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AbstractThe present study aimed to optimize the microwave-assisted extraction process for both the peel and pulp of Hylocereus undatus (white dragon fruit) cultivated in Tunisia, using response surface methodology. Total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power), and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) antioxidant activities were optimized. A central composite design (CCD) was applied, considering three key variables: extraction time, extraction temperature, and liquid-to-solid ratio. The optimized extraction parameters for Hylocereus undatus peel and pulp were determined respectively (9.57 min, 42.20 °C and 27.79 mL/g) and (10.08 min, 40.84 °C and 31.52 mL/g). The main phenolic compounds identified in Hylocereus undatus peel and pulp extracts using HPLC-DAD were chlorogenic and caffeic acids and rutin, quercetin, luteolin-7-O-glucoside as flavonoids. Therefore, this research has revealed the potential of a sustainable and eco-friendly process hold promise a directional option and encouraging a circular economy approach for industrial production of antioxidant-rich Hylocereus undatus extracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The physical, chemical, phenolic constituents, fatty acids and mineral contents of the breads produced from wheat flour and turpentine paste at different concentrations were analysed by chromatographic and spectrophotometric methods. L*, a* and b* results of the breads were equal to 49.28–74.51, 0.90–6.55 and 13.45–20.19, respectively. Total phenolic and flavonoid quantities of the breads prepared by adding turpentine fruit paste at different concentrations were depicted to be between 26.15 (control) and 222.66 mg GAE/100 g (20%) to 74.52 (control) and 389.29 mg/100 g (20% turpentine fruit paste), respectively. Also, antioxidant activities of breads with turpentine paste were assigned to be between 2.44 (control) and 7.29 mmol kg−1 (20% turpentine paste). Gallic acid amounts of the breads were specified to be between 3.51 (control) and 16.98 mg/100 g (20% turpentine paste). Oleic and linoleic acid values of the bread oils were depicted to be between 45.34 (control) and 53.66% (3%) to 23.66 (3%) and 26.35% (control), respectively. K, P, S, Ca and Mg were the most abundant elements of bread samples. The changes in physical, chemical, phenolic components, fatty acids and mineral contents and sensory properties of the breads produced with turpentine paste added to wheat flour at different concentrations were determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to define the aroma components, antioxidant activity, total phenol, and sugar contents of three geographically indicated dry beans: İspir Dry Bean, Narman Sugar Bean, and Hınıs Bean. Significant differences were found among three different dry beans in terms of total phenolic content, total antioxidant capacity (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil test), sugar content, and volatile compounds. The total phenolic content ranged from 14.09 mg gallic acid equivalents per 100 g dry bean sample in Narman to 36.73 mg in Hınıs. The highest total antioxidant activity was observed in İspir Bean with 8.38%, while the lowest was in Narman Bean with 6.02%. Additionally, the total sugar contents of İspir, Narman, and Hınıs beans were determined to be 6.46%, 5.60%, and 4.22%, respectively. Forty different aroma volatiles, including 10 alcohols, five terpenes, 11 aldehydes, four esters, six acids and four ketones, were identified in the bean seed samples. Narman Bean had higher levels of total alcohols, total acids, and total esters compared to İspir and Hınıs beans, while İspir Bean had higher levels of total terpenes and total ketones and Hınıs Bean had higher levels of total aldehydes. Furthermore, PCA and heatmap analysis revealed that the dry beans were divided into two main groups and that Narman beans were separated from İspir and Hınıs beans. In conclusion, this study showed that the geographically indicated İspir, Narman, and Hınıs dry bean varieties differed from each other in terms of flavor and nutritive characteristics, including bioactive and volatile compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Husk tomatoes are used in salsa and traditional medicine to alleviate illnesses. Market demand requires husk tomato varieties with improved agronomic and physicochemical health benefits. Mutagen application alters plant genomes, creating new traits and genetic diversity. The efficacy of EMS (ethyl methanesulfonate) was examined for morphology, bioactive compounds, and phytochemical improvement. Three husk tomato genotypes representing Physalis philadelphica and Physalis ixocarpa underwent two hours of 1.4% EMS. In addition to yield and yield-related properties, total phenol, antioxidant activity, chlorophyll a and b levels in leaves and fruits, and phytochemical concentrations of Na, Mg, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, and K in fruits were measured. Genotype-dependent morphological changes were found. The mutants C1T6 (85 cm) and C1T7 (87.60 cm) were shorter than Control C1 (102 cm). The highest yield was 5.80 g for C1T5; Control C1 produced 3.08. The mutant C2T6 produced the most (5.99 g) compared to its control (2.85 g). Mutants had higher total phenol, antioxidant activity, and leaf/fruit chlorophyll. C1T2 had the highest antioxidant activity (1.19 ng/µL). C2T1 outperformed Control C2 at 1.54 ng/µL phenolic content. C3T2 had the highest Ca content (1822 µg/g), while Control C3 had 861.20 µg/g. Mutations altered phytochemical composition, which can be used to generate nutritionally superior husk tomato varieties. Additionally, scientists will be able to study mutants with advantageous morphological and biochemical traits, enabling extensive research. Furthermore, the mutants will serve as a genetic repository for the progression of breeding procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This experiment was carried out to examine the impacts of glycine betaine (GB) and methionine (Met) on basil plants' biochemical and morphological traits in two experiments under greenhouse conditions at Guilan University, Iran. Research method: Two completely randomized plans were used for the experiment, each involving three replications. The experiment factors during the first experiment were various amounts of GB (0, 50, 100, and 150 mg. L-1), and in the second experiment, we utilized four Met quantities (0, 50, 100, and 150 mg L-1). Findings: The results showed that GB utilized at 150 mg L-1 led to the maximum leaf fresh and dry weight, stem dry weight, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total antioxidants, and leaf calcium and nitrogen content. The treatments with GB had a 1000 seed weight higher than the control. According to the results, leaf fresh and dry weight, root dry weight, and chlorophyll a and b in control were significantly higher than other Met treatments. Root fresh weight and the florets number per plant in control and 50 mg L-1 Met were significantly higher than in other treatments. Besides, the 50 mg L-1 Met treatments resulted in higher total phenol, antioxidants, and leaf phosphorus content than the control. Research limitations: No limitations were found. Originality/Value: The findings of this experiment demonstrate that the use of Met in greenhouse conditions does not have significant effects on basil plants, but GB has significant effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study, conducted in 2023 at the vineyard of the Agricultural Research and Application Center of Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, focused on the Alphonse Lavallée grape variety, a significant cultivar among table grapes. The research aimed to assess the impact of berry density on various quality parameters. Grape berries were selected across five different density categories (Y0-Y4), including a control group, to evaluate their physical characteristics (including width, length, weight, firmness, and skin color), chemical properties (pH, total titratable acidity, and soluble solids content), and phytochemical attributes (encompassing total phenol content, total antioxidant capacity, and total monomeric anthocyanin levels). The findings revealed that critical quality indicators—namely, soluble solids content, pH, total antioxidant capacity, and total monomeric anthocyanin—were maximized under the Y4 treatment. In contrast, the highest total phenol content was recorded in the Y2 and Y3 treatments. These results underscore the importance of berry density and berry/skin volume as key determinants of grape berry quality. The study contributes valuable insights into the role of these factors in enhancing the overall quality of table grapes, particularly in the context of the Alphonse Lavallée variety.

Purpose: This experiment was carried out to examine the impacts of glycine betaine (GB) and methionine (Met) on basil plants' biochemical and morphological traits in two experiments under greenhouse conditions at Guilan University, Iran. Research method: Two completely randomized plans were used for the experiment, each involving three replications. The experiment factors during the first experiment were various amounts of GB (0, 50, 100, and 150 mg. L-1), and in the second experiment, we utilized four Met quantities (0, 50, 100, and 150 mg L-1). Findings: The results showed that GB utilized at 150 mg L-1 led to the maximum leaf fresh and dry weight, stem dry weight, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total antioxidants, and leaf calcium and nitrogen content. The treatments with GB had a 1000 seed weight higher than the control. According to the results, leaf fresh and dry weight, root dry weight, and chlorophyll a and b in control were significantly higher than other Met treatments. Root fresh weight and the florets number per plant in control and 50 mg L-1 Met were significantly higher than in other treatments. Besides, the 50 mg L-1 Met treatments resulted in higher total phenol, antioxidants, and leaf phosphorus content than the control. Research limitations: No limitations were found. Originality/Value: The findings of this experiment demonstrate that the use of Met in greenhouse conditions does not have significant effects on basil plants, but GB has significant effects.

