Search Results (207)

Mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOH), comprising saturated (MOSH) and aromatic (MOAH) compounds, are ubiquitous lipophilic contaminants. This review critically examines their occurrence, toxicology, analysis, contamination sources, and mitigation strategies in the olive oil sector. Emphasis is placed on analytical evolution, highlighting online LC-GC-FID and the EN ISO 20122:2024 standard, including advances in saponification and epoxidation to minimize biogenic interferences. Monitoring data reveal that virgin olive oils from the market can sometimes exceed the 2.0 mg/kg limit for the MOAH. Ten times higher levels are usually found in olive pomace oils (OPOs). In OPO, solvent extraction causes a significant reconcentration of hydrocarbons remaining on the solid matter after physical extraction and accumulating during the open-air storage of pomace. Conversely, for virgin oils, contamination can occur at multiple points along the supply chain, but harvesting emerged as the most important critical step, often due to accidental contact with lubricants, greases, or hydraulic fluids. Post-milling operations may also contribute to contamination. Mitigation strategies rely on Good Agricultural and Manufacturing Practices, focusing on the systematic replacement of technical-grade lubricants with food-grade alternatives. Additionally, olive washing can reduce initial MOSH content, while refining further lowers levels, particularly in lighter fractions. Full article

Sol–gel-based optical functional sensor coatings were developed for real-time monitoring of multiphase saponification reactions in microreactors. Various pH-sensitive indicator mixtures, including bromocresol green and bromocresol purple (BCG and BCP) and methyl red–methyl orange, were incorporated into sol–gel coatings and evaluated on test plates across pH range of 2–12. Coatings with BCG and BCP 1:3 demonstrated the most pronounced color change at high pH (11–12), with distinct hue (H) transitions providing a reliable measure of local pH. These optimized coatings were integrated into microreactor channels to track the passage of oil and NaOH slugs under varying flow rates. Hue analysis produced reproducible plateaus corresponding to NaOH-rich (H = 50°) and oil-rich (H = 41°) phases, enabling droplet-level resolution of slug flow and detection of flow-regime transitions. The sensor response was fully reversible, highlighting the robustness and reusability of the coatings. Unlike previous high-resolution fluorescence-based systems, this approach relies on simple visible-light imaging and low-cost data extraction, leaving the reaction chemistry unaltered. The results demonstrate that sol–gel coatings coupled with hue-based analysis provide a practical, noninvasive, and real-time monitoring strategy for multiphase reactions in microreactors, with potential for implementation in industrial or IoT-enabled process control systems. Full article

Current industrial sources of tocotrienols are almost entirely composed of tropical monocots. However, recent reports have observed significant tocotrienol (T3) contents in eudicot families, including Passifloraceae. While passion fruits are also tropical, their cultivation is not strictly limited to rainforests, and seeds are often a by-product of fruit processing. To elucidate tocochromanol production in the Passifloraceae family, seeds (54 samples representing 18 species) were gathered from botanical gardens worldwide. Ultrasound-assisted extraction in ethanol (UAEE) was compared with the standard saponification protocol as a greener alternative. Tocotrienols constituted a major percentage (48–91%) of Passifloraceae species’ seed tocochromanols, and γ-T3 (12–53%) and δ-T3 (8–68%) were major contributors. Although a higher δ-T3 content was observed in some Passiflora species, it was less consistent than the γ-T3 content between and within species. The highest total tocochromanol content was observed in P. subpeltata (28.98 ± 5.83 mg 100 g⁻¹ dry weight). The UAEE protocol recovered tocotrienols and tocopherols at degrees similar to those of saponification (100% and 93%, respectively). Therefore, UAEE could also be proposed for the effective recovery of these valuable phytochemicals from by-products of Passiflora fruits. Full article

