Pomegranate as a promising opportunity in medicine and nanotechnology

Integrated transcriptomic, metabolomic, and functional analyses unravel the mechanism of bagging delaying fruit cracking of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.)

The economic impact of fruit cracking in pomegranate products is substantial. In this study, we present the inaugural comprehensive analysis of transcriptome and metabolome in the outermost pericarp of pomegranate fruit in bagging conditions. Our investigation revealed a notable upregulation of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with the calcium signaling pathway (76.92%) and xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase (XTH) genes (87.50%) in the fruit peel of non-cracking fruit under bagging. Metabolomic analysis revealed that multiple phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins were identified in pomegranate. Among these, calmodulin-like 23 (PgCML23) exhibited a significant correlation with triterpenoids and demonstrated a marked upregulation under bagging treatment. The transgenic tomatoes overexpressing PgCML23 exhibited significantly higher cellulose content and xyloglucan endotransglucosylase (XET) enzyme activity in the pericarp at the red ripening stage compared to the wild type. Conversely, water-soluble pectin content, polygalacturonase (PG), and β-galactosidase (β-GAL) enzyme activities were significantly lower in the transgenic tomatoes. Importantly, the heterologous expression of PgCML23 led to a substantial reduction in the fruit cracking rate in tomatoes. Our findings highlight the reduction of fruit cracking in bagging conditions through the manipulation of PgCML23 expression.

Sustainable utilization of apple pomace and its emerging potential for development of functional foods

Apple pomace, a byproduct of apple processing industry, possesses nutritional components which are of great interests for health aspects. Apple pomace is a good source of dietary fiber, minerals, carbohydrates, phenolic, and antioxidant compounds. These bioactive compounds can be extracted by different extraction techniques which have been comprehensively described in this review article. Furthermore, the incorporation of apple pomace as functional ingredients in different food products like bakery items, extrusion-based snacks, meat, dairy, and confectionary products to improve the commercial value and health benefits has been discussed briefly. This review article can be a helpful tool for industrialists, innovative researchers, and waste management authorities to manage the apple waste in an appropriate and sustainable way.

Ultrasound treatment alleviates external pericarp browning and improves fruit quality of pomegranate during storage

BACKGROUND

Ultrasound treatment has a beneficial role in horticultural production from harvest to consumption. The quality traits and microbiological load in pomegranate fruit were explored during 30 days' storage at 20 °C after 10 min and 30 min ultrasound treatments.

RESULTS

Ultrasound treatment significantly reduced the microbiological load during storage, providing a relatively clean and suitable storage environment. This was especially true for the 30 min treatment, which also maintained relatively lower weight loss and kept the browning rate below 5% during storage. Meanwhile, the fruit treated with ultrasound had higher ascorbic acid and anthocyanin content, which provided better antibacterial properties and higher nutraceutical properties until the end of storage. The 30 min ultrasound treatment significantly delayed the decrease in catalase (CAT) enzyme activity and the increase in peroxidase (POD) enzyme activity. Combined with weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), and correlation analysis, color indicators and antioxidant activity induced by ultrasound treatment were responsible for the relatively higher fruit quality of pomegranate.

CONCLUSION

Ultrasound treatment can improve the sensory quality and nutritional characteristics of pomegranate fruits during storage, and reduce the microbiological load. Ultrasound for 30 min was better than 10 min for prolonging the storage life of pomegranate. Our results will provide valuable information for ultrasound application in other horticultural products. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Designing and fabrication of colloidal nano-phytosomes with gamma-oryzanol and phosphatidylcholine for encapsulation and delivery of polyphenol-rich extract from pomegranate peel

Nano-carriers are well-known delivery systems to encapsulate different bioactive compounds and extracts. Such nano-systems are used in various food and drug areas to protect active ingredients, increase bioavailability, control the release, and deliver bioactive substances. This study aimed to design and fabricate a stable colloidal nano-delivery system to better preserve the antioxidant properties of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) and protect its sustained release in a gastrointestinal model. To achieve this goal, a nano-phytosomal system was fabricated with plant-based, cost-effective, and food-grade compounds, i.e., phosphatidylcholine (PC) and gamma-oryzanol (GO) for encapsulation of PPE. To fabricate the nano-phytosomes, thin film hydration/sonication method was used. The parameters of particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index (PDI), loading capacity (LC), and encapsulation efficiency (EE) were investigated to evaluate the efficiency of the produced nano-system. In summary, the size, zeta potential, PDI, LC, and EE of homogenous spherical PC-GO-PPE nano-phytosomes (NPs) in the ratio of 8:2:2 % w/w were achieved as 60.61 ± 0.81 nm, -32.24 ± 0.84 mV, 0.19 ± 0.01, 19.13 ± 0.30 %, and 95.66 ± 1.52 %, respectively. Also, the structure of NPs was approved by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The optimized NPs were stable during one month of storage at 4 °C, and changes in the size of particles and PPE retention rate were insignificant (p > 0.05). The nano-encapsulation of PPE significantly decreased the loss of its antioxidant activity during one month of storage at 4 °C. The optimized NPs exhibited prolonged and sustained release of PPE in a gastrointestinal model, so that after 2 h in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and 4 h in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF), 22.66 ± 2.51 % and 69.33 ± 4.50 % of initially loaded PPE was released, respectively. Optimized NPs had considerable cytotoxicity against the Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 cell line (MCF7) (IC50 = 103 μg/ml), but not against Human Foreskin Fibroblast cell line (HFF-2) (IC50 = 453 μg/ml). In conclusion, spherical PC-GO-PPE NPs were identified as a promising delivery system to efficiently encapsulate PPE, as well as protect and preserve its bioactivity, including antioxidant and cytotoxicity against cancer cell line.