Introduction One of the most important global challenges is food waste, about 30% of the world's agricultural land is wasted. Every year, about 9.5 million tons of food is lost in the post-harvest phase of agriculture. Therefore, storage technology is very important to increase shelf life, preserve nutrition and maintain the taste of fresh products. Storing strawberry fruits at an inappropriate temperature after harvesting significantly increases weight loss, rotting and softening. L-phenylalanine as an amino acid is used for the biosynthesis of all phenolic compounds through the phenylpropanoid pathway. In recent years, the application of exogenous phenylalanine has been considered for use as a biologically safe molecule to maintain the postharvest quality of many horticultural crops. L-phenylalanine treatment has been reported to reduce the frost damage of plum fruit during cold storage by maintaining membrane integrity and improving reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging capacity. The treated fruit showed a higher DPPH inhibition capacity by increasing the accumulation of phenolic compounds and antioxidant enzyme activity. Aghdam et al. (2019) also reported that application of L-phenylalanine significantly reduced cold damage, membrane lipid peroxidation and ROS accumulation in tomato fruits during cold storage. Materials and Methods Strawberry fruits were obtained from a commercial greenhouse located in Urmia at full maturity stage. The fruits were transported to the laboratory of the Department of Horticultural Sciences in Urmia University with necessary precautions to prevent any mechanical damage to the product. The fruits were separated in terms of size and uniformity, so that the fruits were divided into 3 groups, one group as a control group and 2 groups were treated with concentrations of L-phenylalanine (4 and 8 mM). After drying the treated fruits, they were placed in zipped nylon bags and kept in a cold room for 15 days at a temperature of 3 ± 0.5 °C and a relative humidity of 90-95%. Also, three biological replicates at each time point were included in the analysis. The samples obtained at each of these times were used to evaluate skin color, titratable acidity, soluble solids, taste index, pH, weight loss, firmness, antioxidant capacity, total phenol content, and polyphenol oxidase enzyme activity. Results and Discussion The results showed that the effect of post-harvest treatment, storage time, and the interaction between them were statistically significant on all of the traits. In terms of color changes, the effect of post-harvest treatment (p≤0.05) was significant only in b* index, and the highest rate was observed in the 4 Phe treatment. The effect of storage time was also significant in a* and Chroma indices (p≤0.05) and the highest level was observed in both of these indices at day 5. The effect of storage time was also significant in TA (p≤0.01), the highest value was observed in day 10. In antioxidant capacity (p≤0.05), TSS (p≤0.05) and taste index (p≤0.01), the interaction effect between storage time and Phe treatment was significant. In antioxidant capacity, the highest percentage of DPPH inhibition was observed in day 10 and 4 Phe treatment, in TSS, the highest rate was observed on day 10 and 8 Phe treatment, and in taste index, the highest rate was observed on day 15 and 4 Phe treatment. The effect of post-harvest Phe treatment and storage period on fruit weight loss was significant (p≤0.05) and (p≤0.01) respectively, and the lowest percentage of weight loss was observed in Phe 4 and day 5. In terms of firmness and total phenol content, only the effect of Phe treatment was significant (p≤0.05) and (p≤0.01), respectively, the highest level of firmness in the 4 Phe treatment and the highest amount of total phenol content in the 8 Phe treatment were observed. In the PPO enzyme, only the effect of storage time (p≤0.05) was significant. Conclusion According to the obtained results, the 4 Phe treatment is the best concentration of phenylalanine to increase the shelf life of harvested strawberry fruits under cold storage.

Extended Abstract Background: As one of the medicinal plants from the Orchidaceae family, Orchis simia tubers are traded all over the world. The unmarketable parts are usually discarded (e.g., inflorescence, leaves, and stems) and produce a large amount of unused biomass. Medicinal effects of plants usually result from the composition of their secondary metabolites. Identification and quantification of secondary metabolites will play an important role in exploiting the medicinal potential of the plant. Orchids grow in different environments and habitats, mainly due to the presence of a unique set of secondary metabolites that help these plants tolerate stressful conditions. Therefore, following traditional approaches, these plants have been proposed as an important source for biological exploration. A number of compounds obtained from different parts of the orchid indicate biological activity. Alkaloids, flavonoids, phenanthrenes, terpenoids, bibenzyl derivatives, and other biologically active compounds have been reported in orchids. The present study identifies the phytochemical substances in Orchis simia orchid. Methods: To investigate the phytochemistry of the inflorescence, leaf, and stem of Simia orchid separately, the samples were collected from nature, washed with water, and dried in the shade. Each of the organs was then powdered separately, and methanolic extract was extracted by ultrasonic and centrifugation methods. Total phenol was evaluated by the Folin-Ciocalteau method. Antioxidant capacity was determined by the FRAP method. The main compounds were estimated quantitatively and qualitatively by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) methods. Results: HPLC and LC-MS analyses of O. simia samples led to the isolation of 28 secondary metabolites (four compounds of bibenzyl derivatives, eight phenolic and flavonoid compounds, and 16 alkaloid compounds). Phenolic and flavonoid compounds identified in Simia orchid included benzoic acid, caffeic acid, m-coumaric acid, rutin, luteolin, kaempferol, quercitrin, and quercetin. In parallel, the total phenol content and total antioxidant capacity of the extracts were also measured in the extract. The results of variance analysis of the obtained data showed that the leaf, stem, and inflorescence samples were significantly different from each other at the 1% level in terms of total phenol content and total antioxidant capacity. Among the studied organs, inflorescence extract was superior to the other studied tissues in terms of 28 secondary metabolites as well as total phenol and antioxidant capacity. The average comparison results showed that the total phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity in different organs of the O.s simia plant were not the same, and they were placed in three different groups. The highest total phenol content (138.65 mg GAE/g dry weight) was observed in orchid inflorescences. The highest and lowest levels of antioxidant activity were obtained from inflorescence (77.58 μmol/g) and stem (53.24 μmol/g) samples, respectively. Conclusion: A proper knowledge of the chemical composition of a plant leads to a better understanding of its potential medicinal value. In this research, therefore, the changes in biochemical compounds and antioxidant capacity of the extracts were studied in leaf, stem, and inflorescence organs. According to the results of this research, the inflorescence of O. simia is a potential source of antioxidant capacity, phenol, and alkaloids, which will have an important medicinal role. The secondary metabolites obtained from this plant are reported for the first time and will be useful for new medicinal developments and applications in the future. Moreover, this study will help reduce the waste of this orchid in industrial production because its aerial organs can be exploited for medicinal purposes.

