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A high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) analytical method was developed for the simultaneous detection of 17 phenolic compounds, including phenols, chlorophenols, alkylphenols, and nitrophenols, in two types of water matrices: wastewater and surface water. Prior to HPLC-DAD determination, a solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure was optimized. The proposed method uses multiwavelength analysis, with the optimum detection wavelengths selected as 268 nm, 280 nm, 386 nm, 304 nm, and 316 nm. The highest resolution was achieved using a chromatographic column, Eclipse XDB-C18 (150 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm), which was kept at 20 °C. The mobile phase consisted of a gradient elution program, with mobile phase A being a 0.1% H3PO4 aqueous solution and mobile phase B being acetonitrile. The flow rate was set at 0.6 mL/min. The 17 target phenolic compounds were fully separated in less than 27 min. All compounds showed good linear regression, with correlation coefficients higher than 0.999. The method’s quantitation limits ranged from 4.38 to 89.7 ng/L for surface water and 7.83 to 167 ng/L for wastewater. The recovery rates were in the range of 86.2–95.1% for surface water and 79.1–86.3% for wastewater. The SPE-HPLC-DAD method was proven to be fast, sensitive, accurate, and reproducible. The developed method was successfully applied for the analysis of the 17 phenolic compounds in real surface water and wastewater samples, with phenol, 2,4-DNP, and 2,4-DNP being determined at levels greater than the method’s limits of quantitation (LOQs). The proposed analytical method represents an original technical resource for the simultaneous determination of 17 phenolic compounds in environmental water matrices.

This study aimed to assess the ability of rosmarinic acid (RA) to prevent kidney stone formation in an ethylene glycol and ammonium chloride (EG/AC) model. There was an increase in diuresis in the normotensive (NTRs) and hypertensive rats (SHRs) treated with hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) and exposed to EG/AC, while RA restored urine volume in NTRs. The EG/AC groups exhibited lower urine pH and electrolyte imbalance; these parameters were not affected by any of the treatments. Both HCTZ+EG/AC and RA+EG/AC reduced calcium oxalate crystal formation in NTR and SHR urine. Kidney tissue analysis revealed alterations in oxidative stress and inflammation parameters in all EG/AC-receiving groups, with RA enhancing antioxidant defenses in SHRs. Additionally, crystals were found in the kidney histology of all EG/AC-exposed groups, with reduced Bowman’s capsule areas in NTRs and SHRs. The NTR VEH+EG/AC group showed intense renal damage, while the others maintained their structures, where treatments with HCTZ and RA were fundamental for kidney protection in the NTRs. Docking analysis showed that RA exhibited good binding affinity with matrix metalloproteinase-9, phosphoethanolamine cytidylyltransferase, and human glycolate oxidase enzymes. The data disclosed herein underscore the importance of further research to understand the underlying mechanisms better and validate the potential of RA for clinical use.

Cellular slime molds are excellent model organisms in the field of cell and developmental biology because of their simple developmental patterns. During our studies on the identification of bioactive molecules from secondary metabolites of cellular slime molds toward the development of novel pharmaceuticals, we revealed the structural diversity of secondary metabolites. Cellular slime molds grow by feeding on bacteria, such as Klebsiella aerogenes and Escherichia coli, without using medium components. Although changing the feeding bacteria is expected to affect dramatically the secondary metabolite production, the effect of the feeding bacteria on the production of secondary metabolites is not known. Herein, we report the isolation and structure elucidation of clavapyrone (1) from Dictyostelium clavatum, intermedipyrone (2) from D. magnum, and magnumiol (3) from D. intermedium. These compounds are not obtained from usual cultural conditions with Klebsiella aerogenes but obtained from coincubated conditions with Pseudomonas spp. The results demonstrate the diversity of the secondary metabolites of cellular slime molds and suggest that widening the range of feeding bacteria for cellular slime molds would increase their application potential in drug discovery.

A commercial olive leaf extract (OL), effective against Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus, was added to three different coating formulations (methylcellulose, MC; chitosan, CT; and alginate, ALG) to produce active polylactic acid (PLA) coated films. Evaluation of these coated PLA films revealed significant inhibition of S. aureus growth, particularly with the MC and CT formulations exhibiting the highest inhibition rates (99.7%). The coated films were then tested for food contact compatibility with three food simulants (A: 10% ethanol; B: 3% acetic acid; D2: olive oil), selected to assess their suitability for pre-cut hams and ready-to-eat vegetables in relation to overall migration. However, coated films with active functions exhibited migration values in simulants A and B above legal limits, while promising results were obtained for simulant D2, highlighting the need to deeply investigate these coatings’ impact on a real food system. Untargeted metabolomics revealed that the type of coating influenced the selective release of certain phenolic classes based on the food simulant tested. The Oxitest analysis of simulant D2 demonstrated that the MC and ALG-coated PLA films slightly slowed down the oxidation of this food simulant, which is an edible vegetable oil.

Background: The skin is the largest organ of the body and provides the main barrier between the internal and external environment. Assessment of skin permeability is of critical importance for understanding and predicting in vivo efficacy and bioavailability of bioactive phenolic compounds. Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between skin permeability and phenolic compounds using in silico methods. Methods: Screening of skin permeability was performed on 475 randomly selected phenolic compounds. Molecules were expressed in SMILE format downloaded from Phenol-Explorer Database (version 3.6, 2016). Then, their skin permeability was determined by the linear model of the quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR). The obtained results were investigated for normal distribution and correlation with pharmacological properties. Results: Our investigation showed that ferulate hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives were the most important phenolic subclass with a permeability of -1.65 cm/s. The relationship between permeability and lipophilicity, water solubility, synthetic accessibility, and bioavailability was evaluated. The statistical analysis revealed that the highest skin permeability was associated with three parameters: the topological polar surface area (TPSA), molecular weight, and lipophilicity (iLog P). Conclusion: The cutaneous permeability depended on several chemical parameters of the molecule used. The classification of phenolic compounds according to their structures proved a wide variability in this permeability.

