Rubus ulmifolius Schott fruits: A detailed study of its nutritional, chemical and bioactive properties

In silico prospective analysis of the medicinal plants activity on the CagA oncoprotein from Helicobacter pylori

BACKGROUND

Colonization with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has a strong correlation with gastric cancer, and the virulence factor CagA is implicated in carcinogenesis. Studies have been conducted using medicinal plants with the aim of eliminating the pathogen; however, the possibility of blocking H. pylori-induced cell differentiation to prevent the onset and/or progression of tumors has not been addressed. This type of study is expensive and time-consuming, requiring in vitro and/or in vivo tests, which can be solved using bioinformatics. Therefore, prospective computational analyses were conducted to assess the feasibility of interaction between phenolic compounds from medicinal plants and the CagA oncoprotein.

AIM

To perform a computational prospecting of the interactions between phenolic compounds from medicinal plants and the CagA oncoprotein of H. pylori.

METHODS

In this in silico study, the structures of the phenolic compounds (ligands) kaempferol, myricetin, quercetin, ponciretin (flavonoids), and chlorogenic acid (phenolic acid) were selected from the PubChem database. These phenolic compounds were chosen based on previous studies that suggested medicinal plants as non-drug treatments to eliminate H. pylori infection. The three-dimensional structure model of the CagA oncoprotein of H. pylori (receptor) was obtained through molecular modeling using computational tools from the I-Tasser platform, employing the threading methodology. The primary sequence of CagA was sourced from GenBank (BAK52797.1). A screening was conducted to identify binding sites in the structure of the CagA oncoprotein that could potentially interact with the ligands, utilizing the GRaSP online platform. Both the ligands and receptor were prepared for molecular docking using AutoDock Tools 4 (ADT) software, and the simulations were carried out using a combination of ADT and AutoDock Vina v.1.2.0 software. Two sets of simulations were performed: One involving the central region of CagA with phenolic compounds, and another involving the carboxy-terminus region of CagA with phenolic compounds. The receptor-ligand complexes were then analyzed using PyMol and BIOVIA Discovery Studio software.

RESULTS

The structure model obtained for the CagA oncoprotein exhibited high quality (C-score = 0.09) and was validated using parameters from the MolProbity platform. The GRaSP online platform identified 24 residues (phenylalanine and leucine) as potential binding sites on the CagA oncoprotein. Molecular docking simulations were conducted with the three-dimensional model of the CagA oncoprotein. No complexes were observed in the simulations between the carboxy-terminus region of CagA and the phenolic compounds; however, all phenolic compounds interacted with the central region of the oncoprotein. Phenolic compounds and CagA exhibited significant affinity energy (-7.9 to -9.1 kcal/mol): CagA/kaempferol formed 28 chemical bonds, CagA/myricetin formed 18 chemical bonds, CagA/quercetin formed 16 chemical bonds, CagA/ponciretin formed 13 chemical bonds, and CagA/chlorogenic acid formed 17 chemical bonds. Although none of the phenolic compounds directly bound to the amino acid residues of the K-Xn-R-X-R membrane binding motif, all of them bound to residues, mostly positively or negatively charged, located near this region.

CONCLUSION

In silico, the tested phenolic compounds formed stable complexes with CagA. Therefore, they could be tested in vitro and/or in vivo to validate the findings, and to assess interference in CagA/cellular target interactions and in the oncogenic differentiation of gastric cells.

Comparative genomics on chloroplasts of Rubus (Rosaceae)

