Understanding the potential benefits of thyme and its derived products for food industry and consumer health: From extraction of value-added compounds to the evaluation of bioaccessibility, bioavailability, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities

Advancements in photodynamic inactivation: A comprehensive review of photosensitizers, mechanisms, and applications in food area

Food microbial contamination results in serious food safety issues and numerous food loss and waste, presenting one of the most significant challenges facing the global food system. Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) technology, which combines light and photosensitizers (PS) to provide antimicrobial effects, is an ideal nonthermal antimicrobial technique for the food industry. This review provides a comprehensive overview of PDI technology, beginning with the fundamental photoactivation principles of PS and the pathways of photoinduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. PS is the most critical factor affecting PDI efficiency, which is categorized into three types: organic, metal oxide-, and carbon-based. This review systemically summarizes the photophysical properties, in vitro PDI performances, potential enhancement strategies, and the advantages and limitations of each type of PS. Furthermore, the antimicrobial mechanisms of the PDI technologies are analyzed at both microscopic and molecular levels. Finally, the current applications of PDI in various food systems are discussed, along with the associated challenges and opportunities. Overall, this review offers crucial insights into optimizing and advancing PDI technology, highlighting key challenges and suggesting future research directions to enhance the effectiveness and scalability of PDI for diverse food applications.

Antioxidant activity analysis of new interspecific hybrid germplasm thyme and oregano essential oils with different chemotypes

Thyme and oregano essential oils (EOs) and their components have numerous applications in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries owing to their antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and immunological properties. We attempted to create new chemotypes through the hybridization of thyme and oregano for functional EO research and product development. Here, we used interspecific hybridization to create new thyme and oregano germplasms with new EO chemotypes. The antioxidant activities of these new chemotype EOs were verified by DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP analyses. We determined that there are five types of thyme hybrid EOs: geraniol-type, carvacrol-type, thymol-type, parent polymerization-type, and α-terpineol/α-terpinyl acetate-type. Moreover, there are five types of oregano hybrid EOs: carvacrol-type, thymol-type, sabinene hydrate-type, parent polymerization-type, and carvacrol/sabinene hydrate-type. The geraniol, thymol, and carvacrol contents ranged from 30.45%, 1.21% and 0.00%, respectively, in the parents to 81.66%, 52.65%, and 46.16%, respectively, in the thyme hybrids. The carvacrol and thymol contents ranged from 2.33% to 24.18%, respectively, in the parents to 94.16% and 76.77%, respectively, in the oregano hybrids, indicating obvious heterosis. We further used three antioxidant assays, DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP, to analyse the antioxidant activity of thyme and oregano hybrid EO samples. The antioxidant capacities of carvacrol- and thymol-type EOs were significantly superior to those of other chemotypes. Our data suggest that carvacrol- and thymol-type EOs with greater antioxidant potential can be applied in many industries. In addition, the function of high geraniol-type thyme EO should be further researched. The results will also be very useful for the selection of new varieties, functional research on carvacrol-, thymol-, and geraniol-type essential oils, and product development of feed additives, cosmetics, etc.

Natural products in the treatment of diabetic foot infection

Diabetic foot infections (DFIs) are a significant complication in diabetes mellitus, leading to increased morbidity, hospitalizations, and healthcare burdens. The growing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens has reduced the efficacy of conventional treatments, highlighting the need for alternative therapeutic strategies. Natural products, known for their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties, have garnered attention as potential treatments for DFIs. This review examines key natural compounds, including eugenol, thymol, carvacrol, curcumin, and Aloe vera, and their mechanisms of action in combating diabetic infections. We analyze the antimicrobial efficacy of these compounds, their ability to inhibit biofilm formation, and their role in wound healing. The review also explores challenges in integrating natural products into clinical practice and the potential for their use alongside or in place of traditional antibiotic therapies. Our findings suggest that natural products could play a crucial role in developing sustainable and effective treatment strategies for DFIs, especially in the face of rising antimicrobial resistance.

Phytochemical Profiling and Therapeutic Potential of Thyme (Thymus spp.): A Medicinal Herb

Thymol is a phenol monoterpene that is naturally derived from cymene and is an isomer of carvacrol. It constitutes a significant portion (10%-64%) of the essential oils found in thyme (Thymus vulgaris L., Lamiaceae), a medicinal plant renowned for its therapeutic properties. Wild thyme is native to the Mediterranean region and has been used in cooking and medicine for a long time. In contemporary contexts, both thymol and thyme offer diverse functional applications in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries. Thymol has attracted scientific interest for its potential therapeutic applications in pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. Studies have explored its efficacy in treating respiratory, nervous, and cardiovascular disorders, highlighting its promising role in diverse therapeutic interventions. Additionally, this compound demonstrates antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antispasmodic properties. It also shows potential as a growth enhancer and has immunomodulatory properties as well. Other discussed aspects include thymol toxicity, bioavailability, metabolism, and distribution in animals and humans. This review summarizes the most significant data regarding the beneficial effects of thyme bioactive compounds and their applications as a food preservative while taking into account the thyme plant extract and its essential oil.

Neuroprotective effects of Tradescantia spathacea tea bioactives in Parkinson's disease: In vivo proof-of-concept

Background and aim

Tradescantia spathacea (T. spathacea) is a traditional medicinal plant from Central America and its tea, obtained by infusion, has been recognized as a functional food. The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of dry tea containing biocompounds from T. spathacea tea on motor and emotional behavior, as well as tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned rats.

Experimental procedure

Bioactives were identified by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) and an in vivo study in male Wistar rats was run as proof of concept of neuroprotective effects of DTTS.

Results and conclusion

We found 15 biocompounds that had not been previously reported in T. spathacea: the UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS allowed identification five phenolic acids, one coumarin, two flavonoids, one iridoid, one phenylpropanoid glycoside, and six fatty acid derivatives. The dry tea of T. spathacea (DTTS) presented significant antioxidant activity and high contents of phenolic compounds and flavonoids. Doses of 10, 30, and 100 mg/kg of DTTS were protective against dopaminergic neurodegeneration and exhibited modulatory action on the astrocyte-mediated neuroinflammatory response. Behavioral tests showed that 30 mg/kg of DTTS counteracted motor impairment, while 100 mg/kg produced an anxiolytic effect. The DTTS could be, therefore, a promising strategy for the management of Parkinson's disease.

Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Solutions for Sustainable Food Packaging

Increasing the number of resistant bacteria resistant to treatment is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. These bacteria are created in wounds and injuries and can be transferred through hospital equipment. Various attempts have been made to treat these bacteria in recent years, such as using different drugs and new sterilization methods. However, some bacteria resist drugs, and other traditional methods cannot destroy them. In the meantime, various studies have shown that cold atmospheric plasma can kill these bacteria through different mechanisms, making cold plasma a promising tool to deactivate bacteria. This new technology can be effectively used in the food industry because it has the potential to inactivate microorganisms such as spores and microbial toxins and increase the wettability and printability of polymers to pack fresh and dried food. It can also increase the shelf life of food without leaving any residue or chemical effluent. This paper investigates cold plasma's potential, advantages, and disadvantages in the food industry and sterilization.

