Carotenoid and flavonoid profile and antioxidant activity in “Pomodorino Vesuviano” tomatoes

Evaluation of the Impact of the Ripening Stage on the Composition and Antioxidant Properties of Fruits from Organically Grown Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Spanish Varieties

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a widely cultivated horticultural crop. It belongs to the Solanaceae family and is known for its high concentration of essential nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties. The Mediterranean countries, including Italy, Spain, and Greece, have a diverse range of tomato landraces. Assessing the nutritional and bioactive composition of different tomato varieties and their ripening stages is crucial to determine their suitability for the market. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ripening on nutritional composition (including carotenoids and polyphenols content) and antioxidant activities of fruits of three specific tomato varieties grown in Spain: Josefina and Karelya, which are cherry-like tomatoes, and Muchamiel, a type of salad tomato. In addition to evaluating their characteristics and composition (including carotenoids and polyphenol content), the antioxidant activities of these varieties at three different ripening stages were quantified. As expected, the results reveal that, as the tomatoes matured, their antioxidant capacity increased along with higher levels of carotenoids and polyphenols. Interestingly, cherry-like tomatoes showed a higher antioxidant activity than the salad tomatoes. This investigation emphasizes the role of fruit ripening in increasing carotenoid levels, which contribute to the antioxidant activity of three tomato varieties.

Isolation of Extracellular Vesicles from Agri-Food Wastes: A Novel Perspective in the Valorization of Agri-Food Wastes and By-Products

Agri-food wastes generated by industrial food processing are valorized through the extraction of biomolecules to obtain value-added products useful for various industrial applications. In the present review, we describe the valuable by-products and bioactive molecules that can be obtained from agricultural wastes and propose extracellular vesicles (EVs) as innovative nutraceutical and therapeutic compounds that could be derived from agriculture residues. To support this idea, we described the general features and roles of EVs and focused on plant-derived extracellular vesicles (PDEVs) that are considered natural carriers of bioactive molecules and are involved in intercellular communication between diverse kingdoms of life. Consistently, PDEVs exert beneficial effects (anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and immune-modulatory) on mammalian cells. Although this research field is currently in its infancy, in the near future, the isolation of EVs and their use as nutraceutical tools could represent a new and innovative way to valorize waste from the agri-food industry in an ecofriendly way.

Application of Response Surface Methodology (RSM) for the Optimization of Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE) of Moringa oleifera: Extraction Yield, Content of Bioactive Compounds, and Biological Effects In Vitro

This study optimized ultrasound-assisted extraction conditions to maximize the extraction yield, total flavonoid content (TFC), total phenolic content (TPC), and DPP IV enzyme inhibitory activity from Moringa oleifera. The four UAE factors, solvent ratio (A), solvent-solid ratio (B), extraction temperature (C), and extraction time (D), were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). A Box-Behnken design was used for the experimental design. The optimal conditions were found to be a 50% v/v solvent ratio, a 30% v/w solvent-solid ratio, 35 °C extraction temperature, and 45 min extraction time. The experimental value of extraction yield (R₁), TFC (R₂), TPC (R₃), and DPP IV enzyme inhibitory activity (R₄) (87.99% w/w, 56.63 mg QE/g extract, 97.26 mg GAE/g extract, and 93.32% inhibition, respectively) agreed with those predicted by RSM models (88.10% w/w, 56.61 mg QE/g extract, 97.16 mg GAE/g extract, and93.38% inhibition, respectively), thus demonstrating the appropriateness of the model used and the ability of the RSM to optimize the extraction conditions. Excellent DPP IV enzyme inhibitory activity was exhibited by M. oleifera compared with the standard, sitagliptin. While the modeled equation fits the data, the t-test is not significant, suggesting that the experimental values agree with those predicted by the RSM-BBD.

Unveiling metabolome heterogeneity and new chemicals in 7 tomato varieties via multiplex approach of UHPLC-MS/MS, GC-MS, and UV-Vis in relation to antioxidant effects as analyzed using molecular networking and chemometrics

Tomatoes show diverse phytochemical attributes that contribute to their nutritive and health values. This study comprehensively dissects primary and secondary metabolite profiles of seven tomato varieties. UHPLC-qTOF-MS assisted molecular networking was used to monitor 206 metabolites, 30 of which were first-time to be reported. Flavonoids, as valuable antioxidants, were enriched in light-colored tomatoes (golden sweet, sun gold, and yellow plum) versus high tomatoside A, an antihyperglycemic saponin, in cherry bomb and red plum varieties. UV-Vis analysis revealed similar results with a strong absorbance corresponding to rich phenolic content in light varieties. GC-MS unveiled monosaccharides as the main contributors to samples' segregation, found abundant in San Marzano tomato accounting for its sweet flavor. Fruits also demonstrated potential antioxidant activities in correlation to their flavonoids and phospholipids. This work provides a complete map of tomatoes' metabolome heterogeneity for future breeding programs and a comparative approach utilizing different metabolomic platforms for tomato analysis.

