Search Results (952)

Bio-waste (i.e., peels), the by-products obtained from the processing of fruits and vegetables, represents an outstanding advance in agricultural waste valorization due to phytochemical (bioactive compounds) enrichment and the approach to a bio-circular economy and agronomic systems free of hazardous pesticides (soil remediation). These alternatives, which are environmentally friendly and sustainable, are greatly relevant to food and nutraceuticals based on bioactive compounds extracted mostly from peels. Bioactive compounds are defined as natural chemical compounds that have a positive influence on human health. They can aid in the prevention of chronic disease (cancer and degenerative, intestinal bowel and cardiovascular disease) and other types of disease. The bioactive compounds with these properties belong to the family of polyphenol compounds, which include flavonoids (i.e., flavones, flavanones, and anthocyanins), non-flavonoids (phenolic acids, stilbenes, lignin, coumarins, and tannins), and terpenes (carotenoids, lycopene, phytosterols, and monoterpenes). The extraction of these compounds from the peels of fruits and vegetables has gained increasing interest as a sustainable technology because of the use of safety solvents. Another important issue to highlight is the enormous potential of bioactive compounds, as mentioned above, in the biotechnology of these compounds, particularly in terms of the development of a delivery system targeting the site of action. Full article

ABC transporters (ATP-binding cassette transporters) constitute one of the largest known protein families and are widely distributed in plants. Their primary function involves utilizing energy derived from ATP hydrolysis to transport substrates across membranes against concentration gradients. These transporters play crucial roles in the translocation and accumulation of metabolites, stress tolerance, disease resistance, and plant defense. Lotus is an important traditional Chinese medicinal herb and contains active ingredients primarily composed of secondary metabolites, whose transport and accumulation require the involvement of ABC transporters. However, the function of these ABC transporters remains unexplored in lotus. In this study, 122 ABC transporter genes were predicted within the lotus genome. We identified 1~15 conserved motifs among the NnABC proteins and most of them were stable proteins predominantly located on the plasma membrane with ExPASy-ProtParam, ProComp and WoLF PSORT analysis. Phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that the lotus ABC transporter gene family could be divided into eight subfamilies, from ABCA to ABCI, and the evolution was predominantly driven by purifying selection. Comparative transcriptome analysis between the cultivar ‘Yindu Zhimi’ with orange-reddish stamen and ‘Weishan Hong’ with yellowish stamen, along with quantitative real-time PCR results, showed that the NnABCG25 gene is highly specifically expressed in the orange-reddish stamen. Molecular docking demonstrated that NnABCG25 has a stable affinity for lycopene, β-carotene and β-apocarotenal, suggesting its potential involvement in the transport of carotenoids in the stamen. These findings expand our understanding of the role of ABC transporters in the transport and accumulation of carotenoids, as well as providing a valuable reference for research on the ABC transporter gene family in other plants. Full article

Carotenoids play a central role in photosynthesis and cellular protection, and microalgae represent a sustainable platform for their commercial production. Here, we optimized the accumulation of the high-value carotenoids astaxanthin and lutein in continuous photoautotrophic cultures of Chromochloris zofingiensis by modulating nitrogen supply and light intensity. Reducing nitrate availability strongly promoted astaxanthin accumulation, whereas lutein levels remained largely unaffected. For 4% N in the dry biomass, accumulation of astaxanthin was highest and that of lutein lowest, while the opposite was recorded for 9% N. Average irradiance positively affected lutein accumulation independently of nitrate, whereas that of astaxanthin only increased under nitrogen-limiting conditions. Integrated transcriptomics and carotenoid profiling analysis revealed nitrogen availability as the dominant regulatory factor, with a synergistic interaction with light that enhances their individual effects. Nitrate limitation redirected metabolic flux from lycopene toward β-carotene and its subsequent conversion to astaxanthin via BKT1 overexpression, while high irradiance induced CYP97A1 and CYP97C expression, favoring lutein biosynthesis. Together, these findings demonstrate that targeted control of nitrogen and light enables the continuous and programmable production of C. zofingiensis biomass with a specific astaxanthin-to-lutein ratio, highlighting its potential for industrial carotenoid bioprocesses. Full article

