Ammonia/pH super-sensitive colorimetric labels based on gellan gum, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, and dyes for monitoring freshness of lamb meat.

This study aimed to develop an ammonia and pH super-sensitive label by incorporating methyl red and bromothymol blue (MR-BTB, MB) into gellan gum/sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (GG/CMC-Na, GC). Furthermore, E-nose as an auxiliary tool combined with the labels to monitor meat freshness. Results showed that MB had more color change than pure MR or BTB, and the detection limit of ammonia about the MR-BTB (1:2) group was only 2.82 ppm. The addition of MB significantly increased tensile strength, moisture content, and water solubility, but decreased elongation at break and transmittance of the GC label (p < 0.05). The result of FTIR and SEM indicated the formation of hydrogen bonds and well compatibility between MB and GC. Furthermore, the color of the GC-10.0MB label was constantly obviously changing during meat storage, indicating that the GC-10.0MB label had great potential for monitoring the freshness of the lamb meat. A high correlation was found between ΔE of GC-10.0MB label and TVB-N (R2 = 0.9092) and pH (R2 = 0.9114) of meat. Interestingly, the high correlation between ΔE of GC-10.0 MB label and the response value of S2 (R2 = 0.7531), S6 (R2 = 0.9921), and S7 sensor (R2 = 0.8325) of E-nose was also found.

Active prophages in coral-associated Halomonas capable of lateral transduction.

Temperate phages can interact with bacterial hosts through lytic and lysogenic cycles via different mechanisms. Lysogeny has been identified as the major form of bacteria-phage interaction in the coral-associated microbiome. However, the lysogenic-to-lytic switch of temperate phages in ecologically important coral-associated bacteria and its ecological impact have not been extensively investigated. By studying the prophages in coral-associated Halomonas meridiana, we found that two prophages, Phm1 and Phm3, are inducible by the DNA-damaging agent mitomycin C and that Phm3 is spontaneously activated under normal cultivation conditions. Furthermore, Phm3 undergoes an atypical lytic pathway that can amplify and package adjacent host DNA, potentially resulting in lateral transduction. The induction of Phm3 triggered a process of cell lysis accompanied by the formation of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) and Phm3 attached to OMVs. This unique cell-lysis process was controlled by a four-gene lytic module within Phm3. Further analysis of the Tara Ocean dataset revealed that Phm3 represents a new group of temperate phages that are widely distributed and transcriptionally active in the ocean. Therefore, the combination of lateral transduction mediated by temperate phages and OMV transmission offers a versatile strategy for host-phage coevolution in marine ecosystems.

[Natural 5α-reductase inhibitors in treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia].

Benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) is a common disease of the male urinary system, and its incidence rate in China is increasing. However, the mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of BPH remains unclear. Some studies demonstrated that the incidence of BPH was related to the change in the levels of steroid hormones. Too high content of dihydrotestosterone(DHT) in the body may cause BPH and other related diseases. Testosterone(T) is converted to DHT by 5α-reductase(SRD5A). By inhibiting the activity of this enzyme, the production of DHT can be reduced, and then the incidence of BPH can be lowered. Therefore, it has drawn great attention to screen and discover safer and more effective 5α-reductase inhibitors from natural medicines to treat prostatic hyperplasia without affecting the physiological function of men. This review summarizes the characteristics and tissue distribution of 5α-reductase, the discovery of 5α-reductase inhibitors in traditional Chinese medicine and natural medicines, 5α-reductase inhibitors commonly used in clinical practice and their side effects, as well as the animal models of prostatic hyperplasia and common detection indicators, aiming to provide a reference for more in-depth understanding and research about BPH and development of drugs.

Comparison of phenolic composition in Australian-grown date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L.) seeds from different varieties and ripening stages.

