Examination of primary aromatic amines content in polylactic acid straws and migration into food simulants using SERS with LC-MS.

Polylactic acid (PLA) straws hold eco-friendly potential; however, residual diisocyanates used to enhance the mechanical strength can generate carcinogenic primary aromatic amines (PAAs), posing health risks. Herein, we present a rapid, comprehensive strategy to detecting PAAs in 18 brands of food-grade PLA straws and assessing their migration into diverse food simulants. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy was conducted to rapidly screen straws for PAAs. Subsequently, qualitative determination of migrating PAAs into various food simulants (4 % acetic acid, 10 % ethanol, 50 % ethanol) occurred at 70 °C for 2 h using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Three PAAs including 4,4'-methylenedianiline, 2,4'-methylenedianiline, and 2,4-diaminotoluene were detected in all straws. Specifically, 2,4-diaminotoluene in 50 % ethanol exceeded specific migration limit of 2 µg/kg, raising safety concerns. Notably, PAAs migration to 10 % and 50 % ethanol surpassed that to 4 % acetic acid within a short 2-hour period. Moreover, PLA straws underwent varying degrees of shape changes before and after migration. Straws with poly(butylene succinate) resisted deformation compared to those without, indicating enhanced heat resistance, while poly(butyleneadipate-co-terephthalate) improved hydrolysis resistance. Importantly, swelling study unveiled swelling effect wasn't the primary factor contributing to the increased PAAs migration in ethanol food simulant, as there was no significant disparity in swelling degrees across different food simulants. FT-IR and DSC analysis revealed higher PAAs content in 50 % ethanol were due to highly concentrated polar ethanol disrupting hydrogen bonds and van der Waal forces holding PLA molecules together. Overall, minimizing contact between PLA straws and alcoholic foods is crucial to avoid potential safety risks posed by PAAs.

Development and Validation of a Proximity Labeling Fusion Protein Construct to Identify the Protein-Protein Interactions of Transcription Factors.

Dynamic interactions between transcription factors govern changes in gene expression that mediate changes in cell state accompanying injury response and regeneration. Transcription factors frequently function as obligate dimers whose activity is often modulated by post-translational modifications. These critical and often transient interactions are not easily detected by traditional methods to investigate protein-protein interactions. This chapter discusses the design and validation of a fusion protein involving a transcription factor tethered to a proximity labeling ligase, APEX2. In this technique, proteins are biotinylated within a small radius of the transcription factor of interest, regardless of time of interaction. Here we discuss the validations required to ensure proper functioning of the transcription factor proximity labeling tool and the sample preparation of biotinylated proteins for mass spectrometry analysis of putative protein interactors.

Rapid and accurate detection of cinnamon oil adulteration in perilla leaf oil using atmospheric solids analysis probe-mass spectrometry.

Perilla leaf oil (PLO) is a global premium vegetable oil with abundant nutrients and substantial economic value, rendering it susceptible to potential adulteration by unscrupulous entrepreneurs. The addition of cinnamon oil (CO) is one of the main adulteration avenues for illegal PLOs. In this study, new and real-time ambient mass spectrometric methods were developed to detect CO adulteration in PLO. First, atmospheric solids analysis probe tandem mass spectrometry combined with principal component analysis and principal component analysis-linear discriminant analysis was employed to differentiate between authentic and adulterated PLO. Then, a spectral library was established for the instantaneous matching of cinnamaldehyde in the samples. Finally, the results were verified using the SRM mode of ASAP-MS/MS. Within 3 min, the three methods successfully identified CO adulteration in PLO at concentrations as low as 5% v/v with 100% accuracy. The proposed strategy was successfully applied to the fraud detection of CO in PLO.

Seasonal variation in non-volatile flavor substances of fresh tea leaves (Camellia sinensis) by integrated lipidomics and metabolomics using UHPLC-Q-Exactive mass spectrometry.

