Search Results (488)

The tolerance of the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) to plant-derived secondary compounds gradually increases with instars. Therefore, even if plant-based additives are applied at early stages, such as the second or third instar, they may have a differential impact on the ecofriendly control of S. frugiperda. In this study, S. frugiperda larvae were exposed to vanillic acid or sinapic acid at the second and third instar, and physiological and growth parameters were measured. The results showed that the effects of vanillic acid treatment on S. frugiperda were similar at the different instars. They can significantly affect the larval carboxylesterase, glutathione S-transferase, and mixed-function oxidase activities. By reducing larval food intake, food conversion, and utilization efficiency while increasing the food consumption rate, it inhibits weight accumulation. This leads to a significant extension of the development of both the larval and pupal stages, and the adult longevity was reduced. Treatment with sinapic acid at the second instar extended the negative effects on the pupal duration of S. frugiperda when compared to treatment at the third instar, but did not affect adult longevity. Therefore, vanillic acid treatment at the second or third instar stage, can play an important role in the ecofriendly control process of S. frugiperda. The results of this study are of great significance for integrated pest management. Full article

Olive stones (OS) are a by-product of great interest from olive oil mills and the table olive industry due to their high content of phenolic compounds. In this work, the extraction of phenolic compounds from OS via microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) with aqueous acetone was assayed. A central composite design of experiments was used to determine the optimal extraction conditions, with the independent variables being temperature, process time, and aqueous acetone (v/v). The dependent variables were the total content of phenolic compounds (TPC) measured by the Folin–Ciocalteu method and the main phenolic compounds identified and quantified by UPLC. Under optimal conditions (75 °C, 20 min, and 60% acetone), 3.32 mg TPC was extracted from 100 g of dry matter (DM) OS. The most suitable extraction conditions were different for each polyphenol. Therefore, 292.11 μg vanillin/g DM; 10.94 μg oleuropein/g DM; and 10.11 protocatechuic acid μg/g DM were obtained under conditions of 60 °C, 15 min, and 100% acetone; 43.8 °C, 10.45 min, and 61.3% acetone; and 64.8 °C, 16.58 min, and 97.8% acetone, respectively. Finally, MAE was compared with the traditional Soxhlet method under the same conditions. As a result, MAE was proven to be an enhanced and more feasible method for polyphenol extraction from OS. Full article

Lactic acid bacteria fermentation has the potential to enhance the biological activity of bamboo shoot polyphenols. The aim of this study was to investigate the release pattern and biotransformation mechanism of bound phenols from bamboo shoots prepared by fermentation with Lactobacillus acidophilus, Pediococcus pentosaceus, and Lactobacillus plantarum. The results showed that compared with unfermented controls, bound forms of vanillic acid, p-coumaric acid, and ferulic acid significantly decreased, while their free forms increased substantially after 6 d fermentation (p < 0.05). Quantitative analysis revealed particularly dramatic transformations for p-coumaric acid, which showed a 30–3000% increase in free form, and ferulic acid with a 203–359% increase in free form. Pediococcus pentosaceus demonstrated outstanding performance in bound phenol release and conversion, correlating with its higher β-glucosidase (0.67 U/g) and ferulic acid esterase (0.69 U/g) production. FITR, SEM, and IFM also demonstrated that LAB fermentation led to changes between free and bound phenols in bamboo shoots. These results demonstrate Pediococcus pentosaceus fermentation most effectively liberates bound phenolics, significantly improving their bioavailability for functional food applications. Full article

