Natural Products for Preventing and Managing Anthracycline-Induced Cardiotoxicity: A Comprehensive Review.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anthracycline anticancer agent that is highly effective in the treatment of solid tumors. Given the multiplicity of mechanisms involved in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity, it is difficult to identify a precise molecular target for toxicity. The findings of a literature review suggest that natural products may offer cardioprotective benefits against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity, both in vitro and in vivo. However, further confirmatory studies are required to substantiate this claim. It is of the utmost importance to direct greater attention towards the intricate signaling networks that are of paramount importance for the survival and dysfunction of cardiomyocytes. Notwithstanding encouraging progress made in preclinical studies of natural products for the prevention of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, these have not yet been translated for clinical use. One of the most significant obstacles hindering the development of cardioprotective adjuvants based on natural products is the lack of adequate bioavailability in humans. This review presents an overview of current knowledge on doxorubicin DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, with a focus on the potential benefits of natural compounds and herbal preparations in preventing this adverse effect. As literature search engines, the browsers in the Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science databases and the ClinicalTrials.gov register were used.

Molecular Targets of Plant-based Alkaloids and Polyphenolics in Liver and Breast Cancer- An Insight into Anticancer Drug Development.

Liver and Breast cancer are ranked as the most prevailing cancers that cause high cancer-related mortality. As cancer is a life-threatening disease that affects the human population globally, there is a need to develop novel therapies. Among the available treatment options include radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery, and immunotherapy. The most superlative modern method is the use of plant-derived anticancer drugs that target the cancerous cells and inhibit their proliferation. Plant-derived compounds are generally considered safer than synthetic drugs/traditional therapies and could serve as potential novel targets to treat liver and breast cancer to revolutionize cancer treatment. Alkaloids and Polyphenols have been shown to act as anticancer agents through molecular approaches. They disrupt various cellular mechanisms, inhibit the production of cyclins and CDKs to arrest the cell cycle, and activate the DNA repairing mechanism by upregulating p53, p21, and p38 expression. In severe cases, when no repair is possible, they induce apoptosis in liver and breast cancer cells by activating caspase-3, 8, and 9 and increasing the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. They also deactivate several signaling pathways, such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR, STAT3, NF-kB, Shh, MAPK/ERK, and Wnt/ß-catenin pathways, to control cancer cell progression and metastasis. The highlights of this review are the regulation of specific protein expressions that are crucial in cancer, such as in HER2 over-expressing breast cancer cells; alkaloids and polyphenols have been reported to reduce HER2 as well as MMP expression. This study reviewed more than 40 of the plant-based alkaloids and polyphenols with specific molecular targets against liver and breast cancer. Among them, Oxymatrine, Hirsutine, Piperine, Solamargine, and Brucine are currently under clinical trials by qualifying as potent anticancer agents due to lesser side effects. As a lot of research is there on anticancer compounds, there is a desideratum to compile data to move towards clinical trials phase 4 and control the prevalence of liver and breast cancer.

Optimisation of isolation of polyphenols from Malus pumila Mill. Leaves by high-speed countercurrent chromatography using response surface methodology.

Considering comprehensive utilization of natural products, isolation and activity determination processes of bioactive compounds are essential. In this study, a combined high-speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC) with preparative HPLC method was developed to isolate the five antioxidant polyphenols from 75% ethanol extract of Malus pumila Mill. leaves. The HSCCC conditions were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM) considering two response indexes including retention of stationary phase and analysis time. The optimal HSCCC conditions were flow rate of 2.11 mL/min, revolution speed of 717 rpm, and temperature of 25℃, with a solvent system of ethyl acetate/methanol/water (10:1:10, v/v/v). The unseparated fractions obtained from HSCCC were subjected to preparative HPLC for further isolation. As a result, phloridzin (15.3 mg), isoquercitrin (2.1 mg), quercetin 3-O-xyloside (1.9 mg), quercetin-3-O-arabinoside (4.0 mg), and quercitrin (2.0 mg) were isolated from 200.0 mg extracts. The purities of these compounds were all above 92%. Their chemical structures were identified by mass spectrometer and nuclear magnetic resonance. The five isolated compounds were further investigated for their rat hippocampal neuroprotective effects against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress. No cytotoxicity was observed in all tested concentrations. While all five compounds except phloridzin showed significantly neurogenic activities and neuroprotective effects, especially at the concentration of 0.5 mg/L. These results demonstrate that RSM is a suitable technique for optimisation of HSCCC and the isolated polyphenols can be used as antioxidants in pharmaceutical and food products.

