The use of enzymes or microorganisms in food preparations is an age-old process. With the advancement of technology, novel enzymes with wide range of applications and specificity have been developed and new application areas are still being explored. Microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast and fungi and their enzymes are widely used in several food preparations for improving the taste and texture and they offer huge economic benefits to industries. Microbial enzymes are the preferred source to plants or animals due to several advantages such as easy, cost-effective and consistent production. The present review discusses the recent advancement in enzyme technology for food industries. A comprehensive list of enzymes used in food processing, the microbial source of these enzymes and the wide range of their application are discussed.

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Applications of Microbial Enzymes in Food Industry.

The most fashionable trends in food packaging research are targeted towards improvements in food quality and safety by increasing the use of environmentally-friendly materials, ideally those able to be obtained from bio-based resources and presenting biodegradable characteristics. Edible films represent a key area of development in new multifunctional materials by their character and properties to effectively protect food with no waste production. The use of edible films should be considered as a clean and elegant solution to problems related with waste disposal in packaging materials. In particular, pectin has been reported as one of the main raw materials to obtain edible films by its natural abundance, low cost and renewable character. The latest innovations in food packaging by the use of pectin-based edible films are reviewed in this paper, with special focus on the use of pectin as base material for edible coatings. The structure, properties related to the intended use in food packaging and main applications of pectins are herein reported.

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Natural Pectin Polysaccharides as Edible Coatings

The objective of the present work is the introduction of a quick and simple literature survey about the green bio-synthesized of copper nanoparticles. The survey revealed that the eco-friendly preparation methods using different plant species, properties and potential applications as alternative promising for silver and gold nanoparticles. The review enumerates the classification of nanomaterials in general, green biosynthesis of nanoparticles using plant extracts and its advantages over using bacteria and fungi. The manuscript gives more details about the specific properties for copper nanoparticles as optical properties of copper nanoparticles especially surface plasmon resonance in the visible range, photoluminescence, and bandgap energy. The current review spotlights and focuses on antimicrobial and anticancer activities for copper nanoparticles against several and various types of gram-negative, gram-positive bacteria, fungi, and human cell cancers. Moreover, a new promising activity as adsorptive efficiency of copper nanoparticles for wastewater treatment was revealed.

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Biogenic copper nanoparticles and their applications: A review

We have examined peptide-based catalysts for the site-selective thiocarbonylation of a protected form of vancomycin Several catalysts were identified that either enhanced or altered the inherent selectivity profile exhibited by the substrate Two catalysts, one identified through screening and another through rational design, were demonstrated to be effective on 050-g scale Deoxygenations led ultimately to two new deoxy-vancomycin derivatives, and surprising conformational consequences of deoxygenation were revealed for one of the new compounds These effects were mirrored in the biological activities of the new analogues and support a structural role for certain hydroxyls in the native structure

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Catalytic site-selective thiocarbonylations and deoxygenations of vancomycin reveal hydroxyl-dependent conformational effects.

Pectinolytic microbes have been industrially exploited for pectinases that are environment friendly enzymes and mineralize pectic substances present in the environment. This review provides structural understanding of the molecular determinants of pectin utilization, mechanisms driving catabolite selectivity and industrial applicability. The topology of pectinase with distinct catalytic machinery enables it to persist in harsh environment during infection and analysis of pectin degradation pathway has resulted in understanding the role of different pectinases in subsequent steps of substrate digestion in different cellular compartments. The pH has a definite role in altering enzyme properties. Acidic pectinases are utilized especially in food processing industries for extraction and clarification of fruit juices. Alkaline pectinases find tremendous applications in biotechnology based industries especially for cotton bioscouring and retting of plant fibers in textile processing, paper making and treatment of waste water containing pectinaceous material.

Alkaline pectinases: A review

Pectin rich wastes and waste dump yard soils were screened and eighty pectinolytic fungal isolates were obtained by enrichment culturing and ruthenium red plate assay. Eight isolates with higher zones of pectin hydrolysis were selected and tested for polygalacturonase production. One isolate identified as Aspergillus awamori MTCC 9166 with highest polygalacturonase activity was tested for utilization of raw pectins for enzyme production. Polygalacturonase production was high in raw pectin sources like Orange peel (16.8 U/ml) Jack fruit rind (38 U/ml) Carrot peel (36U/ml) and Beet root peel (24U/ml). Selected Aspergillus awamori MTCC 9166 was found to be having good polygalacturonase, xylanase, cellulase and weak amylase and protease activities. This isolate with multi-enzyme production could have application for enzymes production and degradation of fruit and vegetable waste in the process of urban waste disposal.

