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This research investigated the effects of hydroponic cultivation with enriched concentrations of magnesium (+Mg), manganese (+Mn), a combination of +Mg and +Mn, or decreased concentrations of these minerals (control) on the nutritional, chemical, and bioactive attributes of purple and green basil. While Mn significantly increased the growth of purple basil and affected the composition of essential oil and mineral accumulation, plants treated with Mg showed alterations in nutrient absorption. Protein values were lower, indicating suboptimal protein synthesis, but significant increases were observed in fat, ash, and carbohydrates, suggesting a more nutrient-rich composition due to hydroponic cultivation. Regarding phenolic compounds, green basil showed higher concentrations of rosmarinic acid with +Mg+Mn, while purple basil exhibited lower levels with the addition of +Mn or +Mg+Mn. Antioxidant activities mirrored the phenolic profile, with purple basil displaying superior performance in the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) test with +Mg treatment, and green basil showing higher activity in the cell antioxidant activity (CAA) test with the +Mg+Mn combination. In microbiological analyses, purple basil was more effective against S . aureus , while green basil performed better against L . monocytogenes . Although none were bactericidal, all treatments showed potential as antimicrobials. Purple basil extracts had significant antiproliferative effects on tumor cell lines, especially non-small cell lung carcinoma (NCI-H460), with synergistic effects observed in gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) with +Mg+Mn. Additionally, +Mg+Mn demonstrated unique efficacy against colorectal adenocarcinoma (CaCo2) and breast carcinoma (MFC-7 cells), without toxicity to non-tumor a renal epithelial cell line from an African green monkey (VERO) cell, emphasizing the safety of the extracts. Green basil extracts showed no activity against the tumor cell lines analyzed (AGS, Caco2, MFC-7 and NCI-H460); however, they revealed remarkable antiproliferative effects against NCI-H460 cells in the control group. The results are important because they show how mineral treatments, such as the use of magnesium and manganese, influence the nutritional and medicinal properties of purple and green basil leaves. This highlights the relevance of manipulating nutrient solutions to improve plant quality, which is crucial for the production of functional foods and dietary supplements.

Cynara cardunculus L. (cardoon) is a wild species of the Mediterranean basin and is highly appreciated due to its rich nutritional value and versatile industrial applications. It is widely known that environmental conditions, such as air temperature, humidity, and solar radiation, among others, play a crucial role in plant phenological variations and the chemical composition and bioactive properties of different plant tissues of cardoon. This study applied several statistical methods to uncover the variations in biomolecules of different cardoon tissues collected in Greece over the growth cycle. The influence of the different seasons on the species is evident, resulting in a clear discrimination between the samples harvested throughout the growth cycle. In addition, the observed fluctuations in chemical composition are consistent with each vegetable tissue's functions and the plant's different physiological processes. This work allows for a better understanding and knowledge of the species, encouraging more profitable and sustainable use of all the plant parts.

While the market is full of different dietary supplements, in most countries, legislation is clear and strict towards these products, with severe limitations on their health claims. Overall, the claims cannot go beyond the consumption of a said supplement will contribute to a healthy diet. Thus, the supplement industry has been reacting and changing their approach to consumers. One change is the considerable growth of the nutraceutical market, which provides naturally produced products, with low processing and close to no claims on the label. The marketing of this industry shifts from claiming several benefits on the label (dietary supplements) to relying on the knowledge of consumers towards the benefits of minimally processed foods filled with natural products (nutraceuticals). This review focuses on the difference between these two products, their consumption patterns, forms of presentation, explaining what makes them different, their changes through time, and their most notable ingredients, basically balancing out their pros and cons.

Cistus ladanifer L., Acacia dealbata L., and Aloysia citrodora Paláu were subject to an optimization procedure for two extraction techniques (heat-assisted extraction (HAE) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE)). The extracts were then analyzed by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS for their phenolic profile (cistus-15 compounds, acacia-21 compounds, and lemon verbena-9 compounds). The response surface methodology was applied, considering four varying factors: ethanol percentage; extraction time; temperature/power; and S/L ratio, generating two responses (the major phenolic compound, or family of compounds, and the extraction yield). For cistus, both techniques optimized the extraction yield of punicalagins, with UAE proving to be the most efficient extraction method (3.22% ethanol, 22 min, 171 W, and 35 g/L). For acacia, HAE maximized the extraction of procyanidin (74% ethanol, 86 min, 24 °C, and 50 g/L), and UAE maximized the content of myricetin (65% ethanol, 8 min, 50 W, and 50 g/L). For lemon verbena, HAE favored the extraction of martynoside (13% ethanol, 96 min, 49 °C and 17 g/L) and forsythiaside UAE (94% ethanol, 25 min, 399 W, and 29 g/L). The optimal conditions for the extraction of compounds with high added value and potential for use in pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals were defined.

Duckweed ( Lemna minor L.) is a small floating aquatic plant that has an important economic impact in several industrial areas. With its high biomass production, reasonable protein content, and resilience to several climates, it has been attracting increasing interest for potential use in animal and human food systems. Historically consumed in southwest Asia, this duckweed is now gaining attention as a potential novel food in Europe. This manuscript explores the contributions of duckweed to various food and feed industries, including aquaculture and livestock, while also pointing out the incipient research carried out for human consumption. Most importantly, it highlights the potential of Lemna minor as a vegetable for future human consumption whether eaten whole or through extraction of its nutrients.