Polyphenol-Enriched Pectin from Pomegranate Peel: Multi-Objective Optimization of the Eco-Friendly Extraction Process

A multi-objective optimization was performed using response surface methodology to obtain a high-value-added product, pectin enriched in polyphenols, from pomegranate peel. For this purpose, a green extraction technique that combines citric acid and ultrasound was carried out considering three variables: time, pH, and temperature. The extraction procedure was optimized using the Box-Behnken design, these being the most suitable conditions, with an extraction time of 34.16 min, a pH of 2.2, and a temperature of 89.87 °C. At this point, the pectin yield was 31.89%, with a total retained polyphenol content of 15.84 mg GAE/g pectin. In addition, the water activity, ash content, equivalent weight, methoxyl content, and degree of esterification were determined for the pectin obtained at the optimal point. This study demonstrates that polyphenol-enriched pectin can be obtained from pomegranate peel via an eco-friendly and efficient method, and that it presents similar properties to commercial pectin, preserving its quality and with potential use as an ingredient or food supplement with a high nutritional value. This work contributes to developing sustainable strategies to valorize pomegranate agro-industrial waste and produce high-value functional ingredients.

Characterization of the effect of pomegranate crude extract, and its post-harvesting preservation procedures, on redox tone, cellular growth and metabolic profile of MDA-MB-231 cell line

BACKGROUND

Pomegranate is known for its beneficial properties due to its high content in antioxidants and might constitute a natural option for preventing and treatment of different pathologies including cancer. Since mitochondria are involved in tumorigenesis through ROS production and modulation of oxidative metabolism, we investigated the biological effects of pomegranate on cellular redox state, proliferation and metabolism in the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 (MDA).

METHODS

MDA were treated for 24 h with graded concentration of filtered Pomegranate juice (PJ) and tested for metabolic Flux Analysis with XFe96 Extracellular Flux Analyzer, for proliferation using the xCELLigence System Real-Time Cell Analyzer and for intracellular ROS content by Confocal Microscopy Imaging.

RESULTS

Cells-treatment with freshly prepared pomegranate juice (PJ) resulted in a significant reduction of the intracellular ROS content already at the lower concentration of PJ tested. Additionally, it enhanced mitochondria respiration, and decreased glycolysis at high concentrations, inhibiting at the same time cell proliferation. As pomegranate is a seasonal fruit, assessment of optimum storage conditions preserving its bio-active properties was investigated. Our results indicated that storage conditions under controlled atmosphere for 30 days was able to enhance mitochondrial respiration at the same extent than freshly extracted PJ. Conversely, freezing procedure, though retaining the antioxidant and cell-growth inhibitory property, elicited an opposite effect on the metabolic profile as compared with fresh extract.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the results of our study, on the one hand, confirms the preventive/therapeutic potential of PJ, as well as of its post-harvested processing, for cancer management. On the other hand, it highlights the intrinsic difficulties in attaining mechanistic insights when a multiplicity of effects is elicited by a crude mixture of bio-active compounds.

Oxidative Stability of Avocado Snacks Formulated with Olive Extract as an Active Ingredient for Novel Food Production

Analysis of the oxidative stability of novel avocado chips with added natural extracts was carried out with the aim of reducing the chemical additive content in their formulation. Two different natural extracts were initially evaluated and characterized: one obtained from olive pomace (OE) and other from pomegranate seed waste. OE was selected due to its better antioxidant potential according to FRAP, ABTS, and DPPH assays as well as its higher total phenolic content. The formulations used were 0, 1.5 wt.%, and 3 wt.% of OE. A gradual disappearance of the band found around 3009 cm^-1 and related to unsaturated fatty acids was observed in the control sample in contrast to formulations with added OE. The band observed near 3299 cm^-1 widened and intensified with time due to the oxidation degree of samples, with this effect being higher in the control chips. The observed changes in fatty acid and hexanal content with storage time underlined the higher extent of oxidation in the control samples. This fact could suggest an antioxidant protectant action of OE in avocado chips during thermal treatment, which was attributed to the presence of phenolic compounds. The obtained chips incorporating OE represent a viable option for the development of a natural, healthy, and clean-label avocado snack at competitive cost and with low environmental impacts.

Punica granatum (Pomegranate) Peel Extract Pre-Treatment Alleviates Fenpropathrin-Induced Testicular Injury via Suppression of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Adult Male Rats

Fenpropathrin (FNP) is one of the commonly used insecticides in agriculture and domestically, leading to environmental and health problems. The goal of the current investigation was to determine how well pomegranate peel extract (PGPE) could prevent the testicular toxicity and oxidative stress induced by FNP. Four groups of male Wistar rats were randomly assigned: negative control (corn oil), PGPE (500 mg/kg BW), positive control (FNP; 15 mg/kg BW, 1/15 LD₅₀), and PGPE + FNP. For four weeks, the rats received their doses daily and orally via gavage. The major phytochemical components (total phenolic, flavonoids, and tannins contents) detected in PGPE by GC-MS included ellagic acid, hydroxymethylfurfurole, guanosine, and pyrogallol with high total phenolic, flavonoids, and tannin contents. FNP-treated rats showed a marked elevation in testicular levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, hydrogen peroxide, and protein carbonyl content, as well as the activity of aminotransferases and phosphatases. Meanwhile. a significant decline in body weight, gonadosomatic index, glutathione, protein contents, enzymatic antioxidants, and hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β HSD, and 17β HSD) activity was observed. In addition, significant alterations in testicular P53, Cas-3, Bcl-2, IL-β, IL-10, testosterone, follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones, and sperm quality were detected. Furthermore, biochemical and molecular changes were corroborated testicular histological abnormalities. Moreover, PGPE-pretreated FNP-intoxicated rats demonstrated considerable improvement in the majority of the studied parameters, when compared to FNP-treated groups. Conclusively, PGPE provided a potent protective effect against the testicular toxicity caused by FNP, due to its antioxidant-active components.

