RESUMEN
Almonds are a commonly consumed nut. They possess significantof nutritional and health benefitsand are commonly processed by roasting. This study aimed to investigatthe effects of roasting on the compound composition and antioxidant activity of almonds. Metabolomics analysis, performed via UPLC-QTOF/MS, and fatty acid analysis, conducted via GC-MS, employed, and the results demonstrated a significant increase in antioxidant activity of post-roasting and in vitro digestion, ranging from 1.16 to 3.44 times. Untargeted metabolomics identified a total of 172 compounds, with notable differences observed in organic oxides, fatty acids, and their derivatives. Correlation analysis identified fatty acids as the primary influencers of changes in antioxidant activity following roasting. Taken together, these findings suggest that roasting enhances the antioxidant activity of almonds, primarily due to alterations in fatty acid analogs, thereby providing valuable insights into optimizing almond consumption for health benefits.
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Antioxidantes , Ácidos Grasos , Cromatografía de Gases y Espectrometría de Masas , Metabolómica , Prunus dulcis , Antioxidantes/análisis , Antioxidantes/metabolismo , Metabolómica/métodos , Prunus dulcis/química , Cromatografía Líquida de Alta Presión , Ácidos Grasos/análisis , Culinaria/métodos , Nueces/química , Calor , Manipulación de Alimentos/métodos , Espectrometría de Masas en TándemRESUMEN
Solar-based desalination is one of the prominent contributors to overcoming the water scarcity problems in desert areas and a major alternative to fossil fuel-based desalination methods. The present study focuses on utilizing green almond shells (green almond shells) as energy storage materials in tubular solar still (TSS) to enhance water productivity, energy efficiency, and economic and environmental analyses. Further, this study discusses the yearly water output, annual energy efficiency, and economic and environmental analyses. Two different TSS were utilized which consists of conventional TSS (CTSS) without any storage materials and modified TSS with the inclusion of green almond shells (MTSS) in the climatic conditions of Chennai, India. The yearly distilled water output from the CTSS and MTSS was evaluated as 512 and 691.2 kg/m2, respectively. The yearly distilled water output from the MTSS is 26% higher when compared to the CTSS. Furthermore, the maximum monthly energy efficiency of the CTSS and MTSS was 14.4 and 19.44%, respectively. The annual energy efficiency of the CTSS and MTSS is 12.6 and 17.02%, respectively. The economic analysis of the system is also carried out, and the findings show that better economic feasibility is achieved in MTSS considering the INR 5 (Indian Rupees) cost of water. The payback period for MTSS was 12 months, while for CTSS it is calculated to be 20 months. Furthermore, CO2 emission and mitigation have also been evaluated, and the results indicate that the utilization of porous material has increased the emission for MTSS, while CO2 mitigation has been significantly higher as compared to the CTSS system.
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Prunus dulcis , Prunus dulcis/química , IndiaRESUMEN
In this study, the effects of wheat flour treated with ball milling (BM) and maltodextrin on the oil absorption and textural characteristics of fried batter-coated cashews and almonds (BCAs) were investigated. The result showed that the crystallinity of the starch granules in wheat flour decreased after the BM treatment. Furthermore, the ΔH of the batter decreased as the BM time was elongated, but the addition of maltodextrin had no significant impact on ΔH. Both BM-treated wheat flour and maltodextrin increased the fracturability and decreased the oil content of the fried BCAs' batter. The addition of BM-treated wheat flour and maltodextrin decreased the oil content of the batter from 28.93% to 18.75% for batter-coated cashews and from 30.92% to 18.61% for batter-coated almonds. Overall, the addition of BM-treated wheat flour and maltodextrin in batter is an effective approach to decrease oil content and improve the textural quality of fried BCAs.
