Supercritical fluid extraction (SCFE) as green extraction technology for high-value metabolites of algae, its potential trends in food and human health

Phycochemistry and pharmacological significance of filamentous cyanobacterium Spirulina sp

The cyanobacterium, Spirulina sp. is a photosynthetic blue-green alga with essential nutrients, vitamins nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, fatty acids and pigments carotenes; and phycocyanins are the significant components having immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory properties, which are used in food and cosmetics industries. Spirulina sp. can play an important role in human and animal nutrition for potential health benefits due to their phycochemical and pharmaceutical significance. This study highlights antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, nephroprotective, cardioprotective, anticancer, neuroprotective, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. It highlights anti-anemic, antidiabetic, probiotic, anti-malarial, anti-obesity and weight loss, anti-genotoxicity, anti-thrombic, radioprotective, and detoxifying effects of Spirulina sp. Pharmaceutical studies indicate it may improve heart health and add to the treatment of diabetes, obesity and weight loss. It can play a major role in protecting the environment by recycling wastewater and providing food for humans and animals. Spirulina sp. can supply ingredients for aquaculture and agricultural feeds, pigments, antioxidants, and essential omega-3 oils, among other human health and wellness products. The amino acid of Spirulina is among the greatest qualititavely of any plant, even higher than that of soybean. Furthermore, cyanobacterium Spirulina sp. could be a future antimicrobial drug agent.

Comparative analysis of extraction technologies for plant extracts and absolutes

Plant extracts and absolutes have high application value in several industries such as medicine, food, and fragrance. Especially in the field of fragrance, while there is expensive, they are prized by perfumers and provide a rich and lasting aroma. Owing to advancements in extraction technology, their yields have increased and their ingredients have become richer. However, no extraction technology is universal and each extraction technology has its own distinct advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, this review systematically characterizes the extraction technologies for plant extracts and absolutes, including traditional extraction technologies, such as maceration, percolation, reflux, and Soxhlet extraction, and green extraction technologies, such as microwave-assisted, ultrasonic-assisted, pressurized liquid, and supercritical fluid extractions. These extraction technologies are analyzed and compared in terms of their principles, advantages and disadvantages, improvement solutions, and applications. In addition, this review summarizes and compares new green extraction solvents and discusses the practical applications of these advanced extraction methods and solvents from different perspectives.

Assessment of Scalable Fractionation Methodologies to Produce Concentrated Lauric Acid from Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larvae Fat

In the present study, different methodologies with potential scalability and environmental friendliness, such as winterization, supercritical fluid extraction, and multistage distillation, were evaluated for lauric acid concentration. In all cases, to facilitate fractionation, the transformation of triacylglycerols into free fatty acids or fatty acid ethyl esters was required as a previous step. For the winterization experimental assays, the amount and type of solvent was studied, resulting in a product containing ~65% lauric acid with a recovery of ~81% using a 1:10 oil-to-solvent ratio with hexane. On the other hand, the experimental extraction with supercritical carbon dioxide in a counter current packed column at 55 °C, 115 bar, and 70 g CO2/min, resulted in a product composed of ~80% lauric acid as ethyl ester with a recovery of ~85%. Finally, flash and multistage distillation were analysed using process simulation (Aspen Plus V14), demonstrating that this methodology can achieve 80% recovery with high purity (lauric acid: 96.7%; ethyl laurate: 97.4%), but a high vacuum is required to prevent thermal degradation of the product (lauric acid: 0.2 mbar; ethyl laurate: 1.1 mbar). Overall, the employed methodologies proved highly efficient in concentrating lauric acid, yielding a product of commercial interest and high added value.

Research progress in methods of acquisition, structure elucidation, and quality control of Chinese herbal polysaccharides

The therapeutic efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine has been widely acknowledged due to its extensive history of clinical effectiveness. However, the precise active components underlying each prescription remain incompletely understood. Polysaccharides, as a major constituent of water decoctions-the most common preparation method for Chinese medicinals-may provide a crucial avenue for deepening our understanding of the efficacy principles of Chinese medicine and establishing a framework for its modern development. The structural complexity and diversity of Chinese herbal polysaccharides present significant challenges in their separation and analysis compared to small molecules. This paper aims to explore the potential of Chinese herbal polysaccharides efficiently by briefly summarizing recent advancements in polysaccharide chemical research, focusing on methods of acquisition, structure elucidation, and quality control.