Abstract Chinese wild rice (Zizania latifolia) is rich in phenolic compounds, particularly flavonoids. This study identified 203 basic helix‐loop‐helix (bHLHs) in Z. latifolia and showed that ZlbHLH196 (Zla16G011250) corresponds to the ZlRc gene in Z. latifolia, with its protein product localizing to the nucleus. Notably, the pericarps of ZlRc‐overexpressing (OE) rice are brown, whereas those of wild‐type (WT) rice are nonpigmented. The total phenolic, flavonoid, and proanthocyanidin contents, antioxidant activity, as well as enzyme inhibitory effects of ZlRc‐OE rice were significantly higher than those of WT rice. Overall, 221 differential phenolic metabolites were identified between ZlRc‐OE and WT rice, among which 198 were upregulated in the former. Additionally, a total of 227 differentially expressed genes were identified between ZlRc‐OE and WT rice, with 173 upregulated. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes annotation and enrichment analysis of phenolic metabolites revealed enhanced isoflavonoid, flavone, flavonol, and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways in ZlRc‐OE rice, which, furthermore, showed a markedly upregulated expression and significantly higher activities of four key flavonoid biosynthesis–related enzymes (phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase, chalcone synthase, chalcone‐flavanone isomerase, and dihydroflavonol 4‐reductase). These findings show that ZlRc‐overexpression promotes phenolic compound accumulation in rice seeds and can be used to bioaugment rice phenolic content.

BackgroundPhenolic compounds may adversely affect human health, but the current relevant studies are mostly limited to the impact of single phenolic compound exposure on human health, and there is still a lack of studies on the population-based association between combined exposure to multiple common phenolic compounds and dyslipidemia. ObjectiveTo explore the association of phenolic compound combined exposure and dyslipidemia based on principal component analysis-random forest (PCA-RF) strategy. MethodsThe data were from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013–2016). A total of 1301 adult residents aged ≥ 20 years with complete information on demographics and lifestyle, urine phenol concentrations (bisphenol A, bisphenol F, bisphenol S, triclocarban, benzophenone, and triclosan), and serum concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were included in this study. The concentrations of six urinary phenolic compounds were determined by solid phase extraction coupled with high performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry, and the lipid indicators were determined by enzymatic methods. Principal component analysis combined with random forest model was used for model construction. First, principal component analysis was performed on 18 original variables including 6 phenolic compounds and 12 basic characteristic indicators, and then random forest model was established with dyslipidemia and its four evaluation indicators as dependent variables and the extracted principal components as independent variables, respectively. ResultsThe PCA-RF analysis showed that bisphenol A, bisphenol F, and benzophenone may be important factors for dyslipidemia in the study subjects; bisphenol A, bisphenol F, and triclosan may be important factors for TC level in the study subjects; bisphenol A, bisphenol F, triclocarban, and benzophenone may be important factors for TG level in the study subjects; bisphenol A may be an important factor for LDL-C level in the study subjects; bisphenol F and benzophenone may be important factors for HDL-C level in the study subjects. ConclusionPhenolic compound exposure may be an important risk factor for the development of dyslipidemia. PCA-RF strategy can be effectively used to explore the association between phenolic compound exposure and dyslipidemia in the population.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the acidified extract of M. oleifera leaves as a supplement into the base medium for in vitro culture of sheep isolated secondary follicles. Follicles were isolated and cultured for 12 days in α-MEM+(supplemented with bovine serum albumin, insulin, glutamine, hypoxanthine, transferrin, selenium, and ascorbic acid) with or without 0.1; 0.2 or 0.4 mg/ml of the acidified extract of M. oleifera. Follicle morphology, antral cavity formation, follicular and oocyte diameter, glutathione (GSH) concentration, mitochondrial activity and meiotic resumption were evaluated. After 12 days of culture, there was no significant difference among treatments in relation to follicular morphology, antral cavity formation, diameter and mitochondrial activity. Nevertheless, oocytes from follicles cultured in α-MEM+ showed greater GSH concentration than media containing M. oleifera extract. Furthermore, the concentration of 0.4 mg/ml M. oleifera extract significantly increased the percentage of fully grown oocyte (≥ 110 µm) when compared to the other treatments. In conclusion, the concentration of 0.4 mg/ml M. oleifera extract as a supplement of the culture medium, maintained the survival, and increased the percentage of fully grown oocytes.

Rice blast is a common disease caused by Magnaporthe oryzae which affects rice production worldwide, including Brazil. To reduce the use of harmful pesticides, sustainable control options are necessary for managing rice blast. One possible option is to use plant extracts because they produce secondary metabolites capable of inhibiting the pathogen and controlling the disease. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of ethanolic extracts of leaves and flowers from Banisteriopsis laevifollia, a native Brazilian plant, to antagonise M. oryzae. In vitro antifungal activity assays were carried out, in which mycelium growth reduction, conidia germination, and appressorium formation of M. oryzae were evaluated. In addition, in vivo assay for suppression of leaf blast severity by extracts was done. We also explored the identification of secondary metabolites from ethanolic extracts of leaves and flowers by HPLC–HRMS. Results showed that both leaf and flower extracts inhibited mycelial growth in 21.72% and 30.49%, respectively, due to the inhibition of ergosterol production. Additionally, both extracts inhibited melanin production in the mycelium of M. oryzae by inhibiting tyrosine production. Both leaf and flower extracts significantly inhibited conidia germination and appressorium formation. Furthermore, rice leaves treated with the extracts suppressed by 18.17% and 18.97% leaf blast severity, with the 1.00 mg/mL concentration of flower extract and 0.75 mg/mL concentration of leaf extract, respectively, showing the most significant reduction of leaf blast. The extracts contain phenolic compounds, including 2,3,7,8-tetrahydroxy-chromeno-(5,4,3)-chromene-5,10-dione, 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-propenoic acid, 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-1(2H)-benzopyran-3,5,7-triol, 3,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone, 3′,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone, 4′,5,7-trihydroxyflavanone, 3,3′,4′,5,7-pentahydroxyflavone, 3,3′,4′,5,7-pentahydroxyflavone -3-O-glucoside, and 3,3′,4′,5,7-pentahydroxyflavone-3-O-rutinoside, which are likely responsible for the antifungal activity of the extracts. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of plant extracts as a sustainable alternative for the management of rice blast.