Pansy and viola edible flowers were grown hydroponically with different levels of Mg and Mn. The nutritional composition was determined using standard methods. Free sugars, fatty acids, organic acids, tocopherols, and phenolic compounds were analyzed using various HPLC and GC devises. The extract's antimicrobial, antioxidant, cytotoxicity, and anti-inflammatory activity were assessed. The results indicated that Mg enrichment negatively affected plant growth and mineral accumulation but improved photosynthetic performance. The edible flowers contained significant amounts of protein, low levels of fat, and varying sugar contents, such as glucose and fructose. Various fatty acids and phenolic compounds were identified, with different concentrations depending on the treatment. The flowers exhibited antioxidant potential, antimicrobial activity, cytotoxic effects, and anti-inflammatory properties. The correlations between the investigated parameters not only expand knowledge on Mg and Mn interaction but also catalyze significant advancements in sustainable agriculture and food health, fostering a healthier and more conscious future., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study was to assess the performance and stability of betacyanin compounds present in enriched extracts of red-fleshed pitaya peels ( Hylocereus costaricensis ) and the flowers of Amaranthus caudatus ; they were evaluated as natural food colorants in tagliatelle pasta and meringue cookies. The recovered natural extracts showed promising stability, maintaining a deep pink color over a storage time of 14 days, without deeply changing the chemical composition. A number of factors were assessed, including the microbial load, texture, color, nutritional value, and contents of organic acids, fatty acids, and even free sugars of the products. Some significant interactions between the type of colorant and storage time contributed to the changes in some analyzed parameters, as can be observed from the results for organic and fatty acids in the tagliatelle pasta and meringue cookies. Another significant achievement was the reduction in the microbial load during the storage time, which strengthens the antibacterial power of these natural extracts.

The present study aims to determine the combined effect of cropping system and irrigation regime on the chemical composition and bioactive properties of lemon balm aerial parts. For this purpose, lemon balm plants were grown under two farming systems (conventional farming vs organic farming) and two irrigation levels (full irrigation vs deficit irrigation) and harvested twice throughout the growing period. The collected aerial parts were subjected to three different methods of extractions, namely infusion, maceration and ultrasound-assisted extraction and the obtained extracts were evaluated in terms of chemical profile and bioactivities. Five organic acids with varied composition among the tested treatments were identified in all the tested samples for both harvests, namely, citric, malic, oxalic, shikimic and quinic acid. Regarding phenolic compounds composition, the most abundant ones were rosmarinic acid, lithospermic acid A isomer I and hydroxylsalvianolic E, especially for the maceration and infusion extraction methods. Full irrigation resulted in lower EC 50 values than deficit irrigation only in the treatments of the second harvest, while variable cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory effects were recorded in both harvests. Finally, in most cases the lemon balm extracts has similar or better activity than the positive controls, while the antifungal activity of lemon balm extracts was stronger than the antibacterial effects. In conclusion, the results of the present study showed that the implemented agronomic practices, as well as the extraction protocol may significantly affect the chemical profile and bioactivities of lemon balm extracts, suggesting that both the farming system and the irrigation schedule may improve the quality of the extracts depending on the implemented extraction protocol., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The peels from three pumpkin genotypes cultivated in Greece were assessed for their phenolic content and bioactive properties to obtain extracts with a high preservative capacity. The optimization of the extraction was performed through response surface methodology (RSM) based on a Box-Behnken experimental design after applying two extraction techniques: heat-assisted (HAE) and ultrasound-assisted (UAE) extraction. The implemented independent variables were time, solvent concentration, and temperature/power (for HAE/UAE), while as dependent variables the dry residue (DR), reducing power (RP), and total phenolic content (TP) were considered. In general, HAE was the most effective technique for 'TL' (75 min; 30 °C; 24% ethanol) and 'Voutirato' (15 min; 30 °C; 10% ethanol), while UAE was more effective for 'Leuka Melitis' (5 min; 400 W; 0% ethanol). The extracts obtained in the global optimum conditions for each genotype peel were then assessed for their phenolic profile, by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS, and bioactive potential. Seven phenolic compounds were detected, including four flavonoids, two phenolic acids, and one flavan-3-ol. The extracts presented high antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal potential, with no cytotoxicity for non-tumor cells. The optimized conditions for the extraction of preservative compounds from bioresidues were defined, allowing the acquisition of antioxidant and antimicrobial extracts and proving their potential for food application.

The recent pandemic of COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has brought upon the world an unprecedented challenge. During its acute dissemination, a rush for vaccines started, making the scientific community come together and contribute to the development of efficient therapeutic agents and vaccines. Natural products have been used as sources of individual molecules and extracts capable of inhibiting/neutralizing several microorganisms, including viruses. Natural extracts have shown effective results against the coronavirus family, when first tested in the outbreak of SARS-CoV-1, back in 2002. In this review, the relationship between natural extracts and SARS-CoV is discussed, while also providing insight into misinformation regarding the use of plants as possible therapeutic agents. Studies with plant extracts on coronaviruses are presented, as well as the main inhibition assays and trends for the future regarding the yet unknown long-lasting effects post-infection with SARS-CoV-2.

