Search Results (46)

There is a growing interest in using agri-food by-products and a demand for natural substances that might help maintain healthy honey bee colonies. We investigated a by-product of the wine industry, a grape pomace (GP) of the autochthonous Prokupac grape cultivar from Serbia. A hydroethanolic extract (50% (w/v) ethanol) of GP (Prokupac GP extract) obtained by the pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) method was subjected to qualitative profiling of phenolic composition by liquid chromatography with OrbiTrap Exploris 120 mass spectrometer. Then, the extracts’ antioxidant and redox-modulatory activities were evaluated through Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Finally, the extract’s potential to modulate cellular redox status was evaluated using cultured AmE-711 honey bee cells. The results show that the Prokupac GP extract contains a wide array of flavonoids, anthocyanins, stilbenes, and their various conjugated derivatives and that anthocyanins, particularly malvidin-based compounds, dominate. EPR measurements showed strong scavenging activity against superoxide anion (O₂^•−) and hydroxyl radicals (^•OH), with inhibition efficiencies of 84.37% and 81.81%, respectively, while activity against the DPPH radical was lower (17.75%). In the cell-based assay, the Prokupac GP extract consistently provided strong antioxidant protection and modulated the cellular response to oxidative stress by over 14%. In conclusion, while the Prokupac GP extract demonstrated antioxidant properties and the ability to modulate cellular responses to oxidative stress, in vivo studies on honey bees are required to confirm its efficacy and safety for potential use in beekeeping practice. Full article

This study researches the impact of diclofenac (DCF) oxidation via UV/H₂O₂ on water quality, focusing on aromaticity and color changes. The process effectively degrades DCF and its intermediates through hydroxyl radical attack on the aromatic structure, leading to the formation of oxidized by-products. Initially, chromophoric compounds such as quinones and conjugated intermediates cause a yellow coloration, which diminishes as mineralization progresses. Turbidity remains below 1 NTU, aligning with European water quality standards. Aromaticity initially increases due to the stable intermediates (e.g., catechols and hydroquinones) but decreases as advanced oxidation cleaves aromatic rings. Kinetic modeling shows that DCF degradation follows first-order kinetics, while aromatic intermediates degrade via fractional-order kinetics (~0.3), indicating a non-linear relationship with concentration. The formation of chromophore compounds follows first-order kinetics, whereas their degradation transitions to zero-order kinetics when hydroxyl radicals are abundant. The study highlights the environmental relevance of these transformations, as aromatic intermediates like anilines and phenols, which contribute to water toxicity, are ultimately converted into less hazardous compounds (e.g., carboxylic acids and inorganic ions). Experimental validation confirms that degradation kinetics depend on hydrogen peroxide concentration, underscoring the potential of UV/H₂O₂ for water purification and pollutant removal. Full article

In the present study, methanolic extracts from rapeseed meal, an oil industry by-product, were treated with alkaline hydrolysis, acid hydrolysis, and lyophilization to enhance their antioxidant features. Antioxidant activity (AA) of the prepared rapeseed meal extracts was determined using three modified spectrophotometric methods: 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods. The effect of acid-hydrolyzed and lyophilized rapeseed meal extract (HLRME) at 200 ppm on the antioxidant properties of refined rapeseed oil heating at 180 °C for 24 h and French fries fried in it was estimated. Moreover, the total phenolic content (TPC) in rapeseed meal extracts, enriched rapeseed oils before and after the thermo-degradation processes, and fried French fries was analyzed. The addition of HLRME affected the oxidation stability of refined rapeseed oil heated for 8 h daily for 3 days at 180 °C by preventing an increase in the peroxide values (PV), anisidine values (p-AnV), TOTOX and INTOX indexes, conjugated dienes (K₂₃₂), and total polar material (TPM). However, thermal degradation generated similar amounts of conjugated trienes (K₂₆₈) in non-supplemented and supplemented rapeseed oils. Fortified rapeseed oils after each heating cycle and French fries fried in them revealed higher antioxidant properties than those prepared in refined rapeseed oils without HLRME. Results from the present study suggest that HLRME, as a potential source of natural antioxidants from oil industry by-products, can prevent the degradation of refined rapeseed oil and help improve the quality of French fries. Full article

