Plackett-Burman screening of physico-chemical variables affecting Citrus peel-mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their antimicrobial activity.

With the growing resistance of pathogenic microbes to traditional drugs, biogenic silver nanoparticles (SNPs) have recently drawn attention as potent antimicrobial agents. In the present study, SNPs synthesized with the aid of orange (Citrus sinensis) peel were engineered by screening variables affecting their properties via Plackett-Burman design. Among the variables screened (temperature, pH, shaking speed, incubation time, peel extract concentration, AgNO3 concentration and extract/AgNO3 volume ratio), pH was the only variable with significant effect on SNPs synthesis. Therefore, SNPs properties could be enhanced to possess highly regular shape with zeta size of 11.44 nm and zeta potential of - 23.7 mV. SNPs purified, capped and stabilized by cloud point extraction technique were then checked for their antimicrobial activity against Bacillus cereus, Listeria innocua, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium and Candida albicans. The maximum antimicrobial activity of SNPs was recorded against E. coli, L. monocytogenes and C. albicans with clear zone diameter of 33.2, 31.8 and 31.7 mm, respectively. Based on minimum inhibition concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of SNPs (300 mg/l) as well as their effect on respiratory chain dehydrogenases, cellular sugar leakage, protein leakage and lipid peroxidation of microbial cells, E. coli was the most affected. Scanning electron microscopy, protein banding and DNA fragmentation proved obvious ultrastructural and molecular alterations of E. coli treated with SNPs. Thus, biogenic SNPs with enhanced properties can be synthesized with the aid of Citrus peel; and such engineered nanoparticles can be used as potent antimicrobial drug against E. coli.

Nigella sativa, Anthemis hyaline and Citrus sinensis extracts reduce SARS-CoV-2 replication by fluctuating Rho GTPase, PI3K-AKT, and MAPK/ERK pathways in HeLa-CEACAM1a cells.

Traditional remedies have long utilized Anthemis hyaline, Nigella sativa, and Citrus sinensis peel extracts as treatments for microbial infections. This study aimed to investigate the influence of Anthemis hyaline, Nigella sativa, and Citrus sinensis extracts on coronavirus replication and apoptosis-related pathways. HeLa-CEACAM1a cells were exposed to mouse hepatitis virus-A59. After viral inoculation, the mRNA levels of 36 genes were quantified using a Fluidigm Dynamic Array nanofluidic chip. IL-8 level and intracellular Ca2+ concentration was measured, and viral titer was assessed by the TCID50/ml assay to detect the extent of infection. Treatment with Nigella sativa extract surged the inflammatory cytokine IL-8 level at both 24 and 48-hour. Changes in gene expression were notable for RHOA, VAV3, ROCK2, CFL1, RASA1, and MPRIP genes following treatment with any of the extracts. The addition of Anthemis hyaline, Nigella sativa, or Citrus sinensis extracts to coronavirus-infected cells reduced viral presence, with Anthemis hyaline extract leading to a virtually undetectable viral load at 6- and 8-hours after infection. While all treatments influenced IL-8 production and viral levels, Anthemis hyaline extract displayed the most pronounced reduction in viral load. Consequently, Anthemis hyaline extract emerges as the most promising agent, harboring potential therapeutic compounds.

Boron-mediated amelioration of copper toxicity in Citrus sinensis seedlings involved reduced concentrations of copper in leaves and roots and their cell walls rather than increased copper fractions in their cell walls.

Little information is available on how boron (B) supplementation affects plant cell wall (CW) remodeling under copper (Cu) excess. 'Xuegan' (Citrus sinensis) seedlings were submitted to 0.5 or 350 µM Cu × 2.5 or 25 µM B for 24 weeks. Thereafter, we determined the concentrations of CW materials (CWMs) and CW components (CWCs), the degree of pectin methylation (DPM), and the pectin methylesterase (PME) activities and PME gene expression levels in leaves and roots, as well as the Cu concentrations in leaves and roots and their CWMs (CWCs). Additionally, we analyzed the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra of leaf and root CWMs. Our findings suggested that adding B reduced the impairment of Cu excess to CWs by reducing the Cu concentrations in leaves and roots and their CWMs and maintaining the stability of CWs, thereby improving leaf and root growth. Cu excess increased the Cu fractions in leaf and root pectin by decreasing DPM due to increased PME activities, thereby contributing to citrus Cu tolerance. FTIR and XRD indicated that the functional groups of the CW pectin, hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin could bind and immobilize Cu, thereby reducing Cu cytotoxicity in leaves and roots.