Cytotoxic evaluation and chemical investigation of tomatoes from plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.) grown in uncontaminated and experimentally contaminated soils

The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic activity and the chemical composition of the tomato extracts coming from, Pomodoro Giallo and San Marzano Cirio 3, and then to evaluate the potential changes when plants were grown in soils contaminated by cadmium, chromium and lead. Extracts were investigated by UHPLC-HRMS and UV–Vis. Cell viability (CellTiter-Glo Luminescent assay), enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase activity (ALDEFLOUR Assay), cell cycle progression (Accuri C6 Flow Cytometer), apoptosis and necrosis (Annexin V-FITC assay) were evaluated on two gastric cancer (AGS and NCI-N87) and two colorectal cancer (HT-29 and HCT 116) cell lines. Different content of polyphenol and carotenoid constituents was observed. Extracts from uncontaminated soil induced cytotoxic activity towards all selected cancer cells, while extracts coming from contaminated soils showed the aberrant phenotype increased in colorectal cancer cells. Chloroform extracts exerted the highest cytotoxic activity. AGS and HT-29 were the most sensitive to cell cycle arrest and to apoptosis. No necrotic effect was observed in HCT 116. The contrasting effects on cancer cells were observed based on tomato variety, the extract polarity, heavy metal identity, and tested cell line. The investigation of potential adverse health effects due to Cd in the fruits should be explored.

Postharvest Quality Evolution in Long Shelf-Life “Vesuviano” Tomato Landrace

“Vesuviano” or “piennolo” tomato is among the most famous Italian small tomato landraces and is cultivated on the slopes of Vesuvio volcano (Southern Italy). The “piennolo” tomato is an interesting case with regard to its potential sustainability, as it is traditionally grown in water-deficit conditions with a low fertilizer input. Fruits with a high firmness and a thick skin can be stored for 3–4 months at room temperature (“long shelf-life” or LSL tomato) without postharvest fungicide applications. The aim of this research was to study the retention, changes in quality, and nutritional traits of “Vesuviano” tomatoes over 120 days of “natural” storage. The dry matter, soluble sugar, organic acids, volatile compounds, and carotenoid contents were evaluated at harvesting and in fruits stored for 40, 80, and 120 days. Slight decreases in dry matter content, soluble sugars, and sweetness index were found, while the organic acids levels remained relatively stable. Moreover, interesting increases in the concentrations of certain flavor volatiles, alcohols, aldehydes, and terpenes were detected. Regarding carotenoids, the total lycopene levels exhibited a 1.5-fold increase from harvest to 120 days. The unchanged lycopene cis-isomer levels and the β-carotene/total lycopene ratio is characteristic of relatively stable isomerization activity and indicated an optimal ripening pattern up until the end of the “natural” storage period. These results, which demonstrate good overall quality retention of this LSL tomato, represent a well-grounded reason to enhance the cultivation and marketing of this genetic resource, the fruits of which can be appreciated by consumers during the winter–early spring, when high-quality fresh tomatoes are not available on the markets.

Antioxidant Activity and Healthy Benefits of Natural Pigments in Fruits: A Review

Natural pigments, including carotenoids, flavonoids and anthocyanidins, determine the attractive color of fruits. These natural pigments are essential secondary metabolites, which play multiple roles in the whole life cycle of plants and are characterized by powerful antioxidant activity. After decades of research and development, multiple benefits of these natural pigments to human health have been explored and recognized and have shown bright application prospects in food, medicine, cosmetics and other industries. In this paper, the research progress of natural fruit pigments in recent years was reviewed, including the structural characteristics and classification, distribution in fruits and analysis methods, biosynthetic process, antioxidant capacity and mechanism, bioaccessibility and bioavailability, and health benefits. Overall, this paper summarizes the recent advances in antioxidant activity and other biological functions of natural fruit pigments, which aims to provide guidance for future research.

European Database of Carotenoid Levels in Foods. Factors Affecting Carotenoid Content

Many studies indicate that diets including carotenoid-rich foods have positive effects on human health. Some of these compounds are precursors of the essential nutrient vitamin A. The present work is aimed at implementing a database of carotenoid contents of foods available in the European market. Factors affecting carotenoid content were also discussed. Analytical data available in peer-reviewed scientific literature from 1990 to 2018 and obtained by HPLC/UHPLC were considered. The database includes foods classified according to the FoodEx2 system and will benefit compilers, nutritionists and other professionals in areas related to food and human health. The results show the importance of food characterization to ensure its intercomparability, as large variations in carotenoid levels are observed between species and among varieties/cultivars/landraces. This highlights the significance of integrating nutritional criteria into agricultural choices and of promoting biodiversity. The uncertainty quantification associated with the measurements of the carotenoid content was very rarely evaluated in the literature consulted. According to the EuroFIR data quality evaluation system for food composition tables, the total data quality index mean was 24 in 35, reflecting efforts by researchers in the analytical methods, and less resources in the sampling plan documentation.

