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Modern bioeconomy and sustainability demands lead food technology in the development of novel biobased edible food preservatives. Herein, the development and characterization of novel polysaccharide (xanthan gum and kappa-carrageenan)-based nanoemulgels (NGs) enhanced with essential oil derivatives; pure citral (CT); pure carvacrol (CV); and various CT:CV ratios (25:75, 50:50, and 75:25) are presented. The obtained NGs are applied as active edible coatings for extending the shelf life of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) green table olives of Chalkidiki. The zeta potential demonstrated the high stability of the treatments, while light scattering measurement and scanning electron microscopy images confirmed the <100 nm droplet size. EC 50 indicated high antioxidant activity for all the tested samples. The fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) confirmed the synergistic effect of NG with a CT:CV ratio at 50:50 against Staphylococcus aureus and at CT:CV ratios 25:75 and 75:25 against E. coli O157:H7. NG coatings with CT:CV ratios at 50:50 and at 25:75 effectively controlled the weight loss at 0.5%, maintained stable pH levels, and preserved the visual quality of green olives on day 21. The synergistic effect between CT and CV was confirmed as they reduced the spoilage microorganisms of yeasts and molds by 2-log [CFU/g] compared to the control and almost 1 log [CFU/g] difference from pure CT and CV-based NGs without affecting the growth of beneficial lactic acid bacteria crucial for fermentation. NGs with CT:CV ratios at 50:50 and at 25:75 demonstrated superior effectiveness in preventing discoloration and maintaining the main sensory attributes. Overall, shelf life extension was achieved in 21 compared to only 7 of the uncoated ones. Finally, this study demonstrates the potential of polysaccharide-based NGs in mixtures of CT and CV for the shelf life extension of fermented food products.

Berberis aristata , commonly known as Indian barberry, has been traditionally used for its medicinal properties. Despite its recognized pharmacological benefits, its potential application in the food industry remains underexplored. This study aims to investigate the proximate analysis and techno-functional properties of Berberis aristata root powder to evaluate its feasibility as a functional food ingredient. The root powder of Berberis aristata was subjected to proximate analysis to determine its moisture, ash, protein, fat, fiber, and carbohydrate content. Techno-functional properties, including water and oil absorption capacity, emulsifying and foaming properties, and bulk density, were evaluated using standardized analytical techniques. The proximate analysis revealed a high fiber content and a significant number of bioactive compounds. The root powder exhibited favorable water and oil absorption capacities, making it suitable for use as a thickening and stabilizing agent. Emulsifying and foaming properties were comparable to conventional food additives, indicating their potential in various food formulations. The findings suggest that Berberis aristata root powder possesses desirable techno-functional properties that could be leveraged in the food industry. Its high fiber content and bioactive compounds offer additional health benefits, making it a promising candidate for functional food applications. Further research on its incorporation into different food matrices and its sensory attributes is recommended to fully establish its utility.

Enhancing food preservation and safety using environmentally friendly techniques is urgently needed. The aim of this study was to develop food packaging films using biodegradable poly-L-lactic acid (PLA) as biopolymer and carvacrol (CV) essential oil as an antioxidant/antibacterial agent for the replacement of chemical additives. CV was adsorbed onto natural zeolite (NZ) via a new vacuum adsorption method. The novel nanohybrid CV@NZ with a high CV content contained 61.7%wt. CV. Pure NZ and the CV@NZ nanohybrid were successfully dispersed in a PLA/triethyl citrate (TEC) matrix via a melt extrusion process to obtain PLA/TEC/xCV@NZ and PLA/TEC/xNZ nanocomposite films with 5, 10, and 15%wt CV@NZ or pure NZ content. The optimum resulting film PLA/TEC/10CV@NZ contained 10%wt. CV@NZ and exhibited self-healable properties, 22% higher tensile strength, 40% higher elongation at break, 45% higher water barrier, and 40% higher oxygen barrier than the pure PLA/TEC matrix. This film also had a high CV release content, high CV control release rate as well as 2.15 mg/L half maximal effective concentration (EC50) and 0.27 mm and 0.16 mm inhibition zones against Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enterica ssp. enterica serovar Typhimurium, respectively. This film not only succeeded in extending the shelf life of fresh minced pork, as shown by the total viable count measurements in four days but also prevented the lipid oxidation of fresh minced pork and provided higher nutritional values of the minced meat, as revealed by the heme iron content determination. It also had much better and acceptable sensory characteristics than the commercial packaging paper.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are widely applied for fermentation purposes in dairy and non-dairy food matrices with beneficial technological and health-promoting properties. This study describes the effect of two lactic acid bacteria, namely, Lactiplantibacillus paracasei SP5 and Pediococcus pentosaceus SP2, on the phenolic profiles, antioxidant activities, total phenolic content (TPC), carotenoid content, and sensorial profile of two different mixed fruit juices. After 48 h of fermentation, both LABs retained viability over 9 Log CFU/mL in both juices. The TPC, zeaxanthin + lutein, β-carotene content, and antioxidant activity (AA) were elevated for both LABs and mixed juices after 48 h of fermentation compared to control samples. Regarding the phenolic profile, both juices exhibited a significant decrease in chlorogenic acid levels, while quinic acid and tyrosol concentrations showed notable increases.

