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Endophytic fungi have several well-established beneficial effects on plant health and growth, and are a huge source of bioactive compounds. The endophyte

The potential of hair as matrix for assessing long-term exposure to mycotoxins remains scarcely explored. Therefore, this study aimed to develop and validate an analytical methodology for the simultaneous determination of aflatoxins, enniatins, beauvericin and T-2 toxin in human hair, based on a pretreatment stage prior to salt-assisted liquid-liquid extraction and followed by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution Q-TOF mass spectrometry for the first time. Washing with a non-ionic detergent was successfully applied, whereas enzymatic digestion with Pronase E was mandatory for releasing mycotoxins from the hair matrix. The methodology was validated according to Commission Decision 2002/657/EC, with limits of quantification ranging from 0.6 to 8.7 ng/g. The analysis of 10 samples showed at least one mycotoxin occurring in 67% of samples, including the carcinogenic aflatoxins. This is the first validated methodology for the quantification of multiple mycotoxins in human hair.

Microgreens constitute novel gastronomic ingredients that combine visual, kinesthetic and bioactive qualities. The definition of the optimal developmental stage for harvesting microgreens remains fluid. Their superior phytochemical content against mature leaves underpins the current hypothesis of significant changes in compositional profile during the brief interval of ontogeny from the appearance of the first (S1) to the second true leaf (S2). Microgreens of four brassicaceous genotypes (Komatsuna, Mibuna, Mizuna and Pak Choi) grown under controlled conditions and harvested at S1 and S2 were appraised for fresh and dry yield traits. They were further analyzed for macro- and micromineral content using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), carotenoid content using high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD), volatile organic compounds using solid-phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC/MS), anthocyanins and polyphenols using liquid chromatography-high resolution-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with Orbitrap technology and for chlorophyll and ascorbate concentrations, well as antioxidant capacity by spectrophotometry. Analysis of compositional profiles revealed genotype as the principal source of variation for all constituents. The response of mineral and phytochemical composition and of antioxidant capacity to the growth stage was limited and largely genotype-dependent. It is, therefore, questionable whether delaying harvest from S1 to S2 would significantly improve the bioactive value of microgreens while the cost-benefit analysis for this decision must be genotype-specific. Finally, the lower-yielding genotypes (Mizuna and Pak Choi) registered higher relative increase in fresh yield between S1 and S2, compared to the faster-growing and higher-yielding genotypes. Although the optimal harvest stage for specific genotypes must be determined considering the increase in yield against reduction in crop turnover, harvesting at S2 seems advisable for the lower-yielding genotypes.

Four different varieties of apples have been considered (Limoncella, Annurca, Red Delicious, and Golden Delicious) to estimate the extent of colon polyphenolics release after in vitro sequential enzyme digestion. Since several studies report a positive effect of apple polyphenols in colonic damage, we found of interest to investigate the colon release of polyphenols in different varieties of apples in order to assess their prevention of colonic damage. UHPLC-HRMS analysis and antioxidant activity (ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP assays) were carried out on the apple extracts (peel, flesh, and whole fruit) obtained from not digested samples and on bioaccessible fractions (duodenal and colon bioaccessible fractions) after in vitro digestion. Polyphenolic content and antioxidant activities were found to vary significantly among the tested cultivars with Limoncella showing the highest polyphenol content accompanied by an excellent antioxidant activity in both flesh and whole fruit. The overall trend of soluble antioxidant capacity from the soluble duodenal phase (SDP) and soluble colonic phase (SCP) followed the concentrations of flavanols, procyandinis, and hydroxycinnamic acids under the same digestive steps. Our results highlighted that on average 64.2% of the total soluble antioxidant activity was released in the SCP with Limoncella exhibiting the highest values (82.31, 70.05, and 65.5%, respectively for whole fruit, flesh, and peel). This result suggested that enzymatic treatment with pronase E and viscozyme L, to reproduce biochemical conditions occurring in the colon, is effective for breaking the dietary fiber-polyphenols interactions and for the release of polyphenols which can exercise their beneficial effects in the colon. The beneficial effects related to the Limoncella consumption could thus be of potential great relevance to counteract the adverse effects of pro-oxidant and inflammatory processes on intestinal cells.

