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Apple (Malus domestica) is a reliable source of nutrients to increase the bioactive compounds intake in the human body. In the market, the development of apple is still growing, not only in the hybridization of new cultivars, but also in the functional food products, based on apple's bioactive compounds. In this paper, we review the recent studies about the chemical composition of apples, including carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, dietary fibers, minerals, vitamins, phenolics, and other compounds, from various cultivars, grown in different countries or regions. Among the bioactive compounds in apple, the phenolic compounds, including hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, flavanols and their oligo- and polymeric structure, flavonols, dihydrochalcones, and anthocyanins, majorly contribute to beneficial biological impacts. Therefore, the extraction process might be the most critical step to recover all the phenolics from apple and could be used in various food product developments. In this paper, the comparison of conventional and developed phenolic extraction methods is also reviewed in various apple products (flesh, peel, pomace, pulp, etc.). The selection of food grade and green solvents in the optimal phenolic extraction methods could reduce the environmental issues, thus supports sustainability and can be safer for consumers. To sum up, this paper may help the readers, both at general household and industrial levels, to understand the nutritional composition of various apple cultivars from different regions and to select the optimum conditions for apple's phenolic extraction, based on recent studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), a devastating pest, poses massive threat to maize (Zea mays L.) production worldwide. This study was aimed to evaluate the status of phenolics and defensive enzymes in wild (teosinte), inbred (CML 72, LM 24) and backcross derived maize line, BC (LM 24 × teosinte) exposed to fall armyworm infestation. The activities of polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), tyrosine ammonia lyase (TAL), β-1,3 glucanase, chitinase and protease inhibitor were determined. The contents of total phenols, flavonoids, ortho- dihydroxy phenols and lignin were also determined. The high stress tolerance efficiency of teosinte was attributed to the high activities of POD, PAL and TAL in its leaves during infestation that increased the content of total phenols and enhanced lignification. Additionally, it had high β-glucanase activity for the hydrolysis of glucans in the cell wall of pest. BC (LM 24 × teosinte) attained some of the unique features of teosinte as both the genotypes had comparable POD, β-glucanase, chitinase and protease inhibitor activities and equivalent levels of total phenols and lignin in their infested leaves that were relatively higher than those of LM 24. CML 72 differed significantly from LM 24 in its stress tolerance mechanism as it had maximum activities of β-glucanase, chitinase and protease inhibitor in its infested leaves. It may be concluded that teosinte followed by BC (LM 24 × teosinte) showed maximum tolerance to pest infestation. The inbred lines, LM 24 and CML 72 showed moderate tolerance to stress conditions by adopting varied mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalytic co-pyrolysis of two different refinery oily sludge (ROS) samples was conducted to facilitate resource recovery. Non-catalytic pyrolysis in temperatures ranging from 500 to 600°C was performed to determine high oil yields. Higher temperatures enhanced the oil yields up to ~ 24 wt%, while char formation remained unchanged (~ 45%) for S1. Conversely, S2 exhibited a notably lower oil yield (~ 4 wt%) than S1. Pyrolysis oil of S1 consisted of phenolics (~ 50% at 600 °C) whereas hydrocarbons were predominant in S2 oil (~ 80% at 600 °C). Catalytic pyrolysis of S1 did not exhibit a substantial impact on oil yields but the oil composition varied significantly. High hydrocarbons, phenolics, and aromatics were obtained with molecular sieve (MS), metal slag, and ZSM-5, respectively. Catalytic co-pyrolysis of S2 with sawdust (SD) in the presence of MS enhanced the oil yield, and the resulting oil consisted of high hydrocarbons (~ 54%) and aromatics (~ 44%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural waste as biomass is a carbon-containing renewable energy source which can be converted into the chemicals and fuels. The identification of chemically valuable compounds in bio-oils obtained from in situ catalytic pyrolysis of sugarcane bagasse is studied. For this purpose, a large-scale auger pyrolysis reactor consisting of a stainless steel cylinder equipped with a screw was used. The favorable biomass feedstock with the vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) nanoparticle catalysts (100:0, 90:10, 80:20, and 70:30) at temperatures of 400, 500, and 600 °C was studied regarding the quality of the chemical composition in obtained bio-oils. Results showed that the catalytic pyrolysis of bagasse in the presence of V2O5 nanoparticles leads to production of the bio-oils rich in compounds, including phenols, acetone, 3,2-butanediol, furan, and D-allose. The yields of phenol, acetone, 3,2-butanediol, and D-allose obtained in bio-oil increased with increase in the pyrolysis temperature in the presence of nanoparticle catalysts and were 20.3, 6.9, 4.3, and 13.2%, respectively. Acids, mainly acetic acid, have the higher fraction in bio-oil. The production of the acetic acid decreased from 47.89 to 43.14% by increasing catalyst ratio (10–30%). Assessing this study indicated that V2O5 could be interesting candidates for incorporation in biomass catalytic pyrolysis which can be used as a useful procedure to convert the agricultural waste into valuable chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis) roots were solvent fractioned, and their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects were investigated. The antioxidant capacity (DPPH and ABTS radicals, oxygen radical absorbance capacity, and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity) was the highest in the ethyl acetate fraction (CREE) at 26.74, 69.81, 253.23, and 54.77 mg TEAC/g, respectively. The inflammatory responses were evaluated in RAW 264.7 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (1 µg/mL). CREE decreased nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 by 53.37% and 16.30%, respectively. Pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6 were inhibited by 36.85%, 62.99%, and 54.78%, respectively. Furthermore, inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and interleukin-6 genes were inhibited by 43.38%, 24.23%, and 80.85%, respectively. The results suggest that CREE is responsible for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural functional and bioactive compounds extracted from agricultural wastes using green techniques have attracted great attention due to their health benefits, numerous potential applications and less environmental impacts. Therefore, this study aimed to co-optimize the processes of ultrasound-microwave assisted extraction (UMAE) and enzyme-ultrasound assisted extraction (EUAE) to simultaneously maximize the yields of polysaccharides (PSY) and phenolics (TPC) from mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) peels with the aid of Box-Behnken design. The chemical structure of the polysaccharides and the bioactive activities of the phenolics extracted by two methods were also determined and compared. At the optimal conditions, the results revealed that UMAE produced a less amount of polysaccharides (18.4%) but required a shorter total treatment time (66 min) than EUAE. In contrast, EUAE generated much higher PSY (32.86%) and had an additional advantage of using the medium with less acidity (pH 4.7 as compared with pH 2). Both approaches resulted to a quite equivalent amount of phenolics (104–111 mg gallic acid equivalent per g dry weight). The FTIR spectra explored that the UMAE polysaccharides had a similar chemical structure with commercial pectin while the EUAE ones had distinguished peaks, appropriately related to the complex network structure of rhamnogalacturonan, homogalacturonan and polygalacturonic acid. On the other hand, both UMAE and EMAE phenolic extracts had similarly high inhibitory effect against α-glucosidase with their IC50 of 1.16–1.18 mg/mL. However, the EMAE phenolic extract had nearly doubled 2, 2-diphenyl-1-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity (4080 μg TE/mL extract) as compared to the UMAE one. These findings conclude that polysaccharides and polyphenols from both extraction methods could be used as ingredients for nutraceutical products and food processing with desirable characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anaerobic digestion of aqueous condensate from fast pyrolysis is a promising technology for enhancing carbon and energy recovery from waste. Syngas, another pyrolysis product, could be integrated as a co-substrate to improve process efficiency. However, limited knowledge exists on the co-fermentation of pyrolysis syngas and aqueous condensate by anaerobic cultures and the effects of substrate toxicity. This work investigates the ability of mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic mixed cultures to co-ferment syngas and the aqueous condensate from either sewage sludge or polyethylene plastics pyrolysis in semi-batch bottle fermentations. It identifies inhibitory concentrations for carboxydotrophic and methanogenic reactions, examines specific component removal and assesses energy recovery potential. The results show successful co-fermentation of syngas and aqueous condensate components like phenols and N-heterocycles. However, the characteristics and load of the aqueous condensates affected process performance and product formation. The toxicity, likely resulting from the synergistic effect of multiple toxicants, depended on the PACs' composition. At 37 °C, concentrations of 15.6 gCOD/gVSS and 7.8 gCOD/gVSS of sewage sludge-derived aqueous condensate inhibited by 50% carboxydotrophic and methanogenic activity, respectively. At 55 °C, loads between 3.9 and 6.8 gCOD/gVSS inhibited by 50% both reactions. Polyethylene plastics condensate showed higher toxicity, with 2.8 gCOD/gVSS and 0.3 gCOD/gVSS at 37 °C decreasing carboxydotrophic and methanogenic rates by 50%. At 55 °C, 0.3 gCOD/gVSS inhibited by 50% CO uptake rates and methanogenesis. Increasing PAC loads