Soothing Efficacy and Tolerability of a Skin Care Product Containing Live Lactobacillus rhamnosus Bacteria and Berry Seed Oils on Atopic Dermatitis Lesions

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic pruritic inflammatory skin disease characterized by a reduced microbiome diversity which favours the skin colonization with pathogenic bacteria, mainly with Staphylococcus aureus. A novel approach to the management of several skin diseases, including AD, involves the use of specific beneficial probiotic bacteria aimed at restoring the skin microbiome balance and decreasing the skin colonization with pathogens. Objective: This study assessed the soothing efficacy and tolerability of a new probiotic-based skin care product combining two live Lactobacillus rhamnosus strains and berry seed oils on eczematous lesions in subjects with atopic skin. Patients and Methods: Twenty-five adults with atopic skin and presenting at least one inflammatory lesion applied the product on the defined lesion for 28 days, once to twice daily. Severity of eczema signs (EASI score) and intensity of pruritus (VAS) were assessed, and digital images were captured following treatment. Cutaneous tolerability and subject satisfaction were also investigated. Results: A statistically significant decrease in mean EASI score was observed after 28 days (-27%, p = 0.011). A visible improvement in skin aspect was observed in 67% of the subjects on week 4. On average, the intensity of pruritus decreased by 57% as compared to baseline (p = 0.011). This effect was observed in 86% of the subjects. No relevant adverse reactions were observed following treatment with the skin care product and the majority of the subjects appreciated the product for its general characteristics, properties, and efficacy. Conclusion: The results suggest that this skin care product containing two live Lactobacillus rhamnosus strains and berry seed oils could be used for the treatment of eczematous lesions in subjects with atopic skin.

Chemometric Analysis of Volatile Compounds of NIPRINEEM Oil and Other Brands of Neem Seed Oils Sold in Nigeria

Azadirachta indica A. Juss (neem, family Meliaceae) is a reputable medicinal plant. Various parts of the plant are used as a remedy against different ailments, as a natural pesticide, as raw material in the cosmetic industry, and for marking other commodities. The seed oil is a major product of the plant and its quality depends on the seed quality and extraction methods employed. In this study, the chemical profile of NIPRDNEEM oil is compared with that of other brands of neem seed oils by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and chemometrics. The fatty acid identified in NIPRDNEEM oil were: oleic acid (34.09%), stearic acid (11.4%), linoleic acid (15.94%), palmitic acid (23.4%), arachidic acid (0.73%), and the other compounds were: 1-Monolinoleoylglycerol trimethylsilyl ether (0.95%) and farnesyl alcohol (13.20%). The branded oils were composed predominantly of oleic acid (13.50% - 26.76%), palmitic acid (6.88% - 11.99%), linoleic acid (7.32% - 11.17%), stearic acid (4.29% - 13.08%), and arachidic acid (0.53% - 1.27%). The unbranded oil contained oleic acid (30.04%), stearic acid (14.91%), linoleic acid (14.62%), palmitic acid (12.34%), and arachidic acid (0.93%). Stigmasterol, stigmasterol acetate, and sitosterol were the sterols identified in the oils. Characterization of the fatty acid profile of neem seed oil is vital for industrial and economic purposes. The fatty acids profile of the NIPRDNEEM oil and other neem seed oil were comparable. Both PCA plots and HCA dendrogram from the chemometric analysis shows three main grouping of all samples. While NIPRDNEEM and the local neem oil were grouped, suggesting a high degree of resemblance of both samples.

Synthesis and Characterization of Phenyl Camellia oleifera Seed Oil Ester Plasticizing PVC

