FT-IR and HPLC analysis of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) bark compounds from different geographical provenances.

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) could be applied to study the provenance of wood, specifically the differentiation of wood resources, as well as the identification of chemical compounds that are connected to the changes that occur in wood as a result of drying treatments. To test this hypothesis, the bark of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) from trees belonging to seven different geographical provenances was studied, using samples dried at three different temperatures (60, 80, and 100 °C). FT-IR spectroscopy revealed different band assignments in the mid-infrared region depending on fir provenances, whereas the vibrational bands of the biomass functional groups tended to shift to lower wavenumbers. Significant differences were identified between the chemical compounds in the bark depending on the provenances. The largest proportion of the total phenolics was represented by the epicatechin gallate, epicatechin, catechin, and procyanidin dimer B1. Exploratory data analysis was performed using principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical clustering, and Pearson correlations. This allowed a comparative evaluation of the samples and interpret the findings according to the geographical provenances, respectively ecological conditions in the areas of origin, but also the influence of the drying temperatures of the samples on chemical compounds. The precipitation in the areas of origin decreased total phenolics in silver fir bark samples, and total phenolics differed not only due to the geographic provenance, but also due to drying temperature.

Succinic acid - A run-through of the latest perspectives of production from renewable biomass.

Succinic acid (SA) production is continuously rising, as its applications in diverse end-product generation are getting broader and more expansive. SA is an eco-friendly bulk product that acts as a valuable intermediate in different processes and might substitute other petrochemical-based products due to the inner capacity of microbes to biosynthesize it. Moreover, large amounts of SA can be obtained through biotechnological ways starting from renewable resources, imprinting at the same time the concept of a circular economy. In this context, the target of the present review paper is to bring an overview of SA market demands, production, biotechnological approaches, new strategies of production, and last but not least, the possible limitations and the latest perspectives in terms of natural biosynthesis of SA.

Citrus essential oils - Based nano-emulsions: Functional properties and potential applications.

Citrus essential oils are natural products with various bioactive properties (e.g., antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antimutagenic activities), that are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used as flavorings and food additives. Nonetheless, due to their high volatility, low solubility in water, low thermal stability, susceptibility to oxidation, and strong flavor, their applications in the food industry are limited. Nanotechnology allows the incorporation of citrus essential oils into nano-emulsion systems, thus protecting them from the deterioration caused by external factors and maintaining or even improving their functional properties. This study aims to summarize the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antimutagenic effects of the nano-emulsions based on essential oils from citrus peels with emphasis on their mechanisms of action and potential applications in, e.g., foods, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.

Biotics (Pre-, Pro-, Post-) and Uremic Toxicity: Implications, Mechanisms, and Possible Therapies.

In recent years, more scientific data have pointed out the close connection between intestinal microbial community, nutritional habits, lifestyle, and the appearance of various affections located at certain anatomical systems. Gut dysbiosis enhances the formation and accumulation of specific metabolites with toxic potential that induce the appearance of kidney-associated illnesses. Intestinal microbes are involved in the degradation of food, drugs, or other ingested products that lead to the formation of various metabolites that end up in renal tissue. Over the last few years, the possibilities of modulating the gut microbiota for the biosynthesis of targeted compounds with bioactive properties for reducing the risk of chronic illness development were investigated. In this regard, the present narrative review provides an overview of the scientific literature across the last decade considering the relationship between bioactive compounds, pre-, pro-, and post-biotics, uremic toxicity, and kidney-associated affections, and the possibility of alleviating the accumulation and the negative effects of uremic toxins into the renal system.