reduced methane production and promoted short-chain carboxylates formation. The recalcitrant components in sewage sludge condensate hindered e-mol recovery, while plastics condensate showed high e-mol recoveries despite the stronger toxicity. Even with challenges posed by substrate toxicity and composition variations, the successful conversion of syngas and aqueous condensates highlights the potential of this technology in advancing carbon and energy recovery from anthropogenic waste streams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring host plant resistance and elevating plant defense mechanisms through the application of exogenous elicitors stands as a promising strategy for integrated pest management. The fall armyworm, a pernicious menace to grain crops in tropical and subtropical regions, stands as a formidable threat due to its capacity for devastation and a wide-ranging spectrum of host plants. There is no literature regarding artificially induced resistance in maize against fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) by exogenous application of phytohormones. The present investigation was performed to evaluate the role of jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) on two maize hybrids namely FH-1046 and YH-1898 against fall armyworm. Results showed that plant height, biomass and lengths, fresh and dry weight of root shoot which decreased with armyworm infestation improved with phytohormonal application. JA treatment resulted in a higher increase in all attributes as compared to SA treatment. Improvement in relative water contents, photosynthetic pigments and pronounced levels of phenol and proline accumulation were observed in infested plants after JA treatment. Infested plants recovered from oxidative stress as JA application activated and increased the antioxidant enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activity in both FH-1046 and YH-1898. The oxidative stress reduction in infested plants after JA treatment was also evident from a fair decrease in MDA and H2O2 in both varieties. The SA and JA mediated genes expression was studied and it was found that in FH1046 maize cultivar, JA dependent genes, particularly marker genes PR1 and Lox5 were highly expressed along with TPS10 and BBT12. Whereas SPI, WRKY28, ICS and PAL were shown to be activated upon SA application. Evidently, both JA and SA elicited a robust defensive response within the maize plants against the voracious S. frugiperda, which in consequence exerted a discernible influence over the pest's developmental trajectory and physiological dynamics. A decrease in detoxification enzyme activity of the insects was observed after feeding on treated plants. Moreover, it was recorded that the survival and weight gain of FAW feeding on phytohormone treated maize plants also decelerated. In conclusion, FH-1046 was found to be more tolerant than YH-1898 against fall armyworm infestation and 1 mM JA was more effective than 1 mM SA for alleviation of fall armyworm stress. Therefore, it was inferred that phytohormones regulated redox homeostasis to circumvent oxidative damage and mediate essential metabolic events in maize under stress. To our current understanding, this study is the very first presentation of induced resistance in maize against S. frugiperda with the phytohormonal application (JA and SA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the influence of particle size on the chemical, technological, rheological, thermal, and structural properties of whole pinhão flour, employing pre-gelatinized seeds, in response to the growing demand for diverse and healthier food choices. The fractionation conducted using RO-TAP® at different particle sizes (210 μm - P1, 149 μm - P2, 105 μm - P3, and < 105 μm - P4) led to significant changes in chemical composition, mineral content, viscosity, and thermal characteristics. The P3 fraction emerged as particularly promising, with elevated levels of total carbohydrates (60.27 g/100 g), total starch (46.14 g/100 g), and viscosity (1,545.50 cP), making it ideal for baking. Remarkably, P1 and P4 fractions exhibited elevated levels of fiber (46.96 and 38.57 g/100 g), phenolic compounds (13.35 and 13.51 mg EAG/g), and in vitro antioxidant activity. Lipid content increased inversely with particle size, accompanied by a decrease in resistant starch. All the pinhão fractions exhibited substantial mineral content, ranging from 2 to 2.24 g/100 g. Infrared spectroscopy analyses highlighted compositional similarities in samples, which uniformly exhibited type C crystallinity and high crystallinity indices (38.89%, 44.28%, 47.11%, and 46.46%, respectively). Fibers negatively affected viscosity, thermal properties, and starch gelatinization. Notably, the fraction with the smallest particle size demonstrated improved suitability for developing gluten-free bread products. This study highlights the importance of processing and fractionating pinhão flour to enhance resource utilization efficiency. Furthermore, the findings provide tangible insights to enhance pinhão production and processing chains, fortifying the food industry and addressing consumer preferences for healthier and more diverse products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-derived natural products, including those from bryophytes, are particularly advantageous in several aspects, such as for their antifungal, antibacterial, and anticancer properties. However, the bioactivity potential of secondary metabolites found in the liverwort species Acrolejeunea fertilis has not been extensively investigated, with its limited natural biomass posing challenges. A possible solution to address this is to propagate A. fertilis via in vitro culture. The application of plant growth regulatory substances at various concentrations is expected to enhance the growth of A. fertilis. This study aims to determine the optimum concentration of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and kinetin applied in the gametophyte phase of A. fertilis in vitro culture and compare the metabolite profile between A. fertilis from nature and in vitro culture conditions, using methanol and n-hexane solvent. The compounds in the extracts were identified using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and their antioxidant and antibacterial activities were also characterized. The IC50 values for nature and in vitro extracts were in the range of 58.41–63.10 µg/mL and 111.73–112.10 µg/mL. The total value of phenolic compounds in A. fertilis extracts ranged from 58.51±0.02 µgGAE/g and 272.53±0.02 µgQE/g, respectively. Antibacterial activity was revealed, with inhibition on S. aureus using an n-hexane extract of A. fertilis from nature. Thus, the findings of this study highlight the diverse secondary metabolite profiles and bioactivity potential of A. fertilis extracts. These findings have important implications for the development of natural products in terms of the potential for mass propagation of the medicinal plant A. fertilis as a source of bioactive compounds.Key message: The liverwort species Acrolejeunea fertilis exhibits promising antibacterial activity. In vitro culture can enhance their growth, and GC-MS analysis identified bioactive metabolites with potential for medicinal applications and large-scale propagation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Aspalathus linearis (commonly known as rooibos) is endemic to the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa and is a popular herbal drink and skin phytotherapeutic ingredient, with health benefits derived primarily from its unique phenolic content. Several, seemingly habitat-specific ecotypes from the Cederberg (Western Cape) and Northern Cape have morphological, ecological, genetic and biochemical differences. Objectives and methods: Despite the commercial popularity of the cultivated variety, the uncultivated ecotypes are largely understudied. To address gaps in knowledge about the biochemical constituency, ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of fifteen populations was performed, enabling high-throughput metabolomic fingerprinting of 50% (v/v) methanolic extracts. Antioxidant screening of selected populations was performed via three assays and antimicrobial activity on two microbial species was assessed. The metabolomic results were corroborated with total phenolic and flavonoid screening of the extracts. Results and discussion: Site-specific chemical lineages of rooibos ecotypes were confirmed via multivariate data analyses. Important features identified via PLS-DA disclosed higher relative abundances of certain tentative metabolites (e.g., rutin, aspalathin and apiin) present in the Dobbelaarskop, Blomfontein, Welbedacht and Eselbank sites, in comparison to other locations. Several unknown novel metabolites (e.g., m/z 155.0369, 231.0513, 443.1197, 695.2883) are responsible for metabolomic separation of the populations, four of which showed higher amounts of key metabolites and were thus selected for bioactivity analysis. The Welbedacht and Eselbank site 2 populations consistently displayed higher antioxidant activities, with 2,2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activities of 679.894 ± 3.427 µmol Trolox/g dry matter and 635.066 ± 5.140 µmol Trolox/g dry matter, respectively, in correlation with a high number of phenolic and flavonoid compounds. The contribution of the individual metabolites to the pharmacological effectiveness of rooibos remains unknown and as such, further structural elucidation and phytopharmacological testing is thus urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High temperature stress during reproductive stages of wheat is a leading constraint in achieving food security. The objectives of study were to investigate heat sensitivity of terminal stages of wheat, to optimize foliar selenium dose, to boost nonenzymatic antioxidants and to determine correlation of these nonenzymatic antioxidants with yield and quality attributes of wheat crop. The field experiment was conducted for two consecutive years at agronomic research area, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan. It was laid out in a randomized complete block design under split arrangement, and treatments were replicated thrice. Main plot factor comprised of heat imposition treatments; H0 = Control; H1 = Heat from spike to grain filling; H2 = Heat from flowering to grain filling while in subplots doses of foliar selenium were maintained; Se0 = Control (water spray); Se25 = 25 mg L−1; Se50 = 50 mg L−1; Se75 = 75 mg L−1 and Se100 = 100 mg