Search Results (4,961)

Wines produced in high-altitude regions (above 900 m) in Santa Catarina, Brazil, have gained recognition for their high quality, intense colour, aromatic complexity and balanced sensory profile. Among the emerging grape varieties cultivated in this region, Montepulciano (Vitis vinifera L.), traditionally grown in central Italy, has gained increasing attention. This exploratory study evaluated the evolution of Montepulciano wines from the 2020/21 vintage during bottle ageing over 12 months. Colour parameters were determined using the CIELab system (a*, b*, and L*), volatile compounds were analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), phenolic compounds were analysed by high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-QqTOF-MS), and antioxidant capacity was analysed by ABTS^•+ and DPPH assays. The wines exhibited measurable changes in colour, volatile compounds, selected phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity during the 12-month storage period. Overall, the results indicate that the wines produced from Montepulciano grapes cultivated in the high-altitude regions of Santa Catarina exhibited distinct chemical trajectories during bottle storage, highlighting the exploratory potential of monitoring their chemical evolution over time. Full article

The spectral composition and duration of light exposure can influence plant growth, secondary metabolism, and essential oil composition in medicinal and aromatic plants. Here, we evaluated the effects of lighting regime and exposure duration on the biochemical traits and essential oil composition of rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus Spenn.) under controlled conditions. Plants were exposed to white, blue, red, red/blue LED, or natural sunlight for 2, 3, or 4 weeks. The artificial light treatments were maintained at 200 ± 10 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ PPFD, whereas the sunlight treatment was not PPFD-matched and therefore served as a greenhouse reference rather than a spectrum-matched control. Four biological replicates were used for each treatment. Chlorophyll, carotenoids, soluble sugars, total phenolics and flavonoids, DPPH radical scavenging activity, and essential oil composition were assessed. Essential oils were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Lighting regime and exposure duration significantly affected several biochemical traits, whereas total phenolic content was not significantly affected by lighting regime. Red/blue LED treatment was associated with the highest mean values of total chlorophyll, carotenoids, total flavonoids, soluble sugars, and DPPH radical scavenging activity, although statistical significance varied among traits. Approximately 37 volatile compounds were identified across the treatments. The major constituents included α-pinene, 1,8-cineole, camphor, verbenone, borneol, bornyl acetate, and camphene and their relative abundances varied among lighting regimes and exposure durations. Principal component analysis (PCA) described differences in multivariate essential oil profiles among treatment combinations, while correlation analysis revealed associations among the relative abundances of volatile constituents. The highest essential oil yield was obtained under blue light at week 2 (1.53 ± 0.02% dry weight), whereas red/blue lighting at week 3 was associated with favorable responses in several biochemical traits. Thus, no single lighting regime and exposure duration was optimal for all measured traits. These findings indicate that lighting regime and exposure duration may be useful factors for modulating specific biochemical and essential oil characteristics of rosemary under controlled environment conditions. Full article

The fashion industry is a recognized source of water and soil pollution, yet its contribution to air quality across the garment lifecycle has received comparatively less attention. Building on prior work linking fast fashion to chemical exposure in textiles to the industry’s sustainability challenges, this review traces airborne exposures and respiratory health from production to disposal. In manufacturing, decades of epidemiolocal evidence document occupational respiratory disease, including byssinosis and lung function decline, driven by cotton dust, volatile organic compounds, and finishing agents, with the burden concentrated in low- and middle-income countries where production has relocated and enforcement is limited. At the disposal end, the open burning of discarded garments releases particulate matter, dioxins, furans, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, with an estimated 10 to 20 million metric tons of textile waste burned annually across 137 countries, though community-level health outcomes remain largely unquantified. As a result of fast fashion, accelerating production amplifies exposures at both ends. The review maps the available evidence, identifies gaps, most notably the absence of community respiratory data at disposal sites, and examines regulatory frameworks and interventions with demonstrated potential to reduce exposure. Throughout, those most exposed are largely not those wearing the garments. Full article

