Search Results (102)

Tomato processing waste (TPW) represents a valuable but underutilized by-product of the food industry with potential for valorization within bioeconomy models. This study investigated the chemical composition, antioxidant profile, and sanitary safety of TPW, analyzing the whole TPW; its fractions (peels and seeds) and oil are obtained from TPW seeds. All samples showed contaminant levels within regulatory limits, confirming their safety for further applications. Various drying methods (air-drying at 70 °C and at 50 °C, lyophilization and vacuum drying) and grinding intensities were evaluated to determine their impact on TPW bioactive compounds retention and organoleptic characteristics. TPW exhibited valuable nutritional properties, particularly high protein and dietary fiber content while TPW oil was characterized with high monounsaturated fatty acid content. Results demonstrated that drying method and particle size significantly influenced the yield of bioactive compound and organoleptic properties, with either lyophilization or vacuum drying and finer milling generally enhancing the recovery of polyphenols, β-carotene, and lycopene and improving color intensity. This research provides the first characterization of the TPW obtained from Croatian indigenous tomato varieties, establishing a scientific foundation for its sustainable valorization and, in broader terms, supporting circular economy objectives and contributing to more resource-efficient food systems. Full article

This research analyzes the innovative development of carnauba wax coatings enriched with essential oils (EOs: lemon, orange, grapefruit, clove, oregano, and cinnamon) or fruit by-products (FBPs: avocado, tomato, carrot, orange, lemon, and grapefruit) to improve postharvest preservation of organic oranges and lemons. Six EOs and six FBPs were evaluated for total phenolic content (TPC) and in vitro antifungal activity against Penicillium digitatum. Based on results, grapefruit, oregano, and clove EOs were selected for lemons, while avocado, orange, and grapefruit FBPs were selected for oranges. An in vivo test at 20 °C for 15 days with carnauba wax coatings assessed antifungal performance. Clove EO and avocado FBP showed strong in vitro inhibition and consistent hyphal suppression (~100 and ~82%, respectively). In vivo, coatings with grapefruit EO and avocado FBP significantly reduced fungal decay and sporulation (~75%) in lemons and oranges, respectively. Coated fruits also retained weight losses by ~25% compared to uncoated ones. These findings suggest that phenolic-rich natural extracts, especially from agro-industrial residues like avocado peels, offer a promising and sustainable strategy for postharvest citrus disease control. Further studies should test coating effectiveness in large-scale trials under refrigeration combined with other preservation strategies. Full article

Tomatoes are among the most widely consumed and economically significant fruits in the world. However, the extensive use of pesticides in their cultivation has led to the contamination of the peels, posing potential health risks to consumers. As one of the top global producers, consumers, and exporters of tomatoes, Mexico requires rapid, non-destructive, and real-time methods for pesticide monitoring. In this study, a detailed characterization of six pesticides using Raman and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopies was carried out to identify their characteristic vibrational modes. The pesticides examined included different chemical classes commonly used in tomato cultivation: organophosphorus (dichlorvos and methamidophos), pyrethroids (lambda-cyhalothrin and cypermethrin), and carbamates (methomyl and benomyl). Tomato peel samples were examined both before and after pesticide application. Prior to treatment, the peel exhibited a well-organized polygonal structure and showed the presence of carotenoid compounds. After pesticide application, no visible structural damage was observed; however, distinct vibrational bands enabled the detection of each pesticide. Organophosphorus pesticides could be identified through vibrational bands associated with P-O and C-S bonds. Pyrethroid detection was facilitated by benzene ring breathing modes and C=C stretching vibrations, while carbamates were identified through C-N stretching contributions. Phytotoxicity testing in the presence of pesticides indicates no significant damage during the germination of tomatoes. Full article

The quality and freshness of fruits and vegetables are critical factors in consumer acceptance and are significantly affected during transport and storage. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of greenhouse-grown tomatoes stored for 24 days by combining non-destructive image analysis, spectrophotometric assays (including total phenolic content and antioxidant and antiradical activity assessments), and attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. Additionally, water activity, moisture content, total soluble solids, texture, and color were evaluated. Most physicochemical changes occurred between days 14 and 17, without major impact on overall fruit quality. A progressive transition in peel hue from orange to dark orange, and increased surface irregularity of their textural image were noted. Moreover, the combined use of instrumental and image analyses results via multivariate analysis allowed the clear discrimination of tomatoes according to storage days. In this sense, tomato samples were effectively classified by ATR-FTIR spectral bands, linked to carotenoids, phenolics, and polysaccharides. Machine learning (ML) models, including Random Forest and Gradient Boosting, were trained on image-derived features and accurately predicted shelf life and quality traits, achieving R² values exceeding 0.9. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of combining imaging, spectroscopy, and ML for non-invasive tomato quality monitoring and support the development of predictive tools to improve postharvest handling and reduce food waste. Full article

