Search Results (3,117)

The global oil-processing industry generates substantial quantities of by-products and secondary streams, including oilseed cakes, pomaces, hulls, and wastewaters, which remain largely underutilized despite being rich sources of high-value bioactive compounds. The development of sustainable strategies for the valorization of these residues is increasingly recognized as a key component of circular bioeconomy and biorefinery frameworks. In this context, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have attracted considerable attention as a new generation of designer solvents owing to their tunable physicochemical properties, low vapor pressure, ease of synthesis, and potential environmental compatibility. This review critically discusses the current state of knowledge regarding the application of DESs in the processing and valorization of oil industry by-products. Particular emphasis is placed on the relationship between DES composition, physicochemical characteristics, and extraction performance. Recent advances in the recovery of phenolic compounds, proteins, saccharides, and tocopherols from oilseed-derived residues are comprehensively examined, including the integration of DESs with intensified extraction techniques such as microwave-, ultrasound-, and ohmic-assisted extraction. Furthermore, the role of DESs in oil purification processes and the treatment of technological waste stream is evaluated. Emerging evidence indicates that DES-based systems not only enhance extraction efficiency and selectivity but may also improve the stability, bioaccessibility, and purity of the recovered compounds. Finally, the opportunities and challenges associated with the implementation of DES-based technologies within integrated biorefinery schemes are discussed, including solvent recovery, product scalability, sensory acceptability, and regulatory considerations. The available literature demonstrates that DESs constitute a versatile platform for the sustainable valorization of oil-processing residues, supporting the transition from conventional waste management approaches toward resource-efficient and circular production systems. Full article

Matcha tea, a powdered green tea produced from shade-grown Camellia sinensis leaves, has gained increasing attention as both a traditional beverage and a functional food ingredient. While previous reviews have focused on its phytochemical profile and biological activities, less attention has been given to the effects of food processing and matrix interactions on matcha bioactives. This review critically synthesizes current evidence on the processing-induced transformation, stability, and digestive bioaccessibility of key matcha compounds in real food systems. The production methods, phytochemical compositions, and reported health effects are summarized, with a particular emphasis on matrix-dependent changes during processing, including catechin degradation and epimerization, caffeine retention, L-theanine stability, and chlorophyll loss. The implications of these alterations for sensory quality, safety, and gastrointestinal release are discussed. Emerging findings on gut microbiota modulation and omics-based approaches are also highlighted. Collectively, the available evidence indicates that the functional value of matcha in foods is strongly influenced by processing–matrix interactions rather than native composition alone, leading to trade-offs among health functionality, consumer acceptance, and safety. By integrating food chemistry, processing, and nutritional perspectives, this review proposes a framework to guide the rational formulation of matcha-enriched foods and align health claims with realistic processing outcomes. Full article

This study investigated the interactions between phenolic compounds from Israeli and Chilean white wines and human serum carrier proteins, including human serum albumin (HALB), gamma-globulin (HGLO), and fibrinogen (HFB), to characterize their antioxidant capacity and serum protein-binding behavior under controlled experimental conditions. The analyzed wines included Israeli Chardonnay (ICR), Chilean Chardonnay (CCR), Israeli Sauvignon Blanc (ISB), and Chilean Sauvignon Blanc (CSB). HPLC and FTIR fingerprinting revealed cultivar- and region-dependent differences in phenolic composition, with Chardonnay wines showing stronger protein-binding behavior and Sauvignon Blanc samples displaying high antioxidant efficiency relative to their phenolic content. ICR exhibited the highest total binding capacity, 46.44%, and the strongest albumin interaction, with a binding constant (Kb) of 8.44 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ and a Gibbs free energy (ΔG) value of −35.03 kJ/mol. Empirical fluorescence quenching kinetics demonstrated that white wine phenolics establish stable physical complexes with human serum proteins, displaying a distinct preferential affinity for HALB as the protein showing the strongest apparent interaction among the proteins tested. Two- and three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy confirmed substantial quenching of the intrinsic tryptophan and tyrosine residues, indicating meaningful microenvironmental alterations within the protein’s active transport sites. These empirical interactions were closely mirrored by complementary molecular docking simulations, which provided a structural visualization of the physical binding interactions. ICR also showed the highest antioxidant capacity, with DPPH and CUPRAC values of 1.66 and 2.91 mmol TE/L, respectively. Ethanol control showed negligible effects, indicating that the observed bioactivity was mainly associated with the polyphenolic matrix. Among the investigated samples, Chardonnay showed higher apparent protein-binding capacity, whereas Sauvignon Blanc showed relatively high antioxidant efficiency in relation to its phenolic content. Full article