Inspired by the lack of wide-scale family level screenings, the profile of tocochromanols in Berberidaceae family species belonging to the Berberis, Mahonia, Caulophyllum, Jeffersonia and Podophyllum genera was studied. Seeds were acquired from botanical gardens around the world and tocopherol and tocotrienol content was tested using ultrasound-assisted extraction in ethanol (UAEE) and compared to saponification protocol and analyzed by an RP-HPLC-FLD system. The UAEE protocol produced 93% average tocochromanol recovery compared to the saponification protocol. All investigated samples were tocotrienol-dominated, the lowest proportions being in B. regeliana, B. thunbergii and B. aristata at means of 55%, 56% and 58%, respectively. The main tocochromanol constituents were α-tocotrienol and γ-tocotrienol. The highest α-tocotrienol content was observed in B. tchonskyana at 9.14 mg 100 g⁻¹ dw, and the highest γ-tocotrienol and sum of free tocochromanol content was observed in J. diphylla at 18.00 and 23.76 mg 100 g⁻¹ dw, respectively. Principal component analysis and k-means cluster analysis based on a free tocochromanol profile indicated γ-tocotrienol and α-tocotrienol content as the main differentiators. However, a comprehensive sample set could only be collected for the Berberis genus, warranting further research into Berberidaceae seed tocochromanols. Full article

Phytochemicals have recently gained considerable attention for their therapeutic and nutraceutical potential. Particularly, policosanols and phytosterols have shown promising lipid-lowering effects through distinct mechanisms. Therefore, the combination of these two compound classes should offer synergistic benefits, enhancing cholesterol reduction. Despite various protocols having been developed for extracting these compounds from plant matrices, challenges remain regarding yields, high purity, non-toxicity and general biocompatibility of extracts. Tackling these aspects, this study provides an efficient co-extraction and purification method for policosanols and phytosterols from Sorghum bicolor subsp. bicolor, a plant rich in both such compounds. The newly developed protocol involved crude lipid extraction, saponification, column chromatographic purification and compound identification using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). High yields for both policosanols and phytosterols were obtained with fractions pure and rich in a wide variety of compounds of both classes, some of which have never been described before for the species. Moreover, analyses revealed, for the first time, the presence of a variety of terpenes. The biocompatibility of the extracts has been evaluated as well, through MTT-based in vitro assays. The novel, promising approach would allow us to obtain compound-rich and safe extracts, suitable for nutraceutical applications. Full article

The valorization of waste cooking oils (WCOs) provides a strategy to reduce environmental impact while converting residues from the food industry into valuable products. This study developed and characterized antimicrobial soaps from purified WCOs (sunflower, palm, and pumpkin oils) enriched with natural bioactive ingredients. WCOs were purified by filtration, treatment with 10% NaCl, and bleaching with 3% H₂O₂, followed by cold saponification with NaOH. Twelve soap formulations were prepared, including six enriched with bee products (propolis, poly-floral honey, linden, acacia, honeydew, and sunflower) and six enriched with essential oils (EOs) (clove, rosemary, mace, nutmeg, white pepper, and juniper). The WCOs, natural bioactive ingredients, and soaps were characterized using physico-chemical methods (FTIR, GC-FID, phenols, flavonoids, etc.), while their antibacterial activity was determined against two microbial strains: Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The antimicrobial activity of soaps is related to their alkaline pH, while the addition of honey, propolis, or EOs contributes to additional antimicrobial effects. Among honey- and propolis-enriched soaps, those with propolis produced the largest inhibition zones (up to 8.67 mm for S. aureus and 7.0 mm for E. coli). EO-based soaps exhibited higher activity, with rosemary EO-based soap showing the largest zones (up to 9.5 mm for S. aureus and 7.5 mm for E. coli). These data support the potential of enriched soaps containing honey, propolis, and EOs for antimicrobial applications, highlighting their value as a sustainable alternative in the valorization of WCOs. Full article

