Search Results (7,410)

The pods of pea (Pisum sativum L.), an abundant agroindustry by-product, represents a sustainable source of bioactive compounds. To harness these compounds effectively, this study aimed to optimize the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of polyphenols and plant pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids) from pea pod waste using response surface methodology, and to evaluate the encapsulation of the resulting extract with a novel pea-based carrier derived from whole pea grain powder. The optimal conditions for the extraction were a time of 45 min, a solid-to-solvent ratio of 1:48 (w/v), and an ethanol concentration of 58.51% (v/v). The extract obtained under these conditions was encapsulated using pea grain powder and compared with a conventional whey protein carrier. The resulting microencapsulates were characterized in terms of process yield, moisture content, particle size distribution, thermal properties, and phenolic composition. Pea grain powder as a carrier provided higher powder yield, lower moisture content, and improved thermal stability, whereas whey protein allowed slightly higher retention of most bioactive compounds, except for coumaric acid and kaempferol. Overall, these findings highlight pea grain powder as a promising plant-based carrier that supports the valorization of pea pod waste, contributing to the development of sustainable ingredients and a circular economy for legume processing by-products. Full article

The aim of this study was to optimize the parameters of ultrasonic extraction of polyphenolic compounds from peanut shells and to evaluate the feasibility of using the obtained extract in the development of functional yogurt. The extraction factors considered were the ethanol concentration, particle size of peanut shells, and extraction time. Process optimization was performed using response surface methodology based on a second-order central composite design. Extraction yield and total polyphenol content were selected as the optimization criteria. The optimal ultrasonic extraction conditions were determined as an ethanol concentration of approximately 70% ethanol, 300 μm particle size, and 53 min. Under these conditions, the predicted extraction yield was 9.05% and the total polyphenol content reached 95.15 mg GAE/g of dry extract. The extract obtained under the optimal conditions was used to fortify yogurt at concentrations of 0.25%, 0.5%, and 0.75%. Physicochemical analysis showed that the addition of peanut shell polyphenol extract increased the water-holding capacity and reduced syneresis of yogurt during storage compared with the control sample. Changes in pH and titratable acidity remained within the typical ranges for fermented dairy products. The results confirm the potential of peanut shells as a promising source of polyphenolic compounds and demonstrate the feasibility of using the optimized extract in the development of functional fermented dairy products. Full article

The effects of static magnetic field (SMF) treatment on the solid-state culture of Sanghuangporus vaninii (SV) were investigated to enhance metabolite production and bioactivity. SMF parameters including intensity, exposure duration, and temperature were optimized, and treatment at 4 mT for 2 h per day produced the most pronounced effects, increasing total flavonoid (TFC), polyphenol (TPC), and triterpenoid (TTC) contents by 61–438% compared with the control. Ultrasonic extraction and semi-preparative chromatography enabled the isolation of three key compounds: D-(+)-trehalose (1), 5,7-dihydroxy-3,4′-dimethoxyflavone (2), and pinolenic acid (3), all of which were elevated following SMF treatment. Importantly, SMF exposure was associated with enhanced inhibitory activities against enzymes relevant to chronic metabolic disorders. The overall inhibitory activities against α-amylase, α-glucosidase, pancreatic lipase, and xanthine oxidase increased by 6–28% compared with the control, reaching a maximum inhibition of 97.60 ± 0.17%. Preliminary in vitro screening at 100 μg/mL showed that compounds 1 and 2 inhibited both α-amylase and α-glucosidase, whereas compound 3 selectively inhibited pancreatic lipase. Subsequent IC₅₀ analysis confirmed that compound 2 under SMF treatment exhibited inhibitory activity comparable to acarbose against α-amylase (45.62 μg/mL vs. 52.18 μg/mL) and α-glucosidase (38.74 μg/mL vs. 35.42 μg/mL). In addition, compound 3 showed moderate inhibition of pancreatic lipase with an IC₅₀ value of 42.15 μg/mL. These findings suggest that SMF treatment may enhance metabolite production and in vitro enzyme inhibitory activity in S. vaninii. However, these results are limited to in vitro assays, and further studies including cellular and in vivo validation, toxicity assessment, and pharmacokinetic evaluation, are required before any therapeutic or industrial applications can be considered. Full article