Rubus, the largest genus in Rosaceae, contains over 1400 species that distributed in multiple habitats across the world, with high species diversity in the temperate regions of Northern Hemisphere. Multiple Rubus species are cultivated for their valuable fruits. However, the intrageneric classification and phylogenetic relationships are still poorly understood. In this study, we sequenced, assembled, and characterized 17 plastomes of Rubus, and conducted comparative genomics integrating with 47 previously issued plastomes of this genus. The 64 plastomes of Rubus exhibited typical quadripartite structure with sizes ranging from 155,144 to 156,700 bp, and contained 132 genes including 87 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes and eight rRNA genes. All plastomes are conservative in the gene order, the frequency of different types of long repeats and simple sequence repeats (SSRs), the codon usage, and the selection pressure of protein-coding genes. However, there are also some differences in the Rubus plastomes, including slight contraction and expansion of the IRs, a variation in the numbers of SSRs and long repeats, and some genes in certain clades undergoing intensified or relaxed purifying selection. Phylogenetic analysis based on whole plastomes showed that the monophyly of Rubus was strongly supported and resolved it into six clades corresponding to six subgenera. Moreover, we identified 12 highly variable regions that could be potential molecular markers for phylogenetic, population genetic, and barcoding studies. Overall, our study provided insight into plastomic structure and sequence diversification of Rubus, which could be beneficial for future studies on identification, evolution, and phylogeny in this genus.

Mediterranean Shrub Species as a Source of Biomolecules against Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases are associated with oxidative stress, due to an imbalance in the oxidation-reduction reactions at the cellular level. Various treatments are available to treat these diseases, although they often do not cure them and have many adverse effects. Therefore, it is necessary to find complementary and/or alternative drugs that replace current treatments with fewer side effects. It has been demonstrated that natural products derived from plants, specifically phenolic compounds, have a great capacity to suppress oxidative stress and neutralize free radicals thus, they may be used as alternative alternative pharmacological treatments for pathological conditions associated with an increase in oxidative stress. The plant species that dominate the Mediterranean ecosystems are characterized by having a wide variety of phenolic compound content. Therefore, these species might be important sources of neuroprotective biomolecules. To evaluate this potential, 24 typical plant species of the Mediterranean ecosystems were selected, identifying the most important compounds present in them. This set of plant species provides a total of 403 different compounds. Of these compounds, 35.7% are phenolic acids and 55.6% are flavonoids. The most relevant of these compounds are gallic, vanillic, caffeic, chlorogenic, p-coumaric, and ferulic acids, apigenin, kaempferol, myricitrin, quercetin, isoquercetin, quercetrin, rutin, catechin and epicatechin, which are widely distributed among the analyzed plant species (in over 10 species) and which have been involved in the literature in the prevention of different neurodegenerative pathologies. It is also important to mention that three of these plant species, Pistacea lentiscus, Lavandula stoechas and Thymus vulgaris, have most of the described compounds with protective properties against neurodegenerative diseases. The present work shows that the plant species that dominate the studied geographic area can provide an important source of phenolic compounds for the pharmacological and biotechnological industry to prepare extracts or isolated compounds for therapy against neurodegenerative diseases.

Blackberries and Mulberries: Berries with Significant Health-Promoting Properties

Blackberries and mulberries are small and perishable fruits that provide significant health benefits when consumed. In reality, both are rich in phytochemicals, such as phenolics and volatile compounds, and micronutrients, such as vitamins. All the compounds are well-known thanks to their medicinal and pharmacological properties, namely antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antiviral, and cardiovascular properties. Nevertheless, variables such as genotype, production conditions, fruit ripening stage, harvesting time, post-harvest storage, and climate conditions influence their nutritional composition and economic value. Given these facts, the current review focuses on the nutritional and chemical composition, as well as the health benefits, of two blackberry species (Rubus fruticosus L., and Rubus ulmifolius Schott) and one mulberry species (Morus nigra L.).

Wild Fruits of Crataegus monogyna Jacq. and Sorbus aria (L.) Crantz: From Traditional Foods to Innovative Sources of Pigments and Antioxidant Ingredients for Food Products

