Safety Evaluation of Fungal Pigments for Food Applications

Pigments play a major role in many industries. Natural colors are usually much safer when compared to synthetic colors and may even possess some medicinal benefits. Synthetic colors are economical and can easily be produced compared to natural colors. In addition, raw plant materials for natural colors are limited and season dependent. Microorganisms provide an alternative source for natural colors and, among them, fungi provide a wide range of natural colorants that could easily be produced cheaply and with high yield. Along with pigment, some microbial strains are also capable of producing a number of mycotoxins. The commercial use of microbial pigments relies on the safety of colorants. This review provides a toxicity evaluation of pigments from fungal origins for food application.

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North American species of Solidago as ornamental plants and a source of promising raw plant materials

IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science ◽

10.1088/1755-1315/845/1/012150 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 845 (1) ◽

pp. 012150

Author(s):

V Shelepova ◽

E V Tkacheva ◽

Yu K Vinogradova

Keyword(s):

North American ◽

Ornamental Plants ◽

North American Species ◽

Lag Phase ◽

Plant Resources ◽

Plant Materials ◽

Secondary Range ◽

The North ◽

Wide Range ◽

Raw Plant Materials

Abstract A review of the role of ornamental horticulture as a vector of phytoinvasions is presented on the example of North American species of Solidago: S. canadensis L., S. gigantea Ait and S. graminifolia (L.) Salisb. The first two species were originally cultivated as ornamental plants. With changes in environmental conditions, their range expanded to the north and east of the Eurasian continent, and the lag phase lasted 100-150 years. At the end of the XX century, their secondary range covered all the Eurasian regions, they were transformed into invasive plants and were listed in the Top 100 most threatened and aggressive species that are introduced into natural phytocoenosis and pose a threat to the environment. The secondary range of S. graminifolia is represented by several scattered localities, its lag phase ends, this species is recognized as invasive only in Poland. It has now become evident that alien species can be used as new resource plants. The study of secondary metabolites composition of species of Solidago makes possible the disbursement of a wide range of flavonoids, triterpene saponins, organic acids, and various terpene compounds in their composition. The authors believe that a detailed study of the phytochemical properties and many other widespread invasive species is required in order to identify new plant resources.

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Aspergillus sydowii Strain SCAU066 and Aspergillus versicolor Isolate BAB-6580: Potential Source of Xylanolytic, Cellulolytic and Amylolytic Enzymes

Science Letters ◽

10.24191/sl.v14i2.9539 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 15

Author(s):

Zaidah Zainal ariffin

Keyword(s):

Extracellular Enzymes ◽

Biologically Active ◽

Aspergillus Versicolor ◽

Aspergillus Sydowii ◽

Aspergillus Tamarii ◽

Alternative Source ◽

Amylolytic Enzymes ◽

Potato Dextrose Broth ◽

Wide Range ◽

Pharmaceutical Industries

Fungi is known to produce a wide range of biologically active metabolites and enzymes. Enzymes produced by fungi are utilized in food and pharmaceutical industries because of their rich enzymatic profile. Filamentous fungi are particularly interesting due to their high production of extracellular enzymes which has a large industrial potential. The aim of this study is to isolate potential soil fungi species that are able to produce functional enzymes for industries. Five Aspergillus species were successfully isolated from antibiotic overexposed soil (GPS coordinate of N3.093219 E101.40269) by standard microbiological method. The isolated fungi were identified via morphological observations and molecular tools; polymerase chain reactions, ITS 1 (5’- TCC GTA GGT GAA CCT GCG G3’) forward primer and ITS 4 (5’-TCC TCC GCT TAT TGA TAT GC-3’) reverse primer. The isolated fungi were identified as Aspergillus sydowii strain SCAU066, Aspergillus tamarii isolate TN-7, Aspergillus candidus strain KUFA 0062, Aspergillus versicolor isolate BAB-6580, and Aspergillus protuberus strain KAS 6024. Supernatant obtained via submerged fermentation of the isolated fungi in potato dextrose broth (PDB) and extracted via centrifugation was loaded onto specific media to screen for the production of xylanolytic, cellulolytic and amylolytic enzymes. The present findings indicate that Aspergillus sydowii strain SCAU066 and Aspergillus versicolor isolate BAB-6580 have great potential as an alternative source of xylanolytic, cellulolytic and amylolytic enzymes.

