Search Results (8,846)

The field production of tomato faces challenges regarding abiotic stress factors, which unfavorably impact fruit quality traits. Hedgerows, a form of agroforestry, offer a climate-resilient strategy to buffer temperatures and reduce the impact of direct wind stress on crop production. This study assessed the impact of hedgerow microclimate modulation effects on open-field tomato fruit quality, employing three genotypes (Roma, Ace55, and Szentlőrinckáta). Key quality traits (Total Soluble Solids (TSS), Titratable Acidity (TA), Sugar–Acid Ratio (SAR), Ferric-Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), Total Phenolic Content (TPC), Chroma (C*), and Hue (h^o)) were measured over two harvests per season, in two consecutive years (2023–2024). Plots were positioned at five distances (3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 m from the hedge) on both windy and protected sides (W1–W5 and P1–P5, respectively, with 1 showing the closest position). We observed that the microclimate of the protected side was consistently warmer, with an average deviation from the reference temperature of +3.54 °C at mid-distances and +0.38 °C higher overall across both growing seasons. Results show that mid-distance zones (P3–P4, W3–W4) consistently exhibited the highest C* (up to 39.44) at W4 and TSS values at W1 (7.00 °Bx). Protected sides favored higher TA at P3 (0.70%) and Hue (h^o) values at P3 with (53.06 ± 0.30) with Ace55 and SAR at P3 (16.35) with Szentlőrinckáta. Windy sides significantly enhanced FRAP and TPC, with the Szentlőrinckáta genotype exhibiting the highest antioxidant capacity at W1 (23.67 mg AAE 100 g⁻¹, FRAP) and TPC (244.17 mg GAE 100 g⁻¹). At W4, Roma showed a 9.4% increase in TPC in the second harvest, while Ace55 showed the highest FRAP values during late-season sampling, highlighting genotype-specific antioxidant resilience under contrasting microclimates. These findings suggest that mid-distance zones and microclimatic variation between windy and protected sides remarkably influence fruit quality traits and antioxidant profiles. Full article

Pulsed electric field (PEF) extraction studies often report yield gains but less consistently translate them into purification-relevant metrics. This study re-analyzed a locked comparability tier of 56 solvent-matched control (CTR)-PEF contrasts from five leaf-biomass studies to map total phenolic content (TPC) uplift onto first-order downstream duty proxies. The tier was not designed as a field-wide survey, and audit logs plus dependence-aware analyses were used to reduce author bias. Across the 56 pairs, median ΔTPC% was 26.7% (IQR 12.1–35.0), with positive values in 55 of 56 contrasts. The strongest gains were concentrated at low specific energy (Wspec ≤ 0.15 kJ kg⁻¹ treated biomass) and 0–25% ethanol within this dataset. PLRI translated these uplifts into first-order processed-volume scaling at fixed capture criteria, and Pareto screening identified PLRI values of 1.18–1.73, corresponding to approximately 15–42% lower processed volume under the stated assumptions. Marker-level data were limited to two matrices (three paired observations), but SSF values > 1 (1.06–2.89) were consistent with possible composition steering. No new experiments were performed, and ballast, fouling, and downstream performance were not measured; conclusions are therefore limited to the operating envelope and are intended for screening, reporting standardization, and subsequent purification validation. Full article

Four sweet cherry cultivars (FuChen, Redlight, Huangmi, and Samituo) grown in northern China were used to produce sweet cherry wines with two alcohol levels. Physicochemical properties, antioxidant capacity, and volatile aroma compounds of the wines were systematically investigated. The results showed that wine from the Redlight cultivar with an alcohol content of 11.22 ± 0.17% contained the highest phenolic content and also exhibited the strongest antioxidant capacity as measured by DPPH and ABTS•⁺ assays. Meanwhile, wine from the FuChen cultivar with an alcohol content of 11.45 ± 0.03% had the highest anthocyanin content and showed the strongest FRAP antioxidant activity. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) based on electronic nose data clearly distinguished the eight sweet cherry wine samples from different cultivars. A total of 58 volatile compounds were identified by headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). Both principal component analysis (PCA) and OPLS-DA revealed clear differences among the sweet cherry wines based on their volatile composition. Using variable importance in projection (VIP) scores > 1 and relative odor activity values (ROAVs), the key aroma compounds contributing to the characteristic aroma profiles of the eight sweet cherry wines were identified as ethyl butanoate, isoamyl acetate, isoamyl hexanoate, methyl decanoate, ethyl decanoate, ethyl benzoate, methyl salicylate, citronellol, and eugenol. These findings provide important guidance for the selection of raw materials to improve the production of sweet cherry wines with targeted alcohol levels. Full article