Supplemental lighting is essential for overcoming low-light stress and enabling overwintering tomato production in greenhouses. This study investigated the effects of LED supplemental lighting with different spectral qualities in the upper and lower canopy on the fruit weight and quality of tomatoes. Six treatments were established: upper-red/lower-blue (R_UB_L), full red (R), full blue (B), upper-blue/lower-red (B_UR_L), red–blue mixture (RB), and a non-lit control (CK). The results demonstrated that: (1) All supplemental lighting treatments increased tomato fruit weight. During the early overwintering stage (October–December), the highest fruit weight was observed under the RB treatment, representing an increase of 22.62–24.02% compared to CK at the same truss positions. The light gain coefficient (LGC) under RB treatment reached up to 4.41 times that of other treatments. During the later phase (January–February), the B_UR_L treatment achieved the highest LGC, reaching 1.28 to 5.30 times that of other treatments, and it increased the fruit weight by 48.2–72.88% compared to CK. (2) Regarding fruit quality, R and B_UR_L promoted lycopene accumulation the most, followed by RB treatment. Additionally, lycopene was found positively correlated with key color parameters (a, a*/b*, CCI, and C). (3) Compared to CK, all supplemental lighting treatments increased the soluble sugar content in tomato fruits (ranging 5.36~95.35%), with the highest sugar–acid ratios typically observed under R or B_UR_L treatments. The RB treatment yielded the highest VC levels during the later overwintering stage, exceeding the control by 29.97–39.65%. In summary, for overwintering greenhouse tomato production, application of the RB treatment during the early phase (October to December) and transition to the B_UR_L treatment in the late phase (January to February) could be considered. This phased strategy may help achieve synergistic improvements in yield, fruit coloration, and quality. Full article

Common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a staple food crop for humans, yet it primarily accumulates the non-provitamin A carotenoid lutein and exhibits limited natural variation in provitamin A β-carotene among its various accessions. This characteristic necessitates the development of alternative strategies for provitamin A biofortification. To address this challenge, we targeted key control points in the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway using the CRISPR-Cas9 system in a wheat cultivar Fielder. Specifically, we knocked out the gene encoding lycopene ε-cyclase (LCYE), an enzyme that acts as a gatekeeper opposing the production of β-branch carotenoids. Biochemical analysis of homozygous transgene-free mutant endosperms at 20 days post-anthesis (DPA) revealed marked metabolic rerouting of carotenoid biosynthesis, characterized by differential, line-specific accumulation patterns. Provitamin A carotenoids—specifically β-carotene—increased by 26.1–34.5% relative to wild-type controls, concomitant with elevated 22.9–125.4% for zeaxanthin, 41.6–73.9% for violaxanthin, and 26.2–186.5% for antheraxanthin. However, these gains were offset by drastic lutein reduction in lines 1–4 and 5–1. Consequently, total carotenoid levels displayed non-uniform responses, with line 5–1 exhibiting a modest decrease relative to wild-type. Moreover, the mutant lines exhibited elevated levels of amylose and soluble sugar, and the seed coats and endosperms of the triple homozygous transgene-free mutant lines exhibited an orange-yellow hue. In conclusion, we have successfully developed novel carotenoids biofortified wheat lines through a gene-editing approach. This study demonstrates targeted redirection of carotenoid biosynthesis via gene editing as an effective strategy to enhance the nutritional value of commercial wheat and mitigate micronutrient deficiencies in modern food systems. Full article

The fruits of Solanum lycopersicum L. cultivar “Microtom” are a powerful source of antioxidants. We investigated whether two light-quality regimes, i.e., fluorescent white (FL) and red-blue (RB), influenced the antioxidant composition in such fruits, and assessed the potential radioprotective properties of their extracts on normal human cells exposed to clinical photons as used in cancer radiotherapy (RT). Increasing normal-tissue tolerance to radiation is critical for reducing the risk of RT-associated sequelae. Biochemical characterization showed that RB enhanced the content of antioxidant phytochemicals (i.e., polyphenols, flavonoids, total carotenoids, lycopene), while FL promoted ascorbic acid synthesis. Initially tested at 200 µg/mL, RB-derived extracts decreased radiation-induced DNA damage as measured by the cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay in epidermal HaCaT cells. Both RB and FL regimes were subsequently studied in MCF-10A breast cancer (BC) cells, a model of normal-tissue radioresponse in BC RT, using extracts at 100 and 200 µg/mL and also evaluating oxidative stress by a ROS detection assay. Both FL and RB afforded radioprotection. However, RB suppressed radiation-induced MN formation and oxidative stress to a greater extent compared to FL. Therefore, modulation of light-quality regimes represents an innovative approach for developing radionutraceuticals with potential benefits for RT patients. Full article

