Phenolic Compounds from Nuts: Extraction, Chemical Profiles, and Bioactivity

The mechanism of epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibiting the antigenicity of β-lactoglobulin under pH 6.2, 7.4 and 8.2: Multi-spectroscopy and molecular simulation methods

The antigenicity of β-lactoglobulin (β-LG) can be influenced by pH values and reduced by epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). However, a detailed mechanism concerning EGCG decreasing the antigenicity of β-LG at different pH levels lacks clarity. Here, we explore the inhibition mechanism of EGCG on the antigenicity of β-LG at pH 6.2, 7.4 and 8.2 using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, multi-spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and molecular simulations. The results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and circular dichroism (CD) elucidate that the noncovalent binding of EGCG with β-LG induces variations in the secondary structure and conformations of β-LG. Moreover, EGCG inhibits the antigenicity of β-LG the most at pH 7.4 (98.30 %), followed by pH 6.2 (73.18 %) and pH 8.2 (36.24 %). The inhibitory difference is attributed to the disparity in the number of epitopes involved in the interacting regions of EGCG and β-LG. Our findings suggest that manipulating pH conditions may enhance the effectiveness of antigenic inhibitors, with the potential for further application in the food industry.

EGCG-based nanoparticles: synthesis, properties, and applications

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a natural phenolic substance found in foods and beverages (especially tea) that exhibits a broad spectrum of biological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties. Its potential in cardiovascular and brain health has garnered significant attention. However, its clinical application remains limited due to its poor physicochemical stability and low oral bioavailability. Nanotechnology can be used to improve the stability, efficacy, and pharmacokinetic profile of EGCG by encapsulating it within nanoparticles. This article reviews the interactions of EGCG with various compounds, the synthesis of EGCG-based nanoparticles, the functional attributes of these nanoparticles, and their prospective applications in drug delivery, diagnosis, and therapy. The potential application of nanoencapsulated EGCG in functional foods and beverages is also emphasized. Top-down and bottom-up approaches can be used to construct EGCG-based nanoparticles. EGCG-based nanoparticles exhibit enhanced stability and bioavailability compared to free EGCG, making them promising candidates for biomedical and food applications. Notably, the non-covalent and covalent interactions of EGCG with other substances significantly contribute to the improved properties of these nanoparticles. EGCG-based nanoparticles appear to have a wide range of applications in different industries, but further research is required to enhance their efficacy and ensure their safety.

Leaves and pseudostems extract of Curcuma longa attenuates immunoglobulin E/bovine serum albumin-stimulated bone marrow-derived cultured mast cell activation and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in BALB/c mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Curcuma longa, known as turmeric, is an herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the genus Curcuma. It is dispersed throughout tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Since ancient times, turmeric has been used as an ethnomedicinal plant in the Ayurvedic system, particularly in Asian countries. Rhizomes of turmeric possess several pharmacological properties that give high value as a medicinal remedy for treating a range of conditions, including inflammation, pain, allergies, and digestive issues. Moreover, turmeric leaves and pseudostems also contain a variety of health-enhancing secondary metabolites, such as curcumin, flavonoids, and other phenolic compounds, which exhibit anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Allergic diseases are a group of immune-mediated disorders mainly caused by an immunoglobulin E (IgE)-dependent immunological response to an innocuous allergen. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of leaves and pseudostems extract of turmeric (TLSWE-8510) on IgE/bovine serum albumin (BSA)-stimulated allergic responses in mouse bone marrow-derived cultured mast cells (BMCMCs) and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) in BALB/c mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The effect of TLSWE-8510 on mast cell degranulation has been evaluated by investigating the release of β-hexosaminidase and histamine in IgE/BSA-stimulated BMCMCs. Additionally, anti-allergic properties of TLSWE-8510 on IgE/BSA-stimulated BMCMCs were investigated using suppression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk)-linker for T-cell activation (LAT)-extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-GRB2 associated binding protein 2 (Gab2) signaling pathway and downregulation of allergy-related cytokines and chemokines expression. Furthermore, in vivo, studies were conducted using IgE-mediated PCA in BALB/c mice.

RESULTS

TLSWE-8510 treatment significantly inhibited the degranulation of IgE/BSA-stimulated BMCMCs by inhibiting the release of β-hexosaminidase and histamine dose-dependently. Additionally, TLSWE-8510 reduced the expression of high-affinity IgE receptors (Fc epsilon receptor I-FcεRI) on the surface of BMCMCs and the binding of IgE to FcεRI. Besides, the expression of cytokines and chemokines is triggered by IgE/BSA stimulation via activating the allergy-related signaling pathways. TLSWE-8510 dose-dependently downregulated the mRNA expression and the production of allergy-related cytokines (interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interferon (IFN)-γ), and chemokines (thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), and regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES)) by regulating the phosphorylation of downstream signaling molecules, NF-κB, and Syk, LAT, ERK and Gab2 in IgE/BSA-stimulated BMCMCs. Moreover, PCA reaction in IgE/BSA-stimulated BALB/c mice ears was effectively decreased by TLSWE-8510 treatment in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONS

These results collectively demonstrated that TLSWE-8510 suppressed mast cell degranulation by inhibiting the release of chemical mediators related to allergies. TLSWE-8510 downregulated the allergy-related cytokines and chemokines expression and phosphorylation of downstream signaling molecules in IgE/BSA-stimulated BMCMCs. Furthermore, in vivo studies with IgE-mediated PCA reaction in the BALB/c mice ears were attenuated by TLSWE-8510 treatment. These findings revealed that TLSWE-8510 has the potential as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of allergic diseases.

Gelatine nanoparticles encapsulating three edible plant extracts as potential nanonutraceutical agents against type 2 diabetes mellitus

AIM

To optimise, and characterise gelatine nanoparticles (GNPs) encapsulating plant extracts and evaluate the glucose-lowering potential.

METHODS

GNPs encapsulating plant extracts were prepared by desolvation method followed by adsorption. The GNPs were characterised by loading efficiency, loading capacity, particle size, zeta potential, SEM and FTIR. The glucose-lowering activity of GNPs was determined using oral glucose tolerance test in high-fat diet fed streptozotocin-induced Wistar rats.