The application of advanced imaging techniques, particularly computed tomography (CT), photogrammetric scanning, and three-dimensional reconstructions of body surfaces and skeletal remains, is becoming a crucial component of Forensic Anthropology. These tools enable a non-invasive and highly standardized analysis of both intact cadavers and human remains recovered from terrestrial or aquatic environments, providing reliable support in identification processes, traumatological reconstruction, and the assessment of taphonomic processes. In the context of estimating the Post-Mortem Interval (PMI) and the Post-Mortem Submersion Interval (PMSI), digital imaging allows for the objective and reproducible documentation of morphological changes associated with decomposition, saponification, skeletonization, and taphonomic patterns specific to the recovery environment. Specifically, CT enables the precise assessment of gas accumulation, transformations in residual soft tissues, and structural bone modifications, while photogrammetry and 3D reconstructions facilitate the longitudinal monitoring of transformative processes in both terrestrial and underwater contexts. These observations enhance the reliability of PMI/PMSI estimates through integrated models that combine morphometric, taphonomic, and environmental data. Beyond PMI/PMSI estimation, imaging techniques play a central role in anthropological bioprofiling, facilitating the estimation of age, sex, and stature, the analysis of dental characteristics, and the evaluation of antemortem or perimortem trauma, including damage caused by terrestrial or fauna. Three-dimensional documentation also provides a permanent, shareable archive suitable for comparative analyses, ensuring transparency and reproducibility in investigations. Although not a complete substitute for traditional autopsy or anthropological examination, imaging serves as an essential complement, particularly in cases where the integrity of remains must be preserved or where environmental conditions hinder the direct handling of osteological material. Future directions include the development of AI-based predictive models for PMI/PMSI estimation using automated analysis of post-mortem changes, greater standardization of imaging protocols for aquatic remains, and the use of digital sensors and multimodal techniques to characterize microstructural alterations not detectable by the naked eye. The integration of high-resolution imaging and advanced analytical algorithms promises to further enhance the reconstructive accuracy and interpretative capacity of Forensic Anthropology. Full article

Objectives: The industrial production of lanolin alcohol currently employs batch saponification, which suffers from high energy consumption, prolonged processing time, and excessive solid waste generation, rendering it incompatible with green chemistry principles. This study aimed to develop an efficient, sustainable saponification process by addressing these limitations through integrating large language models (LLMs) with microfluidic technology. Methods: An LLM-based intelligent agent called SapoMind (version 1.0) was constructed. SapoMind employs LLMs as its software core and a continuous-flow microreactor as the experimental platform. Its performance was enhanced through supervised fine-tuning. The system enables automated recommendation of saponification process parameters, autonomous experimental design, and automatic execution of experiments. Saponification conditions were automatically optimized considering product quality, energy consumption, material consumption, and time consumption. Results: The optimal continuous-flow saponification conditions were determined as 70 °C reaction temperature and 9 min residence time, producing lanolin alcohol complying with European Pharmacopoeia standards. Compared to batch processing, the optimized process reduced carbon emissions by 53% and solid waste by 37%, with the greenness score increasing from 82 to 93. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of LLM-driven intelligent agents in optimizing green chemical processes. SapoMind offers significant environmental and operational benefits for lanolin alcohol production. Full article

Although not major crops, Cornaceae species, the dogwood family, are common in most continents and used primarily as ornamental crops, though some are used for food as well. In the present study, tocochromanol–tocopherol (T) and tocotrienol (T3)–contents were analyzed in the seeds of twenty-four Cornus species belonging to six Cornus subgenera. Given the substantial number of samples included in this study, we applied a fast extraction protocol using an ethanol and ultrasound treatment and systematically compared its performance with that of a conventional alkaline saponification method. Total tocochromanol content ranged from 0.78 to 21.63 mg 100 g⁻¹ dry weight (dw) seeds in C. kousa and C. controversa, respectively. The highest mean total tocochromanol content was (16.70 ± 5.28 mg 100 g⁻¹ dw), followed by C. nuttallii (12.96 mg 100 g⁻¹ dw) and C. sanguinea (9.10 ± 2.47 mg 100 g⁻¹ dw). The major tocochromanols in the seeds were γ-T3 (up to 93% in C. rugosa), α-T (up to 98% in C. mas) and γ-T (up to 60% in C. controversa). Tocochromanol composition was strongly subgenus-dependent. The applied sustainable solvent–ethanol and ultrasound-treatment approach for the extraction of tocochromanols demonstrated the suitability of this method for screening daily Cornus species seed samples and potential extraction. Full article