Harvest season exerts great influence on tea quality. Herein, the variations in non-volatile flavor substances in spring and summer fresh tea leaves of four varieties were comprehensively investigated by integrating UHPLC-Q-Exactive based lipidomics and metabolomics. A total of 327 lipids and 99 metabolites were detected, among which, 221 and 58 molecules were significantly differential. The molecular species of phospholipids, glycolipids and acylglycerolipids showed most prominent and structure-dependent seasonal changes, relating to polar head, unsaturation and total acyl length. Particularly, spring tea contained higher amount in aroma precursors of highly unsaturated glycolipids and phosphatidic acids. The contents of umami-enhancing amino acids and phenolic acids, e.g., theanine, theogallin and gallotannins, were increased in spring. Besides, catechins, theaflavins, theasinensins and flavone/flavonol glycosides showed diverse changes. These phytochemical differences covered key aroma precursors, tastants and colorants, and may confer superior flavor of black tea processed using spring leaves, which was verified by sensory evaluation.

Deciphering the complexity of the chemicals in food packaging materials using molecular networks.

Chemicals from packaging materials might be transferred into food resulting in consumer exposure. Identifying these migrated chemicals is highly challenging and crucial to perform their safety assessment, usually starting by the understanding of the chemical composition of the packaging material itself. This study explores the use of the Molecular Networking (MN) approach to support identification of the extracted chemicals. Two formulations of bioplastics were analyzed using Liquid Chromatography hyphenated to High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry. Data processing and interpretation using a conventional manual method was performed as a point of comparison to understand the power of MN. Interestingly, only the MN approach facilitated the identification of unknown chemicals belonging to a novel oligomer series containing the azelaic acid monomer. The MN approach provided a faster visualization of chemical families in addition to the highlight of unrelated chemicals enabling to prioritize chemicals for further investigation improving the safety assessment of packaging materials.

Degradation of gaseous hydrocarbons in aerated stirred bioreactors inoculated with Rhodococcus erythropolis: Effect of the carbon source and SIFT-MS method development.

The study of microbial hydrocarbons removal is of great importance for the development of future bioremediation strategies. In this study, we evaluated the removal of a gaseous mixture containing toluene, m-xylene, ethylbenzene, cyclohexane, butane, pentane, hexane and heptane in aerated stirred bioreactors inoculated with Rhodococcus erythropolis and operated under non-sterile conditions. For the real-time measurement of hydrocarbons, a novel systematic approach was implemented using Selected-Ion Flow Tube Mass Spectrometry (SIFT-MS). The effect of the carbon source (∼9.5 ppmv) on (i) the bioreactors' performance (BR1: dosed with only cyclohexane as a single hydrocarbon versus BR2: dosed with a mixture of the 8 hydrocarbons) and (ii) the evolution of microbial communities over time were investigated. The results showed that cyclohexane reached a maximum removal efficiency (RE) of 53% ± 4% in BR1. In BR2, almost complete removal of toluene, m-xylene and ethylbenzene, being the most water-soluble and easy-to-degrade carbon sources, was observed. REs below 32% were obtained for the remaining compounds. By exposing the microbial consortium to only the five most recalcitrant hydrocarbons, REs between 45% ± 5% and 98% ± 1% were reached. In addition, we observed that airborne microorganisms populated the bioreactors and that the type of carbon source influenced the microbial communities developed. The abundance of species belonging to the genus Rhodococcus was below 10% in all bioreactors at the end of the experiments. This work provides fundamental insights to understand the complex behavior of gaseous hydrocarbon mixtures in bioreactors, along with a systematic approach for the development of SIFT-MS methods.

Exploring the diversity of dissolved organic matter (DOM) properties and sources in different functional areas of a typical macrophyte - derived lake combined with optical spectroscopy and FT-ICR MS analysis.

