Cross-linked natural IntegroPectin films from citrus biowaste with intrinsic antimicrobial activity
AbstractPectin recovered via hydrodynamic cavitation (IntegroPectin) from lemon and grapefruit agri-food waste intrinsically containing antimicrobial bioactive substances (flavonoids, phenolic acids, terpenes, and terpenoids) was used to generate innovative and eco-compatible films that efficiently inhibit the growth of Gram-negative pathogens. Extensive characterization of films confirmed the presence of these substances, which differently interact with the polysaccharide polymer (pectin), plasticizer (glycerol), surfactant (Tween 60), and cross-linker (Ca2+), conferring to these films a unique structure. Besides, IntegroPectin-based films constitute versatile systems for the sustained, co…
Protective, antioxidant and antiproliferative activity of grapefruit integropectin on sh-sy5y cells
Tested in vitro on SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, grapefruit IntegroPectin is a powerful protective, antioxidant and antiproliferative agent. The strong antioxidant properties of this new citrus pectin, and its ability to preserve mitochondrial membrane potential and morphology, severely impaired in neurodegenerative disorders, make it an attractive therapeutic and preventive agent for the treatment of oxidative stress-associated brain disorders. Similarly, the ability of this pectic polymer rich in RG-I regions, as well as in naringin, linalool, linalool oxide and limonene adsorbed at the outer surface, to inhibit cell proliferation or even kill, at high doses, neoplastic cells may have open…
Grapefruit IntegroPectin isolation via spray drying and via freeze drying: A comparison
The comparison of grapefruit IntegroPectin powders isolated via spray drying and via freeze drying in terms of phenolic content, quantification of the most representative flavonoids (naringin and hesperidin), radical scavenging activity, total protein content and pH of the aqueous solutions provides relevant information. Except for the protein content and the antioxidant power, the two drying methods afford similar pectins. Optimization of the spray drying parameters allowed to maximize the yield of isolated pectin that nearly approached (>95%) the quantitative yield obtained via freeze drying.
Towards a new treatment against polymicrobial infections: high antibacterial activity of lemon IntegroPectin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli
AbstractLemon IntegroPectin obtained via hydrodynamic cavitation of waste lemon peel in water only shows high antibacterial activity against two Gram-negative bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. The antibacterial effect against the ubiquitous pathogen P. aeruginosa was evaluated in terms of the minimal bactericidal (MBC) and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). Preliminary insight on the antibacterial mechanism of IntegroPectin originates from investigating its inhibitory activity against E. coli. Given the non-cytotoxic nature of citrus IntegroPectin and the ease of its reproducible production in large amounts, the route is open to the industrial development of a new …
Neuroprotective and Mitoprotective Effects of Lemon IntegroPectin on SH-SY5Y Cells
AbstractLemon IntegroPectin obtained via hydrodynamic cavitation of organic lemon processing waste in water shows significant neuroprotective activity in vitro, as first reported in this study investigating the effects of both lemon IntegroPectin and commercial citrus pectin on cell viability, cell morphology, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and mitochondria perturbation induced by treatment of neuronal SH-SY5Y human cells with H2O2. Mediated by ROS including H2O2 and its derivatives, oxidative stress alters numerous cellular processes, including mitochondrial regulation and cell signaling, propagating cellular injury that leads to incurable neurodegenerative diseases. These result…
New neuroprotective effect of lemon integropectin on neuronal cellular model
Lemon IntegroPectin obtained via hydrodynamic cavitation of organic lemon processing waste in water shows significant neuroprotective activity in vitro, as first reported in this study investigating the effects of both lemon IntegroPectin and commercial citrus pectin on cell viability, cell morphology, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and mitochondria perturbation induced by treatment of neuronal SH-SY5Y human cells with H2O2. Mediated by ROS, including H2O2 and its derivatives, oxidative stress alters numerous cellular processes, such as mitochondrial regulation and cell signaling, propagating cellular injury that leads to incurable neurodegenerative diseases. These results, and t…
Pectin: A Long-Neglected Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial.
