Antioxidant action of yerba mate on carcass and meat characteristics and fatty acid profile in meat and fat of lambs finished in tropical pastures.

The objective was to evaluate the effect of the supplementation with natural antioxidants from Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil.) on the performance, carcass and meat characteristics, and fatty acid profile in meat and fat of Texel × Ile de France lambs kept in Brachiaria-grass pasture. Twenty lambs with a mean age of 90 days and 26.3 kg of BW were distributed in a completely randomized design in two treatments with 10 replicates/treatment: Control-protein-energy supplement based on corn and soybean meal (150 g/kg DM of crude protein) without the addition of natural antioxidant yerba mate and Yerba Mate - energy protein supplement with the addition of yerba mate (110 g/kg DM). There was no treatment effect on animal performance and carcass characteristics. The subcutaneous fat thickness was significantly higher for lambs treated without yerba mate. There was no effect of nutritional treatments on the oxidative markers of lamb meat. The muscle of the animals treated with yerba mate showed a higher concentration of unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids elaidic, linolenic, thymnodonic, docosadienoic, and ceorvonic. The fat of the animals treated with yerba mate showed a higher concentration of palmitoleic acid, linoelaidic acid, heneicosanoic acid, dihomo-γ-linolenic acid, and arachidonic acid. The concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids was significantly higher in meat and fat of lambs treated with yerba mate. Including yerba mate in the diet of lambs kept on Brachiaria pastures improves the lipid profile of polyunsaturated fatty acids in meat and fat, without altering the performance of the animals.

Acute and subacute (28 days) oral toxicity studies of tucum almond oil (Bactris Setosa Mart.) in mice.

Oils extracted from almonds are often used with particular interest due to their prospective health effects and benefits. Tucum is a Pantanal fruit widely consumed by local population and no in vivo toxicity studies regarding its safety are available in the literature to date. This study investigated the acute and subacute toxicity of tucum almond oil (TAO) in mice by evaluating its safety profile. For the acute (2000 mg/kg) and subacute (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg) toxicity studies, TAO was administered orally to mice according to 425 and 407 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Guidelines, respectively. Food intake, body, and organ weight of animals were recorded. Signs of toxicity were assessed, and hematological, biochemical and histopathological analyses were performed. In the acute toxicity study, no mortality or behavioral changes were observed in mice treated with 2000 mg/kg, indicating that LD50 is higher than this dose. In the subacute toxicity test, the doses evaluated did not produce relevant changes in hematological, biochemical or histopathological parameters in the exposed animals. The data obtained suggest that TAO did not induce toxicity after exposure to a single or repeated doses and LD50 value may be considered to be more than 2000 mg/kg body weight.

Effects of the Seed Oil of Carica papaya Linn on Food Consumption, Adiposity, Metabolic and Inflammatory Profile of Mice Using Hyperlipidic Diet.

BACKGROUND: Studies indicate that different parts of Carica papaya Linn have nutritional properties that mean it can be used as an adjuvant for the treatment of various pathologies. METHODS: The fatty acid composition of the oil extracted from the seeds of Carica papaya Linn was evaluated by gas chromatography, and an acute toxicity test was performed. For the experiment, Swiss mice were fed a balanced or high-fat diet and supplemented with saline, soybean oil, olive oil, or papaya seed oil. Oral glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity tests were performed. After euthanasia, adiposity, glycemia, total cholesterol and fractions, insulin, resistin, leptin, MCP-1, TNF-α, and IL-6 and the histology of the liver, pancreas, and adipose tissue were evaluated. RESULTS: Papaya seed oil showed predominance of monounsaturated fatty acids in its composition. No changes were observed in the acute toxicity test. Had lower food intake in grams, and caloric intake and in the area of adipocytes without minimizing weight gain or adiposity and impacting the liver or pancreas. Reductions in total and non-HDL-c, LDL-c, and VLDL-c were also observed. The treatment had a hypoglycemic and protective effect on insulin resistance. Supplementation also resulted in higher leptin and lower insulin and cytokine resistance. CONCLUSIONS: Under these experimental conditions, papaya seed oil led to higher amounts of monounsaturated fatty acids and had hypocholesterolemic, hypotriglyceridemic, and hypoglycemic effects.

Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) as a source of antioxidants with soybean grain in supplementation of lactating ewes reared in tropical pastures.