The wound healing effect of polycaprolactone-chitosan scaffold coated with a gel containing Zataria multiflora Boiss. volatile oil nanoemulsions

AIMS

Thymus plant is a very useful herbal medicine with various properties such as anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. Therefore, the properties of this plant have made this drug a suitable candidate for wound healing. In this study, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) gel containing Zataria multiflora volatile oil nanoemulsion (neZM) along with polycaprolactone/chitosan (PCL-CS) nanofibrous scaffold was used, and the effect of three experimental groups on the wound healing process was evaluated. The first group, HPMC gel containing neZM, the second group, PCL-CS nanofibers, and the third group, HPMC gel containing neZM and bandaged with PCL-CS nanofibers (PCL-CS/neZM). Wounds bandaged with common sterile gas were considered as control.

METHODS

The nanoemulsion was synthesized by a spontaneous method and loaded into a hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) gel. The DLS test investigated the size of these nanoemulsions. A PCL-CS nanofibrous scaffold was also synthesized by electrospinning method then SEM and contact angle tests investigated morphology and hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of its surface. The animal study was performed on full-thickness skin wounds in rats, and the process of tissue regeneration in the experimental and control groups was evaluated by H&E and Masson's trichrome staining.

RESULTS

The results showed that the nanoemulsion has a size of 225±9 nm and has an acceptable dispersion. The PCL-CS nanofibers synthesized by the electrospinning method also show non-beaded smooth fibers and due to the presence of chitosan with hydrophilic properties, have higher surface hydrophobicity than PCL fibers. The wound healing results show that the PCL-CS/neZM group significantly reduced the wound size compared to the other groups on the 7th, 14th, and 21st days. The histological results also show that the PCL-CS/neZM group could significantly reduce the parameters of edema, inflammation, and vascularity and increase the parameters of fibrosis, re-epithelialization, and collagen deposition compared to other groups on day 21.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study show that the PCL-CS/neZM treatment can effectively improve wound healing.

Anti-Salmonella Activity of Thymus serpyllum Essential Oil in Sous Vide Cook-Chill Rabbit Meat

Food is generally prepared and vacuum-sealed in a water bath, then heated to a precise temperature and circulated in a sous vide machine. Due to its affordability and ease of use, this cooking method is becoming increasingly popular in homes and food service businesses. However, suggestions from manufacturers and chefs for long-term, low-temperature sous vide cooking raise questions about food safety in the media. In this study, heat treatment with different times and wild thyme essential oil (EO) in sous vide-processed rabbit longissimus dorsi muscle were found to inactivate Salmonella enterica. The rabbit meat samples were vacuum-packed in control groups, in the second group the rabbit meat samples were injected with S. enterica, and in the third group were meat samples infected with S. enterica with Thymus serpylum EO additive. The vacuum-packed samples were cooked sous vide for the prescribed time at 55, 60, and 65 °C. At 5, 15, 30, and 60 min, the quantities of S. enterica, total bacterial counts, and coliform bacteria were measured in groups of sous vide rabbit meat. Microbiological analyses of rabbit meat samples on days 1 and 7 were evaluated. In this study, total viable counts, coliforms bacteria, and number of Salmonella spp. were identified. After incubation, isolates from different groups of microorganisms were identified by the mass spectrometry technique. For each day measured, the test group exposed to a temperature of 55 °C for 5 min had a greater number of total microbiota. The most isolated microorganisms by MALDI-TOF MS Biotyper from the control and treated groups were Lactococcus garvieae and in the treated groups also S. enterica. Based on our analysis of sous vide rabbit meat samples, we discovered that adding 1% of thyme essential oil to the mixture reduced the amount of Salmonella cells and increased the overall and coliform bacterial counts. The microbiological quality of sous vide rabbit meat that was kept for seven days was positively impacted by the addition of thyme essential oil.

Implementing fermentation technology for comprehensive valorisation of seafood processing by-products: A critical review on recovering valuable nutrients and enhancing utilisation

Fermentation technology is a biorefining tool that has been used in various industrial processes to recover valuable nutrients from different side streams. One promising application of this technique is in the reclamation of nutritional components from seafood side streams. Seafood processing generates significant amounts of waste, including heads, shells, and other side streams. These side streams contain high quantities of valued nutritional components that can be extracted using fermentation technology. The fermentation technology engages the application of microorganisms to convert the side stream into valuable products like biofuels, enzymes, and animal feed. Natural polymers such as chitin and chitosan have various purposes in the food, medicinal, and agricultural industry. Another example is the fish protein hydrolysates (FPH) from seafood side streams. FPHs are protein-rich powders which could be used in animal nutrition and nutraceutical industry. The resulting hydrolysate is further filtered and dried resulting in a FPH powder. Fermentation technology holds great possibility in the recovery of valuable nutrients from seafood side streams. The process can help reduce waste and generate new value-added products from what would otherwise be considered a waste product. With further research and development, fermentation technology can become a key tool in the biorefining industry.

A comparative study on DNA and protein binding properties of thymol and thymoquinone

Two phytochemicals, thymol and thymoquinone obtained from thymes (Thymus vulgaris L., Lamiaceae etc.) and Nagila Sativa seed, respectively. Both the phytochemicals show several biochemical activities like anticancer, antimicrobial etc. In this paper, we studied the affinities of thymol and thymoquinone towards calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) and protein (bovine serum albumin). Spectroscopic and molecular modelling studies revealed that both compounds have a high affinity toward both the receptors; DNA and protein. Both phytochemicals binds to the minor grooves of DNA and suitable pockets of protein. Several free energy function and hydrogen bonding play significant role during the binding phenomenon.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Recent advancement in ultrasound-assisted novel technologies for the extraction of bioactive compounds from herbal plants: a review

Herbal plants comprise potent bioactives, and they have a potential for the development of functional foods. Ultrasonication technology can be used to enhance the efficiency and quality of these bioactivities. The present review discussed the ultrasound-assisted novel extraction technologies (supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) and high pressurized liquid), including mechanistic understanding, influencing factors, extract process efficiency, and the recovery of bioactives with an industrial perspective. The strong observations of this study are the novel ultrasound-induced extraction process variables, such as ultrasound amplitude, sonication time, temperature, solid-solvent ratio, and pressure, are significantly influenced and must be optimized for maximum recovery of bioactives. The novel green technologies (ultrasound and assisted) could remarkably improve the extraction efficiency and enhance the quality of green extract. This review will support technological understanding about the impact on process parameters for the extraction of bioactives for the development of functional foods and nutraceuticals.

