Search Results (515)

The excessive use of conventional NPK fertilizers can reduce nutrient use efficiency due to nutrient losses, emphasizing the need for controlled-release fertilizer systems. This study aimed to prepare and evaluate olive pomace-derived biochar (BC) as a carrier for nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium (NPK) fertilizer and assess its effects on nutrient release and lettuce performance. Biochar was produced by pyrolysis at 400 °C and loaded with NPK fertilizer. The BC/NPK composite was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), nutrient-release behavior was evaluated in deionized water and soil. The cumulative nutrient release reached 64% in deionized water and 91% in soil. Under greenhouse conditions, BC/NPK applied at 100% and 75% NPK rates increased lettuce fresh weight, plant height and leaf number to 163.33 and 183.67 g, 23.00 and 23.67 cm, 34 and 36, respectively. Moreover, BC/NPK reduced nitrate accumulation in lettuce leaves, with nitrate concentrations decreasing in outer leaves to 10 and 0.73 mg g⁻¹ and in inner leaves to 2 and 1.33 mg g⁻¹ at the 100% and 75% rates, respectively. These findings demonstrate that olive pomace-derived BC/NPK is a promising slow-release fertilizer capable of improving crop performance while supporting sustainable nutrient management and agricultural waste valorization. Full article

Background/Objectives: Olive leaf polyphenols exhibit strong antioxidant and antidiabetic potential. However, their application in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products is hindered by limited stability, poor solubility, and susceptibility to gastrointestinal degradation. Liposomes offer a viable strategy to enhance their protection and functional performance. Methods: A formulation-driven strategy was employed to develop a gastro-resistant liposomal system for olive leaf polyphenols. Extraction conditions were optimized using a Box–Behnken response surface design to maximize phenolic recovery while ensuring compatibility with phospholipid-based systems. Antioxidant activity and key secoiridoids were assessed by spectrophotometric assays and LC–MS/MS. The optimized extract was incorporated into uncoated and Eudragit^® L100-coated liposomes, which were physicochemically characterized. Antidiabetic effects were evaluated in intestinal STC-1 cells under glucose-induced hyperglycemic conditions. Results: The optimized extract (OE) exhibited high antioxidant activity (124.56 ± 9.57 mg GAE/g, 151.61 ± 2.77 mg TE/g, and 472.92 ± 26.14 mg TE/g in TPC, DPPH and FRAP assays, respectively). LC-HRMS metabolomic profiling confirmed a balanced phytochemical composition, with oleuropein as the main compound (143.144 ± 4.914 mg/g). The optimized Eudragit^®-coated liposomes were spherical unilamellar vesicles with a mean diameter of 101 ± 6.1 nm, moderate polydispersity (0.46 ± 0.02), and a negative zeta potential (−17 ± 3.5 mV). High entrapment efficiency was achieved, reaching 65 ± 2.1% for oleuropein and 96 ± 0.3% for hydroxytyrosol. The structural integrity of the vesicles was maintained during storage and in the simulated gastrointestinal environment. The nanoformulation reduced intestinal glucose uptake and intracellular reactive oxygen species levels, and restored GLP-1 levels. Conclusions: The combination of optimized extraction and liposome-based formulation enabled the development of stable, delivery-ready olive leaf polyphenols for potential nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of olive leaf extract (OLE) on growth, intestinal health, and resistance against Vibrio parahaemolyticus challenge in juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei. To a basal diet containing 12% fishmeal, OLE was added at 0%, 0.10%, 0.20%, 0.40%, and 0.80%, forming diets with equal nitrogen and lipid contents. The diets were divided into five groups and named OLE0 (control group), OLE1, OLE2, OLE4, and OLE8. The findings revealed that relative to OLE0, the weight gain rate (WGR) and specific growth rate (SGR) increased in the OLE1 group, whereas the feed conversion ratio (FCR) declined (p < 0.05). The crude protein (CP) content for whole shrimp in the OLE8 group was significantly higher (p < 0.05), and the crude lipid (CL) content in the OLE1, OLE2 and OLE8 groups significantly decreased compared with OLE0 (p < 0.05). In serum indices, the OLE8 group had notably higher total protein (TP) content than the control (p < 0.05). Compared with the OLE0 group, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in the OLE1 and OLE2 groups were increased, whereas low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in the OLE4 and OLE8 groups were significantly decreased compared with the control (p < 0.05). Hepatopancreatic malondialdehyde (MDA) in all experimental groups was significantly decreased compared with the control (p < 0.05). The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in all experimental groups increased (p < 0.05) and was the largest in the OLE1 group. The OLE1, OLE2 and OLE4 groups had significantly increased glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity (p < 0.05). Catalase (CAT) activity in the OLE1 group was significantly higher than the control (p < 0.05). The toll, lzm, imd, cru a and propo mRNA expression levels in the hepatopancreas were significantly upregulated in each experimental group (p < 0.05). Intestinal microbial analysis indicated that the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes was elevated in the OLE4 and OLE8 groups, accompanied by a reduction in Vibrio proportion (p < 0.05). Post-challenge assays demonstrated that the OLE4 and OLE8 groups achieved remarkably higher cumulative survival rates than OLE0 (p < 0.05). In summary, OLE in a low-fishmeal diet can promote growth performance, intestinal health and disease resistance for shrimp. According to the broken-line regression model of WGR against OLE dosage, 0.08% was the optimal dietary OLE inclusion level of the OLE additive in juvenile L. vannamei. Full article