Fruit ripening and color change form a complex physiological and biochemical process involving the accumulation and breakdown of a series of metabolites. Brassinolide plays an important role in the regulation of fruit ripening. In this study, the effects of exogenous EBR (2,4-epibrassinolide) and BRZ (Brassinazole, an inhibitor of BR biosynthesis) on fruit color change were investigated using ‘Micro-Tom’ tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) as an experimental material. The experiment was set up with five treatments: CK (distilled water + 0.01% Tween-80) and T1–T4 (0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2 mg/L EBR). In addition, a BRZ-treated group (4 μmol/L BRZ + 0.01% Tween-80) was set up in a follow-up experiment. The results showed that different concentrations of EBR treatments significantly increased the carotenoid and lycopene contents and decreased the chlorophyll contents in fruits compared with CK, with the T3 treatment (0.15 mg/L EBR) showing the most significant effect. Simultaneously, EBR induced the expression of the carotenoid metabolism genes SlGGPPS, SlPSY, SlPDS and SlZDS and promoted carotenoid accumulation. On the 20th day, compared with the CK and BRZ treatments, chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b contents were significantly reduced by 20.06% and 46.03% respectively; the expression of the chlorophyll degradation-related genes SlNYC, SlSGR1, SlPPH, and SlPAO was upregulated under a 0.15 mg/L EBR treatment, accelerating chlorophyll degradation. Furthermore, the EBR treatment reduced fruit brightness (L*) and increased fruit red saturation (a*), while yellow saturation (b*) showed an increasing and then decreasing trend; on the 20th day, compared with CK and BRZ, the red saturation of the EBR treatment group increased by 125.57% and 67.37% respectively, while the brightness decreased significantly by 24.28% and 23.83% respectively. In conclusion, exogenous application of 0.15 mg/L EBR significantly accelerated fruit ripening and color transformation by promoting the accumulation of carotenoids and the degradation of chlorophyll. Full article

Exposure to T2 toxin is known to induce hepatotoxicity and gut dysbiosis, yet effective dietary interventions remain underexplored. This study investigates the hepatoprotective and microbiota-modulating effects of lycopene against T2 toxin-induced toxicity in mice. Mice were exposed to T2 toxin with or without lycopene supplementation at low and high doses. The hepatic function, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory gene expression, detoxification pathway activity, and gut microbiota composition were assessed using histological, biochemical, and molecular analyses. T2 toxin exposure resulted in significant weight loss, oxidative liver damage, and gut dysbiosis—marked by a decline in beneficial phyla and an increase in pathogenic bacteria. Hepatic injury was accompanied by upregulated pro-inflammatory genes and downregulated PPAR pathway genes, leading to impaired lipid metabolism and disrupted liver histology. Lycopene supplementation effectively attenuated these effects: it reduced oxidative stress, enhanced antioxidant defense, lowered inflammatory markers, and restored gut microbial balance. Furthermore, lycopene upregulated PPAR pathway and phase I detoxification genes. Notably, the low-dose lycopene regimen demonstrated superior efficacy compared to the high-dose regimen. In conclusion, lycopene, particularly at a low dose, confers significant protection against T2 toxin-induced hepatotoxicity and gut dysbiosis, highlighting its potential as a dietary strategy for mitigating mycotoxin-induced health risks. Full article

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a prevalent condition affecting over 50% of men aged 60 and above, often leading to lower urinary tract symptoms that significantly impact quality of life. Current pharmacological treatments, including α-adrenergic receptor antagonists and 5α-reductase inhibitors, are associated with adverse effects, prompting the exploration of alternative therapies. This study investigates the potential role of a novel multi-component phytocomplex (PhytoBPH-Mix) comprising Serenoa repens, Pygeum africanum, Urtica dioica, Epilobium angustifolium L., Protium heptaphyllum, lycopene, Vitamin E, zinc, and selenium. Methods: The anti-androgenic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties of the mixture were evaluated in vitro. Results: The formulation significantly inhibited 5α-reductase activity, reduced the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α), and exhibited antibacterial effects against E. coli compared to individual extracts. Conclusions: These findings suggest that this specific mixture offers a promising natural alternative or an adjuvant for managing BPH by targeting multiple pathological mechanisms with minimal side effects and could also serve as an effective adjuvant in conventional therapy. Full article

