Bioactives From Agri-Food Wastes: Present Insights and Future Challenges

Phytochemical and bioactive potentials of African Annonaceae species

This review aims to gather available information on the medicinal, nutritional, and bioactive profiles of Annonaceae species in the African continent, sponsoring their use worldwide and mainly in African communities, where access to food and medicines for basic health care is scarce. >60 medicinal taxa were compiled, belonging to 22 genera, namely Annickia, Annona, Anonidium, Artabotrys, Cleistochlamys, Cleistopholis, Dennettia, Duguetia, Greenwayodendron, Hexalobus, Isolona, Lettowianthus, Monanthotaxis, Monodora, Neostenanthera, Polyceratocarpus, Sphaerocoryne, Uvaria, Uvariastrum, Uvariodendron, Uvariopsis and Xylopia; the most diverse and economically important genera were the genera Annona, Uvaria and Xylopia with 7 species each. Annonaceae species hold a valuable nutritional profile, rich in proteins, fibers, and minerals, being also good sources of a wide range of bioactive compounds of high biological relevance. These compounds are especially important in developing countries, where most of these species are available for direct use as food and/or medicines by the most deprived populations.

Ripening process in exocarps of scarlet eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum) and banana (Musa spp.) investigated by Raman spectroscopy

In this work, we used Raman spectroscopy to identify compounds present at different maturation stages of the exocarp of scarlet eggplant and two banana cultivars, 'prata' and 'nanica'. Raman spectral analyses of both fruits showed bands attributed to phenolic acids, flavonoids, carotenoids, and fatty acids. During the scarlet eggplant's maturation process, Raman spectral profile changes are mainly observed in the carotenoid content rather than flavonoids. Furthermore, it is suggested that naringenin chalcone together with β-carotene determines the orange-red color of the ripe stage. Variations in chemical composition among the maturation stages of bananas were observed predominantly in 'prata' when compared to 'nanica'. In contrast to scarlet eggplant changes in the spectral profile were more evident in the content of the flavonoid/phenolic acids. The in situ analysis was demonstrated to be useful as a guide in selecting bioactive compounds on demand from low-cost horticultural waste.

Olive tree leaves as a great source of phenolic compounds: Comprehensive profiling of NaDES extracts

Waste from the olive industry is a noticeable source of antioxidant compounds that can be extracted and reused to produce raw materials related to the chemical, cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical sectors. This work studies the phenolic composition of olive leaf samples using liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-UV-MS). Olive leaf waste samples have been crushed, homogenized, and subjected to a solid-liquid extraction treatment with mechanical shaking at 80 °C for 2 h using Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NaDES). The phenolic compound identification in the resulting extracts has been carried out by high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) using data-dependent acquisition mode using an Orbitrap HRMS instrument. >60 different phenolic compounds have been annotated tentatively, of which about 20 have been confirmed from the corresponding standards. Some of the most noticeable compounds are oleuropein and its aglycone and glucoside form, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, 3-hydroxytyrosol, and verbascoside.

From by-products to new application opportunities: the enhancement of the leaves deriving from the fruit plants for new potential healthy products

In the last decades, the world population and demand for any kind of product have grown exponentially. The rhythm of production to satisfy the request of the population has become unsustainable and the concept of the linear economy, introduced after the Industrial Revolution, has been replaced by a new economic approach, the circular economy. In this new economic model, the concept of "the end of life" is substituted by the concept of restoration, providing a new life to many industrial wastes. Leaves are a by-product of several agricultural cultivations. In recent years, the scientific interest regarding leaf biochemical composition grew, recording that plant leaves may be considered an alternative source of bioactive substances. Plant leaves' main bioactive compounds are similar to those in fruits, i.e., phenolic acids and esters, flavonols, anthocyanins, and procyanidins. Bioactive compounds can positively influence human health; in fact, it is no coincidence that the leaves were used by our ancestors as a natural remedy for various pathological conditions. Therefore, leaves can be exploited to manufacture many products in food (e.g., being incorporated in food formulations as natural antioxidants, or used to create edible coatings or films for food packaging), cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries (e.g., promising ingredients in anti-aging cosmetics such as oils, serums, dermatological creams, bath gels, and other products). This review focuses on the leaves' main bioactive compounds and their beneficial health effects, indicating their applications until today to enhance them as a harvesting by-product and highlight their possible reuse for new potential healthy products.

Exploring the chemical characterization and insecticidal activities of Curcuma angustifolia roxb. leaf essential oils against three major stored product insects

Botanical pesticides are safe and widely used in pest management. Curcuma angustifolia belongs to the family Zingiberaceae and is a rhizomatous medicinal herb. Following rhizome harvesting, leaves are discarded as waste. However, they can be effectively utilized by extracting essential oils, which are potential biopesticides. The aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of the leaf essential oil of Curcuma angustifolia as a potential biopesticide against three stored grain pests, Lasioderma serricorne, Tribolium castaneum, and Callasobruchus chinensis, by their contact, fumigant, and repellent activities. The leaves yield 0.39 ± 0.02 % of oil by hydrodistillation. GC-MS/MS characterization identified curzerenone (18.37 %), geranyl-p-cymene (17.32 %), α-elemenone (13.59 %), eucalyptol (7.58 %) as the main constituents. When exposed to different concentrations of C. angustifolia oil, the test insect displayed noticeably high repellency rates. It also showed better contact toxicity at 24 h, LC50 = 0.22 mg/cm2 for cigarette beetle, LC50 = 0.64 mg/cm2 for red flour beetle, LC50 = 0.07 mg/cm2 for pulse beetle) and fumigation toxicities (LC50 = 10.8 mg/L air at 24 h, for cigarette, LC50 = 29.5 mg/L air for red flour beetle, LC50 = 7.9 mg/L air for pulse beetle). Additionally, a phytotoxicity study was done on paddy seeds, and the results showed no effect on seed germination or seedling growth. It was evident from this study that C. angustifolia oil from waste leaves can be utilized as a botanical pesticide to manage the adults of these storage pests.

Exploring hydrodynamic cavitation for citrus waste valorisation in Malta: from beverage enhancement to potato sprouting suppression and water remediation

Introduction: The endorsement of circular economy, zero-waste, and sustainable development by the EU and UN has promoted non-thermal technologies in agro-food and health industries. While northern European countries rapidly integrate these technologies, their implementation in Mediterranean food-supply chains remains uncertain. Aims: We evaluated the usefulness of hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) for valorizing orange peel waste in the fresh orange juice supply chain of the Maltese Islands. Method: We assessed: a) the effectiveness of HC in extracting bioactive compounds from orange peels (Citrus sinensis) in water (35°C) and 70% (v/v) ethanol (-10°C) over time, compared to conventional maceration, and b) the potato sprouting-suppression and biosorbent potential of the processed peel for copper, nitrate, and nitrite binding. Results: Prolonged HC-assisted extractions in water (high cavitation numbers), damaged and/or oxidized bioactive compounds, with flavonoids and ascorbic acid being more sensitive, whereas cold ethanolic extractions preserved the compounds involved in radical scavenging. HC-processing adequately modified the peel, enabling its use as a potato suppressant and biosorbent for copper, nitrate, and nitrite. Conclusion: Coupling HC-assisted bioactive compound extractions with using leftover peel for potato-sprouting prevention and as biosorbent for water pollutant removal offers a straightforward approach to promoting circular economic practices and sustainable agriculture in Malta.

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.