Green Seaweeds as a Potential Source of Biomolecules and Bioactive Peptides: Recent Progress and Applications - A Review

Over the past few decades, seaweed has been explored as a sustainable source in biotechnological and biomedical industries because of its multiple biopotential actions. However, the composition of biomolecules such as carbohydrates, lipids, fatty acids, free amino acids, ash, minerals, vitamins, and especially protein in green seaweeds varies from species to species based on their growth stage and the environmental conditions. Specifically, seaweed-derived bioactive proteins and peptides have the potential for several health benefits. They serve as a balanced diet. Protein which is an extensive macronutrient in human nutrition, should be explored to avoid using animal-sourced protein, which is expensive to consume. Bioactive peptides that are isolated from marine algae consist of various kinds of functional properties. In the food industry, seaweeds are novel molecules for being used in both nutritional foods and nutraceuticals. In both in vitro and In vivo conditions, various seaweed-derived bioactive compounds have shown a broad range of biological activities including anti-cancer and immunomodulatory, anti-hypertensive, and anti-coagulant activities. Hence, this review paper discusses the screening of seaweed-derived biochemicals with a special focus on their proteins, peptide contents, and nutra-pharmaceutical values.

Centipeda minima extracts and the active sesquiterpene lactones have therapeutic efficacy in non-small cell lung cancer by suppressing Skp2/p27 signaling pathway

ETHNOPHAMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Centipeda minima (L.) A. Braun & Asch (C. minima) was applied to treat nasal allergy, headache, cough, and even nasopharyngeal carcinoma in traditional Chinese medicine. However, the underlying anticancer mechanisms of C. minima and its active components have not been systematically illustrated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The study aims to examine the therapeutic efficacy of the ethanol extract of C. minima (ECM) and its active components in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and illustrate the underlying mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The main chemical components in the ethanol extract of C. minima (ECM) and the supercritical CO2 fluid extract of C. minima (CM-SFE) were determined by using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). The antitumor effects of ECM and CM-SFE were examined by using NSCLC cell xenografts. The flow cytometry, cell colony formation, wound-healing, transwell assay, and Western blotting were conducted to investigate the anticancer properties of ECM, CM-SFE, and these sesquiterpene lactones that abundantly distributed in these extracts.

RESULTS

We first determined that ECM contains high levels of sesquiterpene lactones. ECM can markedly induce cell cycle arrest and suppress migration and invasion of NSCLC cells. Mechanistically, ECM promoted proteasome-dependent degradation of Skp2 protein and induced the accumulation of its substrates p27; whereas Skp2 overexpression can attenuate the inhibitory effects of ECM on NSCLC proliferation and migration. Moreover, ECM at 200-600 mg/kg can significantly inhibit tumor growth and metastasis in A549-luciferase cell orthotopic xenografts by suppressing Skp2 expression. The sesquiterpene lactones that abundantly distributed in ECM, including 6-O-angeloylplenolin (6-OAP), arnicolide D (ArD) and arnicolide C (ArC), were also demonstrated to decrease Skp2 while increase p27 protein level, thereby significantly inducing cell cycle arrest and suppressing migration of NSCLC cells. Notably, CM-SFE, which mainly consisted of 6-OAP, ArD and ArC, exhibited much stronger anti-NSCLC activity than that of ECM in A549-luciferase cell orthotopic xenografts.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrate that the active components in C. minima possesses potential anti-NSCLC activities by suppressing Skp2/p27 signaling pathway, and these active sesquiterpene lactones can be further developed as potent Skp2 inhibitor to treat NSCLC.