RESULTS

Loading efficiency and capacity, particle mean diameter, and zeta potential of optimised GNPs 72.45 ± 13.03% w/w, 53.05 ± 26.16% w/w, 517 ± 48 nm and (-)23.43 ± 9.96 mV respectively. GNPs encapsulating aqueous extracts of C. grandis, S. auriculata, and ethanol 70% v/v extracts of M. koenigii showed glucose-lowering activity by 17.62%, 11.96% and 13.73% (p < 0.05) compared to the non-encapsulated extracts. FTIR analysis confirmed the encapsulation of phytoconstituents into GNPs. SEM imaging showed spherical GNPs (174 ± 46 nm).

CONCLUSION

GNPs encapsulating plant extracts show promising potential to be developed as nanonutraceuticals against diabetes.

P-coumaric Acid: Advances in Pharmacological Research Based on Oxidative Stress

P-coumaric acid is an important phenolic compound that is mainly found in fruits, vegetables, grains, and fungi and is also abundant in Chinese herbal medicines. In this review, the pharmacological research progress of p-coumaric acid in recent years was reviewed, with emphasis on its role and mechanism in oxidative stress-related diseases, such as inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and nervous system diseases. Studies have shown that p-coumaric acid has a positive effect on the prevention and treatment of these diseases by inhibiting oxidative stress. In addition, p-coumaric acid also has anti-tumor, antibacterial, anti-aging skin and other pharmacological effects. This review will provide reference and inspiration for further research on the pharmacological effects of p-coumaric acid.

Development of hydroxypropyl cellulose and graphene oxide modified molecularly imprinted polymers for separation and enrichment of podophyllotoxin

A novel hydroxylpropyl cellulose (HPC) modified graphene oxide (GO)-based molecularly imprinted polymers (HPC-GO-MIP) have been developed as a solid phase extraction (SPE) material for the selective separation and extraction of podophyllotoxin. In this strategy, the cellulose with rich hydroxyl groups was introduced to form bi-functional monomers with methacrylic acid to provide more recognition sites for the improving of extraction efficiency, then GO was added as a two-dimensional substrate for MIP to improve the material morphology and surface area. The extraction performances of obtained HPC-GO-MIP material were tested, and the results prove its high efficiency and selectivity for podophyllotoxin extraction. The saturated adsorption capacity reached 23.1 μg/mg, and high enrichment efiiciency of 463.8 folds was realized under the premise of ensuring the recovery rate. The selective imprinting factor was much higher than those of kaempferol and quercetin, which were the main compounds in podophyllum fruit. Under the optimized SPE conditions, the HPC-GO-MIP based SPE-HPLC method showed the detection limit of 14.2 ng/mL for podophyllotoxin assay. When applied to podophyllum fruit samples, the material showed excellent ability of selective separation and enrichment of podophyllotoxin, and the relative standard deviations (RSD) of intra and inter batches were less than 8.1 % and 5.7 % in real samples detection. The HPC-GO-MIP SPE method broadened the application for high multiple extraction in trace analyte samples and provided a valuable solution to improve the selective separation and detection.

One-Step, Catalyst-Free Formation of Phenol from Benzoic Acid Using Water Microdroplets

Benzoic acid dissolved in water is electrosprayed (-4 kV) by using nitrogen gas at a pressure of 120 psi to form ∼10 μm diameter microdroplets. Analysis with mass spectrometry (MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS2) of the resulting microdroplets shows the direct formation of phenol via decarboxylation without any catalyst or added reagents. This process represents an ecofriendly, environmentally benign method for producing phenol and related aromatic alcohols from their corresponding aromatic acids. The mechanism of this transformation was unambiguously characterized using mass spectrometry, radical trapping, and 18O labeling.

Evaluation of the antioxidant potential of brown seaweeds extracted by different solvents and characterization of their phenolic compounds by LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS

Seaweeds, serving as valuable natural sources of phenolic compounds (PCs), offer various health benefits like antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties, and potential anticancer effects. The efficient extraction of PCs from seaweed is essential to harness their further applications. This study compares the effectiveness of different solvents (ethanol, methanol, water, acetone, and ethyl acetate) for extracting PCs from four seaweed species: Ascophyllum sp., Fucus sp., Ecklonia sp., and Sargassum sp. Among them, the ethanol extract of Sargassum sp. had the highest content of total phenolics (25.33 ± 1.45 mg GAE/g) and demonstrated potent scavenging activity against the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (33.65 ± 0.03 mg TE/g) and phosphomolybdate reduction (52.98 ± 0.47 mg TE/g). Ecklonia sp. had the highest content of total flavonoids (0.40 ± 0.02 mg QE/g) in its methanol extract, whereas its ethyl acetate extract contained the highest content of total condensed tannins (8.09 ± 0.12 mg CE/g). Fucus sp. demonstrated relatively strong antioxidant activity, with methanolic extracts exhibiting a scavenging ability against 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical (54.41 ± 0.24 mg TE/g) and water extracts showing ferric-reducing antioxidant power of 36.24 ± 0.06 mg TE/g. Likewise, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry identified 61 individual PCs, including 17 phenolic acids, 32 flavonoids, and 12 other polyphenols. Ecklonia sp., particularly in the ethanol extract, exhibited the most diverse composition. These findings underscore the importance of selecting appropriate solvents based on the specific seaweed species and desired compounds, further providing valuable guidance in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetic industries. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The PCs, which are secondary metabolites present in terrestrial plants and marine organisms, have garnered considerable attention due to their potential health advantages and diverse biological effects. Using various organic/inorganic solvents during the extraction process makes it possible to selectively isolate different types of PCs from seaweed species. The distinct polarity and solubility properties of each solvent enable the extraction of specific compounds, facilitating a comprehensive assessment of the phenolic composition found in the seaweed samples and guiding industrial production.

New Insights into the Latest Advancement in α-Amylase Inhibitors of Plant Origin with Anti-Diabetic Effects

The rising predominance of type 2 diabetes, combined with the poor medical effects seen with commercially available anti-diabetic medications, has motivated the development of innovative treatment approaches for regulating postprandial glucose levels. Natural carbohydrate digestion enzyme inhibitors might be a viable option for blocking dietary carbohydrate absorption with fewer side effects than manufactured medicines. Alpha-amylase is a metalloenzyme that facilitates digestion by breaking down polysaccharides into smaller molecules such as maltose and maltotriose. It also contributes to elevated blood glucose levels and postprandial hyperglycemia. As a result, scientists are being urged to target α-amylase and create inhibitors that can slow down the release of glucose from carbohydrate chains and prolong its absorption, thereby resulting in lower postprandial plasma glucose levels. Natural α-amylase inhibitors derived from plants have gained popularity as safe and cost-effective alternatives. The bioactive components responsible for the inhibitory actions of various plant extracts have been identified through phytochemical research, paving the way for further development and application. The majority of the findings, however, are based on in vitro investigations. Only a few animal experiments and very few human investigations have confirmed these findings. Despite some promising results, additional investigation is needed to develop feasible anti-diabetic drugs based on plant-derived pancreatic α-amylase inhibitors. This review summarizes the most recent findings from research on plant-derived pancreatic α-amylase inhibitors, including plant extracts and plant-derived bioactive compounds. Furthermore, it offers insights into the structural aspects of the crucial therapeutic target, α-amylases, in addition to their interactions with inhibitors.