Functional Model Beverages of Saffron Floral By-Products: Polyphenolic Composition, Inhibition of Digestive Enzymes, and Rheological Characterization

Despite the rapid and dynamic evolution of research into dietary polyphenols, there is still a knowledge gap regarding their bioaccessibility since it could be influenced by the chemical and nutritional compositions of the food matrix. This study aimed to describe the impact of food thickeners (xanthan gum, guar gum, β-glucan, pectin) on the bioactivity of flavonoids from saffron floral by-products in model beverages before and after thermal processing. The different beverage formulas were characterized in terms of polyphenolic composition using HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn and rheological properties. The impact of food thickeners and thermal processing on the inhibition of digestive enzymes was also determined. The model beverages mainly presented glycosylated flavonols (of kaempferol, quercetin, and isorhamnetin), with a reduced content in some heat-treated samples. The inhibitory effect on α-amylase was only detected in heat-treated beverages, showing the formulation without any thickener to have the greatest inhibitory effect. Finally, the presence of saffron floral by-products in the beverages showed a tendency to decrease the flow consistency index (K) and an increase in the flow behavior index (n), most probably driven by the aggregation of phenolics with thickeners. Therefore, this research provides new insights into the development of flavonoid-rich beverages in order to ensure that they exert the expected beneficial effects after their ingestion.

Exploring the application of ICTs in decarbonizing the agriculture supply chain: A literature review and research agenda

The contemporary agricultural supply chain necessitates the integration of information and communication technologies to effectively mitigate the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change and rising global demand for food products. Furthermore, recent developments in information and communication technologies, such as blockchain, big data analytics, the internet of things, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, etc., have made this transformation possible. Each of these technologies plays a particular role in enabling the agriculture supply chain ecosystem to be intelligent enough to handle today's world's challenges. Thus, this paper reviews the crucial information and communication technologies-enabled agriculture supply chains to understand their potential uses and contemporary developments. The review is supported by 57 research papers from the Scopus database. Five research areas analyze the applications of the technology reviewed in the agriculture supply chain: food safety and traceability, security and information system management, wasting food, supervision and tracking, agricultural businesses and decision-making, and other applications not explicitly related to the agriculture supply chain. The study also emphasizes how information and communication technologies can help agriculture supply chains and promote agriculture supply chain decarbonization. An information and communication technologies application framework for a decarbonized agriculture supply chain is suggested based on the research's findings. The framework identifies the contribution of information and communication technologies to decision-making in agriculture supply chains. The review also offers guidelines to academics, policymakers, and practitioners on managing agriculture supply chains successfully for enhanced agricultural productivity and decarbonization.

Valorisation of Agri-Food Waste for Bioactive Compounds: Recent Trends and Future Sustainable Challenges

Worldwide, a massive amount of agriculture and food waste is a major threat to the environment, the economy and public health. However, these wastes are important sources of phytochemicals (bioactive), such as polyphenols, carotenoids, carnitine, coenzymes, essential oils and tocopherols, which have antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticarcinogenic properties. Hence, it represents a promising opportunity for the food, agriculture, cosmetics, textiles, energy and pharmaceutical industries to develop cost effective strategies. The value of agri-food wastes has been extracted from various valuable bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, dietary fibre, proteins, lipids, vitamins, carotenoids, organic acids, essential oils and minerals, some of which are found in greater quantities in the discarded parts than in the parts accepted by the market used for different industrial sectors. The value of agri-food wastes and by-products could assure food security, maintain sustainability, efficiently reduce environmental pollution and provide an opportunity to earn additional income for industries. Furthermore, sustainable extraction methodologies like ultrasound-assisted extraction, pressurized liquid extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, pulse electric field-assisted extraction, ultrasound microwave-assisted extraction and high hydrostatic pressure extraction are extensively used for the isolation, purification and recovery of various bioactive compounds from agri-food waste, according to a circular economy and sustainable approach. This review also includes some of the critical and sustainable challenges in the valorisation of agri-food wastes and explores innovative eco-friendly methods for extracting bioactive compounds from agri-food wastes, particularly for food applications. The highlights of this review are providing information on the valorisation techniques used for the extraction and recovery of different bioactive compounds from agricultural food wastes, innovative and promising approaches. Additionally, the potential use of these products presents an affordable alternative towards a circular economy and, consequently, sustainability. In this context, the encapsulation process considers the integral and sustainable use of agricultural food waste for bioactive compounds that enhance the properties and quality of functional food.

Plant-Based Biostimulants for Seeds in the Context of Circular Economy and Sustainability

Plant-based biostimulants (PBs), agents rich in bioactive compounds, are emerging as key players able to sustainably improve plant growth and crop productivity to address food security. PBs are generally applied as foliar spray or soil irrigation, while more recently, the application as seed priming treatments is being envisaged as a highly sustainable method to also improve seed quality and germination. Therefore, this review proposes to explore the use of PBs for the seeds industry, specifically discussing about the relevance of product market values, sustainable methods for their production, why and how PBs are used for seed priming, and pinpointing specific strengths and challenges. The collected research studies indicate that PBs applied to seeds result in improved germination, seedling growth, and stress tolerance, although the molecular mechanisms at work are still largely overlooked. The high variability of bioactive molecules and used sources point towards a huge reservoir of nature-based solutions in support of sustainable agriculture practices.

Dietary Polyphenols: Review on Chemistry/Sources, Bioavailability/Metabolism, Antioxidant Effects, and Their Role in Disease Management

Polyphenols, as secondary metabolites ubiquitous in plant sources, have emerged as pivotal bioactive compounds with far-reaching implications for human health. Plant polyphenols exhibit direct or indirect associations with biomolecules capable of modulating diverse physiological pathways. Due to their inherent abundance and structural diversity, polyphenols have garnered substantial attention from both the scientific and clinical communities. The review begins by providing an in-depth analysis of the chemical intricacies of polyphenols, shedding light on their structural diversity and the implications of such diversity on their biological activities. Subsequently, an exploration of the dietary origins of polyphenols elucidates the natural plant-based sources that contribute to their global availability. The discussion extends to the bioavailability and metabolism of polyphenols within the human body, unraveling the complex journey from ingestion to systemic effects. A central focus of the review is dedicated to unravelling the antioxidant effects of polyphenols, highlighting their role in combating oxidative stress and associated health conditions. The comprehensive analysis encompasses their impact on diverse health concerns such as hypertension, allergies, aging, and chronic diseases like heart stroke and diabetes. Insights into the global beneficial effects of polyphenols further underscore their potential as preventive and therapeutic agents. This review article critically examines the multifaceted aspects of dietary polyphenols, encompassing their chemistry, dietary origins, bioavailability/metabolism dynamics, and profound antioxidant effects. The synthesis of information presented herein aims to provide a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians, and health enthusiasts, fostering a deeper understanding of the intricate relationship between polyphenols and human health.

Bioactives from citrus food waste: types, extraction technologies and application

The Citrus fruits belong to the category where the groups of fruits are recognized to be an admirable repository of bioactive elements and phytochemical constituents, with strong biological potentials. The prominent use of Citrus fruits for nutrition as well as food processing has led to the release of a large amount of waste into the environment and surrounding, and it simultaneously burdens the nature and existence of many organisms including the human population. In order to rectify such consequences, the reuse of food waste from citrus for various advantageous effects. In this regard, the first part of the article primarily focussed on the various strategies available for the extraction of chemical elements from citrus waste and the remaining strand of the article focussed on the various bioactive compounds with special reference to their pharmacological as well as the medicinal benefits and future prospects.

Graphical abstract

Bioactive Compounds from Fruit and Vegetable Waste: Extraction and Possible Utilization

Globally, there is a serious problem with fruit and vegetable waste, which can result from improper food handling or storage techniques or from the disposal of inedible portions of produce [...].

