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The cherry tomato is a nutritious product commonly used in salads or consumed as a dietary supplement. However, improper storage after harvesting can lead to a decrease in its quality and shelf-life. In this study, we aimed to assess the effects of free essential oil of Mentha × Piperita L. and solid lipid nanoparticles containing free essential oil at concentrations of 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.075%, 0.1%, and 0.2% on the microbial load and post-harvest quality of Solanum lycopersicum cv. Santiago F1 during 28 days of storage at 8°C. Fruits coated with solid lipid nanoparticles containing essential oil at 0.075%, 0.1%, and 0.2% maintained their quality attributes, including firmness at approximately 50%, ascorbic acid at about 80%, phenolic compounds, color parameters, antioxidant activity at around 71%, and sensory properties compared to the control groups or fruits treated with free essential oil of Mentha × Piperita L. This coating also effectively suppressed cellulase and polyphenol oxidase activity, reducing microbial load and weight loss percentages to under 10%. However, it’s important to note that fruits coated with free essential oil of Mentha × Piperita L. at 0.1% and 0.2% showed visible tissue damage. Our research demonstrated that the combination of solid lipid nanoparticles and free essential oil of Mentha × Piperita L. resulted in a decrease in microbial load, an extension of shelf-life, and improvements in the quality characteristics of cherry tomato fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methomyl (Met) is a carbamate pesticide, extensively used as an insecticide and an acaricide. Environmental and occupational exposures to this chemical may pose serious health risks. This study aimed to investigate the possible protective effects of vitamin E (Vit E) against methomyl-induced toxicity. Thirty-two pregnant rats were divided into four groups and treated orally on gestational days 0–18: control, Met (10 mg/kg/day), Vit E (100 mg/kg/day) and (Met + Vit E), respectively. Biochemical parameters, progesterone levels and reproductive indices were evaluated. After post-partum, ovaries were excised, weighed and used for histopathological examinations. Results showed that Met induces significant alterations in biochemical parameters, progesterone levels and reproductive outcomes. Moreover, Met-ovary sections revealed vessel congestion and an increase in atretic follicles. The co-administration of Vit E along with Met can achieve obvious ameliorative effects in biochemical and reproductive parameters, and in ovarian-histopathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This scoping review aimed to investigate whether sodium ascorbate can recover the bond strength of resin composite restorations to sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl)-treated dentin. The protocol of this study, available online (), followed the Joana Briggs Institute guidelines. The PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews was used to reporting. In vitro studies evaluating the effect of sodium ascorbate on NaOCl-treated dentin and resin composite restorations, regardless of the adhesive material used, were included without time restriction. The search and study screening were conducted in Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science by two independent researchers. A descriptive analysis was performed and the PRILE 2021 guidelines were used to assess the risk bias of the included studies. The initial search yielded 941 studies, of which only 7 studies were included. The findings revealed that extracted third molars were the most used samples, and there was a significant variation in the NaOCl concentration employed. In general, sodium ascorbate effectively restored the compromised bond strength in dentin treated with different NaOCl concentrations. Furthermore, regarding the failure mode, the most prevalent observed was mixed failure. This scoping review showed that sodium ascorbate appears to effectively recover the bond strength of resin composite restorations to dentin treated with NaOCl. However, it is important to note the limited number of studies and the heterogeneity observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of impurities, microorganisms, enzymes, suspended solids, and impurities in unclarified pomelo juice negatively affected the quality and shelf-life of the product in the food industry. The objective of this study focuses on the clarification of fresh pomelo juice using an ultrafiltration (UF) process. The study examined the influence of the operating pressure (OP) on the various quality attributes of pomelo juice, such as pH, total soluble solids (TSS), turbidity, color, total phenolic content (TPC), ascorbic acid content (AAC) and fouling mechanisms and permeate flux (J) behavior. To perform the clarification of pomelo juice, a 100 kDa membrane (polymeric) was used in a dead-end system, and the process was carried out in batch mode at OP values of 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 bar. The findings revealed that increasing OP led to higher flux during ultrafiltration with limiting pressure (Plim). The limiting pressure (Plim) was anticipated to be beyond 3.0 bar due to the enzymatic pretreatment. The primary fouling mechanism during the clarification process was total pore blocking. After filtration, the resulting juice showed a significant reduction in turbidity of over 97%, while TSS was lowered by 7–17% compared to fresh juice. The pomelo juice was efficiently clarified while the pH remained stable at ∼3.8. The clarified juice showed a minor decline of 10.1–13.9% in TPC and a 10.8–16.7% reduction in AAC compared to the fresh unclarified juice. In conclusion, a pressure of 3.0 bar is recommended for conducting the ultrafiltration process in order to attain desirable flux behavior and optimum properties of the juice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two neolignan glycosides including a new one (1), along with seven iridoid glycosides (3 − 9) and nine flavonoid glycosides (10 − 18), were isolated from the leaves of Vaccinium bracteatum. Their structures were established mainly on the basis of 1D/2D NMR and ESIMS analyses, as well as comparison to known compounds in the literature. The structure of 1 with absolute stereochemistry was also confirmed by chemical degradation and ECD calculation. Selective compounds showed antiradical activity against ABTS and/or DPPH. Moreover, several isolates also suppressed the production of ROS in RAW264.7 cells and exerted neuroprotective effect toward PC12 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhanterium epapposum Oliv. (Family: Asteraceae) is a common plant in Saudi Arabia, possessing a variety of traditional uses. The current targets were studying the comparative chemical profile and antioxidant of the essential oil (EO) of R. epapposum collected from a sandy habitat at Qareenah, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The EO profiling was constructed via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and GC-flame ionization detection (GC-FID). Forty-eight compounds were found, including monoterpenes (hydrocarbons 3.25% and oxygenated 48.64%), sesquiterpenes (hydrocarbons 12.64 % and oxygenated 32.38%), which are the backbone of the oil along with a minor of other non-terpenoid compounds (1.31%). Linalool (18.02%), α-eudesmol (11.98%), trans-sesquisabinene hydrate (11.63%), aromadendrene oxide-(1) (7.68%), nerol (6.88%), and α-terpineol (5.01%) were identified as the dominant components. The EO was evaluated for its antioxidant activity using in vitro DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP methods. The results demonstrated that R. epapposum EO possesses a dosage-dependent ability for antioxidant scavenging activity as per all three techniques. This EO exhibited IC50 values of 517.59, 350.24, and 713.72 μg/mL for the DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP, respectively, through the comparison with the ascorbic acid with respective values of 36.10, 26.12, and 44.58 μg/mL. The main compounds were subjected to docking analysis on cytochrome P450 1A1 and xanthine oxidase. All evaluated compounds exhibited good binding affinities especially α-eudesmol and linalool for both enzymes, respectively. The current research confirmed the potent free radical scavenging properties of R. epapposum EO. More research on the antioxidant content of this oil and/or its primary constituents in pure form on the two enzymes, cytochrome P450 1A1 and xanthine oxidase, is proposed to develop a better understanding of the oxidative action routes in vivo and in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research explored Canna indica's ability to extract Cd in hydroponic conditions, determining its upper tolerance threshold and assessing Cd's impact on growth and biochemical properties. Plants