L−1. Impact of H1 was more damaging compared to H2 and H0 for all response variables. Higher levels of proline, phenolics and leaf selenium were recorded with foliar spray of selenium either at 75 or at 100 mg L−1 under H0, whereas under H1 and H2, significantly higher responses were observed with 100 mg L−1 selenium for these traits. Increases in leaf chlorophyll and grain protein contents were statistically alike with 75 and 100 mg L−1 selenium; while in case of 1000-grain weight, harvest index and grain yield three levels of foliar selenium (50, 75 and 100 mg L−1) performed equally well under all the three heat stress treatments. Moreover, strong positive and significant associations of proline, phenolics, leaf selenium and chlorophyll were measured with yield of wheat. Conclusively, more harmful impacts were recorded under H1 compared to H2 and H0; while 75 mg L−1 Se proved more beneficial under H0 and 100 mg L−1 Se under H1 and H2. Strong associations of biochemical and agronomic traits were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The valorization of renewable feedstock to produce a plethora of value-added products could promote the transition towards a circular bioeconomy. This study presents the development of cascade processes to bioconvert spent coffee grounds (SCGs) into microbial oil and carotenoids employing sustainable practices. The stepwise recovery of crude phenolic extract and coffee oil was carried out using green or recyclable solvents, i.e., aqueous ethanol and hexane. Palmitic acid (43.3%) and linoleic acid (38.9%) were the major fatty acids in the oil fraction of SCGs. The LC–MS analysis of crude phenolic extracts revealed that chlorogenic acid dominated (45.7%), while neochlorogenic acid was also detected in substantial amounts (24.0%). SCGs free of coffee oil and phenolic compounds were subjected to microwave-assisted pretreatment under different irradiations and solvents to enhance subsequent enzymatic saccharification. Microwave/water pretreatment at 400 W, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis with proteases, hemicellulases, and cellulases, at 50 g/L initial SCGs, led to satisfying overall yields of cellulose (75.4%), hemicellulose (50.3%), and holocellulose (55.3%). Mannan was the most extractable polysaccharide followed by galactan and arabinan. SCGs hydrolysate was used in fed-batch bioreactor fermentations with Rhodosporidium toruloides to produce 24.0 g/L microbial oil and carotenoids of 432.9 μg/g biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quinoa is a highly nutritious crop with diverse applications in the food industry. The study assessed the impact of various processing techniques, including microwaving, boiling, roasting, steaming, flaking, and germination, on the crude protein content (CP), total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity (AA), and 12 phenolic compounds in quinoa. CP was significantly affected by the heat treatments. Boiled quinoa flakes exhibited the highest average CP, boiling and roasting the lowest. Microwaving strongly enhanced the TPC and the content of six bioactive compounds (CFA, KMP, NAR, QCE, RUT, SA), while boiling and steaming had the most adverse effect. Germination improved the overall nutritional profile of quinoa. The most pronounced increase in the bioactive metabolites occurred between the third and fifth day of germination in a genotype-dependent manner. Six metabolites (NAR, SA, 4BA, IQ, PC, IH) were detected in germinated quinoa for the first time. The results emphasize the substantial influence of processing techniques and type of sample on quinoa nutritional quality and underscore the importance of proper consideration of those factors to obtain nutritionally optimal food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of different drying (180–325 W and 100–400 mmHg) and frying (250–350 W and 400 mmHg) parameters on phenolic compounds, bioaccessibilities, antioxidant activities, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of apple chips dried and fried by vacuum-combined infrared radiation were investigated. Catechin (12.15–34.48 mg/kgDM), epicatechin (34.33–137.07 mg/kgDM), procyanidin B1 (14.07–30.05 mg/kgDM), procyanidin B2 (48.10–95.76 mg/kgDM), procyanidin C1 (14.95–42.97 mg/kgDM), chlorogenic acid (262.70–397.97 mg/kgDM), and rutin (0–5.94 mg/kgDM) were identified in apple chips. The phenolic content of apple chips increased with increasing infrared power during the drying and frying process. The phenolic contents of fried apple chips were generally higher than dried apple chips. However, the bioaccessibility rates of total flavan-3-ols in dried apple chips were higher than those of fried apple chips. It was determined that the initial total phenolic, flavonoid, and flavan-3-ol contents and antioxidant activity levels of the samples decreased after in-vitro gastrointestinal digestion. It was determined that all drying and frying samples showed higher α-glucosidase inhibitory activities (15.52–28.77 mg/mL) compared to acarbose (30.87 mg/mL). The apple chips dried and fried by infrared radiation had higher phenolic content, antioxidant activity, bioaccessibility, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity than their counterparts (convectional drying and deep-fat frying, respectively). Vacuum-combined infrared drying and frying is a promising method to preserve the phenolic content, antioxidant, and antidiabetic activities of apple chips, especially at high temperature applications. Further research is needed on new designs for the production of fruit chips using infrared radiation and their effects on bioactive components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High starch sweetpotatoes (HSSPs) are renewable feedstocks with the potential to support industrially relevant chemical production. Here, three HSSP genotypes (NC-413, NCPUR06-020, and NCDM02-180) and a table-stock variety (Covington) were tested for butanol production by Clostridium beijerinckii NCIMB 8052 in two process configurations, separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF) and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF). Results indicated that sweetpotato genotype, preparation (fresh vs flour), and system configuration significantly affected acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation efficiency. Particularly, conversion using the Covington variety showed the highest product yields and robust results with both preparations (0.137 and 0.094 g butanol/g initial starch for fresh and flour preparations, respectively) without requiring pre-processing for phenolic removal with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). On the other hand, cultures with purple varieties NC-413 and NCPUR06-020, with the exception of NCPUR06-020 fresh preparations, required anthocyanin removal to achieve 0.103 g butanol/g initial starch, which represented more than a 1.6-fold increase in butanol concentration compared to purple sweetpotato hydrolysates without PVP phenolic pretreatment. Conversions with the white genotype (NCDM02-180) showed the lowest performance and largest variability under a SHF configuration (0.012 to 0.034 g butanol/g initial starch for fresh and flour, respectively), while butanol yields under SSF conditions (0.069 g butanol/g initial starch) were similar to the other genotypes examined. This study establishes the feasibility of using regionally relevant sweetpotato feedstocks (e.g., non-food-intended varieties as well as table-stock residues or culls) as a source of crude sugars for butanol fermentation and some of the key processing conditions that influence C. beijerinckii culture performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytochemicals derived from plants and plant-based substances have been used both in traditional medicine and in pharmaceutical products approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Given the prevalence of lifestyle disorders and the constant emergence of newer pathogens, it is crucial to continue searching for potential drug candidates. Plant-based products are particularly promising due to their extensive chemical composition and reduced side effects. This study focused on Crateva magna (Lour.) DC., an underutilized plant species, obtained from various parts of South India, to evaluate its phytochemical composition. The extracts from C. magna contained alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, and sterols and showed significant levels of total phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins, which are comparable to other related Crateva species. The methanolic and water extracts of the leaves showed overall more increased levels of phenolic and flavonoid content than bark extracts. On further scrutiny of the extracts using high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC), unique bands in addition to commonly shared bands were observed in extracts obtained from different locations. This variability emphasizes the effect of geoclimatic conditions on the secondary metabolite composition in plants. Further analysis and identification of marker compounds may pave the way for the discovery of new drugs to treat a variety of diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plant Acalypha indica L. is a well-known traditional plant belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae. Traditional practices of the plant claim to treat asthma, pneumonia, wound healing, rheumatoid arthritis, bronchitis, and skin disorders. The major phytochemicals reported are cyanogenic glucosides, tannins, coumarins, flavonoid glycosides, fatty acids, and volatile oils. To summarize the anti-inflammatory potential of Acalypha indica extract and its phytochemicals through preclinical studies. The search terms include anti-inflammatory, Acalypha indica, and Acalypha indica extract independently or in combination with pro-inflammatory markers using various databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, ProQuest, and Google Scholar. The results of preclinical studies confirm that Acalypha indica exhibits strong anti-inflammatory activity. Most of the experimental studies that have been conducted on plant extract are protein denaturation, human red blood cell membrane stabilization assay, and carrageenan-induced inflammation models. However, the molecular mechanism in these studies is still unclear to demonstrate its anti-inflammatory effects. Acalypha indica possesses anti-inflammatory effects that may be due to the presence of phenolic compounds especially flavonoids present in the