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Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a promising natural polymer prized for its biocompatibility, microporosity, transparency, conformability, elasticity, and ability to maintain a moist wound environment while absorbing exudates. These attributes make BC an attractive material in biomedical applications, particularly in skin tissue repair. However, its lack of inherent antimicrobial activity limits its effectiveness. In this study, BC was enhanced by incorporating cerium (IV)-oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles, resulting in a series of bacterial cellulose-CeO2 (BC-CeO2) composite materials. Characterization via FESEM, XRD, and FTIR confirmed the successful synthesis of the composites. Notably, BC-CeO2-1 exhibited no cytotoxic or genotoxic effects on peripheral blood lymphocytes, and it additionally protected cells from genotoxic and cytotoxic effects in H2O2-treated cultures. Redox parameters in blood plasma samples displayed concentration and time-dependent trends in PAB and LPP assays. The incorporation of CeO2 nanoparticles also bolstered antimicrobial activity, expanding the potential biomedical applications of these composites.

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a promising natural polymer prized for its biocompatibility, microporosity, transparency, conformability, elasticity, and ability to maintain a moist wound environment while absorbing exudates. These attributes make BC an attractive material in biomedical applications, particularly in skin tissue repair. However, its lack of inherent antimicrobial activity limits its effectiveness. In this study, BC was enhanced by incorporating cerium (IV)-oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles, resulting in a series of bacterial cellulose-CeO2 (BC-CeO2) composite materials. Characterization via FESEM, XRD, and FTIR confirmed the successful synthesis of the composites. Notably, BC-CeO2-1 exhibited no cytotoxic or genotoxic effects on peripheral blood lymphocytes, and it additionally protected cells from genotoxic and cytotoxic effects in H2O2-treated cultures. Redox parameters in blood plasma samples displayed concentration and time-dependent trends in PAB and LPP assays. The incorporation of CeO2 nanoparticles also bolstered antimicrobial activity, expanding the potential biomedical applications of these composites.

Proteini glutena spadaju u visokonutritivno vredne proteine koji čine osnovnu hemijsku građu zrna žitarica, kao što su pšenica, raž i ječam. Međutim, ovi proteini odlikuju se visokim sadržajem glutamina i prolamina što ih čini otporne na enzime (Pepsin, Tripsin i Himotripsin) prisutne u digestivnom traktu ljudi. Kao posledica toga, konzumiranjem proizvoda bogatih glutenom obrazuju se velike peptidne frakcije koje iniciraju imunogenu reakciju, čineći tako ovaj protein jednim od najznačajnih prehrambenih alergena. Upravo naveden problem poslužio je kao polazna osnova za kreiranje cilja ove doktorske disertacije, u kojoj su istraživanja bazirana na primeni enzima kao biokatalizatora prirodnog porekla i nekonvencionalnih termičkih tretmana, poput mikrotalasnog zračenja, zarad proizvodnje i modifikacije nealergenih proteina glutena. Generalno, u okviru ove disertacije pristupilo se definisanju parametara netermičkih postupaka za modifikaciju proteina glutena iz pšenice kakav je mikrotalasno zračenje pod kontrolisanim uslovima u odgovarajućem reaktoru, a sve u cilju smanjenja alergenosti, odnosno sadržaja alergenih epitopa glutena. Osim toga, u cilju smanjenja alergenosti pšeničnog glutena pristupilo se i razvoju biotehnološkog postupka zasnovanog na primeni proteolitičkih enzima velike specifičnosti. Ovaj postupak je optimizovan uz pažljivo definisanje svih važnih procesnih parametara, ali je i upotpunjen i/ili dopunjen kombinovanjem sa mikrotalanim zračenjem. Kao izvor pšeničnog glutena, u okviru eksperimenata, korišćena su dva supstrata: • prvi, model protein glutena poreklom iz pšenice (bogat frakcijama glutenina i gliadina), i • drugi, komercijalno dostupna sirovina koja se koristi u svakodnevnoj ishrani ljudi, pšenično belo brašno. U svakoj fazi eksperimentalnog rada vršena je detaljna karakterizacija modifikovanog pšeničnog glutena, kako model proteina, tako i pšeničnog brašna. Karaktertizacija je podrazumevala ispitivanje alergenih svojstava modifikovanih proteina, Gluten proteins belong to highly nutritionally valuable proteins that make up the basic chemical structure of cereal grains, such as wheat, rye and barley. However, these proteins are characterized by a high content of glutamine and prolamin, which makes them resistant to enzymes (Pepsin, Trypsin and Chymotrypsin) present in the human digestive tract. As a consequence, by consuming products rich in gluten proteins, large peptide fractions are formed that initiate an immunogenic reaction, thus making gluten proteins one of the most important food allergens. The problem just mentioned served as the starting point for creating the goal of this doctoral dissertation, in which research is based on the application of enzymes as biocatalysts of natural origin and unconventional thermal treatments, such as microwave radiation, for the production and modification of non-allergenic gluten proteins. In general, within the framework of this dissertation, the parameters of non-thermal procedures for the modification of wheat gluten protein, such as microwave radiation under controlled conditions in a suitable reactor, were defined, all with the aim of reducing allergenicity, i.e. the content of allergenic gluten epitopes. In addition, in order to reduce the allergenicity of wheat gluten, the development of a biotechnological procedure based on the application of highly specific proteolytic enzymes was also undertaken. This procedure was optimized with careful definition of all important process parameters, but it was also completed and/or supplemented by combining it with microwave radiation. As a source of wheat gluten, two substrates were used in the experiments: • the first, a model of gluten protein originating from wheat (rich in glutenin and gliadin fractions), and • the second, a commercially available raw material used in the daily diet of people, wheat white flour. In each phase of the experimental work, a detailed characterization of the modified wheat gluten, both the

Maize is a globally significant cereal crop, contributing to the production of essential food products and serving as a pivotal resource for diverse industrial applications. This study investigated the proximate analysis of maize hybrids from different FAO maturity groups in Serbia, exploring variations in polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, tocopherols, and fatty acids with the aim of understanding how agroecological conditions influence the nutritional potential of maize hybrids. The results indicate substantial variations in nutritional composition and antioxidant properties among different maturity groups. The levels of total polyphenols varied among FAO groups, indicating that specific hybrids may offer greater health benefits. Flavonoids and carotenoids also showed considerable variation, with implications for nutritional quality. Tocopherol content varied significantly, emphasizing the diversity in antioxidant capacity. Fatty acid analysis revealed high levels of unsaturated fatty acids, particularly linoleic acid, indicating favorable nutritional and industrial properties. The study highlights the importance of considering maturity groups in assessing the nutritional potential of maize hybrids.

Vine shoots are the main by-products of grapevine pruning with no added value. In the present study, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) were used as alternatives to traditional chemical solvents, for the extraction of phytochemicals from grapevine shoots. Three levulinic acid-based DESs were tested for the first time, and their performance was compared to methanol (a standard chemical solvent) regarding the extraction of phenolic compounds from thirteen Vitis sp. shoots. Two extraction methods have been applied: ultrasound-assisted extraction and solid-liquid extraction. A total of eleven polyphenols which belongs to four families (proanthocyanins, stilbenes, hydroxycinnamic acids, and flavonols) have been identified and quantified in the extracts. The statistical analysis shows that the levulinic acid-based DES systems are novel and important alternatives to chemical solvents due to favourable eco-friendly properties and remarkable extraction performance of polyphenols. On the other hand, the ultrasound-assisted extraction technique has significantly increased the extraction rate in comparison to the solid-liquid extraction method with p-values lower than 0.05 for most compounds. The genetic factor has been shown to play an important role in the content of extracted polyphenols, being V. riparia pubescente the one that presented the highest concentrations of extracted polyphenols. Finally, the polyphenol-enriched extracts have proven important properties such as antioxidant activity and significant delay in bacteria growth against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. It is important to note that, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that deep eutectic solvents have been used for the extraction of bioactive compounds from vine shoot residues.

