Foliar application of salicylic acid improved morpho-anatomical features of potato by irrigating with wastewater.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the suitability of using drain water as a source of irrigation and its effects along with salicylic acid on morphological, anatomical, physico-chemical as well as yield attributes of potato. For this study, potato tubers were grown in pots and irrigated with different concentrations of drain water. Salicylic acid treatments vis. 0, 0.5 and 1.0 mM were applied foliarly. Pre- and post-harvest analysis was carried out to determine different attributes of soil, water and plants after 60 days. RESULTS: The growth of potato plant was increased as the concentration of SA increased through increasing shoot length, fresh/dry weight and tuber number/plant. In this research work, plant respond to overcome metal stresses by up regulating antioxidant defense system such as, peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase) by application of highest treatment of SA when irrigated with 6% drain water. Plants accumulated the highest concentrations of Cd, Cr, and Pb in the leaves when treated with 1 mM of SA, compared to other plant parts. It was observed that photosynthetic pigment enhanced in 6% drain water treated plants when applied with 1mM SA as compared to control. An increase in epidermis and cortical cell thickness, as well as stomatal closure, was observed, helping to maintain water loss under stress conditions. CONCLUSIONS: According to these results, it can be suggested that SA is potent signaling molecule can play an essential role in maintaining potato growth when irrigated with drain water containing heavy metals through stimulating metal up take and up regulation of antioxidant enzymes.

"The effects of non-surgical periodontal treatment plus zinc and magnesium supplementation on oxidative stress and antioxidants enzymes in type 2 diabetes patients: a quasi-experimental study".

BACKGROUND: Periodontal Disease (PD) associated with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic condition that affects the oral cavity of people living with T2DM. The mechanisms of the interaction between type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Periodontal diseases are complex and involve multiple pathophysiological pathways related to the systemic inflammatory process and oxidative stress. Non-surgical periodontal treatment (NSTP) is considered the standard for the management of this disease; however, patients with systemic conditions such as type 2 Diabetes Mellitus do not seem to respond adequately. For this reason, the use of complementary treatments has been suggested to support non-surgical periodontal treatment to reduce the clinical consequences of the disease and improve the systemic conditions of the patient. The use of zinc gluconate and magnesium oxide as an adjunct to non-surgical periodontal treatment and its effects on periodontal clinical features and oxidative stress in patients with Periodontal diseases -type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is poorly understood. METHODS: A quasi-experimental study was performed in patients with periodontal diseases associated with T2DM. Initially, 45 subjects who met the selection criteria were included. 19 were assigned to a control group [non-surgical periodontal treatment] and 20 to the experimental group (non-surgical periodontal treatment + 500 mg of magnesium oxide and 50 mg of zinc gluconate for oral supplementation for 30 days) and the data of 6 patients were eliminated. Sociodemographic characteristics, physiological factors, biochemical parameters, and clinical features of periodontal diseases were assessed. RESULTS: In this research a change in periodontal clinical characteristics was observed, which has been associated with disease remission. Additionally, a shift in MDA levels was presented for both groups. Furthermore, the supplementation group showed an increase in antioxidant enzymes when compared to the group that only received NSPT. CONCLUSION: The use of Zinc gluconate and magnesium oxide can serve as a complementary treatment to non-surgical periodontal treatment, that supports the remission of PD as a result of regulation-reduction of oxidative biomarkers and increase in antioxidant enzymes activity. TRIAL REGISTRATION: https://www.isrctn.com ISRCTN 14,092,381. September 13º 2023. Retrospective Registration.

Mitigating pb toxicity in Sesbania sesban L. through activated charcoal supplementation: a hydroponic study on enhanced phytoremediation.