In this research, different seeds of Australian-grown date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) were studied to evaluate the antioxidant potential and analyze their phenolic constituents. Phenolic compounds were extracted from seeds of various Australian-grown date varieties at different ripening stages. Eight varieties of date seeds (Zahidi, Medjool, Deglet nour, Thoory, Halawi, Barhee, Khadrawy, and Bau Strami) at three ripening stages (Kimri, Khalal, and Tamar) were investigated in this study. Date seeds at Khalal (9.87-16.93 mg GAE/g) and Tamar (9.20-27.87 mg GAE/g) stages showed higher total phenolic content than those at Kimri stage (1.81-5.99 mg GAE/g). For antioxidant assays like DPPH, FRAP, ABTS, RAP, FICA, and TAC, date seeds at Khalal and Tamar stages also showed higher antioxidant potential than Kimri stage. However, date seeds at Kimri stage (55.24-63.26 mg TE/g) expressed higher radical scavenging activity than Khalal (13.58-51.88 mg TE/g) and Tamar (11.06-50.92 mg TE/g) stages. Phenolic compounds were characterized using LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS, revealing the presence of 37 different phenolic compounds, including 8 phenolic acids, 18 flavonoids, and 11 other phenolic compounds. Further, phenolic compounds were quantified using LC-DAD, revealing that Zahidi variety of date seeds exhibited the highest content during the Kimri stage. In contrast, during the Khalal and Tamar stages, Deglet nour and Medjool date seeds displayed higher concentrations of phenolic compounds. The results indicated an increase in phenolic content in date seeds after the Kimri stage, with significant variations observed among different date varieties.

Nexus of food waste and climate change framework: Unravelling the links between impacts, projections, and emissions.

This communication explores the intricate relationship between food waste and climate change, considering aspects such as impacts, projections, and emissions. It focuses on the pressing issue of waste generation and its potential consequences if current trends persist, and emphasises the importance of efficient solid waste management in improving environmental quality and fostering economic development. It also highlights the challenges faced by developing countries in waste collection and disposal, drawing comparisons with the waste utilisation methods used by developed nations. The review delves into the link between food waste and climate change, noting the paradoxical situation of food wastage against the backdrop of global hunger and malnutrition. It underscores the scientific evidence connecting food waste to climate change and its implications for food security and climate systems. Additionally, it examines the environmental burden imposed by food waste, including its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and the depletion of resources such as energy, water, and land. Besides environmental concerns, this communication also highlights the ethical and socioeconomic dimensions of food waste, discussing its influence on Sustainable Development Goals, poverty, and social inequality. The communication concludes by advocating for collective action and the development of successful mitigation strategies, technological solutions, and policy interventions to address food waste and its climate impacts. It emphasises the need for collaboration, awareness, and informed decision-making to ensure a more sustainable and equitable future.

Acetylation of xenogeneic silencer H-NS regulates biofilm development through the nitrogen homeostasis regulator in Shewanella.

Adjusting intracellular metabolic pathways and adopting suitable live state such as biofilms, are crucial for bacteria to survive environmental changes. Although substantial progress has been made in understanding how the histone-like nucleoid-structuring (H-NS) protein modulates the expression of the genes involved in biofilm formation, the precise modification that the H-NS protein undergoes to alter its DNA binding activity is still largely uncharacterized. This study revealed that acetylation of H-NS at Lys19 inhibits biofilm development in Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 by downregulating the expression of glutamine synthetase, a critical enzyme in glutamine synthesis. We further found that nitrogen starvation, a likely condition in biofilm development, induces deacetylation of H-NS and the trimerization of nitrogen assimilation regulator GlnB. The acetylated H-NS strain exhibits significantly lower cellular glutamine concentration, emphasizing the requirement of H-NS deacetylation in Shewanella biofilm development. Moreover, we discovered in vivo that the activation of glutamine biosynthesis pathway and the concurrent suppression of the arginine synthesis pathway during both pellicle and attached biofilms development, further suggesting the importance of fine tune nitrogen assimilation by H-NS acetylation in Shewanella. In summary, posttranslational modification of H-NS endows Shewanella with the ability to respond to environmental needs by adjusting the intracellular metabolism pathways.

Impulsivity Drives Adolescents to Smoke and Drink: Gender Differences in the Mediating Effects of Resilience and Depression.

High and rising rates of smoking and drinking among Chinese adolescents are contributing to increasingly serious physical and mental health issues. While impulsivity has been demonstrated to be significantly related to adolescent cigarette and alcohol use, little is known about the mechanisms behind this association. The current study focused on resilience and depressive symptoms as potential mediators of this link, exploring the indirect pathways connecting impulsivity to teenage tobacco and alcohol use. Possible gender differences in this indirect pathway were also explored. Participants were secondary school students from southern China (N = 3466; 49.2% were female; Mage = 14.18; SDage = 1.57). Results revealed that adolescents who were more impulsive used cigarettes and alcohol more frequently, and that this effect was partially mediated by lower resilience and more depressive symptoms. It is noteworthy that there were gender differences in this mediating effect, with the effect of impulsivity on cigarette use for girls being mediated by resilience and depressive symptoms, whereas this statistically significant association was not identified for boys. These findings show how adolescents' impulsivity drives them to smoke and drink, and also emphasize gender as a crucial consideration for intervening with adolescents' drinking and smoking behaviors.