were grown in 5L tanks containing nutrient solutions with varying Cd concentrations (0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 mg/L) for 18 days. Each treatment was performed in triplicate. Analysis of Cd content across roots, shoot, and leaves revealed high absorption rates of 89.5% to 96.8% efficiency for Cd treatments of 100–400 mg/L. Metrics like bioaccumulation coefficient (BAC), translocation factor (TF), and bio-concentration factor (BCF) were determined, indicating BAC > 1 across treatments, while TF was <1 for 100 mg/L and >1 for higher Cd treatments. Bio-concentration patterns varied with Cd concentration. Optimal Cd uptake occurred at 200–300 mg/L, declining notably at 400 mg/L. The study suggests C. indica's potential for phytoextraction up to 400 mg/L Cd contamination, but adverse effects emerged at ≥300 mg/L: reduced chlorophyll pigments, ascorbic acid, fresh/dry weights, and elevated leaf pH, indicating a Cd tolerance threshold of 300 mg/L for C. indica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Torsional stress in double-stranded DNA enables and regulates facets of chromosomal metabolism, replication, and transcription and requires regulatory enzymatic systems including topoisomerases and histone methyltransferases. As such, this machinery may be subject to deleterious effects from reactive mutagens, including ones from carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) adduct formation with DNA. Supercoiled plasmid DNA was investigated for its torsional responses to adducts formed in vitro from PAH benzylic carbocation reactive intermediates created spontaneously by release of leaving groups. PAH sulfate esters were found to (1) unwind DNA in a concentration dependent manner, and (2) provide maximum unwinding in a pattern consistent with known carcinogenicities of the parent PAHs, that is, 6-methylbenzo[a]pyrene > 7,12-methylbenz[a]anthracene > 3-methylcholanthrene > 9-methylanthracene > 7-methylbenz[a]anthracene > 1-methylpyrene. Supercoil unwinding was demonstrated to be dependent on the presence of sulfate or chloride leaving groups such that reactive carbocations were generated in situ by hydrolysis. In silico modeling of intercalative complex topology showed PAH benzylic carbocation reactive functional groups in alignment with target nucleophiles on guanine bases in a 5'-dCdG-3' pocket in agreement with known formation of nucleotide adducts. Inhibitory or modulatory effects on PAH-induced supercoil unwinding were seen with ascorbic acid and an experimental antineoplastic agent Antineoplaston A10 in agreement with their known anticarcinogenic properties. In summary, the reactive PAH intermediates studied here undoubtedly participate in well-known mutational mechanisms such as frameshifts and apurinic site generation. However, they are also capable of random disruption of chromosomal supercoiling in a manner consistent with the known carcinogenicities of the parent compounds, and this mechanism may represent an additional detrimental motif worthy of further study for a more complete understanding of chemical carcinogenicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowing the true levels of nutrients and dietary bioactives in fruit juices at the point of consumption is key to properly understand their potential health benefits. The objective was to characterise the vitamin C and flavanone content in commercial orange juices consumed in Europe, compared with fresh-squeezed juices. Commercial juices were a rich source of vitamin C (>30% of the Nutrient Reference Value). Vitamin C in fresh-squeezed juices, at the end of their shelf-life, remained 33% higher than the levels found in the commercial juices. Flavanones had similar values from both commercial and fresh juices, except for fresh samples stored for 48 h, where fresh juices had higher values (22.36 mg/100 mL). Thus, orange juices preserve their bioactive compounds during storage, with very little influence of the brand, country, industrial process or storage conditions. Main bioactive compounds in commercial juices are present at nutritionally significant levels to the freshly-squeezed ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to prospectively assess the association between variety and quantity of fruits and vegetables (FV) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) incidence and mortality due to the limited evidence. Our analysis included 2,918 adults with a follow-up period of 29,559 person-years. An inverse association was detected between fruit intake and the risk of incidence and mortality from CVD. We found no association between diversity scores of fruits, vegetables, and FV with CVD risk. Subjects with high quantity-high variety, high quantity-low variety, and low quantity-high variety of fruits, vegetables, or FV exhibited no difference in CVD risk compared to the subjects with low quantity-low variety intake. Increasing the variety of FV was associated with increases in the intake of β-carotene, lycopene, lutein, vitamin C, selenium, fibre, fat, and protein after adjustment for the quantity and covariates. We detected an inverse association between fruit intake and the incidence and mortality rates of CVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea cucumbers were stored live in 25% oxygen or 25 mg/mL of ascorbic acid for 7 days, for comparison purposes. The condition of the individuals was assessed through the sensory scores, bacterial communities, and biochemical indexes. The oxygen treatment extended preservation by 2 days compared to ascorbic acid. After 7 days, the total volatile basic nitrogen and the microbial content in all sea cucumbers were within acceptable limits. The actin degradation rate reached 1.3416 ± 0.03%, and cathepsin B and L increased by 94.6% and 59.1%, respectively, in the Control group. The quality decline of sea cucumbers during storage was caused by autolysis rather than spoilage organisms. (1) The evidence indicates autolysis occurred during sea cucumber storage, with 94.6% and 59.1% improvement in cathepsin B and L, respectively, and actin degradation of 1.3416 ± 0.03%. (2) The quality decline of sea cucumbers during storage was caused by autolysis rather than spoilage organisms. (3) The score evaluation revealed that the preservation time was two days longer with oxygen treatment (25%) than with ascorbic acid treatment (25 mg/mL). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To comparatively analyze nutrient intake and dietary adequacy on weekdays (WKDs) and weekends (WKNs) among undergraduate students. Participants: University students (N = 210), 18–30 years old. Methods: A two-day food record was used. Intake of energy, macronutrients, micronutrients and fiber were calculated, without and with an adjustment for 2000 kcal of energy and compared to the corresponding nutritional requirements. Results: Energy and macronutrients' intake was higher on WKNs (1,776.84 ± 40.68 vs. 2,025.76 ± 52.46 kcal; p <.05). There was a high predominance of hypocaloric diet on both WKDs (72%) and WKNs (57%). A low prevalence (<50%) of favorable intake level of most micronutrients and fiber was found on WKDs, WKNs, or both. There was a lower favorable intake of vitamins A, C, iron, and magnesium on WKNs, after adjusting for 2000 kcal. Conclusion: Undergraduate students showed an unfavorable nutrient intake and poor dietary quality on WKNs. Interventions that promote healthy eating are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bio-stimulants are gaining importance for elevating the stagnated yield level resulting from continuous use of chemical fertilizers (CF) in many crops, however, their use in pomegranate have not been fully explored. Two years of field experiments were conducted on a 5-years old pomegranate cv. Bhagwa orchard to investigate the effects of different combinations of commercial bio-stimulant products namely, microbial-based product A containing consortium of Rhizophagus spp. (5 kg ha−1), seaweed extract-based granular formulation D (30 kg ha−1) and liquid formulation B (625 and 1250 ml ha−1) through soil application as well as wettable granular formulation, C (1 and 2 g l−1) and liquid formulation, E (1 ml l−1) through foliar sprays along with chemical fertilizers on soil fertility, trees' nutrition, fruit yield and quality of pomegranate. Results showed that integrated use of CF and bio-stimulants significantly increased the number of bisexual flowers. However, the combination of microbial-based product A (5 kg ha−1), seaweed extract based liquid formulation B (625 ml ha−1) in soil and foliar spary of seaweed extract based wettable granular formulation C (1–2 g l−1) with CF resulted in production of the highest fruit yield (increased by 41.97–51.61%) with 23.08–33.38% increase in the exportable grade fruit and improved quality attributes viz. ascorbic acid, anthocyanin, non-reducing sugar, protein, and mineral content of fruits through enhancement in soil fertility and