The use of natural raw substances for food preservation could provide a great contribution to food waste reduction, circular economy enhancement, and green process application widening. Recent studies indicated that the use of porous materials as adsorbents for natural essential oils provided nanohybrids with excellent antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Following this trend in this work, a thymol oil (TEO) rich SBA-15 nanohybrid was prepared and characterized physiochemically with various techniques. This TEO@SBA-15 nanohybrid, along with the pure SBA-15, was extruded with low-density polyethylene (LDPE) to develop novel active packaging films. Results indicated that TEO loading was higher than other porous materials reported recently, and the addition of both pure SBA-15 and TEO@SBA-15 to the LDPE increased the water/oxygen barrier. The film with the higher thyme-oil@SBA-15 nanohybrid content exhibited a slower release kinetic. The antioxidant activity of the final films ignited after 48 h, was in the range of 60-70%, and was almost constant for 7 days. Finally, all tests indicated a sufficient improvement by the addition of thyme-oil@SBA-15 nanohybrids in the pure LDPE matrix and the concentration of wt. 10% of such nanocarriers provided the optimum final LDPE/10TEO@SBE-15 active packaging film. This material could be a potential future product for active packaging applications.

Carvacrol is well documented for its antibacterial and antioxidant effects. However, its high volatility has directed researchers toward nanoencapsulation technology according to bioeconomy and sustainability trends. This study examined and compared free carvacrol (FC), carvacrol microemulsion (MC), carvacrol microemulsion busted with chitosan (MMC), and carvacrol nanoemulsions (NC) as active coatings on extending minced pork meat shelf life at 4 ± 1 °C for 9 days, focusing on microbiological, physiochemical, and sensory characteristics. The research involved pre-characterizing droplet sizes, evaluating antioxidants, and determining antibacterial efficacy. The results demonstrated that NC with a 21 nm droplet size exhibited the highest antioxidant and antibacterial activity. All coatings succeeded in extending the preservation of fresh minced pork meat in comparison to the free carvacrol sample (FC). The NC coating showed the highest extension of minced pork meat preservation and maintained meat freshness for 9 days, with a lower TBARs of 0.736 mg MDA/Kg, and effectively reduced mesophilic, lactic acid, and psychotrophic bacterial counts more significantly by 1.2, 2, and 1.3 log, respectively, as compared to FC. Sensory assessments confirmed the acceptability of NC and MCC coatings. Overall, the carvacrol-based nanoemulsion can be considered a novel antioxidant and antimicrobial active coating due to its demonstrated higher efficacy in all the examined tests performed.

The necessity of reducing the greenhouse effect by decreasing the carbon dioxide fingerprint directed the food packaging technology to use biobased raw materials. Alginates, which are derived from brown algae species, are one of the most promising biobased biopolymers for the development of edible active coatings capable of protecting food from oxidation/bacterial spoilage. In this study, sodium alginate, which was plasticized with glycerol and mixed with a biobased thymol/natural halloysite nanohybrid, was used to develop novel edible active coatings. Nanocomposite coatings were also developed in this project by mixing pure halloysite with sodium alginate/glycerol matrix and were used as reference material for comparison reasons. Instrumental analysis indicated a higher compatibility of a thymol/halloysite nanohybrid with a sodium alginate/glycerol matrix compared to pure halloysite with a sodium alginate/glycerol matrix. Increased compatibility resulted in improved tensile properties, water/oxygen barrier properties, and total antioxidant activity. These edible active coatings were applied to traditional Greek spread cheese and showed a reduction in the mesophilic microbial population over one log10 unit (cfu/g) compared to uncoated cheese. Moreover, the reduction in the mesophilic microbial population increased with the increase in halloysite and thymol content, indicating such sodium alginate/glycerol/thymol/halloysite hydrogels as promising edible active coatings for dairy products.