Lake Baiyangdian is one of China's largest macrophyte - derived lakes, facing severe challenges related to water quality maintenance and eutrophication prevention. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) was a huge carbon pool and its abundance, property, and transformation played important roles in the biogeochemical cycle and energy flow in lake ecosystems. In this study, Lake Baiyangdian was divided into four distinct areas: Unartificial Area (UA), Village Area (VA), Tourism Area (TA), and Breeding Area (BA). We examined the diversity of DOM properties and sources across these functional areas. Our findings reveal that DOM in this lake is predominantly composed of protein - like substances, as determined by excitation - emission matrix and parallel factor analysis (EEM - PARAFAC). Notably, the exogenous tyrosine-like component C1 showed a stronger presence in VA and BA compared to UA and TA. Ultrahigh - resolution mass spectrometry (FT - ICR MS) unveiled a similar DOM molecular composition pattern across different functional areas due to the high relative abundances of lignan compounds, suggesting that macrophytes significantly influence the material structure of DOM. DOM properties exhibited specific associations with water quality indicators in various functional areas, as indicated by the Mantel test. The connections between DOM properties and NO3N and NH3N were more pronounced in VA and BA than in UA and TA. Our results underscore the viability of using DOM as an indicator for more precise and scientific water quality management.

Insights into the seasonal characteristics of single particle aerosols in Chengdu based on SPAMS.

To investigate the seasonal characteristics in air pollution in Chengdu, a single particle aerosol mass spectrometry was used to continuously observe atmospheric fine particulate matter during one-month periods in summer and winter, respectively. The results showed that, apart from O3, the concentrations of other pollutants (CO, NO2, SO2, PM2.5 and PM10) were significantly higher in winter than in summer. All single particle aerosols were divided into seven categories: biomass burning (BB), coal combustion (CC), Dust, vehicle emission (VE), K mixed with nitrate (K-NO3), K mixed with sulfate and nitrate (K-SN), and K mixed with sulfate (K-SO4) particles. The highest contributions in both seasons were VE particles (24%). The higher contributions of K-SO4 (16%) and K-NO3 (10%) particles occurred in summer and winter, respectively, as a result of their different formation mechanisms. S-containing (K-SO4 and K-SN), VE, and BB particles caused the evolution of pollution in both seasons, and they can be considered as targets for future pollution reduction. The mixing of primary sources particles (VE, Dust, CC, and BB) with secondary components was stronger in winter than in summer. In summer, as pollution worsens, the mixing of primary sources particles with 62 [NO3]- weakened, but the mixing with 97 [HSO4]- increased. However, in winter, the mixing state of particles did not exhibit an obvious evolution rules. The potential source areas in summer were mainly distributed in the southern region of Sichuan, while in winter, besides the southern region, the contribution of the western region cannot be ignored.

A dopant-assisted iodide-adduct chemical ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer based on VUV lamp photoionization for atmospheric low-molecular-weight organic acids analysis.

Formic and acetic acids are the most abundant gaseous organic acids and play the key role in the atmospheric chemistry. In iodine-adduct chemical ionization mass spectrometry (CIMS), the low utilization efficiency of methyl iodide and humidity interference are two major issues of the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) lamp initiated CIMS for on-line gaseous formic and acetic acids analysis. In this work, we present a new CIMS based on VUV lamp, and the ion-molecular reactor is separated into photoionization and chemical ionization zones by a reducer electrode. Acetone was added to the photoionization zone, and the VUV photoionization acetone provided low-energy electrons for methyl iodide to generate I-, and the addition of acetone reduced the amount of methyl iodide by 2/3. In the chemical ionization zone, a headspace vial containing ultrapure water was added for humidity calibration, and the vial changes the sensitivity as a function of humidity from ambiguity to well linear correlation (R2 > 0.95). With humidity calibration, the CIMS can quantitatively measure formic and acetic acids in the humidity range of 0%-88% RH. In this mode, limits of detection of 10 and 50 pptv are obtained for formic and acetic acids, respectively. And the relative standard deviation (RSD) of quantitation stability for 6 days were less than 10.5%. This CIMS was successfully used to determine the formic and acetic acids in the underground parking and ambient environment of the Shandong University campus (Qingdao, China). In addition, we developed a simple model based formic acid concentration to assess vehicular emissions.