trees' micronutrient status compared to only CF. These doses combinations of bio-stimulants along with CF gave rise to the highest benefit–cost ratio of 2.10–2.34:1 and hence can be recommended for sustainable pomegranate cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5) is a public health risk. We investigate PM2.5 on metabolites in cardiomyocytes and the influence of vitamin C on PM2.5 toxicity. For 24 hours, H9C2 were exposed to various concentrations of PM2.5 (0, 100, 200, 400, 800 μg/ml), after which the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cell viability were measured using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and 2′,7′-dichlorofluoresceindiacetate (DCFH2-DA), respectively. H9C2 were treated with PM2.5 (200 μg/ml) in the presence or absence of vitamin C (40 μmol/L). mRNA levels of interleukin 6(IL-6), caspase-3, fatty acid-binding protein 3 (FABP3), and hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) were investigated by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Non-targeted metabolomics by LC-MS/MS was applied to evaluate the metabolic profile in the cell. Results revealed a concentration-dependent reduction in cell viability, death, ROS, and increased expression of caspase-3, FABP3, and IL-6. In total, 15 metabolites exhibited significant differential expression (FC > 2, p < 0.05) between the control and PM2.5 group. In the PM2.5 group, lysophosphatidylcholines (LysoPC,3/3) were upregulated, whereas amino acids (5/5), amino acid analogues (3/3), and other acids and derivatives (4/4) were downregulated. PM2.5 toxicity was lessened by vitamin C. It reduced PM2.5-induced elevation of LysoPC (16:0), LysoPC (16:1), and LysoPC (18:1). PM2.5 induces metabolic disorders in H9C2 cardiomyocytes that can be ameliorated by treatment with vitamin C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water resources pose a considerable limitation in arid and semi-arid regions like Iran, primarily due to the scarcity of rainfall and heightened evaporation rates. Within open hydroponic systems, a significant concern arises from the depletion of nutrient solutions utilized for crop fertigation. This predicament subsequently gives rise to environmental issues of note and a discernible surge in production expenses. Application of humic acid (HA), as a plant biostimulant, enhances plant tolerance to reduced water supply and counterbalances the effects of diluted nutrient solutions. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of applying HA (600 ppm) in conjunction with three nutrient solution concentrations (complete nutrient solution (NSc), 75% NSc (NS1), and 50% NSc (NS2)), as well as two irrigation levels (100 and 50% of plant water requirement, IL100 and IL50, respectively). The treatment under IL50 was referred to as ½ NSc, ½ NS1, and ½ NS2. The findings showed that almost all of the traits studied were significantly affected by the applied treatments. The highest yield (409.4 g m−2), leaf area (34.67 cm−2 plant), biomass (1.092 g−1 plant), membrane stability index (90.47%), chlorophyll a (0.99 mg g−1 FW), chlorophyll b (0.413 mg g−1 FW), total chlorophyll (1.54 mg g−1 FW), carotenoid (0.437 mg g−1 FW), vitamin C (730.7 mg ascorbic acid kg−1 FW), amino acid (236.8 µg g−1 FW) and nitrate reductase activity (102.8 µg NO2- mg Protein−1 h−1) were observed in NSc + HA. In addition, the highest carbohydrate (46.99 mg g−1 FW), phenol (1129 mg GAE Kg−1 FW), and flavonoid content (1133 mg Catechin Kg−1 FW) and antioxidant activity (74.75%) were observed in ½ NS1 + HA. In addition, the highest relative water content (86.62%) and nitrate content (1106 mg kg−1 FW) were recorded in NS2 + HA and NSc, respectively. The application of HA combined with different concentrations of the nutrient solution under both irrigation levels caused an increase in most of the parameters studied in rocket plants compared to respective treatments without HA application. In addition, the results obtained confirmed that HA could compensate for the stress caused by a shortage of nutrients and water in the nutrient solution in this crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to explore the relationship between the intake of vitamin C, vitamin E and ß-carotene, and the risk of Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods: Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, Cochrane library, CNKI, and WanFang databases were searched from inception to 29 August 2022 for observational studies reporting the odds ratios (ORs) or relative risks (RRs) or hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of PD by Vitamin C/Vitamin E/ß-carotene intake. Random-effects models, publication bias assessment, subgroup, sensitivity and dose-response analyses were performed, using. Stata version 12.0. Results: A total of 13 studies were included. There was no significant association between highdose vitamin C intake and the risk of PD compared with low-dose vitamin C intake (RR = 0.98, 95%CI:0.89,1.08). Compared with low-dose intake, high-dose intake of vitamin E can prevent the risk of PD (RR = 0.87, 95%CI:0.77,0.99). Compared with lower ß-carotene intake, there was a borderline non-significant correlation between higher intake and PD risk (RR = 0.91, 95% CI:0.82,1.01), and high dose ß-carotene intake was found to be associated with a lower risk of PD in women (RR = 0.78, 95%CI:0.64,0.96). Conclusion: This study shows that vitamin E intake can reduce the risk of PD and play a preventive role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most serious threats to human health is the increasing prevalence of drug-resistant pathogens. The development of new antibiotics capable of combating drug resistance is critical. In various bacteria and plant species, 4-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) is produced and used as a substrate for folate generation. In this study, a new series of PABA analogs were synthesized and evaluated for their antimicrobial activity. Thirteen novel compounds were prepared by linking PABA hydrazide to sulfonate esters via a hydrazone bridge (4a–m). The structures of these compounds were characterized by 1H and 13C NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy as well as by LC-MS. Following structural characterization, all compounds were tested for their antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213), Enterococcus faecium (ATCC 19434), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), and Candida albicans (ATCC 10231) strains. Four compounds were found to have moderate antimicrobial activity against the P. aeruginosa strain. These compounds, including 4e, 4f, 4g, and 4m, containing a hydrazide-hydrazone sulfonate functionality, showed the best MIC value of 64 μg/mL. In addition, synergistic effects of ascorbic acid, salicylic acid, and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) with synthesized compounds were also investigated. It was observed that the combination of compounds 4f and 4g with NAC showed antipseudomonal activity with MIC values of 32 μg/mL and 16 μg/mL, respectively, against the P. aeuriginosa strain. The antimicrobial activity of 4f and 4g was enhanced by two folds in combination with NAC. Our findings in this study can be crucial for the development of new potent antimicrobial agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The okra crop, cultivated all over the globe, is a source of oil and protein. Despite the economic significance of okra in the livelihoods of millions of small-scale farmers, studies on the nutritional traits of okra are meager. Creating novel hybrid lines with desirable characteristics could be employed to maximize the nutritional quality of the okra plant, precisely the amount of anthocyanin content, phenols, and total antioxidants. We crossed an Egyptian variety, preferably in the market but with low production, with a highly productive Japanese variety with less nutritional value for consumers. The two okra genotypes with their hybrids and 16 segregating populations were arranged in a randomized complete block design. Approximate chemical analyses for primary and secondary metabolites were quantified for each genotype. The analysis of variances indicated a significant variation among okra genotypes in all the physiological and nutritional traits except for ascorbic acid content. Various traits revealed by Principal Component Analysis contributed distinctively to the total variation. Correlation analysis indicated some significant correlations between the nutritional characteristics. Protein contents had a positive and significant correlation with total antioxidant (0.521), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (0.488), proline (0.498), flavonoids (0.474), and saponin (0.536). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leafy vegetables contain nutritious levels of vitamin C. Good postharvest management and food safety are the focus of reducing food loss. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of superoxide water in stabilizing the Vitamin C level and simultaneously prolonging the storage period for bok choy (Brassica rapa var. chinensis). The bok choy samples were immersed in superoxidised water [100 ppm Active chlorine concentration, neutral pH] and sodium bicarbonate solution for three different soaking periods: 5, 10, and 15 minutes and stored at 4°C. Weight loss, vitamin C, and chlorophyll content were evaluated during the 12 days of storage. The shelf life of bok choy treated with superoxidised water was extended from 3 days at room temperature to 8 days at 4°C. The results indicated that superoxidised water with a 5-minute treatment time could maintain a better quality of bok choy, which provides a cost-effective and sustainable alternative for chemical washing agents in the food industry compared to market-available sodium bicarbonate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2-cyano-3-(indol-3-yl)acryloyl chloride, a building block synthon prepared in good yield, was utilized for the synthesis of various indolylacrylamide and indole-based heterocycles. Thus, the aforementioned acid chloride was allowed to react with various oxygen, sulfur, and nitrogen nucleophiles, in addition to mono- and bidentate nucleophiles. The pyrazolidine derivatives were produced on interactions with phenylhydrazine and 2-cyanoethanohydrazide. The antioxidant activity of the synthesized compounds was assessed using the phosphomolybdenum technique and ascorbic acid as a standard. The findings displayed that indolyl-based azine, pyrazolidine, cyanoacetamide, and benzodiazepine derivatives were the most active antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analysis of wild kiwifruit (Actinidia callosa var. strigillosa) fruit samples from North Sikkim district of Sikkim state of Northeast India resulted in the identification of six promising female accessions, viz. SKNLA-11, SKNBC-01, SKNBC-02, SKNLC-02, SKNLC-07, and SKNZM-02. These selections exhibited significant variation in performance across desirable horticultural traits. Morphological parameters, including fruit weight (3.69–6.33 g), length (18.76- 26.71 mm), diameter (16.26- 19.76 mm), size (length × diameter) (342.56- 495.20 mm2), length-to-diameter ratio (1.03–1.57), stalk length (13.31–18.56 mm), and fruit yield (2.50- 8.50 Kg/vine), were assessed. Biochemical characteristics such as total soluble solids (17.20 −17.76 °B), titratable acidity (0.84–1.19%), total sugars (9.52–10.60%), reducing sugars (7.14–8.30%), non-reducing sugars (1.87–2.68%), sugar-acid ratio (8.26–11.33), ascorbic acid (31.20–41.60 mg/100g), and total phenols (33.31–94.88 mg GAE/100g) were examined. Sensory evaluation was carried out by a panel of judges, rating flavour (6.00–8.00), texture (5.40–8.20), aroma (5.80–8.50), taste (6.00–8.00) and overall acceptability (5.90–7.88) on a scale of 1 to 9. Notably, SKNBC-01, SKNLC-02, and SKNBC-02 excelled in overall acceptability. These selected accessions displayed significant variation in bloom date, anticipated harvest date, and harvesting period (in days). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroptosis is recognized as a new type of regulated cell death initiated by iron-dependent accumulation of lipid peroxidation. Recent studies have shown that the administration of ascorbic acid (AA) preferentially kills tumor cells by impairing iron metabolism and exerting pro-oxidant effects. Despite mounting evidence indicating the anticancer potential of AA, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that AA decreased cell viability and Ki67 expression, along with its accumulation in the G0/G1 phase in FaDu and SCC-154 cell lines. Furthermore, AA exposure induced morphological changes in mitochondria associated with ferroptosis. AA-induced ferroptosis is accompanied by depletion of glutathione (GSH) and increased levels of ferrous ions (Fe2+), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and malondialdehyde (MDA). However, these ferroptotic effects were ameliorated by deferoxamine and N-acetylcysteine. Network pharmacology results showed that signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a key target of AA against oropharyngeal cancer. AA markedly downregulates the relative mRNA expression of STAT3 and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). Immunoblotting indicated that the protein levels of p-STAT3, STAT3, and GPX4 in FaDu and SCC-154 cells decreased significantly in response to AA treatment. Mechanistically, a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay confirmed that AA exposure reduced STAT3 expression in the GPX4 promoter region. Additionally, AA-induced inhibition of cell growth and ferroptosis was suppressed by STAT3 and GPX4 overexpression, respectively. In summary, AA inhibited oropharyngeal cancer cell growth in vitro by regulating STAT3/GPX4-mediated ferroptosis, which may provide a novel theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of oropharyngeal cancer with AA. Ascorbic acid acts as an anticancer agent by inducing ferroptosis, reducing the viability of SCC-154 and FaDu cells. Ascorbic acid-mediated ferroptosis acts through STAT3/GPX4 pathway. The induction of ferroptosis has a significant potential for cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid and inexpensive one-pot multicomponent synthesis of 1H-pyrazolo[1,2-b]phthalazine-5,10-dione through a condensation reaction of aryl aldehyde, malononitrile or ethyl cyanoacetate and phthalhydrazide catalyzed by water extract of papaya bark ash (WEPBA) solvent medium under microwave irradiation is described. The catalytic medium is used environmentally friendly, and provides several benefits of being simple, inexpensive, high yield, simple work-up and not required hazardous solvent for the reaction. Some of the selected derivatives were characterized by FT-IR, 1H-, and 13C-NMR, and mass spectrometry techniques. The oxidation-reduction properties of the synthesized compounds (4b, 4e, 4f, 4i, and 4k and 6f, 6g, 6h, 6i, and 6j) were studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV). The voltammetry peak current for the oxidation-reduction of the compounds examined at different scan rates. Further, some of the selected 1H-pyrazolo[1,2-b]phthalazine-5,10-dione derivatives were evaluated in vitro antioxidant activity using DPPH assay method. The result appears that, compounds 4b, 4e, 4i, 6f, 6g, and 6h possess significant antioxidant properties in comparison with the ascorbic acid reference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A straightforward and effective strategy for the synthesis of novel 7-cyano-4-imino-3-phenyl-6-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)-2-substituted-3,4-dihydroselenopheno[3,2-d]pyrimidines have been accomplished through a base-promoted cascade addition/cyclization sequence employing phenyl isothiocyanate followed by the S-alkylation of the obtained fused Se-containing heterocyclic framework with various alkyl halides. Free radical scavenging activity of the synthesized selenium-containing structures was studied against DPPH, as well. Antioxidant activities as IC50 values were ranged from 12.19 to 91.08 µM. Unfused 3-amino-2,4-dicyano-5-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)selenophene was much more powerful antioxidant agent than ascorbic acid. Moreover, the promising antioxidant potentials were observed with selenopheno[3,2-d]pyrimidines. Taking into account the best antioxidant activity of S-benzylated derivative amongst pyrimidine-fused heterocycles and significant relationship between antioxidant activity of compounds and many of their biological potencies, using benzyl halides bearing electron donating groups on phenyl ring can probably improve their antioxidant capacities to make them more effective anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory and anti-neurodegenerative agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effects of refractance window (RW) drying process parameters on mass transfer and quality characteristics of dried aonla slices. RW drying of aonla slices was carried out at three levels of water temperature (75, 82 and 90 °C) and slice thickness (2, 4 and 6 mm). In terms of quality characterization, the total phenolic content, ascorbic acid content, and browning index were determined. Higher retention of ascorbic acid (64.49 ± 0.34%) and phenolic content (37.84 ± 0.08 mg GAE/g dry matter) was found at 90 and 82 °C water temperature, respectively with inconsequential variation in browning index. Mass transfer parameters such as Biot number, effective moisture diffusivity and mass transfer coefficient were estimated using Dincer and Dost model. Effective moisture diffusivity during drying varied from 4.27 × 10−10 to 1.09 × 10−09 m2s−1 and Biot number was observed to be in the range of 0.268 to 8.666 for different drying conditions. XRD pattern suggested that RW dried aonla slices had semi-crystalline