Pathogenic microbial contamination is significantly influenced by the crop surface properties and surfactant use, which are crucial factors for the postharvest washing process. However, there is little information on the interaction between surfactant and food pathogens on food crops. Thus, this study (1) investigated whether the attachment of Salmonella increases as pesticides denature epicuticular wax crystals and (2) tested if the antibacterial effect of ozonated water can be improved on waxy produce surfaces by adding surfactant to ozonated water. As a result, significantly lower levels of Salmonella Typhimurium attached to waxy leaf surfaces than they did to glossy and pesticide-treated waxy leaf surfaces (3.28 as opposed to 4.10 and 4.32 Log colony forming units (CFU)/cm2, respectively), suggesting that the pesticide containing a surfactant application increased the attachment of S. Typhiumurium on waxy leaf surfaces. There was no significant washing effect on waxy leaf surfaces... [more]

Oil palm leaves (OPL) containing flavonoid C-glycosides are abundantly generated as oil palm byproducts. The performances of three macroporous resins with different physical and chemical properties for the enrichment of isoorientin, orientin, vitexin, and isovitexin from acid-hydrolyzed OPL (OPLAH) extract were screened. The XAD7HP resin exhibited the best sorption capacities for the targeted flavonoid C-glycosides and was thus selected for further evaluation. Static adsorption using the XAD7HP resin under optimal conditions (extract adjusted to pH 5, shaken at 298 K for 24 h) gave adsorption kinetics that fit well with a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The adsorption of isoorientin and orientin was well described by Langmuir isotherms, while vitexin and isovitexin fit well with the Freundlich isotherms. Dynamic sorption trials using the column-packed XAD7HP resin produced 55−60-fold enrichment of isovitexin and between 11 and 25-fold enrichment of isoorientin, vitexin, and orientin... [more]

Nowadays, much interest is devoted to the extraction of plant materials, considering also their waste and by-products, to obtain antioxidant-rich products. The effect of household microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) on the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of Lycium barbarum leaf extracts was investigated. An experimental design approach was adopted considering solid/liquid ratio (1, 3, and 5 g of leaves in 150 mL water), irradiation time (1, 3, and 5 min), and microwave power (300, 400, and 500 W) as independent variables. These three factors and their interactions were studied to evaluate the effect of MAE conditions on the responses of total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and chlorogenic acid content. The results showed that the analytical parameters were positively influenced by the solid/liquid ratio and time. On the contrary, microwave power was inversely correlated with the investigated responses. This research revealed that microwave extraction conditions shoul... [more]

Seed oil blending is a novel approach that may enhance the oil antioxidant capacity. The study evaluated the effect of blending sunflower oil (SO) with pomegranate seed oil (BPSO) from blanched seeds (95 °C/ 3 min) on oxidative stability and antioxidant properties of the oil blends. SO and pomegranate seed oil from unblanched seeds (PSO) were used as controls. Blending SO with BPSO and PSO was assessed in the following respective proportions: 90:10, 85:15, and 80:20 (w/w) with respect to total phenolic content, total carotenoids content, tocopherols content, and fatty acid composition to establish the best blending ratio. An accelerated storage test was conducted using the best blending ratio (85:15) at 60 ± 2 °C for 20 days. The evolution of peroxide value, ρ-anisidine value and, total oxidation value, together with the depletion of the oils’ 2.2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 2.2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and radicals scavenging capacity were ev... [more]

Oral mucositis (OM) is the oral inflammation as manifestation of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Cinnamomum osmophloeum (CO), of which the constituents possess anti-inflammatory activities, may have potential to alleviate OM. In this study, laboratory rats were injected with 5-Fluororacil and their oral mucosa were irritated by 18-gauge needle pouching to induce OM. Rats were randomly divided into six experimental groups: without treatment (WT), only 100 mg/mL CO leaf extract (COLE) treatment (100-only), only 5-Fluororacil treatment (5-FU), 5-FU then treated with Triamcinolone acetonide orobase (5-FU+G), 5-FU then treated with 50 mg/mL COLE, and 5-FU then treated with 100 mg/mL COLE (5-FU+100). Body weights and food and water intakes during the experimental period were recorded. Macroscopic examination, histopathological analyses, and serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels of these rats were evaluated or determined. No significa... [more]