Acalypha indica. Thus, further research is needed, to understand mechanistic insights of the plant phytochemicals to represent anti-inflammatory properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of bioprocessing by germination and hydrothermal treatment of pigmented red (Jyothi) and black (Chak hao) rice paddy on nutrients, nutraceuticals and antioxidant activities in unpolished rice and comparison with the raw unpolished rice. The results of bioprocessing in the red sample showed an increase in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)(117%), γ-oryzanol (46%), soluble phenolics such as gallic acid (GA)(194%), t-cinnamic acid (80%), bound phenolics like GA (1104%), protocatechuic acid (PCA)(66%) and vanillic acid (VA)(55%) and NO scavenging activity (35%) compared to control. In contrast, the black variety showed an increase in GABA (68%), γ-oryzanol (13%), and soluble phenolics like catechin (CAT)(47%), syringic acid (SYN)(148%), PCA (78%), t-cinnamic acid (590%) and bound phenolics like GA (242%), SYN (260%), caffeic acid (CAF)(115%), campesterol (12%) and β-sitosterol (17%) compared to control. Bioprocessing and hydrothermal treatment in red showed no change in GABA and phytosterols, while an increase in γ-oryzanol (39%), total anthocyanin (62%), bound phenolics such as PCA (30%), CAF (17%) and t-cinnamic acid (35%), and NO scavenging activity (13%) compared to bioprocessed rice. In contrast, black showed an increase in GABA (17%), bound phenolics like CAT (167%), t-cinnamic acid (64%), ferulic acid (FA)(79.5%), campesterol (14%), stigmasterol (29%) and β-sitosterol (13%), and NO scavenging activity (26%) compared to bioprocessed rice. Significant retention of total phenolics, flavonoid, γ-tocotrienol, γ-tocopherol, α-tocopherol and phytosterols content, and DPPH radical scavenging and total antioxidant activity in both the samples was observed in-spite of processing compared to control. Changes in the contents of nutrients and nutraceuticals are variety-specific. Bioprocessing and hydrothermal treatment resulted in nutraceutical-rich pigmented whole red and black rice, which can be used to develop functional foods to prevent lifestyle disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxicity resulting from high levels of inorganic arsenic (iAs), specifically arsenite (AsIII) and arsenate (AsV), significantly induces oxidative stress and inhibits the growth of rice plants in various ways. Despite its economic importance and significance as a potent elite trait donor in rice breeding programmes, Khao Dawk Mali 105 (KDML105) has received limited attention regarding its responses to As stress. Therefore, this study aimed to comprehensively investigate how KDML105 responds to elevated AsIII and AsV stress levels. In this study, the growth, physiology, biochemical attributes and levels of As stress-associated transcripts were analysed in 45-day-old rice plants after exposing them to media containing 0, 75, 150, 300 and 600 µM AsIII or AsV for 1 and 7 days, respectively. The results revealed that AsIII had a more pronounced impact on the growth and physiological responses of KDML105 compared to AsV at equivalent concentrations. Under elevated AsIII treatment, there was a reduction in growth and photosynthetic efficiency, accompanied by increased levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Notably, the total contents of antioxidants, such as proline, phenolics and flavonoids in the shoot, increased by 8.1-fold, 1.4-fold and 1.6-fold, respectively. Additionally, the expression of the OsABCC1 gene in the roots increased by 9.5-fold after exposure to 150 µM AsIII for 1 day. These findings suggest that KDML105's prominent responses to As stress involve sequestering AsIII in vacuoles through the up-regulation of the OsABCC1 gene in the roots, along with detoxifying excessive stress in the leaves through proline accumulation. These responses could serve as valuable traits for selecting As-tolerant rice varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combined effect of NaCl salinity and iron deficiency on biomass production, iron homeostasis, photosynthetic activity and antioxidant status were studied in Foeniculum vulgare: a biannual Apiaceae with pastoral potential. Plants were grown in hydroponic conditions for 21 days under two concentration of iron: 1 (low) or 40 µM Fe3+-EDTA (sufficient), in the absence or presence of 75 mM NaCl. When individually applied, both Fe deficiency and salinity notably restricted shoot and whole dry weight (DW) with a more marked effect under combined stresses. This may linked to a significant decrease in stomatal conductance, CO2 assimilation rate (84%) and transpiration rate (66%). Although, the relatively better tolerance to Fe deficiency combined with salinity could be explained by the capacity of this species to maintain higher root system and root/shoot DW ratio. Salinity has a negative impact on Fe-use efficiency (24%) when combined with a low Fe supply that means that iron is primarly used in shoot sodium (Na+) excretion. Phenolic analysis showed the relevance of caffeic and cinnamic acid derivatives in leaves and roots proving their modulation under D and (D + S) treatments. Antioxidant activities as well as inhibitory capacity towards LOX enzyme were ound to be altered under D and (D + S) conditions as rescued by the lowest IC50 and EC50 values. Overall, F. vulgare constitues a promising model to ameliorate the tolerance of the cultivated fennel species under low Fe soils and/or saline regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic (As) toxicity is an escalating problem; however, information about the metabolic events controlling the varied pattern of As accumulation in rice genotypes within their natural environment is still lacking. The present study is thus an advancement in unravelling the response of such rice genotypes. Soil-water-rice samples were analyzed for As accumulation using ICP-MS. Furthermore, we implemented metabolomics through LC-MS/MS and UHPLC to identify metabolic signatures regulating As content by observing the metalloid's composition in rice agrosystem. Results showed that rice genotypes differed significantly in their levels of metabolites, with Mini mansoori and Pioneer having the highest levels. Mini mansoori contained least As which might have been regulated by Ala, Ser, Glu, Phe, Asn, His, Ile, Lys, Gln, Trp, Tyr, chlorogenic, p-coumaric, trans-ferulic, rutin, morin, naringenin, kampferol, and myricetin, while Asp, Arg, Met, syringic, epigalocatechin, and apigenin contributed to the greater As acclimatization ability of Pioneer. Multivariate tools separated the rice genotypes into two major clusters: Pioneer-Mini mansoori and Damini-Sampoorna-Chintu. KEGG identified three major metabolic pathways (aminoacyl-tRNA, phenylpropanoid, and secondary metabolites biosynthesis route) linked with As tolerance and adaptation mechanisms in rice. Overall, these two genotypes symbolize their As hostile and accommodating attitudes probably due to the accumulated metabolites and the physicochemical attributes of the soil-water. Thus, thorough understanding of the metabolic reactions to As may facilitate the emergence of As tolerant/resilient genotypes. This will aid in the selection of molecular markers to cultivate healthier rice genotypes in As-contaminated areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated, for the first time, the effect of different solvent extraction and regional variation on the phenolic constituents and the in vitro antioxidant (ABTS, DPPH, FRAP), antihemolytic and antihyperglycemic activities of twelve bran and husk samples from local Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum Desf.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and their derived products, scorched immature durum wheat grains (frik) and parboiled immature barley grains (mermez). PCA analysis allowed us to choose twenty from sixty extracts according to their biological activities for identification and quantification by HPLC–DAD–ESI–MS. It seems from our findings that the degree of maturity and processing of the grain affects the phytochemical constituents of bran and husk, A significant amount of TP content was detected using Folin–Ciocalteu method 3.430 ± 0.144 and 0.064 ± 0.001 mg GAE g−1 DM, the result revealed that all the extracts showed a variable antioxidant and α-amylase inhibitory activities. Eleven phenolic compounds were detected, catechin, malic acid and quinic acid were the most abundant, highest amount found in scorched immature wheat bran (frik), most relevant compounds contributing to alpha amylase inhibition were catechin and malic acid, suggesting the health benefits of frik while caffeic acid 3-O-glucuronide and P-coumaric acid correlated positively with antihemolytic effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal acid hydrolysis of paddy straw is one of the most widely used pre-treatment methods to deal with its recalcitrant nature as well as utilize its abundant accessibility. However, the presence of inhibitory compounds (acetic acid, phenolics, and furan derivatives) in hemicellulose enriched spent liquor, produced during paddy straw hydrolysis, adversely affects its utilization for downstream xylitol production. Various detoxifying agents such as paddy straw biochar, lignite, activated charcoal, sodium bentonite (SB), and surfactant-modified organobentonite (CTAB@SB) were assessed for removal of inhibitors from the spent liquor. CTAB@SB performed as the best detoxifying adsorbent while retaining the maximum amount of xylose (16.23 gL−1). Concentration of acetic acid reduced from 4.95 gL−1 in concentrated and neutralized hydrolysate (control) to 0.023 gL−1 in CTAB@SB-detoxified hydrolysate. The furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural contents (with initial concentrations of 0.711 and 0.236 gL−1, respectively) were undetectable in the hydrolysate after CTAB@SB-assisted detoxification. Successful intercalation of bentonite layers with CTAB was confirmed using FTIR and XRD analysis. Specific surface area and pore size (31.73 m2 g−1, 4.45 nm, respectively) of CTAB@SB were revealed using BET analysis. The detoxified hydrolysate was subjected to fermentation using Candida tropicalis MTCC 6192 where xylitol yield and productivity were 0.59 g g−1 and 0.81 gL−1 h−1 , respectively. Thus, CTAB@SB-assisted detoxification was successfully established for inhibitor removal and integrated into paddy straw pre-treatment for downstream xylitol production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Salt