Throughout this study, the short-term stability of methanol extracts was evaluated in cases of 15 distinctive, antioxidant-rich plant materials over 3, 7, and 14 days under refrigeration (4 °C), dark room-temperature, and light-exposed room-temperature conditions. A great variability in the matrix-dependent stability of the antioxidants, as well as the pronounced impact of the implied storage conditions on their plausible degradation, was revealed and featured. Initial total polyphenol content (TPC) ranged from 50.50 ± 0.44 mg gallic acid (GAE)/g DW (rosemary) to only 0.02 ± 0.006 mg GAE/g DW (amaranth). After 14 days, pigment-rich vegetable extracts (basil, beetroot powder, spinach powder, dried onion, tomato powder, and yarrow tail) lost 86.2–89.2% of TPC and 80–99% of DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) activity across all conditions, even under refrigeration. In contrast, for Lamiaceae species, markedly higher levels of the referred parameters were to be observed after 14-day-long storage. Decrease in TPC values was found to be 43.7% (rosemary), 50.6% (thyme), and 42.9% (oregano), respectively, while DPPH values were reduced by only 17–29%. Turmeric and walnut flour showed intermediate stability. Refrigeration consistently minimized the degradation of antioxidants (e.g., rosemary’s decrease in DPPH was only 20.3% at 4 °C vs. >70% under ambient conditions), while light exposure significantly accelerated losses of antioxidants in nearly all samples. Methanol extracts of many dietary plants, particularly pigment-rich ones, exhibit rapid and pronounced changes during short-term storage. Comparison with values obtained immediately after extraction shows that even brief storage can lead to substantial deviations. Although the current sampling intervals do not capture changes within the first hours, the results clearly indicate the need to minimize delays and standardize analytical timing to avoid underestimating phenolic content and antioxidant capacity. Moreover, these findings demonstrate that measured antioxidant properties are not solely inherent to the plant material but are strongly influenced by the extract matrix and methodological conditions. Consequently, antioxidant data should be regarded as matrix- and protocol-dependent, with important implications for their interpretation, comparability, and reproducibility across studies. Full article

Olive tree (Olea europaea L.) is a major Mediterranean crop, valued for both fruit yield and high-quality oil, yet extreme summer stress, including high temperature, intense irradiance, and water limitation, can substantially reduce productivity and affect oil composition. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the mitigating efficacy of foliar applications of glycine betaine (GB), kaolin (K), and calcium carbonate (CC) under rainfed conditions across three Greek sites on “Koroneiki” (in two sites) and “Lianolia Kerkyras” (in one site) cultivars. Treatments were applied during the summer, and effects on fruit yield, oil content per fruit, oil yield per tree, and key oil quality parameters—including total phenols, flavonoids, antioxidant capacity, and fatty acid composition—were assessed. GB significantly enhanced fruit yield and oil production for “Koroneiki” at the site with the harshest environmental conditions (24.37 Kg fruits per tree and 4.69 Kg of oil per tree compared to 19.16 Kg fruits per tree and 3.48 Kg of oil per tree in control). In contrast, K proved most effective at the other two sites for both cultivars (43% and 52.8% increase in fruit yield and oil mass per tree in “Koroneiki” respectively and 30% as well as 34% increase in yield and oil mass per tree in “Lianolia Kerkyras”, respectively. CC exhibited limited impact on both productivity and quality. Under all treatments, the oils produced could be classified as extra virgin olive oils, with the products exhibiting minor effects on the functional properties of the oils. These findings indicate that the efficacy of stress-alleviating foliar treatments is strongly influenced by both environmental conditions and cultivar. Overall, K was the most effective treatment, followed by GB. Tailored application of these treatments represents a sustainable approach to maintaining olive productivity and preserving oil quality in the context of climate change. Full article

This study investigated the effects of aqueous extracts of orange peel–derived biochar on seed germination and early seedling growth in durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) and common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.). Biochar was produced by pyrolysis of orange peel at temperatures ranging from 250 to 550 °C. Germination assays were conducted under controlled laboratory conditions, and seedling growth parameters were evaluated after six days of cultivation. Untreated orange peel completely inhibited seed germination (0 %) in both species, while biochar produced at 250 °C significantly reduced germination (e.g., the germination index decreased from 54.21 % in the control to 47.2 % in T. durum). In contrast, biochar produced at 350 °C increased germination to >96 % in T. durum and 100 % in F. esculentum, accompanied by enhanced seedling vigor and biomass production. Chemical analyses revealed a pronounced decrease in total phenolic content (from 53.84 to 0.57 mg GAE g⁻¹ DW) and flavonoids (from 90.05 to 1.34 mg QE g⁻¹ DW) with increasing pyrolysis temperature, along with a reduction in antioxidant activity. Common buckwheat exhibited consistently higher tolerance to biochar extracts than durum wheat across all treatments. Overall, the results demonstrate that pyrolysis temperature is a key factor governing the transition from phytotoxic to biostimulatory effects, with optimal performance observed at approximately 350 °C. Full article

