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16 pages, 1418 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Green Bioactive By-Product Almond Skin Functional Extract for Developing Nutraceutical Formulations with Potential Antimetabolic Activity

by Patrizia Picerno, Lucia Crascì, Patrizia Iannece, Tiziana Esposito, Silvia Franceschelli, Michela Pecoraro, Virgilio Giannone, Anna Maria Panico, Rita Patrizia Aquino and Maria Rosaria Lauro

Molecules 2023, 28(23), 7913; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28237913 - 03 Dec 2023

Viewed by 1112

Abstract

(1) Background: almond peels are rich in polyphenols such as catechin and epicatechin, which are important anti-free-radical agents, anti-inflammatory compounds, and capable of breaking down cholesterol plaques. This work aims to evaluate the biological and technological activity of a “green” dry aqueous extract [...] Read more.

(1) Background: almond peels are rich in polyphenols such as catechin and epicatechin, which are important anti-free-radical agents, anti-inflammatory compounds, and capable of breaking down cholesterol plaques. This work aims to evaluate the biological and technological activity of a “green” dry aqueous extract from Sicilian almond peels, a waste product of the food industry, and to develop healthy nutraceuticals with natural ingredients. Eudraguard^® Natural is a natural coating polymer chosen to develop atomized formulations that improve the technological properties of the extract. (2) Methods: the antioxidant and free radical scavenger activity of the extract was rated using different methods (DPPH assay, ABTS, ORAC, NO). The metalloproteinases of the extracts (MMP-2 and MMP-9), the enhanced inhibition of the final glycation products, and the effects of the compounds on cell viability were also tested. All pure materials and formulations were characterized using UV, HPLC, FTIR, DSC, and SEM methods. (3) Results: almond peel extract showed appreciable antioxidant and free radical activity with a stronger NO inhibition effect, strong activity on MMP-2, and good antiglycative effects. In light of this, a food supplement with added health value was formulated. Eudraguard^® Natural acted as a swelling substrate by improving extract solubility and dissolution/release (4) Conclusions: almond peel extract has significant antioxidant activity and MMP/AGE inhibition effects, resulting in an optimal candidate to formulate safe microsystems with potential antimetabolic activity. Eudraguard^® Natural is capable of obtaining spray-dried microsystems with an improvement in the extract‘s biological and technological characteristics. It also protects the dry extract from degradation and oxidation, prolonging the shelf life of the final product. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in the Valorization of Food, Agricultural By-Products and Waste)

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13 pages, 3253 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physico-Chemical Properties and Valorization of Biopolymers Derived from Food Processing Waste

by Teresa Silvestri, Paola Di Donato, Irene Bonadies, Annarita Poli, Mariaenrica Frigione, Marco Biondi and Laura Mayol

Molecules 2023, 28(19), 6894; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28196894 - 30 Sep 2023

Viewed by 875

Abstract

The widespread use of synthetic plastics, as well as the waste produced at the end of their life cycle, poses serious environmental issues. In this context, bio-based plastics, i.e., natural polymers produced from renewable resources, represent a promising alternative to petroleum-based materials. One [...] Read more.

The widespread use of synthetic plastics, as well as the waste produced at the end of their life cycle, poses serious environmental issues. In this context, bio-based plastics, i.e., natural polymers produced from renewable resources, represent a promising alternative to petroleum-based materials. One potential source of biopolymers is waste from the food industry, the use of which also provides a sustainable and eco-friendly solution to waste management. Thus, the aim of this work concerns the extraction of polysaccharide fractions from lemon, tomato and fennel waste. Characterizing the chemical–physical and thermodynamic properties of these polysaccharides is an essential step in evaluating their potential applications. Hence, the solubility of the extracted polysaccharides in different solvents, including water and organic solvents, was determined since it is an important parameter that determines their properties and applications. Also, acid-base titration was carried out, along with thermoanalytical tests through differential scanning calorimetry. Finally, the electrospinning of waste polysaccharides was investigated to explore the feasibility of obtaining polysaccharide-based membranes. Indeed, electrospun fibers are a promising structure/system via which it is possible to apply waste polysaccharides in packaging or well-being applications. Thanks to processing feasibility, it is possible to electrospin waste polysaccharides by combining them with different materials to obtain porous 3D membranes made of nanosized fibers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in the Valorization of Food, Agricultural By-Products and Waste)

