Search Results (682)

Background/Objectives: The application of organic soil amendments constitutes an important source of antibiotic residues in agricultural soils. However, studies have mainly focused on a few parent tetracyclines, whereas information on their transformation products (TPs) in organic amendments remains scarce. Therefore, this study assessed the occurrence and environmental risk of six tetracyclines and seven TPs in organic amendments. Methods: Processed livestock manures applied in the European Union (horse, poultry, and bovine manure), as well as fresh and treated sewage sludge, were analyzed using matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) combined with online SPE-LC-MS/MS. Environmental risk was assessed using risk quotients (RQs) based on predicted environmental concentrations in soil (PEC_soil) calculated from the maximum measured concentrations and predicted no-effect concentrations in soil (PNEC_soil) obtained either directly from terrestrial ecotoxicity data or derived from aquatic ecotoxicity data using the equilibrium partitioning method and soil-water distribution coefficients. Results: Tetracyclines and their TPs were widely detected in both sample types, although concentrations varied according to matrix type and treatment. Overall, sludge showed higher detection frequencies and concentrations than manure. Doxycycline and tetracycline were the predominant parent compounds, reaching concentrations up to 2838 ng g⁻¹ dry weight (dw) in manure and 2892 ng g⁻¹ dw in sludge. Epimerized TPs were frequently detected and sometimes exceeded the concentrations of their parent compounds, especially epitetracycline and epioxytetracycline. Among the sludge types and treatment conditions investigated, anaerobically digested sludge showed the highest tetracycline concentrations, whereas the composted sludge sample presented the lowest concentrations. Individual RQs indicated insignificant to low ecotoxicological risk, whereas cumulative RQ (ΣRQ) values, used as conservative estimates of co-exposure to all evaluated tetracyclines and their TPs, fell within the medium-risk category for bovine manure and anaerobically digested sludge, with the composted sludge sample showing the lowest ΣRQ. Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of including TPs in environmental monitoring and the differences in tetracycline occurrence and environmental risk to soil among the processed manure types and sludge treatment conditions investigated. Full article

Rugulopteryx okamurae is an aggressively invasive seaweed whose proliferation along the Moroccan coastline represents both an ecological problem and an underexploited source of biomass. This work highlights the isolation of sodium alginate from R. okamurae under four combinations of acid pretreatment and alkaline (carbonate) extraction conditions. The extracted alginates were characterized by determining the extraction yield and analyzing their structural features using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR). Alginate yields ranged from 11 to ~16% (dry weight), and the highest yield 15.85 ± 0.66% dw was obtained with acidification treatments of 2 h at 40 °C and alkaline extraction at 60 °C over 5 h. FTIR analysis confirmed the sodium alginate structure and suggested the absence of detectable sulfate polysaccharide (fucoidan) contamination, as evidenced by the absence of a S=O band. ¹H NMR analysis revealed a guluronate rich polymer within the four used protocols, highlighting its potential to form a strong and rigid gel. The present study highlights the alien R. okamurae as a viable source of high guluronate sodium alginate and clarifies how extraction conditions might shape its yields. Full article

Mercury (Hg) contamination in seafood is a major environmental and public health concern because organic Hg, predominantly methylmercury (MeHg), bioaccumulates and biomagnifies through aquatic food webs. However, information on Hg speciation in fish and seafood from Indonesia remains limited. This study quantified total Hg (THg) and organic Hg (OHg) in 111 specimens representing 15 commercially important fish and seafood species collected from Jakarta Bay, Indonesia, and assessed the associated human health risk. Median THg concentrations ranged from 0.032 to 3.82 mg/kg dry weight (dw), whereas median OHg concentrations ranged from 0.014 to 2.95 mg/kg dw. A comparison with international and Indonesian food safety guidelines showed that Moses perch (Lutjanus russellii) exceeded the maximum permissible Hg concentration, whereas all other species complied with established limits. Median organic Hg accounted for 26.5–89.4% of THg. THg and OHg concentrations were significantly positively correlated with fish length but not weight. Most species presented negligible non-carcinogenic risks (hazard quotient, HQ < 1); however, 16% and 4% of evaluated exposures exceeded the HQ threshold for children and adults, respectively. Overall, Hg speciation combined with human health risk assessment provides a comprehensive evaluation of seafood safety beyond THg alone. These findings provide baseline data supporting consumption advisories, long-term Hg monitoring, and evidence-based risk management in Indonesia. Full article