Optimizing the Solvent Selection of the Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) Pomace: Phenolic Profiles and Antioxidant Activity

Sea buckthorn pomace (SBP) is a by-product of sea buckthorn processing that is rich in bioactive compounds. In this study, different active ingredients were extracted by using different solvents (water, methanol, ethanol, glycerol, ethyl acetate, and petroleum ether) combined with an ultrasonic assisted method. The correlation between the active ingredients and antioxidant properties of the extract was studied, which provided a research basis for the comprehensive utilization of SBP. This study revealed that the 75% ethanol extract had the highest total phenolic content (TPC) of 42.86 ± 0.73 mg GAE/g, while the 75% glycerol extract had the highest total flavonoid content (TFC) of 25.52 ± 1.35 mg RTE/g. The ethanol extract exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity at the same concentration compared with other solvents. The antioxidant activity of the ethanol, methanol, and glycerol extracts increased in a concentration-dependent manner. Thirteen phenolic compounds were detected in the SBP extracts using UPLC-MS/MS analysis. Notably, the 75% glycerol extract contained the highest concentration of all identified phenolic compounds, with rutin (192.21 ± 8.19 μg/g), epigallocatechin (105.49 ± 0.69 μg/g), and protocatechuic acid (27.9 ± 2.38 μg/g) being the most abundant. Flavonols were found to be the main phenolic substances in SBP. A strong correlation was observed between TPC and the antioxidant activities of SBP extracts. In conclusion, the choice of solvent significantly influences the active compounds and antioxidant activities of SBP extracts. SBP extracts are a valuable source of natural phenolics and antioxidants.

Effect of coating material on microencapsulated phenolic compounds extracted from agroindustrial ciriguela peel residue

BACKGROUND

Extract of ciriguela residue was microencapsulated by spray-drying and freeze-drying using maltodextrin (M), gum arabic (GA) and their mixture (50% M; 50% GA on dry basis) as encapsulating agents. Total phenolic compounds (TPC), antioxidant activity, physicochemical properties, profile of phenolic compounds by HPLC with diode-array detection and storage stability were evaluated.

RESULTS

TPC content of powders ranged from 306.9 to 451.2 mg gallic acid equivalent g-1 dry powder. The spray-dried powder prepared using GA as encapsulating agent had higher TPC content and antioxidant activity, whereas the freeze-dried powder had lower moisture and water activity. Spray-dried microcapsules had spherical shape, whereas freeze-dried products had irregular structures. The profile of phenolic compounds identified in samples was similar, with rutin (342.59 and 72.92 μg g-1 ) and quercetin (181.02 and 43.24 μg g-1 ) being the major compounds in liquid and freeze-dried extracts, respectively, whereas myricetin (97.41 μg g-1 ) was predominant in spray-dried ones. Storage stability tests carried out for 45 days at 7 or 25 °C revealed no statistically significant difference in TPC.

CONCLUSION

Ciriguela residue can be considered a source of TPC and used as ingredient with good antioxidant activity in the food industry. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Regenerative Food Innovation: The Role of Agro-Food Chain By-Products and Plant Origin Food to Obtain High-Value-Added Foods

Food losses in the agri-food sector have been estimated as representing between 30 and 80% of overall yield. The agro-food sector has a responsibility to work towards achieving FAO sustainable goals and global initiatives on responding to many issues, including climate pressures from changes we are experiencing globally. Regenerative agriculture has been discussed for many years in terms of improving our land and water. What we now need is a focus on the ability to transform innovation within the food production and process systems to address the needs of society in the fundamental arenas of food, health and wellbeing in a sustainable world. Thus, regenerative food innovation presents an opportunity to evaluate by-products from the agriculture and food industries to utilise these waste streams to minimise the global effects of food waste. The mini-review article aims to illustrate advancements in the valorisation of foods from some of the most recent publications published by peer-reviewed journals during the last 4-5 years. The focus will be applied to plant-based valorised food products and how these can be utilised to improve food nutritional components, texture, sensory and consumer perception to develop the foods for the future.

Application of ultrasound technology for the effective management of waste from fruit and vegetable

Food waste presents a continuous challenge for the food industry, leading to environmental pollution and economic issues. A substantial amount of waste, including by-products from fruits and vegetables, non-edible food items, and other waste materials, is produced throughout the food supply chain, from production to consumption. Recycling and valorizing waste from perishable goods is emerging as a key multidisciplinary approach within the circular bio-economy framework. This waste, rich in raw by-products, can be repurposed as a natural source of ingredients. Researchers increasingly focus on biomass valorization to extract and use components that add significant value. Traditional methods for extracting these bio-compounds typically require the use of solvents and are time-consuming, underscoring the need for innovative techniques like ultrasound (US) extraction. Wastes from the processing of fruits and vegetables in the food industry can be used to develop functional foods and edible coatings, offering protection against various environmental factors. This comprehensive review paper discusses the valorization of waste from perishable items like fruits and vegetables using US technology, not only to extract valuable components from waste but also to treat wastewater in the beverage industry. It also covers the application of biomolecules recovered from this process in the development of functional foods and packaging.

Exploring the environmental and economic impact of fruits and vegetable loss quantification in the food industry

Population growth has stimulated rising demand for agro-food products and economic activity for many years, negatively impacting the ecosystem and non-renewable resource consumption. Algeria confronts the monumental challenge of effectively choosing how to nourish everyone on a more congested globe. However, food loss is a significant issue that worsens as Algerians' population expands and food consumption increases. In Algeria, food production and processing of food items, which include fruits, vegetables, and cereals, generate a considerable amount of by-products, with no commercial exploitation and a negative environmental impact, generating enormous socioeconomic problems. These by-products are essential sources of products with high levels of added value that can be applied in different sectors. They have no studies to measure the scope of food loss in the Algerian food industry. In this background, our research aims to quantify the loss in the Algerian food industry generated by the transformation of various agricultural products, directly affecting the economy and food availability for the population. The research utilizes a mixed methods approach, including coefficients, production statistics transformed, and data analysis; the findings reveal that a significant portion of fruits and vegetables are lost in the Algerian food industry, suggesting that minimizing food loss can help companies minimize costs and mitigate the adverse environmental effects of food production. Finally, the study proposes practical options to minimize food loss to create a long-term food system in Algeria.

Synthesis of Pectin and Eggshell Biowaste-Mediated Nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAp), Their Physicochemical Characterizations, and Use as Antibacterial Material

The current study reports the synthesis of sustainable nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAp) using a wet chemical precipitation approach. The materials used in the green synthesis of nHAp were obtained from environmental biowastes such as HAp from eggshells and pectin from banana peels. The physicochemical characterization of obtained nHAp was carried out using different techniques. For instance, X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and FTIR spectroscopy were used to study the crystallinity and synthesis of nHAp respectively. In addition, the morphology and elemental composition of nHAP were studied using FESEM equipped with EDX. HRTEM showed the internal structure of nHAP and calculated its grain size which was 64 nm. Furthermore, the prepared nHAp was explored for its antibacterial and antibiofilm activity which has received less attention previously. The obtained results showed the potential of pectin-bound nHAp as an antibacterial agent for various biomedical and healthcare applications.