structure. The changes in crystalline structure to amorphous was pronounced more at high water temperature. It was also revealed by the disintegration of cell wall/membrane and connecting surfaces, which resulted into smooth and flaky microstructures with sharp edges. The gamut of crystallite size was obtained as 49.12 ± 0.26 to 99.12 ± 1.19 nm. The presence of bound water after completion of drying was represented by FTIR peaks centered around 3577 cm−1. The infrared spectroscopy of RW dried aonla postulated that peak intensity of absorption bands negligibly changed with varying processing conditions, but minor peak shift was observed. This study elucidates the suitability of RW drying for retention of heat-sensitive compounds in food produce such as aonla with better quality retention and morphological characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is a popular vegetable, low in calories, fat and sodium, contains minerals, fiber, vitamin C and polyphenols. Bacillus simplex (Bs) isolated from a compost, Glutamicibacter arilaitensis (Ga) isolated from a digestate, and a mixture of both microorganisms (Bs–Ga 50:50) were used as biofertilizers of lettuce crops, during spring and summer 2019, and compared with a commercial fertilizer (7-17-17 N-P-K, C+) and unfertilized (Cb) crops. Lettuce yields were higher in spring than in summer. The spring plants biofertilized with Bs, Ga and Bs–Ga were between 32.5 and 44.0% taller than C+, and between 18.6 and 28.9% higher than Cb plants; the fresh weight of biofertilized plants was 80–94% higher than C+ and 36–46% than Cb plants; the protein content of biofertilized plants was 30–70% higher than C+ and 40–46% higher than Cb plants. After week 5, bolting was observed in C+ and Cb summer lettuces, but in plants inoculated with Bs, Ga and Bs–Ga, the bolting was delayed 2 weeks. In week 7, all the chemically fertilized plants were bolting, and less than 30% was observed in biofertilized plants. Bolting of lettuce plants is undesirable because the plants produced are unmarketable. Compost and digestate are sources of plant growth-promoting bacteria as Ga and Bs that can be used as microbial biofertilizers of lettuce and substitute chemical fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the problems of short storage periods, high cost, and high energy consumption in low-temperature storage and controlled atmospheric storage of garlic sprouts, pulsed vacuum drying (PVD) technology was applied in this study for improving the commodity value and reducing the storage cost of garlic sprouts. The drying characteristics and quality attributes of garlic sprouts at different temperatures (65, 70, and 75 °C) and pulsing ratios (2:4, 3:4, 4:4, 3:2, and 3:6) based on the different heating techniques of infrared radiation (FIR-PVD) and electronic panel conduction (EPC-PVD) were investigated. The results showed that EPC-PVD shortened drying time by 11.45–24.94% compared with FIR-PVD, while FIR-PVD achieved better quality in terms of color and allicin retention as compared with EPC-PVD. Prolonging the vacuum duration and reducing the atmospheric pressure duration were helpful in the formation of porous structures, thus obtaining a faster drying rate and better product quality. The Weibull model could precisely describe the drying kinetics of garlic sprouts. FIR-PVD at 75 °C and 3:4 was recommended as the most suitable drying condition due to the highest comprehensive score (0.7856) considering drying time and product quality. The findings provide a new idea for low carbon high-quality storage of garlic sprouts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipase has been used extensively in the industrial sector for edible fats and oils processing. However, its industrial scale application is often hampered by limitations such as low stability and poor reusability. A countermeasure taken is lipase immobilization which is a technique to confine enzyme molecules within a fixed space while maintaining catalytic activity. This usually enhances lipase stability and allows its reusability together with other advantages like simple product separation and better design options for the bioreactor. Meanwhile, lipase immobilization often involves high cost and thus making them less attractive for certain industrial applications (e.g., monoglyceride and diglyceride production, vitamin C esters synthesis) compared to chemical catalysts. Their lower activity compared to free lipase and chemical catalysts is also a challenge that needs to be overcome. Therefore, this paper will discuss the important characteristics of lipase, trending materials and protocols used in lipase immobilization, and current applications of immobilized lipase in edible oil and fat industries. This is to provide a thorough understanding of lipase immobilization technology in edible oil and fat modifications so that the strategy for its application can be more appropriately designed for optimized industrial benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, for chloasma, the conventional treatment methods are external drugs, chemical stripping and oral drugs, but for refractory chloasma, the treatment effect is poor and the recurrence rate is high. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the benefits of natural bioactive compounds in inhibiting chloasma through different mechanisms, and to develop new products to solve the problem of pigmentation. This paper first reviewed the pathogenesis of chloasma and the effects of natural bioactive compounds such as phlorotannins, procyanidins, tranexamic acid, curcumin, vitamin C, catechin, resveratrol and fucoxanthin on pigmentation, and discussed their effects on chloasma. These natural bioactive compounds were finally proved to have the effect of inhibiting pigmentation, especially the potential application of fucoxanthin in the treatment of chloasma, which provided a new idea for further research on inhibiting the formation of chloasma in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peeling is a crucial part of the tomato deep processing procedure, and the choice of peeling method directly affects the quality of peeling. As far as the conventional peeling methods are concerned, They are still energy and water-intensive and have adverse effects on the environment. The conventional peeling methods often used in the field of tomato peeling were reviewed in this article, including manual, mechanical, chemical, or steam, and the current novel peeling methods, such as enzymatic peeling, pulse electric field peeling, infrared peeling, high-humidity hot air impingement blanching peeling, ohmic heating-assisted lye peeling, flame-catalytic infrared peeling, ultrasonic-assisted lye peeling and CO2 laser-assisted lye peeling. The mechanism, advantages and disadvantages, and applications, of different peeling methods are also summarized and analyzed. In contrast, the novel peeling method excelled in reducing the use of lye and improving the quality of peeled tomatoes. The retention of nutrients such as lycopene, ascorbic acid, and total phenols is extremely dependent on the high texture retention and low peeling loss of peeled pulp. Therefore, the mechanism of peeling and texture preservation after peeling are current research hotspots in the industry. In addition further research should accelerate the scale-up and commercial applicability of the new technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blackcurrants are nutrient-rich fruits with a significant amount of bioactive compounds including vitamin C and polyphenols, especially anthocyanins. The high phytochemical content of blackcurrants promotes this fruit to become a valuable functional food ingredient with varying health-promoting activities targeting different consumers including athletes. Athletes experience oxidative stress during intense exercise, which can result in inflammation and reduced exercise performance. Antioxidants such as vitamin C and polyphenols can restore the regular oxidative status of the body. Blackcurrant supplementation has shown potential ergogenic activity to improve athlete performance during high-intensity training. Clinical trials have evaluated the effectiveness of blackcurrant supplementation on exercise performance, fat oxidation, blood lactate levels, muscle fatigue, and cardiac output. Due to the rich nutritional value of blackcurrants, they can be a potential candidate for the development of functional foods targeted at the improved performance of athletes. Blackcurrants can be used as ingredients to develop functional beverages and snacks for athletes as well as gluten-free products for celiac athletes.Blackcurrant is rich in bioactive compounds that can help improve athletic performance. It can be considered a potential bioactive ingredient to develop functional foods for athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to determine the nutritional and functional characteristics of cookies with the