Bixin is a naturally occurring fat-soluble diapocarotenoid that has been extracted using various methods. It is used in a variety of food applications, most notably dairy products such as butter, cheese, and margarine, as well as other foods such as meat and confectionaries. However, optimizing process conditions is still required to achieve the maximum pigment yield. The current study examined the impact of solvents such as ethyl acetate, methanol, and ethanol on bixin yield, total phenol content, and hue angle by varying process parameters such as time (10, 20, and 30 min), temperature (50, 60, and 70 °C), and seed-to-solvent ratio (1:5, 1:10, and 1:15). To optimize the process parameters and generate multiple regression models for the responses, the Box–Behnken design was used. At 60 °C and a seed-to-solvent ratio of 1:5, ethyl acetate extract had a maximum bixin content of 2.04 ± 0.28% in 30 min. The methanol extract, on the other hand, had a maximum total phenol content of 5.1 ± 0.19 mg GAE/g in 20 min at 70 °C in a 1:15 ratio. Maximum redness intensity was observed in a 10 min ethyl acetate extract with a hue angle of 20.75° at 50 °C and a seed-to-solvent ratio of 1:10. Methanol was observed to be the optimized solvent for bixin extraction, with higher total phenol content and color. As a result, the optimal conditions were 70 °C, a seed-to-solvent ratio of 1:15, and a treatment time of 30 min. The absolute error percentage of the models was less than 10%, which suggests the model was accurate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As one of the medicinal plants from the Orchidaceae family, Orchis simia tubers are traded all over the world. The unmarketable parts are usually discarded (e.g., inflorescence, leaves, and stems) and produce a large amount of unused biomass. Medicinal effects of plants usually result from the composition of their secondary metabolites. Identification and quantification of secondary metabolites will play an important role in exploiting the medicinal potential of the plant. Orchids grow in different environments and habitats, mainly due to the presence of a unique set of secondary metabolites that help these plants tolerate stressful conditions. Therefore, following traditional approaches, these plants have been proposed as an important source for biological exploration. A number of compounds obtained from different parts of the orchid indicate biological activity. Alkaloids, flavonoids, phenanthrenes, terpenoids, bibenzyl derivatives, and other biologically active compounds have been reported in orchids. The present study identifies the phytochemical substances in Orchis simia orchid. Methods: To investigate the phytochemistry of the inflorescence, leaf, and stem of Simia orchid separately, the samples were collected from nature, washed with water, and dried in the shade. Each of the organs was then powdered separately, and methanolic extract was extracted by ultrasonic and centrifugation methods. Total phenol was evaluated by the Folin-Ciocalteau method. Antioxidant capacity was determined by the FRAP method. The main compounds were estimated quantitatively and qualitatively by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) methods. Results: HPLC and LC-MS analyses of O. simia samples led to the isolation of 28 secondary metabolites (four compounds of bibenzyl derivatives, eight phenolic and flavonoid compounds, and 16 alkaloid compounds). Phenolic and flavonoid compounds identified in Simia orchid included benzoic acid, caffeic acid, m-coumaric acid, rutin, luteolin, kaempferol, quercitrin, and quercetin. In parallel, the total phenol content and total antioxidant capacity of the extracts were also measured in the extract. The results of variance analysis of the obtained data showed that the leaf, stem, and inflorescence samples were significantly different from each other at the 1% level in terms of total phenol content and total antioxidant capacity. Among the studied organs, inflorescence extract was superior to the other studied tissues in terms of 28 secondary metabolites as well as total phenol and antioxidant capacity. The average comparison results showed that the total phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity in different organs of the O.s simia plant were not the same, and they were placed in three different groups. The highest total phenol content (138.65 mg GAE/g dry weight) was observed in orchid inflorescences. The highest and lowest levels of antioxidant activity were obtained from inflorescence (77.58 μmol/g) and stem (53.24 μmol/g) samples, respectively. Conclusion: A proper knowledge of the chemical composition of a plant leads to a better understanding of its potential medicinal value. In this research, therefore, the changes in biochemical compounds and antioxidant capacity of the extracts were studied in leaf, stem, and inflorescence organs. According to the results of this research, the inflorescence of O. simia is a potential source of antioxidant capacity, phenol, and alkaloids, which will have an important medicinal role. The secondary metabolites obtained from this plant are reported for the first time and will be useful for new medicinal developments and applications in the future. Moreover, this study will help reduce the waste of this orchid in industrial production because its aerial organs can be exploited for medicinal purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combretum indicum (L.) DeFilipps., also known as Quisqualis indica, belongs to the combretaceae family. Literature suggests the hardy nature and predominant presence of medically important phytometabolites within these plants. This study aimed to identify the phytochemical constituents of the Combretum indicum flower extracts. Flower extracts were prepared using Aqueous, ethanol, n-Hexane and petroleum ether as the solvents of choice. Qualitative phytochemical analysis indicated the presence of phytometabolites including alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenols, quinines, steroids, saponins etc. Among these solvents ethanolic flower extract showed better results. The quantitative analysis of flower extract indicated the presence good quantity of flavonoids and phenols respectively. Anti-oxidant activity was tested using DPPH scavenging assay. Characterization of phytochemicals was done by using UV-Visible spectrophotometry, FTIR analysis and thin layer chromatography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In this study, the effects of different germination times on some chemical characteristics, total phenol and flavonoid quantity, antioxidant capacities, phenolic and fatty acid compositions and biogenic element contents of tigernut tubers were investigated. Total phenolic and flavonoid quantities of raw and tigernut tubers germinated at certain germination periods were reported to be between 24.40 (first period of germination) and 63.84 mgGAE/100 g (third period of germination) to 33.00 (control) and 184.24 mgRE/100 g (third period of germination), respectively. Antioxidant capacities of raw and germinated tigernut tubers were recorded to be between 0.91 (first period of germination) and 1.57 mmolTE kg−1 (third period of germination). Gallic (except control), catechin, caffeic acid, rutin and kaempferol values of tubers were higher especially in the second and third periods of germination compared to the first period of control and germination. Oleic and linoleic acid values of raw (control) and germinated tigernut oils were identified between 69.41% (third period of germination) and 72.53% (control) to 9.77 (control) and 11.77% (third period of germination), respectively. P, K, Ca, Mg, S and Na were the dominant elements of raw and germinated tigernuts. The bioactive properties, phenolic component amounts and element quantities of germinated tubers were increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oil amounts of raw and roasted mustard seeds were reported between 12.05 (control) and 16.30% (oven). Total phenolic and flavonoid amounts of untreated (control) and roasted mustard seeds were recorded to be between 473.90 (control) and 569.96 mgGAE/100 g (oven) to 345.48 (control) and 479.76 mg/100 g (microwave), respectively. Antioxidant capacity results of untreated and roasted mustard seeds were determined to be between 6.71 (oven) and 6.97 mmol/kg (control). Total phenolic and flavonoid amounts of oven-roasted seeds were higher than those of control and microwave-roasted seeds. L* values of mustard seeds varied between 35.04 and 65.52. Heat treatment caused a decrease in L* values. The lowest L* value was observed in the sample dried in conventional oven. The quantitative values of gallic and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acids of mustard seeds were recorded to be between 8.47 (control) and 117.31 mg/100 g (microwave) to 2.16 (control) and 11.79 mg/100 g (microwave), respectively. Erucic acid values of the oils extracted from raw and roasted mustard seeds were reported between 41.38 (control) and 42.81% (microwave). Oleic and linoleic acid amounts of mustard oils differed between 26.06 (microwave) and 26.90% (control) and between 13.08 (oven) and 13.98% (control), respectively. The oven roasting system had the most effect on the element and protein contents of the seeds, followed by the microwave in decreasing order. As with the bioactive components of the seeds, the amounts of phenolic constituents of roasted mustard seeds increased significantly compared to the control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bell pepper fruits (Capsicum annuum L.) are prone to both physiological and pathological deterioration following harvest, primarily due to their high metabolic activity and water content. The storage of bell peppers presents several challenges, including weight loss, softening, alterations in fruit metabolites and color, increased decay, and a decline in marketability. The application of edible coatings (ECs) is one of the environmentally friendly technologies that improves many post‐harvest quantitative and qualitative characteristics of products. This research investigated the impact of different levels of gum tragacanth (GT) coating (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2%) on the physiological and biochemical traits of stored bell pepper fruits (BPFs) (8 ± 1°C, 90–95% RH) for 28 days. The results showed the positive effect of coating treatments with higher concentrations of GT, up to 1%. Increasing the concentration of GT to 2% decreased the marketability and quality characteristics of fruits compared to 1% GT. After storage, the physiological weight loss of the fruits treated with 1% GT (10.46%) was lower than that of the uncoated fruits (18.92%). Furthermore, the coated fruits (1% GT) had more firmness, total phenol content, ascorbic acid, and titratable acidity content than uncoated fruits during storage. At the end of storage, the coated BPFs with 1% GT showed higher SOD (97.02 U g−1), CAT (24.38 U g−1) and POD (0.11 U g−1) activities and antioxidant capacity (81.74%) as compared to other treatments. Total soluble solids, total carbohydrates, total carotenoids, pH, malondialdehyde, and electrolyte leakage content increased in coated fruit during storage but were significantly lower than in uncoated fruits. Moreover, the samples coated with GT (1%) maintained good marketability (about 75%), while the marketability of the control (about 40%) was unacceptable. The study shows that GT (1%) coating can be a promising novel treatment option for increasing the storage quality of BPFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peppermint is one of the valuable plants in the pharmaceutical industry. The reduction of water in Iran is one of the most important production limitations. The use of organic materials such as humic acid and wood vinegar can be useful to help produce medicinal plants to reduce the effects of drought stress. This research was carried out in order to investigate the effect of humic acid and wood vinegar foliar spraying on plant traits and main compounds of peppermint essential oil under drought stress conditions. A filed experiment was conducted as a split plot based on a randomized complete block design with three replications in the research farm of the Faculty of Agriculture of the Tarbiat Modares University in 2019. The experimental treatments included low irrigation regime at three levels (irrigation up to the field capacity and respectively after draining 25 (no stress), 40 (moderate drought stress) and 55 (severe drought stress) percentage of available water in the root zone) as the main plots factor was foliar application at seven levels (humic acid (1, 2, and 3%), wood vinegar (5, 10, and 15%) and no foliar application (control)) as a sub plots. The results showed that the interaction of foliar application and irrigation regimes had a significant effect on plant height, total dry weight, total chlorophyll, flavonoid, total phenol, essential oil percentage and yield, and essential oil profile. Maximum total dry weight was produced with foliar spraying of 2 and 3% humic acid in normal irrigation conditions with 3204 and 3259 kg ha-1, respectively, and moderate and severe water deficit stress, respectively, caused a decrease of 15.34 and 27.42% of the total dry weight compared to the control. Water deficit stress harmed the yield of essential oil; so that with the increase of the stress intensity, its value decreased, and moderate and severe water deficit stress, a decrease of 9.38 and 40.2 percent of essential oil yield, respectively, was observed. Increasing the concentration of humic acid from zero to 3% increased the total chlorophyll by 10.4%. The flavonoids increased by 14.6, 22.5, and 33.1 percent with the use of 1, 2, and 3 percent humic acid, respectively, and this increase with the use of 5, 10, and 15 percent wood vinegar was 14.3, 34.7, and 37.1 percent, respectively. It was 34.34 and 37.15 percent. By increasing the concentration of humic acid from zero to 3%, the essential oil content increased by 60.6%. While increasing the concentration of wood vinegar from zero to 15%, its amount increased by 90.7%. The highest amount of menthol was obtained from the application of 10% wood vinegar in normal irrigation conditions at 61.04%, and it was placed in a statistical group with the treatment of 2% humic acid application in moderate water stress conditions (60.1%). In addition, the results showed that with the use of humic acid and wood vinegar, the amount of menthol increased by 21.88 and 17.84%, respectively, compared to not using them. According to the water limitation and the results of this research, it is recommended to use 3% humic acid in optimal irrigation conditions and moderate water deficit stress and use 15% wood vinegar in severe water deficit stress conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caffeine, tannins, and total phenol are chemical components of tea leaves that are beneficial for the body. Caffeine is a psychoactive substance, tannin is anti-diarrhea, and phenol compounds are antioxidants that prevent free radicals. The purpose of this research was to analyze the levels of caffeine, tannin, and total phenol of tea leaves at Sirah Kencong Blitar Plantation. Determination of the caffeine level was carried out in tea leaves powder using UV-Vis Spectrophotometry method at 273.5 nm wavelength with caffeine as a standard. The determination of tannin and total phenol levels was carried out using the ethanol extract of tea leaves. Tannin was determined by the Follin Denis method using UV-Vis spectrophotometry at 649.9 nm wavelength with tannic acid as a standard. The total phenol was determined by the Follin Ciocalteu method using UV-Vis spectrophotometry at 794 nm wavelength with gallic acid as a standard. Based on the results of the research in tea leaves from the Sirah Kencong Blitar Plantation, the caffeine content was 1.649%, tannin was 7.095%, and total phenol was 34.142%.