A high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) method was optimized and validated for the simultaneous analysis of 16 phenolic compounds, namely gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, catechin, chlorogenic acid, vanillin, syringic acid, coumaric acid, epicatechin, ferulic acid, sinapic acid, salicylic acid, resveratrol, and quercetin, in edible fruits from spontaneous species. Following the validation protocol, the proposed analytical method met the criteria of specificity, linearity, precision, and accuracy. The validated method was then applied for the analysis of phenolic compounds in fruits of hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), cornelian cherry (Cornus mas), rosehip (Rosa canina), and blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus). Of the phenolic compounds investigated, ten were identified in blueberry fruit (Vaccinium myrtillus), ten in cornelian cherry fruit (Cornus mas), nine in hawthorn fruit (Crataegus monogyna), and seven in rosehip fruit (Rosa canina). In the case of hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), cornelian cherry (Cornus mas), and blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) fruit, epicatechin was identified as the main phenolic compound, while in rosehip (Rosa canina) fruit, catechin was the phenolic with the highest content. Full article

The disposal of olive mill wastewater (OMWW) poses significant environmental challenges due to its high content of phytotoxic and pollutant compounds. This study aims to explore the chemical composition of OMWW derived from various olive varieties (Buža, Buža puntoža, Istarska bjelica, Leccino, and Rosinjola) and assess its antifungal potential against phytopathogenic fungi from the Botryosphaeriaceae family. OMWW samples were analyzed for their physicochemical properties, phenolic composition via LC-MS/MS, and antifungal activity against Botryosphaeria dothidea (Moug. ex Fr.) Ces. & De Not., Diplodia mutila (Fr.) Fr., D. seriata De Not., Dothiorella iberica A.J.L. Phillips, J. Luque & A. Alves, Do. sarmentorum (Fr.) A.J.L. Phillips, Alves & Luque, and Neofusicoccum parvum (Pennycook & Samuels) Crous, Slippers & A.J.L. Phillips. Antifungal efficacy was tested at varying concentrations, alongside the phenolic compounds hydroxytyrosol and vanillic acid. Antifungal activity varied across fungal species and OMWW concentrations. Lower OMWW concentrations inhibited mycelial growth in some pathogens, while higher concentrations often had a stimulatory effect. Among the OMWW treatments, Leccino and Buža showed the most significant antifungal activity against species from the Botryosphaeriaceae family. The results demonstrated significant variability in OMWW composition, with Istarska bjelica exhibiting the highest concentrations of phenolic compounds, sugars, dry matter, and carbon and nitrogen content. The results also highlight the impact of acidification on the phenolic profile of OMWW. Treatment with HCl significantly altered the concentration of individual phenolic compounds, either enhancing their release or contributing to their degradation. Among the two compounds, vanillic acid showed greater efficacy than hydroxytyrosol. In addition, microorganisms isolated from OMWW, including Bacillus velezensis Ruiz-Garcia et al., Rhodotorula mucilaginosa (A. Jörg.) F.C. Harrison, Nakazawaea molendiniolei (N. Cadez, B. Turchetti & G. Peter) C. P. Kurtzman & C. J. Robnett, and Penicillium crustosum Thom, demonstrated antagonistic potential against fungal pathogens, with B. velezensis showing the strongest inhibitory effect. The greatest antagonistic effect against fungi was observed with the species Do. Iberica. The findings highlight the potential of OMWW as a sustainable alternative to chemical fungicides, simultaneously contributing to the management of waste and protection of plants through circular economy principles. Full article