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

Burdock (Arctium lappa L., Asteraceae) seeds, a rich source of dietary fibre, proteins, essential and fatty acids, also contain high levels of polyphenols and lignans, especially arctigenin and arctiin. This study investigated the incorporation of native and supercritical CO₂-defatted burdock seed flour into gingerbread cookies formulated with sweetener xylitol compared to burdock seeds’ free sugar-based and xylitol-based cookies as a control. Arctiin was the dominant lignan in both native and defatted seed flours (68.30 and 75.16 mg/g, respectively), while isochlorogenic acid was the most abundant phenolic acid (7.01 and 7.86 mg/g, respectively). Among enriched formulations, xylitol cookies with defatted burdock seed flour exhibited the highest soluble dietary fibre content (0.29 g/100 g) and reduced hardness, comparable to the xylitol control. All samples achieved “good” sensory quality (18.33–19.65 points), with no significant differences among formulations (p > 0.05). Storage studies (60 days) under varying temperature and light conditions revealed a significant decline in sensory quality only for sucrose-based control cookies stored at 40 °C. The concentrations of major phenolic compounds remained stable under all storage conditions. These results demonstrate the technological and nutritional potential of defatted burdock seed flour as a functional ingredient in bakery products. Full article

The effective utilization of agro-food by-products has gained increasing attention as a strategy to reduce food loss and promote sustainable resource management. This study evaluated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of extracts obtained from leaf and calyx by-products of Capsicum annuum according to tissue type and drying conditions. Samples were dried at 25 °C or 60 °C and extracted with 70% ethanol, yielding extracts designated as L25, L60, C25, and C60. Total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu and aluminum nitrate methods, respectively. Antioxidant activities were evaluated using DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and SOD-like activity assays. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by measuring nitric oxide (NO) production and the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Leaf-derived extracts exhibited higher antioxidant activity than calyx-derived extracts. In addition, samples dried at 25 °C showed higher antioxidant activity than those dried at 60 °C, suggesting that lower drying temperatures better preserve bioactive compounds. Among the samples, L25 showed the highest antioxidant capacity and SOD-like activity. The extracts also inhibited NO production and reduced IL-6 and TNF-α secretion without significant cytotoxicity. These results suggest that by-products of C. annuum, particularly leaf tissues dried at lower temperatures, may serve as potential natural sources of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds for functional food applications. Full article

Background/Objectives: Teucrium polium L. is widely used in traditional medicine and has been proposed as a source of antimicrobial adjuvants in the context of antimicrobial resistance. Here, we characterized the essential oil (EO) and polar extracts of T. polium and evaluated their antioxidant activity, antimicrobial potency against clinical multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates, and the interaction of the EO with conventional antibiotics using a chequerboard assay (FICI); further, we investigated in silico molecular interactions with some targets related to resistance. Methods/Results: The EO, which was hydrodistilled and subsequently analyzed by GC–MS, is characterized by dominant limonene content (24.13%) and contents of oxygenated sesquiterpenes such as β-eudesmol (10.48%) and α-muurolol (8.10%). HPLC/UV–ESI–MS characterization of the extracts (decoction and Soxhlet) demonstrated that they were rich in polyphenolic compounds and flavonoids, which matched the standard phytochemical characteristics of this species. The extracts exhibited significant reducing capabilities, and the hydroethanolic extract exhibited the highest antioxidant activity (DPPH IC₅₀ = 15.41 μg/mL; FRAP EC₅₀ = 30.65 μg /mL), while the EO revealed at most moderate capacity in these tests. In antimicrobial assays, the EO inhibited fungi more effectively than the extracts (MIC of 1.17 mg/mL against Aspergillus niger; 4.69 mg/mL against Candida spp.), while antibacterial MICs for both the EO and extracts were generally high (up to 50 mg/mL). Combination testing nevertheless identified synergistic or additive effects of the EO with selected antibiotics, notably with ceftazidime against ESBL-producing Escherichia coli (FICI = 0.141) and Staphylococcus aureus (FICI = 0.039) and with amikacin against Klebsiella pneumoniae (FICI = 0.313); the EO–ceftriaxone pairing against ESBL E. coli was additive (FICI = 0.516). Docking simulations further supported these observations by showing the favorable predicted binding of oxygenated sesquiterpenes, most notably β-eudesmol and α-muurolol (up to −8.6 kcal/mol), to resistance-related targets such as RND efflux pumps, β-lactamases, and porins. Conclusions: Taken together, the in vitro and in silico data suggest that T. polium could be explored as a natural antimicrobial option and as an adjuvant to enhance antibiotic activity against multidrug-resistant pathogens. Full article