The composition analyses and health-promoting properties (antioxidant capacity, antidiabetic, and antihypertensive properties) of wild fruit extracts and the effect of the incorporation of strawberry tree (STE) and hawthorn (HTE) extracts on the physicochemical, instrumental textural, microbiological, and sensory parameters of yogurts were evaluated. The incorporation of wild fruit extracts in yogurt increased antioxidant and antidiabetic properties (inhibition of digestive α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and lipase enzymatic activities) compared to the control, without decreasing their sensory quality or acceptance by consumers. The hawthorn yogurt (YHTE) showed the highest total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant capacity (ABTS and ORAC methods). Yogurts containing wild fruit extracts and dietary fiber achieved high overall acceptance scores (6.16–7.04) and showed stable physicochemical, textural, and microbiological properties. Therefore, the use of wild fruit extracts and inulin-type fructans as ingredients in yogurt manufacture stands as a first step towards the development of non-added sugar dairy foods for sustainable health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic resistance reported in Pseudomonas sp. is associated with various opportunistic infections and is a concern in the public health system. The present study investigated the inhibitory effects of ethanol extracts of Lonicera japonica and Andrographis paniculata on Pseudomonas sp. The total phenolic compound (TPC) calculated in gallic acid equivalent (GAE) was 508.6±117.96 mg GAE/100 g dried weight (DW) in L. japonica while A. paniculata contained 129.0 ± 21.00 mg GAE/100 g DW. Both herbs significantly reduced the swarming zone diameters of Pseudomonas sp., even at a concentration as low as 5 mg/mL when compared to the controls. The anti-swarming effect of L. japonica and A. paniculata may be one of the mutual mechanisms underlying their antimicrobial properties. However, only the extract of L. japonica showed cell anti-adhesion activity, which can prevent biofilm formation. Andrographis paniculata extract on the other hand shows the highest activity in disrupting the cell membrane of Pseudomonas sp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit by-products, due to their unique chemical composition containing dietary fibers and bioactive compounds, may favor the growth of probiotic strains. This study evaluated the fermentation of araticum, baru, and pequi by-products using Lactobacillus acidophilus (La-5, LA3, and NCFM) and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (Bb-12) probiotic strains. We assessed probiotic viability, short-chain fatty acid levels, and bioactive compound levels after 48 h of fermentation. Araticum and pequi by-products led to counts higher than 6 log CFU/mL after 48-h fermentation for all Lactobacillus strains, but only the araticum by-product supported the growth of the Bb-12 strain. Fermentation of araticum by-product resulted in greater amounts of acetate (39.97 mM for LA3 and 39.08 mM for NCFM) and propionate (0.20 mM for NCFM), while baru by-product showed greater amounts of butyrate (0.20 mM for La-5 and Bb-12). Fermentation of araticum and baru by-products resulted in an increase in bioactive compounds, with the latter showing total phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity from 1.4 to 1.7 and from 1.3 to 3.1 times higher, respectively, than the negative control treatment. Araticum by-product exhibited a higher potential for prebiotic effects, and fermentation by the tested probiotic strains is essential to increase bioactive compound levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Abelmoschus esculentus plant, better known as okra, is an interesting crop from a nutritional standpoint. The okra plant is native to the African region but can now be found throughout tropical and subtropical areas of the world. This plant, known for its healing abilities, has been used as a traditional medicine to treat several diseases and external ailments, such as wounds or boils. This article reviews the potential health benefits from okra consumption, as well as the bioactive compounds that are suggested to be responsible. Furthermore, the okra plant and its derivatives have been evaluated in the formulation and manufacture of new functional food products. The latest advances in this direction, which includes characterizing the technical properties of functional foods fortified with okra are also presented in this review. A series of bioactive compounds such as flavonoids and catechins have been found in the okra plant, which were associated with numerous biological properties observed in research studies that reported potential anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, anti-hypertensive, and antimicrobial effects, among others, as a result of their consumption. These potential health benefits contribute to the development of new and useful functional foods, with okra (or its derivatives) being used as the highlighted ingredient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Berberis belongs to the Berberidaceae family, with 15 genera and 650 species around the world. It has valuable potential in the medicinal and food industries. In this study, the phytochemical diversity of 55 fruits of the Iranian Berberis genotype were investigated. The results of this study could be used in the breeding and determination of superior genotypes in the future. Plant materials were collected from the barberry Collection Garden of Mashhad and also different natural habitats of barberry in various provinces of Iran. The samples were air-dried, finely grounded, and extracted by methanol at room temperature. Then, total phenol and total flavonoid were measured by FolinCiocalteu and AlCl3 assays, respectively. Radicals neutralizing effects of extracts were examined through the 2,2-Diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. The results showed a significant difference between phenolic content, flavonoid content, and antioxidant properties of various extracts, at a probability level of 1%. A methanol extract of B. integerrima × crataegina (genotype code 4-1) resulted in the highest phenolic content with an average of 4.2 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) ml-1 extract, while the lowest content was recorded for B. integerrima )genotype code 23-4) with an average of 1.7 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/ ml extract. The highest flavonoid content was observed with extracts of B. integerrima (genotype code 4-4) and B. orthobotrys × crataegina (genotype code 15-4) with an average of 6.3 mg quercetin equivalents (Q)/ ml extract. The least was recorded for B. integerrima (genotype code 23-4) with an average of 0.4 mg quercetin equivalents (Q)/ ml extract. The highest and lowest rates of free radical scavenging DPPH were 59.06% and 12.3%, respectively. The results showed that barberry has a great diversity in terms of phytochemical characteristics in different genotypes and is a valuable genetic source for breeding research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edible flowers, including roselle, contain a varied composition of phenolic compounds that may inhibit the oxidative stress mechanism. Roselle-based tisane with appealing sensory properties is commonly consumed worldwide. However, the conventional hot-brew method may ruin the stability of thermolabile phenolic compounds during the tisane preparation. Hence, this study aimed to develop a new alternative brewing method linked with the