Constituents of Chimaphila japonica and Their Diuretic Activity.

Three new phenols (1-3), one new cyclohexanol (4), two known phenols (5-6), and six known flavonoids (7-12) were isolated from the n-butanol of the 75% ethanol extract of all plants of Chimaphila japonica Miq. Among them, compound 5 was named and described in its entirety for the first time, and compounds 9 and 10 were reported in C. japonica for the first time. The structures of all compounds were confirmed using a comprehensive analysis of 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS data. Biological results show that compounds 4, 7, and 11 exhibited potent diuretic activity. The modes of interaction between the selected compounds and the target diuretic-related WNK1 kinase were investigated in a preliminary molecular docking study. These results provided insight into the chemodiversity and potential diuretic activities of metabolites in C. japonica.

Induction of ferroptosis by natural phenols: A promising strategy for cancer therapy.

In recent years, heightened interest surrounds the exploration of natural phenols as potential agents for cancer therapy, specifically by inducing ferroptosis, a unique form of regulated cell death characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. This review delves into the roles of key natural phenols, flavonoids, phenolic acids, curcumin, and stilbenes, in modulating ferroptosis and their underlying mechanisms. Emphasizing the significance of amino acid, lipid, and iron metabolism, the study elucidates the diverse pathways through which these phenols regulate ferroptosis. Notably, curcumin, a well-known polyphenol, exhibits multifaceted interactions with cellular components involved in ferroptosis regulation, providing a distinctive therapeutic avenue. Stilbenes, another phenolic class, demonstrate promising potential in influencing lipid metabolism and iron-dependent processes, contributing to ferroptotic cell death. Understanding the intricate interplay between these natural phenols and ferroptosis not only illuminates complex cellular regulatory networks but also unveils potential avenues for novel cancer therapies. Exploring these compounds as inducers of ferroptosis presents a promising strategy for targeted cancer treatment, capitalizing on the delicate balance between cellular metabolism and regulated cell death mechanisms. This article synthesizes current knowledge, aiming to stimulate further research into the therapeutic potential of natural phenols in the context of ferroptosis-mediated cancer therapy.

Process optimization for green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Rubus discolor leaves extract and its biological activities against multi-drug resistant bacteria and cancer cells.

Multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria are considered a serious public health threat. Also, increasing rate of resistance to anticancer drugs, as well as their toxicity, is another point of concern. Therefore, the new antibacterial and anticancer agents are always needed. The synthesizing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using medicinal plants, is an effective approach for developing novel antibacterial and anticancer agents. Rubus discolor, a native species of the Caucasus region, produces leaves that are typically discarded as a by-product of raspberry production. The present study has focused on optimizing the green synthesis of AgNPs using R. discolor leaves extract through response surface methodology. The optimal values for AgNPs synthesis were an AgNO3 concentration of 7.11 mM, a time of 17.83 h, a temperature of 56.51 °C, and an extract percentage of 29.22. The production of AgNPs was confirmed using UV-visible spectroscopy (λmax at 456.01 nm). TEM analysis revealed well-dispersed AgNPs (an average size of 37 nm). The XRD analysis confirmed the crystalline structure. The EDX detected a strong peak at 3 keV corresponded to Ag. The zeta potential value (- 44.2 mV) indicated the stability of nanoparticles. FT-IR spectra showed the presence of various functional groups from plant compounds, which play an important role in the capping and bio-reduction processes. The AgNPs revealed impressive antibacterial activities against MDR Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC ranging from 0.93 to 3.75 mg ml-1). The phytochemical analysis indicated the presence of phenolics, tannins, and flavonoids on the surface of AgNPs. They also showed significant cytotoxic effects on A431, MCF-7, and HepG2 cells (IC50 values ranging from 11 to 49.1 µg ml-l).

Adipose tissue inflammation linked to obesity: A review of current understanding, therapies and relevance of phyto-therapeutics.