The quest for sustainable synthesis methods has led to the exploration of lychee peel extract (LCPEx) as an ecofriendly alternative in the field of nanomaterials. This groundbreaking study introduces the synthesis of lychee peel extract-based magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (LCPEx-MIONPs) and delves into their diverse applications. The meticulous methodology involved a multistep process for lychee peel extraction, resulting in the creation of LCPEx. The subsequent synthesis of LCPEx-MIONPs, achieved by combining the extract with iron chloride as a precursor and sodium hydroxide as a pH adjustor (set to 7.5), yielded nanoparticles with nanoscale dimensions (8.7± 0.4 nm) and diverse morphologies (cubic, hexagonal, spherical). Comprehensive characterization techniques, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), unveiled the structural attributes of LCPExMIONPs. The LCPEx exhibited robust antioxidant activity against DPPH, reaching its maximum inhibitory within only 5 minutes in a simple disc diffusion. The multifaceted antioxidant system of LCPEx-MIONPs exhibited an IC50 value of 202.3 µg/mL, highlighting the synergistic effects of lychee phytochemicals and magnetic ions. Beyond antioxidant capabilities, LCPEx-MIONPs, when incorporated into banana-based food preservation films, demonstrated significant prowess in grape preservation. The controlled release properties led to a notable reduction in water loss (9.3% on day 3 and 19.7% on day 6) compared to control grapes without LCPEx-MIONPs incorporated (18.2% on day 3 and 34.8% on day 6). This study significantly contributes to green nanotechnology, food preservation, and the development of eco-friendly hydrogels and bioplastic films, emphasizing the versatile applications of LCPEx-MIONPs in antioxidants, sustainable food preservation, and hydrogel-based bioplastics.

The photoperiod is the main environmental cue that drives seasonal adaptive responses in reproduction, behavior, and metabolism in seasonal animals. Increasing evidence suggests that (poly)phenols contained in fruits can also modulate seasonal rhythms. (Poly)phenol-rich diets are associated with an improvement in cognitive function and neuroprotection due to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. However, it is unknown whether cherries affect neuroprotection in a photoperiod-dependent manner. To test this, F344 rats were exposed to L6 (6 h light/day), L12 (12 h light/day) and L18 (18 h light/day) photoperiods and fed a standard chow diet supplemented with either a control, lyophilized cherry 1 or cherry 2 with distinctive phenolic hallmarks. Physiological parameters (body weight, eating pattern index (EPI), testosterone, T4/T3) and hypothalamic key genes (Dio2, Dio3, Raldh1 and Ghrh) were strongly regulated by the photoperiod and/or fruit consumption. Importantly, we show for the first time that neurotrophs (Bdnf, Sod1 and Gpx1) in the hippocampus are also regulated by the photoperiod. Furthermore, the consumption of cherry 2, which was richer in total flavonols, but not cherry 1, which was richer in total anthocyanins and flavanols, enhanced neuroprotection in the hippocampus. Our results show that the seasonal consumption of cherry with a specific phenolic composition plays an important role in the hippocampal activation of neuroprotection in a photoperiod-dependent manner.

The integrated valorization of food chain waste is one of the most promising alternatives in the transition to a sustainable bioeconomy. Thus, an efficient solid-phase matrix dispersion extraction method, using experimental factorial design and response surface methodology, has been developed and optimized for the recovery of polyphenols from defatted cherry seeds obtained after cherry liquor manufacture and subsequent fatty acid extraction, evaluating the effect of each processing step on the composition and phenolic content of sweet cherry residues. The phenolic extracts before fermentation showed the highest content of total polyphenols (TPC) and flavonoids (TFC) (3 ± 1 mg QE·g−1 and 1.37 ± 0.08 mg GAE·g−1, respectively), while the highest antioxidant capacity was obtained in the defatted seed extracts after both fermentation and distillation. In addition, high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS) was used to determine the phenolic profile. Dihydroxybenzoic acid, neochlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, and quercetin were the main phenolics found, showing differences in concentration between the stages of liquor production. The results underline the prospective of cherry by-products for obtaining phenol-rich bioactive extracts for possible use in different industrial sectors, offering a feasible solution for the cascade valorization of cherry agri-food waste., Depto. de Química Analítica, Depto. de Ingeniería Química y de Materiales, Fac. de Ciencias Químicas, TRUE, pub, Descuento UCM

Honey is an aromatic compound, a natural food that contains a large amount of nutritional value, which is used in nutrition, but also in medicine due to its medicinal properties. Bioactive compounds (phenols, carotenoids, unsaturated fatty acids, etc.) are considered beneficial to human health due to their potential positive effects. In a healthy diet, it is important to ensure a regular intake of foods that are rich in bioactive compounds, and one such natural food is honey. The degree of quality of honey is influenced by ecological, botanical and geographical factors, the method of storage and preservation of honey, but also the chemical and biochemical properties of honey, which are tested in laboratory conditions using appropriate methods.The results of numerous analyzes indicate the bioactive and pharmacological potential of honey (antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal potential, etc.), hence the reason for the widespread use of honey for nutritional, medical, therapeutic and other purposes., Kako u svakodnevnom životu ljudi još od davnina konzumiraju različite vrste meda istovremeno kao prirodnog zaslađivača i kao lek, cilj ovog istraživanja je utvrđivanje prisustva antioksidativnih supastanci, odnosno antioksidativne aktivnosti različitih vrsta meda. Postoji zavisnost između boje meda i antioksidativnog efekta, to jest svetlija boja meda ukazuje na manji antioksidativni efekat, a tamnija boja ukazuje na veći antioksidativni efekat. Antioksidativna svojstva hrane su jedna od redovnih analiza koje se rade na različitim izvorima hrane kako bi se otkrile njihove moguće sposobnosti za unapređenje zdravlja. Tako i ovaj naučni rad daje na značaju antioksidativnosti meda i njegove koristi za ljudsko zdravlje.

A simple non-equilibrium atmospheric plasma post-treatment strategy was developed for the surface coating of three-dimensional (3D) structures produced by digital light processing 3D printing. The influence of non-equilibrium atmospheric plasma on the chemical and physical properties of vanillin-derived Schiff-base thermosets and the dip-coating process was investigated and compared to the influence of traditional post-treatment with UV-light. As a comparison, thermosets without post-treatment were also subjected to the coating procedure. The results document that UV post-treatment can induce the completion of the curing of the printed thermosets if complete curing is not reached during printing. Conversely, the plasma post-treatment does not contribute to the curing of the thermoset but causes some opening of the imine bonds and the regeneration of aldehyde functions. As a consequence, no great differences are observed between the not post-treated and plasma post-treated samples in terms of mechanical, thermal, and solvent-resistant properties. In contrast to the UV post-treatment, the plasma post-treatment of the thermosets induces a noticeable increase of the thermoset hydrophilicity ascribed to the reformation of amines on the thermoset surface. The successful coating process and the greatest uniformity of the lignosulfonate coating on the surface of plasma post-treated samples are considered to be due to the presence of these amines and aldehydes. The investigation of the UV shielding properties and antioxidant activities documents the increase of both properties with the increasing amount and uniformity of the formed coating. Interestingly, evident antioxidant properties are also shown by the noncoated thermosets, which are deduced to their chemical structures., QC 20240704

