Search Results (3,998)

Species of the genus Stachys (Lamiaceae) are recognized for their ethnobotanical importance and chemical diversity. In this study, the essential oil (EOS) and solvent extracts of the endemic species Stachys sparsipilosa were investigated using integrated GC–MS and LC–ESI–QTOF/MS approaches. GC–MS analysis showed that identified constituents accounted for 94.62% of the total oil, with caryophyllene oxide, kauran-16-ol, and cubebol as major components. Targeted LC–MS analysis quantified prominent phenolic compounds, including chlorogenic acid, rutin, and hesperidin, while untargeted metabolomics tentatively annotated 168 metabolites belonging to phenolics, terpenoids, and other classes. Antioxidant capacity was evaluated using complementary in vitro assays, and enzyme inhibitory activities against α-amylase, α-glucosidase, tyrosinase, acetylcholinesterase, and butyrylcholinesterase were assessed in comparison with standard inhibitors. The extracts demonstrated measurable but generally moderate activities relative to the corresponding positive controls. The essential oil exhibited moderate, non-selective cytotoxic effects at relatively high concentrations, whereas solvent extracts showed limited activity within the tested range. Molecular docking analyses were performed as supportive tools to explore possible enzyme–ligand interactions. Overall, S. sparsipilosa displays a chemically diverse metabolite profile associated with composition-dependent bioactivities, providing a basis for further mechanistic and in vivo studies. Full article

Lignin valorization is a central objective of modern biorefinery research. This study investigates the catalytic depolymerization of two technical lignins, kraft lignin from beech hardwood and natron lignin from annual plants, via two complementary routes: analytical catalytic pyrolysis (Py-GC/MS, 300–600 °C) and hydrogenolysis (250–310 °C, Ru/C, isopropanol/H₂). In Py-GC/MS experiments, noble-metal catalysts on carbon supports (Ru/C, Pd/C, RuPd/C) were screened. Relative compound distributions revealed phenolic derivatives as the dominant products, with Ru/C yielding the highest conversion for lignin from annual plants at 500 °C and Pd/C proving most selective for hardwood lignin at 400 °C. Hydrogenolysis was optimized through a five-level, three-factor central composite design, varying temperature, residence time, and catalyst loading. Lignin conversion ranged from 64 to 83 wt% and bio-oil yield from 69 to 89 wt%. A regression model identified optimal conditions at 295 °C, 32 min, and 17 wt% Ru/C. Catalyst regeneration via solvent washing, H₂O₂ oxidation, and controlled thermal treatment resulted in only an 8% decrease in lignin conversion. The results demonstrate that lignin origin, catalyst type, and depolymerization pathway jointly govern product selectivity, highlighting clear strategies for targeted phenolic compound production. Full article

Secondary metabolites, particularly natural phenolic compounds, have been a target of many studies and are a hot issue in the medical and scientific communities, due to their diverse biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects. This bioactive potential has raised the prospect of their application as pharmaceutical excipients and nanocarriers. Among them, anthocyanins, which are abundant in berries and highly valued by consumers, stand out as promising candidates. Their chemical structure not only enables them to protect drugs from oxidative degradation but also supports their role in drug delivery systems, particularly under acidic conditions. Moreover, their pH-dependent color changes make them suitable as eco-friendly indicators and sensors. The current review aims to summarize recent advances on the excipient and nanocarrier potential of berry phenolics. Although current data on anthocyanins as excipients and nanocarriers remain limited, available evidence highlights their potential and urges additional in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies. Full article

