Physicochemical Characterization,Antioxidant Capacity,and Sensory Properties of Murici (Byrsonima crassifolia (L.) Kunth) and Taperebá (Spondias mombin L.) Beverages

Amazonian fruits are excellent sources of bioactive compounds and can be used in beverages to improve the nutritional and sensorial characteristics. The present study aimed to develop a blend of murici (Byrsonima Crassifolia (L.) Kunth) and taperebá (Spondias Mombin L.) through experimental design and investigating the nutritional and sensorial characteristics of fruits and beverages. The murici was highlighted as higher vitamin C content (58.88 mg · 100 g⁻¹) compared to taperebá (25.93 mg · 100 g⁻¹). The murici and taperebá are good sources of total phenolic compounds (taperebá 1304.15 ± 19.14 mgGAE · 100 g⁻¹ and the murici of 307.52 ± 19.73 mg GAE · 100 g⁻¹) and flavonoids (174.87 ± 1.76 μgQE/g and 129.46 ± 10.68 μgQE/g, murici and taperebá, respectively), when compared to other Brazilian fruits. The antioxidant capacity in different methods revealed that the taperebá had a higher average in the results, only in the ORAC method and did not present a significant difference (p > 0.05) in relation to the murici. The beverage development was performed using experimental design 2³, showed through sensory analysis and surface response methodology that murici and high sugar content (between 12.5 and 14.2% of sugar) influenced in sensory acceptance. Our findings indicate that beverages with improved nutrition and a sensory acceptance can be prepared using taperebá and murici fruits.     

Optimization of Fermentation Process of Pomegranate Peel and Schisandra Chinensis and the Biological Activities of Fermentation Broth: Antioxidant Activity and Protective Effect Against H2O2-induced Oxidative Damage in HaCaT Cells

In this study, the lactobacillus fermentation process of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel and Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill (PP&SC) was optimized by using the response surface method (RSM) coupled with a Box-Behnken design. The optimum fermentation condition with the maximal yield of ellagic acid (99.49 ± 0.47 mg/g) was as follows: 1:1 (w:w) ratio of pomegranate peel to Schisandra chinensis, 1% (v:v) of strains with a 1:1 (v:v) ratio of Lactobacillus Plantarum to Streptococcus Thermophilus, a 37 °C fermentation temperature, 33 h of fermentation time, 1:20 (g:mL) of a solid–liquid ratio and 3 g/100 mL of a glucose dosage. Under these conditions, the achieved fermentation broth (FB) showed stronger free radical scavenging abilities than the water extract (WE) against the ABTS⁺, DPPH, OH⁻ and O₂⁻ radicals. The cytotoxicity and the protective effect of FB on the intracellular ROS level in HaCaT cells were further detected by the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The results showed that FB had no significant cytotoxicity toward HaCaT cells when its content was no more than 8 mg/mL. The FB with a concentration of 8 mg/mL had a good protective effect against oxidative damage, which can effectively reduce the ROS level to 125.94% ± 13.46% (p < 0.001) compared with 294.49% ± 11.54% of the control group in H₂O₂-damaged HaCaT cells. The outstanding antioxidant ability and protective effect against H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage in HaCaT cells promote the potential for the FB of PP&SC as a functional raw material of cosmetics.     

Fortification of Acidophilus-bifidus-thermophilus (ABT) Fermented Milk with Heat-Treated Industrial Yeast Enhances Its Selected Properties