Antioxidant Activity of a Sicilian Almond Skin Extract Using In Vitro and In Vivo Models

Almond skins are known for their antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, which are mainly due to the presence of polyphenols. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of almond skin extract (ASE) obtained from the Sicilian cultivar "Fascionello" and to evaluate the possible mechanisms of action using an in vitro model of human monocytic U937 cells as well as an in vivo model of carrageenan (CAR)-induced paw edema. The in vitro studies demonstrated that pretreatment with ASE inhibited the formation of ROS and apoptosis. The in vivo studies showed that ASE restored the CAR-induced tissue changes; restored the activity of endogenous antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione; and decreased neutrophil infiltration, lipid peroxidation, and the release of proinflammatory mediators. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of ASE could be associated with the inhibition of the pro-inflammatory nuclear NF-κB and the activation of the nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) antioxidant pathways. In conclusion, almond skin could reduce the levels of inflammation and oxidative stress and could be beneficial in the treatment of several disorders.

Hazelnut and its by-products: A comprehensive review of nutrition, phytochemical profile, extraction, bioactivities and applications

As output of hazelnut increases worldwide, so does the amount of by-products, leading to huge waste and environmental stress. This paper focuses on the varieties of hazelnut that have been studied more in the past two decades, and summarizes the research status of hazelnut and its by-products from the aspects of nutritional value, phytochemicals, extraction methods, biological functions and applications. Hazelnut and its by-products are rich in a variety of bioactive constituents, mainly polyphenols, which have antioxidant, antibacterial and prebiotic effects. Moreover, hazelnut shells, husks, and leaves contain taxanes such as paclitaxel, which can inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells. They are potentially good natural sources of paclitaxel compared to the slower growing yew. Therefore, it is essential to further integrate the extraction techniques and health-promoting properties of these nutrients and bioactive substances to expand their application and enhance their value.

Antioxidant Properties of Cranberry Leaves and Walnut Meal and Their Effect on Nutritional Quality and Oxidative Stability of Broiler Breast Meat

Dietary sources of bioactive compounds in animal diets, are the natural way to produce animal food products with improved nutritional quality. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis of a synergistic effect of bioactive compounds of cranberry leaf powder and walnut meal on the nutritional quality and antioxidant compounds of broiler meat. An experiment was conducted on 160 COBB 500 broiler chickens, housed in an experimental hall with permanent wood shave litter in boxes of 3 m². The six dietary treatments were based on corn and soybean meal; three experimental groups were fed diets supplemented with cranberry leaves (CLs) with three inclusion rates (0% in the control group and CL 1% and CL 2%); two experimental groups were fed diets supplemented with walnut meal (WM) with two inclusion rates (0% and WM 6%); and two groups were fed diets with a combination of the selected supplements (CL 1% WM 6% and CL 2% WM 6%). The results show that the experimental groups registered higher concentrations of copper and iron compared with the control group. An antagonist effect was noticed on lipophilic compounds, and the lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations presented a dose-dependent increasing effect under CL influence, while vitamin E concentrations decreased in the same manner. The dietary WM positively influenced vitamin E deposits on breast tissue. The dietary supplements did not produce any effect on the primary oxidation products, but the secondary products were influenced, and the maximum effect on the TBARS values were recorded for the dietary combination of CL 1% and WM 6%.

A review on some properties of almond: ımpact of processing, fatty acids, polyphenols, nutrients, bioactive properties, and health aspects

This review was focused on the proximate compounds, nutritional values, total phenolic, flavonoid, antioxidant activity, fatty acid profile, polyphenols, health aspects and uses of almond kernel and oils. Almond contained about 24-73% crude oil, 50-84% oleic and 6-37% linoleic acids, 77-3908 mg/kg β-stosterol and 5-8 mg/100 g β-tocopherol. Almonds are a good source of mono- and unsaturated fatty acids, phytochemicals, bioactive components, minerals, vitamin E, polyphenols and phytosterols and at the same time almonds have healing effects. Since almond seeds or seed oils have versatile uses, they are consumed on their own or as part of a range of food products. Almonds are considered a healthy snack when consumed due to their potential cardioprotective effects. Since the composition of almonds and its effects on health will be effective both during cultivation and processing, studies should be carried out in a way that preserves the product quality.

Graphical abstract

In this study, the proximate compounds, harvest and irrigation effect, nutritional values (protein, amino acids, vitamins minerals), total phenol, flavonoid, antioxidant activity, fatty acid profile, polyphenols, and uses of almond kernel and oils were summarized.

In vitro digestion and colonic fermentation of phenolic compounds and their bioaccessibility from raw and roasted nut kernels

Roasting and digestion affect nut kernel phenolic compounds' bioaccessibility and bioactivity. In this study, three types of raw and commercially roasted nut kernels (almonds, cashews, and walnuts) were treated by in vitro digestion and colonic fermentation. The objective was to analyze the effect of roasting on their phenolic content, associated antioxidant potential, bioaccessibility, and short chain fatty acid (SCFA) synthesis altering. Among these, raw and roasted walnuts performed best, with significantly higher total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), free radical scavenging (2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay) values, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) values after completing gastrointestinal digestion. With the exception of cashews, roasting had no significant effect on antioxidant capacity during digestion from oral to small intestinal phase. Almonds showed the highest DPPH values after 16-hour colonic fermentation, reaching above 7.60 mg TE per g. Roasting had a positive effect on the free radical savagery capacity of walnuts within 16-24 hours of fecal fermentation. Significant differences were found in the bioaccessibility of individual compounds in raw and roasted nuts. As for almond and walnut, roasting increases the release and breakdown of phenolic compounds during colonic fermentation and have a positive impact on the bioaccessibility of specific phenolic compounds. The colonic bioaccessibility of most phenolic compounds was the highest. Due to heat polysaccharide breakdown, the total SCFAs produced were limited up to 0.03 mM. Raw almonds produced the most SCFAs at 16-hour fermentation and illustrated more benefits to gut health.