Sustainable valorization approaches on crustacean wastes for the extraction of chitin, bioactive compounds and their applications - A review

The unscientific disposal of the most abundant crustacean wastes, especially those derived from marine sources, affects both the economy and the environment. Strategic waste collection and management is the need of the hour. Sustainable valorization approaches have played a crucial role in solving those issues as well as generating wealth from waste. The shellfishery wastes are rich in valuable bioactive compounds such as chitin, chitosan, minerals, carotenoids, lipids, and other amino acid derivatives. These value-added components possessed pleiotropic applications in different sectors viz., food, nutraceutical, cosmeceutical, agro-industrial, healthcare, and pharmaceutical sectors. The manuscript covers the recent status, scope of shellfishery management, and different bioactive compounds obtained from crustacean wastes. In addition, both sustainable and conventional routes of valorization approaches were discussed with their merits and demerits along with their combinations. The utilization of nano and microtechnology was also included in the discussion, as they have become prominent research areas in recent years. More importantly, the future perspectives of crustacean waste management and other potential valorization approaches that can be implemented on a large scale.

Oil from Mullet Roe Byproducts: Effect of Oil Extraction Method on Human Erythrocytes and Platelets

Background: The valorization of byproducts to obtain high nutritional value foods is of utmost importance for our planet where the population is booming. Among these products are oils rich in ω-3 fatty acids produced from fishery byproducts. Recently, mullet roe oil from roe byproducts was produced that was rich in the ω-3 fatty acids eicosatetraenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Oils are customarily characterized for their composition and degree of oxidation but little is known of their biological effects, especially the effect of the extraction method. Methods: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of freshly extracted mullet roe oil from mullet roe byproducts and the effect of the extraction method on human red blood cells (hRBCs) and platelets. To this end, the hemocompatibility (cytotoxicity), oxidative effects, and erythrocyte membrane changes were examined after 1 and 24 h of incubation. Antiplatelet effects were also assessed in vitro. Results: The expeller press oil extraction method and alcalase-assisted extraction produced the most biocompatible oils, as shown by hemocompatibility measurements and the absence of erythrocyte membrane alterations. Solvent extracts and protease-assisted extraction oils resulted in the rupture of red blood cells at different examined dilutions, creating hemolysis. Conclusions: It seems that the proper functioning of oil-erythrocyte interactions cannot be explained solely by ROS. Further investigations combining chemical analysis with oil-cell interactions could be used as an input to design high nutritional value oils using green extraction technologies. All samples exhibited promising antiplatelet and antiblood clotting effects in vitro.

Fungus-based bioherbicides on circular economy

This review aimed to show that bioherbicides are possible in organic agriculture as natural compounds from fungi and metabolites produced by them. It is discussed that new formulations must be developed to improve field stability and enable the commercialization of microbial herbicides. Due to these bottlenecks, it is crucial to advance the bioprocesses behind the formulation and fermentation of bio-based herbicides, scaling up, strategies for field application, and the potential of bioherbicides in the global market. In this sense, it proposed insights for modern agriculture based on sustainable development and circular economy, precisely the formulation, scale-up, and field application of microbial bioherbicides.

Phenolic Compounds from By-Products for Functional Textiles

Textile dyeing is known to have major environmental concerns, especially with the high use of toxic chemicals. The use of alternatives such as natural dyes rich in phenolic compounds has become extremely appealing in order to move towards a more sustainable circular economy. Phenolic dyes have the potential to functionalize textile fabrics with properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, and UV protection. Wastes/residues from the agri-food industries stand out as highly attractive sources of these compounds, with several by-products showing promising results in textile dyeing through the implementation of more sustainable and eco-friendly processes. This review presents an up-to-date exploration of the sources of phenolic compounds used in the textile industry over the past two decades, with a primary focus on the functional properties they provide to different fabrics. The research highlights a surge in interest in this theme since 2017, accentuating a noticeable upward trend. Throughout this review, emphasis is given to by-products from the agri-food industry as the sources of these compounds. The reviewed papers lay the foundation for future research, paving the way for exploring the potential of raw materials and by-products in the creation of functional and smart textiles.

The synergistic effects of polyphenols and intestinal microbiota on osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a common metabolic disease in middle-aged and elderly people. It is characterized by a reduction in bone mass, compromised bone microstructure, heightened bone fragility, and an increased susceptibility to fractures. The dynamic imbalance between osteoblast and osteoclast populations is a decisive factor in the occurrence of osteoporosis. With the increase in the elderly population in society, the incidence of osteoporosis, disability, and mortality have gradually increased. Polyphenols are a fascinating class of compounds that are found in both food and medicine and exhibit a variety of biological activities with significant health benefits. As a component of food, polyphenols not only provide color, flavor, and aroma but also act as potent antioxidants, protecting our cells from oxidative stress and reducing the risk of chronic disease. Moreover, these natural compounds exhibit anti-inflammatory properties, which aid in immune response regulation and potentially alleviate symptoms of diverse ailments. The gut microbiota can degrade polyphenols into more absorbable metabolites, thereby increasing their bioavailability. Polyphenols can also shape the gut microbiota and increase its abundance. Therefore, studying the synergistic effect between gut microbiota and polyphenols may help in the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis. By delving into how gut microbiota can enhance the bioavailability of polyphenols and how polyphenols can shape the gut microbiota and increase its abundance, this review offers valuable information and references for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis.

A Comprehensive Review of Phytonutrients as a Dietary Therapy for Obesity

Obesity is a complex medical condition mainly caused by eating habits, genetics, lifestyle, and medicine. The present study deals with traditional diets like the Mediterranean diet, Nordic diet, African Heritage diet, Asian diet, and DASH, as these are considered to be sustainable diets for curing obesity. However, the bioavailability of phytonutrients consumed in the diet may vary, depending on several factors such as digestion and absorption of phytonutrients, interaction with other substances, cooking processes, and individual differences. Hence, several phytochemicals, like polyphenols, alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, etc., have been investigated to assess their efficiencies and safety in the prevention and treatment of obesity. These phytochemicals have anti-obesity effects, mediated via modulation of many pathways, such as decreased lipogenesis, lipid absorption, accelerated lipolysis, energy intake, expenditure, and preadipocyte differentiation and proliferation. Owing to these anti-obesity effects, new food formulations incorporating these phytonutrients were introduced that can be beneficial in reducing the prevalence of obesity and promoting public health.

Microencapsulation by spray-drying and freeze-drying of extract of phenolic compounds obtained from ciriguela peel

Microcapsules of ciriguela peel extracts obtained by ultrasound-assisted extraction were prepared by spray drying, whose results were compared with those of freeze-drying as a control. The effects of spray-drying air temperature, feed flow rate and ratio of encapsulating agents (maltodextrin and arabic gum) were studied. Encapsulation efficiency, moisture content, total phenolic compounds (TPC), water activity, hygroscopicity, solubility, colorimetric parameters, phenolic profile by HPLC/DAD, simulated gastrointestinal digestion and morphology of spray-dried and freeze-dried microcapsules were evaluated, as well as their stability of TPC during 90 days storage at 7 and 25 °C. Spray-dried extract showed higher encapsulation efficiency (98.83%) and TPC (476.82 mg GAE g-1) than freeze-dried extract. The most abundant compounds in the liquid extract of ciriguela peel flour were rutin, epicatechin gallate, chlorogenic acid and quercetin. Rutin and myricetin were the major flavonoids in the spray-dried extract, while quercetin and kaempferol were in the freeze-dried one. The simulated gastrointestinal digestion test of microencapsulated extracts revealed the highest TPC contents after the gastric phase and the lowest one after the intestinal one. Rutin was the most abundant compound after the digestion of both spray-dried (68.74 µg g-1) and freeze-dried (93.98 µg g-1) extracts. Spray-dried microcapsules were of spherical shape, freeze-dried products of irregular structures. Spray-dried microcapsules had higher phenolic compounds contents after 90 days of storage at 7 °C compared to those stored at 25 °C, while the lyophilized ones showed no significant difference between the two storage temperatures. The ciriguela agro-industrial residue can be considered an interesting alternative source of phenolic compounds that could be used, in the form of bioactive compounds-rich powders, as an ingredient in pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries.