The improvement of milk dairy products’ quality and nutritional value during shelf-life storage is the ultimate goal of many studies worldwide. Therefore, in the present study, prospective beneficial effects of adding two different industrial yeasts, Kluyveromyces lactis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae pretreated by heating at 85 °C for 10 min to be inactivated, before fermentation on some properties of ABT fermented milk were evaluated. The results of this study showed that the addition of 3% and 5% (w/v) heat-treated yeasts to the milk enhanced the growth of starter culture, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacteria, and Streptococcus thermophilus, during the fermentation period as well as its viability after 20 days of cold storage at 5 ± 1 °C. Furthermore, levels of lactic and acetic acids were significantly increased from 120.45 ± 0.65 and 457.80 ± 0.70 µg/mL in the control without heat-treated yeast to 145.67 ± 0.77 and 488.32 ± 0.33 µg/mL with 5% supplementation of Sacch. cerevisiae respectively. Moreover, the addition of heat-treated yeasts to ABT fermented milk enhanced the antioxidant capacity by increasing the efficiency of free radical scavenging as well as the proteolytic activity. Taken together, these results suggest promising application of non-viable industrial yeasts as nutrients in the fermentation process of ABT milk to enhance the growth and viability of ABT starter cultures before and after a 20-day cold storage period by improving the fermented milk level of organic acids, antioxidant capacity, and proteolytic activities.     

Development,Characterization, and Immunomodulatory Evaluation of Carvacrol-loaded Nanoemulsion

Carvacrol (CV) is an essential oil with numerous therapeutic properties, including immunomodulatory activity. However, this effect has not been studied in nanoemulsion systems. The objective of this study was to develop an innovative carvacrol-loaded nanoemulsion (CVNE) for immunomodulatory action. The developed CVNE comprised of 5% w/w oily phase (medium chain triglycerides + CV), 2% w/w surfactants (Tween 80^®/Span 80^®), and 93% w/w water, and was produced by ultrasonication. Dynamic light scattering over 90 days was used to characterize CVNE. Cytotoxic activity and quantification of cytokines were evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) culture supernatants. CVNE achieved a drug loading of 4.29 mg/mL, droplet size of 165.70 ± 0.46 nm, polydispersity index of 0.14 ± 0.03, zeta potential of −10.25 ± 0.52 mV, and good stability for 90 days. CVNE showed no cytotoxicity at concentrations up to 200 µM in PBMCs. CV diminished the production of IL-2 in the PBMC supernatant. However, CVNE reduced the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-2, IL-17, and IFN-γ at 50 µM. In conclusion, a stable CVNE was produced, which improved the CV immunomodulatory activity in PBMCs.     

The Role of Allium subhirsutum L. in the Attenuation of Dermal Wounds by Modulating Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Wistar Albino Rats

In our study, Allium subhirsutum L. (AS) was investigated to assess its phenolic profile and bioactive molecules including flavonoids and organosulfur compounds. The antioxidant potential of AS and wound healing activity were addressed using skin wound healing and oxidative stress and inflammation marker estimation in rat models. Phytochemical and antiradical activities of AS extract (ASE) and oil (ASO) were studied. The rats were randomly assigned to four groups: group I served as a control and was treated with simple ointment base, group II was treated with ASE ointment, group III was treated with ASO ointment and group IV (reference group; Ref) was treated with a reference drug “Cytolcentella^® cream”. Phytochemical screening showed that total phenols (215 ± 3.5 mg GAE/g) and flavonoids (172.4 ± 3.1 mg QE/g) were higher in the ASO than the ASE group. The results of the antioxidant properties showed that ASO exhibited the highest DPPH free radical scavenging potential (IC50 = 0.136 ± 0.07 mg/mL), FRAP test (IC50 = 0.013 ± 0.006 mg/mL), ABTS test (IC50 = 0.52 ± 0.03 mg/mL) and total antioxidant capacity (IC50 = 0.34 ± 0.06 mg/mL). In the wound healing study, topical application of ASO performed the fastest wound-repairing process estimated by a chromatic study, percentage wound closure, fibrinogen level and oxidative damage status, as compared to ASE, the Cytolcentella reference drug and the untreated rats. The use of AS extract and oil were also associated with the attenuation of oxidative stress damage in the wound-healing treated rats. Overall, the results provided that AS, particularly ASO, has a potential medicinal value to act as effective skin wound healing agent.     