new cold-brew method, which involves a lower temperature and applying ultrasound to maximize the extraction of phenolic compounds and to avoid degradation during the tisane preparation. The brewing factors, including particle size (10, 20, 30 mesh), temperature (4, 15, 26 °C), time (10, 20, 30 min), and ultrasound amplitude (20, 60, 100% of the maximum amplitude) have been optimized simultaneously using Box–Behnken design in conjunction with response surface methodology. Seven major phenolic compounds were identified by HPLC-DAD and classified into hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives (HCA) and flavonoids. The optimum extraction condition to reach the highest level of the studied phenolic compounds was set to brew roselle with particle size of 30 ± 3.25 mesh at 26 ± 1.32 °C for 18 ± 2.00 min applying 78 ± 5.64% ultrasound amplitude. This method successfully extracted almost all HCA and flavonoid during the first cycle with less than 10% CV and provided higher antioxidant activity in terms of DPPH (IC50 9.77 ± 0.01 µg mL−1), ABTS (IC50 8.05 ± 0.02 µg mL−1), and FRAP (IC50 10.34 ± 0.03 µg mL−1) than the roselle tisane prepared using the conventional method. Additionally, the resulting cold-brew product was stable for up to five days of storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elephant apple (Dillenia indica L.) grows wild in Southeast Asia's forests, including in China, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Elephant apples are considered essential fruit crops because of their high nutritional value, which includes high levels of vitamin C, carbohydrates, fats, fibre, protein, minerals, and fatty acids. It is important to understand the nutritional value and health benefits of elephant apples in order to increase fruit intake in people's daily diets. The present review paper focuses on elephant apple's phytochemistry, bioactive compounds, therapeutic value, and medicinal capabilities for designing and developing a wide range of food formulations. Proteins, minerals, fats, crude fibre, carbohydrates, vitamin C, tannins, malic acid, and glucose are abundant in the leaves, bark, and fruit of the elephant apple. In addition to nutritional components, many phytochemicals found in elephant apples have been identified as bioactive compounds with a broad range of biological activities, the most prominent of which are antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Overall, elephant apple is a rich, natural source of bioactive compounds with potential applications in the production of value-added foods and nutraceuticals for disease prevention and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perilla frutescens is a medicinal herb that is commonly cultivated in Asian countries. Perilla seed is extensively pressed for cooking oil extraction. However, phenolic chemicals are still abundant in pressed perilla seed meal (PSM), which was previously thought to be useless after oil extraction. In our study, PSM was extracted using five solvents (water and 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% ethanol) based on different ethanol concentrations, and its antioxidant activity, phenolic compounds, and inhibitory effects against key enzymes related to diabetes mellitus were evaluated. The 75% ethanol extract had higher phenolic (105.58 mg GAE/g DW) and flavonoid (66.52 mg QE/g DW) contents and showed better antioxidant and inhibitory effects against α‐glucosidase and α‐amylase. Analysis of the phenolic compounds of the five extracts by HPLC indicated the presence of apigenin, rosmarinic acid, benzoic acid, caffeic acid, and vanillic acid. Therefore, because of its high antioxidant activity and inhibitory capacity against enzymes relevant to diabetes, the 75% ethanol extract of perilla seed meal has the most potential to be used as a functional or nutraceutical food in the prevention and treatment of oxidation and diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the extraction of phenolic compounds from germinated deoiled flaxseed flour using ultrasound and response surface methodology. For this purpose, a central composite design with independent variables of time (15, 30, and 45 min) and temperature (20, 40, and 60 °C) were used. Several antioxidant activity tests were also carried out. Independent variables significantly affected the extraction of phenolic and flavonoid compounds. Germinated deoiled flaxseed flour extract contains the highest levels of phenolic and flavonoid compounds after being ultrasound at 40 °C for 30 min. The anti-oxidant, antiarthritic, and ACE inhibitory activities of germinated deoiled flaxseed flour extract were higher when using the ultrasound at 40 °C for 30 min than with solvent extraction. Different phenolic and flavonoid compounds were identified in germinated deoiled flaxseed flour extract obtained from ultrasound-assisted extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenolic compounds are vital plant allelochemical groups in the ecology, multiple parts of plants contain a variety of phenolic compounds these natural compounds help plants defend themselves against predatory plants. Plants' acetic acid and shikimic metabolic pathways produce phenolic chemicals. Additionally, these compounds exhibit a wide variety of structural forms. In many commercial processes, phenolic compounds are utilized to create chemicals including insecticides, explosives, medicines, and colors. Phenolic chemicals are widely used as herbicides for crop protection in an allelopathic approach., insecticides, and fungicides. They are also employed in the bleaching stage of paper production. The major goal of this evaluation is to draw attention to the ability of phenolic chemicals to allelopathic, which can offer us solutions to a variety of ecological issues, particularly those related to the conservation of the environmentally friendly development of forests, farms, with other alternatives to current synthetic pesticides include bioactive plant secondary metabolites by releasing phytotoxic substances from plant cells.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a global problem with increasing prevalence. The current treatments have made an immense progress with some side effects, such as drug resistance, acute kidney toxicity, and increased risk of heart attack. Banana (Musa spp.) peel comprises 40% of banana fruit contains high phenolic compounds whilst some studies have suggested a correlation between phenolic compounds and antidiabetic activity. One of the novel protein targets that has been identified as a potential anti-diabetic treatment is PTP1B (PDB ID:2NT7). Therefore, this study aimed to screen the potential PTP1B inhibitor for antidiabetic treatment from phenolic compounds in banana peel. QSAR, molecular docking, ADME-Tox, and molecular dynamics analysis were deployed to examine forty-three phenolic compounds in banana peel. Eighteen ligands were screened by QSAR analysis and eight of them had a lower binding energy than the standard (ertiprotafib) in molecular docking, with urolithin A and chrysin were the lowest. Both passed Lipinski’s rule of five, had a good intestinal absorption, and no blood-brain barrier penetration, however, their mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, and irritation to the skin and eyes were still in questions. Molecular dynamics analysis found both of them were in a stable conformation with PTP1B. This study suggested a potential of urolithin A and chrysin as PTP1B inhibitor for antidiabetic treatment. Additionally, further experimentation is required to validate this finding.

