Fructo-Oligosaccharide Production from Inulin Through Partial Citric or Phosphoric Acid Hydrolyses

José Domingos Fontana,Adelia Grzybowski,Marcela Tiboni,Maurı´cio Passos 한국식품영양과학회 2011 Journal of medicinal food Vol.14 No.11

Purified inulin from Dahlia tubers was partially hydrolyzed to form fructo-oligosaccharides by using citric or phosphoric acids (pH, 2.0–2.5) as mild acid catalysts. The ideal kinetic conditions to ensure a high yield of fructo-oligosaccharides relative to free fructose were a temperature range of 85°C–95°C, a hydrolysis time of 15–25 minutes, and a catalyst pH of 2.5. At the higher temperature and the longest hydrolysis time, an inversion of the product ratio occurred. Under these conditions, co-generation of hydroxymethylfurfural occurred, and it was eliminated by activated charcoal. Unlike in classic hydrolysis with hydrochloric or sulfuric acid, deionization of the actual hydrolysates was not necessary because the catalyst neutralization with common bases results in the formation of co-nutrients with alternative uses as foods or fermentation substrates. These whole hydrolysates can be advantageously added as nutraceuticals to carbonated beverages and acidic foods, such as soft drinks and yogurts.

Nutritional content of Liometopum apiculatum Mayr larvae (“escamoles”) by vegetation type in north-central Mexico

José Domingo Cruz-Labana,María Magdalena Crosby-Galván,Adriana Delgado-Alvarado,José Luis Alcántara-Carbajal,Juan Manuel Cuca-García,Luis Antonio Tarango-Arámbula 한국응용곤충학회 2018 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.21 No.4

In Mexico the ant Liometopum apiculatum is an important insect nutritionally, economically and ecologically. Their larvae (“escamoles”) contain proteins, lipids, vitamins and minerals, the concentrations of which may be related with the type of vegetation where the ant forages. The objective of this study was to evaluate the content of macro and micro nutrients of L. apiculatum larvae collected in three types of vegetation in north-central Mexico. We determined content of moisture, crude protein, total lipids, crude fiber, ash, and nitrogen-free extract. The amino acids were analyzed by cationic Exchange chromatography with acid hydrolysis and fatty acids by gas chromatography and solvent extraction with sodium methoxide. The effect of vegetation type on nutrient content was determined with an ANOVA and Sheffé comparison of means (P < .05). The concentration of amino acids and fatty acids (FA) was analyzed with a Kruskall-Wallis test (P < .05). Significant differences were found in protein, lipids and ash (P < .0001) and moisture content (P < .0036). We identified 17 amino acids, which concentration differed by type of vegetation. There were no significant differences in fatty acids. It is likely that the differences in the concentrations of macronutrients are due to the diversity and differential density of the food components available in each type of vegetation for L. apiculatum, and that the number of types and quantity of amino acids and fatty acids depend on the chemical properties of the liquid secretions the ants obtain by trophobiosis.

Application of Bonelike® as synthetic bone graft in orthopaedic and oral surgery in veterinary clinical cases.

José Miguel Campos,Ana Catarina Sousa,Pedro Olivério Pinto,Jorge Ribeiro,Miguel Lacueva França,Ana Rita Caseiro,Mariana Vieira Branquinho,Sílvia Santos Pedrosa,Carla Mendonça,Ana Brandão,José Domingos 한국생체재료학회 2019 생체재료학회지 Vol.23 No.1