BACKGROUND: Soil contamination by heavy metals is a critical environmental challenge, with Pb being of particular concern due to its propensity to be readily absorbed and accumulated by plants, despite its lack of essential biological functions or beneficial roles in cellular metabolism. Within the scope of phytoremediation, the use of plants for the decontamination of various environmental matrices, the present study investigated the potential of activated charcoal (AC) to enhance the tolerance and mitigation capacity of S. sesban seedlings when exposed to Pb. The experiment was conducted as a factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design in hydroponic conditions. The S. sesban seedlings were subjected to a gradient of Pb concentrations (0, 0.02, 0.2, 2, and 10 mg/L) within the nutrient solution, alongside two distinct AC treatments (0 and 1% inclusion in the culture media). The study reached its conclusion after 60 days. RESULTS: The seedlings exposed to Pb without AC supplementation indicated an escalation in peroxidase (POX) activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, signaling an increase in oxidative stress. Conversely, the incorporation of AC into the treatment regime markedly bolstered the antioxidative defense system, as evidenced by the significant elevation in antioxidant capacity and a concomitant reduction in the biomarkers of oxidative stress (POX, ROS, and MDA). CONCLUSIONS: With AC application, a notable improvement was observed in the chlorophyll a, total chlorophyll, and plant fresh and dry biomass. These findings illuminate the role of activated charcoal as a viable adjunct in phytoremediation strategies aimed at ameliorating heavy metal stress in plants.

StackedEnC-AOP: prediction of antioxidant proteins using transform evolutionary and sequential features based multi-scale vector with stacked ensemble learning.

BACKGROUND: Antioxidant proteins are involved in several biological processes and can protect DNA and cells from the damage of free radicals. These proteins regulate the body's oxidative stress and perform a significant role in many antioxidant-based drugs. The current invitro-based medications are costly, time-consuming, and unable to efficiently screen and identify the targeted motif of antioxidant proteins. METHODS: In this model, we proposed an accurate prediction method to discriminate antioxidant proteins namely StackedEnC-AOP. The training sequences are formulation encoded via incorporating a discrete wavelet transform (DWT) into the evolutionary matrix to decompose the PSSM-based images via two levels of DWT to form a Pseudo position-specific scoring matrix (PsePSSM-DWT) based embedded vector. Additionally, the Evolutionary difference formula and composite physiochemical properties methods are also employed to collect the structural and sequential descriptors. Then the combined vector of sequential features, evolutionary descriptors, and physiochemical properties is produced to cover the flaws of individual encoding schemes. To reduce the computational cost of the combined features vector, the optimal features are chosen using Minimum redundancy and maximum relevance (mRMR). The optimal feature vector is trained using a stacking-based ensemble meta-model. RESULTS: Our developed StackedEnC-AOP method reported a prediction accuracy of 98.40% and an AUC of 0.99 via training sequences. To evaluate model validation, the StackedEnC-AOP training model using an independent set achieved an accuracy of 96.92% and an AUC of 0.98. CONCLUSION: Our proposed StackedEnC-AOP strategy performed significantly better than current computational models with a ~ 5% and ~ 3% improved accuracy via training and independent sets, respectively. The efficacy and consistency of our proposed StackedEnC-AOP make it a valuable tool for data scientists and can execute a key role in research academia and drug design.

Physiological and antioxidant responses of synthetic hexaploid wheat germplasm under drought.

BACKGROUND: As a result of the world population and climate change impact increases (especially in arid environments), there is a critical need for high-yield, drought-tolerant wheat. Synthetic hexaploid wheat derived lines (SHW-DL), were created artificially by crossing different durum wheat cultivars (AABB) with accessions of Aegilops tauschii (DD), a beneficial source of new genes for common bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L). Here, we studied the response of a panel of 91 SHW-DL for drought tolerance based on physiological, antioxidant enzyme activities, and drought tolerance indices. RESULTS: A wide range of variation and high values of heritability observed for grain yield, physiological and antioxidant traits indicating that the SHW-DL panel constitutes a valuable gene source for drought tolerance improvement of wheat. Despite decreases in grain yield (YLD), leaf area index (LAI), and relative water content (RWC) an increase in the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was observed. Moreover, drought streass increased the antioxidant enzyme activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD), and also photosynthetic pigments, proline (Pro), and MDA content. With higher values of grain yield, physiological and biochemical traits such as photosynthetic pigments, and RWC, and lower content of MDA, and peroxidase (H2O2) activity, SHW-DL performed better compared to common wheat lines under water stress conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Different responses to water stress within the germplasm and between synthetic and common wheat suggest that selection for adaptive and suitable genotypes is possible for drought tolerance in synthetic wheat germplasm. Genotypes 54, 98, 102, 105, 122, 124, 143, 159, 196, and 198 were identified to be directly used in breeding programs or indirectly by crossing them with other wheat germplasm collections.

Comparison of lipidome profiles in serum from lactating dairy cows supplemented with Acremonium terrestris culture based on UPLC-QTRAP-MS/MS.