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Culinaria , Harina , Polisacáridos , Prunus dulcis , Triticum , Polisacáridos/química , Harina/análisis , Triticum/química , Prunus dulcis/química , Aceites de Plantas/química , Manipulación de AlimentosRESUMEN
The health benefits of nut consumption have been extensively demonstrated in observational studies and intervention trials. Besides the high nutritional value, countless evidences show that incorporating nuts into the diet may contribute to health promotion and prevention of certain diseases. Such benefits have been mostly and certainly attributed not only to their richness in healthy lipids (plentiful in unsaturated fatty acids), but also to the presence of a vast array of phytochemicals, such as polar lipids, squalene, phytosterols, tocochromanols, and polyphenolic compounds. Thus, many nut chemical compounds apply well to the designation "nutraceuticals," a broad umbrella term used to describe any food component that, in addition to the basic nutritional value, can contribute extra health benefits. This contribution analyses the general chemical profile of groundnut and common tree nuts (almond, walnut, cashew, hazelnut, pistachio, macadamia, pecan), focusing on lipid components and phytochemicals, with a view on their bioactive properties. Relevant scientific literature linking consumption of nuts, and/or some of their components, with ameliorative and/or preventive effects on selected diseases - such as cancer, cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurodegenerative pathologies - was also reviewed. In addition, the bioactive properties were analyzed in the light of known mechanistic frameworks.
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Suplementos Dietéticos , Juglans , Nueces , Fitoquímicos , Pistacia , Nueces/química , Fitoquímicos/análisis , Fitoquímicos/farmacología , Humanos , Suplementos Dietéticos/análisis , Juglans/química , Pistacia/química , Lípidos/análisis , Valor Nutritivo , Anacardium/química , Macadamia/química , Corylus/química , Fitosteroles/análisis , Carya/química , Prunus dulcis/química , Enfermedades Cardiovasculares/prevención & controlRESUMEN
The suitability of a given protein for use in food products depends heavily on characteristics such as foaming capacity, emulsifiability, and solubility, all of which are affected by the protein structure. Notably, protein structure, and thus characteristics related to food applications, can be altered by treatment with high-power ultrasound (HUS). Almonds are a promising source of high-quality vegetable protein for food products, but their physicochemical and functional properties remain largely unexplored, limiting their current applications in foods. Here, we tested the use of HUS on almond protein isolate (API) to determine the effects of this treatment on API functional properties. Aqueous almond protein suspensions were sonicated at varying power levels (200, 400, or 600 W) for two durations (15 or 30 min). The molecular structure, protein microstructure, solubility, and emulsifying and foaming properties of the resulting samples were then measured. The results showed that HUS treatment did not break API covalent bonds, but there were notable changes in the secondary protein structure composition, with the treated proteins showing a decrease in α-helices and ß-turns, and an increase in random coil structures as the result of protein unfolding. HUS treatment also increased the number of surface free sulfhydryl groups and decreased the intrinsic fluorescence intensity, indicating that the treatment also led to alterations in the tertiary protein structures. The particle size in aqueous suspensions was decreased in treated samples, indicating that HUS caused the dissociation of API aggregates. Finally, treated samples showed increased water solubility, emulsifying activity, emulsifying stability, foaming capacity, and foaming stability. This study demonstrated that HUS altered key physicochemical characteristics of API, improving critical functional properties including solubility and foaming and emulsifying capacities. This study also validated HUS as a safe and environmentally responsible tool for enhancing desirable functional characteristics of almond proteins, promoting their use in the food industry as a high-quality plant-based protein.
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Proteínas de Plantas , Prunus dulcis , Solubilidad , Prunus dulcis/química , Proteínas de Plantas/química , Ondas Ultrasónicas , Estructura Secundaria de ProteínaRESUMEN
Some consumers are replacing cow's milk with plant-based milk alternatives (PBMAs). The present study aimed to characterize the lipid profiles of cow's milk (n = 60) and PBMA types (soya, oat, rice, almond, coconut, and hazelnut; n = 10 per type). Significant differences were found in the fatty acid (FA) profiles of PBMAs and milk, particularly in FA diversity (15 FAs in PBMAs vs 54 FAs in milk) and the proportion of prime FA groups. The FA profile of coconut was dominated by saturated FAs (SFA), whereas monounsaturated FAs (MUFA) or polyunsaturated FAs (PUFA) were dominant in the remaining PBMA types. Cholesterol was not detected in any PBMA type. The FA profile of milk FAs was dominated by SFA; however, different individual SFA have varying health outcomes. Additionally, milk contains some FA groups with health-promoting properties, such as methyl-branched-chain FAs (BCFA) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), both of which are absent in PBMAs.
