Development of Innovative Gel Sunscreen Products from Momordica cochinchinensis (Lour.) Spreng. Extract

A study on the development of sunscreen gel products from Momordica cochinchinensis(Lour.) Spreng. extract aimed to study phenolic content, inhibitory effect of Elastase and Tyrosinase, product stability, toxicity, astringent effect of M. cochinchinensis extract, skin elasticity value, suitable product formula calculation for preparing sunscreen gel products from M. cochinchinensis extract, and irritation test. The process started fromthe selection of raw materials, preparation of extracts for determining the total phenolic content, development of suitable formula, test of safety and product physical characteristics, and then test of the anti-allergic effect of 10 volunteers to get efficient and safe sunscreen gel from M. cochinchinensis extract. The study result indicated that M. cochinchinensisaril extract had antioxidant activity DPPH of 1.51±0.05 mg/ml, compared to standard substance - Vitamin C, and total phenolic content of 13.18±0.18 (mg equivalent of gallic acid per 100 g - dry weight). Regarding Cytotoxicity at a concentration of 0.0001-1 mg/ml, it revealed that M. cochinchinensisaril extract was not toxic to human skin cells with the cell survival percentage at a concentration of 1 mg/ml equaled to 95.35±1.86 and 88.15±4.73%, respectively. M. cochinchinensisaril extract concentration of 1 mg/ml had astringent effect which can stimulate human skin cells to move together faster than the control group but showed effect slower than Vitamin C concentrate of 1 mg/ml. and did not have inhibitory effect on Elastase and Tyrosinaseenzymes. Regarding M. cochinchinensis seed oil extract, it did not toxic to human skin cells at the concentration of 0.0001-1 mg/ml with the survival percentage equaled to 105.67-111.46%, and had a few antioxidants activity of unsaturated fatty acids with an IPC50 more than 1000 mg/ml. This study was only the development of sunscreen gel products from M. cochinchinensis extract.

Impact of Various Essential Oils and Plant Extracts on the Characterization of the Composite Seaweed Hydrocolloid and Gac Pulp (Momordica cochinchinensis) Edible Film

Edible films and coatings have currently received increasing interest because of their potential in food applications. This study examined the effect of incorporated essential oils and natural plant extracts on the characteristics of the composite seaweed hydrocolloid and gac pulp films. Films were prepared by a casting technique, followed by measurement of physical, optical, barrier, mechanical, and structural properties. The results showed that adding plant oils and extracts significantly affected the physical, optical, mechanical, and structural properties of the composite films. Incorporation of the essential oils resulted in a reduction in moisture content and opacity while increasing values for Hue angle and elongation at break of the composite films. Besides, incorporation of the plant extracts showed increases in thickness, opacity, ΔE, Chroma, and elongation at the break, while there is a decrease in the Hue angle values of the composite films. In conclusion, incorporating plant essential oils and extracts into composite seaweed hydrocolloid and gac pulp films can enhance film properties, which can potentially be applied in food products.

TRỒNG THỬ NGHIỆM GIỐNG GẤC LAI ĐEN VÀ GẤC LAI CAO SẢN TẠI TUYÊN QUANG, BƯỚC ĐẦU CHO NĂNG SUẤT VÀ HIỆU QUẢ

Loài gấc Momordica cochinchinensis (Lour) Spreng, có gấc lai đen và gấc lai cao sản là giống gấc cho năng suất cao chất lượng tốt, trồng một lần cho thu hoạch nhiều năm, góp phần nâng cao hiệu quả kinh tế trong sản xuất. Nghiên cứu trồng thử nghiệm giống gấc lai đen và giống gấc lai cao sản tại Tuyên Quang bước đầu đã cho kết quả khả quan, cây sinh trưởng phát triển tốt, với mật độ trồng 500 cây/ha; thực hiện tốt kỹ thuật trồng, làm giàn kiên cố; theo dõi và phòng trừ sâu bệnh kịp thời. Kết quả cho năng suất và hiệu quả hơn giống gấc nếp tại địa phương (Năng suất thực thu năm thứ nhất của gấc lai đen đạt 133,5 tạ/ha, hiệu quả đạt 50.298.000 đồng/ha; giống gấc lai cao sản đạt 144,2 tạ/ha và hiệu quả đạt 49.408.000 đồng/ha).