Currently, food saving, a circular economy, and zero environmental fingerprints are of major interest. Scientific efforts for enhanced food preservation using "green" methods have been intensified. Even though chemicals could achieve such targets effectively, the global trend against the "greenhouse effect" suggests the use of environmentally friendly biobased materials for this purpose. In this study, the promising biopolymer chitosan is incorporated with the promising biodegradable polymer polyvinyl alcohol to produce an improved biopolymeric matrix. This biodegradable biopolymer was further mixed homogeneously with 15% thymol/nano-zeolite nanohybrid material. The properties of the final developed film were improved compared to the relevant values of chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol film. The mechanical properties were enhanced significantly, i.e., there was a 34% increase in Young's modulus and a 4.5% increase in the ultimate tensile strength, while the antioxidant activity increased by 53.4%. The antibacterial activity increased by 134% for Escherichia coli , 87.5% for Staphylococcus aureus , 32% for Listeria monocytogenes , and 9% for Salmonella enterica . The water vapor diffusion coefficient and the oxygen permeability coefficient decreased to -51% and -74%, respectively, and thus, the water vapor and oxygen barrier increased significantly. The active pads were used in strawberries, and the antimicrobial activity evaluation against the mold of fungi was carried out. The visual evaluation shows that the active pads could extend the shelf life duration of strawberries., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Τhe replacement of food packaging additives and preservatives with bio-based antioxidant/antibacterial compounds has been a common practice in recent years following the trend of bioeconomy and nanotechnology. Such bio-additives are often enclosed in nanocarriers for a controlled release process. Following this trend in this work, a thymol (TO)-rich activated carbon (AC) nanohybrid was prepared and characterized physicochemically with various techniques. This TO@AC nanohybrid, along with the pure activated carbon, was extruded with low-density polyethylene (LDPE) to develop novel active packaging films. The codenames used in this paper were LDPE/xTO@AC and LDPE/xAC for the nanohybrid and the pure activated carbon, respectively. X-ray diffractometry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy measurements showed high dispersity of both the TO@AC nanohybrid and the pure AC in the LDPE matrix, resulting in enhanced mechanical properties. The active film with 15 wt.% of the TO@AC nanohybrid (LDPE/15TO@AC) exhibited a 230% higher water/vapor barrier and 1928% lower oxygen permeability than the pure LDPE film. For this active film, the highest antioxidant activity referred to the DPPH assay (44.4%), the lowest thymol release rate (k 2 ≈ 1.5 s -1 ), and the highest antibacterial activity were recorded, resulting in a 2-day extension of fresh pork fillets' shelf-life.

Ganoderma lucidum is a medicinal mushroom that has been traditionally used in Chinese medicine for centuries. It has been found to have a wide range of medicinal properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-boosting effects. Recent research has focused on the potential benefits of G. lucidum in treating metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity, as well as its possible role in preventing and treating infections caused by the coronavirus. Triterpenoids are a major group of bioactive compounds found in G. lucidum , and they have a range of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. These compounds have been found to improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar levels in animal models of diabetes. Additionally, G. lucidum polysaccharides have been found to reduce bodyweight and improve glucose metabolism in animal models of obesity. These polysaccharides can also help to increase the activity of certain white blood cells, which play a critical role in the body's immune response. For coronavirus, some in vitro studies have shown that G. lucidum polysaccharides and triterpenoids have the potential to inhibit coronavirus infection; however, these results have not been validated through clinical trials. Therefore, it would be premature to draw any definitive conclusions about the effectiveness of G. lucidum in preventing or treating coronavirus infections in humans.

Sustainability, the circular economy, and the "greenhouse" effect have led the food packaging industry to use naturally available bio-compounds. The integration of such compounds in packaging films increases food safety and extends food shelf-life. The development of an active/antioxidant packaging film based on the widely commercially used low-density polyethylene, natural zeolite, and Thymol, a natural extract from thyme oil, is presented in this work. The obtained active films were characterized using X-Ray Diffraction, Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and Differential Scanning Calorimetry techniques. The tensile strength, water-oxygen barrier properties, and total antioxidant activity were measured. Low-density polyethylene incorporated with Thymol@Natural Zeolite at a proportion of 15 wt% was the most promising material and was used as film to wrap-up pork fillets. The thiobarbituric acid (TBA) method and heme iron measurements indicated a delayed lipids oxidation using this film. A linear correlation between the TBA method and heme iron values seems to be established, which could result in a fast method to determine the degree of lipid oxidation in pork fillets. Finally, a two-stage diffusion process during Thymol release was observed, and the values of the diffusion coefficient was 2.09 × 10 -7 and 1.21 × 10 -8 cm 2 /s for each stage. The applied pseudo-second sorption model provided a rate constant k 2 = 0.01647 (s -1 ). These results indicate the strong potential of such films to be used as food packaging materials free of E-number preservatives.