The hypothesis tested is that the association of soybean grain and yerba mate as an antioxidant source can increase the concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) with lower oxidation of milk from lactating ewes reared in tropical pastures. Sixteen ewes were randomly distributed in a 2x2 factorial scheme (with or without yerba mate at 110 g / kg of dry matter (DM); with or without soybean grain at 210 g/kg of DM). Yerba mate intake reduced DM intake, and concentrations of ether extract (EE), protein, lactose, defatted dry extract, density, omega-3 concentrations, and the ratio between saturated/monounsaturated fatty acids (FA), but increased the concentration of monounsaturated FA and the sequestering power of free radicals by DPPH without altering the concentrations of conjugated dienes and the concentrations of substances reactive to thiobarbituric acid in milk. Supplementation with soybean grain decreased the birth weight of the lambs and increased the concentrations of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), PUFA, omega - 6, omega ratio - 6/omega - 3, and total blood cholesterol. The addition of yerba mate did not influence the oxidative profile of milk. Supplementation with soybean grain improved the FA profile of milk, increasing the concentrations of CLA and PUFA. The results suggest that the association of yerba mate and soybean grain helps to improve the fat quality of milk from ewes raised in tropical pastures, as shown by the enhanced antioxidant activity, although it does not help prevent oxidation of milk rich in PUFA.

Buriti pulp oil did not improve high-fat diet-induced metabolic disorders in c57bl/6 mice.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and obesity are growing in many parts of the world, becoming public health problems. It is proposed that foods with functional properties can assist in the treatment of these diseases. Crude buriti pulp oil (BPO) is a food traditionally consumed by residents in the Pantanal, Cerrado and Brazilian Amazon. It is rich in oleic acid, tocopherols and carotenoids, emerging as a potential functional food. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of the supplementation of BPO on metabolic disorders caused by a high-fat diet. Four groups of C57BL6 mice were used, a lean group with AIN-93M diet and control oil supplementation, an obese group with a high-fat diet and control oil supplementation, and two obese groups with a high-fat diet and BPO supplementation in the amounts of 50 and 100 mg/kg. BPO worsened the metabolic state caused by the high-fat diet, worsening risk factors associated with MetS, as the abdominal circumference and retroperitoneal fat, serum levels of total cholesterol, uric acid, alanine transaminase, glucose and triglycerides, and renal fat, in addition to changes in glycaemic control and oxidative stress markers. C57BL/6 mice fed with a high-fat diet and supplemented with BPO presented a worsening in metabolic risk factors associated with MetS.

Sodium quantitation in soft drinks: A rapid methodology by qNMR.

High sodium dietary intake has a positive association with an increase in blood pressure and can be correlated with risk factors of disease. Considering that the World Health Organization recommends a sodium intake lower than 2 g day-1 for adults, the hidden sodium content in processed foods is an important factor that compromises the assessment of a healthy diet. Accordingly, the present paper aimed to quantitate the sodium content of conventional soft drinks and their diet versions using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy as a quantitative analytical technique (23 Na qNMR). The results show one free sodium signal (Na+ ) displayed as a singlet at 0 ppm in the 23 Na NMR spectrum, making its quantitation highly specific. This signal alone was used to directly determine the concentration of sodium in soft drinks. Flame photometry analysis was used to validate the method, and an excellent linearity was found in qNMR analysis (r = 0.9994) in comparison with flame photometry (r = 0.9958). In addition, a good correlation was found between sodium concentrations obtained by 23 Na NMR and flame photometry in the evaluated commercial soft drinks. Since the intensity of the resonance line is directly proportional to the number of nuclei (spins), the concentration of sodium in soft drinks can be determined via this straightforward method without the need for external calibration. The experimental acquisitions are fast (approximately 15 min), allowing the analysis of several samples in a short period of time. This is a novel alternative for sodium quantitation using an efficient NMR methodology.

Caryocar brasiliense Cambess. Pulp Oil Supplementation Reduces Total Cholesterol, LDL-c, and Non-HDL-c in Animals.