Chronic wounds represent a burden for the healthcare system and significantly affect the quality of life of the patients. There is currently a lack of efficient treatments but new, improved therapeutic approaches are under development. Suggested innovative wound care therapies consist on the topical administration of bioactive compounds aimed at restoring the balance in the wound environment and promoting the healing. However, their effectiveness is limited due to the highly oxidative and proteolytic environment in the chronic wound. In the work presented in this thesis, a series of bioactive nanocellulose-based materials were developed with the aim of addressing some of the present demands in chronic wound care. Wood-derived cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) were functionalized with selected bioactive molecules expected to endow CNFs with the ability to modulate the chronic wound environment. Different chemical approaches were explored to combine CNFs with the following biomolecules: the amino acid cysteine, the peptide oligoproline and the host defense peptide KR-12. Materials were characterized in terms of chemical structure, degree of substitution and bioactivity. The immobilization of cysteine onto CNFs (cys-CNF) provided the material with radical oxygen species (ROS) scavenging properties and the ability to inhibit protease activity, properties that were related to the presence of free thiol groups on the nanofibers. Storage conditions in an inert atmosphere or in the form of aerogel were proposed to assure the long-term activity of the cys-CNF material. Investigations on the use of the ROS-sensitive oligoproline to crosslink CNFs provided optimized protocols to maximize peptide substitution and the degree of crosslinking. The oligoproline-CNF materials were sensitive to ROS-mediated cleavage and provided a protective effect to cells exposed to oxidative conditions. Moreover, the feasibility of preparing ROS-responsive drug delivery hydrogels based on the oligop

Chronic wounds represent a burden for the healthcare system and significantly affect the quality of life of the patients. There is currently a lack of efficient treatments but new, improved therapeutic approaches are under development. Suggested innovative wound care therapies consist on the topical administration of bioactive compounds aimed at restoring the balance in the wound environment and promoting the healing. However, their effectiveness is limited due to the highly oxidative and proteolytic environment in the chronic wound. In the work presented in this thesis, a series of bioactive nanocellulose-based materials were developed with the aim of addressing some of the present demands in chronic wound care. Wood-derived cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) were functionalized with selected bioactive molecules expected to endow CNFs with the ability to modulate the chronic wound environment. Different chemical approaches were explored to combine CNFs with the following biomolecules: the amino acid cysteine, the peptide oligoproline and the host defense peptide KR-12. Materials were characterized in terms of chemical structure, degree of substitution and bioactivity. The immobilization of cysteine onto CNFs (cys-CNF) provided the material with radical oxygen species (ROS) scavenging properties and the ability to inhibit protease activity, properties that were related to the presence of free thiol groups on the nanofibers. Storage conditions in an inert atmosphere or in the form of aerogel were proposed to assure the long-term activity of the cys-CNF material. Investigations on the use of the ROS-sensitive oligoproline to crosslink CNFs provided optimized protocols to maximize peptide substitution and the degree of crosslinking. The oligoproline-CNF materials were sensitive to ROS-mediated cleavage and provided a protective effect to cells exposed to oxidative conditions. Moreover, the feasibility of preparing ROS-responsive drug delivery hydrogels based on the oligop

Background: Lignin is a naturally occurring and aromatic biopolymer with well-known antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Thus, in this work, the use of cellulose nanofibers (CNF) and lignin to produce ultra-light aerogels for biomedical applications was studied. Aerogels containing varying amounts of lignin (0–30 wt%) and different concentrations of the crosslinking agent Fe3+ (25–100 mM) were developed. Results: The different bioaerogels were fully characterized and their physical, mechanical and bioactive properties analyzed. It was observed that the bioaerogels soluble fraction tends to decrease as the lignin content increases for the different Fe3+ concentrations, due to lignin–CNF interactions through hydrogen bonds. The bioaerogels containing lignin showed remarkable radical scavenging activity as the DPPH concentration decreased with time. This confirms the benefits of including lignin in bioaerogels to impart antioxidant properties. To study the suitability of the produced bioaerogels for controlled drug release, the release of tetracycline (TC) was studied. All of the bioaerogels released TC in a sustained manner for 6 h and presented similar profiles. However, the bioaerogels containing higher concentrations of crosslinker showed a higher release of TC. The TC loading conferred clear antimicrobial activity against S. aureus as expected, unlike the insignificant antimicrobial activity of the bioaerogels without TC. The biocompatibility of the samples was demonstrated for all materials produced (with and without TC loading) by the Kruskal–Wallis test with multiple comparisons. After observation of cell morphology, no significant differences were evident suggesting that the CNF–lignin bioaerogels present optimal biocompatibility for use in the biomedical and pharmaceutical industry. Conclusions: The CNF–lignin bioaerogels presented in this work highlights their promising application as biomedical applications, such as wound dressings due to their biocomp

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) is a pseudo-cereal of great interest for its nutritional value. Specifically, enzymatic hydrolysis of quinoa proteins has shown several biological activities. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of enzymatic hydrolysis on antioxidant by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) method and sensory properties of white, red and black quinoa varieties, and to evaluate the in vivo antioxidant capacity of the most promising quinoa hydrolysate using Saccharomyces cerevisiae BY4741 as an experimental model. The results showed a hydrolysate from red quinoa seeds with a promising sensory profile and antioxidant activity. Although more studies in experimental models and human trials will be necessary to corroborate the antioxidant effect and the mechanisms of action involved, the results obtained may allow the development of new plant-based foods with antioxidant properties scientifically supported and useful in the prevention and/or the treatment of pathologies related to oxidative stress.

In recent years, quinoa has been postulated as an emerging crop for the production of functional foods. Quinoa has been used to obtain plant protein hydrolysates with in vitro biological activity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the beneficial effect of red quinoa hydrolysate (QrH) on oxidative stress and cardiovascular health in an in vivo experimental model of hypertension (HTN) in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). The oral administration of QrH at 1000 mg/kg/day (QrHH) showed a significant reduction in SBP from baseline (−9.8 ± 4.5 mm Hg; p < 0.05) in SHR. The mechanical stimulation thresholds did not change during the study QrH groups, whereas in the case of SHR control and SHR vitamin C, a significant reduction was observed (p < 0.05). The SHR QrHH exhibited higher antioxidant capacity in the kidney than the other experimental groups (p < 0.05). The SHR QrHH group showed an increase in reduced glutathione levels in the liver compared to the SHR control group (p < 0.05). In relation to lipid peroxidation, SHR QrHH exhibited a significant decrease in plasma, kidney and heart malondialdehyde (MDA) values compared to the SHR control group (p < 0.05). The results obtained revealed the in vivo antioxidant effect of QrH and its ability to ameliorate HTN and its associated complications.

Chronic wounds represent a burden for the healthcare system and significantly affect the quality of life of the patients. There is currently a lack of efficient treatments but new, improved therapeutic approaches are under development. Suggested innovative wound care therapies consist on the topical administration of bioactive compounds aimed at restoring the balance in the wound environment and promoting the healing. However, their effectiveness is limited due to the highly oxidative and proteolytic environment in the chronic wound. In the work presented in this thesis, a series of bioactive nanocellulose-based materials were developed with the aim of addressing some of the present demands in chronic wound care. Wood-derived cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) were functionalized with selected bioactive molecules expected to endow CNFs with the ability to modulate the chronic wound environment. Different chemical approaches were explored to combine CNFs with the following biomolecules: the amino acid cysteine, the peptide oligoproline and the host defense peptide KR-12. Materials were characterized in terms of chemical structure, degree of substitution and bioactivity. The immobilization of cysteine onto CNFs (cys-CNF) provided the material with radical oxygen species (ROS) scavenging properties and the ability to inhibit protease activity, properties that were related to the presence of free thiol groups on the nanofibers. Storage conditions in an inert atmosphere or in the form of aerogel were proposed to assure the long-term activity of the cys-CNF material. Investigations on the use of the ROS-sensitive oligoproline to crosslink CNFs provided optimized protocols to maximize peptide substitution and the degree of crosslinking. The oligoproline-CNF materials were sensitive to ROS-mediated cleavage and provided a protective effect to cells exposed to oxidative conditions. Moreover, the feasibility of preparing ROS-responsive drug delivery hydrogels based on the oligop