The current growing attractiveness of natural dyes around the world is a consequence of the increasing rejection of synthetic dyes whose use is increasingly criticized. The great interest in natural pigments from herbal origin such as cyanidin 3- O -glucoside (C3G) is due to their biological properties and their health benefits. However, the chemical instability of C3G during processing and storage and its low bioavailability limits its food application. Nanoencapsulation technology using appropriate nanocarriers is revolutionizing the use of anthocyanin, including C3G. Owing to the chemical stability and functional benefits that this new nanotechnology provides to the latter, its industrial application is now extending to the pharmaceutical and cosmetic fields. This review focuses on the various nanoencapsulation techniques used and the chemical and biological benefits induced to C3G.

The concept of this study is the replacement of previous fossil-based techniques for food packaging and food shelf-life extension, with novel more green processes and materials following the spirit of circular economy and the global trend for environmentally positive fingerprints. A novel adsorption process to produce thymol-halloysite nanohybrids is presented in this work. The high dispersion of this thymol-halloysite nanostructure in chitosan biopolymer is one of the goals of this study. The incorporation of this biodegradable matrix with poly-vinyl-alcohol produced a very promising food-packaging film. Mechanical, water-oxygen barrier, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties were measured. Transparency levels were also tested using a UV-vis instrument. Moreover, the developed films were tested in-vivo for the preservation and the extension of the shelf-life of kiwi fruits. In all cases, results indicated that the increased fraction of thymol from thyme oil significantly enhances the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of the prepared chitosan-poly-vinyl- alcohol gel. The use of the halloysite increases the mechanical and water-oxygen barrier properties and leads to a control release process of thymol which extends the preservation and the shelf-life of kiwi fruits. Finally, the results indicated that the halloysite improves the properties of the chitosan/poly-vinyl-alcohol films, and the thymol makes them further advantageous.

Herein, the effect of the dipping (static) marination process (at 4 °C for 2 h) with different types of vinegar (balsamic, pomegranate, apple, and grape) on various quality properties, including texture and protein profile of beef steaks and the formation of heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) in beef steaks cooked on a hot plate (at 200 °C for 24 min), were determined. The results showed that 3.12-4.13% of the marinate liquids were absorbed by beef steak as a result of the marination process. No significant differences ( p > 0.05) were observed between the marinated and cooked beef steaks in terms of water content, cooking loss, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) value, hardness, cohesiveness, and chewiness. However, significant differences were detected in terms of pH value and color values (L*, a*, and b*) ( p < 0.01), and springiness, 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo (4,5-f) quinoxaline (MeIQx) and total HAA content ( p < 0.05). The marination with pomegranate vinegar resulted in the formation of darker steak, while a lighter one was obtained when apple vinegar was used in the marination. The use of balsamic and grape vinegar in the marination process decreased the springiness value compared to the control group. The myofibrillar proteins of beef steaks marinated with different types of vinegar generally showed a similar sodium dodecyl-sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) profile. However, some differences were observed in the band density of some proteins depending on the trial and the type of marination. In this study, of the nine examined HAAs, only two (2-amino-3-methylimidazo (4,5-f) quinoline (IQ) and MeIQx) could be detected and quantified. IQ was detected only in the control group steak (up to 0.51 ng/g), while MeIQx was detected in all treatment groups (up to 2.22 ng/g). The total HAA content varied between 0.59-2.22 ng/g. It was determined that the marination process with different vinegar types had different effects on the total HAA content of the steaks. Using balsamic and apple vinegar in the marination process decreased the total HAA content compared to the control group, but this decrease was not statistically significant ( p > 0.05). On the other hand, using grape and pomegranate vinegar in the marination process increased the total HAA content, but this increase was only significant ( p < 0.05) in the marination with pomegranate vinegar.