Hydrogels constructed from natural biomacromolecules with multifunctional properties, such as improved mechanical strength, ionic stability, biocompatibility, and ionic conductivity, are highly desirable for advanced food and biomedical applications, yet remain challenging to design. Although alginate is one of the most widely used hydrogel-forming polysaccharides due to its biocompatibility and gelation ability, its intrinsic limitations often hinder the development of hydrogels with fully optimized performance. This review provides a systematic comparison of alginate-based composite hydrogels formed with complementary biopolymers, including whey proteins, gelatin, pectin, starch, and chitosan, focusing on their synergistic effects on structural, mechanical, and functional properties. Recent studies are critically analyzed to elucidate how polymer–polymer interactions influence gel network formation, environmental ionic stability, and encapsulation performance. Particular attention is given to fabrication strategies and formulation parameters that enhance the immobilization and controlled release of probiotics, vitamins, polyphenols, and other bioactive compounds. By integrating current knowledge on structure–function relationships and processing approaches, this review offers practical design guidelines for the development of multifunctional alginate-based hydrogel systems for applications in functional foods and nutraceutical delivery. Full article

Polyphenols, abundant compounds found in natural sources, exhibit various biological activities, including immunomodulatory properties that can either stimulate or suppress immune responses, making them promising for therapeutic applications. However, their poor solubility, low bioavailability, rapid metabolism, and non-specific distribution require advanced drug delivery strategies to overcome limitations in clinical translations. Therefore, nano-drug delivery systems have been intensively studied to explore the full therapeutic potential of polyphenols. Distinct from conventional paradigms where polyphenols serve solely as active compounds, this review advances the concept of polyphenol-based nanomedicine as dual-functional platforms: bioactive structural components and intrinsic immune modulators. Recent strategies to improve the loading efficacy of polyphenols, enhance their cellular uptake, prolong circulation, and enhance specific delivery based on those nanocarriers are emphasized. In addition, polyphenol-based nanoparticles, in which polyphenols serve as structural components, were also studied as self-therapeutics or multifunctional nanocarriers for drug delivery. We intensively focus on their immunomodulatory applications and highlight their potential in preclinical as well as clinical settings for the treatment of various diseases and therapeutic purposes, including autoimmune diseases, cancer immunotherapy, vaccination, inflammation, and infectious diseases. Although polyphenol nanoparticle development has made significant advances, there remain challenges in formulation stability, unclear in vivo toxicity profiles, and clinical translation. Further studies on optimizing nanoparticle design and assessing long-term toxicity are necessary to materialize their application. A combination of polyphenol nanoparticles with other immunotherapies may promise a pronounced efficacy and safety profile. Full article

Dietary antioxidants are widely valued for their potential health benefits, but incorporating them into functional foods is not straightforward. Polyphenols are among the most abundant and important antioxidants in foods, and this review focuses on them because the same structural features linked to their health-promoting effects can also cause pronounced bitterness and astringency, ultimately limiting consumer acceptance. This review examines how these challenges are interconnected across three levels: food matrix interactions, bioavailability, and consumer psychobiology. We describe how non-covalent interactions between polyphenols, proteins, and polysaccharides can have both positive and negative effects. While these interactions may alter oral lubrication and flavour release, they also protect highly reactive bioactive compounds from gastric degradation. Furthermore, we broaden the concept of bioavailability by exploring the microbiota-mediated “colonic rescue” of polyphenols that are not released during earlier digestion. We also highlight the role of extraoral bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs) along the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Activation of these receptors during digestion can trigger relevant metabolic and endocrine responses, indicating that systemic absorption is not the only pathway to bioactivity. Finally, we connect these mechanisms to individual differences in food acceptance, showing that genetic factors (e.g., TAS2R38 and the salivary proteome) and psychological traits (such as neophobia and reward sensitivity) can shape rejection or flavour-nutrient learning. Overall, the successful development of functional foods will require a “sensory-by-design” approach. This strategy utilises matrix interactions strategically to improve both consumer acceptance and physiological efficacy. Full article