Heat stress (HS) severely impairs boar reproductive function by inducing oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, while lycopene (LYC), as a potent antioxidant, exerts a potential protective effect on the male reproductive system. This study aimed to clarify the mechanism underlying LYC-mediated alleviation of HS-induced decline in semen quality in Rongchang boars, identify the most affected tissues, and explore its regulatory role in the Nrf2 (Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2) pathway. A total of 18 Rongchang boars with an initial body weight of 15.81 ± 1.07 kg were randomly assigned to three groups (6 boars per group): the control group (CON, 26 ± 1 °C), the heat stress group (HS, exposed to 35 ± 1 °C for 8 h daily), and the heat stress + 100 mg/kg lycopene group (HS + LYC). After 28 days of adaptive feeding and 14 days of HS treatment, samples were collected for semen quality analysis, testicular histological analysis, antioxidant index detection, transcriptome analysis, Nrf2 pathway detection, and inflammatory index detection. The results showed that HS significantly increased the sperm abnormality rate (p < 0.05), damaged the testicular structure, and induced oxidative stress in serum, lung, liver, left ventricle, testis, and epididymis (caput epididymis, corpus epididymis, cauda epididymis), with varying degrees of oxidative stress observed in these samples. Among these tissues, the testis and cauda epididymis exhibited the most significant responses to HS and LYC, with the comprehensive impact magnitudes of 317% and 514%, respectively. Enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in these two tissues revealed that the pathways mediating oxidative stress response displayed distinct tissue specificity, and all of them were closely associated with the Nrf2 antioxidant signaling pathway. HS significantly downregulated the mRNA expressions of Nrf2, Quinone Oxidoreductase (NQO1), Heme Oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) and Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase Catalytic Subunit (GCLC) genes as well as the protein level of Nrf2 in the testis and cauda epididymis, increased the protein level of Keap1, and significantly elevated the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in these two tissues (p < 0.05). Compared with the HS group, dietary supplementation of LYC significantly improved sperm motility and the proportion of rapidly progressive sperm, reduced the proportion of immotile sperm and sperm abnormality rate (p < 0.05), alleviated testicular damage and oxidative stress in various tissues, upregulated the mRNA expressions of Nrf2 and HMOX1 genes in the testis as well as the mRNA expressions of Nrf2, NQO1, HMOX1 and GCLC genes in cauda epididymis (p < 0.05), significantly increased the Nrf2 protein level and decreased the Keap1 protein level in these two tissues, and simultaneously decreased the levels of the aforementioned inflammatory factors (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 100 mg/kg LYC can alleviate HS-induced decline in semen quality and testicular damage by regulating the oxidative status and inflammatory level of relevant tissues (e.g., testis and cauda epididymis) in boars, and this protective effect may be associated with the regulation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway. Full article

Background: Nutraceuticals are increasingly used in clinical practice for their anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, and antioxidant properties. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a fixed nutraceutical combination containing chondroitin sulfate, α-lipoic acid, astaxanthin, lycopene, escin, and omega-3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid) in improving pain and quality of life in patients with chronic knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: This observational study included patients with chronic knee OA who were referred to the ambulatory pain clinic at Dulbecco University Hospital, Catanzaro, Italy. Participants received one tablet daily for three months. Quality of life was assessed using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were evaluated using the Naranjo scale. Results: Fifty patients (20 men and 30 women; mean age, 63.6 ± 11.4 years; range, 26–88 years; mean body mass index, 26.9 ± 3.7 kg/m²) were enrolled. Pain symptoms demonstrated a statistically significant improvement over time (p < 0.01). No ADRs were reported during the study period. Conclusions: The fixed nutraceutical combination improved pain and quality of life in patients with chronic knee OA and demonstrated an excellent safety profile. Full article

Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) are among the most widely consumed and nutritious vegetables globally, being abundant in lycopene, carotenoids, phenolics, organic acids, vitamins, and several other bioactive and health-enhancing compounds. Tomato processing yields a substantial residue known as tomato pomace (TP), primarily composed of peels and seeds, along with a small quantity of pulp. This study investigates the potential of TP powder, rich in dietary fiber, lycopene, polyphenols, and other bioactive compounds, as a natural ingredient in semi-hard cheese. The cheese was enhanced with varying concentrations of TP (5%, 7%), and each variant was assessed for physico-chemicals, sensory properties, minerals, color, phytochemicals, and texture. Cheeses supplemented with TP showed elevated levels of phytochemicals (45.44–82.83 mg GAE/100 g), greater antioxidant capacity (470.25–977.41 µmol TE/g), and higher fiber content (3.62–5.44%), while sensory acceptability remained acceptable at lower inclusion levels but decreased at 7% TP due to slightly bitter aftertaste. Textural analysis showed minimal changes in TP-enriched cheeses, suggesting that TP can be integrated into semi-hard cheese matrices without compromising quality. This study illustrates the feasibility of utilizing TP as an important ingredient in cheese manufacturing, aiding in waste minimization and fostering a circular economy within the food sector. The findings underscore TP’s capacity to enhance dairy products, facilitating innovative and sustainable food solutions that advance health and environmental objectives. Full article