Abstract The objective of this work was to manufacture pizza dough, truffle, and cake using the paste of a by-product from the vinification of 'BRS Violeta' grape, as well as to determine some bromatological characteristics of these products. The by-product was pressed to remove excess must and crushed to obtain the paste. The paste, pasteurized at 80°C for 3 min and frozen at -18°C, was characterized for total phenolic compounds (TPC), total monomeric anthocyanins (TMA), and dietary fiber. The food products were characterized for the following parameters: moisture, energy value, and protein, lipid, ash, dietary fiber, total carbohydrates, and TPC contents. The contents found in the paste were: 326 mg GAE 100 g-1, for TPC; 185 mg mv35diglc 100g-1, for TMA; and 10 g 100 g-1, for dietary fibers. Based on the centesimal compositions of the food products, the pizza dough and truffle can be considered as a source of fiber and protein, respectively. The products show TPC contents between 51 and 63 mg GAE 100 g-1. It is possible to prepare food products of good nutritional quality, using grape by-product paste, to minimize waste in the field.

In this study, qualitative and quantitative analyses of phenolic compounds in the maize germinating seed embryo, radicle, and germ were performed at 0, 48, and 96 h post-germination, followed by the evaluation of their hypoglycemic activity. The results revealed the accumulation of 80 phenolics in different parts of germinated maize, of which 47, 48, and 53 were present in the seed embryo, radicle, and germ. After germination 22, 26, and 34 polyphenols were found to differential accumulate in the seed embryo, radicle, and germ. At 96 h post-germination, the content of monomeric phenols in the germ was higher than that in the radicle and seed embryo. Moreover, the inhibitory activity of polyphenols in the germ towards α-glucosidase and α-amylase was higher than that in the radicle and seed embryo. These results indicate that germination can effectively improve the type and content of phenolic compounds in different parts of maize.

Liposomes containing Centella asiatica leaf extract (CALE) were encapsulated in soy lecithin and stigmasterol. The impact of wall materials on encapsulation efficacy, particle size, and zeta potential was investigated. In addition, FTIR and SEM analyses were conducted to study the chemical structure and shape of the final particles. In addition to the kinetic and thermodynamic properties, this study investigated the storage study, lipid oxidation analysis, and thermal analysis of encapsulated particles. The generated particles were spherical, and the average size of vesicles was between 512.67 and 787.78 nm, indicating a diverse population. The encapsulation efficiency varied greatly based on the concentrations of soy lecithin and stigmasterol. Following encapsulation with soy lecithin and stigmasterol, the FTIR spectrum showed very minor changes. The storage investigation revealed that phenolic chemicals deteriorated as the temperature increased. Additionally, secondary oxidation of lipids is reduced in CALE-loaded liposomes (CALE-LP) compared to liposomes without CALE. A thermal study demonstrated that it was difficult to maintain the bioactive component at a high temperature for an extended period of time. In general, however, the results revealed that liposomes successfully retained the bioactivity of the leaf extract and could be utilised to generate new fortified food products with health benefits.

Research on the composition of phenolic compounds in extracts of leaf blades of cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus L.) populations from Lonno, Yelnya, Boloto Mokh, and Zhada reserves was conducted. The highest content of phenolic compounds was observed in the female clone of the Lonno population and amounted to 651.54 ± 21.64 mg-equiv of gallic acid per g of extract, of which 53.5 ± 5.01 mg-equiv of rutin per g of flavonoid extract. The following phenolic compounds were identified in the extracts using chromatography–mass-spectrometry: quercetin-3-O-xyloside, ellagic acid, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-glucuronide, kaempferol-3-β-D-glucopyranoside, chlorogenic acid, and rutin. The contents of kaempferol-3-β-D-glucopyranoside, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, ellagic acid, and rutin were determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Legumes are a rich source of bioactive compounds such as phenolic or polyphenolic compounds, particularly tocopherols. Legumes antioxidants are widespread for their radical scavenging proprieties as active biologic compounds belonging to various chemical classes. Polyphenols are the most studied molecules of both nutritional and pharmaceutical interest. Furthermore, an overview concerning the antioxidant capacity and determination is mandatory for the precise and accurate method selection, involving cost-effectiveness and time-saving, towards gathering networks between research and development fields. The current review aims to summarize the presence of the natural antioxidant, their multiple biological effects, and the various approaches to methods determinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus rootstocks are a relevant tree part that contributes to crops adapting to biotic and abiotic conditions, it becoming a key factor to face the current era of climate change. Although the emphasis of most studies on rootstocks has been placed on the yield and optimization of the citrus fruit grown in different environments, other studies have paid attention to the effect of rootstock on fruit quality. Hence, the quality of citrus fruit is becoming increasingly more relevant as consumers demand high internal and external qualities to eat citrus fruit fresh. To better understand how rootstock influences citrus fruit quality, the literature that focuses on physico-chemical parameters, nutritional compounds and physiological disorders has been revised. This review points out the influence that the external aspects surrounding plants has on fruit quality, such as the rootstock/scion interaction, the water uptake capacity of roots, the modification of the photosynthetic rate or availability of nutrient minerals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex structure of rice straw is such that its bioconversion requires multiple physical and chemical pretreatment steps. In this study, it was found that a large amount of soluble polysaccharides (SPs) are formed during the pretreatment of straw. The yield of NaOH-based SPs (4.8%) was much larger than that of ball-milled SPs (1.5%) and H2SO4-based SPs (1.1%). For all the pretreatments, the ratio of phenolic compounds to saccharides (P/S) for each type of SPs increased upon increasing the concentration of ethanol in the order of 90% > 70% > 50%. The yield of NaOH-based SPs was much higher than that of acid-based and ball-milled SPs. The changes in the 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) of SPs follow the same rule, i.e., the higher the P/S ratio, the higher the antioxidant values of the SPs. The flow cytometry and laser scanning microscopy results show that the P/S ratio can significantly influence the effect of SPs on microbial growth and cell membrane permeability. Upon varying the ethanol concentration in the range of 50–90%, the P/S ratio increased from 0.02 to 0.17, resulting in an increase in the promoting effects of the SPs on yeast cell growth. Furthermore, H2O2, NAD+/NADH, and NADP+/NADPH assays indicate that SPs with a high P/S ratio can reduce intracellular H2O2 and change the intracellular redox status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Table grapes have a high-water content and are non-climacteric. They are prone to degradation and infections. This study reveals the effect of neem seed oil combined with methylcellulose (NSOMC) at (control, 0.5%NSOMC, 2%NSOMC, 8%NSOMC, 32%NSOMC and 1% of methylcellulose (MC) prolonging the postharvest quality of Sultana table grapes during 60 days of storage at 0.5°C. The different concentrations of the NSOMC were found effective compared to the control and 1%MC. NSOMC coated fruits, especially at 32% showed less decay incident (3.1%), weight loss (0.32%) and colour changes (8.49) compared to the other coated fruits and the control. 32%NSOMC coated fruits retained their total soluble content and titratable acidity with the lowest mean pH value (3.43). Phenolic compounds (total phenolic and total flavonoid content) had the highest mean and the antioxidant activity was reduced in 32%NSOMC coated fruits. Therefore, our findings suggested that the neem seed oil combined with methylcellulose is safe and could be used as a commercial treatment to increase the shelf life of table grapes. The higher the concentrations of the neem seed oil, the greater the efficiency of the treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agaricus biosporus is a mushroom known for its use for nutritional and medicinal purposes. This study tested whether silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized from phenolic compounds extracted from this mushroom have an efficient antimicrobial impact against pathogenic bacteria and yeast isolated from urine, sputum, and vaginal swabs. Different methods were employed in the characterization of AgNPs. The microorganisms of isolated bacteria and yeast were identified according to morphological features, results of biochemical tests, and the VITEK 2 compact system. The susceptibility to antibiotics was determined by the disk method. The bacteria and yeast resisted all antibiotics employed in this research. But the AgNPs had good antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria and yeast. The highest inhibition zone of AgNPs against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a 100 mg/mL concentration was 30 mm, while the minimal inhibition zone of AgNPs was 12 mm against Escherichia coli at the same concentration. The antibacterial effect of the synthesized AgNPs was concentration-dependent against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. With respect to the effect on yeast growth, there was a clear inhibitory effect of the synthesized AgNPs at 100 mg/mL, when the largest zone of inhibition was found against Candida glabrata (29 mm), and the minimal inhibition zone was found against C. guillermondi and C. albican (23 mm). Similarly, the AgNPs synergized with antibiotics were used against pathogenic bacterial and yeast isolates because when antibiotics and AgNPs were combined, the inhibition zones were larger compared to those of the antibiotics alone.