Role of Nanoparticle-Conjugates and Nanotheranostics in Abrogating Oxidative Stress and Ameliorating Neuroinflammation

Oxidative stress is a deteriorating condition that arises due to an imbalance between the reactive oxygen species and the antioxidant system or defense of the body. The key reasons for the development of such conditions are malfunctioning of various cell organelles, such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi complex, as well as physical and mental disturbances. The nervous system has a relatively high utilization of oxygen, thus making it particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress, which eventually leads to neuronal atrophy and death. This advances the development of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration-associated disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, dementia, and other memory disorders. It is imperative to treat such conditions as early as possible before they worsen and progress to irreversible damage. Oxidative damage can be negated by two mechanisms: improving the cellular defense system or providing exogenous antioxidants. Natural antioxidants can normally handle such oxidative stress, but they have limited efficacy. The valuable features of nanoparticles and/or nanomaterials, in combination with antioxidant features, offer innovative nanotheranostic tools as potential therapeutic modalities. Hence, this review aims to represent novel therapeutic approaches like utilizing nanoparticles with antioxidant properties and nanotheranostics as delivery systems for potential therapeutic applications in various neuroinflammation- and neurodegeneration-associated disease conditions.

Thymus Species from Romanian Spontaneous Flora as Promising Source of Phenolic Secondary Metabolites with Health-Related Benefits

Wild thyme aerial parts (Serpylli herba) are recognized as a valuable herbal product with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects. Although pharmacopoeial regulations allow its collection exclusively from Thymus serpyllum, substitution with other species is frequent in current practice. This study analyzed the phenolic composition, antioxidant, and enzyme-inhibitory and antimicrobial activity of the hydroethanolic extracts obtained from five Romanian wild thyme species (Thymus alpestris, T. glabrescens, T. panonicus, T. pulcherimus and T. pulegioides). The analysis of individual phenolic constituents was performed through LC-ESI-DAD/MS², while for the in vitro evaluation of antioxidant potential, TEAC, FRAP, DPPH, TBARS and OxHLIA assays were employed. The anti-enzymatic potential was tested in vitro against tyrosinase, α-glucosidase and acetylcholinesterase. High rosmarinic acid contents were quantified in all species (20.06 ± 0.32-80.49 ± 0.001 mg/g dry extract); phenolic acids derivatives (including salvianolic acids) were confirmed as the principal metabolites of T. alpestris and T. glabrescens, while eriodictyol-O-di-hexoside was found exclusively in T. alpestris. All species showed strong antioxidant potential and moderate anti-enzymatic effect against α-glucosidase and acetylcholinesterase, showing no anti-tyrosinase activity. This is the first detailed report on the chemical and biological profile of T. alpestris collected from Romanian spontaneous flora.

Creation of new germplasm resources, development of SSR markers, and screening of monoterpene synthases in thyme

BACKGROUND

Thyme derived essential oil and its components have numerous applications in pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries, owing to their antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. To obtain thyme essential oil with different terpene composition, we developed new germplasm resources using the conventional hybridization approach.

RESULTS

Phenotypic characteristics, including essential oil yield and composition, glandular trichome density, plant type, and fertility, of three wild Chinese and seven European thyme species were evaluated. Male-sterile and male-fertile thyme species were crossed in different combinations, and two F₁ populations derived from Thymus longicaulis (Tl) × T. vulgaris 'Fragrantissimus' (Tvf) and T. vulgaris 'Elsbeth' (Tve) × T. quinquecostatus (Tq) crosses were selected, with essential oil yield and terpene content as the main breeding goals. Simultaneously, simple sequence repeat (SSR) primers were developed based on the whole-genome sequence of T. quinquecostatus to authenticate the F₁ hybrids. A total of 300 primer pairs were selected, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out on the parents of the two hybrid populations (Tl, Tvf, Tve, and Tq). Based on the chemotype of the parents and their F₁ progenies, we examined the expression of genes encoding two γ-terpinene synthases, one α-terpineol synthase, and maybe one geraniol synthase in all genotypes by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR).

CONCLUSION

We used hybridization to create new germplasm resources of thyme, developed SSR markers based on the whole-genome sequence of T. quinquecostatus, and screened the expression of monoterpene synthase genes in thyme. The results of this study provide a strong foundation for the creation of new germplasm resources, construction of the genetic linkage maps, and identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs), and help gain insight into the mechanism of monoterpenoids biosynthesis in thyme.

Insight into the phytochemical profile and antimicrobial activities of Amomum subulatum and Amomum xanthioides: an in vitro and in silico study

Introduction

Medicinal plants have been considered as potential source of therapeutics or as starting materials in drugs formulation.

Methods

The current study aims to shed light on the therapeutic potential of the Amomum subulatom and Amomum xanthioides Fruits by analyzing the phytochemical composition of their seeds and fruits using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques to determine the presence of bioactive components such as flavonoids, phenols, vitamins, steroids, and essential oils.

Results and Discussion

The protein content is usually higher than the total lipids in both species except the fruit of A. subulatum which contain more lipids than proteins. The total protein contents for A. subulatum were 235.03 ± 21.49 and 227.49 ± 25.82 mg/g dry weight while for A. xanthioides were 201.9 ± 37.79 and 294.99 ± 37.93 mg/g dry weight for seeds and fruit, respectively. The Carvacrol levels in A. subulatum is 20 times higher than that in A. xanthioides. Lower levels of α-Thujene, Phyllanderenes, Ascaridole, and Pinocarvone were also observed in both species. According to DPPH (2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl) assay, seed the extract of A. subulatum exhibited the highest antioxidant activity (78.26±9.27 %) followed by the seed extract of A. xanthioides (68.21±2.56 %). Similarly, FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power) assay showed that the highest antioxidant activity was exhibited by the seed extract of the two species; 20.14±1.11 and 21.18±1.04 µmol trolox g-1 DW for A. subulatum and A. xanthioides, respectively. In terms of anti-lipid peroxidation, relatively higher values were obtained for the fruit extract of A. subulatum (6.08±0.35) and the seed extract of A. xanthioides (6.11±0.55). Ethanolic seed extracts of A. subulatum had the highest efficiency against four Gram-negative bacterial species which causes serious human diseases, namely Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Enterobacter aerogenes, and Salmonella typhimurium. In addition, P. aeruginosa was also inhibited by the fruit extract of both A. subulatum and A. xanthioides. For the seed extract of A. xanthioides, large inhibition zones were formed against P. vulgaris and the fungus Candida albicans. Finally, we have in silico explored the mode of action of these plants by performing detailed molecular modeling studies and showed that the antimicrobial activities of these plants could be attributed to the high binding affinity of their bioactive compounds to bind to the active sites of the sterol 14-alpha demethylase and the transcriptional regulator MvfR.

Conclusion

These findings demonstrate the two species extracts possess high biological activities and therapeutical values, which increases their potential value in a number of therapeutic applications.

