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International audience; Cytochromes P450, forming a superfamily of monooxygenases containing heme as a cofactor, show great versatility in substrate specificity. Metabolic engineering can take advantage of this feature to unlock novel metabolic pathways. However, the cytochromes P450 often show difficulty being expressed in a heterologous chassis. As a case study in the prokaryotic host Escherichia coli, the heterologous synthesis of fi-cryptoxanthin was addressed. This carotenoid intermediate is difficult to produce, as its synthesis requires a monoterminal hydroxylation of fi-carotene whereas most of the classic carotene hydroxylases are dihydroxylases. This study was focused on the optimization of the in vivo activity of CYP97H1, an original P450 fi-carotene monohydroxylase. Engineering the N-terminal part of CYP97H1, identifying the matching redox partners, defining the optimal cellular background and adjusting the culture and induction conditions improved the production by 400 times compared to that of the initial strain, representing 2.7 mg/L fi-cryptoxanthin and 20% of the total carotenoids produced.

Global amphibian population decline is a major concern. Therefore, conservation centers have become increasingly needed for population sustainability breeding programs. This need makes proper nutrition programs while in human care imperative. The specific nutritional focus of this current research was to analyze vitamin A, vitamin E, and carotenoid (apocarotenoid, β-carotene, β-carotene ester, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein, lutein ester, zeaxanthin, and zeaxanthin ester) concentrations in the liver of 66 free-range marine toads (Rhinella marina) over a two-month period after entering human management. Toads were fed supplemented crickets randomly assigned to one of two diets: Diet 1 consisted of brown house crickets (Acheta domestica) gut loaded with Mazuri® Cricket Diet 5M38 and small amounts of sweet potato and carrots; Diet 2 consisted of an identical diet with the gut loaded crickets additionally dusted with Repashy® Superfoods Vitamin A Plus. Ten toads were euthanized prior to human management on Day 0 to assess baseline liver nutrients. Seven toads consuming each of the two diets (14 toads total) were euthanized on Days 9, 15, 32, and 62. Regardless of diet treatment, there were decreases (p < 0.05) in all the analyzed nutrient concentrations over the 62-day human management period. The results from this study indicate that higher dietary vitamin A, vitamin E, and carotenoid content may be needed and/or the cricket gut loading and dusting techniques used to feed the amphibians food source insects may be inadequate.

The rapid aging of the Western countries’ populations makes increasingly necessary the promotion of healthy lifestyles in order to prevent/delay the onset of age-related diseases. The use of functional foods can significantly help to achieve this aim, thanks to the contribution of biologically active compounds suitable to protect cellular and metabolic homeostasis from damage caused by stress factors. Indeed, the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), favored by incorrect eating and behavioral habits, are considered causal elements of oxidative stress, which in turn favors tissue and organism aging. Microalgae represent a convenient and suitable functional food because of their extraordinary ability to concentrate various active compounds, comprising omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, sterols, phenolic compounds, carotenoids and others. Within cells, mitochondria are the cellular organelles most affected by the accumulation of molecular damage produced by oxidative stress. Since, in addition to producing the chemical energy for cellular metabolism, mitochondria control numerous cell cycle regulation processes, including intrinsic apoptosis, responses to inflammatory signals and other biochemical pathways, their dysfunction is considered decisive for many pathologies. Among these, some degenerative diseases of the nervous system, cardiovascular system, kidney function and even cancer are found. From this viewpoint, bioactive compounds of microalgae, in addition to possessing high antioxidant properties, can enhance mitochondrial functionality by modulating the expression of numerous protective factors and enzymes, which in turn regulate some essential biochemical pathways for the preservation of the functional integrity of the cell. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on the role played by microalgal compounds in the regulation of the mitochondrial life cycle, expression of protective and reparative enzymes, regulation of intrinsic apoptosis and modulation of some key biochemical pathways. Special attention was paid to the composition of some cultivable microalgae strains selected for their high content of active compounds suitable to protect and improve mitochondrial functions.

Numerous publications showing that robust prediction models for microorganisms based on Raman micro-spectroscopy in combination with chemometric methods are feasible, often with very precise predictions. Advances in machine learning and easier accessibility to software make it increasingly easy for users to generate predictive models from complex data. However, the question regarding why those predictions are so accurate receives much less attention. In our work, we use Raman spectroscopic data of fungal spores and carotenoid-containing microorganisms to show that it is often not the position of the peaks or the subtle differences in the band ratios of the spectra, due to small differences in the chemical composition of the organisms, that allow accurate classification. Rather, it can be characteristic effects on the baselines of Raman spectra in biochemically similar microorganisms that can be enhanced by certain data pretreatment methods or even neutral-looking spectral regions can be of great importance for a convolutional neural network. Using a method called Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping, we attempt to peer into the black box of convolutional neural networks in microbiological applications and show which Raman spectral regions are responsible for accurate classification.

Adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) is acknowledged to play a critical role in depression. Emerging evidence suggests that the Wnt/β-catenin pathway can modulate hippocampal neurogenesis. Crocin, a natural carotenoid, possesses antidepressant property. Yet, how it affects neurogenesis and exerts antidepressant response remains unknown.To explore the role of AHN and Wnt/β-catenin in the antidepressant action of crocin.Depressive-related behaviors, including sucrose preference test (SPT), tail suspension test (TST), forced swimming test (FST), and sexual behaviors were performed following crocin treatment. Neurogenesis was characterized via immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, Golgi staining and electrophysiology approach. Wnt/β-catenin signaling was examined with western blot analysis. The role of AHN Wnt/β-catenin cascade in crocin's antidepressant response was assessed by conditional removal of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-expressing newborn neural cells, temozolomide administration, microinfusion of Dkk1 or viral-mediated shRNA of Wnt3a.Crocin decreased the immobility duration in TST and FST without impairing the performance in sexual behaviors. Crocin boosted the proliferation and differentiation of progenitors, and promoted dendritic maturation and functional integration of hippocampal newborn neurons. Conditional removal of GFAP-expressing neural cells or temozolomide administration impaired the antidepressant response of crocin. Additionally, Wnt/β-catenin signaling was promoted following crocin treatment. In chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) murine model, crocin treatment displayed antidepressant response in SPT, FST and TST, and restored the neurogenesis levels and Wnt/β-catenin signaling impaired by CUMS. Infusion of Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) or knockdown of Wnt3a in the hippocampus impaired the antidepressant response of crocin.Crocin exerted antidepressant response, which was dependent on enhancement of AHN and activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