Most research on tocochromanols suggests that tocotrienols (T3) are rarely found in nature, especially in dicotyledonous species. The present study investigates species from the Ilex (holly) genus, the sole surviving genus in the Aquifoliaceae family. The study tested 29 species or hybrids from botanical gardens across Eurasia and the US. A direct ultrasound-assisted extraction in ethanol (UAEE) protocol was validated and used to extract tocochromanols. Tocochromanol recovery from seeds via UAEE ranged between 96–100%, compared to saponification. α-T3 and γ-T3 accounted for an average of 91% of all tocochromanols determined in Ilex species. The highest tocochromanol content was found in I. crenata and I. serrata (8.11 and 6.66 mg 100 g⁻¹ dry weight, respectively). A total of 19 of 29 species in the Aquifoliaceae family were dominated by α-T3. Differences between plant type (shrub/tree) and seasonality (deciduous/evergreen) were not statistically significant, and appear to be mainly influenced by other factors. Linear discriminant analysis identified I. crenata, I. asprella, I. × meserveae, I. vomitoria, and I. geniculata (all shrubby) as divergent. Full article

Daedaleanol B is a drimane-derived merosesquiterpenoid isolated from the brown-rot fungus Daedalea incana. Herein, we report its first enantioselective total synthesis from commercially available (+)-sclareolide. A one-pot transformation afforded 11-acetoxy drimane-8α-ol, which was saponificated and selectively esterified with enantiopure L-pyroglutamic acid to give crystalline hydroxy-daedaleanol. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction of this intermediate, together with the known configuration of the chiral starting materials, enabled assignment of the absolute configuration of the daedaleanol B framework. Final elimination provided daedaleanol B, whose NMR data matched those reported for the natural product. Both hydroxy-daedaleanol and daedaleanol B exhibited time- and concentration-dependent antiproliferative effects in HT-29 colorectal cancer cells, with higher activity observed for daedaleanol B. Full article

As part of the green valorization of crickets, cricket oil was extracted using supercritical CO₂ at temperatures of 40–60 °C, pressures of 175–225 bar, and extraction times of 1–5 h to evaluate oil yield and physicochemical properties. Optimization was performed using Response Surface Methodology with a Box–Behnken Design. Oil yield ranged from of 9.35 to 16.19%, with acid values of 2.45–5.14 mg KOH/g oil, peroxide values of 20.06–70.34 mEq O₂/kg oil, iodine values of 70.59–77.15 g I₂/100 g oil, and saponification values of 178.07–196.76 mg KOH/g oil. Total phenolic content was 19.56–50.73 mg GAE/kg oil, and antioxidant activity measured by DPPH and ABTS assays ranged from 3.29 to 49.97 and from 36.82 to 145.90 mg Eq Trolox/kg oil, respectively. The main fatty acids were palmitic (27.36–28.84%), oleic (25.00–30.23%), linoleic (27.02–34.96%), and stearic acid (6.81–8.17%). The optimal extraction condition (60 °C, 200 bar, 5 h) yielded 15.86% SC-CO₂-extracted cricket oil with favorable quality parameters, antioxidant activity, 1025 mg/100 g of cholesterol, and 14.9 mg/100 g of vitamin E. This oil was then used to study oxidative stability. With the addition of food-grade antioxidants (BHA, BHT, TBHQ, and DL-α-tocopherol at 75 mg/kg), TBHQ was the most effective in reducing oxidation, particularly at 45 and 55 °C. These findings demonstrate that supercritical CO₂ extraction efficiently produces high-quality, solvent-free cricket oil with enhanced oxidative stability. Optimization of extraction temperature, pressure, and time identified suitable conditions that improved the oil’s physicochemical characteristics, supporting a sustainable and environmentally friendly extraction approach for cricket-based ingredients. Full article