Plasticizers are essential additives in the processing of polyvinyl chloride(PVC),with phthalate plasticizers being widely used.However,these conventional plasticizers have been shown to be harmful to human health and environmentally unfriendly,necessitating the exploration of eco-friendly bio-based alternatives.In this study,Camellia oleifera seed oil,a specialty resource in China,was utilized as a raw material and reacted with 4,4′-Methylenebis(N,N-diglycidylaniline)(AG-80)to synthesize Phenyl Camellia seed Oil Ester(PCSOE).PCSOE was employed as a plasticizer to prepare modified PVC films with varying concentrations,with the conventional plasticizer dioctyl phthalate(DOP)serving as a control.Experimental results demonstrate that PSCOE-plasticized PVC films exhibit enhanced hydrophilicity,tensile strength,and thermal stability compared to DOP-modified PVC films.The contact angle of PSCOE-plasticized PVC films ranges from 66.26°to 78.48°,which is generally lower than the contact angle of DOP-modified PVC films at 78.40°,indicating improved hydrophilicity due to the modification with PCSOE.The tensile strength of PSCOE-plasticized PVC films ranges from 17.73 to 20.17 MPa,all surpassing the value of 16.41 MPa for DOP-modified PVC films.Moreover,the temperatures corresponding to 5%,10%,and 50%weight loss for PVC samples modified with PCSOE are higher than those for DOP.Hence,PCSOE presents a viable alternative to DOP as a plasticizer for PVC materials.

Anti-lipid-oxidation effects and edible safety evaluation of the oil extracted by a supercritical CO_(2) process from coix seed fermented by Monascus purpureus

The physicochemical properties and composition of coix seed oil produced by Monascus purpureus fermentation and supercritical CO_(2)extraction were determined.Anti-lipid-oxidation and edible safety were evaluated using a cholesterol-fish oil model,acute oral toxicity assay,and genetic toxicity assay in vitro and in vivo,respectively.The results show that the extraction oil from fermented coix seed(FCS-O)had good physicochemical quality and abundant active components with physiological function.In particular,γ-tocotrienol,γ-oryzanol,coixenolide and oleic acid concentrations reached 72.83μg/g,745.96μg/g,9.65 mg/g and 316.58 mg/100 g DW,respectively.The FCS-O exhibited higher antioxidant capability in inhibiting lipid oxidation and peroxidation.Compared to the blank control,the concentrations of 7-ketocholestreol and peroxide only were 8.42μg/mL and 16.16 mmol/kg at 168 h of oxidation(P<0.01).In addition,the FCS-O has been confirmed to be a very safe edible oil,with no acute toxicity(LD50>10 g/kg bw,considered actually non-toxic)and no induced mutagenicity,cytotoxicity or genotoxicity.These results serve as a good safety reference for future application of the oil from fermented coix seed.The development and utilization of this kind of oil will be beneficial as a food,food ingredient,nutritional supplement,or natural food antioxidant to promote good health function.

Phosphorus Containing Rubber Seed oil as a Flame Retardant Plasticizer for Polyvinyl Chloride

The application of phthalate plasticizers has been restricted around the world due to their poor migration and potential harm to the human body.Hence,producing functional bio-based plasticizers via exploiting clean and reusable resources meets the satisfaction of current demands.In this study,flame-retardant rubber seed oil-based plasticize(FRP)was prepared via epoxidation reaction and ring opening addition reactions,which was used as a flame-resistant plasticizer for polyvinyl chloride to replace petroleum-based phthalate plasticizer.When DOP was replaced with FRP,the torque of PVC blends increased from 11.4 to 18.4 N⋅m,the LOI value increased from 24.3%for PVC-FRP-0%to 33.1%for PVC-FRP-20.The THR value diminished from 39 MJ/m^(2)(pertaining to PVC-FRC-0)to 22 MJ/m^(2)Tg increased from 23°C to 47°C,the weight loss of plasticized PVC blends significantly reduced from 22.6%to 2.8%in leaching tests.The study provided a new way to prepare flame retardant plasticizer using rubber seed oil as raw material.

Plasticizing Effect of Camellia oleifera Seed-Oil-Based Plasticizer on PVC Material Modification