Onosma elegantissima is an endemic and understudied plant of the Kozani Regional Unit (Greece), with poorly established traditional use. However, the well-documented pharmacological potential of the genus has prompted further investigation. Furthermore, green solvent-based extraction procedures have gained emerging scientific interest due to their high efficiency/selectivity and environmentally friendly approach. Therefore, our study aimed to establish the optimal extraction protocol to obtain extracts with high therapeutic value using two green solvent-based techniques: hydrothermal and deep eutectic solvent (DES) extraction. Our results demonstrate that hydrothermal extraction for 90 min at 80 °C yielded extracts exhibiting total phenolic content (35.19 mg GAE/g dw), approximately threefold higher compared to DES extracts (10.03 mg GAE/g dw), and significantly higher antioxidant capacity. The flavonoid concentration (8.39 mg RE eq/g) measured was at the same level for both types of extracts (7.34 mg RE eq/g). The DES extract showed slightly higher anti-inflammatory potential, though. Additional assays were performed to evaluate antimicrobial activity and in vitro antidiabetic capacity. The bioactive compounds of optimized extracts were identified by HPLC, revealing that the most dominant compound recovered was chlorogenic acid in the DES extract and neochlorogenic acid in the hydrothermal extract. To complement the phytochemical analysis, molecular docking was used as a reproducible, hypothesis-generating screen to prioritize future enzyme inhibition assays for HPLC-detected phenolic constituents and literature-related comparators; docking was not used as evidence of biological activity. Conclusively, Onosma elegantissima’s first biological study revealed significant antioxidant activity. Full article

Argan oil (Argania spinosa L.) is a culturally and economically significant product in North Africa, yet little is known about how extraction practices shape its nutritional and sensory qualities. The present study compares mechanical cold pressing with solvent extraction (diethyl ether and petroleum ether) on roasted and unroasted kernels from Algerian argan trees. The comparison focused on lipid recovery, fatty acid composition, sterol profile, and volatile compounds as nutritional, functional, and sensory-related quality indicators. Diethyl ether extraction achieved the highest lipid recovery and was associated with higher relative proportions of oleic acid and β-sitosterol, which may be relevant for oxidative-stability-related and compositional quality considerations. In contrast, mechanical pressing preserved the authentic sterolic profile, dominated by schottenol (44.1%) and spinasterol (32.6%), characteristic of traditional argan oil. Roasting intensified Maillard-derived volatiles, notably pyrazines and furans, defining the roasted–nutty aroma of culinary-grade oils. The originality of this study lies in the integrated evaluation of extraction efficiency, fatty acid composition, sterol authenticity markers, and aroma-related volatile compounds in argan oil produced from Mostaganem kernels under roasted and unroasted conditions. These results reveal that extraction and pre-treatment are decisive levers for tailoring argan oil’s nutritional, functional, and sensory attributes, providing practical guidance for selecting processing conditions according to the intended food, culinary, cosmetic, or neutral-aroma application. The findings also support process standardization, product differentiation, authenticity preservation, and the sustainable valorization of Algerian argan oil in global food systems. Full article