The aim of this study was to produce an eco-innovative gluten-free bread with a pleasant taste and a unique formulation that includes the highest quality grains and pseudocereals (buckwheat; rice; and millet); and okara; a by-product of soy milk production. The mixture of pseudocereal and cereal flour contained buckwheat flour 45%, rice flour 33%, and millet flour 22%. Three gluten-free breads; each containing different contents of gluten-free flour (90%, 80%, and 70%, respectively); okara (10%, 20%, and 30%, respectively); and a control sample (without okara); were prepared and subjected to sensory evaluation. The okara-enriched gluten-free bread with the highest sensory score was selected for further analysis of physico-chemical (total proteins; total carbohydrates; insoluble fiber; soluble fiber; sugars; total lipids; saturated fatty acids; and salt) and functional properties (total phenolic content and antioxidant properties). The highest sensory scores were obtained for 30% okara-enriched gluten-free bread including taste; shape; odor; chewiness; and cross-section properties; classifying this bread in the category of very good quality and excellent quality (mean score 4.30 by trained evaluators and 4.59 by consumers). This bread was characterized by a high content of dietary fiber (14%), the absence of sugar; low content of saturated fatty acids (0.8%), rich source of proteins (8.8%) and certain minerals (e.g.,; iron; zinc); and low energy value (136.37 kcal/100g DW). Total phenolic content was 133.75 mgGAE/100g FW; whereas ferric reducing power; ABTS radical cation; and DPPH radical scavenging activity were 119.25 mgAA/100g FW; 86.80 mgTrolox/100g FW; and 49.92 mgTrolox/100g FW; respectively. Okara addition in gluten-free bread production enables the formulation of high-nutritive; good antioxidative; low-energy bread; and better soy milk waste management. © 2023 by the authors.

The aim of this study was to produce an eco-innovative gluten-free bread with a pleasant taste and a unique formulation that includes the highest quality grains and pseudocereals (buckwheat; rice; and millet); and okara; a by-product of soy milk production. The mixture of pseudocereal and cereal flour contained buckwheat flour 45%, rice flour 33%, and millet flour 22%. Three gluten-free breads; each containing different contents of gluten-free flour (90%, 80%, and 70%, respectively); okara (10%, 20%, and 30%, respectively); and a control sample (without okara); were prepared and subjected to sensory evaluation. The okara-enriched gluten-free bread with the highest sensory score was selected for further analysis of physico-chemical (total proteins; total carbohydrates; insoluble fiber; soluble fiber; sugars; total lipids; saturated fatty acids; and salt) and functional properties (total phenolic content and antioxidant properties). The highest sensory scores were obtained for 30% okara-enriched gluten-free bread including taste; shape; odor; chewiness; and cross-section properties; classifying this bread in the category of very good quality and excellent quality (mean score 4.30 by trained evaluators and 4.59 by consumers). This bread was characterized by a high content of dietary fiber (14%), the absence of sugar; low content of saturated fatty acids (0.8%), rich source of proteins (8.8%) and certain minerals (e.g.,; iron; zinc); and low energy value (136.37 kcal/100g DW). Total phenolic content was 133.75 mgGAE/100g FW; whereas ferric reducing power; ABTS radical cation; and DPPH radical scavenging activity were 119.25 mgAA/100g FW; 86.80 mgTrolox/100g FW; and 49.92 mgTrolox/100g FW; respectively. Okara addition in gluten-free bread production enables the formulation of high-nutritive; good antioxidative; low-energy bread; and better soy milk waste management. © 2023 by the authors.

Chronic wounds represent a burden for the healthcare system and significantly affect the quality of life of the patients. There is currently a lack of efficient treatments but new, improved therapeutic approaches are under development. Suggested innovative wound care therapies consist on the topical administration of bioactive compounds aimed at restoring the balance in the wound environment and promoting the healing. However, their effectiveness is limited due to the highly oxidative and proteolytic environment in the chronic wound. In the work presented in this thesis, a series of bioactive nanocellulose-based materials were developed with the aim of addressing some of the present demands in chronic wound care. Wood-derived cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) were functionalized with selected bioactive molecules expected to endow CNFs with the ability to modulate the chronic wound environment. Different chemical approaches were explored to combine CNFs with the following biomolecules: the amino acid cysteine, the peptide oligoproline and the host defense peptide KR-12. Materials were characterized in terms of chemical structure, degree of substitution and bioactivity. The immobilization of cysteine onto CNFs (cys-CNF) provided the material with radical oxygen species (ROS) scavenging properties and the ability to inhibit protease activity, properties that were related to the presence of free thiol groups on the nanofibers. Storage conditions in an inert atmosphere or in the form of aerogel were proposed to assure the long-term activity of the cys-CNF material. Investigations on the use of the ROS-sensitive oligoproline to crosslink CNFs provided optimized protocols to maximize peptide substitution and the degree of crosslinking. The oligoproline-CNF materials were sensitive to ROS-mediated cleavage and provided a protective effect to cells exposed to oxidative conditions. Moreover, the feasibility of preparing ROS-responsive drug delivery hydrogels based on the oligop

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. Current treatments for psoriasis include topical corticosteroids, immunomodulators, and phototherapy, but these treatments may have limited efficacy or cause side effects. Curcumin, a natural compound with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, has been shown to have potential as an alternative treatment for psoriasis. However, the low solubility and bioavailability of curcumin limit its effectiveness when administered orally or topically. Curcumin hydrogel, a topical formulation of curcumin, has been developed to address these limitations. In this review, we summarize the current research on the use of curcumin hydrogel in the treatment of psoriasis. We discuss the pharmacological properties of curcumin, the formulation of curcumin hydrogel, and the preclinical and clinical studies investigating the efficacy and safety of curcumin hydrogel in psoriasis. Overall, the available evidence suggests that curcumin hydrogel may be a promising alternative treatment for psoriasis, with potential benefits in reducing inflammation, promoting wound healing, and improving overall quality of life for psoriasis patients. Further research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanism of action of curcumin hydrogel and to optimize its formulation and delivery for maximum efficacy.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. Current treatments for psoriasis include topical corticosteroids, immunomodulators, and phototherapy, but these treatments may have limited efficacy or cause side effects. Curcumin, a natural compound with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, has been shown to have potential as an alternative treatment for psoriasis. However, the low solubility and bioavailability of curcumin limit its effectiveness when administered orally or topically. Curcumin hydrogel, a topical formulation of curcumin, has been developed to address these limitations. In this review, we summarize the current research on the use of curcumin hydrogel in the treatment of psoriasis. We discuss the pharmacological properties of curcumin, the formulation of curcumin hydrogel, and the preclinical and clinical studies investigating the efficacy and safety of curcumin hydrogel in psoriasis. Overall, the available evidence suggests that curcumin hydrogel may be a promising alternative treatment for psoriasis, with potential benefits in reducing inflammation, promoting wound healing, and improving overall quality of life for psoriasis patients. Further research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanism of action of curcumin hydrogel and to optimize its formulation and delivery for maximum efficacy.

Goji berries have long been used for their nutritional value and medicinal purposes in Asian countries. In the last two decades, goji berries have become popular around the world and are consumed as a functional food due to wide-range bioactive compounds with health-promoting properties. In addition, they are gaining increased research attention as a source of functional ingredients with potential industrial applications. This review focuses on the antioxidant properties of goji berries, scientific evidence on their health effects based on human interventional studies, safety concerns, goji berry processing technologies, and applications of goji berry-based ingredients in developing functional food products.