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L. Family Cannabaceae) contains a vast number of bioactive relevant compounds, namely polyphenols including flavonoids, phenolic acids, phenol amides, and lignanamides, well known for their therapeutic properties. Nowadays, many polyphenols-containing products made of herbal extracts are marketed, claiming to exert health-promoting effects. In this context, industrial hemp inflorescence may represent an innovative source of bioactive compounds to be used in nutraceutical formulations. The aim of this work was to provide a comprehensive analysis of the polyphenolic fraction contained in polar extracts of four different commercial cultivars (Kompoti, Tiborszallasi, Antal, and Carmagnola Cs) of hemp inflorescences through spectrophotometric (TPC, DPPH tests) and spectrometry measurement (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS). Results highlighted a high content of cannflavin A and B in inflorescence analyzed samples, which appear to be cannabis-specific, with a mean value of 61.8 and 84.5 mg/kg, meaning a ten-to-hundred times increase compared to other parts of the plant. Among flavonols, quercetin-3-glucoside reached up to 285.9 mg/kg in the Carmagnola CS cultivar. Catechin and epicatechin were the most representative flavanols, with a mean concentration of 53.3 and 66.2 mg/kg, respectively, for all cultivars. Total polyphenolic content in inflorescence samples was quantified in the range of 10.51 to 52.58 mg GAE/g and free radical-scavenging included in the range from 27.5 to 77.6 mmol trolox/kg. Therefore, C. sativa inflorescence could be considered as a potential novel source of polyphenols intended for nutraceutical formulations.

Ninety three samples of rice were obtained from research and commercial plots at eight rice-producing regions of Brazil and analyzed for the presence of Fusarium species and 14 mycotoxins. A total of 352 isolates belonging to Fusarium genus were obtained from 85 % of the samples. These were assigned to four species complexes (SC) based on morphological identification. The most frequent SC detected was F. incarnatum-equiseti (FIESC, 32.4 %) followed by F. fujikuroi (FFSC, 26.1 %), F. graminearum (FGSC, 24.7 %) and F. chlamydosporum (FCSC, 16.8 %). FGSC was limited geographically and dominant in the southern subtropical production regions while the others occurred in all regions, particularly FIESC, the most widespread among them. The samples were individually contaminated with three to eight mycotoxins. The most common mycotoxins detected were zearalenone (ZEA), beauvericin, and acetylated forms of deoxynivalenol (AcDON). Other toxins included enniatins, T-2, HT-2, DON, neosolaniol and moniliformin. The concentration levels were all below the Brazilian promulgated limits established only for DON (< 750 ppb), and ZEA (< 100 ppb) with one exception for the latter. Most toxins were found in both the husk and flour fractions, but AcDON tended to concentrate more in the husk. Our survey extends considerable our knowledge of the Fusarium complexes infecting rice and provides an update on the status of rice mycotoxin contamination at the country level, which can be considered generally safe. However, attention should be paid to the widespread contamination of beauvericin.

Globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus L. Fiori) is a traditional component of the Mediterranean diet, it is considered a rich source of phenolic compounds. Globe artichoke production is traditionally based on vegetatively propagated varietal types. As for pathologic and economic disadvantages of the former multiplication method, Italian artichoke breeding programs have produced some potential seed propagated hybrids. An experiment was conducted to assess the yield, mineral and polyphenolic profiles of two potential seed-propagated F1 hybrid 'Istar' and 'Romolo'. The artichoke yield recorded on 'Romolo' was significantly higher by 33% in comparison to 'Istar'. The N and K concentrations were significantly lower by 25.5% and higher by 10.1%, respectively, in 'Romolo' in comparison to 'Istar'. Among the macronutrients studied, K was the mineral with the higher concentration, with a mean of 24.9 g kg-1 dw. In addition, the Na concentration and Na/K ratio observed in both cultivars were low. Amongst the caffeoylquinic acids, 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid and 1,5-diO-caffeoylquinic acid were the main compounds. The remaining caffeoylquinic acids (i.e., 1- and 3-O-caffeoylquinic acids, 3,4-, 3,5- and 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acids) were minor compounds in the analyzed samples. Regarding the cultivar effect, the 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid, apigenin 7-O-glucoronide, total caffeoylquinic acids, total apigenin derivatives, were significantly higher in 'Romolo' by 23.1, 180.0, 20.5, and 149.5%, respectively, in comparison to 'Istar', suggesting that specific cultivar should be selected to obtain the desired profile of bioactive compounds. Overall, the seed-propagated cultivars can represent a suitable alternative to the vegetative propagated ones, thus opening new perspectives for the artichoke production.