Obesity is considered a chronic disease that co-occurs with other disorders, including type 2 diabetes; therefore, the prevention and treatment of obesity are of utmost importance. The present review analysed the effects of bioactive compounds found in culinary herbs on the regulation of inflammatory processes through the modulation of inflammation and microbiota-dependent metabolic pathways. A total of 137 publications from 2010 to 2025 were reviewed. Few studies address the impact of culinary herbs on the gut microbiota in relation to obesity; however, analysing data on the effects of active compounds present in various herbs allows an assessment of their potential role in obesity prevention. This is a significant issue, as obesity is widespread, and the introduction of readily usable everyday food products may represent an important element of preventive strategies. Plant secondary metabolites, such as polyphenols, saponins, alkaloids, and flavonoids, exert strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, thus contributing to their beneficial effects on human health. Effective weight loss depends on the consistent maintenance of a healthy lifestyle, a requirement that can often be highly challenging. The daily use of herbs in meal preparation may reduce the risk of developing obesity or mitigate its severity. Herbs enhance the flavour of dishes and, additionally, help to reduce salt intake, thereby lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease, which is also an integral component of a healthy lifestyle. Full article

Chlorogenic acid (CGA), which is ubiquitous in diverse botanical sources, demonstrates considerable anticancer potential through modulation of multiple targets or signaling pathways, thereby posing substantial challenges for mechanistic elucidation and target identification. Based on the proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology’s ability to induce targeted protein degradation via ubiquitin-proteasome pathway recruitment, we synthesized a panel of CGA-PROTACs. These compounds incorporated the natural product CGA as the target-binding ligand, conjugated to pomalidomide (an E3 ligase-recruiting moiety) via various synthetic linkers. The findings indicated that compound A7, linked with an alkane linker, exhibited a notable anti-proliferative effect on 4T1 and A375 cells in vitro. The IC₅₀ value of A7 on A375 cells reached 69.70 μM, which is 2.2 times better than the effect of the precursor compound CGA (IC₅₀ = 148.80 μM). Mouse double minute 4 (MDM4) was confirmed as a potential target of compound A7 through a combination of proteomics, Western blot analysis and molecular dynamics simulation. CGA-PROTAC A7 treatment led to a dose-dependent reduction in MDM4 protein levels while significantly upregulating p53 and p21 protein expression, and thus inhibited proliferation, induced G2/M phase cell cycle arrest, and markedly enhanced apoptosis in melanoma A375 cells. This study successfully applied an effective strategy for target identification and medication discovery of natural compounds. In addition, CGA-PROTAC A7 was synthesized in one step with an overall yield of 45.96%, providing a feasible route for synthesis and establishing a basis for the combination of natural product polyphenols with PROTAC technology. Full article

Bayberry (Morella rubra Lour.; syn. Myrica rubra (Lour.) Siebold & Zucc.) leaves are rich in bioactive compounds but remain underutilized. This study investigated the optimal harvest stage and processing methods to develop high-quality functional powder. We first compared three growth stages: red buds (RB), new leaves (NL), and old leaves (OL). RB exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity and unique volatile profile; however, NL was selected for processing optimization due to the balance between quality and biomass availability. Subsequently, NL was subjected to freeze-drying (FD), mechanical drying (MD), steaming followed by MD (S-MD), and shade drying (SD). Results showed that FD preserved the vibrant green color, glandular trichome structure, ascorbic acid, and fresh volatiles (monoterpenes). Conversely, thermal drying (MD and S-MD) disrupted cellular barriers, which facilitated the extraction of minerals and robust polyphenols like myricitrin, yielding the highest extraction of flavonoids and corresponding antioxidant activity, measured by hydrophilic oxygen radical absorbance capacity (H-ORAC), in hot water extracts than FD. SD significantly degraded quality due to prolonged enzymatic oxidation. While FD is ideal for preserving aesthetics and heat-sensitive nutrients, low-cost MD and S-MD are recommended for producing antioxidant-rich powders for functional food applications where extraction efficiency is prioritized. Full article