Biochemical characterization of fruits of Lycium spp. in Ukraine

Fruits of Lycium possess therapeutic properties due to which they are used in traditional and folk medicine and can be used as a kind of functional food. The objective of this study was to evaluate the biochemical characterization of Lycium L. (L. barbarum L., L. chinense Mill. and L. truncatum Y. C. Wang) fruits for 16 cultivars and varieties from the collections in the M. M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of NAS of Ukraine (Kyiv). This study was aimed at determining the concentration of nutrients in the Lycium fruits. Individual genotypes of three Lycium species: L. barbarum, L.chinense, and L. truncatum, differed in such features as the content of dry matter, sugars, vitamin C, β-carotene, acidity, and tannins in the fruit. Fruits of Lycium spp. are a valuable source of nutrients such as vitamin C (4.38–121.0 mg 100g–1 FW), β-carotene content (1.45–5.52%), and tannin (0.12–1.34%). The sugar content (13.83–20.87%) and acidity of the fruit (0.23–4.62%) meet the consumers' requirements for fresh fruit. The cultivar Amber Sweet (L. chinense) had fruits of which the similarities between biochemical characteristics of different studies genotypes were the lowest. The cv. Amber Sweet was characterized by fruit with high sugar content, very high vitamin C content, average acid content, low tannins and β-carotene content, and the lowest dry matter content. Furthermore, a distinctive feature of the other tested genotypes was the yellow colour of the fruit. The data obtained can be used for further selective work.

Bacterial growth and biological properties of Cymbopogon schoenanthus and Ziziphus lotus are modulated by extraction conditions

The present study aims to evaluate the antibacterial activity and biological properties of two traditional Saharian plants (Cymbopogon schoenanthus and Ziziphus lotus). The plant extracts were obtained by using a different combination of extraction methods (conventional vs. ultrasound-assisted) and solvents (water vs. ethanol:water (50:50, v/v)). The antioxidant profile, anti-inflammatory activity and impact on bacterial growth (foodborne and probiotic bacteria) of the obtained extracts were assessed. The plant species showed the hierarchically more important role in determining the biological properties of the extracts, followed by extraction solvent and extraction conditions. Conventional Z. lotus hydroethanolic extracts showed the highest total phenolic content (20.4 mg GAE/g), while Z. lotus ethanol extracts from ultrasound-assisted process presented the highest content of carotenoids (0.15 mg/g). In addition, ultrasound-assisted Z. lotus hydroethanolic extracts presented the highest in vitro radical scavenging activity, being 7.93 mmol Trolox/g. Multivariate analysis statistics (PCA) showed that both the extraction methodology and the solvent used strongly affected the bacterial growth. Z. lotus mainly decreased the growth rate of S. aureus and L. innocua. Interestingly, the aqueous extracts of this plant as well as those from C. schoenanthus, obtained by conventional extraction, significantly increased the growth rate and the maximal optical density of L. casei. Aqueous extracts of both Z. lotus and C. schoenanthus slightly influenced the growth of Bifidobacterium. Overall, the extracts of these plants showed selective activities with respect to pathogens and probiotic bacteria and may provide an advantage both in terms of antimicrobial and prebiotic activity.

Qualitative Aspects of Some of Some Traditional Landraces of the Tomato "Piennolo" (Solanum lycopersicum L.) of the Campania Region, Southern Italy

Our study aimed to analyze some qualitative aspects of five landraces of the tomato "Piennolo," typical of the Vesuvian area, Italy, and determine the in vitro antioxidant activity. All samples showed a high °Brix value and acidity, as well as a discrete amount of reducing sugars, indicating their good quality as fresh products. They showed a high content of lycopene (up to 218 mg g^-1 of fresh product) and ascorbic acid (up to 238 mg g^-1 of fresh product). The content of total polyphenols was never less than 278 mg g^-1 of fresh product. Hyperoside, chlorogenic and gallic acids were the most abundant polyphenols. The interrelationships between the parameters analyzed and the different landraces showed that total polyphenols could have mostly affected (r = 0.76) the antioxidant activity more than lycopene (r = -0.96). The interrelationships between the most abundant polyphenols and antioxidant activity showed that hyperoside, although the most abundant, negatively affected (r = -0.93) the antioxidant activity. Due to the high content of lycopene, ascorbic acid, and hyperoside, the five landraces of the tomato "Piennolo" could be considered promising in terms of their potential healthy characteristics.

Nutraceutical potential of flours from tomato by-product and tomato field waste

Tomato field wastes and industrial by-products represents a valuable source of compounds with nutraceutical potential, and therefore of raw material to obtain food ingredients and additives. The objective of this study was to obtain a flour from tomato industrial by-product and from tomato field waste, dried by a conventional method, that allows to remain important nutraceutical compounds, which in the future, can be used for biotechnological purposes. We found that the drying procedure that allowed to reach an adequate water activity (0.4-0.6) in a forced convection oven were: 55 °C during 120 min. Both, the by-product and the field waste are potential sources for the extraction of phenolic and carotenoid compounds, getting up 11.26 μg/mg dry extract of lycopene and 162.82 μg/mg dry extract of phenolic compounds, highlighting the flavonoids: naringenin, catechin, and rutin. On the other hand, antioxidant analysis showed that oven dried by-product exhibits an inhibition around 80% against hydroxyl and peroxyl radicals, and a positive correlation of both lycopene and β-carotene with myoglobin protection ratio against these radicals. We concluded that the flour from tomato industrial by-products and field waste have nutraceutical properties attractive to the food industry.