IntroductionSour cherries (Prunus cerasus L.) are relatively diverse and broadly distributed around the world, being found in Asia, Europe, and North America. Sour cherries have unique anthocyanin content, and rich in phenolic compounds. The fruits are generally used for processing purposes, such as for production juice and jam. The fruits of sour cherries can also be frozen and dried. One of the best methods for the preservation of agricultural product is drying, which involves removing water from the manufactured goods. Dried sour cherries have a long shelf life and therefore may be a fine alternative to fresh fruit all year round. There are no reports on the effect of microwave pretreatment on the hot air drying kinetics of sour cherries in the literature. Hence, the purpose of this study was to estimate the impacts of microwave pretreatment on the total phenolics, drying time, mass transfer kinetic, effective moisture diffusivity, total color difference index, shrinkage and rehydration of sour cherry. In addition, the moisture ratio changes of sour cherry during drying were modeled. Material and MethodsSour cherries were purchased from the market at Bahar, Hamedan Province, Iran. The average diameter of fresh sour cherries was 1.6 cm. In this study, the water content of fresh and dried sour cherries was calculated using an oven at 103°C for 5 h (Shimaz, Iran). In this research, the effect of microwave time on the drying time, effective moisture diffusivity coefficient and rehydration of sour cherries was investigated and drying kinetics were modeled. To apply the microwave pretreatment on the sour cherries, a microwave oven (Gplus, Model; GMW-M425S.MIS00, Goldiran Industries Co., Iran) was used under atmospheric pressure. In this work, the influence of the microwave pretreatment time at five levels of 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 s (power=220W) on the cherries was examined. After taking out the treated sour cherries from microwave device, the samples were placed in the hot-air dryer (70°C) as a thin layers. The dehydration kinetics of sour cherries were explained using 7 simplified drying equations. Fick's second law of diffusion using spherical coordinates was used to calculate the moisture diffusivity of sour cherries at various hot-air drying conditions. The rehydration test was conducted with a water bath (R.J42, Pars Azma Co., Iran). Dried sour cherries were weighed and immersed for 30 min in distilled water in a 250 ml glass beaker at 50°C. Results and DiscussionThe results showed that microwave treatment led to an increase in moisture removal rate from the sour cherries, an increase in the effective moisture diffusivity coefficient, and, consequently, a decrease in drying time. By increasing the microwave time from 0 to 12 s, the average drying time of sour cherries in the hot-air dryer was decreased from 370 min to 250 min (p

Abstract This study explored the chemical composition, antioxidant activity, and total phenol content of aerial parts from 25 accessions of three Achillea species (Achillea wilhelmsii C. Koch, Achillea vermicularis Trin., and Achillea tenuifolia Lam.). The plants were collected from various natural habitats across Iran, encompassing regions such as Central, Western, Southern, Northern, Western, and Northwestern parts of the country. Subsequently, they were grown together under field conditions. The study revealed significant variation in essential oil yields among accessions of A. wilhelmsii, ranging from 0.01 to 0.107%, A. vermicularis with a range of 0.075 to 1.5%, and A. tenuifolia showing a variation of 0.1 to 2%. The study utilized Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis, revealing 75, 49, and 75 compounds in the essential oils of A. wilhelmsii, A. tenuifolia, and A. vermicularis, respectively. Major components included camphor, 1,8-cineole, anethole, α-pinene, and phytol in A. wilhelmsii, 1,8-cineole, camphor, levo-carvone, and δ-terpinene in A. vermicularis, and β-cubebene, elixene, β-sesquiphellandrene, 1,8-cineole, camphor, and δ-terpinene in A. tenuifolia. The essential oil compositions of A. wilhelmsii and A. vermicularis were predominantly characterized by oxygenated monoterpenes, whereas that of A. tenuifolia was characterized by sesquiterpenes. Cluster analysis grouped accessions into three clusters, with A. tenuifolia forming a distinct group. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) triplot (62.21% of total variance) confirmed these results and provided insights into compound contributions. Furthermore, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the accessions of three species were assessed over 2 years. A. tenuifolia exhibited the highest levels in both categories, with statistically significant linear regression between antioxidant activity and total phenol content for A. tenuifolia and A. wilhelmsii. These findings emphasize significant phytochemical diversity within Achillea species, positioning them as promising natural sources of antioxidants. Further exploration and selection of specific accessions within each species are crucial for unlocking their medicinal potential and supporting cultivation and conservation efforts.

To optimize the treatment conditions for vacuum pre-cooling of baby cabbage and maintain the fresh quality of postharvest baby cabbage, a central composite response surface experiment with two factors and three levels was conducted on the basis of analyzing the effects of different vacuum pre-cooling final temperature (0, 2 and 4 ℃) and different vacuum pre-cooling final pressure (400, 600, 800 and 1000 Pa) on the pre-cooling of postharvest baby cabbage. The results showed that compared with the control without pre-cooling and the pre-cooling group with final temperature of 0 ℃, the pre-cooling with final temperature of 2~4 ℃ at the final pressure of 600 Pa could better maintain the appearance quality of postharvest baby cabbage, inhibit the increase of respiratory rate and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Under the condition of final temperature of 2 ℃, compared with the control without pre-cooling and the pre-cooling group with a final pressure of 1000 Pa, pre-cooling with final pressures of 400~800 Pa could also better maintain the appearance quality of postharvest baby cabbage, inhibit the increase of respiratory rate and MDA content. Further central composite response surface experiments showed that the optimal conditions for vacuum pre-cooling of postharvest baby vegetables were final temperature of 4.0 ℃ and final pressure of 600 Pa. The vacuum pre-cooling condition not only maintained good quality of postharvest baby vegetable, but also increased the content of soluble protein, total phenols, and ascorbic acid by 18.78%, 18.47% and 33.23%, respectively. Therefore, appropriate vacuum pre-cooling treatment is a highly potential commercialization technology that could effectively maintain the good quality of postharvest baby vegetable during circulation and shelf life.

This study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of chitosan nanoparticles (ChNPs), silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and their combination (Ch-AgNPs) in controlling the chocolate spot of faba bean caused by Botrytis fabae. Five isolates of B. fabae were collected from diseased faba bean plants and screened for pathogenicity on the most susceptible faba bean cultivar, Giza 843. Among the isolates, B. fabae isolate No.3 exhibited the highest virulence. Antifungal effects of ChNPs, AgNPs (with an average particle size of 15 and 42 nm, respectively), and Ch-AgNPs mixture at 5, 10 and 20 ppm were assessed against B. fabae isolate No.3. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the Ch-AgNPs mixture at 20 ppm exhibited the greatest inhibitory effect on the mycelial growth of B. fabae, with a reduction of 100% compared to the individual nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy revealed notable cellular changes in B. fabae cells treated with the Ch-AgNPs mixture. Greenhouse results exhibited that the great reductions in disease severity were achieved with Tridex 80% WP® fungicide (96.51%), followed by Ch-AgNPs mixture with 84.53% reduction. The Ch-AgNPs mixture effectively enhanced the activity of peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase enzymes and the total phenol content in the plants. Application of ChNPs, AgNPs, and the Ch-AgNPs mixture significantly improved faba bean growth and yield parameters. However, the cytotoxicity assay indicated a concentration-dependent toxic effect of Ch-AgNPs, with no significant hemolytic activity observed in red blood cells. In conclusion, the Ch-AgNPs mixture was promising as a fungicide for combating the chocolate spot in faba bean.