Effects of the protective and therapeutic effect of yogurt enriched with Citrus sinensis essential oil against ibuprofen-induced gastric ulcer in elderly rats.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Citrus sinensis essential oil (EO) on the proximate composition of yogurt over a 28-day shelf life and to investigate the therapeutic and prophylactic effects of functional yogurt on ibuprofen-induced gastric ulcers in a rat model. It was observed that the yogurt group containing C. sinensis EO had higher acidity, total solids, and ash values. Histologic evaluation of the stomachs of rats with gastric ulcers revealed that rats fed with functional yogurt had fewer lesions compared to the control group. The treatment group had fewer lesions than the positive control (p > 0.05). Lesions in the glandular mucosa of the prophylactic group were significantly lower than those in the positive control group (p < 0.05). Yogurt with C. sinensis EO may be beneficial in reducing the severity of ulcers and improving overall health.

Enhancing pectin extraction from orange peel through citric acid-assisted optimization based on a dual response.

Pectin is widely used in several products in the industry. Conventionally, strong and harmful acids are used for its extraction. This study optimized the extraction of orange peel's pectin using citric acid, considering yield and degree of esterification (DE) as response variables. Proximal analyses were performed, and the samples were subjected to a Box-Behnken design on three central points, considering as variables the temperature, time, and pH. The results of proximate analyses of the orange peels revealed 11.76 % moisture content, 87.26 % volatiles, 0.09 % ash, 50.45 % soluble carbohydrates, 70.60 % total carbohydrates, 0.89 % fixed carbon, 5.35 % lipids, and 36.75 mg GAE/g of phenolic compounds. The resulting second-order polynomial model described the relation of the input and output variables related to each other. The best performance to obtain a higher yield (18.18 %) of high methoxyl pectin (DE 50 %) was set at 100 °C/30 min/pH 2.48. Pectin showed antioxidant properties by ABTS and DPPH assays and similar thermal properties to the commercial polymer. Its equivalent weight was 1219.51 mol/g, and the methoxyl and anhydrouronic acid were 2.23 and 67.10 %, respectively. Hence, pectin extraction with citric acid results in a high-quality polymer and could be used as a gelling agent, stabilizer, or texturizer in food products.

Production, acceptability, nutritional and pasting properties of orange-flesh sweet potato, cowpea and banana flour mix.

Promoting the intake of foods rich in vitamin A is key to combating the increase in vitamin A deficiency. This research focused on the utilization of orange-fleshed sweet potatoes (a tuber-based food), cowpea (a pulse), and ripe bananas (a fruit) for the production of flour mix as a means to reduce Vitamin A deficiency in children. Different ratios of sweet potato-cowpea-banana (PCB) mix, resulting in 8 different blended samples, were optimized. The flour mix was evaluated for its overall acceptability, vitamin A content, beta-carotene, and other nutritional and functional properties. The panelists rated the sweet potato-cowpea banana blends labeled PCB8 (60% OFSP, 30% cowpea, 5% ripe banana flour, and 5% sugar) as most preferred and acceptable with average scores of 8.96 points for color, 8.75 points for flavor, 8.88 points for appearance, 8.33 points for taste, 8.07 points for texture, and 8.39 points for overall acceptability on a 9-point hedonic scale. The vitamin A and beta-carotene contents ranged 7.62 to 8.35 mg/100 g and 0.15-0.17 mg/100 g for all blends. A significant difference in the functional properties of the flour mix were observed with an increase in the ratio of sweet potato flour addition. Findings from this study show that the flour mix PCB4 (65% sweet potato, 30% cowpea, and 5% ripe banana flour) was acceptable (8.15) and is recommended based on its vitamin A content (8.35 mg/100 g), nutritional properties, and functional properties. The study showed that locally available food commodities have good nutritional value that will help reduce vitamin A deficiency in children.