addition of Gurguéia nut and soursop residue. Three whole-grain cookie formulations were developed from a standard (SC). Whole-grain cookies 2 (WC2) had greater acceptance and preference. Proximate composition, microbiological, and bioactive compound analyses were performed for WC2 and SC. WC2 exhibited higher levels of proteins, lipids, ash, total phenolics, condensed tannins, vitamin C, and antioxidant activity, with lower carbohydrate content and equivalent energy. In the microbiological analysis, the cookies were shown to be adequate for consumption. Cookies produced with regional raw materials proved to be a healthier option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Storage changes of antioxidants in previously developed beverage formulations from Hibiscus sabdarriffa extract, pineapple, oranges and carrots (26.3, 40, 17.2 and 16.5%), respectively was investigated. The blend was filled into bottles and part of it pasteurized at 90°C for 5 min and the other part left unpasteurized. The pasteurized and unpasteurized samples were stored at room and refrigeration temperature for 4 months and were analyzed each month. The pH, vitamin C, carotenoid, color parameters and antioxidants decreased significantly (p˂0.05), while the TTA and microbial loads increased with increase in storage period. Antioxidant activities in all the beverage samples decreased significantly (p˂0.05) after 4 months of storage; however, refrigerated storage temperature maintained higher antioxidants activities. The combination of pasteurization and refrigeration storage retained about 75% vitamin C, 53% carotenoid and 56–79% antioxidants, respectively. Lastly, the study confirmed that the degradation of vitamin C content in the beverages followed the first-order reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a large portion of the tropics, there is a demand for the development of hybrid chilies (Capsicum annuum L.) with high pungency, antioxidant vitamins, and tolerance to chili leaf curl virus, and anthracnose. Six genetically diverse parents were crossed in half-diallel fashion to develop 15 F1 hybrids to assess the level of heterosis, combining ability and gene action for 17 quantitative traits. The inheritance of most traits was apparently controlled by non-additive gene action. "Bidhan Chili 4" recorded the maximum, significant, GCA effects in a desired direction for PDIs of leaf curl virus and anthracnose along with commercially important traits. The maximum extent of heterobeltiosis was for oleoresin content followed by ascorbic acid and capsaicin contents, PDIs of chili leaf curl virus and anthracnose, and fruit yield per plant. The hybrids "Bidhan Chili 4 × Chili 38-Ragi" and "Pant C 1 × Bidhan Chili 4" could be isolated on the basis of their average performance, heterosis manifested in them, and SCA effects. Such hybrids could make a difference by meeting the horticultural requirements, high yield, disease tolerance and pungency, of commercial chili growing zones in the tropics. Hybrid vigor is available for commercial production of chili hybrids. A different approach from hybrid vigor is to isolate pure lines from segregating generations of potential heterotic F1s to increase fruit yield, quality attributes, and resistance to the chili leaf curl virus and anthracnose disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we have described an efficient one-pot three-component preparation of 2-amino-4H-chromene by the reaction of aromatic aldehyde (1), malononitrile, or ethylcyanoacetate (2), and α or ꞵ-naphthol or resorcinol (3) in the presence of catalyst Water Extract of Orange Fruit Peel Ash agro-waste extracted solvent medium (4 mL) with few drops of ethanol as co-solvent accelerated by microwave irradiation. The reaction is optimized by various methods such as magnetic stirring, mechanochemical, ultrasound, and microwave irradiation, but the microwave irradiation in 180 W power gave excelled yield and faster rate product isolation (4–5 min). The method developed found eco-friendly, metal-free, chemical-less, and solvent-less, inexpensive, and facile approach for the synthesis of 2-amino-4H-chromene derivatives. The final product isolated recrystallized in ethanol, and characterized by FT-IR, 1H-, and 13C-NMR and LC-MS spectrometry techniques. Some of the selected chromene derivatives are subjected to antioxidant activity with concentration range 200–1,000 µg/µL by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl method. The derivatives 4a, 4 g, 4h, 6a, 6b, 6c, 8a, and 8f showed antioxidant activities and were comparable to standard ascorbic acid used. Further, studies on electrochemical behavior of selected chromene derivatives (4e, 4f, 4 g, 4i, 6c, 6f, 8d, and 8f) by cyclic voltammetry technique with 50 mVs−1, and revealed that, some of these molecules are good oxidation and reduction potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recycling postharvest tomato wastes will reduce the carbon footprints of greenhouse facilities. This study investigated the effects of tomato postharvest waste as a growing medium (TSW; tomato stalk waste and PTSW; pretreated tomato stalk waste) in soilless culture on tomato growth, development, yield and quality. Tomato wastes were compared with cocopeat and peat-perlite mixture media and economic analyses were made for potential use of tomato waste as a growing medium. The highest stomatal conductance (138.7 mmol m−2 s−1), average fruit weight (86.7 g), yield (3.96 kg plant−1) and soluble solids content (SSC; 4.8%) values were obtained from the cocopeat medium. PTSW, cocopeat and peat + perlite media yielded similar stomatal conductance values. The best fruit skin color values (hue; 0.54) were obtained from peat + perlite medium. The highest titratable acidity (4.9 g citric acid 100 mL−1) and vitamin C (21.7 mg 100 g−1) values were obtained from the TSW medium. PTSW (Pretreated tomato waste) had similar yield and quality traits with commercial growing media. It was concluded that PTSW was better than other growing media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effect of vitamin C and aspirin on the growth performance of turkeys under normal conditions. For this purpose, 288 male turkeys, BUT6 strain, were used from 1-day-old to 12 weeks of age in nine treatments with four replications and eight birds per replication, as a 3 × 3 factorial experiment [three levels of vitamin C (V; 0, 250, and 500 mg/kg feed), and three levels of aspirin (A; 0, 75, and 150 mg/kg feed)] in a completely randomized design. Our results demonstrated that supplementing with vitamin C and aspirin had no effect on plasma total protein and albumin levels, but the data revealed significant effects on total cholesterol, triglycerides, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels in the supplemental groups. Also, the interaction of vitamin C and aspirin significantly increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and decreased plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and abdominal fat pad. The results of this study indicated the beneficial effects of vitamin C and aspirin supplements may be related to changes in plasma lipids and body fat under normal conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postharvest fruits are highly perishable and have a limited shelf life. The nitric oxide (NO) is a widely used option to preserve qualities and delay senescence. This meta-analysis adopted a random-effect model and used standard mean difference (SMD). The databases used to gather studies systematically include Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The study selected 81 articles and 16 indicator parameters as per inclusion criteria. The result showed, NO application reduced weight loss of fruits. Whereas the firmness of fruit improved by the NO applications. In the subgroup of titratable acidity (TA) and ascorbic acid (AsA), NO exposure substantially improved both TA and AsA contents in treated fruits. Moreover, ethylene level and respiration rate were suppressed by the NO applications. NO-treated fruits were remarkably observed with limited ion leakage and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Concerning oxidation trends, NO application decreased superoxide anion (O2•–) and hydrogen peroxide (H202) contents. In addition, exogenous NO enhanced catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase activities (SOD). Similarly, peroxidase oxidase (POD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were improved in NO-treated fruits. Lastly, phenols and flavonoids were enhanced by NO application. Therefore, we conclude that most studies proved NO could substantially improve qualities and delay rapid senescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This researchers focused at how adding vitamin C (VC) to biochar and replacing it with a mineral supplement affected egg quality and laying hen performance. 