In vitro micro rhizome technology is a highly effective approach in combating seed-borne diseases and ensuring the production of healthy and high-quality planting material in ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.). To gauge the efficiency of micro rhizome production and their viability ex vitro, an experiment was conducted on several ginger varieties viz., IISR Varada, IISR Mahima, IISR Rejatha, and Karthika, at ICAR- Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode, Kerala, India. This experiment adhered to established protocols and standardized procedures. All four varieties exhibited varying rates of micro rhizome production after 180 days of culture. Among these, IISR Varada demonstrated the highest mean weight of cultured plant mass (96.0 ± 4.41 g), followed by Karthika (91.4 ± 5.72 g), IISR Rejatha (78.45 ± 5.59 g), and IISR Mahima (72.4 ± 3.56 g). IISR Rejatha exhibited the maximum number of micro rhizomes per bottle (11.35 ± 0.81) compared to IISR Mahima (10.8 ± 0.54), Karthika (9.8 ± 0.58), and IISR Varada (9.0 ± 0.63). The highest total weight of micro rhizome and mean weight of a single micro rhizome per bottle were recorded in IISR Varada (32.6 ± 1.92 g and 3.9 ± 0.29 g, respectively), followed by Karthika (27.1 ± 1.19 g and 2.9 ± 0.16 g, respectively), IISR Rejatha (27.0 ± 1.79 g and 2.5 ± 0.18 g, respectively) and IISR Mahima (24.5 ± 1.10 g and 2.4 ± 0.16 g, respectively). Besides, IISR Varada, followed by Karthika, emerged as the most promising varieties for micro rhizome production in terms of their multiplication rate. The evaluation extended to the first and second-generation progenies of micro rhizomes from IISR Varada. Results indicated the successful establishment of first-generation micro rhizomes in grow bags and second-generation micro rhizomes in the field, employing both direct planting and transplanting methods. Assessment of quality parameters revealed that the second-generation (V2) transplanted plants of micro rhizomes of IISR Varada exhibited the highest essential oil content 0.78%. The total phenolic content was highest in second-generation (V2) rhizomes directly planted in soil (23 mg GAE/g), whereas the first-generation micro rhizomes raised in grow bags registered the highest total flavonoid content (TFC) of 1.39 mg QE/g. Moreover, the genetic fidelity test conducted on the first and second generations (V1 and V2, respectively) of micro rhizome-derived plants, using molecular markers, exhibited a monomorphic banding pattern similar to that of the mother plant, confirming their genetic stability.Key message: In vitro micro rhizomes of ginger have the potential to combat pathogens transmitted through seed materials, while simultaneously preserving clonal fidelity and ensuring high quality standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Science & Technology of Food Industry is the property of Science & Technology of Food Industry Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Faculty of Pharmacy of Ankara University / Ankara Üniversitesi Eczacilik Fakültesi Dergisi is the property of Ankara University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Cissus javana belongs to the family Vitaceae growing in tropical forests was collected from the Western Ghats of Karnataka and subjected to qualitative phytochemical analysis, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity. In the present study, different parts like the fruit stem and leaves of C. javana were subjected to preliminary phytochemical analysis in different solvent extracts, which revealed the presence of reducing compounds, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, sterols, terpenoids, glycosides, carbohydrates, resins, phenol, and proteins. The methanolic fruit extract of the sample showed the presence of most of the phytochemicals when compared to leaves and stem extracts of different solvents. The methanolic fruit extract showed a total phenolic content of about 2.94 mg of GAE, followed by leaves and stem 2.57 and 2.01 mg GAE/g, respectively. Antioxidant activities of methanol extract showed dose-dependent activity, which increased with an increase in the concentration of the extract. Methanol fruit extract showed the highest free radical scavenging activity, almost equal to the standard with the IC50 value of 4.925, where the IC50 value of ascorbic acid was found to be 3.389. The present investigation provides insights into the phytoconstituents and antioxidant activities of fruit stem and leaf extracts of C. javana, so it can be further subjected to purification of compounds that may act as an alternative for the current synthetic compounds that are used as pharmaceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the potential functional properties and added value of okra seed oil and provide a scientific basis for further industrial development and production of okra seed oil, its fatty acid profile, total phenolic, fat‐soluble vitamin composition, mineral element composition, and antioxidant activities were examined in this study. Also, correlations between bioactive components and the antioxidant activities of okra seed oil were explored. The study results show that okra seed oil contains 12 types of fatty acids, 65.22% of which are unsaturated acids, and among these unsaturated acids, linoleic acid (43%) and oleic acid (20.16%) are two dominant acid types. Compared with walnut oil and peanut oil, okra seed oil contains relatively high total phenols, fat‐soluble vitamins, and a variety of essential mineral nutrients, with a total phenolic content (TPC) of 959.65 μg/mL, a total tocopherol content of 742.71 μg/mL, a vitamin A content of 0.0017 μg/100 mL, a vitamin D content of 1.44 μg/100 mL, and a vitamin K1 content of 52.54 ng/100 mg. Also, okra seed oil exhibits better scavenging activities on hydroxyl (IC50 = 0.50 mg/mL) and ammonium salt (ABTS) free radicals (IC50 = 6.46 mg/mL) and certain reducing power (IC50 = 17.22 mg/mL) at the same concentration. The scavenging activities of okra seed oil on hydroxyl radicals and ABTS radicals, as well as its reducing power, are significantly correlated with its contents of total phenol, total tocopherol, α‐tocopherol, and γ‐tocopherol (p <.01). These results show that okra seed oil is rich in bioactive substances, thus presenting great nutritional potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of the ripening process and fruit powder addition on the physical, chemical, total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, volatile compounds, and sensory properties of Kashar cheese were determined. Total phenol content, antioxidant capacity, volatile compounds, and fatty acid esters were determined by Folin Ciocalteu, DPPH, SPME, and GC-MS, GC-FID, respectively. Of the 27 fatty acids identified in cheeses, palmitic, oleic, myristic, and stearic acids were found to have the highest ratios, respectively. While the total amount of phenol substance was 144.44 mg GAE/L in fresh, it increased to 374.84 mg GAE/L with ripening and 520.26 mg GAE/L with ripening + plant. A total of 58 volatile compounds, including 14 alcohols, 10 acids, 9 ketones, 9 hydrocarbons, 7 esters, 7 aldehydes,and 2 sulfur compounds, were detected in cheese. Alcohol (27.20%) in fresh kashar, acid (61.40%) in ripened kashar, and ketone (43.73%) in ripened + plant kashar were the volatile compounds groups determined at the highest rate. The ripening process and plant addition did not contribute positively to the sensory properties of the cheeses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experimental trials were conducted at Agronomy farm S. K. N. College of Agriculture, Jobner (Rajasthan) during kharif 2019 to identify the infestation of major insect pests of sesame (leaf roller and capsule borer, leafhopper and whitefly). Ten sesame varieties were screened to know their response on the basis of morphometric and biochemical characters. The morphological characters of plant showed that the variety RT-346, which had more number of leaves, branches, capsules per plant and number of trichomes per mm² was found least susceptible for the leaf roller and capsule borer, leafhopper and whitefly population. Whereas the variety RT-46 was found to be most susceptible, which had less trichomes than the variety RT-346. Thus, the morphometric characters like number of leaves per plant, number of branches per plant, number of capsules per plant and trichome density per mm², showed a negative correlation with the mean population of leaf roller and capsule borer, leafhopper and whitefly population in sesame. The total phenols had a negative and significant correlation, while free amino acids, total soluble sugars, protein content and chlorophyll had positive and significant correlation with leaf roller and capsule borer, leafhopper and whitefly population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) is one type of berry fruit rich in nutrients and trace elements, particularly with the high food, health and medicine values. However, the dragon fruit can easily dewater and soften during transportation, resulting in quality degradation, or even decay and spoilage. Fresh dragon fruit can often be processed into dried cakes or powders, in order to extend the shelf life. Freeze-drying (FD) and Spray drying (SD) are commonly used to process berry fruits into powder products. This study aims to reduce the energy consumption of drying and retain the nutrients of the product. Fresh red dragon fruit pulp was taken as the raw material with (87.03±1.26) % of mean moisture content. Red dragon fruit powder was prepared using FD and SD. Product qualities were also evaluated, including residual moisture content, color, betacyanin content, rutin content, and total phenolic content retentions. With 3%(w/w) (mass ratio, the same below) of whey protein isolate (WPI) and 2.5%(w/w) of pectin (P) as the additives, the unfoamed and foamed frozen samples were prepared with the same initial mass and moisture content. Quartz and silicon carbide (SiC) were utilized as the supporting pads of samples for comparison. Traditional and microwave FD experiments of dragon fruit pulp were conducted in a lab-scale microwave FD apparatus. Results showed that the foamed sample was reduced by 39.06% of drying time, compared with the unfoamed one at 30 ˚C of radiation temperature and 20 Pa of chamber pressure with the quartz pad. When 1 W of microwave power was applied under the same operating conditions, drying times of unfoamed and foamed samples decreased by 18.75% and 12.82%, respectively, compared with the traditional FD without microwave heating. With the SiC pad instead of the quartz pad under 30 ˚C, 20 Pa and 1 W, the microwave FD time of the foamed sample was shortened by 65.62% and 43.59%, respectively, compared with traditional FD. SiC-assisted microwave FD of foamed material was achieved the simultaneous enhancement of mass and heat transfers. With 5.5%(w/w) of WPI or 15.6%(w/w) of maltodextrin (MD) as the carrier agent, SD experiments were conducted in a pilot-scale SD apparatus. Operating conditions were 150 ˚C of inlet air temperature, 85 ˚C of outlet air temperature and 28 mL/min of feed speed. The quality evaluation revealed that the FD products basically had no significant color differences, except for the product from microwave FD of the unfoamed material with the quartz pad. SD products exhibited light colors, compared with FD products. Betacyanin, rutin and total phenolic content retentions of FD products were all above 72%, 83% and 75%, but those of SD products were much lower. SEM images showed that the porous and tenuous skeletons were observed in the FD products from the foamed materials, which was beneficial to the vapor migration and bound water desorption. There was no impact of microwave heating on the pore structure of both unfoamed and foamed materials. SD products appeared as spherical particles with smooth surfaces. The drying time was significantly reduced to produce high quality products. The FD can provide an industrial solution to prepare berry powders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Okra is a vegetable crop with high nutritional value that quickly loses its quality and decay after harvesting. This research aimed to investigate influences of calcium chloride concentrations combined with chitosan coating on the quality characteristics of okra pods during post-harvest. Okra pods were immersed in different concentrations of calcium chloride (0%, 1%, 2%, 4%) and then covered with chitosan (0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5%). Physicochemical analysis including: physiological weight loss, firmness, titratable acidity, total soluble solids, ascorbic acid content, total phenol content, and visual appearance and decay rate were performed at 4-day intervals for 16 days. The results showed that during storage, weight loss, soluble solids, and decay rate increased and firmness, ascorbic acid, total phenol content, titratable acidity and visual appearance showed a sharp decrease. Chitosan coating containing calcium chloride was significantly effective in maintaining the quality characteristics of okra. Among the investigated treatments, a combination of 2% calcium chloride and 1% chitosan was the most effective method to maintain the highest overall quality index score of okra pods stored at 4°C for up to 16 days. This treatment also significantly reduced weight loss and maintained ascorbic acid, total phenolic content, titratable acidity and visual appearance, and delayed increase in soluble solids and decay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work's main objective was to investigate the gum Arabic effect on reducing oxidative stress in bell peppers during ripening. Gum Arabic in 6, 9, 12, and 15% aqueous solutions was applied as an edible coating before storage on mature bell peppers stored at 8°C and 90-95% relative humidity for 28 days. The fruits that were coated with 12% gum Arabic had the lowest rate of decay, weight loss, total carotenoid content, and peroxidation of membrane lipids, as well as the highest total antioxidant capacity, total phenol, ascorbic acid, and antioxidant enzyme activity (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase) during storage compared to the control without coating and the fruit treated with 6 and 9% gum. Still, there was no statistically significant difference with the fruit treated with 15% gum Arabic except for the total carotenoid content. The amount of peroxidation of membrane lipids showed positive and high correlation coefficients with decay (0.93**) and physiological weight loss (0.89**), but with antioxidant capacity (-0.93**), ascorbic acid (-0.94**), total phenol (-0.92**), activity of SOD (-0.96**), CAT (-0.87**) and POD (-0.86**) correlation. It was negative and high. The results showed that the use of 12% gum Arabic as an edible coating can delay oxidative stress and decay and maintain the antioxidant properties of the fruit for up to 28 days during storage at 8 degrees Celsius. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of angiogenesis plays an essential role in the growth and survival of endometriosis. The aim was to determine the in vitro anti-angiogenic effect of Saraca asoca, Glycyrrhiza glabra, and Curcuma longa ethanolic extract in chick embryos by emphasizing its total phenolic and flavonoid contents in the sample. It was determined by Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride methods respectively. Anti-angiogenesis assay was done in chorioallantoic membrane. The high amount of total phenol and flavonoid was obtained from all three plant extracts and may be responsible for the bioactivity of the crude extract. Saraca asoca exhibits high phenolic content and anti-angiogenic activity followed by Curcuma longa with rich flavonoid and Glycyrrhiza glabra showed moderate activity for all the assays. A significant anti-angiogenic effect was observed for Saraca asoca (73.65+0.021) % and Curcuma longa (67.65+0.024) % than reference drug dienogest (62.42+0.02) % in the study. Search for new therapeutic agents with anti-angiogenic potential rich in plant secondary metabolites like phenols and flavonoids are need of the hour. The results successfully reveal that the abovementioned plants used in traditional medicines could be used for treating angiogenesis-related diseases like endometriosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the importance of the garlic plant in the medicinal and industrial field and also the existence of little information about the distribution, diversity and biochemical characteristics of native populations, this research was carried out as a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design and three replications was carried out in the central laboratory of Razi University in 2023to group six ecotypes from different parts of Hamedan province based on their place of growth and determine their biochemical traits. The results of variance analysis of the studied traits showed a significant difference between the ecotypes in the traits of total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, soluble sugar, total phenol, flavonoid, and the two leaf and seed samples. The results of examining the interaction effect of native populations in the samples indicated the significance of the total phenol content index among native populations. The native populations were grouped based on the cluster diagram and decomposition into main components, and they were placed in different groups considering their biochemical traits. Considering the geographical conditions of the samples and their presence in the same geographic latitudes, the difference between the samples may be attributed to the difference in the genotypes of the populations. There was a positive and significant correlation between chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll. There was also a positive and significant correlation between total phenol and flavonoid content. Based on the traits studied, Maryanj, Asad-abad and then Bahar-2 native populations can be introduced as desirable examples in clinical studies and can also be used for breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrate accumulation is a common problem in most leafy vegetables and it happens when the amount of nitrate absorption exceeds the amount consumed by the plant. This study was conducted as a factorial experiment in the form of a completely randomized design and in three replications. The first factor included adding nitrate (calcium nitrate) to Hoagland's standard solution at three levels of 0, 10 and 20%, and the second factor was adding different concentrations of molybdenum from sodium molybdate salt at four levels of 0, 0.5, 1.5 and 3 µM. The measured traits included traits of some growth characteristics, total phenol and flavonoids, ascorbic acid, spinach leaf nitrate. According to the obtained results, fresh and dry weight of leaf, dry weight of root and percentage of dry matter increased by increasing calcium nitrate concentration up to 20% and molybdenum application up to 3 µM in nutrient solution. The simultaneous application of molybdenum and nitrogen had no significant effect on total phenolic, total flavonoid and ascorbic acid traits, and the highest amount of these traits was observed in 3 µM molybdenum. The highest amount of leaf nitrate (3247.4 mg kg-1 FW) was observed in the treatment of 20% additional nitrate along with molybdenum. Based on the results, the use of molybdenum in nutrient solution had a reducing effect on nitrate accumulation in spinach leaf, therefore adding 3 µM sodium molybdate to Hoagland nutrient solution in hydroponic system for spinach production is recommended to obtain the maximum amount of antioxidant compounds and the minimum amount of nitrate accumulation. Introduction Plants take nitrogen (N) either as nitrate (NO3-) or ammonium (NH4+) form for various growth and developmental processes; however, NO3- is more important for such processes. For most of the crop plants, the nitrate form is mobile, less toxic, and can be stored in vacuoles. However, Nitrate must be reduced to NH4+ before it can be utilized for the synthesis of amino acids, proteins, and other nitrogenous compounds in plant cells. Nitrate reductase (NR) and nitrite reductase (NiR), the key nitrate assimilatory enzymes, are located in cytosol and chloroplasts and catalyze nitrate reduction to NO2- followed by NO2- to NH4+, respectively, in the leaf tissues. However, NH4+ is directly assimilated to produce different amino acids by the mutual actions of glutamine synthetase (GS) and glutamate synthase (GOGAT) enzymes in a cyclic manner within the plant cells. Nitrate accumulation is a common problem in most leafy vegetables and it happens when the amount of nitrate absorption exceeds the amount consumed by the plant. Molybdenum (Mo) is an essential microelement for higher plants and also a metal component of the Mo-cofactor, (Moco) biosynthesis. Moco binds to Mo-requiring enzymes and optimizes their activities for normal functioning of plant growth and developmental processes. Molybdenum plays a significant role in N metabolism, which includes nitrate reduction, assimilation, and fixation, by regulating the NR and GS enzymes activities and expressions. During symbiotic N fixation, Mo acts as a cofactor for nitrogenase enzymes to catalyze the redox reaction to convert elemental N into ammonium ions. Materials and methods This study was conducted as a factorial experiment in the form of a completely randomized design and in three replications. The first factor included adding nitrate (calcium nitrate) to Hoagland's standard solution at three levels of 0, 10 and 20%, and the second factor was adding different concentrations of molybdenum from sodium molybdate salt at four levels of 0, 0.5, 1.5 and 3 µM. This research was conducted in the research greenhouse of Campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources Razi University. Senator spinach seeds were obtained from Fardin Kasht Alborz Institute. Spinach seeds were disinfected with 1% sodium hypochlorite for 5 minutes and then planted in seedling trays containing cocopeat and perlite with a volume ratio of 1:1. The measured traits included traits of some growth characteristics, total phenol and flavonoids, ascorbic acid, spinach leaf nitrate. Results and discussion According to the obtained results, fresh and dry weight of leaf, dry weight of root and percentage of dry matter increased by increasing calcium nitrate concentration up to 20% and molybdenum application up to 3 µM in nutrient solution. The simultaneous application of molybdenum and nitrogen had no significant effect on total phenolic, total flavonoid and ascorbic acid traits, and the highest amount of these traits was observed in 3 µM molybdenum. The highest amount of leaf nitrate (3247.4 mg kg-1 FW) was observed in the treatment of 20% additional nitrate along with molybdenum. The most important point in this research was the use of molybdenum to control nitrate accumulation, and the use of molybdenum in concentrations of 1.5 and 3 µM was able to reduce the amount of nitrate accumulation in the aerial parts to some extent, thus neutralizing the toxicity of excess nitrate. The use of sodium molybdate can be one of the recommended ways to reduce the accumulation of nitrates and at the same time enrich molybdenum in spinach and increase the nutritional value of this plant. Conclusion Nitrate and ammonium are the major forms of N that plants use for different growth and developmental processes. The present study revealed that Mo fertilizer plays a key role in N metabolism through regulating the activities and expressions of N-assimilating enzymes. In general, the results of this research showed that the increase in molybdenum concentration in hydroponic culture affected the growth and biochemical characteristics of spinach. Based on the results, the use of molybdenum in nutrient solution had a reducing effect on nitrate accumulation in spinach leaf, therefore adding 3 µM sodium molybdate to Hoagland nutrient solution in hydroponic system for spinach production is recommended to obtain the maximum amount of antioxidant compounds and the minimum amount of nitrate accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue mold, caused by Penicillium expansum, is considered one of the most serious postharvest diseases of apple fruits. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of thyme methanol extract to control the postharvest blue mold of apple fruit and its possible modes of action through on induction of biochemical defense mechanisms. In this study, the effect of thyme methanol extract was tested on spore germination and colony growth in vitro and peroxidase activity and total phenolic in fruit tissue were evaluated by calorimetric assay. The results showed the inhibitory activity of thyme extract on P. expansum. The extract with 8-20 µg/ml concentrations had 17-33% and 24-36% inhibition of spore germination and colony growth diameter, respectively. Thyme extract decreased blue mold area by 23.63-61.20% and the most effective extract was at 13.88 mg/ml concentration. The relationship between time and thyme extract concentration in relation to decay area was described by the quadratic model. Fruits treated with thyme extract had significantly higher phenolic content and peroxidase activity than the control fruits. The highest content of phenolic compounds and peroxidase activity were achieved in the 6th and 9th days after inoculation. The results of the induction of resistance in this study suggest that the natural products used have the potential for use in the integrated management of blue mold.