While million people lack access to food or some nutrients, up to one-third of food is never consumed, especially fruit and vegetables, naturally rich in phytonutrients. Fruit and vegetables waste and loss arise at all steps of the food chain from production to consumption. The access to phytonutrients is also threatened with climate changes that impact both yields and the composition of harvested organs. Finding trade-offs between yield and quality along the food chain appears necessary to improve crop sustainability and to limit losses. Processing tomato is a good target to address these challenges: it is a major crop and an important source of phytonutrients notably phenolic compounds and carotenoids, and it represents an intensive production in terms of water use. Two examples of integrated analyses will be given. First, we will focus on pre-postharvest relationships and the ability of tomatoes to be processed into purees. We investigated fruit quality in response to water supply, genotypes and ripening stage, and we assessed their impact on puree obtained from hot break and cold break processes. We found that fruit growth and quality were weakly impacted by moderate water insufficiency during growth. A reduction of water supply from 100% to 60% of the evapotranspiration strongly impacted plant growth but had little impact on fresh fruit yield and increased the water use efficiency by 20%. Second, we address the accumulation of carotenoids in ripe tomato in response to water insufficiency in two genotypes. A medium water deficit (-0.5 MPa soil water potential while permanent wilting point is estimated at-1,5 MPa) at the beginning of fruit development impacted the fruit composition at maturity. The dry matter contents increased up to 23% while an interaction between genotype and water regime was found for carotenoid contents which may affect tomato health value.

The objective of this review article is to present the utility of Sporopollenin, a natural biopolymer, for a wide range of applications. Sporopollenin is a ubiquitous natural polymer and chief ingredient of plant pollen grains, spores and it is chemically inert. Sporopollenin has a beautifully sculpted, decorated, and nano porous surface that is species unique. In both organic and aqueous solutions, it is stable. Purified sporopollenin keeps its spore or pollen particle shape, size, and surface properties while remaining an empty shell (sporopollenin microcapsules). Sporopollenin microcapsules and Sporopollenin Exine Shells (SEC) from pollen grains of plants (Angiosperms), spores of Bryophytes, Pteridophytes Gymnosperms and fungi have been developed as new biomaterials for drug/vaccine delivery, catalyst support, and heavy metal removal, among other sustainable applications. This review paper could pave the way for further research into sporopollenin production and the development of novel biomimetic polymers with desirable inert characteristics. The authors anticipate that this unique renewable polymer, which is abundant in nature and can be made from a variety of plants and fungal sources, will have biomedical applications contributing to sustainability in the future.

The traditional extraction methods used to recover natural antioxidants from food industry wastes involve significant amounts of hazardous solvents. A viable alternative is the use of non-toxic surfactants to remove organic compounds from wastes at temperatures above the cloud point. Cloud point extraction has only recently begun to be used to recover high-value added compounds from food industry wastes. In the current work, a method for the isolation of high-value added components from liquid tomato wastewater using a cloud point extraction method was developed and optimized. Food-grade lecithin was examined for its potential to be used as a surfactant in the developed procedure. Moreover, parameters affecting the extraction (ionic strength, sample pH, temperature of extraction, and surfactant concentration) were examined and optimized. According to the results, the maximum recovery of carotenoids from the sample could be achieved with the developed procedure, by simply adjusting the pH to 3.5, adding 35.6% (w/v) sodium chloride, and setting the temperature at 45 °C. Moreover, the amount of lecithin used was examined. In order to extract the total amount of carotenoids from a sample, it was found that either three extractions with 1% lecithin are needed, or two extractions with 2% lecithin. In addition, the antioxidant activity of the extract was examined and it was found to scavenge 36.3% of DPPH free radicals. This percentage was 10% lower compared to the initial sample, which suggests that the extracted compounds retain their activity. Overall, the developed procedure can be used to recover carotenoids in a cost-efficient and easy way.

Cyanobacteria are photosynthesizing prokaryotes responsible for the Great Oxygenation Event on Earth ~2.5 Ga years ago. They use a specific photoprotective mechanism based on the 35-kDa photoactive Orange Carotenoid Protein (OCP), a promising target for developing novel optogenetic tools and for biomass engineering. The two-domain OCP presumably stems from domain fusion, yet the primitive thylakoid-less cyanobacteria Gloeobacter encodes a complete OCP. Its photosynthesis regulation lacks the so-called Fluorescence Recovery Protein (FRP), which in Synechocystis inhibits OCP-mediated phycobilisome fluorescence quenching, and Gloeobacter OCP belongs to the recently defined, heterogeneous clade OCPX (GlOCPX), the least characterized compared to OCP2 and especially OCP1 clades. Here, we describe the first crystal structure of OCPX, which explains unique functional adaptations of Gloeobacter OCPX compared to OCP1 from Synechocystis. We show that monomeric GlOCPX exploits a remarkable intramolecular locking mechanism stabilizing its dark-adapted state and exhibits drastically accelerated, less temperature-dependent recovery after photoactivation. While GlOCPX quenches Synechocystis phycobilisomes similar to Synechocystis OCP1, it evades interaction with and regulation by FRP from other species and likely uses alternative mechanisms for fluorescence recovery. This analysis of a primordial OCPX sheds light on its evolution, rationalizing renaming and subdivision of the OCPX clade into subclades - OCP3a, OCP3b, OCP3c.

Microalgae are highly photosynthetic unicellular organism that have increased demand in the recent days owing to the presence of valuable cellular metabolites. They are ubiquitous in terrestrial and aquatic habitats, rich in species diversity and are capable of generating significant biomass by efficiently using CO

The development of an effective, realistic, and sustainable microbial biorefinery depends on several factors, including as one of the key aspects an adequate selection of microbial strain. The oleaginous red yeast Rhodotorula sp. has been studied as one powerful source for a plethora of high added-value biomolecules, such as carotenoids, lipids, and enzymes. Although known for over a century, the use of Rhodotorula sp. as resource for valuable products has not yet commercialized. Current interests for Rhodotorula sp. yeast have sparked from its high nutritional versatility and ability to convert agro-food residues into added-value biomolecules, two attractive characteristics for designing new biorefineries. In addition, as for other yeast-based bioprocesses, the overall process sustainability can be maximized by a proper integration with subsequent downstream processing stages, for example, by using eco-friendly solvents for the recovery of intracellular products from yeast biomass. This review intends to reflect on the current state of the art of microbial bioprocesses using Rhodotorula species. Therefore, we will provide an analysis of bioproduction performance with some insights regarding downstream separation steps for the extraction of high added-value biomolecules (specifically using efficient and sustainable platforms), providing information regarding the potential applications of biomolecules produced by Rhodotorula sp, as well as detailing the strengths and limitations of yeast-based biorefinery approaches. Novel genetic engineering technologies are further discussed, indicating some directions on their possible use for maximizing the potential of Rhodotorula sp. as cell factories. Key points: • Rhodotorula sp. are valuable source of high value-added compounds. • Potential of employing Rhodotorula sp. in a multiple product biorefinery. • Future perspectives in the biorefining of Rhodotorula sp. were discussed.