Water management in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions (ASARs), specifically in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, has historically relied on large-scale, centralized systems that have successfully expanded potable water access. However, their high energy intensity, escalating operating costs, and limited flexibility amid increasing climate variability have raised concerns about their long-term sustainability. In this context, decentralized water systems (DWSs), including rainwater harvesting (RWH), greywater reuse (GWR), and hybrid rainwater–greywater systems (HRGSs), offer promising solutions to reduce pressure on centralized infrastructure, enhance dry-season water availability, and mitigate urban flooding risks. Despite their strategic relevance, a comprehensive sustainability assessment framework tailored to GCC conditions remains insufficiently developed. To address this gap, a systematic review of literature indexed in Scopus, Engineering Village, and Google Scholar was conducted. Thirty studies met the inclusion criteria and were critically analyzed to identify prevailing assessment approaches and recurring sustainability dimensions. Building on these findings, this study proposes a regionally tailored, multi-criteria sustainability framework designed specifically for GCC contexts. The proposed framework integrates five core dimensions, including technical, environmental, economic, social, and political–institutional, comprising 14 indicators and four sub-indicators. To refine and validate the framework, a two-round Delphi technique was conducted. A total of 102 experts from GCC member states were invited, of whom 43 participated in the first round, and 25 completed the second round. The results demonstrated strong consensus regarding the relevance and applicability of the selected indicators, with particular emphasis on technical and environmental dimensions. Notably, the lack of agreement on equal weighting in the first round justified the adoption of a ranking-based weighting approach in the second round, enabling a more realistic representation of expert consensus. The final DWS index, developed using a hierarchical multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) approach, integrates criterion weights, indicator weights, and performance scores into a single composite metric. The results indicate that HRGSs achieved the highest overall performance (55.00), followed closely by GWR (54.76) and RWH (54.20). Overall, the proposed framework provides a robust and context-specific tool to support sustainability assessment and inform policy development for DWSs in the GCC region. Full article

This study compared total phenolic content (TPC) in potato tubers of four Lithuanian cultivars (VB Venta, Goda, VB Meda, and VB Aista) across three seed propagation stages. Folin–Ciocalteu-reactive compounds were analyzed in peel, flesh, and whole-tuber samples from three seed propagation stages: minitubers (m₁), standard tubers (m₂), and first-class certified seed potatoes (E₁), using the Folin–Ciocalteu method. TPC was consistently highest in the peel, reaching 107.1 ± 5.3 µg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) g⁻¹ dry weight (DW) in VB Venta (m₂), whereas the highest flesh TPC (86.7 ± 4.3 µg GAE g⁻¹ DW) was observed in VB Meda (E₁). Across cultivars, peel TPC increased from 72.9 µg GAE g⁻¹ DW in m₁ to 85.6 µg GAE g⁻¹ DW in E₁. Whole-tuber TPC varied less among seed propagation stages (56.2–58.8 µg GAE g⁻¹ DW). Because the seed propagation stages were produced under different cultivation conditions, the observed differences cannot be attributed solely to seed generation. The results confirm the higher concentration of Folin–Ciocalteu-reactive compounds in potato peel and indicate its potential for further investigation as a source of bioactive compounds. Full article

