Hop plants comprise a variety of natural compounds greatly differing in their structure and properties. A wide range of methods have been developed for their isolation and chemical analysis, as well ...as for determining their antioxidative, antimicrobial, and antigenotoxic potentials. This contribution provides an overview of extraction and fractionation techniques of the most important hop compounds known for their health-promoting features. Although hops remain the principal ingredient for providing the taste, stability, and antimicrobial protection of beer, they have found applications in the pharmaceutical and other food industries as well. This review focuses on numerous health-promoting effects of hops raging from antioxidative, sedative, and anti-inflammatory potentials, over anticarcinogenic features to estrogenic activity. Therefore, hops should be exploited for the prevention and even healing of several prevalent diseases like cardiovascular disorders and various cancer types. New ideas for future studies on hops are finally presented: computational investigations of chemical reactivities of hop compounds, nanoencapsulation, and synergistic effects leading to a higher bioavailability of biologically active substances as well as the application of waste hop biomass from breweries for the production of high-added-value products in accordance with the biorefinery concept.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activities of extract derived from moringa leaves. In particular, the effect of moringa extract (Mor) on adhesion and invasion of ...Escherichia coli O55, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus simulans, and Serratia liquefaciens was evaluated in bovine mammary epithelial cells (MAC-T). Broth microdilution method, minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration assays, adhesion and invasion assays, and real-time PCR were performed. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of Mor ranged from 12.5 to 50 mg/mL on 18 out of 27 tested isolates. Treatment of E. coli O55 with Mor (100 and 200 μg/mL) inhibited the adhesion and invasion on MAC-T cells via downregulation of adhesion factors (i.e., papC, f17c-A, and eaeA). Also, when MAC-T cells were pretreated with Mor (200 μg/mL, 12 h) and incubated with E. coli O55, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus simulans, or Serratia liquefaciens, both E. coli O55 and Enterococcus faecalis showed a significant decrease in adhesion and invasion. Staphylococcus simulans exhibited decreased adhesion and increased invasion. Serratia liquefaciens showed increased adhesion and decreased invasion. In addition, Mor increased mRNA expression of antioxidant enzymes (e.g., heme oxygenase-1, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase-1, and thioredoxin reductase 1) in MAC-T cells. In conclusion, 12.5 to 50 mg/mL of Mor exhibited antibacterial activity against 18 out of 27 tested isolates. Also, pretreatment of 200 μg/mL of Mor to MAC-T cells modulated adhesion and invasion of E. coli O55 and other mastitis-associated pathogens. Furthermore, Mor increased antioxidant capacities in MAC-T cells, but further in vivo studies are needed.
Nanotechnology is one of the most appealing area for developing new applications in biotechnology and medicine. For decades, nanoparticles have been extensively studied for a variety of biomedical ...applications. Silver has evolved into a potent antibacterial agent that can be used in a variety of nanostructured materials of various shapes and sizes. Silver nanoparticles (AgNP) based antimicrobial compounds are employed in a wide range of applications, including medicinal uses, surface treatment and coatings, the chemical and food industries, and agricultural productivity. When designing formulations for specific applications, the size, shape, and surface area of AgNPs are all crucial structural aspects to consider. Different methods for producing AgNPs with varying sizes and forms that are less harmful have been devised. The anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-angiogenic properties of AgNPs have been addressed in this review, as well as their generation and processes. Herein, we have reviewed the advances in therapeutic applications of AgNPs, as well as their limitations and barriers for future applications.
•Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) possess unique biomedical applications.•AgNPs can effectively act as antimicrobial agents.•AgNPs have shown interesting anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects.•AgNPs possess promising anticancer effects.
Sesame seed and flaxseed are oilseeds with many health benefits but with possible microbial contaminations, especially Salmonella, resulting in a potential health risk when consumed in raw form. In ...this study, plant essential oils (EOs) vapor, radio frequency (RF) heating and their combined treatments were applied to inactivate inoculated Salmonella and natural microflora on sesame seed and flaxseed. Cinnamon oil vapor and oregano oil vapor both at the concentration of 0.42–3.33 μL/mL treating for 7 d caused significant Salmonella reductions on these two kinds of seeds and cinnamon oil vapor had the better effect relatively. Weibull model was suitable to describe the thermal inactivation behaviors of Salmonella on edible seeds by RF heating. RF heating at 80 °C and 85 °C for 5 min combined with cinnamon oil vapor at 0.83 μL/mL for 3 d caused more than 5 log CFU/g reductions of Salmonella on sesame seed and flaxseed, respectively, but only 0.96 and 1.42 log CFU/g reductions of total bacterial counts, or 1.05 and 1.56 log CFU/g reductions of yeast and mold on sesame seed and flaxseed. Combined treatments did not cause damages on seeds’ quality. This study provides a new method for Salmonella inactivation on dry edible seeds.