Beetroot is a widely consumed crop all over the world and contains plenty of bioactive compounds. In this study, we analyzed the bioactive as well as the antimicrobial properties of the oven-dried beetroot (pulp and peel) using different solvents. The 50% methanolic extract yielded the highest content of total polyphenols and total flavonoids as well as the reducing power of the beetroot. The beetroot peel exhibited a higher content of total polyphenols, total flavonoids, and reducing power activity under all the extraction solvents. Mixture of methanol and water (50% v/v) extracted the highest chlorogenic acid (78.24 mg/100 g) of the dried beetroot peel, while 1,2-dihydroxybenzene was the most noteworthy phenolic compound (42.52 mg/100 g) in beetroot peel methanolic extract. The 50% methanolic extract of both peel and pulp demonstrated the highest antibacterial and anticandidal potential. These results can be helpful for beetroot consumption.

Marine algae are becoming an interesting source of biologically active compounds with a promising application as nutraceuticals, functional food ingredients, and therapeutic agents. The effect of drying (freeze-drying, oven-drying, and shade-drying) and extraction methods (shaking at room temperature, shaking in an incubator at 60 °C, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE)) on the total phenolics content (TPC), total flavonoids content (TFC), and total tannins content (TTC), as well as antioxidant capacity of the water/ethanol extracts from Padina pavonica were investigated. The TPC, TFC, and TTC values of P. pavonica were in the range from 0.44 ± 0.03 to 4.32 ± 0.15 gallic acid equivalents in mg/g (mg GAE/g) dry algae, from 0.31 ± 0.01 to 2.87 ± 0.01 mg QE/g dry algae, and from 0.32 ± 0.02 to 10.41 ± 0.62 mg CE/g dry algae, respectively. The highest TPC was found in the freeze-dried sample in 50% ethanol, extracted by MAE (200 W, 60 °C, and 5 min... [more]

Soil metal contamination in recreational shooting ranges represents a widespread environmental problem. Lead (Pb) is the primary component of traditional ammunition, followed by metalloids such as antimony (Sb) and arsenic (As). Lead-based bullets and pellets deposited on the soil surface are subject to steady weathering; hence, metal(loid)s are released and accumulated in the underlying soil, with potential adverse consequences for ecosystem function and human health. Amongst the currently available environmentally-safe technologies for the remediation of metal-contaminated soils, chemical immobilization is recognized as the most practical and cost-effective one. This technology often uses inorganic and organic amendments to reduce metal mobility, bioavailability and toxicity (environmental benefits). Likewise, amendments may also promote and speed up the re-establishment of vegetation on metal-affected soils, thus facilitating the conversion of abandoned shooting ranges into public g... [more]

Bee pollen is commonly reputed as a rich source of nutrients, both for bees and humans. Its composition is well balanced and can be taken as a stand-alone food or as supplement, including for the elderly owing its low caloric value. However, storage conditions frequently lead to product degradation, namely due to the high moisture content that enable the proliferation of molds and bacteria. Herein, an infrared (IR)-based technology is proposed as a mean to determine moisture content, setting also a new scalable approach for the development of a drying technology to be used for bee pollen processing, which can be carried out in a short time, without impacting the phenolic and flavonoid content and associated bioactive effects. Proof-of-concept was attained with an IR moisture analyzer, bee pollen samples from Eucalyptus globulus Labill and Salix atrocinerea Brot. being selected as models. Impact of the IR radiation towards the phenolic and flavonoid profiles was screened by HPLC/DAD pro... [more]

Mozzarella cheese can be considered by far the world’s most popular Italian dairy product. Extending the shelf life of mozzarella cheese is an important issue in the dairy industry due to the high risk of contamination by several bacteria species, including spoilage pseudomonads. In this work, active packaging was prepared by coating traditional polyethylene terephthalate (PET) containers of “ovoline” mozzarella cheese with a food-grade resin mixed with a layered double hydroxide (LDH) in which salicylate anion was intercalatedby ionic exchange.. This antimicrobial molecule is listed in EC-Directive 10/2011/EC of 14 January 2011. Morphological arrangement of the molecule into the LDH layers was evaluated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and controlled release followed by UV spectroscopy. Then, active trays were used to pack the mozzarella cheeses stored for 20 days at 4 °C and under thermal abuse (15 °C). Samples from both conditions showed coliform reduction (by ca. 2 log CFU/g) throughout... [more]