This study evaluated the effects of supplementing the diet of lactating cows with Acremonium terrestris culture (ATC) on milk production, serum antioxidant capacity, inflammatory indices, and serum lipid metabolomics. Over 90 days, 24 multiparous Chinese Holstein cows in mid-lactation (108 ± 10.4 days in milk, 637 ± 25 kg body weight, 30.23 ± 3.7 kg/d milk yield) were divided into either a control diet (CON) or a diet supplemented with 30 g of ATC daily. All the data were analyzed using Student's t test with SPSS 20.0 software. The results showed that compared with CON feeding, ATC feeding significantly increased milk yield, antioxidant capacity, and immune function. Lipidome screening identified 143 lipid metabolites that differed between the two groups. Further analysis using "random forest" machine learning revealed three glycerophospholipid serum metabolites that could serve as lipid markers with a predictive accuracy of 91.67%. This study suggests that ATC can be a useful dietary supplement for improving lactational performance in dairy cows and provides valuable insights into developing nutritional strategies to maintain metabolic homeostasis in ruminants.

Aesthetic Radiofrequency Associated with Rosmarinus officinalis Supplementation is Safe and Reduces Oxidative Stress in Women: Randomized, and Double-Blind Clinical Trial.

The objective were to evaluate the effects of supplementation of standardized dry extract of Rosmarinus officinalis (RO) and the application of aesthetic radiofrequency on the oxidative stress markers catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), non-protein thiols (NP-SH), and thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) and the biochemical markers triglycerides, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (TGO/AST), pyruvic-glutamic transaminase (TGP/ALT), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT), and creatinine. This study included 32 women received the aesthetic therapy to reduce localized fat. They were divided into the control group (n = 8) receiving placebo capsules and the intervention group (n = 24) subdivided into Group A, B, and C, each with eight members receiving supplementation with 100, 500, and 1000 mg/day of standardized dry extract of RO, respectively. The Universal Trial Number (UTN) - U1111-1274-6255. Supplementation with RO (500 mg/day) demonstrated a reduction in oxidative stress (quantified with through a significant increase in NP-SH and a reduction in SOD and CAT enzymes). The radiofrequency aesthetic treatment did not promote an increase in oxidative stress; however, it caused significant changes in total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and creatinine. RO is a plant with antioxidant effects and its oral consumption is safe in selected women subjects in hepatic and renal markers.

Investigation of the phytochemical profiling and antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and MDA-MB-231 cell line antiproliferative potentials of extracts from Ephedra alata Decne.

Ephedra is one of the many medicinal herbs that have been used as folk/traditional medicine in Jordan and other countries to cure various illnesses. Plants of this genus are well known for their antioxidant and antibacterial properties. In this study, three different solvents were used to obtain Ephedra extracts. When evaluated, the Ephedra alata Decne ethanolic extract reportedly had the greatest levels of total phenolic compounds (TPC) and total flavonoid compounds (TFC). The aqueous extracts displayed the highest antioxidant activity in the DPPH and ABTS assays, demonstrating their considerable capacity to neutralize free radicals. However, when evaluated using the FRAP method, the acetone extracts showed the strongest antioxidant activity, indicating their high reducing power. LC-MS/MS, a potent method of analysis that combines the liquid chromatographic separation properties with mass spectrometry detection and identification capabilities, was used in this study to detect and measure phytochemical content of a total of 24 phenolic compounds and 16 terpene compounds present in the extracts of Ephedra alata Decne. Various concentrations of these chemicals were found in these extracts. The extracts' inhibitory effects on albumin denaturation and alpha-amylase activity were also assessed; the findings demonstrated the potentials of these extracts as anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic medicines, with the acetone extract having the lowest IC50 values in the concomitant tests (306.45 µg/ml and 851.23 µg/ml, respectively). Furthermore, the lowest IC50 value (of 364.59 ± 0.45 µg/ml) for the 80% ethanol extract demonstrated that it has the strongest antiproliferative impact regarding the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line. This finding indicates that this particular extract can be potentially used to treat cancer.

Agrocybe cylindracea Dietary Fiber Modification: Sodium Hydroxide Treatment Outperforms High-Temperature, Cellulase, and Lactobacillus Fermentation.