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a growth regulatory substance that plays an important role in various processes in the cell, such as plant adaptation to environmental threats, seed development, dormancy, budding, plant development, and fruit ripening. Another important role of abscisic acid is increased antioxidant capacity, total phenol content, total carotenoid, and anthocyanin content. The content of bioactive compounds such as antioxidants is a parameter of fruit quality that can decrease due to improper postharvest handling. Many postharvest treatments have been conducted to maintain or delay the declining of bioactive compounds in fruits. This current research was done to determine the various abscisic acid concentrations on papayas and cucumbers' bioactive content. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications. The data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation and analyzed using SAS (Statistical Analysis Software). Significant differences between means were determined by the Student's t-test, with p-values less than 0.05 considered significant. Results of the research regarding color testing, DPPH, total phenol content, and total soluble solids showed that abscisic acid with 380 µMol or 100 mg/l concentration could increase the total phenol content, antioxidant capacity, and total soluble solids in papayas (climacteric fruit) during the ripening. However, applying abscisic acid with 100 µMol on cucumbers (non-climacteric fruit) showed no significant effect on total phenol, antioxidant capacity, and soluble solids compared to the control group. The results showed that during the ripening of climacteric fruit, ABA enhanced the content of bioactive compounds and improved postharvest quality. This effect was not observed in non-climacteric fruit.

The chokeberry plant, which is native to North America and the south of Canada, is a deciduous, shrub-shaped, berry-like plant belonging to the Rosaceae family, which survives for many years. It is seen as a plant that adapts easily to almost every climatic condition and soil and has many beneficial properties for health. Within the scope of this study, methanol, 70% ethanol, ethanol, ethyl acetate, hexane and water extracts were prepared from the fruits collected from the Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliott plant, which is cultivated in the Kırklareli region. The chemical contents of the obtained extracts were clarified by high performance liquid chromatography. It was determined that phenolic compounds such as ferulic acid, caffeic acid, quercetin, quercetin-3-galactoside, p-coumaric acid were found in the extracts, and ethyl acetate extract was found to have the richest phenolic substance profile. Malvin anthocyanin compound was detected only in methanol extract.

Abstract In this study, optimization of the extraction of phenol compounds from Mentha piperita using ultrasonic waves with response surface methodology (RSM) was assessed. In this regard, a central composite design with three independent variables of time (5, 27.5, and 50 min), temperature (25, 45, and 65°C), and concentrations of ethanol in the water–ethanol solution (0%, 50%, and 100%) was used. Besides, the antioxidant activity tests (DPPH radical scavenging assay, ferric reducing antioxidant power [FRAP], and oxidative stability indexes [OSI]) were examined. Significant effects of independent variables on the extraction of phenol compound, DPPH radical scavenging power, and OSI of M. piperita extract, with the regression coefficients of 0.89, 0.92, and 0.94, respectively, were noted. However, no significant difference in terms of the FRAP among different treatments was noted. Also, the best antioxidant activity of M. piperita was obtained by using the ultrasonic wave for 50 min at 65°C and 59.6% v/v ethanol/water solution. While the findings of RSM confirmed the experimental results, due to the favored properties of M. piperita extract by the proposed method, further research to investigate possible applications in the food industry is recommended.

Background: Tea (Camellia sinensis L.O. Kuntze) is one of the most commonly consumed beverages globally, with several beneficial health effects. The composition of leaves is affected by different factors such as climate and tea cultivar. Methods: In this study, the total phenolic, flavonoid, and tannin contents, and antioxidant activities of eight cultivars of tea growing in Iran were determined. The epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) contents were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. The Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra were used to construct a supervised pattern recognition model using a genetic algorithm-support vector machine (GA-SVM) for the classification of cultivars. Results: The results indicated a wide variation of total phenolic content (178.04 to 316.09 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g extract). Also, the flavonoid contents ranged from 25.54 to 41.1 mg quercetin equivalents )QE(/g extract. All the samples had close tannin amounts (ranging from 40.32 to 45.90 mg as tannic acid equivalent (TAE)/g extract). There was a significant linear relationship among total phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant properties. The cultivars DN, PK2, and C.Y.9 had the highest content of phenolic and flavonoid content as well as the best antioxidant activity. The EGCG contents were from 2.66 to 4.12%. The highest amount of EGCG was found in cultivars 282, PK2, and C.Y.9. The discriminative region of FT-IR spectra (1350-1650 cm-1) was selected using a GA-SVM. This model showed 100% sensitivity and specificity for training and test sets. Conclusion: The leaves’ phytochemical compositions and antioxidant effect are deeply dependent on the type of tea cultivars. The cultivars PK2 and C.Y.9 can be considered richer sources of polyphenols, especially EGCG. The eight different cultivars can be classified based on chemical components using the recorded FT-IR spectra.