The Growth Inhibitory Effect of Resveratrol and Gallic Acid on Prostate Cancer Cell Lines through the Alteration of Oxidative Stress Balance: the Interplay between Nrf2, HO-1, and BACH1 Genes.

BACKGROUND: The association between oxidative stress and prostate cancer (PC) has been demonstrated both epidemiologically and experimentally. Balance in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels depends on multiple factors, such as the expression of Nrf2, HO-1, and BACH1 genes. Natural polyphenols, such as resveratrol (RSV) and gallic acid (GA), affect cellular oxidative profiles. OBJECTIVE: The present study investigated the possible effects of GA and RSV on the oxidative profiles of PC3 and DU145 cells, as well as Nrf2, HO-1, and BACH1 gene expression to achieve an understanding of the mechanisms involved. METHODS: PC3 and DU145 cells were treated with ascending concentrations of RSV and GA for 72h. Then cell growth and mRNA expression of Nrf2, HO-1, and BACH1 genes were analyzed by real-time PCR. Various spectrophotometric analyses were performed to measure oxidative stress markers. RESULTS: RSV and GA significantly decreased the growth of PC3 and DU145 cells compared to the control group in a concentration-dependent manner. RSV and GA also decreased ROS production in PC3 cells, but in DU145 cells, only the latter polyphenol significantly decreased ROS content. In addition, RSV and GA had ameliorating effects on SOD, GR, GPX, and CAT activities and GSH levels in both cell lines. Also, RSV and GA induced HO- 1 and Nrf2 gene expression in both cell lines. BACH1 gene expression was induced by RSV only at lower concentrations, in contrast to GA in both cell lines. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that RSV and GA can prevent the growth of prostate cancer cells by disrupting oxidative stress-related pathways, such as changes in Nrf2, HO-1, and BACH1 gene expression.

Interactive Effects of Arabinoxylan Oligosaccharides and Green Tea Polyphenols on Obesity Management and Gut Microbiota Modulation in High-Fat Diet-Fed Mice.

Dietary fiber and polyphenols have been shown to possess antiobesity properties. However, their combined effects need further investigation. This study investigated the individual and combined effects of arabinoxylan oligosaccharides (AXOS) from rice bran and green tea polyphenols (GTP) in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. We found that the combination of AXOS and GTP (A + G) significantly reduced overall fat mass and improved lipid profiles, although the effects were not synergistic. AXOS and GTP regulated lipid metabolism in different tissues and exhibited counteractive effects on gut microbiota. AXOS decreased α diversity and promoted Bifidobacterium, with GTP counteracting these effects. In vitro fermentation confirmed that GTP counteracted AXOS-induced microbiota changes in a dose-dependent manner. This study highlights the potential of tailored combinations of dietary fiber and polyphenols to treat obesity while considering their complex microbial interplay.

Impact of refining on phytochemicals and anti-inflammatory activity of papaya (Carica papaya L.) seed oil in LPS-stimulated THP-1 cells.

This study investigated the changes in phytochemical composition and inflammatory response of crude papaya (Carica papaya L.) seed oil (CPO) and its refined forms (degummed, PDG; deacidified, PDA; decolorized, PDC; deodorized, PDO). Oils were analyzed for their phytochemical composition, oil quality parameters, antioxidant activity, and their inflammatory response in LPS-stimulated THP-1 macrophages. At higher refining degrees, particularly after deacidification, the contents of phytochemicals (sterols, tocopherols, and polyphenols) decreased while oxidation products increased. Both CPO (0.1-1.0 mg/mL) and PDG reduced the secretion and mRNA expression of LPS-stimulated inflammatory cytokines and mediators and also blocked the activation of the NF-κB pathway. PDA, PDC, and PDO showed low anti-inflammatory or even pro-inflammatory activity. Correlation analysis showed that 4 polyphenols and 2 phytosterols were responsible for the oil's anti-inflammatory effects. These findings indicated that moderate refining is suggested for papaya seed oil processing for retaining bioactive ingredients and anti-inflammatory ability.