The present study investigated the efficacy of edible coatings formulated with gellan gum and lemon peel extract (LPE) in preserving the postharvest quality of cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme). Selected fruits exhibiting uniform ripeness and free from defects were sanitized and coated with solutions containing different HAG/LAG (high- and low-acyl gellan gum) ratios, incorporating 4.0% (w/v) LPE. Physicochemical and physiological parameters, including soluble solids content, weight loss, pH, titratable acidity, oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide and ethylene production, skin redness (a*/b* ratio), and decay incidence, were systematically assessed under storage conditions of 25 °C and 70% relative humidity. HAG-coated fruits showed the lowest weight loss (1.08%), higher soluble solids (7.11 °Brix), and greater firmness (3.11 N/mm²) compared to uncoated controls. Moreover, they exhibited reduced oxygen consumption (0.06 mg·kg⁻¹·h⁻¹), ethylene production (3.10 mg·kg⁻¹·h⁻¹), and decay rate (2%). Redness was better preserved, and decay rates were substantially (p < 0.05) reduced throughout the storage period. These findings highlight the potential of HAG-based edible coatings enriched with LPE as an innovative postharvest technology to extend shelf life, maintain quality attributes, and reduce postharvest losses in cherry tomatoes. Full article

In recent years, the development of nutritionally enhanced foods with reduced environmental impact has gained significant importance. This study aimed to produce four types of tomato sauces: traditional, whole (including peels and seeds), traditional with added vegetables, and whole with added vegetables. The vegetables included in the latter two variations were pumpkin, carrot, basil, and oregano. The sauces were analyzed for various parameters, such as soluble solids content, viscosity, pH, reducing sugars, titratable acidity, color, sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium content, total polyphenols, lycopene, beta-carotene, antioxidant activity, dietary fiber content, vitamin C, and volatile organic compounds. Results showed that whole tomato sauces had up to 80% more polyphenols (270.40 vs. 150.30 mg GAE/kg f.w.) and 30% higher DPPH antioxidant activity (87.07 vs. 66.96 µmol TE/100 g) compared to traditional sauces. Vegetable enrichment, particularly with pumpkin and carrot, significantly increased β-carotene levels (up to 68.67 mg/kg f.w.). Incorporating peels and seeds boosted the bioactive components, and adding vegetables provided an additional nutritional benefit. These findings highlight how waste recovery can contribute to the development of products with enhanced health benefits, offering a sustainable approach to food production. Full article

Antibiotic resistance remains a pressing global health concern, necessitating the development of sustainable and innovative antimicrobial strategies. Plant-based nanomaterials, particularly those synthesized from agricultural byproducts, such as mango seeds, tomato skins, and orange peels, have emerged as promising candidates due to their potent antimicrobial activity and reduced likelihood of resistance development. These nanomaterials exert their effects through diverse mechanisms, including the generation of reactive oxygen species, the disruption of microbial membranes, and interference with critical cellular functions, such as DNA replication. Beyond their antimicrobial properties, recent studies have demonstrated their ability to modulate gut microbiota composition—promoting beneficial genera such as, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, while inhibiting pathogenic species like Staphylococcus spp. This dual functionality positions them as attractive agents for prebiotic interventions and targeted dietary strategies. The convergence of plant-derived nanotechnology and personalized nutrition, guided by individual microbiota profiles, offers a novel paradigm for enhancing host health and preventing infection-related disorders. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the sustainable production of nanomaterials from agricultural and food industry waste, their antimicrobial and prebiotic applications, and their potential in regulating gut microbiota. Furthermore, we discuss emerging nanoenabled strategies to combat infectious diseases and highlight future directions for mechanistic studies, safety assessments, and clinical translation in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and functional food contexts. Full article