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Ácidos Grasos , Sustitutos de la Leche , Leche , Animales , Leche/química , Bovinos , Ácidos Grasos/análisis , Ácidos Grasos/química , Sustitutos de la Leche/química , Avena/química , Corylus/química , Lípidos/análisis , Lípidos/química , Oryza/química , Cocos/química , Prunus dulcis/química , Glycine max/química , FemeninoRESUMEN
Plant-based milks emerge as a healthy and vegan alternative for human diet, but these foodstuffs are susceptible to be contaminated by aflatoxins. A new method based on SPE and HPLC-MS/MS analysis was optimized and validated to test the presence of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 analysis in almond, oat, rice and soy commercial milks. Moreover, aflatoxin bioaccessibility was evaluated through an in vitro digestion assay applied to each type of spiked milk. Aflatoxins B1, B2 and G1 were detected in one soy milk sample below the LOQ, fulfilling the limits stablished by the European Legislation. The final bioaccessibility percentages were highly dependent on the type of mycotoxin and sample matrix, the highest and the lowest values were obtained for AFB2 (82%-92%) and AFG1 (15%-30%), whereas AFB1 (28%-50%) and AFG2 (32%-76%) values resulted more influenced by the plant-based milk matrix.
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Aflatoxinas , Contaminación de Alimentos , Espectrometría de Masas en Tándem , Aflatoxinas/análisis , Aflatoxinas/metabolismo , Contaminación de Alimentos/análisis , Cromatografía Líquida de Alta Presión , Oryza/química , Oryza/metabolismo , Avena/química , Avena/metabolismo , Humanos , Prunus dulcis/química , Leche/química , Leche/metabolismo , Aflatoxina B1/análisis , Aflatoxina B1/metabolismo , Animales , Leche de Soja/química , Leche de Soja/metabolismo , DigestiónRESUMEN
Biocompatibility, good mechanical properties, infection prevention, and anti-inflammatory are the requirements of an ideal wound dressing for the care and treatment of skin wounds. In this study, the nanohydrogels as wound dressing, were fabricated by bacterial nanocellulose (BNC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and gellan gum. Bitter almond oil nanoemulsion (BAO-NE) was made with ultrasonic force and incorporated into the nanohydrogels in concentrations of 2, 4, and 6 %. The mechanical and physicochemical analyses such as tensile strength (TS), elongation at break (EB), swelling, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), degradation, FTIR-ATR, and SEM, and anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, etc. properties of the nanohydrogels were investigated. Also, the wound healing ability was evaluated by in-vivo analyses. The molecular analyses of the expression of genes related to collagen production and inflammation were performed. Increasing BAO-NE concentration enhanced anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria (P < 0.05). The in-vivo study presented the healing role of nanohydrogels in rat wounds. Real-time PCR results confirmed the anti-inflammatory and healing effects of the films at molecular levels. All the results testify to the promising properties of the fabricated nanohydrogels as a potential wound dressing.
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Antibacterianos , Celulosa , Emulsiones , Aceites de Plantas , Cicatrización de Heridas , Cicatrización de Heridas/efectos de los fármacos , Animales , Aceites de Plantas/química , Aceites de Plantas/farmacología , Ratas , Celulosa/química , Celulosa/farmacología , Antibacterianos/farmacología , Antibacterianos/química , Hidrogeles/química , Hidrogeles/farmacología , Polisacáridos Bacterianos/química , Polisacáridos Bacterianos/farmacología , Masculino , Antiinflamatorios/farmacología , Antiinflamatorios/química , Prunus dulcis/químicaRESUMEN
Urinary tract infection caused by Klebsiella, Proteus and Streptococcus is a urease dependent process, hence treatment of these infections by antibacterial compounds lies in inhibition of their virulence factors. The crude methanolic extracts derived from sumac fruit, pomegranate peel and Indian almond leaves were separated into anthocyanin and non-anthocyanin fractions using solid phase cartridges. The inhibitory effect of these fractions was determined on the growth of urease producing species and jack bean urease activity. Known compounds in the fractions were also docked with ureases of different biological origins viz. K. pneumoniae (PDB ID: 8HCN), K. aerogenes (PDB ID: 2KAU), Helicobacter pylori (PDB ID:8HC1)and Canavalia ensiformis (jack bean) (PDB ID: 3LA4) to determine their binding affinities and interaction with the enzyme. All the fractions showed significant inhibition growth for P. mirabilis, S. epidermidis and K.pneumoniae. Among the samples, sumac showed greatest inhibition against all (MIC 6-25 mg.mL-1) while among the fractions, anthocyanin was found to be most active (MIC 6-12 mg/mL). Likewise, all fractions inhibited urease with lowest ICs50 shown by sumac fractions (21-116 µg.mL-1). Out of 39 compounds docked, 27 showed interaction with movable flaps and/or active site of ureases which explains their mode of inhibition.