Commercial aromatic herbs sold under the names thyme and oregano may encompass heterogeneous plant materials, making chemical-profile screening important even when botanical identity is unknown. This study characterized 110 commercial products marketed in Türkiye and evaluated whether portable near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy could predict chemical-profile classes derived independently from GC-FID/MS data. Commercial labels were recorded but were not treated as verified species identities. Essential oils were measured in technical duplicate for 23 volatile compounds; replicate means were subjected to compositional data treatment, principal component analysis and Ward clustering. Two clusters were selected by the silhouette criterion (0.485), and cluster stability under technical-replicate resampling was high (median adjusted Rand index, 0.907). Cluster 1 (n = 17) was relatively enriched in sabinene, caryophyllene, carvacrol and delta-3-carene, whereas Cluster 2 (n = 93) showed higher myrcene, p-cymene, alpha-pinene and beta-pinene. Two NIR spectra were collected per sample. To prevent replicate leakage, spectra were averaged before repeated nested cross-validation; a grouped-replicate analysis was also performed. A majority-class baseline achieved 84.55% accuracy but only 0.500 balanced accuracy. The best primary model, shrinkage linear discriminant analysis, yielded a mean accuracy of 0.689, a balanced accuracy of 0.565, a macro-F1 of 0.530 and a Matthews correlation coefficient of 0.103. The grouped-replicate sensitivity analysis gave a balanced accuracy of 0.592. Thus, GC-FID/MS revealed a stable chemical-profile structure, but portable NIR did not reliably recover the minority chemical class. NIR may support exploratory triage after broader calibration, but the present data do not support stand-alone botanical authentication or definitive chemical-class assignment. Full article

Liupao tea tended to suffer from unbalanced microbial community structure during storage, which further caused quality deterioration of tea, resulting in economic losses and potential food safety risks. Nixing Pottery (NP) exhibited remarkable advantages in the storage and fresh keeping of tea. Taking glass containers (GC) as the control group, this study investigated the effects of NP on the infusion color, non-volatile internal components, volatile aromatic components, and microbial community structure of Liupao tea during a 24-month storage period. The results indicated that Liupao tea stored in NP showed significant differences compared with that stored in GC. Compared with the tea stored in GC, Liupao tea preserved in NP for 24 months exhibited a reddish-brown appearance with higher brightness, and the degradation rates of non-volatile substances, such as water extracts, free amino acids, and tea polyphenols, were relatively slower. A total of 128 volatile compounds were detected by GC-MS, among which 34 were differential volatile compounds, and these compounds collectively led to the flavor differences between Liupao tea stored in NP and GC. High-throughput sequencing results revealed that Firmicutes and Proteobacteria maintained stable dominant positions for a long time in the NP storage system. Correlation analysis suggested statistical associations between microorganisms, including Firmicutes and Eurotiales, and the transformation of major chemical components in Liupao tea. This study laid a theoretical foundation for the storage and fresh keeping of Liupao tea, the industrial promotion of NP, and the development of new natural mineral-based packaging materials for fermented tea. Full article

Peganum harmala L. is a xerophytic medicinal and aromatic plant of considerable ethnopharmacological importance, characterized by a rich diversity of β-carboline alkaloids, phenolic compounds, and essential oil constituents. Despite increasing scientific interest, current knowledge remains fragmented across phytochemistry, essential oils, extraction technologies, biological activities, and safety assessments. This review provides an integrated overview of the essential oil composition, extraction methods, analytical characterization, biological properties, toxicological considerations, and emerging applications of P. harmala. Particular emphasis is given to organ-specific chemical variability, geographical and environmental influences on volatile profiles, and the importance of standardized chemical characterization for reliable bioactivity evaluation. Conventional extraction methods, including hydrodistillation and steam distillation, are critically compared with emerging green technologies such as ultrasound-assisted, microwave-assisted, and supercritical CO₂ extraction. Advanced analytical tools, including GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, NMR, and chemometric approaches, are highlighted for comprehensive phytochemical profiling. Reported biological activities include antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anticancer, and agricultural effects, although their translation requires rigorous chemical standardization, mechanistic validation, and safety evaluation. Overall, this review emphasizes that the sustainable development of P. harmala should rely on quality-by-design strategies integrating botanical authentication, chemotyping, green extraction, and regulatory-oriented toxicological assessment. Full article