Carotenoids accumulate in both the skin and the macula, but their biochemical specificity, anatomical localization, optical environments, and temporal kinetics differ fundamentally. Despite superficial similarities, these distinctions raise questions about whether non-invasive skin carotenoid measurements, which are obtained using reflection spectroscopy or resonance Raman spectroscopy, can meaningfully reflect macular pigment optical density (MPOD), a retina-specific biomarker associated with visual performance and neuroprotective function. This review synthesizes evidence across biochemistry, tissue distribution, optical pathways, kinetic behavior, and statistical correlations to evaluate this proposed relationship. Skin carotenoid measurements capture a broad mixture of dietary carotenoids, which are dominated by β-carotene and lycopene, that accumulate superficially within the epidermis and dermis and respond rapidly to short-term dietary and environmental changes. In contrast, MPOD reflects only lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin, which are selectively transported into the foveal neurosensory retina and change slowly through regulated retinal uptake and deposition. Across human studies, correlations between skin carotenoids and MPOD are weak, inconsistent, and biologically implausible, with large cohort analyses demonstrating near-zero associations. Collectively, evidence across biochemical, anatomical, optical, physiological, and statistical domains shows that skin carotenoid values encode general systemic antioxidant exposure, whereas MPOD reflects a highly localized, retina-specific carotenoid reservoir. Therefore, skin carotenoid measurements cannot be used to estimate, substitute for, or infer macular pigment levels. Accurate assessment of MPOD requires direct retinal imaging technologies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Carotenoids are pigmented phytochemicals known for their antioxidant properties, known to protect against oxidative damage, especially in the context of intense exercise. The purpose of this paper was to observe and analyze the short-term effects of running a full marathon on skin and plasma carotenoid levels in endurance runners. Methods: This study recruited 24 healthy endurance runners (12 male, 12 female; mean age 37 years) registered for a 26.2-mile marathon. Skin carotenoid (SC) measures were taken via reflection spectroscopy, and plasma carotenoid concentrations (lycopene and β-carotene) were assessed via HPLC at three time points: pre-race, immediately post-race, and 48 h post-race. Changes across time were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA. Results: Skin carotenoid levels significantly changed over time, dropping from pre-race to post-race (p < 0.001), reflecting rapid utilization. At 48 h post-race, SC levels rebounded significantly, exceeding baseline measurements (p = 0.019). Plasma lycopene concentrations increased significantly from pre-race to post-race (p = 0.018) and remained elevated at 48 h. Plasma β-carotene concentrations showed no statistically significant change. Conclusions: The significant acute depletion of SC levels immediately following the marathon reflects the rapid utilization of these dermal antioxidants in response to the high oxidative stress generated by intense exercise. The elevation in plasma lycopene may reflect hemoconcentration resulting from intense activity and possible mobilization from tissue stores. The rapid rebound and overshoot in SC levels 48 h after the race are consistent with a recovery pattern of dermal carotenoid levels following acute depletion. Full article

Sweet corn (Zea mays var. saccharata) is a widely cultivated crop valued for its sweet flavor and high nutritional content. Over the past decade, the area devoted to sweet corn grain production has increased substantially, driven by both its nutritional qualities and its economic value. In this context, we aimed to evaluate the impact of three genotypes (Royalty F₁, Hardy F₁ and Deliciosul de Bacau,) under two fertilization types (chemical and organic) compared with a control version on yield, biometrical, biochemical, and quality parameters. This research was carried out between 2022 and 2023 at an experimental station situated in the North-East region of Romania. The results revealed significant influences of cultivar, fertilization method, and the interaction between these two experimental factors on most of the analyzed indicators. Regardless of the fertilization type, the genotype Hardy F₁ showed higher levels of photosynthetic activity, polyphenols (2.22 mg/g d.w.) and sucrose (6.7 g/100 g d.w.), leading to greater yield (13,995 kg/ha) than that of Deliciosul de Bacau and Royalty F₁. Research on fertilization has shown that sweet corn grains under an organic method have higher levels of lycopene, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total phenolic content (TPC), and fructose. In contrast, chemical fertilization more effectively supported growth, photosynthetic activity, yield, and the content of antioxidants and tannins. Regarding the combined influence of these factors, most of the nutritional characteristics of Royalty F1 were enhanced by organic fertilization, whereas those of the Hardy F1 genotype were improved by chemical fertilization. These findings provide practical guidance for selecting appropriate genotype–fertilization combinations to optimize the yield and nutritional quality of sweet corn and highlight key priorities for further research on sustainable fertilization strategies under climate change conditions. Full article