The role of bound polyphenols in the anti-obesity effects of defatted rice bran insoluble dietary fiber: An insight from multi-omics.

Considering the high abundance of bound polyphenols (BP) in whole grain dietary fiber (DF), this study utilized multi-omics approach to evaluate the impact of BP of defatted rice bran insoluble DF (RIDF) in modulating obesity. Mice on high-fat diet were gavage-administered RIDF, BP-removed or formulated RIDF. The results indicated that DF significantly reduced serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Moreover, hepatic lipid accumulation and damage induced by high-fat diet were significantly ameliorated with DF intervention. The presence of BP increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria g_Akkermansia and g_Butyricicocus, as well as the expression of butyric acid/propionic acid. Furthermore, the expression of hepatic lipids and lipid-like molecules was significantly decreased under the combined intervention of BP and DF, and this was accompanied by alterations in genes related to lipid, sterol, and cholesterol metabolic biological processes. These findings suggest that BP contribute to the anti-obesity effects of DF.

High quality RNA extraction protocol for polyphenolics-rich Cotton tissue.

The extraction of high-quality RNA from cotton (Gossypium spp.) is challenging because of the presence of high polyphenolics, polysaccharides, quinones, and other secondary metabolites. A high-throughput RNA extraction protocol is a prerequisite. This Triton-X-100-based RNA extraction method utilizes Polyvinyl pyrrolidone polymer (PVPP) treatment which efficiently removes phenolics, and the application of Lithium chloride (LiCl) has been found that successfully precipitated the high-quality RNA from cotton tissue. Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is a maternally inherited trait associated with specific mitochondrial genome rearrangements or mutations. The suitability of RNA extracted from Cotton CMS lines was assessed. cDNA was synthesized from RNA and assayed for mitochondrial genes (cox3, nad3, nad9) associated with male sterility. This paper discuss the advantages and limitation of this protocol over existing protocol for RNA extraction for polyphenolics-rich plant tissue.

Inhibition mechanism of different structural polyphenols against α-amylase studied by solid-state NMR and molecular docking.

Polyphenol has the considerable effects for inhibition of digestive enzymes, however, inhibition mechanism of molecular size-dependent polyphenols on enzyme activity is still lacking. Herein, inhibition effect and binding interactions of three different structural polyphenols (catechol, quercetin and hesperidin) on α-amylase were studied. Inhibition assays proved that polyphenols significantly inhibited α-amylase and their effects were increased with their molecular sizes. Hesperidin showed the highest inhibition ability of α-amylase, which was determined as IC50 = 0.43 mg/mL. Fluorescence and FT-IR spectroscopy proved that inter-molecular interactions between polyphenols and α-amylase occurred through non-covalent bonds. Besides, the secondary structure of α-amylase was obviously changed after binding with polyphenols. Inter-molecular interactions were investigated using solid-state NMR and molecular docking. Findings proved that hydrogen bonds and π-π stacking interactions were the mainly inter-molecular interactions. We hope this contribution could provide a theoretical basis for developing some digestive enzyme inhibitors from natural polyphenols.

Common bean polyphenolic enriched extracts decrease reactive oxygen species induced by heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Hs27 and Hs68 human fibroblasts.

The increase of coarse particulate matter (PM10) due to industrialization and urban sprawl has been identified as a significant contributor to air pollution and a threat to human skin health and premature aging. The objective was to analyze the antioxidant effect of phenolic-enriched extracts (PHE) obtained from black bean (BB) and pinto bean (PB) varieties (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and pure phenolic compounds (rutin, catechin, and gallic acid) in two human dermal fibroblasts cell lines exposed to PM10. Petunidin-3-O-glucoside was the most abundant anthocyanin, with 57 ± 0.9 mg/g dry extract (DE) in PHE-BB. Gallic acid was the prevalent phenolic acid with 8.2 ± 2.8 mg/g DE in PHE-BB (p < 0.05). Hs27 and Hs68 cell lines were exposed to PM10 (100 µg/mL) to induce oxidative stress; PHE-BB reduced it by 69% ± 12 and PHE-PB by 80% ± 5 relative to PM10 treatment (p < 0.05). Delphinidin-3-O-glucoside showed the highest binding affinity in adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) with -9.0 kcal/mol and quercetin-3-D-galactoside with -6.9 kcal/mol in sirtuin 1 (Sirt1). Rutin increased the expression of Sirt1 by 30% (p < 0.05) in the Hs27 cell line treated with PM10. Common bean extracts can potentially reduce oxidative stress induced by PM10 in human dermal fibroblasts.

