Amber Extract Reduces Lipid Content in Mature 3T3-L1 Adipocytes by Activating the Lipolysis Pathway

Amber—the fossilized resin of trees—is rich in terpenoids and rosin acids. The physiological effects, such as antipyretic, sedative, and anti-inflammatory, were used in traditional medicine. This study aims to clarify the physiological effects of amber extract on lipid metabolism in mouse 3T3-L1 cells. Mature adipocytes are used to evaluate the effect of amber extract on lipolysis by measuring the triglyceride content, glucose uptake, glycerol release, and lipolysis-related gene expression. Our results show that the amount of triacylglycerol, which is stored in lipid droplets in mature adipocytes, decreases following 96 h of treatment with different concentrations of amber extract. Amber extract treatment also decreases glucose uptake and increases the release of glycerol from the cells. Moreover, amber extract increases the expression of lipolysis-related genes encoding perilipin and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and promotes the activity of HSL (by increasing HSL phosphorylation). Amber extract treatment also regulates the expression of other adipocytokines in mature adipocytes, such as adiponectin and leptin. Overall, our results indicate that amber extract increases the expression of lipolysis-related genes to induce lipolysis in 3T3-L1 cells, highlighting its potential for treating various obesity-related diseases.

A Review of Wood Biomass-Based Fatty Acids and Rosin Acids Use in Polymeric Materials

In recent decades, vegetable oils as a potential replacement for petrochemical materials have been extensively studied. Tall oil (crude tall oil, distilled tall oil, tall oil fatty acids, and rosin acids) is a good source to be turned into polymeric materials. Unlike vegetable oils, tall oil is considered as lignocellulosic plant biomass waste and is considered to be the second-generation raw material, thus it is not competing with the food and feed chain. The main purpose of this review article is to identify in what kind of polymeric materials wood biomass-based fatty acids and rosin acids have been applied and their impact on the properties.

Critical parameters for tall oil separation I: The importance of the ratio of fatty acids to rosin acids

Tall oil is a valuable byproduct in chemical pulping of wood, and its fractions have a large spectrum of applications as chemical precursors, detergents, and fuel. High recovery of tall oil is important for the economic and environmental profile of chemical pulp mills. The purpose of this study was to investigate critical parameters of tall oil separation from black liquor. To investigate this in a controlled way, we developed a model test system using a “synthetic” black liquor (active cooking chemicals OH- and HS- ions), a complete process for soap skimming, and determination of recovered tall oil based on solvent extraction and colorimetric analysis, with good reproducibility. We used the developed system to study the effect of the ratio of fatty acids to rosin acids on tall oil separation. When high amounts of rosin acids were present, tall oil recovery was low, while high content of fatty acids above 60% significantly promoted tall oil separation. Therefore, manipulating the content of fatty acids in black liquor before the soap skimming step can significantly affect the tall oil solubility, and hence its separation. The findings open up chemical ways to improve the tall oil yield.

Development of an ecological varnish from the resin of pine

ABSTRACTRosin resin is constituted by rosin acids, in particular, abietic acid, which is an inexpensive substance. This paper concerns the study of the molecular interactions between a bifunctional monomer of abietic acid with isocyanate to form polyurethane. Polyurethane is a varnish that can be applied to any timber surface protecting it from chemical and environmental factors. Furthermore, the polar groups (OH´s) of the diol have a direction along the molecular axis thus, increasing their intermolecular interactions with the isocyanate groups. The varnish named as (PAR), was synthesized in the laboratory and applied to a timber surface whereby its functionality was evaluated. Morphological and spectroscopic studies were carried out on the diol obtained and the polyurethane. Likewise, we behaved several of physical and chemical analyses of vanish. The comparative SEM showed a homogeneous phase on the PAR surface and FTIR between the diphenylmethane, 4-4, diisocyanate (MDI) and the varnish from hydroxylated rosin resin (HAA) showed that the reaction was carried out in its entirety, exhausting the limiting reagent (MDI). The obtained varnish which was labelled as PAR has very suitable characteristics for indoor use. It has a transparent and bright appearance, a solids percentage of 44-45%, a drying time for application between layers and layers of 15-20 minutes.