Extraction and chemical characterisation of agro-waste from turmeric leaves as a source of bioactive essential oils with insecticidal and antioxidant activities

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) is a significant crop that has historically been used worldwide as a medicinal plant, spice, food colouring agent, and a significant ingredient in cosmetic industries. After harvesting rhizomes, leaves are considered waste material. This research study aims to extract and chemically characterise the essential oil from the leaves waste of turmeric with an evaluation of different insecticidal, antioxidant, and phytotoxic activities. Subsequently, the contact toxicity, fumigant toxicity, and repellent activity were evaluated against two key stored grain insect species. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) characterisation revealed that α-phellandrene (28.95%), 2-carene (16.51%), eucalyptol (10.54%) and terpinolene (10.24%) were the major chemical constituents. The study's findings on the insecticidal effects of essential oils extracted from turmeric leaves revealed noteworthy repellent, contact (at 24 h, LC50 = 6.51 mg/cm2 for Tribolium castaneum and LC50 = 4.74 mg/cm2 for Rhyzopertha dominica) and fumigant toxicities (at 24 h, LC50 = 2.57 mg/L air for T. castaneum and LC50 = 2.83 mg/L air for R. dominica), against two key stored grain insects. In addition, turmeric leaf essential oil showed notable antioxidant activity (IC50 = 10.04 ± 0.03 µg/mL for DPPH assay; IC50 = 14.12 ± 0.21 µg/mL for ABTS assay. Furthermore, a phytotoxicity study was carried out on stored paddy seeds and no toxic effects were found on germination rate and seedling growth. So, it might be expected that the essential oils extracted from the turmeric leaf waste could be valorised and demonstrate their potential as safe botanical insecticides against stored-product insects, with noble antioxidant properties.

From Waste to Green: Water-Based Extraction of Polyphenols from Onion Peel and Their Adsorption on Biochar from Grapevine Pruning Residues

Onion peels (OP) are rich in bioactive compounds with a plethora of benefits for human health, but this valuable material is often wasted and underutilized due to its inedibility. Likewise, grapevine pruning residues are commonly treated as agricultural waste, but biochar (BC) obtained from this material has favorable characteristics as an adsorbent. This study investigated the potential of BC in removal of targeted polyphenolic compounds from OP extracts. The OP extracts were obtained adhering to green chemistry principles using deionized water amplified by three methods: maceration (MAC), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE). The extraction efficiency on the polyphenolic profile and antioxidant capacity was investigated with different extraction temperatures and solid-to-liquid (s/l) ratios. For further analysis, UAE at 90 °C with an s/l ratio of 1:100 was used due to higher polyphenolic compound yield. The BC adsorption capacity of individual polyphenols was fitted with the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. Quercetin-3,4'-diglucoside obtained the highest R2 coefficient in both models, and the highest qmax value. The optimum conditions in the dosage experiment suggested an amount of 0.5 g of BC using 3 g/L extracts. The studied BC showed a high affinity for targeted phytochemicals from OP extracts, indicating its potential to be applied for the green adsorption of valuable polyphenolic compounds.

Fibres and Colorectal Cancer: Clinical and Molecular Evidence

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of mortality for cancer in industrialized countries. The link between diet and CRC is well-known, and presumably CRC is the type of cancer which is most influenced by dietary habits. In Western countries, an inadequate dietary intake of fibers is endemic, and this could be a driving factor in the increase of CRC incidence. Indeed, several epidemiologic studies have elucidated an inverse relationship between daily fiber intake and risk of CRC. Long-term prognosis in CRC survivors is also dependent on dietary fibers. Several pathogenetic mechanisms may be hypothesized. Fibers may interfere with the metabolism of bile acids, which may promote colon carcinogenesis. Further, fibers are often contained in vegetables which, in turn, contain large amounts of antioxidant agents like resveratrol, polyphenols, or phytoestrogens. Moreover, fibers can be digested by commensal flora, thus producing compounds such as butyrate, which exerts an antiproliferative effect. Finally, fibers may modulate gut microbiota, whose composition has shown to be associated with CRC onset. In this regard, dietary interventions based on high-fiber-containing diets are ongoing to prevent CRC development, especially in patients with high potential for this type of tumor. Despite the fact that outcomes are preliminary, encouraging results have been observed.

Development of chicken tender pops by utilizing pomegranate peel powder

Pomegranate peel powder (PPP) is a rich source of many bioactive components particularly polyphenols that are interlinked to various technological and functional properties. In the present study, chicken tender pops were developed with incorporation of PPP, and its effect on quality attributes and storage stability of the product were evaluated. The treatments were formulated using 0%, 3%, 6%, and 9% PPP in replacement of chicken. The physicochemical properties, texture profile, instrumental color, sensory attributes, and storage stability were assessed for 21 days at refrigeration temperature, at a regular interval of 7 days. The results indicated that the inclusion of PPP significantly (p < .05) increased the dietary fiber from 0.25% in T0 to 1.45% in T3 at Day 0 and WHC 43.60% ± 0.02 in T0 to 49.36% ± 0.02 in T3 at Day 0, whereas the moisture content significantly reduced from 60.05% ± 0.03 in T0 to 55.08% ± 0.01 in T3 at the start of the study. In addition, the values of TBARS were significantly (p < .05) reduced for treated samples 0.72 mg MDA/Kg in T3 as compared to control 1.17 mg MDA/Kg on the 21st day of storage, whereas a significant increase (p < .05) in TPC from 0.90 mg GAE/g to 3.87 mg GAE/g in T0 to T3 was observed at the start of the study. For TPA, a significant (p < .05) increase was noticed in hardness, chewiness, and gumminess, whereas cohesiveness and springiness showed a non-significant (p > .05) change in treated samples in relation to control, and the instrumental color (L* and a*) decreased significantly. However, pH, crude fiber, fat, ash, and protein content showed non-significant (p > .05) variations over time. The sensory evaluation suggested that chicken tender pops supplemented with 6% PPP (T2) presented high overall acceptability and balanced organoleptic properties. Hence, it can be concluded that PPP can be effectively utilized as a natural fiber source, antioxidant, and antimicrobial agent in novel functional foods.

Trends in functional beverages: Functional ingredients, processing technologies, stability, health benefits, and consumer perspective

The World Health Organization's emphasis on the health benefits of functional foods and beverages that has contributed to the rise in its popularity globally. Besides these consumers have become more aware of the importance of their food composition and nutrition. Among the fastest-growing market segments within the functional food industries, the functional drinks market focuses on fortified beverages or products that are novel with improved bioavailability of bioactive compounds, and their implicated health benefits. The bioactive ingredients in functional beverages include phenolic compounds, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, peptides, unsaturated fatty acids, etc. which can be obtained from plant, animal and microorganisms. The types of functional beverages which are globally intensifying the markets are pre-/pro-biotics, beauty drinks, cognitive and immune system enhancers, energy and sports drink produced via several thermal and non-thermal processes. Researchers are focusing on improving the stability of the active compounds by encapsulation, emulsion, and high-pressure homogenization techniques to strengthen the positive consumer perspective in functional beverages. However, more research is needed in terms of bioavailability, consumer safety, and sustainability of the process. Hence, product development, storage stability, and sensory properties of these products are vital for consumer acceptance. This review focuses on the recent trends and developments in the functional beverages industry. The review provides a critical discussion on diverse functional ingredients, bioactive sources, production processes, emerging process technologies, improvement in the stability of ingredients and bioactive compounds. This review also outlines the global market and consumer perception of functional beverages with the future perspective and scope.