This study presents, the development of a green method to produce rich in thymol natural zeolite (TO@NZ) nanostructures. This material was used to prepare sodium-alginate/glycerol/xTO@NZ (ALG/G/TO@NZ) nanocomposite active films for the packaging of soft cheese to extend its shelf-life. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray analysis (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) instruments were used for the characterization of such nanostructures and films, to identify the thymol adsorbed amount, to investigate the thermal behaviour, and to confirm the dispersion of nanostructure powder into the polymer matrix. Water vapor transmission rate, oxygen permeation analyzer, tensile measurements, antioxidant measurements, and antimicrobial measurements were used to estimate the film's water and oxygen barrier, mechanical properties, nanostructure's nanoreinforcement activity, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. The findings from the study revealed that ALG/G/TO@NZ nanocomposite film could be used as an active packaging film for foods with enhanced, mechanical properties, oxygen and water barrier, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, and it is capable of extending food shelf-life.

Worldwide aquaculture production is increasing, but with this increase comes quality and safety related problems. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop potent technologies to extend the shelf life of fish. Xanthan gum is commonly used in the food industry because of its high-water solubility, stability of its aqueous solutions in a wide pH range, and high viscosity. One of its modern food applications is its use as a gelling agent in edible coatings building. Therefore, in this study, the effect of xanthan coating containing various concentrations (0, 1, 2%; w/v) of ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) on physicochemical, microbial, and sensory quality indices in mackerel fillets stored at 2 °C for 20 days was evaluated. The pH, peroxide value, K-value, TVB-N, TBARS, microbiological and sensory characteristics were determined every 5 days over the storage period (20 days). Samples treated with xanthan (XAN) coatings containing 1 and 2% of EEP were shown to have the highest level of physicochemical protection and maximum level of microbial inhibition (p < 0.05) compared to uncoated samples (control) over the storage period. Furthermore, the addition of EEP to XAN was more effective in notably preserving (p < 0.05) the taste and odor of coated samples compared to control.

Recently, the demand for composite edible coatings has increased significantly as a new trend to confront the serious processing and storage problems that always arise regarding chicken meat. We aim to develop a carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) coating containing various concentrations (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4%) of an ethanolic propolis extract (EPE) to maintain the quality and extend the shelf life of chicken breast meat stored at 2 °C for 16 days. The influence of the CMC and EPE coating on the physicochemical and microbiological quality parameters of chicken breast meat, e.g., pH, color, metmyoglobin (MetMb), lipid oxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, TBARS), and microbiological and sensory analyses, was studied. Significantly lower weight loss and pH ( p ≤ 0.05) were noted in the coated samples compared with the uncoated samples (control) over the storage period. MetMb content was significantly reduced ( p ≤ 0.05) in the coated samples compared to the control. Additionally, the addition of EPE to CMC was more effective in inhibiting microbial growth, preventing lipid oxidation, and keeping the overall acceptability of coated chicken breast meat compared to the control. This work presents CMC and EPE as alternative preservatives to produce active packaging coatings.

The global turn from the linear to the circular economy imposes changes in common activities such as food packaging. The use of biodegradable materials such as polyvinyl alcohol, natural raw materials such as clays, and food byproducts such as chitosan to develop novel food packaging films attracts the interest of industrial and institutional research centers. In this study, novel hybrid nanostructures were synthesized via the growth of zinc oxide nanorods on the surface of two nanoclays. The obtained nanostructures were incorporated with chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol composite either as nanoreinforcement or as an active agent to develop packaging films. The developed films were characterized via XRD, FTIR, mechanical, water-vapor diffusion, water sorption, and oxygen permeability measurements. Antimicrobial activity measurements were carried out against four different pathogen microorganisms. XRD indicated the formation of an intercalated nanocomposite structure for both types of nanoclays. Furthermore, improved tensile, water/oxygen barrier, and antimicrobial properties were recorded for all films compared to the pure chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol film. Overall, the results indicated that the use of the bio-based developed films led to an extension of food shelf life and could be used as novel active food packaging materials. Among them, the most promising film was the 6% wt. ZnO@halloysite.

An analytical method was developed to simultaneously determine pyridate, quizalofop-ethyl, and cyhalofop-butyl in brown rice, soybean, potato, pepper, and mandarin using LC-MS/MS. Purification was optimized using various sorbents: primary−secondary amine, octadecyl (C18) silica gel, graphitized carbon black, zirconium dioxide-modified silica particles, zirconium dioxide-modified silica particles (Z-SEP), and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Three versions of QuECHERS methods were then tested using the optimal purification agent. Finally, samples were extracted using acetonitrile and QuEChERS EN salts and purified using the Z-SEP sorbent. A six-point matrix-matched external calibration curve was constructed for the analytes. Good linearity was achieved with a determination coefficient ≥0.999. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.0075 mg/kg and 0.01 mg/kg, respectively. The method was validated after fortifying the target standards to the blank matrices at three concentration levels with five replicates for each concentration. The average recovery was within an acceptable range (70−120%), with a relative standard deviation <20%. The applicability of the developed method was evaluated with real-world market samples, all of which tested negative for these three herbicide residues. Therefore, this method can be used for the routine analysis of pyridate, quizalofop-ethyl, and cyhalofop-butyl in agricultural products.