Obesity is a current global challenge affecting all ages and is characterized by the up-regulated secretion of bioactive factors/pathways which result in adipose tissue inflammation (ATI). Current obesity therapies are mainly focused on lifestyle (diet/nutrition) changes. This is because many chemosynthetic anti-obesogenic medications cause adverse effects like diarrhoea, dyspepsia, and faecal incontinence, among others. As such, it is necessary to appraise the efficacies and mechanisms of action of safer, natural alternatives like plant-sourced compounds, extracts [extractable phenol (EP) and macromolecular antioxidant (MA) extracts], and anti-inflammatory peptides, among others, with a view to providing a unique approach to obesity care. These natural alternatives may constitute potent therapies for ATI linked to obesity. The potential of MA compounds (analysed for the first time in this review) and extracts in ATI and obesity management is elucidated upon, while also highlighting research gaps and future prospects. Furthermore, immune cells, signalling pathways, genes, and adipocyte cytokines play key roles in ATI responses and are targeted in certain therapies. As a result, this review gives an in-depth appraisal of ATI linked to obesity, its causes, mechanisms, and effects of past, present, and future therapies for reversal and alleviation of ATI. Achieving a significant decrease in morbidity and mortality rates attributed to ATI linked to obesity and related comorbidities is possible as research improves our understanding over time.

Effects of Silica Hydrogel on Degumming of Fragrant Rapeseed Oil.

Hot-pressed rapeseed oils with pleasant flavor, i.e., fragrant rapeseed oils, are favored by consumers, especially people from the southwest provinces of China. Although degumming is an important section in producing edible rapeseed oils, conventional degumming techniques are generally suffered from disadvantages such as moisture control, and large losses of micronutrients and flavors. In the present paper, hot-pressed rapeseed oils were treated with silica hydrogel to remove their gums, and changes in phospholipids, acid values, peroxide values, tocopherols, total phenols, and flavor compounds were analyzed to compare the silica hydrogel-degumming with conventional methods. The optimized conditions were suggested to be carried out at 45°C for 15 min, and the silica hydrogel dosage was 1.10%. More than 97.00% of phospholipids were removed after the degumming, and more than 85.00% of micronutrients, were retained in the treated oils. The degumming efficiency was therefore significantly higher than those operated by conventional acid degumming and soft degumming techniques. It was found that the dosage of the silica hydrogel significantly affected the removal rate of phospholipids compared with degumming time and temperature. There were nearly typical volatile compounds found in the rapeseed oils, while most of them kept almost stable after the silica hydrogel-degumming. In this regard, silica hydrogel adsorption exhibited little effect on volatile compounds, making it more suitable for the production of fragrant rapeseed oils.

Amino Acids Biostimulants and Protein Hydrolysates in Agricultural Sciences.

The effects of different types of biostimulants on crops include improving the visual quality of the final products, stimulating the immune systems of plants, inducing the biosynthesis of plant defensive biomolecules, removing heavy metals from contaminated soil, improving crop performance, reducing leaching, improving root development and seed germination, inducing tolerance to abiotic and biotic stressors, promoting crop establishment and increasing nutrient-use efficiency. Protein hydrolysates are mixtures of polypeptides and free amino acids resulting from enzymatic and chemical hydrolysis of agro-industrial protein by-products obtained from animal or plant origins, and they are able to alleviate environmental stress effects, improve growth, and promote crop productivity. Amino acids involve various advantages such as increased yield and yield components, increased nutrient assimilation and stress tolerance, and improved yield components and quality characteristics. They are generally achieved through chemical or enzymatic protein hydrolysis, with significant capabilities to influence the synthesis and activity of some enzymes, gene expression, and redox-homeostasis. Increased yield, yield components, and crop quality; improved and regulated oxidation-reduction process, photosynthesis, and physiological activities; decreased negative effects of toxic components; and improved anti-fungal activities of plants are just some of the more important benefits of the application of phenols and phenolic biostimulants. The aim of this manuscript is to survey the impacts of amino acids, different types of protein hydrolysates, phenols, and phenolic biostimulants on different plants by presenting case studies and successful paradigms in several horticultural and agricultural crops.