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Polifenoles , Granada (Fruta) , Prunus dulcis , Ureasa , Ureasa/antagonistas & inhibidores , Ureasa/metabolismo , Polifenoles/farmacología , Polifenoles/química , Granada (Fruta)/química , Prunus dulcis/química , Canavalia/enzimología , Extractos Vegetales/farmacología , Extractos Vegetales/química , Antibacterianos/farmacología , Antibacterianos/química , Inhibidores Enzimáticos/farmacología , Inhibidores Enzimáticos/química , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , Simulación del Acoplamiento Molecular , Bacterias/efectos de los fármacos , Bacterias/enzimologíaRESUMEN
This work outlines the first microwave (MW)-assisted protocol for the production of biofuel precursor furfural (FF) from the raw agricultural waste almond hull (AH), olive stone (OS), and the winemaking-derived grape stalk (GS), grape marc (GM) and exhausted grape marc (EGM) through a one-pot synthesis process. To enhance the overall yield, a catalytic process was firstly developed from xylose, major constituent of hemicellulose present in lignocellulosic biomass. This method afforded FF with 100 % selectivity, yielding over 85 % in isolated product when using H2SO4, as opposed to a 37 % yield with AlCl3·6H2O, at 150 °C in only 10 min. For both catalysts, the developed methodology was further validated, proving adaptable and efficient in producing the targeted FF from the aforementioned lignocellulosic raw materials. More specifically, the employment of AlCl3·6H2O resulted in the highest selectivity (up to 89 % from GM) and FF yield (42 % and 39 % molar from OS and AH, respectively), maintaining notable selectivity for the latter (61 and 48 % from AH and OS). At this regard, and considering the environmental factor of sustainability, it is important to point out the role of AlCl3·6H2O in contrast to H2SO4, thus mitigating detrimental substances. This study provides an important management of agricultural waste through sustainable practises for the development of potential bio-based chemicals, aligning with Green Chemistry and process intensification principles.
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Furaldehído , Microondas , Prunus dulcis , Vino , Furaldehído/análogos & derivados , Vino/análisis , Prunus dulcis/química , Biocombustibles/análisis , Vitis , Lignina/química , Aceites de Plantas/química , Catálisis , Cloruro de Aluminio , Olea/químicaRESUMEN
Almond trees are the most cultivated nut tree in the world. The production of almonds generates large amounts of by-products, much of which goes unused. Herein, this study aimed to develop a green chemistry approach to identify and extract potentially valuable compounds from almond by-products. Initially, a screening was performed with 10 different Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADESs). The mixture lactic acid/glycerol, with a molar ratio 1:1 (1:50 plant material to NADES (w/v) with 20% v/v of water) was identified as the best extraction solvent for catechin, caffeoylquinic acid, and condensed tannins in almond hulls. Subsequently, a method was optimized by a Design of Experiment (DoE) protocol using a miniaturized extraction technique, Microwave-Assisted Extraction (MAE), in conjunction with the chosen NADESs. The optimal conditions were found to be 70 °C with 15 min irradiation time. The optimal extraction conditions determined by the DoE were confirmed experimentally and compared to methods already established in the literature. With these conditions, the extraction of metabolites was 2.4 times higher, according to the increase in total peak area, than the established literature methods used. Additionally, by applying the multiparameter Analytical Greenness Metric (AGREE) and Green Analytical Process Index (GAPI) metrics, it was possible to conclude that the developed method was greener than the established literature methods as it includes various principles of green analytical chemistry.
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Extractos Vegetales , Prunus dulcis , Prunus dulcis/química , Extractos Vegetales/química , Extractos Vegetales/aislamiento & purificación , Microondas , Tecnología Química Verde/métodos , Solventes/química , Biomimética , Nueces/químicaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Regarding the importance of the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and higher consumption of salt among the Iranian population than the level recommended by the World Health Organization, the aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the salt mentioned in the traffic light labelling of nuts and seeds. Study Design: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: A total of 53 packaged nuts and seeds, including 7, 8, 9, 9, 10, and 10 samples of pumpkin, pistachios, almond, sunflower, peanut, and watermelon nuts and seeds, respectively, with traffic light labelling, were randomly purchased from several local markets in Isfahan, Iran. The amount of sodium was measured by the inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy technique and then multiplied by 2.5 to achieve the amount of salt. RESULTS: Varying levels of traffic light labeling value accuracy were observed in most of the samples. In the almond, pistachio, peanut, and watermelon groups, the average amount of laboratory value had a statistically significant difference with the label value (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated that the salt content of 82% of the studied samples had discrepancies with the values stated on the traffic light labelling. The presentation of an accurate amount of salt content is essential for promoting healthy eating habits and enabling individuals to make informed choices about their diet. It is recommended that regulatory authorities should review labelling guidelines and enforce stricter compliance to ensure accurate representation of salt content on packaged foods.