Background/Objectives: In this study, the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity of selected phenolic acids, flavonoids, their O-glucosides, and low-molecular-weight phenolic metabolites was addressed to show their importance against blood hypertension. Methods: A fluorescence assay was used for the determination of the ACE inhibitory activity, whereas the first anodic peak oxidation potential (${\mathrm{E}}_{\mathrm{p}\mathrm{a}}$) was provided by the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) method. The relationship between the ACE inhibitory activity and ${\mathrm{E}}_{\mathrm{p}\mathrm{a}}$ was evaluated. Results: Phenolic acids showed a very low ACE inhibitory activity, and their rank was chlorogenic acid > p-coumaric acid > sinapic acid > gentisic acid > ferulic acid > syringic acid > vanillic acid > protocatechuic acid > caffeic acid. The low-molecular-weight phenolic metabolites of flavonoids showed a moderate ACE inhibitory activity. In contrast, flavonoid aglicones had the highest ACE inhibitory activity, and the order was luteolin > quercetin > kaempferol > cyanidin > delphinidin > pelargonin > naringenin. A lower inhibition activity was noted for quercetin-3-O-glucoside, luteolin-4′-O-glucosides, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, and pelargonidin-3-O-glucosides, whereas a higher ACE inhibition activity was observed for 7-O-glucosides of luteolin, apigenin, and kaempferol. A lack of correlation was found between the IC₅₀ of phenolic acids, low-molecular-weight phenolic metabolites, and their ${\mathrm{E}}_{\mathrm{p}\mathrm{a}}$ values. In contrast, weak positive correlations were found between the IC₅₀ of aglicons, 3-O-glucosides, 7-O-glucosides, and their ${\mathrm{E}}_{\mathrm{p}\mathrm{a}}$ values provided by the DPV (r = 0.61, r = 0.66 and r = 0.88, respectively). Conclusions: This study expands our knowledge of the ACE inhibitory activity of phenolic compounds. Full article

The spread of invasive pests can exacerbate the threat of pest stress to agricultural production. Screening natural antifeedants from the secondary metabolites of plants may provide efficient alternative control methods for the integrated management of invasive pests. Therefore, in this study, the three phenolic substances were evenly mixed with the artificial diet at mass ratios of 1:200 and 1:40, respectively. The treatment groups were labeled as follows: vanillic acid (Va1: 1:200, Va2: 1:40), sinapic acid (Si1: 1:200, Si2: 1:40), and syringic acid (Sy1: 1:200, Sy2: 1:40). Subsequently, the feed intake, body weight, protein content, and digestive enzyme activity of the S. frugiperda feeding were measured. This research was extended to the pupal and adult stages, focusing on pupation rate, pupal weight, adult emergence rate, and adult longevity. The results showed that the food intake and body weight of the 4th–6th instars of S. frugiperda decreased significantly after feeding on the different ratios of phenolic substances. Although the protein accumulation of the 4th–5th-instar larvae was inhibited, the protein content of the 6th-instar larvae showed significant accumulation, with that of the Va2 and Sy1 treatment groups being 124.84% and 165.07% of that of the control, respectively. At the same time, the trypsin activity of the 4th–6th-instar larvae in different treatment groups significantly increased, while the activities of pepsin and α-amylase fluctuated but overall showed an increasing trend. The interference of vanillic acid, sinapic acid, and syringic acid on the digestion and absorption of the larvae limited the pupation rate but did not have a significant effect on the pupal weight. All three phenolic substances reduced the adult emergence rate, but unlike the sinapic acid and syringic acid treatments, vanillic acid also had a negative impact on adult longevity. These results can provide material reserves for the development of antifeedants for S. frugiperda, and can also provide optimal plans for its ecofriendly prevention and control. Full article

The rising demand for sustainable and health-promoting foods has encouraged the development of tempeh from non-soy plant materials. This study investigated tempeh alternatives made from sorghum, proso millet, white bean, buckwheat, yellow pea, and quinoa, focusing on their phenolic acid (PA) content. Seventeen PAs and two flavan-3-ols were quantified using LC-MS/MS in free, conjugated, and insoluble forms, and total phenolic content (TPC) was determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu assay. Four PAs—shikimic acid, 3-hydroxycinnamic acid, 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, and 2-hydroxycinnamic acid—were not detected. Solid-state fermentation increased the total PA (TPA) content by an average of 11.3%, reaching 160.6 µg/g, with the most significant rise in conjugated and insoluble fractions. The highest TPA values were observed in sorghum-based tempeh, particularly quinoa:sorghum (2:1; 293 µg/g), sorghum:yellow pea (2:1; 277.6 µg/g), and buckwheat:sorghum (1:1; 271 µg/g). The most abundant PAs were ferulic (18 µg/g), vanillic (14.6 µg/g), 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic (8 µg/g), and caffeic acids (6.7 µg/g). TPC values reached up to 9.51 mg GAE/g in tempeh samples. These findings support the use of non-soy substrates to develop nutritious, allergen-free, gluten-free tempeh products with enhanced phenolic profiles and functional food potential. Full article