Phenolic profile, in vitro antimicrobial and in vivo diuretic effects of endemic wild thyme Thymus comosus Heuff ex. Griseb. (Lamiaceae) from Romania

Thymus comosus Heuff ex. Griseb. (Lamiaceae) is a wild thyme species endemic for Romanian Carpathian areas, frequently collected as substitute for collective herbal product Serpylli herba, cited as antibacterial and diuretic remedy in traditional medicine. The present study aimed to evaluate the in vivo diuretic effect and in vitro antimicrobial properties of three herbal preparations (infusion-TCI, tincture-TCT and an hydroethanolic extract prepared through an optimized ultrasound-assisted method-OpTC) obtained from the aerial parts of T. comosus Heuff ex. Griseb, also evaluating their comprehensive phenolic profile. In vivo diuretic effect was tested using Wistar rats treated orally with each herbal preparation (125 and 250 mg/kg dispersed in 25 ml/kg isotonic saline solution) and quantified based on cumulative urine output (ml), diuretic action and diuretic activity. Additionally, sodium and potassium excretion were monitored using a potentiometric method with selective electrodes. In vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities were assessed using p-iodonitrotetrazolium chloride assay against six bacterial strains and six fungal strains by monitoring minimum inhibitory concentration (MICs), minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) and minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs). Finally, phenolic profile of the aforementioned herbal extracts was evaluated using an ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) method to check the impact of the different preparations on the most abundant and significant compounds. All the extracts exerted a mild diuretic action, TCT and OpTC inducing the most intense diuretic effect. Both herbal preparations produced a statistically significant, dose-dependent and gradual increase of the urine output, the effect being more intense at 24 h (6.63-7.13 ml/24 h). Potentiometric evaluation of urine samples collected from treated rats revealed a clear and mild natriuretic and kaliuretic effect after the administration. In terms of antimicrobial activity, E. coli (MIC-0.38 mg/ml), B. cereus (MIC-0.75 mg/ml)), Penicillium funiculosum and P. verrucosum var. cyclopium (MIC-0.19 mg/ml) showed the greater sensitivity to the tested extracts, respectively. UHPLC-HRMS screening showed that the bioactive potential of T. comosus herbal preparations was likely related to the higher amounts of phenolic acids (including rosmarinic acid), flavonoids (mainly flavones and derivatives) and other phenolics (such as different isomers of salvianolic acids) in their composition. The obtained results support the ethnopharmacological evidence regarding the mild diuretic and antibacterial potentials of the endemic wild thyme T. comosus, this study being the first one that assessed the aforementioned bioactivities for this species.

Molecular Characterization of Thymus capitellatus Extracts and Their Antioxidant, Neuroprotective and Anti-Proliferative Activities

Thymus capitellatus Hoffmanns & Link is an endemic species of the Iberian Peninsula listed as near-threatened, due to its restricted geographical distribution, occurring mainly in Portugal's mainland. In this work, we detail for the first time T. capitellatus extracts' phytochemical composition, as well as an evaluation of bioactivities to point out potential health benefits. Aqueous decoction (AD) and hydroethanolic (HE) extracts were obtained, both rich in flavonoids. However, quercetin-(?)-O-hexoside was identified as the main compound in T. capitellatus HE extract, while the phenolic acid rosmarinic acid was the main component of AD extracts. In addition, HE extract presents significant amounts of salvianolic acids and of the terpenoids oleanolic and ursolic acid. Both extracts showed antioxidant activity, evaluated by their capacity to scavenge ABTS and superoxide radicals, as well as an ability to prevent lipid peroxidation. AD extracts were also effective in scavenging hydroxyl and nitric oxide radicals. As potential functional foods, T. capitellatus extracts presented neuroprotective and anti-diabetic activity, in addition to time- and dose-dependent anti-proliferative activity against Caco-2 (colorectal adenocarcinoma) and HepG2 (hepatic carcinoma) cells. HE extract presented higher cytotoxicity than AD extract, and HepG2 cells were more resistant than Caco-2 cells. After 24 h exposure to HE extract, the IC50 values were 330 μg/mL and 447 μg/mL for Caco-2 and HepG2 cells, respectively. T. capitellatus has potential as a functional food or as a source of bioactive molecules. These results also highlight the need to preserve species with as yet unknown molecular compositions and potential medicinal applications.

Natural Antimicrobials: A Clean Label Strategy to Improve the Shelf Life and Safety of Reformulated Meat Products

Meat is a nutrient-rich matrix for human consumption. However, it is also a suitable environment for the proliferation of both spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms. The growing demand to develop healthy and nutritious meat products with low fat, low salt and reduced additives and achieving sanitary qualities has led to the replacement of the use of synthetic preservatives with natural-origin compounds. However, the reformulation process that reduces the content of several important ingredients (salt, curing salts, etc.), which inhibit the growth of multiple microorganisms, greatly compromises the stability and safety of meat products, thus posing a great risk to consumer health. To avoid this potential growth of spoiling and/or pathogenic microorganisms, numerous molecules, including organic acids and their salts; plant-derived compounds, such as extracts or essential oils; bacteriocins; and edible coatings are being investigated for their antimicrobial activity. This review presents some important compounds that have great potential to be used as natural antimicrobials in reformulated meat products.

Rational Design of Self-Emulsifying Pellet Formulation of Thymol: Technology Development Guided by Molecular-Level Structure Characterization and Ex Vivo Testing

The growing need for processing natural lipophilic and often volatile substances such as thymol, a promising candidate for topical treatment of intestinal mucosa, led us to the utilization of solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ss-NMR) spectroscopy for the rational design of enteric pellets with a thymol self-emulsifying system (SES). The SES (triacylglycerol, Labrasol®, and propylene glycol) provided a stable o/w emulsion with particle size between 1 and 7 µm. The ex vivo experiment confirmed the SES mucosal permeation and thymol delivery to enterocytes. Pellets W90 (MCC, Neusilin®US2, chitosan) were prepared using distilled water (90 g) by the M1−M3 extrusion/spheronisation methods varying in steps number and/or cumulative time. The pellets (705−740 µm) showed mostly comparable properties—zero friability, low intraparticular porosity (0−0.71%), and relatively high density (1.43−1.45%). They exhibited similar thymol release for 6 h (burst effect in 15th min ca. 60%), but its content increased (30−39.6 mg/g) with a shorter process time. The M3-W90 fluid-bed coated pellets (Eudragit®L) prevented undesirable thymol release in stomach conditions (<10% for 3 h). A detailed, ss-NMR investigation revealed structural differences across samples prepared by M1−M3 methods concerning system stability and internal interactions. The suggested formulation and methodology are promising for other lipophilic volatiles in treating intestinal diseases.