Sustainable Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction of Value-Added Lignan from Sesame Meal: Achieving Green Neuroprotection and Waste Valorization by Optimizing Temperature, Solvent, and Pressure

In pursuing sustainable health solutions and growing demand for neuroprotective interventions, the industry demands alternative green extraction technologies to valorize agri-food by-products. This study aimed to develop an optimized supercritical carbon dioxide extraction to isolate sesame meal's functional compound (lignans) and assess their neuroprotective effects. Extraction was performed at various pressures (2-4 kpsi), temperatures (40-60 °C), co-solvent concentrations (2-25 mol% ethanol), and CO2 collection segments (0-100 NL) to systematically analyze extraction parameters. Extracts were analyzed quantitatively using high-performance liquid chromatography followed by neuroprotective mechanisms analysis through PC12 neural cell and ischemic stroke models. The results showed that adding ethanol enhanced the polarity and density of supercritical CO2, improving the extraction efficiency of polar lignans. Optimal extraction conditions (4 kpsi, 50 °C, 10 mol% ethanol) yielded the highest sesamol, sesamin, and sesamolin. Extracts showed remarkable protective capabilities when subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) conditions simulating ischemic stress, preventing the enhancement of lactate dehydrogenase activity. Relatively low extract concentrations (25-100 μg/mL) significantly mitigated cellular damage induced by short and extended OGD conditions. The findings revealed green extraction methodologies' capability to transform sesame meal, a food processing waste, into value-added compounds, in line with sustainable development goals for responsible and sustainable food production, particularly SDGs 3, 9, 12, and 13.

Bioactivities of Quinic Acids from Vitex rotundifolia Obtained by Supercritical Fluid Extraction

Acyl-quinic acids (AQAs), present in various plants with many health benefits, are regarded as therapeutic agents in the prevention and treatment of chronic and cardiovascular diseases. The molecular network-guided identification of ten AQA compounds, two new (5 and 7) and eight known compounds, were isolated from V. rotundifolia L. f. by using a newly applied extraction method. Their structures were determined through spectroscopic means, reaction mixtures, and modified Mosher and PGME techniques. These compounds were assessed for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capabilities. Notably, compounds 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 9 exhibited notable DPPH radical scavenging activity. In LPS-induced HT-29 cells, compounds 2-7 significantly inhibited IL-8 production. Furthermore, compounds 3-5 and 7 markedly suppressed NO production, while compounds 1-10 effectively inhibited IL-6 production in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. Western blot analyses revealed that compounds 3-5, and 7 reduced iNOS and COX-2 expression, and compounds 2-5, 7, and 8 also diminished the expression levels of p38 MAPK phosphorylation. Docking studies demonstrated the active compounds' binding affinity with the IL-8, iNOS, COX-2, and p38 MAPK proteins through interactions with essential amino acids within the binding pockets of complexes. The findings suggest that compounds 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 9, and compounds 3-5, and 7, hold promise as potential therapeutic agents for treating antioxidative and inflammatory diseases, respectively.

Integrated supercritical fluid extraction of essential oils

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) stands out as an incredibly efficient, environmentally conscious, and fast method for obtaining essential oils (EOs) from plants. These EOs are abundant in aromatic compounds that play a crucial role in various industries such as food, fragrances, cosmetics, perfumery, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare. While there is a wealth of existing literature on using supercritical fluids for extracting plant essential oils, there's still much to explore in terms of combining different techniques to enhance the SFE process. This comprehensive review presents a sophisticated framework that merges SFE with EO extraction methods. This inclusive categorization encompasses a range of methods, including the integration of pressurized liquid processes, ultrasound assistance, steam distillation integration, microfluidic techniques, enzyme integration, adsorbent facilitation, supercritical antisolvent treatments, molecular distillation, microwave assistance, milling process and mechanical pressing integration. Throughout this in-depth exploration, we not only elucidate these combined techniques but also engage in a thoughtful discussion about the challenges they entail and the array of opportunities they offer within the realm of SFE for EOs. By dissecting these complexities, our objective is to tackle the current challenges associated with enhancing SFE for commercial purposes. This endeavor will not only streamline the production of premium-grade essential oils with improved safety measures but also pave the way for novel applications in various fields.