•EOs vapors, RF heating and their combined treatments were applied to inactivate microbials on two seeds.•Weibull model was suitable to describe the RF inactivation behaviors of Salmonella on edible seeds.•Combined treatments caused more than 5-log reductions of Salmonella.•Combined treatments did not cause damages on seeds' quality.
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•Polyphenolic composition of hydroalcoholic and water extracts from hemp pollen.•Antioxidant effects induced by hydroalcoholic and water extracts from hemp pollen.•Antimicrobial ...effects induced by hydroalcoholic and water extracts from hemp pollen.
Cannabis sativa L. belongs to the Cannabaceae family and includes annual, robust, fast-growing and generally dioecious plants. Industrial hemp, and particularly the inflorescences, has been recently recognized as important source of bioactive extracts with antioxidant and antimicrobial effects. The goal of the present study was to explore botanical, phytochemical, and biological properties of water and hydroalcoholic hemp pollen extracts from male inflorescences. The extracts from hemp pollen were found rich in phenolic compounds, such as hydroxytyrosol, coumaric acid, and hesperitin. The phenolic profile was also consistent with the observed scavenging/reducing, enzyme inhibitory, and antimicrobial properties of the extracts. Regarding the antimicrobial effects, Escherichia coli, Trycophyton rubrum, and T. tonsurans were the most sensitive to growth inhibitory effects (MIC values: 9.92–79.37 µg/mL) of the extracts. Whereas, null effects on prostate PC3 and myocyte C2C12 cell viability, in the range 1–1000 µg/mL, are consistent with MIC values and suggest extracts’ biocompatibility. The experimental data obtained, which are not reflected in the literature as the topic of hemp pollen is almost completely unexplored, confirm the innovativeness of a product obtained directly from bees, which in the face of greater variability and complexity can reserve promising applications in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic sectors.
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the combined effects of ε-Polylysine (ε-PL) and nisin and investigate the synergistic action of these compounds against Bacillus subtilis ...(B. subtilis).The combination of ε-PL and nisin showed synergistic anti-microbial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli), B. subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). SEM and TEM microscopy revealed that combined treatment with ε-PL and nisin synergistically damaged the morphology of tested bacterial cells. Propidium iodide (PI) infiltration experiments indicated that combined treatment with ε-PL and nisin synergistically enhanced the permeability of the bacterial cell membrane, likely reflecting the inhibition of both Na+K+- and Ca++ Mg++-ATPase activities through these compounds. The fluorescence spectrum showed an interaction between ε-PL and DNA, but not between nisin and DNA. The mode of ε-PL in binding with DNA was similar to that of ethidium bromide (EB). These results indicated that the uptake of ε-PL into cells was promoted through nisin, and subsequently, ε-PL interacted with the intracellular DNA achieving a synergistic effect.
•Combined treatment of ε-PL and nisin resulted in antimicrobial synergism.•Combined treatment significantly damaged the morphology of bacterial cells.•ε-PL and nisin synergistically enhanced the permeability of the cell membrane.•The fluorescence spectrum revealed an interaction between ε-PL and DNA.•Nisin promoted the cellular uptake of ε-PL, facilitating the ε-PL-DNA interaction.
Graphical abstract Abstract Chronic wounds take longer to heal and, if left untreated, can result in severe repercussions such as sepsis, gangrene, and amputation. The current treatment procedures ...followed are wound cleaning and debridement, specialized dressings, antibiotics and antiseptics, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and vacuum-assisted wound closure. Some of the limitations of these treatment options are multidrug resistance and tissue toxicity. Cold plasma is an emerging technology that has opened a new frontier in biomedical applications and is found to have great utility in wound healing. Cold plasma comprises reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) that can be targeted against bacterial inactivation and improve wound healing. The amount of RONS produced can be controlled by several parameters such as gas composition, flow rate, power, frequency, voltage, distance, and exposure time. The reactive species causes damage to the cell membrane as well as the intracellular components which ultimately lead to bacterial cell death. It can also accelerate wound healing by activating neutrophils, macrophages, endothelial cells, keratinocytes, and fibroblasts. These help in maintaining tissue oxygenation, initiating angiogenesis, collagen synthesis which aids in rapid wound closure. In this review, we summarize the various characteristics of cold plasma that can be optimized to produce an effective antimicrobial effect. The different mechanisms of bacterial inactivation and the stimulation of wound healing processes by the reactive species are discussed. Furthermore, numerous pieces of evidence from in vitro and in vivo experiments and clinical trials that prove that cold plasma is an effective approach are presented.