In this study,as the plasticizer,Camellia oleifera seed-oil-based cyclohexyl ester(COSOCE)was prepared by the reaction of cyclohexene oxide and refined C.oleifera seed oil(RCOSO)obtained by acidification hydrolysis after saponification.In addition,the structure of the target product was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared(FTIR)spectroscopy,nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)spectroscopy,and Raman spectroscopy.COSOCE was used as plasticizer-modified polyvinyl chloride(PVC)membranes.The structure of the COSOCE-modified PVC membranes were characterized by Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy(SEM).The properties of the COSOCE-modified PVC membrane were characterized by contact angle measurements,universal testing machine,thermogravimetric analysis(TGA),and differential scanning calorimetry(DSC).The results revealed that(1)The COSOCE-modified PVC membranes exhibit a good microscopic morphology.Combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDS)and contact angle measurement results,the COSOCE-modified PVC membranes are confirmed to be a hydrophilic material.(2)The modified PVC membrane with 60%COSOCE exhibited the best mechanical properties.The tensile strength reached 23.56±2.94 MPa.(3)COSOCE-modified PVC material exhibited better thermal stability,with a loss rate of less than 75%at the end of the first decomposition stage.Compared with that of the dioctyl-phthalate(DOP)-modified PVC membrane,the initial decomposition temperature of PVC was increased by 1.17°C–8.17°C,and the residual rate was increased by 0.67%–5.75%.The carbon–carbon double bond in the COSOCE molecular structure can remove the free radicals generated during the degradation of PVC material and slow down the decomposition rate of PVC.In addition,the double bond can be cross-linked partially with the PVC molecular chain containing the conjugated polyene structure,thereby increasing the movement resistance of the PVC molecular chain segment.Hence,COSOCE can replace DOP as a PVC plasticizer.

Profiling the effects of microwave-assisted and soxhlet extraction techniques on the physicochemical attributes of Moringa oleifera seed oil and proteins

There is a constant search for biomaterials from natural products like plants for food and industrial applications.The work embodied in this report aimed at investigating the effects of microwave-assisted and soxhlet extraction(MAE and SE) techniques on the functional physicochemical quality characteristics of Moringa oleifera seed oil and proteins extracts. M. oleifera seeds were ground to fine powders and oil was extracted by microwave-assisted and soxhlet extraction techniques using petroleum ether. Quality attributes including yield percent, moisture content,iodine, saponification, specific gravity, viscosity, p H, thiobarbituric acid, acid and peroxide values were measured. Mineral and vitamin contents, chemical/functional groups, fatty acid(FA) composition, and reducing power of the oil were evaluated. Metabolomics of protein extracted from the defatted powders were analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR). M. oleifera oil from MAE and SE methods had good yield(34.25 ± 0.0%,28.75 ± 0.0%), low moisture content(0.008 ± 0.0%, 0.011 ± 0.0%), non-drying and unsaturated, moderately saponified, less dense(0.91 ± 0.01, 0.92 ± 0.02 g m L^(-1)), had Newtonian flow, were weakly acidic, showed good content of FAs, recorded strong potential for long shelf-life, showed stability against oxidative rancidity and enzymatic hydrolysis, had very rich deposits of micro-and macro-nutrients as well as water-soluble and lipidsoluble vitamins, and functional groups in the oil were reflective of its content of long-and medium-chain triglycerides(LCT and MCT). Monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids(MUFA and SFA) were detected and the oil has excellent ferric ion reducing power. NMR metabolomic assay revealed the presence of nine essential amino acids(EAAs) in the protein extract. MAE technique is a feasible and acceptable alternative for high throughput extraction of M. oleifera oil with high yield and excellent quality attributes. The study revealed that MAE did not impart any remarkable advantage(s) on the physicochemical properties of M. oleifera seed oil and protein compared to SE technique.

Physicochemical and Biochemical Composition of Balanites aegyptiaca Seed and Seed Oil from Burkina Faso

In Burkina Faso, the seeds of Balanites aegyptiaca have been considered to be potentially high lipid, protein and mineral sources but seem to be neglected and sometimes unknown by communities. This study aims to complete data on seed oil and detail on amino acids and minerals composition of the seed of B. aegyptiaca for better use. Physicochemical parameters such as moisture and ash content, saponification index, iodine, acid value, peroxide value and the melting point were determined. Seed oil triglycerides, fatty acids and amino acids have been estimated throughout this study. The moisture and ash content were 3.70% ± 0.1% and 2.90% ± 0.2%, respectively. The saponification and iodine values were respectively 181.96 ± 0.4 mg KOH/g of oil and 104.86 ± 0.6 g of iodine/100 g of oil. Polyunsaturated fatty acid content (50.94%) was the most important. Triglyceride (LLO, 22.4%) was the major triglyceride. 9 essential amino acids and 9 non-essential amino acids were identified. Phenylalanine (11697.82 ± 0.00 mg/kg) was the most important essential amino acid. The content of 21 minerals was determined and the most important was potassium (9323.13 ± 0.01 mg/kg). Ca/P, Ca/Mg, Ca/Mg and Na/K ratios were 0.34;1.18;0.04 and 0.19 respectively. B. aegyptiaca seed oil is a source of multiple nutritional values and can be used by the population for multipurpose.