Purpose: In Bangladesh, postharvest damage to various vegetables is common because of a lack of appropriate technologies. Country beans (Phaseolus lunatus L.), one of Bangladesh's main winter vegetables, are cultivated throughout the country, which provides numerous health advantages. A research experiment was performed to measure the impact of chitosan covering on weight loss, shelf-life, and some nutritional characteristics of country beans at postharvest storage. Research Method: The experiment was set up in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications and four treatments at room temperature (≈23-25ºC), and the treatments were: T0 (control), T1 (coating with 0.10% solution), T2 (coating with 0.20% solution) and T3 (coating with 0.30% solution). Findings: The use of 0.20% chitosan prevented weight reduction by 1.59% as compared to the control and extended the shelf-life up to 23.3% in country beans at 10 and 12 days after postharvest storage (DAPS), respectively. Chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b and total chlorophyll contents varied from 0.75-1.59, 1.36-2.86 and 2.11-4.45 mg g-1 tissue at 5 DAPS and 0.61-1.26, 1.10-2.27 and 1.70-3.53 mg g-1 tissue at 10 DAPS, respectively. Chitosan treatment T2 significantly enhanced calcium (0.77%) and phosphorus (0.51%) contents in the country beans during postharvest storage at 5 DAPS. Additionally, treatment T3 significantly increased total phenolics (3.06 mg 100g-1 tissue) in the country beans during postharvest storage at the same DAPS. Research limitations: The study could not measure some traits (i.e., anti-radical activity, the activity of antioxidant enzymes, etc.) due to a lack of laboratory facilities. Originality/Value: This experiment revealed that country beans covered with 0.20% chitosan solutions could be utilized to enhance several nutritional properties, check weight loss, and prolong the shelf-life.