The global increase in metabolic syndrome, characterized by the dysregulation of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism accompanied by oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, has driven research into plant species rich in polyphenols capable of modulating these pathophysiological mechanisms. Mexican species of the genus Arbutus represent a potential source of phenolic compounds with functional relevance; however, they remain poorly explored phytochemically and biologically. The present study aimed to characterize the phytochemical profile and evaluate the biological activity of 1% (w/v) leaf infusions of A. bicolor, A. tessellata, A. madrensis, A. arizonica, and A. occidentalis. Proximal analyses, spectrophotometric determinations of total phenols, flavonoids, and proanthocyanidins, as well as characterization by UPLC–ESI–MS/MS were performed. In vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and digestive enzyme inhibitory activities were also evaluated. Proximate analysis revealed that carbohydrates constituted the predominant component (72–82%), followed by lipids (3–12%), proteins (4–8%), ash (3–5%), and moisture (5–6%). The total phenolic content ranged from 25.39 to 64.14 mg EAG, being A. occidentalis the species with the highest concentration, while total flavonoids ranged from 14.91 to 33.33 mg EC per gram of dry weight. A total of 38 phenolic compounds were identified, exhibiting marked interspecific variability. A. occidentalis, distinguished by its high ellagitannin content, exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity (ORAC: 10.40 mM TEAC/g) and notable erythrocyte membrane stabilization (~69%). Enzymatic inhibition demonstrated differential profiles: A. tessellata showed the most significant inhibition of α-amylase (80.19%), whereas A. bicolor exhibited higher inhibition of α-glucosidase (81.88%) and pancreatic lipase (74.26%) could be associated with stilbenes such as resveratrol. Bioactivity was more strongly associated with the specific phytochemical profile than with total phenolic content. These findings suggest that Arbutus spp. leaf infusions may represent multifunctional phytochemical matrices with potential relevance in metabolic syndrome management. Full article

Wine alcoholic fermentation occurs in a dynamic biochemical environment where interactions between the vessel and the product can cause inorganic and organic species to migrate into the fermenting must or wine. At low pH and with rising ethanol levels, fermentation tanks made of stainless steel, concrete or cementitious materials, ceramics, or polymers exhibit material-specific behaviors that may promote the release of toxic trace elements or alter technologically important ions. These changes can affect yeast physiology, fermentation kinetics, and matrix stability, directly impacting wine safety and quality. They may also influence the evolution of key fermentation metabolites and phenolic constituents, thereby affecting process performance, color development, oxidative stability, and other quality-related attributes. This review synthesizes current evidence on migration mechanisms and examines how vessel composition shapes the chemical and microbiological profile of fermentation. It also critically evaluates biosensor technologies—covering both biorecognition elements and signal-transduction strategies—and assesses the transition from laboratory prototypes to in situ or at-line implementations capable of detecting both migration-related events and process-relevant compositional changes with operational value for HACCP-based control. Electrochemical, optical, bienzymatic, and nanozyme-enabled platforms are discussed in terms of selectivity, matrix compatibility, and long-term functional stability under polyphenol and protein interference, CO₂ variability, fouling and biofouling, and calibration drift. Particular attention is given to analytes associated with vessel-derived migrants and to biosensor targets related to fermentation metabolites and phenolic indicators, which support dynamic process monitoring and quality-focused decision making. Considering regulatory compliance requirements across the EU, US, and Asia, we propose a practical pathway for integrating biosensors into HACCP monitoring by treating vessel–product interactions as critical control points, while laboratory reference methods remain essential for verification and compliance documentation. Full article