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25 pages, 4170 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Antioxidant Potential of Phenolic Compounds from Winery By-Products by Hydroethanolic Extraction

by Rui Dias Costa, Raúl Domínguez-Perles, Ana Abraão, Véronique Gomes, Irene Gouvinhas and Ana Novo Barros

Molecules 2023, 28(18), 6660; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28186660 - 16 Sep 2023

Viewed by 1126

Abstract

The residues generated in the wine industry (pomace, stems, seeds, wine lees, and grapevine shoots) are a potential source of bioactive compounds that can be used in other industries despite being sometimes underestimated. Different extraction methods using various solvents and extraction conditions are [...] Read more.

The residues generated in the wine industry (pomace, stems, seeds, wine lees, and grapevine shoots) are a potential source of bioactive compounds that can be used in other industries despite being sometimes underestimated. Different extraction methods using various solvents and extraction conditions are currently being investigated. Due to its natural occurrence in wines, safe behavior, and low toxicity when compared to other organic solvents, ethanol is used as an extracting agent. The aim of this study was to identify the winery by-product from the Região Demarcada do Douro and its corresponding extraction solvents that yields the most favorable results in (poly)phenols content and antioxidant capacity. To achieve this, five different ratios of ethanol: water, namely 0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, and 100:0 (v/v), for extracting the phenolic compounds were employed. Afterwards, the determination of total phenolic content (TPC), ortho-diphenols content (ODC), and flavonoid content (FC) as well as the antioxidant capacity of the obtained extracts using three different methods was performed. Since the best results of the spectrophotometric assays were obtained mostly with hydroethanolic extracts of stems (50:50, v/v), identification by HPLC-DAD has carried out. It was possible to conclude that the Tinta Roriz variety displayed the highest number of identified (poly)phenols. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in the Valorization of Food, Agricultural By-Products and Waste)

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15 pages, 1979 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Insights into the Antioxidant/Antiradical Effects and In Vitro Intestinal Permeation of Oleocanthal and Its Metabolites Tyrosol and Oleocanthalic Acid

by Doretta Cuffaro, Diana Pinto, Ana Margarida Silva, Andrea Bertolini, Simone Bertini, Alessandro Saba, Marco Macchia, Francisca Rodrigues and Maria Digiacomo

Molecules 2023, 28(13), 5150; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28135150 - 30 Jun 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1313

Abstract

(1) Background: In recent years, numerous studies have highlighted the beneficial effects of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) as an active ingredient against chronic diseases. The properties of EVOO are due to its peculiar composition, mainly to its rich content of polyphenols. In [...] Read more.

(1) Background: In recent years, numerous studies have highlighted the beneficial effects of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) as an active ingredient against chronic diseases. The properties of EVOO are due to its peculiar composition, mainly to its rich content of polyphenols. In fact, polyphenols may contribute to counteract oxidative stress, which often accompanies chronic diseases. In this work, the antioxidant effects of high-value polyphenol oleocanthal (OC) and its main metabolites, tyrosol (Tyr) and oleocanthalic acid (OA), respectively, have been investigated along with their impact on cell viability. (2) Methods: OC, Tyr, and OA have been evaluated regarding antiradical properties in term of scavenging capacity towards biologically relevant reactive species, including O₂^●−, HOCl, and ROO^●, as well as their antioxidant/antiradical capacity (FRAP, DPPH^●, ABTS^●+). Moreover, the ability to permeate the intestinal membrane was assessed by an intestinal co-culture model composed by Caco-2 and HT29-MTX cell lines. (3) Results: The capacity of OC and Tyr as radical oxygen species (ROS) scavengers, particularly regarding HOCl and O₂^●−, was clearly demonstrated. Furthermore, the ability to permeate the intestinal co-culture model was plainly proved by the good permeations (>50%) achieved by all compounds. (4) Conclusions: OC, OA, and Tyr revealed promising properties against oxidative diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in the Valorization of Food, Agricultural By-Products and Waste)