Pineapple is a tropical fruit consumed fresh or processed into various food products. However, the peel and crown of this fruit are not industrially exploited, thus generating tons of by-products that represent an economic and environmental concern. In order to promote the upcycling of these by-products, this work aimed to characterize the phenolic profile of its hydroethanolic extracts obtained from pineapple peel and crown leaves and to evaluate their in vitro bioactivity. The HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS analysis allowed the identification of 25 phenolic compounds, including phenolic acids and flavonoids. The antioxidant, cytotoxic, and antimicrobial activity assays highlighted the peel extract as the most promising and, therefore, it was incorporated into a traditional Portuguese pastry cake as a functional ingredient. The nutritional parameters of the developed food were not affected by the incorporation of the extract, but it promoted the antioxidant activity during its shelf-life. Overall, pineapple peel and crown appeared as promising by-products to be exploited by the food industry, which can be achieved through a circular economy approach.

"Económicos" are traditional Portuguese pastry products; although their production is low-cost, their nutritional value is equally low. Since it is a widely consumed product in the Trás-os-Montes region, it is important to add value to it without making significant changes to the traditional recipe. Thus, this work has the main objective to increase the nutritional power of "económicos" through the incorporation of chestnut ( Castanea sativa ) fruit flour. The influence of the incorporation of 9% of chestnut flour as a new ingredient was analysed in terms of physical parameters (texture, colour, pH, water activity and moisture), nutritional content (according to the official AOAC methodology) and chemical parameters (sugars, fatty acids and organic acids) and the ability to control the microbial load over shelf life (32 days). Overall, the addition of the chestnut flour did not drastically change the appearance of the chemical and physical profiles of the cakes, but resulted in a lighter crumb ( L *), slight changes in the texture profile, reduction of fat, and most importantly, introduced healthier flour to this inexpensive cake. Moreover, it did not stimulate the growth of microorganisms (total aerobic mesophiles, coliforms, Bacillus cereus , molds, and yeasts) during the 32 days of storage.

The plant kingdom is an endless source of molecules that can be applied in almost all realms of society. The food industry has profited from the use of plants and their derived materials for many decades. Recently, the food industry has been looking into plants to find different ways of either preserving, coloring or sweetening foods. In this work, leaf extracts of Arbutus unedo L. obtained by dynamic maceration and ultrasound assisted extraction with prior optimization of their extraction conditions through the response-surface methodology, were incorporated in quark cheese as natural preservatives and analyzed over 8 days of shelf-life. Both extracts showed antioxidant activity with no toxicity towards primary cell lines at the maximum tested concentration, as well as antibacterial activity, especially against Gram-positive strains. After their incorporation in quark cheese, no significant changes were observed in the nutritional profile and physical traits of the quark cheeses, while the microbial load was highly reduced in the cheese, especially using the extracts obtained from dynamic maceration. Thus, leaf extracts of A. unedo can be promising candidates for use in the food industry as natural preservatives.

Pickering emulsions, which are emulsions stabilized by colloidal particles, are being increasingly positioned as novel strategies to develop innovative food product solutions. In this context, the present work aims to develop Pickering emulsions stabilized by natural-based curcumin-loaded particles produced by the solid dispersion technique as promising mayonnaise-like food sauce alternatives. Two particle formulations (KC1 and KC2) were produced using k-carrageenan as the matrix material and different curcumin contents, then employed in the preparation of three Pickering emulsion formulations comprising different oil fractions (φ) and particle concentrations (KC1 φ 0.4 (4.7%), KC2 φ 0.4 (4.7%) and KC2 φ 0.6 (4.0%)). The creaming index tests accompanied by the optical microscopy analysis evidenced the good stability of the developed products for the tested period of 28 days. The final products were tested concerning color attributes, pH, oxidative stability, textural, and nutritional composition, and compared with two commercial mayonnaises (traditional and light products). Overall, the produced emulsions were characterized by a bright yellow color (an appealing attribute for consumers), an acidic pH (similar to mayonnaise), and a considerably improved oxidative stability, implying a foreseeable longer shelf life. The sauce KC1 φ 0.4 (4.7%) showed a similar texture to the light commercial mayonnaise, being a promising alternative to conventional sauces, holding a low-fat content and potentially added benefits due to the curcumin and virgin olive oil intrinsic properties.

Secondary metabolites are molecules with unlimited applications that have been gaining importance in various industries and studied from many angles. They are mainly used for their bioactive capabilities, but due to the improvement of sensibility in analytical chemistry, they are also used for authentication and as a quality control parameter for foods, further allowing to help avoid food adulteration and food fraud, as well as helping understand the nutritional value of foods. This manuscript covers the examples of secondary metabolites that have been used as qualitative and authentication molecules in foods, from production, through processing and along their shelf-life. Furthermore, perspectives of analytical chemistry and their contribution to metabolite detection and general perspectives of metabolomics are also discussed.

Flowers of the genus Impatiens are classified as edible; however, their inclusion in the human diet is not yet a common practice. Its attractive colours have stirred great interest by the food industry. In this sense, rose (BP) and orange (BO) I. balsamina flowers were nutritionally studied, followed by an in-depth chemical study profile. The non-anthocyanin and anthocyanin profiles of extracts of both flower varieties were also determined by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a diode array and mass spectrometry detector (HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS). The results demonstrated that both varieties presented significant amounts of phenolic compounds, having identified nine non-anthocyanin compounds and 14 anthocyanin compounds. BP extract stood out in its bioactive properties (antioxidant and antimicrobial potential) and was selected for incorporation in "bombocas" filling. Its performance as a colouring ingredient was compared with the control formulations (white filling) and with E163 (anthocyanins) colorant. The incorporation of the natural ingredient did not cause changes in the chemical and nutritional composition of the product; and although the colour conferred was lighter than presented by the formulation with E163 (suggesting a more natural aspect), the higher antioxidant activity could meet the expectations of the current high-demand consumer.