The management of invasive alien species (IAS) generates large amounts of plant waste biomass that is commonly disposed of by burning or destruction, leading to environmental and economic drawbacks. At the same time, the production of synthetic dyes and pigments used in printing and graphic applications remains a significant source of pollution. In this context, the valorization of IAS biomass as a source of natural colorants represents a sustainable alternative aligned with circular economy principles. Here, biocompounds and natural dyes were extracted from four invasive or non-native plant species—Arundo donax, Phytolacca americana, Tradescantia fluminensis, and Eucalyptus globulus—using five solid–liquid extraction methods: infusion, infusion with heat, thermal agitation, Soxhlet extraction, and ultrasonic-assisted extraction. Extraction efficiency and color preservation were comparatively evaluated. Although Soxhlet extraction provided the highest extraction yield (up to 30.5%), infusion with heat proved to be the most suitable method for preserving color integrity and minimizing oxidation. Liquid dyes obtained by the selected extraction method were converted into solid pigments through a lake pigment precipitation process using aluminum potassium sulfate and sodium bicarbonate. The resulting pigments were characterized in terms of chemical composition, particle size, and chromatic properties, and subsequently formulated into oil-based inks using linseed oil as binder. Scanning electron microscopy revealed pigment particle sizes ranging from approximately 2.1 to 8.3 µm, depending on the plant source, and confirmed adequate ink penetration and distribution on commercial printmaking paper. The obtained pigments exhibited color tones ranging from yellow to brown and grey, mainly associated with the phenolic and tannin content of the original biomass. Printing tests demonstrated the suitability of the developed inks for manual printmaking techniques, highlighting the potential of IAS-derived pigments as sustainable alternatives for artistic and printing applications. Full article

Oxidative stress plays a central role in the development of chronic degenerative diseases, prompting growing interest in natural antioxidants, particularly phenolic compounds from early developmental plant tissues. This study investigated the chemical composition and antioxidant capacity of Acer tegmentosum sprouts at the cotyledon expansion stage using integrated metabolite profiling and targeted quantification approaches. A. tegmentosum sprout extracts (ASE) were characterized by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) for untargeted metabolite annotation and by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the targeted quantification of selected phenolic acids and coumarins using authentic standards. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging assays. LC–MS/MS analysis identified twelve phenolic compounds, including gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, scopoletin, and their derivatives. HPLC results confirmed gallic acid (5.54 mg/g extract) as the predominant phenolic constituent, and the overall composition indicated a phenolic acid-enriched profile. ASE showed notable DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities, with IC₅₀ values of 376.40 and 311.00 μg/mL, respectively, although these activities were lower than those of ascorbic acid. Overall, these findings define the baseline chemical and antioxidant properties of ASE and identify analytically traceable marker compounds for standardization and functional material development. Further studies across different developmental stages and cultivation conditions are needed to verify generalizability and refine marker selection for quality control purposes. Full article

In the study, the effects of adding sour cheery seed powder at different concentrations (0%, 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5%) on the pH, water content, lipid oxidation, cooking loss, color, TPC, antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS), texture, and acrylamide contents of meatballs cooked at 150 °C, 200 °C, and 250 °C were investigated. The sour cherry seed powder significantly affected the pH, cooking loss, a*, b*, C*, h°, TBARS, acrylamide, hardness, and springiness, while no significant effect was found on the moisture, L*, cohesiveness, gumminess, or chewiness. The cooking temperature had a significant effect on all the parameters except cohesiveness, gumminess and chewiness. The addition of 1% sour cherry seed powder resulted in the lowest acrylamide and TBARS values. The sour cherry seed powder increased the total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity of the meatballs. These results indicate that sour cherry seed powder can be used as a sustainable food ingredient in meatball production, reducing acrylamide and lipid oxidation while improving the antioxidant capacity, color, and texture properties. Full article

