Investigation of some biochemical parameters of wild and cultured Myrtus communis L. fruits subjected to different conservation methods

Comparing the impact of conventional and non-conventional processing technologies on water-soluble vitamins and color in strawberry nectar - a pilot scale study

A comprehensive comparison was conducted on the effect of conventional thermal processing (TT), high-pressure processing (HP), pulse electric field (PF), and ohmic heating (OH) on water-soluble vitamins and color retention in strawberry nectar. The ascorbic acid (AA) content increased by 15- and 9-fold after TT and PF treatment, respectively, due to rupturing of cells under heat stress and release of intracellular AA. Dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) content did not change considerably after TT and PF treatment but significantly decreased after HP and OH treatment. TT treatment offered the highest total vitamin C retention. The B vitamins remained largely unchanged after processing, with the highest loss of 34 % for riboflavin in OH-treated samples. All the technologies resulted in similar color retention after processing. The study concludes with a standardized comparison of mainstream preservation technologies using pilot-scale equipment. Such an approach significantly increases the applicability of the results presented in the study.

A review of the biological effects of Myrtus communis

The World Health Organization stated that 1.6 million deaths worldwide were caused by contact with chemicals and toxins in 2019. In the same year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that natural toxins caused 3960 deaths. Myrtus communis, also known as common Myrtle, is a flowering plant native to the Mediterranean region. Myrtle has been traditionally used to treat diarrhea, inflammation, bleeding, headache, pulmonary and skin diseases. This review was performed to assess Myrtle's protective and therapeutic efficacy against various chemical, natural, and radiational noxious. Multiple databases such as PubMed, Web of Sciences, and Scopus were investigated without publication time limitation. Recent studies have demonstrated its potential as a protective agent against both natural and chemical toxins. One of Myrtle's most significant protective properties is its high antioxidant content. Studies have shown that the antioxidant properties of Myrtle can protect against harmful substances such as heavy metals, pesticides, and other environmental toxins. Additionally, Myrtle has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce the damage caused by long-term exposure to toxins. The anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of Myrtle have also proven effective in alleviating gastrointestinal conditions such as gastric ulcers.

Physicochemical and bioactive properties of avocado (Persea americana Mill. cv. Lorena)

Chemical compounds are of great importance in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Nutritional components, the presence of secondary metabolites with antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, and physicochemical properties of pulp, seed and peel of Lorena avocado cultivars were studied. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by ABTS, DPPH and lipid peroxidation in pulp, seed and peel. 26 extracts was evaluated. The results confirmed that the fruit parts stabilize free radicals and inhibit lipid oxidation processes, with the highest values in seed and peel, due to their content of flavonoids, o-diphenols and phenols. The results of phytochemical screening, antioxidant capacity and antimicrobial activity, showed significant bioprospective advantage for the presence of flavonoids, condensed tannins and total phenols in the seed, peel and pulp of Lorena avocado cultivars. Avocado fruits are rich in bioactive compounds that can be used in functional food applications.