Search Results (1,164)

Background: Lutein and zeaxanthin (LZ) are macular xanthophyll carotenoids with antioxidant and blue-light filtering properties, but their oral bioavailability is limited. Lipid-based delivery systems may enhance absorption. Methods: We compared four single-dose LZ delivery systems in male Sprague–Dawley rats: (G1) LZ in medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil; (G2) LZ in MCT + phosphatidylcholine (PC); (G3) LZ in MCT + phosphatidylserine (PS); (G4) LZ in liposomal powder. Following an overnight fast, each group (n = 6) received an oral gavage of the assigned formulation. Serial blood samples were collected up to 24 h post-dose. Plasma lutein + zeaxanthin concentrations were quantified by a validated LC–MS/MS method. Non-compartmental pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters were computed (Phoenix WinNonlin^®), and one-way ANOVA was used to make inter-group comparisons on ln-transformed metrics with Dunnett’s post hoc tests. Results: The PS-complexed formulation (G3) yielded the highest LZ exposure (mean C_max 69.63 ± 0.78 ng/mL; AUC_0-t 620.23 ± 16.41 ng·h/mL), significantly exceeding the MCT oil control (G1: 52.54 ± 0.70 ng/mL; 494.51 ± 13.70 ng·h/mL; p < 0.001). The PC-enriched oil (G2) and liposomal powder (G4) also produced higher C_max and AUC than G1 (p < 0.01). No differences in elimination half-life (t1/2 ≈ eight h) were observed between formulations. Conclusions: Phospholipids, especially PS, substantially improved the systemic availability of lutein and zeaxanthin compared with MCT oil alone. PS-based lipid complexes appear particularly effective, supporting their use in ocular-health formulations to maximise xanthophyll bioavailability. Full article

Polysaccharide intervention is an effective strategy to regulate properties of emulsions. In this study, xanthan gum (XG), konjac glucomannan (KGM), guar gum (GG), and inulin (IN) were selected to regulate physical and gastrointestinal digestive properties of sodium caseinate (CAS) oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions. The results indicate that IN could not improve CAS emulsion properties, while XG, KGM, and GG significantly reduced droplet size and improved emulsions’ stability. With the increase of the polysaccharide concentration, the G′ and G″ of the emulsions increased and the emulsions showed an obvious “solid-like” state, which effectively slowed down the “strain-thinning” phenomenon. The microstructure demonstrated that the polysaccharide chains are effectively connected with the surface membrane of droplets, which effectively improves interfacial membrane strength and inhibits droplet aggregation. In vitro digestion simulations proved that polysaccharides effectively modulate emulsion lipid release, providing an excellent lipid environment for curcumin absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. The order of the four polysaccharides in improving CAS emulsions was XG > KGM > GG > IN. This study dissects the differential regulation of physical and gastrointestinal digestive properties of emulsion by polysaccharides, providing theoretical support for functional emulsions for diverse requirements. Full article

Fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamins A and E, are essential micronutrients generally found in fruits, nuts, oils, and vegetables. These vitamins have better absorption and retention in the body when compared to water-soluble vitamins. They also play a significant role in cellular metabolism and the pathophysiology of human health and disease. Further, acting as coenzymes in several biochemical pathways, these vitamins also play a crucial role in immune regulation, vision, and oxidative stress responses. Further, these vitamins have emerged as potential preventive and therapeutic strategies for a wide range of diseases. Recently, vitamins A and E have been shown to exert beneficial effects against various cancers. Further, these vitamins are actively involved in cancer progression or prevention by regulating oxidative, immune, and inflammatory responses, as well as epigenetic processes. This narrative review discusses how recent preclinical and clinical studies have identified multiple pathways through which these vitamins impact cancer prevention and therapy. Furthermore, it also analyzes the potential of vitamins A and E in cancer management and advocates for continued research to unlock their therapeutic potential. Full article

Five types of fruit seed oils have been described from the perspective of their potential use in the synthesis of biopolyols. The overall goal is to increase the participation of biopolyurethanes in polymer production, aligning with the European Green Deal. Blackcurrant, cherry, grape, pomegranate, and watermelon seed oils were characterized by iodine value, acid value, density, average molecular weight, viscosity, and fatty acid profile. The thermal properties of the oils were also determined using thermogravimetry (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In order to obtain reactive compounds for the synthesis of biopolyols, the vegetable oils were modified using the transesterification reaction with triethanolamine. The resulting biopolyols were characterized by their hydroxyl number, acid number, density, average molar mass, and viscosity. The biopolyols were then used to produce thermal-insulating polyurethane foams by completely replacing petrochemical polyols with counterparts derived from fruit seeds. The obtained foams were described by their closed cell content, apparent density, thermal conductivity coefficient, dimensional stability, maximum stress at 10% deformation, thermal stability, oxygen index, and water absorption. In addition, an analysis of the foaming process revealed that the properties of fruit seed oil after chemical modification had an impact on the properties of the open-cell polyurethane foams and the foaming process itself. Full article