The plant-based diets market has grown in popularity over recent decades and is projected to reach USD 27 billion by 2030. Innovative systems such as intercropping, defined as growing two or more crop species in proximity, are promising contributors to the advancement of sustainable agriculture by improving resource efficiency, enhancing crop resilience, and cutting down the need for chemical inputs. However, legume seed lots grown under intercropping versus monocropping systems differ in composition, which, in turn, can influence seed flour quality. Furthermore, antinutritional properties of legumes, such as phytic acid, condensed tannins (CTs), and raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs), limit their utilisation in product formulation. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to reduce these antinutritional compounds for utilisation of the intercropped legume flour in bakery products. A harvest of intercropped peas and faba bean mix (IM) obtained from Irish farmers was soaked (S) for 8 and 16 h and germinated (G) for 24, 48, and 72 h. Non-germinated intercropped mix (IM) was used as a control. All flours were subsequently used to substitute for wheat flour and fortify wheat-based cakes. The 72 h germinated intercropped mix (pea bean; 95.5:4.5) flour showed significantly (p < 0.05) lower levels of antinutritional compounds than the non-germinated intercropped flour. Raffinose, stachyose, and verbascose contents were reduced by 43%, 38%, and 46%, respectively, while phytic acid and condensed tannins decreased by 32% and 57%, respectively. The germination process also reduced the green hue (a*) from −8.37 to −6.49 and enhanced levels of soluble dietary fibre by 2.67% of the flour, while improving their suitability for bakery applications. Wheat-based cakes fortified with germinated and non-germinated intercropped legume flours showed a significant enhancement in protein and soluble dietary fibre contents. Compared with the control cake, protein content increased from 9.52 to 12.80%, while soluble dietary fibre content increased from 0.47 to 1.99% in the fortified cakes. Cakes containing up to 40% germinated flour (G72) showed comparable specific volume values 1.84–1.86 mL/g) and slice brightness (112.50–94.23) to the control cake. Additionally, cakes formulated with 40% intercropped flour showed significantly lower condensed tannin and phytic acid contents (p < 0.05), with reductions of 38% and 31.38%, respectively. Samples containing intercropped legume flours proved suitable for bakery applications, supporting up to 40% substitution in wheat-based cakes, and the germination process was effective in reducing antinutritional properties in intercropped legume flour fortified cakes. Full article

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a bioactive phytocannabinoid with considerable pharmacological potential. However, its limited aqueous solubility and high lipophilicity remain significant barriers to its broader pharmaceutical application. In this study, the enzymatic potential of selected filamentous fungi was investigated as a whole-cell biocatalytic platform for the regioselective functionalization of CBD. Sixteen fungal strains were screened, and thirteen microorganisms successfully transformed CBD into more polar derivatives. Four strains showing distinct and promising chromatographic profiles were selected for scale-up biotransformation and product isolation: Mucor hiemalis KCh W2, M. hiemalis AM 450, Isaria fumosorosea KCh J2, and Metarhizium robertsii MU4. Eight CBD derivatives were isolated and identified by UHPLC-DAD, NMR spectroscopy, and HRESI-MS, including hydroxylated, glycosylated, and methylglycosylated products. Among them, two metabolites, 2′-O-(4‴-O-methyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-cannabidiol and 2′-O-(4‴-O-methyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-5″-hydroxycannabidiol, are reported here as previously undescribed CBD derivatives. I. fumosorosea KCh J2 and M. robertsii MU4 demonstrated the ability to catalyse 4-O-methylglycosylation. An additional experiment using 2′-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)-cannabidiol as an intermediate supported a sequential pathway involving initial phenolic O-glycosylation followed by methylation of the sugar moiety. In silico analysis predicted reduced lipophilicity for the newly obtained derivatives compared with CBD; however, these computational results require experimental verification and should not be interpreted as evidence of improved aqueous solubility, bioavailability, or biological activity. These findings demonstrate that filamentous fungi are useful whole-cell biocatalysts for generating structurally diverse CBD derivatives with increased polarity and provide new compounds for future physicochemical and biological evaluation. Full article

Cyclodextrin (CD)-based supramolecular nanofibers (NFs) have emerged as an advanced class of multifunctional materials for active food packaging by integrating host–guest supramolecular chemistry with electrospun nanofibrous architectures. The unique hydrophobic cavity and hydrophilic exterior of CDs enable the encapsulation of a wide range of bioactive compounds, including essential oils, natural antioxidants, antimicrobials, and volatile active agents, thereby enhancing their solubility, stability, controlled release, and preservation efficacy. This review comprehensively discusses the molecular structure and inclusion complexation mechanisms of CDs, recent advances in polymer-assisted and polymer-free electrospinning strategies, and the design of CD-based supramolecular nanofibers for food preservation. Particular emphasis is placed on the relationship between fiber morphology, supramolecular interactions, and controlled release behavior, which collectively govern antimicrobial, antioxidant, moisture management, and barrier properties. Recent developments involving biodegradable polymers, hybrid nanofibrous systems, and cyclodextrin-based metal–organic frameworks (CD-MOFs) are critically summarized, highlighting their roles in improving encapsulation efficiency, mechanical stability, and multifunctional performance. The review further compares CD-based nanofibers with other advanced encapsulation technologies, including liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, nanoemulsions, polymeric nanoparticles, microspheres, and conventional MOFs, providing a comprehensive evaluation of their loading capacity, release kinetics, scalability, cost, and regulatory suitability for food-contact applications. Representative applications in the preservation of fruits, vegetables, meat, seafood, dairy products, and bakery products demonstrate significant improvements in microbial inhibition, oxidation resistance, ethylene and volatile organic compound adsorption, and shelf-life extension through sustained delivery of natural preservatives. Ultimately, the current challenges, including large-scale manufacturing, long-term stability, regulatory approval, and commercialization, are discussed together with future directions, focusing on smart packaging, stimuli-responsive delivery systems, intelligent sensing, biodegradable multifunctional materials, and sustainable industrial implementation. Full article