The Therapeutic Potential of Ethnomedicinally Important Anatolian Thyme Species: A Phytochemical and Biological Assessment

Thyme has been used for various therapeutic purposes in many different cultures, which makes it one of the most riveting medicinal plants throughout history. From its beneficial effects on the respiratory tract or the gastrointestinal system, to its unique skin-related activities, the investigation of the medicinal properties of thyme has always been an alluring topic for researchers aiming to develop conventional medications from this traditional herb. With an incentive to contribute to the extensive thyme research, three Thymus L. species namely Thymus cariensis Hub-Mor. & Jalas (endemic), Thymus praceox subsp. grossheimii (Ronniger) Jalas, and Thymus pubescens Boiss. et Kotschy ex Celak from Turkey were deeply investigated within this study. The analysis of the phytochemical constituents of the extracts was conducted by LC-MS/MS. 12 biologically important secondary metabolites (p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, salicylic acid, quinic acid, fumaric acid, vanillin, malic acid, rutin, apigenin, naringenin, and nicotiflorin) were detected in all extracts. Their total phenolic and flavonoid contents were calculated (11.15 ± 0.17-61.12 ± 2.59 μg PEs/mg extract, 2.53 ± 0.04-40.28 ± 0.92 μg QEs/mg extract, respectively), and the antioxidant potential of the extracts was evaluated by DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging and CUPRAC activity methods, accordingly, the extracts were shown to possess significant antioxidant activity. Among them, Thymus cariensis Hub-Mor. & Jalas was the most active with IC50 values of 34.97 ± 1.00 μg/ml and 9.98 ± 0.04 μg/ml regarding the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays, respectively, and an A0.5 value of 5.80 ± 0.02 μg/ml according to CUPRAC activity method. Their anticholinesterase, antityrosinase, and antiurease activities were also tested, Thymus cariensis Hub-Mor. & Jalas (35.61 ± 1.20%) and Thymus pubescens Boiss. et Kotschy ex Celak aerial part extract (33.49 ± 1.39%) exhibited moderate antibutyrylcholinesterase activity at 200 μg/ml concentration. The results of the cell viability assay indicated that the extracts demonstrated moderate-to-low cytotoxicity on A498 human renal cell lines. Furthermore, all studied extracts exerted noteworthy antimicrobial activity, especially against Candida tropicalis (MIC values: 19.53-78.12 μg/ml). The presented data substantiates the use of thyme extracts as therapeutic agents in both ethnomedicine and conventional therapies.

Natural plant products as effective alternatives to synthetic chemicals for postharvest fruit storage management

Fruits contain enormous source of vitamins that provides energy to the human body. These are also affluent in essential and vital vitamins, minerals, fiber, and health-promoting components, which has led to an increase in fruit consumption in recent years. Though fruit consumption has expanded considerably in recent years, the use of synthetic chemicals to ripen or store fruits has been steadily increasing, resulting in postharvest deterioration. Alternatives to synthetic chemicals should be considered to control this problem. Instead of utilizing synthetic chemicals, this study suggests using natural plant products to control postharvest decay. The aim of this study indicates how natural plant products can be useful and effective to eliminate postharvest diseases rather than using synthetic chemicals. Several electronic databases were investigated as information sources, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Semantic Scholar, MEDLINE, and CNKI Scholar. The current review focused on the postharvest of fruits has become more and more necessary because of these vast demands of fruits. Pathogen-induced diseases are the main component and so the vast portion of fruits get wasted after harvest. Besides, it may occur harmful during harvesting and subsequent handling, storage, and marketing and after consumer purchasing and also causes for numerous endogenous and exogenous diseases via activating ROS, oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, etc. However, pathogenicity can be halted by using postharvest originating natural fruits containing bioactive elements that may be responsible for the management of nutritional deficiency, inflammation, cancer, and so on. However, issues arising during the postharvest diseases must be controlled and resolved before releasing the horticultural commodities for commercialization. Therefore, the control of postharvest pathogens still depends on the use of synthetic fungicides; however, due to the problem of the development of the fungicide-resistant strains there is a good demand of public to eradicate the use of pesticides with the arrival of numerous diseases that are expanded in their intensity by the specific chemical product. By using of the organic or natural products for controlling postharvest diseases of fruits has become a mandatory step to take. In addition, antimicrobial packaging may have a greater impact on long-term food security by lowering the risk of pathogenicity and increasing the longevity of fruit shelf life. Taken together, natural chemicals as acetaldehyde, hexanal, eugenol, linalool, jasmonates, glucosinolates, essential oils, and many plant bioactive are reported for combating of the postharvest illnesses and guide to way of storage of fruits in this review.

A Focused Insight into Thyme: Biological, Chemical, and Therapeutic Properties of an Indigenous Mediterranean Herb

A perennial wild shrub from the Lamiaceae family and native to the Mediterranean region, thyme is considered an important wild edible plant studied for centuries for its unique importance in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industry. Thyme is loaded with phytonutrients, minerals and vitamins. It is pungent in taste, yet rich in moisture, proteins, crude fiber, minerals and vitamins. Its chemical composition may vary with geographical location but is mainly composed of flavonoids and antioxidants. Previous studies have illustrated the therapeutic effects of thyme and its essential oils, especially thymol and carvacrol, against various diseases. This is attributed to its multi-pharmacological properties that include, but are not limited to, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antineoplastic actions. Moreover, thyme has long been known for its antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic activities, in addition to remarkable disruption of microbial biofilms. In the COVID-19 era, some thyme constituents were investigated for their potential in viral binding. As such, thyme presents a wide range of functional possibilities in food, drugs, and other fields and prominent interest as a nutraceutical. The aims of the current review are to present botanical and nutritive values of this herb, elaborate its major constituents, and review available literature on its dietetic and biological activities.

Seeds as Potential Sources of Phenolic Compounds and Minerals for the Indian Population

Seeds are major sources of nutrients and bioactive compounds for human beings. In this work, the chemical composition and physicochemical properties of 155 Indian seeds (belonging to 49 families) are reported. Moisture and ash were measured with reference protocols from AOAC; total polyphenols and flavonoids were measured with spectrophotometric methods after extraction with organic solvents, and mineral elements were determined by X-ray fluorescence spectrophotometry. Total phenolic compounds, flavonoids and mineral contents (Al, Ba, Ca, Cl, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, P, Rb, S, Sr, Ti, V and Zn) were found to vary in the ranges 182−5000, 110−4465 and 687−7904 mg/100 g (DW), respectively. Noticeably, polyphenol contents higher than 2750 mg/100 g were observed in 18 seeds. In addition, mineral contents >5000 mg/100 g were detected in the seeds from Cuminum cyminum, Foeniculum vulgare, Commiphora wightii, Parkia javanica, Putranjiva roxburghii, Santalum album and Strychnos potatorum. Botanical and taxonomical variations in the proximate characteristics of the examined seeds are also discussed.