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Facile Synthesis of a Diverse Library of Mono-3-substituted β-Cyclodextrin Analogues

10.26434/chemrxiv.6453302 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kathryn Kellett ◽

Brendan M. Duggan ◽

Michael Gilson

Keyword(s):

High Yield ◽

Facile Synthesis ◽

Wide Range

We have described simple, high-yield, protocols, which require only commonly accessible equipment, to synthesize a wide range of β-CD derivatives mono-substituted at the secondary face. These derivatives may be useful in their own right, and they are also scaffolds for further modification, and examples of the far broader array of derivatives that may be accessed by these procedures.

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MXenes for future nanophotonic device applications

Nanophotonics ◽

10.1515/nanoph-2020-0060 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (7) ◽

pp. 1831-1853

Author(s):

Jaeho Jeon ◽

Yajie Yang ◽

Haeju Choi ◽

Jin-Hong Park ◽

Byoung Hun Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Transition Metal ◽

Wide Spectrum ◽

Building Blocks ◽

Optoelectronic Device ◽

High Yield ◽

Saturable Absorption ◽

Nanophotonic Device ◽

Wide Range ◽

Device Applications

AbstractTwo-dimensional (2D) layers of transition metal carbides, nitrides, or carbonitrides, collectively referred to as MXenes, are considered as the new family of 2D materials for the development of functional building blocks for optoelectronic and photonic device applications. Their advantages are based on their unique and tunable electronic and optical properties, which depend on the modulation of transition metal elements or surface functional groups. In this paper, we have presented a comprehensive review of MXenes to suggest an insightful perspective on future nanophotonic and optoelectronic device applications based on advanced synthesis processes and theoretically predicted or experimentally verified material properties. Recently developed optoelectronic and photonic devices, such as photodetectors, solar cells, fiber lasers, and light-emitting diodes are summarized in this review. Wide-spectrum photodetection with high photoresponsivity, high-yield solar cells, and effective saturable absorption were achieved by exploiting different MXenes. Further, the great potential of MXenes as an electrode material is predicted with a controllable work function in a wide range (1.6–8 eV) and high conductivity (~104 S/cm), and their potential as active channel material by generating a tunable energy bandgap is likewise shown. MXene can provide new functional building blocks for future generation nanophotonic device applications.

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Preliminary Examination of the Toxicity of Spalting Fungal Pigments: A Comparison between Extraction Methods

Journal of Fungi ◽

10.3390/jof7020155 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 155

Author(s):

Badria H. Almurshidi ◽

R.C. Van Court ◽

Sarath M. Vega Gutierrez ◽

Stacey Harper ◽

Bryan Harper ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Extraction Methods ◽

Green Energy ◽

Future Research ◽

Green Technologies ◽

Preliminary Examination ◽

Significant Toxicity ◽

Natural Colorants ◽

Industrial Adoption ◽

Synthetic Colorants ◽

Fungal Pigments

Spalting fungal pigments have shown potential in technologies ranging from green energy generation to natural colorants. However, their unknown toxicity has been a barrier to industrial adoption. In order to gain an understanding of the safety of the pigments, zebrafish embryos were exposed to multiple forms of liquid media and solvent-extracted pigments with concentrations of purified pigment ranging from 0 to 50 mM from Chlorociboria aeruginosa, Chlorociboria aeruginascens, and Scytalidium cuboideum. Purified xylindein from Chlorociboria sp. did not show toxicity at any tested concentration, while the red pigment dramada from S. cuboideum was only associated with significant toxicity above 23.2 uM. However, liquid cultures and pigment extracted into dichloromethane (DCM) showed toxicity, suggesting the co-production of bioactive secondary metabolites. Future research on purification and the bioavailability of the red dramada pigment will be important to identify appropriate use; however, purified forms of the blue-green pigment xylindein are likely safe for use across industries. This opens the door to the adoption of green technologies based on these pigments, with potential to replace synthetic colorants and less stable natural pigments.