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna Jacq.) and whitebeam (Sorbus aria (L.) Crantz) are wild species traditionally used as ethnic foods in the Mediterranean area. Their red berries, and mainly the peels, may be used as ingredients due to their color (replacing other synthetic colorants) or functional properties. Some previous studies analyze all edible fruits, but there is very little literature on the composition and properties of the pulpless epidermis of the fruits of C. monogyna and no literature concerning the fruits of S. aria. Total phenolic compounds (TPC) and families of hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonols, and total monomeric anthocyanins were determined in the epidermis of C. monogyna and S. aria fruits. The in vitro antioxidant capacity was also determined using QUENCHER (Quick-Easy-New-CHEap-Reproducible) methodology. Anthocyanins profiles were analyzed in hydroalcoholic extracts through HPLC/MS. C. monogyna fruits presented higher content of TPC than S. aria, with hydroxybenzoic acids (2870.6 mg GAE/100g dw) as the major family, followed by flavonols (771.4 mg QE/100 g dw) and hydroxycinnamic acids (610.3 FAE/100 g dw). Anthocyanins were found in 251.7 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside/100 g dw, characterized by the content of cyanidin-O-hexoxide and peonidin-O-hexoxide. The levels of these compounds correlated with higher values of a* parameter (higher intensity of reddish color). These fruits also showed higher antioxidant capacity by Q-Folin-Ciocalteu and Q-FRAP. S. aria peels had fewer phenolic compounds, particularly anthocyanins (33.7 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside/100 g dw), containing different cyanidin derivatives. From these results, new insights about the composition of the epidermis of these wild fruits are provided, and their potential as ingredients for the food industry is corroborated.

Dracocephalum jacutense Peschkova from Yakutia: Extraction and Mass Spectrometric Characterization of 128 Chemical Compounds

Dracocephalum jacutense Peschkova is a rare and endangered species of the genus Dracocephalum of the Lamiaceae family. The species was first described in 1997 and listed in the Red Data Book of Yakutia. Significant differences in the multicomponent composition of extracts from D. jacutense collected in the natural environment and successfully introduced in the Botanical Garden of Yakutsk were identified by a team of authors earlier in a large study. In this work, we studied the chemical composition of the leaves, stem, and inflorescences of D. jacutense using the tandem mass spectrometry method. Only three cenopopulations of D. jacutense were found by us in the territory of the early habitat-in the vicinity of the village of Sangar, Kobyaysky district of Yakutia. The aboveground phytomass of the plant was collected, processed and dried as separate parts of the plant: inflorescences, stem and leaves. Firstly, a total of 128 compounds, 70% of which are polyphenols, were tentatively identified in extracts of D. jacutense. These polyphenol compounds were classified as 32 flavones, 12 flavonols, 6 flavan-3-ols, 7 flavanones, 17 phenolic acids, 2 lignans, 1 dihydrochalcone, 4 coumarins, and 8 anthocyanidins. Other chemical groups were presented as carotenoids, omega-3-fatty acids, omega-5-fatty acids, amino acids, purines, alkaloids, and sterols. The inflorescences are the richest in polyphenols (73 polyphenolic compounds were identified), while 33 and 22 polyphenols were found in the leaves and stems, respectively. A high level of identity for polyphenolic compounds in different parts of the plant is noted for flavanones (80%), followed by flavonols (25%), phenolic acids (15%), and flavones (13%). Furthermore, 78 compounds were identified for the first time in representatives of the genus Dracocephalum, including 50 polyphenolic compounds and 28 compounds of other chemical groups. The obtained results testify to the unique composition of polyphenolic compounds in different parts of D. jacutense.

Microencapsulation of Brazilian Cherokee blackberry extract by freeze-drying using maltodextrin, gum Arabic, and pectin as carrier materials

There are many blackberry cultivars in Brazil; however, the characteristics and applications of the Cherokee cultivar have not yet been widely studied. For this reason, this research investigated the behaviour of maltodextrin (MD), gum Arabic (GA), and pectin (PEC), as carriers combined in different proportions (20% MD, 15% MD  +  5% GA, 15% MD  +  5% PEC), on encapsulation of Cherokee blackberry pulp extract obtained by freeze-drying. The results of moisture content (2.73-3.36%), water activity (a_w) (0.11-0.15), solubility (52.40-54.11%), hygroscopicity (17.59-21.11%), colour (hue 0.24-0.32), retention of anthocyanins (51.55-60.53%), total phenolic compounds (39.72-70.73 mg GAE/100g), antioxidant activity at 25 mg/mL (77.89-80.02%), IC₅₀ (12.26-14.53), simulated in vitro digestion and morphology were discussed. Concerning morphology, blackberry powders had irregular structures and amorphous structures. Comparatively, the best results were obtained for MD-GA. MD-GA presented the highest content of phenolic compounds (70.73  ±  1.84 mg GAE/100g) and antioxidant activity (80.02%), as well as the lowest IC₅₀ value (12.26). In general, all powders showed an increase in phenolic compounds during in vitro digestion, because of the pH conditions and digestive enzymes present in the simulated digestive fluid. This result shows that the wall material provides protection, since the blackberry rich extract (RE) showed degradation of phenolic compounds in in vitro digestion. In this sense, freeze-drying is a suitable technique for the encapsulation of Cherokee blackberry pulp extract.