Microfluidic supercritical CO 2 applications: Solvent extraction, nanoparticle synthesis, and chemical reaction

SupercriticalCO 2 , known for its non-toxic, non-flammable and abundant properties, is well-perceived as a green alternative to hazardous organic solvents. It has attracted considerable interest in food, pharmaceuticals, chromatography, and catalysis fields. When supercriticalCO 2 is integrated into microfluidic systems, it offers several advantages compared to conventional macro-scale supercritical reactors. These include optical transparency, small volume, rapid reaction, and precise manipulation of fluids, making microfluidics a versatile tool for process optimization and fundamental studies of extraction and reaction kinetics in supercriticalCO 2 applications. Moreover, the small length scale of microfluidics allows for the production of uniform nanoparticles with reduced particle size, beneficial for nanomaterial synthesis. In this perspective, we review microfluidic investigations involving supercriticalCO 2 , with a particular focus on three primary applications, namely, solvent extraction, nanoparticle synthesis, and chemical reactions. We provide a summary of the experimental innovations, key mechanisms, and principle findings from these microfluidic studies, aiming to spark further interest. Finally, we conclude this review with some discussion on the future perspectives in this field.

Plant-Derived Terpenoids: A Plethora of Bioactive Compounds with Several Health Functions and Industrial Applications-A Comprehensive Overview

Terpenoids are a large class of natural secondary plant metabolites which are highly diverse in structure, formed from isoprene units (C-5), associated with a wide range of biological properties, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, anticancer, antimetastatic, antiangiogenesis, and apoptosis induction, and are considered for potential application in the food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and medical industries. In plants, terpenoids exert a variety of basic functions in growth and development. This review gives an overview, highlighting the current knowledge of terpenoids and recent advances in our understanding of the organization, regulation, and diversification of core and specialized terpenoid metabolic pathways and addressing the most important functions of volatile and non-volatile specialized terpenoid metabolites in plants. A comprehensive description of different aspects of plant-derived terpenoids as a sustainable source of bioactive compounds, their biosynthetic pathway, the several biological properties attributed to these secondary metabolites associated with health-promoting effects, and their potential industrial applications in several fields will be provided, and emerging and green extraction methods will also be discussed. In addition, future research perspectives within this framework will be highlighted. Literature selection was carried out using the National Library of Medicine, PubMed, and international reference data for the period from 2010 to 2024 using the keyword "terpenoids". A total of 177,633 published papers were found, of which 196 original and review papers were included in this review according to the criteria of their scientific reliability, their completeness, and their relevance to the theme considered.

Harnessing the potential of agriculture biomass: reuse, transformation and applications in energy and environment

Biomass, an organic matter, has gained worldwide attention due to the overconsumption of fossil fuels. Biomass has emerged as a new alternative resource with implications for efficient energy production, environmental benefits and socio-economic impacts. According to the World Bioenergy Association, biomass has accounted for 14% of the energy supply in 2016 and is expected to provide 44% of the energy demand by 2030. This literary endeavour comprises insights into past developments, including biomass types, characterization methods and conversion technologies. This review article aims to facilitate a deeper understanding of agriculture biomass utilization and its significance in achieving sustainable development goals by analysing the latest research findings. Moreover, the emerging role of biosensors in optimizing biomass utilization and monitoring environmental impacts has been documented. The scope embraces the vast realm of bioenergy production, environmental mitigation and the generation of valuable by-products. In conclusion, portraying biomass conversion technologies as the transition towards cleaner, renewable energy, the potential benefits and challenges extend beyond energy production, encompassing effective agricultural residue management and the creation of valuable by-products. This review will guide the researchers and stakeholders towards a deeper understanding of the transformative potential embedded in biomass conversion processes for a sustainable and cleaner energy future.