Geometrical and physical properties, dry matter, soluble solids content, titratable acidity, total phenolic content and DPPH radical scavenging activity were investigated in the fresh fruits of six plum (Prunus domestica L.) cultivars (‘Centenar’, ‘Minerva’, ‘Carpatin’, ‘Dobrowica’, ‘Čačanska Lepotica’ and ‘Mirabelle de Nancy’) and two local selections (‘Păscoaia’ and ‘Gogoșele Otăsău’) grown in an experimental plum orchard collection established in 2016 in Orodel, Dolj county (south-western Romania). In addition, phenolic compounds, organic acids and vitamin C contents were determined in fruit flesh and peel by high-performance liquid chromatography. Analysis of the phenolic compounds indicated that chlorogenic acid and catechin hydrate were the predominant phenolic acid and flavonoid, respectively, in the flesh of most of the investigated cultivars. Higher contents of phenolic compounds were found in the peel, where the phenolic profile was dominated by chlorogenic and vanillic acids among the phenolic acids and by rutin among the flavonoids. The highest total phenolic content was measured in the peel of the ‘Centenar’ cultivar (575.64 mg GAE/100 g fw) followed by ‘Čačanska Lepotica’ (536.55 mg GAE/100 g fw), while the flesh of the ‘Mirabelle de Nancy’ (218.36 mg GAE/100 g) and ‘Gogoșele Otăsău’ (152.02 mg GAE/100 g) cultivars were the richest in phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity. In terms of functional characteristics, among the two local selections, ‘Gogoșele Otăsău’ could be considered a valuable plum selection, while Păscoaia’ is more suitable for fresh consumption. Full article

Melon is a valuable crop that generates significant by-products during consumption and processing. Among these, seeds are rich in phenolic compounds and might be used to produce sprouts with increased content of these bioactive substances. This study evaluated phenolic compounds (PhCs) in sprouts of two melon cultivars, Thales and SV9424ML, obtained from seeds having different germination speeds, thus harvested at 6 and 14 days after sowing (DAS). A factorial combination of cultivar and harvest time was tested in a completely randomized design with four replicates. Thales produced more ready-to-eat sprouts at 6 DAS than SV9424ML (64.0% vs. 46.7%). Sprouting significantly increased total PhCs content, particularly flavonoids, with Thales showing higher values than SV9424ML (50.2 vs. 32.6 mg kg⁻¹ DW). Phenolic profiles significantly varied among cultivars and harvests. Sprouts at 6 DAS had more total hydroxybenzoic acids and flavonoids, while 14 DAS sprouts were richer in hydroxycinnamic acids. Significant differences between harvest dates were observed in the concentrations of protocatechuic, vanillic (VanA), p-coumaric (p-CouA), ferulic (FerA) acids, and orientin (Ori) for Thales, and of VanA, p-CouA, FerA, and Ori for SV9424ML. Results are encouraging, but future investigations are essential to understand whether these sprouts can be suitable for fresh consumption, food supplements, or phytochemical extraction. Full article