Phenolic compounds present in coffee beans could generate flavor and bring benefits to health. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of commercial roasting levels (light, medium, and dark) on phenolic content and antioxidant potential of Arabica coffee beans (Coffea arabica) comprehensively via antioxidant assays. The phenolic compounds in roasted samples were characterized via liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS). Furthermore, the coffee volatile compounds were identified and semi-quantified by headspace/gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). Generally, for phenolic and antioxidant potential estimation, light roasted samples exhibited the highest TPC (free: 23.97 ± 0.60 mg GAE/g; bound: 19.32 ± 1.29 mg GAE/g), DPPH, and FRAP. The medium roasted beans performed the second high in all assays but the highest ABTS+ radicals scavenging capacity (free: 102.37 ± 8.10 mg TE/g; bound: 69.51 ± 4.20 mg TE/g). Totally, 23 phenolic compounds were tentatively characterized through LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS, which is mainly adopted by 15 phenolic acid and 5 other polyphenols. The majority of phenolic compounds were detected in the medium roasted samples, followed by the light. Regarding GC-MS, a total of 20 volatile compounds were identified and semi-quantified which exhibited the highest in the dark followed by the medium. Overall, this study confirmed that phenolic compounds in coffee beans would be reduced with intensive roasting, whereas their antioxidant capacity could be maintained or improved. Commercial medium roasted coffee beans exhibit relatively better nutritional value and organoleptic properties. Our results could narrow down previous conflicts and be practical evidence for coffee manufacturing in food industries.

The scavenging capability of scutellarin flavonoid against the OOH radical has been studied, at Density Functional level of theory, by considering different reaction mechanisms in both lipid-like and water media. In water phase, the neutral and charged species present in solution, identified from the computed pKa equilibria, have been determined. Furthermore, the complexation ability of Scutellarin and its metabolite scutellarein with respect to the Cu2+ and Fe3+ ions has been determined at the same level of theory. From the obtained rate constants results that scutellarin is a better Fe(III) ligand while scutellarein show a revers behavior. The glucuronidation process affect both the primar and secondary antiox-idant properties of the systems.

Honey a super saturated concentrated solution with complex constituents has been used as therapeutic agent since ancient times. Natural products have been used as a substitute for various conventional treatments and drug discoveries. They have properties of honey including antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory, anti-cancerous. The advent of antibiotics in Modern Western Medicine has made the use of honey in the treatment of infectious diseases abandoned wound healing. Hence, this review exposes why honey remains the best antibiotic and its potency as an antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory. Honey possesses some vital components such as Methylgyloxal, Bee defensin-1, Hydrogen peroxide, osmotic effect and phenolic compounds. Honey also possesses properties that inhibit the formation of bio films. These made honey more powerful because it prevents the formation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria while conventional antibiotic fail because they only target the essential growth processes of bacteria and this allows bacteria to build up resistance over time.

The partial enzymatic hydrolysis is effective and safe method which can be used to improve nutritive, techno-functional and functional properties of soy protein products. This method is affected by numerous factors. The objective of this work was to examine the effect of partial proteolysis on emulsifying and foaming properties of soy protein isolate. Also, the effect of proteolysis on ABTS-radical scavenging activity and iron (III) chelating ability was followed. Spray-dried soy protein isolate was prepared by isoelectric precipitation and modified using three different commercial proteases, Alcalase, Flavourzyme, and Papain. Initial isolate was hydrolyzed for 30, 60 and 90 minutes. Proteolysis was followed by the change of degree of hydrolysis (DH) and by native-PAGE, SDS-PAGE under reducing and non-reducing conditions. The effect of proteolysis on emulsifying properties was followed using emulsion stability index (ESI) and emulsion activity index (EAI). Also, foaming capacity and stability of foams formed using modified isolates were determined. Emulsifying and foaming properties was measured at pH 3, 5 and 7. Modified isolates were characterized with different DH values which were in the range of 11.75±0.08 (30 min, Papain) - 43.30±0.15 (Alcalase, 90 min). Limited proteolysis differently affected emulsifying properties of soy protein isolate. All modified isolates had improved emulsion stability at all investigated pH value whereas their ability to form emulsion was slightly lower or equal to initial isolate but in the range of commercial isolate used as standard. The highest stability had samples modified 30 min using Flavourzyme (366.94±48.85 min). Contrary, limited hydrolysis improved foaming capacity, but these foams were extremely unstable. The used enzymes differently affected the antioxidant properties of soy isolate. Only Alcalase improved radical scavenging activity of the initial isolate whereas the reducing power of all the investigated hydrolysates w

Regardless of the continent, nation, or dietary preferences, cereals have, for centuries, been among the indispensable staple food ingredients. The value of these grains is immeasurable for humankind, given that they provide energy, carbohydrates, proteins, fibers, minerals, and vitamins to the majority of the world’s population. However, the digestibility and bioavailability of the nutrients, as well as bioactive compounds are some of the factors that may influence the utilization of these grains by large. The main goal of this study was to investigate in what manner the pretreatment and food matrix may influence the in vitro digestibility, nutrient bioavailability, and antioxidant properties of cereal grain-based ingredients intended for human consumption. Samples of six wheat varieties with different amylose content: untreated, ultrasonicated, and hydrothermally treated wholegrain flour; samples of differently colored maize grain (yellow, white and red dent, blue and yellow popcorn and one sugary genotype): wholegrain maize flour - untreated and toasted at different temperatures (100˚C, 125˚C and 150˚C), maize kernel fractions - pericarp, endosperm and germ; blue popcorn powder – a by-product of the grain milling process remaining on the sieve, as well as the anthocyanins extracted from the blue maize powder and microencapsulated by spray drying on different polysaccharide carriers, were used in this study. The in vitro multi-step digestion protocol consisting of oral, gastric, duodenal, and colon phases was applied. The amylose content negatively influenced the digestibility of the hydrothermally treated flour, while the total starch content had a negative impact on the digestibility after the ultrasound treatment. The untreated and toasted maize flour samples showed differences depending on the genotype, kernel color and the applied temperature, with digestibility ranging from 26.91% to 35.34%. Furthermore, wholegrain flour of sugary maize hybrid showed the hig

Honey a super saturated concentrated solution with complex constituents has been used as therapeutic agent since ancient times. Natural products have been used as a substitute for various conventional treatments and drug discoveries. They have properties of honey including antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory, anti-cancerous. The advent of antibiotics in Modern Western Medicine has made the use of honey in the treatment of infectious diseases abandoned wound healing. Hence, this review exposes why honey remains the best antibiotic and its potency as an antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory. Honey possesses some vital components such as Methylgyloxal, Bee defensin-1, Hydrogen peroxide, osmotic effect and phenolic compounds. Honey also possesses properties that inhibit the formation of bio films. These made honey more powerful because it prevents the formation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria while conventional antibiotic fail because they only target the essential growth processes of bacteria and this allows bacteria to build up resistance over time.

