Search Results (594)

Background/Objectives: Olive leaf polyphenols exhibit strong antioxidant and antidiabetic potential. However, their application in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products is hindered by limited stability, poor solubility, and susceptibility to gastrointestinal degradation. Liposomes offer a viable strategy to enhance their protection and functional performance. Methods: A formulation-driven strategy was employed to develop a gastro-resistant liposomal system for olive leaf polyphenols. Extraction conditions were optimized using a Box–Behnken response surface design to maximize phenolic recovery while ensuring compatibility with phospholipid-based systems. Antioxidant activity and key secoiridoids were assessed by spectrophotometric assays and LC–MS/MS. The optimized extract was incorporated into uncoated and Eudragit^® L100-coated liposomes, which were physicochemically characterized. Antidiabetic effects were evaluated in intestinal STC-1 cells under glucose-induced hyperglycemic conditions. Results: The optimized extract (OE) exhibited high antioxidant activity (124.56 ± 9.57 mg GAE/g, 151.61 ± 2.77 mg TE/g, and 472.92 ± 26.14 mg TE/g in TPC, DPPH and FRAP assays, respectively). LC-HRMS metabolomic profiling confirmed a balanced phytochemical composition, with oleuropein as the main compound (143.144 ± 4.914 mg/g). The optimized Eudragit^®-coated liposomes were spherical unilamellar vesicles with a mean diameter of 101 ± 6.1 nm, moderate polydispersity (0.46 ± 0.02), and a negative zeta potential (−17 ± 3.5 mV). High entrapment efficiency was achieved, reaching 65 ± 2.1% for oleuropein and 96 ± 0.3% for hydroxytyrosol. The structural integrity of the vesicles was maintained during storage and in the simulated gastrointestinal environment. The nanoformulation reduced intestinal glucose uptake and intracellular reactive oxygen species levels, and restored GLP-1 levels. Conclusions: The combination of optimized extraction and liposome-based formulation enabled the development of stable, delivery-ready olive leaf polyphenols for potential nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications. Full article

Functional fresh cheeses can serve as effective carriers of bioactive compounds and probiotic cultures. This study developed a Casu Axedu cheese fortified with olive leaf phenolics and a probiotic-candidate Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP) strain. Three formulations were produced from thermised sheep milk: a control (CA-I), a cheese with LP (CA-IL) and a cheese combining olive leaf extract (OLE; 20 mg GAE 100 g⁻¹ milk) and LP (CA-IOL). In all experimental cheeses, inulin was included as a dietary fibre, and lactose hydrolysis was performed to improve product accessibility for lactose-intolerant consumers. Cheeses were stored at 3 ± 1 °C for 30 days and analysed for polyphenol profile, antioxidant capacity, physicochemical and nutritional characteristics, microbiological quality, sensory properties and consumer acceptance. OLE fortification approximately doubled the total polyphenols and produced a more than threefold increase in FRAP antioxidant capacity in CA-IOL, with a high percentage of the main olive leaf phenolics retained after 30 days. Composition, fatty acid profile, vitamin A/E and cholesterol contents were unaffected by OLE and LP addition; all formulations met “high in protein” and lactose-free label criteria (according to the guidelines issued by the Italian Ministry of Health DGISAN Communication No. 27673 of 7 July 2015), and the inulin-based “source of fibre” claim was supported by formulation and mass-balance calculation. Presumptive lactobacilli remained at high counts throughout storage in the LP-containing cheeses, and OLE neither impaired the lactic microflora nor promoted coliform growth. OLE addition increased perceived bitterness, astringency and olive-like notes in CA-IOL, moderately reducing liking scores relative to those of the control among the tested consumer panel (5.25 ± 1.7 at 30 d); mean liking nonetheless remained above the neutral point of the 9-point hedonic scale. Overall, combining inulin, olive leaf extract and a probiotic-candidate L. plantarum strain enabled the production of a Casu Axedu cheese with enhanced antioxidant properties and improved nutritional features while retaining acceptable sensory quality. This approach represents a promising strategy for the valorisation of olive by-products and the development of innovative sheep milk dairy products consistent with circular economy principles. Full article

