizing ionic liquid on an industrial scale is the cost involved in the production. Despite its proven pretreatment efficiency, expenses involved in its usage hinder its utilization. A better way to tackle this limitation could be overcome by studying the recyclability of ionic liquid. The current study has applied the Box–Behnken design (BBD) to optimize the pretreatment condition of rice straw through the usage of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate (EMIM-Ac) as an ionic liquid. The model predicted the operation condition with 5% solid loading at 128.4 °C for 71.83 min as an optimum pretreatment condition. Under the optimized pretreatment condition, the necessity of the best anti-solvent was evaluated among water, acetone methanol, and their combinations. The study revealed that pure methanol is the suitable choice of anti-solvent, enhancing the highest sugar yield. Recyclability of EMIM-Ac coupled with anti-solvent was conducted up to five recycles following the predicted pretreatment condition. Fermentation studies evaluated the efficacy of recycled EMIM-Ac for ethanol production with 89% more ethanol production than the untreated rice straw even after five recycles. This study demonstrates the potential of recycled ionic liquid in ethanol production, thereby reducing the production cost at the industrial level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Formulations in Agri-Food-Pharma: Source and Applications, Volume II)

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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

17 pages, 3169 KiB

Open AccessReview

Transformation of Agro-Waste into Value-Added Bioproducts and Bioactive Compounds: Micro/Nano Formulations and Application in the Agri-Food-Pharma Sector

by Saroj Bala, Diksha Garg, Kandi Sridhar, Baskaran Stephen Inbaraj, Ranjan Singh, Srinivasulu Kamma, Manikant Tripathi and Minaxi Sharma

Bioengineering 2023, 10(2), 152; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10020152 - 23 Jan 2023

Cited by 64 | Viewed by 8917

Abstract

The agricultural sector generates a significant amount of waste, the majority of which is not productively used and is becoming a danger to both world health and the environment. Because of the promising relevance of agro-residues in the agri-food-pharma sectors, various bioproducts and novel biologically active molecules are produced through valorization techniques. Valorization of agro-wastes involves physical, chemical, and biological, including green, pretreatment methods. Bioactives and bioproducts development from agro-wastes has been widely researched in recent years. Nanocapsules are now used to increase the efficacy of bioactive molecules in food applications. This review addresses various agri-waste valorization methods, value-added bioproducts, the recovery of bioactive compounds, and their uses. Moreover, it also covers the present status of bioactive micro- and nanoencapsulation strategies and their applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Formulations in Agri-Food-Pharma: Source and Applications, Volume II)

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20 pages, 2395 KiB

Open AccessReview

Attenuation of Hyperlipidemia by Medicinal Formulations of Emblica officinalis Synergized with Nanotechnological Approaches

by Puttasiddaiah Rachitha, Krupashree Krishnaswamy, Renal Antoinette Lazar, Vijai Kumar Gupta, Baskaran Stephen Inbaraj, Vinay Basavegowda Raghavendra, Minaxi Sharma and Kandi Sridhar

Bioengineering 2023, 10(1), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10010064 - 4 Jan 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3536

Abstract

The ayurvedic herb Emblica officinalis (E. officinalis) is a gift to mankind to acquire a healthy lifestyle. It has great therapeutic and nutritional importance. Emblica officinalis, also known as Indian gooseberry or Amla, is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family. Amla is beneficial for treating illnesses in all its forms. The most crucial component is a fruit, which is also the most common. It is used frequently in Indian medicine as a restorative, diuretic, liver tonic, refrigerant, stomachic, laxative, antipyretic, hair tonic, ulcer preventive, and for the common cold and fever. Hyperlipidemia is also known as high cholesterol or an increase in one or more lipid-containing blood proteins. Various phytocompounds, including polyphenols, vitamins, amino acids, fixed oils, and flavonoids, are present in the various parts of E. officinalis. E. officinalis has been linked to a variety of pharmacological effects in earlier studies, including hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, radioprotective, and hyperlipidemic effects. The amla-derived active ingredients and food products nevertheless encounter challenges such as instability and interactions with other food matrices. Considering the issue from this perspective, food component nanoencapsulation is a young and cutting-edge field for controlled and targeted delivery with a range of preventative activities. The nanoformulation of E. officinalis facilitates the release of active components or food ingredients, increased bioaccessibility, enhanced therapeutic activities, and digestion in the human body. Accordingly, the current review provides a summary of the phytoconstituents of E. officinalis, pharmacological actions detailing the plant E. officinalis’s traditional uses, and especially hyperlipidemic activity. Correspondingly, the article describes the uses of nanotechnology in amla therapeutics and functional ingredients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Formulations in Agri-Food-Pharma: Source and Applications, Volume II)