A comprehensive insight into the effects of caffeic acid (CA) on pepsin: Multi-spectroscopy and MD simulations methods

The interaction between caffeic acid (CA) and pepsin was investigated using multi-spectroscopy approaches and molecular dynamic simulations (MDS). The effects of CA on the structure, stability, and activity of pepsin were studied. Fluorescence emission spectra and UV-vis absorption peaks all represented the static quenching mechanism of pepsin by CA. Moreover, the fluorescence spectra displayed that the interaction of CA exposed the tryptophan chromophores of pepsin to a more hydrophilic micro-environment. Consistent with the simulation results, thermodynamic parameters revealed that CA was bound to pepsin with a high binding affinity. The Van der Waals force and Hydrogen bond interaction were the dominant driving forces during the binding process. The circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy analysis showed that the CA binding to pepsin decreased the contents of α-Helix and Random Coil but increased the content of β-sheet in the pepsin structure. Accordingly, MD simulations confirmed all the experimental results. As a result, CA is considered an inhibitor with adverse effects on pepsin activity.

New Insights into the Phytochemical Profile and Biological Properties of Lycium intricatum Bois. (Solanaceae)

This work aimed to boost the valorisation of Lycium intricatum Boiss. L. as a source of high added value bioproducts. For that purpose, leaves and root ethanol extracts and fractions (chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water) were prepared and evaluated for radical scavenging activity (RSA) on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radicals, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and metal chelating potential against copper and iron ions. Extracts were also appraised for in vitro inhibition of enzymes implicated on the onset of neurological diseases (acetylcholinesterase: AChE and butyrylcholinesterase: BuChE), type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM, α-glucosidase), obesity/acne (lipase), and skin hyperpigmentation/food oxidation (tyrosinase). The total content of phenolics (TPC), flavonoids (TFC), and hydrolysable tannins (THTC) was evaluated by colorimetric methods, while the phenolic profile was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography, coupled to a diode-array ultraviolet detector (HPLC-UV-DAD). Extracts had significant RSA and FRAP, and moderate copper chelation, but no iron chelating capacity. Samples had a higher activity towards α-glucosidase and tyrosinase, especially those from roots, a low capacity to inhibit AChE, and no activity towards BuChE and lipase. The ethyl acetate fraction of roots had the highest TPC and THTC, whereas the ethyl acetate fraction of leaves had the highest flavonoid levels. Gallic, gentisic, ferulic, and trans-cinnamic acids were identified in both organs. The results suggest that L. intricatum is a promising source of bioactive compounds with food, pharmaceutical, and biomedical applications.

Steam explosion pretreatment to enhance extraction of active ingredients: current progress and future prospects

The active ingredients extracted from plant materials play an important role in human life and health, and the extraction is a critical step in the preparation of them. It is necessary to develop a sustainable and green extraction. Steam explosion pretreatment enhanced extraction is a higher efficiency, lower equipment investment, less hazardous chemicals and environment-friendly technique, which has been widely used to extract active ingredients from various plant materials. In this paper, current progress and future prospects of steam explosion pretreatment enhanced extraction are overviewed. The equipment, operating steps, strengthening mechanism, critical process factors are comprehensively introduced. Furthermore, recent applications and comparisons with other techniques are discussed in depth. Finally, the future development trends are prospected. The current results show that steam explosion pretreatment enhanced extraction has the advantage of high efficiency. Moreover, steam explosion is simple in equipment, and easy to operate. In conclusion, steam explosion pretreatment can be effectively used to enhance the extraction of active ingredients from plant materials.

Investigating the Tocopherol Contents of Walnut Seed Oils Produced in Different European Countries Analyzed by HPLC-UV: A Comparative Study on the Basis of Geographical Origin

A rapid HPLC-UV method was developed for the determination of tocopherols in walnut seed oils. The method was validated and the LODs ranged between 0.15 and 0.30 mg/kg, while the LOQs were calculated over the range of 0.50 to 1.00 mg/kg. The accuracy values ranged between 90.8 and 97.1% for the within-day assay (n = 6) and between 90.4 and 95.8% for the between-day assay (n = 3 × 3), respectively. The precision of the method was evaluated and the RSD% values were lower than 6.1 and 8.2, respectively. Overall, 40 samples of walnuts available on the Greek market, originating from four different European countries (Greece, Ukraine, France, and Bulgaria), were processed into oils and analyzed. One-way ANOVA was implemented in order to investigate potential statistically significant disparities between the concentrations of tocopherols in the walnut oils on the basis of the geographical origin, and Tukey's post hoc test was also performed to examine exactly which varieties differed. The statistical analysis of the results demonstrated that the Ukrainian walnut seed oils exhibited significantly higher total concentrations compared to the rest of the samples.

A review of plant antipathogenic constituents: Source, activity and mechanism

Green prevention and control of plant pathogens is a development direction of sustainable and low-carbon agriculture given the limitation of traditional chemicals. Plant-derived antipathogenic constituents (PAPCs) exhibit the advantages of being environmental benign and a broad spectrum of target pathogens over traditional chemicals. Here, we review the research advances on plant sources, chemical compositions, activities of antipathogenic constituents in the past 20 years. Reported PAPCs are classified into categories of phenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids and antimicrobial peptides. Angiosperms, gymnosperms and some lower plants are the main plant source of detected PAPCs. The PAPCs act on pathogens through multiple pathways including destroying cell structures, blocking key composition synthesis and inhibiting cell metabolism. The development trends of PAPCs are finally prospected. This review serves as a comprehensive review on the study of plant antipathogenic constituents and a key reference for forecasting the source, characteristic and activity of PAPC.