This paper aimed to screen the enzymatic activities and evaluate the carotenoid production level of twenty-two halophilic archaea isolated from Sfax solar saltern sediments. The molecular identification performed by sequencing the 16S rRNA genes showed that all strains have a high similarity degree (99.7-100%) with Halobacterium salinarum NRC-1. The strains were screened for the presence of eight hydrolase activities using agar plate-based assays. The most detected enzyme was gelatinase (77.27% of total strains), followed by protease (63.63%) and amylase activities (50%). The carotenoid production yields of the strains ranged between 2.027 and 14.880 mg/l. The UV-Visible spectroscopy of pigments revealed that it was a bacterioruberin type. When evaluated and compared to the standard β-carotene, the antioxidant capacities of these pigments showed a scavenging activity of more than 75% at a concentration of 5 μg/ml for three strains (AS16, AS17, and AS18). Then a sequence of one-step optimization processes was performed, using the one-factor-at-a-time approach, to define the optimum conditions for growth and carotenoid production of the highest carotenoid producing strain (AS17). Different environmental factors and nutritional conditions were tested. Variations in these factors were found to deeply influence growth and carotenoid production. A maximum carotenoid production (16.490 mg/l), higher than that of the control (14.880 mg/l), was observed at 37 °C, pH 7, 250 g/l of salinity, with 80% air phase in the flask at 110 rpm, in presence of light and in culture media containing (g/l) 10, yeast extract; 7.5, casamino acid; 20, MgSO

Salinibacter ruber is an extremophilic bacterium able to grow in high-salts environments, such as saltern crystallizer ponds. This halophilic bacterium is red-pigmented due to the production of several carotenoids and their derivatives. Two of these pigment molecules, salinixanthin and retinal, are reported to be essential cofactors of the xanthorhodopsin, a light-driven proton pump unique to this bacterium. Here, we isolate and characterize an outer membrane porin-like protein that retains salinixanthin. The characterization by mass spectrometry identified an unknown protein whose structure, predicted by AlphaFold, consists of a 8 strands beta-barrel transmembrane organization typical of porins. The protein is found to be part of a functional network clearly involved in the outer membrane trafficking. Cryo-EM micrographs showed the shape and dimensions of a particle comparable with the ones of the predicted structure. Functional implications, with respect to the high representativity of this protein in the outer membrane fraction, are discussed considering its possible role in primary functions such as the nutrients uptake and the homeostatic balance. Finally, also a possible involvement in balancing the charge perturbation associated with the xanthorhodopsin and ATP synthase activities is considered.

Carotenoid cleavage, catalyzed by CAROTENOID CLEAVAGE DIOXYGENASES (CCDs), provides signaling molecules and precursors of plant hormones. Recently, we showed that zaxinone, a novel apocarotenoid metabolite formed by the CCD Zaxinone Synthase (ZAS), is a growth regulator required for normal rice growth and development. The rice genome encodes three OsZAS homologs, called here OsZAS1b, OsZAS1c, and OsZAS2, with unknown functions. Here, we investigated the enzymatic activity, expression pattern, and subcellular localization of OsZAS2, and generated and characterized loss-of-function CRISPR/Cas9-Oszas2 mutants. We show that OsZAS2 formed zaxinone in vitro. OsZAS2 is a plastid-localized enzyme mainly expressed in the root cortex under phosphate starvation. Moreover, OsZAS2 expression increased during mycorrhization, specifically in arbuscule-containing cells. Oszas2 mutants contained lower zaxinone content in roots and exhibited reduced root and shoot biomass, less productive tiller, and higher strigolactone (SL) levels. Exogenous zaxinone application repressed SL biosynthesis and partially rescued the growth retardation of Oszas2 mutant. Consistent with the OsZAS2 expression pattern, Oszas2 mutants displayed a lower frequency of AM colonization. In conclusion, OsZAS2 encodes a further zaxinone-forming enzyme that determines rice growth and architecture and strigolactone content and is required for optimal mycorrhization.

Tissue and organ ischemia can lead to cell trauma, tissue necrosis, irreversible damage, and death. While intended to reverse ischemia, reperfusion can further aggravate an ischemic injury (ischemia-reperfusion injury, I/R injury) through a range of pathologic processes. An I/R injury to one organ can also harm other organs, leading to systemic multiorgan failure. A type of carotenoid, lycopene, has been shown to treat and prevent many diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, male infertility, neurodegenerative diseases, and cardiovascular disease), making it a hot research topic in health care. Some recent researches have suggested that lycopene can evidently ameliorate ischemic and I/R injuries to many organs, but few clinical studies are available. Therefore, it is essential to review the effects of lycopene on ischemic and I/R injuries to different organs, which may help further research into its potential clinical applications.

Oxidative stress is one of the common factors leading to age-related eye diseases in older adults. Factors such as high oxygen consumption, high concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids, and cumulative exposure to high-energy visible light in the eyes, lead to excessive generation of reactive oxygen species, hence triggering apoptosis of ocular cells and giving rise to ophthalmic diseases. Dietary supplements such as carotenoids, anthocyanins, and vitamins have antioxidant properties which may be of benefit in retaining better vision or reversing vision impairment; thus, studies have been conducted to understand the role of dietary supplements in the treatment or prevention of ophthalmic diseases. While high concentration of carotenoids such as lutein and zeaxanthin decrease the risk of developing age-related macular disease, anthocyanins and vitamins play a role in the treatment and prevention of other ophthalmic diseases: saffron extract reduced intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients; bilberry extract prevented impairments in lenses and retina, as well as alleviate symptoms of dry eye disease; high concentration of beta-carotene may reduce the risk of developing cataract. Further studies with clinical measurements are required to investigate the effectiveness of antioxidants on visual function and ophthalmic diseases.