Olive cultivation is one of the most economically important agricultural activities in the Mediterranean region, yet its productivity is significantly threatened by olive peacock spot, caused by the fungus Cycloconium oleaginum. This disease reduces photosynthetic activity, induces premature defoliation, deteriorates fruit quality, and causes considerable yield losses. Although deep learning has significantly improved automated plant disease diagnosis, most existing approaches rely solely on leaf images and overlook environmental factors that influence disease development and progression. This study proposes an environmentally enriched multimodal deep-learning framework that integrates RGB images of olive leaves with heterogeneous environmental descriptors, including meteorological conditions, soil characteristics, rainfall-derived moisture indicators, vegetation indices, and environmental stress variables obtained from authoritative public data sources. Visual features are extracted using a fine-tuned ResNet50 convolutional neural network, while environmental descriptors are modeled using a multilayer perceptron (MLP). The extracted features are fused at the feature level to simultaneously perform seven-stage disease classification and continuous estimation of lesion coverage and leaf yellowing within a unified multi-task learning framework. Unlike synchronized field-sensor datasets, the proposed dataset combines publicly available olive leaf images with representative environmental observations, providing a reproducible proof-of-concept for multimodal disease diagnosis. Results demonstrate that incorporating environmental information substantially improves disease-stage recognition, achieving an accuracy of 97.77%, a macro F1-score of 0.9809, and a weighted F1-score of 0.9776. The proposed framework also achieved accurate severity estimation, with a mean MAE of 1.29%, RMSE values of 4.86% and 4.75%, and $R^2$ values of 0.957 and 0.969 for lesion coverage and leaf yellowing, respectively. These findings demonstrate the potential of multimodal deep learning to support precision agriculture and intelligent disease monitoring systems. Full article

A reasonable branch bending angle is essential for optimizing canopy structure and regulating metabolic distribution in fruit trees. ‘Jinyefoxilan’ is a new olive variety bred by crossing ‘Frantoio’ and Olea cuspidata Wall., characterized by rapid growth and high oil concentration. This study evaluated the physiological and metabolic responses of ‘Jinyefoxilan’ to natural growth (CK), 60°, 90°, and 110° bending. Parameters including leaf morphology, photosynthetic pigments, endogenous hormones, mineral distribution, and fruit quality were analyzed. The results demonstrated that the 60° treatment stimulated leaf gibberellin synthesis. The 90° treatment facilitated the synergistic enrichment of nitrogen and potassium in leaves, resulting in the highest fruit oil concentration, although the yield per plant was the lowest among all treatments. Conversely, 110° bending significantly altered the endogenous hormonal balance, with indole-3-acetic acid concentration reaching 13.3 times that of the CK. This treatment achieved the numerically highest fruit set rate and yield per plant, accompanied by significant accumulations of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. However, the 110° angle also induced severe N and K deficits, resulting in the lowest fruit moisture and oil concentration. In conclusion, 90° branch bending represents the optimal strategy for enhancing intrinsic fruit quality and oil accumulation. Although 110° bending maximizes yield, it necessitates supplemental potassium fertilization during fruit development to mitigate metabolic limitations. These findings provide a theoretical and practical basis for canopy management and cultivation of ‘Jinyefoxilan’ olives. Full article