Over the past few decades, awareness has risen substantially about the limitations of non-renewable resources and the environmental challenges facing the chemical industry. This has necessitated a transition toward renewable resources, such as lignocellulosic biomass, which is among the most abundant renewable carbon sources on the planet. Lignocellulosic biomass represents a significant yet often underutilized source of fermentable sugars and lignin, with potential applications across multiple sectors of the chemical industry. The formation of humins (polymeric byproducts with a complex conjugated network, comprising furanic rings and various functional groups, including ketones) occurs inevitably during the hydrothermal processing of lignocellulosic biomass. This study presents the use of humin byproducts derived from soybean peels for the production of fluorescent carbon dots (CDs). A comparison between sonochemical and thermochemical methods was conducted for the synthesis of this nanomaterial. The obtained nanoparticles were characterized in terms of size, morphology (TEM, DLS), and Z-potential. Subsequently, the spectroscopic properties of the prepared CDs were studied using absorption and emission spectroscopy. In particular, the CDs displayed a blue/cyan fluorescence under UV irradiation. The emission properties were found to be dependent on the excitation wavelength, shifting to longer wavelengths as the excitation wavelength increased. The carbon dots that exhibited the most favorable photochemical properties (QY = 2.5%) were those produced through a sonochemical method applied to humins obtained from the dehydration of soybean husks with phosphoric acid and prior treatment. Full article

Industrial waste management is a growing concern, and the valorization of by-products through circular economy approaches represents a sustainable solution. In this context, dextran–grape conjugates (PLG–GRAPE) were obtained via a grafting reaction of grape pomace extract and dextran under aqueous conditions. To compare the properties of the polymeric graft with those of the free extract, total polyphenol content was assessed using the Folin–Ciocalteu assay, along with stability and diffusion studies. In addition, in vitro safety evaluations, including Neutral Red Uptake, h-CLAT, and skin irritation tests were performed to assess the biocompatibility. To evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging properties of PLG–GRAPE, in vitro efficacy assays were performed on keratinocyte and fibroblast cell lines and full-thickness reconstructed human tissues exposed to damaging agents, such as UV radiation and pollutants. The results showed that the technology preserved the phenolic and antioxidant activity of the extract, while improving diffusion and stability properties. As demonstrated by the results of the in vitro studies, a favorable biocompatibility profile was observed, in addition to a significant capacity to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in aged cells, thus, attenuating cellular aging and senescence. In conclusion, the study suggests that PLG–GRAPE has potential as a bioactive ingredient for cosmetic and dermatological applications, offering a sustainable and effective approach to utilizing industrial waste products. Full article

Neurodegenerative disorders are one of the main public health problems worldwide and, for this reason, they have attracted the attention of several researchers who aim to better understand the molecular processes linked to the etiology of these disorders, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. In this review, we describe both the beneficial and toxic effect of norepinephrine (NE) and its connected ROS/metal-mediated pathways, which end in neuromelanin (NM) formation and protein aggregation. In particular, we emphasize the importance of stabilizing the delicate homeostatic balance that regulates (i) the metal/ROS-promoted oxidation of catecholamines, as NE, and (ii) the generation of oxidative by-products capable of covalently and non-covalently modifying neuroproteins, thus altering their stability and their oligomerization; these processes may end in (iii) the incorporation of protein conjugates into vesicles, which then evolve into neuromelanin (NM) organelles. In general, we aim to provide an up-to-date overview of the challenges and controversies emerging from the current literature to delineate a direction for future research. Full article