Spearmint is a medicinal and aromatic crop vulnerable to several diseases, and its cultivation relies heavily on chemical inputs, which can alter phytonutrient quality and raise environmental and health concerns. To address this, the current study focused on developing a safe bioformulation to promote growth and natural defense in spearmint. The bioformulation is based on four plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), Bacillus aryabhathai, Brevibacterium frigoritolerans, Bacillus vallismortis, and Pseudomonas frederiksbergensis, encapsulated in 2% natural alginate. The compositional, structural, and morphological properties of alginate powder and beads were characterized. The beads were evaluated for encapsulation efficiency, bacterial survival, release, and degradation in soil. The bioformulation was applied to the rhizosphere of spearmint and was assessed for its effects on plant growth and natural defenses. Extracted alginate exhibited high purity and structural integrity, and encapsulation efficiency reached 99.99%, providing long-term protection and bacterial viability while regulating their release. The encapsulated consortium notably increased the number of branches, height, and biomass in spearmint. Additionally, a potential induction of plant defense response was observed, as indicated by increased phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity, higher phenolic compound levels, and lignin accumulation in the roots and shoots of treated plants. These findings highlight the biostimulating effects of these four PGPR encapsulated in alginate on spearmint’s defense and growth. Full article

This study assessed how rootstocks affect the physicochemical traits, sensory quality, and aroma profile of ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ (CS) wine to guide rootstock selection in arid regions. Self-grafted vines (CS/CS) were the control, and five combinations (CS/5BB, CS/140R, CS/5C, CS/SO4, CS/kangzhen3) were vinified using standard procedures. Physicochemical indices, CIELab colour, and sensory attributes were evaluated; volatiles were analysed by HS-SPME-GC-MS and interpreted using PCA, OPLS-DA, and OAVs. All wines met national dry red wine standards. CS/SO4 showed the best overall physicochemical quality (composite PCA score 4.167, ranked first) and significantly higher dry extract, total sugar, soluble solids, and resveratrol than CS/CS. CS/5BB had the highest total semi-quantitative aroma compound content (53,278.32 μg·L⁻¹) and the greatest ester proportion (42.85%), exceeding the other treatments (10.98–38.61%). Ninety-four volatiles were identified; 13 compounds exhibited OAV > 1, mainly esters (ethyl butyrate, ethyl hexanoate, and ethyl octanoate) and aldehydes (hexanal and heptanal) imparting fruity, floral, and green notes. OPLS-DA identified 15 discriminant compounds (VIP > 1), including ethyl acetate, phenethyl alcohol, and isopentanol. CS/5BB and CS/5C were enriched in floral/fruity esters, whereas CS/140R and CS/CS showed stronger vegetal/chemical notes. Rootstock significantly altered physicochemical properties, colour, antioxidant capacity, and aroma; CS/SO4 may improve balance and ageing potential, while CS/5BB enhances aroma complexity and fruit expression. As the data were obtained from a single vineyard site and a single harvest year, these findings require validation in multi-year trials. Full article

Musk, a precious traditional Chinese medicine, is secreted by the male forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii). The gut microbiota plays an essential role in host metabolism, yet its relationship with musk traits remains poorly understood. Here, 16S rRNA sequencing of 89 fecal samples was integrated with musk quality (color and moisture) and yield data to investigate how fecal bacterial communities influence these traits. Distinct microbial consortia were associated with musk traits. Aromatic and sulfur-metabolizing taxa (norank_f_Actinomycetaceae, Nocardioides, Rhodococcus, and Mailhella) were associated with degradation of aromatic compounds and sulfur-containing amino acids, potentially contributing to muscone and other bioactive aroma components. Short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) producing taxa (Blautia, Phascolarctobacterium, Oscillospiraceae UCG-005, unclassified_f_Lachnospiraceae, Anaerovorax, Parabacteroides, Prevotellaceae_UCG-003, Christensenellaceae R-7 group, and Bacteroides) were capable of fiber decomposition and may supply energy for steroid synthesis via SCFAs, favoring high-quality musk formation. Ketogulonicigenium vulgare was linked to anti-inflammatory polypeptides and steroids. These potential indicators may facilitate early selection of high-yielding deer, inform probiotic/prebiotic interventions, and support dietary strategies to improve gut health and musk productivity, thereby reducing poaching and promoting the sustainable conservation of this endangered species. Full article

To elucidate how quality is reshaped in introduced tea varieties under Guizhou’s unique ecological conditions and to identify quality advantages and flavor differences between exotic and local germplasm resources, this study investigated the quality characteristics of tea plant germplasm from different geographic origins under Guizhou’s ecological conditions. Quality components and volatile aroma compounds were analyzed in four introduced cultivars (CC4H, SLX, SMCY, HJC1) and two local cultivars (QM601, GZSC). Sensory evaluation indicated that CC4H, SMCY, and HJC1 were more suitable for manufacturing premium green tea in the local area. GC-MS identified 147 volatile compounds, with alcohols present at the highest concentrations (1090.69–1499.18 μg/kg). SMCY had the highest total alcohol content. rOAV analysis confirmed that benzaldehyde, (E)-β-damascone, β-ionone, and 1-octene-3-one are the key contributors to the aroma profile. Among the introduced cultivars, SMCY stands out for its floral and aromatic compounds; SLX is notably rich in floral and fruity aldehydes and esters; CC4H has a distinct roasted sweetness, and HJC1 offers the best freshness. The local variety QM601 exhibits synergistic accumulation of tea polyphenols and fruity terpenes, while GZSC maintains its traditional advantage in the balance of phenolic and amino compounds. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the differentiated deployment of tea cultivars in Guizhou’s tea-growing regions. Full article