Effects of feeding bergamot pulp and olive leaves on performance and meat quality in Apulo-Calabrese pigs.

To determine the effects of dietary inclusion of bergamot pulp and olive leaves on pork quality, thirty-six barrows (Apulo-Calabrese; 112.5 ± 7.40 kg initial bodyweight) were randomly assigned to four experimental treatments and fed for 100 days a control diet (control group) or a diet similar to the control diet in which part of the cereals were replaced with 20 % (DM on the diet fed) of ensiled bergamot pulp (dry matter on the diet fed, EBP group) or olive leaves (OLL group) or a 1:1 mixture of both by-products (BPOL group). In the present study, the dietary administration of by-products did not influence the accumulation of IMF (P > 0.05) in meat. As for individual fatty acids, no differences were observed among groups. However, the dietary supplementation of bergamot pulp tended to increase (P = 0.073) the level of α-linolenic acid in meat. In raw and cooked meat TBARS values were higher (P < 0.001) in the Control group than in EBP, OLL and BPOL groups. The integration of 20 % of bergamot pulp and/or olive leaves by-products increased the levels of tocopherol and phenolic compounds in the diets, positively influencing the shelf life of meat. No effect of diet was observed on animal performance. The results of present study indicated mainly that partial replacement of cereals with 20 % DM on the diet fed of ensiled bergamot pulp and olive leaves, either alone or in combination, in the pig's diet led to greater oxidative stability of the meat.

Phytotoxic phenols from the needles of Cedrus deodara.

During the course of screening for anti-seed germination phytochemicals, the methanol fraction of the Cedrus deodara fresh needles showed potent activity. Bioactivity-guided fractionation led to the isolation of thirty-eight phenolic compounds. Four ones were identified as previously undescribed including (7S,8S)-3-methoxy-9'-acetoxy-3',7-epoxy-8,4'-oxyneoligna-4,9-diol (7), (7S,8R)-dihydro-3'-hydroxy-8-acetoxymethyl-7-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)-1'-benzofuranpropanol (10), (8S)-4,9,9'-trihydroxy-3,3'-dimethoxy-8,4'-oxyneolignan (11) and (7S,8S)-4,7,9'-trihydroxy-3,3'-dimethoxy-9-acetoxy-8,4'-oxyneolignan (16), respectively. The potential phytotoxic effects of these compounds on the seed germination and root elongation of Arabidopsis thaliana were evaluated by the filter paper assay developed in our laboratory. Bioassay results indicated that caffeic acid (36) displayed most significant inhibitory activities against the seed germination and root elongation of A. thaliana, stronger than those of the commercial herbicides acetochlor and glyphosate at the same concentration of 200 µg/mL. Ditetrahydrofuran lignan (1), dihydrochalcone (25), and eight simple phenols (28, 29, 31, 33-35, 37 and 38) completely inhibited the seed germination of A. thaliana at the concentration of 400 µg/mL, which were as active as acetochlor. Dihydroflavone (21) and the simple phenols 32-34 displayed stronger inhibitory effects on the root elongation of A. thaliana than that of glyphosate. The inhibitory effects of these active compounds on the seed germination and root elongation of Amaranthus tricolor and Lactuca sativa were evaluated as well. The phytotoxic activity of 11, 16, 22, 25, 31, 34, 37 and 38 were detected for the first time. In addition, the structure-activity relationships of the same class of these phytochemicals were discussed.