Potential Role and Mechanism of Mulberry Extract in Immune Modulation: Focus on Chemical Compositions, Mechanistic Insights, and Extraction Techniques

Mulberry is a rapidly growing plant that thrives in diverse climatic, topographical, and soil types, spanning temperature and temperate countries. Mulberry plants are valued as functional foods for their abundant chemical composition, serving as a significant reservoir of bioactive compounds like proteins, polysaccharides, phenolics, and flavonoids. Moreover, these compounds displayed potent antioxidant activity by scavenging free radicals, inhibiting reactive oxygen species generation, and restoring elevated nitric oxide production induced by LPS stimulation through the downregulation of inducible NO synthase expression. Active components like oxyresveratrol found in Morus demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting leukocyte migration through the MEK/ERK signaling pathway. Gallic and chlorogenic acids in mulberry leaves (ML) powder-modulated TNF, IL-6, and IRS1 proteins, improving various inflammatory conditions by immune system modulation. As we delve deeper into understanding its anti-inflammatory potential and how it works therapeutically, it is crucial to refine the extraction process to enhance the effectiveness of its bioactive elements. Recent advancements in extraction techniques, such as solid-liquid extraction, pressurized liquid extraction, superficial fluid extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, and ultrasonic-assisted extraction, are being explored. Among the extraction methods tested, including Soxhlet extraction, maceration, and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), UAE demonstrated superior efficiency in extracting bioactive compounds from mulberry leaves. Overall, this comprehensive review sheds light on the potential of mulberry as a natural immunomodulatory agent and provides insights into its mechanisms of action for future research and therapeutic applications.

Research Progress on Taxus Extraction and Formulation Preparation Technologies

Taxus, as a globally prevalent evergreen tree, contains a wealth of bioactive components that play a crucial role in the pharmaceutical field. Taxus extracts, defined as a collection of one or more bioactive compounds extracted from the genus Taxus spp., have become a significant focus of modern cancer treatment research. This review article aims to delve into the scientific background of Taxus extracts and their considerable value in pharmaceutical research. It meticulously sifts through and compares various advanced extraction techniques such as supercritical extraction, ultrasound extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, solid-phase extraction, high-pressure pulsed electric field extraction, and enzymatic extraction, assessing each technology's advantages and limitations across dimensions such as extraction efficiency, extraction purity, economic cost, operational time, and environmental impact, with comprehensive analysis results presented in table form. In the area of drug formulation design, this paper systematically discusses the development strategies for solid, liquid, and semi-solid dosage forms based on the unique physicochemical properties of Taxus extracts, their intended medical uses, and specific release characteristics, delving deeply into the selection of excipients and the critical technical issues in the drug preparation process. Moreover, the article looks forward to the potential directions of Taxus extracts in future research and medical applications, emphasizing the urgency and importance of continuously optimizing extraction methods and formulation design to enhance treatment efficacy, reduce production costs, and decrease environmental burdens. It provides a comprehensive set of preparation techniques and formulation optimization schemes for researchers in cancer treatment and other medical fields, promoting the application and development of Taxus extracts in pharmaceutical sciences.

Astaxanthin from microalgae: A review on structure, biosynthesis, production strategies and application

Astaxanthin is a red-colored secondary metabolite with excellent antioxidant properties, typically finds application as foods, feed, cosmetics, nutraceuticals, and medications. Astaxanthin is usually produced synthetically using chemicals and costs less as compared to the natural astaxanthin obtained from fish, shrimps, and microorganisms. Over the decades, astaxanthin has been naturally synthesized from Haematococcus pluvialis in commercial scales and remains exceptional, attributed to its higher bioactive properties as compared to synthetic astaxanthin. However, the production cost of algal astaxanthin is still high due to several bottlenecks prevailing in the upstream and downstream processes. To that end, the present study intends to review the recent trends and advancements in astaxanthin production from microalgae. The structure of astaxanthin, sources, production strategies of microalgal astaxanthin, and factors influencing the synthesis of microalgal astaxanthin were discussed while detailing the pathway involved in astaxanthin biosynthesis. The study also discusses the relevant downstream process used in commercial scales and details the applications of astaxanthin in various health related issues.

