Almond, Hazelnut, and Pistachio Skin: An Opportunity for Nutraceuticals

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The current review explores the benefits of hazelnuts, almonds, and pistachios skins and their ability to prevent and treat diseases. The paper is well-written, but the main objective of this review is missing. The authors should include the aim at the end of the introduction. In addition, the lack of a common thread that facilitates reading is noted, as well as inserting figures that help to understand what is described.

General revisions have been included in the enclosed document, highlighted in green those text to consider for elimination and red to fit.

Generals

The word used repeatedly appears in this text. Consider using a synonym in some of its place.

Introduction

Page 1, Line 41-42  The phrase all over the world may be wordy. Consider changing the wording using worldwide

Page 2, Line 55  It appears that by far may be unnecessary in this sentence. Consider removing it.

Page 2, Line 66-67  This sentence should be merged with the previous paragraph.

Page 2, Line 68-69  The authors write Nuts skins are a good source of antioxidants due to the presence of polyphenolic compounds and others…Which others? Please clarify this sentence.

Page 2, Line 74 The phrase exist as may be wordy. Consider changing the wording using are.

1.1 Components of Pistachio skin

Page 2, Line 81 Please, replace the fragment most popular tree nuts in the world, belonging to with world’s most popular tree nuts, belonging to the.

Page 2, Line 87  The plural verb are does not appear to agree with the singular subject Production. Consider changing the verb form for subject-verb agreement, is.

Page 2, Line 94. The phrase following the intransitive verb disposed seems to be missing a preposition. Consider adding of. Besides, the phrase in an appropriate way may be wordy. Consider changing by appropriately.

Page 2, Line 95 It appears that viewed as may be unnecessary in this sentence. Consider removing it.

1.2 Components of Almond Skin

Page 3, Line 109 It appears that the noun cover might combine better with an adjective other than external. Consider rewriting this word pair or choosing a synonym for external such as outer.

Page 3, Line 111 It appears that known as may be unnecessary in this sentence. Consider removing it.

Page 3, Line 115 The phrase and represents may be wordy. Consider changing by representing.

1.3 Components of Hazelnut Skin

Page 3, Line 140  It appears that breads is an uncountable noun and should not be made plural. Consider changing the noun using bread.

Page 3, Line 140  Your sentence appears to use the incorrect form of hazelnuts. Consider changing it to singular.

Page 4, Line 153-154 The phrase The aim of the current review is may be unnecessarily wordy. Consider replacing with The current review aims.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Search Strategy

Page 4, Line 160 Replace the second sentence with Articles published in English were used by searching the PubMed database and manual search using Google Scholar.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1 Antioxidant Effect of Pistachio Skin

Page 4, Line 192 It may be unclear who or what This refers to. Consider rewriting the sentence to remove the unclear reference.

Page 4, Line 193 Your sentence appears to use the incorrect form of fibers. Consider changing it to singular fiber.

Page 5, Line 202-205 Replace the sentence On the other hand, there are epidemiological evidence showing the biological mechanisms and potentials of pistachios in reducing the risk of cancer and the effects of anticancer drugs, in which included those pistachios incorporated in diet with anticancer drugs will reduce the disruptions in the motor and cognitive functions with On the other hand, there is epidemiological evidence showing pistachios’ biological mechanisms and potential in reducing the risk of cancer and the effects of anticancer drugs, including those pistachios incorporated in diet with anticancer drugs will lessen the disruptions in the motor and cognitive functions.

3.2 Antioxidant Effect of Almond Skin

Page 5, Line 230 Were seems to be in the wrong tense. Consider replace with have been.

Page 5, Line 240-241 Consider replaced content in addition to other components in almonds with and other almond components.

3.3 Antioxidant Effect of Hazelnut Skin

Page 6, Line 259 Replace the first sentence with Like all nuts, hazelnuts have high AO containing 291–875 mg/100 g polyphenols.

Page 6, Line 284 Replace the sentence In general, a diet that contain high number of nuts contributes to lowering cholesterol with Generally, a diet containing a high number of nuts lowers cholesterol.

Table 1 is presented on page 8. However, the first mention appears on page 9. Consider moving the table to after mentioned in the text for a better understanding.

4. Future Directions

Page 9, Line 316 Consider replacing the sentence This is a very interesting study because the potential effects of pistachios on inhibition of angiogenesis are clearly demonstrated by Seffadinipour in 2018 with This is a very interesting study because Seffadinipour demonstrates the potential effects of pistachios on the inhibition of angiogenesis in 2018.

Figure 1 on page 9 doesn’t have cited in the text. Please include the correct citation.

Given these concerns, I would recommend publication after minor revisions.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Dear Prof,/Dr,

thanks a lot for all your comments and careful revision.

We addressed all your corrections into the manuscript.

We are really grateful for your hard work, It improved a lot the whole manuscript. 

Best regards

Prof. Simone Perna

Reviewer 2 Report

These are my main comments on the manuscript (nutraceuticals-1809454) entitled “Almond, Hazelnut and Pistachio Skin: an opportunity for nutraceuticals”. The review summarize the antioxidant components and the nutraceutical properties and applications of hazelnuts, almonds, and pistachios skins, and discuss their ability to prevent and treat specific diseases based on in vitro and in vivo studies. Following moderate revisions should be incorporated in the manuscript prior to acceptance.

1. I have concerns about the manuscript sections that I believe need to be addressed in order to improve its clarity.

2. Some references are missing. Please, verify all manuscript.

3. Other revisions could be checked in PDF attached.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Dear Prof/Dr.

thanks a lot for all your comments and corrections.

We followed your guidance in order to improve the paper and we addressed into the manuscript your comments.

Best regards

Prof. Simone Perna

Reviewer 3 Report

In the manuscript “Almond, Hazelnut and Pistachio Skin: an opportunity for nutraceuticals”, the authors review literature data about health promoting effects of nut skins to emphasize their potential application in the nutraceutical field.

Although the subject of the work looks interesting, in consideration of the growing interest in agri-food waste and byproduct recycling, the authors completely missed their stated goal.

In fact, the used method (The search strategy was based on the following items:“hazelnut”, “almond” AND “pistachio” OR “skin” OR “disease prevention” OR “antioxidant activity”) to select the articles to be included in the study is inappropriate. 

Furthermore, the choice to include articles relating to the whole nut (kernel + skin) instead of limiting the research to those relating only to nut skins is another major flaw of the work. Consequently, not only the manuscript lacks some relevant references (e.g., 10.1021/jf0614948; 10.1039/c6fo00867d; 10.1016/j.phytochem.2019.01.010; 10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.126338; 10.3390/ani10091653; ....), but some of the included ones should have rather been excluded.

Finally, the paper is poorly written, confused sentences are spread along the text (e.g., lines 29, 33, 62-66, 115-116....), and others are too general and unclear. 

In conclusion, I believe that the paper should not be accepted for publication.

Author Response

Dear Prof./Dr.

We are really sorry hearing your negative comments on our paper submitted on Nutraceuticals. Although we always accepted every comments, we are concerned about your approach. 

We strive for excellence, and It would have been an amazing approach if you suggested or commented in a constructive way the paper, maybe showing a specific path to follow or suggesting specific improvements. 

Reading your comments, we have just seen your frustration and your negative approach toward it. 

Let me just have one humble advise for you in according to psychologist George Kelly.

Our personality is composed of the various mental constructs through which each person views reality (or for example this paper). Kelly believed that each person was much like a scientist. Just like scientists, we would want to understand the world around us, and maybe around a publication, in order to improve it. 

Giving only a socratic comments, it is not a constructive approach for reviewing an article. 

Best regards,

Simone Perna