This study deals with the evaluation of the bioaccessibility and antioxidant properties of phenolic compounds from heat-treated skim goat-milk powder fortified with grape-pomace-seed extract, after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detection and mass spectrometry (UHPLC-DAD MS/MS) analysis confirmed the abundant presence of phenolic acids and flavan-3-ols in the grape-pomace-seed extract (SE) and heat-treated skim goat-milk/seed-extract powder (TME). After in vitro digestion of TME powder and recovery of total quantified phenolics, flavan-3-ols and phenolic acids were 18.11%, 24.54%, and 1.17%, respectively. Low recovery of grape-pomace-seed phenolics indicated strong milk protein–phenolic interactions. Electrophoretic analysis of a soluble fraction of digested heat-treated skim goat milk (TM) and TME samples showed the absence of bands originating from milk proteins, indicating their hydrolysis during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. The digested TME sample had better antioxidant properties in comparison to the digested TM sample (except for the ferrous ion-chelating capacity, FCC), due to the presence of bioaccessible phenolics. Taking into account the contribution of the digestive cocktail, digested TME sample had lower values of total phenolic content (TPC), in vitro phosphomolybdenum reducing capacity (TAC) and ferric reducing power (FRP), compared to the undigested TME sample. These results could be attributed to low recovery of phenolic compounds. TME powder could be a good carrier of phenolics to the colon; thus, TME powder could be a promising ingredient in the formulation of functional food.

Description of the subject. Red clover is an important forage legume and a rich source of high quality forage for livestock feed. This study assesses of a diverse red clover collection for agronomic value, forage quality and antioxidant activity in relation to status (cultivar vs natural population) and ploidy level (diploid or tetraploid) for the purpose of diversity study and for identification of potential heterotic groups and classification of accessions according to the results of analyses. Objectives. The aims of this research were to: i) explore agronomic traits, forage quality, and antioxidant activity in relation to status and ploidy level; ii) assess trait associations and the possibility of indirect selection; iii) cluster red clover accessions with regard to forage quality and antioxidant activity. Method. Red clover was represented by 46 accessions, the cultivars and natural populations of diploid (2n) and tetraploid (4n) ploidy levels from 17 countries, which were collected and preserved in the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad, Serbia. The following traits were determined from the two-year field trial at Rimski Šančevi, Serbia: plant height (PH), internodes number (IN), green mass yield (GMY), dry matter yield (DMY), crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), digestible dry matter (DDM), dry matter intake (DMI), relative feed value (RFV) and antioxidant activity. All accessions were characterized in the second cut of the second year of life when 20-25% of flowers appeared. Results. The cultivars had higher values for PH, IN, GMY, DMY, DDM, DMI, and RFV. The tetraploid accessions had higher values for IN, GMY, DMY, CP, NDF and DDM. The natural populations and diploid accessions had 39.9% and 21.9% smaller antioxidant capacity, respectively. The antioxidant capacity was positively associated with RFV, DDM, DMI, PH, IN, GMY and DMY, but negatively with ADF and NDF. Conclusions. The grouping of red clov, Description du sujet. Le trèfle violet est une légumineuse fourragère importante et une riche source de fourrage de haute qualité pour l’alimentation du bétail. Cette étude évalue une collection diversifiée de trèfle violet pour la valeur agronomique, la qualité du fourrage et l’activité antioxydante en relation avec le statut (cultivar vs population naturelle) et le niveau de ploïdie (diploïde ou tétraploïde) aux fins d’étude de diversité et d’identification de groupes hétérotiques potentiels et de classification des accessions en fonction des résultats des analyses. Objectifs. Les buts de cette recherche étaient : i) d’explorer les caractéristiques agronomiques, la qualité du fourrage et l’activité antioxydante en relation avec le statut et le niveau de ploïdie ; ii) d’évaluer les associations de caractéristiques et la possibilité de sélection indirecte ; iii) de regrouper les accessions de trèfle violet en ce qui concerne la qualité du fourrage et l’activité antioxydante. Méthode. Le trèfle violet était représenté par 46 accessions, les cultivars et populations naturelles de niveaux de ploïdie diploïde (2n) et tétraploïde (4n) originaires de 17 pays qui ont été collectés et conservés à l’Institut des grandes cultures et des cultures maraîchères de Novi Sad, Serbie. Les caractéristiques suivantes ont été définies sur la base d’un essai bisannuel sur un champ dans la localité de Rimski Sancevi en Serbie : hauteur de la plante (PH), nombre d’entre-noeuds (IN), rendement en masse verte (GMY), rendement en matière sèche (DMY), protéine brute (CP ), fibre détergente acide (ADF), fibre détergente neutre (NDF), matière sèche digestible (DDM), apport en matière sèche (DMI), valeur alimentaire relative (RFV) et activité antioxydante. Toutes les accessions ont été caractérisées à la deuxième coupe de la deuxième année de vie lorsque 20 à 25 % des fleurs sont apparues. Résultats. Les cultivars avaient des valeurs plus élevées pour PH, IN, GMY, DMY, DDM, DMI et RFV. Les acces

This study deals with the evaluation of the bioaccessibility and antioxidant properties of phenolic compounds from heat-treated skim goat-milk powder fortified with grape-pomace-seed extract, after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detection and mass spectrometry (UHPLC-DAD MS/MS) analysis confirmed the abundant presence of phenolic acids and flavan-3-ols in the grape-pomace-seed extract (SE) and heat-treated skim goat-milk/seed-extract powder (TME). After in vitro digestion of TME powder and recovery of total quantified phenolics, flavan-3-ols and phenolic acids were 18.11%, 24.54%, and 1.17%, respectively. Low recovery of grape-pomace-seed phenolics indicated strong milk protein–phenolic interactions. Electrophoretic analysis of a soluble fraction of digested heat-treated skim goat milk (TM) and TME samples showed the absence of bands originating from milk proteins, indicating their hydrolysis during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. The digested TME sample had better antioxidant properties in comparison to the digested TM sample (except for the ferrous ion-chelating capacity, FCC), due to the presence of bioaccessible phenolics. Taking into account the contribution of the digestive cocktail, digested TME sample had lower values of total phenolic content (TPC), in vitro phosphomolybdenum reducing capacity (TAC) and ferric reducing power (FRP), compared to the undigested TME sample. These results could be attributed to low recovery of phenolic compounds. TME powder could be a good carrier of phenolics to the colon; thus, TME powder could be a promising ingredient in the formulation of functional food.

The current study aimed to phytochemically characterize (including a detailed phenolic profile) two endemic Balkan's species (Hieracium waldsteinii and Onosma stellulata) and determine their possible application as a source of natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agents. The main phenolic compound in both species (in all examined parts) was chlorogenic acid. Eriodictyol, genistein and naringenin were quantified only in H. waldsteinii while isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside and sinapic acid were characteristic for O. stellulata. The highest antioxidant activity (98 mg AAE/g dry weight for TAC assay) was ascribed to the flower extract of H. waldsteinii while the lowest results (∼4.3 mg AAE/g dry weight for FRP assay) were exhibited by the extracts obtained from the plant's stem. Antimicrobial assays showed moderate antibacterial, i. e., moderate/strong activity against several tested fungi (in particular Trichoderma viride). Correlation analysis revealed strong positive connection between phenolic compounds and reducing power of extracts as well as between total phenolic and flavonoid content and the obtained minimal inhibitory concentration recorded in antibacterial assays.

Honey a super saturated concentrated solution with complex constituents has been used as therapeutic agent since ancient times. Natural products have been used as a substitute for various conventional treatments and drug discoveries. They have properties of honey including antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory, anti-cancerous. The advent of antibiotics in Modern Western Medicine has made the use of honey in the treatment of infectious diseases abandoned wound healing. Hence, this review exposes why honey remains the best antibiotic and its potency as an antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory. Honey possesses some vital components such as Methylgyloxal, Bee defensin-1, Hydrogen peroxide, osmotic effect and phenolic compounds. Honey also possesses properties that inhibit the formation of bio films. These made honey more powerful because it prevents the formation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria while conventional antibiotic fail because they only target the essential growth processes of bacteria and this allows bacteria to build up resistance over time.