Polyphenols are key dietary bioactive compounds, reducing oxidative stress and neurodegeneration. This study investigated the in vitro antioxidant and neuroprotective potential of some edible fruits (apricots, plums, figs) and vegetable (parsley) extracts related to their phytochemical profile. Plum extract exhibited the strongest antioxidant capacity (ABTS IC₅₀ 1.733 ± 0.079 mg/g; DPPH IC₅₀ 1.593 ± 0.069 mg/g; FRAP 23.161 ± 1.094 mM Fe²⁺), linked to its high chlorogenic and caffeic acids content. Parsley displayed the most potent AChE inhibition (IC₅₀ 0.825 ± 0.026 mg/g), associated with an elevated flavonoids level (TFC 12.874 ± 0.534 mg QE/g) and the presence of ferulic and vanillic acids. Apricot was characterized by notable gallic, syringic, and chlorogenic acids, supporting moderate neuroprotective potential. Figs showed weaker radical scavenging ability but provided a balanced profile of protocatechuic, caffeic, and syringic acids. Correlation analysis revealed specific compound–activity associations, including syringic and vanillic acids with DPPH scavenging capacity, p-coumaric acid with TPC, and gallic/ferulic acids with AChE inhibition. Effect-directed HPTLC confirmed chlorogenic acid as a major contributor to the antioxidant capacity. To our knowledge, this is the first study to comparatively integrate spectrophotometric antioxidant assays, UHPLC-based quantitative phenolic profiling, effect-directed HPTLC bioautography, and AChE inhibition analysis across three edible fruits and one vegetable frequently co-consumed in Mediterranean-type diets, enabling a cross-species compound–activity correlation framework. These species exhibit distinct but complementary phytochemical and biofunctional profiles. Their combined use may support the formulation of functional foods with synergistic antioxidant and neuroprotective benefits. Full article

To address the critical limitation of insufficient high-temperature structural stability in traditional formaldehyde-resorcinol aerogels for thermal protection applications, this study designed and fabricated a high-silica fiber felt-reinforced phenolic aerogel composite capable of in situ ceramization. The thermal insulation performance, structural stability, mechanical properties, and oxidation resistance mechanism after heat treatment at 1000 °C for 600 s were systematically investigated. Results demonstrated tunable density (0.398–0.629 g·cm⁻³), low room-temperature thermal conductivity (0.0414 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹), and a stabilized back temperature of 408.6 °C during butane torch flame testing. After high-temperature treatment, the composite series exhibited a minimum volume shrinkage of 13.9% and a maximum mass retention of 77.6%. Specifically, the compressive strength and specific strength of the HS/C-75 sample reached 4.39 and 1.96 times those of the HS/C-0 sample, respectively. Further analysis revealed that the synergistic effect between the skeletal support of high-silica fibers and the in situ-formed ceramic phase effectively suppressed thermal shrinkage and improved oxidation resistance, achieving an optimized balance between thermal insulation and mechanical integrity. This work provides a theoretical foundation and viable technical pathway for developing advanced thermal protection materials with enhanced stability and reliability. Full article

We studied the shelf life of fresh buffalo meat in polyamide/polyethylene (PA/PE) packaging during refrigerated storage for 14 days, when treated with cinnamon–clove (C-C) and nutmeg (Nut) powders, along with lavender essential oil (LEO). Microbiological (total viable count, Pseudomonas spp., Brochothrix thermosphacta, Enterobacteriaceae, and lactic acid bacteria), antibacterial (Salmonella Typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus), physicochemical and biochemical (pH, moisture, color, total fat, hemoglobin and heme iron, 2-thiobarbituric acid, mercaptans, antioxidant activity, and total phenolic content), and sensory (color, odor, texture, and taste) analyses were carried out. The results showed that C-C and Nut powder extracts exhibited significant (p < 0.05) antioxidant and antibacterial activity, higher than LEO; however, all treatments delayed lipid oxidation. Based primarily on sensory evaluation, the shelf life extension of buffalo meat was 2–3 days for LEO and Nut powder, and 4–6 days for C-C powder. Factor analysis indicated the critical days of refrigerated storage for the evolution of spoilage-related biochemical parameters. Full article