Characterization of spray-dried Gac aril extract and estimated shelf life of β-carotene and lycopene

Background Fresh Gac (Momordica cochinchinensis) fruit is rich in carotenoids, mainly β-carotene and lycopene, but these compounds are sensitive to degradation. Spray drying is used to encapsulate the sensitive β-carotene and lycopene with different materials. Only a few reports of using highly branched cyclodextrin (HBCD) have been published. Additionally, studies of β-carotene and lycopene losses in Gac powders during storage are limited. Therefore, the encapsulation of β-carotene and lycopene of Gac aril with HBCD by spray drying at different inlet temperatures were compared. The shelf life of β-carotene and lycopene during storage was also calculated. Methods The fresh Gac aril was separated and kept frozen before the experiment. Gac aril and water (1:5 w/v) were centrifuged at 8,000 g at 20 °C for 15 min using a high-speed centrifuge (Sorval; Dupont, Wilmington, DE, USA). The supernatant was filtered twice and concentrated until 15° Brix using a rotary evaporator (R-200; Buchi, Flawil, Switzerland). The mixture of concentrated aril extract and highly branched cyclodextrin at 5% (w/v) was dried at three inlet temperatures by a spray dryer (B-290; Buchi, Flawil, Switzerland) with drying air flow rate, compressor air pressure, and feed rate set at 473 L/h, 40 m3/h, and 3 mL/min, respectively . The physicochemical qualities, particle image morphology, and estimated storage time of β-carotene and lycopene were determined. Results Increased inlet temperatures of spray drying decreased the bulk density, β-carotene, and lycopene content of spray-dried powders significantly. The color values of dried powders had significant differences in yellowness (b*) and chroma, but not lightness (L*), redness (a*), and hue when the inlet temperature increased from 160 °C to 180 °C. The maximum reduction of β-carotene and lycopene observed during storage at 55 °C was 90.88% and 91.11% for 33 and 18 days. For β-carotene, the estimated shelf-life (retention of 50% of β-carotene) was 9.9, 48.4, and 91.6 days at 25 °C, 10 °C, and 4 °C. The shelf-life of lycopene was 26, 176, and 357 days at 25 °C, 10 °C, and 4 °C, respectively. HBCD could be potentially used as an encapsulating agent in spray-dried Gac aril, but the shelf-life of β-carotene and lycopene needs to be improved to be useful as a food ingredient.

Momordica cochinchinensis Aril Ameliorates Diet-Induced Metabolic Dysfunction and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver by Modulating Gut Microbiota

Obesity and its associated conditions, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), are a particular worldwide health problem at present. Momordica cochinchinensis (MC) is consumed widely in Southeast Asia. However, whether it has functional effects on fat-induced metabolic syndrome remains unclear. This study was conducted to examine the prevention effect of Momordica cochinchinensis aril (MCA) on obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver and insulin resistance in mice. MCA protected the mice against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced body weight gain, hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia, compared with mice that were not treated. MCA inhibited the expansion of adipose tissue and adipocyte hypertrophy. In addition, the insulin sensitivity-associated index that evaluates insulin function was also significantly restored. MCA also regulated the secretion of adipokines in HFD-induced obese mice. Moreover, hepatic fat accumulation and liver damage were reduced, which suggested that fatty liver was prevented by MCA. Furthermore, MCA supplementation suppressed hepatic lipid accumulation by activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-alpha) signaling pathway in the human fatty liver HuS-E/2 cell model. Our data indicate that MCA altered the microbial contents of the gut and modulated microbial dysbiosis in the host, and consequently is involved in the prevention of HFD-induced adiposity, insulin resistance and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Ultrasound-assisted extraction of Gac (Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng.) leaves: Effect of maturity stage on phytochemicals and carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes inhibitory activity

Although phytochemical contents of Gac fruit have been extensively analyzed, information about the bioactive compounds and valorization of Gac leaves is limited. In this study, Gac (Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng.) leaves at different maturity stages (young: YL, mature: ML and old: OL leaves) were extracted during a 20 min of 150-W sonication process. Color, phytochemicals, antioxidant activity, and inhibitory effects against carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes were assessed by colorimetric, high-performance liquid chromatography, and spectrophotometric methods, respectively. Results indicated a decrease in L* (lightness) and an increase in a* (greenness–redness) during maturation of leaves. The YL extract had the highest contents of phytochemicals with 4897.01 (mg gallic acid equivalent [GAE] per 100 gram dried weight [DW]), total phenolics, 592.81 (mg querce-tin [QE]/100 g DW), total flavonoids, 34.77% ?-amylase inhibitory activity, and 40.21% ?-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Myricetin (43%), vitexin (22%), and esculetin (11%) were the major bioactive compounds detected in YL extract. Also, the superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like capacity of the extract decreased from 11,599.96 to 3,999.63 U/g DW during the transformation of YL to OL. Extract of Gac leaves was found to be a potential ingredient for food preservation and supplementation that could reduce postprandial hyperglycemia.