Given the importance of colour in the general acceptance or rejection of a product, the use of colorants is a widespread practice, particularly in the food industry. At the same time, with the increasing consumers' awareness of the health effects that some artificial colorants can exert, there is a growing tendency to prioritize foodstuffs containing natural additives. In this work, Morus nigra L. and Rubus fruticosus L. fruit juices were characterized in terms of anthocyanins, organic acids, free sugars, and tocopherols, as also regarding their bioactive properties. Given their richness in anthocyanins, this study also aimed to prepare different solid colouring formulations by the spray-drying technique, using as stabilizers maltodextrin and arabic gum. Six free sugars and two organic acids were detected in the fruit juices, as well as the four tocopherol isoforms. Two cyanidin derivatives were found in M. nigra (cyanidin-3- O -glucoside and cyanidin- O -rhamnoside) and other four in R. fruticosus (cyanidin- O -hexoside, cyanidin-3- O -glucoside, cyanidin- O -pentoside, and cyanidin-3- O -dioxaloilglucoside). The developed colouring formulations revealed a good stability over time, in terms of anthocyanin concentration and colour parameters, and revealed to be safe for consumption, either concerning their low microbial load and lack of cytotoxicity. Thus, they represent a promising natural alternative to the massively used artificial colorants.

Portobello variety of Agaricus bisporus mushrooms, appreciated for its taste, makes it desirable to be eaten fresh and also as flour in soups and gravies. Gamma and electron-beam radiation at four doses (1, 2, 5, and 10 kGy) were used to analyze its preservation effect on Portobello mushroom flour. A proximate analysis, as well as the impact on fatty acids, tocopherols, soluble sugars, organic acids, and ergosterol profiles, were performed every 3 months, during a storage period of 1 year. Gamma rays preserved mannitol (most abundant soluble sugar) over the 12 months, while electron beam radiation preserved organic acids. No significant changes were sought for any radiation type, and the slight changes extracted from the estimated marginal means reveal a tendency for irradiation as having preserving effects of nutrients and other important molecules. Thus, both irradiation types, up to 10 kGy are suitable for preservation of A. bisporus Portobello flour., (© 2021 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

This study proposes the use of a mix composed of chickpea flour and chestnut flour in cookies, aiming to improve their acceptability. Cookie properties and nutritional value were also analysed. The gluten-free cookies were made by using different mixes of chickpea and chestnut flours (0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, 100:0). Dough rheology and cookie dimensions, texture, external colour and acceptability were evaluated. The presence of the chestnut flour increased the values of G' and G", but reduced the loss factor (tan δ) when compared with the doughs made with chickpea flour. Chestnut flour also decreased the diameter and the spread ratio of the cookies, while increasing the hardness and darkening of the cookies. Furthermore, adding chestnut to the flour mixture increased the nutritional quality of the cookies by adding unsaturated fatty acids and fibre. The use of reduced percentages of chestnut flour (25%) resulted in masking the off-flavour of the chickpea flour, which improved the cookie's acceptability without significantly changing the dough rheology, cookie dimensions, hardness, or lightness.

In the present work, sage ( Salvia officinalis L.) and basil ( Ocimum basilicum L.) were exploited for their preservative purposes, as viable alternatives to artificial ones. The ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of bioactive compounds was pre-optimized using factorial screening analysis, prior to applying response surface methodology (RSM). The obtained extracts were characterized in terms of phenolic compounds by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to photodiode array detector and mass spectrometer HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS and bioactivities, namely the antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic potential. In addition, the most promising extracts were incorporated into yogurts, that were further screened for nutritional and physico-chemical properties and microbial load, over a shelf life of 14 days. According to the obtained results, the solvent percentage is the most relevant factor for obtaining rosmarinic acid-rich extract, followed by the extraction time and ultrasonic power. For the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, sage showed the best result for both analysis and none of the two plant extracts were hepatotoxic. Finally, both extracts did not show changes in the physicochemical and nutritional characteristics of the yogurts and did not interfere with the growth of lactic acid bacteria, an important microorganism during yogurt fermentation. These results highlight the high potential of sage and basil as natural preservatives.

Muffins are snacks made from flour and chocolate and preserved with synthetic additives. Following consumer trends, the search for natural food additives has gained traction. Plants such as rosemary, lemon balm, and oregano were analyzed following an optimization of ultrasound assisted extraction, screened for their antioxidant and antimicrobial activity and incorporated in chocolate muffins, comparing them to synthetic preservatives over the course of 8 days. The nutritional profile, organic and fatty acids, soluble sugars, texture profile, external color and digital imaging of the muffin pores were analyzed. Slight changes were sought for the muffins incorporated with the natural extracts. By means of linear discriminant analysis, rosemary extract was considered the most promising extract to preserve the muffins due to its similarity to potassium sorbate, showing no changes in the muffins it was incorporated in, although it showed a lower amount of phenolic compounds when compared to lemon balm.