Functional constituents of plant-based foods boost immunity against acute and chronic disorders

Plant-based foods are becoming an increasingly frequent topic of discussion, both scientific and social, due to the dissemination of information and exchange of experiences in the media. Plant-based diets are considered beneficial for human health due to the supply of many valuable nutrients, including health-promoting compounds. Replacing meat-based foods with plant-based products will provide many valuable compounds, including antioxidants, phenolic compounds, fibers, vitamins, minerals, and some ω3 fatty acids. Due to their high nutritional and functional composition, plant-based foods are beneficial in acute and chronic diseases. This article attempts to review the literature to present the most important data on nutrients of plant-based foods that can then help in the prevention of many diseases, such as different infections, such as coronavirus disease, pneumonia, common cold and flu, asthma, and bacterial diseases, such as bronchitis. A properly structured plant-based diet not only provides the necessary nutrients but also can help in the prevention of many diseases.

Enzyme inhibitory activities of phenolic compounds in pecan and the effect on starch digestion

Pecan has been widely recognized for its high phenolic content and related health benefits. Previous studies indicated that pecan consumption might be beneficial in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The objective of this study was to investigate the enzyme inhibitory activities of pecan phenolic compounds (PPC) and the effect in starch hydrolysis by in vitro simulation digestion. PPC was extracted with a solvent mixture from pecan powder and freeze-dried. PPC was tested for the inhibitory effects on α-amylase and α-glucosidase via enzyme kinetics study. Static in vitro digestion trials were conducted to evaluate the effect of intake of PPC and pecan powder on starch digestion. PPC displayed a potent inhibition effect against α-amylase and α-glucosidase with IC₅₀ of 77.9 μg/mL and 9.02 μg/mL, respectively. Both PPC and pecan powder inhibited starch hydrolysis during in vitro digestion. However, the level of inhibition was lower than that from the catalytic kinetics study, and PPC exhibited a higher inhibition effect than pecan powder. The results confirmed the potential of PPC as a novel enzyme inhibitor for T2DM management. The information is helpful to promote the intake of pecan nuts for health-enhancing effects.

The Content of Phenolic Compounds and Mineral Elements in Edible Nuts

Edible nuts are an important component of a healthy diet, and their frequent consumption has beneficial impact on human health, including reducing the risk of cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, various factors, including cultivar, climate, soil characteristic, storage and treatment have influence on the chemical composition of nuts. Therefore, nine tree nut types and peanuts commonly available on Polish market were evaluated for phenolic profile and mineral elements content. The concentration of individual phenolic compounds, including flavonoids, aromatic acids and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) was determined by ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography, while the content of macro-elements and trace minerals was analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. The phenolic profile of analyzed nuts substantially varied depending on the type of nut. The highest total content of all analyzed flavonoids was determined in walnuts (114.861 µg/g), while the lowest in almonds (1.717 µg/g). In turn, the highest total content of all tested aromatic acid was determined in pecans (33.743 µg/g), and the lowest in almonds (0.096 µg/g). Epicatechin and cinnamic acid were detected in the highest concentration in tested nuts. Moreover, in examined nuts (except walnuts and Brazil nuts), the presence of CAPE was confirmed. The tested nuts were also characterized by wide variation in element concentrations. Almonds contained high concentration of macro-elements (13,111.60 µg/g), while high content of trace elements was determined in pine nuts (192.79 µg/g). The obtained results indicate that the tested nuts are characterized by a significant diversity in the content of both phenolic compounds and minerals. However, all types of nuts, apart from the well-known source of fatty acids, are a rich source of various components with beneficial effect on human health.

Influence of Cultivar on Nutritional Composition and Nutraceutical Potential of Pecan Growing in Uruguay

Composition and antioxidant properties of sixteen pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh) K. Koch] cultivars grown simultaneously in a single experimental orchard in Uruguay were evaluated to characterize their nutritional properties and nutraceutical potential. The percentage of oil, moisture, ash, minerals, and proteins were determined and also the fatty acid profile. Total phenolic compounds [18–41 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAEs)/g], condensed tannin [2–12 mg catechin equivalents (CEs)/g], and tocopherols (110–163 μg/g) contents were estimated in nut kernels. Total phenolic compounds (32–117 mg GAE/g), condensed tannins (130–357 mg CE/g), and total anthocyanins (1–3 mg 3-glucoside cyanidin/g) were also determined for pecan shells. The antioxidant activity in shells [57.15–578.88 μmol Trolox equivalents (TEs)/g] was 5 times higher compared with the kernels (23.15–156.60 μmol TEs/g) measured with hydrophilic ORAC. Bioactive compounds concentrations present statistically significant genetic variability between cultivars studied (p < 0.05). The presence of phenolic compounds was related with high-antioxidant capacity in kernels and shells, and a strong correlation between content of total phenolic compounds and condensed tannins in pecan shells was found. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) show association between cultivars and the observed variables. The nutritional profile in the different cultivars showed the trends described in other countries, but this work shows some significant differences that could be attributed to the specific edaphoclimatic conditions of cultivation in Uruguay.

The influence of phytochemicals on cell heterogeneity in chronic inflammation-associated diseases: the prospects of single cell sequencing

Chronic inflammation-associated diseases include, but is not limited to cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity, diabetes, etc. Cell heterogeneity is a prerequisite for understanding the physiological and pathological development of cell metabolism, and its response to external stimuli. Recently, dietary habits based on phytochemicals became increasingly recognized to play a pivotal role in chronic inflammation. Phytochemicals can relieve chronic inflammation by regulating inflammatory cell differentiation and immune cell response, but the influence of phytochemicals on cell heterogeneity from in vitro and ex vivo studies cannot simulate the complexity of cell differentiation in vivo due to the differences in cell lines and extracellular environment. Therefore, there is no consensus on the regulation mechanism of phytochemicals on chronic diseases based on cell heterogeneity. The purpose of this review is to summarize cell heterogeneity in common chronic inflammation-associated diseases and trace the effects of phytochemicals on cell differentiation in chronic diseases development. More importantly, by discussing the problems and challenges which hinder the study of cell heterogeneity in recent nutritional assessment experiments, we propose new prospects based on the drawbacks of existing research to optimize the research on the regulation mechanism of phytochemicals on chronic diseases. The need to explore precise measurements of cell heterogeneity is a key pillar in understanding the influence of phytochemicals on certain diseases. In the future, deeper understanding of cell-to-cell variation and the impact of food components and their metabolites on cell function by single-cell genomics and epigenomics with the focus on individual differences will open new avenues for the next generation of health care.