As a fresh food, sweet potatoes are highlighted for their taste and appearance. In the industry, they are valued for their starch and sugar content. In both scenarios, much attention has been given to the composition of bioactive compounds. The application of abiotic stresses seems to induce an overproduction of these compounds in some vegetables. The objective was to examine the influence of harvest time on the synthesis and accumulation of bioactive compounds in varieties of minimally processed sweet potatoes with different flesh colors. Sweet potato cultivars (Beterraba, Jerimum, Mãe de Família Roxa, and BRS Cuia) were harvested at 120, 150, and 180 days after planting, then subjected to minimal processing and stored at 5 ºC for 10 days. The most recommended time for harvesting sweet potatoes in semi-arid conditions for minimal processing by the industry is between 150 and 180 days. This is the period when the sweet potatoes exhibit the best quality for fresh consumption, as detected in ‘Mãe de Família Roxa’ and ‘Jerimum’. ‘BRS Cuia’ harvested at 120 days showed the highest phenolic compound levels, the highest polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase enzyme activities, and the most intense browning symptoms. In addition to its starch content, it can be used as a raw material for the extraction of phenolic compounds of interest. ‘Beterraba’ showed low sugar values, rendering them unfavorable for fresh consumption or minimal processing. However, this cultivar also exhibited a high content of carotenoids, making them bio-factories for the food and pharmaceutical industries. RESUMO Como alimento fresco, a batata-doce se destaca pelo sabor e aparência. Na indústria, é valorizado por seu teor de amido e açúcar. Em ambos os cenários, muita atenção tem sido dada à composição dos compostos bioativos. A aplicação de estresses abióticos parece induzir uma superprodução desses compostos em algumas hortaliças. O objetivo foi examinar a influência da época de colheita na síntese e acúmulo de compostos bioativos em variedades de batata-doce minimamente processadas com diferentes cores de polpa. As cultivares de batata-doce: Beterraba, Jerimum, Mãe de Família Roxa e BRS Cuia foram colhidas aos 120, 150 e 180 dias após o plantio, submetidas ao processamento mínimo e armazenadas a 5 ºC por 10 dias. A época mais recomendada para a colheita da batata-doce em condições semi-áridas para a indústria de processamento mínimo foi entre 150 e 180 dias, período em que a batata-doce apresentou melhor qualidade para consumo in natura em destaque para 'Mãe de Família Roxa' e 'Jerimum'. A ‘BRS Cuia’ colhida aos 120 dias apresentou os maiores teores de compostos fenólicos, as maiores atividades das enzimas polifenoloxidase e peroxidase e os sintomas de escurecimento mais intensos, podendo ser utilizado como matéria-prima para a extração de compostos fenólicos de interesse, além do amido. A ‘Beterraba’ apresentou baixos valores de açúcar, tornandoos desfavoráveis para consumo in natura ou processamento mínimo. No entanto, esta cultivar também apresentou um alto teor de carotenóides, tornando-os biofábricas para as indústrias alimentícia e farmacêutica.

It is known that C

Photosynthesis is the basis of almost all life on Earth. In addition to providing energy, plants and algae provide a plethora of secondary substances useful in the treatment of a number of illnesses including a wide array of cancer maladies. The first organisms on Earth used chemosynthesis for their energy needs. Photosynthetic bacteria utilize one of two different photosystems whereas cyanobacteria, eukaryotic algae and plants combine two photosystems in a linear electron transport chain. Accessory pigments such as various chlorophylls, carotenoids and phycobilins absorb the energy of impinging photons and funnel it to the reaction centers (P680 in photosystem II and P700 in photosystem I). Water is split photochemically, electrons are transported to reduce NADPH, oxygen is discarded as waste product, and protons accumulate inside the thylakoid vesicles in the chloroplasts. The resulting electrochemical gradient across the membrane is used to drive an ATPase. The produced ATP and NADPH+H

To date, several transcriptomic studies during fruit development have been reported, however no comprehensive integrated study on expression diversity, alternative splicing and metabolomic profiling was reported in Capsicum. This study analyzed RNA-seq data and untargeted metabolomic profiling from early green (EG), mature green (MG) and breaker (Br) fruit stages from two Capsicum species i.e. C. annuum (Cann) and C. frutescens (Cfrut) from Northeast India. A total of 117416 and 96802 alternatively spliced events (AltSpli-events) were identified from Cann and Cfrut, respectively. Among AltSpli-events, intron retention (IR; 32.2% Cann and 25.75% Cfrut) followed by alternative acceptor (AA; 15.4% Cann and 18.9% Cfrut) were the most abundant in Capsicum. Around, 7600 genes expressed in at least one fruit stages of Cann and Cfrut, were AltSpli. The study identified spliced variants of genes including transcription factors (TFs) involved in fruit development/ripening (Aux/IAA 16-like, ETR, SGR1, ARF, CaGLK2, ETR, CaAGL1, MADS-RIN, FUL1, SEPALLATA1), carotenoid (PDS, CA1, Ccs, CCD4, NCED3, xanthoxin dehydrogenase, CaERF82, CabHLH100, CaMYB3R-1, SGR1, CaWRKY28, CaWRKY48, CaWRKY54) and capsaicinoids biosynthesis (CaMYB48, CHS, CaWRKY51), which were significantly differentially spliced (DS) between consecutive Capsicum fruit stages. Also, this study observed that differentially expressed isoforms (DEiso) from 38 genes with differentially spliced events (DSE) were significantly enriched in various metabolic pathways such as starch and sucrose metabolism, amino-acid metabolism, cysteine cutin suberin and wax biosynthesis, and carotenoid biosynthesis. Furthermore, the metabolomic profiling revealed that metabolites from aforementioned pathways such as carbohydrates (mainly sugars such as D-fructose, D-galactose, maltose and sucrose), organic acids (carboxylic acids) and peptide groups significantly altered during fruit development. Taken together, our findings could help in alternative splicing-based targeted studies of candidate genes involved in fruit development and ripening in Capsicum crop.