Application of Proteomics Technology Based on LC-MS Combined with Western Blotting and Co-IP in Antiviral Innate Immunity.

As an interferon-stimulating factor protein, STING plays a role in the response and downstream liaison in antiviral natural immunity. Upon viral invasion, the immediate response of STING protein leads to a series of changes in downstream proteins, which ultimately leads to an antiviral immune response in the form of proinflammatory cytokines and type I interferons, thus triggering an innate immune response, an adaptive immune response in vivo, and long-term protection of the host. In the field of antiviral natural immunity, it is particularly important to rigorously and sequentially probe the dynamic changes in the antiviral natural immunity connector protein STING caused by the entire anti-inflammatory and anti-pathway mechanism and the differences in upstream and downstream proteins. Traditionally, proteomics technology has been validated by detecting proteins in a 2D platform, for which it is difficult to sensitively identify changes in the nature and abundance of target proteins. With the development of mass spectrometry (MS) technology, MS-based proteomics has made important contributions to characterizing the dynamic changes in the natural immune proteome induced by viral infections. MS analytical techniques have several advantages, such as high throughput, rapidity, sensitivity, accuracy, and automation. The most common techniques for detecting complex proteomes are liquid chromatography (LC) and mass spectrometry (MS). LC-MS (Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry), which combines the physical separation capability of LC and the mass analysis capability of MS, is a powerful technique mainly used for analyzing the proteome of cells, tissues, and body fluids. To explore the combination of traditional proteomics techniques such as Western blotting, Co-IP (co-Immunoprecipitation), and the latest LC-MS methods to probe the anti-inflammatory pathway and the differential changes in upstream and downstream proteins induced by the antiviral natural immune junction protein STING.

Identifying an Abnormal Phosphorylated Adaptor by Viral Kinase Using Mass Spectrometry.

Mass spectrometers are widely used to identify protein phosphorylation sites. The process usually involves selective isolation of phosphoproteins and subsequent fragmentation to identify both the peptide sequence and phosphorylation site. Immunoprecipitation could capture and purify the protein of interest, greatly reducing sample complexity before submitting it for mass spectrometry analysis. This chapter describes a method to identify an abnormal phosphorylated site of the adaptor protein by a viral kinase through immunoprecipitation followed by LC-MS/MS.

Investigation of Protein Lysine Acetylation in Antiviral Innate Immunity.

Protein lysine acetylation involved in the antiviral innate immunity contributes to the regulation of antiviral inflammation responses, including type 1 interferon production and interferon-stimulated gene expression. Thus, investigation of acetylated antiviral proteins is vital for the complete understanding of inflammatory responses to viral infections. Immunoprecipitation (IP) assay with anti-targeted-protein antibody or with acetyl-lysine affinity beads followed by immunoblot provides a classical way to determine the potential modified protein in the antiviral innate pathways, whereas mass spectrometry can be utilized to identify the accurate acetylation lysine residues or explore the acetyl-proteomics. We demonstrate here comprehensive methods of protein lysine acetylation determination in virus-infected macrophages and embryonic fibroblast cells or proteins-overexpressed HEK 293 T cells in the context of antiviral innate immunity.

Analysis of Forsythia suspensa fruit and leaf extracts using UHPLC-Q-Exactive-Orbitrap/MS: In vivo antioxidant activity on D-galactose-induced aging mice.