Grape pomace represents a widely available agro-industrial by-product in Chile with considerable potential for valorization within circular economy frameworks; however, its functionality as a cosmetic ingredient depends on both grape cultivar and processing strategy. In this study, the direct incorporation of solid grape pomace residues into cream formulations was first evaluated, revealing limitations related to color control, homogeneity, and sensory performance. Subsequently, the influence of varietal origin (Malbec, Merlot, Syrah, and Grenache) on the extraction, stability, color behavior, and functional performance of anthocyanin-rich extracts was investigated for cosmetic applications. pH-standardized color analysis revealed statistically significant (p < 0.05) varietal differences, with Malbec extracts showing superior chromatic stability under acidic and near-neutral conditions, exhibiting lower reduction in a* values across the pH range compared to other varieties. In contrast, Syrah, Grenache, and Merlot showed a more pronounced decrease in red chromaticity, indicating higher sensitivity to pH-induced structural transformations. Although Merlot and Syrah exhibited higher ABTS antioxidant activity, Malbec presented the highest total phenolic content and the most balanced functional profile when considering both stability and color retention. Incorporation of anthocyanin-rich extracts into cosmetic cream formulations demonstrated that a 4.5% (m/v) loading ensured a skin-compatible pH (4.5–5.5), with Malbec-based creams exhibiting superior color stability and formulation performance over time. These findings demonstrate that grape pomace valorization requires variety-specific evaluation and identify extraction as a key enabling step for the development of sustainable, bio-based color-functional cosmetic ingredients. Full article

Phenolic-rich extracts from Satureja montana were evaluated before and after diazomethane treatment to determine how chemical derivatization influences their antioxidant capacity. Native and modified extracts were compared experimentally by measuring total phenolic content, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and Fe²⁺-chelating ability. EN1 exhibited the highest concentration of phenolic compounds, reaching 1278.54 mmol/g, whereas EM2 retained only 1.99 mmol/g. In the FRAP assay, reducing power followed the order EN1 (9.36) > EN2 (3.72) > EM2 (2.08), with EM2 still exceeding caffeic, chlorogenic, and ferulic acids. In contrast, the modified extracts showed superior metal chelating capacity, with EM1 and EM2 displaying IC₅₀ values of 0.70 and 0.82 mg/mL, respectively, both markedly lower than those of the native extracts and the pure standards. To rationalize these differences, a DFT study was performed at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level, examining 18 proposed phenolic acids and their methylated derivatives associated with the extracts. All methylation reactions were thermodynamically favorable, particularly for compounds 18 (−57.10 kcal/mol), 16 (−53.96), 6 (−53.34), and 3, 9, and 11 (−52.71). Solvent effects were found to be structure-dependent: caffeic acid showed BDE values of 72.29, 73.59, and 74.43 kcal/mol in the gas phase, water, and benzene, respectively, whereas syringic acid displayed values of 80.44, 77.09, and 80.65 kcal/mol under the same conditions. Likewise, the ionization potential of caffeic acid decreased from 180.09 kcal/mol in the gas phase to 133.26 kcal/mol in water and 154.22 kcal/mol in benzene. Among all analyzed species, methyl 3,4-dihydroxycinnamate exhibited the lowest BDE (71.60 kcal/mol) as well as the most favorable ΔG°r toward HOO• (−11.06 kcal/mol). Full article

The phytochemical variability in Cannabis sativa L. chemovars represents an underexplored factor in environmentally sustainable nanomaterial production. In this study, three distinct chemovars, (i) High-Δ⁹-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (89% THC), (ii) Balanced (60% Cannabidiol (CBD)), and (iii) High-CBD (89% CBD), were comparatively evaluated to determine their suitability for the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Ethanolic inflorescence extracts were used to recover bioactive secondary metabolites; among them, the High-CBD extract exhibited the highest total phenolic (3.34 mg gallic acid equivalent/g) and flavonoid (29.49 mg quercetine equivalent/g) contents, together with superior antioxidant capacity (53.16% 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH) inhibition), indicating enhanced redox potential for nanoparticle formation. The terpene profile of High-CBD showed a dominance of myrcene (21.4%), contributing to the stabilization of the system. Using the High-CBD extract, predominantly spherical nanoparticles of 5 ± 0.9 nm were synthesized and confirmed by UV–vis, EDS, and TEM. The biogenic AgNPs demonstrated significant dose-dependent antibacterial activity, with minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 1.0 mg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus and 4.5 mg/mL against Escherichia coli. These findings highlight the critical role of chemovar-dependent phytochemical composition and support a phytochemistry-guided approach for developing silver nanoparticles with potential biomedical applications. Full article