Autofluorescence-Based Investigation of Spatial Distribution of Phenolic Compounds in Soybeans Using Confocal Laser Microscopy and a High-Resolution Mass Spectrometric Approach

In this research, we present a detailed comparative analysis of the bioactive substances of soybean varieties k-11538 (Russia), k-11559 (Russia), k-569 (China), k-5367 (China), k-5373 (China), k-5586 (Sweden), and Primorskaya-86 (Russia) using an LSM 800 confocal laser microscope and an amaZon ion trap SL mass spectrometer. Laser microscopy made it possible to clarify in detail the spatial arrangement of the polyphenolic content of soybeans. Our results revealed that the phenolics of soybean are spatially located mainly in the seed coat and the outer layer of the cotyledon. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used in combination with an amaZon SL BRUKER DALTONIKS ion trap (tandem mass spectrometry) to identify target analytes in soybean extracts. The results of initial studies revealed the presence of 63 compounds, and 45 of the target analytes were identified as polyphenolic compounds.

Zostera marina L.: Supercritical CO2-Extraction and Mass Spectrometric Characterization of Chemical Constituents Recovered from Seagrass

Three types of Zostera marina L. collection were extracted using the supercritical CO2-extraction method. For the purposes of supercritical CO2-extraction, old seagrass ejection on the surf edge, fresh seagrass ejection on the surf edge and seagrass collected in water were used. Several experimental conditions were investigated in the pressure range 50–350 bar, with the used volume of co-solvent ethanol in the amount of 1% in the liquid phase at a temperature in the range of 31–70 °C. The most effective extraction conditions are: pressure 250 Bar and temperature 60 °C for Z. marina collected in sea water. Z. marina contain various phenolic compounds and sulfated polyphenols with valuable biological activity. Tandem mass-spectrometry (HPLC-ESI–ion trap) was applied to detect target analytes. 77 different biologically active components have been identified in Z. marina supercritical CO2-extracts. 38 polyphenols were identified for the first time in Z. marina.

Dracocephalum palmatum S. and Dracocephalum ruyschiana L. Originating from Yakutia: A High-Resolution Mass Spectrometric Approach for the Comprehensive Characterization of Phenolic Compounds

Dracocephalum palmatum S. and Dracocephalum ruyschiana L. contain a large number of target analytes, which are biologically active compounds. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in combination with an ion trap (tandem mass spectrometry) was used to identify target analytes in extracts of D. palmatum S. and D. ruyschiana L. originating from Yakutia. The results of initial studies revealed the presence of 114 compounds, of which 92 were identified for the first time in the genus Dracocephalum. New identified metabolites belonged to 17 classes, including 16 phenolic acids and their conjugates, 18 flavones, 5 flavonols, 2 flavan-3-ols, 1 flavanone, 2 stilbenes, 10 anthocyanins, 1 condensed tannin, 2 lignans, 6 carotenoids, 3 oxylipins, 2 amino acids, 3 sceletium alkaloids, 3 carboxylic acids, 8 fatty acids, 1 sterol, and 3 terpenes, along with 6 miscellaneous compounds. It was shown that extracts of D. palmatum are richer in the spectrum of polyphenolic compounds compared with extracts of D. ruyschiana, according to a study of the presence of these compounds in extracts, based on the results of mass spectrometric studies.