Diversity in seed oil content and fatty acid composition in Acer species with potential as sources of nervonic acid

Nervonic acid(NA,cis-15-tetracosenoic acid)is a very long-chain monounsaturated fatty acid that has been shown to be a core component of nerve fibers and nerve cells.It can be used to treat and prevent many neurological diseases.At present,commercially available NA is mainly derived from Acer truncatum seeds,which contain about 5%e6%NA in their seed oil.The aim of this study were to identify and analyze NA-containing Acer species that could be used as NA resource plants.For this purpose,46 Acer species seeds were collected in China and in some or all of the seed oils from these species 15 fatty acids were detected,including linoleic acid,oleic acid(C18:1D9,C18:1D11),erucic acid,palmitic acid,NA,linolenic acid(C18:3D6,9,12,C18:3D9,12,15),eicosenoic acid(C20:1D11,C20:1D13),stearic acid,behenic acid,tetracosanoic acid,arachidic acid,and docosadienoic acid.Nervonic acid was detected in all samples,but the content was highly variable among species.NA content over 9%was detected in eleven species,of which Acer elegantulum had the highest levels(13.90%).The seed oil content,seed weight,and fatty acid profiles varied among species,but the comprehensive evaluation value(W)showed that A.coriaceifolium could be a new potential NA resources plant.The results also showed that NA was significantly negatively correlated with palmitic acid,oleic acid,and eicosenoic acid,but positively correlated with eicosadienoic acid,behenic acid,erucic acid,and tetracosanoic acid,which indicate the probable pathway for NA biosynthesis in Acer plants.This study has identified Acer species that may serve as NA resources and will help guide subsequent species breeding programs.

Sperm quality improvement after date seed oil in Vitro supplementation in spontaneous and induced oxidative stress

In vitro supplementation with date seed oil （DSO） can protect spermatozoa against hydrogen peroxide （HiO2）- mediated damage and can improve sperm function, possibly owing to antioxidant properties. We tested the antioxidant effects of DSO on human sperm motility, sperm viability, reacted acrosome and lipid peroxidation assessed in vitro after H202-mediated oxidative damage in spermatozoa. Sixteen patients （mean age： 35 years; range： 25-45 years） referred to the Histology-Embryology Laboratory of the Medicine Faculty of Sfax for semen analysis after 12-24 months of sexual intercourse without conception were selected. After spermiogram, sperm selection by twointerface discontinuous Sill Select gradient was performed, and selected spermatozoa were used in four experimental assays： control; incubation with 100um H2O2; incubation with 0.1% DSO; and co-incubation with 0.1% DSO and 100 um H2O2. Motility and viability were determined using World Health Organization criteria. Acrosome reaction and lipid peroxidation were assessed by staining with fluorescein isothiocyanate-Pisum sativum and spectrophotometric measurement of malondialdehyde, respectively. Results showed that incubation with H2O2 alone led to a significant increase in lipid peroxidation （57.83%, P 〈 0.05） associated with a significant decrease in sperm motility, sperm viability （after 30 min and 24 h） and percentage of reacted acrosome （P 〈 0.05）. Date seed oil im- proved sperm motility after 24 h of incubation （P 〈 0.05） and protected spermatozoa against the deleterious effects of H2O2 on motility, viability, acrosome reaction and lipid peroxidation. We conclude that supplementation with DSO may have a function in antioxidant protection against male infertility.