Pro-inflammatory protein S100A9 targeted by a natural molecule to prevent neurodegeneration onset.

Accumulation of the pro-inflammatory protein S100A9 has been implicated in neuroinflammatory cascades in neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). S100A9 co-aggregates with other proteins such as α-synuclein in PD and Aß in AD, contributing to amyloid plaque formation and neurotoxicity. The amyloidogenic nature of this protein and its role in chronic neuroinflammation suggest that it may play a key role in the pathophysiology of these diseases. Research into molecules targeting S100A9 could be a potential therapeutic strategy to prevent its amyloidogenic self-assembly and to attenuate the neuroinflammatory response in affected brain tissue. This work suggests that bioactive natural molecules, such as those found in the Mediterranean diet, may have the potential to alleviate neuroinflammation associated with the accumulation of proteins such as S100A9 in neurodegenerative diseases. A major component of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), hydroxytyrosol (HT), with its ability to interact with and modulate S100A9 amyloid self-assembly and expression, offers a compelling approach for the development of novel and effective interventions for the prevention and treatment of ND. The findings highlight the importance of exploring natural compounds, such as HT, as potential therapeutic options for these complex and challenging neurological conditions.

Inhibition of Cancer Stem-like Cells by Curcumin and Other Polyphenol Derivatives in MDA-MB-231 TNBC Cells.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for 15% of all breast cancers and is highly aggressive. Despite an initial positive response to chemotherapy, most patients experience rapid disease progression leading to relapse and metastasis. This is attributed to the presence of breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) within the tumor, which are characterized by self-renewal, pluripotency, and resistance mechanisms. Targeting BCSCs has become critical as conventional therapies fail to eradicate them due to a lack of specific targets. Curcumin, a polyphenol derived from turmeric (Curcuma longa), exhibits anticancer effects against breast cancer cells and BCSCs. The use of curcumin derivatives has been suggested as an approach to overcome the bioavailability and solubility problems of curcumin in humans, thereby increasing its anticancer effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cellular and molecular effects of six synthetic compounds derived from the natural polyphenol epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) (TL1, TL2) and curcumin derivatives (TL3, TL4, TL5, and TL6) on a TNBC mesenchymal stem-like cell line. The activity of the compounds against BCSCs was also determined by a mammosphere inhibition assay and studying different BCSC markers by Western blotting. Finally, a drug combination assay was performed with the most promising compounds to evaluate their potential synergistic effects with the chemotherapeutic agents doxorubicin, cisplatin, and paclitaxel. The results showed that compounds exhibited specific cytotoxicity against the TNBC cell line and BCSCs. Interestingly, the combination of the curcumin derivative TL3 with doxorubicin and cisplatin displayed a synergistic effect in TNBC cells.

The roles of dietary polyphenols at crosstalk between type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease in ameliorating oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction via PI3K/Akt signaling pathways.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease in which senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are crucially involved in its physiological and pathophysiological processes. Growing animal and clinical studies have suggested that AD is also comorbid with some metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and therefore, it is often considered brain diabetes. AD and T2DM share multiple molecular and biochemical mechanisms, including impaired insulin signaling, oxidative stress, gut microbiota dysbiosis, and mitochondrial dysfunction. In this review article, we mainly introduce oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction and explain their role and the underlying molecular mechanism in T2DM and AD pathogenesis; then, according to the current literature, we comprehensively evaluate the possibility of regulating oxidative homeostasis and mitochondrial function as therapeutics against AD. Furthermore, considering dietary polyphenols' antioxidative and antidiabetic properties, the strategies for applying them as potential therapeutical interventions in patients with AD symptoms are assessed.

Mechanisms and intervention of prebiotic foods in musculoskeletal health.