Kabuli and Apulian black Chickpea Milling By-Products as Innovative Ingredients to Provide High Levels of Dietary Fibre and Bioactive Compounds in Gluten-Free Fresh Pasta

Gluten-free (GF) products, including pasta, are often characterised by nutritional deficiencies, such as scarce dietary fibre and excess of calories. Chickpea flour is increasingly being used by the food industries. Hulls, rich in dietary fibre and bioactive compounds, are discarded after milling. The aim of this work was to evaluate the quality features of short-cut GF fresh pasta added of hull (8% w/w) derived from kabuli (KH) or Apulian black (ABH) chickpeas, in comparison with control GF pasta prepared without hull. The enriched pasta, which could be labelled as “high fibre”, was characterised by a higher level of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity than the control. ABH-enriched pasta showed the highest anthocyanins (33.37 ± 1.20 and 20.59 ± 0.11 mg/kg of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside on dry matter in raw and cooked pasta, respectively). Hull addition increased colour intensity and structural quality of GF pasta: ABH-enriched pasta had the lowest cooking loss and the highest water absorption capacity; KH-enriched pasta showed the highest firmness. No significant differences in sensory liking were found among the samples, except for “aftertaste”. Chickpea hull can be used as an innovative ingredient to produce potentially functional GF pasta, meeting the dietary needs of consumers without affecting quality.     

Chemical Characterization of Three Accessions of Brassica juncea L. Extracts from Different Plant Tissues

Indian mustard or Brassica juncea (B. juncea) is an oilseed plant used in many types of food (as mustard or IV range salad). It also has non-food uses (e.g., as green manure), and is a good model for phytoremediation of metals and pesticides. In recent years, it gained special attention due to its biological compounds and potential beneficial effects on human health. In this study, different tissues, namely leaves, stems, roots, and flowers of three accessions of B. juncea: ISCI 99 (Sample A), ISCI Top (Sample B), and “Broad-leaf” (Sample C) were analyzed by HPLC-PDA/ESI-MS/MS. Most polyphenols identified were bound to sugars and phenolic acids. Among the three cultivars, Sample A flowers turned were the richest ones, and the most abundant bioactive identified was represented by Isorhamnetin 3,7-diglucoside (683.62 µg/100 mg dry weight (DW) in Sample A, 433.65 µg/100 mg DW in Sample B, and 644.43 µg/100 mg DW in Sample C). In addition, the most complex samples, viz. leaves were analyzed by GC-FID/MS. The major volatile constituents of B. juncea L. leaves extract in the three cultivars were benzenepropanenitrile (34.94% in Sample B, 8.16% in Sample A, 6.24% in Sample C), followed by benzofuranone (8.54% in Sample A, 6.32% in Sample C, 3.64% in Sample B), and phytone (3.77% in Sample B, 2.85% in Sample A, 1.01% in Sample C). The overall evaluation of different tissues from three B. juncea accessions, through chemical analysis of the volatile and non-volatile compounds, can be advantageously taken into consideration for future use as dietary supplements and nutraceuticals in food matrices.     

Effects of Long-Term Storage on Radical Scavenging Properties and Phenolic Content of Kombucha from Black Tea

Kombucha is a fermented beverage. Its consumption has significantly increased during the last decades due to its perceived beneficial effects. For this reason, it has become a highly commercialized drink that is produced industrially. However, kombucha is still also a homemade beverage, and the parameters which, besides its organoleptic characteristics, define the duration of its potential beneficial properties over time, are poorly known. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of 9-month storage at 4 °C with 30-day sampling on the pH, total phenolic, and flavonoid contents, free radical scavenging properties of kombucha fermented from black tea. Our results highlighted that, after four months, the phenolic content decreased significantly from the initial value of 234.1 ± 1.4 µg GAE mL⁻¹ to 202.9 ± 2.1 µg GAE mL⁻¹, as well its antioxidant capacity tested by two in vitro models, DPPH, and ABTS assays. Concomitantly, the pH value increased from 2.82 to 3.16. The novel findings of this pilot study revealed that kombucha from sugared black tea can be stored at refrigerator temperature for four months. After this period the antioxidant properties of kombucha are no longer retained.     