This research was conducted to determine the effects of selected inoculant on the silage with different wilting times. The ryes were unwilted or wilted for 12 h. Each rye forage was ensiled for 100 d in quadruplicate with commercial inoculant (Lactobacillus plantarum sp.; LPT) or selected inoculant (Lactobacillus brevis 100D8 and Leuconostoc holzapfelii 5H4 at 1:1 ratio; MIX). In vitro dry matter digestibility and in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility were highest in the unwilted MIX silages (p < 0.05), and the concentration of ruminal acetate was increased in MIX silages (p < 0.001; 61.4% vs. 60.3%) by the increase of neutral detergent fiber digestibility. The concentration of ruminal ammonia-N was increased in wilted silages (p < 0.001; 34.8% vs. 21.1%). The yeast count was lower in the MIX silages than in the LPT silages (p < 0.05) due to a higher concentration of acetate in MIX silages (p < 0.05). Aerobic stability was highest in the wilted MIX silages (p &l... [more]

Foodborne diseases have been witnessing a constant rising trend worldwide, mainly caused by pathogenic microorganisms, such as Bacillus spp., posing a direct threat to public health. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the biological risk of foodborne and probiotic Bacillus spp. in Beijing markets. A total of 55 Bacillus isolates, including 29 B. cereus, 9 B. licheniformis and 7 B. subtilis, mostly found in dairy products (32.7%), were recovered from 106 samples and identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry and polymerase chain reaction methods. The susceptibility towards 16 antibiotics was determined using a broth microdilution method. Bacillus showed a high level of resistance to florfenicol (100%), lincomycin (100%), tiamulin (78.2%) and ampicillin (67.3%), while they were all susceptible or intermediate to vancomycin and rifampin. Additionally, we obtained the whole genome of 19 Bacillus strains using high-throughput sequencing, and the rates... [more]

is a medicinal herb with an extensive pharmacological profile that has been proven to have beneficial effects in oral and gastrointestinal disorders. However, the effects of this plant in oral, pharyngeal, and colorectal malignancies, types of cancer with an increased incidence in recent years, are less investigated. The present study aims to evaluate the pharmacological profile of a Melissa officinalis total extract for potential benefits in oral, pharynx and colorectal carcinoma. The LC-MS profile of MO total extract (MOte) indicated a rich content in polyphenols, data that support the potent antioxidant capacity exhibited and the antimicrobial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. In addition, MOte triggered a dose-dependent and selective decrease in the viability of tumor cells (tongue and pharynx squamous cell carcinomas, and colorectal adenocarcinoma), with the most significant effect being recorded at 100 μg/mL. At the same concentration, MOte exhibited... [more]

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid compound found in hemp plants that has recently sparked interest in the biomedical and food industries. CBD is a natural decarboxylated product of cannabidiolic acid (CBDA). In this study, processing parameters were developed to enhance the decarboxylation process of CBDA in hemp leaves using hot-melt extrusion (HME). The hemp leaves were formulated with two different acid-based polymers, namely ascorbic acid (AA) and ascorbyl palmitate (AP), before the HME. The results showed that the carboxylation process of CBDA was increased by at least 2.5 times in the extrudate leaves and the content of the CBD was four times higher when formulated with AP (2800 µg/g) compared with the raw leaves (736 µg/g). The total phenolic and total flavonoid content, as well as the DPPH antioxidant capacity, were higher in the AP formulated extrudate. At the same time, the Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content was reduced by half in the extrudate compared w... [more]

Since the 1950s, microalgae have been grown commercially in man-made cultivation units and used for biomass production as a source of food and feed supplements, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and lately biofuels, as well as a means for wastewater treatment and mitigation of atmospheric CO2 build-up. In this work, photosynthesis and growth affecting variables—light intensity, pH, CO2/O2 exchange, nutrient supply, culture turbulence, light/dark cell cycling, biomass density and culture depth (light path)—are reviewed as concerns in microalgae mass cultures. Various photosynthesis monitoring techniques were employed to study photosynthetic performance to optimize the growth of microalgae strains in outdoor cultivation units. The most operative and reliable techniques appeared to be fast-response ones based on chlorophyll fluorescence and oxygen production monitoring, which provide analogous results.