In this study, CuMt and TiMt montmorillonites were produced via an ion-exchange process with Cu + and Ti 4+ ions. These nanostructured materials were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) measurements and added as nanoreinforcements and active agents in chitosan (CS)/poly-vinyl-alcohol (PVOH)-based packaging films. The developed films were characterized by XRD and FTIR measurements. The antimicrobial, tensile, and oxygen/water-barrier measurements for the evaluation of the packaging performance were carried out to the obtained CS/PVOH/CuMt and CS/PVOH/TiMt films. The results of this study indicated that CS/PVOH/CuMt film is a stronger intercalated nanocomposite structure compared to the CS/PVOH/TiMt film. This fact reflected higher tensile strength and water/oxygen-barrier properties. The antibacterial activity of these films was tested against four food pathogenic bacteria: Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus , Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes . Results showed that in most cases, the antibacterial activity was generated by the CuMt and TiMt nanostructures. Thus, both CS/PVOH/CuMt and CS/PVOH/TiMt films are nanocomposite candidates with very good perspectives for future applications on food edible active packaging.

The current study investigated and determined the major compounds of six essential oils derived from different plant species cultivated in Greece ( Lavandula angustifolia, Origanum vulgare, Pistacia lentiscus var. chia, Citrus reticulata, Citrus limon and Crithmum maritimum ). The results proved that all these essential oils have a high potential for use as food preservatives, since among the compounds determined were sabinene, b-myrcene, a-pinene, carvacrol and limonene, all of which were responsible for the strong antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus . However, the amounts of some compounds, such as linalool and citral, were at high levels, and this can be a danger for some sensitive population groups due to allergic reactions. The essential oil compounds which were identified using GC-MS and quantified through GC-FID represented more than 95% of the total essential oils of the investigated plant species. Finally, all essential oils provided high phenolic content.

Two liquid chromatographic systems, one coupled to atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and tandem mass spectrometric methods (UHPLC-APCI-MS/MS) and the other a high-performance liquid chromatographic coupled to diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) were used to develop and validate methods for the simultaneous determination of fat-soluble vitamins A, D3 and E in rice cereal baby foods. The chromatographic separation was performed on C18 columns with a mixture of methanol-acetonitrile as mobile phase for all methods. The extraction of fat-soluble vitamins included enzymatic hydrolysis with α-amylase, saponification, extraction with petroleum ether or n-hexane and purification with silica cartridge (only for vitamin D3). Quantification of vitamin D3 and E through UHPLC-APCI-MS/MS was performed by the use of internal standards (IS) D3-d3 and E-d6, respectively, while IS was not used for vitamin A. The methods were optimized and validated in terms of linearity, precision, trueness, limits of detection and quantification. The recoveries were in the range of 85.0-107% for retinol, 92.0-105% for α-tocopherol and 95.2-106% for cholecalciferol and the %RSD (Relative Standard Deviation) values ranged from 6.4% to 15%. The evaluation of the methods was also conducted through the estimation of uncertainties, the application in commercial samples and the participation in a proficiency test.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the antimicrobial potential of Sideritis raeseri subps. raeseri essential oil (EO) against common food spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms and evaluate its antioxidant and antiproliferative activity. The EO was isolated by steam distillation and analyzed by GC/MS. The main constituents identified were geranyl- p -cymene (25.08%), geranyl- γ -terpinene (15.17%), and geranyl-linalool (14.04%). Initially, its activity against Staphylococcus aureus , Staphylococcus epidermidis , Escherichia coli , Listeria monocytogenes , Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella Typhimurium, Pseudomonas fragi , Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Aspergillus niger was screened by the disk diffusion method. Subsequently, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), non-inhibitory concentration (NIC), and minimum lethal concentration (MLC) values were determined. Growth inhibition of all microorganisms tested was documented, although it was significantly lower compared to gentamycin, ciproxin, and voriconazole, which were used as positive controls. In a next step, its direct antioxidant properties were examined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays, and the IC 50 values were determined. The potential cytoprotective activity of the oil against H 2 O 2 -induced oxidative stress and DNA damage was studied in human immortalized keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells using the comet assay. Finally, the antiproliferative activity of the oil was evaluated against a panel of cancer cell lines including A375, Caco2, PC3, and DU145 and the non-cancerous HaCaT cell line using the sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay, and the EC 50 values were determined. The oil demonstrated weak radical scavenging activity, noteworthy cytoprotective activity against H 2 O 2 -induced oxidative stress and DNA damage in HaCaT cells, and antiproliferative activity against all cell lines tested, being more sensitive against the in vitro model of skin melanoma., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study, in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data, in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Nature has generously offered a wide range of herbs (e.g., thyme, oregano, rosemary, sage, mint, basil) rich in many polyphenols and other phenolic compounds with strong antioxidant and biochemical properties. This paper focuses on several natural occurring phenolic acids (caffeic, carnosic, ferulic, gallic, p-coumaric, rosmarinic, vanillic) and first gives an overview of their most common natural plant sources. A summary of the recently reported antioxidant activities of the phenolic acids in o/w emulsions is also provided as an in vitro lipid-based model system. Exploring the interfacial activity of phenolic acids could help to further elucidate their potential health properties against oxidative stress conditions of biological membranes (such as lipoproteins). Finally, this review reports on the latest literature evidence concerning specific biochemical properties of the examined phenolic acids.