The review focuses primarily on collating and analysing the mechanistic research data that discusses the function of prebiotics to halt the frailty of musculoskeletal system. Musculoskeletal diseases (MSDs) are frequently reported to co-occur within their own categories of conditions, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gouty arthritis and psoriatic arthritis due to their overlapping pathogenesis. Consequently, the same drugs are often used to manage the complications of most types. A few recent studies have addressed the therapeutic functions of gut microbes towards those commonly shared MSD pathway targets. Improving microbial diversity and enriching their population in the gut would promote the regeneration and recovery of the musculoskeletal system. Prebiotics are usually non-digestible substrates that are selectively utilized/ digested by the gut microbes conferring health promotion. The microbial fermentation of prebiotics generates numerous host-beneficial therapeutic molecules. This study inspects the presumptive functions of plant-derived prebiotics for the growth and restoration of intestinal microbiota and the consequent improvement of skeletal health. The review also highlights the discrete functions of prebiotics against inflammation, autoimmunity, infection, physiological overloading mechanism and ageing-associated loss of metabolism in MSD.

The Anti-Biofilm Properties of Phloretin and Its Analogs against Porphyromonas gingivalis and Its Complex Flora.

Porphyromonas gingivalis is crucial for the pathogenesis of periodontitis. This research investigated the effects of the fruit-derived flavonoid phloretin and its analogs on the growth of pure P. gingivalis and the flora of P. gingivalis mixed with the symbiotic oral pathogens Fusobacterium nucleatum and Streptococcus mitis. The results showed that the tested flavonoids had little effect on the biofilm amount of pure P. gingivalis, but significantly reduced the biofilm amount of mixed flora to 83.6~89.1%. Biofilm viability decreased to 86.7~92.8% in both the pure- and mixed-bacterial groups after naringenin and phloretin treatments. SEM showed that phloretin and phlorizin displayed a similar and remarkable destructive effect on P. gingivalis and the mixed biofilms. Transcriptome analysis confirmed that biofilm formation was inhibited by these flavonoids, and phloretin significantly regulated the transcription of quorum sensing. Phlorizin and phloretin reduced AI-2 activity to 45.9% and 55.4%, respectively, independent of the regulation of related gene transcription. This research marks the first finding that these flavonoids possess anti-biofilm properties against P. gingivalis and its intricate bacterial community, and the observed performance variations, driven by structural differences, underscore the existence of intriguing structure-activity relationships.

Tapping into Nature's Arsenal: Harnessing the Potential of Natural Antioxidants for Human Health and Disease Prevention.

Numerous natural antioxidants commonly found in our daily diet have demonstrated significant benefits for human health and various diseases by counteracting the impact of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Their chemical properties enable a range of biological actions, including antihypertensive, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and anticancer effects. Despite promising outcomes from preclinical studies, ongoing debate persists regarding their reproducibility in human clinical models. This controversy largely stems from a lack of understanding of the pharmacokinetic properties of these compounds, coupled with the predominant focus on monotherapies in research, neglecting potential synergistic effects arising from combining different antioxidants. This study aims to provide an updated overview of natural antioxidants, operating under the hypothesis that a multitherapeutic approach surpasses monotherapy in efficacy. Additionally, this study underscores the importance of integrating these antioxidants into the daily diet, as they have the potential to prevent the onset and progression of various diseases. To reinforce this perspective, clinical findings pertaining to the treatment and prevention of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and conditions associated with ischemia and reperfusion phenomena, including myocardial infarction, postoperative atrial fibrillation, and stroke, are presented as key references.

Purification, Characterization, and Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Free and Bound Polyphenols Extracted from Rosa roxburghii Tratt Pomace.

Rosa roxburghii Tratt pomace (RRTP), an underutilized byproduct, is rich in polyphenol compounds. This study aimed to further explore the purification, characterization, anti-inflammatory activities, and underlying molecular mechanisms of free polyphenols (RRTP-FP) and bound polyphenols (RRTP-BP) from RRTP. The results indicated that AB-8 macroporous resin emerged as the preferred choice for subsequent separation and purification. The purities of purified RRTP-FP (P-RRTP-FP) and purified RRTP-BP (P-RRTP-BP) increased by 103.34% and 66.01%, respectively. Quantitative analysis identified epigallocatechin, epicatechin, and ellagic acid as the main phenolic compounds in P-RRTP-FP. In P-RRTP-BP, the primary phenolic compounds were ellagic acid, epicatechin, and gallic acid. In vitro antioxidant assays demonstrated the superior DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities of P-RRTP-FP and P-RRTP-BP compared to vitamin C. Treatment with P-RRTP-FP and P-RRTP-BP reduced nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mitigated the decline in cellular membrane potential, and significantly downregulated the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Additionally, P-RRTP-FP and P-RRTP-BP inhibited the phosphorylation of pertinent proteins in the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. This finding suggests potential utility of RRTP-derived polyphenols as anti-inflammatory agents for managing severe inflammatory conditions.