Inhibitory Effects of Erythrosine/Curcumin Derivatives/Nano-Titanium Dioxide-Mediated Photodynamic Therapy on Candida albicans

This study focuses on the role of photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy. The photosensitizers were prepared in combinations of 110/220 µM erythrosine and/or 10/20 µM demethoxy/bisdemethoxy curcumin with/without 10% (w/w) nano-titanium dioxide. Irradiation was performed with a dental blue light in the 395–480 nm wavelength range, with a power density of 3200 mW/cm² and yield of 72 J/cm². The production of ROS and hydroxyl radical was investigated using an electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometer for each individual photosensitizer or in photosensitizer combinations. Subsequently, a PrestoBlue^® toxicity test of the gingival fibroblast cells was performed at 6 and 24 h on the eight highest ROS-generating photosensitizers containing curcumin derivatives and erythrosine 220 µM. Finally, the antifungal ability of 22 test photosensitizers, Candida albicans (ATCC 10231), were cultured in biofilm form at 37 °C for 48 h, then the colonies were counted in colony-forming units (CFU/mL) via the drop plate technique, and then the log reduction was calculated. The results showed that at 48 h the test photosensitizers could simultaneously produce both ROS types. All test photosensitizers demonstrated no toxicity on the fibroblast cells. In total, 18 test photosensitizers were able to inhibit Candida albicans similarly to nystatin. Conclusively, 20 µM bisdemethoxy curcumin + 220 µM erythrosine + 10% (w/w) nano-titanium dioxide exerted the highest inhibitory effect on Candida albicans.     

Comparative Study of Bioactivity and Safety Evaluation of Ethanolic Extracts of Zanthoxylum schinifolium Fruit and Pericarp

The fruit and pericarp of Zanthoxylum schinifolium (ZS) have been used in traditional medicine; however, few studies have characterized ZS fruit and pericarp. Therefore, in the present study, we evaluated the safety of ZS fruit (ZSF) and pericarp (ZSP) extracts and compared their bioactivity. To evaluate the safety of ZSF and ZSP, mutagenicity, cytotoxicity, and oxidative stress assays were performed and nontoxic concentration ranges were obtained. ZSP was found to be superior to ZSF in terms of its antimutagenic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. In the S9 mix, the mutation inhibition rate of ZSP was close to 100% at concentrations exceeding 625 µg·plate⁻¹ for both the TA98 and TA100 strains. ZSP exhibited efficient DPPH (IC₅₀ = 75.6 ± 6.1 µg·mL⁻¹) and ABTS (IC₅₀ = 57.4 ± 6 µg·mL⁻¹) scavenging activities. ZSP inhibited the release of cytokines, involved in IL-1β (IC₅₀ = 134.4 ± 7.8), IL-6 (IC₅₀ = 262.8 ± 11.2), and TNF-α (IC₅₀ = 223.8 ± 5.8). These results indicate that ZSP contains a higher amount of biochemicals than ZSF, or that ZSP contains unique biochemicals. In conclusion, for certain physiological activities, the use of ZSP alone may be more beneficial than the combined use of ZSF and ZSP.     

Box–Behnken Design (BBD)-Based Optimization of Microwave-Assisted Extraction of Parthenolide from the Stems of Tarconanthus camphoratus and Cytotoxic Analysis

Parthenolide, a strong cytotoxic compound found in different parts of Tarchonanthus camphoratus which motivated the authors to develop an optimized microwave-assisted extraction (MEA) method using Box–Behnken design (BBD) for efficient extraction of parthenolide from the stem of T. camphoratus and its validation by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) and cytotoxic analysis. The optimized parameters for microwave extraction were determined as: 51.5 °C extraction temperature, 50.8 min extraction time, and 211 W microwave power. A quadratic polynomial model was found the most suitable model with R² of 0.9989 and coefficient of variation (CV) of 0.2898%. The high values of adjusted R² (0.9974), predicted R² (0.9945), and signal-to-noise ratio (74.23) indicated a good correlation and adequate signal, respectively. HPTLC analyzed the parthenolide (R_f = 0.16) content in T. camphoratus methanol extract (TCME) at λ_max = 575 nm and found it as 0.9273% ± 0.0487% w/w, which was a higher than expected yield (0.9157% w/w). The TCME exhibited good cytotoxicity against HepG2 and MCF-7 cell lines (IC₅₀ = 30.87 and 35.41 µg/mL, respectively), which further supported our findings of high parthenolide content in TCME. This optimized MAE method can be further applied to efficiently extract parthenolide from marketed herbal supplements containing different Tarconanthus species.     