Radical oxygen species formed in human tissue cells by many endogenous and exogenous pathways cause extensive oxidative damage which has been linked to various human diseases. This review paper provides an overview of lipid peroxidation and focuses on the free radicals-initiated processes of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidative modification and DNA oxidative damage, which are widely associated with the initiation and development of atherosclerosis and carcinogenesis, respectively. The article subsequently provides an overview of the recent human trials or even in vitro investigations on the potential of natural antioxidant compounds (such as carotenoids; vitamins C and E) to monitor LDL and DNA oxidative changes.

Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum has been recognized as a rich source of secondary metabolites, including phenolic acids, flavonoids and flavonoid polymers (proanthocyanidins or condensed tannins), with related health benefits. Both parts of Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum (white bulb and pseudostem) are traditionally consumed either as a vegetable or as a condiment in many Mediterranean countries. The aim of the present study was to optimize the extraction conditions of polyphenols from white leek stem and green leek leaf by implementing a Box-Behnken design (BBD). The optimization considered basic factors affecting extraction efficiency, including extraction time, solvent to plant material ratio and solvent mixture composition. Maximum polyphenol yield was achieved at an extraction time of 80 and 100 min for white leek stem and green leek leaf extracts respectively, solvent to plant material ratio of 5:1 ( v/w ) and methanol to water ratio of 40:60 ( v/v ), for both leek extracts. Interestingly, higher total phenolic content was found in green leek leaf extracts compared to white leek stem extracts, due to a possible relationship between polyphenol production and sunlight radiation. High correlation values were also observed between total phenolic content and antioxidant-antiradical activity of optimized leek extracts.

The implementation of fast and nondestructive methods in meat products and colds cuts have become increasingly important to evaluate their quality in relation to different factors such as origin, type of processing, freshness, adulteration, and authenticity. In this study, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), colorimetric, and image-analysis methods were implemented to characterize and classify ham cold cuts in terms of meat type, processing, and shelf life during refrigerated storage. Two types of commercial hams (made from pork and turkey) and three types of processing (boiled, smoked, and roasted) were selected. By using the most appropriate color parameters, a*, h, and C*, as well as the textural features' angular second moment, long-running emphasis, and standard deviation of image intensity from the hams' images, high-classification values for the different ham samples were achieved. The FT-IR analysis revealed the presence of absorbance bands of proteins, triglycerides, fatty acids, and carbohydrates with different intensities according to meat type and processing. Refrigeration storage caused significant alterations of color parameters and a partial degradation of triglycerides and proteins. Moreover, the image-analysis findings indicated that storage period caused significant degradation of ham images relating to local linearity, and structural and textural continuum.

A rapid, precise and accurate method for the determination of vitamin E (α-tocopherol) in cereal products and biscuits has been developed. The uncertainty was calculated for the first time, and the methods were performed for different cereal products and biscuits, characterized as "superfoods". The limits of detection and quantification were calculated. The accuracy and precision were estimated using the certified reference material FAPAS T10112QC, and the determined values were in good accordance with the certified values. The health claims according to the daily reference values for vitamin E were calculated, and the results proved that the majority of the samples examined showed a percentage daily value higher than 15%., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