Comparative analysis of the antibacterial efficacy and bioactive components of Thuja occidentalis obtained from four different geographical sites.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not there were significant differences in the antibacterial potential of Thuja occidentalis collected from four distinct geographical sites, namely Chamba (Himachal Pradesh, India), Jalandhar (Punjab, India), Aurangabad (Bihar, India) and Kakching (Manipur, India). The plant extracts were prepared in three different solvents: ethanol, methanol, and acetone. The antibacterial potential of the plant extracts was tested against five different bacterial species using well diffusion test. The minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations of the plant sample exhibiting maximum zone of inhibition against different bacterial strains were calculated. Further, the total phenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant efficacy (using DPPH assay) were also analysed biochemically. The activity of different antioxidant enzymes including SOD, CAT and APX were also recorded as these enzymes protect the cells from free radical damage. GC-MS analysis was also performed on all plant extracts to identify the bioactive components. The results showed that the T. occidentalis collected from the Kakching, Manipur, East side of India showed the highest zone of inhibition against all the bacterial strains, followed by Chamba, Jalandhar, and lastly Aurangabad. To analyse the impact of phytochemicals on the antibacterial efficacy, a correlation was drawn between the biochemical parameters and zone of inhibition using Karl Pearson's method. Most bacterial species demonstrated a positive correlation between antibacterial effectiveness (zone of inhibition) and biochemical markers. The GC-MS study revealed positive correlation between zone of inhibition and peak area percentages of α-Pinene, ß-caryophyllene, Germacrene-D, and Humulene in all bacterial species indicating that these chemicals may play a key role in the bactericidal potential of T. occidentalis. Based on the results of this investigation, it is evident that the antibacterial effectiveness of T. occidentalis varies with its geographical location which may be attributed to the differences in the phytochemical makeup.

Comparative study of dietary phenols with Tartary buckwheat protein (2S/13S): impact on structure, binding sites and functionality of protein.

BACKGROUND: This research was to investigate the interaction mechanism between 2S albumin and 13S globulin (2S and 13S, the most important storage proteins in Tartary buckwheat seeds) and three phenols (rutin, quercetin and myricetin) regarding the structural and antioxidant properties of their complexes. RESULTS: There are differences in the binding affinity of phenols for 2S and 13S. Rutin had a higher binding affinity for 2S, myricetin had a higher binding affinity for 13S, and 13S exhibited a higher affinity toward phenols than did 2S. Binding with phenols significantly changed the secondary and tertiary structures of 2S and 13S, decreased the surface hydrophobic value and enhanced the antioxidant capacity. Molecular docking and isothermal titration calorimetry showed that the binding processes were spontaneous and that there were hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic bonds and van der Waals force interactions between phenols and proteins. CONCLUSION: These findings could provide meaningful guidance for the further application of buckwheat protein complex. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Natural products in traditional Chinese medicine: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets of renal fibrosis and state-of-the-art drug delivery systems.

Renal fibrosis (RF) is the end stage of several chronic kidney diseases. Its series of changes include excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of renal tubular cells, fibroblast activation, immune cell infiltration, and renal cell apoptosis. RF can eventually lead to renal dysfunction or even renal failure. A large body of evidence suggests that natural products in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) have great potential for treating RF. In this article, we first describe the recent advances in RF treatment by several natural products and clarify their mechanisms of action. They can ameliorate the RF disease phenotype, which includes apoptosis, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and EMT, by affecting relevant signaling pathways and molecular targets, thereby delaying or reversing fibrosis. We also present the roles of nanodrug delivery systems, which have been explored to address the drawback of low oral bioavailability of natural products. This may provide new ideas for using natural products for RF treatment. Finally, we provide new insights into the clinical prospects of herbal natural products.

Antibacterial activity of essential oils of Salvia Officinalis growing in Morocco.

Background: The bacterial infections treatment is complicated by antibiotic resistance. In this fact, the need for new therapeutic approaches to control bacterial infections is crucial. Therefore, discovering new antibiotics from medicinal plants, able to kill drug-resistant bacteria, is essential to saving modern medicine. Objective: This study was to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial activity of Salvia officinalis essential oil (SoEO) growing in Morocco. Material and methods: The essential oil was extracted by hydro distillation, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined by agar dilution method. The essential oil was analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and fractionated/purified using column chromatography followed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Results: The results revealed that SoEO showed higher antimicrobial activity against Enterococcus faecalis and Citrobacter freundii. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, and purification/fractionation of SoEO, indicates that the most polar fraction F6 is the active fraction of SoEO. This finding can be explained by the existence of polar compounds in this fraction including alcohols, and phenols as thymol, eugenol, globulol, and spathulenol. Conclusions: It can be conclude that alcohols and phenols from Salvia officinalis essential oil (SoEO) have promising antibacterial activity. This action can offer a great possibility of the application of SoEO in the treatment of bacterial diseases.