Agrocybe cylindracea dietary fiber (ADF) contains 95% water-insoluble dietary fiber, resulting in poor application performance. To address this issue, ADF was modified by four methods (cellulase, sodium hydroxide, high-temperature, and Lactobacillus fermentation) in this paper. By comparing the physicochemical properties, microstructures, monosaccharide compositions, and functional characteristics (antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities in vitro) of all modified ADF samples, the optimal modification method was selected. Results showed that sodium hydroxide treatment was deemed the most effective modification method for ADF, as alkali-treated ADF (ADF-A) revealed a higher oil-holding capacity (2.02 g/g), swelling capacity (8.38 mL/g), cholesterol adsorption (6.79 mg/g), and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (more than 70% at 0.4-0.6 mg/mL) than the other modified samples. The looser microstructure in ADF-A might be attributed to molecular rearrangement and spatial structure disruption, which resulted in smaller molecular sizes and decreased viscosity, hence improving ADF's physicochemical and functional qualities. All these findings indicate the greater application potential of modified ADF products in food and weight-loss industries, providing a comprehensive reference for the industrial application of ADF.

Turmeric-Black Cumin Essential Oils and Their Capacity to Attenuate Free Radicals, Protein Denaturation, and Cancer Proliferation.

Turmeric rhizomes (Curcuma longa) and black cumin seeds (Nigella sativa) are polyherbal ingredients used for the management of cancer and other chronic inflammatory diseases in Nigerian ethnomedicine. Previous studies have shown the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities of the individual plant extracts. However, the two spices have not been biologically potentiated in their combined form. Therefore, this study obtained essential oils (EOs) from the combined spices and evaluated their inhibitory effects on free radicals, protein denaturation, and cancer proliferation. The EOs were extracted by hydro-distillation (HD) and characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In vitro antioxidant assessment was conducted based on DPPH, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), nitric oxide (NO), and ferric ion (Fe3+) radical scavenging assays. The cytotoxicity of the oil against non-tumorigenic (HEK293) and cancerous (HepG2 and HeLa) cell lines was determined following the MTT cell viability assay. An in silico molecular docking analysis of the oil constituents was also performed. Six batches of EOs I-VI were afforded, comprising twenty-two major constituents, with aromatic Ar-turmerone being the most prominent compound. There was a marked improvement in the bioactivity of the oils upon repeated HD and as a combination. The batch VI oil exhibited the best activity, with a cytotoxicity (CC50) of 10.16 ± 1.69 µg/100 µL against the HepG2 cell line, which was comparable to 5-fluorouracil (standard, CC50 = 8.59 ± 1.33 µg/100 µL). In silico molecular docking suggested δ-curcumene, Ar-curcumene, Ar-turmerol, and Ar-turmerone among the promising compounds based on their high binding energy scores with NOX2, NF-κB, and mdm2 proteins. In conclusion, the oils from the turmeric-black cumin combined possess a considerable inhibition ability against free radicals, protein denaturation, and cancer proliferation. This study's findings further underscore the effectiveness of turmeric-black cumin as a polyherbal medicinal ingredient.

A Comprehensive Review of Traditional Medicinal Uses, Geographical Distribution, Botanical Characterization, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology of Aralia continentalis Kitag.

Aralia continentalis Kitag. (A. continentalis) holds significant medicinal value among the Aralia genus. It has traditionally been employed in ethnomedicine to address a wide range of conditions, including wind-cold-dampness arthralgia; rheumatic pain in the waist and lower extremities; lumbar muscular strain; injuries resulting from falls, fractures, contusions, and strains; headache; toothache; and abscesses. Modern pharmacological research has validated its therapeutic potential, encompassing anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, insecticidal, hepatoprotective, anti-diabetic, and cytotoxic properties, among other pharmacological effects. To compile comprehensive knowledge on A. continentalis, a rigorous literature search was undertaken utilizing databases like SciFinder, PubMed, and Web of Science. This review seeks to delve into the plant's traditional applications, geographical distribution, botanical characteristics, phytochemistry, and pharmacology. The objective is to lay a foundation and propose novel research directions for exploring the plant's potential applications. Currently, one hundred and fifty-nine compounds have been isolated and identified from A. continentalis, encompassing diterpenoids, steroids, triterpenoids, volatile components, phenolics, vitamins, trace elements, and other compounds. Notably, diterpenoids, steroids, triterpenoids, volatile components, and phenolics have exhibited pronounced pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, and antimicrobial activities. However, despite the extensive research conducted, further studies are imperative to unravel new components and mechanisms of action, necessitating more in-depth investigations. This comprehensive exploration could pave the way for advancing and harnessing the potential of A. continentalis.