Nutritional importance and industrial uses of pomegranate peel: A critical review

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), commonly known as a seeded or granular apple, is a delectable fruit eaten worldwide. Pomegranate is one of the healthiest fruits, with a high concentration of phenolic compounds. Large quantities of byproducts, such as seeds and peels, are produced during the pomegranate juice extraction process, which causes disposal problems and environmental contamination. Pomegranate peel (PoP), which accounts for around 30%-40% of the fruit component, is a byproduct of the fruit juice manufacturing industry. PoP is a rich source of polyphenols including phenolic acids, tannins, and flavonoids, especially anthocyanin. These peels offer several functional and nutraceutical qualities owing to their bioactive ingredients, including lowering blood pressure, reducing oxidative stress, lowering cholesterol levels, and restoring heart health. PoPs have a variety of biological effects, including the ability to resist pathogenic microbes effectively, and used as an additive in various food applications. The current review focuses on the PoP's nutritional and practical attributes, as well as their functions as food additives and functional food preparations.

Evaluation of Effects of Spray Drying Conditions on Physicochemical Properties of Pomegranate Juice Powder Enriched with Pomegranate Peel Phenolic Compounds: Modeling and Optimization by RSM

In this study, the effects of pomegranate peel extract concentration (2.5-10%), drying temperature (160-190 °C), and feed flow rate (0.6-1 mL/s) on the properties of pomegranate juice powder enriched with pomegranate peel phenolic compounds and produced by spray drying were investigated. The moisture content, water activity (a_w), solubility, water absorption capacity (WAC), hygroscopicity, dissolution time, total phenolic content (TPC), Carr index (CI), Hausner ratio (HR), and brightness (L*) of the samples were evaluated, and the optimal powder production conditions were obtained using response surface methodology (RSM). The results showed that the optimal conditions were found to be the phenolic extract concentration of 10%, the drying temperature of 189.9 °C, and the feed flow rate of 0.63 mL/s, considering the minimization of the moisture content, a_w, hygroscopicity, dissolution time, CI, HR, and L*, as well as the maximization of solubility, WAC, and TPC. The effect of the phenolic extract concentration was very significant (p < 0.01) on the WAC, hygroscopicity, dissolution time, TPC, CI, HR, and L* of the powder. Moreover, the effect of the drying temperature was very significant (p < 0.01) on the a_w, hygroscopicity, dissolution time, CI, and HR of the powder and significant (p < 0.05) on its moisture content. The effect of the feed flow rate was very significant (p < 0.01) on the solubility, hygroscopicity, and dissolution time of the powder and significant (p < 0.05) on its moisture content. Therefore, we found that the spray drying conditions, such as high temperature, did not negatively affect the content of phenolic compounds in pomegranate powder, and the physical properties of the resulting powder were acceptable. Thus, pomegranate powder enriched with phenolic compounds can be used as a food additive or as a dietary supplement for medicinal use.

A standardized pomegranate fruit extract ameliorates thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis in rats via AGE-RAGE-ROS signaling

This work aimed to investigate a possible mechanism that may mediate the hepatoprotective effects of pomegranate fruit extract (PFE) against thioacetamide (THIO)-induced liver fibrosis in rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly allocated into four groups (n = 8 each): control; PFE (150 mg/kg/day, orally); THIO (200 mg/kg, i.p, 3 times a week); and THIO and PFE-treated groups. Oral PFE treatment decreased liver/body weight ratio by 12.4%, diminished serum function levels of ALT, AST, ALP, LDH, and total bilirubin, increased serum albumin, boosted hepatic GSH (by 35.6%) and SOD (by 17.5%), and significantly reduced hepatic levels of ROS, MDA, 4-HNE, AGEs, and RAGE in THIO-fibrotic rats relative to untreated THIO group. Moreover, PFE administration downregulated the hepatic levels of profibrotic TGF-β1 (by 23.0%, P < 0.001) and TIMP-1 (by 41.5%, P < 0.001), attenuated α-SMA protein expression, decreased serum HA levels (by 41.3%), and reduced the hepatic levels of the fibrosis markers hydroxyproline (by 26.0%, P < 0.001), collagen type IV (by 44.3%, P < 0.001) and laminin (by 43.4%, P < 0.001) compared to the untreated THIO group. The histopathological examination has corroborated these findings, where PFE decreased hepatic nodule incidence, attenuated portal necroinflammation and reduced extent of fibrosis. These findings may suggest that oral PFE administration could slow the progression of hepatic fibrogenesis via reducing hepatic levels of AGEs, RAGE, ROS, TGF-β1, and TIMP-1.

The Therapeutic Alliance between Pomegranate and Health Emphasizing on Anticancer Properties

Pomegranate is a fruit bearing-plant that is well known for its medicinal properties. Pomegranate is a good source of phenolic acids, tannins, and flavonoids. Pomegranate juice and by-products have attracted the scientific interest due to their potential health benefits. Currently, the medical community has showed great interest in exploiting pomegranate potential as a protective agent against several human diseases including cancer. This is demonstrated by the fact that there are more than 800 reports in the literature reporting pomegranate's anticancer properties. This review is an update on the research outcomes of pomegranate's potential against different types of human diseases, emphasizing on cancer. In addition, perspectives of potential applications of pomegranate, as a natural additive aiming to improve the quality of animal products, are discussed.

