The acidic-ethanol anthocyanin extraction process of TNG73 sweet potatoes was improved with introducing the sonication treatment. The linear terms of sonication time and extraction temperature were determined to be significant factors. Response surface methodology (RSM) models were successfully established to perform the extraction study and energy requirement analysis. After calculating the required energy for collected anthocyanins (J/µg), the process with higher extraction temperature became less effective. Based on the combined results of extraction study and energy requirement analysis, the recommended operating condition of anthocyanin extraction process was at 25°C with 22 min sonication.

Gold nanoparticles have been used as drug carriers and imaging reagents. The plant extract-capped gold nanoparticles provide better properties than chemically synthesized gold nanoparticles. In this study, Zingiber zerumbet extract-mediated green production of gold nanoparticles (Z. zerumbet@Au NPs) was established. Based on the UV-visible spectroscopy and transmission electron microscope (TEM) results, most Z. zerumbet@Au NPs were spherical. When more Z. zerumbet extracts were added, more spherical nanoparticles were formed. The hydrodynamic size changed slightly along with time, and the average size was approximately 170nm. Capping of Z. zerumbet extract on the surface of gold nanoparticles was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). In general, phenolic compounds or flavonoid compounds were considered to be the reducing agent. However, zerumbone was identified as the reducing agent in this study. The resulting oxidized products were characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). As a result, the solvent was proven to be involved in nanoparticle synthesis. Overall, Z zerumbet@Au NPs showed great potential to be used in cosmetic- or biomedicine-related fields.

Context: A newly discovered geranyl prenylated chalcone, semisynthesized from naturally occurring nymphaeol C, has the ability to inhibit the growth of CNS1 (glioblastoma) and 13-06 (malignant glioma) cells. A second-order regression model was established to predict the normalized cell viability of CNS1 and 13-06 cells. Objective: The goal of this study is to evaluate the influence of prenylated chalcone on the glioblastoma and malignant glioma cell lines. For the first time, response surface methodology (RSM) has been introduced to perform a cell line study. Materials and methods: A newly discovered prenylated chalcone was used. This compound is a member of the flavonoid family and possesses a common phenylbenzopyrone structure. Two independent factors, including prenylated chalcone concentration and uptake time, were carefully evaluated by a 2² factorial design. RSM was introduced as a new method for CNS1 and 13-06 cell line studies. Results: For CNS1 cells, the least inhibition uptake time was 20.7 h, and the least inhibition dose was 12.4 μg/ml. For 13-06 cells, the best inhibition uptake time was 26.2 h, and the least inhibition dose was 12.0 μg/ml. Discussion and conclusion: The RSM model successfully predicted the normalized cell viability of CNS1 and 13-06 cells through the use of prenylated chalcone. The results obtained in this study will be useful for further studies on the use of prenylated chalcone.