The object of the study was oilseeds of winter camelina grown in regions with contrasting climatic conditions: the forest-steppe of the Middle Volga region (Penza Research Institute of Agriculture) and the steppe zone of Crimea (Research Institute of Agriculture of Crimea). The aim of the study is to determine the biochemical parameters of winter camelina, to study its fatty acid and amino acid composition, depending on the region of cultivation. The climate of the Middle Volga region is temperate continental. The amount of annual precipitation varies from 350 to 750 mm, the average annual temperature is 5.3°С. The climate of the steppe Crimea is continental, the average annual temperature reaches 10.2°С, the amount of precipitation per year is 350–450 mm. The largest share in camelina seed oil is linolenic acid, the percentage of which was 33.79 (Crimea) and 34.87 (Penza). The concentration of linoleic and oleic acids is 16.12–17.98 and 14.82–15.70%, depending on the growing region. The content of palmitic acid is 4.93 and 5.17%, eicosene – 15.46 and 15.84%, erucic 3.15 and 3.16%. The ratio of linolenic (ω-3) and linoleic (ω-6) acids is on average 2:1. In the seeds of camelina, 18 amino acids were identified, including 9 irreplaceable ones, the content of which was 7.28 and 8.53%. Camelina proteins contain a high amount of leucine (2.14–3.02%), valine (1.01–1.25%), lysine (1.07–1.28%), proline (1.02–1.45%), glycine (1.13–1.46%), alanine (0.93–1.22%), serine (1.02–1.26%) and methionine (0.34–0.37%). It was found that camelina oilseeds contain tocopherols 0.085-0.098%, carotenoids 0.002%, steroids 0.144–0.145% and squalene 0.09–0.10%, depending on the region., Объектом исследования являлись маслосемена рыжика озимого, выращенного в контрастных по климатическим условиям регионах: лесостепи Среднего Поволжья (Пензенский НИИСХ) и степной зоне Крыма (НИИСХ Крыма). Цель исследования – определение биохимических показателей рыжика озимого, изучение его жирнокислотного иаминокислотного состава в зависимости от региона возделывания. Климат Средневолжского региона умеренно континентальный. Сумма годовых осадков варьирует от 350 до 750мм, среднегодовая температура составляет 5.3°С. Климат степного Крыма континентальный, среднегодовая температура достигает 10.2°С, сумма осадков составляет 350–450 мм в год. Наибольшую долю в масле семян рыжика представляет линоленовая кислота, процент которой составил 33.79 (Крым) и 34.87 (Пенза). Концентрация линолевой и олеиновой кислот составляет 16.12–17.98% и 14.82–15.70% в зависимости от региона выращивания. Содержание пальмитиновой кислоты составляет 4.93 и 5.17%, эйкозеновой – 15.46 и 15.84%, эруковой – 3.15 и 3.16%. Соотношение линоленовой (ω-3) и линолевой (ω-6) кислот составляет в среднем 2:1. В семенах рыжика было выявлено 18 аминокислот, в том числе 9 незаменимых, содержание которых составило 7.28 и 8.53%. Белки рыжика содержат высокое количество лейцина (2.14–3.02%), валина (1.01–1.25%), лизина (1.07–1.28%), пролина (1.02–1.45%), глицина (1.13–1.46%), аланина (0.93–1.22%), серина (1.02–1.26%) и метионина (0.34–0.37%). Установлено, что маслосемена рыжика содержат токоферолы – 0.085–0.098%, каротиноиды – 0.002%, стероиды – 0.144–0.145% и сквален – 0.09–0.10% в зависимости от региона.

Yarrowia lipolytica is a metabolic engineering host of growing industrial interest due to its ability to metabolize hydrocarbons, fatty acids, glycerol, and other renewable carbon sources. This dimorphic yeast undergoes a stress-induced transition to a multicellular hyphal state, which can negatively impact biosynthetic activity, reduce oxygen and nutrient mass transfer in cell cultures, and increase culture viscosity. Identifying mutations that prevent the formation of hyphae would help alleviate the bioprocess challenges that they create. To this end, we conducted a genome-wide CRISPR screen to identify genetic knockouts that prevent the transition to hyphal morphology. The screen identified five mutants with a null-hyphal phenotype-ΔRAS2, ΔRHO5, ΔSFL1, ΔSNF2, and ΔPAXIP1. Of these hits, only ΔRAS2 suppressed hyphal formation in an engineered lycopene production strain over a multiday culture. The RAS2 knockout was also the only genetic disruption characterized that did not affect lycopene production, producing more than 5 mg Lsup-1/supODsup-1/supfrom a heterologous pathway with enhanced carbon flux through the mevalonate pathway. These data suggest that a ΔRAS2 mutant of Y. lipolytica could prove useful in engineering a metabolic engineering host of the production of carotenoids and other biochemicals.

Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade de Vigo/CISUG The stereoselective synthesis of C40-all-trans-carotenoids with the formal hexahydrobenzofuran skeletons aurochrome, auroxanthin, and equinenone-5′,8′-epoxide is reported. The synthesis is based on a one-pot or stepwise double Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons (HWE) reaction of a terminal enantiopure C15-5,6-epoxycyclohexadienylphosphonate and a central C10-trienedial. The ring expansion of the epoxycyclohexadienylphosphonate, generated by a Stille cross-coupling reaction, to the hexahydrobenzofuran skeleton was promoted by the reaction conditions of the HWE reaction prior to double-bond formation. Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED-431G/02-FEDER Xunta de Galicia | Ref. GRC ED431C 2017/61 Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. PID2019-107855RB-I00

Pumpkin seed and sunflower oil are rich in bioactive compounds, but are prone to oxidation during storage. Their fatty acids, carotenoid and volatile compounds and their Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) profiles were studied during 8 months storage in order to assess the overall quality, but also to assess the impact of the oleogelation as conditioning process.The fatty acids methyl esters were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The linoleic acid was the most abundant in the oils (604.6 g kgDuring 8 months storage, the decrease of polyunsaturated fatty acid total amount was 5.72% for the pumpkin seed oil and 3.55% for the oleogel, while in the sunflower oil samples of 2.93% and 3.28% for the oleogel. It was concluded that oleogelation might protect specific carotenoid compounds, since the oleogels displayed higher content of β-carotene at each storage time. Hexanal and heptanal were detected during storage, regardless of the oil or oleogel type. FTIR analysis depicts the differences in the constituent fatty acids resulting due to thermal oxidation or due to storage. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

The functions of both (bacterio) chlorophylls and carotenoids in light-harvesting complexes have been extensively studied during the past decade, yet, the involvement of BChl a high-energy Soret band in the cascade of light-harvesting processes still remains a relatively unexplored topic. Here, we present transient absorption data recorded after excitation of the Soret band in the LH2 complex from Rhodoblastus acidophilus. Comparison of obtained data to those recorded after excitation of rhodopin glucoside and B800 BChl a suggests that no Soret-to-Car energy transfer pathway is active in LH2 complex. Furthermore, a spectrally rich pattern observed in the spectral region of rhodopin glucoside ground state bleaching (420-550 nm) has been assigned to an electrochromic shift. The results of global fitting analysis demonstrate two more features. A 6 ps component obtained exclusively after excitation of the Soret band has been assigned to the response of rhodopin glucoside to excess energy dissipation in LH2. Another time component, ~ 450 ps, appearing independently of the excitation wavelength was assigned to BChl a-to-Car triplet-triplet transfer. Presented data demonstrate several new features of LH2 complex and its behavior following the excitation of the Soret band.