Mediterranean Shrub Species as a Source of Biomolecules against Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Neurodegenerative diseases are associated with oxidative stress, due to an imbalance in the oxidation-reduction reactions at the cellular level. Various treatments are available to treat these diseases, although they often do not cure them and have many adverse effects. Therefore, it is necessary to find complementary and/or alternative drugs that replace current treatments with fewer side effects. It has been demonstrated that natural products derived from plants, specifically phenolic compounds, have a great capacity to suppress oxidative stress and neutralize free radicals thus, they may be used as alternative alternative pharmacological treatments for pathological conditions associated with an increase in oxidative stress. The plant species that dominate the Mediterranean ecosystems are characterized by having a wide variety of phenolic compound content. Therefore, these species might be important sources of neuroprotective biomolecules. To evaluate this potential, 24 typical plant species of the Mediterranean ecosystems were selected, identifying the most important compounds present in them. This set of plant species provides a total of 403 different compounds. Of these compounds, 35.7% are phenolic acids and 55.6% are flavonoids. The most relevant of these compounds are gallic, vanillic, caffeic, chlorogenic, p-coumaric, and ferulic acids, apigenin, kaempferol, myricitrin, quercetin, isoquercetin, quercetrin, rutin, catechin and epicatechin, which are widely distributed among the analyzed plant species (in over 10 species) and which have been involved in the literature in the prevention of different neurodegenerative pathologies. It is also important to mention that three of these plant species, Pistacea lentiscus, Lavandula stoechas and Thymus vulgaris, have most of the described compounds with protective properties against neurodegenerative diseases. The present work shows that the plant species that dominate the studied geographic area can provide an important source of phenolic compounds for the pharmacological and biotechnological industry to prepare extracts or isolated compounds for therapy against neurodegenerative diseases.

Biological Activities of Citrus aurantium Leaf Extract by Optimized Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction.

Several studies have explored the biological activities of Citrus aurantium flowers, fruits, and seeds, but the bioactivity of C. aurantium leaves, which are treated as waste, remains unclear. Thus, this study developed a pilot-scale ultrasonic-assisted extraction process using the Box-Behnken design (BBD) for the optimized extraction of active compounds from C. aurantium leaves, and their antityrosinase, antioxidant, antiaging, and antimicrobial activities were evaluated. Under optimal conditions in a 150× scaleup configuration (a 30 L ultrasonic machine) of a pilot plant, the total phenolic content was 69.09 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry weight, which was slightly lower (3.17%) than the theoretical value. The half maximal inhibitory concentration of C. aurantium leaf extract (CALE) for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl-scavenging, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)-scavenging, antityrosinase, anticollagenase, antielastase and anti-matrix metalloprotein-1 activities were 123.5, 58.5, 181.3, 196.4, 216.3, and 326.4 mg/L, respectively. Moreover, the minimal inhibitory concentrations for bacteria and fungi were 150-350 and 500 mg/L, respectively. In total, 17 active compounds were detected in CALE-with linalool, linalyl acetate, limonene, and α-terpineol having the highest concentrations. Finally, the overall transdermal absorption and permeation efficiency of CALE was 95.9%. In conclusion, our CALE demonstrated potential whitening, antioxidant, antiaging, and antimicrobial activities; it was also nontoxic and easily absorbed into the skin as well as inexpensive to produce. Therefore, it has potential applications in various industries.

Pterodon emarginatus Seed Preparations: Antiradical Activity, Chemical Characterization, and In Silico ADMET Parameters of ß-caryophyllene and Farnesol.