The fruit of Caryocar brasiliense Cambess. is a source of oil with active compounds that are protective to the organism. In our work, we analyzed the physicochemical characteristics and evaluated the effects of supplementation with C. brasiliense oil in an animal model. We characterized the oil by indices of quality and identity, optical techniques of absorption spectroscopy in the UV-Vis region and fluorescence, and thermogravimetry/derived thermogravimetry (TG/DTG). For the animal experiment, we utilized mice (Mus musculus) supplemented with lipidic source in different dosages. The results demonstrated that C. brasiliense oil is an alternative source for human consumption and presents excellent oxidative stability. Primarily, it exhibited oleic MFA (53.56%) and palmitic SFA (37.78%). The oil level of tocopherols and tocotrienols was superior to the carotenoids. The supplementation with C. brasiliense oil reduced the levels of total cholesterol, LDL-c, and non-HDL-c. Regarding visceral fats and adiposity index, the treatment synergically supplemented with olive oil and C. brasiliense oil (OO + CO) obtained the best result. Therefore, C. brasiliense oil is a high quality product for consumption. Its supplementation promotes beneficial effects mainly on the lipidic profile.

Characterization and oxidative stability of oils and bioactive compounds of the fruits of Byrsonima cydoniifolia A. Juss. at different ripening stages.

BACKGROUND: Fruits present high concentrations of bioactive compounds that are beneficial to health due to their antioxidant properties. New alternatives to vegetable oils with such properties have been studied. We determined the chemical compounds of Byrsonima cydoniifolia A. Juss. fruits in three ripening stages as well as the optical behavior and quality level of the oils. RESULTS: The ripening stage affected the chemical composition of the fruits and oils. The fruits presented high values of bioactive compounds, as ascorbic acid (1.46-1.82 g kg-1 ) and total phenols (3.54-15.91 g gallic acid equivalents kg-1 ), as well as showed excellent antioxidant activity. The ripe fruits showed high content of carotenoids (45.90 mg kg-1 ) were lutein is the major carotenoid, representing 55.56%. The oil of the ripe fruits showed high lipid content (252.6 g kg-1 ) and contained oleic (521.83 g kg-1 ), palmitic (209.13 g kg-1 ) and linoleic (195.4 g kg-1 ) fatty acids. The oil of ripe fruits showed the best oxidative stability, with longer induction period (22.29 h) than the other oils. CONCLUSION: Fruits of B. cydoniifolia A. Juss. demonstrate to possess a promising potential for the use as functional ingredients. The oil of the ripe fruits was more stable and presents a greater potential to be used for edible purposes. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Evaluation of the effects of the larvicides temephos on reproductive performance, embryofetal development and DNA integrity of Swiss mice.

Temephos is considered the gold standard by the Ministry of Health for controlling the larvae of the mosquito Aedes aegypti. The present study evaluated the effects of Temephos larvicide on the reproductive performance, embryo-fetal development and DNA integrity of Swiss mice. This study used 30 pregnant female mice: 10 were controls treated with drinking water at a dosage of 0.1 mL/10 g (body weight - b.w., administered orally - a.o.), and 20 were treated with Temephos at doses of 0.0043 mg/kg and 0.043 mg/kg (b.w., a.o.) during the gestational period. Statistical analysis showed that Temephos did not alter the biometric or reproductive parameters. Comparing the weight of the fetus to the stage of pregnancy demonstrated that the 0.0043 mg/kg dosage increased the size of the fetuses. No external malformations were detected. However, the 0.043 mg/kg dosage induced changes in the sternum, with the main change being the center of the sternum, xiphoid processes and absence of the manubrium. The other skeletal and visceral alterations did not differ from the control group and are considered variants of normality. The analysis of head measurements showed an increase in the anterior/posterior measurements of the glabella, the external occipital protuberance and the biauricular plane. The circumference and area of the head did not present significant differences. The micronucleus test showed only a 0.043 mg/kg increase in 48 h. Thus, it is considered that Temephos has a low teratogenic and genotoxic risk.

Novel devices for solvent delivery and temperature programming designed for capillary liquid chromatography.

Analyses in chromatographic systems able to save mobile and stationary phases without reducing efficiency and resolution are of current interest. These advantages regarding savings have challenged us to develop a system dedicated to miniaturized liquid chromatography. This paper reports on the development of a high-pressure syringe-type pump, an oven able to perform isothermal and temperature programming and a software program to control these chromatographic devices. The experimental results show that the miniaturized system can generate reproducible and accurate temperature and flow rate. The system was applied to the separation of statins and tetracylines and showed excellent performance.

Cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory effect, and acute oral toxicity of a novel Attalea phalerata kernel oil-loaded nanocapsules.