and drought stress are the main environmental constraints that limit onion growth and productivity. Türkiye is the fifth largest onion producer, whereas the stress conditions are increasing in the region, resulting in poor crop growth. Methods and Results: A current study was conducted under greenhouse conditions according to a completely randomized design with factorial arrangements to evaluate the performance of onion cultivars. Plants were subjected to salt stress with an application of 750 mM NaCl and drought stress was applied by depriving plants of irrigation water for 20 days to measure biochemical and transcript changes. The antioxidant activities of the cultivars were quantified by using four different methods, i.e., 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assays, cupric reducing antioxidant capacity, 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The damage to pigments, phenolic, osmolytes, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) accumulation was also evaluated. Results revealed that the cultivars “Elit and Hazar” had higher H2O2, maximum damage to pigments, and least accumulation of phenolics and osmolytes under both stress conditions. The cultivar “Şampiyon” performance was better under salt stress but exhibited a poor antioxidant defensive mechanism under drought stress conditions. The remaining cultivars suggested a resilient nature with a higher accumulation of osmolytes, antioxidants and phenolics. The change in transcript levels further strengthened the response of resilient cultivars; for instance, they showed higher transcript levels of superoxide dismutase, ascorbate oxidase and transcription factors (WRKY70, NAC29). It helped alleviate the oxidative stress in tolerant cultivars and maintained the physio-biochemical functioning of the cultivars.. Conclusion: The results of the current study will fill the gap of missing literature in onion at biochemical and molecular levels. Additionally, resilient cultivars can effectively cope with abiotic stresses to ensure future food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to obtain a clear product and enhance the product quality by reducing or preventing the formation of tea cream, one of the most critical problems in ready to drink (RTD) tea production. Thus, the tannase enzyme was applied to the Turkish black tea extracts at by different brewing temperatures (50 and 70 °C), times (5, 10, and 20 min), and tea:water ratios (1:100, 5:100, 10:100). Total phenolic, tea cream and catechin analysis were performed on the extracts. The amount of tea cream was in the range of 0.37–0.74 g/100 g black tea in the enzyme-treated samples and 1.23–2.19 g/100 g black tea in the untreated control sample. Moreover, a decrease in the cream in black tea extracts obtained using the classic extraction method was observed at around 65.89–74.55% with the tannase enzyme application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) is a perishable fruit with a huge potential for processing. In this study, the effects of food processing techniques and in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on the phenolics of loquat products were investigated. For this purpose, the results of processed loquat products including juice, nectar, leather, pulp, and jam were compared to the control loquat samples. Spectrophotometric and chromatographic methods were used to analyze the total phenolic (TPC) and total flavonoid contents (TFC), individual phenolic compounds (chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, epicatechin) as well as total antioxidant capacity by DPPH and CUPRAC assays. The TPC and TFC of loquat products varied from 61.2±5.4 to 855.7±36.0 mg GAE/100 g and 37.2±1.6 to 979.5±65.3 mg CE/100 g, respectively. As in total phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidants, the highest chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, and epicatechin contents were obtained in loquat leather as 201.20±9.99 mg/100 g, 47.50±2.21 mg/100 g, and 46.87±0.28 mg/100 g, respectively. In addition to these, after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion, it was revealed that loquat leather had the highest TPC, TFC, and total antioxidant capacity values compared to other samples. Results have indicated that the phenolic content of fresh loquat fruits could be improved or protected, mainly by processing into leather and/or jam. Thus, the product scale for this fruit can be increased by obtaining foods with high nutritional value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of the natural antioxidant oxalic acid (OA) on the storage quality of the Asian pear cultivar "Patharnakh". Fruits subjected to different concentrations (0.000 mol L−1, 0.004 mol L−1, 0.008 mol L−1, were 0.012 mol L−1) of OA were investigated for quality determinants during 70 days of storage at 0–1 °C with 90–95% relative humidity (RH). Results revealed that OA treatments effectively reduced mass loss, fruit spoilage, maintained fruit firmness, and retarded the qualitative loss of soluble solid content (SSC) and titratable acidity (TA) in stored pears. OA treatments were efficient in maintaining superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and retained higher total phenolic content (TPC) and ascorbic acid (AsA) content as compared to control. Moreover, OA applications delayed the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity and impeded the browning incidence in stored fruit. The highest dose of OA (0.012 mol L−1) was more potent in delaying the respiration rate and activities of cellulose (CL), polygalacturonase (PG), and pectin methyl esterase activity (PME) activity. In conclusion, 0.012 mol L−1 OA application regulated the ripening-related physiological and biochemical changes effectively in stored pears and maintained their quality over 70 days of storage period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Salt and drought stress are the main environmental constraints that limit onion growth and productivity. Türkiye is the fifth largest onion producer, whereas the stress conditions are increasing in the region, resulting in poor crop growth. Methods and Results: A current study was conducted under greenhouse conditions according to a completely randomized design with factorial arrangements to evaluate the performance of onion cultivars. Plants were subjected to salt stress with an application of 750 mM NaCl and drought stress was applied by depriving plants of irrigation water for 20 days to measure biochemical and transcript changes. The antioxidant activities of the cultivars were quantified by using four different methods, i.e., 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assays, cupric reducing antioxidant capacity, 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The damage to pigments, phenolic, osmolytes, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) accumulation was also evaluated. Results revealed that the cultivars "Elit and Hazar" had higher H2O2, maximum damage to pigments, and least accumulation of phenolics and osmolytes under both stress conditions. The cultivar "Şampiyon" performance was better under salt stress but exhibited a poor antioxidant defensive mechanism under drought stress conditions. The remaining cultivars suggested a resilient nature with a higher accumulation of osmolytes, antioxidants and phenolics. The change in transcript levels further strengthened the response of resilient cultivars; for instance, they showed higher transcript levels of superoxide dismutase, ascorbate oxidase and transcription factors (WRKY70, NAC29). It helped alleviate the oxidative stress in tolerant cultivars and maintained the physio-biochemical functioning of the cultivars.. Conclusion: The results of the current study will fill the gap of missing literature in onion at biochemical and molecular levels. Additionally, resilient cultivars can effectively cope with abiotic stresses to ensure future food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tender green pods of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are marketed fresh, frozen or canned. The main bean accessions cultivated for green pods in central Chile are Arroz, Magnum, Peumo and the introduced Malibú. Little is known about the identity of phenolics in the processed pods or in the boiled bean leaves. Raw leaves from Chilean bean landraces showed a strong inhibition towards the enzyme α-glucosidase, associated with flavonoids and caffeoyl malic acid content. The aim of this work was to assess the phenolic composition, antioxidant capacity and activity towards α-glucosidase of boiled leaves and green pods from selected bean landraces. The study was performed with four green pods samples and six leaf accessions, respectively. The leaves included the continuous growth bean Ñuño (red seed and black seed). Antioxidant capacity and inhibition of α-glucosidase were measured. The main phenolics were identified by comparison with standards and were quantified using calibration curves. The extracts of most boiled green pods inhibited α-glucosidase while the leaves were inactive. The content of phenolics in the boiled pods is low, with rutin and quercetin 3-O-glucuronide as the main constituents. In boiled leaves, the main phenolics were quercetin 3-O-glucuronide and kaempferol 3-O-glucuronide. The main flavonoids and caffeoyl malic acid in leaves decreased after boiling. Boiling affected the phenolic profile, reducing antioxidant capacity and glucosidase inhibition, highlighting the importance of characterizing foods as they are ingested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is the first report on the quantitative analysis of secondary metabolites in callus cultures of Barleria prionitis L. and comparison with the mother plant. Callus was obtained from stem internode (on MS medium with 0.5 mg l−1 NAA, 0.5 mg l−1 BAP and 300 mg l−1 ascorbic acid), and leaf (on MS medium with 1.0 mg l−1 2,4-D, 0.5 mg l−1 BAP, 300 mg l−1 ascorbic acid) explants and, multiplied by subculturing thrice at an interval of 25 days. Calli and mother plant counterparts were extracted in four solvents (methanol, ethanol, acetone, and distilled water) and examined for active compounds and antioxidant potential. Callus cultures not only preserved the mother plant's metabolite profile but also displayed elevated levels. Leaf-derived callus surpassed stem-derived callus in most of the studied parameters. The highest total phenolic content (21.46 mg GAE g−1 FW) and total flavonoid content (24.58 mg of RE g−1 FW) were observed in