Floral Characterization of Pomegranate Genotypes to Improve Hybridization Efficiency

Pomegranate (Punica granatum) has staminate (male), androgynous (hermaphrodite), and intermediate flower types. Floral characterization is difficult for breeding efficiency across many pomegranate genotypes in Pakistan, which is essential for pomegranate cultivar enhancements. The present research focused on the floral characterization and breeding efficiency of fifteen pomegranate genotypes. Flower sex ratio, floral morphological parameters, i.e., flower length, ovary width, flower notch, flower tip and stigma with style length, and fruit set percentage were examined during the experiment. In terms of sex ratio, male flowers were found to be higher among all genotypes. Due to clear differences in flower length, width, and heterostyly facilitating visual identification of the hermaphrodite flowers, genotype Ternab-2, Kandhari White, and Kandhari Red had higher fruit set (≥70%) among all cross combinations attempted. Genotype Sava had higher flower length and heterostyly of hermaphrodite flower type, but ovary width was not very distinct, leading to average crossing success (85-34%). In conclusion, single or combination of morphological characters can be used for accurate identification of hermaphrodite flowers, which can improve hybrid efficiency and fruit set after artificial cross-pollination.

Evaluation of Major Constituents of Medicinally Important Plants for Anti-Inflammatory, Antidiabetic and AGEs Inhibiting Properties: In Vitro and Simulatory Evidence

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a global health concern that is associated with several micro- and macrovascular complications. We evaluated several important medicinal plant constituents, including polyphenols and flavonoids, for α-glucosidase inhibition, AGEs’ inhibitory activities using oxidative and no-oxidative assays, the inhibition of protein cross link formation, 15-lipoxydenase inhibition and molecular docking. The molecular docking studies showed high binding energies of flavonoids for transcriptional regulars 1IK3, 3TOP and 4F5S. In the α-glucosidase inhibition assay, a significant inhibition was noted for quercitrin (IC₅₀ 7.6 µg/mL) and gallic acid (IC₅₀ 8.2 µg/mL). In the AGEs inhibition assays, quercetin showed significant results in both non-oxidative and (IC₅₀ 0.04 mg/mL) and oxidative assays (IC₅₀ 0.051 mg/mL). Furthermore, quercitrin showed inhibitory activity in the non-oxidative (IC₅₀ 0.05 mg/mL) and oxidative assays (IC₅₀ 0.34 mg/mL). A significant inhibition of protein cross link formation was observed by SDS-PAGE analysis. Quercitrin (65%) and quercetin (62%) showed significant inhibition of 15-lipoxygenase. It was thus concluded that flavonoids and other polyphenols present in plant extracts can be effective in management of diabetes and allied co-morbidities.

Pomegranate Wastes Are Rich in Bioactive Compounds with Potential Benefit on Human Health

Pomegranate use is increasing worldwide, as it is considered a tasteful healthy food. It is mainly used as fruit, juice, and jam. The pomegranate peel represents about 40–50% of the total fruit weight and contains numerous and diverse bioactive substances. The aim of this research was to analyze the pomegranate peel chemical composition of Wonderful cultivated in Southern Italy and treated with an innovative physic dry concentration procedure in comparison with the peel composition of freeze-dried Wonderful cultivated in Southern Italy, freeze-dried Wonderful cultivated in South Africa, and freeze-dried pomegranate cultivated in India. The specific aim was to verify how much the growth area, cultivar type, and dry procedure influenced the chemical composition of the peels in terms of valuable bioactive compounds. Spectrophotometric and HPLC identification methods were used to detect antioxidants, antioxidant activities, and phenolic and flavonoid components. Results evidenced that in pomegranate peels of Wonderful cultivated in Calabria and dried with the innovative process, total phenolic substances, total flavonoids, vitamin C, vitamin E, and antioxidant activities were the highest. Great amounts of single phenolic acids and flavonoids were found in Calabrian Wonderful peels dried with the innovative process. Overall, it emerged that a great amount of bioactive and diverse compounds found in Calabrian Wonderful pomegranate peel comes from the niche pedoclimatic conditions, and the physic drying innovative methodology turned out to be an advantageous procedure to concentrate and conserve biocompounds.

Overexpression of PgCBF3 and PgCBF7 Transcription Factors from Pomegranate Enhances Freezing Tolerance in Arabidopsis under the Promoter Activity Positively Regulated by PgICE1

Cold stress limits plant growth, development and yields, and the C-repeat binding factors (CBFs) function in the cold resistance in plants. However, how pomegranate CBF transcription factors respond to cold signal remains unclear. Considering the significantly up-regulated expression of PgCBF3 and PgCBF7 in cold-tolerant Punica granatum ‘Yudazi’ in comparison with cold-sensitive ‘Tunisia’ under 4 °C, the present study focused on the two CBF genes. PgCBF3 was localized in the nucleus, while PgCBF7 was localized in the cell membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus, both owning transcriptional activation activity in yeast. Yeast one-hybrid and dual-luciferase reporter assay further confirmed that PgICE1 could specifically bind to and significantly enhance the activation activity of the promoters of PgCBF3 and PgCBF7. Compared with the wild-type plants, the PgCBF3 and PgCBF7 transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana lines had the higher survival rate after cold treatment; exhibited increased the contents of soluble sugar and proline, while lower electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde content, and reactive oxygen species production, accompanying with elevated enzyme activity of catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase; and upregulated the expression of AtCOR15A, AtCOR47, AtRD29A, and AtKIN1. Collectively, PgCBFs were positively regulated by the upstream PgICE1 and mediated the downstream COR genes expression, thereby enhancing freezing tolerance.

Agri-Food Surplus, Waste and Loss as Sustainable Biobased Ingredients: A Review

Ensuring a sustainable supply of food for the world’s fast growing population is a major challenge in today’s economy, as modern lifestyle and increasing consumer concern with maintaining a balanced and nutritious diet is an important challenge for the agricultural sector worldwide. This market niche for healthier products, especially fruits and vegetables, has increased their production, consequently resulting in increased amounts of agri-food surplus, waste, and loss (SWL) generated during crop production, transportation, storage, and processing. Although many of these materials are not utilized, negatively affecting the environmental, economic, and social segments, they are a rich source of valuable compounds that could be used for different purposes, thus preventing the losses of natural resources and boosting a circular economy. This review aimed to give insights on the efficient management of agri-food SWL, considering conventional and emerging recovery and reuse techniques. Particularly, we explored and summarized the chemical composition of three worldwide cultivated and consumed vegetables (carrots, broccoli and lettuce) and evaluate the potential of their residues as a sustainable alternative for extracting value-added ingredients for the development of new biodynamic products.