The kernel oil of the Attalea phalerata Mart. Ex Spreng (Acurí) is traditionally used in several Latin American countries to treat respiratory problems, inflammation, and fever. However, it cannot be found on the literature any attend to use this oil in pharmaceutical formulation. In this paper, it was developed Acurí oil-loaded nanocapsules, and it was evaluated the cytotoxicity against cancer cells, the antinflammatory activity and the oral acute toxicity in rats. Acurí oil contains lauric acid as the predominant saturated fatty acid (433.26 mg/g) and oleic acid as the main unsaturated fatty acid (180.06 mg/g). The Acurí oil-loaded nanocapsules showed a size of 237 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.260, and a high ζ-potential of -78.75 mV. It was obtained an encapsulation efficiency of 88.77%, and the nanocapsules remain stable on the shelf for 180 days. The nanocapsules showed a rapid release profile (98.25% in 40 minutes). Nanocapsules at a dose of 10 mg/kg exhibit an anti-inflammatory effect similar to indomethacin at the same dose. The nanocapsules showed excellent antiproliferative effect and selectivity index against prostate tumor cells (IC50 2.09 µg/mL, SI=119.61) and kidney tumor cells (IC50 3.03 µg/mL, SI=82.50). Both Acurí oil and Acurí oil-loaded nanocapsules are nontoxic at a dose of 2000 mg/kg. Additionally, they reduce serum triglyceride and total cholesterol levels in rat and could find application in nutraceutical formulations. The Acurí oil-loaded nanocapsules emerge as a promising candidate for new antitumor therapies.

Carcass and meat characteristics of Nellore young bulls fed diet using cottonseed cake as a replacer of the forage fiber source.

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of substituting traditional forage fiber sources with cottonseed cake in the diet on both the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of carcass and meat in Nelore young bulls. Twenty-four Nelore steers starting with an average weight of 377.8 ± 43.5 kg, were individually housed in stalls and provided with individualized feeding over a 112-day confinement period. The study followed a completely randomized design with two treatments and 12 replications. The diets incorporated either whole plant corn silage (WPCS) and, cottonseed cake (CSC) as fiber sources, at a rate of 300 g/kg of dry matter. The CSC diet promoted higher carcass weight. Aging animal meat for seven days significantly decreased the shear force from 83.4 to 71.6 N. Although diets did not influence meat composition, WPCS diet provided higher concentrations of C16:1, C18:1n9c, C18:3n3, and C22:2 acid, and CSC diet higher concentrations of C15:0, C18:1n9t, C18:2n6c, and 20:3n3. The WPCS diet provided higher concentrations of monounsaturated fatty acids and ω9, and the CSC diet had higher concentrations of ω6 and ω6:ω3 ratio in meat. Cottonseed cake used as a fiber source increases the concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids and ω6 fatty acids in the meat of young bulls finished in feedlot.

Comparative Analysis of Grape Seed Oil, Linseed Oil, and a Blend: In Vivo Effects of Supplementation.

Grape seeds are rich in bioactive substances, including polyphenols, terpenoids, and phytosterols. Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) boasts a high concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), lignans, phytoestrogens, and soluble fibers, all contributing to its therapeutic potential. In this study, we pioneered the formulation of an oil blend (GL) combining grape seed oil (G) and golden linseed oil (GL) in equal volumes (1:1 (v/v)) and we evaluated in terms of the nutritional, physical, and chemical properties and their influence in an in vivo experimental model. We analyzed the oils by performing physical-chemical analyses, examining the oxidative stability using Rancimat; conducting thermal analyses via thermogravimetry/derivative thermogravimetry (TG/DTG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), performing optical UV-vis absorption analyses; examining the fluorescence emission-excitation matrix, total carotenoids, and color, and conducting metabolic assessments in an in vivo experimental trial. The fatty acid profile presented a higher fraction of linoleic acid (C18:2) in G and GL and alpha-linolenic acid (C18:3) in L. The acidity and peroxide indices were within the recommended ranges. The TG/DTG, DSC, and Rancimat analyses revealed similar behaviors, and the optical analyses revealed color variations caused by carotenoid contents in L and GL. In the in vivo trial, G (G2: 2000 mg/kg/day) promoted lower total consumption, and the blend (GL: 2000 mg/kg/day) group exhibited less weight gain per gram of consumed food. The group with G supplementation (G2: 2000 mg/kg/day) and GL had the highest levels of HDL-c. The group with L supplementation (L2: 2000 mg/kg/day) had the lowest total cholesterol level. The L2, G1 (1000 mg/kg/day), and G2 groups exhibited the lowest MCP-1 and TNF-α values. Additionally, the lowest adipocyte areas occurred in G and GL. Our results suggest that this combination is of high quality for consumption and can influence lipid profiles, markers of inflammation, and antioxidant status.