The recycling of by-products from fish processing procedures has recently been attracting increased attention. In this study, three types of gelatin were isolated from grass carp skin, bone, and scales, named SKG, BG, and SCG, respectively, and their structural and functional characteristics were investigated. Compared with BG and SCG, SKG exhibited the highest extraction yield (18.30 ± 0.24%) and protein content (90.12 ± 0.21%) and the lowest ash content (1.50 ± 0.08%). Electrophoresis analysis revealed that SKG contained more α chains than BG and SCG. Fourier transform infrared spectra showed that the absorption peaks of gelatin were mainly positioned in amide band regions, whereas some of the triple helix structure was lost. More than 85% solubility was observed in all gelatin types with pH 3–10. Meanwhile, there was a higher gel strength in SKG (288.2 g) than in BG (270.2 g) and SCG (245.1 g). Furthermore, the water or oil absorption and emulsifying characteristics of SKG were also better than those of BG and SCG. The differences in functional properties between gelatin types appear to be related to protein distribution and composition. All the results indicate that grass carp skin is a material with the potential to extract gelatin with a higher yield and gel strength and better functional characteristics compared with bone and scales. Full article

Bamboo fibers have received significant attention due to their biodegradability and environmental benefits. However, their inherent hydrophilicity causes dramatic degradation in mechanical properties after water absorption. Some methods have been adopted to treat bamboo fiber to address this challenge, e.g., sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution treatment, vegetable oil treatment, and carboxylated styrene butadiene rubber (XSBR) treatment. In this study, the sodium silicate solution treatment method is proposed. The effects of four treatment methods on bamboo fibers are systematically evaluated using direct tensile tests, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results indicate that all four treatment methods can effectively mitigate the reduction in tensile stress and Young’s modulus of bamboo fibers after water immersion. Sodium silicate solution (modulus = 3.3)-treated bamboo fibers show the smallest reduction in tensile strength (36.8%), while the Young’s modulus of the sodium silicate solution (modulus = 2.3)-treated fibers increased by 4.5%. FTIR analysis shows that four treatment methods lead to reduction in hydrophilic groups in bamboo fiber. For the sodium silicate solution treatment method, a hydrophobic solidified sodium silicate layer forms on the surface of bamboo fibers, which further hinders moisture absorption. Full article

Oil contamination in subsurface soils caused by leaks from underground storage tanks (USTs) and industrial facilities has become a significant geo-environmental concern. Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) migrate through the ground and are difficult to remediate once dispersed; thus, prevention of migration is critical. This study experimentally investigated a hybrid liner system combining three barrier mechanisms—physical, reactive, and absorptive—to prevent TPH migration in the subsurface. Laboratory-scale experiments were conducted using a soil box simulating groundwater flow, in which Type A (100% polynorbornene powder) and Type B (mixed bentonite–sand–polyolefin–polynorbornene) liners were embedded under different soil types and spill distances. Results showed that permeability decreased rapidly after oil contact, reaching the transition zone within 120 H. Type A responded more quickly and achieved lower permeability, while Type B provided comparable but slower reduction owing to its mixed composition. These findings demonstrate that hybrid liners effectively block oil migration without hindering groundwater flow and that soil condition and spill location should be considered when selecting liner type for field applications. Full article

Developing durable hydrophobic and oleophobic textiles using simple and environmentally responsible techniques remains a challenge. This study aimed to determine how the structure of organosilicon silanes—specifically the type of functional group (fluorinated alkyl, long alkyl, or benzyl group) and the presence of an ester linker formed via the thiol–Michael addition—affects the wetting behaviour of cotton fabrics. Five silanes were synthesized and applied using a mild pad–dry–cure silanization process. The modified fabrics were evaluated through water and oil contact angle (WCA, OCA) measurements, water absorption tests, droplet-stability analysis, and washing-durability assessment. All treated samples exhibited hydrophobicity, while the silane containing a C6 perfluoroalkyl chain provided both hydrophobic and oleophobic performance. This fabric showed a WCA of 152° and an OCA of 126° (hexadecane), which remained essentially unchanged after 10 washing cycles (153° and 126°, respectively). Water absorption decreased by 91%, and droplets remained stable for at least 30 min. SEM, and SEM-EDS confirmed the presence and uniform distribution of the silane coating. These results demonstrate that short-chain fluorinated silanes and long-chain alkyl silanes can form durable low-surface-energy layers on cotton using a straightforward and efficient process, offering a promising route for high-performance functional textiles. Full article