Supercritical fluid-based method for selective extraction and analysis of indole alkaloids from Uncaria rhynchophylla

The development of an approach based on simultaneous supercritical fluid extraction-sample cleanup, followed by supercritical fluid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (SFE-SFC-MS/MS) was as a tool for the extraction, separation and characterization of indole alkaloids of Uncaria rhynchophylla. A two-step SFE method was designed. A mixture of the U. rhynchophylla sample and an adsorbent named C18SCX with the ratio of 1:1 (w/w) was placed into an extraction cell. The extraction temperature was 40 °C and the pressure was 25 Mpa. In the first step, 10 % EtOH as the co-solvent was used to extract for 60 min, which was considered as a cleanup process to remove non-alkaloid components. In the second step, 0.1 % DEA was added to 10 % EtOH and it extracted for 60 min to obtain the desired extract. By introducing an additional adsorbent, the specificity of SFE towards alkaloids was greatly improved. An SFC-MS/MS method was then utilized for analysis of the SFE extract. Using 2-EP as stationary phase with the gradient elution of 0-10 min, 5-25 % EtOH (+0.05 % DEA) in CO2, column temperature 40 °C, and back pressure 13.8 Mpa, 10 peaks were separated within 8 min. Further MS/MS analysis confirmed that nine of the 10 peaks in the SFE extract were indole alkaloids. This study developed a supercritical fluid-based method specifically towards extraction and analysis of alkaloids, which is helpful to the study of alkaline compounds in complex samples.

Green Antimicrobials as Therapeutic Agents for Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are one of the most serious and devastating complications of diabetes and account for a significant decrease in quality of life and costly healthcare expenses worldwide. This condition affects around 15% of diabetic patients and is one of the leading causes of lower limb amputations. DFUs generally present poor clinical outcomes, mainly due to the impaired healing process and the elevated risk of microbial infections which leads to tissue damage. Nowadays, antimicrobial resistance poses a rising threat to global health, thus hampering DFU treatment and care. Faced with this reality, it is pivotal to find greener and less environmentally impactful alternatives for fighting these resistant microbes. Antimicrobial peptides are small molecules that play a crucial role in the innate immune system of the host and can be found in nature. Some of these molecules have shown broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties and wound-healing activity, making them good potential therapeutic compounds to treat DFUs. This review aims to describe antimicrobial peptides derived from green, eco-friendly processes that can be used as potential therapeutic compounds to treat DFUs, thereby granting a better quality of life to patients and their families while protecting our fundamental bio-resources.

Enzymatic Synthesis Process of EPA- and DHA-Enriched Structured Acylglycerols at the sn-2 Position Starting from Commercial Salmon Oil and Concentrated by Response Surface Methodology under Supercritical Conditions

The bioavailability of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFAs) has shown to be greatly influenced by their location in the triacylglycerol backbone. Therefore, the synthesis of structured acylglycerols (SAcyl), which include eicosapentaenoic acids (EPAs) or docosahexaenoic acids (DHAs) at the sn-2 position, has attracted a great interest. The objective of this study was to optimize the synthesis process of a SAcyl from commercial refined salmon oil and an EPA/DHA concentrate in order to enhance the positioning of EPA and DHA in the sn-2 location of the glycerol moiety. For this purpose, immobilized lipase B from Candida antarctica (nonspecific) was used for the acidolysis process under the CO2 supercritical condition. As a result of carrying out a Draper-Lin composite design through the response surface methodology of 18 experiments, an optimized extraction including SAcyl compounds was obtained. Mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) analysis was employed to identify the EPA/DHA location at the sn-2 position in the resulting glycerol moiety. In the fraction obtained, an increase in the EPA and DHA content at the sn-2 position was detected. Remarkably, the optimized SAcyl obtained after 6 h, 82 bar, and 60 °C led to the highest EPA/DHA yield at the sn-2 position in the resulting molecule.