Wolffia globosa (watermeal) is a potential plant-based food ingredient. This study characterized its nutritional and physicochemical properties, elemental levels, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), DPPH radical-scavenging activity, IL-6 production in H₂O₂-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages, and preliminary cell-viability responses. On a dry-weight basis, the tested W. globosa sample contained 25.83% protein, 4.56% fat, 16.58% ash, 8.80% crude fiber, and 44.22% carbohydrate. Arsenic and zinc were detected below their limits of quantification, whereas cadmium, copper, and lead were below their method detection limits. All analytical reporting limits were below the corresponding EFSA specification values. The extract had TPC and TFC values of 0.85 ± 0.03 mg GAE/g sample DW and 0.52 ± 0.02 mg QE/g sample DW, respectively, and showed weak DPPH radical-scavenging activity (IC₅₀ = 7.58 ± 0.32 mg DW-equivalent/mL). At 0.1 mg DW-equivalent/mL, the H₂O₂-stimulated extract-treated group showed a lower IL-6 concentration than the H₂O₂-stimulated extract-free model control. Weak reductions in cancer-cell viability occurred only at high concentrations (IC₅₀ values of approximately 38–42 mg DW-equivalent/mL). The biological findings remain preliminary. Overall, the tested sample showed promising nutritional and physicochemical characteristics, low selected-elements levels, and preliminary in vitro responses. Full article

Health problems have made it necessary to look for new sources of biocompounds for the food industry. Cyanobacteria offer a solution due to the compounds inside their biomass, such as pigments and protein. Rice husk aqueous extract was evaluated as an innovative culture medium using four concentrations (16, 32, 48 and 64 g/L, respectively) for the biomass production of Limnothrix sp. Rice husk aqueous extract at a concentration of 48 g/L showed the best results for Limnothrix sp. biomass production as well as phycocyanin and protein contents. Furthermore, cultivation of Limnothrix sp. was carried out in bubble column photobioreactors, evaluating three volumetric air flows (157, 180 and 570 mL/min, respectively). With an air flow of 180 mL/min and specific photobioreactor geometry (height-to-diameter ratio of 10.67), the bubble size, measured with Sauter diameter, was 10.81 ± 0.36 mm, ensuring mixing inside and resulting in the highest biomass production (2.95 ± 0.07 g/L dry weight (DW)), with protein and phycocyanin contents of 0.29 ± 0.01 g/g and 100.83 ± 0.10 mg/g, respectively, over 24 days of cultivation. Consequently, the hydrodynamics resulting from the volumetric air flow inside bubble column photobioreactor systems influence the growth of cyanobacteria and the accumulation of protein and phycocyanin for application in the food industry and third-generation biorefineries. Full article

The effects of household cooking on mercury speciation in whole small pelagic fish remain insufficiently understood. To address this gap, total mercury (T-Hg), methylmercury (MeHg), and Hg(II) were determined in wet whole-fish homogenates, including viscera, of sardines and sprats before and after boiling, steaming, baking, and frying. T-Hg was determined by AMA-254 and mercury species by HPLC-ICP-MS; results were expressed on wet-weight (ww), dry-weight (dw), and 100 g reference-portion bases. Frying yielded the highest dry matter, underscoring moisture-related differences among reporting bases. T-Hg concentrations ranged from 0.0518 to 0.1322 µg/g dw and MeHg from 0.0273 to 0.0624 µg/g dw. MeHg was detected in all samples, whereas Hg(II) exceeded the method detection limit only in baked and steamed sardines. MeHg amounts per 100 g ranged from 1.38 to 2.35 µg in sardines and from 0.95 to 1.79 µg in sprats. Within the tested batch, no treatment consistently reduced T-Hg or MeHg across both species. By combining analysis of the complete fish matrix with direct mercury speciation and multiple reporting bases, this study provides a food-relevant framework for interpreting mercury in processed small pelagic fish. Full article