Uptake and Intracellular Fate of Fluorophore Labeled Metal-Organic-Framework (MOF) Nanoparticles.

The uptake and the fate of Zr-based metal-organic-framework nanoparticles labeled with organic fluorophores in HeLa cells has been monitored with fluorescence detection and elemental analysis. The nanoparticles have been selected as a model system of carrier nanoparticles (here Zr-based metal-organic-framework nanoparticles) with integrated cargo molecules (here organic fluorophores), with aze that does not allow for efficient exocytosis, a material which only partly degrades under acidic conditions as present in endosomes/lysosomes, and with limited colloidal stability. Data show that, for Zr-based metal-organic-framework nanoparticles of 40 nm size as investigated here, the number of nanoparticles per cells decreases faster due to particle redistribution upon proliferation than due to nanoparticle exocytosis and that, thus, also for this system, exocytosis is not an efficient pathway for clearance of the nanoparticles from the cells.

Self-immolative nanocapsules precisely regulate depressive neuronal microenvironment for synergistic antidepression therapy.

BACKGROUND: Pharmacotherapy constitutes the first-line treatment for depression. However, its clinical use is hindered by several limitations, such as time lag, side effects, and narrow therapeutic windows. Nanotechnology can be employed to shorten the onset time by ensuring permeation across the blood brain barrier (BBB) to precisely deliver more therapeutic agents; unfortunately, formidable challenges owing to the intrinsic shortcomings of commercial drugs remain. RESULTS: Based on the extraordinary capability of monoamines to regulate the neuronal environment, we engineer a network nanocapsule for delivering serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and catalase (CAT) to the brain parenchyma for synergistic antidepression therapy. The nanoantidepressants are fabricated by the formation of 5-HT polymerization and simultaneous payload CAT, following by surface modifications using human serum albumin and rabies virus glycoprotein. The virus-inspired nanocapsules benefit from the surface-modifying strategies and exhibit pronounced BBB penetration. Once nanocapsules reach the brain parenchyma, the mildly acidic conditions trigger the release of 5-HT from the sacrificial nanocapsule. Releasing 5-HT further positively regulate moods, relieving depressive symptoms. Meanwhile, cargo CAT alleviates neuroinflammation and enhances therapeutic efficacy of 5-HT. CONCLUSION: Altogether, the results offer detailed information encouraging the rational designing of nanoantidepressants and highlighting the potential of nanotechnology in mental health disorder therapies.

Florfenicol sustained-release granules: an in vitro-in vivo correlation study in pigs.

The objective of this study was to synthesize and characterize pharmaceutical characteristics of florfenicol sustained-release granules (FSRGs) in vitro and in vivo. FSRGs were synthesized using monostearate, polyethylene glycol 4000 and starch. In vitro dissolution profiles were studied using the rotating basket method in pH 1.2 HCl solution and pH 4.3 acetate buffer. Twenty-four male healthy Landrace×Yorkshire pigs were equally divided into three groups and administered a 20 mg/kg i.v bolus of florfenicol solution and dosed orally with FSRGs in the fasting and fed states. The Higuchi model was the best fit for the drug release profile in pH 1.2 and pH 4.3 media, and the mechanism of drug dissolution was governed by both diffusion and dissolution. We established a level A in vitro - in vivo correlation for FSRGs and the in vivo profile of the FSRGs can be estimated by the in vitro drug release.