Chemoprotective effect of carotenoids from Lycium barbarum L. on SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells treated with beauvericin

Goji berry has recently been introduced in Mediterranean diet and its consumption is increasing. This study aims to determine cytoprotection of lutein (LUT), zeaxanthin (ZEAX) and goji berry extract (GBE) rich in carotenoids against Beauvericin (BEA)-induced cytotoxicity on SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Both carotenoids and GBE showed cytoprotective effects. Cytoprotection was evaluated by simultaneous combination of the two xanthophylls LUT and ZEAX with BEA, as well as using pre-treatment assays. The highest protective effect occurred in 16%, 24% and 12% respectively for LUT, ZEAX and LUT + ZEAX incubating simultaneously with BEA, while by pre-treatment assay LUT showed a cytoprotection effect over 30% and ZEAX alone or LUT + ZEAX promoted only a slight cytoprotection (<10%). Pre-treatment assays with GBE, showed a cytoprotection, between 3 and 20%, for BEA concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 6.25 μM, whereas no protective effect was observed when the cells were simultaneously incubated with GBE and BEA. Finally, by means of CI-isobologram method, the interaction between LUT, ZEAX and BEA were evaluated, and the results showed an synergism effect for almost all combinations tested. The data presented shows a option of using goji berries to potentially mitigate the toxicity of beauvericin eventually present in foods.

Curry Leaf and its Antioxidant Potential: A Systematic Study to Enhance its Activity in Aqueous Medium

Background:

We have done a systematic study on the antioxidant activity of the methanol and petroleum ether (60-80°C) extracts (MEC and PEC respectively) of Curry leaves (Murraya koenigii Spreng. Family: Rutaceae) using various in-vitro chemical methods.

Methods:

Both of these two extracts were found to be highly efficient in the formation of Ag and Au nanoparticles. So, we have explored their ability to form the nanoparticles to study their antioxidant activity. In all the assay systems, MEC showed higher activity over PEC in aqueous medium. This may be due to the higher solubility of MEC and its active components, like polyphenols and flavonoids in the aqueous medium. PEC contains lesser amount of these water soluble active components but PEC was rich in carbazole types of alkaloids which are hydrophobic in nature. So, to enhance the antioxidant activity of PEC and its carbazole constituents, like 2-hydroxy carbazole and mahanimbine, we have encapsulated these in the biopolymeric matrix of the mucilage isolated from an edible vegetable, Abelmoschus esculentus L. (commonly known as Lady's finger, family: Malvaceae).

Results:

It was interesting to note that, PEC and its carbazole compounds showed better antioxidant activity (ferrous ion chelation and ferric reducing antioxidant activity) in aqueous medium after this encapsulation process.

Conclusion:

The protocols used in the present study were very simple and can be implemented in any lab set-up. In future, this work can be extended to evaluate antioxidant potentials of other plant based materials.

Mediterranean Long Shelf-Life Landraces: An Untapped Genetic Resource for Tomato Improvement

The Mediterranean long shelf-life (LSL) tomatoes are a group of landraces with a fruit remaining sound up to 6-12 months after harvest. Most have been selected under semi-arid Mediterranean summer conditions with poor irrigation or rain-fed and thus, are drought tolerant. Besides the convergence in the latter traits, local selection criteria have been very variable, leading to a wide variation in fruit morphology and quality traits. The different soil characteristics and agricultural management techniques across the Mediterranean denote also a wide range of plant adaptive traits to different conditions. Despite the notorious traits for fruit quality and environment adaptation, the LSL landraces have been poorly exploited in tomato breeding programs, which rely basically on wild tomato species. In this review, we describe most of the information currently available for Mediterranean LSL landraces in order to highlight the importance of this genetic resource. We focus on the origin and diversity, the main selective traits, and the determinants of the extended fruit shelf-life and the drought tolerance. Altogether, the Mediterranean LSL landraces are a very valuable heritage to be revalued, since constitutes an alternative source to improve fruit quality and shelf-life in tomato, and to breed for more resilient cultivars under the predicted climate change conditions.

Untargeted screening of the bound / free phenolic composition in tomato cultivars for industrial transformation

BACKGROUND

Tomato is one of the most important agricultural crops and it is characterized by a wide bioactive compound profile. However, little information is reported on its comprehensive polyphenol profile. In this work, 13 commercial tomato cultivars for industrial transformation were screened by ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS) for both free and bound phenolic profiles. Thereafter, the in vitro antioxidant activity of each cultivar was assessed by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and oxygen radical absorbance activity (ORAC) assays. Multivariate statistics, i.e. orthogonal projection to latent structures discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), were then used to model samples according to their distinct phenolic signatures, thus providing compounds that better discriminated between the distributions of the cultivars that were considered.

RESULTS

More than 350 phenolic compounds could be identified across the samples that were considered: flavonoids (such as flavones and flavanols), hydroxycinnamic acids, lignans, and lower-molecular-weight phenolics were the most frequently observed classes of phenolics in tomato berries. Anthocyanins were the most abundant class among bound phenolics (being highest in the Leader F1 and Defender F1 cultivars), followed by tyrosols (mainly in Heinz cultivars). However, flavones and hydroxybenzoic acids were the most represented discriminant phenolics in the bound fraction.