methanol extract of leaf-derived callus, representing a 3-fold and 2-fold increase over mother plant leaf, respectively. Antioxidant capacity based on FRAP and DPPH assay was highest in methanol extract of leaf-derived callus (7-fold and 3-fold increase over mother plant, respectively) while ABTS activity was highest (122-fold increase) in acetone extract of leaf-derived callus. HPTLC analysis revealed enhanced concentrations of squalene (10-fold) and SME (2.3-fold) in acetone and methanol extract of leaf-derived callus, respectively, compared to mother explants. The results of RP-HPLC for phenolics showed the highest gallic acid content (99-fold increase) in ethanol extract of stem-derived callus whereas catechol was maximum (37-fold increase) in aqueous extract of leaf-derived callus. These findings suggest that callus cultures of B. prionitis L. can be a potential source of active metabolites. Further, cell suspension cultures can be produced from the callus, which could be an avenue for the large-scale production of bioactive compounds. Key message: For the first time, active components of B. prionitis L. were determined quantitatively in callus cultures and compared with the mother plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: Our results indicate caterpillars and aphids cause similar levels of induced defences and resistance against caterpillars in wild cotton plants. These symmetrical effects are not consistent with patterns predicted by plant defensive signaling crosstalk and call for further work addressing the biochemical mechanisms underpinning these results. Plant-induced responses to attack often mediate interactions between different species of insect herbivores. These effects are predicted to be contingent on the herbivore’s feeding guild, whereby prior feeding by insects should negatively impact subsequent feeding by insects of the same guild (induced resistance) but may positively influence insects of a different guild (induced susceptibility) due to interfering crosstalk between plant biochemical pathways specific to each feeding guild. We compared the effects of prior feeding by leaf-chewing caterpillars (Spodoptera frugiperda) vs. sap-sucking aphids (Aphis gossypii) on induced defences in wild cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) and the consequences of these attacks on subsequently feeding caterpillars (S. frugiperda). To this end, we conducted a greenhouse experiment where cotton plants were either left undamaged or first exposed to caterpillar or aphid feeding, and we subsequently placed caterpillars on the plants to assess their performance. We also collected leaves to assess the induction of chemical defences in response to herbivory. We found that prior feeding by both aphids and caterpillars resulted in reductions in consumed leaf area, caterpillar mass gain, and caterpillar survival compared with control plants. Concomitantly, prior aphid and caterpillar herbivory caused similar increases in phenolic compounds (flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic acids) and defensive terpenoids (hemigossypolone) compared with control plants. Overall, these findings indicate that these insects confer a similar mode and level of induced resistance in wild cotton plants, calling for further work addressing the biochemical mechanisms underpinning these effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study deployed ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE), combined with natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES), to extract phenolics and flavonoids from the black mulberry fruit, and the antioxidant activity was examined. The extraction yields of NADES-based UAE were assessed based on the yields of phenolics and flavonoids extracted from the black mulberry fruit. This study selected the molar ratios of hydrogen bond acceptors (HBA) and hydrogen bond donors HBD at 1:2 from previous studies. Choline chloride-lactic acid showed the highest solubility with phenolics and flavonoids among NADES systems. One-factor experiments evaluated the effect of UAE conditions (liquid-to-solid ratio (LSR), water content in NADES, temperature, and time) on TPC, TFC, and antioxidant activity. The suitable NADES-based UAE conditions for extracting phenolics and flavonoids from the black mulberry fruit were 60 ml/g of LSR, 40% water content, 70 °C, and 15 min. Response surface methodology with the Box-Behnken design model optimized the NADES-based UAE process based on response (TPC, TFC, ABTS, OH, and DPPH). The optimal conditions for the NADES-based UAE process were 70 ml/g of LSR, 38.9% water content in NADES, 67.9 °C, and 24.2 min of extraction time. The predicted values of the Box-Behnken design were compatible with the experimental results. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to survey the surface of black mulberry fruit with and without sonication. SEM can assist in demonstrating the destructive effect of NADES and ultrasonic waves on material surfaces. SEM findings indicated the high surface destruction capacity of NADES, which partially contributed to a superior extraction yield of NADES than conventional organic solvents. The study proposes an efficient and green method for extracting bioactive compounds from black mulberry fruits. The black mulberry fruit extracts can be applied to meat preservation and beverages with high antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regulating roles of melatonin (Mel) and calcium (Ca) as signal molecules in mitigating salt stress-induced alterations in physiological and biochemical attributes have been confirmed for a number of crop species, but not for borage (Borago officinalis L.). Hence, borage genotypes were subjected to Mel (150 µM) and Ca (5 mM) alone or in combination under non-saline (Control) or saline (100 mM NaCl) conditions in a series of experiments. Salt-exposed plants indicated increases in the malondialdehyde (45%), H2O2 (33%), proline (121%), Na+ (163%), and total phenolic concentrations (85%), Na+/K+ (120%), and electrolyte leakage (40%), but decreases in the chlorophylls (36%) and carotenoids (40%) concentrations, maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (9%), leaf area (29%), relative water content (22%), K+ (32%) and Ca+2 (45%) concentrations, and hence shoot (34%) and root dry mass (33%). Amending the salt-stressed plants with Ca, Mel, and particularly Mel + Ca decreased malondialdehyde, H2O2, and Na+ concentrations, Na+/K+, and electrolyte leakage, but increased chlorophylls, proline, phenolics, K+ and Ca+2 concentrations, maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II, leaf area, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase activities, relative water content, fresh and dry masses, and root volume. We indicated for the first time that while harmful effects of salt were not substantial, the amendment with Mel and Ca was effective in mitigating the adverse effects of salt on the photosynthetic components, ionic balance, and growth attributes of borage. These novel findings show that borage is a salt-tolerant medicinal species and the interactive effects of Mel and Ca increase its salt tolerance, and potentiate borage as a valuable alternative species for maintaining agricultural production under saline conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The marine environment is abundant in natural products that are beneficial to humans. Among these compounds are the polyphenols produced by marine flora as secondary metabolites and used as a defense against stressful environmental conditions. Accordingly, recent pharmacological and biomedical studies showed that polyphenols from marine and coastal floras have several important bioactivities including antioxidant property. In this study, we measured the total polyphenol content (TPC) of 75 species of marine-associated flora. The TPC of their methanolic extracts was measured spectrophotometrically using the Folin-Ciocalteu assay and was expressed both as mg phloroglucinol equivalent per g of dry weight (mg PGE g−1 DW) and as mg gallic acid equivalent per g dry weight (mg GAE g−1 DW). The TPC values are higher when expressed in terms of GAE compared to PGE. Also, the mean TPC of tracheopytes (229 ± 43.0 mg PGE g−1 DW) was higher compared to the mean TPC of macroalgae (69.4 ± 9.59 mg PGE g−1 DW). For macroalgae, ochrophytes (97.9 ± 22.7 mg PGE g−1 DW) had the highest mean TPC followed by chlorophytes (80.0 ± 20.5 mg PGE g−1 DW) and rhodophytes (49.5 ± 8.60 mg PGE g−1 DW). Moreover, our study also showed that TPC varied between young and mature tissues, among different color morphotypes and different parts of the plants. Although the concentrations of total polyphenols varied among species, ages, strains and parts of the plant, our study showed that marine and coastal floras are rich sources of polyphenols that could be further examined for their biological activities and other applications in food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenolic compounds are crucial for grape berry quality, wine, and human health. The factors that dramatically affect the composition and levels of metabolites are biotic and abiotic plant stressors. Wounding is one of these stressors. However, little is known about its effect on the accumulation and biosynthesis of the whole phenolic profile. This study examined the effects of artificial leaf wounding on metabolite accumulation in 'Merlot' grapes. Twenty-year-old vines underwent ten wounding treatments at different times. Results showed diverse responses with practical implications for managing berry maturity and quality. Early-season treatments accelerated ripening, while late-season treatments halted sugar accumulation. Late treatments increased total phenolics, but responses varied in the phenolic profile. T5 had the highest total phenolics, while T1 exhibited the highest tannin content. Wounding treatments increased total anthocyanins compared to control. Flavonoids and hydroxybenzoic acids responded differently, with T9 showing the highest (+)-Catechin and Syringic acid contents. Vanillic acid T6 had the highest (–)-Epicatechin control content. Except for T7, all treatments had higher trans-resveratrol levels than control. Injury direction and timing had numerical and content effects, although not statistically significant. 