The present work describes the evaluation of fig peels and blackthorn fruit extracts as natural purple colorants in doughnuts (icing) and in a typical Brazilian pastry called "beijinho". The extracts were screened for their antioxidant activity as well as their antibacterial capacity. Nutritionally, the employed extracts did not induce significant changes, contrarily to the observed for the rheological features, mainly the darker purple tone observed when blackthorn extract was used in the icing solution. After 24 h, both prepared formulations showed a decrease in color intensity, with no significant differences between fig and blackthorn extracts. In turn, the firmness and consistency of the doughnuts benefited from using natural colorants in the icing solution, while "beijinhos" became softer and chewier, which are valued attributes. A significant increase in the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities was also observed for both natural extracts. Accordingly, the evaluated extracts are promising candidates as natural food colorants., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Supplementation of mushroom substrates has been linked to a higher resistance against insect pests, although few studies show the impact of this supplementation on the different agronomical parameters of mushrooms or even their chemical composition. In this work, the variation in the biological and chemical composition of oyster mushroom ( Pleurotus ostreatus var. florida (Jacq.) P. Kumm) was analysed after varying the substrate supplementation of calcium silicate (0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4% ( w / w %)) during two harvest flushes. Overall, supplementation did not change the weight, the number of fruiting bodies, biological efficiency, yield ratio, and productivity rate of the mushrooms, although the harvest flushes did show significant differences. Furthermore, slight changes were found in the chemical composition with an increase in vitamin D 2 and tocopherols for the mushrooms with higher amounts of calcium silicate. Overall, the substrate supplementation did not seem to induce expressive changes or decrease production yields, and can, therefore, continue to be researched as a potential application to fight agronomical pests.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of partially replacing two types of wheat flour (low ash content [type 55] and high ash content [type 65]) with Peruvian Prosopis pallida (mesquite) pod flour (0, 5, 10, 15%) on the nutritional quality and staling of composite breads. Mesquite flour (MF) enhanced the nutritional quality by increasing the fibre contents and unsaturated fatty acids of the bread. MF did not affect crumb hardness either when prepared with wheat flour type 65 (p = 0.374) or 55 (p = 0.122), but reduced crumb resilience (p < 0.001) and water activity (p = 0.003) in both wheat flour types. When blended with wheat flour type 55, increasing levels of MF delayed the dehydration (p < 0.001) and resilience loss rates. Likewise, the higher the MF level, the slower the crumb hardening of composite breads formulated with wheat flour type 55 (p = 0.028). Thus, MF did not only enhance the nutritional profile of composite breads, but could also retard staling as a supplement of wheat flour type 55., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A betacyanin rich extract was obtained from the flowers of Gomphrena globosa L. by ultrasound-assisted extraction and dried either by lyophilization or spray-drying, was tested as a natural colourant in cookies and compared to a commercial colourant. The extracts were characterized in terms of betacyanin content and antioxidant potential. The effects of the colourants incorporation in the cookies were assessed through proximate composition, soluble sugars, fatty acids, color, texture and microbial load, over a shelf life of 30 days. Considering all the assays and analyzing the results through a 2-way analysis of variance, the cookies incorporated with spray-dried colourant showed the most intense pink coloration while cookies incorporated with lyophilized extract lost less color intensity over time. Thus, betacyanin extracts have potential as pink natural alternatives to synthetic colourants in the food industry., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The food industry is always seeking innovative approaches to maintain consumers' interest and increase their awareness towards the healthiness of diets. Therefore, much interest has been given to natural food additives, namely colourants. In this work, a bilberry extract was primarily characterized in terms of anthocyanin compounds by UPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn, and its colouring capacity was further compared with a synthetic anthocyanin colourant (E163) in different yogurt formulations. The prepared samples were evaluated in different periods (0 and 7 days) for nutritional profile, individual fatty acids, soluble sugars and external colour to determine the effects of each additive. Overall, the major anthocyanin compounds in bilberry were malvidin glycoside and delphinidin glycoside derivatives. With regard to the prepared yogurts, all samples maintained the nutritional profile, individual fatty acids and soluble sugars, independent of storage time. Nonetheless, bilberry extracts showed lower colouring capacity when compared to that of E163, despite the higher stability of bilberry extract throughout the storage time, when compared to that of E163. Furthermore, another advantage of this natural extract is that it has potential bioactive properties that can be conferred to foods, due to their high content of bioactive compounds, such as anthocyanins.

In this work, the chemical and physical profile of 5 different bread types (Multicereal bread, Bavaria wheat bread, Wholemeal bread, Rye and Oat bread) were analysed in depth, namely the nutritional profile, individual fatty acids and soluble sugars through GC-FID and HPLC-RI, respectively, as well as the mineral profile, including micro and macroelements. Furthermore, a texture profile analysis was carried out in addition to the measurement of the crust colour. Each bread type showed a distinct profile, with Wholemeal and Bavaria having the lowest calories, and Oat the highest. Multicereal showed the highest amount of unsaturated fatty acids, while Wholemeal and Rye scored the least sodium amounts. The hardest bread was Rye and the easiest to chew were Oat and Bavaria breads. The latter was also the one with the darkest crumb of all the analysed breads. This work shows that bread can be baked to meet the needs and particularities of various kinds of diets., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Citric acid, quercetin, dried chestnut flowers and an aqueous extract of chestnut flowers were screened as candidates for preserving a drinkable nutraceutical preparation for 45 days. The assays encompassed antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, nutritional and chemical profiles, and individual profiles of fatty acids and mineral composition, all of which in comparison with a sodium benzoate, a synthetic preservative. The centesimal composition of the nutraceutical formulation was mainly composed of carbohydrates, followed by proteins and fat, with moisture levels between 66% and 71%. Palmitic and stearic acid were the most abundant fatty acids, while calcium and magnesium where the minerals in higher amount. Anthroquinones, followed by flavonoids where the most abundant groups of phenolic compounds. In terms of the preserving effects of the extracts, the chestnut flowers and the citric acid were the most effective natural preservatives, which better preserved phenolic compounds. Furthermore, these two ingredients also revealed the strongest capacity to control the microbial growth in the formulation by inhibiting the growth of food contaminants. In general, these ingredients revealed higher preservation capacity than sodium benzoate, while not altering the nutritional and fatty acid profile. The chestnut flowers and citric acid could be used to preserve foods, food supplements, and nutraceutical formulations after passing the required regulatory procedures for food additives.