Functional fresh cheeses can serve as effective carriers of bioactive compounds and probiotic cultures. This study developed a Casu Axedu cheese fortified with olive leaf phenolics and a probiotic-candidate Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP) strain. Three formulations were produced from thermised sheep milk: a control (CA-I), a cheese with LP (CA-IL) and a cheese combining olive leaf extract (OLE; 20 mg GAE 100 g⁻¹ milk) and LP (CA-IOL). In all experimental cheeses, inulin was included as a dietary fibre, and lactose hydrolysis was performed to improve product accessibility for lactose-intolerant consumers. Cheeses were stored at 3 ± 1 °C for 30 days and analysed for polyphenol profile, antioxidant capacity, physicochemical and nutritional characteristics, microbiological quality, sensory properties and consumer acceptance. OLE fortification approximately doubled the total polyphenols and produced a more than threefold increase in FRAP antioxidant capacity in CA-IOL, with a high percentage of the main olive leaf phenolics retained after 30 days. Composition, fatty acid profile, vitamin A/E and cholesterol contents were unaffected by OLE and LP addition; all formulations met “high in protein” and lactose-free label criteria (according to the guidelines issued by the Italian Ministry of Health DGISAN Communication No. 27673 of 7 July 2015), and the inulin-based “source of fibre” claim was supported by formulation and mass-balance calculation. Presumptive lactobacilli remained at high counts throughout storage in the LP-containing cheeses, and OLE neither impaired the lactic microflora nor promoted coliform growth. OLE addition increased perceived bitterness, astringency and olive-like notes in CA-IOL, moderately reducing liking scores relative to those of the control among the tested consumer panel (5.25 ± 1.7 at 30 d); mean liking nonetheless remained above the neutral point of the 9-point hedonic scale. Overall, combining inulin, olive leaf extract and a probiotic-candidate L. plantarum strain enabled the production of a Casu Axedu cheese with enhanced antioxidant properties and improved nutritional features while retaining acceptable sensory quality. This approach represents a promising strategy for the valorisation of olive by-products and the development of innovative sheep milk dairy products consistent with circular economy principles. Full article

Olive leaves, a major byproduct of olive processing, are generated in large quantities annually yet suffer from inefficient utilization and low added value. In this study, response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the extraction conditions of oleuropein from olive leaves. Additionally, the antioxidant activity of purified oleuropein and its protective effect against tret-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP)-induced oxidative damage in the human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK-293) cell line were investigated. The optimal extraction conditions for oleuropein were determined as follows: extraction temperature of 71 °C, extraction time of 72 min, ethanol concentration of 58%, and solid–liquid ratio of 1:27 (mg/mL), yielding an oleuropein recovery of 44.5%. The extract was purified and identified as oleuropein via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Oleuropein exhibited remarkable antioxidant activity and mitigated TBHP-induced oxidative damage in HEK-293 cells by inhibiting apoptosis. TBHP treatment reduced cell viability by approximately 70%, while treatment with 100 and 200 μg/mL oleuropein restored the decreased cell viability to 100%. Morphological observations and 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining revealed that TBHP induced apoptotic cell death characterized by nuclear condensation and fragmentation, and this effect was reversed by oleuropein treatment. Flow cytometry analysis showed that TBHP caused approximately 90% cell death, whereas co-treatment with oleuropein reduced cell death to only about 10%. TBHP downregulated the expression of p53, and oleuropein reactivated its expression, highlighting the role of oleuropein in the recovery of the cellular antioxidant system. This study possibly indicated the protective mechanism of oleuropein against oxidative damage-related diseases and provides a theoretical basis for the development of olive leaves as a potential ingredient in functional foods. Full article

Olive tree (Olea europaea L.) cultivation is increasingly challenged by climate change and the necessity for more sustainable crop management strategies. In this context, plant biostimulants have emerged as inputs of high potential for improving crop performance and resilience. Nonetheless, knowledge of their underlying biochemical mechanisms remains largely fragmented. Here, an untargeted GC/EI/MS-based metabolomics approach was employed to investigate the early metabolic responses of young olive trees to foliar application of two commercial biostimulants: a seaweed (SE)- and a harpin (HRP)-based formulation. Leaf samples were collected seven days post-treatment and were subjected to photosynthetic-content and metabolomics analyses. The former revealed no statistically significant differences in chlorophyll and carotenoid contents among treatments, indicating that photosynthetic pigment homeostasis was maintained. In contrast, metabolomics analysis demonstrated extensive and coordinated metabolic reprogramming induced by both products. SE treatments resulted in a primarily promoted growth-oriented metabolic profile, characterized by enhanced carbon utilization, modulation of antioxidant metabolism, activation of plastidial isoprenoid biosynthesis, and remodeling of the shikimate–phenylpropanoid pathway. Conversely, HRP treatments elicited a distinct stress-priming signature involving the accumulation of α,α-trehalose, phytol, and α-ketoglutaric acid, together with membrane lipid remodeling associated with improved osmoprotection and stress acclimation. These findings provide novel insights into the mode(s) of action of olive biostimulants and highlight the importance of metabolomics for identifying biochemical markers associated with enhanced plant resilience and sustainable olive production. Full article

