Search Results (402)

This study investigated the effects of ultrasonic treatment of olive paste prior to malaxation on oil yield (Y), enzyme activity and virgin olive oil (VOO) quality in four Croatian olive varieties: Istarska Bjelica, Rosulja, Oblica and Levantinka. The oils were extracted using the Abencor system according to a central composite experiment design, with treatment durations of 3–17 min and power levels of 256–640 W. The parameters analyzed included Y, oxidative stability index (OSI), antioxidant capacity (AC), phenolic and α-tocopherol content, volatile compounds, fatty acid profile, and the activity of lipoxygenase, β-glucosidase, polyphenol oxidase, and peroxidase. Olive variety was the most influential factor in all variables. The response surface methodology showed that ultrasonic treatment at low-to-medium intensity improved several quality attributes. For example, Y increased by 4% in Oblica, phenolic content increased by up to 17% in Istarska Bjelica, and OSI and AC increased by 13–15% in Istarska Bjelica and Levantinka. In contrast, longer treatment and higher ultrasound power had a negative effect. No significant differences were found in other parameters examined. Overall, the application of ultrasound led to measurable, though moderate, improvements in Y and VOO quality, with results strongly dependent on olive variety and treatment conditions. These results underline the need for further optimization tailored to each variety. Full article

Biocompatible nanofibrous dressings integrating bioactive compounds with antioxidative and antimicrobial properties offer a promising solution for effective wound healing. In the presented study, we developed a novel dual-delivery system by combining forcespun nanofibres with poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB)-liposomes to enhance bioavailability and enable targeted release of bioactive agents (eugenol, thymol, curcumin, ampicillin, streptomycin, gentamicin). These agents exhibited notable antioxidant activity (2.27–2.33 mmol TE/g) and synergistic or partially synergistic antimicrobial effects against E. coli, M. luteus, S. epidermidis, and P. aeruginosa ( Fractional Inhibitory Concentration index 0.09–0.73). The most potent combinations, particularly thymol, eugenol, and ampicillin, were encapsulated in the nanofibre–liposomal matrix. The successful preparation of a new combined delivery system was confirmed by structural analysis using Electron and Fluorescence Microscopy. The dual-composite materials retained the antimicrobial properties of the individual compounds upon release, with the highest increases of ~73.56% against S. epidermidis. Cell viability and in vitro immunology assays using the human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) showed a slight decrease in viability and immune response stimulation, while not impairing wound re-epithelisation. These findings highlight the potential of firstly reported novel carrier utilising both PHB-nanofibres and PHB-liposomes, exhibiting simultaneous antioxidant and antimicrobial activity as promising candidates for the treatment of infected wounds under oxidative stress. Full article

Background/Objectives: Lipedema is a chronic adipose tissue disorder characterized by disproportionate fat accumulation and inflammation, predominantly affecting women. While recent evidence suggests a systemic pro-inflammatory state in lipedema, the role of diet in modulating inflammation remains underexplored. This study assessed the anti-inflammatory potential of a Mediterranean-style ketogenic diet and its effects after 7 months of adherence on systemic inflammation markers (CRP and IL-6) in women with lipedema (n = 24) and a control group with overweight/obesity (n = 24). Methods: The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) was used to characterize the inflammatory potential of the diet throughout the intervention. Dietary intake was analyzed pre- and post-intervention, and anthropometric, body composition, and biochemical parameters were measured. Results: Beyond its beneficial effects on body composition (significant reductions in body weight, fat, leg circumferences, and visceral fat), the intervention diet also demonstrated anti-inflammatory potential. In lipedema, baseline diet showed a pro-inflammatory DII profile (DII/day = 3.04), which was reduced by about 1.5 points after the intervention (p = 0.008). When expressed per 1000 kcal, the DII values were markedly lower for both baseline (DII = 0.22) and intervention diet (DII = ~0.01). Following the intervention diet, reduction in CRP (−0.39, p = 0.016) and IL-6 levels (−0.33, p = 0.034) in lipedema were observed. A significant positive association was observed between the intervention diet’s DII and CRP (r = 0.55, p = 0.005), and between the baseline diet’s DII and IL-6 (r = 0.50, p = 0.013) in lipedema group. Conclusions: These findings suggest that ketogenic diet rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant nutrients can reduce systemic inflammation in lipedema patients, independently of caloric restriction. Full article