The increasing generation of agro-industrial residues requires the development of sustainable valorization strategies for converting low-value biomasses into high-added-value products within a circular bioeconomy framework. In this study, tomato peels (TP) derived from the tomato-processing industry and green waste (GW) from urban pruning activities were investigated as substrates for solid-state fermentation (SSF) mediated by Trichoderma harzianum, with the aim of evaluating fungal growth, metabolomic remodeling, and the production of antioxidant bioactive compounds. Different substrate formulations containing TP and GW were subjected to SSF for 7 days, and fungal colonization was monitored. The highest fungal colonization was observed in substrates containing high proportions of GW, whereas pure tomato peels showed negligible colonization, indicating a strong substrate-dependent effect on fungal development. UPLC-QToF-MS metabolomic profiling was subsequently performed on the fermented substrate formulations using three independent biological replicates per treatment, whereas the 100% TP formulation, which showed negligible fungal colonization, was excluded from metabolomic analysis. Results revealed marked differences among fermented substrates, and 22 discriminant metabolites significantly enriched in those containing higher proportions of TP were identified. These metabolites mainly included hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, flavonoids, lignans, phenolic glycosides, and organic acids, such as coumaric acid, hydroxycaffeic acid, cinnamoylglucose, citric acid, and cyanidin glycosides, suggesting fermentation-associated transformation and release of phenolic compounds. Fermented extracts obtained from mixed substrates enriched in TP exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, with DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging capacities reaching up to 63.48 µmol TE/g dw and 119.67 µmol TE/g dry weight, respectively, together with increased total phenolic content. The integration of microbiological, metabolomic, and antioxidant analyses demonstrated that co-fermentation of tomato-processing byproducts with green waste can modulate fermentation outcomes and enhance antioxidant potential. Overall, this study provides new insights into substrate-driven metabolic transformations during Trichoderma-mediated SSF and highlights the potential of mixed agro-industrial residues as sustainable feedstocks for the production of antioxidant-rich extracts with possible nutraceutical and biotechnological applications. Full article

This study systematically optimized the extraction processes of two bioactive constituents, total flavonoids and crude polysaccharides, from the dried underground tubers of Nephrolepis cordifolia (L.) C. Presl, and further comprehensively characterized their in vitro antioxidant activities. For total flavonoid extraction, an ethanol–ammonium sulfate aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) was integrated with ultrasonic-assisted aqueous two-phase extraction (UATPE), and the process parameters were optimized via Box–Behnken design-based response surface methodology (RSM) using total flavonoid content (TFC) as the primary response indicator. The validated optimal conditions were determined as follows: extraction time of 40.67 min, solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:30.71 (g/mL), ammonium sulfate mass fraction of 24.03%, and ethanol concentration of 35% (v/v). Under these optimized conditions, the TFC reached (54.83 $\pm 1.58)$ mg rutin equivalents per gram dry weight (mg RE/g DW), which was significantly higher than the values obtained from conventional ATPS [(49.05 $\pm 0.41)$ (mg RE/g DW)] and traditional ethanol extraction [(28.68 $\pm 1.54)$ (mg RE/g DW)] (p < 0.05). For crude polysaccharide production, an ultrasonic-assisted water extraction followed by ethanol precipitation protocol was adopted, and parameters were screened through an L₉ (3³) orthogonal experimental design. The obtained optimal extraction parameters were an extraction time of 10 min, three extraction cycles, and solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:15 (g/mL). A maximum crude polysaccharide yield of (14.89 $\pm 0.18)$ % was achieved under these conditions, with a relative standard deviation of 1.21% (n = 3) across parallel validation tests. Subsequent antioxidant assays demonstrated that the total flavonoid fraction from Nephrolepis cordifolia exhibited potent scavenging capacities against both 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH•) and 2,2′-Azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate) radical cation (ABTS•⁺) radicals. Within the tested concentration range of 0.1–0.5 m g/mL, the crude polysaccharide presented a significant positive concentration-dependent enhancement of activity in four classical in vitro antioxidant systems, including DPPH radical scavenging, ABTS cation radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging, and total reducing power. Collectively, these findings confirm that the introduced ultrasonic-assisted extraction strategy remarkably improves the recovery efficiency of target bioactive components from Nephrolepis cordifolia. Both total flavonoids and crude polysaccharides display excellent in vitro free radical scavenging potential. This work provides a solid methodological basis for the efficient preparation of the two bioactive compounds, and highlights that Nephrolepis cordifolia is a promising candidate for further exploration as a natural antioxidant source. Full article