The distribution characteristics of global blaOXA-carrying Klebsiella pneumoniae.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the distribution of blaOXA among global Klebsiella pneumoniae and the characteristics of blaOXA-carrying K. pneumoniae. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The genomes of global K. pneumoniae were downloaded from NCBI by Aspera software. After quality check, the distribution of blaOXA among the qualified genomes was investigated by annotation with the resistant determinant database. The phylogenetic tree was constructed for the blaOXA variants based on the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) to explore the evolutionary relationship between these variants. The MLST (multi-locus sequence type) website and blastn tools were utilized to determine the sequence types (STs) of these blaOXA-carrying strains. and sample resource, isolation country, date and host were extracted by perl program for analyzing the characteristics of these strains. RESULTS: A total of 12,356 K. pneumoniae genomes were downloaded and 11,429 ones were qualified. Among them, 4386 strains were found to carry 5610 blaOXA variants which belonged to 27 varieties of blaOXAs, blaOXA-1 (n = 2891, 51.5%) and blaOXA-9 (n = 969, 17.3%) were the most prevalent blaOXA variants, followed by blaOXA-48 (n = 800, 14.3%) and blaOXA-232 (n = 480, 8.6%). The phylogenetic tree displayed 8 clades, three of them were composed of carbapenem-hydrolyzing oxacillinase (CHO). Totally, 300 distinct STs were identified among 4386 strains with ST11 (n = 477, 10.9%) being the most predominant one followed by ST258 (n = 410, 9.4%). Homo sapiens (2696/4386, 61.5%) was the main host for blaOXA-carrying K. pneumoniae isolates. The blaOXA-9-carrying K. pneumoniae strains were mostly found in the United States and blaOXA-48-carrying K. pneumoniae strains were mainly distributed in Europe and Asia. CONCLUSION: Among the global K. pneumoniae, numerous blaOXA variants were identified with blaOXA-1, blaOXA-9, blaOXA-48 and blaOXA-232 being the most prevalent ones, indicating that blaOXA rapidly evolved under the selective pressure of antimicrobial agents. ST11 and ST258 were the main clones for blaOXA-carrying K. pneumoniae.

Impact of roasting on the phenolic and volatile compounds in coffee beans.

Phenolic compounds present in coffee beans could generate flavor and bring benefits to health. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of commercial roasting levels (light, medium, and dark) on phenolic content and antioxidant potential of Arabica coffee beans (Coffea arabica) comprehensively via antioxidant assays. The phenolic compounds in roasted samples were characterized via liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS). Furthermore, the coffee volatile compounds were identified and semi-quantified by headspace/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). Generally, for phenolic and antioxidant potential estimation, light roasted samples exhibited the highest TPC (free: 23.97 ± 0.60 mg GAE/g; bound: 19.32 ± 1.29 mg GAE/g), DPPH, and FRAP. The medium roasted beans performed the second high in all assays but the highest ABTS+ radicals scavenging capacity (free: 102.37 ± 8.10 mg TE/g; bound: 69.51 ± 4.20 mg TE/g). Totally, 23 phenolic compounds were tentatively characterized through LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS, which is mainly adopted by 15 phenolic acid and 5 other polyphenols. The majority of phenolic compounds were detected in the medium roasted samples, followed by the light. Regarding GC-MS, a total of 20 volatile compounds were identified and semi-quantified which exhibited the highest in the dark followed by the medium. Overall, this study confirmed that phenolic compounds in coffee beans would be reduced with intensive roasting, whereas their antioxidant capacity could be maintained or improved. Commercial medium roasted coffee beans exhibit relatively better nutritional value and organoleptic properties. Our results could narrow down previous conflicts and be practical evidence for coffee manufacturing in food industries.

Longitudinal genomic alternations and clonal dynamics analysis of primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus.

Primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus (PMME) is a rare gastrointestinal melanoma with a high rate of recurrence and metastasis. The standard of care for PMME has not been established yet due to a lack of understanding of its clinical and molecular pathogenesis. Thus, we performed genomic profiling on a recurrent PMME case to seek novel opportunities for the management of this rare disease. Between 2013 and 2016, 6 tissue samples including 3 from the primary tumors, 2 from the relapsed tumors, and 1 from a normal control were collected from a patient diagnosed with PMME and were subjected to whole-exome sequencing to track the dynamic genetic changes. Additionally, we also analyzed a cohort of 398 samples obtained from the TCGA skin cutanesous melanoma (TCGA-SKCM) dataset to assess the frequency and determine the clinical implications of genomic events found in the presented study. ARHGAP35 (p.L1022M) was the only mutation shared across temporal PMME lesions. The PMME samples showed higher levels of genetic instability and intra-tumor heterogeneity. They also shared several concordant copy number variations (CNV). All lesions were concordant with the evolution trajectory, and shrinkage of the founding clone caused the subclonal population to become dominant in PT1c, which was likely the reason behind metastatic seeding. ARHGAP35 mutations were found in 6% of the TCGA-SKCM cohort samples. The presence of the mutations was associated with poor progression-free survival (PFS) by both univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Our study showed that the primary tumor clone disseminates earlier in PMME. This highlights the need to understand the mechanism involved in the early PMME recurrence to optimize treatment.