Unlocking the Potential of Citrus medica L.: Antioxidant Capacity and Phenolic Profile across Peel, Pulp, and Seeds.

Citrus medica L. is a traditional citrus fruit that is rich in bioactive compounds and has the potential to be used as a natural source of food additives. This study aims to evaluate the antioxidant capacity and characterize the phenolic compounds present in the peels (including flavedo and albedo), pulp, and seeds of citron. The results showed that, compared to the other parts, the pulp had a substantially higher Antioxidant Activity Coefficient (AAC) of 168.2. The albedo and the seeds had significantly lower AAC values, while the green and yellow flavedo showed noteworthy results. O-coumaric acid was the predominant phenolic acid in all of the citron fractions; it was found in the highest concentration in albedo (37.54 µg/g FW). Flavanones and flavanols were the primary flavonoids in the pulp, peel, and seeds, with total flavonoid concentration ranging from ~9 µg/g FW in seeds to 508 µg/g FW in the pulp. This research offers significant insights into the antioxidant properties of this ancient fruit, emphasizing its potential applications as a natural source of antioxidants to be used in different applications.

Mechanism of Action of Dihydroquercetin in the Prevention and Therapy of Experimental Liver Injury.

Liver disease is a global health problem that affects the well-being of tens of thousands of people. Dihydroquercetin (DHQ) is a flavonoid compound derived from various plants. Furthermore, DHQ has shown excellent activity in the prevention and treatment of liver injury, such as the inhibition of hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation after administration, the normalization of oxidative indices (like SOD, GSH) in this tissue, and the down-regulation of pro-inflammatory molecules (such as IL-6 and TNF-α). DHQ also exerts its therapeutic effects by affecting molecular pathways such as NF-κB and Nrf2. This paper discusses the latest research progress of DHQ in the treatment of various liver diseases (including viral liver injury, drug liver injury, alcoholic liver injury, non-alcoholic liver injury, fatty liver injury, and immune liver injury). It explores how to optimize the application of DHQ to improve its effectiveness in treating liver diseases, which is valuable for preparing potential therapeutic drugs for human liver diseases in conjunction with DHQ.

Chemical Composition and Antibacterial, Antioxidant, and Cytotoxic Activities of Essential Oils from Leaves and Stems of Aeschynomene indica L.

The objective of this study was to analyze the chemical composition and evaluate the biological capabilities of the essential oils (EOs) extracted from leaves and stems of wild Aeschynomene indica L. plants by the hydrodistillation method. By using GC-FID/MS, fifty-six and fifty-five compounds, representing 95.1 and 97.6% of the essential oils in the leaves and stems, respectively, were characterized. The predominant constituents of A. indica EOs were (E)-caryophyllene, linalool, viridiflorol, phytol, hexadecanoic acid, trans-verbenol, and α-guaiene. The antibacterial and synergistic activities of the EOs were assessed by microdilution and checkerboard assays. The results revealed a potent inhibition and bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis with MICs of 0.312-0.625 mg/mL. When combined with traditional antibiotics, the essential oils of A. indica possessed excellent synergistic effects against all tested bacteria. Additionally, the EOs of A. indica leaves showed higher antioxidant activity (IC50 = 0.11 ± 0.01 µg/mL) compared to the stem oil (IC50 = 0.19 ± 0.01 µg/mL) using the ABTS radical scavenging assay. The in vitro cytotoxicity of EOs against human cancer cell lines HepG2, MCF-7, A-549, and HCT-116 was examined, and MTT assays showed that the EOs possessed a significant cytotoxic potential against MCF-7 breast cancer cells, with IC50 values of 10.04 ± 1.82 and 15.89 ± 1.66 µg/mL, and a moderate cytotoxic activity against other tested cells. In conclusion, the A. indica EOs could be considered a potential source of pharmacologically active compounds.

Enrichment of Fruit Peels' Nutritional Value by Solid-State Fermentation with Aspergillus ibericus and Rhizopus oryzae.