The study of medicinal plants and their active compounds is relevant to maintaining knowledge of traditional medicine and to the development of new drugs of natural origin with lower environmental impact. From the seeds of the Brazilian plant Pterodon emarginatus, six different preparations were obtained: essential oil (EO), ethanol extract (EthE) prepared using the traditional method, and four extracts using solvents at different polarities, such as n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and methanol (HexE, ChlE, EtAE, and MetE). Chemical characterization was carried out with gas chromatography, allowing the identification of several terpenoids as characteristic components. The two sesquiterpenes ß-caryophyllene and farnesol were identified in all preparations of Pterodon emarginatus, and their amounts were also evaluated. Furthermore, the total flavonoid and phenolic contents of the extracts were assessed. Successively, the antiradical activity with DPPH and ORAC assays and the influence on cell proliferation by the MTT test on the human colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT-29) cell line of the preparations and the two compounds were evaluated. Lastly, an in silico study of adsorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) showed that ß-caryophyllene and farnesol could be suitable candidates for development as drugs. The set of data obtained highlights the potential medicinal use of Pterodon emarginatus seeds and supports further studies of both plant preparations and isolated compounds, ß-caryophyllene and farnesol, for their potential use in disease with free radical involvement as age-related chronic disorders.

Optimisation of Almond-Based Dairy-Free Milk Alternative Formulation Fortified with Myrtle, Bay Leaf and Fennel Extracts§.

Research background: Herbs and spices used in traditional medicine are nowadays increasingly used in combinations to create functional food formulations aimed at treating specific symptoms and disorders. Among herbs originating from the Mediterranean region, extracts of myrtle (Myrtus communis L.), bay leaf (Laurel nobilis L.) and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) are traditionally used for gastrointestinal disorders. When considering how to incorporate these extracts into products, dairy-free milk alternatives provide an excellent base with almond-based drinks being among the most popular within this group. Experimental approach: The aim of this study is therefore to optimise the formulation of an almond drink fortified with a 25 % (on dry mass basis) aqueous herbal extract containing myrtle, bay leaf (25 % each) and fennel seed (50 %) extracts. A central composite design with 20 formulations varied the content of φ(aqueous herbal extract)=2-6 %, lecithin as emulsifier 0.15-0.45 and xylitol as sweetener 2-5 % (m/V), while antioxidant activity, total phenolic content and sensory properties were determined as dependent variables. Results and conclusions: The antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of the prepared almond drink formulations increased with the amount of added concentrated aqueous herbal extracts, as did the colour, herbal odour and flavour, bitterness and aftertaste. The addition of lecithin resulted in a darker colour and the sweetness was increased by the xylitol content. All formulations had good overall attractiveness, which increased with higher xylitol content. Novelty and scientific contribution: The current work offers new insights into the optimisation of fortified dairy-free alternatives. The addition of myrtle, bay leaf and fennel seed extracts to almond drink-based formulations resulted in a 12-fold increase in antioxidant activity. Xylitol masks the potential bitterness of the phenolic compounds so that higher amounts of extracts can be added.

Olive Fruit Ripening Degree and Water Content Relationships with Phenolic Acids and Alcohols, Secoiridoids, Flavonoids and Pigments in Fruit and Oil.

Olive drupe traits (i.e., ripening index and pericarp water content) and minor components (i.e., phenols and pigments in both fruit and oil) are important for human health and are affected by agronomic background. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between fruit traits, phenols, and pigments in samples derived from different soil and water management practices. Chromatographic (UHPLC-MS/MS) and spectroscopic (1HNMR and near UV-Vis spectroscopy) techniques were employed for the characterization of olive fruits and oils. The use of various techniques allowed the identification of interesting trace compounds. We observed that most of the fruit phenols (a total of 29 compounds) were correlated with the degree of ripening: most of the phenolic acids (and their derivatives), phenolic alcohols, and secoiridoids were negatively correlated, whereas the majority of the studied flavonoids were positively correlated. The relationship between the ripening index and fruit phenolic compounds appears to be dependent on the metabolic pathway that controls the synthesis of each individual compound. Conversely, the secoiridoids and pigments in olive oil showed a negative correlation with pulp moisture, probably because of the influence of the water content on the extractability and transfer in the oil phase of these minor components.