Fatty acid analysis in the seeds of 50 Paeonia ostii individuals from the same population

Tree peony seeds are rich in α-linolenic acid(ALA), and the peony seed oil is now being produced in China. Paeonia ostii is the most widely used tree peony species for oil extraction, which is commercially called Fengdan and treated as a single cultivar. Here, 50 P. ostii individuals from the same population in northern China were randomly selected for fatty acids(FAs) analysis. Thirteen FAs were isolated, and the most abundant five were palmitic acid(5.31–6.99%), stearic acid(1.22–2.76%), oleic acid(18.78–28.15%), linoleic acid(11.86–26.10%), and ALA(41.11–57.51%). There were significant individual differences of plants in FA quality and quantity and the linoleic acid content in Plant No. 48 even exceeded the scope of 1–99%. Further statistical analysis indicated that most of the individual FAs, saturated FAs, unsaturated FAs, and total FAs levels showed significant positive correlations to each other, whereas the seed yield per plant was independent and not correlated to the factors mentioned above. Ward’s hierarchical clustering results grouped the 50 plants into four clusters based on FA contents and seed yield, and the seven plants in Cluster IV were identified as good candidates for oil production. Our results confirmed that the individual differences did occur in P. ostii and Fengdan cannot be simply treated as one uniform cultivar. Also, these results may help simplify the selection of plants for oil peony breeding and accelerate the development of the oil peony industry.

Response Surface Optimization of Nigella glandulifera Freyn Seed Oil Yield by Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction

Supercritical carbon dioxide （SC-CO2） extraction was employed to extract oil from Nigella glandulifera Freyn seed in this study. Response surface methodology （RSM） was applied to evaluate the effects of the process parameters （pressure, temperature, and CO2 flow rate） on oil yield of N. glandulifera seed. A Box-Behnken design was used to optimize the extraction parameters. The analysis of variance indicated that the linear coefficients of pressure and CO2 flow rate, the quadratic term coefficients of pressure and temperature and the interactions between pressure and temperature, as well as temperature and CO2 flow rate, had significant effects on the oil yield （P〈0.05）. The optimal conditions to obtain the maximum oil yield from N. glandulifera seed were pressure 30.84 MPa, temperature 40.57°C, and CO2 flow rate 22.00 L h-1. Under these optimal conditions, the yield of oil was predicted to be 38.19%. The validation experiment results agreed with the predicted values. The fatty acid composition of N. glandulifera seed oil extracted using SC-CO2 was compared with that of oil obtained by Soxhlet method. The results showed that the fatty acid compositions of oil extracted by the two methods were similar. Identification of oil compounds with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry （GC-MS） showed that the contents of unsaturated fatty acids linoleic acid （48.30%）, oleic acid （22.28%） and saturated fatty acids palmitic acid （16.65%）, stearic acid （4.17%） were the most abundant fatty acids in seed oil from N. glandulifera.

Chinese Torreya grandis cv.Merrillii seed oil affects obesity through accumulation of sciadonic acid and altering the composition of gut microbiota

Torreya grandis cv.Merrillii(Taxace,Torreya)is mainly distributed across the hilly areas of subtropical China and is well known for its nutritional value.In this study,the ameliorative effects of T.grandis seed oil on lipid metabolism were investigated,and the underlying mechanism was explored from the perspective of gut microbiota.Mice experiments showed that the rate of body mass gain in the group where the mice were fed a high-fat diet(HFD)and supplemented with 550 mg/(kg·day)T.grandis seed oil(HFD+TO550 group)was 42.27%,while it was 62.25%in the HFD group.Compared with the HFD group,the liver and fat indices,total cholesterol,triglycerides,and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were reduced in the oil-supplement groups.Moreover,the oil supplement significantly changed the fatty acid composition and alleviated pathological damage to the liver caused by the high-fat diet.Additionally,the distinct clustering of bacteria in the composition of gut microbiota was observed in the oil treatment group compared with that in the HFD group.T.grandis seed oil significantly increased the abundance of the beneficial bacteria and short-chain fatty acid producers,including Lactobacillus,Bifidobacterium,Faecalibaculum and Allobaculum.Our results suggest that the supplements of T.grandis seed oil could alleviate hyperlipidemia caused by HFD.These positive effects are considered to be related with sciadonic acid(SCA)and are partially mediated by alterations in gut microbiota composition and functionality.