The zinc complex of salicylaldehyde serine Schiff base (ZnL) was synthesized from serine, salicylaldehyde, and zinc diacetate and subsequently applied as a heat stabilizer in poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC). The structure of ZnL was determined using elemental analysis, crucible thermogravimetric method, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and ¹H NMR spectra. The heat stability effect of ZnL for PVC was investigated using the Congo red and oven aging methods. The results indicated that PVC stabilized by ZnL exhibited a certain degree of original whiteness and long-term heat resistance. In contrast with PVC stabilized by ZnSt₂ and Ca/Zn, ZnL was found to be slightly inferior in terms of whiteness but superior in long-term heat resistance. It was observed that complexation of ZnL with CaSt₂ could enhance both the original whiteness and long-term heat resistance of PVC, while also alleviating the “zinc burning” phenomenon. In contrast, complexation with ZnSt₂ was found to promote “zinc burning” for PVC. Furthermore, the heat stability mechanism of ZnL for PVC was explored through experiments focusing on HCl absorption and active chlorine substitution. The results demonstrated that ZnL could replace active chlorine on the PVC molecule and absorb HCl gas. Finally, auxiliary heat stabilizers such as pentaerythritol (Pe), dibenzoyl methane (DBM), and epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO) were added to ZnL/CaSt₂ to evaluate their synergistic effects. It was found that ESBO in PVC exhibited the best synergistic effect with ZnL/CaSt₂ and was superior to those observed with DBM and Pe. When the ratio of ZnL/CaSt₂/ESBO was set at 0.6/2.4/0.9, PVC demonstrated the optimal thermal stability performance. Full article

Mulberry leaf glutelin (MG), a nutrient-rich protein fraction from mulberry leaves, remains underutilized due to limited studies on its physicochemical functional properties and biological activities. In this study, seven varieties of MG (TSG, DSG, 109G, C1G, C2G, C3G, C4G) were evaluated for amino acid composition, secondary structure (FTIR), solubility, water-holding capacity (WHC), oil absorption capacity (OAC), foaming capacity (FC), foam stability (FS), emulsifying activity index (EAI), emulsion stability index (ESI), in vitro digestibility, and pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity (PLI). The results showed that MG contains four secondary structures and 17 amino acids, being rich in glutamic acid, aspartic acid, and leucine. C3G exhibited superior solubility (96.32%) at pH 10, while C4G showed optimal WHC (9.27 g/g), FC (73.75%), and FS (92.80%). TSG exhibited the highest OAC (9.58 g/g) and EAI (15.79 m²/g), and DSG demonstrated an excellent ESI (117.25 min), digestibility (88.17%), and PLI (70.54%). These findings provide valuable insights for the application of MG in food processing and innovation, enhancing its potential value for the food industry and human health. Full article

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) is a rich source of bioactive compounds, including vitamin C, polyphenols, carotenoids, and dietary fiber. In this study, sea buckthorn pomace, an underutilized by-product of oil processing, was incorporated into wheat bread at levels of 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12% (based on flour weight). The technological performance (dough yield, baking loss, loaf volume, texture, and color), nutritional composition (protein, fat, dietary fiber fractions, mineral content, and caloric value), and sensory attributes of the resulting breads were comprehensively evaluated. Pomace addition markedly increased the protein content of bread (from 13.5% to 16.8%) and more than doubled total dietary fiber (from 5.4% to 11.6%), while reducing caloric value by approximately 5.6%. Increasing pomace levels also affected dough behavior and bread structure: water absorption rose from 59.9% to 68.9%, specific loaf volume decreased by 11–28%, and crumb hardness increased from 3.8 N (control) to 12.4 N (12% addition). Sensory acceptability remained high up to 6% pomace incorporation (acceptability index > 90%), whereas breads containing 9–12% received significantly lower scores, mainly due to darker crumb color and intensified sour or bitter notes. Overall, sea buckthorn pomace can be effectively used as a nutritionally enriching, value-added ingredient in wheat bread, enhancing fiber and protein content while maintaining desirable technological and sensory properties at moderate substitution levels. Full article

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) economies are investing heavily in digital infrastructure to diversify beyond hydrocarbons, yet the productivity returns from these investments remain uncertain. This study examines whether digital adoption enhances labor productivity in GCC economies (2000–2023). We construct a Composite Digital Index (CDI) from broadband subscriptions, internet use, and mobile penetration. Interpreting the Gulf economies as socio-technical systems, we frame digital adoption, productivity, and investment (measured by GCF) as a reinforcing loop, with government effectiveness amplifying the cycle and oil rents dampening it. Using panel data methods, including fixed-effects and long-run estimators, we find that digital adoption yields persistent productivity gains. In the long run, a one-point increase in CDI is associated with a 12.6 percentage point rise in labor productivity growth (p < 0.05). This effect triples—to approximately 38.5 percentage points—when moderated by strong government effectiveness (CDI × Governance interaction: +26.3; p < 0.01). Conversely, the productivity payoff declines significantly with oil-rent dependence: for every 10 percentage-point rise in oil rents, the marginal effect of digital adoption drops by 3.4 points. These gains are significantly larger where government effectiveness is stronger, while oil dependence weakens them. The findings imply that infrastructure adoption alone is insufficient: institutions and fiscal structures condition whether digital adoption translate into sustained productivity growth. Policy priorities should focus on institutional reform, fiscal diversification, and enabling firm-level digital absorption—particularly in high-rent economies—so that adoption translates into broad-based productivity dividends. Full article