CONCLUSIONS

Untargeted metabolomics allowed significant differences in phenolic composition to be outlined across the tomato cultivars that were analyzed. Such differences were particularly evident regarding the free-to-bound phenolic ratio, hence allowing differences in the bioaccessibility of phenolics to be postulated. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Lime (Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle) Essential Oils: Volatile Compounds, Antioxidant Capacity, and Hypolipidemic Effect

Lime peels are mainly obtained from the byproducts of the juice manufacturing industry, which we obtained and used to extract essential oil (2.3%) in order to examine the antioxidant and hypolipidaemic effects. We identified 60 volatile compounds of lime essential oil (LEO) with GC/MS, of which the predominant constituents were limonene, γ-terpinene, and β-pinene. Lime essential oil was measured according to the DPPH assay and ABTS assay, with IC₅₀ values of 2.36 mg/mL and 0.26 mg/mL, respectively. This study also explored the protective effects of LEO against lipid-induced hyperlipidemia in a rat model. Two groups of rats received oral LEO in doses of 0.74 g/100 g and 2.23 g/100 g with their diets. Eight weeks later, we found that the administration of LEO improved the serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate transaminase levels in the hyperlipidemic rats (p < 0.05). Simultaneously, the LEO improved the health of the rats in terms of obesity, atherogenic index, and fatty liver.

Untargeted Metabolomics to Evaluate the Stability of Extra-Virgin Olive Oil with Added Lycium barbarum Carotenoids during Storage

A carotenoid-rich extract from Lycium barbarum L. was added to extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), obtaining a carotenoid-enriched oil (EVOOCar). The oxidative stability of EVOO and EVOOCar was evaluated during long-term storage of 28 weeks at room temperature, by measuring some classical parameters (acidity and peroxide values, spectrophotometric coefficients, fatty acid composition) and the content of minor compounds (i.e., α-tocopherol and lutein). At the end of the storage, higher content (p < 0.01) of α-tocopherol in EVOOCar in respect to EVOO were observed. Zeaxanthin dipalmitate, the most abundant carotenoid compound of Goji berries, decreased slightly (p < 0.05) in EVOOCar until the end of the storage. In regard to polyphenols, an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC/QTOF-MS) using untargeted metabolomics was carried out. This latter approach discriminated the two oil samples during long-term storage, allowing to identify also the phenolic classes most exposed to significant variations during storage (i.e., mainly lignans and flavones). Besides, the addition of Goji carotenoids preserved the stability of tyrosol equivalents in EVOOCar during long-term storage. These results highlighted that the enrichment of EVOO with a carotenoid-rich extract can improve the shelf-life and nutritional value of added-oil, protecting EVOO natural antioxidants during long-term storage.

Spectroscopic and Structural Analyses of Opuntia Robusta Mucilage and Its Potential as an Edible Coating

Mucilage extracted from the parenchymatous and chlorenchymatous tissues of Opuntia robusta were obtained using water or ethanol as the extraction solvent. The changes in the different tissues by using different extraction solvents were evaluated via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopy; in addition, the effect of mucilage coating on the various quality characteristics of tomato (Lycopersicum sculentum) was evaluated. The SEM results showed that the mucilage extracted from the parenchyma had a higher aggregation level that the mucilage extracted from the chlorenchyma. The presence of three characteristic bands of pectic substances in the FT-IR spectra between 1050 and 1120 cm−1 indicated that the mucilage extracted from the parenchymatous tissue had a higher content of pectic compounds than the mucilage extracted from the chlorenchymatous tissue. It was also observed in the Raman spectra that the level of pectic substances in the mucilage extracted from the parenchymatous was higher than that in the mucilage extracted from the chlorenchymatous tissue. The mucilage extracted from the parenchymatous tissue was more effective as an edible coating than the mucilage extracted from the chlorenchymatous tissue. Tomatoes covered with mucilage showed significantly enhanced firmness and reduced weight loss. The uncoated tomatoes showed higher lycopene content than the coated tomatoes on the 21st day. This study showed that the Opuntia robusta tissue and extraction solvent influence mucilage characteristics and that Opuntia robusta mucilage is a promising edible coating.

Impact of conventional/non-conventional extraction methods on the untargeted phenolic profile of Moringa oleifera leaves

The impact of different extraction methods, namely maceration, homogenizer-assisted extraction, rapid solid-liquid dynamic extraction, microwave-assisted extraction and ultrasound-assisted extraction, on polyphenols of Moringa oleifera leaves was studied. The phenolic composition of alcoholic (methanol 100%) and hydroalcoholic (methanol/water 50:50, v/v) extracts was compared by using an untargeted metabolomics-based profiling approach followed by multivariate statistics. With this aim, ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled to a quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used to profile phenolic compounds under the different extraction conditions. Besides, the in vitro antioxidant activities of Moringa leaves were also investigated as ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). The metabolomic approach allowed to putatively annotate 262 phenolic compounds. In particular, glycosidic forms of quercetin (i.e., quercetin 3-O-galactoside, quercetin 3-O-glucoside, and quercetin 4'-O-glucoside) were the most represented compounds among flavonoids. Furthermore, protocatechuic acid was found to be the most abundant hydroxybenzaldheyde derivative, while the isomeric forms of hydroxybenzoic acid characterized the phenolic acids class. Overall, the extractions in methanol 100% were found to be the most effective for phenolic compounds recovering, when compared with those in methanol/water (50:50, v/v). Homogenizer-assisted extraction of M. oleifera leaves using 100% methanol allowed extracting the highest amounts of polyphenols (35.19 mg/g) and produced the highest oxygen radical absorbance capacity (536.27 μmol Trolox Equivalents/g). The supervised orthogonal projection to latent structures discriminant analysis identified phenolic acids as the phenolic class mostly affected by the different extraction technologies. These findings demonstrate that each extraction method promoted the recovery of specific phenolic subclasses with different efficiencies.