Trends and challenges in phytotherapy and phytocosmetics for skin aging

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Free radicals, oxidative stress, and inflammation contribute to the etiology of most chronic diseases.

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Natural products can be incorporated into cosmetics, cosmeceuticals, and nutricosmetics to tackle inflammation-related diseases.

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The use of alternative green extraction solvents such as natural deep eutectic solvents and electrochemically reduced water is trending.

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Delivery systems are important for the enhancement of the bioavailability, stability, solubility, and controlled release profile of the bioactives.

Oxidative stress and inflammation mostly contribute to aging and age-related conditions including skin aging. The potential of natural products in the form of naturally-derived cosmetics, cosmeceuticals, and nutricosmetics have, however, not been fully harnessed. This review, thus, critically analyzes the potential roles of natural products in inflammation-related skin aging diseases due to the increasing consumers’ concerns and demands for efficacious, safe, natural, sustainable, and religiously permitted alternatives to synthetic products. The information and data were collated from various resources and literature databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, Wiley, Springer, Taylor and Francis, Scopus, Inflibnet, Google, and Google Scholar using relevant keywords and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). The role of green extraction solvents as promising alternatives is also elucidated. The potential enhancements of the bioavailability, stability, solubility and controlled release profile of the bioactives using different delivery systems are also presented. The current potential global market value, motivators, drivers, trends, challenges, halal, and other regulatory certifications for cosmeceuticals and nutricosmetics are equally discussed. The adoption of the suggested extractions and delivery systems would enhance the stability, bioavailability, and target delivery of the bioactives.

Pomegranate Peels and Seeds as a Source of Phenolic Compounds: Effect of Cultivar, By-Product, and Extraction Solvent

The nutraceutical properties of Punica granatum L. are not restricted to the edible portion of the fruit but also to the peels and seeds, flowers, leaves, and tree bark. The recovery and valorization of the peel and seeds (ca. 50% of the whole fruit), besides the positive environmental impact, can be viewed as a source of natural bioactive compounds. Thus, the bioactive properties of extracts of pomegranate peel and seeds from Acco and Wonderful known cultivars, as well as of the novel Big Full cultivar, were evaluated. The dried and ground pomegranate by-products were submitted to a conventional solid/liquid extraction with ethanol/water mixtures (0%, 25%, 50%, and 75% of EtOH, v/v). The obtained extracts were characterized in terms of total phenolic compounds (TPC), total flavonoids (TF), and antioxidant activity (AA), determined by the DPPH radical scavenging activity and expressed as IC50 (half maximum inhibitory concentration). With the exception of the Acco cultivar, the extraction yield (EY) was higher for peels, whose extracts showed higher TPC, TF, and IC50 (lower AA). The extracts obtained from the by-products of the Big Full cultivar had a statistically higher overall bioactive potential (TPC: 0.36 mg GAE/mg extract; TF: 0.031 mg CATE/mg extract; IC50: 0.51 mg/mL) compared to the other two studied cultivars. Furthermore, the EY was enhanced by solvents richer in ethanol (50-75%), allowing obtaining extracts richer in TPC and TF with higher AA. Finally, it was shown that EY combined with bioactive data allowed a satisfactory principal component unsupervised differentiation of the pomegranate extracts according to the type of by-product used.

Transcriptomics and metabolomics analyses identified key genes associated with sugar and acid metabolism in sweet and sour pomegranate cultivars during the developmental period

Pomegranate (Punica granatum), an important fruit tree in the world, is rich in bioactive substances and has broad prospects for development. In this study, gene expression levels and the concentrations of metabolites involved in the metabolism of soluble sugars and organic acids were investigated in sweet and sour pomegranate cultivars at the S1 (July 25) stage, S2 (August 26) stage, and S3 (September 24) stage. The results showed that glucose, fructose, citric acid, and malic acid were predominantly present in pomegranate. The expression of invertase 2 (INV2), INV1, FRK2, FRK7, PFK2, PFK7, and HK1 was closely correlated with the fructose and glucose contents during different developmental stages, whereas the expression of sucrose synthase 3 (SUS3) and INV1 was negatively correlated with the sucrose content. The expression of MDH (c28468_g3) and WRKY42 (c20711_g1) genes were closely related to the content of sucrose, malic acid, citric acid, and succinic acid during different developmental stages. Gene expression and metabolite concentrations varied between the two cultivars. The results provide valuable information for gene discovery, marker-assisted selection, and investigation of metabolism mechanisms in pomegranate fruits.

Exogenous Arginine Treatment Maintains the Appearance and Nutraceutical Properties of Hard- and Soft-Seed Pomegranates in Cold Storage

Arginine is a natural preservative; however, its effects on the storage of different cultivars of pomegranates have not been investigated extensively. Therefore, the fruit quality of soft-seed Tunisia and hard-seed Yudazi pomegranates was investigated after treatment with arginine at four concentrations during cold storage for 80 days. Pomegranates treated with 1.0 mM arginine exhibited a relatively lower loss of vitamin C, soluble solid, total phenol, and anthocyanin contents in arils, together with a better fruit appearance. Combined with principal component analysis (PCA), the storage life of fruits treated with 1.0 mM arginine showed a higher correlation with antioxidant enzyme activity (e.g., superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and catalase (CAT)) during the first 40 days of cold storage, whereas after 40 days of cold storage, storage life was more dependent on the integrity of the cell membrane affected by malondialdehyde (MDA) content, electrolyte leakage (EL), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) accumulation. Arginine treatment contributed significantly to the appearance and inner quality of the hard-seed pomegranate cv. Yudazi fruit during cold storage compared to those of soft-seed Tunisia. Taken together, arginine application combined with cold storage enhanced the nutraceutical properties and marketability of pomegranate fruits.