Liquid chromatography—including thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC/LC)—and gas chromatography (GC) are fundamental separation techniques in analytical chemistry, used for the separation, identification, and quantification of individual components in a mixture across a wide range of applications, from biochemistry, pharmaceutical, food, and environmental research to forensic analysis [...] Full article

The peripartum period in prolific ewes is associated with increased metabolic demands, and dietary lipid supplementation may increase the energy density of the prepartum diet. This study evaluated the effects of prepartum supplementation with alternative lipid matrices on the physicochemical characteristics and comprehensive fatty acid (FA) profiles of mature and transitional sheep milk. Thirty-two pregnant Olkuska ewes were randomly assigned to four cohorts (n = 8/group): Control (basal diet), flaxseed oil (low n-3/high n-6 variety; FO), black soldier fly larvae oil (BSFL oil), and Mix oil (2:1 ratio of FO to BSFL oil). Dietary treatments exerted no significant effects (p > 0.05) on transitional milk composition or lipid quality indices. In contrast, in mature milk, BSFL oil supplementation significantly increased milk fat content (6.09%) compared to the Control group (4.70%; p < 0.01). Furthermore, all oil treatments significantly reduced total saturated FAs (p < 0.01), while the BSFL oil and Mix oil supplementation significantly increased the monounsaturated FA fraction (p < 0.01). The differences, particularly the increase in cis-9, trans-11 CLA concentration and the significant reduction in both the atherogenic and thrombogenic indices (p < 0.01), were observed exclusively in mature milk. These findings suggest that the combination of sustainable insect lipids with high-linoleic plant oils may represent a viable strategy to transform sheep milk into a functional food with potential cardiovascular health benefits for consumers. These findings additionally indicate that prepartum lipid supplementation may exert a persistent carry-over effect into early lactation, influencing the fatty acid composition of mature sheep milk. Full article

The chronic overuse of antibiotics has accelerated the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, creating a global public health crisis as conventional therapies fail against multidrug-resistant pathogens spreading through water and food chains. Cadmium sulfide (CdS) has been established as an important visible-light-driven photocatalyst for antibacterial applications. This brief review systematically examines the structure–property relationships governing CdS-based antibacterial materials, including crystallographic polymorphs (cubic sphalerite and hexagonal wurtzite), morphological diversity from quantum dots to hierarchical architectures, and synthesis methodologies that critically influence particle size, crystallinity, and surface chemistry. The mechanisms of antibacterial action are elucidated, encompassing photocatalytic reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, controlled Cd²⁺ ion release, and membrane disruption. A detailed tabulated analysis is presented across three material classes: pristine CdS, binary composites, and ternary Z-scheme heterostructures. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and molecular docking simulations provide atomic-level insights into charge transfer dynamics and enzyme inhibition mechanisms. Finally, critical challenges, photocorrosion, toxicity, biocompatibility concerns, and scalability limitations are addressed. This review bridges fundamental materials science with antimicrobial applications to guide rational design of next-generation CdS-based antibacterial materials. Full article

Electrochemical sensors have become integral components of modern analytical science owing to their exceptional sensitivity, rapid analytical performance, portability, and low operating costs. These advantages have facilitated their broad implementation in environmental monitoring, clinical diagnostics, food safety, and pharmaceutical analysis. However, the increasing use of non-biodegradable materials in sensor fabrication has raised concerns regarding electronic waste and environmental sustainability. This review examines the recent progress in the development of green electrochemical sensors based on biodegradable polymers, with a particular focus on cellulose, chitosan, alginate, and starch. The chemical structures, physicochemical properties, and functional characteristics of these biopolymers are discussed in relation to their roles as sensing matrices and electrode modification materials. Representative applications reported in the literature are systematically reviewed, highlighting their use in the detection of pharmaceuticals, biomolecules, pathogens, heavy metals, pesticides, and environmental pollutants through various analytical techniques, including differential pulse voltammetry, square wave voltammetry, amperometry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, fluorescence, and colorimetric methods. The integration of biodegradable polymers with nanomaterials is also evaluated in terms of improving sensor sensitivity, selectivity, and stability. The incorporation of biodegradable polymers into electrochemical sensing platforms offers a sustainable pathway toward next-generation analytical technologies. By balancing high sensing efficiency with a lower environmental footprint, these materials support the transition toward analytical systems designed in accordance with the principles of green chemistry and green analytical chemistry. Full article