Comparison of green solvents for the revalorization of orange by-products: Carotenoid extraction and in vitro antioxidant activity.

Orange peels contain a considerable number of bioactive compounds such as carotenoids, that can be used as ingredients in high-value products. The aim of this study was to compare orange peel extracts obtained with different green solvents (vegetable oils, fatty acids, and deep eutectic solvents (DES)). In addition, the chemical characterization of a new hydrophobic DES formed by octanoic acid and l-proline (C8:Pro) was performed. The extracts were compared in terms of carotenoid extraction, antioxidant activity by three methods, color, and environmental impact. The results confirmed that the mixture of C8:Pro is a DES and showed the highest carotenoid extraction (46.01 µg/g) compared to hexane (39.28 µg/g). The antioxidant activity was also the highest in C8:Pro (2438.8 µM TE/mL). Finally, two assessment models were used to evaluate the greenness and sustainability of the proposed extractions. These results demonstrated the potential use of orange peels in the circular economy and industry.

Ultrasound assisted extraction and liposome encapsulation of olive leaves and orange peels: How to transform biomass waste into valuable resources with antimicrobial activity.

Every year million tons of by-products and waste from olive and orange processing are produced by agri-food industries, thus triggering environmental and economic problems worldwide. From the perspective of a circular economy model, olive leaves and orange peels can be valorized in valuable products due to the presence of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols exhibiting beneficial effects on human health. The aqueous extracts of olive leaves and orange peels rich in phenolic compounds were prepared by ultrasound-assisted extraction. Both extracts were characterized in terms of yield of extraction, total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity; the polyphenolic profiles were deeper investigated by HPLC-MS analysis. Each extract was included in liposomes composed by a natural phospholipid, 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine,and cholesterol prepared according to the thin-layer evaporation method coupled with a sonication process. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts, free and loaded in liposomes, was investigated according to the broth macrodilution method against different strains of potential bacterial pathogenic species: Staphylococcus aureus (NCIMB 9518), Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6051) and Enterococcus faecalis (NCIMB 775) as Gram-positive, while Escherichia coli (NCIMB 13302), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (NCIMB 9904) and Klebsiella oxytoca (NCIMB 12259) as Gram-negative. The encapsulation of olive leaves extract in liposomes enhanced its antibacterial activity against S. aureus by an order of magnitude.

Effect of citrus peeling (Citrus sinensis) on production performance, humoral immunity, nutrients, and energy utilization of broiler quails.

Citrus citrus peeling has a wide range of vitamins and trace minerals that have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. It is hypothesized that the addition of citrus peeling to broiler quail diets can improve their production performance, humoral immunity, nutrients, and energy utilization. A trial was performed to study the impact of a methanolic extract of citrus peeling (Citrus sinensis) on production performance, humoral immunity, nutrients, and energy utilization of broiler quails. A healthy day-old 300 quails were randomly assigned with 5 replicates each replicate had 15 birds and used CRD for the trial. Different dietary supplementations were presented to different groups. The control group was not supplemented with any supplementation in their feed. While, the 3 other groups were supplemented by 0.5 mL/kg, 1 mL/kg, and 1.5 mL/kg of methanolic extract of dried Citrus sinensis peel (DCSP) in the basal diet (DCSP0.5, DCSP1, and DCSP1.5 groups, respectively). All the birds were allowed ad libitum feeding and water. The feed intake and FCR were significantly higher in the control group, followed by DCSP0.5, and then DCSP1. The significantly lowest feed intake and FCR were observed in the DCSP1.5 group. The weight gain and dressing % were significantly improved with the increasing level of methanolic extract of Citrus sinensis. The significantly highest weights of thymus, spleen, and bursa were recorded in the DCSP1.5 group, followed by the DCSP1. The antibody titers against infectious bursal disease, New Castle disease, and infectious bronchitis disease were significantly higher in the DCSP1.5, DCSP1, and DCSP0.5 groups than in the control group. It was concluded from the study that supplementation of quails with methanolic extract of citrus at a dose rate of 0.5 to 1.5 mL/kg of feed can improve feed intake, weight gain, FCR, dressing percentage, relative weight of lymphoid organs, and digestibility coefficient. Supplementation of Citrus sinensis has also concluded positive impacts on antibody titers against various viral diseases. The best improvement in the evaluated parameters was observed at a dose of extract of citrus was 1.5 mL/kg of feed.