Sanguiins-Promising Molecules with Broad Biological Potential

Compounds of natural origin, an infinite treasure of bioactive chemical entities, persist as an inexhaustible resource for discovering new medicines. In this review, we summarize the naturally occurring ellagitannins, sanguiins, which are bioactive constituents of various traditional medicinal plants, especially from the Rosaceae family. In-depth studies of sanguiin H-6 as an antimicrobial, antiviral, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and osteoclastogenesis inhibitory agent have led to potent drug candidates. In addition, recently, virtual screening studies have suggested that sanguiin H-6 might increase resistance toward SARS-CoV-2 in the early stages of infection. Further experimental investigations on ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) supplemented with molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation are still needed to fully understand sanguiins' mechanism of action. In sum, sanguiins appear to be promising compounds for additional studies, especially for their application in therapies for a multitude of common and debilitating ailments.

Conversion of Organic Dyes into Pigments: Extraction of Flavonoids from Blackberries (Rubus ulmifolius) and Stabilization

The blackberry’s color is composed mainly of natural dyes called anthocyanins. Their color is red–purple, and they can be used as a natural colorant. Anthocyanins are flavonoids, which are products of plants, and their colors range from orange and red to various shades of blue, purple and green, according to pH. In this study, the chemical composition of an extract obtained from blackberries was defined by LC-ESI/LTQOrbitrap/MS in positive and negative ionization mode. Furthermore, we investigated the adsorption process of blackberry extract using several inorganic fillers, such as metakaolin, silica, Lipari pumice, white pozzolan and alumina. The pigments exhibit different colors as a function of their interactions with the fillers. The analysis of the absorption data allowed the estimation of the maximum adsorbing capacity of each individual filler tested. Through thermogravimetric measurements (TGA), the thermal stability and the real adsorption of the organic extract were determined.

Almond (Prunus dulcis cv. Casteltermini) Skin Confectionery By-Products: New Opportunity for the Development of a Functional Blackberry (Rubus ulmifolius Schott) Jam

This work proposes for the first time a model for reusing almond (Prunus dulcis cv. Casteltermini from Sicily, Southern Italy) skin to formulate a new functional blackberry (Rubus ulmifolius Schott) jam. For this purpose, blackberries were analysed fresh and as jam, traditionally prepared with a minimum fruit amount of 80%. Different percentages of almond skin (20, 15, and 10% w/w) were added to jam. The phytochemical profile of enriched jam was investigated by LC-ESI/LTQOrbitrap/MS analyses. Anthocyanins, hydrolysable tannins, and triterpenoids were identified in a blackberry extract, while proanthocyanidins, flavonoids, and oxylipins were identified in an almond extract. The n-hexane extract of P. dulcis skin, investigated by GC-MS, evidenced linoleic, palmitic, and oleic acids as the main abundant compounds. Samples were investigated for their antioxidant activity using DPPH, ABTS, β-carotene, and FRAP tests. The hypoglycaemic and hypolipidemic effects were studied by α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and lipase inhibitory assays. In order to evaluate the effect of thermal process on enriched jam bioactivity, pasteurisation was applied. An increase in activities for all samples was observed, in particular for jam enriched with 20% w/w of almond skin. Based on obtained data, and supported by sensory analysis, we propose enriched jam as a promising source of compounds useful for preventing diseases associated with oxidative stress.

LC-MS/MS Screening of Phenolic Compounds in Wild and Cultivated Grapes Vitis amurensis Rupr

This work represents a comparative metabolomic study of extracts of wild grapes obtained from six different places in the Primorsky and Khabarovsk territories (Far East Russia) and extracts of grapes obtained from the collection of N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (St. Petersburg). The metabolome analysis was performed by liquid chromatography in combination with ion trap mass spectrometry. The results showed the presence of 118 compounds in ethanolic extracts of V. amurensis grapes. In addition, several metabolites were newly annotated in V. amurensis. The highest diversity of phenolic compounds was identified in the samples of the V. amurensis grape collected in the vicinity of Vyazemsky (Khabarovsk Territory) and the floodplain of the Arsenyevka River (Primorsky Territory), compared to the other wild samples and cultural grapes obtained in the collection of N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources.