Abstract In this study, Iranian Allium sativum controversum extracts, as a valuable source of bioactive compounds such as antioxidants, extracted by solvents were analyzed. Based on the analysis of total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) and radical scavenging activity (1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)) of each extract, ethanol extracts were finally added to the sausage formulation at 0.5 and 1.5%w/v. Treatments were kept at refrigerated temperature (4–5°C) for 1, 15, and 30 days, and DPPH and microbial assays were performed on the treatments and the control samples. Experimental data were performed in a completely randomized design with the factorial arrangement. Hydroalcoholic extract had the highest total phenols and the aqueous extract of Allium sativum controversum showed the highest radical scavenging activity (11.85 ± 0.81 mg/g). No colony counts were observed on the first day of the coliform count. On 15 to 30 days, the control sample showed the highest count and the treatment containing Allium sativum controversum extract (1.5%) had the lowest coliform count. During the first month, the control sample had the highest count of Staphylococcus aureus. Regarding mold and yeast, a treatment containing Allium sativum controversum extract (1.5%) and the control sample had the lowest and highest count, respectively. The results showed that using Allium sativum controversum extracts and increased radical scavenging activity reduced microbial growth during the storage period.

Fresh-cut processing is a good strategy to enhance the commercialization of peaches and nectarines, which easily deteriorate during low-temperature storage mostly due to the occurrence of chilling injury. Although several studies have been performed to improve the shelf-life of fresh-cut stone fruit, the achievement of high-quality fresh-cut peaches and nectarines still constitutes a challenge. The present study aimed to gain insights into the evolution of the postharvest quality of fresh-cut nectarines (Prunus persica L. Batsch) Big Bang, cold-stored at two different storage temperatures (4 and 8 °C) for up to 10 days. Several aspects influencing the quality traits (sensory and postharvest quality parameters; the profile of phenolic and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)) were explored to predict the marketable life of the fresh-cut nectarines. The respiration rate was higher in samples stored at 4 °C, while the browning process was more evident in fruit stored at 8 °C. Partial Least Squares Regression performed on VOCs showed that samples stored at 4 °C and 8 °C presented a different time evolution during the experiment and the trajectories depended on the interaction between time and temperature. Moreover, Multiple Linear Regression analysis discovered that the 17 VOCs affected by the storage conditions seemed to suggest that no chilling injury was detected for nectarines Big Bang. In conclusion, this approach could also be used with other nectarine cultivars and/or different stone fruits.

Manganese toxicity is a major obstacle to agriculture in acid soils. Dark pericarp disease (DPD) is a newly spread physiological disorder induced by excess Mn in litchi, leading to undesirable fruit appearance and substantial economic loss. In this work, broadcast of alkaline soil conditioner in winter, followed by foliar sprays of ascorbic acid and sulfur solution at fruit development, was adopted to examine the effect of these combinations on DPD alleviation in a litchi orchard, with DPD morbidities of 70~85% in recent ten years. The combination of soil conditioner broadcast and foliar water spray was used as the control. At harvest, DPD incidence was significantly decreased by sulfur spray (3.3 ± 1.0%) and slightly reduced by ascorbic acid spray (10.7 ± 8.0%) compared to the control (12.9 ± 7.6%). Soil pH and available Mn were significantly increased and reduced by the soil conditioner broadcast. Sulfur spray significantly inhibited Mn uptake but enhanced the accumulation of Mg, Ca, sugars and cyanidin-3-rutinoside in the pericarp, leading to improved fruit pigmentation. Antioxidase activities were regulated to resist Mn stress by sulfur spray. The spray of ascorbic acid could not mitigate DPD as expected, probably due to the dose used. Conclusively, this study provides a practicable approach to mitigate Mn phytoavailability in acid soils.

Plant extracts rich in phenolic compounds have been reported to exert different bioactive properties. Despite the fact that there are plant extracts with completely different phenolic compositions, many of them have been reported to have similar beneficial properties. Thus, the structure–bioactivity relationship mechanisms are not yet known in detail for specific classes of phenolic compounds. In this context, this work aims to demonstrate the relationship of extracts with different phenolic compositions versus different bioactive targets. For this purpose, five plant matrices (Theobroma cacao, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Silybum marianum, Lippia citriodora, and Olea europaea) were selected to cover different phenolic compositions, which were confirmed by the phytochemical characterization analysis performed by HPLC-ESI-qTOF-MS. The bioactive targets evaluated were the antioxidant potential, the free radical scavenging potential, and the inhibitory capacity of different enzymes involved in inflammatory processes, skin aging, and neuroprotection. The results showed that despite the different phenolic compositions of the five matrices, they all showed a bioactive positive effect in most of the evaluated assays. In particular, matrices with very different phenolic contents, such as T. cacao and S. marianum, exerted a similar inhibitory power in enzymes involved in inflammatory processes and skin aging. It should also be noted that H. sabdariffa and T. cacao extracts had a low phenolic content but nevertheless stood out for their bioactive antioxidant and anti-radical capacity. Hence, this research highlights the shared bioactive properties among phenolic compounds found in diverse matrices. The abundance of different phenolic compound families highlights their elevated bioactivity against diverse biological targets.

Peucedanum japonicum has long been a staple in East Asian cuisine. In the context of traditional medicine, various members of the Peucedanum genus have been investigated for potential medicinal properties. In laboratory settings, some compounds derived from this plant have shown antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties—characteristics often associated with potential medicinal applications. This study aimed to determine which part of the P. japonicum plants cultivated on two Korean islands contains the most antioxidant compounds. This determination was made through assessments of total polyphenol content and total flavonoid content, coupled with evaluation of antioxidant activity via DPPH and ABTS assays. The results showed that the aerial parts contain a richer array of bioactive compounds and demonstrate superior antioxidant activity compared to their root counterparts in the plants from both islands. To characterize the phytochemicals underpinning this bioactivity, LC-MS/MS and HPLC analyses were carried out. These methods detected varying amounts of chlorogenic acid, peucedanol 7-O-glucoside, rutin, and peucedanol, with good separation and retention times. This study addresses the lack of research on the antioxidant activity of different parts of P. japonicum. The findings hold significance for traditional medicine, dietary supplements, and the development of functional foods. Understanding antioxidant distribution aids in the development of medicinal and nutritional applications, influences agricultural practices, and contributes to regional biodiversity-conservation efforts. The study’s geographical scope provides insights into how location impacts the concentration of bioactive compounds in plants. Overall, the results contribute valuable data for future research in plant biology, biochemistry, and related fields.