The bioactivity and applications of pomegranate peel extract: A review

Pomegranate peel (PP) is a by-product in the processing of pomegranate products, which is usually discarded as a waste. However, a large number of researches have shown that pomegranate peel extract (PPE) is rich in a variety of phenolic substances, among which ellagic acid (EA), as one of the main active components, has significant biological activities, such as anti-oxidation, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotection, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial. We analyzed the mechanism of EA's biological activity, and discussed its application in the food industry, for instance, food preservation, food additives, and functional foods. Combined with the research status of PPE, we discussed the limitations and development potential of PPE, in order to provide theoretical reference and scientific basis for the development and utilization of pomegranate by-products. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Pomegranate peel (PP), the inedible part of the fruit, is usually treated as waste. In recent years, researchers have been committed to exploring various bioactive ingredients in PP and exploring its potential benefits to human health, which has far-reaching significance. In this paper, the chemical constituents of polyphenols in PP were reviewed, mainly focusing on the biological activity and mechanism of ellagic acid (EA). We reviewed the applications and invention patents of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) in food field, including food preservation, food additive, and functional foods, providing reference for the recycling and reuse of PP.

Utilization of fruit and vegetable waste to produce value-added products: Conventional utilization and emerging opportunities-A review

Fruit and vegetables are one of the most consumed commodities globally, accounting for more than 42% of total food wastage. These vegetal foods can be consumed raw, processed, or taken as an addition to other food items. The continuous rise in population, in addition to technological advancements, has led to an imbalance in demand supply, resulting in increased food wastage globally. Although source reduction and recycling have shown promising results, more evaluations concerning economics and environmental impacts need to be given importance. The need of the hour lies in finding a possible method towards effective utilization for fruit and vegetable waste to generate value-added products which are more eco-friendly, cheaper, and sustainable. Thus, this article attempts to focus on the conventional and emerging opportunities of fruit and vegetable waste to generate value-added products. Conventional utilization, namely briquetting, waste to energy conversion, enzymatic degradation, and adsorption, as well as emerging opportunities in the areas of nutraceuticals, packaging, flavoring agents, and waste induced nanoparticles, have been emphasized. Additionally, recommendations and future perspectives towards better utilization of vegetal waste have been given importance. This review aims to narrow down the path towards evaluating the most techno-economic and efficient waste management technique for fruits and vegetable valorization, which can be promoted in the long term.

Punicalagin Regulates Signaling Pathways in Inflammation-Associated Chronic Diseases

Inflammation is a complex biological defense system associated with a series of chronic diseases such as cancer, arthritis, diabetes, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. The extracts of pomegranate fruit and peel have been reported to possess health-beneficial properties in inflammation-associated chronic diseases. Punicalagin is considered to be the major active component of pomegranate extracts. In this review we have focused on recent studies into the therapeutic effects of punicalagin on inflammation-associated chronic diseases and the regulatory roles in NF-κB, MAPK, IL-6/JAK/STAT3 and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathways. We have concluded that punicalagin may be a promising therapeutic compound in preventing and treating inflammation-associated chronic diseases, although further clinical studies are required.

Novel Green In Situ Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles on Cotton Using Pomegranate Peel Extract

This work presents the novel and entirely green in situ synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NP) on cotton fabric. Pomegranate peel extract was used as a reducing agent and wood ash extract was used as an alkali source for the formation of ZnO-NP from zinc acetate. Four different synthesis methods, which varied in drying between immersion of fabric in the active solutions for synthesis and the use of padding and ultrasonication, were investigated to evaluate the most suitable one to achieve excellent ultraviolet (UV) protective properties of the functionalized textile. For comparison, the cotton fabrics were also functionalized with each active solution separately or in a combination of two (i.e., Zn-acetate and plant extract). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffractometry (XRD) analysis, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) confirm the successful formation of ZnO-NP on cotton. Among the synthesis methods, the method that included continuous drying of the samples between immersion in the active solutions for synthesis (Method 4) was found to be the most suitable to deliver uniformly impregnated cotton fibers with numerous small ZnO wurtzite structured crystals and excellent UV protection, with a UV protection factor of 154.0. This research presents an example of a green circular economy where a bio-waste material can be used to produce ZnO-NP directly on cotton at low temperatures and short treatment times without the addition of chemicals and enables the production of cellulosic fabrics with excellent UV protection.

The New Challenge of Green Cosmetics: Natural Food Ingredients for Cosmetic Formulations

Nowadays, much attention is paid to issues such as ecology and sustainability. Many consumers choose “green cosmetics”, which are environmentally friendly creams, makeup, and beauty products, hoping that they are not harmful to health and reduce pollution. Moreover, the repeated mini-lock downs during the COVID-19 pandemic have fueled the awareness that body beauty is linked to well-being, both external and internal. As a result, consumer preferences for makeup have declined, while those for skincare products have increased. Nutricosmetics, which combines the benefits derived from food supplementation with the advantages of cosmetic treatments to improve the beauty of our body, respond to the new market demands. Food chemistry and cosmetic chemistry come together to promote both inside and outside well-being. A nutricosmetic optimizes the intake of nutritional microelements to meet the needs of the skin and skin appendages, improving their conditions and delaying aging, thus helping to protect the skin from the aging action of environmental factors. Numerous studies in the literature show a significant correlation between the adequate intake of these supplements, improved skin quality (both aesthetic and histological), and the acceleration of wound-healing. This review revised the main foods and bioactive molecules used in nutricosmetic formulations, their cosmetic effects, and the analytical techniques that allow the dosage of the active ingredients in the food.