The implementation of the traditional meat safety control system has significantly contributed to increasing food safety and public health protection. However, several biological hazards have emerged in meat production, requiring a comprehensive approach to their control, as traditional methods of meat inspection at the slaughterhouse are not able to detect them. While national control programs exist for the most important meat-related hazards, similar data are still lacking for certain neglected threats, such as Yersinia enterocolitica or Toxoplasma gondii. The obstacle in controlling these hazards in the meat chain is their presence in latently infected, asymptomatic animals. Their effective control can only be achieved through systematic preventive measures, surveillance or monitoring, and antimicrobial interventions on farms and in slaughterhouses. To establish such a system, it is important to collect all relevant data on hazard-related epidemiological indicators from the meat cha... [more]

This paper presents a long-range (LoRa)-based Internet of Things (IoT) system that consists of a series of IoT units in the field, as well as several servers for agriculture monitoring and pump control in water bamboo fields. Four types of IoT units were developed in accordance with the application’s need based on LoRa technology. Front- and back-end servers were constructed for data delivery, storage, and visualization, forming a complete solution. Another key feature is making a traditional submersible pump programmable with one IoT unit attached to the magnetic contactor in the electricity distribution box. Moreover, this paper presents design details of the proposed system and field experiment results for function validation. This IoT system is the first step in our project of revealing the relationship between farming and environmental reaction. This makes proposing a new farming procedure possible in the future.

Monitoring the development of the bacterial community in packaged raw meat refrigerated until two weeks is important for identifying the spoilage-related bacteria, preventing meat putrefaction, and prolong the shelf life. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of vacuum-packaging (VP) on the development of spoilage-related bacterial profiles in chilled ostrich meat among three manufacturing batches produced in different periods by using culture-dependent and 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing. Similar to the culture-dependent method, 16S rDNA sequencing showed that Photobacterium was the most prevalent genus detected in VP ostrich meat after 14 days of cold storage. The second-largest group was the population of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), mainly dominated by Carnobacteriaceae including Carnobacterium spp. and Lactobacillaceae with Lactobacillus spp. Our results suggest that these taxa could contribute to spoilage of VP ostrich meat and shorten its shelf life, especially Photobacterium s... [more]

The impact of selected non-Saccharomyces yeasts on the occurrence of ethyl carbamate (EC) was evaluated. Hanseniaspora uvarum, Starmerella bacillaris, Pichia terricola, Pichia fermentans and Pichia kluyveri isolated from Madeira Island vineyards were inoculated in Tinta Negra musts. Urea, citrulline (Cit) and arginine (Arg) were quantified when the density of musts attained the levels to obtain sweet (1052 ± 5 g/L) and dry (1022 ± 4 g/L) Madeira wines. The urea concentration varied between 1.3 and 5.3 mg/L, Cit from 10.6 to 15.1 mg/L and Arg between 687 and 959 mg/L. P. terricola and S. bacillaris generated lower levels of urea (<2.5 mg/L), Cit (<11.0 mg/L) and Arg (<845.6 mg/L). The five resulting fortified wines, individually fermented by the selected non-Saccharomyces yeast, were exposed to laboratory-accelerated aging at 70 °C for 1 month. From the studied yeasts, P. terricola and S. bacillaris revealed a lower potential to form EC (<100 µg/L); therefore, both yeasts ca... [more]

Bio-oil is a promising source of chemicals and renewable fuels. As the liquid phase obtained from the pyrolysis of biomass, the composition and amount of bio-oil generated depend not only on the type of the biomass but also on the conditions under which pyrolysis is performed. Most fossil fuels can be replaced by bio-oil-derived products. Thus, bio-oil can be used directly or co-fed along with fossil fuels in boilers, transformed into fuel for car engines by hydrodeoxygenation or even used as a more suitable source for H2 production than biomass. On the other hand, due to its rich composition in compounds resulting from the pyrolysis of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, bio-oil co-acts as a source of various value-added chemicals such as aromatic compounds. This review presents an overview of the potential applications of bio-oils and the pyrolysis conditions under which they are obtained. Then, different extraction methods for value-added chemicals, along with the most recent devel... [more]