(1) Background: Babassu (Attalea speciosa) mesocarp is a functional food rich in nutrients and phenolic compounds, offering antioxidant and metabolic benefits. However, its effects on lipid peroxidation and pro-oxidant enzymes remain poorly explored. (2) Methods: The antioxidant potential of a hydroalcoholic extract of babassu mesocarp (HEB) was assessed using DPPH radical scavenging and lipid peroxidation inhibition, measured by the TBARS assay. Cytotoxicity was assessed by the MTT assay. Molecular docking was conducted to investigate interactions between HEB-derived compounds and NADPH oxidase and xanthine oxidase. (3) Results: HEB showed dose-dependent antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ = 4.734 µg/mL) and effectively inhibited lipid peroxidation (IC₅₀ = 51.35 µg/mL), with no cytotoxic effects. In silico analyses suggested potential inhibition of pro-oxidant enzymes. (4) Conclusions: HEB exhibits a strong ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation and theoretical enzyme-inhibitory potential, supporting its use in functional foods and nutraceuticals. Full article

Salinity stress severely limits barley production by disrupting physiological and biochemical processes critical for growth and yield. Although numerous studies have examined individual physiological or antioxidant responses to salinity, an integrated multivariate understanding of how these mechanisms collectively contribute to yield stability at the flowering stage remains limited. This study aimed to elucidate the integrated antioxidant and physiological mechanisms underlying salinity tolerance in barley genotypes during flowering. Barley plants were subjected to controlled salinity treatments, and a comprehensive set of phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity indices, physiological traits, and yield components were measured. Multivariate analyses, including redundancy analysis (RDA) and partial least squares regression (PLSR), identified key traits contributing to yield stability under salinity. Multivariate analyses revealed also genotype-specific physiological strategies underlying contrasting salinity tolerance levels. Antioxidant defenses, such as total phenolics, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities, and α-tocopherol, along with osmotic regulators like proline and soluble sugars, were closely associated with improved water status and reduced oxidative damage. These coordinated responses correlated strongly with yield components, including thousand-grain weight and main spike seed number. Notably, this study provides new insights into the predictive relevance of selected biochemical and physiological markers for yield performance under salt stress using PLSR at the flowering stage. PLSR further demonstrated the high predictive power of a limited subset of biochemical and physiological markers for yield traits under salt stress. Collectively, these findings reveal that the interplay between antioxidant machinery and osmotic adjustment at flowering is critical for barley resilience to salinity, providing valuable physiological markers to inform breeding strategies aimed at improving salt tolerance. Full article

Acorns represent an underutilized source of forest biomass with potential for producing edible oils and bioactive compounds. This research compared lipid fractions from pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) and northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) collected in Poland, examining how different extraction methods influence oil yield and quality. Oils were extracted using Soxhlet with hexane, cold hexane extraction for both species, and mechanical pressing for Q. rubra. Fatty acid profiles analyzed by GC-FID facilitated calculation of lipid quality indices. Oxidative stability was assessed through isothermal PDSC, and total phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS) were measured in acorn extracts. Q. rubra produced more oil than Q. robur regardless of extraction method, but Q. robur oils exhibited significantly higher PDSC oxidation times (τ_on, τ_max). Pressed Q. rubra oil showed higher acid and peroxide values compared to solvent-extracted oils. Fatty acid composition was predominantly influenced by species rather than by extraction method, as confirmed by multivariate analysis, which indicated species as the main driver of variability. Overall, these results highlight a trade-off between oil yield and oxidative stability, suggesting acorns as a promising, species-dependent oil resource. Full article

The study first demonstrated that burdock fructooligosaccharide (BFO) could inhibit peel browning in green banana, with 0.5% BFO treatment showing the most significant suppression of peel browning during low-temperature storage (7 ± 1 °C). The results revealed that 0.5% BFO treatment effectively restrained the increase in electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde (MDA) content and maintained cell membrane integrity. Furthermore, BFO treatment enhanced total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity, alleviated oxidative damage, and better preserved the external quality of banana peel. Simultaneously, BFO treatment markedly inhibited both the activities of chlorophyll-degrading enzymes and their relative gene expression levels in banana peel, thereby maintaining higher chlorophyll content. This research provided a new insight into the mechanism of inhibiting peel browning for low-temperature storage preservation of banana. Full article