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22 pages, 3305 KiB

Open AccessReview

Advances in Nanofabrication Technology for Nutraceuticals: New Insights and Future Trends

by Rachitha Puttasiddaiah, Rohitha Lakshminarayana, Nandini Lalithadripura Somashekar, Vijai Kumar Gupta, Baskaran Stephen Inbaraj, Zeba Usmani, Vinay Basavegowda Raghavendra, Kandi Sridhar and Minaxi Sharma

Bioengineering 2022, 9(9), 478; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering9090478 - 16 Sep 2022

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 5261

Abstract

Bioactive components such as polyphenolics, flavonoids, bioactive peptides, pigments, and essential fatty acids were known to ward off some deadliest diseases. Nutraceuticals are those beneficial compounds that may be food or part of food that has come up with medical or health benefits. Nanoencapsulation and nanofabricated delivery systems are an imminent approach in the field of food sciences. The sustainable fabrication of nutraceuticals and biocompatible active components indisputably enhances the food grade and promotes good health. Nanofabricated delivery systems include carbohydrates-based, lipids (solid and liquid), and proteins-based delivery systems. Solid nano-delivery systems include lipid nanoparticles. Liquid nano-delivery systems include nanoliposomes and nanoemulsions. Physicochemical properties of nanoparticles such as size, charge, hydrophobicity, and targeting molecules affect the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of nano delivery systems. Advance research in toxicity studies is necessary to ensure the safety of the nanofabricated delivery systems, as the safety of nano delivery systems for use in food applications is unknown. Therefore, improved nanotechnology could play a pivotal role in developing functional foods, a contemporary concept assuring the consumers to provide programmed, high-priced, and high-quality research toward nanofabricated delivery systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Formulations in Agri-Food-Pharma: Source and Applications, Volume II)

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24 pages, 4147 KiB

Open AccessReview

Postharvest Operations of Cannabis and Their Effect on Cannabinoid Content: A Review

by Pabitra Chandra Das, Alec Roger Vista, Lope G. Tabil and Oon-Doo Baik

Bioengineering 2022, 9(8), 364; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering9080364 - 3 Aug 2022

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 7221

Abstract

In recent years, cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) has been legalized by many countries for production, processing, and use considering its tremendous medical and industrial applications. Cannabis contains more than a hundred biomolecules (cannabinoids) which have the potentiality to cure different chronic diseases. After harvesting, cannabis undergoes different postharvest operations including drying, curing, storage, etc. Presently, the cannabis industry relies on different traditional postharvest operations, which may result in an inconsistent quality of products. In this review, we aimed to describe the biosynthesis process of major cannabinoids, postharvest operations used by the cannabis industry, and the consequences of postharvest operations on the cannabinoid profile. As drying is the most important post-harvest operation of cannabis, the attributes associated with drying (water activity, equilibrium moisture content, sorption isotherms, etc.) and the significance of novel pre-treatments (microwave heating, cold plasma, ultrasound, pulse electric, irradiation, etc.) for improvement of the process are thoroughly discussed. Additionally, other operations, such as trimming, curing, packaging and storage, are discussed, and the effect of the different postharvest operations on the cannabinoid yield is summarized. A critical investigation of the factors involved in each postharvest operation is indeed key for obtaining quality products and for the sustainable development of the cannabis industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Formulations in Agri-Food-Pharma: Source and Applications, Volume II)

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Bioactive Formulations in Agri-Food-Pharma: Source and Applications, Volume II

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