The gut microbiome plays a key role in host physiology and is influenced by multiple factors, including environmental conditions. However, the effects of host environment on the gut microbiota of Neotropical primates remain poorly understood. This study compared the gut microbiomes of wild and captive black capuchin monkeys (Sapajus nigritus) from southern Brazil using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Microbial diversity, community structure, differential taxonomic abundance, and predicted functional potential were assessed using multivariate analyses, DESeq2, Random Forest, and PICRUSt2. Host environment was significantly associated with gut bacterial community composition (PERMANOVA, p = 0.004), and captive individuals exhibited greater microbial richness. Wild monkeys were dominated by Pseudomonadota, particularly Enterobacteriaceae and Morganellaceae, with Proteus, Escherichia-Shigella, and Morganella as predominant genera. In contrast, captive monkeys showed higher relative abundances of Bacteroidota, especially Bacteroidaceae and Dysgonomonadaceae, with Bacteroides and Dysgonomonas among the predominant genera. Random Forest classification yielded an AUC of 0.934, although classification performance was lower for captive individuals. Predicted functional profiles differed between groups, with pathways related to amino acid biosynthesis, fatty acid β-oxidation, and mucin degradation enriched in wild monkeys, whereas pathways related to the degradation of aromatic and xenobiotic compounds were enriched in captive animals. Overall, these findings indicate that gut microbiome composition and predicted functional potential varied among black capuchin monkey populations, suggesting that specific factors associated with diet, environmental exposure, and husbandry conditions may contribute to microbiome variation. Full article

Essential oils (EOs) are complex mixtures of volatile secondary metabolites produced by medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs), mainly including terpenes, terpenoids and phenylpropanoid/benzenoid derivatives. Their composition depends on the plant species, chemotype, organ, developmental stage, environmental conditions and post-harvest processing, and directly affects EO yield, EO profile, biological properties, standardization and industrial value. This narrative and conceptual review connects plant biosynthesis, environmental regulation, matrix selection and extraction strategy as interdependent determinants of EO quality. Terpenoid constituents originate mainly from the mevalonate (MVA) and methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathways, whereas phenylpropanoid and benzenoid volatiles derive largely from the shikimate/phenylalanine pathway. Conventional extraction methods, such as hydrodistillation and steam distillation, remain widely used, while intensified and complementary approaches, including microwave-assisted methods, ultrasound pretreatment, supercritical CO₂ extraction and solvent-free methods, are increasingly investigated to improve selectivity and reduce extraction time, solvent use, water demand and energy consumption. Rather than ranking extraction methods only by yield, this review emphasizes that EO quality should be interpreted through an integrated plant-to-extraction framework, in which botanical raw material, target chemical classes, matrix properties, compound stability and intended application jointly guide the selection of an extraction strategy. This integrated perspective may support more reproducible, application-oriented and sustainable EO production. Full article

Yamasachi, an original red wine grape in Hokkaido, is a hybrid variety between ‘Seibel 13053’ and an indigenous wild grape. This study aimed to elucidate the aromatic compounds characterizing Yamasachi wine. Two methods, instrumental analysis using gas chromatography combined with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC–TOFMS) and sensory perception, were employed. Seven unique key aroma compounds, linalool ethyl ether, vitispirane, Bois de Rose oxide, trans-2-hexen-1-ol, cis-3-hexen-1-ol, 4-ethylguaiacol, and 4-ethylphenol, were identified. Additionally, principal component analysis revealed strong perceptions of green pepper, horseradish, earthy, mushroom, black fruits, herbs, and spices in the Yamasachi wine aroma profile. Surprisingly, sensory analysis of Yamasachi wine did not detect any negative phenolic off-flavors; nevertheless, the higher 4-ethylguaiacol and 4-ethylphenol concentrations were detected. Spike experiments with these compounds repressed the unpleasant phenolic aroma in Yamasachi wine. These results suggest that Yamasachi wine has a masking effect on phenolic off-flavors. Full article