Comparative Chemical Compositions of Fresh and Stored Vesuvian PDO "Pomodorino Del Piennolo" Tomato and the Ciliegino Variety

The Vesuvian Piennolo cherry tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Miller) (PdP) is an old and typical variety grown in the Campania region (Italy). PdP is referred to as a long-storage tomato due to its thick and coriaceous skin that allows long post-harvest storage and it has been granted Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status since 2009. In this study, the chemical composition, focusing in particular on organic acids, antioxidant molecules and volatile compounds, were investigated in PdP and compared to another typical variety in Campania, the Ciliegino tomato (CIL). Chemical characterization was evaluated for both the CIL and PdP varieties during storage in the same environmental conditions until deterioration of 50% of the fruits; deterioration occurred in PdP after 6 months and in CIL tomatoes after 1 month. The results demonstrated variation in the chemical profiles of both varieties with storage length. Particularly, the PdP variety appears richer in antioxidants compounds (i.e., chlorogenic acids and lycopene) and organic acids (i.e., glutamic and malic acids) than does CIL. Additionally, both varieties display different profiles of volatile bioactive compounds and they are differently influenced by the storage time. The results indicate a typical chemical composition of this long-storage tomato closely linked to the geographic origin area.

African Nightshade (Solanum scabrum Mill.): Impact of Cultivation and Plant Processing on Its Health Promoting Potential as Determined in a Human Liver Cell Model

Plant cultivation and processing may impact nutrient and phytochemical content of vegetables. The present study aimed at determining the influence of cultivation and processing on the health promoting capacity of African nightshade (Solanum scabrum Mill.) leaves, an indigenous vegetable, rich in nutrients and phytochemicals. Anti-genotoxicity against the human liver carcinogen aflatoxin B1 (AFB₁) as determined by the comet assay and radical oxygen species (ROS) scavenging capacity of ethanolic and aqueous extracts were investigated in human derived liver (HepG2) cells. ROS scavenging activity was assessed using electron paramagnetic spin resonance and quantification of ARE/Nrf2 mediated gene expression. The cultivation was done under different environmental conditions. The processing included fermentation and cooking; postharvest ultraviolet irradiation (UV-C) treatment was also investigated. Overall, S. scabrum extracts showed strong health promoting potential, the highest potential was observed with the fermented extract, which showed a 60% reduction of AFB₁ induced DNA damage and a 38% reduction in FeSO₄ induced oxidative stress. The content of total polyphenols, carotenoids and chlorophylls was indeed affected by cultivation and processing. Based on the present in vitro findings consumption of S. scabrum leaves could be further encouraged, preferentially after cooking or fermentation of the plant.

Phytochemical Profiling of Fruit Powders of Twenty Sorbus L. Cultivars

Rowanberries have been traditionally used in various processed foods. Scientific research demonstrates the pharmacological effects of Sorbus L. fruits are determined by their unique composition of biologically active compounds. The aim of this study was to determine the composition of flavonoids, phenolic acids, anthocyanins, carotenoids, organic acids and sugars as well as the total antioxidant activity in fruit powders of 20 Sorbus cultivars. Chemical profiles of rowanberry fruit powders vary significantly. Cultivars ‘Burka’, ‘Likernaja’, ‘Dodong’, and ‘Fructo Lutea’ distinguish themselves with exclusive phytochemical composition and high antioxidant activity. Fruit powders from ‘Burka’, ‘Likernaja’ contain the highest contents of anthocyanins while fruit powder samples from ‘Fructo Lutea’ and ‘Dodong’ contain the highest levels of phenolic acids, ascorbic acid and the lowest levels of fructose. Fruit powder samples from ‘Dodong’ also contain the highest levels of β-carotene and sorbitol and the lowest levels of malic acid. Cultivars ‘Burka’, ‘Likernaja’, ‘Dodong’, and ‘Fructo Lutea’ could be selected as eligible raw materials for the preparation of rowanberry fruit powders.

Beneficial Effects of Tomato Juice Fermented by Lactobacillus Plantarum and Lactobacillus Casei: Antioxidation, Antimicrobial Effect, and Volatile Profiles

Tomato juice was fermented by Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus casei to produce an innovative high-bioactivity probiotic beverage. The levels of lycopene, total carotenoids, ascorbic acid, total phenolic and volatile compounds, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2’-azinobis-3-ethylbenzotiazo-line-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging capacities, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and Escherichia coli flora, as well as the inhibition of copper-induced human low-density lipoproteins (LDL)-cholesterol oxidation assays, were measured. The results revealed that the ABTS and DPPH inhibition values, as well as the FRAP and total phenolic content, were significantly increased. LDL-cholesterol oxidation was markedly delayed after the addition of the fermented juice. The in vitro inhibitory effects of Escherichia coli flora were substantially increased after being fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus casei. The results associated with the volatile compounds indicated that fermentation with Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus casei is a meaningful strategy for modifying flavors.

