Classification of commercial bitter orange essential oils (Citrus aurantiumL.), based on a combination of chemical and sensory analyses of specific odor markers

Unraveling the antifungal composition of bitter orange decoction against the melon pathogen Fusarium jinanense

Bitter orange (Citrus aurantium) is an important source of essential oils with high antimicrobial activities, however the composition and antifungal potential of the decoction peels is little explored. This study assessed the peel decoction's chemical profile at the secondary metabolism level and its antifungal activity against the melon phytopathogen Fusarium jinanense. The decoction's antifungal potential was investigated using a bioassay-guided fractionation approach based on Solid-Phase Extraction (SPE) and LC-HRMS/MS analysis. Coumarins and flavones were the most abundant classes of compounds in the high-value fractions responsible for up to 61% of the mycelial inhibition of F. jinanense. Overall, this study has presented for the first time the chemical composition, the antifungal potential of the decoction of C. aurantium peels and the compounds associated with these results. This strategy can guide the exploration of under-explored food sources and add value to compounds or fractions enriched with bioactive compounds.

Date Palm Seed Oil (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Green Extraction: Physicochemical Properties, Antioxidant Activities, and Phenolic and Fatty Acid Profiles

Date palm seed oil is among the precious vegetable oils with low yield, whose extraction is commonly done with organic solvents which cause serious problems. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of orange peel essential oil as biosolvent for date seed oil extraction. Green extraction was conducted by Soxhlet apparatus as well as by soaking and compared with the Soxhlet method using petroleum ether. The GC-MS analysis of orange peel essential oil confirmed its richness with limonene (94.31%), which justifies its usefulness as green solvent. The latter gave higher yields, the extracted bio-oil was light brown with pleasant odor, and the characteristics were consistent with international standards. Based on the GC profiles, obtained oils were similar using both solvents, and the major compounds were oleic and lauric acids. The bio-oil phenolic content and the antioxidant activity were high, and the major compounds were the protocatechuic, chlorogenic, and 4-O-caffeoylquinic acids. Gallic and $p$ -coumaric acids were the major compounds for oil extracted by petroleum ether.

Advanced development in phytochemicals analysis of medicine and food dual purposes plants used in China (2011-2014)

In 2011, we wrote a review for summarizing the phytochemical analysis (2006-2010) of medicine and food dual purposes plants used in China (Zhao et al., J. Chromatogr. A 1218 (2011) 7453-7475). Since then, more than 750 articles related to their phytochemical analysis have been published. Therefore, an updated review for the advanced development (2011-2014) in this topic is necessary for well understanding the quality control and health beneficial phytochemicals in these materials, as well as their research trends.