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11 pages, 1232 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of Meat Substitutes from Filamentous Fungi Cultivated on Residual Water of Tempeh Factories

by Rachma Wikandari, Daniel Reinhart Tanugraha, Anang Juni Yastanto, Manikharda, Rebecca Gmoser and José António Teixeira

Molecules 2023, 28(3), 997; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28030997 - 19 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2845

Abstract

In recent years, there has been an increased motivation to reduce meat consumption globally due to environmental and health concerns, which has driven the development of meat substitutes. Filamentous fungal biomass, commonly known as mycoprotein, is a potential meat substitute since it is [...] Read more.

In recent years, there has been an increased motivation to reduce meat consumption globally due to environmental and health concerns, which has driven the development of meat substitutes. Filamentous fungal biomass, commonly known as mycoprotein, is a potential meat substitute since it is nutritious and has filaments to mimic meat fibrils. The current study aimed to investigate the potential use of a cheap substrate derived from the food industry, i.e., residual water in a tempeh factory, for mycoprotein production. The type of residual water, nutrient supplementation, optimum conditions for biomass production, and characteristics of the mycoprotein were determined. The results showed that the residual water from the first boiling with yeast extract addition gave the highest mycoprotein content. The optimum growth condition was a pH of 4.5 and agitation of 125 rpm, and it resulted in 7.76 g/L biomass. The mycoprotein contains 19.44% (w/w) protein with a high crude fiber content of 8.51% (w/w) and a low fat content of 1.56% (w/w). In addition, the amino acid and fatty acid contents are dominated by glutamic acid and polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are associated with an umami taste and are considered healthier foods. The current work reveals that the residual boiling water from the tempeh factory can be used to produce high-quality mycoprotein. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in the Valorization of Food, Agricultural By-Products and Waste)

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19 pages, 2322 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Variation of Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Properties of Kiwiberry (Actinidia arguta) in a Three-Year Study

by Piotr Latocha, Barbara Łata and Paweł Jankowski

Molecules 2023, 28(1), 455; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28010455 - 03 Jan 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1960

Abstract

The quality of fruit as a source of bioactive ingredients is related to the genetic characteristics of plants, but it can also be modified by growing conditions. Therefore, long-term research can be extremely valuable in evaluating various crop plants, especially novel ones. The [...] Read more.

The quality of fruit as a source of bioactive ingredients is related to the genetic characteristics of plants, but it can also be modified by growing conditions. Therefore, long-term research can be extremely valuable in evaluating various crop plants, especially novel ones. The aim of the research was to test four popular European kiwiberry (Actinidia arguta) cultivars (‘Geneva’, ‘Bingo’, ‘Weiki’, ‘Anna’) in terms of selected morphological features, yield, and chemical composition as well as their variability over 3 years. It can be concluded that the studied genotypes were very diverse in terms of the biochemical compounds’ concentration in individual seasons. The cultivars ‘Anna’ and ‘Weiki’ were the most similar ones with respect to each other in terms of morphology and chemical composition. The cultivars ‘Bingo’ and ‘Geneva’ were definitely different. ‘Bingo’ was characterized by the largest and most uniform fruits in each season and had the highest concentration of vitamin C but the lowest carotenoid concentration. In turn, ‘Geneva’ produced the smallest fruit in each season with the highest concentration of polyphenols and a high concentration of carotenoids and displayed the highest antioxidant capacity regardless of the determination method. The research was performed with the application of computer-supported statistical analysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in the Valorization of Food, Agricultural By-Products and Waste)

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Review

Jump to: Research

23 pages, 2897 KiB

Open AccessReview

Valorisation of Agri-Food Waste for Bioactive Compounds: Recent Trends and Future Sustainable Challenges

by Sujeeta Yadav, Kamla Malik, Janie McClurkin Moore, Baldev Raj Kamboj, Shweta Malik, Vinod Kumar Malik, Sandeep Arya, Karmal Singh, Shikhadri Mahanta and Dalip Kumar Bishnoi

Molecules 2024, 29(9), 2055; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29092055 - 29 Apr 2024

Viewed by 302

Abstract

Worldwide, a massive amount of agriculture and food waste is a major threat to the environment, the economy and public health. However, these wastes are important sources of phytochemicals (bioactive), such as polyphenols, carotenoids, carnitine, coenzymes, essential oils and tocopherols, which have antioxidant, [...] Read more.

