No abstract

BackgroundCitrus sinensis peels are usually discarded as wastes; however, they are rich sources of Vitamin C, fibre, and many nutrients, including phenolics and flavonoids which are also good antioxidant agents. This study aimed to examine phytochemical composition and antioxidant capabilities of C. sinensis peel extracted conventionally with different methanol/water, ethanol/water, and acetone/water solvents.MethodsC. sinensis peels were subjected to extraction with 100%, 70% and 50% of methanol, ethanol, and acetone, respectively, as well as hot water extraction. Antioxidant activities of the peel extracts were examined via the 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. Total phenolic content and total flavonoid content of the extracts were measured via the Folin-Ciocalteau method and the aluminium chloride colorimetric method, respectively. Phenolic acid and organic acid composition of the peel extracts were further determined via high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) while flavonoid content was identified via ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC).ResultsDPPH radical scavenging activity of C. sinensis peel extracts varied from 8.35 to 18.20 mg TE/g, FRAP ranged from 95.00 to 296.61 mmol Fe(II)/g, while ORAC value ranged from 0.31 to 0.92 mol TE/g. Significant level of association between the assays was observed especially between TPC and FRAP (R-square = 0.95, P < 0.0001). TPC of various C. sinensis peel extracts ranged from 12.08 to 38.24 mg GAE/g, with 70% acetone/water extract (AEC) showing the highest TPC. TFC ranged from 1.90 to 5.51 mg CE/g. Extraction yield ranged from 0.33 to 0.54 g/g DW and tended to increase with increasing water concentration in the solvent. In the phytochemical investigation, five phenolic acids were identified using HPLC, including gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeic acid and ferulic acid. A total of five organic acids including lactic acid, citric acid, L-mallic acid, kojic acid and ascorbic acid were quantified via HPLC. In addition, concentrations of six flavonoids including catechin, epigallocatechin, vitexin, rutin, luteolin and apigenin were determined via UPLC.Discussion and ConclusionPhytochemicals including phenolics and flavonoids in C. sinensis peel extracts exhibited good antioxidant properties. Among the extracts, 70% AEC with highest TPC and high TFC content showed greatest antioxidant activity in all three assays. Different phenolic acids, organic acids and flavonoids were also identified from the extracts. This study indicated that C. sinensis peels contained potential antioxidant compounds which could be exploited as value added products in the food industry.

No abstract

Solid-state fermentation (SSF) is an alternative low cost useful process that has many important applications in the field of biotechnology.  In this study, SSF has been employed as a process for the production of value-added agricultural by-product using coconut testa (CT), rice bran (RB) and the combination of both substrates (CT-RB). The effect of SSF by Monascus purpureus on total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase and anti-elastase of the substrates were studied and compared with its non-fermented counterparts.  The results showed that the SSF has improved the TPC up to three-fold higher in the studied substrates.  Antioxidant potential evaluated using FRAP analysis also exhibited an enhancement in fermented substrates with the values ranging from 23.70 to 63.15 mg AAE/g sample.  On the other hand, the radical scavenging activity evaluated using DPPH assay showed a different trend in comparison to the TPC and FRAP analyses.  In another two analyses, tyrosinase and elastase inhibition activities were also enhanced in most substrates upon the fermentation. The changes in free phenolic acids content (p-coumaric, caffeic, ferulic, sinapic, vanillic, protocatechuic, gallic and 4-hydroxybenzoic and syringic acid) of the substrates after fungal fermentation was also examined through high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. In summary, SSF offers a tool to further increase the bioactive potential of the studied substrate.

No abstract

Malaysia produces large number of agro-industrial products annually including rice and coconut. Along with the production, rice bran and coconut testa are also abundantly generated as by-products. Solid state fermentation (SSF) is a simple biotechnological technique that has been employed for production of bioactive compounds. The use of SSF on agro-industrial by-products is economically viable and helps to reduce the environmental impact of the by-products disposal. In this present study, rice bran (RB), coconut testa (CT) and a combination of rice bran and coconut testa (RBCT) were fermented with single culture of Aspergillus oryzae and Rhizopus oligosporus. The effect of fungal SSF on the cosmeceutical-related activities and phenolic acid content of the fermented RB, CT and RBCT extracts was determined. The results showed that total phenolic content (TPC) as well as antioxidant activity measured using the ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) of all substrates increased upon fermentation. Contrary to the TPC and FRAP assays results, the radical-scavenging activity of the fermented samples as measured by using the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method, were varied. Tyrosinase inhibition activity was found to be the highest in the extract of RB fermented with A. oryzae (56.18%) compared to other extracts. The same extract showed the highest elastase inhibition activity with a value of 60.27%. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses showed ferulic, sinapic, caffeic and protocatechuic acids were significantly increased in RB fermented with A. oryzae. The results of this study suggest that fungal solid-state fermentation of rice bran may have the potential to be exploited in producing different types of active metabolites that are useful for cosmeceutical industries

No abstract

Introduction: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear is a frequent injury and its reconstruction is among the most commonly performed orthopaedic surgical procedures. ACL reconstruction generally yields good results. However, its recovery can be hampered by the development of postoperative complications. The aim of this study was to review complications following arthroscopic ACL reconstruction done in Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun, Ipoh and Hospital Teluk Intan, Perak with the emphasis on arthrofibrosis. Arthrofibrosis is defined as a loss of 15 degrees extension or more, with or without flexion loss compared to the contralateral knee.Materials and Methods: The study is based on a series of retrospective cases, on which medical records of 200 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction surgeries between March 2007 and December 2014 were reviewed. Follow-up treatment records were available for 166 patients (83%). The data was analysed to identify the risk factors for developing complications with an emphasis on arthrofibrosis.Results: Eight patients (5%) developed arthrofibrosis in the post-operative period. Early surgical intervention, preoperative limited range of motion and female gender are the risk factors correlate with arthrofibrosis. However, the type of graft used and meniscal procedure do not have a significant correlation with the development of arthrofibrosis. Other complications encountered are local infections, hypertrophic scar and chronic regional pain syndromes.Conclusion: The 5% incidence of arthrofibrosis following an ACL reconstruction in our centres can be reduced with proper preventive measures which include thorough preoperative evaluation, proper patient selection, restoration of ROM prior to surgery and proper timing of surgery.