Measuring the Phytochemical Richness of Meat: Effects of Grass/Grain Finishing Systems and Grapeseed Extract Supplementation on the Fatty Acid and Phytochemical Content of Beef.

Grass-finished beef (GFB) can provide beneficial bioactive compounds to healthy diets, including omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), and secondary bioactive compounds, such as phytochemicals. The objective of this study was to compare fatty acids (FAs), micronutrients, and phytochemicals of beef fed a biodiverse pasture (GRASS), a total mixed ration (GRAIN), or a total mixed ration with 5% grapeseed extract (GRAPE). This was a two-year study involving fifty-four Red Angus steers (n = 54). GFB contained higher levels of n-3 PUFAs, vitamin E, iron, zinc, stachydrine, hippuric acid, citric acid, and succinic acid than beef from GRAIN and GRAPE (p < 0.001 for all). No differences were observed in quantified phytochemicals between beef from GRAIN and GRAPE (p > 0.05). Random forest analysis indicated that phytochemical and FA composition of meat can predict cattle diets with a degree of certainty, especially for GFB (5.6% class error). In conclusion, these results indicate that GFB contains higher levels of potentially beneficial bioactive compounds, such as n-3 PUFAs, micronutrients, and phytochemicals, compared to grain-finished beef. Additionally, the n-6:n-3 ratio was the most crucial factor capable of separating beef based on finishing diets.

Gradual Changes of the Protective Effect of Phenols in Virgin Olive Oils Subjected to Storage and Controlled Stress by Mesh Cell Incubation.

The oxidation reactions that take place in virgin olive oil under moderate conditions involved the combined effect of antioxidant and prooxidant compounds. Given the complexity of oxidation processes of multicomponent matrices, there is still a need to develop new methods with a dynamic approach to study the persistence of the compounds with healthy properties. This work studied the joint evolution of them, including phenols and pheophytin a, modeling their tendency during a real storage. The regression equations performed with the total phenol concentration showed that around 2% of the concentration was lost every month. Simultaneously, the progress of oxidation was evaluated by mesh cell incubation and Fourier transform infrared analysis. This method pointed out that, in the presence of light, the prooxidant effect of pigments was able to mask the protective effect of phenols, until the pheophytin a concentration was lower than 1 mg/kg. The antioxidant effect of phenols was less remarkable when the concentration loss was 35% or more.

The Effect of Milling on the Ethanolic Extract Composition of Dried Walnut (Juglans regia L.) Shells.

This study investigates the ethanolic extract of dried walnut (Juglans regia L.) shells upon hammer milling (HM) and ball milling (BM) grinding processes. Marked differences were observed in the attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectra. The two extracts were investigated by reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization and high-resolution mass spectrometry (RPLC-ESI-HRMS). Following enzymatic digestion, the fatty acids (FAs) were examined, and tandem MS of epoxidized species was applied to establish the C-C double bond position; the most abundant species were FA 18:2 Δ9,12, FA 18:1 Δ9, and FA 18:3 Δ9,12,15. However, no significant qualitative differences were observed between FAs in the two samples. Thus, the presence of potential active secondary metabolites was explored, and more than 30 phenolic compounds, including phenols, ellagic acid derivatives, and flavonoids, were found. Interestingly, the HM samples showed a high concentration of ellagitannins and hydrolyzable tannins, which were absent in the BM sample. These findings corroborate the greater phenolic content in the HM sample, as evaluated by the Folin-Ciocalteu test. Among the others, the occurrence of lanceoloside A at m/z 391.1037 [C19H20O9-H]-, and a closely related benzoyl derivate at m/z 405.1190 (C20H22O9-H]-), was ascertained. The study provides valuable information that highlights the significance of physical pre-treatments, such as mill grinding, in shaping the composition of extracts, with potential applications in the biorefinery or pharmaceutical industries.