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Etiquetado de Alimentos , Nueces , Semillas , Irán , Nueces/química , Estudios Transversales , Semillas/química , Humanos , Cloruro de Sodio Dietético/análisis , Prunus dulcis/química , Citrullus/química , Pistacia/químicaRESUMEN
Complex coacervates of whey protein isolate (WPI) and two polysaccharides (almond gum (AG) and high methoxyl pectin (HMP)) under the different pHs (2.5-6.0) and biopolymer mass ratios (1:1-6:1) were prepared to achieve the maximum coacervate yield (CY). The optimum pH and mixing ratio to obtain the maximum CY of WPI-AG (75.93 %) and WPI-HMP (53.0 %) coacervates were 4.3 and 2:1, and 3.5 and 3:1, respectively. Although higher serum layers in emulsions stabilized by WPI-AG/HMP coacervates were detected at the 90 °C, remarkable heat stability under processing temperatures was obtained in ex-situ emulsions with both complex coacervates. Significantly more cold-storage and ionic stabilities were observed for emulsions formulated with WPI-AG than WPI-HMP. Peak shifts in FTIR spectra in the WPI-AG coacervate compared to the individual WPI and AG biopolymers revealed strong electrostatic interactions between these biopolymers. The absence of crystalline peaks for AG and HMP in X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra confirmed the complexation of AG and HMP with WPI. Thermogravimetric and microstructural analyses showed that porous, loose mesh-like WPI-AG coacervates had superior thermal stability and structural integrity compared to WPI-HMP coacervates and individual biopolymers, which evidenced a more gradual weight loss pattern. WPI-AG coacervates would be promising for efficient emulsion-based delivery systems.
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Emulsiones , Pectinas , Gomas de Plantas , Proteína de Suero de Leche , Proteína de Suero de Leche/química , Pectinas/química , Emulsiones/química , Gomas de Plantas/química , Concentración de Iones de Hidrógeno , Prunus dulcis/químicaRESUMEN
The lipase from Prunus dulcis almonds was inactivated under different conditions. At pH 5 and 9, enzyme stability remained similar under the different studied buffers. However, when the inactivation was performed at pH 7, there were some clear differences on enzyme stability depending on the buffer used. The enzyme was more stable in Gly than when Tris was employed for inactivation. Then, the enzyme was immobilized on methacrylate beads coated with octadecyl groups at pH 7 in the presence of Gly, Tris, phosphate and HEPES. Its activity was assayed versus triacetin and S-methyl mandelate. The biocatalyst prepared in phosphate was more active versus S-methyl mandelate, while the other ones were more active versus triacetin. The immobilized enzyme stability at pH 7 depends on the buffer used for enzyme immobilization. The buffer used in the inactivation and the substrate used determined the activity. For example, glycine was the buffer that promoted the lowest or the highest stabilities depending on the substrate used to quantify the activities.
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Estabilidad de Enzimas , Enzimas Inmovilizadas , Lipasa , Prunus dulcis , Enzimas Inmovilizadas/química , Enzimas Inmovilizadas/metabolismo , Lipasa/química , Lipasa/metabolismo , Prunus dulcis/química , Prunus dulcis/enzimología , Tampones (Química) , Concentración de Iones de Hidrógeno , Triacetina/química , Triacetina/metabolismo , Glicina/química , Glicina/metabolismo , Trometamina/química , Biocatálisis , Especificidad por Sustrato , Fosfatos/química , Fosfatos/metabolismo , HEPES/químicaRESUMEN
The current study addresses the growing demand for sustainable plant-based cheese alternatives by employing molecular docking and deep learning algorithms to optimize protein-ligand interactions. Focusing on key proteins (zein, soy, and almond protein) along with tocopherol and retinol, the goal was to improve texture, nutritional value, and flavor characteristics via dynamic simulations. The findings demonstrated that the docking analysis presented high accuracy in predicting conformational changes. Flexible docking algorithms provided insights into dynamic interactions, while analysis of energetics revealed variations in binding strengths. Tocopherol exhibited stronger affinity (-5.8Kcal/mol) to zein compared to retinol (-4.1Kcal/mol). Molecular dynamics simulations offered comprehensive insights into stability and behavior over time. The integration of machine learning algorithms improved the classification and the prediction accuracy, achieving a rate of 71.59%. This study underscores the significance of molecular understanding in driving innovation in the plant-based cheese industry, facilitating the development of sustainable alternatives to traditional dairy products.