In this study, rice-phenolic acid complexes were prepared by processing rice kernels in chlorogenic acid (CGA) solutions of different concentrations, followed by heating at different adsorption times. An adsorption treatment of 80 °C for 3 h effectively enhanced the complexation of rice samples with CGA (3.86 mg/g) and imparted antioxidant capacities to the complex. An apparent interaction between CGA and rice starch molecules was suggested by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry analysis. Our results revealed that rice samples were functionalized with CGA by modifying their physicochemical properties by increasing swelling ability (9.1%) and breakdown value (24.7%), and retarding retrogradation (−9.8%). The complexation of rice with a high dose of CGA could significantly reduce in vitro and in vivo starch digestibility by 41.9% and 23.0%, respectively, relative to control. This treatment is considered a potential way to confer rice with an increased resistance to digestion, along... [more]

Kiwifruit hold significant nutritional value and are a good source of antioxidants due to their diverse range of bioactive compounds. Kiwifruit waste is generated throughout the food supply chain, particularly during transportation and storage. Kiwifruit rejected from the retail market due to unfavorable appearance still possess potential economic value as kiwifruit are abundant in phenolic compounds. The present work studied the phenolic profile and antioxidant potential of rejected kiwifruit, including SunGold (Actinidia chinensis), Hayward (Actinidia deliciosa), and round organic Hayward (Actinidia deliciosa). Regarding phenolics estimation, SunGold possessed the highest TPC (0.72 ± 0.01 mg GAE/g), while Hayward exhibited the highest TFC (0.05 ± 0.09 mg QE/g). In antioxidant assays, SunGold showed the highest antioxidant activities in DPPH (0.31 ± 0.35 mg AAE/g), FRAP (0.48 ± 0.04 mg AAE/g), ABTS (0.69 ± 0.07 mg AAE/g), •OH-RSA (0.07 ± 0.03 mg AAE/g) assays, and FICA (0.19 ± 0.07 mg... [more]

Sea buckthorn fruit is abundant with essential nutrients and bioactive substances, yet it remains less sought after. Therefore, it is valuable to explore new ways of sea buckthorn fruit processing, which can boost consumer acceptance of sea buckthorn fruit and also lead to formulation of new functional foods. In the presented review, we summarize studies focused on development of foods utilizing sea buckthorn fruit or its components and bacterial food cultures. Firstly, we discuss the impact of malolactic fermentation on content and profile of organic acids and polyphenols of sea buckthorn fruit juice. During this process, changes in antioxidant and sensory properties are considerable. Secondly, we address the role of sea buckthorn fruit and its components in formulating novel probiotic dairy and non-dairy products. In this regard, a synergic effect of prebiotic material and probiotic bacteria against pathogens is distinguished. Overall, the potential of sea buckthorn fruit as a botani... [more]

Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) has gained in the last years increasing attention due to its richness in bioactive metabolites with health properties, making this variety an attractive candidate for promising developments in nutraceutical and cosmeceutical fields. According to the conditions planned by the experimental design approach, the ultrasound-assisted extraction of the phenol fraction from P. ostreatus was performed by evaluating the influence of critical variables (solvent, solvent/solid ratio, time, temperature) on total phenol content and antioxidant activity. The results of the optimization showed that a more performing extraction can be obtained with the highest values of solvent/solid ratio and water % in ethanol. The optimal extraction conditions were applied to four P. ostreatus samples, differing for geographical origin and growth substrate. The hydroalcoholic extracts were characterized in terms of total phenol content, and in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial... [more]

Olive oil dregs (OOD), which are an underutilized by-product from oil mills, were used for the extraction of antioxidant compounds. The residues from three oil mills located in Campania (Southern Italy) were extracted with acidified methanol, and hydroxytyrosol (HT) was the main phenolic compound detected. Total phenolic content (TPC) and HT amount were measured. EVO Campania oil mill provided the residue with the highest TPC and HT quantities: 6.801 ± 0.159 mg Gallic Acid Equivalents (GAE)/g OOD and 519.865 ± 9.082 μg/g OOD, respectively. Eco-friendly extractions at different temperatures and times were performed on EVO Campania OOD, obtaining 9.122 ± 0.104 mg GAE/g OOD and 541.330 ± 64.087 μg/g OOD for TPC and HT, respectively, at 121 °C for 60 min. Radical Scavenging Activity (RSA), Superoxide Scavenging Activity (SSA), and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) were measured in OOD aqueous extracts. Extract prepared at 37 °C for 60 min showed the greatest RSA and SSA values (44.1... [more]