First reported in the late 1930s and first partly explained in 1970, the antibacterial activity of pectin remained almost ignored until the late 1990s. The concomitant emergence of research on natural antibacterials and on new usages of pectin polysaccharides, including those in medicine widely researched in Russia, has led to a renaissance of research in the physiological properties of this uniquely versatile polysaccharide ubiquitous in plants and fruits. Collecting scattered information, this study provides an updated overview on the subtle factors affecting the behaviour of pectin as antimicrobial. Less degraded pectin extracted via acid-free routes, we argue in the conclusions, will so…
Integral Extraction of Opuntia ficus-indica Peel Bioproducts via Microwave-Assisted Hydrodiffusion and Hydrodistillation
The microwave-assisted hydrodiffusion extraction process affords high quality pectin and betanin from the peel of red and green Opuntia ficus-indica fruits under mild conditions. An aqueous mixture of valued bioproducts is readily obtained from the fruit peel cell water itself, without any water addition. The integral extract can be used as such to formulate nutraceutical beverages and products or, upon straightforward separation, to isolate pectin and betanin devoid of chemical contaminants suitable as ingredients for products ranging from food and beverage to cosmetic and pharmaceutical sectors. Betanin shows exceptional stability thanks to the high amounts of antioxidant polyphenols in t…
Freeze drying versus Spray drying to obtain Grapefruit IntegroPectin powder
Background: IntegroPectin is a new family of citrus pectins of broad biological activity obtained via hydrodynamic cavitation of citrus biowaste carried out in water only. These pectins have already been isolated by freeze drying, a time-consuming and expensive procedure difficult to be scaled up. Since recently the spray drying technique has been greatly appreciated for food and pharmaceutical applications, this work proposes a comparison between Grapefruit IntegroPectin powders isolated via spray drying (SD) and via freeze drying (FD). Methods: A mini Spray Dryer B-290 with B-295 inert loop (Büchi) and a FreeZone 2.5 Liter freeze dry system (Labconco) were used. Dried powders comparison w…
A New Water-Soluble Bactericidal Agent for the Treatment of Infections Caused by Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacterial Strains
Grapefruit and lemon pectin obtained from the respective waste citrus peels via hydrodynamic cavitation in water only are powerful, broad-scope antimicrobials against Gram-negative and -positive bacteria. Dubbed IntegroPectin, these pectic polymers functionalized with citrus flavonoids and terpenes show superior antimicrobial activity when compared to commercial citrus pectin. Similar to commercial pectin, lemon IntegroPectin determined ca. 3-log reduction in Staphylococcus aureus cells, while an enhanced activity of commercial citrus pectin was detected in the case of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells with a minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 15 mg mL&minus
Volatile Compounds of Lemon and Grapefruit IntegroPectin
An HS-SPME GC-MS analysis of the volatile compounds adsorbed at the outer surface of lemon and grapefruit pectins obtained via the hydrodynamic cavitation of industrial waste streams of lemon and grapefruit peels in water suggests important new findings en route to understanding the powerful and broad biological activity of these new pectic materials. In agreement with the ultralow degree of esterification of these pectins, the high amount of highly bioactive &alpha
Economic and Technical Feasibility of Betanin and Pectin Extraction from Opuntia ficus-indica Peel via Microwave-Assisted Hydrodiffusion
Investigating the feasibility of betanin and pectin extraction from Opuntia ficus-indica peel via microwave-assisted hydrodiffusion and gravity, this study identifies selected important economic and technical aspects associated with this innovative production route starting from prickly pear fruit discards. Which benefits would be derived from this process? Would production be limited to Opuntia-growing countries or, likewise to what happens with dried lemon peel chiefly imported from Argentina, would production take place abroad also? Can distributed manufacturing based on clean extraction technology compete with centralized production using conventional chemical processes?
Beer produced via hydrodynamic cavitation retains higher amounts of xanthohumol and other hops prenylflavonoids
Abstract Some of the most valuable bioactive compounds in beer comes from hops polyphenols, mainly flavonoids, some of which are unique to inflorescences of that flowering plant. Although far from pharmacologically relevant concentrations, low doses of xanthohumol and related prenylflavonoids found in beer contribute to the overall antioxidant activity of the product, as well as to significant chemopreventive action about certain diseases, such as cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and some cancer types. Hence, the efforts to explore both ingredients and brewing methods aimed at enhancing the concentration of such bioactive compounds. In this study, a novel brewing method assisted by hydrod…
Superior Antibacterial Activity of Integral Lemon Pectin Extracted via Hydrodynamic Cavitation
Abstract Pectin extracted via hydrodynamic cavitation in water only from waste lemon peel and further isolated via freeze drying displays significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, a Gram positive pathogen which easily contaminates food. The antibacterial effect of the new IntegroPectin is largely superior to that of commercial citrus pectin, opening the way to advanced applications of a new bioproduct now obtainable in large amounts and at low cost from citrus juice industry's waste.
Flavonoids in Lemon and Grapefruit IntegroPectin
Abstract Following the analysis of terpenes present in new lemon and grapefruit “IntegroPectin” pectins obtained via the hydrodynamic cavitation of industrial lemon and grapefruit processing waste, the HPLC‐MS analysis of flavonoid and other phenolic compounds reveals the presence of eriocitrin, naringin, hesperidin and kaempferol typical of the respective citrus fruits. The pectic fibers rich in rhamnogalacturonan‐I regions act as chemical sponges adsorbing and concentrating at their outer surface highly bioactive citrus flavonoids and terpenes. These findings, together with the unique molecular structure of these new whole citrus pectins, provide preliminary insight into the broad‐scope b…
Neuroprotective, antioxidant and antiproliferative activity of grapefruit IntegroPectin on SH-SY5Y cells
AbstractTested in vitro on SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, grapefruit IntegroPectin is a powerful neuroprotective, antioxidant and antiproliferative agent. The strong antioxidant properties of grapefruit IntegroPectin, and its ability to preserve mitochondrial membrane potential and morphology, severely impaired in neurodegenerative disorders, make this new biopolymer highly soluble in water an attractive therapeutic agent for oxidative stress-associated brain disorders. Similarly, the ability of this new citrus pectin rich in naringin, linalool, linalool oxide and limonene adsorbed at the outer surface to inhibit cell proliferation or even kill, at high doses, neoplastic cells, coupled to its…