Natural Antioxidant Potential of Melon Peels for Fortified Foods

Agricultural and food waste recycling reduces natural resource losses, contributing significantly to the development of new green markets through the creation of redesigned products. In order to cycle valuable molecules, the peels from Italian cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L.) cultivars were studied and successfully characterized for high-added biomolecules to verify their possible exploitation as wealthy biomasses. Peels were investigated for their cell wall-modifying and browning enzymes, as well as for total polyphenols, ortho-diphenols, flavonoids, tannins, and antioxidant properties. The results of the analyses displayed great promise in one of the three cultivars investigated. Later on, a preliminary study using the best peel extract as a dietary supplement was carried out by preparing fortified seawater to enhance its antioxidant power. The effects of storage time (60 days) were examined at two temperatures through the determination of the stability of the polyphenol content. The kinetic parameters of degradation were also calculated. The "enriched sea water" retained great antioxidant activity in refrigerated conditions, demonstrating that there is good potential for melon by-products to add their natural compounds for food fortification. These findings may provide valuable data for scale-up, from the lab to the pilot or industrial application.

A Preliminary Study on the Release of Bioactive Compounds from Rice Starch Hydrogels Produced by High-Pressure Processing (HPP)

This work aimed to carry out a preliminary study on the release of bioactive compounds loaded into starch-based hydrogels produced by high-pressure processing (HPP). As a study case, the experiments were carried out on rice starch HPP hydrogels. Rice starch (20% w/w) and green tea extract (2% w/w), suspended in distilled water, were treated by HPP at processing conditions enabling starch gelatinisation, namely 600 MPa for 15 min at room temperature. Additional experiments were carried out on samples that were further loaded with glycerol (5% w/w). Gel formation was assessed by analysing the gelatinisation extent, structuring level, and swelling power of the samples. At the processing conditions utilised, stable hydrogels were obtained even in the presence of the extract and/or the glycerol in the starch suspension. As expected, the colour of the hydrogels formed was affected by the addition of green tea extract in the starch solution. HPP starch hydrogels were characterised by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) to determine the interactions between the different compounds utilised in the formulation. Moreover, the release kinetics of bioactive compounds from HPP rice starch hydrogels was evaluated using a vertical Franz diffusion cells system, simulating a transdermal pattern. The diffusion of bioactive compounds was measured spectrophotometrically and via HPLC analysis. A controlled release of bioactive compounds from the hydrogel structure was detected, suggesting that small molecules, such as polyphenols, positively interacted with the rice starch HPP hydrogel network that allowed a smooth and constant release of these bioactive compounds over time.

From Industrial Food Waste to Bioactive Ingredients: A Review on the Sustainable Management and Transformation of Plant-Derived Food Waste

According to the United Nations, approximately one-third of the food produced for human consumption is wasted. The actual linear "Take-Make-Dispose" model is nowadays obsolete and uneconomical for societies and the environment, while circular thinking in production systems and its effective adoption offers new opportunities and benefits. Following the "Waste Framework Directive" (2008/98/CE), the European Green Deal, and the actual Circular Economy Action Plan, when prevention is not possible, recovering an unavoidable food waste as a by-product represents a most promising pathway. Using last year's by-products, which are rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds, such as dietary fiber, polyphenols, and peptides, offer a wake-up call to the nutraceutical and cosmetic industry to invest and develop value-added products generated from food waste ingredients.

Commercialization potential of agro-based polyhydroxyalkanoates biorefinery: A technical perspective on advances and critical barriers

The exponential increase in the use and careless discard of synthetic plastics has created an alarming concern over the environmental health due to the detrimental effects of petroleum based synthetic polymeric compounds. Piling up of these plastic commodities on various ecological niches and entry of their fragmented parts into soil and water has clearly affected the quality of these ecosystems in the past few decades. Among the many constructive strategies developed to tackle this global issue, use of biopolymers like polyhydroxyalkanoates as sustainable alternatives for synthetic plastics has gained momentum. Despite their excellent material properties and significant biodegradability, polyhydroxyalkanoates still fails to compete with their synthetic counterparts majorly due to the high cost associated with their production and purification thereby limiting their commercialization. Usage of renewable feedstocks as substrates for polyhydroxyalkanoates production has been the thrust area of research to attain the sustainability tag. This review work attempts to provide insights about the recent developments in the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates using renewable feedstock along with various pretreatment methods used for substrate preparation for polyhydroxyalkanoates production. Further, the application of blends based on polyhydroxyalkanoates, and the challenges associated with the waste valorization based polyhydroxyalkanoates production strategy is elaborated in this review work.

Partitioning of Antioxidants in Edible Oil–Water Binary Systems and in Oil-in-Water Emulsions

In recent years, partitioning of antioxidants in oil–water two-phase systems has received great interest because of their potential in the downstream processing of biomolecules, their benefits in health, and because partition constant values between water and model organic solvents are closely related to important biological and pharmaceutical properties such as bioavailability, passive transport, membrane permeability, and metabolism. Partitioning is also of general interest in the oil industry. Edible oils such as olive oil contain a variety of bioactive components that, depending on their partition constants, end up in an aqueous phase when extracted from olive fruits. Frequently, waste waters are subsequently discarded, but their recovery would allow for obtaining extracts with antioxidant and/or biological activities, adding commercial value to the wastes and, at the same time, would allow for minimizing environmental risks. Thus, given the importance of partitioning antioxidants, in this manuscript, we review the background theory necessary to derive the relevant equations necessary to describe, quantitatively, the partitioning of antioxidants (and, in general, other drugs) and the common methods for determining their partition constants in both binary (PWOIL) and multiphasic systems composed with edible oils. We also include some discussion on the usefulness (or not) of extrapolating the widely employed octanol–water partition constant (PWOCT) values to predict PWOIL values as well as on the effects of acidity and temperature on their distributions. Finally, there is a brief section discussing the importance of partitioning in lipidic oil-in-water emulsions, where two partition constants, that between the oil-interfacial, POI, and that between aqueous-interfacial, PwI, regions, which are needed to describe the partitioning of antioxidants, and whose values cannot be predicted from the PWOIL or the PWOCT ones.

An In Vitro Evaluation of the Potential Neuroprotective Effects of Intranasal Lipid Nanoparticles Containing Astaxanthin Obtained from Different Sources: Comparative Studies