Canine cancer screening has an important limitation in that organ-specific screening strategies used in human medicine cannot be directly applied across routine veterinary clinical practice. Blood-based volatile organic compound (VOC) profiling may provide a practical approach for pan-cancer screening; however, its application in multicenter and multinational settings requires evaluation that accounts for cohort heterogeneity and analytical variability. In this study, we evaluated the canine cancer screening performance of an integrated classification framework using a headspace gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-GC/MS)-based targeted blood VOC panel in a retrospective multicohort dataset comprising dogs recruited in Korea and Thailand. Whole-blood samples from 590 dogs recruited in Korea and Thailand were analyzed, including 167 dogs in the malignant tumor group and 423 dogs in the non-cancer control group. The predefined targeted VOC panel consisted of aromatic compounds and straight-chain alkanes and was analyzed using HS-GC/MS. The Korea and Thailand cohorts were incorporated into a single integrated classification framework rather than being separated into country-specific models. To evaluate performance variability associated with data partitioning, cohort-aware stratified training–validation splitting was repeated 30 times within the integrated retrospective cohort, with both national cohorts represented in the training and validation sets in each repeat. Class imbalance correction was applied only to the training data, and validation performance was assessed using both threshold-dependent and threshold-independent metrics. Across the 30 repeated validations, the integrated framework achieved an AUROC of 0.926 ± 0.019 and an AUPRC of 0.894 ± 0.023. Balanced accuracy, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, F1-score, MCC, and Cohen’s κ were 0.858 ± 0.024, 0.895 ± 0.018, 0.772 ± 0.048, 0.943 ± 0.022, 0.805 ± 0.033, 0.736 ± 0.046, and 0.734 ± 0.045, respectively. In the sample-level prediction score analysis, the median predicted cancer probabilities for cancer and non-cancer samples were 0.954 and 0.041, respectively, indicating clear probability-based separation between the two groups. In the cohort-specific analysis, the discrimination signal was maintained in both the Korea and Thailand cohorts, although threshold-dependent performance differed between the two cohorts. These findings indicate that an HS-GC/MS-based targeted blood VOC panel provided a consistent cancer-associated classification signal under repeated internal validation within the specific integrated retrospective dataset evaluated in this study. The results demonstrate the feasibility of evaluating a common classification framework across the Korea and Thailand cohorts without constructing separate country-specific models, while not establishing independent external generalizability or platform-independent robustness. Because the Korea and Thailand cohorts were completely confounded with the Agilent and Thermo Fisher analytical platforms, respectively, the independent contributions of cohort characteristics and analytical platform cannot be determined from the present data. Further independent prospective validation in newly recruited populations and institutions, together with disease-control evaluation including clinically relevant controls, cohort-specific calibration, evaluation across analytical platforms, and assessment of clinical utility within real-world workflows, is required before the external generalizability and clinical applicability of the framework can be determined. Full article

Recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) intended for food-contact applications contains complex mixtures of non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) originating from polymer degradation, recycling, packaging-related inputs, and external contamination. Although non-targeted analytical techniques can characterise these complex chemical fingerprints, a standardised framework for their systematic interpretation is lacking. This study introduces a literature-informed, pattern-based framework for interpreting Py-GC/MS fingerprints of commercial PET bottles. Twenty-two commercial PET beverage bottles were analysed by pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), and detected compounds were organised into four diagnostic profile groups: PET transformation products (C-PET), packaging-associated compounds (E-PS/PVC/FCM), mixed-origin compounds (M-MIX), and condensed aromatic structures (A-AROM). Principal component analysis and a composite Quality Index (QI) were used to evaluate chemical variability. PET transformation products formed a consistent chemical baseline across all samples, whereas chemical variability was primarily associated with packaging-associated compounds and condensed aromatic structures. Bottles containing 100% rPET spanned the full range of chemical profiles, suggesting that the observed variability may be influenced more strongly by feedstock quality, packaging-related inputs, and processing history than by declared recycled content alone. The proposed framework enables a systematic interpretation of Py-GC/MS fingerprints through diagnostic chemical patterns rather than unique source attribution of individual compounds. The proposed framework provides a scalable methodology for comparative evaluation of recycled PET. It highlights that improving chemical quality requires controlling feedstock purity, packaging-related contamination, and processing conditions rather than relying solely on recycled content. Full article