New insights into chemical compositions and health promoting effects of edible oils from new resources

This paper discusses the chemical compositions and health benefits of several kinds of oils which are extracted from new resources, including avocado seed oil, jackfruit seed oil, papaya seed oil, custard-apple seed oil, pomegranate seed oil, cherry seed oil, and pumpkin seed oil. In addition, the beneficial components found in these oils provide a future trend towards the utilization of seed oils as functional foods in the prevention and management of various chronic diseases. Nevertheless, the development prospects of some seed oils, such as papaya seed oil or custard-apple seed oil, need to be further studied and reconsidered due to the unconfirmed edibility. Furthermore, some other hindrances need to be solved to make better use of these valuable food industry by-products.

A unique understanding of traditional medicine of pomegranate, Punica granatum L. and its current research status

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Pomegranate, Punica granatum L., has been used in traditional medicine in China and several regions of the world including Ayurveda, Islamic, and Persian for the treatment of atherosclerosis, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and several types of cancer, as well as for peptic ulcer and oral diseases for hundreds of years. Presently, pomegranate is treated as both a "medicine food homology" herbal medicine and a healthy food supplemental product.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this work is to develop an overview of pomegranate in the context of the status of its traditional medicine theories, the spread along the Silk Road, ethnopharmacological uses, chemical compositions, pharmacological activities, toxicology, and the involved pathways.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Information on P. granatum L. was acquired from published materials, including monographs on medicinal plants, ancient and modern recorded classical texts; and pharmacopoeias and electronic databases (PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, Google Scholar, CNKI, and Wanfang Data).

RESULTS

Pomegranate has been used in many traditional medical systems throughout history. It is widely cultivated in Central Asia and spread throughout China along the Silk Road. Many phytochemicals, such as tannins, organic acids, flavonoids, alkaloids, and volatile oils have been identified from different parts of pomegranate, these compounds have a wide range of activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-oncogenic properties, as well as conferring resistance to cerebrovascular disease. Furthermore, A summary of the four promising pharmacological pathways is provided.

CONCLUSIONS

The traditional uses, chemical compositions, pharmacological activities, and signaling pathways of pomegranate are summarized comprehensively in the review. It can be treated as a guidance for the future clinical and basic research. The information provided in this review will be very useful for further studies to develop novel therapeutic directions for application of pomegranate.

Phytochemicals from Plant Foods as Potential Source of Antiviral Agents: An Overview

To date, the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide include viral infections, such as Ebola, influenza virus, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and recently COVID-19 disease, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Currently, we can count on a narrow range of antiviral drugs, especially older generation ones like ribavirin and interferon which are effective against viruses in vitro but can often be ineffective in patients. In addition to these, we have antiviral agents for the treatment of herpes virus, influenza virus, HIV and hepatitis virus. Recently, drugs used in the past especially against ebolavirus, such as remdesivir and favipiravir, have been considered for the treatment of COVID-19 disease. However, even if these drugs represent important tools against viral diseases, they are certainly not sufficient to defend us from the multitude of viruses present in the environment. This represents a huge problem, especially considering the unprecedented global threat due to the advancement of COVID-19, which represents a potential risk to the health and life of millions of people. The demand, therefore, for new and effective antiviral drugs is very high. This review focuses on three fundamental points: (1) presents the main threats to human health, reviewing the most widespread viral diseases in the world, thus describing the scenario caused by the disease in question each time and evaluating the specific therapeutic remedies currently available. (2) It comprehensively describes main phytochemical classes, in particular from plant foods, with proven antiviral activities, the viruses potentially treated with the described phytochemicals. (3) Consideration of the various applications of drug delivery systems in order to improve the bioavailability of these compounds or extracts. A PRISMA flow diagram was used for the inclusion of the works. Taking into consideration the recent dramatic events caused by COVID-19 pandemic, the cry of alarm that denounces critical need for new antiviral drugs is extremely strong. For these reasons, a continuous systematic exploration of plant foods and their phytochemicals is necessary for the development of new antiviral agents capable of saving lives and improving their well-being.

Pomegranate variety and pomegranate plant part, relevance from bioactive point of view: a review

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) belongs to the Punicaceae plant family. It is an important fruit due to its nutritional and medicinal properties. Pomegranates are widely distributed around the world and, therefore, have a broad genetic diversity, resulting in differences in their phytochemical composition. The scientific community has focused on the positive health effects of pomegranate as a whole, but the different varieties have rarely been compared according to their bioactive compounds and bioactivity. This review aims to provide a holistic overview of the current knowledge on the bioactivity of pomegranate trees, with an emphasis on differentiating both the varieties and the different plant parts. This review intends to provide a general and organized overview of the accumulated knowledge on pomegranates, the identification of the most bioactive varieties, their potential consumption pathways and seeks to provide knowledge on the present gaps to guide future research.

