Sudesh Kumar Yadav’s research while affiliated with Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology and other places

D-tagatose is a valuable rare sugar with potential health benefits such as antiobesity, low-calorie, prebiotic, and anticancer. However, its production is mainly depending on chemical or enzymatic catalysis. Herein, a cobalt-based metal–organic framework (MOF) was developed at room temperature in an aqueous system using a self-assembly method. The L-arabinose isomerase (L-AI) was immobilized into this unique MOF by an in situ encapsulation process. The morphology and structural aspects of the MOF preparations were characterized by different analytical techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-Ray diffraction (XRD). Moreover, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) suggested the high thermal stability of the L-AI@MOF. Significantly, the immobilized catalyst exhibited enhanced catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) of 3.22 mM⁻¹ s⁻¹ and improved turnover number (kcat) of 57.32 s⁻¹. The L-AI@MOF efficiently catalyzes the synthesis of D-tagatose from D-galactose up to the equilibrium level (~ 50%) of isomerization in heterogeneous catalysis. Interestingly, L-AI@MOF was found stable and reusable for more than five cycles without the requirement of additional metal ions during catalysis. Thus, L-AI stabilized in the MOF system demonstrated a higher catalytic activity and potential guidance for the sustainable synthesis of rare sugar D-tagatose.

The fatty acid profiling in chickpea remains unexplored and offers relevant knowledge for crop improvement program. In the present work, the metabolite approach has been utilized with mass spectral analysis to metabolite changes in twelve varieties of kabuli as well as desi cultivars (twenty four totals) for fatty acid profiling. The total oil was extracted and found to be higher in all cultivars of kabuli chickpea (3.6–5.3%) as compared to all desi chickpea (3.2–4.6%) cultivars. However, no difference in the refractive indices of desi (1.4755–1.4773) and kabuli (1.4739–1.476) cultivars has been observed. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were reported to be predominant (kabuli; 50–68.6%, desi; 61.5–72.5%) and monounsaturated (MUFA) (kabuli; 19.9–38.4%, desi; 16.7–26.4%) and saturated fatty acids (SFA) (kabuli; 11–14.9%, desi; 10–11.9%) were relatively low in the oil of all selected cultivars. Among fatty acids, linoleic acid (C18:2), followed by oleic acid (C18:1), was most prevalent in all selected chickpea cultivars. The volatile organic compounds, 9,12-octadecadienoic acid, 9-octadecenoic acid, and hexadecanoic acid have also been detected comparatively high. Similarly, oil contents also detected terpenoids including b-tocopherol, fucosterol, stigmasterol, and stigmata-5, 22-dien-3-ol. This work could offer comprehensive understanding of fatty acid composition in chickpea that could be used further for crop improvement to assess their nutritional importance in human diet and help to draft strategy for improving self-life during storage of flour of chickpea. This key insight of this work could be further harness to identify potential biochemical biomarkers for improving fatty acid content in chickpea seeds for crop improvement.

India, a global leader in agriculture, faces sustainability challenges in feeding its population. Although primarily a vegetarian population, the consumption of animal derived proteins has tremendously increased in recent years. Excessive dependency on animal proteins is not environmentally sustainable, necessitating the identification of alternative smart proteins. Smart proteins are environmentally benign and mimic the properties of animal proteins (dairy, egg and meat) and are derived from plant proteins, microbial fermentation, insects and cell culture meat (CCM) processes. This review critically evaluates the technological, safety, and sustainability challenges involved in production of smart proteins and their consumer acceptance from Indian context. Under current circumstances, plant-based proteins are most favorable; however, limited land availability and impending climate change makes them unsustainable in the long run. CCM is unaffordable with high input costs limiting its commercialization in near future. Microbial-derived proteins could be the most sustainable option for future owing to higher productivity and ability to grow on low-cost substrates. A circular economy approach integrating agri-horti waste valorization and C1 substrate synthesis with microbial biomass production offer economic viability. Considering the use of novel additives and processing techniques, evaluation of safety, allergenicity, and bioavailability of smart protein products is necessary before large-scale adoption.

Arundo donax is a suitable lignocellulosic feedstock for the production of bio-based chemicals due to its low economic value, rapid growth in low-nutrient soils, and rich structural composition. The present study aimed to selectively extract hemicellulosic and cellulosic sugars from A. donax biomass by using dilute acid and alkali pretreatment as well as utilize those sugars for biological production of xylitol and ethanol by Candida tropicalis. Dilute acid pretreatment with 1.5% sulphuric acid effectively released 22.14 g/L of xylose in the hydrolysate, while, 1 M sodium hydroxide treatment removed 77.9% of the total lignin present in the biomass. The crystallinity index of A. donax biomass was reduced from 65.89 to 61.39% after alkali pretreatment. Dilute acid hydrolysate was detoxified by activated charcoal treatment that completely removed 5-HMF, whereas, 92.5% and 18.99% removal of furfural and acetic acid was achieved. The maximum xylitol yield and volumetric productivity in A. donax hydrolysate were 0.54 g/g and 0.274 g/L/h, respectively after 96 h of incubation. In the parallel process, enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose-rich fraction of A. donax resulted in a glucan conversion of 85.66%. Subsequent ethanol fermentation in A. donax saccharified broth by C. tropicalis produced a yield and productivity of 0.47 g/g and 0.63 g/L/h, respectively. The present study concludes that sequential dilute acid and alkali pretreatments of A. donax were efficient in extracting most of the xylose and glucose from the biomass. These pretreatment methods can be successfully employed for maximum utilization of this low-value biomass for biological production of value-added chemicals including ethanol and xylitol by C. tropicalis.

The study aimed to extract and encapsulate betalain pigment from prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) using ultrasound-assisted extraction and eco-friendly glycerol. Subsequent analysis encompassed assessing its thermal stability, shelf-life, bio-accessibility, and biological properties. The process optimization employed Response Surface Methodology (RSM), focusing on glycerol concentration (20–50 %), sample to solvent ratio (1:10–1:20), temperature (30–60 °C), and time (10–30 min). Optimal conditions were determined as 23.15 % glycerol, 1:10 sample to solvent ratio, 10.43 min treatment time, and 31.15 °C temperature. Under these conditions, betalain content reached 858.28 mg/L with a 93.76 % encapsulation efficiency. Thermal stability tests (80–180 °C; 30 & 60 min) showed degradation of betalain with higher temperatures and longer durations, affecting the visual aspect (ΔE) of the pigment. Encapsulated betalain exhibited favorable shelf stability, with optimal storage life of 404.27 days at 4 °C in amber conditions, compared to 271.99 days at 4 °C without amber, 141.92 days at 25 °C without amber, and 134.22 days at 25 °C with amber. Bio-accessibility of encapsulated betalain was significantly higher (2.05 ± 0.03 %) than conventionally extracted pigment (1.03 ± 0.09 %). The encapsulated pigment displayed strong anti-inflammatory properties in dosages of 2–20 µL, with no cytotoxic effects. Additionally, incorporation into gummies was successful and visually approved by sensory panellists. Glycerol proved to be a green encapsulating agent for betalain, offering high shelf life and bio-accessibility, making it suitable for food industry applications. The encapsulated pigment demonstrated robust thermal stability and shelf life, making it suitable for food industry applications. This study highlights glycerol’s potential as a sustainable alternative for natural pigment extraction.