Shea Press Cake, an Organic Resource of Bioactive Molecules: Biochemical and Phytochemical Profiles of Alcoholic Extracts

Shea press cake is a subproduct of shea butter production. It generally serves as animal food or as fuel, in shea areas. This study demonstrated its ability as edible organic bank of bioactive molecules useful for human. Therefore, the hydroalcoholic extract was screened through GC-MS analysis, and antinutritional compounds were quantified. Chromatogram revealed a wide range of molecules belonging to various famillies. Hence, many amino acids involving EAA (Threonine, Valin and pre-tryptophan) were detected. Peaks related to organic acids like quinic, lactic, malic, citric, gluconic, galactaric, succinic and phosphoric acids were also identified. These acids would be widely exploited in either food or cosmeto-pharmaceutical, or in both industries. Also appeared on the chromatogram, peaks of oses (glucose, fructose and sucrose) and phenolic acids. Phenolic acids consisted in various catechins and gallic acids which would have antioxidant, antimicrobial, antitumor, anticancer powers. Some other benefic molecules like glycerol and myo-inositol counted among the identified molecules. Above all, shea press cake contents in oxalates (564.66±49.60 mg/100 g DM) and phytates (148.45±0.03 mg/100 g DM) were at far, lower than those of many therapeutic teas. Thus, shea press cake might be considered as a valuable edible bank of bioactive molecules. It could be involved in cosmetics, in drugs and be recommended to consumption as teas leaves, coffee, cinnamon, etc. in prevention to diseases related to metabolic disturbances and oxidative stress (tumor, cancer and degenerative diseases).

Bioimaging of C2C12 Muscle Myoblasts Using Fluorescent Carbon Quantum Dots Synthesized from Bread

Biocompatible carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have recently attracted increased interest in biomedical imaging owing to their advantageous photoluminescence properties. Numerous precursors of fluorescent CQDs and various fabrication procedures are also reported in the literature. However; the use of concentrated mineral acids and other corrosive chemicals during the fabrication process curtails their biocompatibility and severely limits the utilization of the products in cell bio-imaging. In this study; a facile; fast; and cost-effective synthetic route is employed to fabricate CQDs from a natural organic resource; namely bread; where the use of any toxic chemicals is eliminated. Thus; the novel chemical-free technique facilitated the production of luminescent CQDs that were endowed with low cytotoxicity and; therefore; suitable candidates for bioimaging sensors. The above mentioned amorphous CQDs also exhibited fluorescence over 360–420 nm excitation wavelengths; and with a broad emission range of 360–600 nm. We have also shown that the CQDs were well internalized by muscle myoblasts (C2C12) and differentiated myotubes; the cell lines which have not been reported before.

Dissolution of Chitin in Deep Eutectic Solvents Composed of Imidazolium Ionic Liquids and Thiourea

Chitin is an abundant organic resource but shows poor solubility, leading to difficulty in utilization as materials. We have already reported that an ionic liquid (IL), 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide, dissolves chitin at concentrations up to ca. 5 wt %. However, the color of the resulting solution is blackened, mainly owing to the presence of bromide. On the other hand, some deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have been already reported to dissolve chitin. In this study, we found that DESs composed of imidazolium ILs and thiourea dissolved chitin without obvious coloring. DESs are systems formed from eutectic mixtures of hydrogen bond accepters and donors. We first prepared DESs by heating mixtures of imidazolium ILs with thiourea at 100 °C for 30 min with stirring. Predetermined amounts of chitin were then added to the DESs, and for the dissolution, the mixtures were left standing at room temperature for 24 h, followed by heating at 100 °C for 24 h with stirring. The dissolution processes were evaluated by CCD camera views, which revealed in most cases the dissolution of chitin at 2–5 wt % concentrations with the present DESs.

Effect of fertilizer-N and organic resource management on soil aggregates formation and carbon cycling in the central highlands of Kenya

Njoroge KS, Mugendi DN, Vanlauwe B. 2018. Effect of fertilizer-N and organic resource management on soil aggregates formation and carbon cycling in the central highlands of Kenya. Asian J Agric 2: 25-37. To inquire the way the alteration of soils of various textures and fertility values with fertilizer-N and organic resources influencing aggregate formation and subsequent carbon (C) cycling in aggregates became the objective of this research. The experiment was carried out in Embu and Machang'a regions of central Kenya and was rooted on a putrefaction tube experiment that was established in April 2005. This experiment was intended at completing long-term field experimentations initiated in 2002 to set up the impact of the application of various combinations of organic and mineral resources on soil nutrient status. The main variables were fertilizer-N and organic resources, with the sub-management being soil fertility values. Maize stover and urea fertilizer were mixed with 3.2 kg of soil and put in putrefaction tubes. The implementation rate was 4 ton and 120 kg per hectare for the maize stover and fertilizer respectively. Four management were developed, namely: control (no organic resources or fertilizer-N added), lone fertilizer-N, lone stover, and combined stover and fertilizer-N, with each management having three replicates. To decide the alterations in soil aggregates, dirt samples acquired from the putrefaction tubes were fractionated through wet sieving. SOM fractionation was also carried out to gain the various SOM fractions. All achieved aggregates and SOM fractions were then dried in the oven, ground, and analyzed for C. All collected data were examined with the PROC MIXED procedure of SAS and the means separated at p <0.05. Bigger quantity of macroaggregates from Embu soils was studied than that from Machang'a soils. For both Embu and Machang'a soil, the alteration of soils with lone or combined fertilizer-N and organic resources had a notable impact (p <0.05) on the portions of all aggregate class sizes. The alteration of soils of various fertility values with lone or combined fertilizer-N and organic resources also had a notable impact on the allocation of SOM fractions for both Embu and Machang' soils. Remarkable discrepancies in whole soils, aggregates and SOM fractions percentage carbon values were also studied. On the whole, the silt and clay fraction had higher C values than that in other aggregate size classes representing higher stabilization of C within this fraction. From the results of this research, it is concluded that the utilization of combined organic and mineral resources is preferred for the enhancement and the preservation of soil fertility in high fertility soils. In low fertility coarse-textured soils, the lone implementation of organic resources is suggested for the enhancement and the preservation of soil fertility.

Graphene oxide-wrapped dipotassium terephthalate hollow microrods for enhanced potassium storage

Unique K2TP@GO hollow microrods were synthesised using abundant and renewable organic resource.

Influence of nitrogen sources on the enzymatic activity and grown by Lentinula edodes in biomass Eucalyptus benthamii

Lignocellulose is the most abundant environmental component and a renewable organic resource in soil. There are some filamentous fungi which developed the ability to break down and use cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin as an energy source. The objective of this research was to analyze the effect of three nitrogen resources (ammonium sulfate, saltpetre, soybean) in the holocellulolitic activity of Lentinula edodes EF 50 using as substrate sawdust E. benthamii. An experimental design mixture was applied with repetition in the central point consisting of seven treatments (T) of equal concentrations of nitrogen in ammonium sulfate, potassium nitrate and soybean. The enzymatic activity of avicelase, carboxymetilcellulase, β-glucosidase, xylanases and manganese peroxidase was determined. The humidity, pH, water activity (aw) and qualitative analysis of mycelial growth in 8 times of cultivation were evaluated. The results showed negative effect on enzyme production in treatments with maximum concentration of ammonium sulfate and potassium nitrate. The treatments with cooked soybean flour expressed higher enzymatic activities in times of 3, 6 and 9 days of culture, except in the activity of manganese peroxidase. The highest production was observed in the treatment with ammonium sulfate, and soybean (83.86 UI.L–1) at 20 days of cultivation.