Teff (Eragrostis tef) is a gluten-free cereal and a valuable source for functional food. This study evaluated the physicochemical characteristics of teff flours and optimized ultrasound-assisted extraction of bioactive compounds. Ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) was optimized using a Box–Behnken design (BBD), and the best extraction conditions were 50% ethanol, 60 °C, and 45 min, yielding 49.6 ± 0.028 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 g dry weight (DW). High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed an abundant phenolic profile with compounds including epigallocatechin (2960.30 µg/g), epicatechin (113.55 µg/g), hesperidin (163.64 µg/g), and ferulic acid (41.79 µg/g). Prebiotic potential testing with Lactobacillus plantarum MIUG BL21 at 4 °C over 21 days indicated a concentration-dependent decrease in viability: at 5 mg/mL, mean counts decreased from 4.721 ± 0.049 to 2.349 ± 0.048 log colony-forming units (CFU)/mL; at 2.5 mg/mL, from 3.396 ± 0.095 to 0.500 ± 0.198 log CFU/mL; and at 1 mg/mL, counts became undetectable. Phytic acid degradation in teff extracts followed first-order kinetics, with half-lives of 1504.55, 752.30, and 300.91 min at 50, 70, and 90 °C, respectively. The activation energy of 39.07 kJ/mol confirmed the temperature dependence of the process and indicated an effective reduction in phytic acid. In conclusion, teff extracts may represent promising functional ingredients with antioxidant potential, support for probiotic viability, and reduced antinutritional factors. Full article

Most Citrus spp. trees in China are cultivated in acidic soils with low soil organic matter and high Al³⁺. The mechanisms of humic acid (HA) to alleviate Al³⁺ stress in plants remain unclear. ‘Sour pummelo’ (Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck) seedlings were exposed to 0.5 (HA0.5), 0.1 (HA0.1), or 0 (HA0) mM sodium humate and 1.2 (Al1.2) or 0 (Al0) mM AlCl₃·6H₂O for 128 days. Thereafter, the research examined biomass; Al and mineral nutrients; leaf photosynthetic performance; and leaf and root nonstructural carbohydrates, reactive oxygen species metabolism, and related physiological parameters. Al1.2 significantly reduced whole plant dry weight (DW), root DW, leaf CO₂ assimilation (A_CO2), and chlorophyll a + b concentration by 61%, 45%, 61%, and 35%, respectively, at HA0, but only 48%, 17%, 44%, and 11%, respectively, at HA0.5. Further analysis suggested that the addition of HA endowed Citrus with Al resilience by the following several aspects: (a) lessened tissue (leaf, stem, and root) concentrations of Al and enhanced capacity to maintain macronutrient (S, K, Mg, Ca, N, and P) homeostasis at Al1.2; (b) improved capacity to combat oxidative stress at Al1.2; and (c) enhanced A_CO2 and growth at Al1.2. Further analysis indicated that HA-mediated alleviation of growth decline caused by Al1.2 involved (a) reduced ability to absorb Al and less root-to-shoot Al transport and (b) increased ability to maintain macronutrient homeostasis and to combat oxidative stress; and that HA-mediated alleviation of leaf chlorophyll and A_CO2 decline and photosynthetic electron transport chain impairment involved less leaf Al concentration and improved leaf macronutrient homeostasis. To conclude, the addition of HA lowered roots’ ability to absorb Al and tissue Al concentration and subsequently mitigated Al-toxic impairment to root growth and function, thereby enhancing the ability of plants to maintain macronutrient homeostasis, and hence alleviating Al1.2-stimulated oxidative damage and inhibition of A_CO2 and growth. Full article