Plasmatic transthyretin may be regarded as a suitable candidate biomarker for the onset, severity, and progression of Alzheimer disease. The aim of the present experimental work was to evaluate the effect of red wine polyphenols (RWPs) on the expression of transthyretin in murine choroid plexus. In contrast to what generally reported in literature for polyphenols, our experimental results indicated a correlation between RWPs assumption and a decrease of transthyretin expression, with a non-dose dependent trend. The present study would point out the attention on the possible pro-oxidant effects of red wine polyphenols at certain doses, although further in vitro, in vivo, and clinical experiments must be performed in order to clarify the mechanisms of action at the base of observed results.

Selenium (Se) is considered essential for human nutrition as it is involved in the metabolic pathway of selenoproteins and relevant biological functions. Microgreens, defined as tender immature greens, constitute an emerging functional food characterized by overall higher levels of phytonutrients than their mature counterparts. The nutraceutical value of microgreens can be further improved through Se biofortification, delivering Se-enriched foods and potentially an enhanced content of bioactive compounds. The current study defined the effect of sodium selenate applications at three concentrations (0, 8, and 16 &mu, M Se) on the bioactive compounds and mineral content of coriander, green basil, purple basil, and tatsoi microgreens grown in soilless cultivation. Analytical emphasis was dedicated to the identification and quantification of polyphenols by UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-HRMS, major carotenoids by HPLC-DAD, and macro micro-minerals by ICP-OES. Twenty-seven phenolic compounds were quantified, of which the most abundant were: Chlorogenic acid and rutin in coriander, caffeic acid hexoside and kaempferol-3-O(caffeoyl) sophoroside-7-O-glucoside in tatsoi, and cichoric acid and rosmarinic acid in both green and purple basil. In coriander and tatsoi microgreens, the application of 16 &mu, M Se increased the total phenols content by 21% and 95%, respectively, moreover, it improved the yield by 44% and 18%, respectively. At the same Se dose, the bioactive value of coriander and tatsoi was enhanced by a significant increase in rutin (33%) and kaempferol-3-O(feruloyl)sophoroside-7-O-glucoside (157%), respectively, compared to the control. In green and purple basil microgreens, the 8 &mu, M Se application enhanced the lutein concentration by 7% and 19%, respectively. The same application rate also increased the overall macroelements content by 35% and total polyphenols concentration by 32% but only in the green cultivar. The latter actually had a tripled chicoric acid content compared to the untreated control. All microgreen genotypes exhibited an increase in the Se content in response to the biofortification treatments, thereby satisfying the recommended daily allowance for Se (RDA-Se) from 20% to 133%. The optimal Se dose that guarantees the effectiveness of Se biofortification and improves the content of bioactive compounds was 16 &mu, M in coriander and tatsoi, and 8 &mu, M in green and purple basil.

Cannabidiol (CBD) food supplements made of Cannabis sativa L. extracts have quickly become popular products due to their health-promoting effects. However, potential contaminants, such as mycotoxins and pesticides, can be coextracted during the manufacturing process and placed into the final product. Accordingly, a novel methodology using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS) was developed to quantify 16 mycotoxins produced by major C. sativa fungi, followed by a post-target screening of 283 pesticides based on a comprehensive spectral library. The validated procedure was applied to ten CBD-based products. Up to six different Fusarium mycotoxins were found in seven samples, the most prevalent being zearalenone (60%) and enniatin B1 (30%), both found at a maximum level of 11.6 ng/g. Co-occurrence was observed in four samples, including one with enniatin B1, enniatin A and enniatin A1. On the other hand, 46 different pesticides were detected after retrospective analysis. Ethoxyquin (50%), piperonyl butoxide (40%), simazine (30%) and cyanazine (30%) were the major residues found. These results highlight the necessity of monitoring contaminants in food supplements in order to ensure a safe consumption, even more considering the increase trend in their use. Furthermore, the developed procedure is proposed as a powerful analytical tool to evaluate the potential mycotoxin profile of these particular products.