The current study aimed to phytochemically characterize (including a detailed phenolic profile) two endemic Balkan's species (Hieracium waldsteinii and Onosma stellulata) and determine their possible application as a source of natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agents. The main phenolic compound in both species (in all examined parts) was chlorogenic acid. Eriodictyol, genistein and naringenin were quantified only in H. waldsteinii while isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside and sinapic acid were characteristic for O. stellulata. The highest antioxidant activity (98 mg AAE/g dry weight for TAC assay) was ascribed to the flower extract of H. waldsteinii while the lowest results (∼4.3 mg AAE/g dry weight for FRP assay) were exhibited by the extracts obtained from the plant's stem. Antimicrobial assays showed moderate antibacterial, i. e., moderate/strong activity against several tested fungi (in particular Trichoderma viride). Correlation analysis revealed strong positive connection between phenolic compounds and reducing power of extracts as well as between total phenolic and flavonoid content and the obtained minimal inhibitory concentration recorded in antibacterial assays.

Kraft lignin was treated with subcritical water at moderate temperatures (120–220 °C) in different gas atmospheres, with the goal of optimizing its depolymerization under mild conditions. Lignin depolymerization was observed and compared using different homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts in both nitrogen and carbon dioxide atmospheres. The most important treatment parameters for maximum lignin depolymerization and the highest yields of phenolic and other aromatic monomers were optimized. The influence of the process temperature, pressure, and time in both gas atmospheres was defined and optimized for maximum liberation of monomers into the aqueous phase. The yields of total phenols and other aromatics in the nitrogen atmosphere were the highest at 150 °C, whereas treatment in the carbon dioxide atmosphere required higher temperatures (200 °C) for a comparable efficiency. The effects of phenol addition as a capping agent in lignin depolymerization were observed and defined for both gas atmospheres. Phenol addition caused a remarkable increase in the total phenols content in the aqueous phase; however, it did not significantly affect the contents of other aromatics. The antioxidant properties of lignin hydrolysates obtained at different temperatures in different gas atmospheres were compared, correlated with the total phenols contents, and discussed, showing the promising potential of lignin hydrolysates obtained under mild subcritical water conditions.

This study deals with the evaluation of the bioaccessibility and antioxidant properties of phenolic compounds from heat-treated skim goat-milk powder fortified with grape-pomace-seed extract, after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detection and mass spectrometry (UHPLC-DAD MS/MS) analysis confirmed the abundant presence of phenolic acids and flavan-3-ols in the grape-pomace-seed extract (SE) and heat-treated skim goat-milk/seed-extract powder (TME). After in vitro digestion of TME powder and recovery of total quantified phenolics, flavan-3-ols and phenolic acids were 18.11%, 24.54%, and 1.17%, respectively. Low recovery of grape-pomace-seed phenolics indicated strong milk protein–phenolic interactions. Electrophoretic analysis of a soluble fraction of digested heat-treated skim goat milk (TM) and TME samples showed the absence of bands originating from milk proteins, indicating their hydrolysis during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. The digested TME sample had better antioxidant properties in comparison to the digested TM sample (except for the ferrous ion-chelating capacity, FCC), due to the presence of bioaccessible phenolics. Taking into account the contribution of the digestive cocktail, digested TME sample had lower values of total phenolic content (TPC), in vitro phosphomolybdenum reducing capacity (TAC) and ferric reducing power (FRP), compared to the undigested TME sample. These results could be attributed to low recovery of phenolic compounds. TME powder could be a good carrier of phenolics to the colon; thus, TME powder could be a promising ingredient in the formulation of functional food. © 2022 by the authors.

Description of the subject. Red clover is an important forage legume and a rich source of high quality forage for livestock feed. This study assesses of a diverse red clover collection for agronomic value, forage quality and antioxidant activity in relation to status (cultivar vs natural population) and ploidy level (diploid or tetraploid) for the purpose of diversity study and for identification of potential heterotic groups and classification of accessions according to the results of analyses. Objectives. The aims of this research were to: i) explore agronomic traits, forage quality, and antioxidant activity in relation to status and ploidy level; ii) assess trait associations and the possibility of indirect selection; iii) cluster red clover accessions with regard to forage quality and antioxidant activity. Method. Red clover was represented by 46 accessions, the cultivars and natural populations of diploid (2n) and tetraploid (4n) ploidy levels from 17 countries, which were collected and preserved in the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad, Serbia. The following traits were determined from the two-year field trial at Rimski Šančevi, Serbia: plant height (PH), internodes number (IN), green mass yield (GMY), dry matter yield (DMY), crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), digestible dry matter (DDM), dry matter intake (DMI), relative feed value (RFV) and antioxidant activity. All accessions were characterized in the second cut of the second year of life when 20-25% of flowers appeared. Results. The cultivars had higher values for PH, IN, GMY, DMY, DDM, DMI, and RFV. The tetraploid accessions had higher values for IN, GMY, DMY, CP, NDF and DDM. The natural populations and diploid accessions had 39.9% and 21.9% smaller antioxidant capacity, respectively. The antioxidant capacity was positively associated with RFV, DDM, DMI, PH, IN, GMY and DMY, but negatively with ADF and NDF. Conclusions. The grouping of red clov

Goji berries have long been used for their nutritional value and medicinal purposes in Asian countries. In the last two decades, goji berries have become popular around the world and are consumed as a functional food due to wide-range bioactive compounds with health-promoting properties. In addition, they are gaining increased research attention as a source of functional ingredients with potential industrial applications. This review focuses on the antioxidant properties of goji berries, scientific evidence on their health effects based on human interventional studies, safety concerns, goji berry processing technologies, and applications of goji berry-based ingredients in developing functional food products.

Honey a super saturated concentrated solution with complex constituents has been used as therapeutic agent since ancient times. Natural products have been used as a substitute for various conventional treatments and drug discoveries. They have properties of honey including antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory, anti-cancerous. The advent of antibiotics in Modern Western Medicine has made the use of honey in the treatment of infectious diseases abandoned wound healing. Hence, this review exposes why honey remains the best antibiotic and its potency as an antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory. Honey possesses some vital components such as Methylgyloxal, Bee defensin-1, Hydrogen peroxide, osmotic effect and phenolic compounds. Honey also possesses properties that inhibit the formation of bio films. These made honey more powerful because it prevents the formation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria while conventional antibiotic fail because they only target the essential growth processes of bacteria and this allows bacteria to build up resistance over time.

[EN] Raw cane sugars have been claimed to be rich in natural phenolic compounds which, in contrast to refined sugar, may increase the nutritional value of foods and contribute to the development of healthier foods and diets. The use of non-refined cane sugars in food formulation seems an interesting option since they provide natural antioxidants with sucrose still being the major sugar present, minimizing the loss of technological properties. However, substitution of refined sugar could imply an undesired impact on physicochemical and sensory properties, conditioning consumer's acceptance. Functional jams (strawberry and kiwifruit) with a larger fruit to sugar ratio than conventional ones, in which white sugar was replaced by granulated jaggery (0, 15, 30, 45, 60 y 75 % w/w) were obtained. Impact of sugar replacement was assessed by evaluating physicochemical properties (moisture, water activity, pH, total soluble sugars, sugar profile (glucose, fructose, sucrose), and optical, rheological, mechanical and antioxidant properties). Sensory properties and microbiological stability were also determined. Jaggery improved the antioxidant properties of jams (total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, antiradical activity by the DPPH and ABTS methods), proportionally to the amount of cane sugar incorporated and more significantly in the case of kiwifruit. Other physicochemical properties were not significantly affected by jaggery, except for color. However, these differences were not crucial in the acceptability tests, since acceptance of jams containing jaggery was generally good, very good when intermediate replacement percentages were used. Conclusions of the present work suggest that granulated jaggery can be used to formulate sugar-rich food products such as jams in order to increase their nutritional value, with little impact on physicochemical properties and good consumer acceptance.