Olive pomace (OP), an abundant byproduct of the olive oil industry, was investigated as a low-cost precursor for the production of hydrochar-based adsorbents for methylene blue (MB) removal from water. Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) was performed at 180 and 220 °C with different residence times, followed by soft alkaline activation (SAA), consisting of alkaline treatment and carbonization at 300 °C, and post-washing to improve the adsorption performance. The materials were characterized by ATR-FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, XRD, SEM-EDX, BET, and mercury intrusion porosimetry. HTC increased the degree of carbonization and surface area, but non-activated hydrochars showed lower adsorption capacity than untreated OP because of the loss of oxygenated functional groups. Among non-activated hydrochars, OP_220_1 showed the highest adsorption capacity (20.7 mg g⁻¹). SAA increased the adsorption capacity of the hydrochar by 63%, while washing further enhanced performance by removing carbonate precipitates and restoring pore accessibility. The washed activated hydrochar derived from OP_220_1 achieved the highest adsorption capacity (69.9 mg g⁻¹ at 250 mg L⁻¹ MB) and BET surface area (40.0 m² g⁻¹). Kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order model, while washing shifted the isotherm behavior from Langmuir to Freundlich. A performance-based assessment showed that the washed activated hydrochar reduced adsorbent demand by 49% compared with untreated OP. Full article

Background/Objectives: School-based programmes may play an important role in promoting healthier and more sustainable dietary habits from early childhood. This study described and evaluated a community-based intervention aimed at promoting Mediterranean diet (MD) principles, improving food literacy, and raising awareness of sustainable food practices among primary school children in the Tagus Lezíria region, Portugal. Methods: The intervention was implemented in 23 schools across 11 municipalities and included two seasonal rounds of participatory educational activities focused on healthy eating, local and seasonal foods, sensory exploration, balanced meals, composting, food storage, sustainable food production, and food waste prevention. A total of 872 children participated in the intervention activities, and 370 provided paired baseline and follow-up KIDMED assessments. Results: The mean KIDMED score decreased significantly from 8.0 ± 2.2 at baseline to 7.5 ± 2.4 after the intervention. Overall, 31.6% of participants improved their score, 18.9% showed no change, and 49.5% showed a decrease. The proportion of children who did not skip breakfast increased from 79.8% to 88.6%, and avoidance of fast-food restaurants more than once weekly increased from 85.4% to 89.6%. Smaller favourable changes were observed for pastry, sweet, and fish consumption, and olive oil use, whereas fruit, vegetable, pulse, and nut consumption did not improve. Conclusions: The intervention produced heterogeneous outcomes. Although overall MD adherence decreased, almost one-third of participants improved individually, with favourable changes in breakfast and selection of less healthy behaviours. Longer programmes with stronger family involvement may be required to reinforce core MD foods and achieve broader, sustained improvements. Full article

Olive tree (Olea europaea L.) cultivation is increasingly challenged by climate change and the necessity for more sustainable crop management strategies. In this context, plant biostimulants have emerged as inputs of high potential for improving crop performance and resilience. Nonetheless, knowledge of their underlying biochemical mechanisms remains largely fragmented. Here, an untargeted GC/EI/MS-based metabolomics approach was employed to investigate the early metabolic responses of young olive trees to foliar application of two commercial biostimulants: a seaweed (SE)- and a harpin (HRP)-based formulation. Leaf samples were collected seven days post-treatment and were subjected to photosynthetic-content and metabolomics analyses. The former revealed no statistically significant differences in chlorophyll and carotenoid contents among treatments, indicating that photosynthetic pigment homeostasis was maintained. In contrast, metabolomics analysis demonstrated extensive and coordinated metabolic reprogramming induced by both products. SE treatments resulted in a primarily promoted growth-oriented metabolic profile, characterized by enhanced carbon utilization, modulation of antioxidant metabolism, activation of plastidial isoprenoid biosynthesis, and remodeling of the shikimate–phenylpropanoid pathway. Conversely, HRP treatments elicited a distinct stress-priming signature involving the accumulation of α,α-trehalose, phytol, and α-ketoglutaric acid, together with membrane lipid remodeling associated with improved osmoprotection and stress acclimation. These findings provide novel insights into the mode(s) of action of olive biostimulants and highlight the importance of metabolomics for identifying biochemical markers associated with enhanced plant resilience and sustainable olive production. Full article

Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) are regarded as systemic illnesses, mainly characterized by long-term neuroinflammation, metabolic dysregulation and barrier dysfunction. All these factors interact through the gut–immune–brain axis. The Mediterranean diet, rich in plant-based foods, olive oil, and fish, has been consistently associated with slower cognitive decline and reduced risk of neurodegeneration in observational studies and some clinical trials. This review provides a systems-level synthesis that distinguishes itself from previous narratives by integrating disease-specific mechanistic frameworks with multi-omics-guided precision nutrition strategies. We summarize recent evidence showing that this dietary pattern can remodel gut microbiota composition and enhance the production of bioactive metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). These metabolites are associated with improved intestinal barrier integrity, reduced systemic inflammation, and potential modulation of brain functions. Within the central nervous system, diet-related metabolites have been linked to reduced neuroinflammation via modulation of microglial and astrocytic states. They have been linked to protection of mitochondrial function, maintenance of proteostasis, and preservation of blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity. In AD and PD patients, adherence to this diet is associated with favorable changes in pathological hallmarks, including amyloid-beta (Aβ), tau, and α-synuclein accumulation. Nowadays, multi-omics tools, including single-cell transcriptomics, spatial transcriptomics and microbiome analysis, are widely used in this field, which helps researchers explore these complicated effects more deeply. Importantly, individual responses to the diet vary considerably due to differences in genetic background, gut microbial composition, and metabolic phenotypes, which underscore the need to move from generalized dietary guidelines toward personalized precision nutrition. The Mediterranean diet is not only a dietary pattern but also an effective way to modulate neuro-immune and metabolic networks. However, current evidence remains largely observational, and we critically discuss the need for more randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and standardized multi-omics data analysis frameworks. To sum up, the Mediterranean diet plays a neuroprotective role via the gut–immune–brain axis, and multi-omics techniques promote the development of precision nutrition. More trials and improved multi-omics systems are required to apply these research results in clinical practice. Full article

The olive oil industry generates large amounts of by-products, particularly olive pomace and olive mill wastewater, which represent valuable sources of polyphenolic compounds with well-recognized antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and health-promoting properties. Within the framework of the circular economy, the valorization of these olive-derived residues has emerged as a promising strategy for converting low-value waste into high-added-value ingredients for food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic applications. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in sustainable extraction and sample preparation approaches for the recovery of olive polyphenols, including ultrasound-, microwave-, enzyme-, and membrane-assisted technologies, as well as the use of green solvents and environmentally friendly extraction systems. Furthermore, the review discusses advanced analytical strategies for the identification and quantification of olive-derived polyphenols, covering chromatographic, spectrometric, electrophoretic, and miniaturized analytical platforms. Special attention is given to biopolymer-based encapsulation systems developed to enhance stability, controlled release, bioaccessibility, and bioavailability of these bioactive compounds. Finally, current challenges and future perspectives regarding the integration of green extraction technologies, analytical methodologies, and advanced delivery systems are highlighted to promote the sustainable exploitation of olive by-products within a circular economy framework. Full article