Autologous bone remains the gold standard grafting substrate for bone fusions used for small gaps and critical defects. However, significant morbidity is associated with the harvesting of autologous bone grafts and, for that reason, alternative bone graft substitutes have been developed. In the present case series, a glass-reinforced hydroxyapatite synthetic bone substitute, with osteoinductive and osteoconductive proprieties, was applied. This synthetic bone substitute comprises the incorporation of P2O5-CaO glass-based system within a hydroxyapatite matrix, moulded into spherical pellets with 250-500 μm of diameter. A total of 14 veterinary clinical cases of appendicular bone defects and maxillary / mandibular bone defects are described. In all clinical cases, the synthetic bone substitute was used to fill bone defects, enhancing bone regeneration and complementing the recommended surgical techniques. Results demonstrated that it is an appropriate synthetic bone graft available to be used in veterinary patients. It functioned as a space filler in association with standard orthopaedic and odontological procedures of stabilization, promoting a faster bone fusion without any local or systemic adverse reactions. This procedure improves the animals’ quality of life, decreasing pain and post-operative recovery period, as well as increasing bone stability improving positive clinical outcomes.

Physical and chemical variables of the soil of nests of Liometopum apiculatum MAYR in north-central Mexico

Domingo Cruz-Labana José,Antonio Tarango-Arámbula Luis,Luis Alcántara-Carbajal José,Delgado-Alvarado Adriana,Magdalena Crosby-Galván María,Manuel Ruiz-Vera Víctor 한국응용곤충학회 2024 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.27 No.1

Ants are among the organisms that are considered habitat engineers due to their ability to induce changes in the soil. An economically significant ant species is Liometopum apiculatum MAYR, 1870, as its pupae are utilized for human consumption. This ant has been extensively studied using various biological and ecological approaches in diverse habitats across North America. However, there is limited research documenting the properties of the soil in which they nest. The objective of this research was to analyze the physical and chemical properties of soil from Liometopum apiculatum nests and random sites, and to explain how ants can modify the soil in a semi-arid area of north-central Mexico. A sample size of 45 nests distributed in scrub vegetation was determined. Soil samples (2.5 kg) were collected from nests and random sites (20 m in a random direction) at a depth of 20 cm, and aggregates of 3 to 4 cm in length were included during the excavations. The physical variables evaluated were moisture, texture, bulk density and mechanical penetration resistance (MPR); while the chemical ones were pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. The variables moisture (p = 0.031), bulk density (p < 0.01), MPR (p = 0.0289); pH (p < 0.001), electrical conductivity (p < 0.01) and organic matter (p < 0.01) had statistical differences between soil from nests and random sites. This research adds to the existing body of knowledge on Liometopum apiculatum by presenting information on the physical and chemical properties of the soil in which they establish their nests.

Synthesis of a cysteine Diels–Alder-based polymer by simultaneous double-click chemistry and its cyto-genotoxicity evaluation

Bruna Carolina Dorm,José Alberto Paris Junior,Lucas Henrique Domingos da Silva,Lucimara Aparecida Forato,Tamires de Souza Nossa,Antonio José Felix Carvalho,Flávia Aparecida Resende,Alessandro Gandini 한국고분자학회 2024 Macromolecular Research Vol.32 No.2

The click chemistry reactions and its use in living organisms have been widely developed; however, few studies describe the safety of the reagents and products. Furan–maleimide represent one important pair of reagents for the click Diels–Alder reaction, and were chosen here to perform the minimalist click reaction with cysteine to reveal their preliminary safety features by cytotoxicity tests. The functional groups of amino acids allow them to be chemically modified, mainly for the synthesis of monomers and polymers. Here, cysteine was used in the click reaction, since it displays an SH group in its side chain, useful to perform thiol–ene reactions. Its amine group easily reacts with anhydrides, allowing it to couple with the furan derivative “furan–maleic anhydride adduct”. The mixture of the cysteine with the adduct in solution gives rise to the double simultaneous thiol–ene/amine maleimide click reactions. The thiol group and the furan double bond provide the reactive functional groups for the polymerization. The synthesis of the polymer based on cysteine–Diels–Alder adduct confirmed the condensation nature of the reaction. Preliminary safety and biocompatibility tests of this new polymer and its starting reagents were carried out, since these parameters represent one of the most important features for operating and scaling up the production. This one-step double-click reaction is interesting for application in several fields, since it has the advantage of using natural and renewable raw materials, in addition to its handling safety.