Bioaccessibility and movement of phenolic compounds from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion and colonic fermentation.

Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are highly involved in diets consumed worldwide, and are rich in bioactive compounds including phenolics, carotenoids and vitamins. In this study, four different varieties of fresh tomato pulp (Oxheart, Green Zebra, Kumato and Roma) were used to estimate the bioaccessibility of target phenolic compounds during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion and colonic fermentation, and to determine their antioxidant capacity. The production of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) was also estimated during colonic fermentation. Among these, Roma displayed relatively higher total phenolic content (TPC) and free radical scavenging (2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay) values after gastrointestinal digestion of 0.31 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) per g and 0.12 mg Trolox equivalents (TE) per g. Kumato exhibited the highest total flavonoid content (TFC) of 2.47 mg quercetin equivalents (QE) per g after 8 hours of colonic fermentation. Oxheart and Roma showed similar ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) values of around 4.30 mg QE per g after 4 hours of faecal reaction. Catechin was the most bioaccessible phenolic compound in all fresh tomatoes, and could be completely decomposed after intestinal digestion, whereas the release of some bonded phenolic compounds required the action of gut microflora. Kumato and Green Zebra showed higher production of individual and total SCFAs for 16 hours of fermentation, which would provide more gut health benefits.

Effects of Chlortetracycline Rumen-Protected Granules on Rumen Microorganisms and Its Diarrhea Therapeutic Effect.

Chlortetracycline is a broad-spectrum antibiotic used as an oral medication in ruminants. However, this antibiotic affects the rumen microbial population, thereby upsetting the normal microbiota of ruminants. This study determined whether our newly developed chlortetracycline rumen-protected granules are relatively harmless to rumen microorganisms while effective against lamb E. coli diarrhea. We used a qPCR assay to quantify selected rumen microorganisms from lambs treated with or without oral chlortetracycline. We also assessed bacterial diversity in the rumen by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Lambs were divided into three groups: one group given with oral chlortetracycline granules for 7 days; one group with chlortetracycline premix; and one without treatment. Rumen fluid was collected on 0 d, 7 d, and 14 d of the experiment. In the therapeutic effect trial, cases of naturally E. coli-infected lamb with diarrhea were selected and divided into low, medium, and high dose groups of granules, premix, infection control, and healthy control groups. Treatments were continuously administered for 7 days, and animals were observed for 14 days after drug withdrawal to score and evaluate the treatment effect. Results of qPCR and 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that the granules could diminish the impact of chlortetracycline on rumen microorganisms compared with the premix. The diarrhea therapeutic effect trial showed that the oral administration of the chlortetracycline rumen-protected granules at the dose of 30 mg/kg·bw/d for 7 days could effectively treat lamb diarrhea caused by E. coli. In conclusion, we provide a new drug preparation of chlortetracycline that can diminish the effect on the rumen microbiota while treating diarrhea caused by E. coli.

Bioaccessibility and bioactivities of phenolic compounds from roasted coffee beans during in vitro digestion and colonic fermentation.

Bioaccessibility and bioactivity of phenolic compounds in coffee beans relate to roasting and digestion process. This study aimed to estimate phenolic content, antioxidant potential, bioaccessibility, and changes in short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production during in vitro digestion and colonic fermentation of commercial roasted (light, medium and dark) coffee beans. There was no significant difference found among all three different roasting levels. TPC and DPPH were enhanced 15 mg GAE/g and 60 mg TE/g during gastrointestinal digestion, respectively. For colonic fermentation, the highest TPC and FRAP of all coffee beans was found at 2 and 4 h, respectively. The gastric bioaccessibility of most of the phenolic compounds were relatively higher due to thermal phenolic degradation. Total SCFAs production was only up to 0.02 mM because of thermal polysaccharide decomposition. Light roasted beans exhibited relatively higher phenolic bioaccessibility, antioxidant activities and SCFAs production, which would be more beneficial to gut health.

Current Insights into Phytochemistry, Nutritional, and Pharmacological Properties of Prosopis Plants.

