The newly engineered functional systems of nanotechnology implemented in food packaging minimize food product loss by extending shelf life. The incorporation of nanostructured materials into packaging formulations enhanced the existing characteristics of food packaging materials by increasing the specific surface area of these biopolymers. Natural biopolymers were regarded as greener, more sustainable, and environmentally friendly materials. Starch nanocrystals have been employed effectively as fillers in polymer matrices to enhance mechanical and moisture barrier characteristics. Both chitin and chitosan nanoparticles were biocompatible, biodegradable, inexpensive in cost, and mucoadhesive in nature. Alginate nanoparticles demonstrated high thermal and chemical stability. Because of these features, polysaccharide-based nanoparticles were excellent candidates for nano reinforcements in bio-nanocomposites. The nano sized forms of starch, chitin, chitosan, and alginate are non-toxic and antimicrobial. This study focused on current advances in the development of food packaging films based on starch, chitin, chitosan, and alginate nanoparticles, as well as trends and challenges in the formulation of bio-based polymers. This review detailed the synthesis of starch, chitin, chitosan, and alginate nanoparticles using various techniques such as hydrolysis, ionic gelation, reverse micellization, emulsification, and crosslinking. This type of polysaccharide-based bio-nanocomposite is expected to revolutionize the entire food packaging industry.
Taxol and 10‐Deacetyl baccatin III are major taxanes in the bark, needles, and endophytes of Taxus baccata. The current study aimed to develop a process for their separation from different matrices. Crude taxoid was prepared by extraction of samples with methanol, followed by partitioning with dichloromethane and precipitation with hexane. Analytical high‐performance liquid chromatography involved isocratic elution on C18 column (4.6 × 250 mm, 5 μm) with methanol‐water (70:30 v/v) at a flow rate of 1 ml/min. Injection volume was 20 μl and detection was carried out at 227 nm. The content of Taxol and 10‐Deacetyl baccatin III in bark, needles and endophytic culture broth was 11.19 and 1.75 μg/mg; 11.19 and 1.75 μg/mg; and 2.80 and 0.22 μg/L, respectively. Preparative high‐performance liquid chromatography was done on C18 column (10 × 250 mm, 5 μm) at a flow rate of 10 ml/min. About 20 g crude taxoid was processed in < 3 h with a recovery of about 90% for both the analytes. The purity of recovered Taxol and 10‐Deacetyl baccatin III determined by ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry was found to be 95.78 ± 3.63% and 99.72 ± 0.18%, respectively. The structure of recovered Taxol was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance. The method can find use in biotransformation studies.
Fermented foods have a long history of human use. The purpose of this study was to characterize the microbial composition of a traditional fermented wheat preparation—Nishasta— and to explore its effect in retinoic acid-induced osteoporosis in Wistar rats. The sample was suspended in sterile water (10% w/v), mixed thoroughly, filtered, and gradually diluted. Aliquots of dilutions were cultured in MRS (DeMan–Rogosa–Sharpe) medium, and colonies with similar morphologies were subjected to DNA extraction. The 16S rRNA gene of the isolates was amplified by polymerase chain reaction, checked by agarose gel electrophoresis, and finally identified by sequencing. Anti-osteoporosis screening of Nishasta was carried out in female Wistar rats using retinoic acid as an inducer (70 mg/kg, p.o. once a day for 14 days). Its effect on bone health parameters was determined. The bone metabolism markers such as hydroxyproline (HOP), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were evaluated. The results of microbial characterization revealed the presence of ten clones of Lactobacillus plantarum in the fermented preparation with L. plantarum NF3 as the predominant strain. The average microbial count was 2.4 × 103 CFU/g. Retinoic acid administration led to a marked disorder of various bone health markers in rats. It also increased the levels of urine calcium and phosphorus, indicating increased bone destruction. Treatment with fermented wheat (at 200, 100, and 50 mg/kg doses, p.o. daily for 42 days after the induction of osteoporosis) improved bone mineral density in a dose-dependent manner. It also improved the bone microstructure and reduced the levels of ALP, TRACP, and HOP. Micro-CT revealed that it reduced trabecular separation and increased the percent bone volume, trabecular numbers, trabecular thickness, and bone mineral density in the rats. The results showed that the fermented wheat promoted bone formation and prevented bone resorption. Our findings clearly established the effectiveness of Nishasta against osteoporosis in Wistar rats that can be partly attributed to the improved gut calcium absorption and microbiota composition.
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