Banana Peel Powder Biosorbent for Removal of Hazardous Organic Pollutants from Wastewater.

Disposing of pollutants in water sources poses risks to human health and the environment, but biosorption has emerged as an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and green alternative for wastewater treatment. This work shows the ability of banana peel powder (BPP) biosorbents for efficient sorption of methylene blue (MB), atrazine, and glyphosate pollutants. The biosorbent highlights several surface chemical functional groups and morphologies containing agglomerated microsized particles and microporous structures. BPP showed a 66% elimination of MB in 60 min, with an adsorption capacity (qe) of ~33 mg g-1, and a combination of film diffusion and chemisorption governed the sorption process. The biosorbent removed 91% and 97% of atrazine and glyphosate pesticides after 120 min, with qe of 3.26 and 3.02 mg g-1, respectively. The glyphosate and atrazine uptake best followed the Elovich and the pseudo-first-order kinetic, respectively, revealing different sorption mechanisms. Our results suggest that BPP is a low-cost biomaterial for green and environmentally friendly wastewater treatment.

Comparison of analytical methods for the fatty acid profile in ewes' milk.

Studies comparing methodologies for fatty acids are very important, since they can influence the quality and final quantification of the lipid fraction. Objective-to compare different extraction methods for total lipids and to evaluate the effect of these methodologies on the quantitative composition of fatty acids in milk of lactating ewes raised in tropical pastures. The methodologies used were simple direct transesterification, using the HPLC grade organic solvent n-hexane, Bligh; Dyer (cold extraction, extracting mixture proportions 5, 10, and 15 mL in a ratio of 2:1:1 (v/v/v) of chloroform-methanol-water). The fatty acid methyl esters were separated by gas chromatography coupled with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The results show that there was no significant difference (p <0.05) in the total lipid content between the extraction methods. However, the Bligh's method; Dyer obtained the best yield of lipids to be extracted from ewe's milk, since the volume with 15 mL of the extraction solution was able to identify 87% of the chromatographic peaks. It was also observed that ewe's milk has a higher percentage of palmitic, stearic and oleic fatty acids, with percentages of 20.1%, 15.5% and 33.1%, respectively. Therefore, an extraction mixture with a volume of 15 mL used in this study may be an alternative to perform the extraction of milk fat from high lactating ewes in tropical pastures as a routine method, as it expresses the best lipid content of this food.

Characterization of Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa) Pulp Oil and the Effect of Its Supplementation in an In Vivo Experimental Model.

Mauritia flexuosa (Buriti) pulp oil contains bioactive substances and lipids that are protective against cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases. We performed physical and chemical analyses to verify its quality and stability. Buriti oil was stable according to the Rancimat test, presenting an induction period of 6.6 h. We evaluated the effect of supplementation with crude buriti oil and olive oil on metabolic parameters in 108 Swiss mice for 90 days. We investigated six groups: extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) 1 and 2 (1000 and 2000 mg/kg), buriti oil (BO) 1 and 2 (1000 and 2000 mg/kg), synergic (S) (BO1 + EVOO1), and control (water dose 1000 mg/kg). The animals were euthanized to examine their blood, livers, and fats. The supplementation did not interfere with food consumption, weight gain, and histological alterations in the liver. Group S showed the strongest relationship with the fractions HDL-c and non-HDL-c, indicating a possible cardioprotective effect. Moreover, we observed significantly higher IL-6 levels in the control, EVOO2, and BO1 groups than in the EVOO1 group. Resistin was also significantly higher for the synergic treatment than for the control. We conclude that BO combined with EVOO could be an excellent food supplement for human consumption.

Optimization of in situ derivatization SPME by experimental design for GC-MS multi-residue analysis of pharmaceutical drugs in wastewater.