Sodium nitrite is an additive commonly used in meat processing to provide technological effects. However, the presence of nitrates in food can lead to the formation of carcinogenic N-nitrosamines; so, its use should be limited. This study concerns the possibility of reducing sodium nitrite (III) addition in the production of canned meat to 50 mg/kg by enriching the product with tomato peels and seeds powder (TPSP). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of TPSP on the physicochemical, chemical and microbiological quality of canned pork. Four different products were tested in this study: a control sample and samples with the addition of 0.5%, 1.5%, and 2.5% tomato peels and seeds powder. The addition of TPSP decreased the pH values of meat products and increased yellowness (b*) and redness (a*) values. The influence of TPSP on the increase in antioxidant activity of canned meat was also observed. However, the plant-based additive did not affect the chemical composition or water activity of the tested product. The control samples were characterized by a lower TBARS compared to the other samples of meat products. Microbiological analysis results indicate that the canned pork samples meet the product requirements. The most commonly isolated species from the samples were Enterobacter cloacae, Serratia liquefaciens, and Enterococcus faecalis. Full article

Background: The tomato processing industry is a vital sector, with tomatoes being the primary vegetable for industrial transformation. To individuate potential actions to make the tomato processing industry more sustainable, a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was conducted for an Italian tomato processing company located in southern Italy. Methods: Foreground data were collected from the company, while background data were sourced from the Ecoinvent database. The assessment employed the CML-IA baseline (V3.5) method for midpoints and IMPACT 2002+ for endpoints. Results: The research revealed that a can of peeled tomatoes (400 g) and a bottle of tomato puree (500 g) were responsible for global warming potential (GWP) of 0.666 kg CO₂eq and 0.479 kg CO₂eq, respectively. The packaging phase is the primary contributor to adverse environmental effects and has been considered as the primary focus for improvement. The end-of-life (EoL) scenarios demonstrated that recycling packaging materials could significantly reduce CO₂ emissions by 46% and 48% for metal and glass packaging, respectively. Conclusions: Moreover, the replacement of tinplate cans with glass jars as alternative packaging materials for peeled tomatoes, and glass bottles with carton-based containers or stand-up pouches as alternative packaging materials for tomato puree emerged as more environmentally friendly options across various environmental impact categories. Full article

Salt stress causes osmotic stress and ion toxicity, often inhibiting plant growth and metabolism. However, salt-stressed tomato plants accumulate ascorbic acid, resulting in fruits with high commercial value. However, it was not well understood how mannose, the material for the synthesis of ascorbic acid, and its metabolism are affected under salt stress conditions. In this study, we found that tomatoes grown under salinity stress had increased levels of ascorbic acid, which correlated with decreased levels of mannan in the skin and seeds. Expression analysis of the ascorbic acid synthase gene showed increased expression in early ripening stages under salt stress. In addition, the expression of cellulose synthase-like A (CSLA), genes involved in mannan metabolism, increased significantly during mid-ripening in the control condition. Since ascorbic acid and mannan share mannose as a precursor, they are likely to compete for it. This suggests that salt-stressed tomatoes may be deficient in both ascorbic acid and mannose, thereby affecting mannan synthesis. To investigate this trade-off, we developed a culture system with added mannose. The results showed that in salt-stressed tomatoes supplemented with mannose, ascorbic acid levels in unripe green peels reached those of fully ripe fruit, highlighting the influence of mannose availability on ascorbic acid accumulation. Full article

This study investigates the valorization of tomato by-products—peels, seeds, and juice—through innovative extraction and bioprocessing techniques. Lycopene recovery from tomato peels was optimized using ultrasound- and microwave-assisted extraction (UAE-MAE) with ethyl lactate as the solvent. The optimal conditions (0.03 g/mL, 500 W microwave power, 600 W ultrasound power) yielded a lycopene content of 37.08 mg/100 g of peels and an extraction yield (EY) of 91.20%. For tomato seeds, oil extraction methods, including conventional stirring, UAE-MAE, Soxhlet extraction, and pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), were evaluated. Conventional stirring achieved the highest oil yield (19.66%), followed closely by UAE-MAE (19.53%). However, PLE produced the highest lycopene content (44.0 mg/100 g oil) and significant levels of linoleic acid (544.7 mg/g oil), though Soxhlet extraction yielded slightly more (608.9 mg/g oil). Tomato juice was processed into high-nutritional value vinegar via a two-stage fermentation process. The final product had 5.42% acidity, a pH of 2.85, and retained a high lycopene content (9.19 mg/100 g). This study underscores the potential of innovative extraction and bioprocessing strategies for the valorization of tomato by-products, promoting waste reduction and the development of high-value functional products in alignment with principles of the circular bioeconomy. Full article