Evaluation of Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Potential Food Preserving Properties of Rubus Discolor (Rosaceae) Fruit Extracts

The presented study was aimed at exploring the bioactive properties (antioxidant, antimicrobial and food preserving) and chemical composition of R. discolor fruits collected from 2 geographically distinct wild-growing populations and extracted by using different solvents (methanol, ethanol, acetone and water). The total phenol (TPC), flavonoid (TFC) and anthocyanin (TAC) content varied from 52.7 to 186.8 mg GAE/g, 3.5 to 7.0 mg QE/g and 11.1 to 28.2 mg/g dry weight (dw), respectively. HPLC-DAD analysis identified cyanidin-3-glucoside (Cy-3-Glu) as the dominant anthocyanin that ranged in concentration from 18.4 to 32.2 mg/g dw. The acetone extract revealed the highest antioxidant activity through the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total reducing power (TRC) and ß-carotene bleaching in vitro methods. The examined extracts showed antimicrobial activity, being more effective against Gram-positive (G+) than Gram-negative (G-) bacteria. Furthermore, Candida glabrata was the most susceptible among the pathogenic yeasts. The ethanol fruit extract was the most active against Listeria monocytogenes and thus chosen for incorporation in yoghurt and further analyses regarding its food preserving properties, which confirmed its efficacy towards this food-borne pathogen. Additionally, panelists gave high marks to the novel product regarding color, taste, texture flavor and overall acceptance. The obtained results indicated that R. discolor fruit extracts exhibits notable bioactivity and might therefore be considered as a good platform for the development of new preparations to be used in the food industry.

Identification of phenolic constituents in Lonicera caerulea L. by HPLC with diode array detection electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry

The purpose of this work was a comparative metabolomic study of extracts of Blueberried honeysuckle Lonicera caerulea L.: №1043-11 (St. Petersburg); №1043-08 (St. Petersburg) №863; (Japan); №860 (Wild Lonicera from Amur river) from the collection of N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources. To identify target analytes in extracts HPLC was used in combination with a BRUKER DALTONIKS ion trap. The results showed the presence of 82 target analytes corresponding to family Caprifoliaceae. In addition to the reported metabolites, a number of metabolites were newly annotated in Lonicera caerulea L. There were flavonols: Dihydrokaempferol, Rhamnetin I, Rhamnetin II, Taxifolin-3O-glucoside, Mearnsetin-hexoside, Horridin; flavones: Chrysoeriol, Apigenin-O-pentoside, Chrysoeriol-7-Oglucoside; flavanone Naringenin; flavan-3-ols: Catechin, Epicatechin, Biochanin A-7-O-glucoside; essential amino acids: L-Pyroglutamic acid, Tyrosine; polypeptide 5-Oxo-L-propyl-L-isoleucine; sterols: Ergosterol, Fucosterol, Beta-Sitosterin; triterpenoids: Betunolic acid, Oleanoic acid; anabolic steroid Vebonol, indole sesquiterpene alkaloid Sespendole; iridoids: Monotropein, p-Coumaroyl monotropein, p-Coumaroyl monotropein hexoside; Myristoleic acid, etc.

Simultaneous determination of polyphenol content Vitis amurensis Rupr. by tandem mass spectrometry

Vitis amurensis Ruprecht contains a large number of polyphenolic compounds which are biologically active components. For the most efficient and safe extraction supercritical carbon dioxide was used. In this work, for the first time, a comparative metabolomic study of biologically active substances of wild grapes collected from five different places of the Primorsky and Khabarovsk territories is carried out. To identify target analytes in ethanol extracts of grape berries, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used in combination with an amaZon SL ion trap (manufactured by BRUKER DALTONIKS, Germany) equipped with an ESI electrospray ionization source in negative and positive ion modes. The mass spectrometer was used in the scan range m / z 100 - 1.700 for MS and MS / MS. Used fragmentation of the 4th order. Primary mass spectrometric results showed the presence of 94 biologically active compounds corresponding to the species V. amurensis, moreover, salvianolic acids F, D and G, oleanoic, ursolic, myristoleic acids, berbericinin, mearnsetin, esculin, nevadensin, stigmasterol, fucosterol, phlorizin, L-tryptophan identified for the first time in V. amurensis.