Antioxidant Capacity and UPLC-PDA ESI-MS Phenolic Profile of Stevia rebaudiana Dry Powder Extracts Obtained by Ultrasound Assisted Extraction

Stevia leaves, which are commonly used as a natural sweetener in food products, have increased in importance for antioxidant delivery due to their high content of phenolic compounds. In this study, the influence of the drying process on stevia leaves, with regards to phenolic content and antioxidant activity during drying kinetics 40 °C for 7 h, was studied. The effect of solvent concentration and extraction time using a 32 factorial design on total phenol content (TPC), and on antioxidant activity of extracts obtained from dried stevia leaves, by ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) as alternative method was evaluated. Steviol glycosides contents were also evaluated by a conventional and UAE method. Phenols identification, quantification and purification were performed by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS), Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Photodiode Array (UPLC-PDA) and advanced automated flash purification, respectively. Drying time affected the moisture content of stevia leaves. A constant weight was reached after six hours of drying, and higher antioxidant activity was observed, while the highest TPC was obtained after seven hours of drying. The highest TPC (91.57 ± 8.8 mg GAE/g dw) and antioxidant activity (603.24 ± 3.5 μmol TE/g dw) in UAE method was obtained when ethanol 50% at 5 min was used. Steviol glycosides extracted by UAE were recorded with a content of 93.18 ± 1.36 mg/g dw and 98.97 ± 1.75 mg/g dw for stevioside and rebaudioside A respectively. Six phenolic compounds including four phenolic acids and two flavonoids were identified and quantified by UPLC-PDA, and confirmed by ESI-MS reporting its fragmentation pattern. Diosmin and chlorogenic acid were the most abundant compounds with values of 2032.36 μg/mL and 434.95 μg/mL respectively. As a novelty we found that the antioxidant activity evaluated in partially purified fractions suggested that biological activity might be attributed to the synergistic effect of the six phenols present in the stevia leaves extract. In addition to its sweeting properties, stevia leaves constitute a potential source of polyphenolic compounds, with antioxidant activity that could be used as a food additive.

Valuable Compound Extraction, Anaerobic Digestion, and Composting: A Leading Biorefinery Approach for Agricultural Wastes

In a society where the environmental conscience is gaining attention, it is necessary to evaluate the potential valorization options for agricultural biomass to create a change in the perception of the waste agricultural biomass from waste to resource. In that sense, the biorefinery approach has been proposed as the roadway to increase profit of the agricultural sector and, at the same time, ensure environmental sustainability. The biorefinery approach integrates biomass conversion processes to produce fuels, power, and chemicals from biomass. The present review is focused on the extraction of value-added compounds, anaerobic digestion, and composting of agricultural waste as the biorefinery approach. This biorefinery approach is, nevertheless, seen as a less innovative configuration compared to other biorefinery configurations, such as bioethanol production or white biotechnology. However, any of these processes has been widely proposed as a single operation unit for agricultural waste valorization, and a thoughtful review on possible single or joint application has not been available in the literature up to now. The aim is to review the previous and current literature about the potential valorization of agricultural waste biomass, focusing on valuable compound extraction, anaerobic digestion, and composting of agricultural waste, whether they are not, partially, or fully integrated.

Recovery of bioactive anthocyanin pigments from Ficus carica L. peel by heat, microwave, and ultrasound based extraction techniques

Due to its coloration, the fig (Ficus carica L.) peel, a by-product of fruit processing and/or consumption, is a potential source of anthocyanin compounds. In the present study different extraction techniques (heat, ultrasound, and microwave) were compared aiming to recover the anthocyanin pigments and optimize its extraction conditions. A response surface methodology tool with three factors and five levels for each factor was used according to a circumscribed central composite design. The variables tested for the heat and microwave extraction methods were time, temperature, and solvent proportion (ethanol/water ratio), meanwhile, for the ultrasound method, the variables tested were the ultrasonic power, time, and solvent proportion. The anthocyanin composition of the extract was determined by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS, and the used criteria responses were: i) quantification of cyanidin 3-rutinoside (C) in the extracted residue (mg C/g R) and in the dried peel (mg C/g P dw), and the extraction yield of the obtained residue (g R/g P dw). Ultrasound extraction was the most effective method, yielding 3.82 mg C/g R at the optimal global extraction conditions (21 min, 310 W, and 100% of ethanol). Additionally, the solid-to-liquid ratio effect was studied at the optimal conditions, using a dose-response format, in view of its plausible transference to industrial level. For the ultrasound method, an increased non-linear relationship was observed for concentrations in the range 5 to 200 g/L, being the optimal solution close to 150 g/L. In brief, the obtained results show the potential of fig peels as a source of anthocyanin pigments, with potential uses in various industrial fields, such as food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic.