Genome-wide analysis of the B3 transcription factors reveals that RcABI3/VP1 subfamily plays important roles in seed development and oil storage in castor bean(Ricinus communis)

The B3 transcription factors(TFs)in plants play vital roles in numerous biological processes.Although B3 genes have been broadly identified in many plants,little is known about their potential functions in mediating seed development and material accumulation.Castor bean(Ricinus communis)is a non-edible oilseed crop considered an ideal model system for seed biology research.Here,we identified a total of 61 B3 genes in the castor bean genome,which can be classified into five subfamilies,including ABI3/VP1,HSI,ARF,RAV and REM.The expression profiles revealed that RcABI3/VP1 subfamily genes are significantly up-regulated in the middle and later stages of seed development,indicating that these genes may be associated with the accumulation of storage oils.Furthermore,through yeast one-hybrid and tobacco transient expression assays,we detected that ABI3/VP1 subfamily member RcLEC2 directly regulates the transcription of RcOleosin2,which encodes an oil-body structural protein.This finding suggests that RcLEC2,as a seed-specific TF,may be involved in the regulation of storage materials accumulation.This study provides novel insights into the potential roles and molecular basis of B3 family proteins in seed development and material accumulation.

Hepatoprotective effect of Opuntia dillenii seed oil on CCl_4 induced acute liver damage in rat

Objective:To investigate the hepatoprotective effect of Opuntia dillenii seed oil(ODSO)on CCl_4 provoked liver injury in rat.Methods:Animals were treated orally with ODSO at a concentration of 2 mL/kg,once daily for one week before the first intraperitoneal injection of CCl_4,and thereafter the administration of the oil was continued for 7 days until the introduction of the second injection of CCl_4.Fourteen hours after the last dose of CCl_4,rats were sacrificed,and the relative liver weight,weight gain,alkaline phosphatase,aspartate amino transferase,alanine aminotransferase,direct bilirubin,total bilirubin,triglycerides,total cholesterol,very low density lipoprotein,low density lipoprotein,high density lipoprotein,plasmatic glucose,urea,creatinine,acid uric and malondialdehyde were determined.Results:The significant increase was found in relative liver weight and plasma levels of alanine aminotransferase,aspartate amino transferase,alkaline phosphatase,total bilirubin,direct bilirubin,triglycerides,very low-density lipoprotein,urea,uric acid and malondialdehyde.Likewise,the significant decrease was indicated in the weight gain and the level of glucose plasmatic,and high-density lipoprotein levels in CCl_4 produced liver injury in rats were re-established to normal levels when treated with ODSO.While,no change was observed in the total cholesterol,low-density lipoprotein and creatinine in all animals.Conclusions:We conclude that the ODSO has a protective effect on CCl_4-mediated liver injury.Hence,we suggest its inclusion as a preventive control of liver disorders.

Effects of Olive Oil and Grape Seed Oil on Lipid Profile and Blood Pressure in Patients with Hyperlipidemia: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background and Aims: Hyperlipidemia is one of clear risk factors of diabetes. Regarding its importance, this study was designed to compare the effects of olive oil and grape seed oil on serum lipids and blood pressure in patients with hyperlipidemia in 2015. Methods and Results: In this clinical trial, 60 patients with hyperlipidemia who met inclusion criteria were recruited. Subjects were randomly assigned 3 groups: 1) consume 20 ml/day refined olive oil;2) consume 20 ml/day grape seed oil;3) the control group received no oil. The study period was six weeks. All participants were under Step I diet. Height and weight measurements were taken by Seca scale. Blood pressure, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, triglyceride and fasting blood sugar were measured at baseline and after 6 weeks by standard methods. Low-density lipoprotein levels were calculated by the Friedewald’s formula. Data were analyzed with ANOVA test in SPSS software version 16.0. Sixty participants (36 female and 24 male) with the average age of 47.5 ± 9 y and the mean body mass index of 31.78 ± 5.41 kg/m2 had completed the study. Olive oil intervention decreased systolic blood pressure significantly compared to grape seed oil group (P = 0.01). Triglyceride was significantly decreased in olive oil and also triglyceride groups (P = 0.02 and 0.004, respectively). Conclusion: Overall, the effects of olive oil and grape seed oil were better than control group. However, we suggest the substitution of dietary lipids with olive oil because of its more beneficial effects. Registration number for clinical trial: IRCT2014070218329N1 registration code in Iran Clinical Trial site.