Sweet orange peel waste as a feed additive in growth promoting and protective effect against Aeromonas hydrophila of juvenile bagrid catfish Mystus nemurus.

Sweet orange Citrus sinensis peel is a phytobiotic agricultural waste with bioactive compounds that have potential functional properties as a growth promoter and immune stimulator. This study aims to evaluate the dietary effects of sweet orange peel (SOP) as a feed additive on growth enhancement of juvenile bagrid catfish Mystus nemurus and their disease resistance ability against Aeromonas hydrophila infection. Four experimental diets were formulated to contain 0 (SOP0, control), 4 (SOP4), 8 (SOP8) and 12 g/kg (SOP12) SOP. After 90 d of the feeding experiment, improvement in weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, and protein efficiency ratio were observed in the fish fed with SOP4. While fish survival was not significantly affected, hepatosomatic and viscerosomatic indices were significantly higher in fish fed with SOP12. Muscle protein was higher in fish fed with SOP4, SOP8, and SOP12 than in control but muscle lipids showed an opposite trend. A 14-d post-challenge test against A. hydrophila revealed no significant effect on the fish survival. Nevertheless, fish fed SOP4 encountered delayed bacterial infection compared to other treatments and fish fed with SOP0 and SOP4 performed numerically better survival. Infected fish showed skin depigmentation, haemorrhagic signs at the abdomen and anus, internal bleeding, and stomach and intestine enlargement. In conclusion, SOP4 could be recommended as a growth promoter while slightly delaying A. hydrophila infection in M. nemurus.

Pyto-Architechture of Ag, Au and Ag-Au bi-metallic nanoparticles using waste orange peel extract for enable carcinogenic Congo red dye degradation.

Ecologically inspired to develop silver, gold and silver/gold bimetallic nanoparticles from discarded orange peel extract. The plant-derived compounds included in discarded orange peel extract have been accountable for the development of Ag, Au and Ag-Au bimetallic nanoparticles, that might be used in the biosynthetic process. The qualitative assessment of developed silver, gold and silver/gold bimetallic nanoparticles has been performed by UV-visible, XRD pattern, FT IR analysis, TEM/HRTEM, EDX and BET isotherm analysis. In this investigation, the photocatalytic effect of developed silver, gold and silver/gold bimetallic nanoparticles on Congo red dye breakdown efficiency was achieved at 96%, 94%, and 99.2%, respectively. Due to prolonged electron-hole recombination process was investigated using UV irradiation and reused for up to 5 consecutive runs without significant loss of photocatalytic activity. Moreover, silver, gold, and silver/gold bimetallic nanoparticles manufactured in an environmentally benign manner could potentially contribute to the ecological cleanup.

Anti-diabetic effects of natural and modified 'Ganzhou' navel orange peel pectin on type 2 diabetic mice via gut microbiota.

Pectin, a kind of dietary fiber, has attracted much attention owing to its beneficial effect on human health in recent years. In this study, the effects of both 'Ganzhou' navel orange peel pectin (GOP) and modified GOP (MGOP) on type 2 diabetes (T2DM) were investigated. The results indicated that GOP and MGOP intervention had positive effects on T2DM in C57BL/6 mice. After modification, pectin can be changed into low methoxy pectin (LMP) and the content of GalA can increase, which endow MGOP with significant effects on improving lipid metabolism (TC, TG, and LDL-C decreased by 30.46%, 50%, and 37.56%, respectively, and HDL-C increased by 56%) and OGTT, further reducing insulin resistance (insulin decreased by 74.35%). In addition, MGOP was superior to GOP in improving oxidative stress (GSH and GSH-Px increased by 52.05% and 29.08% respectively, and MDA decreased by 84.02%), inhibiting inflammation and promoting SCFA synthesis. 16S rRNA analysis showed that MGOP changed the composition of intestinal microbiota in diabetic mice, decreased the abundance of Alistipes, Helicobacter and Oscillibacter, and increased the relative abundance of Dubosiella, Akkermansiaceae, and Atopobiaceae. The phenotypes of the gut microbiome also changed accordingly, which showed that MGOP significantly inhibited the growth of Gram-negative bacteria and potential pathogenic bacteria and reversed the related complications. Taken together, our findings revealed that MGOP intake regulated lipid metabolism and oxidative stress and improved the gut health of mice, with promising effects against T2DM and related complications.