Hazelnut cultivation is a strategic agricultural sector in Italy, with Calabria contributing through the native “Tonda Calabrese” cultivar, valued for its biodiversity. Despite its importance, data on the nutritional and compositional characteristics of this cultivar remain limited. In this study, hazelnuts from three different Calabrian producers were analyzed for morphological traits, proximate composition, and elemental content, using both conventional and non-destructive techniques such as CIELab color profiling and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. The nuts showed high levels of essential micro-elements (Fe, Cu, Zn), aligning with previous findings on other cultivars, and showed no detectable pesticide residues, confirming their nutritional quality. Moreover, this study also aims to explore sustainable valorization strategies for hazelnut by-products, embracing circular economy principles in a “zero waste” approach, including oils and defatted flours. The extracted oils were evaluated for oxidative stability (peroxide value, p-anisidine, TOTOX index) and acidity, meeting Codex Alimentarius quality standards. The residual defatted flour was upcycled through eco-friendly methods, such as Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE) and Enzyme-Assisted Extraction (EAE), to isolate the polyphenol and protein fractions, respectively. Both extracts exhibited notable antioxidant activity (34.7–35.3 mmol Fe²⁺ eq/100 g and 64.3–82.2 mmol Fe²⁺ eq/100 g, respectively), suggesting their potential use as valuable ingredients for dietetic and nutraceutical applications. Full article