The global population is living longer; however, not everyone ages at the same rate with regard to their physical and cognitive abilities and their vulnerability to certain diseases and death. This review aimed to synthesize the contribution of biological age-predictive biomarkers to nutrition research and highlight the implications for future research and clinical practice. MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Cochrane CENTRAL were systematically searched on 30 September 2021 for randomized controlled trials and cross-sectional studies examining the association between nutrition and biological age in older adults reporting on genetic, clinical, or molecular biomarkers of biological aging. Cochrane's ROB 2 and ROBINS-I were used to assess the quality of included studies. Synthesis was undertaken narratively. Of 1245 records identified from the search, 13 studies from 8 countries and territories, involving 5043 participants, were included. Seven studies assessed associations between nutrient food intake and telomere attrition, reporting protective effects for branched-chain amino acids, calcium and vitamin D, and a diet of a lower inflammatory index; whereas they found shorter telomeres in people consuming more processed foods and arachidonic acid and other proinflammatory compounds. Five studies examined the associations between plasma nutrition biomarkers and cognitive function, and found a protective effect for HDL cholesterol, lycopene, carotenoids, ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids, and vitamins B, C, D, and E; whereas trans fatty acids and fibrinogen correlated with a decline in cognitive function. One study used Horvath's clock and reported the epigenetic rejuvenation effect of a Mediterranean diet. In conclusion, biological aging was negatively associated with an anti-inflammatory diet. However, a few studies did not control for the confounding effect of other lifestyle factors. Future research should address this and also assess the synergistic effect of different nutrients, their combinations, and evaluate their dose-response relations. Nutrition practice can incorporate updated screening procedures for older people that include relevant biological aging nutrition markers, leading to anti-aging precision nutrition therapy. The methodology of this systematic review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021288122).

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of cultivars on the concentration of antioxidant compounds: total carotenoid content (TC) and vitamin C (VC), and their correlation with the total antioxidant activity (TAA) in 65 potato cultivars (Solanum tuberosum) from 10 countries. The TC content revealed a highly significant effect of the year (Y), cultivar (C) and flesh colour (FC). The TC ranged from 101.5 g 100 g-1 DM (in cv. Kelly) to 715 g 100 g-1 DM (in cv. Mayan Gold). The TC values were weakly correlated with years and higher in yellow-fleshed potatoes than in white-fleshed potatoes (319.9 vs. 175.6 g 100 g-1 DM, respectively). The VC content ranged from 1.0 mg 100 g-1 FM (in cv. Bzura) to 14.8 mg 100 g-1 FM (in cv. Twinner). The content of VC were higher in yellow-fleshed (6.5 mg 100 g-1 FM) than in white-fleshed potatoes (5.8 mg 100 g-1 FM). The highest TAA were observed in cvs. Colleen, Basa, Triplo, Gatsby, Ditta, Twinner, Riviera, Michalina, Damaris, Belmonda, Ambo, Savinja, 12-LHI-6. For these cultivars, the FRAP values were 0.53 mol TE 100 mg-1 DM and DPPH 0.55 mol TE 100 mg-1 DM. The lowest TAA were observed in cvs.: Owacja, Mayan Gold, Kokra, Magnolia and Kelly. For them, the FRAP and DPPH values were slightly above 0.2 mol TE 100 mg-1 DM. It was shown that the concentration of TC in potato tubers has an impact on TAA.

The carotenoids have vast medical, industrial, dietary, and pharmaceutical importance due to their provitamin A precursor, immunomodulator, antioxidant and photoprotective activity. The purpose of the research was to optimize the production of carotenoids using Rhodotorula mucilaginosa from artichoke agroindustrial waste as a low-cost substrate. The artichokes bracts waste was bleached by sodium hypochlorite (NaClO 2%) and was characterized through whiteness index and FTIR. The bleached artichoke waste (BABW) used in the fermentation went through acid hydrolysis, applying 8% of the bleached artichokes residue and sulfuric acid (2.5%) for 1 h at 90°C, obtaining a greater reduced sugars content at 3.1 g/L. Rhodotorula mucilaginosa was isolated and molecularly identified. The production of carotenoids from a culture media based on hydrolyzed BABW, peptone (0.5%), yeast extract (0.1%) and sodium chloride (0.5%) was evaluated at different conditions of pH (5–8) and agitation speed (80–160 rpm) applying the surface response methodology by a rotational central compound design. The best carotenoids performance obtained had 2968.95 µg/L VVC and 1228.53 µg/g TFC at pH 5, 120 rpm and 30°C for 72 h. The chemical characterization of the extracted carotenoids was confirmed by UV-VIS and Raman spectroscopy methods. The results suggest that Rhodotorula mucilaginosa is capable of producing carotenoids from artichoke waste fermentation, providing a low-cost and sustainable alternative route for use in the global market.

The aim of the present work was to improve the stability and bioaccessibility of carotenoids from green oil extracts obtained from papaya by-products using oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions. The effects of different concentrations of pectin (1%, 2%, and 3%), a high-molecular-size emulsifier, together with Tween 20, a low-molecular-size emulsifier, high-speed homogenization conditions (time: 2, 3, 4, and 5 min; rpm: 9500, 12,000, 14,000, and 16,000 rpm), and high-pressure homogenization (HPH) (100 MPa for five cycles) were evaluated to determine the optimal conditions for obtaining O/W stable emulsions with encapsulated carotenoids. Soybean, sunflower, and coconut oils were used to formulate these O/W emulsions. The bioaccessibility of the main individual encapsulated papaya carotenoids was evaluated using the INFOGEST digestion methodology. In addition, the microstructures (confocal and optical microscopy) of the O/W carotenoid emulsions and their behavior during in vitro digestion phases were studied. Sunflower O/W carotenoid emulsions showed smaller mean particle size, higher negative ζ-potential, and higher viscosity than soybean O/W emulsions. Particle size reduction in the O/W emulsions using the HPH process improved the bioaccessibility of papaya encapsulated carotenoids. In these O/W emulsions, depending on the vegetable oil, lycopene was the carotenoid with the highest bioaccessibility (71–64%), followed by (all-E)-β-carotene (18%), (all-E)-β-cryptoxanthin (15%), and (all-E)-β-cryptoxanthin laurate (7–4%). These results highlight the potential of using green carotenoid papaya extracts to formulate O/W emulsions to enhance carotenoid bioactivity by efficiently preventing degradation and increasing in vitro bioaccessibility.