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Queso , Simulación del Acoplamiento Molecular , Proteínas de Plantas , Prunus dulcis , Tocoferoles , Vitamina A , Zeína , Proteínas de Plantas/química , Proteínas de Plantas/metabolismo , Queso/análisis , Prunus dulcis/química , Vitamina A/química , Vitamina A/metabolismo , Tocoferoles/química , Tocoferoles/metabolismo , Zeína/química , Zeína/metabolismo , Simulación de Dinámica Molecular , Aprendizaje Automático , Glycine max/química , Glycine max/metabolismo , Máquina de Vectores de SoporteRESUMEN
Almond protein isolate (API) obtained from almond meal was processed using dynamic high-pressure microfluidisation (0, 40, 80, 120, and 160 MPa pressure; single pass). Microfluidisation caused significant reductions in the particle size and increased absolute zeta potential. SDS-PAGE analysis indicated reduction in band intensity and the complete disappearance of bands beyond 80 MPa. Structural analysis (by circular dichroism, UV-Vis, and intrinsic-fluorescence spectra) of the API revealed disaggregation (up to 80 MPa) and then re-aggregation beyond 80 MPa. Significant increments in protein digestibility (1.16-fold) and the protein digestibility corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS; 1.15-fold) were observed for the API (80 MPa) than control. Furthermore, significant improvements (P < 0.05) in the functional properties were observed, viz., the antioxidant activity, protein solubility, and emulsifying properties. Overall, the results revealed that moderate microfluidisation treatment (80 MPa) is an effective and sustainable technique for enhancing physico-chemical and functional attributes of API, thus potentially enabling its functional food/nutraceuticals application.
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Manipulación de Alimentos , Tamaño de la Partícula , Proteínas de Plantas , Presión , Prunus dulcis , Solubilidad , Prunus dulcis/química , Proteínas de Plantas/química , Antioxidantes/químicaRESUMEN
The quest to develop graphene-like biomass-carbon for advanced biomolecule redox modulation and sensing remains a challenge. The primary obstacle is the limited ability of biomass to undergo extensive graphitization during pyrolysis resulting in the formation of amorphous carbon materials with a small carbon-double-bond-carbon domain size (Lsp2), density of state (LDOS), ion diffusivity (D), and electron transfer rate constant (Ks). Herein, using almond skin (AS) the morphology of biomass is demonstrated as the key to overcoming these limitations. AS consists of 1D syringyl/guaiacyl lignin nano-coils which under H2/H2 annealing transform into pyrolytic 1D carbon nano-coils (r-gC). Spectroscopy and microscopy analyses reveal that the sheet layering structure, crystallinity, LDOS, and Lsp2 of r-gC mimic those of graphene oxide (GO). Moreover, its unique 1D morphology and profound microstructure facilitate faster charge transfer and ion diffusion than GO's planar structure, leading to better redox modulation and sensing of the neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) in physiological fluids. r-gC's DA detection limit of 3.62 nM is below the lower threshold found in humans and on par with the state-of-the-art. r-gC is also DA-selective over 14 biochemicals. This study reveals that biomasses with well-defined and compact lignin structures are best suited for developing highly electroactive graphene-like biomass carbon.