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are complex disorders involving interconnected immune, oxidative, and microbial dysregulations. Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) is a rich source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. This study investigates the pharmacological efficacy of its aqueous extract (APA) in mitigating 2,4-Dinitrobenzene Sulfonic Acid (DNBS)-induced sub-chronic colitis with a focus on restoring redox balance and modulating gut microbiota composition. APA’s antioxidant capacity was assessed in vitro by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic) acid (ABTS) radical scavenging, and metal chelation assays. In vivo, BALB/c mice received two DNBS inductions to establish sub-chronic colitis and were treated with APA (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg). Therapeutic efficacy was assessed through clinical scoring, histopathological assessment, biochemical analysis, and gut microbiota profiling based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing. APA exhibited strong antioxidant activity and significantly attenuated colitis severity, as evidenced by reduced Disease Activity Index (DAI) scores, decreased colon inflammation, suppression of Myeloperoxidase (MPO)-mediated neutrophil infiltration, and modulation of redox biomarkers. Moreover, metagenomic profiling revealed APA-induced modulation of the gut microbiota, mainly through a decreased abundance of pathogenic genera such as Staphylococcus and Enterobacteriaceae. APA demonstrates potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and microbiota-modulating activities, supporting its potential as a complementary therapy for IBDs and encouraging further clinical studies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cinnamon leaves, an important source of the functional compound cinnamaldehyde (CA), have been shown to be effective in improving type II diabetes and Parkinson’s disease (PD) in rats following the incorporation of cinnamon leaf extract into a nanoemulsion. However, the effect of a cinnamon leaf extract nanoemulsion (CLEN) on improving Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most prevalent type of dementia, remains unexplored. The objectives of this study were to determine functional compounds in cinnamon leaves by UPLC-MS/MS, followed by the preparation of a nanoemulsion and its byproducts to study their effects on AD and PD in rats. Methods: Oven-dried (60 °C for 2 h) cinnamon leaf powder and hydrosol, obtained by steam distillation of cinnamon leaf powder, were stored at 4 °C. After determination of basic composition (crude protein, crude fat, carbohydrate, moisture and ash) of cinnamon leaf powder, it was extracted with 80% ethanol with sonication at 60 °C for 2 h and analyzed for bioactive compounds by UPLC-MS/MS. Then, the CLEN was prepared by mixing cinnamon leaf extract rich in CA with lecithin, soybean oil, tween 80 and ethanol in an optimal ratio, followed by evaporation to form thin-film and redissolving in deionized water. For characterization, mean particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, and surface morphology were determined. Animal experiments were done by dividing 90 male rats into 10 groups (n = 9), with groups 2–8 being subjected to mini-osmotic pump implantation surgery in brain to infuse Amyloid-beta 40 (Aβ40) solution in groups 2–8 for induction of AD, while groups 9 and 10 were pre-fed respectively with cinnamon powder in water (0.5 g/10 mL) and in hydrosol for 4 weeks, followed by induction of AD as shown above. Different treatments for a period of 4 weeks included groups 1–9, with group 1 (control) and group 2 feeding with sterilized water, while groups 3, 4 and 5 were fed respectively with high (90 mg/kg), medium (60 mg/kg) and low (30 mg/kg) doses of cinnamon leaf extracts, groups 6, 7 and 8 fed respectively with high (90 mg/kg), medium (60 mg/kg) and low (30 mg/kg) doses of nanoemulsions, groups 9 and 10 fed respectively with 10 mL/kg of cinnamon powder in water and hydrosol (0.5 g/10 mL). Morris water maze test was conducted to determine short-term memory, long-term memory and space probing of rats. After sacrificing of rats, brain and liver tissues were collected for determination of Aβ40, BACE1 and 8-oxodG in hippocampi, and AchE and malondialdehyde (MDA) in cortices, antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GSH-Px) and MDA in both cortices and livers, and dopamine in brain striata by using commercial kits. Results: The results showed that the highest level of CA (18,250.7 μg/g) was in the cinnamon leaf powder. The CLEN was prepared successfully, with an average particle size of 17.1 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.236, a zeta potential of −42.68 mV, and high stability over a 90-day storage period at 4 °C. The Morris water maze test revealed that the CLEN treatment was the most effective in improving short-term memory, long-term memory, and spatial probe test results in AD rats, followed by the cinnamon leaf extract (CLE), powder in hydrosol (PH), and powder in water (PW). Additionally, both CLEN and CLE treatments indicated a dose-dependent improvement in AD rats, while PH and PW were effective in preventing AD occurrence. Furthermore, AD occurrence accompanied by PD development was demonstrated in this study. With the exception of the induction group, declines in Aβ40, BACE1, and 8-oxodG in the hippocampi and AchE and MDA in the cortices of rats were observed for all the treatments, with the high-dose CLEN (90 mg/kg bw) exhibiting the highest efficiency. The antioxidant enzyme activity, including that of SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px, in the cortices of rats increased. In addition, dopamine content, a vital index of PD, was increased in the striata of rats, accompanied by elevations in SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px and decreased MDA in rat livers. Conclusions: These outcomes suggest that the CLEN possesses significant potential for formulation into a functional food or botanical drug for the prevention and treatment of AD and/or PD in the future. Full article

Background: Non-conventional protein sources, such as edible insects and microalgae, are gaining popularity due to their high nutritional value and environmental benefits. The presented study aimed to examine the effect of a 4% addition of house cricket and spirulina powders on selected properties of muffins. The effects of non-conventional additives on color, textural properties, nutritional value, amino acid composition, and mineral content were determined. Methods: Antioxidant activity was evaluated against DPPH· and ABTS·+, and total phenolic content (TPC) and in vitro predicted glycemic index (GI) were examined. Sensory properties were evaluated using a nine-point hedonic scale and a consumer study. Results: The results showed that the additions of house cricket and spirulina significantly changed the color parameters of the muffins (ΔE 8.28 and 39.17, respectively) and affected their hardness, cohesiveness, gumminess, and chewiness. Nutritional value was improved, mainly due to an increase in protein content (up to 6% more). Overall, the amino acid profile of the muffins was improved, with a higher presence of all essential amino acids. The enriched muffins had a higher content of selected minerals, including iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and zinc, and exhibited higher TPC and antioxidant activity along with a lower in vitro predicted glycemic index. In the consumer evaluation, the spirulina muffins scored highest in texture (8.07 ± 1.04), while cricket muffins received the lowest ratings for color (6.60 ± 1.63), aroma (6.36 ± 2.04), and overall impression (7.03 ± 1.38). Taste did not differ significantly among all muffins. Conclusions: The results suggest that muffins can be made using edible insects and microalgae to enhance their nutritional value while maintaining an acceptable taste. Full article