In this study, olive mill leaves (OMLs), a waste generated during the olive cleaning at the mill, were used as an adsorbent for removing methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution. An Olive Leaf-based Adsorbent (OLA) was prepared from OMLs with minimal processing. The maximum adsorption capacity experimentally measured for OLA was q_e = 12.8 mg∙g⁻¹. The adsorption of MB by OLA, primarily governed by electrostatic attraction, pore diffusion and weak interactions with functional groups of the leaves, is well described by the Koble–Corrigan isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The performance of OLA under practical environmental conditions, such as in synthetic wastewater, remained unchanged compared to tests carried out in ideal conditions. The possibility of regenerating OLA with methanol, HCl and NaCl solutions was demonstrated, allowing the material to be reused for at least three cycles with unchanged performance. A life cycle assessment was conducted to compare the impacts of OLA production with those of activated carbon, a benchmark for adsorbent materials. Overall, despite its moderate adsorptive performance, OLA stands out as a highly sustainable material for dye removal from polluted waters, owing to its exceptional cost-effectiveness, reusability, and minimal environmental impact. Full article

Anxiety symptomatology and excess weight are associated with chronic low-grade inflammation. Olive leaf extract (OLE) contains polyphenols with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that have shown anxiolytic-like effects in experimental models; however, evidence in humans remains limited. This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled pilot trial evaluated the effects of OLE supplementation on anxiety symptomatology, inflammatory markers, and metabolic parameters in women with excess weight and mild to moderate anxiety symptoms. Participants received OLE (750 mg/day) or placebo for 12 weeks. Anxiety symptomatology was assessed using HAM-A, BAI, and STAI, while inflammatory and metabolic parameters were evaluated at baseline and post-intervention. Since the expected sample size was not achieved, our results are preliminary. No effect was observed from OLE supplementation. However, some differences within groups can direct future researchers interested in evaluating these parameters. OLE supplementation correlated with a particular reduction phenotype in anxious symptomatology (HAM-A, BAI and STAI-Trait) with inflammatory (hs-CRP) and metabolic parameters (c-HDL) that may open the possibility of an anti-inflammatory effect. In contrast, the observations in the Pb group seemed more associated with a pro-inflammatory state and a placebo effect related to somatic symptoms of anxiety. These preliminary observations need to be confirmed with larger randomized clinical trials that may help clarify these results and the possible underlying mechanisms. Full article

Vitex madiensis Oliv. (Lamiaceae) is a species growing in tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world. In several African countries, the different organs of this plant, leaves, fruits, stem bark and roots are used in folk medicine for the treatment of headaches, toothaches, aches and pains. In this study, we investigated the phytochemical profile of Vitex madiensis leaf extracts using LC-MS. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of crude extracts, fractions, and pure molecules was evaluated using reactive oxygen species (ROSs) production assays and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition assays. A bio-guided fractionation was carried out to identify the most active fractions and resulted in the isolation of four phytoecdysteroids from the n-butanol fraction: 20-hydroxyecdysone, ajugasterone C, vitexirone, and pterosterone. 20-hydroxyecdysone showed very good anti-inflammatory properties with a significant reduction of more than 70% of COX-2 expression in induced LPS-stimulated human blood leukocytes compared to the control. This study confirmed the therapeutic potential of phytoecdysteroids. Full article