Worldwide, a massive amount of agriculture and food waste is a major threat to the environment, the economy and public health. However, these wastes are important sources of phytochemicals (bioactive), such as polyphenols, carotenoids, carnitine, coenzymes, essential oils and tocopherols, which have antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticarcinogenic properties. Hence, it represents a promising opportunity for the food, agriculture, cosmetics, textiles, energy and pharmaceutical industries to develop cost effective strategies. The value of agri-food wastes has been extracted from various valuable bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, dietary fibre, proteins, lipids, vitamins, carotenoids, organic acids, essential oils and minerals, some of which are found in greater quantities in the discarded parts than in the parts accepted by the market used for different industrial sectors. The value of agri-food wastes and by-products could assure food security, maintain sustainability, efficiently reduce environmental pollution and provide an opportunity to earn additional income for industries. Furthermore, sustainable extraction methodologies like ultrasound-assisted extraction, pressurized liquid extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, pulse electric field-assisted extraction, ultrasound microwave-assisted extraction and high hydrostatic pressure extraction are extensively used for the isolation, purification and recovery of various bioactive compounds from agri-food waste, according to a circular economy and sustainable approach. This review also includes some of the critical and sustainable challenges in the valorisation of agri-food wastes and explores innovative eco-friendly methods for extracting bioactive compounds from agri-food wastes, particularly for food applications. The highlights of this review are providing information on the valorisation techniques used for the extraction and recovery of different bioactive compounds from agricultural food wastes, innovative and promising approaches. Additionally, the potential use of these products presents an affordable alternative towards a circular economy and, consequently, sustainability. In this context, the encapsulation process considers the integral and sustainable use of agricultural food waste for bioactive compounds that enhance the properties and quality of functional food. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in the Valorization of Food, Agricultural By-Products and Waste)

27 pages, 1453 KiB

Open AccessReview

Added-Value Compounds in Cork By-Products: Methods for Extraction, Identification, and Quantification of Compounds with Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Interest

by Carolina Morais Carriço, Maria Elizabeth Tiritan, Honorina Cidade, Carlos Afonso, Joana Rocha e Silva and Isabel F. Almeida

Molecules 2023, 28(8), 3465; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28083465 - 14 Apr 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1625

Abstract

The growing threat of climatic crisis and fossil fuel extinction has caused a boom in sustainability trends. Consumer demand for so-called eco-friendly products has been steadily increasing, built upon the foundation of environmental protection and safeguarding for future generations. A natural product that [...] Read more.

The growing threat of climatic crisis and fossil fuel extinction has caused a boom in sustainability trends. Consumer demand for so-called eco-friendly products has been steadily increasing, built upon the foundation of environmental protection and safeguarding for future generations. A natural product that has been used for centuries is cork, resulting from the outer bark of Quercus suber L. Currently, its major application is the production of cork stoppers for the wine industry, a process that, although considered sustainable, generates by-products in the form of cork powder, cork granulates, or waste such as black condensate, among others. These residues possess constituents of interest for the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, as they exhibit relevant bioactivities, such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant. This interesting potential brings forth the need to develop methods for their extraction, isolation, identification, and quantification. The aim of this work is to describe the potential of cork by-products for the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry and to assemble the available extraction, isolation, and analytical methods applied to cork by-products, as well the biological assays. To our knowledge, this compilation has never been done, and it opens new avenues for the development of new applications for cork by-products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in the Valorization of Food, Agricultural By-Products and Waste)

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