International scientific experts in food, nutrition, dietetics, endocrinology, physical activity, paediatrics, nursing, toxicology and public health met in Lisbon on 2⁻4 July 2017 to develop a Consensus on the use of low- and no-calorie sweeteners (LNCS) as substitutes for sugars and other caloric sweeteners. LNCS are food additives that are broadly used as sugar substitutes to sweeten foods and beverages with the addition of fewer or no calories. They are also used in medicines, health-care products, such as toothpaste, and food supplements. The goal of this Consensus was to provide a useful, evidence-based, point of reference to assist in efforts to reduce free sugars consumption in line with current international public health recommendations. Participating experts in the Lisbon Consensus analysed and evaluated the evidence in relation to the role of LNCS in food safety, their regulation and the nutritional and dietary aspects of their use in foods and beverages. The conclusions of this Consensus were: (1) LNCS are some of the most extensively evaluated dietary constituents, and their safety has been reviewed and confirmed by regulatory bodies globally including the World Health Organisation, the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Food Safety Authority; (2) Consumer education, which is based on the most robust scientific evidence and regulatory processes, on the use of products containing LNCS should be strengthened in a comprehensive and objective way; (3) The use of LNCS in weight reduction programmes that involve replacing caloric sweeteners with LNCS in the context of structured diet plans may favour sustainable weight reduction. Furthermore, their use in diabetes management programmes may contribute to a better glycaemic control in patients, albeit with modest results. LNCS also provide dental health benefits when used in place of free sugars; (4) It is proposed that foods and beverages with LNCS could be included in dietary guidelines as alternative options to products sweetened with free sugars; (5) Continued education of health professionals is required, since they are a key source of information on issues related to food and health for both the general population and patients. With this in mind, the publication of position statements and consensus documents in the academic literature are extremely desirable.

Sweet has always been a very important basic taste for mankind, although sweetness is always related to either weight gain or teeth decay. Sweeteners entered the food industry back in the 1800's and are now staple in foodstuffs. Despite their long relationship with food, sweeteners have been in the spotlights for many reasons. Since being the perfect choice for diabetics, to the dangers concerning toxicity, cancer and other health issues associated with their consumption, sweeteners have come a long way. The conflicting results for the same sweeteners and the divergent regulations are fuel for a wide debate on the impact of sweeteners in the industry, health and lifestyle of mankind. In this review, the history, main concerns, benefits, disadvantages, classification and future trends are revisited for nutritive, intense and natural food additives, while future perspectives are hypothesized., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In the present work, Agaricus bisporus extracts obtained by ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and ergosterol, were incorporated into dairy beverages at concentrations mimicking commercial phytosterol-added yogurts, to work as alternatives. The samples were analysed for nutritional and bioactive properties, and compared with controls (yogurts with no additives or phytosterols), at two storage times (right after incorporation (ST = 0) and after seven days at 4 °C (ST = 7)). The ones incorporated with the extract (YAb) and with ergosterol at the same concentration as in the extract (YPEAb) showed similar antioxidant properties as the ones with phytosterols (YPhy), but a higher cytotoxicity against tumor cells. YPEPhy, the sample with ergosterol at the same amount as phytosterols in YPhy, was the strongest in both bioactivities. For YAb, YPEAb and YPEPhy the antioxidant capacity increased from ST = 0 to ST = 7, meaning that the extract and ergosterol protected the yogurt from oxidation, improving the shelf life. Nutritional parameters were identical for all samples.