The concentrations of 18 metal(loid)s were measured in five marine invertebrate species (Oxystele tigrine and sinensis, Marthasterias glacialis, Cymbula oculus and granatina, Parechinus angulosus, and Mytilus galloprovincialis) and five macroalgae/seaweed species (Aeodes orbitosa, Gelidium pristoides, Caulerpa filiformis, Ulva sp., and Bifurcaria brassicac formis) collected from eight sites within the marine environment of False Bay, Cape Town, South Africa. To assess the potential human health hazards associated with consumption, samples were acid digestion and analysed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The analysed elements included trace metals (Fe, Mn, Zn) toxic metals (Pb, Cd, As), transition metals (Ta, Ti), alkali metals (Li), and metalloid (Se, As). Metal concentration varied widely among species and locations, with values ranging from Zn: not detected (nd)—3836.04 mg/kg dry weight (dw); As: nd—77.98 mg/kg dw; Pb: nd—301.15 mg/kg dw; Li: nd—97.28 mg/kg dw, indicating diverse metal accumulation patterns. Human health risk was evaluated using the target hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI). Arsenic consistently exceeded the THQ threshold of one across all sites, and all the HI values were greater than one for all edible species, suggesting potential non-carcinogenic health risks associated with the consumption, except for M. glacialis, which is not commonly consumed. The HI metrics demonstrate the adverse impacts of metal concentration in marine biota. The observed spatial and biological variability in metal accumulation highlights the limitations of relying solely on metal concentrations for assessing health risks, food safety or anthropogenic contamination, and therefore more frequent and comprehensive monitoring is recommended. Full article

The demand for sustainable nutrients and bioactive compounds has increased interest in underutilized wild plants. Forestiera tomentosa, a Mexican drupe-bearing species, is largely unexplored. This study evaluated the proximate composition, physicochemical and functional properties, phenolic profile, antioxidant capacity, and toxicological safety of F. tomentosa fruit. The fruit showed high carbohydrate content [71.94% dry weight (DW)], with notable crude fiber (7.90% DW), protein (7.39% DW), and lipid (4.30% DW) contents. Analysis revealed a mildly acidic pH (5.66), titratable acidity of 0.32%, and total soluble solids of 2.33 °Brix. The fruit powder had a low water activity (0.42) and a favorable water solubility index (56.10%), oil absorption (4.54%), and foaming capacity (19.71%). The fruit contained high levels of soluble phenols (280.42 mg GAE/g DW), flavonoids (98.89 mg CE/g DW), anthocyanins (54.53 mg C3G/g DW), and condensed tannins (94.05 mg CE/g DW). High-performance liquid chromatography identified 20 phenolic compounds, with 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionic acid, syringic acid, catechin, epicatechin, and gallocatechin being predominant. The fruit showed significant radical scavenging and reducing potential (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP). Toxicological evaluation using the Artemia salina bioassay showed a 100% survival rate across all concentrations, indicating no acute toxicity. In silico ADMET predictions revealed favorable pharmacokinetic properties, including high intestinal absorption and compliance with Lipinski’s rule of five. These findings position F. tomentosa as a promising, non-toxic source of functional ingredients for the food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries, supporting biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource utilization. Further studies are needed to evaluate the potential health benefits of this fruit in vitro and in vivo. Full article

Marine rest raw materials are often undervalued or wasted despite their nutrient and bioactive composition. Calanus finmarchicus, harvested primarily for its omega-3-rich oil, yields a side-stream protein hydrolysate, C. finmarchicus hydrolysate (CFH), during commercial enzyme-assisted extraction. Although currently used as a feed ingredient, CFH contains low-molecular-weight peptides and free amino acids with potential for human health applications. This study evaluated the gastrointestinal stability of CFH and the impact of digestion on bioactivity using a static in vitro gastrointestinal digestion model. Fresh-frozen and freeze-dried C. finmarchicus were included to provide comparative data. Antioxidant capacity was measured by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assays, and antidiabetic activity by dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) inhibition assays. The hydrolysate maintained its antioxidant capacity throughout digestion (at 165 min: FRAP: 27.5 ± 0.6 µmol TE/g dry weight (DW); ORAC: 411 ± 37 µmol TE/g DW). Digestion increased its DPP-IV inhibitory activity, with the inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) decreased from 3.73 to 1.96 mg/mL (p ≥ 0.05). PTP1B inhibitors were nonselective and detected only at 0 and 30 min. These findings support our hypothesis that CFH may serve as a nutraceutical for humans and provide a rationale for subsequent in vivo studies. However, further identification of bioactive components and in vivo validation are warranted. Full article