Green synthesis of biocompatible Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles using Citrus Sinensis peels extract for their biological activities and magnetic-hyperthermia applications.

Green synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) is eco-friendly, biocompatible, cost-effective, and highly stable. In the present study, Citrus sinensis peel extract was utilized to the fabrication of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs). The fabricated SPIONs were first characterized using UV-Visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The UV-Vis spectra analysis displayed a peak at 259 nm due to the surface plasmon resonance. The FTIR spectrum showed bands at 3306 cm-1, and 1616 cm-1 revealed the protein's involvement in the development and capping of NPs. TEM analysis indicated that green synthesized SPIONs were spherical in shape with particle size of 20-24 nm. Magnetization measurements indicate that the synthesized SPIONs exhibited superparamagnetic behavior at room temperature. The antimicrobial activity, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), antioxidant potential, anti-inflammatory effect, and catalytic degradation of methylene blue by SPIONs were investigated in this study. Results demonstrated that SPIONs had variable antimicrobial effect against different pathogenic multi-drug resistant bacteria. At the highest concentration (400 µg/mL), SPIONs showed inhibition zones (14.7-37.3 mm) against all the target isolates. Furthermore, the MIC of synthesized SPIONs against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Candida albicans were 3, 6.5, 6.5, 12.5, 50, 25 µg/mL, respectively. SPIONs exhibited strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and catalytic dye degradation activities. Interestingly, Fe3O4 SPIONs shows optimum magnetic hyperthermia (MHT) techniques under an alternating magnetic field (AMF) measured in specific absorption rate (SAR) of 164, 230, and 286 W/g at concentrations 1, 5, and 10 mg/mL, respectively. Additionally, these newly fabricated SPIONs virtually achieve significant execution under the AMF in fluid MHT and are suitable for biomedical applications.

Orange Peel Waste as Feedstock for the Production of Glycerol-Free Biodiesel by the Microalgae Nannochloropsis oculata.

The bioconversion of agri-food waste into high-value products is gaining growing interest worldwide. Orange peel waste (OPW) is the main by-product of orange juice production and contains high levels of moisture and carbohydrates. In this study, the orange waste extract (OWE) obtained through acid hydrolysis of OPW was used as a substrate in the cultivation of the marine microalgae Nannochloropsis oculata. Photoheterotrophic (PH) and Photoautotrophic (PA) cultivations were performed in OWE medium and f/2 medium (obtained by supplementing OWE with macro- and micronutrients of f/2 medium), respectively, for 14 days. The biomass yields in PA and PH cultures were 390 mg L-1 and 450 mg L-1, while oil yields were 15% and 28%, respectively. The fatty acid (FA) profiles of PA cultures were mostly represented by saturated (43%) and monounsaturated (46%) FAs, whereas polyunsaturated FAs accounted for about 10% of the FAs. In PH cultures, FA profiles changed remarkably, with a strong increase in monounsaturated FAs (77.49%) and reduced levels of saturated (19.79%) and polyunsaturated (2.72%) FAs. Lipids obtained from PH cultures were simultaneously extracted and converted into glycerol-free biodiesel using an innovative microwave-assisted one-pot tandem protocol. FA methyl esters were then analyzed, and the absence of glycerol was confirmed. The FA profile was highly suitable for biodiesel production and the microwave-assisted one-pot tandem protocol was more effective than traditional extraction techniques. In conclusion, N. oculata used OWE photoheterotrophically, resulting in increased biomass and oil yield. Additionally, a more efficient procedure for simultaneous oil extraction and conversion into glycerol-free biodiesel is proposed.