Consumers demand more and more so-called "natural" products and, therefore, the aim of this work was to compare the effects of natural versus synthetic antioxidant preservatives in yogurts. Matricaria recutita L. (chamomile) and Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (fennel) decoctions were tested as natural additives, while potassium sorbate (E202) was used as a synthetic additive. The fortification of yogurts with natural and synthetic antioxidants did not cause significant changes in the yoghurt pH and nutritional value, in comparison with control samples (yogurt without any additive). However, the fortified yogurts showed higher antioxidant activity, mainly the yogurts with natural additives (and among these, the ones with chamomile decoction). Overall, it can be concluded that plant decoctions can be used to develop novel yogurts, by replacing synthetic preservatives and improving the antioxidant properties of the final product, without changing the nutritional profile., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Antitumor, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of basil were studied, along with its characterization in phenolic compounds, organic acids and soluble sugars. The results placed basil as a valuable candidate for functionalization and conservation of food products, maintaining their nutritional properties, while increasing their shelf life and potential health effects. The basil leaves were then incorporated in "Serra da Estrela Cheese", either in its dehydrated form or as a decoction. The cheeses were then subject to a nutritional evaluation, being characterized for their fatty acids, minerals and CIE color parameters. To assess the combined effects of plant incorporation and storage time, a 2-way ANOVA was used to process the results, further analysed through a linear discriminant analysis. Overall, basil leaves provided antioxidant activity to the cheeses, reduced the moisture, and preserved the unsaturated fatty acids and proteins. Comparing both incorporation types, the decoctions had a higher functionalizing and conservative effect., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Chestnut flowers, lemon balm plants and their decoctions were incorporated into "Serra da Estrela" cheese, to assess their potential to preserve its nutritional properties and provide new foodstuffs. The analyses were carried out after the normal ripening period of 1month and after 6months of storage. The most abundant nutrients were proteins and fats. The most abundant minerals were Ca and Na, while C16:0 and C18:1 were the main fatty acids. Saturated fatty acids were the most abundant, followed by the monounsaturated. Moisture seemed to be lower in the samples with the plants incorporated. The dried plants, when incorporated, seemed to be more efficient as preservers then the decoctions, although these better preserved the proteins. These plants can be regarded as promising natural preservers in foodstuffs cheese, given the preservation of key parameters and the slight impact on the nutritional value., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) is a member of the Lamiaceae family with a long story of human consumption. It has been consumed for decades, directly in food and as a decoction or an infusion for its medicinal purposes. In this manuscript, a detailed chemical characterization of the decoction of this plant is described, encompassing antimicrobial, antioxidant and antitumor activities. Rosmarinic acid and lithospermic acid A were the most abundant phenolic compounds. Quinic acid, fructose, glucose and γ-tocopherol were the most abundant within their groups of molecules. M. officinalis decoctions were active against a wide range of microorganisms, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhimurium, and Penicillium funiculosum being the most sensitive bacteria and fungi, respectively. The growth inhibition of different human tumor cell lines (mainly MCF-7 and HepG2) was also observed, as also high free radical scavenging activity and reducing power. This manuscript highlights some beneficial effects of these functional beverages.

Some studies have proven the antioxidant and antimicrobial potency of chestnut flowers both in the raw matrix and after extraction, and the consumption of their decoctions has been related to beneficial effects towards health. In recent years, due to controversy and ambiguous legislation of chemical conservatives, plant extracts have been successfully used as functionalizing agents in different matrixes by displaying their various beneficial effects towards the foodstuff and/or the consumer. In this paper, decoctions of chestnut flowers as well as the dried flower were added to Portuguese traditional cakes that were then stored for 15 and 30 days, after which they were analysed for their antioxidant potential. The results were analysed by means of a 2 way ANOVA and a linear discriminant analysis, concluding that storage time had a slightly higher influence on alteration of the antioxidant activity. DPPH and TBARS were the most improved parameters, regardless of the concentration added.

The pressing issue to feed the increasing world population has created a demand to enhance food production, which has to be cheaper, but at the same time must meet high quality standards. Taste, appearance, texture, and microbiological safety are required to be preserved within a foodstuff for the longest period of time. Although considerable improvements have been achieved in terms of food additives, some are still enveloped in controversy. The lack of uniformity in worldwide laws regarding additives, along with conflicting results of many studies help foster this controversy. In this report, the most important preservatives, nutritional additives, coloring, flavoring, texturizing, and miscellaneous agents are analyzed in terms of safety and toxicity. Natural additives and extracts, which are gaining interest due to changes in consumer habits are also evaluated in terms of their benefits to health and combined effects. Technologies, like edible coatings and films, which have helped overcome some drawbacks of additives, but still pose some disadvantages, are briefly addressed. Future trends like nanoencapsulation and the development of "smart" additives and packages, specific vaccines for intolerance to additives, use of fungi to produce additives, and DNA recombinant technologies are summarized., (© 2014 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

Infusions and decoction of chestnut tree flowers have been used for different medical purposes, but their phytochemical profile and antioxidant activity are still mostly unknown. Herein, decoctions and infusions of flowers from the two most appreciated chestnut cultivars (longal and judia) in Trás-os-Montes, Portugal, were prepared and characterized with regard to their content in free sugars, organic acids, and phenolic compounds, such as flavonoids and hydrolyzable tannins, and their antioxidant activity. Overall, the decoction of the cultivar judia was the sample with both the highest quantity of flavonoids and antioxidant activity. The phenolic compound with the highest abundance in all samples was trigalloyl-HHDP-glucoside, followed by pentagalloyl glucoside. The sample with the highest quantity of total phenolic compounds was judia infusion, closely followed by longal decoction, which also gave the highest quantities of ellagitannins. Regarding sugars and organic acids, the profiles were more similar. These results corroborate ancestral claims of the health benefits of infusions and decoctions of chestnut flowers.

Cancer is a worldwide scourge; it's the leading cause of death in developed countries and is increasing in developing countries. Mankind has been trying with effort to find better and cheaper treatments with fewer side effects, to reduce the incidence of the disease and its consequent mortality. For many years, phenolic compounds have been intensely studied for their antitumor, proapoptotic and antiangiogenic effects. In recent years, the usage of these compounds has increased considerably. This manuscript intends to structurally characterize the different phenolic compounds (flavonoids, hydroxycinnamates, hydroxybenzoates, coumarins, xanthones, chalcones, stilbenes, lignins and lignans) and their metabolic pathways as well as review the most important results regarding these compounds and their derivatives in cancer treatment and prevention both in tumor cell lines in vitro, in murine models in vivo and finally some results regarding human trials.