Resistant Starch Contents of Starch Isolated from Black Longan Seeds

A large quantity of longan fruits (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) produced annually are processed into many products, one of which is black longan, from which the dried, dark-brown meat has been used medicinally in traditional medicine, while the starch-containing seeds are discarded. In this study, starch samples (BLGSs) were isolated from seeds of black longan fruits prepared using varied conditions. The in vitro digestibility was determined in comparison with those extracted from fresh (FLGS) and dried (DLGS) seeds. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were employed to evaluate the starch properties. The results showed that the yields of FLGS, DLGS, and BLGSs were 20%, 23%, and 16–22% w/w, respectively. SEM images showed starch granules of mixed shapes, with sizes up to 15 µm in all samples. XRD patterns confirmed an A-type crystallinity for FLGS and DLGS, with strong refraction peaks at 2θ = 15°, 17°, 18°, and 23°, while BLGSs also showed detectable peaks at 2θ = 10° and 21°, which suggested V-type structures. Thermal properties corroborated the changes by showing increases in peak gelatinization temperature (T_p) and enthalpy energy (ΔH) in BLGSs. The paste viscosity of BLGSs (5% w/w) decreased by 20–58% from that of FLGS. The FTIR peak ratio at 1045/1022 and 1022/995 cm⁻¹ also indicated an increase in ordered structure in BLGSs compared to FLGS. The significant increase in the amounts of slowly digestible starch (SDS) and resistant starch (RS) in BLGSs compared to FLGS, especially at a prolonged incubation time of 20 (4.2×) and 30 days (4.1×), was proposed to be due to the heat-induced formation of starch inclusion with other components inside the seed during the black longan production process. Thus, black longan seed could be a new source of starch, with increased RS content, for potential use in the food and related industries.     

Chemical Characterization of Plant Extracts and Evaluation of their Nematicidal and Phytotoxic Potential

Nacobbus aberrans ranks among the “top ten” plant-parasitic nematodes of phytosanitary importance. It causes significant losses in commercial interest crops in America and is a potential risk in the European Union. The nematicidal and phytotoxic activities of seven plant extracts against N. aberrans and Solanum lycopersicum were evaluated in vitro, respectively. The chemical nature of three nematicidal extracts (EC_50,48h ≤ 113 µg mL⁻¹) was studied through NMR analysis. Plant extracts showed nematicidal activity on second-stage juveniles (J2): (≥87%) at 1000 µg mL⁻¹ after 72 h, and their EC₅₀ values were 71.4–468.1 and 31.5–299.8 µg mL⁻¹ after 24 and 48 h, respectively. Extracts with the best nematicidal potential (EC_50,48h < 113 µg mL⁻¹) were those from Adenophyllum aurantium, Alloispermum integrifolium, and Tournefortia densiflora, which inhibited L. esculentum seed growth by 100% at 20 µg mL⁻¹. Stigmasterol (1), β-sitosterol (2), and α-terthienyl (3) were identified from A. aurantium, while 1, 2, lutein (4), centaurin (5), patuletin-7-β-O-glucoside (6), pendulin (7), and penduletin (8) were identified from A. integrifolium. From T. densiflora extract, allantoin (9), 9-O-angeloyl-retronecine (10), and its N-oxide (11) were identified. The present research is the first to report the effect of T. densiflora, A. integrifolium, and A. aurantium against N. aberrans and chemically characterized nematicidal extracts that may provide alternative sources of botanical nematicides.     