Making health-enhancing tea from Forsythia suspensa leaves has been a tradition of Chinese folk culture for centuries. However, these leaves were not officially recognized as a new food source until 2017 by the Chinese government. In this study, ethyl acetate fractions from Forsythia suspensa fruit and leaves exhibited excellent antioxidant activity in vitro antioxidant assays and in vivo D-galactose-induced aging mice model. The antioxidant activity of the leaves was higher than that of fruit both in vitro and in vivo. The chemical constituents present in these ethyl acetate fractions were comprehensively analyzed using UHPLC-Q-Exactive-Orbitrap/MS. A total of 20 compounds were identified, among which forsythoside E, (+)-epipinoresinol, dihydromyricetin, chlorogenic acid, and ursolic acid were exclusively detected in the ethyl acetate fraction of Forsythia suspensa leaves, but absent in the ethyl acetate fraction derived from its fruit. This study provides theoretical support for the utilization of Forsythia suspensa fruit and leaves.

Seasonal variations and sensory profiles of oolong tea: Insights from metabolic analysis of Tieguanyin cultivar.

The impact of seasonal variations on the quality of oolong tea products remains a subject of ongoing exploration. This study delves into the intricate relationships between seasonality, metabolites, and sensory characteristics in finished oolong tea products. Metabolomic data from 266 Tieguanyin oolong tea products harvested in both spring and autumn, along with corresponding sensory evaluations, were acquired. Using OPLS-DA and PLS-DA models with UPLC-QToF/MS data, our findings showed that seasonal effects were notably more pronounced in light-scented Tieguanyin products (lightly-roasted) compared to strong-scented products (moderately-roasted). Furthermore, over half of the identified key seasonal discriminant metabolites happened to be crucial for determining the sensory grade. The study marks the first-time recognition of triterpene saponins as critical factors in determining both the harvest season and the sensory grade of oolong tea. These insights deepen our understanding of the interplays between seasonal variations, metabolites, and sensory attributes in oolong tea products.

[Metabolite identification of isochlorogenic acid A in rats by HPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS].

Isochlorogenic acid A(ICA) is the main active component of several TCMs, such as Artemisiae Scopariae Herba. This study aims to identify the metabolites of orally administered ICA in rat plasma, urine, and feces, and to speculate on its potential metabolic pathways. Rats were administered ICA orally, and samples of plasma, urine, and feces were collected at different time points. High-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole Exactive Orbitrap-mass spectrometry(HPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS) was used in combination with reference standards, retention time comparison, fragmentation pattern analysis, and literature data to identify the metabolites in the biological samples. A total of 39 metabolites(M1-M39) of ICA were preliminarily identified from rat samples, including 31 from plasma(M1-M10, M12-M24, M26-M28, M30, M34-M35, M38-M39), 34 from urine(M1-M11, M13-M15, M19-M25, M27-M39), and 11 from feces(M2-M3, M6, M15, M21-M23, M32, M34, M36-M37). The main metabolic pathways included hydrolysis, glucuronidation, methylation, and sulfonation reactions. This study revealed the metabolic profile of ICA in rat plasma, urine, and feces, providing references for the in-depth elucidation of its pharmacologically active components.

[Mechanism of liver injury induced by alcohol extract of salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus based on chemical modification of protein].

Salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus is a commonly used tonic in clinical practice. However, its usage is restricted due to the inherent toxicity. The covalent modification of proteins by reactive metabolites(RMs) plays a role in the hepatotoxicity of salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus. This study delves into the protein covalent modification by RMs generated from psoralen/isopsoralen, the primary toxic components of salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus, by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS), aiming to elucidate the mechanism underlying the hepatic injury induced by salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus. Biochemical methods were utilized to measure the levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), catalase(CAT), malondialdehyde(MDA), superoxide dismutase(SOD), reduced glutathione(GSH), and glutathione S-transferase(GST) in mice. The pathological changes in the liver were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. Subsequently, ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) was employed to identify the primary toxic components of psoralen/isopsoralen and the RMs in salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus. Covalent bonding adducts of the toxic components/RMs with GSH and free amino acids were identified to investigate the effects of the toxic components on modification sites and patterns of amino acids. The modifications of RMs were incorporated into the variable modifications of Proteome Discoverer, and the target proteins of psoralen/isopsoralen were detected by liquid chromatography-quadrupole exactive-mass spectrometry. Lastly, Label-free quantitative proteomics was adopted to screen differential proteins, which were further subjected to KEGG and GO enrichment analyses and confirmed by qPCR. The results indicated that compared with the control group, salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus significantly elevated the ALT, AST, and MDA levels and lowered the SOD, CAT, GSH, and GST levels in a dose-dependent manner, while causing obvious vacuolization and inflammatory cell infiltration in mouse hepatocytes. Furthermore, the livers of mice in the salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus group showed the presence of five RMs of psoralen/isopsoralen, two adducts with GSH, and one adduct with cysteine. In addition, 10 proteins modified by the RMs of psoralen/isopsoralen were identified. A total of 133 differential proteins were detected in the livers of mice in the salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus group, including 92 with up-regulated expression and 41 with down-regulated expression. These differential proteins mainly involved ribosomes, rRNAs, and glutathione, affecting the proteasome pathway. The qPCR results were consistent with the differential proteins. These findings suggest that the RMs of psoralen/isopsoralen can covalently bind to GSH and modify cysteine and lysine residues of liver proteins. This covalent modification of proteins by harmful substances can potentially result in liver damage. Therefore, it can be inferred that the oxidative stress damage induced by salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus may be associated with the abnormality of proteasome and its complex, biosynthesis of ribosomes and their nucleoprotein complex, rRNA binding, and glutathione binding.

Rapid Assessment of Metabolomic Fingerprinting of Recycled Sunflower By-Products via DART-HRMS.

To comply with a more circular and environmentally friendly European common agricultural policy, while also valorising sunflower by-products, an ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) was tested to optimise ethanol-wash solutes (EWS). Furthermore, the capabilities of DART-HRMS as a rapid and cost-effective tool for determining the biochemical changes after valorisation of these defatted sunflower EWS were investigated. Three batches of EWS were doubly processed into optimised EWS (OEWS) samples, which were analysed via DART-HRMS. Then, the metabolic profiles were submitted to a univariate analysis followed by a partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) allowing the identification of the 15 most informative ions. The assessment of the metabolomic fingerprinting characterising EWS and OEWS resulted in an accurate and well-defined spatial clusterization based on the retrieved pool of informative ions. The outcomes highlighted a significantly higher relative abundance of phenolipid hydroxycinnamoyl-glyceric acid and a lower incidence of free fatty acids and diglycerides due to the ultrasound treatment. These resulting biochemical changes might turn OEWS into a natural antioxidant supplement useful for controlling lipid oxidation and to prolong the shelf-life of foods and feeds. A standardised processing leading to a selective concentration of the desirable bioactive compounds is also advisable.

The Effects of a Cultivar and Production System on the Qualitative and Quantitative Composition of Bioactive Compounds in Spring Wheat (Triticum sp.).

Spelt Triticum aestivum L. subsp. spelta (cv. Wirtas), einkorn Triticum monococcum L. (cv. Samopsza) and emmer Triticum dicoccum Schrank (Schuebl) (cv. Plaskurka biala and Plaskurka ciemna) spring wheat cultivars were analyzed and compared to common wheat Triticum aestivum L. subsp. aestivum (cv. Harenda, Kandela, Mandaryna, Serenada, Goplana, Kamelia, Nimfa, Rusalka, Struna, Zadra) cultivated in an organic production system. Moreover, the performance of four common wheat cultivars (cv. Harenda, Kandela, Mandaryna, Serenada) grown in organic, conventional and integrated production systems were compared. The UHPLC-DAD-MS and TLC-DPPH• analyses of specific substances (phenolic acids and alkylresorcinols) were evaluated to ascertain the potential of spring wheat cultivars for promoting human health and suitability for cultivation in an organic production system. The highest yield was observed for the T. aestivum L. subsp. aestivum (modern hull-less) cv. Nimfa (4.45 t/ha), which also demonstrated the lowest resistance to Fusarium spp. infection. Among the contemporary hull-less cultivars, cv. Mandaryna and cv. Harenda exhibited the highest resistance to this pathogen (2.4% and 3.7% of grains infected by Fusarium, respectively), while simultaneously displaying the highest organic phenolic acid content (900.92 and 984.55 µg/g of the grain) and the highest antioxidant potential. It is noteworthy that the cereal hulls of T. monococcum L. (old hulled) (cv. Samopsza) exhibited a markedly elevated content of phenolic acids (approximately 4000 µg/g of the grain). This may have contributed to the reduced incidence of Fusarium infection (9.3% of grains infected) observed in the grains of this cultivar. Furthermore, the hulls proved to be a rich source of phenolics with high antioxidant activity, which is beneficial for human and animal health.