Prosopis is a regional cash crop that is widely grown in arid, semiarid, tropical, and subtropical areas. Compared with other legume plants, Prosopis is underutilized and has great potentialities. Prosopis not only is a good source of timber, construction, fencing material, and gum, but also can be applied for food, beverage, feed, and medicine. Prosopis contains numerous phytochemical constituents, including carbohydrates, proteins, fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins, while varieties of phenolic compounds have also been identified from different parts of Prosopis. Flavonoids (especially C-glycosyl flavonoids), tannins, catechin, 4'-O-methyl-gallocatechin, mesquitol, and quercetin O-glycosides are significant phenolic contents in Prosopis. Various extracts of Prosopis displayed a wide range of biological properties, such as antioxidant, antihyperglycemic, antibacterial, anthelmintic, antitumor, and anticancer. Additionally, Prosopis has the potential to be an ideal diet that contains abundant dietary fiber, minerals, galactomannans, and low-fat content. However, the bioactivity and pharmacological properties associated with Prosopis were influenced by the bioavailability of phytochemicals, various antinutritional compounds, and the interactions of protein and phenolic compounds. The bioavailability of Prosopis is mainly affected by phenolic contents, especially catechin. The antinutritional compounds negatively affect the nutritional qualities of Prosopis, which can be prevented by heating. The protein-phenolic compound interactions can help the human body to absorb quercetin from Prosopis. This literature review aimed to provide systematic information on the physical, biochemical, pharmacological, and nutritional properties and potential applications of Prosopis.

A Comparative and Comprehensive Characterization of Polyphenols of Selected Fruits from the Rosaceae Family.

The present research presents a comprehensive characterization of polyphenols from peach, pear, and plum using liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS), followed by the determination of their antioxidant potential. Plums showed the highest total phenolic content (TPC; 0.62 mg GAE/g), while peaches showed the highest total flavonoid content (TFC; 0.29 mg QE/g), also corresponding to their high scavenging activities (i.e., DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and TAC). In all three fruit samples, a total of 51 polyphenolic compounds were tentatively identified and were mainly characterized from hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, hydroxyphenylpentanoic acids, flavanols, flavonols, and isoflavonoids subclasses. Twenty targeted phenolic compounds were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection (HPLC-PDA). The plum cultivar showed the highest content of phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid, 11.86 mg/100 g), whereas peach samples showed the highest concentration of flavonoids (catechin, 7.31 mg/100 g), as compared to pear. Based on these findings, the present research contributes and complements the current characterization data of these fruits presented in the literature, as well as ensures and encourages the utilization of these fruits in different food, feed, and nutraceutical industries.

Identification of Phenolic Compounds in Australian-Grown Bell Peppers by Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Electrospray Ionization-Quadrupole-Time-of-Flight-Mass Spectrometry and Estimation of Their Antioxidant Potential.

Bell peppers are widely considered as healthy foods that can provide people with various phytochemicals, especially phenolic compounds, which contribute to the antioxidant property of bell peppers. Nevertheless, the acknowledgment of phenolic compounds in bell peppers is still limited. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the phenolic content and the antioxidant potential in pulps and seeds of different bell peppers (green, yellow, and red) by several in vitro assays followed by the characterization and quantification of individual phenolics using liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization-quadrupole-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography photodiode array (HPLC-PDA) quantification, respectively. The captured results showed that the pulp of red bell peppers exhibited the highest phenolic content in the total polyphenol content (1.03 ± 0.07 mg GAE/gf.w.), total flavonoid content (137.43 ± 6.35 µg QE/gf.w.), and total tannin content (0.22 ± 0.01 mg CE/gf.w.) as well as the most antioxidant potential in all antioxidant capacity estimation assays including total antioxidant capacity (3.56 ± 0.01 mg AAE/gf.w.), 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (0.89 ± 0.01 mg AAE/gf.w.), 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (1.36 ± 0.12 mg AAE/gf.w.), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (0.15 ± 0.01 mg AAE/gf.w.). LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS isolated and identified a total of 59 phenolic compounds, including flavonoids (21), phenolic acids (20), other phenolic compounds (12), lignans (5), and stilbenes (1) in all samples. According to HPLC-PDA quantification, the seed portions showed a significantly higher amount of phenolic compounds. These findings indicated that the waste of bell peppers can be a potential source of phenolic compounds, which can be utilized as antioxidant ingredients in foods and nutritional products.