The intranasal route has been suggested as a promising alternative to improve the direct transport of molecules to the brain, avoiding the need to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In this area, the use of lipid nanoparticles, namely solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC), has been highlighted as a promising strategy to improve the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In this work, formulations containing SLN and NLC that were loaded with astaxanthin that was obtained from different sources (astaxanthin extract (AE) from the algae Haematococcus pluvialis and pure astaxanthin (PA) from the fungi Blakeslea trispora) were prepared for nose-to-brain administration, and comparative in vitro experiments were performed to evaluate the biocompatibility of the formulations with nasal (RPMI 2650) and neuronal (SH-SY5Y) cells. Afterwards, the antioxidant activity of the formulations was evaluated for its potential neuroprotective effects, using different chemical aggressors. Finally, the cellular uptake of the astaxanthin was evaluated for the formulations that showed the greatest neuroprotection of the neuronal cells against chemical-induced damage. On the production day, all the formulations showed a particle size, a high encapsulation efficiency (EE), the presence of nanoparticles with a typical spherical shape, and a polydispersity index (PDI) and zeta potential (ZP) that are suitable for nose-to-brain administration. After three months of storage at room temperature, no significant changes were observed in the characterization parameters, predicting a good long-term stability. Furthermore, these formulations were shown to be safe with concentrations of up to 100 µg/mL in differentiated SH-SY5Y and RPMI 2650 cells. Regarding neuroprotection studies, the PA-loaded SLN and NLC formulations showed an ability to counteract some mechanisms of neurodegeneration, including oxidative stress. Moreover, when compared with the PA-loaded SLN, the PA-loaded NLC showed greater neuroprotective effects against the cytotoxicity induced by aggressors. In contrast, the AE-loaded SLN and NLC formulations showed no significant neuroprotective effects. Although further studies are needed to confirm these neuroprotective effects, the results of this study suggest that the intranasal administration of PA-loaded NLC may be a promising alternative to improve the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Valorization of Food Waste to Produce Value-Added Products Based on Its Bioactive Compounds

The rapid growth of the global population and changes in lifestyle have led to a significant increase in food waste from various industrial, agricultural, and household sources. Nearly one-third of the food produced annually is wasted, resulting in severe resource depletion. Food waste contains rich organic matter, which, if not managed properly, can pose a serious threat to the environment and human health, making the proper disposal of food waste an urgent global issue. However, various types of food waste, such as waste from fruit, vegetables, grains, and other food production and processing, contain important bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, dietary fiber, proteins, lipids, vitamins, organic acids, and minerals, some of which are found in greater quantities in the discarded parts than in the parts accepted by the market. These bioactive compounds offer the potential to convert food waste into value-added products, and fields including nutritional foods, bioplastics, bioenergy, biosurfactants, biofertilizers, and single cell proteins have welcomed food waste as a novel source. This review reveals the latest insights into the various sources of food waste and the potential of utilizing bioactive compounds to convert it into value-added products, thus enhancing people’s confidence in better utilizing and managing food waste.

Persistence and remote sensing of agri-food wastes in the environment: Current state and perspectives

Food demand is expected to increase globally by 60-110% from 2005 to 2050 due to diet shifts and population growth. This growth in food demand leads to the generation of enormous agri-food wastes (AFWs), which could be classified into pre-consumption and post-consumption. The AFW represents economic losses for all stakeholders along food supply chains, including consumers. It is reported that the direct financial, social, and environmental costs of food waste are 1, 0.9, and 0.7 trillion USD/year, respectively. Diverse conventional AFW management approaches are employed at the different life cycle levels (entre supply chain). The review indicates that inadequate transportation, erroneous packaging, improper storage, losses during processing, contamination, issues with handling, and expiry dates are the main reason for the generation of AFWs in the supply chain. Further, various variables such as cultural, societal, personal, and behavioral factors contribute to the AFW generation. The selection of a specific valorization technology is based on multiple physicochemical and biological parameters. Furthermore, other factors like heterogeneity of the AFWs, preferable energy carriers, by-products management, cost, end-usage applications, and environmental legislative and disposal processes also play a crucial role in adopting suitable technology. Valorization of AFW could significantly impact both economy and the environment. AFWs have been widely investigated for the development of engineered added-value biomaterials and renewable energy production. Considering this, this study has been carried out to highlight the significance of AFW cost, aggregation, quantification, and membrane-based strategies for its management. The study also explored the satellite remote sensing data for Spatio-temporal monitoring, mapping, optimization, and management of AFW management. Along with this, the study also explained the most recent strategies for AFW valorization and outlined the detailed policy recommendation along with opportunities and challenges. The review suggested that AFW should be managed using a triple-bottom-line strategy (economic, social, and environmental sustainability).

Intranasal Lipid Nanoparticles Containing Bioactive Compounds Obtained from Marine Sources to Manage Neurodegenerative Diseases

Marine sources contain several bioactive compounds with high therapeutic potential, such as remarkable antioxidant activity that can reduce oxidative stress related to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Indeed, there has been a growing interest in these natural sources, especially those resulting from the processing of marine organisms (i.e., marine bio-waste), to obtain natural antioxidants as an alternative to synthetic antioxidants in a sustainable approach to promote circularity by recovering and creating value from these bio-wastes. However, despite their expected potential to prevent, delay, or treat neurodegenerative diseases, antioxidant compounds may have difficulty reaching the brain due to the need to cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB). In this regard, alternative delivery systems administered by different routes have been proposed, including intranasal administration of lipid nanoparticles, such as solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC), which have shown promising results. Intranasal administration shows several advantages, including the fact that molecules do not need to cross the BBB to reach the central nervous system (CNS), as they can be transported directly from the nasal cavity to the brain (i.e., nose-to-brain transport). The benefits of using SLN and NLC for intranasal delivery of natural bioactive compounds for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases have shown relevant outcomes through in vitro and in vivo studies. Noteworthy, for bioactive compounds obtained from marine bio-waste, few studies have been reported, showing the open potential of this research area. This review updates the state of the art of using SLN and NLC to transport bioactive compounds from different sources, in particular, those obtained from marine bio-waste, and their potential application in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Effect of mango seeds as an untraditional source of energy on the productive performance of dairy Damascus goats

Eighteen dairy Damascus goats weighing 38-45 kg live body weight and aged 3-4 years were divided into three groups according to their body weight, with six goats in each group. Yellow corn grain in their concentrate feed mixture was replaced with mango seeds (MS) at levels of 0% MS in group 1 (G1, control), 20% MS in group 2 (G2), and 40% MS in group 3 (G3). The digestibility coefficients of the organic matter, dry matter, crude fiber, crude protein, ether extract, nitrogen-free extract, and total digestible nutrients increased (P < 0.05) upon feeding MS to G2 and G3. The amounts of dry matter, total digestible nutrients, and digestible crude protein required per 1 kg 3.5% fat-corrected milk (FCM) were lower (P < 0.05) in G2 and G3 vs. G1. Actual milk and 3.5% FCM yield increased (P < 0.05) with the increasing MS dietary level. G2 and G3 had the highest significant (P < 0.05) total solids, total protein, non-protein nitrogen, casein, ash, fat, solids not fat, lactose, and calcium contents compared with G1. Replacing yellow corn grain with MS in G2 and G3 significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the cholesterol concentration and AST activity. Feeding MS increased the concentrations of caprioc, caprylic, capric, stearic, oleic, elaidic, and linoleic acids and decreased the concentrations of butyric, laueic, tridecanoic, myristic, myristoleic, pentadecanoic, heptadecanoic, cis-10-Heptadecanoic, cis-11-eicosenoic, linolenic, arachidonic, and lignoseric acids in the milk fat. The results show that the replacement of corn grain with MS improved the digestibility, milk yield, feed conversion, and economic efficiency, with no adverse effects on the performance of Damascus goats.