The lipid composition of the mycobint and photobiont symbiotic partners of lichenized ascomycetes varies greatly. The aim of this study was to compare the profile of the major sterols in two closely related lichens from the genus Lobaria with different photobionts. The three-component lichen Lobaria pulmonaria has two photobionts. While the main photobiont is the chlorophycean alga Symbiochloris reticulata, this lichen contains small amounts of the cyanobacterium Nostoc. By contrast, the cyanobacterium Nostoc is the main photobiont in Lobaria retigera. Relatively loosely bound sterols were extracted using a chloroform–methanol mixture, and subsequently, more tightly bound sterols by alkaline saponification. The initial chloroform–methanol extraction step indicated that ergosterol is the principal sterol in both species, with phytosterols constituting a minor fraction. However, the addition of an alkaline saponification step to the standard protocol of sterol extraction greatly increases the release of tightly bound phytosterols, such as campesterol, stigmasterol, and β-sitosterol from L. pulmonaria, but not from L. retigera. Therefore, the mycobionts and Nostoc mainly possess sterols extractable by the standard mixture of chloroform/methanol, while the chlorophycean algal photobiont contains tightly bound sterols. This observation could be important when studying the roles of sterols in the stress tolerance of lichens. Full article

Chicken egg is included among the main components of the human diet as an important source of nutrients, such as proteins, lipids, vitamins, minerals and carotenoids. The latter are terpenoid pigments present in egg yolks, providing their color and playing a vital role because of their significant bioactivities. The carotenoid content of egg yolk varies considerably since it is strongly influenced by the respective laying hens’ farming and feeding procedures, and there is therefore a need to establish an efficient method for their assessment. The absence of such a method prompted us to develop a novel procedure consisting of the extraction, saponification and quantitative assessment of contained carotenoids. For this purpose, the optimal conditions for the extraction of carotenoids from egg yolks were defined, along with the optimal saponification conditions of carotenoids, with respect to reaction duration and pH influence on the extract’s contents of lutein and zeaxanthin. The carotenoid content of extracts was determined using a novel, developed herein LC-MS/MS method that allows the accurate, fast and simultaneous quantitation of the 11 most abundant carotenoids in egg yolks. The method accuracy and reliability were validated for six different parameters determined for each analyte. The novel procedure was applied for the assessment of the carotenoid content of ten egg yolks of diverse origin, indicating the bioactive carotenoids lutein and retinol as the most abundant, while lesser amounts of the remaining natural and synthetic carotenoids were found and there was no trace of fucoxanthin or astaxanthin molecules. The results herein revealed a variation in the carotenoid content of chicken eggs that depended on the diet and farming method of egg-laying hens. Full article

Rapeseed pomace, a by-product of oil processing, is a rich source of bioactive compounds with potential antioxidant properties. This study aimed to evaluate the tocopherol content and antioxidant capacity of rapeseed pomace in comparison with commonly used edible oils. Chromatographic analysis using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC–ED), spectrophotometric assays including 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and the Folin–Ciocalteu method, as well as electrochemical approaches such as cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), were applied to provide a comprehensive assessment. Rapeseed pomace exhibited the highest total tocopherol concentration (>70 mg/100 g) and strong antioxidant activity confirmed across all assays. Significant correlations (r ≈ 0.9) between spectrophotometric and electrochemical results demonstrated the reliability of the applied techniques. In addition, methanol extraction was applied as an alternative to saponification, providing a straightforward approach for tocopherol determination. The findings highlight rapeseed pomace as a valuable natural antioxidant source and support the applicability of electrochemical methods for the evaluation of edible oils. Full article