Orange peels and Chlorella vulgaris supplementation ameliorate gamma radiation-induced oxidative stress by regulating TGF-ß and NOX2/NOX4 signaling pathways.

Numerous studies revealed that Chlorella vulgaris and orange peels are potential sources for many valuable compounds such as flavonoids, which are natural polyphenols with antioxidant capacities that lessen oxidative stress via suppressing ROS levels. Thus, this study was designed to investigate their radioprotective efficiency either alone or in combination as natural food supplements. Sixty-four male Albino rats were divided into eight groups (n = 8) as follows: control, orange peel (10% in diet), C. vulgaris (1% in diet), orange peel + C. vulgaris, gamma irradiated (2Gy twice per week up to 8Gy), orange peel + gamma irradiation, C. vulgaris + gamma irradiation, and orange peel + C. vulgaris + gamma irradiation. After the experiment, blood serums were collected for biochemical analysis, whole bloods were collected for blood picture, bone marrows were collected for GSH, MDA, TGF-ß, NOX2 and NOX4, and liver tissues were collected for histopathological evaluation. Current study revealed that exposure to gamma irradiation induced a significant disturbance in liver function markers (ALT and AST), kidney function markers (urea and creatinine), cholesterol and triglycerides levels in serum. In addition, a significant decrease in WBCs, RBCs, PLT, and Hb in blood of irradiated rats. Moreover, a significant elevation in TGF-ß, NOX2, NOX4 activities, and MDA level, while showed a marked decrease in GSH concentration. Furthermore, hepatic inflammation appeared in the histopathological examination. Orange peels or C. vulgaris treatments showed acceptable amelioration in all measured parameters, combination between orange peels and C. vulgaris showed statistically significant additive amelioration in radiation induced disturbance.

Ultrasound Treatment Improves Fruit Quality of Postharvest Blood Oranges (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck): Anthocyanin Enrichment and Its Biosynthesis.

This study was to investigate the effects of different nonthermal treatments on quality attributes, anthocyanin profiles, and gene expressions related to anthocyanin biosynthesis during low-temperature storage, including pulsed light (PL), magnetic energy (ME), and ultrasound (US). Among these treatments, 1 min US treatment was the most effective method for improving fruit quality and increasing total anthocyanin contents (by 29.89 ± 3.32%) as well as individual anthocyanins during low-temperature storage of 28 days. This treatment resulted in high color intensity, intact cellular architectures, and positive sensory evaluation. In contrast, PL and ME treatments displayed negative effects on quality improvement, leading to the destruction of cell architectures and inhibiting anthocyanin levels. Furthermore, qPCR analysis revealed that the structural genes (C4H, CHS1, CHS2, CHI, F3H, ANS, and GST) related to anthocyanin biosynthesis and transport were the target genes and upregulated in response to the cavitation effect of US treatment.

Omics approaches to investigate the neuroprotective capacity of a Citrus sinensis (sweet orange) extract in a Caenorhabditis elegans Alzheimer's model.

Citrus sinensis by-products are a promising source of neuroprotective molecules. In this study, a pressurized liquid extract of Citrus by-products (PLE100) has been extensively characterized, and its neuroprotective capacity tested in the Caenorhabditis elegans strain CL4176, a validated in vivo model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). More than 450 compounds have been annotated in the extract, being triacylglycerols (TGs), stigmastanes, fatty acids (FAs) and carbohydrates the most abundant. The results demonstrate that worms PLE100-treated are significantly protected in a dose-dependent manner against the Aß-peptide paralysis toxicity. The RNA-Seq data showed an alteration of 294 genes mainly related to the stress response defense along with genes involved in the lipid transport and metabolism. Moreover, the comprehensive metabolomics study allowed the identification of 818 intracellular metabolites, of which 54 were significantly altered (mainly lipids). The integration of these and previous results provides with new evidences of the protection mechanisms of this promising extract.

Electrohydrodynamic drying of citrus (Citrus sinensis L.) peel: Comparative evaluation on the physiochemical quality and volatile profiles.