Fresh noodles are subjected to rapid spoilage, mainly due to the microorganism, which adversely affect their shelf life. In this study, we developed a new specific strategy by targeting microbial ...species to extend the shelf life of fresh noodles. We found that at 4 °C, 15 °C, 25 °C and 37 °C, the shelf life of fresh noodles were 5, 1, <1 and < 1 days based on total viable count (TVC) and molds, respectively. The microflora in fresh noodles evolved from Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas (4 °C) to Pantoea, Bacillus, Staphylococcus, and Lactobacillus (15 °C), then to Bacillus, Pantoea, Staphylococcus and Lactobacillus (25 °C), and finally to Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Lactobacillus and Pantoea (37 °C) at genus level proved by high-throughput sequencing. Total forty-five microbial species at different temperatures were isolated and identified, fourteen of which were picked out to screen food preservatives. E. faecalis was the hardest bacteria for protamine to be inhibited in the fresh noodles. The combination of 0.1% glycerol monooctanoate (GMC) +0.1% protamine extended the shelf life of fresh noodles from 1d to 3d at 25 °C and from 7d to 28d at 4 °C. P. agglomerans and E. faecalis, E. faecium and E. durans were responsible for deterioration of the fresh noodles at 4 °C and at 25 °C, respectively. Additionally, MIC test showed the chitosan lactate had anti-bacteria abilities towards both E. faecalis and P. agglomerans. The results showed that the combination of chitosan lactates + protamine + GMC increased the shelf life of the fresh noodles from 1d to 4d at 25 °C due to the synergistic inhibition of P. agglomerans and E. faecalis. It was the first time aiming at specific target strains to develop new preservatives. With this new approach, the storage accuracy and efficiency of fresh noodles can be improved.
•E. faecalis was the hardest bacteria to inhibit for protamine and responsible for deterioration of fresh noodles at 25 °C.•Protamine and Protamine + GMC extended the shelf life to 2d and 3d, respectively.•Chitosan lactate showed anti- E. faecalis ability and had synergistic antimicrobial effects with Protamine and GMC.•The combination of chitosan lactates + protamine + GMC extended the shelf life of the fresh noodles to 4d at 25 °C.•The combination of targeting bacteria and MIC/FIC was a useful strategy for selection of preservative to extend shelf life.
In recent years the outbreak of re-emerging and emerging infectious diseases has been a significant burden on global economies and public health. The growth of population and urbanization along with ...poor water supply and environmental hygiene are the main reasons for the increase in outbreak of infectious pathogens. Transmission of infectious pathogens to the community has caused outbreaks of diseases such as influenza (A H5N1), diarrhea (Escherichia coli), cholera (Vibrio cholera), etc throughout the world. The comprehensive treatments of environments containing infectious pathogens using advanced disinfectant nanomaterials have been proposed for prevention of the outbreaks. Among these nanomaterials, silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) with unique properties of high antimicrobial activity have attracted much interest from scientists and technologists to develop nanosilver-based disinfectant products. This article aims to review the synthesis routes and antimicrobial effects of Ag-NPs against various pathogens including bacteria, fungi and virus. Toxicology considerations of Ag-NPs to humans and ecology are discussed in detail. Some current applications of Ag-NPs in water-, air- and surface- disinfection are described. Finally, future prospects of Ag-NPs for treatment and prevention of currently emerging infections are discussed.
The potential of natural deep eutectic systems (NADESs) to efficiently extract astaxanthin (AXT) contained in crab shell wastes was evaluated. Different terpene-based mixtures were prepared and ...characterized. Aiming at maximizing the AXT recovery, we evaluated the effect of operating temperature and time on the extraction performance. As a proof of concept, this paper also highlights the potential of NADESs for AXT extraction from shrimp shells, mussels, and Haematococcus pluvialis. The biological potential of AXT-rich extracts; the AXT standard; and NADESs, their individual components, and equivalent physical mixtures was evaluated, including cytotoxicity, antiproliferative effects on human colorectal cancer cells, and antimicrobial potential against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Results showed that extractions with menthol:myristic acid (8:1) were able to match the AXT yield obtained by a Soxhlet extraction with acetone. Additionally, when using the same NADESs to recover AXT from the other biomasses under study, there was a 3- to 657-fold increase in yields when compared with the Soxhlet extraction. AXT-rich extracts obtained with NADESs showed antiproliferative and antimicrobial potential. This study suggests that NADESs can truly be used as alternative extraction media for the recovery of AXT from waste biomass and that these systems and respective extracts have the potential to be used as ingredients in industrial applications.