Thraustochytrids can be a promising raw source of nutritionally valuable compounds, particularly protein and fatty acids. The high cost of carbon and nitrogen sources remains a major bottleneck for the industrial-scale heterotrophic cultivation of thraustochytrids. The current study investigates the potential of Aurantiochytrium limacinum SR21 (ATCC MYA-1381) as a rich source of protein and fatty acids, using sea salt, glucose, and different protein extracts as nitrogen sources (peptone vs. yeast extract). Five fermentation media with varying combinations of sea salt, synthetic sea salt, yeast extract, and peptone were evaluated in shake flasks to identify the best-performing medium nutrient composition. The best-performing condition was then scaled-up to a stirred bioreactor with controlled pH. Dry biomass concentration, viable cell count, fatty acid profile, and protein content were evaluated. The bioreactor yielded a maximum of 1.98 ± 0.040 g/L dry biomass containing 19% protein and 1528 ± 110 mg/100 g biomass of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the bioreactor, while the highest DHA concentration (3994 ± 131 mg/100 g dry biomass) was achieved in flask fermentation. Optimizing cultivation conditions and maximizing production yield can transform thraustochytrids, such as A. limacinum, into promising sources of protein and fatty acids for the food industry.
This study compared Soxhlet (SE), ultrasound-assisted (UAE), and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) of Withania somnifera and Panax ginseng roots for phytochemical recovery, bioactivity, and beverage application. MAE produced the highest extraction yields (22.15% and 23.88%, respectively; p < 0.05), total phenolic contents (35.91 and 38.42 mg GAE/g DW), and total flavonoid contents (20.83 and 22.13 mg QE/g DW). Antioxidant activity followed the order MAE > UAE > SE, with maximum DPPH inhibition of 81.29% and 83.85%. HPLC-DAD confirmed improved recovery of withaferin A and ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg1. MAE extracts showed the strongest α-amylase (73.15% and 77.63%), α-glucosidase (78.24% and 82.17%), and pancreatic lipase inhibition (69.91% and 72.48%), and the highest cholesterol-lowering activity (25.86 and 27.14 mg/g). MAE-based ready-to-drink beverages had the highest phenolic content (2.18 and 2.27 mg GAE/mL), with pH 4.46–4.49 and TSS 13.27–13.48 °Brix. Their sensory acceptability decreased from 8.38–8.44 to 7.50–7.57 after 30 days at 4 °C, retaining about 90% of the initial sensory scores. MAE emerged as the most efficient green extraction strategy for developing functional medicinal plant-based beverages.
In vitro fermentative activity is widely used to screen probiotics; however, its relationship to systemic metabolic effects remains uncertain. This study compared glucose consumption, biomass accumulation, and medium acidification in three probiotic strains, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus Vahe, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ZPZ, and Lactobacillus delbrueckii IAHAHI, under standardized conditions. A composite in vitro metabolic index integrated these parameters, and the resulting profiles were compared with previously reported in vivo blood-glucose responses. Lcb. rhamnosus Vahe and Lpb. plantarum ZPZ showed markedly higher glucose consumption than L. delbrueckii IAHAHI (67.50, 66.60, and 19.40 mmol/L, respectively), together with greater biomass accumulation and stronger acidification. Their composite metabolic index values were 1.00 and 0.93, respectively, compared with 0.00 for L. delbrueckii IAHAHI. In contrast, previously reported in vivo observations showed that L. delbrueckii IAHAHI was associated with a statistically significant reduction in blood glucose compared with untreated controls (6.594 ± 0.20 vs. 7.26 ± 0.19 mM, P < 0.05), whereas the blood glucose level in the Lcb. rhamnosus Vahe prevention group did not differ significantly from that of untreated controls (7.707 ± 0.16 vs. 7.26 ± 0.19 mM, P > 0.05) (Pepoyan et al., 2020). These findings indicate that in vitro fermentative intensity does not necessarily predict systemic glucose regulation in vivo. Glucose consumption, biomass accumulation, and acidification should therefore not be regarded as direct proxies for host-level glucose-lowering efficacy, supporting the need for host-relevant validation in probiotic evaluation.
Oxidative and nitrosative stress play a key role in the pathogenesis of acute cardiac, hepatic and renal injury. This study evaluated the cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, and nephroprotective effects of five Mahonia aquifolium ethanolic extracts: green fruits (MGF), ripe fruits (MRF), leaves (ML), bark (MB), and flowers (MF). Wistar rats received 7 days of pretreatment prior to experimental induction of myocardial injury (isoproterenol), acute toxic hepatitis (acetaminophen), or acute kidney injury (gentamicin). Oxidative and nitrosative stress markers, electrocardiographic parameters and organ-specific injury markers were assessed. In the AMI model, all extracts significantly reduced 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) levels (p < 0.001) whereas ML, MB, and MF reduced AST levels (p < 0.01). In AH, MGF, MRF, ML and MF significantly reduced TOS and OSI (p < 0.001), while MGF, MRF, MB, and MF significantly reduced ALT levels. In AKI, all extracts significantly decreased serum and urinary creatinine levels (p < 0.001). Overall, the protective effects varied by extract type, with ML, MF, and MB showing promising antioxidant and organ-protective effects, while fruit extracts demonstrated notable hepatoprotective effects. These findings provide preliminary evidence of the protective effects of M. aquifolium extracts in experimental models of acute organ injury and warrant further investigation in studies with adequately justified sample sizes and dose-response characterization.
Ferns represent one of the most diverse groups of vascular plants, widely distributed across various ecological habitats. They are recognized as valuable sources of bioactive secondary metabolites with significant biological activities. The present study aimed to investigate the phenolic profile, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of three fern species, Adiantum raddianum (AR), Phlebodium aureum (PA), and Nephrolepis exaltata (NE), by using three extraction solvents (methanol, acetone and water) applied to dried and fresh fern leaf material. A total of 20 phenolic compounds were identified by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS, including hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, and flavonols being the abundant class. Additionally, antioxidant capacity was noticed in the aqueous extracts of dried P. aureum (DPPH: 4.07 ± 0.01 µmol TE/g extract) and A. raddianum (DPPH: 4.05 ± 0.02 µmol TE/g extract), which also exhibited ABTS antioxidant capacity of 6.10 ± 0.01 and 5.99 ± 0.23 µmol TE/g extract, respectively. Fern extracts demonstrated selective bioactivity, showing effectiveness against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and fungal strains. A. raddianum exhibited consistent MIC values across solvents, while N. exaltata demonstrated notable antifungal activity, particularly against Candida species. The current findings highlight the importance of ferns as alternative sources of bioactive compounds and support their continued investigation within pharmacological and phytochemical research.