To enhance the sustainability of marginal olive and dairy farms in the Sorrento peninsula, two separate crossover trials were conducted on two farms in the area to evaluate olive pruning residue (OlPr) and olive mill leaves (OlLes) as forage sources for lactating cows. Each trial lasted six weeks and consisted of two treatment periods, each including a 15-day adaptation phase followed by a 6-day measurement phase. During the measurement phase, milk production, feed intake, and olive residue consumption were assessed for two homogeneous cow groups: one receiving a ration supplemented with olive by-products and the other receiving a control diet. The olive-supplemented groups exhibited higher dry matter intake and roughage consumption (hay + olive residue) compared to the control groups. The intake of OlLes was about 30% higher than that of OlPr. Compared to the respective control, milk from OlLe-fed cows a had higher fat content and a higher fat-to-protein ratio, a more favorable fatty acid composition in terms of higher monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid contents, a reduced atherogenic index, and a saturated-to-unsaturated ratio. Likely due to the lower level of olive by-product ingestion, only marginal differences were observed in milk fatty acid composition of cows fed OlPr compared to the control. We conclude that the use of OlLes in dairy cow diets may represent a promising strategy for improving milk quality, promoting a more circular agricultural system, reducing reliance on external feed inputs, and mitigating the environmental impact of both olive and milk production. Full article

Plants are continuously exposed to environmental challenges, including pollutants, pesticides, and heavy metals, collectively termed xenobiotics. These substances induce oxidative stress by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can damage cellular components such as lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. To counteract this, plants have evolved complex metabolic pathways to detoxify and process these harmful compounds. Oxidative stress in plants primarily arises from the overproduction of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), superoxide anions (O₂^•−), singlet oxygen (¹O₂), and hydroxyl radicals (^•OH), by-products of metabolic activities such as photosynthesis and respiration. The presence of xenobiotics leads to a notable increase in ROS, which can result in cellular damage and metabolic disruption. To combat this, plants have developed a strong antioxidant defense mechanism that includes enzymatic antioxidants that work together to eliminate ROS, thereby reducing their harmful effects. In addition to enzymatic defenses, plants also synthesize various non-enzymatic antioxidants, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, and vitamins. These compounds effectively neutralize ROS and help regenerate other antioxidants, offering extensive protection against oxidative stress. The metabolism of xenobiotic substances in plants occurs in three stages: the first involves modification, which refers to the chemical alteration of xenobiotics to make them less harmful. The second involves conjugation, where the modified xenobiotics are combined with other substances to increase their solubility, facilitating their elimination from the plant. The third stage involves compartmentalization, which is the storage or isolation of conjugated xenobiotics in specific parts of the plant, helping to prevent damage to vital cellular functions. Secondary metabolites found in plants, such as alkaloids, terpenoids, and flavonoids, play a vital role in detoxification and the defense against oxidative stress. Gaining a deeper understanding of the oxidative mechanisms and the pathways of xenobiotic metabolism in plants is essential, as this knowledge can lead to the formulation of plant-derived strategies aimed at alleviating the effects of environmental pollution and enhancing human health by improving detoxification and antioxidant capabilities, as discussed in this review. Full article

Sour waters are one of the main aqueous byproducts generated during petroleum refining and require processing in sour water treatment units (SWTUs) to remove contaminants such as H₂S and NH₃ in compliance with environmental legislations. Therefore, monitoring the composition of SWTU effluxents, including acid gas, ammoniacal gas, and treated water, is essential. This study aims to present an AI (artificial intelligence) hybrid-based methodology to develop soft sensors capable of real-time prediction of H₂S and NH₃ mass fractions in the effluents of SWTUs and validate them using real data from industrial units. Initially, a new database based on the dynamic simulation of a two-stripping-column SWTU phenomenological model, developed in Aspen Plus Dynamics^® V10, was generated, aiming at non-faulty runs, unlike our previous work. Ensemble methods (decision trees), such as gradient boosting and random forest, and support vector machines were compared for soft sensor creation using these simulated data. The best outcome was the development of six soft sensors based on random forest with R² greater than 0.87, MAE less than 0.12, MSE less than 0.17, and RMSE less than 0.41. Variable importance analysis revealed that the temperature of the second stage of Column 1 significantly influences the thermodynamic equilibrium of H₂S and NH₃ separation from sour waters, being critical for five of the six soft sensors. After this initial stage using data from the phenomenological model, data from an industrial-scale SWTU were used to develop real soft sensors. The results proved the effectiveness of the conjugated use of a physical model and industrial data approach in the development of soft sensors for two-column SWTUs. Full article