This study assessed the potential of Oleaster leaves as a valuable cosmetic ingredient by comparing aqueous and hydroalcoholic ultrasound-assisted extracts of Oleaster leaves to those of the Olive tree. The hydroalcoholic Oleaster leaf extract showed a higher content in phenolic and flavonoid compounds, with an oleuropein and verbascoside content of 58 mg/g of dry leaves and 3.2 mg/g of dry leaves, respectively. To refine the comparison of their molecular composition, the extracts were analyzed using UHPLC-HRMS/MS. About twenty compounds, including secoiridoids, flavonoids and triterpenic acid derivatives, were annotated in both extracts, demonstrating their similarity. DPPH, CUPRAC and enzymatic SOD assays showed a good antioxidant activity with high inhibition (60–90%) for both Oleaster and Olive tree leaf extracts. The hydroalcoholic extracts at 62.5 µg/mL also exhibited 60–80% of protection against reactive oxygen species (ROS) in H₂O₂-stressed HaCaT cells, confirming this antioxidant capacity without demonstrating a severe cytotoxicity, which remained below 40%. The anti-inflammatory potential of the extracts was also demonstrated using COX-2 inhibition, which was around 70%, and by measuring the concentration of IL-8 in HaCaT cells under pro-inflammatory conditions, which decreased in the presence of extracts at a concentration of 50 pg/mL, similar to that observed for the positive control. Thus, the hydroalcoholic ultrasound extract of Oleaster leaves demonstrated its high potential to develop sustainable and active cosmetic ingredients. Full article

Crackers and cookies have become the most widely consumed snacks due to their low production costs, long shelf life, and ability to deliver essential nutrients. Increasing consumer health consciousness has shifted preferences toward foods perceived as natural and beneficial. This shift elevates demand for cracker formulations with novel, health-promoting natural ingredients. This study examined the effects of incorporating freeze-dried olive leaf powder (FDOLP) into crackers on their physicochemical properties, phenolic and volatile compound profiles, antioxidant capacity, and sensory acceptability. Total polyphenol content of crackers was determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu method, while antioxidant capacity was evaluated by FRAP and DPPH assays. The UHPLC-ESI-HRMS analysis evaluated olive-derived compounds, including tyrosol, oleuropein derivatives, and pinoresinol 4-O-glucoside, present in olive leaf-enriched crackers. The characterisation of volatile compounds in crackers was performed using headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-MS). A darker colour was observed in the enriched crackers compared to the control samples. Results demonstrated that increasing the proportion of FDOLP led to enhanced phenolic composition and antioxidant activity, as well as changes in the volatile profile of the crackers. Sensory analyses indicated that crackers enriched with moderate levels of FDOLP maintained acceptable overall sensory scores, suggesting a potential for the development of functional snacks. These findings demonstrate that olive leaves can be effectively utilised as a natural functional ingredient in cracker formulations to enhance their nutritional value and bioactive properties. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation with nano- and micro-encapsulated polyphenol extract (PE) from olive leaves (OL) and olive mill wastewater (OMWW), respectively, on growth, carcass and meat quality traits in Podolian young bulls. Fifteen 12-month-old bulls were assigned to three groups: C (control); T1 (40 g/day nano-encapsulated PE from OL); and T2 (400 g/day olive leaf pellets plus 30 g/day micro-encapsulated PE from OMWW) for 40 days. Final body weight and carcass yield were unaffected, although the average daily gain was higher in T2 (p < 0.05). Meat from T2 exhibited lower moisture and higher protein content (p < 0.01) compared with the other groups. T1 showed higher α-tocopherol levels (p < 0.05). Lipid oxidation was reduced in both treated groups (p < 0.01). Monounsaturated fatty acids tended to decrease in treated groups (p = 0.057), while saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were unaffected. However, T2 showed higher total n-3 PUFA (p < 0.05), and a more favourable n-6/n-3 ratio (p < 0.01) was found in treated groups. These results highlight the potential of olive–derived polyphenols as functional feed ingredients to enhance meat quality and promote sustainable, circular livestock systems. Full article

Traditionally, various herbs and spices are used to enhance the flavor and aroma of vegetable oils, but also to improve their nutritional value and stability. The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of sea fennel, an aromatic edible Mediterranean halophyte plant, leaf infusion, on the chemical composition of four unrefined edible vegetable oils (olive, sunflower, sesame and flaxseed oil). During the 90-day storage period, the quality parameters of the oils (peroxide value, free fatty acids and fatty acid profile), as well as their volatiles, were monitored. Free fatty acids and peroxide values increased in all samples, with the greatest increase in the olive oil (11% and 45%, respectively), while the effect on the fatty acid profile was negligible. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed the effect of oil aromatization by sea fennel components and confirmed the differences between oil samples. The results suggest that the addition of sea fennel to vegetable oils leads to changes in their chemical composition, and the parameters tested varied between the oils used. Full article