The exponential increase in medical waste production has increased the difficulty of waste management, resulting in higher medical waste dispersion into the environment. By employing a circular economy approach, it is possible to develop new materials by waste valorization. The employment of biodegradable and renewable agro-food, waste-derived materials may reduce the environmental impact caused by the dispersion of medical waste. In this work, tomato peel recovered cutin was blended with poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLAPCL) to develop new textiles for medical application through electrospinning. The textile fabrication process was studied by varying Cut content in the starting suspensions and by optimizing fabrication parameters. Devices with dense and porous structures were developed, and their morphological, thermal, and physical–chemical properties were evaluated through scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy. Textile material stability to γ-irradiation was evaluated through gel permeation chromatography, while its wettability, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility were analyzed through contact angle measurement, tensile test, and MTT assay, respectively. The LCA methodology was used to evaluate the environmental impact of textile production, with a specific focus on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The main results demonstrated the suitability of PLAPCL–cutin blends to be processed through electrospinning and the obtained textile’s suitability to be used to develop surgical face masks or patches for wound healing. Full article

Agricultural waste derivatives, particularly tomato cutin, a biopolymer found in the cuticular layer of plants, present a promising alternative for the development of sustainable materials in biomedical applications. Cutin, composed primarily of fatty acids and hydroxy acids, exhibits favorable biodegradability, biocompatibility, and hydrophobic properties, positioning it as a viable candidate for applications such as drug delivery systems, wound healing, and tissue engineering. This study investigates the extraction, characterization, and potential biomedical utilization of 10,16-dihydroxy hexadecenoic acid monomer derived from tomato cutin agro-waste. The cytotoxicity of cutin-based materials was evaluated through in vitro assays, demonstrating minimal toxicity and confirming their suitability for biomedical applications. The extraction process was optimized using various solvents, and the molecular characteristics of the extracted monomer were assessed using techniques such as Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) ¹H and ¹³C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Fourier Transformed Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). MTT assay was also performed on NHDFs cultured in monomer solutions to assess their cytocompatibility. The findings suggest that cutin-based materials, when processed under environmentally sustainable conditions, offer an effective and biocompatible alternative to conventional synthetic polymers, opening new avenues for the development of sustainable biomedical products. Full article

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the composition of onion peels, tomato peels, and pistachio green hulls, with a focus on their structural and bioactive compounds. Onion peels, regardless of cultivar, were found to be rich in quercetin and its derivatives, along with other flavonoids and pectin. Tomato peels emerged as a notable source of naringenin (0.52 mg/g in ethanol extract) and rutin (0.24 mg/g in water extract) and showed an unexpectedly high lignin content, comprising nearly 50% of their structural components. Pistachio green hulls demonstrated a high extractive content (63.4 g/100 g), 73% of which were water-soluble. Protocatechuic acid, rutin, and quercetin derivatives were the dominant phenolic compounds in the water extract, while luteolin was most abundant in the ethanol extract. Regarding structural composition, tomato peels and pistachio green hulls shared similarities, exhibiting a high lignin content (53.4% and 33.8%, respectively) and uronic acids (10–15%). In contrast, onion peels were characterized by high levels of glucans (around 38%) and galacturonic acid (33%). The insights from this study pave the way for the design of sustainable and efficient extraction processes, enabling the sequential recovery of valuable bioactive compounds and promoting the valorization of these agro-industrial by-products. Additionally, onion and tomato peels were evaluated as sources of pectin using two extraction methods: conventional acid water extraction and subcritical water extraction. The results revealed significant differences in the pectin composition (53–68% galacturonic acid) and degree of esterification (79–92%) compared to commercial pectin (72.8% galacturonic acid and 68% esterification), highlighting the influence of the raw material and extraction method on the final properties of pectin. Full article

Agricultural food waste and by-products could provide high-value compounds that positively affect human and environmental health, thus representing promising ingredients for cosmeceutical products. This study explores the biological activities of tomato skin (HP) and pomegranate peel (PPE) extracts on oral mucosa to evaluate their possible use in mouthwashes. The biological activities of the extracts and the mouthwash (MW) containing them were evaluated in Human Primary Gingival Epithelial cells (HGECs). The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities were analyzed in HGECs injured with lipopolysaccharides. After 24 h of treatment with PPE, HP, and MW, significant antioxidant activity and an increased Superoxide Dismutase 1 expression (p < 0.01) were observed. Additionally, the extracts significantly reduced the expression of tumor necrosis factor α (p < 0.05) and Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein 1 (p < 0.001), suggesting an anti-inflammatory role. Lastly, the antibacterial activity was assessed against Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguinis by the broth microdilution method and agar cup diffusion test for the extracts and the mouthwash, respectively, demonstrating strong effectiveness against both oral streptococcus species. Results demonstrate the potential of HP and PPE in reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and bacterial proliferation within oral mucosa, highlighting food waste up-cycling as a resource for human health. Full article