Effect of CO2 Preservation Treatments on the Sensory Quality of Pomegranate Juice

Due to the interest in identifying cost-effective techniques that can guarantee the microbiological, nutritional, and sensorial aspects of food products, this study investigates the effect of CO2 preservation treatment on the sensory quality of pomegranate juice at t0 and after a conservation period of four weeks at 4 °C (t28). The same initial batch of freshly squeezed non-treated (NT) juice was subjected to non-thermal preservation treatments with supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2), and with a combination of supercritical carbon dioxide and ultrasound (CO2-US). As control samples, two other juices were produced from the same NT batch: A juice stabilized with high pressure treatment (HPP) and a juice pasteurized at high temperature (HT), which represent an already established non-thermal preservation technique and the conventional thermal treatment. Projective mapping and check-all-that-apply methodologies were performed to determine the sensory qualitative differences between the juices. The volatile profile of the juices was characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed that juices treated with supercritical CO2 could be differentiated from NT, mainly by the perceived odor and volatile compound concentration, with a depletion of alcohols, esters, ketones, and terpenes and an increase in aldehydes. For example, in relation to the NT juice, limonene decreased by 95% and 90%, 1-hexanol decreased by 9% and 17%, and camphene decreased by 94% and 85% in the CO2 and CO2-US treated juices, respectively. Regarding perceived flavor, the CO2-treated juice was not clearly differentiated from NT. Changes in the volatile profile induced by storage at 4 °C led to perceivable differences in the odor quality of all juices, especially the juice treated with CO2-US, which underwent a significant depletion of all major volatile compounds during storage. The results suggest that the supercritical CO2 process conditions need to be optimized to minimize impacts on sensory quality and the volatile profile.

Synthesis, characterization, and their some chemical and biological properties of PVA/PAA/nPS hydrogel nanocomposites: Hydrogel and wound dressing

The nanocomposite hydrogels were prepared by dispersing of the nanopomegranate seed particles into poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(acrylic acid) blend matrix in an aqueous medium by the solvent casting method. These hydrogels were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectra, differential scanning calorimetry, and optical contact angle instruments. The nanopomegranate seed, blend, and hydrogel nanocomposites were tested for microbial activity. In addition, cytocompatibilities of these blend and hydrogel nanocomposites/composites were tested on human lymphocyte with in vitro MTS cell viability assays. Fourier transform infrared spectra revealed that esterification reaction took place among functional groups in the structure of poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(acrylic acid). The hydrophilic properties of all hydrogels decreased with increasing nanopomegranate seed content. The mean diameters of the nanopomegranate seed particles were about 88 nm. Nanopomegranate seed particles demonstrated antibacterial properties against gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, and gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli. The lymphocyte viabilities increased after addition of nanopomegranate seeds into the polymer blend. The swelling behavior of blend and hydrogels was dependent on the cross-linking density created by the reaction between poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(acrylic acid) blend and nanopomegranate seed. Scanning electron microscopy images were highly consistent with Fourier transform infrared spectra, differential scanning calorimetry, and antibacterial activity results.

Pomegranate as a Potential Alternative of Pain Management: A Review

The use of complementary medicine has recently increased in an attempt to find effective alternative therapies that reduce the adverse effects of drugs. Punica granatum L. (pomegranate) has been used in traditional medicine for different kinds of pain. This review aims to explore the scientific evidence about the antinociceptive effect of pomegranate. A selection of original scientific articles that accomplished the inclusion criteria was carried out. It was found that different parts of pomegranate showed an antinociceptive effect; this effect can be due mainly by the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, or fatty acids. It is suggested in the literature that the mechanisms of action may be related to the activation of the L-arginine / NO pathway, members of the TRP superfamily (TRPA1 or TRPV1) and the opioid system. The implications for the field are to know the mechanisms of action by which this effect is generated and thus be able to create alternative treatments for specific types of pain, which help alleviate it and reduce the adverse effects produced by drugs. The results propose that pomegranate and secondary metabolites could be considered in the treatment of inflammatory, nociceptive, and neuropathic pain.

Natural anti-aging skincare: role and potential

The deterioration of the skin morphology and physiology is the first and earliest obvious harbinger of the aging process which is progressively manifested with increasing age. Such deterioration affects the vital functions of the skin such as homeodynamic regulation of body temperature, fluid balance, loss of electrolytes and proteins, production of vitamin D, waste removal, immune surveillance, sensory perception, and protection of other organs against deleterious environmental factors. There are, however, harmful chemicals and toxins found in everyday cosmetics that consumers are now aware of. Thus, the natural beauty industry is on the rise with innovative technology and high-performance ingredients as more consumers demand healthier options. Therefore, the aims of this review are to give some critical insights to the effects of both intrinsic and extrinsic factors on excessive or premature skin aging and to elaborate on the relevance of natural beauty and natural anti-aging skincare approaches that will help consumers, scientists and entrepreneurs make the switch. Our recent investigations have shown the potential and relevance of identifying more resources from our rich natural heritage from various plant sources such as leaves, fruits, pomace, seeds, flowers, twigs and so on which can be explored for natural anti-aging skincare product formulations. These trending narratives have started to gain traction among researchers and consumers owing to the sustainability concern and impact of synthetic ingredients on human health and the environment. The natural anti-aging ingredients, which basically follow hormetic pathways, are potentially useful as moisturizing agents; barrier repair agents; antioxidants, vitamins, hydroxy acids, skin lightening agents, anti-inflammatory ingredients, and sunblock ingredients.

Gelatin-Based Antimicrobial Films Incorporating Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Seed Juice by-Product

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) seed juice by-product (PSP) was added as reinforcing and antimicrobial agent to fish gelatin (FG) films as a promising eco-friendly active material for food packaging applications. A complete linkage analysis of polysaccharides in PSP showed xylan and cellulose as main components. This residue showed also high total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Three formulations were processed by adding PSP to FG (0, 10, 30 wt. %) by the casting technique, showing films with 10 wt. % of PSP the best performance. The addition of PSP decreased elongation at break and increased stiffness in the FG films, particularly for 30 wt. % loading. A good compatibility between FG and PSP was observed by SEM. No significant (p < 0.05) differences were obtained for barrier properties to oxygen and water vapour permeability compared to the control with the incorporation of PSP, whereas water resistance considerably increased and transparency values decreased (p < 0.05). High thermal stability of films and inhibition against S. aureus were observed. The addition of PSP at 10 wt. % into FG was shown as a potential strategy to maintain the integrity of the material and protect food against lipid oxidation, reducing huge amounts of pomegranate and fish wastes.