Background/Objectives: While some dietary indices have been developed to assess diet quality and chronic disease risk, their comparative effectiveness within the same population remains unclear due to methodological limitations in observational studies. This study employs a causal inference framework to compare nine dietary indices for reducing all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, while investigating inflammatory pathways through multiple mediation analysis. Methods: Using dietary data from 33,881 adults (aged ≥ 20 years, median follow-up 92 months), we applied a causal directed acyclic graph to identify the minimum sufficient adjustment set and implemented generalized propensity score matching to address confounding. Robust Cox proportional hazards regression assessed associations between nine dietary indices—Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), Composite Dietary Antioxidant Index (CDAI), Healthy Eating Index 2015/2020 (HEI-2015/2020), Alternate Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), Alternate Mediterranean Diet (aMED), Mediterranean Diet Index (MEDI), and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH/DASHI)—and mortality outcomes. Multiple additive regression trees (MART) algorithm was used for multiple mediation analysis to examine inflammatory markers (PAR, SII, NPR, TyG, LMR, PLR, ELR, CRP) as mechanistic mediators. Results: Among 33,881 participants (mean age 47.07 years, 51.34% women), 4,230 deaths occurred, including 827 cardiovascular deaths. Under the causal inference framework, higher DII scores increased both all-cause (HR: 1.07; 95% CI: 1.02–1.12) and cardiovascular mortality risk (HR: 1.07; 95% CI: 1.04–1.10) by 7%. The aMED demonstrated the strongest protective association, reducing all-cause mortality by 12% (HR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.80–0.97) and cardiovascular mortality by 11% (HR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.80–0.98), followed by MEDI with similar magnitude effects. Other healthy dietary indices showed modest 1–3% risk reductions. Multiple mediation analysis revealed that inflammatory markers, particularly neutrophil-to-platelet ratio (NPR) and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), significantly mediated diet–mortality associations across all indices, with C-reactive protein (CRP) serving as the most frequent mediator. Conclusions: Using causal inference methodology, the Mediterranean dietary pattern (aMED) shows the strongest causal association with reduced mortality risk, with inflammatory pathways serving as key mediating mechanisms. These findings provide robust evidence for prioritizing Mediterranean dietary patterns in public health interventions and clinical practice, while highlighting inflammation as a critical therapeutic target for dietary interventions aimed at reducing mortality risk. Full article

Optimizing spectral quality is a key strategy in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) to enhance both productivity and nutritional quality in horticultural crops. In this study, we investigated the organ-specific physiological and metabolic responses of celery (Apium graveolens L. cv. Dayehuang) to supplemental blue light at three intensities (10, 20, and 30 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ with red/blue light ratios of 0.76, 0.68, and 0.60, respectively) in a plant factory with artificial lighting. Results showed that a moderate red/blue light ratio of 0.68 significantly enhanced chlorophyll accumulation, PSII quantum efficiency, and net photosynthetic rate, resulting in the highest shoot biomass without inducing photoinhibition. Leaf tissues showed marked increases in flavonoids and total phenolics, while petioles exhibited elevated soluble sugar levels and favorable modulation of volatile compound profiles. Antioxidant enzyme activities, particularly superoxide dismutase and peroxidase, were also enhanced with a moderate red/blue light ratio of 0.68, contributing to improved oxidative stress defense. Composite indices, including functional yield index and antioxidant performance index, confirmed that a moderate red/blue light ratio of 0.68 achieved the optimal trade-off between biomass production and nutritional enhancement. These findings reveal distinct organ-specific responses to supplemental blue light and underscore the value of spectral fine-tuning to simultaneously promote both source (leaf) and sink (petiole) performance in celery grown under CEA systems. Full article