Food-Derived Bioactive Molecules from Mediterranean Diet: Nanotechnological Approaches and Waste Valorization as Strategies to Improve Human Wellness

The beneficial effects of the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), the most widely followed healthy diet in the world, are principally due to the presence in the foods of secondary metabolites, mainly polyphenols, whose healthy characteristics are widely recognized. However, one of the biggest problems associated with the consumption of polyphenols as nutraceutical adjuvant concerns their bioavailability. During the last decades, different nanotechnological approaches have been developed to enhance polyphenol bioavailability, avoiding the metabolic modifications that lead to low absorption, and improving their retention time inside the organisms. This review focuses on the most recent findings regarding the encapsulation and delivery of the bioactive molecules present in the foods daily consumed in the MedDiet such as olive oil, wine, nuts, spice, and herbs. In addition, the possibility of recovering the polyphenols from food waste was also explored, taking into account the increased market demand of functional foods and the necessity to obtain valuable biomolecules at low cost and in high quantity. This circular economy strategy, therefore, represents an excellent approach to respond to both the growing demand of consumers for the maintenance of human wellness and the economic and ecological exigencies of our society.

Peanut skin phenolics obtained by green solvent extraction: characterization and antioxidant activity in pure chia oil and chia oil in water (O/W) emulsion

BACKGROUND

The peanut skin (PS) is considered as an industrial waste with undervalued applications. Although several studies report potent antioxidant capacities of PS phenolics, the effectiveness in highly unsaturated lipid systems has not yet been evaluated. The objectives of the present study were two-fold: (i) to characterize a PS phenolic extract (PSE) obtained by means of a green technology and (ii) to evaluate its antioxidant efficacy on pure chia oil and chia oil in water (O/W) acid emulsion.

RESULTS

PSE was composed mainly of monomeric and condensed flavonoids (procyanidin and proanthocyanidin oligomers). PSE displayed strong antioxidant properties as measured by different reducing power and radical scavenging capacities [IC₅₀  = 0.36 μg dry extract (DE) mL^-1 for ferric reducing antioxidant power; IC₅₀  = 4.96 μg DE mL^-1 for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)^• ; IC₅₀  = 6.01 μg DE mL^-1 for 2,2'-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS)^•+ ; IC₅₀  = 2.62 μg DE mL^-1 for HO^• ]. It also showed high antioxidant efficacy when tested in pure chia oil under accelerated oxidation conditions (Rancimat, 100 °C). When added to the O/W emulsions maintained at 40 °C for 15 days, the PSE was more effective than a synthetic antioxidant (tert-butylhydroquinone) with respect to minimizing the formation and degradation of lipid hydroperoxides.

CONCLUSIONS

The antioxidant efficacy of PSE was primarily attributed to the abundance of compounds with a high number of phenolic-OH groups. Because they were found to cover a relatively wide range of partition coefficients, the antioxidant properties could be also enhanced by effect of both interfacial and solubility phenomena. All of these features allow the potential use of PSE as a natural antioxidant in different types of foods, including acid emulsion systems. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Microwave-Assisted Extraction Coupled to HPLC-UV Combined with Chemometrics for the Determination of Bioactive Compounds in Pistachio Nuts and the Guarantee of Quality and Authenticity

Two novel microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) methods were developed for the isolation of phenols and tocopherols from pistachio nuts. The extracts were analyzed by reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with a UV detector (RP-HPLC-UV). In total, eighteen pistachio samples, originating from Greece and Turkey, were analyzed and thirteen phenolic compounds, as well as α-tocopherol, (β + γ)-tocopherol, and δ-tocopherol, were identified. The analytical methods were validated and presented good linearity (r² > 0.990) and a high recovery rate over the range of 82.4 to 95.3% for phenols, and 93.1 to 96.4% for tocopherols. Repeatablility was calculated over the range 1.8–5.8%RSD for intra-day experiments, and reproducibility over the range 3.2–9.4%RSD for inter-day experiments, respectively. Principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to analyze the differences between the concentrations of the bioactive compounds with respect to geographical origin, while agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC) was used to cluster the samples based on their similarity and according to the geographical origin.

Antioxidant Therapy in Oxidative Stress-Induced Neurodegenerative Diseases: Role of Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery Systems in Clinical Translation

Free radicals are formed as a part of normal metabolic activities but are neutralized by the endogenous antioxidants present in cells/tissue, thus maintaining the redox balance. This redox balance is disrupted in certain neuropathophysiological conditions, causing oxidative stress, which is implicated in several progressive neurodegenerative diseases. Following neuronal injury, secondary injury progression is also caused by excessive production of free radicals. Highly reactive free radicals, mainly the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), damage the cell membrane, proteins, and DNA, which triggers a self-propagating inflammatory cascade of degenerative events. Dysfunctional mitochondria under oxidative stress conditions are considered a key mediator in progressive neurodegeneration. Exogenous delivery of antioxidants holds promise to alleviate oxidative stress to regain the redox balance. In this regard, natural and synthetic antioxidants have been evaluated. Despite promising results in preclinical studies, clinical translation of antioxidants as a therapy to treat neurodegenerative diseases remains elusive. The issues could be their low bioavailability, instability, limited transport to the target tissue, and/or poor antioxidant capacity, requiring repeated and high dosing, which cannot be administered to humans because of dose-limiting toxicity. Our laboratory is investigating nanoparticle-mediated delivery of antioxidant enzymes to address some of the above issues. Apart from being endogenous, the main advantage of antioxidant enzymes is their catalytic mechanism of action; hence, they are significantly more effective at lower doses in detoxifying the deleterious effects of free radicals than nonenzymatic antioxidants. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the potential of antioxidant therapy, challenges in their clinical translation, and the role nanoparticles/drug delivery systems could play in addressing these challenges.

Recent developments for controlling microbial contamination of nuts

In recent years, the consumption of nuts has shown an increasing trend worldwide. Nuts are an essential part of several countries' economies as an excellent source of nutrients and bioactive compounds. They are contaminated by environmental factors, improper harvesting practices, inadequate packaging procedures, improper storage, and transportation. The longer storage time also leads to the greater chances of contamination from pathogenic fungi. Nuts are infected with Aspergillus species, Penicillium species, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes. Therefore, nuts are associated with a high risk of pathogens and mycotoxins, which demand the urgency of using techniques for enhancing microbial safety and shelf-life stability. Many techniques such as ozone, cold plasma, irradiation, radiofrequency have been explored for the decontamination of nuts. These techniques have different efficiencies for reducing the contamination depending on processing parameters, type of pathogen, and conditions of food material. This review provides insight into decontamination technologies for reducing microbial contamination from nuts.