Phenolic compounds,essential oil composition,and antioxidant activity of Angelica purpurascens (Avé-Lall.) Gill

In this study, methanol extracts (MEs) and essential oil (EO) of Angelica purpurascens (Avé-Lall.) Gill obtained from different parts (root, stem, leaf, and seed) were evaluated in terms of antioxidant activity, total phenolics, compositions of phenolic compound, and essential oil with the methods of 2,2-azino-bis(3ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS•⁺), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH•) radical scavenging activities, and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP), the Folin–Ciocalteu, liquid chromatography−tandem mass spectrometry (LC−MS/MS), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC−MS), respectively. The root extract of A. purpurascens exhibited the highest ABTS•⁺, DPPH•, and FRAP activities (IC₅₀: 0.05 ± 0.0001 mg/mL, IC₅₀: 0.06 ± 0.002 mg/mL, 821.04 ± 15.96 µM TEAC (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity), respectively). Moreover, EO of A. purpurascens root displayed DPPH• scavenging activity (IC₅₀: 2.95 ± 0.084 mg/mL). The root extract had the highest total phenolic content (438.75 ± 16.39 GAE (gallic acid equivalent), µg/mL)). Twenty compounds were identified by LC−MS/MS. The most abundant phenolics were ferulic acid (244.39 ± 15.64 μg/g extract), benzoic acid (138.18 ± 8.84 μg/g extract), oleuropein (78.04 ± 4.99 μg/g extract), and rutin (31.21 ± 2.00 μg/g extract) in seed, stem, root, and leaf extracts, respectively. According to the GC−MS analysis, the major components were determined as α-bisabolol (22.93%), cubebol (14.39%), α-pinene (11.63%), and α-limonene (9.41%) among 29 compounds. Consequently, the MEs and EO of A. purpurascens can be used as a natural antioxidant source.     

Cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of Hypericum androsaemum on prostate adenocarcinoma (PC-3) and hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep G2) cell lines with identification of secondary metabolites by LC-HRMS

The study aims to determine the secondary metabolites of Hypericum androsaemum L. extracts by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS), and investigate the antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of the plant. Cytotoxic activity was evaluated by MTT assay, and apoptosis induction abilities on human prostate adenocarcinoma (PC-3), and hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep G2) cell lines. Accordingly, major secondary metabolites were found as hederagenin (762 ± 70.10 μg/g) in the leaves dichloromethane (LD), herniarin (167 ± 1.50 μg/g) in fruit dichloromethane (FD), (-)-epicatechin (6538 ± 235.36 μg/g) in the leaves methanol (LM), (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (758 ± 20.46 μg/g) in the fruit methanol (FM), and caffeic acid (370 ± 8.88 μg/g) in the fruit water (FW), and (3313 ± 79.51 μg/g) in the leaves water (LW) extracts. LM exerted strong antioxidant activity in DPPH free (IC₅₀ 10.94 ± 0.08 μg/mL), and ABTS cation radicals scavenging (IC₅₀ 9.09 ± 0.05 μg/mL) activities. FM exhibited cytotoxic activity with IC₅₀ values of 73.23 ± 3.06 µg/mL and 31.64 ± 2.75 µg/mL on PC-3 and Hep G2 cell lines, respectively. Being the richest extract in terms of quillaic acid (630 ± 18.9 μg/g), which is a well-known cytotoxic triterpenoid with proven apoptosis induction ability on different cells, FM extract showed apoptosis induction activity with 64.75% on PC-3 cells at 50 μg/mL concentration. The study provides promising results about the potential of Hypericum androsaemum on cancer prevention.     

Determination of 77 Multiclass Pesticides and Their Metabolitesin Capsicum and Tomato Using GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS

A quick, sensitive, and reproducible analytical method for the determination of 77 multiclass pesticides and their metabolites in Capsicum and tomato by gas and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry was standardized and validated. The limit of detection of 0.19 to 10.91 and limit of quantification of 0.63 to 36.34 µg·kg⁻¹ for Capsicum and 0.10 to 9.55 µg·kg⁻¹ (LOD) and 0.35 to 33.43 µg·kg⁻¹ (LOQ) for tomato. The method involves extraction of sample with acetonitrile, purification by dispersive solid phase extraction using primary secondary amine and graphitized carbon black. The recoveries of all pesticides were in the range of 75 to 110% with a relative standard deviation of less than 20%. Similarly, the method precision was evaluated interms of repeatability (RSDr) and reproducibility (RSD_wR) by spiking of mixed pesticides standards at 100 µg·kg⁻¹ recorded anRSD of less than 20%. The matrix effect was acceptable and no significant variation was observed in both the matrices except for few pesticides. The estimated measurement uncertainty found acceptable for all the pesticides. This method found suitable for analysis of vegetable samples drawn from market and farm gates.     