Evaluation of Antifertility Effect and Recovery of the Seed Oil Constituents of Iranian Species of Melia Azadrach L. in Male Rats

Objective To evaluate the fertility effects of seed extract of Melia azadarach L. treatment effects on fertility indices in male Wistar rats. Methods The seed oil extract had been prepared according to conventional methods. The rats were randomly divided into three study groups. Groups A and B received graded doses of 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg body weight of the extract oil, respectively on daily basis for 60 d. Animals in control group received I ml of maize oil. At the end of 60 d and 3 months treatment period, 6 animals per group were randomly selected and fertility was evaluated with mating test. GSI （gonadosomatic index） sperm motility, sperm viability, ESR （epididymal sperm reserves）, DSP（daily sperm production） and testosterone concentration were also assessed.Results In the first stage, a significant reduction infertility indices especially in higher dose was observed compared with the control. During the next stage, the significant increase in fertility indices are the indication of reasonable recovery and reversibility of extract activity. Conclusion The seed oil of Melia azadarach L. has antifertility activity, but its effects is reversible.

Optimization of Oil Extraction Conditions from Watermelon Seeds by Response Surface Methodology

Response surface methodology was used to optimize the extraction conditions of oil from watermelon seeds. Based on single factor experiments, the material to liquid ratio, extraction time and extraction solvent exhibited the highest effects on oil extraction. The mathematical model was established according to the Box-Behnken central composite design. The optimal extraction conditions consisted of a material to liquid ratio of 1：16.3 （g/ml）, an extraction time of 45.4 min, and petroleum ether as the organic solvent. The predicted and actual yields of watermelon seed oil were 27.92% and 28.04%, respectively. The extracted oil was analyzed by GC-MS. The results revealed that watermelon seed oil contained several types of acids and esters ; the relative percentages of the components were determined by a normalization method. The main fatty acids included linoleic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, and stearic acid, which accounted for 91.24% of the total components.

Technology of Extracting Kiwi Fruit Seed Oil with Ultrasonic-Assisted Enzyme and Response Surface Method

Taken kiwi fruit as raw material, this paper extracted kiwi fruit seed oil with ultrasonic-assisted enzyme, researched the influence of factors such as liquid-to-solid ratio, granularity, type of enzyme, ultrasonic power, treating time, enzymolysis temperature, enzymolysis time, pH and enzyme additive on oil extraction, and optimized the extracting technology of kiwi fruit seed oil with response surface method. The result shows that the best technical parameter is: material granularity: 60, liquid-to-solid ratio: 1:10 (g/mL), ultrasonic power: 400 W, treating time: 30 min, enzyme amount: 2.50%, pH: 9.2, enzymolysis temperature: 53&deg;C, enzymolysis time: 2.80 h;and the extracting ratio under such condition is 92.57%.

Optimization of Lab-Scale Preparation of Biodiesel from Rubber Seed Oil Using Modified Calcium Oxide as Catalyst

Statistical analysis of product yield for biodiesel preparation by transesterification process was performed using the Minitab software. A standard RSM Design tool known as CCD was applied to study the transesterification reaction variables. The obtained parameters were verified experimentally for the transesterification reaction of rubber seed oil using solid metal oxide catalyst. The factors affecting the methyl ester yield during transesterification reaction were identified as the catalyst content, molar ratio of oil to alcohol and reaction time. High methyl ester yield and fast reaction rate could be obtained even if reaction temperature was relatively low, which is quite favorable to the industrial production of biodiesel from the rubber seed oil. 98.54% of methyl ester was formed from the transesterification of RSO with methanol. R-squared is a statistical measure of how close the data are to the fitted regression line. It is also known as the coefficient of determination, or the coefficient of multiple determination for multiple regression. In this study, an R2 value of 0.98 is obtained.