Strawberry aroma and flavor are key determinants of consumer acceptance and market value, yet their relationship with physico-chemical and functional traits remains complex and cultivar-dependent. This study aimed to characterize the volatile profile, quality parameters, antioxidant capacity, microbial load, and sensory attributes of three strawberry cultivars (‘Rossetta’, ‘Melissa’, and ‘Gioelita’) grown in soilless culture systems and harvested at the commercial ripening stage. ‘Melissa’ showed significantly higher total soluble solids (8.65 °Brix) than ‘Rossetta’ (7.78 °Brix) and ‘Gioelita’ (7.47 °Brix), while titratable acidity was highest in ‘Gioelita’ (4.97 mg CA/L). Regarding phytochemical traits, ‘Melissa’ exhibited the greatest total polyphenol, flavonoid, and antioxidant capacity values, followed by ‘Rossetta’ and ‘Gioelita’. Sixty-four volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were identified, semi-quantified, and combined with physico-chemical and sensory data related to odor and taste perception. Principal component analysis was applied to evaluate cultivar discrimination and identify the key discriminatory volatiles. The results revealed clear separation among cultivars based on their compositional and sensory profiles. ‘Rossetta’ was characterized by a higher abundance of esters, lactones, and mesifuran and received the highest sensory scores for sweetness and overall flavor, consistent with its elevated anthocyanin content. ‘Gioelita’ was associated with key esters contributing to strawberry flavor and with higher titratable acidity and perceived acidity. ‘Melissa’ showed a balanced volatile composition, higher antioxidant capacity, and greater phenolic content but also had higher microbial counts. Overall, the integration of chemical and sensory analyses provided useful insights into cultivar-specific quality traits relevant for breeding and production strategies. Full article

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of selected agri-food by-products—apple pomace extract from Malus domestica cv. ‘Grochówka’ and Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile L.) hydrolate—as functional, sustainable ingredients for cosmetic applications. The work focused on their chemical composition, biological activity, formulation performance, and in vivo effects on skin condition. Volatile compounds, phenolic acids, and triterpenoids were analyzed by GC–MS, while total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, and enzyme inhibitory activity were evaluated in vitro. An oil-in-water emulsion containing the by-products was formulated and, in a 14-day split-face study, assessed for its effects on skin hydration, elasticity, inflammation, sensitivity, pore visibility, and melanin index. Biochemical analyses have shown that chamomile hydrolate is characterized by very low antioxidant activity (DPPH 5.0 ± 1.25%, FRAP 0%) and weak protease inhibition (9.70 ± 1.84%). In contrast, apple extract contained a significant amount of polyphenols (23.94 ± 0.3 mg GAE/g) and showed strong antioxidant properties (DPPH 79.4 ± 2.12%, FRAP 70.56 ± 2.23%; IC₅₀ = 21.5 ± 0.196 mg/mL), which confirms the dominant role of phenolic compounds in its biological activity. This extract also demonstrated significant protease inhibition (60.88 ± 2.35%; IC₅₀ = 15.02 ± 0.47 mg/mL), while its lipase inhibition activity was moderate (10%), which may be beneficial from a cosmetic perspective. The obtained results indicate that apple extract is a valuable raw material with multifaceted biological potential. Overall, the results demonstrate that apple pomace extract and chamomile hydrolate can be effectively valorized as bioactive cosmetic ingredients, supporting both skin health benefits and circular economy principles in sustainable cosmetic formulation. Full article