Antioxidant Aryl-Substituted Phthalan Derivatives Produced by Endophytic Fungus Cytospora rhizophorae

Six new phthalan derivatives cytorhizophins D-I (1-6) as well as three known derivatives cytorhizophin C, pestacin and rhizophol B were isolated from Cytospora rhizophorae. Among them, cytorhizophins D-E (1-2) and F-G (3-4) were two pairs of diastereoisomers, all of them featuring a 1-phenyl-1,3-dihydroisobenzofuran scaffold with a highly oxygenated O-linked isopentenyl unit. Besides, cytorhizophins H-I (5-6) represent the first examples of phthalide family with fascinating 6/6/6/5 tetracyclic ring system fusing as unprecedented furo [4,3,2-kl]xanthen-2 (10bH)-one skeleton. The structures of the new phthalan derivatives were extensively confirmed by detail spectroscopic analysis. The partial absolute configurations of compounds 1-6 were established through electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Moreover, compounds 1-4 showed remarkable antioxidant activities with EC₅₀ values ranging from 5.86 to 26.80 μM, which were better than or comparable to that of ascorbic acid (positive control).

Recent Applications of the Electrocoagulation Process on Agro-Based Industrial Wastewater: A Review

Agro-based final discharge is one of the major contributors to wastewater in the world. It creates high demand for efficient treatment. The electrocoagulation process can be used for agro-based wastewater treatment. The performance of the electrocoagulation process is based on several parameters, including the electrode materials, electrolysis time, current density, and electrolyte support. Agro-based industrial wastewater (AIW) treatment processes depend on the characteristics of the wastewater. The removal of organic content from various sources of AIW can reach up to more than 80%. Some studies show that the performance of the electrochemical process can be increased using a combination with other methods. Those other methods include biological and physical treatment. The results of previous research show that organic content and color can be degraded completely. The relationship between the energy consumption and operating cost was analyzed in order to show the efficiency of electrocoagulation treatment.

Raw walnut kernel: A natural source for dietary proteases and bioactive proteins

Walnut kernels are health-promoting nuts, which are mainly attributed to polyunsaturated fatty acids, phenolics, and phytosterols. However, the information concerning benefits of walnut proteins are limited. In this study, endopeptidases, aminopeptidases, carboxypeptidases, superoxide dismutases, catalases, and phospholipases with respective relative abundance of 2.730, 1.728, 0.477, 3.148, 0.743, and 0.173‰ were identified by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. These endogenous proteases exhibited activity in a broad pH range of 2-6.5, and optimal at pH 4.5 and 50 °C. Aspartic endopeptidases were predominant endopeptidases, followed by cysteine ones. There were two types of aspartic endopeptidases, one (not inhibited by pepstatin A) exerted activity at pH 2-3 and the other (inhibited by pepstatin A) optimal at pH 4.5. Carboxypeptidases were optimal at pH 4.5, and aminopeptidases exerted activity at pH near 6.5. These endogenous proteases assisted the digestion of walnut proteins, and soaking, especially peeling, greatly improved the in vitro digestibility.

Generation and characterization of nanobubbles in ionic liquid for a green extraction of polyphenols from Carya cathayensis Sarg

Nanobubbles (NBs) generated-nanojets membrane poration have gained enormous attention. In this study, NBs were fabricated as a novel green approach to assist ionic liquid (IL) [C₄C₁im][BF₄] extraction of polyphenols from Carya cathayensis Sarg. husk. NBs were successfully generated with mean size of 85.47 ± 5 nm, zeta potential of +39 ± 2.24 mV, and concentration of 21.15 ± 0.75 × 10⁸ particles/mL (stable for over 48 h in IL solution). Compared to common solutions extract, IL-NBs extract showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) antioxidant activity and polyphenols yields with a total polyphenol, total flavonoid, and total tannins contents of 85.67 ± 2.05 mg GAE/g DW, 42.44 ± 1.17 mg CE/g DW, and 8.2 ± 0.05 mg TAE/g DW, respectively. The SEM results confirmed that NBs' nanojets caused morphological destruction of the husk powder. Overall, IL-NBs solution showed better extraction efficiency of polyphenols than other solutions, giving insight into a new "green" nanotechnology-based extraction method.

An overview on extraction, composition, bioactivity and food applications of peanut phenolics

Peanuts contain a diverse and vast array of phenolic compounds having important biological properties. They are allocated mostly in the seed coat (skin), an industrial waste with minor and undervalued applications. In the last few years, a considerable amount of scientific knowledge about extraction, composition, bioactivities and health benefits of peanut skin phenolics has been generated. The present review was focused on four main aspects: a) extraction methods and technologies for obtaining peanut skin phenolics with an emphasis on green-solvent extraction processes; b) variations in chemical profiles including those due to genetic variability, extraction methodologies and process-related issues; c) bioactive properties, especially antioxidant activities in food and biological systems; d) update of promising food applications. The revision was also aimed at identifying areas where knowledge is insufficient and to set priorities for further research.

Condensed Tannins, a Viable Solution To Meet the Need for Sustainable and Effective Multifunctionality in Food Packaging: Structure, Sources, and Properties

Condensed tannins (CT) have been the focus of increasing interest in the last years as a result of their potent biological properties, which have prompted their use in the food and feed sector as functional ingredients. The possible exploitation of these compounds as multifunctional additives for the implementation of active food packaging has also been recently appreciated. In this perspective, an overview of the structural features, accessible sources, methods of analysis, and functional properties of CT is provided, with the aim of critically emphasizing the opportunities offered by this widespread class of natural phenolic compounds for the rational design of multifunctional and sustainable food packaging materials.

Impact of Hydro-Alcoholic Solvents on the Oil and Phenolics Extraction from Walnut (Juglans regia L.) Press-Cake and the Self-Emulsification of Extracts

The objective was to evaluate the performance of four hydro-alcoholic solvents to simultaneously extract oil and more polar molecules as phenolics, among others, to produce complex extracts that eventually could self-emulsify after solvent removal. Walnut press-cake was selected as the sourcing material. Extractions were performed as a semi-continuous operation up to a solvent-to-solid ratio of 28, with a fractional collection of the effluent. Among the solvents, labelled by their alcohol content EtOH 58, EtOH 86, iPro 60 and iPro 90 for ethanol (EtOH) and isopropanol (iPro), iPro 90 allowed to reach an oil extraction efficiency of 97% while the recovery for the other solvents was in the range of 30–40%. For both alcohols, the increase of the solvent hydration negatively influenced the oil extraction but positively increased the recovery of phenolics that reached 17.6 mg GAE/g_cake when EtOH 58 was used. Several fractions contained enough surface-active material and oil to self-assemble as emulsions. IPro 90 and EtOH 86 showed better performances in the sense that most extracts were able to emulsify, though extraction kinetics pointed out differences. The most hydrated solvents behaved equally, with extraction yields in the same range and a similar but limited emulsifying capacity of only few fractions.