Background: Indigenous African fruits, like the African horned cucumber (Cucumis metuliferus), are abundant in nutrients and serve as a source of food and raw materials for manufacturing value-added products in both rural and urban areas. This review presents a comparative analysis of selected fruits in the Cucurbitaceae family, specifically in terms of the phytochemical, biochemical and mineral constituents, as well as nutritional contribution, and aims to explore how the African horned cucumber measures up to its counterparts by comparing their nutritional content against the recommended daily intake (RDI). Material and Methods: A literature search—using the keywords ‘African horned cucumber’, ‘Cucurbitaceae fruits’, ‘biochemical constituents’, ‘indigenous fruits’ and ‘recommended daily intake’—was used to gather credible data suitable for this review paper. Findings and Conclusions: The published peer-reviewed literature reveals that the African horned cucumber—with its nutrient-rich profile boasting high levels of calcium (19%), potassium (28%), magnesium (78.1%), sodium (10.7%), zinc (12.7%), beta carotene (15.5%), vitamin C (4.1%), vitamin E (15.2%), total flavonoids (0.28%), and total phenols (0.7%)—holds the promise of contributing significantly to the human diet while aligning with the RDI and dietary guidelines, as documented in studies, further underscoring its potential to meet nutritional needs and enhance health, thus supporting its consideration for commercialisation. Full article

Gum arabic (GA)-based edible coatings enriched with natural bioactive compounds offer a promising strategy for reducing postharvest losses and maintaining fruit quality. This study evaluated the effectiveness of GA coatings supplemented with carvacrol or caffeine in preserving the physicochemical quality, antioxidant status, and marketability of ‘Murcott’ mandarins during cold storage (5 ± 1 °C, 90–95% RH) for 60 days followed by 4 days of shelf life. Fruits were treated with distilled water (control), GA (10%), GA + imazalil (2000 ppm), GA + carvacrol (200 ppm), and GA + caffeine (200 ppm). Key quality parameters, including weight loss, decay incidence, firmness, electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde (MDA), total soluble solids, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, total phenolics, total flavonoids, and antioxidant enzyme activities of catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POX), were evaluated. The results demonstrated that GA-based coatings, particularly GA + carvacrol, significantly reduced weight loss and decay while maintaining firmness and visual quality compared to the control. Coated fruits exhibited lower electrolyte leakage and MDA levels, indicating improved membrane integrity and reduced lipid peroxidation. In addition, the treatments enhanced antioxidant capacity, as reflected by increased phenolic and flavonoid contents and higher CAT and POX activities. Multivariate analysis further confirmed the strong association between coating treatments and improved quality attributes. In conclusion, GA coatings enriched with carvacrol or caffeine effectively improved postharvest quality and extended the shelf life of ‘Murcott’ mandarins, highlighting their potential as safe and eco-friendly alternatives to conventional postharvest treatments. Full article

Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) are promising eco-friendly alternatives to traditional solvents for extracting phenolic compounds from plant materials. However, their effectiveness depends on both solvent composition and the botanical matrix. This study examined water, ethanol, and choline chloride–urea (CCU) and choline chloride–glycerol (CCG) systems containing 30% or 60% NADES for the extraction of anthocyanins, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant capacity (DPPH and ABTS) from cornflower, safflower, and pomegranate flowers. Pomegranate flowers exhibited the highest levels of anthocyanins, total phenolics, and antioxidants, while safflower showed the highest total flavonoid content. Overall, the 60% NADES formulations delivered the best extraction results, whereas ethanol had the lowest overall efficiency. A combined heatmap analyzing all responses identified 60% CCU and 60% CCG as the most effective solvents across all tested materials. Anthocyanin stability in pomegranate flower extracts was further evaluated over 8 weeks at 4 and 20 °C. First-order kinetic analysis revealed that ethanol and 60% CCG maintained the highest anthocyanin stability, whereas 60% CCU exhibited the lowest stability, especially at 20 °C. These findings support the use of NADES as efficient solvents for floral bioactives, while indicating that the highest extraction yield does not necessarily correlate with the best storage stability. Full article