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Fungal isolates from natural pectic substrates for polygalacturonase and multienzyme production

Aim: The present study aimed at green synthesis of copper nanoparticles using various plant extracts as reducing and stabilizing agents. It would also study the antibacterial effect of the synthesized copper nanoparticles. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology, Bhavan’s Vivekananda college of Science, Humanities and Commerce, Hyderabad, India. The duration of the study is for six months between May 2017 to October 2017. Methodology: The aqueous solutions of different plant extracts were mixed with CuSO4 solution and incubated for green synthesis of stable copper nanoparticles. These were tested by UV-Visible spectroscopy and SEM analysis. Antibacterial tests of the biosynthesized nanoparticles were carried out on Gram-positive Bacteria Staphylococcus aureus by Agar well assay. Results: The aqueous solutions of different plant extracts yielded stable copper nanoparticles as indicated by the O.D values tested using UV-Visible spectroscopy. The best plant extract that yielded higher amount of copper nanoparticles was fruit rind extract of Punica granatum. The synthesized nanoparticles were found to be 56-59 nm, characterized by Scanning Electron Original Research Article Padma et al.; ARRB, 23(1): 1-10, 2018; Article no.ARRB.38894 2 Microscopy (SEM). The synthesized copper nanoparticles exhibited a strong antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Conclusion: The copper nanoparticles can be green synthesized using fruit rind extract of Punica granatum and these can be used as efficient antimicrobial agents against Staphylococcus aureus and the study is significant currently as drug resistant infections of Staphylococcus aureus are gaining much prevalence and prominence.

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Studies on Green Synthesis of Copper Nanoparticles Using Punica granatum

Pectin rich cold stored spoiled fruits, vegetables and cold soils were screened and different pectinolytic isolates were obtained by enrichment culturing and ruthenium red plate assay. Among the primary isolates 10–15% were yeast isolates. Six isolates with higher zones of pectin hydrolysis were selected and tested for polygalacturonase (PGU) production at room temperature (25 °C) and at 5 °C. One isolate identified as Saccharomyces sp. with highest polygalacturonase activity at 5 °C was used for enzyme production using raw fruit pectins as substrates. The isolate was identified by preliminary cultural, morphological and sugar fermentation tests. PGU production was high in raw pectin substrates like orange peel (21 U/ml), apple peel (20 U/ml ), mango peel (19 U/ml), grape must (18 U/ml) and guava peel (15 U/ml). Selected Saccharomyces sp. was found to grow at room temperature and produce good polygalacturonase active at 5 °C. Cold-active PGU could have ample application in fruit juice clarification as these conditions are milder and also prevent spoilage. The present study concentrated on enzyme production using the cheaper raw pectin rich substrates. Industrial relevance The manuscript contains information on the cold active polygalacturonase produced by yeast at room temperature. It has industrial application for fruit juice clarification at cold (mild) conditions as it is a cold active enzyme. Also the enzyme is produced at room temperature by yeast considered as a GRAS organism. Therefore, it is a significant observation by the authors.

Pectinolytic yeast isolates for cold-active polygalacturonase production

Glycopeptides produced by Streptomyces species are the drugs used against β-lactam drug-resistant staphylococcal infections, and vancomycin is important among them. Increased prevalence of resistant strains increased the usage of vancomycin worldwide and also promoted attempts for indigenous production. The optimum process conditions pH, temperature, inoculum size, agitation, and aeration for vancomycin production by Amycolatopsis orientalis were evaluated, statistically analyzed, and the response surface curves were constructed. The optimum process conditions were a pH of 7.6, a temperature of 29°C, an inoculum size of 4.5%, an agitation of 255 rpm, and an aeration of less than 1:10 medium-to-air ratio.

Optimization of fermentation conditions for production of glycopeptide antibiotic vancomycin by Amycolatopsis orientalis.

Green synthesis of nanomaterials refers to the synthesis of different metal nanoparticles using bioactive agents such as plant materials, microorganisms, and various biowastes including vegetable waste, fruit peel waste, eggshell, agricultural waste, and so on. The growing need to develop “green” and economical synthesis systems for metal nanoparticles has prompted researchers to explore the use of microorganisms, plant extracts, and other biomaterials. The involvement of natural bioactive agents in the synthesis of metal nanoparticles greatly reduces the risk of environmental pollution. Green synthesis of nanoparticles and their applications give an insight into the synthesis of nanoparticles utilizing natural routes. It composes interdisciplinary hypotheses, ideas, definitions, models, and discoveries associated with complex prokaryotes and eukaryotes. In this chapter, various biosynthesis procedures for metal nanoparticles are discussed in detail along with elaborated reference to the outcomes of current research activities performed across the globe in the field of nanoparticles synthesis. The chapter provides readers with a detailed account of the mechanism of green synthesis of metal nanoparticles.

P. Naga Padma

Papers

Fungal isolates from natural pectic substrates for polygalacturonase and multienzyme production

Studies on Green Synthesis of Copper Nanoparticles Using Punica granatum

Pectinolytic yeast isolates for cold-active polygalacturonase production

Optimization of fermentation conditions for production of glycopeptide antibiotic vancomycin by Amycolatopsis orientalis.

Green synthesis of metallic nanoparticles: a review