Since 2010, methyl bromide, a widely used fumigant was banned from the European Union under the Montreal Protocol guidelines, due to its deleterious effects on health and risk to the environment. Since then, many alternatives for chestnut conservation have been studied (hot water dip treatment being the most common), among them, electron beam irradiation has been proposed as being a safe, clean and cheap alternative. Herein, the effects of this radiation at different doses up to 6kGy and over storage up to 60days in the amounts and profile of nutritionally important organic acids were evaluated. Chestnuts contained important organic acids with quinic and citric acids as main compounds. Storage time, which is traditionally well accepted by consumers, caused a slight decrease on quinic (13-9mg/g), ascorbic (1.2-0.8mg/g), malic (5-4mg/g), fumaric (0.4-0.3mg/g) and total organic (33-26mg/g) acids content. Otherwise, irradiation dose did not cause appreciable changes, either individually or in total (28-27mg/g) organic acid contents. Electron beam irradiation might constitute a valuable alternative for chestnut conservation., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Many studies have been conducted with regard to free radicals, oxidative stress and antioxidant activity of food, giving antioxidants a prominent beneficial role, but, recently many authors have questioned their importance, whilst trying to understand the mechanisms behind oxidative stress. Many scientists defend that regardless of the quantity of ingested antioxidants, the absorption is very limited, and that in some cases prooxidants are beneficial to human health. The detection of antioxidant activity as well as specific antioxidant compounds can be carried out with a large number of different assays, all of them with advantages and disadvantages. The controversy around antioxidant in vivo benefits has become intense in the past few decades and the present review tries to shed some light on research on antioxidants (natural and synthetic) and prooxidants, showing the potential benefits and adverse effects of these opposing events, as well as their mechanisms of action and detection methodologies. It also identifies the limitations of antioxidants and provides a perspective on the likely future trends in this field., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Chestnuts (Castanea sativa Mill.) are widely consumed all over the world, and have been recently studied for their antioxidant potential. The present study reports the effect of e-beam and gamma radiation (doses of 0, 0.5, 1 and 3 kGy) on the antioxidant potential of Portuguese chestnuts. Irradiation might be an alternative preservation method, since Methyl Bromide, a widely used fumigant, was banished by the European Union in 2010 due to its toxicity. The antioxidant activity was evaluated through 2,2-diphenyl-1-pycrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity assay, reducing power by the Ferricyanide/Prussian blue assay, and lipid peroxidation inhibition by β-carotene/linoleate and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assays. The analysis of total phenolics and flavonoids was performed by spectrophotometric assays. Irradiated samples preserved total phenolics content (but not flavonoids) and revealed higher antioxidant activity (lower EC50 values) than the control samples. The most indicated doses to maintain antioxidants content, and to increase antioxidant activity were 1 and 3 kGy for electron beam and gamma radiation, respectively., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Gamma radiation has been used as a post-harvest food preservation process for many years. Chestnuts are a seasonal product consumed fresh or processed, and gamma irradiation emerged recently as a possible alternative technology for their post-harvest processing, to fulfil the requirements of international phytosanitary trade laws. After harvest and storage, several problems may occur, such as the presence of infestations and development of microorganisms, namely rotting and fungi. These diminish the quality and safety of the product, decreasing the yield along the production chain. In fruits, gamma irradiation treatment is for two main purposes: conservation (ripening delay) and insect disinfestation (phytosanitary treatment). In this review, the application of gamma irradiation to chestnuts is discussed, including production data, the irradiated species and the effects on biological (sprouting, rotting, respiration rate, insects, worms and fungi), physico-chemical (color, texture, and drying rate), nutritional (energetic value, proteins, sugars and fatty acids) and antioxidant (tocopherols, ascorbic acid, phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidant activity) parameters. These changes are the basis for detecting if the food product has been irradiated or not. The validation of standards used for detection of food irradiation, as applied to chestnuts, is also discussed., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Chestnuts are a widely consumed fruit around the world, with Portugal being the fourth biggest producer in Europe. Storage of these nuts is an important step during processing, and the most widely used fumigant was banned in the European Union under the Montreal Protocol because of its toxicity. Recently, radiation has been introduced as a cheap and clean conservation method. Previous studies of our research group proved that γ radiation had no negative effect on the nutritional value of chestnuts; in fact, storage time had a much bigger influence on the chestnut quality. In the present study, we report the effect of a less ionizing radiation, electron beam, with doses of 0, 0.5, 1, 3, and 6 kGy in the nutritional value of chestnuts (ash, energy, fatty acids, sugars, and tocopherols), previously stored at 4 °C for 0, 30, and 60 days. The storage time seemed to reduce fat and energetic values but reported a tendency for higher values of dry matter. With regard to fatty acids, there was a higher detected quantity of C20:2 in non-irradiated samples and four fatty acids were only detected in trace quantities (C6:0, C8:0, C10:0, and C12:0). γ-Tocopherol decreased during storage time but did not alter its quantity for all of the radiation doses (as like α-, β-, and δ-tocopherol); in fact, these compounds were present in higher concentrations in the irradiated samples. Sucrose and total sugars were lower in non-irradiated samples, and raffinose was only detected in irradiated samples. Electron-beam irradiation seems to be a suitable methodology, because the effects on chemical and nutritional composition are very low, while storage time seems to be quite important in chestnut deterioration.