Methods for extracting bioactive compounds are widely studied, as the global trend moves toward more efficient and eco-friendly methods. This study aimed to optimize and compare the extraction of phenolic compounds from the residual biomass of andiroba (Carapa guianensis) using the conventional method with methanol as the solvent, and a green chemistry method via ultrasound using ethanol as the solvent. The optimization of the extraction variables (time, mass/volume ratio, and ethanol concentration) was performed using a Central Composite Rotatable Design (CCRD 2³) combined with the desirability function. The established optimal conditions were an extraction time of 26.78 min, a mass/volume ratio of 86.46 mg/mL, and an ethanol concentration of 32.5%. The conventional method achieved a higher yield of total phenolic compounds (TPC) (109.05 mg GAE/mL) and total flavonoid compounds (TFC) (38.18 mg GAE/mL) compared to the ultrasound-assisted method (UAE) (82.64 and 26.27 mg GAE/mL, respectively). LC-MS analysis revealed a diversity of extracted bioactive molecules. Both methodologies yielded extracts with good in vitro antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS). In the antimicrobial assay, the extracts demonstrated an unprecedented bacteriostatic effect for this residue, inhibiting the growth of the Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus at concentrations ranging from 43.83% to 52.67%, with no activity against Gram-negative bacteria. The optimization demonstrated that the industrial residue of andiroba still contains a significant concentration of bioactive compounds. These findings confirm the bioeconomic potential of this by-product for the formulation of high-value-added bio-inputs, with promising applications in the development of smart packaging or bioactive food coatings. Full article

Van der Waals indium selenide is a promising material for next-generation optoelectronics due to its thickness-dependent band structure and high carrier mobility. Here, we investigate the optical properties of size-selected liquid-phase exfoliated γ-InSe nanosheets. The dispersions, composed of flakes with lateral dimensions below 100 nm, exhibit pronounced structural disorder and size-dependent optical behavior. Absorbance spectroscopy reveals systematic changes across size-selected fractions, enabling the extraction of quantitative metrics for estimating nanosheet lateral size and layers number. In addition, stability studies demonstrate significant degradation under ambient conditions, which is accelerated at elevated temperatures. Photoluminescence measurements on nanosheets exfoliated under inert conditions show broad, asymmetric emission with a clear blue-shift for smaller flakes, reflecting quantum confinement and dielectric screening effects. The emission characteristics further indicate a dominant contribution from localized states associated with disorder. These findings provide insight into the structure–property relationships in liquid-phase exfoliated γ-InSe and highlight its potential for solution-processed optoelectronic applications. Full article

Microbial biotransformation of para-hydroxycinnamic acids (pHCAs) such as para-coumaric, caffeic, ferulic and sinapic acids into vinylphenols is catalyzed by phenolic acid decarboxylases (PADs), while reduction to their corresponding aldehydes and alcohols is mediated by carboxylic acid reductases (CARs) and alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs), respectively. The present study systematically evaluated a diverse set of endophytic and basidiomycetes fungi as whole-cell biocatalysts for the transformation of pHCAs into their corresponding vinylphenols and/or aldehydes and alcohols. Twenty-three fungal strains were screened for their PAD, CAR and ADH activities. Based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–diode array detector (UHPLC-DAD) analysis, fourteen strains were selected for preparative-scale biotransformations across all four substrates. Previous literature largely emphasizes enzyme activity or single substrates, seldom covering all four pHCAs. The strain Umbelopsis sp. JAR-T demonstrated promising biotransformation of para-coumaric acid and ferulic acid to 4-vinylphenol (28% isolated yield) and 4-vinylguaiacol (40% isolated yield), respectively, with minimal by-product formation. The results highlight endophytic fungi as largely untapped and versatile biocatalysts for pHCA biotransformation and establish whole-cell fungal systems as robust, non-recombinant alternatives to engineered platforms. This integrated screening-to-preparative workflow provides a scalable framework for the production of value-added compounds with potential applications in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Full article