Background/Objectives: In the Brazilian Amazon, which accounts for over 99% of national malaria cases, 34,260 cases were reported as of August 2025, predominantly caused by Plasmodium vivax, responsible for 86.69% of the infections. The increasing resistance of the parasite to conventional therapies highlights the urgent need for novel control strategies, with essential oils and plant-derived substances emerging as promising alternatives. Methods: In this context, we evaluated the anti-Plasmodium potential of Piper alatipetiolatum essential oil and its major constituent 6-ishwarone against P. vivax, including cytotoxicity in Vero and PBMCs, molecular docking on dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and in silico pharmacokinetic profiling. Results: Both the oil and 6-ishwarone inhibited P. vivax dose-dependently (2.1 ± 1 to 100%), with IC₅₀ values of 9.25 µg/mL and 3.93 µg/mL, respectively. Importantly, no cytotoxic effects were observed at 24 h, with cell viability ranging from 94.7% to 98.3%, highlighting the selectivity of these compounds towards the parasite over mammalian cells. Docking studies indicated selective binding of 6-ishwarone to DHFR (−7.7 kcal/mol; Ki = 2.27 µM) with key interactions (Trp816, Lys820, Tyr819, Asn823, Thr865), whereas binding to LDH was weaker (−6.2 kcal/mol; Ki = 28.10 µM), suggesting DHFR as the primary molecular target. In silico ADMET predictions and experimental data indicated favorable drug-like properties: TPSA = 20.23 Ų, moderate lipophilicity (LogP = 3.37), soluble (ESOL Log S = −3.58; Ali Log S = −3.89; Silicos-IT Log S = −2.84), high gastrointestinal absorption, BBB permeability (0.985), not a P-glycoprotein substrate (0.11), and low likelihood of CYP inhibition. Toxicity predictions showed non-mutagenic and non-hepatotoxic effects, low cardiotoxicity (hERG inhibition risk 0.08–0.32), low reproductive toxicity (0.03), moderate neurotoxicity (0.28), low acute toxicity (oral LD₅₀ = 2.061 mol/kg), and low chronic toxicity (LOAEL = 1.995 log mg/kg/day). Conclusions: Together, these findings demonstrate that essential oil and 6-ishwarone of P. alatipetiolatum are selective, bioavailable, and promising natural leads for antimalarial drug development. Full article

The aim of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy as a tool for detecting the adulteration of cold-pressed walnut oil and other edible oils (rapeseed, sunflower, and soybean oils) at varying percentages. The spectra were recorded between 200 and 1800 nm, but the analyses focused on 350–1650 nm due to high UV and NIR absorption. Color was determined in CIEL*a*b* coordinates to achieve the differences among the samples. The spectra were submitted to several pre-treatment (none, normalization, SNV, MSC, baseline/detrend, first/second derivative, and 1st-order smoothing) to improve the statistical model’s parameters. The differentiation of the samples was carried out using an unsupervised method (principal component analysis—PCA) and two supervised methods (linear discriminant analysis—LDA and partial least squares linear discriminant analysis—PLS-DA). Partial least squares regression (PLS-R) was used for predicting the degree of adulteration. Separation between the authentic and adulterated samples was visible in the PCA scores plot, primarily along the spectral regions of 420–500 nm (pigment-related absorption band) and 1150–1450 nm (lipid-associated band). PLS-DA was superior to DA for the discrimination of authentic/adulterated samples, with baseline spectra of 350–1650 nm yielding a 100% overall accuracy and near-perfect accuracy with MSC (98.48%). PLS-R was able to predict the adulteration level, depending on the pre-treatment applied. Full article

Eugenol, a natural product abundant in clove oil, represents a promising precursor for the synthesis of azo dyes, proving potential for textile coloration. The eugenol azo dyes were synthesized and characterized, showing stable absorption profiles across a wide pH range. Their application to cotton and wool knitted fabrics by exhaustion dyeing demonstrated good affinity, particularly for wool, while chitosan pretreatment improved washing fastness in cotton. These eugenol-derived azo dyes emerge as promising candidates for sustainable textile coloration. Full article