Peanut sprout is a high-quality healthy food, which not only has beneficial effects, but also a higher phenol content than peanut seed. In this study, peanut sprout was treated with five cooking methods, namely boiling, steaming, microwave heating, roasting, and deep-frying, and the phenol content, monomeric phenol composition, and antioxidant activity were determined. The results showed that, compared with unripened peanut sprout, the total phenol content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) decreased significantly after the five ripening processes, and the highest retention of phenols and flavonoids was associated with microwave heating (82.05% for TPC; 85.35% for TFC). Compared with unripened peanut sprout, the monomeric phenol composition in germinated peanut was variable after heat processing. After microwave heating, except for a significant increase in the cinnamic acid content, no changes in the contents of resveratrol, ferulic acid, sinapic acid, and epicatechin were observed. Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation of TPC and TFC with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging capacity, 2,2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) scavenging capacity, and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power in germinated peanut, but not with hydroxyl free radical scavenging capacity, in which the main monomer phenolic compounds were resveratrol, catechin, and quercetin. The research results indicate that microwave heating can effectively retain the phenolic substances and antioxidant activity in germinated peanuts, making it a more suitable ripening and processing method for germinated peanuts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beverage mixtures based on pineapple (Ananas comosus) and turmeric (Curcuma longa) juice as a ready-to-drink product were developed, and their physicochemical, nutritional, and sensory properties were evaluated. Four different concentrations of turmeric juice (5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% (v/v)) were added to pineapple juice to make turmeric-fortified pineapple (TFP) juice samples. Pineapple juice without turmeric was the control. The L*, a*, b*, titratable acidity (TA), total antioxidant capacity, and %DPPH scavenging values, as well as the concentrations of the phenolic compounds curcumin and demethoxycurcumin, were significantly increased with increasing turmeric concentration. Thirty volatile compounds were detected in the mixed juice samples with turmeric. Most of the turmeric-specific compounds, including monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and turmerones, were detected in the TFP juice samples. While the antioxidant activity of the juice samples increased with increasing turmeric concentration, the pineapple juice fortified with 10% turmeric (10%T) had the best overall quality as determined by panelists. Greater concentrations of turmeric were associated with decreased palatability due to reduced mouthfeel and sweetness and increased aftertaste and sourness. These results suggest that the 10%T juice could be developed into a commercial functional beverage with increased overall flavor and nutritional quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we used exogenous naringenin (0.5 mM) pretreatment before the stress (25 mM NaCl) on the growth and tolerance of safflower seedlings under non-salinity conditions and salinity conditions. Our results showed that salinity treatment significantly declined the biomass, leaf relative water content, chlorophyll content, K+ content, and K+/Na+ ratio by 28%, 28%, 12%, 36%, and 56%, respectively, as compared to untreated control. The results obtained in the present study showed the beneficial effects of the pretreatment of naringenin in safflower seedlings under non-salinity conditions concerning increasing plant biomass, total phenolic compound, radical scavenging activity (RSA), soluble sugar content, proline, glutathione, enzymatic antioxidants, and K+ content. Nevertheless, naringenin pretreated plants showed a clear increment in the values of biomass, RSA, total phenolic compound, and catalase enzyme activity parameters under salinity stress. Salinity stress caused ionic phytotoxicity and oxidative stress by enhancing Na+ content, H2O2 accumulation, malondialdehyde (MDA), and antioxidants. However, naringenin alleviated salt-induced oxidative stress by decreasing H2O2 and MDA content in the leaves and improving the catalase activity in treated plants. Generally, it could be concluded pretreatment of naringenin before stress could partly diminish NaCl-caused oxidative stress in safflower seedlings, probably due to improvement in enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants and reduced cell membrane damage. We report for the first time that applying exogenous naringenin pretreatment before the stress could improve growth and diminish NaCl-caused oxidative stress in safflower seedlings, probably due to the improvement in enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants and reduced cell membrane damage. This implies that applying exogenous naringenin pretreatment before the stress is a promising approach for sustainable crop production under salinity stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of pre- and postharvest calcium gluconate (Ca-Glu) treatments on some physicochemical characteristics and bioactive compounds of sweet cherry cv. Sweetheart during cold storage were investigated. For preharvest treatments, the Ca-Glu (1%) solution was applied to the cherry trees two times at 21 and 35 days after full bloom stage. Control trees were sprayed with distilled water at the same days. Sweet cherries, sprayed with and without Ca-Glu, were dipped into cold water (4 °C) containing calcium gluconate (1%) for 30 s and only in cold water (4 °C) as control, after harvest Following each treatment, cherries were placed in plastic boxes and stored at 1 ± 0.5 °C and 90 ± 5% relative humidity for 3 weeks. The weight losses of cherries increased over time but calcium (Ca) treatments, especially pre-and postharvest combination, limited these increases compared to control groups. The best result for suppressing the respiration rate of cherries was also obtained from combined treatment. Moreover, combined treatment delayed the losses of titratable acidity, fruit firmness, decay rate and sensory quality in sweet cherries during storage comparison with the pre or postharvest application of Ca-Glu alone. The effect of Ca-Clu treatments on stem chlorophyll content and antioxidant activity was not significant. Preharvest and combined treatments retarded the loss of ascorbic acid content of cherries compared to postharvest and control treatments. The total phenolic and anthocyanin content increased regularly throughout storage, regardless of treatment; however, Ca treatments delayed the accumulation of these compounds. As a result, the combined Ca-Glu treatment could be a promising method for maintaining some physicochemical characteristics and bioactive compounds in sweet cherries during cold storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of gamma irradiation and pasteurization on the stability of anthocyanins and antioxidant capacity during storage of jussara pulp were investigated. Jussara pulp was divided into 6 portions: control (no treatment), irradiated pulp (2, 4, 6, 8 kGy) and pasteurized pulp (92 °C/1 minute). Portions were stored at 4°C for 60 days. The phenolic extract was prepared with a solution of methanol/water/formic acid. The following analyses were performed every 15 days: contents of total phenolic compounds by Folin-Ciocauteau, cyanidin-3-glycoside and cyanidin-3-rutiniside by HPLC and antioxidant capacity (ABTS and DPPH). Total phenolics and anthocyanins decreased with the increasing irradiation dose and storage time. Pasteurization did not affect the phenolic concentration immediately after processing. However, the contents of TPC and cyanidin-3-rutiniside were reduced during storage of the pasteurized pulp. No processed samples presented characteristics similar to the control at the end of storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]