Byproducts of Globe Artichoke and Cauliflower Production as a New Source of Bioactive Compounds in the Green Economy Perspective: An NMR Study

The recovery of bioactive compounds from crop byproducts leads to a new perspective way of waste reutilization as a part of the circular economy. The present study aimed at an exhaustive metabolite profile characterization of globe artichoke and cauliflower byproducts (leaves, stalks, and florets for cauliflower only) as a prerequisite for their valorization and future implementations. The metabolite profile of aqueous and organic extracts of byproducts was analyzed using the NMR-based metabolomics approach. Free amino acids, organic acids, sugars, polyols, polyphenols, amines, glucosinolates, fatty acids, phospho- and galactolipids, sterols, and sesquiterpene lactones were identified and quantified. In particular, globe artichoke byproducts are a source of health-beneficial compounds including chiro-inositol (up to 10.1 mg/g), scyllo-inositol (up to 1.8 mg/g), sesquiterpene lactones (cynaropicrin, grosheimin, dehydrocynaropicrin, up to 45.5 mg/g in total), inulins, and chlorogenic acid (up to 7.5 mg/g), whereas cauliflower byproducts enclose bioactive sulfur-containing compounds S-methyl-L-cysteine S-oxide (methiin, up to 20.7 mg/g) and glucosinolates. A variable content of all metabolites was observed depending on the crop type (globe artichoke vs. cauliflower) and the plant part (leaves vs. stalks). The results here reported can be potentially used in different ways, including the formulation of new plant biostimulants and food supplements.

The ‘Edge Effect’ Phenomenon in Plants: Morphological, Biochemical and Mineral Characteristics of Border Tissues

The ‘edge’ effect is considered one of the fundamental ecological phenomena essential for maintaining ecosystem integrity. The properties of plant outer tissues (root, tuber, bulb and fruit peel, tree and shrub bark, leaf and stem trichomes) mimic to a great extent the ‘edge’ effect properties of different ecosystems, which suggests the possibility of the ‘edge’ effect being applicable to individual plant organisms. The most important characteristics of plant border tissues are intensive oxidant stress, high variability and biodiversity of protection mechanisms and high adsorption capacity. Wide variations in morphological, biochemical and mineral components of border tissues play an important role in the characteristics of plant adaptability values, storage duration of roots, fruit, tubers and bulbs, and the diversity of outer tissue practical application. The significance of outer tissue antioxidant status and the accumulation of polyphenols, essential oil, lipids and minerals, and the artificial improvement of such accumulation is described in connection with plant tolerance to unfavorable environmental conditions. Methods of plant ‘edge’ effect utilization in agricultural crop breeding, production of specific preparations with powerful antioxidant value and green nanoparticle synthesis of different elements have been developed. Extending the ‘edge’ effect phenomenon from ecosystems to individual organisms is of fundamental importance in agriculture, pharmacology, food industry and wastewater treatment processes.

Sustainable Extraction Methods Affect Metabolomics and Oxidative Stability of Myrtle Seed Oils Obtained from Myrtle Liqueur By-Products: An Electron Paramagnetic Resonance and Mass Spectrometry Approach

Myrtle liqueur production generates high amounts of by-products that can be employed for the extraction of bioactive compounds. Bio-based, non-toxic and biodegradable solvents (ethyl acetate and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran), and a mechanical extraction were applied to myrtle seeds, by-products of the liqueur production, to extract oils rich in phenolic compounds. The oils obtained were characterized for yield, peroxide value (PV), lipid composition, and total phenolic concentration (TPC). The phenolic profile of the oils, determined by LC-MS, the antioxidant activity, and the oxidative stability were also analyzed. A validated UHPLC-ESI-QTRAP-MS/MS analytical method in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode was applied to quantify myricetin and its main derivatives in myrtle oils. The results pointed out clear differences among extraction methods on myricetin concentration. The oxidative stability of myrtle oils was studied with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy highlighting the effect of the extraction method on the oxidation status of the oils and the role of phenolic compounds in the evolution of radical species over time. A principal component analysis applied to LC-MS data highlighted strong differences among phenolic profiles of the oils and highlighted the role of myricetin in the oxidative stability of myrtle oils. Myrtle oil, obtained from the by-products of myrtle liqueur processing industry, extracted with sustainable and green methods might have potential application in food or cosmetic industries.

3D Printing Approach to Valorization of Agri-Food Processing Waste Streams

With increasing evidence of their relevance to resource recovery, waste utilization, zero waste, a circular economy, and sustainability, food-processing waste streams are being viewed as an aspect of both research and commercial interest. Accordingly, different approaches have evolved for their management and utilization. With excellent levels of customization, three-dimensional (3D) printing has found numerous applications in various sectors. The focus of this review article is to explain the state of the art, innovative interventions, and promising features of 3D printing technology for the valorization of agri-food processing waste streams. Based on recent works, this article covers two aspects: the conversion of processing waste streams into edible novel foods or inedible biodegradable materials for food packing and allied applications. However, this application domain cannot be limited to only what is already established, as there are ample prospects for several other application fields intertwining 3D food printing and waste processing. In addition, this article presents the key merits of the technology and emphasizes research needs and directions for future work on this disruptive technology, specific to food-printing applications.

Review of food upcycling in South Korea: regulation, limitation, and prospects

In the present review, examples, regulations, limitation, and prospects of food upcycling in South Korea were discussed. When food loss rate was analyzed from the 2015-2020 data of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), most foods cause a food loss between 0 and 10% before consumption. Various examples of food upcycling have been reported in South Korea, including carrot, pomegranate, broccoli, green onion, onion, garlic, rice, yuza, and etc. For upcycling of these byproducts in South Korea, permission from recycling environmental assessment system is necessary except for circulating resources like coffee ground, rice bran, and rick husk. Major limitations of food upcycling are the risk of microbiological, chemical hazards and low marketability. However, companies will actively upcycling the by-products in line with Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) trends. Therefore, Korean governments should check the related regulations seriously to activate food upcycling industry.

Humic substances from composted fennel residues control the inflammation induced by Helicobacter pylori infection in AGS cells

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a common human pathogen causing inflammation. Recent studies have suggested a sophisticated interplay between mitochondria, innate immunity and inflammatory response, thus proposing mitochondrial disfunction as the hallmark of severe inflammatory disorders. In this study, humic substances isolated from composted fennel residues (HS-FEN) were tested as potential therapeutical strategy to restore the mitochondrial physiology and control the inflammation associated with H. pylori infection. The molecular features of HS-FEN were characterized by infrared spectrometry, thermochemolysis-GC/MS, NMR spectroscopy, and high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC), which revealed the presence of aromatic polyphenolic components arranged in a rather stable conformation. In vitro results showed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of HS-FEN, that was found to increase the expression level of OPA-1 and SOD-2 genes and in AGS cells stimulated with H. pylori culture filtrate (Hpcf) and concomitantly decrease the expression level of Drp-1 gene and IL-12, IL-17 and G-CSF proteins. The hydrophobic features of HS, their conformational arrangement and large content of bioactive molecules may explain the beneficial effects of HS-FEN, that may potentially become an interesting source of anti-inflammatory agents capable to counteract or prevent the H. pylori-related inflammatory disorders.

Anthocyanins from Agro-Industrial Food Waste: Geographical Approach and Methods of Recovery-A Review

Drastic growth in the amount of global food waste produced is observed every year, not only due to incessant population growth but also economic growth, lifestyle, and diet changes. As a result of their increasing health awareness, people are focusing more on healthy diets rich in fruits and vegetables. Thus, following worldwide fruit and vegetable consumption and their processing in various industries (juice, jams, wines, preserves), significant quantities of agro-industrial waste are produced (pomace, peels, seeds) that still contain high concentrations of bioactive compounds. Among bioactive compounds, anthocyanins have an important place, with their multiple beneficial effects on health; therefore, their extraction and recovery from food waste have become a topic of interest in recent years. Accordingly, this review aims to summarize the primary sources of anthocyanins from food waste and the novel eco-friendly extraction methods, such as pulsed electric field extraction, enzyme-assisted extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, pressurized liquid extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, and ultrasonic-assisted extraction. The advantages and disadvantages of these techniques will also be covered to encourage future studies and opportunities focusing on improving these extraction techniques.