Oil-in-water emulsions are widely used to enhance the solubility, stability, and bioactivity of essential oils in aqueous systems. Advancing the functionality and sustainability of these emulsions using renewable, eco-friendly ingredients remains an important research focus. This study developed and evaluated a lemongrass essential oil nanoemulsion stabilized by Tween 80, NaCl, and soybean stover-derived cellulose nanocrystals. After freeze-drying, the nanoemulsion was redispersed in water and analyzed for particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, and essential oil recovery. Freeze-drying led to significant bioactivity losses, with antifungal and antioxidant activities reduced by 77% and 31%, respectively. Antioxidant activity declined rapidly within the first two weeks of storage at room temperature but was not significantly impacted by light exposure. Storage conditions also altered the sample composition, with one new compound detected in samples stored without light exposure and eleven new peaks observed in light-exposed samples. This study provides insights into the effects of freeze-drying and storage on lemongrass essential oil-loaded nanoemulsion stabilized by Tween 80, NaCl, and cellulose nanocrystals. The findings highlight the challenges of preserving bioactivity and composition in lyophilized essential oil-loaded emulsions and suggest avenues for optimizing drying processes and formulations to improve storage stability and efficacy. Full article

This study developed and evaluated plant-based mayonnaise formulations in which egg yolk was replaced with aquafaba (15–25%) and stabilized with gum tragacanth (0.3–1.0%). Formulations were prepared using canola oil and stored at 4 °C for 28 days. Aquafaba extract was characterized for total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC), while mayonnaise samples were assessed for physicochemical composition, creaming index, antioxidant activity, viscosity, texture, sensory properties, and microbiological stability. Total phenolic content (TPC) rose from 17.52 mg GAE/g at 10 µg to 135.34 mg GAE/g at 100 µg (p < 0.05), while total flavonoid content (TFC) increased from 76.95 to 192.42 mg TE/g over the same concentration range. These increases demonstrate the high antioxidant potential of aquafaba extract. The 25% aquafaba + 1% gum tragacanth formulation (T₃) showed the highest protein content, viscosity, firmness, and antioxidant capacity, with improved storage stability compared to the control. FTIR analysis identified functional groups such as phenols, esters, and carboxylic acids, suggesting contributions to antioxidant activity and emulsion stability. Sensory evaluation indicated strong acceptance for T₃. These results demonstrate that aquafaba combined with gum tragacanth can effectively replace egg yolk while maintaining desirable quality attributes. Full article

Honeybee brood biopeptides (HBb-Bps) are a novel source of bioactive compounds with potential health benefits. In this study, HBb-Bps were conjugated with honey via a Maillard reaction and their physicochemical properties, digestive stability, antioxidant capacity, and anti-obesogenic effects were evaluated. Simulated gastrointestinal digestion revealed significantly enhanced resistance after conjugation, with the residual content increasing from 46.99% for native HBb-Bps to 86.12% for the honey-conjugated forms; furthermore, antioxidant activity was largely preserved according to the DPPH and ABTS assays. In the in vivo experiments, 30 male BrlHan: WIST@Jcl (GALAS) (Wistar) rats were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) to induce obesity and orally administered honey-conjugated HBb-Bps at doses of 200, 500, or 1000 mg/kg body weight for 16 weeks. The highest dose led to significant reductions in body weight gain, the Lee index, and body mass index. The serum lipid profiles markedly improved, with decreases in the total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL levels, as well as cardiovascular risk indices. Furthermore, fecal analysis showed increased levels of short-chain fatty acids, particularly butyrate. These changes suggest enhanced gut microbial activity; however, the prebiotic effects were inferred from the SCFA profiles, as the gut microbiota composition was not directly analyzed. In conclusion, honey-conjugated HBb-Bps improve gastrointestinal stability and exhibit antioxidant, hypolipidemic, and gut-modulating effects, supporting their potential use as functional ingredients for managing diet-induced metabolic disorders. Full article