Based on the concept of circular economy, citrus peel was considered a valuable source of bioactive compounds for high-value foods. Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) drying is a novel technology appropriated for the dehydration of heat-sensitive products such as citrus peel. In current work, EHD drying of citrus peel was performed based on alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) sources at various voltage levels (9, 18, 27, 36, and 45 kV). The effect of EHD on drying characteristics, water retention capacity, enzyme inactivation, phytochemical contents (phenolic compounds and carotenoids), and volatile compounds of citrus peel were evaluated and compared. Results showed that the drying time in the AC electric field was shorter compared to DC electric field at the same applied voltages due to the polarization layer formed by unipolar charges. The applied voltage determined electric field strength as well as the degree of tissue collapse and cell membrane rupture. EHD elucidated the transformation and degradation of phytochemicals including phenolic compounds, carotenoids, and volatile composition in proportion to the applied voltage. The findings indicate that EHD drying with AC improves drying behaviors, inactivates enzymes, and retains the phytochemical properties of citrus peel.

Orange Peel Extract and Physical Exercise Synergistically Ameliorate Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus-Induced Dysmetabolism by Upregulating GLUT4 Concentration in Male Wistar Rats.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease and one of the oldest known disorders. It is characterized by dysglycemia, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance (IR), and pancreatic cell dysfunction. Although different drugs, metformin (MET), glipizide, glimepiride, etc., have been introduced to treat type 2 DM (T2DM), these drugs are not without side effects. Scientists are now seeking natural treatments such as lifestyle modification and organic products known with limited side effects. Thirty-six male Wistar rats were randomized into six groups (n = 6 per group): control, DM untreated rats, DM+orange peel extract (OPE), DM+exercise (EX), DM+OPE +EX, and DM+MET. The administration was once daily through the oral route and lasted for 28 days. EX and OPE synergistically ameliorated the diabetic-induced increase in fasting blood sugar, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA IR), total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG), TC/high-density lipoprotein (HDL), TG/HDL, triglyceride glucose (TyG) index, and hepatic lactate dehydrogenase, alanine transaminase, malondialdehyde, c-reactive protein, and tumour necrosis factor α when compared with the diabetic untreated group. Also, EX+OPE blunted DM-induced decrease in serum insulin, homeostasis model assessment of ß-cell function (HOMA-B), homeostasis model assessment of insulin sensitivity (HOMA S), quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index (QUICK 1), HDL, total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, and hepatic glycogen. Furthermore, EX+OPE ameliorated the observed DM-induced decrease in glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT 4), expression. This study showed that OPE and EX synergistically ameliorate T2DM-induced dysglycaemia, dyslipidaemia, and down-regulation of GLUT4 expression.

Fingerprinting Chemical Markers in the Mediterranean Orange Blossom Honey: UHPLC-HRMS Metabolomics Study Integrating Melissopalynological Analysis, GC-MS and HPLC-PDA-ESI/MS.

(1) Background: Citrus honey constitutes a unique monofloral honey characterized by a distinctive aroma and unique taste. The non-targeted chemical analysis can provide pivotal information on chemical markers that differentiate honey based on its geographical and botanical origin. (2) Methods: Within the PRIMA project "PLANT-B", a metabolomics workflow was established to unveil potential chemical markers of orange blossom honey produced in case study areas of Egypt, Italy, and Greece. In some of these areas, aromatic medicinal plants were cultivated to enhance biodiversity and attract pollinators. The non-targeted chemical analysis and metabolomics were conducted using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS). (3) Results: Forty compounds were disclosed as potential chemical markers, enabling the differentiation of the three orange blossom honeys according to geographical origin. Italian honey showed a preponderance of flavonoids, while in Greek honey, terpenoids and iridoids were more abundant than flavonoids, except for hesperidin. In Egyptian honey, suberic acid and a fatty acid ester derivative emerged as chemical markers. New, for honey, furan derivatives were identified using GC-MS in Greek samples. (4) Conclusions: The application of UHPLC-HRMS metabolomics combined with an elaborate melissopalynological analysis managed to unveil several potential markers of Mediterranean citrus honey potentially associated with citrus crop varieties and the local indigenous flora.