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Synthesis, Antiproliferative Activity and Radical Scavenging Ability of 5-O-Acyl Derivatives of Quercetin

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26061608 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (6) ◽

pp. 1608

Author(s):

Stephen Lo ◽

Euphemia Leung ◽

Bruno Fedrizzi ◽

David Barker

Keyword(s):

Antiproliferative Activity ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Radical Scavenging Activity ◽

Radical Scavenging ◽

Breast Cancer Cell Lines ◽

Scavenging Activity ◽

Plant Materials ◽

Wide Range ◽

Derivatives Of ◽

Acyl Derivatives

Quercetin is a flavonoid that is found in many plant materials, including commonly eaten fruits and vegetables. The compound is well known for its wide range of biological activities. In this study, 5-O-acyl derivatives of quercetin were synthesised and assessed for their antiproliferative activity against the HCT116 colon cancer and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines; and their radical scavenging activity against the 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical cation and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical species. Four derivatives were found to have improved the antiproliferative activity compared to quercetin whilst retaining radical scavenging activity.

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Recent Insights into Anthocyanin Pigmentation, Synthesis, Trafficking, and Regulatory Mechanisms in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Caryopsis

Biomolecules ◽

10.3390/biom11030394 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 394 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Enerand Mackon ◽

Guibeline Charlie Jeazet Dongho Epse Mackon ◽

Yafei Ma ◽

Muhammad Haneef Kashif ◽

Niyaz Ali ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Industry ◽

Anthocyanin Biosynthesis ◽

Oryza Sativa L ◽

Anthocyanin Synthesis ◽

Pigmented Rice ◽

Complex Processes ◽

Natural Colorants ◽

Wide Range ◽

Anthocyanin Production ◽

And Storage

Anthocyanins are antioxidants used as natural colorants and are beneficial to human health. Anthocyanins contribute to reactive oxygen species detoxification and sustain plant growth and development under different environmental stresses. They are phenolic compounds that are broadly distributed in nature and are responsible for a wide range of attractive coloration in many plant organs. Anthocyanins are found in various parts of plants such as flowers, leaves, stems, shoots, and grains. Considering their nutritional and health attributes, anthocyanin-enriched rice or pigmented rice cultivars are a possible alternative to reduce malnutrition around the globe. Anthocyanin biosynthesis and storage in rice are complex processes in which several structural and regulatory genes are involved. In recent years, significant progress has been achieved in the molecular and genetic mechanism of anthocyanins, and their synthesis is of great interest to researchers and the scientific community. However, limited studies have reported anthocyanin synthesis, transportation, and environmental conditions that can hinder anthocyanin production in rice. Rice is a staple food around the globe, and further research on anthocyanin in rice warrants more attention. In this review, metabolic and pre-biotic activities, the underlying transportation, and storage mechanisms of anthocyanins in rice are discussed in detail. This review provides potential information for the food industry and clues for rice breeding and genetic engineering of rice.

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Genome-wide integration site detection using Cas9 enriched amplification-free long-range sequencing

Nucleic Acids Research ◽

10.1093/nar/gkaa1152 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Joost van Haasteren ◽

Altar M Munis ◽

Deborah R Gill ◽

Stephen C Hyde

Keyword(s):

Long Range ◽

Insertional Mutagenesis ◽

Lentiviral Vector ◽

Integration Site ◽

Low Cost ◽

Safety Evaluation ◽

Read Length ◽

Chromosomal Dna ◽

Wide Range

Abstract The gene and cell therapy fields are advancing rapidly, with a potential to treat and cure a wide range of diseases, and lentivirus-based gene transfer agents are the vector of choice for many investigators. Early cases of insertional mutagenesis caused by gammaretroviral vectors highlighted that integration site (IS) analysis was a major safety and quality control checkpoint for lentiviral applications. The methods established to detect lentiviral integrations using next-generation sequencing (NGS) are limited by short read length, inadvertent PCR bias, low yield, or lengthy protocols. Here, we describe a new method to sequence IS using Amplification-free Integration Site sequencing (AFIS-Seq). AFIS-Seq is based on amplification-free, Cas9-mediated enrichment of high-molecular-weight chromosomal DNA suitable for long-range Nanopore MinION sequencing. This accessible and low-cost approach generates long reads enabling IS mapping with high certainty within a single day. We demonstrate proof-of-concept by mapping IS of lentiviral vectors in a variety of cell models and report up to 1600-fold enrichment of the signal. This method can be further extended to sequencing of Cas9-mediated integration of genes and to in vivo analysis of IS. AFIS-Seq uses long-read sequencing to facilitate safety evaluation of preclinical lentiviral vector gene therapies by providing IS analysis with improved confidence.

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