The Sustainable Use of Cotton, Hazelnut and Ground Peanut Waste in Vegetable Crop Production

The environmental burden from crop production byproducts is gradually increasing and necessitates the sustainable management of waste towards a circular economy approach. In the present study, three byproducts (cotton ginning waste (CGW), ground hazelnut husks (GHH) and ground peanut husks (GPH)) were evaluated in lettuce cultivation. For this purpose, the tested materials were incorporated in soil at two different rates (25% and 50% of total substrate volume) while a control treatment (no addition of byproducts) was also considered. Fresh weight per plant and total yield was the highest for the GHH50% treatment. The highest fat, protein, carbohydrates and energy content were observed for the CGW25% treatment. Chemical composition also differed among the tested byproducts where CGW25% treatment had the highest total tocopherols, sugars (sucrose, fructose, trehalose and total sugars) and organic acids content. The most abundant fatty acids were α-linolenic, linoleic and palmitic acid in all the tested treatments, while the highest antioxidant activity was observed for the GHH50% treatment. Regarding polyphenols, phenolic acids content was the highest in the GHH treatments, whereas flavonoids were the highest for the CGW25% treatment. No cytotoxicity against the PLP2 non-tumor cell line was observed, whereas only the GPH50% treatment showed moderate efficacy against HeLa, HepG2 and MCF-7 cell lines. The tested extracts also showed moderate antibacterial activities and only the extracts from the CGW50% treatment were more effective than the positive control against Trichoderma viride. In conclusion, the present results showed the great potential of using the tested byproducts as soil amendments for vegetable crops production, since they may improve the nutritional parameters, the chemical profile and the bioactivities of the final product. The suggested alternative use of the tested byproducts not only will increase the added value of crops but will also alleviate the environmental burden from bulky agroindustry byproducts.

Rubus ulmifolius Schott as a Novel Source of Food Colorant: Extraction Optimization of Coloring Pigments and Incorporation in a Bakery Product

(1) Background: Color has been considered to be the flashiest attribute of foodstuffs and researchers have shown a great interest in the extraction of pigmented compounds from vegetal products, with the purpose to provide alternative counterparts to the food industry; (2) Methods: This study aimed to explore Rubus ulmifolius Schott fruits as a potential source of anthocyanins, optimizing the extraction method, evaluating the bioactivity and incorporating the rich extract into a bakery food product; (3) Results: After the extraction optimization, results showed R. ulmifolius fruits to be a great source of anthocyanins, obtaining an amount of 33.58 mg AT/g E, with an extraction yield of 62.08%. The rich anthocyanin extract showed antitumor and antimicrobial potential in some tumor cell lines and strains, respectively, as well as the absence of toxicity; (4) Conclusions: The extract when incorporated in a bakery product showed a good coloring capacity, maintaining the nutritional value, revealing its use to be a great approach for replacing artificial colorants.

Evaluation of Phytochemical and Antioxidant Properties of 15 Italian Olea europaea L. Cultivar Leaves

Olive leaf extracts are of special interest due to their proven therapeutic effects. However, they are still considered a by-product of the table olive and the oil industries. In order to learn possible ways of exploiting this waste for health purposes, we investigated the phytochemical profiles and antioxidant activities in the leaves of 15 Italian Olea europaea L. cultivars grown in the same pedoclimatic conditions. The phenolic profiles and amounts of their seven representative compounds were analyzed using HPLC ESI/MS-TOF. The antioxidant activities were determined using three different antioxidant assays (DPPH, ORAC, and superoxide anion scavenging assay). Wide ranges of total phenolic content (11.39-48.62 g GAE kg^-1 dry weight) and antioxidant activities (DPPH values: 8.67-29.89 µmol TE mg^-1 dry weight, ORAC values: 0.81-4.25 µmol TE mg^-1 dry weight, superoxide anion scavenging activity values: 27.66-48.92 µmol TE mg^-1 dry weight) were found in the cultivars. In particular, the cultivars Itrana, Apollo, and Maurino, showed a high amount of total phenols and antioxidant activity, and therefore represent a suitable natural source of biological compounds for use in terms of health benefits.