Chemical Composition of Tomato Seed Flours,and Their Radical Scavenging,Anti-Inflammatory and Gut Microbiota Modulating Properties

In the current study, the chemical composition and total phenolic content of tomato seed flours, along with potential health beneficial properties, including free radical scavenging capacities, anti-inflammatory capacities, and gut microbiota profile modulation, were examined using two different batches. Eight compounds were identified in the tomato seed flour, including malic acid, 2-hydroxyadipic acid, salicylic acid, naringin, N-acetyl-tryptophan, quercetin-di-O-hexoside, kaempferol-di-O-hexoside, and azelaic acid. The total phenolic contents of tomato seed flour were 1.97–2.00 mg gallic acid equivalents/g. Oxygen radical absorbing capacities (ORAC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging capacities (DPPH), and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) cation radical scavenging capacities (ABTS) were 86.32–88.57, 3.57–3.81, and 3.39–3.58 µmoles Trolox equivalents/g, respectively, on a per flour dry weight basis. The mRNA expression of the pro-inflammatory markers, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), were dose-dependently suppressed by tomato seed flour extracts. The extracts altered five of the eight bacterial phyla and genera evaluated. The results may provide some scientific support for the use of tomato seed flour as value-added food ingredients.     

ESI-MS/MS Analysis of Phenolic Compounds from Aeonium arboreum Leaf Extracts and Evaluation of their Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities

Aeonium is a genus of succulents belonging to the Crassulaceae family. Their importance in traditional medicine has stimulated both pharmacological and chemical research. In this study, we optimized extraction, separation, and analytical conditions using a high performance liquid chromatographic method coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry by the negative mode (HPLC-ESI-MS) in order to, for the first time, determine thirty-four compounds from Aeonium arboreum leaves. Twenty-one of them are assigned among which are sixteen flavonoids and five phenolic acids. FRAP, TAC, DPPH, and ABTS^•+ radical scavenging were used to evaluate antioxidant activity. The obtained IC₅₀ values ranged from 0.031 to 0.043 mg.mL⁻¹ for DPPH and between 0.048 and 0.09 mg·mL⁻¹ for ABTS^•+. Antimicrobial activity was also assessed. The obtained minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of these extracts ranged from 12.5 to 50 µg·mL⁻¹ against Micrococcus luteus, Listeria ivanovii, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus niger, and Fusarium oxysporum, and from 25 to 50 µg·mL⁻¹ against Candida albicans. Therefore, these extracts can be considered as a potential source of biological active compounds.     

Identification of the Primary Structure of Selenium-Containing Polysaccharides Selectively Inhibiting T-Cell Proliferation

We previously described the biosynthesis, isolation, and immunosuppressive activity of the selenium-containing polysaccharide fraction isolated from the mycelial culture of Lentinula edodes. Structural studies have shown that the fraction was a protein-containing mixture of high molar mass polysaccharides α- and β-glucans. However, which of the components of the complex fraction is responsible for the immunosuppressive activity non-typical for polysaccharides of fungal origin has not been explained. In the current study, we defined four-polysaccharide components of the Se-containing polysaccharide fraction determined their primary structure and examined the effect on T- and B-cell proliferation. The isolated Se-polysaccharides, α-1,4-glucan (M_w 2.25 × 10⁶ g/mol), unbranched β-1,6-d-glucan, unbranched β-1,3-d-glucan and β-1,3-branched β-1,6-d-glucan (M_w 1.10 × 10⁵ g/mol), are not typical as components of the cell wall of L. edodes. All are biologically active, but the inhibitory effect of the isolated polysaccharides on lymphocyte proliferation was weaker, though more selective than that of the crude fraction.