A Brief Review of Phenolic Compounds Identified from Plants: Their Extraction, Analysis, and Biological Activity

Phenolic compounds are the most abundant secondary metabolites in plants, showing a wide range of distinct biological activities, have received more and more attention in recent years. This review aims to gather and systematize available information on the phenolic compounds from plants by discussing different types of phenolic compounds, extraction, and analysis methods, with an emphasis on their potential biological activities. The research direction and problems that should be paid attention to in the future are also put forward to provide some references for the further study of phenolic compounds.

Development of highly hydrophobic fabric phase sorptive extraction membranes and exploring their applications for the rapid determination of tocopherols in edible oils analyzed by high pressure liquid chromatography-diode array detection

Α novel, green, and facile fabric phase sorptive extraction (FPSE) prior to high pressure liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) methodology was developed for the efficient extraction and quantitative determination of tocopherols (α-, sum of (β+γ), and δ-) in edible oils. Among several highly hydrophobic FPSE membranes, sol-gel polycaprolactone-polydimethylsiloxane-polycaprolactone (sol-gel PCAP-PDMS-PCAP) coated polyester FPSE membrane was found as the most efficient in extracting tocopherol homologues from edible oil samples. To maximize the extraction efficiency of FPSE membrane, major parameters of FPSE including the membrane size, sample loading time, the choice of the appropriate elution solvent and the elution solvent volume, desorption time, and the influence of stirring were systematically optimized. The developed FPSE-HPLC-DAD methodology was validated and presented adequately low limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantification (LOQs) over the ranges 0.05-0.10 μg/g, and 0.17-0.33 μg/g, respectively. The RSD% of the within-day and between-day assays were lower than 1.3, and 11.8, respectively, demonstrating good method precision. The trueness of the method was assessed by means of relative percentage of recovery and ranged between 90.8 and 95.1% for within-day assay, and between 88.7-92.8% for between-day assay. The developed methodology was applied in the analysis of edible oils.

Bioactive Ingredients Obtained from Agro-industrial Byproducts: Recent Advances and Innovation in Micro- and Nanoencapsulation

The agro-industry produces numerous byproducts that are currently underused, and its waste contributes to environmental pollution. These byproducts represent an important and economical source of bioactive ingredients, which can promote the sustainable development of high-value-added functional foods. In this context, micro- and nanoencapsulation systems allow for the incorporation and stabilization of the bioactive agents in foods. This perspective will review recent advances in the use of agro-industrial byproducts as a source of bioactive agents. In addition, the latest advances in micro- and nanoencapsulation to improve the stability, solubility, and bioaccessibility of bioactive agents as functional food ingredients are exposed.

Composition of Brazil Nut (Bertholletia excels HBK), Its Beverage and By-Products: A Healthy Food and Potential Source of Ingredients

The consumption of plant-based beverages is a growing trend and, consequently, the search for alternative plant sources, the improvement of beverage quality and the use of their by-products, acquire great interest. Thus, the purpose of this work was to characterize the composition (nutrients, phytochemicals and antioxidant activity) of the Brazil nut (BN), its whole beverage (WBM), water-soluble beverage (BM-S), and its by-products of the beverage production: cake, sediment fraction (BM-D), and fat fraction (BM-F). In this study, advanced methodologies for the analysis of the components were employed to assess HPLC-ESI-QTOF (phenolic compounds), GC (fatty acids), and MALDI-TOF/TOF (proteins and peptides). The production of WBM was based on a hot water extraction process, and the production of BM-S includes an additional centrifugation step. The BN showed an interesting nutritional quality and outstanding content of unsaturated fatty acids. The investigation found the following in the composition of the BN: phenolic compounds (mainly flavan-3-ols as Catechin (and glycosides or derivatives), Epicatechin (and glycosides or derivatives), Quercetin and Myricetin-3-O-rhamnoside, hydroxybenzoic acids as Gallic acid (and derivatives), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, ellagic acid, Vanillic acid, p-Coumaric acid and Ferulic acid, bioactive minor lipid components (β-Sitosterol, γ-Tocopherol, α-Tocopherol and squalene), and a high level of selenium. In beverages, WBM had a higher lipid content than BM-S, a factor that influenced the energy characteristics and the content of bioactive minor lipid components. The level of phenolic compounds and selenium were outstanding in both beverages. Hydrothermal processing can promote some lipolysis, with an increase in free fatty acids and monoglycerides content. In by-products, the BM-F stood out due to its bioactive minor lipid components, the BM-D showed a highlight in protein and mineral contents, and the cake retained important nutrients and phytochemicals from the BN. In general, the BN and its beverages are healthy foods, and its by-products could be used to obtain healthy ingredients with appreciable biological activities (such as antioxidant activity).

Probing the conjugation of epigallocatechin gallate with β-lactoglobulin and its in vivo desensitization efficiency

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and β-lactoglobulin (βLg) were conjugated by covalent bonds to form EGCG-βLg conjugates. This conjugation causes structural and bioactivity changes in βLg, which in turn can be used as a possible approach for desensitization to allergens. In this study, the desensitization mechanism was investigated by monitoring βLg secondary structure and immunoglobulin E (IgE) combining capacity changes on the basis of the conjugation mechanism. Furthermore, the desensitization efficiency in vivo was evaluated through animal experiments. The results show that temperature influenced the conjugation by decreasing the binding affinities (K_a) and binding numbers (n) of EGCG. The conjugation of EGCG decreased βLg's IgE combining capacity by decreasing the β-sheet component and imparted antioxidant properties by the introduction of hydroxyl groups. In addition, animal experiment results indicated that βLg induced significant changes in the levels of IgE and inflammatory cytokines, and the relative abundance of small intestinal flora, linked to the inflammatory lesions and anaphylaxis symptoms. EGCG-βLg conjugates can suppress the allergic response, attenuating serum IgE and relieving the anaphylaxis symptoms.