The fruit processing industry is responsible for disposing of huge amounts of byproducts, especially fruit peels (FPs), which are often discarded in landfills. Using FPs in biotechnological processes contributes to a circular economy, reducing the environmental burden of FPs and increasing the revenue of the fruit processing industry. This study was focused on upgrading the nutritional value of orange (OPs) and banana (BPs) peels by solid-state fermentation (SSF) with filamentous fungi. SSF factors (moisture, fermentation time, inoculum size, ammonium sulfate (AS), and corn steep liquor (CSL)) and fungi species (Aspergillus ibericus and Rhizopus oryzae) were studied by a variable screening Plackett-Burman design. Both fungi grew on untreated FPs, increasing their protein content and antioxidant activity. Moisture, AS, and CSL were further studied by a Box-Behnken design with A. ibericus. Fermented OPs at 70% moisture and 0.005 g/g AS increased their protein content by 200%, whereas BPs at 70% moisture and 0.005 g/g CSL increased by 123%. Fermented peels were enriched in protein, fiber, and minerals, with a low content of carbohydrates and soluble sugars. Fermented OPs and BPs showed higher antioxidant activity than unfermented peels. The SSF of these FPs is an innovative approach that contributes to obtaining rich nutrient-fermented peels for food.

Development of Delivery Systems with Prebiotic and Neuroprotective Potential of Industrial-Grade Cannabis sativa L.

This study delves into the transformative effects of supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) cannabis extracts and prebiotic substances (dextran, inulin, trehalose) on gut bacteria, coupled with a focus on neuroprotection. Extracts derived from the Bialobrzeska variety of Cannabis sativa, utilising supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), resulted in notable cannabinoid concentrations (cannabidiol (CBD): 6.675 ± 0.166; tetrahydrocannabinol (THC): 0.180 ± 0.006; cannabigerol (CBG): 0.434 ± 0.014; cannabichromene (CBC): 0.490 ± 0.017; cannabinol (CBN): 1.696 ± 0.047 mg/gD). The assessment encompassed antioxidant activity via four in vitro assays and neuroprotective effects against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). The extract boasting the highest cannabinoid content exhibited remarkable antioxidant potential and significant inhibitory activity against both enzymes. Further investigation into prebiotic deliveries revealed their proficiency in fostering the growth of beneficial gut bacteria while maintaining antioxidant and neuroprotective functionalities. This study sheds light on the active compounds present in the Bialobrzeska variety, showcasing their therapeutic potential within prebiotic systems. Notably, the antioxidant, neuroprotective, and prebiotic properties observed underscore the promising therapeutic applications of these extracts. The results offer valuable insights for potential interventions in antioxidant, neuroprotective, and prebiotic domains. In addition, subsequent analyses of cannabinoid concentrations post-cultivation revealed nuanced changes, emphasising the need for further exploration into the dynamic interactions between cannabinoids and the gut microbiota.

Optimization of Phenolic Compounds Extraction from Aerial Parts of Fabiana punensis S. C. Arroyo by Ultrasound- and Microwave-Assisted Extraction.

Fabiana punensis S. C. Arroyo is a subshrub or shrub that is indigenous to the arid and semiarid region of northern Argentina and is known to possess several medicinal properties. The objective of this study was to optimize the extraction conditions so as to maximize the yield of bioactive total phenolic compound (TPC) and flavonoids (F) of F. punensis' aerial parts by using non-conventional extraction methods, namely ultrasound-assisted extraction, UAE, and microwave-assisted extraction, MAE, and to compare the biological activities and toxicity of optimized extracts vs. conventional extracts, i.e., those gained by maceration. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to apply factorial designs to optimize the parameters of extraction: solid-to-liquid ratio, extraction time, ultrasound amplitude, and microwave power. The experimental values for TPC and F and antioxidant activity under the optimal extraction conditions were not significantly different from the predicted values, demonstrating the accuracy of the mathematical models. Similar HPLC-DAD patterns were found between conventional and UAE- and MAE-optimized extracts. The main constituents of the extracts correspond to phenolic compounds (flavonoids and phenolic acids) and apigenin was identified. All extracts showed high scavenger capacity on ABTS•+, O2•- and H2O2, enabling the inhibition of the pro-inflammatory enzymes xanthine oxidase (XO) and lipoxygenase (LOX). They also showed an antimutagenic effect in Salmonella Typhimurium assay and cytotoxic/anti-proliferative activity on human melanoma cells (SKMEL-28). Toxicological evaluation indicates its safety. The results of this work are important in the development of efficient and sustainable methods for obtaining bioactive compounds from F. punensis for the prevention of chronic degenerative diseases associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, and DNA damage.