A simple method for the determination of caffeine in coffee grains by GC-FID (Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionisation Detector) is presented in the current work. The method was fully validated according to ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 17025 requirements and European Commission regulations. The accuracy, as provided by recovery experiments, was higher than 93%, and the precision, as provided by the (%) relative standard deviation under reproducibility conditions, was lower than 5%. A vast number of independent parameters that lead in the increase of uncertainty of methods were investigated. The analysis was performed without use of an internal standard, which was proven to be reliable according to several validation methods. The method was applied in real samples, and possible health claims were investigated., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Recently there is a great interest in using high energy techniques (HET) which involve microwave or ultrasound-assisted extraction (MAE and UAE) for isolation of natural bioactive compounds from plant foods. Such bioactive compounds are phenolics which were determined from sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L.) kernels and hulls (defatted) utilising two different high energy extraction techniques, ultrasound and microwave assisted solvent extraction. All samples were characterised by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-MS). The effect of parameters such as the nature of the solvent, volume of solvent, temperature and time is discussed. It is proved that the techniques applied had reduced solvent consumption and shorter extraction times, and extraction yields of the analytes were equal to or to some extent higher than those obtained with conventional techniques. Total Phenolic Composition (TPC) of samples examined was studied by the Folin-Ciocalteu method and results were presented in μg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g dry extract. Kernels proved to have the higher amount of TPC while the press residues had shown comparable TPC results. The antioxidant activity of samples was spectrophotometrically determined by 2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay using Butylated hydroxyl toluene (BHT) as reference compound to compare with samples. Sunflower seeds (kernels) showed again the highest antiradical efficiency (AE) compared to hulls and press-residue extract. Afterwards, ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assays were used for measuring the antioxidant capacity of samples. Press residue, a by-product of sunflower oil extraction, contained phenolics as shown by UHPLC-ESI-MS analysis. Hence, later on these compounds can be possibly utilised by food or neutraceutical industries. Phenolic substances characterised in hulls, kernels, and press residue were phenolic acids, mainly chlorogenic, caffeic, cinnamic, 4-hydroxybenzoic and p -coumaric., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

The antioxidant properties and polyphenol content of some selected aromatic plants grown in Greece were studied. Plants were refluxed with 60% methanol after acid hydrolysis. The phenolic substances were quantified by High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Diode Array Detector (HPLC-DAD). The antioxidant capacity of the extracts was determined with the Rancimat test using sunflower oil as substrate. Free radical scavenging activity was measured using the stable free radical 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Results were compared with standard butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and ascorbic acid. Total phenol concentration of the extracts was estimated with Folin-Ciocalteu reagent using gallic acid as standard. All plant extracts examined showed antioxidant capacity and contained phenolic compounds. Caffeic acid was detected in all the examined plant extracts. Ferulic acid was also detected in all the methanolic extracts, except from P. lanata , in rather high concentration. The amount of total phenolics varied slightly in plant materials and ranged from 8.2 mg to 31.6 mg of gallic acid/g dry sample. The highest amount was found in O. dictamnus , and the lowest in N. melissifolia .

The following aromatic plants of Greek origin, Origanum dictamnus (dictamus), Eucalyptus globulus (eucalyptus), Origanum vulgare L. (oregano), Mellisa officinalis L. (balm mint) and Sideritis cretica (mountain tea), were examined for the content of phenolic substances. Reversed phase HPLC coupled to diode array detector (DAD) was used for the analysis of the plant extracts. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method (GC-MS) was also used for identification of phenolic compounds after silylation. The most abundant phenolic acids were: gallic acid (1.5-2.6 mg/100 g dry sample), ferulic acid (0.34-6.9 mg/100 g dry sample) and caffeic acid (1.0-13.8 mg/100 g dry sample). (+)-Catechin and (-)-epicatechin were the main flavonoids identified in oregano and mountain tea. Quercetin was detected only in eucalyptus and mountain tea.

The main objective of this study was the screening of some selected aromatic plants very popular in Greece, with respect to their total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, reducing activity, and oxidative stability. All plants were extracted with the conventional method, reflux with methanol. The essential oils of the plants were also analyzed for their antioxidant properties. The total phenolic content was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method using gallic acid as the standard, while the phenolic substances were identified and quantified by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) coupled with a multi-wavelength ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) detector. The antioxidant capacity of the plant extracts was measured by their ability to scavenge free radicals such as (a) DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and, (b) ABTS (2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiaziline-6- sulfonate). The Folin-Ciocalteu method proved the existence of antioxidants in the aromatic plant extracts. Taking into account the results of the DPPH and ABTS methods, the free radical scavenging capacity was confirmed. Eventually, all plants exhibited low but noticeable protection levels against lipid oxidation, as determined by the Rancimat test.