This study investigates the phenolic composition and antioxidant potential of root extracts from three Opuntia ficus-indica varieties (green, red, and orange) using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS). Phenolic compounds were extracted with a hydromethanolic solvent and quantified by spectrophotometric assays, while antioxidant activity was assessed through DPPH, ABTS, iron III reduction, hydroxyl radical, and nitric oxide scavenging methods. A total of 26 compounds were identified, including piscidic acid, epicatechin-3-O-gallate, and isovitexin, with several phenolics newly reported for O. ficus-indica roots. The green and red varieties showed the highest phenolic contents (up to 147.82 mg/g extract) and strong antioxidant capacity, particularly in ABTS (IC₅₀ = 29.38 μg/mL) and hydroxyl radical inhibition (>90%). Relative Antioxidant Capacity Index (RACI) analysis confirmed a consistent correlation between phenolic/flavonoid content and antioxidant efficacy. These findings highlight the analytical relevance of UHPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS for profiling underutilized plant matrices and support the potential use of O. ficus-indica root extracts as natural sources of bioactive compounds for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of rumen-protected chromium-nicotinic acid (RPCNA) supplementation on lactation performance, nutrient digestion, ruminal fermentation, serum biochemical parameters and antioxidant in lactating water buffaloes under conditions of a critical thermal comfort index (TCI). Healthy lactating water buffaloes (milk yield = 5.96 ± 0.21 kg; parity = 2.96 ± 0.15, mean ± SD) were randomly assigned to four groups, which were the control (without RPCNA), and three treatment groups designated as RPCNA2, RPCNA4, and RPCNA6, with 0, 2, 4, and 6 mg/(d·head) of RPCNA, respectively. During a 56-day experimental period, the average temperature was 29 °C with an average TCI of 40.60, indicating a critical state of environmental stress. The results showed that the addition of RPCNA to the diet had no significant effect on the apparent digestibility of nutrients, lactation performance, and dry matter intake in lactating water buffaloes. However, RPCNA supplementation positively influenced rumen fermentation, reducing ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) concentrations and promoting microbial protein synthesis. Supplementation with RPCNA4 and RPCNA6 decreased rumen NH₃-N levels by 48.3% and 36.4%, respectively, while RPCNA4 increased isobutyrate concentrations. This demonstrates that the coating technology does not provide 100% rumen protection. Serum analysis revealed that RPCNA significantly increases total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC). Additionally, the supplementation of 4 mg/(d·head) of RPCNA, improved serum glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. These findings suggest that moderate doses of RPCNA supplementation can improve antioxidant status and rumen nitrogen metabolism in lactating water buffaloes under critical state, without significantly altering milk production or composition. Full article

Plastic pollution in marine environments poses a new global threat. Microplastics (MPs) can bioaccumulate in marine organisms, leading to oxidative stress (OS). This study investigates MP accumulation and associated OS responses in six invertebrate species (Bivalvia, Gastropoda, and Malacostraca) and three key fish species of the Bulgarian Black Sea ecosystems. The target hydrobionts were collected from nine representative coastal habitats of the northern and southern aquatory. MPs were quantified microscopically, and OS biomarkers (lipid peroxidation, glutathione, and antioxidant enzymes) were analyzed spectrometrically in fish liver and gills and invertebrate soft tissues (STs). The specific OS (SOS) index was calculated as a composite indicator of the ecological impact, incl. MP effects. The results revealed species-specific MP bioaccumulation, with the highest concentrations in Palaemon adspersus, Rathke (1837) (0.99 ± 1.09 particles/g ST) and the least abundance in Bittium reticulatum (da Costa, 1778) (0.0033 ± 0.0025 particles/g ST). In Sprattus sprattus (Linnaeus, 1758), the highest accumulation of MPs was present (2.01 ± 2.56 particles/g muscle). The correlation analyses demonstrated a significant association between MP counts and catalase activity in all examined species. The SOS index varied among species, reflecting different stress responses, and this indicated that OS levels were linked to ecological conditions of the habitat and the species-specific antioxidant defense potential to overcome multiple stressors. These findings confirmed the importance of environmental conditions, including MP pollution and the evolutionarily developed capacity of marine organisms to tolerate and adapt to environmental stress. This study emphasizes the need for novel approaches in monitoring MPs and OS to better assess potential ecological risks. Full article