50 experimental units were created from 400 laying hens using a 5 × 2 factorial treatment design (10 treatments, 5 repeats, and 8 laying hens per repetition). Biochar levels (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% replacement with mineral supplements of diet) and VC levels (0 and 100 mg/kg of diet) were some of the studied variables. The results showed that different experimental diets had no significant effect on performance parameters (feed intake, feed conversion ratio, daily weight gain, egg weight, egg production, and egg mass) of laying hens. In the whole of experiment (50–62 weeks of age), dietary treatments had no influence on egg albumen %, Haugh unit, albumen index, yolk %, yolk index, yolk color, egg shell thickness, or egg shell ash. The results revealed that biochar, due to its availability and easy production, can replace mineral supplements in laying hens' diet, with no adverse effects on productive performance and egg quality traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orange peel and its extract are good sources of phenols and vitamin C that can be used as powerful antioxidants and antibacterial. The effects of dietary ascorbic acid (AA), orange peel powder (OPP) and orange peel extract (OPE) supplementations on growth performance, blood biochemicals, gene expression and antioxidant status of growing rabbits under hot conditions were investigated. A total of 80 weaned Giant Flander male rabbits, five weeks old (606.25 ± 10.08 g), were randomly assigned to four groups. The first group received untreated diet (control group). The other groups received diets supplemented with 0.5 g AA/kg diet, 2% OPP and 500 mg OPE/kg diet. The lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) was recorded by rabbits consumed diet supplemented with AA. Supplementations of OPP and OPE reduced blood plasma total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein and very-low density lipoprotein concentrations. The tested diets reduced triglycerides, total lipids, hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde levels, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli of the rabbits cecum. Supplementation of OPE improved activities of superoxide dismutase gene (6.1475) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (9.2108). Conclusively, dietary supplementation of OPE improved rabbit performance through improving antioxidant enzyme activities as well as upregulation of insulin-like growth gene. Additionally, OPP and OPE (2% and 500 mg/kg diet, respectively) had antibacterial effects for growing rabbits under hot conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Results from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) testing the effect of vitamin C supplementation on blood pressure (BP) have been inconsistent. This systematic review evaluated the effects of vitamin C supplementation on BP and included RCTs testing the effects of vitamin C supplementation alone, on systolic and diastolic BP in adult participants (≥18 years). Random-effect models were conducted to estimate the pooled effects of vitamin C supplementation on BP. A total of 20 studies with 890 participants were included. The median dose of vitamin C was 757.5 mg/d, the median duration was 6 weeks. Vitamin C supplementation was found to reduce systolic BP by −3.0 mmHg (95%CI: −4.7, −1.3 mmHg; p = 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed a more pronounced effect on systolic BP in patients with hypertension (−3.2 mmHg, 95%CI −5.2, −1.2 mmHg, p = 0.002) and diabetes (−4.6 mmHg, 95%CI −8.9, −0.3 mmHg, p = 0.03). Further research needs to evaluate the long-term effect of vitamin C on BP in populations with impaired cardio-metabolic health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, the effects of enhancing semen quality, brain neurotransmitters, and antioxidant status in rabbits under heat stress with acacia gum, vitamin C, and lycopene as dietary supplements were estimated in vitro and in silico. A total of 40 males from New Zealand White rabbits aged 3 months were equally divided into four groups (n = 10). The first group was a control. The other three groups were the heat stress group (oral acacia gum, 100 mg/kg body weight), the ascorbic acid group (30 mg/kg body weight), and the lycopene group (50 mg/kg body weight). All semen showed physical characteristics in terms of increasing sperm motility, motility index, sperm normality, and live sperm as compared to the control group. On the other hand, sperm abnormalities, and dead sperm significantly (p < 0.001) decreased compared with the control group. It is of interest to show that most semen traits were significantly (p < 0.001) better for acacia gum than vitamin C and lycopene. The expression of neurotransmitters (5-HT, DA, Glu, Asp) was enhanced in all treatments compared to the control. The results of acacia gum were better (p < 0.001) than those obtained with vitamin C and lycopene. The acacia gum treatment had a lower plasma semen MDA and NO (p < 0.001) and higher GSH, TAC, SOD, CAT, L-Car, Na+-K+ ATPase, ATP, and total calcium content (p < 0.001) than in other treatments and controls. These results were confirmed by the prediction of the binding energy, several conventional and carbon H-bonds, hydrophobicity, and SAS through the in silico docking analysis results. It can be concluded that acacia gum, vitamin c, and lycopene are used for enhancing semen quality, brain neurotransmitters, and the antioxidant status of rabbits under heat stress. One of the most significant influences on animal metabolism and productivity is heat stress. Fertility is negatively impacted by heat stress because the level of reactive oxygen species rises. Acacia gum, lycopene, and ascorbic acid were used to improve the quality of sperm, brain neurotransmitters, and antioxidant status of rabbits under heat stress in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study focused on examining the impact of vitamin C (Vit C) administration on the function of memory and the status of oxidative stress (OS) in the hippocampal area of the brain using an unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) model in rats. To this end, 50 male Wistar rats (11-12 weeks of age at the start of the study) were assigned to five groups of six animals, including control, UCMS, UCMS + Vit C 50 mg/Kg, UCMS + Vit C 100 mg/Kg, and UCMS + Vit C 400 mg/Kg. The animals received daily intraperitoneal injections of Vit C at a certain time (9 am) before the initiation of a stressor. UCMS, including a progression of typical stressors, was applied for four weeks. Subsequently, using the passive avoidance (PA) and Morris water maze (MWM) tests were performed to investigate learning and memory. Eventually, hippocampal tissues were evaluated in terms of OS criteria. The results revealed that the latency to enter the dark chamber (P < 0. 01 and P < 0.05, PA test) and the time spent in the target quadrant (P < 0.0001, MWM test) were shorter in the UCMS group, while latency to discover the platform was longer (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, MWM test) compared to the control group. However, UCMS decreased the content of thiol (P < 0.0001), as well as the activities of catalase (P < 0.0001) and superoxide dismutase (P < 0.0001), whereas the concentration of malondialdehyde (P < 0.01) increased in the hippocampal region of the brain in comparison to the control group. Interestingly, Vit C treatment reversed the mentioned effects of UCMS. Therefore, the latency to enter the dark chamber (P < 0. 05 and P < 0.01,1 and 24 h after the shock, PA test, UCMS + Vit C 400) and the time spent in the target quadrant (P < 0. 01 and P < 0.05, MWM test, UCMS + Vit C 400 and UCMS + Vit C 100, respectively) were longer in the UCMS + Vit C groups. Moreover, Vit C increased the content of thiol (P < 0.05, UCMS + Vit C 400), as well as the activity of catalase (P < 0.001, UCMS + Vit C 400) and superoxide dismutase (P < 0.0001, UCMS + Vit C 400, UCMS + Vit C 100), whereas the concentration of malondialdehyde (P < 0. 