In this study, olive mill leaves (OMLs), a waste generated during the olive cleaning at the mill, were used as an adsorbent for removing methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution. An Olive Leaf-based Adsorbent (OLA) was prepared from OMLs with minimal processing. The maximum adsorption capacity experimentally measured for OLA was q_e = 12.8 mg∙g⁻¹. The adsorption of MB by OLA, primarily governed by electrostatic attraction, pore diffusion and weak interactions with functional groups of the leaves, is well described by the Koble–Corrigan isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The performance of OLA under practical environmental conditions, such as in synthetic wastewater, remained unchanged compared to tests carried out in ideal conditions. The possibility of regenerating OLA with methanol, HCl and NaCl solutions was demonstrated, allowing the material to be reused for at least three cycles with unchanged performance. A life cycle assessment was conducted to compare the impacts of OLA production with those of activated carbon, a benchmark for adsorbent materials. Overall, despite its moderate adsorptive performance, OLA stands out as a highly sustainable material for dye removal from polluted waters, owing to its exceptional cost-effectiveness, reusability, and minimal environmental impact. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder characterized by impaired glucose metabolism, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, oxidative stress, and progressive cognitive decline. Because currently available pharmacological therapies provide only modest symptomatic benefit, nutrition-based interventions are increasingly being explored as complementary strategies for supporting brain metabolism and cognitive resilience. The KetoFLEX 12/3 dietary pattern, developed within the ReCODE (Reversal of Cognitive Decline) program, is a plant-rich, mildly ketogenic nutrition and lifestyle framework that integrates low-glycemic nutrition, time-restricted eating, and personalized metabolic optimization. The diet emphasizes deeply pigmented non-starchy vegetables, extra-virgin olive oil, nuts and seeds, omega-3-rich seafood, and minimally processed foods while limiting refined carbohydrates, sugars, processed foods, and selected grains and dairy products. Emerging mechanistic and clinical evidence suggests that KetoFLEX 12/3 may influence several pathways relevant to AD pathophysiology, including insulin signaling, mitochondrial bioenergetics, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, autophagy, detoxification pathways, and gut–brain axis function. Observational findings from ReCODE-related studies have reported improvements in metabolic parameters, mood-related outcomes, cognitive measures, and brain volumetrics in participants adhering to multimodal precision-medicine interventions incorporating the KetoFLEX principles. Compared with traditional dietary models such as the Mediterranean or MIND diets, KetoFLEX 12/3 places greater emphasis on mild nutritional ketosis, meal timing, and metabolic personalization based on factors such as ApoE genotype and insulin sensitivity. The objective of this Perspective is to examine the mechanistic rationale, emerging evidence, limitations, and future research priorities for KetoFLEX 12/3 as a precision-nutrition framework for cognitive health in AD. Although much of the current evidence remains mechanistic, observational, or derived from multimodal intervention studies, the framework offers a biologically plausible precision-nutrition model that may inform future research and clinical investigation in cognitive decline. Full article

Several strategies can be employed for the identification of novel microbial lipases. Despite the increasing importance of metagenomics in bioprospecting, significant limitations in the expression of recombinant proteins, and lipases in particular, remain. Culture-based bioprospecting approaches are, therefore, still valuable. In this work, a collection of bacterial isolates, mainly of marine origin, was screened for lipase activity through a culture-based approach. Screening for lipolytic bacteria was performed in solid media containing olive oil emulsions and rhodamine B. Positive isolates were subsequently grown in liquid media, to confirm lipase production. Significant hydrolytic activity towards the triglyceride substrates tributyrin and triolein could be observed with the biomass produced, although no lipase activity could be detected in the culture supernatants. Six isolates presenting high activity were characterized as whole-cell biocatalysts, and all were found to be active at temperatures ranging between 25 and 65 °C, and at pH values between 6 and 10.5. Genomic analyses of two of these Gram-negative lipase-producing isolates revealed the presence of several hypothetical genes encoding for lipolytic enzymes, including outer cell-bound enzymes, predicted through the application of machine-learning tools. These natural isolates, containing cell-associated lipases, may therefore be of special interest for application as whole-cell biocatalysts. Full article