Comprehensive Analysis of Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Properties of Morus nigra L

The framework of this study was a comprehensive investigation of Morus nigra L. extracts, with the aim to establish the correlation between chemical composition and antioxidant/hepatoprotective activity of a series of black mulberry extracts obtained from aerial parts of the plant. Black mulberry leaf (MLEE), bark (MBEE), juice (MJ) and fresh fruit (MFEE) extracts were obtained using the conventional Soxhlet extraction, while the supercritical CO₂ extraction procedure was employed for preparation of the seed oil (MSO). Analysis of the chemical composition was performed using spectrophotometric, HPLC and GC methods. For the evaluation of antioxidant activity, in vitro FRAP and DPPH assays were applied. In Haan strain NMRI mice with streptozotocin-induced oxidative stress, in vivo antioxidant activity and liver tissue integrity were examined. The content of polyphenolic compounds was the highest in MBEE (68.3 ± 0.7 mgGAE/g) with the most abundant compounds being polyphenolic acids, followed by MLEE (23.4 ± 0.5 mgGAE/g) with the flavonoids isoquercetin and rutin being present in a significant amount. An analysis of MSO revealed a high content of γ-linoleic acid. The highest antioxidant activity in vitro (FRAP and DPPH) was observed for MLEE, MBEE and MSO. Beneficial effects were confirmed in vivo, with lower values of hepatosomatic index, potentiation of the activity of the enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase, a lower rate of lipid peroxidation and reduced positivity for the P450 enzyme in animals treated with MLEE, MBEE and MSO. Black mulberry leaf and bark extracts as well as seed oil exhibited significant antioxidant activity. Apart from the confirmed biological properties of the fruit and leaf extracts, the observed activities of black mulberry seed oil and bark extract imply its importance as a sustainable source of phytochemicals.

Current Developments of Analytical Methodologies for Aflatoxins' Determination in Food during the Last Decade (2013-2022), with a Particular Focus on Nuts and Nut Products

This review aims to provide a clear overview of the most important analytical development in aflatoxins analysis during the last decade (2013-2022) with a particular focus on nuts and nuts-related products. Aflatoxins (AFs), a group of mycotoxins produced mainly by certain strains of the genus Aspergillus fungi, are known to impose a serious threat to human health. Indeed, AFs are considered carcinogenic to humans, group 1, by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Since these toxins can be found in different food commodities, food control organizations worldwide impose maximum levels of AFs for commodities affected by this threat. Thus, they represent a cumbersome issue in terms of quality control, analytical result reliability, and economical losses. It is, therefore, mandatory for food industries to perform analysis on potentially contaminated commodities before the trade. A full perspective of the whole analytical workflow, considering each crucial step during AFs investigation, namely sampling, sample preparation, separation, and detection, will be presented to the reader, focusing on the main challenges related to the topic. A discussion will be primarily held regarding sample preparation methodologies such as partitioning, solid phase extraction (SPE), and immunoaffinity (IA) related methods. This will be followed by an overview of the leading analytical techniques for the detection of aflatoxins, in particular liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to a fluorescence detector (FLD) and/or mass spectrometry (MS). Moreover, the focus on the analytical procedure will not be specific only to traditional methodologies, such as LC, but also to new direct approaches based on imaging and the ability to detect AFs, reducing the need for sample preparation and separative techniques.

Applications and Challenges of Supercritical Foaming Technology

With economic development, environmental problems are becoming more and more prominent, and achieving green chemistry is an urgent task nowadays, which creates an opportunity for the development of supercritical foaming technology. The foaming agents used in supercritical foaming technology are usually supercritical carbon dioxide (ScCO₂) and supercritical nitrogen (ScN₂), both of which are used without environmental burden. This technology can reduce the environmental impact of polymer foam production. Although supercritical foaming technology is already in production in some fields, it has not been applied on a large scale. Here, we present a detailed analysis of the types of foaming agents currently used in supercritical foaming technology and their applications in various fields, summarizing the technological improvements that have been made to the technology. However, we have found that today's supercritical technologies still need to address some additional challenges to achieve large-scale production.