Preparation and Enhanced Antimicrobial Activity of Thymol Immobilized on Different Silica Nanoparticles with Application in Apple Juice

In order to diminish the application limitations of essential oils (EOs) as natural antimicrobial components in the food industry, novel antimicrobial materials were designed and prepared by immobilization of thymol derivatives on silica particles with different morphologies (hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles, MCM-41, amorphous silica). The structural characteristics of antimicrobial materials were estimated by FESEM, FT-IR, TGA, N2 adsorption-desorption, and small-angle XRD, and the results revealed that both mesoporous silica nanoparticles maintained the orderly structures and had good immobilization yield. Furthermore, the antibacterial performance tests showed that mesoporous silica nanoparticles greatly enhanced the antimicrobial activity of thymol against two representative foodborne bacteria (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus), and the application of the antimicrobial support was tested in apple juices inoculated with E. coli. The MBC of functionalized mesoporous silica supports was established to be below 0.1 mg/mL against E. coli and S. aureus, which is much lower than that of free thymol (0.3 mg/mL and 0.5 mg/mL against E. coli and S. aureus, respectively). In addition, at a range from 0.05 mg/mL to 0.2 mg/mL, immobilized hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNs) can inhibit the growth of E. coli in apple juice and maintain good sensory properties during 7 days of storage.

Beneficial Effects of Carvacrol on In Vitro Models of Metabolically-Associated Liver Steatosis and Endothelial Dysfunction: A Role for Fatty Acids in Interfering with Carvacrol Binding to Serum Albumin

Background:

Carvacrol, a plant phenolic monoterpene, is largely employed as food additive and phytochemical.

Objective:

We aimed to assess the lipid lowering and protective effects of carvacrol in vitro using cellular models of hepatic steatosis and endothelial dysfunction. We also investigated if and how the binding of carvacrol to albumin, the physiological transporter for small compounds in the blood, might be altered by the presence of high levels of fatty acids (FAs).

Methods:

Hepatic FaO cells treated with exogenous FAs mimic hepatosteatosis; endothelial HECV cells exposed to hydrogen peroxide are a model of endothelial dysfunction. In these models, we measured spectrophotometrically lipid accumulation and release, lipoperoxidation, free radical production, and nitric oxide release before and after treatment with carvacrol. The carvacrol binding to albumin in the presence or absence of high levels of FAs was assessed by absorption and emission spectroscopies.

Results:

Carvacrol counteracted lipid accumulation and oxidative stress in hepatocytes and protected endothelial cells from oxidative stress and dysfunction. Moreover, high levels of FAs reduced the binding of carvacrol to albumin.

Conclusion:

The results suggest the good potential of carvacrol in ameliorating dysfunction of hepatic and endothelial cells in vitro. High levels of circulating FAs might compete with carvacrol for binding to albumin thus influencing its transport and bio-distribution.

The effects of drying and fermentation on the bioaccessibility of phenolics and antioxidant capacity of Thymus vulgaris leaves

Fresh thyme leaves (Thymus vulgaris L.) were dried at 45 °C for 5 h and naturally fermented at 20 °C in a brine solution containing salt and vinegar for 18 days. The ethanolic extracts of fresh (FT), dried (DT), and fermented-pickled (PT) thyme leaves were assessed in terms of total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant capacity values and subjected to in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. TPC, TFC, and antioxidant capacity values of fermented thyme leaves were found significantly higher than of dried and fresh samples. The bioaccessibility index (BI) value for TPC and TFC was highest for PT and lowest for DT, indicating that both processes had different effects on the structure of phenolic compounds present in the thyme leaves. Similarly both Recovery and BI values of DPPH antioxidant capacity were highest for PT, but lowest for fresh samples. When CUPRAC assay was applied, the recovery % for FT and PT was similar, and the BI was higher for FT. Results showed that compared to the results of fresh thyme leaves, drying and pickling had a considerable effect on the initial phenolic compounds extracted and their fate during in vitro digestion.

The Use of Salvia macrosiphon and Lepidium sativum Linn. Seed Gums in Nanoencapsulation Processes: Improving Antioxidant Activity of Potato Skin Extract

In the present study, the effect of Salvia macrosiphon Seed Gum (SMSG) and Lepidium sativum Linn. Seed Gum (LSSG) as a coating agent on the properties of nanoencapsulated potato skin extract was studied. Moreover, the antioxidant effect of nanoencapsulated extract at a concentration of 1000 ppm incorporated into soybean oil was evaluated. The Z-average size of the emulsions stabilized by SMSG; LSSG; and a complex (1 : 1) of SMSG and LSSG (CSL) was estimated as 160.2, 144.3, and 115.2 nm. The encapsulation efficiency of phenolic extracts in the powders formed by SMSG, LSSG, and CSL was 82.39, 81.67, and 93.6% which declined to 45.28, 48.22, and 62.67% after storage for 40 days at 30°C. The results indicated that the use of coating agents for encapsulation enhanced their antioxidant effect and compared with TBHQ and free extract that nanoencapsulated extract by CSL had the highest antioxidant activity followed by LSSG nanoencapsulated extract and SMSG nanoencapsulated extract.

Edible flower essential oils: A review of chemical compositions, bioactivities, safety and applications in food preservation

In the context of consumers' growing concerns and boycotts of artificial and harmful chemicals, satisfying the demands for good-quality food products possessing clean and safe images is a challenge for food industry. Due to natural and avirulent images, various bioactivities as well as potentials to be used as safer substitutes for chemical preservatives, flower essential oils (EOs) have aroused increasing interests in the recent past. Many literatures have verified the biological activities of flower EOs, and have given high value to the preservative potentials of flower EOs in food systems. In this work, a review is done on the most recent publications associating the chemical constituents, bioactivities (antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant and anti-pest abilities) and safety of flower EOs. The effects of flower EOs on food flavor are also discussed. Finally, the current combined preservation applications of flower EOs and other technologies are summarized.

Plant Extracts Obtained with Green Solvents as Natural Antioxidants in Fresh Meat Products

Plants are rich in bioactive compounds (BACs), mainly polyphenols, which are valuable choices to replace synthetic antioxidants in meat products. These natural antioxidants from plants, in the form of extracts and essential oils (EOs), have been obtained from different sources such as fruits (dragon fruit, guarana, pomegranate), vegetables, (cabbage, onion), herbs, and spices (epazote, ginger, rosemary, sage, thyme, turmeric, winter savory) by several extraction processes. However, in the context of current directives there is a notable incentive for “green” solvents to replace organic ones and conventional techniques, in order to avoid harm to the environment, operator, and consumer health. In addition, the recycling of co-products from the processing of these plant materials allow us to obtain valuable BACs from under-exploited materials, contributing to the revalorization of these wastes. The resulting extracts allow us to maintain the quality of meat products, exhibiting similar or better antioxidant properties compared to those shown by synthetic ones. Their incorporation in fresh meat products would maintain the oxidative stability, stabilizing colour parameters, decreasing the formation of metmyoglobin, lipid, and protein oxidation and the generation of lipid-derived volatile compounds, without affecting sensory attributes. In addition, these novel ingredients contribute to improve both technological and functional characteristics, thus diversifying the offer of so-called “wellness foods”. In this review, the application of plant extracts as natural antioxidants in several fresh meat products is presented, showing their efficacy as scavenging radicals and imparting additional health benefits.