Nowadays, more and more research is being carried out on various feeds of Tenebrio molitor larvae, in order to increase their nutritional value and render them a valuable component of the human diet. In this study, Moringa oleifera leaves were used in different proportions (up to 50%) to substitute wheat bran (the usually employed feed), in order to evaluate their effect on the growth and development of the larvae, as well as on their composition in crude protein, fat and fatty acids, ash, vitamins, and antioxidants. It was found that the addition of M. oleifera leaves in the feed had no negative impact on the development and survival of the insects, while an increase in their nutritional value was recorded. More specifically, an increase in the crude protein of up to 22.61% and vitamin C and A contents of up to 40.74% and 491.63%, respectively, was recorded. Therefore, the use of M. oleifera leaves as a feed additive is highly recommended for rearing T. molitor larvae to enhance the nutritional value of the insects.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of light quality (white fluorescent light, WFL, containing UV components), red light (RL, 660 nm), blue light (BL, 450 nm), and white LED light (WL, 450 + 580 nm) on the components of the cellular antioxidant system in Pinus sylvestris L. in needles, roots, and hypocotyls, focusing on the accumulation of key secondary metabolites and the expression of related genes. The qualitative and quantitative composition of carotenoids; the content of the main photosynthetic pigments, phenolic compounds, flavonoids (catechins, proanthocyanidins, anthocyanins), ascorbate, and glutathione; the activity of the main antioxidant enzymes; the content of hydrogen peroxide; and the intensity of lipid peroxidation (MDA and 4-HNE contents) were determined. RL resulted in an increase in the content of hydrogen peroxide and 4-HNE, as well as the total fraction of flavonoids in the needles. It also enhanced the expression of several PR (pathogen-related) genes compared to BL and WL. WFL increased the content of phenols, including flavonoids, and enhanced the overall activity of low-molecular antioxidants in needles and hypocotyls. BL increased the content of ascorbate and glutathione, including reduced glutathione, in the needles and simultaneously decreased the activity of peroxidases. Thus, by modifying the light quality, it is possible to regulate the accumulation of secondary metabolites in pine roots and needles, thereby influencing their resistance to various biotic and abiotic stressors.

Ozone (O3) is a harmful air pollutant to which we are constantly exposed. Given its strong oxidizing effects and pervasiveness in the air we breathe, O3 is especially damaging to target organs in the respiratory system (e.g., lungs) and the integumentary apparatus (e.g., skin). Both of these systems act as a barrier and are able to limit the penetration of atmospheric pollutants into the body. In this regard, skin—the largest and main barrier against atmospheric intrusions—offers continuous protection against environmental intrusions. The skin is equipped with several defensive molecules that act as protective intracellular antioxidants against oxidative intrusions, including O3. Among these antioxidants are carotenoids, a family of lipophilic phytonutrients that are abundant in fruits and vegetables. It is well established that carotenoids accumulate in the epidermis layer of the skin, where they confer protection against oxidative intrusions and modulate inflammation, and that there is a direct correlation between skin and serum carotenoids level. The present study aimed to evaluate the variations in carotenoid content present in human skin prior to and after O3 exposure in 141 human subjects. Carotenoids were measured non-invasively using a resonance Raman spectroscopy (RRS)-based photonic device (Pharmanex BioPhotonic Scanner (BPS) Nu Skin Enterprises). In each volunteer, RRS skin carotenoids were determined at baseline and after 15 and 30 min of exposure to O3 0.8 ppm. The data obtained have an indicative value for individual variations in the cutaneous carotenoids, which have been shown to correlate with plasmatic contents. After the first 15 min of O3 exposure, there was a modulation of skin carotenoids, confirming their importance in the maintenance of cutaneous redox homeostasis.

International audience; Dietary diversification, which starts between 4 and 6 months, is a pivotal period in the infant development. After this diversification, complementary foods such as infant flours are therefore widely consumed throughout the world, particularly in southern countries. However, infant flours have often an unbalanced lipid profile in favor of omega 6 and overages in certain vitamins content (especially A and E). The aim of this study was to optimize the formulation of enriched infant flour in order to improve its nutritional profile and oxidative stability. For this purpose, the nutritional values and ingredient lists of 96 infant flours were analyzed to formulate model flours representative of the marketed products. The lipid profile of these model flours was then optimized by including flours with balanced omega 6/omega 3 ratios, i.e. teff and cowpea flours, and/or by adding long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) powder (DHA and ARA). After 3 months of storage, the optimized flour showed a quite good resistance to oxidation with a low evolution of peroxide values and a low tocopherols degradation. However, the inclusion of LC-PUFA significantly increased the oxidation sensitivity of the flours. In order to counteract this phenomenon, phenolic compounds were added via the addition of brown rice bran which did not seem to have a positive effect on stabilization regardless the particle size. Nevertheless, optimized omega 3 enriched and fortified infant flours could be proposed with fair stability over 3 months of storage.

Cereals are a good source of phenolics and carotenoids with beneficial effects on human health. In this study, a 2-year evaluation was undertaken on grain, wholemeal and refined-flour of two cultivars, one old and one modern, belonging to three cereal species. Wholemeal of selected cultivars for each species was used for biscuit making. In the grain, some yield-related traits and proteins (PC) were evaluated. In the flours and biscuits, total polyphenols (TPC), flavonoids (TFC), proanthocyanidins (TPAC), carotenoids (TYPC) and antioxidant activities (DPPH and TEAC) were spectrophotometrically determined, whereas HPLC was used for the composition of soluble free and conjugated, and insoluble bound phenolic acids. Species (S), genotype (G) and ‘SxG’ were highly significant for yield-related and all antioxidant traits, whereas cropping year (Y) significantly affected yield-related traits, PC, TPC, TPAC, TEAC and ‘SxGxY’ interaction was significant for yield-related traits, TPAC, TYPC, TEAC, DPPH and all phenolic acid fractions. Apart from the TYPC that prevailed in durum wheat together with yield-related traits, barley was found to have significantly higher values for all the other parameters. Generally, the modern cultivars are richest in antioxidant compounds. The free and conjugated fractions were more representative in emmer, while the bound fraction was prevalent in barley and durum wheat. Insoluble bound phenolic acids represented 86.0% of the total, and ferulic acid was the most abundant in all species. A consistent loss of antioxidants was observed in all refined flours. The experimental biscuits were highest in phytochemicals than commercial control. Although barley biscuits were nutritionally superior, their lower consumer acceptance could limit their diffusion. New insights are required to find optimal formulations for better nutritional, sensorial and health biscuits.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized by increased pro-oxidative stress and a chronic inflammation state and their consequent alterations. Several studies have highlighted the protective effect of carotenoids and polyphenols in MetS patients. This study aimed to evaluate the plasma level of selected carotenoids and polyphenols and to determine their relationship with MetS severity, MetS components, and inflammatory markers in Polish adults with metabolic disorders. It was designed as a cross-sectional study. The final study group comprised 275 adults, including 158 women and 117 men. Data were collected on the frequency of consumption of selected food groups. Anthropometric measurements and blood samples were taken to determine the concentration of carotenoids, polyphenols, and indicators (parameters) of metabolic disorders. Plasma concentrations of selected carotenoids and polyphenols were low in adults with MetS. The highest concentrations of carotenoids and polyphenols in the blood were observed for lutein and phenolic acids (including gallic and p-coumaric acids). Nevertheless, a correlation was found between the individual bioactive compounds and MetS components. In terms of the lipid profile, our study showed that the plasma of the selected carotenoids and polyphenols positively correlated with HDL cholesterol (zeaxanthin; total carotenoids), LDL cholesterol (chlorogenic acid), triglycerides (lycopene), and the total cholesterol (kaempferol). We found that the level of CRP as a marker of inflammation negatively correlated with the concentration of zeaxanthin. In our study group, no relationship was found between the dietary antioxidant intensity and the variables studied, which may be attributed to the low frequency of consumption of the sources of bioactive compounds, such as carotenoids and polyphenols, but also to the metabolic disorders. Further research is needed to determine whether these associations are causally related to the metabolic syndrome or are a result of the pathologies of the syndrome or improper diet with a low intake of vegetables and fruit.