This paper presents the development of a procedure, which enables the analysis of nine pharmaceutical drugs in wastewater using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) associated with solid-phase microextraction (SPME) for the sample preparation. Experimental design was applied to optimize the in situ derivatization and the SPME extraction conditions. Ethyl chloroformate (ECF) was employed as derivatizing agent and polydimethylsiloxane-divinylbenzene (PDMS-DVB) as the SPME fiber coating. A fractional factorial design was used to evaluate the main factors for the in situ derivatization and SPME extraction. Thereafter, a Doehlert matrix design was applied to find out the best experimental conditions. The method presented a linear range from 0.5 to 10 µg/L, and the intraday and interday precision were lower than 16%. Applicability of the method was verified from real influent and effluent samples of a wastewater treatment plant, as well as from samples of an industry wastewater and a river.

Vegetable oils: Are they true? A point of view from ATR-FTIR, 1H NMR, and regiospecific analysis by 13C NMR.

Problems related to oil authenticity make it difficult to obtain the benefits associated with each type of vegetable oil. Fraudulent practices have been revealed by several targeted and nontargeted methods. In this paper, spectroscopic techniques (FT-IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR) were applied to determine the chemical profiles of 23 Brazilian commercial vegetable oils obtained from five different high-value aggregated matrices (andiroba, babassu, baru, castor, and sweet almond oils) and investigate their adulteration, by comparison with the corresponding reference samples. Each technique is useful for the particular information it provides: differences in free fatty acids by FT-IR; adulteration with omega-3-enriched oils by 1H NMR, and adulteration of unsaturated-enriched oil with another unsaturated oil without linoleic acid by regiospecific analysis. Our findings highlight the importance of fusion-based methods in providing precise information for use in oil quality authentication.

High-Fat Diet with Lyophilized Acrocomia aculeata Pulp Increases High-Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol Levels and Inhibits Adipocyte Hypertrophy in Mice.

Obesity is a relevant health hazard characterized as a chronic noncommunicable disease, with severe comorbidities that cause mortality worldwide. Acrocomia aculeata is a Brazilian palm with edible fruits. Its pulp contains fibers, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), such as oleic acid and carotenoids. In this context, our study aimed to elucidate the protective effect of the lyophilized A. aculeata pulp added at the rates of 1%, 2%, and 4% to a high-fat (HF) diet (rich in saturated fats and cholesterol), for 90 days, in mice. The treatment with 4% pulp induced a significant increase in the biochemical parameters of serum cholesterol HDL-C (high-density lipoprotein) compared with the control. According to the evaluation of the epididymal tissue, the groups treated with A. aculeata pulp exhibited smaller fat deposits compared with the HF diet group. Therefore, we infer that the predominant components in A. aculeata, particularly fibers and MUFAs, promote beneficial effects on health parameters during simultaneous exposure to food rich in saturated fat and cholesterol, typical of the Western diet. This is the first study to correlate the presence of fatty acids from A. aculeata pulp in different proportions added in a HF diet with metabolic and histological parameters in Swiss mice.

Miniaturized liquid chromatography focusing on analytical columns and mass spectrometry: A review.

The technological advances achieved over the last decades boosted the development of suitable benchtop platforms to work at miniaturized liquid chromatography scale (capillary and nano-LC). Under the right conditions, miniaturized LC can offer higher analysis efficiency resulting in superior chromatographic resolution and overall sensitivity than conventional LC. Among the main advantages are the reduced reagents and sample requirement, the decreasing on analytical column dimensions, and consequently flow rates and the easer coupling to mass spectrometry. This review describes fundamental aspects and advances over miniaturized LC technology with a focus on the last decade. Therefore, relevant characteristics of the most common analytical column, covering both filled (packed and monolithic) and open tubular (PLOT and WCOT) columns, are herein discussed. Alternatively, other modern approaches based on microchip separations or 2D configurations aiming for the sample preparation on the first dimension, are also introduced. Likewise, some positive and negative aspects of these systems over HPLC are underscored. Besides, considering the necessity to developed components to work at capillary or nanoscale, without significant dead-volumes, the most critical features of specially designed instrumentation for benchtop instruments are briefly discussed highlighting connectors, pumping, injections, oven and detection systems. Also, a more detailed section is presented focused on mass spectrometry efforts towards its miniaturization and how this trend can be useful working together with miniaturized LC. Finally, applications of capillary and nano-LC involving bioanalytical, environmental, and food methods are discussed to support the miniaturized LC as a powerful and emergent separation technique for the years ahead.