Blending is a commonly utilized technique for enhancing the oxidative stability, nutritional quality, and physicochemical properties of vegetable oils. This study explored the potential of a vegetable oil blend consisting of common seed oils (sunflower, soybean, rapeseed, cottonseed, and corn oils), through partial least squares analysis, as a substitute for palm oil in the food preparation sector. Oxidative stability assays were conducted initially and after 14 and 28 days of incubation at 60 °C. These assays included radical inhibition activities between the optimal blended oil and palm oil through DPPH^• inhibition activity and thermal stability via accelerated oxidation conditions with Rancimat (110 °C, 15 L/h) and conjugated diene and triene formation. The impact of each oil was assessed through correlation analyses and Pareto plots. The optimal blended oil consisted of soybean/sunflower/cottonseed/corn oils at a ratio of 2:1:4:4. It had an induction period (i.e., full rancidity) vastly enhanced to 5.38 h but was statistically significantly lower than the stable palm oil by ~50%. Prior to thermal incubation, the blended oil was more potent in inhibiting DPPH^•, as it recorded 139.83 μmol of Trolox equivalents per kg of oil, ~53% more than palm oil. The conjugated diene and triene concentrations were similar for both oils at ~15 and ~7 mmol/kg oil, respectively. The Fourier-Transform Infrared spectra revealed the prevalence of cis fatty acids in the optimal oil blend and trans fatty acids in palm oil, indicating an enhancement in the nutritional quality of the vegetable oil blend. The results of the study could provide a nutritional oil blend that could be used as a substitute for palm oil in the food industry. Full article

Valorisation of food by-products, like spent brewer’s yeast and fruit pomaces, represents an important strategy for contributing to sustainable food production. The aims of this study were to obtain Maillard conjugates based on spent yeast protein hydrolysate (SYH) with dextran (D) or maltodextrin (MD) by means of ultrasound treatment and to use them for developing encapsulation systems for the anthocyanins from aronia pomace. The ultrasound-assisted Maillard conjugation promoted the increase of antioxidant activity by about 50% compared to conventional heating and SYH, and was not dependent on the polysaccharide type. The ability of the conjugates to act as wall material for encapsulating various biologically active compounds was tested via a freeze-drying method. The retention efficiency ranged between 58.25 ± 0.38%–65.25 ± 2.21%, while encapsulation efficiency varied from 67.09 ± 2.26% to 88.72 ± 0.33%, indicating the strong effect of the carrier material used for encapsulation. The addition of the hydrolysed yeast cell wall played a positive effect on the encapsulation efficiency of anthocyanins when used in combination with the SYH:MD conjugates. On the other hand, the stability of anthocyanins during storage, as well as their bioavailability during gastrointestinal digestion, were higher when using the SYH:D conjugate. The study showed that hydrolysis combined with the ultrasound-assisted Maillard reaction has a great potential for the valorisation of spent brewer’s yeast as delivery material for the encapsulation of bioactive compounds. Full article

Maize ranks as the second most widely produced crop globally, yielding approximately 1.2 billion tons, with corn cob being its primary byproduct, constituting 18 kg per 100 kg of corn. Agricultural corn production generates bioactive polysaccharide-rich byproducts, including xylan (Xyl). In this study, we used the redox method to modify corn cob xylan with gallic acid, aiming to enhance its antioxidant and protective capacity against oxidative stress. The conjugation process resulted in a new molecule termed conjugated xylan–gallic acid (Xyl-GA), exhibiting notable improvements in various antioxidant parameters, including total antioxidant capacity (1.4-fold increase), reducing power (1.2-fold increase), hydroxyl radical scavenging (1.6-fold increase), and cupric chelation (27.5-fold increase) when compared with unmodified Xyl. At a concentration of 1 mg/mL, Xyl-GA demonstrated no cytotoxicity, significantly increased fibroblast cell viability (approximately 80%), and effectively mitigated intracellular ROS levels (reduced by 100%) following oxidative damage induced by H₂O₂. Furthermore, Xyl-GA exhibited non-toxicity toward zebrafish embryos, offered protection against H₂O₂-induced stress, and reduced the rate of cells undergoing apoptosis resulting from H₂O₂ exposure. In conclusion, our findings suggest that Xyl-GA possesses potential therapeutic value in addressing oxidative stress-related disturbances. Further investigations are warranted to elucidate the molecular structure of this novel compound and establish correlations with its pharmacological activities. Full article

Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) is a secondary metabolic product yielded upon the hydrolysis of gluconasturtiin and it is highly accumulated in the flowers of watercress. The aim of the current study was to assess the role of a naturally derived PEITC-enriched extract in the induction of oxidative stress and to evaluate its anti-melanoma potency through the regulation of its metabolism with the concurrent production of the N-acetyl cysteine conjugated by-product. For this purpose, an in vitro melanoma model was utilized consisting of human primary (A375) cells as well as metastatic (COLO-679) malignant melanoma cells together with non-tumorigenic immortalized keratinocytes (HaCaT). Cytotoxicity was assessed via the Alamar Blue assay whereas the antioxidant/prooxidant activity of PEITC was determined via spectrophotometric assays. Finally, kinetic characterization of the end-product of PEITC metabolism was monitored via UPLC coupled to a tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Our results indicate that although PhEF showed very minor antioxidant activity in a cell-free system, in a cell-based system, it can modulate the activity of key enzyme(s) involved in cellular antioxidant defense mechanism(s). In addition, we have shown that PhEF induces lipid and protein oxidation in a concentration-dependent manner, while its cytotoxicity is not only dependent on PEITC itself but also on its N-acetylated cysteine conjugated form. Full article

Wound-healing delay is one of the major problems of type 2 diabetes, representing also a clinical emergency in non-healing chronic wounds. Natural antioxidants show interesting wound-healing properties, including those extracted from waste derived from olive oil production. Olive mill wastewater is one of the main by-products of the olive oil-making process, and it is rich in high-value secondary metabolites, mainly hydroxytyrosol. We proposed an eco-friendly extraction method, employing both ultrasound-assisted and Soxhlet techniques and ethanol as a solvent, to recover valuable molecules from Roggianella cv (Olea europea L.) olive mill wastewater, which was further entrapped in a pectin polymer via an enzymatic reaction using porcine pancreatic lipase. Pectin, in combination with other substances, promoted and accelerated wound healing and demonstrated good potential to produce a biomedical conjugate for wound treatment. The antioxidant activity of the extracts and conjugate were evaluated against lipophilic (IC₅₀ equal to 0.152 mg mL⁻¹) and hydrophilic (IC₅₀ equal to 0.0371 mg mL⁻¹) radical species as well as the in vitro cytotoxicity via NRU, h-CLAT, and a wound-healing scratch assay and assessment. The pectin conjugate did not exert hemolytic effects on the peripheral blood, demonstrating interesting wound-healing properties due to its ability to stimulate cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Full article

The survival and function of tissues depend on appropriate vascularization. Blood vessels of the tissues supply oxygen, and nutrients and remove waste and byproducts. Incorporating blood vessels into engineered tissues is essential for overcoming diffusion limitations, improving tissue function, and thus facilitating the fabrication of thick tissues. Here, we present a modified ECM bioink, with enhanced mechanical properties and endothelial cell-specific adhesion motifs, to serve as a building material for 3D printing of a multiscale blood vessel network. The bioink is composed of natural ECM and alginate conjugated with a laminin adhesion molecule motif (YIGSR). The hybrid hydrogel was characterized for its mechanical properties, biochemical content, and ability to interact with endothelial cells. The pristine and modified hydrogels were mixed with induced pluripotent stem cells derived endothelial cells (iPSCs-ECs) and used to print large blood vessels with capillary beds in between. Full article