Comparative LC-MS-based metabolite profiling, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties of Bunium bulbocastanum tubers from two regions in Algeria.

Traditional herbalists have been relied on for many years by Algerians to cure a wide range of diseases. Regardless of their nutritional values, mushrooms have chemical properties that make them attractive, beneficial, and more likely to be studied by researchers, according to ethnobotanical literature on traditional phytotherapy. Among all the edible mushrooms, tubers are a type of fungus that are traditionally used in fine dining and have garnered attention recently because of their many therapeutic applications. This research delves into a meticulous analysis of bioactive constituents in Bunium bulbocastanum tubers, sourced from Mostaganem and Relizane regions, with a keen focus on polyphenols, flavonoids, and condensed tannins. The quantification of total phenolic content was executed through the Folin-Ciocalteu assay, while flavonoids were assessed via the aluminum chloride colorimetric method. In addition, condensed tannins were evaluated in this study. Antioxidant capacities were scrutinized employing the 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. Microbial inhibition studies were conducted against five benchmark bacterial strains, utilizing the agar disc diffusion technique. Furthermore, a comprehensive liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis was performed to identify and quantify bioactive compounds. The findings underscore that the Mostaganem extracts were particularly rich in polyphenols (11.65 mg GAE/g of extract) and tannins (1.30 mg CE/g of extract), while the Relizane extracts boasted significant flavonoid concentrations (9.421 mg QE/g of extract). Notably, 4-methylguaiacol (82.04 mg/L), caffeic acid dimethyl ether (27.76 mg/L), syringic acid (20.48 mg/L), and naringenin (16.05 mg/L) emerged as the predominant volatile compounds. Compositional investigation of the extracts by LC-MS confirmed the presence of various compounds that were linked to the bioactivities exhibited by B. bulbocastanum tubers. These findings demonstrate the effective antibacterial and antioxidant properties of B. bulbocastanum tubers, indicating their potential use in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.

Advances in perfluoro-alkylated compounds (PFAS) detection in seafood and marine environments: A comprehensive review on analytical techniques and global regulations.

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent organic pollutants that severely threaten the environment and human health due to their distinct chemical composition, extensive production, widespread distribution, bioaccumulation in nature, and long-term persistence. This review focuses on the occurrence and sources of PFAS in seafood, with a particular emphasis on advanced detection methods viz. nanoparticle-based, biosensor-based, and metal-organic frameworks-based, and mass spectrometric techniques. The challenges associated with these advanced detection technologies are also discussed. Recent research and regulatory updates about PFAS, including hazardous and potential health effects, epidemiological studies, and various risk assessment models, have been reviewed. In addition, the need for global monitoring programs and regulations on PFAS are critically reviewed by underscoring their crucial role in protecting human health and the environment. Further, approaches for reducing PFAS in seafood are highlighted with future innovative remediation directions. Although advanced PFAS analytical methods are available, selectivity, sample preparation, and sensitivity are still significant challenges associated with detection of PFAS in seafood matrices.  Moreover, crucial research gaps and solutions to essential concerns are critically explored in this review.