Climate change is progressively altering the thermal environment of European agriculture, with direct consequences for high-value perennial crops such as olive (Olea europaea L.) and grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.). Although the Growing Degree Days (GDD) index is widely applied to characterize crop thermal requirements, no systematic evidence exists on the actual GDD values accumulated at the locations where these crops are currently grown across Europe. This study introduces a “reverse agroclimatology” approach that anchors GDD calculations exclusively to olive grove and vineyard areas identified in the Corine Land Cover (CLC) dataset for five reference years (1990, 2000, 2006, 2012, and 2018), using ERA5-Land reanalysis daily temperature data as the climatological input. For each CLC reference year, GDD was computed for olive cultivation (T_base = 7 °C, January–May) and viticulture (T_base = 10 °C, April–October) exclusively over registered cultivation pixels, and per-country means were subjected to linear regression trend analysis (p < 0.05). For olive cultivation across 11 Mediterranean countries, statistically significant positive GDD trends were detected in 7 countries, with long-term (1985–2023) country means ranging from 476.2 GDD in France to 1214.3 in Cyprus, indicating that we can revise the known GDD thresholds. The first appearance of olive cultivation in Slovenia’s 2012 CLC dataset, with a median of 546.5 GDD, provides land use-mapped evidence of a spatial displacement of cultivation boundaries. For vineyard cultivation across 22 European countries, significant positive trends were identified in 18 countries, with warming rates reaching 19.25 GDD yr⁻¹ in Turkey, 15.83 GDD yr⁻¹ in Albania, and 14.89 GDD yr⁻¹ in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mediterranean and Balkan vineyards already exceed the classical 2000 GDD threshold of viticultural suitability across all reference years. In contrast, central and northern European registered vineyards operate below it, though their warmest sites are increasingly approaching or crossing it in the most recent periods. The cultivation-anchored GDD framework, built on openly available data and a fully reproducible R-based pipeline, provides a practical and updatable tool for monitoring the evolving thermal conditions of European olive and wine production under ongoing climate change. Full article

In this study, we aimed to assess the availability and environmental impact of a selection of widespread agro-industrial by-products in Europe and their potential to reduce the environmental impact of small ruminant diets by replacing conventional feed ingredients. Grape, olive, and tomato pomaces and spent grains of beer were considered. The carbon footprint of products (CFP) was used to quantify the environmental impact of agro-industrial by-products, according to the ISO 14067:2018 standard. The system boundary was defined as gate-to-gate, and 1 kg of dried by-product was chosen as the functional unit (FU). The system included the relevant stages of agro-industrial by-product production, from the process of drying agro-industrial by-products to the treatments carried out in the feed industry (e.g., milling, mixing, and pelleting). The CFPs of grape, olive, and tomato pomaces and spent beer grains were 0.26, 0.22, 0.31, and 0.21 kg CO₂ equivalents (CO₂e)/FU, respectively. Under the assumptions adopted in this scenario-based assessment, reusing grape, olive, tomato, and brewery industry by-products as partial replacements for conventional feed ingredients in sheep and goat diets reduced diet CFP by an average of 23%, with an estimated mitigation potential of 5.15 Mt CO₂e. These values should be interpreted as model-based estimates rather than as directly generalizable mitigation outcomes, because they depend on the selected system boundary, drying assumptions, emission factors, transport exclusion, and the practical feasibility of the dietary substitutions considered. Overall, the results suggest that the recovery of selected agro-industrial by-products may contribute to reducing the environmental impact of conventional feed ingredients when appropriate preservation, logistics, and diet formulation conditions are met. Full article

Background/Objectives: Nipple trauma is one of the most common complications during breastfeeding and may lead to pain, discomfort, and the premature cessation of lactation. This systematic review aimed to synthesize and critically appraise recent evidence (2020–2026), reflecting current clinical practices and emerging interventions, for the prevention and management of nipple trauma in breastfeeding women. The primary emphasis was on pain reduction and healing with a secondary consideration of their impact on breastfeeding continuation and duration. Methods: The review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines and included a literature search in the PubMed and Scopus databases. Primary research studies published between 2020 and 2026 focusing on interventions in breastfeeding women experiencing nipple trauma or nipple pain were included. A total of 22 studies met the inclusion criteria. Results: The interventions included the topical applications of natural products such as olive oil, expressed breast milk, coconut oil, beeswax-based products, and lanolin, nipple shields, and educational interventions focusing on correct breastfeeding techniques. The findings suggest that several of these interventions may reduce nipple pain and promote the healing of nipple trauma, while breastfeeding education and professional support appear to improve breastfeeding experience and continuation. Conclusions: The heterogeneity of the included studies highlights the need for further well-designed clinical research. Full article