Capparis spinosa L. (caper) is an important medicinal plant whose bioactive compounds vary significantly depending on its growth stage. This directly affects its pharmaceutical and nutritional value. Collecting C. spinosa at the optimal growth stage is essential to achieving high phytochemical quality and meeting consumer needs. This study aimed to evaluate the variation of these active compounds in the aerial parts of C. spinosa across four phenological stages (vegetative, flowering, unripe fruit, and ripe fruit). The result showed that EO content was highest in unripe fruits (0.18%) and lowest in the flowering stage (0.07%) in leaves, while extract yield was highest in leaves of the ripe fruit stage (14.65%) followed by the flowering stage in flowers (12.66%). Flowering stage leaves showed the highest total phenol (56.20 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (17.10 mg QE/g) content, while the lowest concentrations were found in the ripe fruit stage of the leaves. EO analysis showed that methyl isothiocyanate reached the highest concentration in flowers at the flowering stage (41.6%), while isopropyl isothiocyanate reached the highest concentration in leaves at the ripe fruit stage (36.2%). Isobutyl isothiocyanate was found exclusively in fruits, with the highest concentration in ripe fruits (9.2%). Dimethyltrisulphide showed a maximum concentration in leaves at the vegetative stage, decreasing by 76.6% as the plant developed towards the ripe fruit stage. The dominant phenolic acids varied between phenological stages: cinnamic acid at the vegetative stage; rosmarinic and cinnamic acids at the flowering stage in leaves; caffeic and cinnamic acids in flowers; vanillic, cinnamic, and rosmarinic acids at the unripe fruit stage in leaves and fruits; and rosmarinic, cinnamic, and vanillic acids in ripe fruits. The results indicate that harvesting C. spinosa at the vegetative stage and in the leaves of the flowering stage is optimal for maximum secondary metabolite yield, providing valuable guidance for growers targeting food and pharmaceutical applications. Full article

Understanding the effects of edible coatings on postharvest quality and shelf life of ‘Karaerik’ grapes is crucial for improving storage outcomes and reducing losses. However, limited information exists regarding the effectiveness of different coating materials on this regionally significant variety. In this study, ‘Karaerik’ grapes were treated with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and locust bean gum (KB) coatings and stored under cold conditions (0 ± 0.5 °C, 90–95% relative humidity) for 0, 25, 45, and 60 days. Storage duration and coating treatments significantly affected most physical, physiological, and biochemical parameters. During storage, grape weight loss progressively increased, reaching 9.60% in the control by day 60. Coatings slightly reduced this loss, with KB showing the lowest (5.11%) compared to the control (5.69%). Respiration initially declined but surged again at day 60, especially in the control (96.4 μmol CO₂/kg·hour), while coatings helped mitigate this rise. Ethylene release remained unchanged. A slight pH decline (~4.6%) was observed in the control, while KB-treated grapes maintained higher pH and lower acidity. Soluble solids remained stable across treatments. Color changed notably during storage: a* nearly doubled (more redness), b* increased (less blue), and chroma (C*) declined by ~25%, especially in uncoated grapes. Total sugar dropped by ~43% in KB-treated grapes, with the control retaining the most. Tartaric acid decreased by ~55%, notably in KB samples. Antioxidant activity and total phenolics declined significantly (~66%) in the control. CMC coating better-preserved antioxidant capacity, while the control showed the highest phenolic levels overall. Ferulic, gallic, and chlorogenic acids increased toward the end of storage, particularly in coated grapes. In contrast, rutin and vanillic acid peaked mid-storage and were better preserved in the control. The heatmap showed significant metabolite changes in fruit samples across 0D, 25D, 45D, and 60D storage periods under CMC, CNT, and KB treatments, with distinct clustering patterns revealing treatment-specific biochemical responses. The correlation matrix revealed strong positive relationships (r > 0.70) between total sugar, glucose, and fructose levels, while ethylene showed significant negative correlations (−0.65 to −0.85) with maturity index, pH, and total soluble solids, indicating interconnected metabolic pathways during fruit ripening and storage. We conclude that edible coating selection significantly influences grape biochemical stability during cold storage, with CMC emerging as a superior choice for maintaining certain quality parameters. Full article

Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) is a plant with a long tradition of use and numerous remarkable properties. It is especially appreciated for its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects. The therapeutic potential of the subject in the management of allergies has received comparatively less attention, despite its composition being rich in bioactive substances. The purpose of this research was to enhance the recovery of bioactive compounds from horseradish by applying an optimized ultrasound-assisted extraction process modelled through Design-Expert software (version 11). Spectrophotometric and chromatographic analyses revealed higher concentrations of polyphenols in extracts obtained with a methanol–water mixture (1:1, v/v) compared to ultrapure water, confirming the efficiency of solvents with lower polarity. The antioxidant activity was found to be significant, with the hydroalcoholic extract achieving 96.93% and the aqueous extract reaching 89.34%. The vitamin C content was determined to be 105.32 mg/100 g and 90.35 mg/100 g, respectively. The polyphenolic profile and fatty acid analysis confirmed the presence of bioactive compounds previously reported as antiallergenic, including protocatechuic, p-hydroxybenzoic, vanillic, caffeic, chlorogenic, p-coumaric, rosmarinic acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic and linolenic acids, alongside the vitamin C content. The results of the present study confirm that horseradish is a rich natural source of bioactive compounds, particularly antioxidants, which may be of interest for further studies related to functional applications. Full article

The growing interest in functional foods has led to a heightened focus on the bioactive properties of different types of vinegar, including jujube vinegar, which has traditionally been valued for its health benefits. This study provides a comparative analysis of the chemical composition and bioactive properties of homemade and commercial jujube vinegar, particularly emphasizing their phenolic profiles and antioxidant activities. Both vinegar samples were analyzed for their physico-chemical properties, phenolic compounds content, and organic acids using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The results indicated that homemade jujube vinegar contained significantly higher levels of key bioactive compounds, including protocatechuic aldehyde > syringaldehyde > vanillic acid > caffeic acid > gallic acid > protocatechuic acid > chlorogenic acid > p-coumaric and quercetin, compared to the commercial vinegar. Such compounds are widely acknowledged for their antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammatory effects, and overall contributions to human health. The findings suggest that traditional production methods, raw material selection, and fermentation conditions enhance the nutritional potential of jujube vinegar. Full article

Selecting factors that significantly affect the extraction process and optimizing them are essential to obtain high extraction efficiency. This study aimed at optimizing the ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) of polyphenols from Romanian blackthorn fruits using aqueous solutions of ethanol as green extraction solvents. Six process factors, including solvent/plant material ratio (R_LS = 4.95–15.1 cm³/g), ethanol concentration in the extraction solvent (c_et = 16.4–83.6%), extraction temperature (t = 30–70 °C), pH of the solvent (pH = 2–7), amplitude of the ultrasonic probe (A = 30–70%), and extraction time (τ = 5–15 min), were screened and optimized based on a Plackett–Burman design (PBD) and a central composite design (CCD). Statistical analysis indicated that R_LS, c_et, and t significantly affected the process response variables in terms of total phenolic content (TPC), total anthocyanin content (TAC), and antioxidant capacity (AC). Under optimal conditions (R_LS,opt = 15.1 cm³/g, c_et,opt = 33.2%, t_opt = 66.8 °C, pH_opt = 7, A_opt = 50%, and τ_opt = 10 min), the following levels of response variables were experimentally determined: TPC_opt = 14.45 ± 0.718 mg GAE/g DM, TAC_opt = 0.405 ± 0.057 mg C3GE/g DM, and AC_opt = 16.75 ± 1.144 mg TE/g DM. Six phenolic compounds were identified in the extract obtained at optimal levels of process factors, i.e., rutin (7.12 ± 0.06 mg/100 g DM), protocatechuic acid (6.83 ± 0.01 mg/100 g DM), neochlorogenic acid (4.88 ± 0.01 mg/100 g DM), vanillic acid (3.70 ± 0.01 mg/100 g DM), chlorogenic acid (1.93 ± 0.02 mg/100 g DM), and caffeic acid (1.51 ± 0.01 mg/100 g DM). Full article