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Carbono , Dopamina , Grafito , Oxidación-Reducción , Prunus dulcis , Grafito/química , Dopamina/química , Prunus dulcis/química , Carbono/química , Transporte de Electrón , Difusión , Nanoestructuras/químicaRESUMEN
Animal feed ingredients, especially those abundant in high quality protein, are the most expensive component of livestock production. Sustainable alternative feedstocks may be sourced from abundant, low value agricultural byproducts. California almond production generates nearly 3 Mtons of biomass per year with about 50% in the form of hulls. Almond hulls are a low-value byproduct currently used primarily for animal feed for dairy cattle. However, the protein and essential amino acid content are low, at ~30% d.b.. The purpose of this study was to improve the protein content and quality using yeast. To achieve this, the almond hulls were liquefied to liberate soluble and structural sugars. A multi-phase screening approach was used to identify yeasts that can consume a large proportion of the sugars in almond hulls while accumulating high concentrations of amino acids essential for livestock feed. Compositional analysis showed that almond hulls are rich in polygalacturonic acid (pectin) and soluble sucrose. A pectinase-assisted process was optimized to liquefy and release soluble sugars from almond hulls. The resulting almond hull slurry containing solubilized sugars was subsequently used to grow high-protein yeasts that could consume nutrients in almond hulls while accumulating high concentrations of high-quality protein rich in essential amino acids needed for livestock feed, yielding a process that would produce 72 mg protein/g almond hull. Further work is needed to achieve conversion of galacturonic acid to yeast cell biomass.
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Prunus dulcis , Animales , Bovinos , Prunus dulcis/química , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolismo , Proteínas/metabolismo , Agricultura , Azúcares/metabolismo , Alimentación Animal/análisisRESUMEN
In folk medicine, the almond nut (Terminalia catappa) and orange peel (Citrus sinensis) are cost-effective sources of nutraceutical utilized in the treatment of degenerative diseases. Hyperlipidemia and hypertension are two pathological conditions implicated in cardiovascular disorders. This study sought to evaluate the cardiomodulatory effect of almond-citrus peel fortified shortbread in hyperlipidemic-hypertensive rats induced by high fat diet and Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester. The experimental animals were divided into eight groups. The experimental rats were fed with shortbread supplemented with almond and citrus peel at varying inclusions of 0.2% citrus, 50% almond, and almond (50%)- citrus (0.2%) for 21 days. The mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and lipid profile of the experimental rats were measured. Thereafter, the activities of angiotensin-1-converting enzyme (ACE), arginase, malondialdehyde (MDA), phosphodiesterase-5, nitric oxide (NO), and antioxidant indices were evaluated. The result showed significant elevation in SBP, MABP, blood cholesterol, triglyceride, ACE, arginase, activities, and MDA levels in the heart tissue of the untreated rats. In contrast, the antioxidant status and NO level were significantly decreased in the untreated groups. Remarkably, the treatment with almond-citrus peel fortified shortbread and the individual effect of almond (50%) and citrus peel (0.2%) all reversed these trends in the hyperlipidemic-hypertensive rats. Intriguingly, the blend of almond (50%)-citrus peel (0.2%) fortified shortbread showed the best antioxidative and cardioprotective effect. The results suggest that almond and citrus peel offer potentials as therapeutic agent in the prevention and management of hyperlipidemia and hypertension.
Asunto(s)
Citrus , Cardiopatías , Prunus dulcis , Masculino , Animales , Ratas , Ratas Wistar , Antioxidantes/farmacología , Prunus dulcis/química , Citrus/química , Hipertensión , Cardiopatías/prevención & control , Hiperlipidemias , NG-Nitroarginina Metil Éster/farmacología , Dieta Alta en GrasaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Water stress during the growing season of the almond tree is the factor that most limits its yield. Different strategies have been studied in recent years to reduce its negative effects, such as deficit irrigation and the application of reflective spray compounds. A 3-year experiment (2019-2021) was set in a factorial design in which the effect of regulated deficit irrigation and foliar kaolin spray was evaluated on morphological characteristics (weight, length, width, and thickness of the nut and kernel, shell thickness, kernel yield, double kernels, and damaged kernels), color properties, nutritional value (carbohydrates, fat, proteins and ash) and chemical parameters (free sugars and fatty acids profiles). RESULTS: In general, the significant differences between the treatments did not have a similar trend in the 3 years of the study. Regulated deficit irrigation and kaolin had no detrimental impact on almond morphological and color characteristics. The almond free sugars concentration was relatively stable under deficit irrigation and kaolin application. On the other hand, kaolin application positively affected the synthesis of linoleic acid. CONCLUSION: Reducing the amount of irrigation water applied to almonds contributes to the sustainability of production without negatively affecting quality and even improving some quality parameters. In general, the foliar application of kaolin did not show significant differences in the evaluated morphological parameters. However, in terms of chemical composition, kaolin led to an increase in the concentration of linoleic acid and sucrose. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.