Chemical and Nutritional Characterization of Seed Oil from Cucurbita maxima L. (var. Berrettina) Pumpkin

Pumpkin (Cucurbita spp.) has received considerable attention in recent years because of the nutritional and health-protective value of seed oil. The nutritional composition of pumpkin native to central Italy, locally known as “Berrettina” (Cucurbita maxima L.), was evaluated. In particular, the lipid fraction of seed oil was characterized, and the triacylglycerol (TAG) was thoroughly studied by using a stereospecific procedure to obtain the intrapositional fatty acid composition of the three sn-positions of the glycerol backbone of TAG. Moreover, alkaline hydrolysis was carried out to study the main components of the unsaponifiable fraction, i.e., sterols and alcohols. It was observed that monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids were the most abundant (41.7% and 37.2%, respectively) in Berrettina pumpkin seed oil, with high content of oleic and linoleic acid (41.4% and 37.0%, respectively). The main sterols of Berrettina pumpkin seed oil were Δ^7,22,25-stigmastatrienol, Δ^7,25-stigmastadienol, and spinasterol; with regard to the alcoholic fraction, triterpenic compounds were more abundant than aliphatic compounds (63.2% vs. 36.8%). The obtained data are useful to evaluate pumpkin seed oil from a nutritional point of view. The oil obtained from the seed could be used as a preservative and as a functional ingredient in different areas, e.g., cosmetics, foods, and nutraceuticals.

Italian Opuntia ficus-indica Cladodes as Rich Source of Bioactive Compounds with Health-Promoting Properties

Natural by-products, especially phenolic compounds, are in great demand by the nutra-pharmaceutical and biomedical industries. An analytical study was performed to investigate, for the first time, the presence of antioxidant constituents and the corresponding in vitro antioxidant activity in the extract of cladodes from Ficodindia di San Cono (Opuntia ficus-indica) protected designation of origin (PDO). The cladode extracts were analysed for target determination of selected constituents, i.e., β-polysaccharides and total phenolic content. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of hydro-alcoholic extracts was assessed by means of two different methods: α, α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging method and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. An untargeted UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS profiling approach was used to depict the phenolic profile of hydro-alcoholic cladode extracts. Interestingly, over 2 g/kg of polyphenols were detected in this matrix, and these compounds were mainly responsible for the antioxidant properties, as shown by the strong correlation between phenolic classes and antioxidant scores. Finally, this study provides basic information on the presence of bioactive compounds and in vitro antioxidant activities in cladode extracts from cactus that might recommend their novel applications at the industrial level in the field of nutraceutical products.

Changes in extra-virgin olive oil added with Lycium barbarum L. carotenoids during frying: Chemical analyses and metabolomic approach

In this work, an Italian extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) sample and the same sample added with a carotenoid-rich nutraceutical extract from Lycium barbarum L. (EVOOCar) were subjected to a frying process to comparatively assess chemical and physical changes and heat stability. Oxidation progress was monitored by measuring oil quality changes such as peroxide value, free acidity, K232, K268, and fatty acid composition as well as minor compound content, phenols, α-tocopherol, and carotenoids. An UHPLC/QTOF-MS metabolomics approach discriminated the two oil samples based on their chemical changes during frying, identifying also the phenolic classes most exposed to statistically significant variations. Partial least square discriminant analysis and volcano analysis were applied together to identify the most significant markers allowing group separation. The decrease in total phenolic content was lower in EVOOCar than in EVOO during frying. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids showed a significant percentage loss, 3.7% and 17.2%, respectively, in EVOO after 180min frying at 180°C, while they remained constant or slightly changed in EVOOCar. Zeaxanthin added to the oil rapidly decreased during the frying process. These findings showed that the addition of a carotenoid extract from L. barbarum can help to improve the oxidative stability of extra-virgin olive oil.

Impact of boiling on free and bound phenolic profile and antioxidant activity of commercial gluten-free pasta

Cooking by boiling dry pasta could have varying degrees of influence on nutritional and functional components. In the present study, its effect on total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity, as well as on the comprehensive profile of free and bound phenolics, was investigated in six commercial gluten-free (GF) pasta products. Overall, the heat treatment caused a significant reduction (P<0.01) of the total phenolic content as well as FRAP reducing power and ORAC radical scavenging, with significant differences among the pasta samples considered. The highest values were recorded in free phenolic fraction remaining in black rice (41mggallic acid equivalents100g^-1 and 25mmolTrolox Equivalents100g^-1) and quinoa (24mggallic acid equivalents100g^-1 and 14mmolTrolox Equivalents100g^-1) cooked GF pasta. Significant correlations (P<0.01) could be found between total phenolics and both the antioxidant capacity assays performed. UHPLC-ESI/QTOF-MS mass profiling allowed confirming the spectrophotometric results, while identifying the amount of free and bound fractions. Among phenolic classes, lignans exhibited the highest decrease during the cooking process, followed by stilbenes and flavonoids. However, phenolic acids and other phenolics showed the highest stability. Furthermore, cooking by boiling strongly lowered the bound-to-free ratio of phenolic compounds, by an averaged factor ranging from 14-folds for flavonoids to 5-folds for other classes of phenolics.