The aim of research was to determine polyphenols bioaccessibility and antioxidant properties of thermally-treated skimmed goat milk enriched with sunflower bee-collected pollen through in vitro digestion. HPLC analysis confirmed that pollen-enriched milk contained flavonols as the main phenolic fraction (80.7–76.2%) followed by phenolic acids (14.2–17.4%). Among individual compounds quercetin-3-O-glucoside (155.1–197.2 μg/L) and p-coumaric acid (29.5–30.7 μg/L) were the main quantified flavonols and phenolic acids, respectively. After digestion of milk/pollen sample, total polyphenols recovery was 30.71% with higher phenolic acids recovery (40.1%) compared to flavonols (28.3%) indicating strong interactions between caprine milk casein micelles and pollen polyphenols. Applied antioxidant assays (phosphomolybdenum, ABTS•+scavenging activity and ferrous-ion-chelating capacity) have confirmed complexity of prepared product- it had high ability to quench ABTS•+ radicals and to form chelating complexes with Fe2+ ions. Digestion provoked 20% reduction in total antioxidant capacity compared to the initial sample. TTSG milk/pollen powder could be good functional ingredient. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd

There is currently a huge need for new, improved therapeutic approaches for the treatment of chronic wounds. One promising strategy is to develop wound dressings capable of modulating the chronic wound environment (e.g., by controlling the high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and proteases). Here, we selected the thiol-containing amino acid cysteine to endow wood-derived cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) with bioactivity toward the modulation of ROS levels and protease activity. Cysteine was covalently incorporated into CNF and the functionalized material, herein referred as cys-CNF, was characterized in terms of chemical structure, degree of substitution, radical scavenging capacity, and inhibition of protease activity. The stability of the thiol groups was evaluated over time, and an in vitro cytotoxicity study with human dermal fibroblasts was performed to evaluate the safety profile of cys-CNF. Results showed that cys-CNF was able to efficiently control the activity of the metalloprotease collagenase and to inhibit the free radical DPPH (1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical), activities that were correlated with the presence of free thiol groups on the nanofibers. The stability study showed that the reactivity of the thiol groups challenged the bioactivity over time. Nevertheless, preparing the material as an aerogel and storing it in an inert atmosphere were shown to be valid approaches to increase the stability of the thiol groups in cys-CNF. No signs of toxicity were observed on the dermal fibroblasts when exposed to cys-CNF (concentration range 0.1-0.5 mg/mL). The present work highlights cys-CNF as a promising novel material for the development of bioactive wound dressings for the treatment of chronic wounds.

The current study intended to determine, for the first time, phenolic and fatty acid profile, antioxidant and certain nutritional properties of monofloral bee-collected artichoke (Cynara scolymus) pollen. Based on UHPLC-DAD MS-MS analysis the main phenolics in extractable fraction were different flavonol glycosides (in particular Isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside, 49.2 mg/kg of dry weight) while ferulic acid was the predominant phenolic compound (39.4 mg/kg of dry weight) in the alkaline hydrolyzable fraction. Among fatty acids (FAs), results of GC-FID analysis revealed prevalence of unsaturated FAs with cis-5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and oleic acid as the main ones- 28.4% and 24.9%, respectively. Based on the FA composition, nutritional analysis proved that artichoke bee-collected pollen had balanced ω-6 and ω-3 FAs content. To determine the antioxidant properties of pollen, five different assays were applied. It was proved that bioactive compounds in artichoke pollen possessed significant ability to quench DPPH radical as well as ABTS radical cation. In addition, in vitro phosphomolybdenum assay confirmed that artichoke pollen is an excellent source of different antioxidants. Pollen extracts exhibited moderate ferric reducing power as well as low ferrous chelating ability. Some further antioxidant studies (preferably in vivo) should be performed to confirm the observed results.

[EN] Raw cane sugars have been claimed to be rich in natural phenolic compounds which, in contrast to refined sugar, may increase the nutritional value of foods and contribute to the development of healthier foods and diets. The use of non-refined cane sugars in food formulation seems an interesting option since they provide natural antioxidants with sucrose still being the major sugar present, minimizing the loss of technological properties. However, substitution of refined sugar could imply an undesired impact on physicochemical and sensory properties, conditioning consumer's acceptance. Functional jams (strawberry and kiwifruit) with a larger fruit to sugar ratio than conventional ones, in which white sugar was replaced by granulated jaggery (0, 15, 30, 45, 60 y 75 % w/w) were obtained. Impact of sugar replacement was assessed by evaluating physicochemical properties (moisture, water activity, pH, total soluble sugars, sugar profile (glucose, fructose, sucrose), and optical, rheological, mechanical and antioxidant properties). Sensory properties and microbiological stability were also determined. Jaggery improved the antioxidant properties of jams (total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, antiradical activity by the DPPH and ABTS methods), proportionally to the amount of cane sugar incorporated and more significantly in the case of kiwifruit. Other physicochemical properties were not significantly affected by jaggery, except for color. However, these differences were not crucial in the acceptability tests, since acceptance of jams containing jaggery was generally good, very good when intermediate replacement percentages were used. Conclusions of the present work suggest that granulated jaggery can be used to formulate sugar-rich food products such as jams in order to increase their nutritional value, with little impact on physicochemical properties and good consumer acceptance.

Curcuma root (Curcuma longa L.) is a very important plant in gastronomy and medicine for its unique antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Conventional methods for the extraction of curcuma oil require long extraction times and high temperatures that can degrade the active substances. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were: (i) first, to optimize the extraction yield of curcuma oil by applying a Box-Behnken experimental design using surface response methodology to the microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) technique (the independent variables studied were reaction time (10–30 min), microwave power (150–200 W) and curcuma powder/ethanol ratio (1:5–1:20; w/v); and, (ii) second, to assess the total phenolic content (TPC) and their antioxidant activity of the oil (at the optimum conditions point) and compare with the conventional Soxhlet technique. The optimum conditions for the MAE were found to be 29.99 min, 160 W and 1:20 w/v to obtain an optimum yield of 10.32%. Interestingly, the oil extracted by microwave-assisted extraction showed higher TPC and better antioxidant properties than the oil extracted with conventional Soxhlet technique. Thus, it was demonstrated that the method applied for extraction influences the final properties of the extracted Curcuma longa L. oil.

Background: Ice plant is a halophyte, known for its antioxidant activity and for being a highly functional food. It is capable of increasing its contents of health-promoting compounds when subjected to certain stresses such as salinity. The objective of this work was to determine the plant's best growing conditions to achieve both an optimal production of bioactive metabolites and high crop yield. M. crystallinum were grown under semi-controlled conditions and four saline treatments were applied at: 0, 100, 200 and 300 mM NaCl, respectively. Results: The 100 mM NaCl treatment induced a slight increase in shoot DW and enhanced the leaf area. At higher salinity levels, however, the shoot biomass decreased. The concentration of starch and total proteins declined as the concentration of salt increased, while the TSS content was lower in 100 and 300 mM NaCl treatments. Proline increased in conditions over 100 mM NaCl. Furthermore, plants grown with 300 mM of NaCl presented the highest values of glutathione, ascorbic acid and vitamin C. Antioxidant enzymes activity and total phenolics increased with the severity of the salinity. Conclusion: Ice plant accumulates high levels of health-promoting compounds when grown with 300 mM NaCl. A high concentration of beneficial compounds, however, is detrimental to the plant's growth. Moreover, 100 mM NaCl treatment not only improved the concentration of bioactive and antioxidant compounds but also preserved the crop yield. It could thus be interesting to promote the cultivation of this high nutritional value plant in environments of moderate salinity.