Application of essential oils as antimicrobial agents against spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms in meat products

Meat and meat products are perishable products that require the use additives to prevent the spoilage by foodborne microorganisms and pathogenic bacteria. Current trends for products without synthetic preservatives have led to the search for new sources of antimicrobial compounds. Essential oils (EOs), which has been used since ancient times, meet these goals since their effectiveness as antimicrobial agents in meat and meat products have been demonstrated. Cinnamon, clove, coriander, oregano, rosemary, sage, thyme, among others, have shown a greater potential to control and inhibit the growth of microorganisms. Although EOs are natural products, their quality must be evaluated before being used, allowing to grant the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) classification. The bioactive compounds (BAC) present in their composition are linked to their activity, being the concentration and the quality of these compounds very important characteristics. Therefore, a single mechanism of action cannot be attributed to them. Extraction technique plays an important role, which has led to improve conventional techniques in favour of green emerging technologies that allow to preserve better target bioactive components, operating at lower temperatures and avoiding as much as possible the use of solvents, with more sustainable processing and reduced energy use and environmental pollution. Once extracted, these compounds display greater inhibition of gram-positive than gram-negative bacteria. Membrane disruption is the main mechanism of action involved. Their intense characteristics and the possible interaction with meat components make that their application combined with other EOs, encapsulated and being part of active film, increase their bioactivity without modifying the quality of the final product.

Tangerines Cultivated on Madeira Island-A High Throughput Natural Source of Bioactive Compounds

Tangerines (Citrus reticulata) are popular fruits worldwide, being rich in many bioactive metabolites. The setubalense variety cultivated on Madeira Island has an intense aroma easily distinguishable from other tangerines, being traditionally used to enrich several foods and beverages. Nonetheless, setubalense volatile composition has never been characterized, and we aimed to unveil the bioactive potential of peels and juices of setubalense tangerines and compare them with the murcott variety grown in Portugal mainland. Using headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-MS), we identified a total of 128 volatile organic metabolites (VOMs) in the juice and peels, with d-limonene, γ-terpinene, β-myrcene, α- and β-pinene, o-cymene, and terpinolene, the most dominant in both cultivars. In contrast, setubalense juices are richer in terpenes, many of them associated with health protection. Discriminant analysis revealed a pool of VOMs, including β-caryophyllene and E-ocimene, with bioactive properties able to differentiate among tangerines according to variety and sample type (peel vs. juice). This is the first report on the volatile composition of setubalense tangerines grown on Madeira Island revealing that its pungent aroma is constituted by secondary metabolites with specific aroma notes and health properties. This is strong evidence of the higher nutraceutical value of such fruit for the human diet.

Value-Added Compound Recovery from Invasive Forest for Biofunctional Applications: Eucalyptus Species as a Case Study

From ancient times, the medicinal properties of the different Eucalyptus species are well known. In fact, plants from this family have been used in folk medicine as antiseptics, and to treat different ailments of the upper respiratory tract such as sinus congestion, common cold, or influenza. Moreover, other biological activities were described for Eucalyptus species such as antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. In the last few decades, numerous investigations revealed that the compounds responsible for these properties are secondary metabolites that belonging to the group of phenolic compounds and are present in different parts of the plants such as leaves, bark, wood, fruits, and stumps. The increasing demand for natural compounds that can substitute synthetic antioxidants and the increase in resistance to traditional antibiotics have boosted the intense search for renewable natural sources containing substances with such bioactivities, as well as greener extraction technologies and avant-garde analytical methods for the identification of the target molecules. The literature data used in this paper were collected via Scopus (2001-2020) using the following search terms: Eucalyptus, extraction methods, phenolic compounds, and biological activities. This review collects the main studies related to the recovery of value-added compounds from different Eucalyptus species, as well as their biofunctional applications.

Natural Antioxidants from Seeds and Their Application in Meat Products

The use of synthetic antioxidants in the food industry has raised important questions about the effects of prolonged consumption on human health. On top of that, the consumption of meat products has been changing due to the awareness generated by health-related organizations. In this sense, exploring strategies to develop and produce healthier meat products has become a paramount concern. Several studies explored the composition of several seeds to characterize and explore the compounds with antioxidant activity, which are mainly composed of polyphenols. The use of antioxidant extracts in meat products has shown important results to delay the oxidative reactions in meat products derived from the processing and storage of meat products. Moreover, these extracts can also replace synthetic antioxidants and preserve the quality of meat products. Therefore, the aims of this review are first, to present the sources and compounds with antioxidant activity in seeds, and second, to discuss their protective effect against oxidative reactions in meat products.

Pilot-scale ohmic heating-assisted extraction of wheat bran bioactive compounds: Effects of the extract on corn oil stability

Recent studies introduced ohmic heating-assisted extraction (OHAE) as a promising emerging technology at laboratory-scales. The objectives of the present study were, first, to investigate the applicability of OHAE at pilot-scale for extraction of bioactive compounds from wheat bran immersed in a polar solvent (salted water containing 0.1% NaCl) at the electric field strengths (EFS) of 4.28, 7.90, and 15.71 V/cm and, second, to evaluate the effects of the wheat extracts on the corn oil stability during 30 days of storage at 45 °C. The results showed that OHAE saved 63% of energy consumption compared with the conventional extraction method. Also, the scaled-up OHAE unit yielded extracts with high quantities of bioactive compounds (110-460 ppm total phenolics) and higher antioxidant activities (antioxidant effectiveness of 56-84%) than those of the extract obtained through the conventional extraction method, i.e., 95 ppm total phenolics with antioxidant effectiveness of 51%. Increasing the EFS increased total phenolics and antioxidant effectiveness of extracts. The incorporation of 250 ppm of the extract obtained at the highest EFS effectively postponed the oxidation of corn oil during one month of storage (peroxide value of 7 vs. 19 meq/kg compared with the control sample) and extended the half-life of oil from 11 to 26 days. Besides, mathematical models proposed in this study well-predicted the oxidation stability of the oil samples mixed with the extract.