'Merlot' grapes can perceive artificial wounds and mount a robust defense response. Wounding enhances the production of beneficial compounds, improving ripeness, chemical composition, wine quality, and human health. More research is needed for optimal wounding strategies, environmental friendliness, berry ripening, and leaf photosynthetic responses to injury. This study contributes to the initial records of artificial wounding treatments, given their complexity and recent emergence in research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea is one of the most popular beverages worldwide, with several health benefits attributed for its rich chemical composition and further associated with fermentation process to improve its quality attributes. Most tea types originate from the leaves of Camellia sinensis with differences in fermentation levels yielding black tea, green tea, pouchong tea, oolong tea. Teas like pu-erh or kombucha to encompass both green and red types are further post-fermented. Tea fermentation is a traditional process involving physical, biochemical, and microbial changes which are associated with improved organoleptic characters, nutritive value, and health outcomes. The production of fermented tea relies on naturally occurring enzymes and microbial metabolic activities. This review focuses on presenting a holistic overview on the effect of different microorganisms including bacteria, yeast, and fungi on the biochemical changes and sensory attributes of fermented tea products reported in research articles along the last 15 years. Moreover, production conditions and major biochemical changes are dissected to present the best factors influencing fermented tea quality. This review presents an evidence-based reference for specialists in tea industry to optimize tea fermentation process for targeted attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most Ephedra species are adapted to arid and desert conditions and are widely used in folk medicine to treat several disorders. The design of the current study was to determine the functional properties of seeds of two Ephedra species (E. alata and E. altissima) naturally growing in Tunisian arid zones by evaluating their mineral contents and bioactive compounds. The flame atomic absorption spectrometry revealed that seeds contained remarkable amounts of sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe). The colorimetric investigation revealed high total polyphenol, flavonoid, and condensed tannin contents. Furthermore, by utilizing high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization–mass spectrometry method (HPLC-ESI/MS), a total of 11 phenolics were identified and quantified including 7 flavonoid compounds and 4 phenolic acids that were mostly predominated by gallic acid and quercetrin. Results so far have been very encouraging and proved that Ephedra seeds are a valuable source of natural bioactive compounds and minerals which could potentially be used for industrial and pharmaceutical purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Althaea officinalis L. has been widely used traditionally as an herbal tea and for the treatment of cough, mucous membrane irritation, colds, and inflammation. Parts of the plant extracts were analyzed using HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS/MS. The total phenolic content, radical scavenging activities, and enzyme inhibitions (urease and xanthine oxidase) of the extracts were determined spectroscopically. The main molecules of this plant and their 3D structures were built using the LigPrep module of Schrödinger Maestro 11.5 with the OPLS3 force field. Additionally, these molecules were analyzed for various physical descriptors and pharmaceutically relevant properties for ADME prediction using the QikProp tool of the Schrodinger Suite. Through HPLC-DAD-MS analysis, abundant compounds such as hesperidin, epigallocatechin, myricetin, and apigenin-7-glucoside were detected in the extracts. Moreover, the methanol extracts from the flowers showed a higher inhibition effect on xanthine oxidase (XO). In silico results indicated that the thirteen molecules exhibited strong inhibitory activity toward XO. However, according to the ADME results, the overall compounds, except for rutin and hesperidin, displayed low values of violations of Lipinski's rule of five and predicted pharmacokinetic parameters. They also exhibited drug-likeness features with minimal violations. The HPLC-DAD-MS/MS analysis of the extracts from Althaea officinalis revealed a rich phenolic content in this plant. These therapeutic and preventive compounds may be worth considering for isolation and further exploration as natural remedies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on the fenugreek seed powder extract (FSP-Ex) obtained using four selected solvents based on polarity differences (acetone, ethanol, hexane, and petroleum ether). The FSP-Ex properties were studied through pH, color, antioxidant, flavonoid and phenolic content. Phase transition by DSC and FTIR spectrum was performed to get more insight into FSP-Ex and antimicrobial activity against three pathogens. The maximum value of FSP-Ex was noticed with ethanol as compared to other solvents. The pH, color (L*a*b*), antioxidant, flavonoid, and phenolic content of ethanol FSP-Ex were 6.87 ± 0.03 (66.3,. 10.66 and 44.23), 67.87%, 97.17 ± 0.01 mg QE/g and 71.17 ± 0.01 mg GAE/g respectively. The analytical properties of FSP-Ex revealed its thermal behavior and the presence of functional groups in chemical structure by DSC and FTIR, respectively. The phase transition by DSC analysis and FTIR analysis generated peaks that revealed the thermal characterization and functional groups present in FSP-Ex. The antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extract of FSP revealed the most suited zone of inhibition of 3.27 mm against Bacillus subtilis at 100 mg/mL strength among other selected microbes and solvents. Hence, based on these findings, FSP-Ex could be considered a novel method to study the relationship between solvent polarity with FSP-Ex and its phytochemical, physicochemical, and analytical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artichoke has long been served as medicinal plant in Mediterranean area and central Asia. But very few information about their function on inhibiting the digestive enzyme and AGEs formation can be found. In order to expand the health benefit of the artichoke planted in Taiwan, we investigate the inhibitory activities of its fruits and leaves at different maturity stages on lipase, α-amylase, α-glucosidase and AGEs formation. Results showed that, young leaf (YL) exhibited the best inhibition of all the digestive enzymes and AGEs formation. For example, the IC50 of lipase and AGEs formation was 28.53 µg/µL and 7.09 µg/µL, respectively. The HPLC and PCA analysis further revealed that samples were clearly separated based on fruits and leaves maturity stages (a total variance of 91%). The major contribution factor is AGEs inhibition (F = 1156.30) followed by α-amylase inhibition (F = 292.66) and DPPH scavenging (F = 203.53). Among the phenolics, the amount of chlorogenic acid and Ethyl-3,4-dihydroxybenzoate were the most abundant, and account for 87.90% and 5.78%, respectively. The high correlation between these compounds and the inhibition of digestive enzymes and AGEs formation, indicating that fruits and leaves of artichoke planted in Taiwan can be a potential material of anti-diabetic and anti-obesity health supplements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Soils affected by salinity are a recurring problem that is continually increasing due to the impact of climate change on weather conditions and ineffective agricultural management practices. The use of plant growth promoting (PGP) Bacteria can alleviate its effects. In this regard, the genus Rhizobium has demonstrated excellent PGP capabilities through various plant growth promotion mechanisms and may therefore be a promising biofortifier under saline conditions. However, little is known about the production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by bacteria of this genus and their effects on plant development. Here, we aim to characterize the volatilome (the set of volatile metabolites synthesized by an organism) of Rhizobium for the first time and to further investigate the direct and VOC-mediated interaction between a strain of this genus and lettuce, a crop severely affected by salinity, both under saline and non-saline conditions. Results: In this study, it was shown that the use of Rhizobium sp. GPTR29 was able to increase the production of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) under normal and saline conditions. We analyzed the Rhizobium volatilome under non-saline (0 mM NaCl) and saline (100 mM NaCl) conditions by HS-SPME-GC‒MS and found a differential composition in response to salinity. We detected 20 different compounds, where 3-methyl-1-butanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, and α-pinene were the backbone of the Rhizobium volatilome. Exposure to these compounds in bicameral plates under salt stress resulted in increases in plant development of 17.1%, 16.0% and 33.1% in aerial part size, number of leaves and root length, respectively. Under greenhouse conditions and salinity, the inoculation of Rhizobium sp. GPTR29 resulted in an increase of 17.8% and 27.4% in shoot fresh and dry weight, respectively. Phenolic compounds were analyzed by HPLC–DAD-MS, revealing an increase in total flavonoid content under salinity conditions (100 mM NaCl) and apigenin derivative, luteolin 7-O-glucoside and quercetin 3-O-glucuronide individually. Conclusions: These results provide new avenues for the study of PGP mechanisms in this bacterial genus, such as VOCs and their effects on plant growth, which play an important role in mediating plant–microorganism interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Root exudates modulate the interaction between plants, pathogens, and beneficial microbes. In this study, we tested whether tomato plants modify their root exudates in the presence of Bacillus velezensis T-5, a biocontrol agent of bacterial wilt disease, and whether the changes in root exudates alter the soil bacterial community composition. Methods: We profiled exudates from non-inoculated and B. velezensis T-5-inoculated tomato plants using high-performance liquid chromatography analyses. We then added root exudates to unplanted soil and examined the soil bacterial community composition using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The effects of exudate compounds generated after inoculation with strain T-5 on the pathogen of bacterial wilt were tested in vitro. Results: The presence of strain T-5 changed the profile of tomato