Purpose: This research has investigated the effect of different levels of nitrogen and selenium on some growth and physiological characteristics of garlic leaves. Research method: This research was done as a factorial in the form of randomized complete blocks in 3 replications. The first factor included four levels of nitrogen (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg ha-1) and the second factor included three levels of selenium (0, 5, and 10 mgL-1). Findings: In all four nitrogen levels, with increasing selenium concentration, plant height (69.66 cm), fresh weight (10.66 g m2), and dry weight (51.33 g m2) of leaf increased. The highest amount of photosynthetic pigments was observed in the treatment of 150 kg ha-1 of nitrogen along with 10 mg L-1 of sodium selenate. Nitrogen and selenium increased antioxidant capacity (45.69 μmol g-1FW), total phenol (295.60 mg 100 g-1FW) and ascorbic acid (18.30 mg 100 g-1FW). Contrary to selenium, nitrogen increased the amount of allicin in garlic leaf, and the highest amount of allicin (0.33 mgmL-1) was in the treatment of 150 kg ha-1 of nitrogen along with 0 mgL-1 of sodium selenate. The maximum plant height and wet and dry weight of the leaf were observed in the treatments of selenium and nitrogen, which shows the positive effect of both elements on increasing the amount of chlorophyll synthesis and, as a result increasing the amount of photosynthesis and carbon fixation, which ultimately will have, increasing the growth rate of garlic plant. Research limitations: None were found to report. Originality/Value: As a result, the treatment of 150 kg ha-1 of nitrogen along with 10 mgL-1 of sodium selenate is recommended to increase the antioxidant compounds of garlic leaf, which is a good source of these compounds and selenium in early spring, which also plays an essential role in human health.

Abstract Background The biochemical and growth changes resulting from exposure of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) seedlings to silver nanoparticles and silver were investigated. Over a two-week period, seedlings were exposed to different concentrations (0, 40, and 80 ppm) of silver nanoparticles and silver. Results Our findings revealed that at concentrations of 40 and 80 ppm, both silver nanoparticles and silver nitrate led to decreased weight, root and shoot length, as well as chlorophyll a and b content. Conversely, these treatments triggered an increase in key biochemical properties, such as total phenols, carotenoids and anthocyanins, with silver nanoparticles showing a more pronounced effect compared to silver nitrate. Moreover, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) rose proportionally with treatment concentration, with the nanoparticle treatment exhibiting a more substantial increase. Silver content showed a significant upswing in both roots and leaves as treatment concentrations increased. Conclusions Application of varying concentrations of silver nanoparticles and silver nitrate on basil plants resulted in reduced growth and lower chlorophyll content, while simultaneously boosting the production of antioxidant compounds. Notably, anthocyanin, carotenoid, and total phenol increased significantly. However, despite this increase in antioxidant activity, the plant remained unable to fully mitigate the oxidative stress induced by silver and silver nanoparticles.