Quality Evaluation of Bergamot Juice Produced in Different Areas of Calabria Region.

Citrus fruits are extensively cultivated worldwide, with Italy and Spain being major producers. In Southern Italy, particularly in Reggio Calabria, a typical citrus fruit is produced, namely, bergamot (Citrus bergamia Risso et Poiteau), known for its mysterious origins and exceptional quality essential oil protected by the EU's PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) designation. Despite historical challenges, bergamot has regained prominence for its nutraceutical potential, especially its flavonoid-rich juice, offering significant health benefits. However, little attention has been paid to understanding the qualitative and quantitative differences of bergamot juice in Calabrian production areas. For this reason, this work aims to investigate the quality characteristics of bergamot juice produced in different areas of Calabria sites. The results showed the best quality attributes of bergamot fruits harvested in the PDO area. In particular, higher levels of total soluble solids, stable acidity, and higher juice were found. In addition, higher contents of ascorbic and citric acids, which are nutritionally valuable and tasteful, were found. The phenolic profile, characterized by the key compounds of bergamot, highlighted the better nutraceutical potential of the fruit grown in the PDO area.

Maximizing Antioxidant Potential in Picual Virgin Olive Oil: Tailoring Agronomic and Technological Factors with Response Surface Methodology.

Over the past years, a prolonged drought has affected Spain, raising significant concerns across various sectors, especially agriculture. This extended period of dry weather is profoundly affecting the growth and development of olive trees, potentially impacting the quality and quantity of olive oil produced. This study aims to assess the impact of agronomic factors, i.e., olive maturation and irrigation management, as well as the technological factors involved in the production process, on the antioxidant content of Picual virgin olive oil. Mathematical models were developed to maximize the concentration of polyphenols, orthodiphenols, chlorophylls, carotenes, and tocopherols in olive oils. Findings indicate that increasing the malaxation temperature from 20 to 60 °C and reducing the mixing time from 60 to 20 min positively influenced the polyphenol and orthodiphenol content. Although irrigation did not significantly affect the polyphenols, pigments, and α-tocopherol contents, it may enhance the ß- and γ-tocopherol content. Optimal conditions for producing antioxidant-enriched virgin olive oils involved olives from rainfed crops, with a moisture index of 3-4, and a 60-min malaxation process at 60 °C. Under these conditions, the total phenol content doubled, pigment content increased fourfold, and α-tocopherol content rose by 15%. These findings provide relevant knowledge to interpret the year-to-year variation in both organoleptic and analytical profiles of virgin olive oils.

Total Polyphenol Contents and Mineral Profiles in Commercial Wellness Herbal Infusions: Evaluation of the Differences between Two Preparation Methods.

The popularity of the consumption of wellness herbal teas is due to the many health-promoting properties they seem to possess. Modern preparation methods using coffee machines are also popular today. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to evaluate differences in infusions obtained by the traditional method using filters and by espresso coffee machines using pods. In this regard, different herbal materials were selected and purchased in two different types of herbal containers, and the corresponding infusions were analyzed for the contents of total polyphenols and mineral elements. Results showed that filter infusions had higher polyphenol and mineral contents than pod infusions, excluding Cd and Pb. For each of the plant materials used, differences due to the method of infusion preparation are highlighted. From a qualitative point of view, both methods of infusion preparation are valid, but the filter infusion method allows a higher transfer of minerals and polyphenols into the infusion, improving quality. The analyzed infusions can be safely consumed with respect to As, Cd, Pb, and Hg contents. Good amounts of polyphenols and Mn can be obtained by drinking a cup of any of the infusions analyzed, especially the mate infusion obtained by the filter technique, with amounts of 429 mg for polyphenols and 69.27% of the RDA for manganese.