Bacterial growth and biological properties of Cymbopogon schoenanthus and Ziziphus lotus are modulated by extraction conditions

The present study aims to evaluate the antibacterial activity and biological properties of two traditional Saharian plants (Cymbopogon schoenanthus and Ziziphus lotus). The plant extracts were obtained by using a different combination of extraction methods (conventional vs. ultrasound-assisted) and solvents (water vs. ethanol:water (50:50, v/v)). The antioxidant profile, anti-inflammatory activity and impact on bacterial growth (foodborne and probiotic bacteria) of the obtained extracts were assessed. The plant species showed the hierarchically more important role in determining the biological properties of the extracts, followed by extraction solvent and extraction conditions. Conventional Z. lotus hydroethanolic extracts showed the highest total phenolic content (20.4 mg GAE/g), while Z. lotus ethanol extracts from ultrasound-assisted process presented the highest content of carotenoids (0.15 mg/g). In addition, ultrasound-assisted Z. lotus hydroethanolic extracts presented the highest in vitro radical scavenging activity, being 7.93 mmol Trolox/g. Multivariate analysis statistics (PCA) showed that both the extraction methodology and the solvent used strongly affected the bacterial growth. Z. lotus mainly decreased the growth rate of S. aureus and L. innocua. Interestingly, the aqueous extracts of this plant as well as those from C. schoenanthus, obtained by conventional extraction, significantly increased the growth rate and the maximal optical density of L. casei. Aqueous extracts of both Z. lotus and C. schoenanthus slightly influenced the growth of Bifidobacterium. Overall, the extracts of these plants showed selective activities with respect to pathogens and probiotic bacteria and may provide an advantage both in terms of antimicrobial and prebiotic activity.

A Review on Applications and Uses of Thymus in the Food Industry

Thyme is one of the most important medicinal plants because of its ethnopharmacological relevance and high content of bioactive compounds. This review focuses particularly on thyme as an alternative natural antioxidant and antimicrobial with potential use in the food industry. This is in line with the preferences of the current consumer, who demands healthier and more natural products. Different studies have concluded that the use of thyme increases stability and reduces lipid oxidation during the shelf-life period of foods (meat, meat products, milk, fish or fish products), which makes thyme a promising source of natural additives. Despite these findings, the use of Thymus extracts or essential oils as natural additives in foods is reduced in comparison with other natural preservative extracts. This review provides an overview of the most important information on the positive effect of the bioactive compounds of thyme and its uses as a preservative in foods, taking into account its origin (from plants, plant extracts or essential oils).

Humulus lupulus L. as a Natural Source of Functional Biomolecules

Hops (Humulus lupulus L.) are used traditionally in the brewing industry to confer bitterness, aroma, and flavor to beer. However, in recent years, it has been reported that female inflorescences contain a huge variety of bioactive compounds. Due to the growing interest of the consumers by natural ingredients, intense research has been carried out in the last years to find new sources of functional molecules. This review collects the works about the bioactive potential of hops with applications in the food, pharmaceutical, or cosmetic industries. Moreover, an overview of the main extraction technologies to recover biomolecules from hops is shown. Bioactivities of hop extracts such as antibacterial, antifungal, cardioprotective, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, and antiviral are also summarized. It can be concluded that hops present a high potential of bioactive ingredients with high quality that can be used as preservative agents in fresh foods, extending their shelf life, and they can be incorporated in cosmetic formulation for skincare as well.

Incorporation of the nanoencapsulated polyphenolic extract of Ferula persica into soybean oil: Assessment of oil oxidative stability

In the present study, for the first time, the biological activities of Ferula persica extract (FPE) coated with locust bean gum (LBG) and chitosan in W/O/W emulsions were investigated. Based on the findings, the Z-average size of emulsions coated by chitosan, LBG, and the complex of chitosan and LBG (1:1) (CCL) was 115.47, 128.37, and 68.12 nm, respectively. The encapsulation efficiency of the phenolic extracts in the powder produced by chitosan, LBG, and CCL decreased from 85.3 to 64.1, from 89 to 71.4, and from 93.3% to 77.9% during 24-day storage, respectively. Also, the application of the coating in the encapsulation of FPE increased the antioxidant efficacy in soybean oil while compared with tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) and un-encapsulated FPE. In this regard, The FPE nanoencapsulated by CCL showed the best antioxidative activity in soybean oil, followed by the FPE of nanoencapsulated by LBG and chitosan, respectively, which can be correlated with higher levels of polyphenolic compounds release over time in the sample coated with CCL. In this context, the encapsulation with CCL can be proposed as a promising technique to improve the antioxidant activity of extracts.

Impact of ultrasound-assisted extraction and solvent composition on bioactive compounds and in vitro biological activities of thyme and rosemary

Mediterranean herbs, specially thyme and rosemary, are important ingredients in food preparation and more recently have been studied as natural sources of bioactive compounds. This study aimed to study the effect of matrix (thyme vs. rosemary), and extraction protocol (conventional extraction vs. ultrasound assisted extraction) solvent composition (water vs. 50:50 ethanol:water solution) on the extraction of high value compounds (phenolic compounds, flavonoids and carotenoids) and also explore the antioxidant, antimicrobial (Listeria innocua, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella enterica), probiotic (Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium lactis), and anti-inflammatory activities. The phenolic, flavonoid and carotenoid content of extracts was greatly influenced by extraction conditions wherein the ultrasound pre-treatment improved the extraction of carotenoids but induced the opposite effect for polyphenols and flavonoids in both herbs. Only the aqueous extract of thyme obtained from ultrasound pre-treatment was the only extract that inhibited the growth of potentially pathogenic bacteria, stimulated the probiotic bacteria and achieved high anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. Moreover, this extract also was rich on phenolic compounds (such as p-coumaric acid 4-O-glucoside, kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside, feruloyl glucose, and 4-vinylguaiacol) and carotenoids. Therefore, ultrasound extraction of bioactive compounds with water as solvent could be explored in food and pharmaceutical applications.

Composition, Antifungal, Phytotoxic, and Insecticidal Activities of Thymus kotschyanus Essential Oil

Essential oils (EOs) are some of the outstanding compounds found in Thymus that can exert antifungal, phytotoxic, and insecticidal activities, which encourage their exploration and potential use for agricultural and food purposes. The essential oils (EO) obtained from Thymus kotschyanus collected in the East Azerbaijan Province (Iran) were characterized using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Thymol was the most important compound (60.48%), although 35 other active compounds were identified in the EO. Significant amounts of carvacrol (3.08%), p-cymene (5.56%), and γ-terpinene (6.67%) were found in the EO. The T. kotschyanus EO was tested against important phytopathogenic fungi (Botrytis cinerea, Aspergillus niger, and Penicillium expansum). The antifungal assay showed that the use of ≥500 ppm of EO resulted in a fungicidal effect against all funguses tested. In a similar way, the use of ≥500 ppm of EO inhibited the germination of all crop weed seeds (Amaranthus retroflexus L. and Panicum miliaceum L.) and their subsequent growth, which demonstrated its herbicidal effect. Finally, the insecticidal capacity of T. kotschyanus EO was also observed against selected insects (Oryzaephilus surinamensis and Sitophilus oryzae). O. surinamensis was more susceptible to the effect of EO (LC50 = 4.78 µL/L air) than S. oryzae (LC50 = 13.20 µL/L air). The obtained results of the present study can provide new safe resources to the development of new products for the food, agriculture, and pharmaceutical industries.