Introduction The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) plays an important social, environmental, and economical role for many people living in arid and semiarid regions of the world. Date fruit is one of the major agricultural crops in the East Asia region, where about 90% of the world's dates are cultivated. Dates are rich in certain nutrients and provide a good source of rapid energy, due to their high carbohydrate content (70–80%). Moreover, date fruits contain fat (0.20–0.50%), protein (2.30–5.60%), dietary fibre (6.40–11.50%), minerals (0.10–916 mg/100 g dry weight), and vitamins (C, B1, B2, B3, and A) with very little or no starch. In addition to the direct consumption of the fruit, various industrial products are also extracted derived from this product, including date juice, date honey, liquid sugar, vinegar, alcohol, caramel, date paste and date chocolate. The annual production of one million and 400 thousand tons of dates in Iran has made Iran the second pole of date production in the world after Egypt. Zarin Dasht region is located in Fars province, and the annual production of dates in this region reaches more than 1000 tons. The aim of the present work was to investigate the chemical composition, carbohydrate, and antioxidant capacity of two cultivars of Zarin Dasht dates. Materials and Methods After collection, all date fruits were washed with tap water, and the seeds were then removed, and the flesh were shade dried at room temperature. The dimensions and area of the imaged surfaces were measured by the physical properties measurement device in 100 repetitions. The working principle of this device is based on image processing technique. By placing the product in three different positions and perpendicular to each other, pictures of the date samples were taken individually. Date mass was obtained using a sensitive digital scale with an accuracy of 0.01 g. The displaced water method was used to determine the volume and density of each date seed. Bulk density, date porosity, geometric mean diameter, sphericity coefficient and surface area of the samples were determined. The amount of moisture was determined by weight method, ash by burning in an electric furnace, titratable acidity based on malic acid and pH of the samples were measured by a digital pH meter. To measure the amount of total phenol in the fruit, Folin–Ciocalteu reagent was used and the absorbance of the reaction mixture was read at 750 nm by a spectrophotometer. The amount of total phenol was reported in terms of gallic acid. The antioxidant capacity was determined through the neutralization of free radical 2 and 2 diphenyl 1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). To measure the sugar of all samples, first a standard curve was drawn from the glucose solution in different concentrations, then the sugar content of the samples was measured in milligrams per gram of fresh weight at 490 nm using the sulfuric phenol method. The amount of crude fibre was calculated according to the standard method of AOAC-991/43. The amount of fat was obtained with the Universal Extractor E-800 device for 3 hours at a suitable temperature and in 250 cc of n-hexane solvent. Finally, the statistical analysis of the data was done factorially and in the form of a completely random design in 3 replications using SAS 4, 9 software and the comparison of the means was done using the LSD test at a probability level of 1%. Results and Discussion According to the results of this research, there was a significant difference in all qualitative traits except pH (P

Introduction In recent years, the use of organic acids has increased due to their role in the quantitative and qualitative yield and resistance to environmental stresses. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is one of the important antioxidants and plays a role as the primary substrate in cyclic pathways to remove toxicity and neutralize superoxide and single oxygen radicals. Ascorbate is also involved in the regulation of cell division and photosynthesis and has nutritional value for humans and is probably important for the tolerance of plants against photo-oxidative stress. Oxalic acid is a metabolic end product in plants that has many physiological functions, the main ones is the induction of resistance to disease and environmental stress by increasing the activity of enzymes involved in resistance and secondary metabolites such as phenol, flavonoid, etc. Considering the importance of the physiological traits of the plant in the production of quantitative and qualitative yield of strawberry and on the other hand, the lack of sufficient information about the effect of external application of ascorbic acid and oxalic acid on the physiological traits of the plant, the present research work aimed to investigate some physiological and qualitative traits of strawberry leaves and fruits affected by foliar spraying of ascorbic acid and oxalic acid. Materials and Methods The experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications in Darkalate village of Ramiyan city of Golestan province to investigate some physiological responses of strawberry cv. Camarosa to the foliar application of organic acids. The experimental treatments consisted of three levels: non-spraying as control, spraying with 1 mM ascorbic acid and 1 mM oxalic acid, which was performed in three stages (from end flowering stage to the green fruit stage) at 6 days intervals. Finally, three plants were selected from each experimental unit and leaf samples were taken and transferred to the laboratory to measure physiological traits i.e. leaf area, fresh and dry weights, total chlorophylls, chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b, total carotenoids, total sugars, total phenols and flavonoids. Also, when at least 75 percent of the fruit surface turned red, the fruits were harvested from each plot separately and immediately transferred to the Plant Physiology Laboratory of Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. The physicochemical traits of strawberry fruits including total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), flavor index, vitamin C, total phenol, flavonoid, antioxidant activity, total anthocyanins were measured. Analysis of data were performed using SAS 9.2 statistical software and comparison of mean data were undertaken based on LSD statistical test. Results and discussion The results showed that the foliar application of ascorbic acid and organic acid had a significant effect on the leaf area, fresh and dry weights, total chlorophylls, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, total sugars, phenols and flavonoids. The highest mean leaf area (314.08 cm2), leaf fresh and dry weights (1.78 and 0.56 grams, respectively), chlorophyll a (0.43 mg/g), total carotenoids (0.29 mg/g), total sugars (1.43 µg/g), total phenols (0.70 mg/g) and flavonoids (0.19 mg/g) were observed in the application of oxalic acid. The control had the lowest mean in all studied traits (except carotenoids). The application of both ascorbic acid and oxalic acid resulted in an increase in photosynthetic pigments, elevating the total chlorophyll content by an average of 22% compared to the control group. Additionally, foliar spraying with ascorbic and oxalic acid led to higher levels of total soluble solids, increased antioxidant activity, and enhanced total flavonoid content in the fruit compared to the control group.Moreover, fruits harvested from plants treated with oxalic acid before harvest exhibited higher levels of total anthocyanin and phenol compared to fruits from plants treated with ascorbic acid before harvest and the control group. Fruits of plants treated with ascorbic acid compared to plants treated with oxalic acid had lower vitamin C and titratable acidity and higher flavor index. The physiological influence of oxalic acid was more superior than that of ascorbic acid and had higher positive effects in the studied traits were recorded. However, since ascorbate is one of the precursors of oxalic acid biosynthesis. Therefore, the changes caused by oxalic acid are indirectly influenced by ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid acts as a cofactor in photosynthetic reactions and prevents the destruction of chlorophylls and carotenoids due to its antioxidant property, and by interfering in cell division and increasing the surface area of leaves; it increases photosynthesis and the production of carbohydrates. In general, according to the results, it was found that the application of ascorbic acid and oxalic acid improved the quality characteristics and the content of health related compounds of Camarosa strawberry fruit by increasing photosynthetic pigments and biomass.

Objective: To solve the problem of difficult preservation of fresh Mulberry, fresh Mulberry is fermented by Lactobacillus plantarum to produce Mulberry Jiaosu. Methods: Using fresh Mulberry juice as the raw material, Lactobacillus plantarum as strain and total phenol as index, the fermentation process of Mulberry Jiaosu was optimized by single factor test and response surface test. Results: The optimized fermentation conditions were as follows: fermentation time was 40 h, fermentation temperature was 32 ℃, inoculation amount was 25%, and the total phenol content of Mulberry Jiaosu was （43.48±0.67） μg/mL, which was 1.62 times that of non-fermented Mulberry juice. Conclusion: The quality evaluation results showed that the Mulberry Jiaosu had purple red color, uniform color, strong mulberry fruit aroma and fermentation aroma, no peculiar smell, soft sour taste, good flavor, lustre, no impurities and precipitation. The indexes of the Mulberry Jiaosu meet the relevant national standards.

Background: The biochemical and growth changes resulting from exposure of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) seedlings to silver nanoparticles and silver were investigated. Over a two-week period, seedlings were exposed to different concentrations (0, 40, and 80 ppm) of silver nanoparticles and silver. Results: Our findings revealed that at concentrations of 40 and 80 ppm, both silver nanoparticles and silver nitrate led to decreased weight, root and shoot length, as well as chlorophyll a and b content. Conversely, these treatments triggered an increase in key biochemical properties, such as total phenols, carotenoids and anthocyanins, with silver nanoparticles showing a more pronounced effect compared to silver nitrate. Moreover, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) rose proportionally with treatment concentration, with the nanoparticle treatment exhibiting a more substantial increase. Silver content showed a significant upswing in both roots and leaves as treatment concentrations increased. Conclusions: Application of varying concentrations of silver nanoparticles and silver nitrate on basil plants resulted in reduced growth and lower chlorophyll content, while simultaneously boosting the production of antioxidant compounds. Notably, anthocyanin, carotenoid, and total phenol increased significantly. However, despite this increase in antioxidant activity, the plant remained unable to fully mitigate the oxidative stress induced by silver and silver nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]