root exudates and increased the secretion of cinnamic acid. Compared to non-inoculated root exudates, T-5-inoculated root exudates increased the soil bacterial diversity, changed the soil bacterial community composition, and increased the relative abundance of potentially beneficial bacteria. Importantly, cinnamic acid inhibited pathogen growth while promoting the growth of strain T-5 in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: Changes in root exudate composition induced by biocontrol agents may suppress pathogens by direct inhibition and by indirectly altering the rhizosphere microbiome composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenolic compounds have become a severe environmental concern due to water contamination, affecting the sustainability of the ecosystem. The microalgae enzymes have enticed for the efficient involvement in the biodegradation of phenolics compound in metabolic processes. In this investigation, the oleaginous microalgae Chlorella sorokiniana was cultured heterotrophically under the influence of phenol and p-nitrophenol. The enzymatic assays of algal cell extracts were used to decipher the underlying mechanisms for phenol and p-nitrophenol biodegradation. A reduction of 99.58% and 97.21% in phenol and p-nitrophenol values, respectively, was recorded after the 10th day of microalgae cultivation. Also, the biochemical components in phenol, p-nitrophenol, and control were found to be 39.6 ± 2.3%, 36.7 ± 1.3%, and 30.9 ± 1.8% (total lipids); 27.4 ± 1.4%, 28.3 ± 1.8%, and 19.7 ± 1.5% (total carbohydrates); and 26.7 ± 1.9%, 28.3 ± 1.9%, and 39.9 ± 1.2% (total proteins), respectively. The GC–MS and 1H-NMR spectroscopy attested the incidence of fatty acid methyl esters in the synthesized microalgal biodiesel. The activity of catechol 2,3-dioxygenase and hydroquinone 1,2-dioxygenase in microalgae under heterotrophic conditions has conferred the ortho- and hydroquinone pathways for phenol and p-nitrophenol biodegradation, respectively. Also, the acceleration of fatty acid profiles in microalgae is deliberated under the impact of the phenol and p-nitrophenol biodegradation process. Thus, microalgae enzymes in the metabolic degradation process of phenolic compounds encourage ecosystem sustainability and biodiesel prospects due to the increased lipid profiles of microalgae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brewer's spent yeast (BSY) is a prevalent by-product of the brewing industry currently used in animal feed as a cheap source of protein. In this study, chemical composition of BSY from two different beer production (American IPA, BSY1, and Imperial Stout, BSY2) was characterized, aiming for potential use as nutraceutical sources. Cytotoxicity of BSY extracts was also tested in freshly isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and in tumoral (pancreatic cancer tumor cells, PANC-1, and colorectal adenocarcinoma tumor cells, CACO-2) and non-tumoral (umbilical vein endothelial cells, HUVEC) cell lineages. BSY samples showed similar lipid and ash content, but slight differences in the content of reducing sugars, total proteins, moisture and total proteins. BSY2 sample presented higher glucans and phenolic compound concentrations than BSY1. Main phenolic compounds identified were xanthohumol, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid (BSY1 and BSY2), and gallic acid (BSY2). BSY1 and BSY2 extracts showed similar antioxidant capacity. Neither BSY1 nor BSY2 were cytotoxic to PBMCs, HUVEC and CACO-2, but were cytotoxic to PANC-1 cells, in a concentration-dependent manner. Our findings revealed that the residue of brewery can be a value-added functional food product with an adjuvant role against PANC-1 cell lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to accumulate and tolerate high levels of Al has been reported in relatively few plant families. Up to date there is no report on the Al tolerance or accumulation neither in members of Amaranthaceae nor in the order (Caryophyllales). In this work, we collected three Amaranthus species (A. blitoides, A. retroflexus and A. blitum) growing as weed on acid soils of tea gardens (pH 4.4–4.7) in the north Iran and analyzed for Al. The Al accumulation in the leaves of collected plants and those grown hydroponically for four weeks with 400 µM Al (125 µM free Al3+ activity) exceeded the critical level of Al accumulation (1 mg g–1 DW). A. blitoides was further studied for Al tolerance mechanisms. Shoot and root biomass and root length were stimulated by 50 µM Al accompanied by improvement of C4 photosynthesis and N uptake and assimilation. The growth of plants was slightly repressed under higher Al (400 µM) exposure accompanied by activation of antioxidant defense system and lignin deposition. A high resistance to toxic Al concentration in A. blitoides was associated with elevated levels of phenolics accumulation and exudation suggesting the contribution of these compounds to both the avoidance and the internal detoxification mechanisms in this species. This is the first report on Al accumulation in Amaranthus species and the results are of interest from the botanical, physiological and ecological points of view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The salt amounts of the brine samples decreased significantly and the salt values of brines varied between 4.47 (with flower honey) and 6.08% (with citric acid) depending on the additives added. The pH values of the brines ranged from 4.14 (with citric acid) to 4.98 (with glucose), while the titration acidity values of brines were found between 0.35 (plain salt) and 0.49% (with citric acid). Total carotenoid amounts of raw and fermented caperfruits were reported between 0.55 (with glucose) and 20.24 µg/g (control (raw)). The total flavonoid contents of raw and fermented capers were recorded between 234.52 (with flower honey) and 963.57 mgQE/100 g (with plain salt added), while the antioxidant activities of raw and fermented caperfruits are found between 6.49 (control) and 7.99 mmol TE/kg (with salt added). The dominant phenolic components of raw and fermented caperfruits were catechin, rutin, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, and gallic acid. Palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids are the abundant fatty acids of the oils. P, K, Ca, Mg, S and Na were the most abundant minerals in raw (control) and fermented caper fruits. While caper fruits fermented in brine with added citric acid were most appreciated, followed by brined (only salty), sugared and flower honey, pine honey and glucose added fruit samples in decreasing order. In this study, the effect of different additives (pine honey, flower honey, glucose syrup, citric acid and granulated sugar) into 10% brine and the desired composition properties and product qualities after 40 days of fermentation was investigated. Fermented caper fruits were also subjected to sensory analysis in accordance with their purpose, and the jury determined which of the caper fruits with additional additives was more delicious and high quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea) flowers are widely used for culinary purposes in southern Asian countries. We assessed the optimal level of a butterfly pea petal extract (BPPE) to produce blue rice. Dried butterfly pea petals were extracted with water at 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8% (w/v), and the extract was used to color boiled rice before cooking was completed. Rice cooked with BPPE acquired various shades of blue from light to dark. Significantly decreased lightness/darkness (L*), redness/greenness (a*), yellowness/blueness (b*), and color difference (∆E*) were observed in response to BPPE levels, while hue (h*) and chroma (C*) were significantly increased (p < 0.05). Total phenolic (TPC) and total anthocyanin (TAC) contents of cooked rice increased with BPPE levels (p < 0.05), and both constituents contributed significant radical scavenging activity (r = 0.886 to 0.994, p < 0.01, n = 20). Sensory evaluation by consumers indicated a suitable level of BPPE at 0.6%. The color of blue cooked rice was stable under an opaque cover for 8 days, whereas TPC and TAC decreased significantly with storage time. Findings from the current study can be used to produce blue rice in traditional cooking, and to produce other ready-to-use BPPE products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to determine the proximate, mineral, amino acid composition, antioxidant activity, anti-nutritional factors, total dietary fiber, total phenolic content and technological properties of C. limetta peels. Moreover, analytical techniques including FT-IR and SEM were also conducted to study the morphological and structural properties of C. limetta peels. Considering the proximate, mineral, and amino acid composition, C. limetta peels was found to be a good source of ash (3.06 ± 0.20%), crude fiber (10.13 ± 0.30%), carbohydrate (64.08 ± 0.55%), protein (7.56 ± 0.25%), potassium (125.9671 mg/100 g), calcium (112.5861 mg/100 g), magnesium (16.43 mg/100 g), asparagine (2111.06 nmol/mg), glutamic acid (1331.96 nmol/g), and aspartic acid (1162.19 nmol/mg). Furthermore, they contain an appreciable amount of total dietary fiber (48.73 ± 0.45%), total phenolic content (14.30 ± 0.03 mg GAE/g), and antioxidant activity (52.65 ± 0.10%). Moreover, the antinutritional factors present in C. limetta peels were observed to be within the threshold limit. The results of technological properties of peels suggested that they can be potentially utilized as good emulsifying, gelling, foaming, and bulking agents in food industries. Therefore, C. limetta peels can be successfully re-utilized as natural food additive with numerous nutritive and bioactive properties in food sector, thereby achieving zero waste generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phytochemical investigation of the ethyl acetate fraction of root bark extract of Synadenium glaucescens Pax (Euphorbiaceae) led to the isolation of two derivatives of ellagic acid. These included one new 3′,4′ -di-O-methylellagic acid-4α, L-rhamnopyranoside (1) and a known 3,4,3′-tri-O-methylellagic acid (2). Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR, while a High res. MS (FTMS-ESI–) was used for accurate mass measurement, which was compared with SciFinder data as well as with available literature. The BSLT results indicated that both 1 (LC50 = 2736.03 μg/mL) and 2 (LC50 = 531.19 μg/mL) were nontoxic at a maximum test concentration of 2400 ppm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]