This study investigated the chemical composition, fermentation dynamics, fatty-acid profile, and polyphenolic evolution of two mixed silages designed to valorize agro-industrial by-products for ruminant feeding. Silages were produced by co-ensiling wheat straw, cheese-whey, and molasses with grape pomace (SIL-1) or olive mill wastewater (SIL-2), and were monitored over a 150-day ensiling period. The two formulations exhibited distinct compositional characteristics and fermentation kinetics. SIL-1 showed higher crude protein content and a more favorable fatty-acid profile, with greater levels of selected long-chain fatty acids, whereas SIL-2 had higher dry matter and structural fiber fractions. Both silages achieved effective fermentation, reaching stable acidic conditions (pH < 4.0), although SIL-1 consistently maintained lower pH and higher buffering capacity. Fermentation end-products differed between silages, with higher concentrations of short-chain fatty acids in SIL-1 and greater lactic acid accumulation in SIL-2, under significant treatment × time interactions. Bioactive compound analysis revealed higher total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity in SIL-1, whereas SIL-2 showed marked degradation of phenolic compounds, including the loss of characteristic secoiridoids. Polyphenolic profiles displayed compound-specific temporal dynamics during ensiling. Overall, both silages were well preserved; however, SIL-1 demonstrated superior nutritional quality and bioactive stability, supporting its potential as a functional feed ingredient for ruminant nutrition. Full article

Sustainable phosphorus (P) management in agriculture requires a circular economy approach through the use of so-called bio-based fertilizers (BBFs). The properties of BBFs vary widely depending on raw materials and production processes. However, it is still unknown how these properties, and particularly the dominant P compounds determine not only the efficiency of BBFs in supplying P to crops, but also their effects on soil functioning and crop quality. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of a representative set of BBFs, and relate this efficiency to their composition and dominant P compounds. To this end, 14 BBFs were studied: four from water purification (struvite, vivianite, and sewage sludge with and without composting), four composts (municipal solid waste (MSW), vineyard residues, and two using olive husks), three vermicomposts (two homemade and one commercial), fish meal, digestate, and a commercial organic fertilizer. Phosphorus forms in BBFs were determined using ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (P-NMR). The BBFs were compared to a single superphosphate (SSP) in a pot experiment growing wheat in two different alkaline soils, one rich in iron (Fe) oxides and one rich in carbonates. The effects on critical elements in grain [magnesium, Fe, zinc (Zn), manganese, and copper] and enzyme activities related to soil functioning and P cycling were also assessed. The dominant P compound in the BBFs was orthophosphate (73.8–89.5% of the total P in the NaOH–EDTA extracts). The MSW had the highest polyphosphate content (4.1%), a complex inorganic P compound. The organic P content ranged from 9.2% (fish meal) to 25.5% (Moge). Sewage sludge and composted sludge contributed high levels of phosphonates (4.1 and 5.6% of extracted P). The most abundant organic P compound class was inositol hexakisphosphates (IHPs), and myo-IHP (phytate) was the dominant IHP stereoisomer (1.2–6.4%) followed by D-chiro-IHP and scyllo-IHP. Plant dry matter and grain yield with most BBFs were not significantly different from that of SSP in both soils, likely due to the high concentrations of phosphate in relatively soluble forms in most of the BBFs. Vivianite and sewage sludge resulted in significantly higher grain yield than SSP (43% and 40%, respectively) in the carbonate-rich soil, likely due to progressive phosphate dissolution, which decreased the precipitation rate of insoluble calcium (Ca) phosphates. The highest P recoveries were obtained with horse manure vermicompost (65% and 15% higher than SSP in the Fe oxide-rich and in the carbonate-rich soil, respectively), partially attributed to the decreased precipitation rate of insoluble Ca phosphates with the added organic matter. Some BBFs increased micronutrient concentrations in grains and most decreased the P-to-Zn ratio relative to SSP. Overall, phosphatase and β-glucosidase activities increased with carbon-rich BBFs. Most of the studied BBFs could effectively replace fertilizers from non-renewable sources, in some cases with better crop P recoveries. Furthermore, some BBFs could provide additional benefits to grain quality, in terms of micronutrient supply for humans, and soil functioning. Full article