Tendencies Affecting the Growth and Cultivation of Genus Spirulina: An Investigative Review on Current Trends

Spirulina, a kind of blue-green algae, is one of the Earth's oldest known forms of life. Spirulina grows best in very alkaline environments, although it may flourish across a wide variety of pH values. There are several techniques for growing Spirulina spp., ranging from open systems such as ponds and lakes, which are vulnerable to contamination by animals and extraterrestrial species, to closed systems such as photovoltaic reactors, which are not. Most contaminated toxins come from other toxic algae species that become mixed up during harvest, necessitating the study of spirulina production processes at home. Lighting, temperature, inoculation volume, stirring speed, dissolved particles, pH, water quality, and overall micronutrient richness are only a few of the environmental parameters influencing spirulina production. This review article covers the conditions required for spirulina cultivation, as well as a number of crucial factors that influence its growth and development while it is being grown. In addition, the article discusses harvesting processes, biomass measurement methods, the identification of dangerous algae, and the risk of contaminating algae as it grows on cultures. Spirulina's rising prospects as food for human consumption are a direct outcome of its prospective health and therapeutic advantages.

Trends and Technological Advancements in the Possible Food Applications of Spirulina and Their Health Benefits: A Review

Spirulina is a kind of blue-green algae (BGA) that is multicellular, filamentous, and prokaryotic. It is also known as a cyanobacterium. It is classified within the phylum known as blue-green algae. Despite the fact that it includes a high concentration of nutrients, such as proteins, vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids-in particular, the necessary omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids-the percentage of total fat and cholesterol that can be found in these algae is substantially lower when compared to other food sources. This is the case even if the percentage of total fat that can be found in these algae is also significantly lower. In addition to this, spirulina has a high concentration of bioactive compounds, such as phenols, phycocyanin pigment, and polysaccharides, which all take part in a number of biological activities, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. As a result of this, spirulina has found its way into the formulation of a great number of medicinal foods, functional foods, and nutritional supplements. Therefore, this article makes an effort to shed light on spirulina, its nutritional value as a result of its chemical composition, and its applications to some food product formulations, such as dairy products, snacks, cookies, and pasta, that are necessary at an industrial level in the food industry all over the world. In addition, this article supports the idea of incorporating it into the food sector, both from a nutritional and health perspective, as it offers numerous advantages.

Lipid Extracts Obtained by Supercritical Fluid Extraction and Their Application in Meat Products

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) has been recognized as the green and clean technique without any negative impact on the environment. Although this technique has shown high selectivity towards lipophilic bioactive compounds, very few case studies on the application of these extracts in final products and different food matrices were observed. Considering the recent developments in food science and the increasing application of supercritical extracts in meat products in the last decade (2012–2022), the aim of this manuscript was to provide a systematic review of the lipid extracts and bioactives successfully obtained by supercritical fluid extraction and their application in meat products as antioxidant and/or antimicrobial agents. Lipophilic bioactives from natural resources were explained in the first step, which was followed by the fundamentals of supercritical fluid extraction and application on recovery of these bioactives. Finally, the application of natural extracts and bioactives obtained by this technique as functional additives in meat and meat products were thoroughly discussed in order to review the state-of-the-art techniques and set the challenges for further studies.

Thermochemical Characterization of Eight Seaweed Species and Evaluation of Their Potential Use as an Alternative for Biofuel Production and Source of Bioactive Compounds

Algae are underexplored resources in Western countries and novel approaches are needed to boost their industrial exploitation. In this work, eight edible seaweeds were subjected to their valorization in terms of nutritional characterization, thermochemical properties, and bioactive profile. Our results suggest that seaweeds present a rich nutritional profile, in which carbohydrates are present in high proportions, followed by a moderate protein composition and a valuable content of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. The thermochemical characterization of seaweeds showed that some macroalgae present a low ash content and high volatile matter and carbon fixation rates, being promising sources for alternative biofuel production. The bioactive profile of seaweeds was obtained from their phenolic and carotenoid content, together with the evaluation of their associated bioactivities. Among all the species analyzed, Porphyra purpurea presented a balanced composition in terms of carbohydrates and proteins and the best thermochemical profile. This species also showed moderate anti-inflammatory activity. Additionally, Himanthalia elongata extracts showed the highest contents of total phenolics and a moderate carotenoid content, which led to the highest rates of antioxidant activity. Overall, these results suggest that seaweeds can be used as food or functional ingredient to increase the nutritional quality of food formulations.