Evaluation of the Shelf Life of Myristica-fragrans Powder-Flavored Oils Obtained through the Application of Two Processes: Infusion and Co-Pressing Technology.

This work aimed to evaluate the impact of enrichment processing on the quality parameters, bioactivity and sensorial aspects of Myristica fragrans (mace)-flavored olive oil storage for one year. The mace powder was added to extra virgin olive oil through two different processes: immediately after crushing the olives by mixing mace (1% weight/weight (w/w)) with the olive paste (MAVOO-M) and by adding mace to extra virgin olive oil (C) (2% w/w) (MAVOO-I). A multi-analytical approach was applied to measure the main qualitative indexes, such as the free acidity, peroxide value and ultraviolet parameters. The total phenolic and carotenoid contents (TPC and TCC, respectively) and α-tocopherol were also evaluated, as well as the sensory attributes. The radical scavenging potential was estimated by using two different in vitro tests, namely, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). A significant increase in the free acidity parameter was found in all the flavored oils, and particularly in the MAVOO-M (1.27% oleic acid); at the same time, this oil was the sample with the lowest peroxide value (i.e., 9.68 meqO2/kg) after 360 days of storage. At the end of the storage, an increase in L* values was found in both the MAVOO-M and -I vs. the C (43.88 and 43.02, respectively, vs. 42.62). The TCC was strongly influenced by the addition of mace, especially when the infusion process was used. In fact, after one year of storage, the TCC in the MAVOO-I resulted in ~34.7% more than the MAVOO-M. A promising DPPH radical scavenging activity was observed independently by the applied aromatization process, with IC50 values of 19.77 and 17.80 µg/mL for the MAVOO-M and MAVOO-I, respectively. However, this activity decreased during storage, and a similar trend was observed using the ABTS test. In conclusion the infusion as enrichment methodology led to more promising results in terms of functionality compared with the co-mixing one.

Advantages of Spray Drying over Freeze Drying: A Comparative Analysis of Lonicera caerulea L. Juice Powders-Matrix Diversity and Bioactive Response.

The study investigated the impact of Lonicera caerulea L. juice matrix modification and drying techniques on powder characteristics. The evaluation encompassed phenolics (514.7-4388.7 mg/100 g dry matter), iridoids (up to 337.5 mg/100 g dry matter), antioxidant and antiglycation capacity, as well as anti-ageing properties of powders produced using maltodextrin, inulin, trehalose, and palatinose with a pioneering role as a carrier. Spray drying proved to be competitive with freeze drying for powder quality. Carrier application influenced the fruit powder properties. Trehalose protected the phenolics in the juice extract products, whereas maltodextrin showed protective effect in the juice powders. The concentrations of iridoids were influenced by the matrix type and drying technique. Antiglycation capacity was more affected by the carrier type in juice powders than in extract products. However, with carrier addition, the latter showed approximately 12-fold higher selectivity for acetylcholinesterase than other samples. Understanding the interplay between matrix composition, drying techniques, and powder properties provides insights for the development of plant-based products with tailored attributes, including potential health-linked properties.

The Mediterranean Species Calendula officinalis and Foeniculum vulgare as Valuable Source of Bioactive Compounds.

Research studies on plant secondary metabolites have increased over the last decades as a consequence of the growing consumer demand for natural products in pharmaceutics and therapeutics, as well as in perfumery and cosmetics. In this perspective, many Mediterranean plant species could be an appreciated source of bioactive compounds with pharmacological and health-promoting properties, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor ones. Calendula officinalis and Foeniculum vulgare are commercially important plants of the Mediterranean flora, with great therapeutic use in the treatment of many disorders since ancient times, and are now listed in several world pharmacopoeias and drug agencies. The present review offers an overview of the main phytochemicals, phenols, terpenes, and alkaloids, biosynthesized in C. officinalis and F. vulgare, both species endemic to the Mediterranean region. Further, all current knowledge and scientific data on taxonomic classification, botanical description, traditional uses, pharmacological studies, and potential toxicity of both species were reported. The principal aim of this review is to point out the prospective use of C. officinalis and F. vulgare as valuable reservoirs of beneficial plant-derived products with interesting biological properties, also providing suggestions and future challenges for the full exploitation of these two Mediterranean species for human life improvement.