05 and P < 0.01, UCMS + Vit C 100, UCMS + Vit C 400) decreased in the hippocampal region of the brain in comparison to the UCMS group. Overall, these results suggest that Vit C could reverse UCMS-induced learning and memory impairment possibly through the modulation of brain OS. Key points Memory and learning impairments were induced by unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) Vitamin C could prevent cognitive impairments caused by UCMS in rats by attenuation of oxidative stress in the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dracocephalum kotschyi and Origanum majorana hydrosols, as a beneficial by-product of steamed-distilled essential oil (EO), are consumed for treating fresh-cut broccoli. The effect of two independent variables, the concentration of hydrosols (50-100%) and the portion of Origanum majorana hydrosol to the sum of Dracocephalum kotschyi and Origanum majorana hydrosol (0-100%) on maintaining the quality of fresh-cut broccoli (content of moisture, L-ascorbic acid, and total phenolic components, antioxidant activity, textural and color features, and microbiological properties) after 14 days of storage at 4°C was assessed and modeled through response surface methodology. Origanum majorana hydrosol was effective in preserving the firmness, color, and ascorbic acid content of fresh-cut broccoli. Origanum majorana hydrosol was more efficient at reducing the mesophilic and fungal populations, while Dracocephalum kotschyi hydrosol was effective in controlling the psychrophilic and lactobacillus count. Increasing the concentration of hydrosols decreased the mesophilic count; however, it had no considerable effect on the psychrophilic, lactobacillus, and fungal populations of the product. Optimum levels of independent variables considering the microbial and physicochemical properties of the product were 47.9% portion of Origanum majorana hydrosol, 52.1% portion of Dracocephalum kotschyi hydrosol, and 73.93% concentration of hydrosols. A comparison of the optimal and control samples' characteristics revealed that treatment of fresh-cut broccoli with appropriate concentration and the portion of the hydrosols postponed the microbial spoilage and textural, colorimetric, and nutritional changes of fresh-cut broccoli during 20 days of storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant chemodiversity is a helpful tool for disease prevention and a basis for adjuvant treatments to conventional therapies. In this regard, the extract of Polypodium leucotomos rhizomes, PLE, has shown benefits fighting inflammation and recurrent infections but its molecular mechanism is poorly undersood. This work shows that Plesinox 3A, containing PLE, Vitamins A, C, and selenium, helps modulate the initial inflammatory response triggered by bacterial LPS through the upregulation of IL8 and IL10, together with downregulation of COX2, IL1B and TNF, in a more efficient manner than PLE alone. Additionally, this formulation enhances the antiviral response through the upregulation of MX1, IFNA1 and IFNG in different cell types. Finally, the addition of vitamins and selenium to PLE in Plesinox 3A greatly boosts the anti-bacterial properties of PLE alone. Overall, these findings support the combined use of PLE, vitamins, and selenium, in the form of Plesinox 3A as an immune booster to prevent recurrent infections, highlighting a gene set potentially involved in its beneficial effect, as well as showing its direct anti-bacterial properties, which are greater than those of PLE alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ascorbic acid (AA) determination is of high importance in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Herein, we report a new ratiometric electrochemical sensor for ascorbic acid using a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with a copper nanoparticle@resin nanosphere nanocomposite (CuNPs@RNS). The ratiometric strategy was established by immobilizing an internal reference (thionine) on the modified electrode using cyclic voltammetry (CV). The performance of the modified electrodes as well as the newly established ratiometric strategy was explored. The sensing platform had good electrocatalytic ability, reproducibility, and stability. In addition, the ratiometric strategy significantly improved the performance of electrochemical sensing with a wide linear range (0.0837 to 15.5 μM) and a low detection limit of 0.0279 μM under the optimal conditions. The original ratiometric electrochemical sensor was successfully applied to monitor ascorbic acid in tablets and urine. These results showed that the sensor provides a new strategy and broad prospects for biomolecular sensing with reliability and high sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying, and evaluating, the nutritional and toxic compounds in radish (Raphanus sativus L.) is important for breeding. This study investigates the quality and health indices in leaves of radish cultivars: Cherry Belle, Champion, French Breakfast, Sparkler, and a local landrace (Isfahan). Difference were observed in contents of dry matter (7.84–11.23%) and ash (1.12–2.05%) in leaves of radish cultivars. Nitrate content in leaves 1780–5234 mg·kg−1 which was 71.2–209.3% of the permissible limit. "Cherry Belle" and the local cultivar had the highest nitrate content. With increased dry matter accumulation in leaves, nitrate content decreased. Cultivars that have a higher photosynthesis capacity, represent more capability in nitrate consumption. The IC50 in leaves was 33.1%. The local landrace had the highest antioxidant capacity and "Cherry Belle" the lowest. The phenolic content and vitamin C in leaves of radish cultivars was 99.9 mg GAE/100 g and 34.25 mg/100 g, respectively. Radish leaves were rich in vitamin C. It is apparently possible to develop cultivars that have higher content of bioactive compounds and lower nitrate accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diverse dietary constituents, encompassing both macro- and micronutrient intakes, have established connections with various cancers, though their specific roles in cervical cancer remain unclear. This study explores dietary intake correlations among women aged 30 yrs and above diagnosed with cervical cancer (n=215), contrasted with women without (n=860). These populations were selected from the 1999–2018cycle of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The research implemented the univariate analysis and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression to estimate the association of 29 variables with cervical cancer, subsequently identifying the most pertinent variables linked to cervical cancer. Six covariates emerged as significantly associated with cervical cancer in univariate analyses (age, race, fiber, magnesium, caffeine, vitamin C) (p<0.05). In LASSO regression, with the escalating penalty factor (λ), it was discerned that specific covariates, including age, race, fiber, and Vitamin C, consistently remained in the model. Univariate analysis and logistic LASSO regression findings suggested that diets deficient in fiber and vitamin C were related to cervical cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rosa roxburghii is a medicinal and edible plant, which is favored by consumers due to its rich vitamin C content. Residues and potential health risks of difenoconazole in the R. roxburghii ecosystem has aroused a concern considering its extensive use for controlling the powdery mildew of R. roxburghii. In this study, the residue of difenoconazole in R. roxburghii and soil was extracted by acetonitrile, purified by primary secondary amine and detected by liquid chromatography-tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. The average recoveries in R. roxburghii and soil matrix varied from 82.59% to 99.63%, with relative standard deviations (RSD) of 1.14%–8.23%. The limit of quantification (LOQ) and detection (LOD) of difenoconazole in R. roxburghii and soil samples were 0.01 mg/kg. The dissipation of difenoconazole followed well the first-order kinetic, with a half-life of 3.99–5.57 d in R. roxburghii and 4.94–6.23 d in soil, respectively. And the terminal residues were <0.01–2.181 mg/kg and 0.014–2.406 mg/kg, respectively. The chronic and acute risk quotient values of difenoconazole were respectively 0.42% and 4.1%, which suggests that the risk was acceptable and safe to consumers. This study provides a reference for the safe and reasonable use of difenoconazole in R. roxburghii production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beta vulgaris, also known as Beetroot, is a member of a family of Chenopodiaceae and is widely used as a natural food colorant. It gets its distinctive color due to nitrogen-containing water-soluble pigments betalains. Beetroot is an exquisite cradle of nutrients, including proteins, sucrose, carbohydrates, vitamins (B complex and vitamin C), minerals, fiber. They also contain an appreciable amount of phenolic compounds and antioxidants such as coumarins, carotenoids, sesquiterpenoids, triterpenes, flavonoids (astragalin, tiliroside, rhamnocitrin, kaempferol, rhamnetin). Recent studies evidenced that beetroot consumption had favorable physiological benefits, leading to improved cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, hepatic steatosis, liver damage, etc. This review gives insights into developing beetroot as a potential and novel ingredient for versatile food applications and the latest research conducted worldwide. The phytochemical diversity of beetroot makes them potential sources of nutraceutical compounds from which functional foods can be obtained. The article aimed to comprehensively collate some of the vital information published on beetroot incurred in the agri-food sector and a comprehensive review detailing the potentiality of tapping bioactive compounds in the entire agriculture-based food sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]