Medicinal plants represent important sources of bioactive compounds with beneficial effects on human health. However, many medicinal species are ruderal plants capable of growing in soils with elevated contents of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) such as Cd, Pb, and Zn. In addition to the potential accumulation of PTEs in plant biomass, the response of the plant metabolome—including bioactive substances with beneficial health effects—to elevated PTE levels in plants should also be considered. The potential impact of soil PTEs on the plant metabolome was investigated in three widely used medicinal plants, Taraxacum sp., Achillea millefolium, and Hypericum maculatum, sampled in an area polluted with PTEs. The total soil contents of the PTEs ranged between 7.7 and 65 mg/kg for Cd, 1541 and 3897 mg/kg for Pb, and 245 and 6553 mg/kg for Zn. A qualitative analysis of the whole plant metabolomes of the three plant species indicated close interrelationships between the selected metals and bioactive substances. Subsequently, a model pot experiment was conducted in which Taraxacum sp. plants were cultivated in three soils with stepwise increasing Cd, Pb, and Zn contents, and selected bioactive compounds were quantified. The results showed a decrease in the concentrations of some phenolic compounds in the aboveground parts of Taraxacum sp. grown in extremely polluted soil, supporting the hypothesis that stress induced by PTEs may affect the metabolic pathways of these compounds. In contrast, higher levels of phenolic compounds were observed in Taraxacum sp. roots grown in moderately contaminated soil, suggesting that milder soil contamination may activate defence mechanisms and stimulate phenolic metabolism. However, although the contents of bioactive compounds in plants indicate an improvement of the quality of these medicinal plants, the elevated element contents in the plant biomass can represent a potential risk for consumers. Full article

Inking disorder is a peach quality defect in which fruits manifest a dark epidermis discoloration; this disorder reduces the commercial value of peach fruits. In red pigmented peach fruit, it has been proposed that inking is associated with mechanical damage and reactions involving metal ions (Fe, Cu, and Zn) and anthocyanins, but in yellow peach cultivars inking mechanism is unknown. The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate the effect of mechanical damage and contamination with Fe metal ions in the development of inking disorder in three yellow peach cultivars. The present study revealed that Fe₂(SO₄)₃ application increased total phenolic content and chlorogenic acid levels in all cultivars but did not induce inking symptoms in the absence of mechanical damage. In contrast, brushing treatments triggered inking development in ‘Colegio’ and ‘MG8’, allowing differentiation of cultivar susceptibility, whereas ‘229’ showed complete resistance. Mechanical damage also significantly increased phenolic compounds, as well as phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activities, with higher levels consistently observed in susceptible cultivars. Notably, the severity of inking increased when mechanical damage was combined with Fe(III) application. These results indicate that inking development requires both phenolic accumulation and their enzymatic oxidation. Fe(III) ions act as an enhancing factor by stimulating phenolic biosynthesis, thereby intensifying discoloration. The resistance observed in cv. ‘229’ is associated with lower phenolic synthesis and oxidative activity. This study provides new insights into the physiological mechanisms of inking in yellow peaches and offers practical implications for postharvest management and cultivar selection. Full article

The application of biostimulants is a promising tool for enhancing plant growth and crop quality in the context of sustainable and resilient agricultural production. This study evaluated four microbial biostimulants (IMB1–4) on Sonchus oleraceus L. under field and pot cultivation. Our results indicate that the growing system was a more dominant factor than biostimulants in influencing plant performance. For morphological and growth traits, biostimulants generally had a neutral or negative impact compared with untreated plants, with IMB3 consistently showing the lowest performance. Field-grown plants, especially the untreated ones, excelled in plant weight and leaf count, while pot-grown plants treated with IMB2 and IMB4 achieved higher leaf weight per plant, leaf area, and chlorophyll index (SPAD). Specifically, untreated field plants recorded the highest biomass, whereas IMB2 and IMB4 optimized leaf traits in pots. Biostimulant applications enhanced fat content and energetic value, with IMB1 and IMB2 yielding the highest protein levels. Pot cultivation favored the accumulation of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sodium, while IMB2-treated pot plants proved most effective for maximizing overall nutrient content. The phytochemical profile also varied by system: pot-grown plants yielded higher total phenols, particularly with IMB3, while field-grown plants recorded higher flavonoids, especially with IMB4. Furthermore, untreated or IMB3-treated pot plants exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, significantly outperforming field-grown counterparts. In conclusion, while biostimulants did not improve morphological and growth traits, they significantly enhanced the nutritional and phytochemical quality of S. oleraceus L., particularly in the pot cultivation system, where specific biostimulants (IMB2 and IMB3) resulted in nutrient-dense crops with high antioxidant value. Full article