Microalgae are a natural source of lipids, carotenoids, and other value-added compounds. The combination of nutrients and their precise ratio have a significant impact on the productivity of microalgae-mediated compounds. The biomass, lipid, chlorophyll, and carotenoid production of three microalgae species, namely, Monoraphidium sp., Chlorella sorokiniana, and Scenedesmus obliquus, were investigated by employing standard photoautotrophic media, namely, BG-11, BBM, and HS CHU-10. BBM was found as the most effective medium since it obtained higher biomass, lipids, and carotenoids from microalgae. The lipids and carotenoids were identified using chromatographic and microscopy techniques. The findings showed that although the Monoraphidium sp. biomass productivity was the lowest, it emerged as a substantial producer of astaxanthin, whereas the Chlorella sorokiniana culture could grow in a variety of media and produced β-carotene as a major carotenoid. On the other hand, Scenedesmus obliquus was found to be a considerable source of lipids and β-carotene. This study provided a comprehensive understanding of the appropriate medium selection in order to extract an assortment of value-added compounds from freshwater microalgae species.

Studies have been conducted in order to estimate bioactive compound consumption across populations, with substantial disparities according to the origin of the cohort examined. In this sense, Brazil is a continental country with marked differences in food plant availability across geographic regions. We aimed to estimate the bioactive compound intake according to Brazilian geographic region, as well as to determine the major contributors. Data were obtained from the National Dietary Survey 2017–2018, a cross-sectional population-based study including data on the individual food intake of 46,164 subjects aged ≥10 years. The consumption of polyphenols (total and classes) was significantly higher in the South compared with other regions (p = 0.0001). Total carotenoid intake was higher in the Midwest, followed by the Southeast (p = 0.0001). Tea was the main supplier of total polyphenol intake in the South, whereas coffee contributed the most to total polyphenol intake in other Brazilian regions. Açaí, caja juice, mango and corn were important suppliers of carotenoid intake in the North and Northeast. Bioactive compound intake presented variations according to Brazilian region, and individuals living in the South, Midwest and Southeast may experience higher bioactive-dense diets. We highlight the potential of many food plants for sustained explorations to the development of marketable products, possibly increasing the bioactive compound intake.

The popularity of hemp cultivation for industrial purposes has been steadily growing for many years. With the addition of products derived from these plants to the Novel Food Catalogue, maintained by the European Commission, a significant increase in interest in hemp food is also expected. The aim of the study was to determine the characteristics of hempseed, oil, and oil cake samples produced from experimental plots grown in different conditions. The research was conducted on the Henola variety, one of the newest and most popular varieties of hemp, recently bred for grain and oil. The content of bioactive compounds in grain and oil has been subjected to detailed chemical analyses in order to determine the effect of fertilization, the method of plant cultivation, and processing conditions on their quantity. The test results and the statistical analysis carried out showed a significant impact of the tested factors on the content of some of the tested bioactive compounds. The obtained results will help in the development of an effective method of cultivation for this hemp variety in order to maximize the content of the desired bioactive compounds per unit of cultivation area.

The combination of fruit pulps from different species, in addition to multiplying the offer of flavors, aromas and textures, favors the nutritional spectrum and the diversity of bioactive principles. The objective was to evaluate and compare the physicochemical characteristics, bioactive compounds, profile of phenolic compounds and in vitro antioxidant activity of pulps of three species of tropical red fruits (acerola, guava and pitanga) and of the blend produced from the combination. The pulps showed significant values of bioactive compounds, with emphasis on acerola, which had the highest levels in all parameters, except for lycopene, with the highest content in pitanga pulp. Nineteen phenolic compounds were identified, being phenolic acids, flavanols, anthocyanin and stilbene; of these, eighteen were quantified in acerola, nine in guava, twelve in pitanga and fourteen in the blend. The blend combined positive characteristics conferred by the individual pulps, with low pH favorable for conservation, high levels of total soluble solids and sugars, greater diversity of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity close to that of acerola pulp. Pearson’s correlation between antioxidant activity and ascorbic acid content, total phenolic compounds, flavonoids, anthocyanins and carotenoids for the samples were positive, indicating their use as a source of bioactive compounds.

For many years, there has been a growing trend toward producing plants using tissue culture, the most efficient method at present. Every year, more and more protocols for micropropagation of economically valuable species are appearing. Many factors influence the regenerating explants under sterile laboratory conditions. One of the most important is light. The aim of the present study was to increase the efficiency of micropropagation of hellebore ‘Molly’s White’ using energy-efficient light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which were compared to traditionally used fluorescent lamps (FLs). To choose the best light and reduce production costs, white, blue or red LEDs with two levels of photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), 40 and 70 μmol/m2/s, were used at the multiplication and rooting stages. LED light color has been shown to affect regeneration rate and plant growth in length during micropropagation, while both light parameters (color as well as intensity) affect the length of regenerating shoots and the content of assimilation pigments in plants. The use of white LED light, which gives the highest multiplication rate, at an intensity of 70 μmol/m2/s saves more than 57 kWh during an 8-week micropropagation cycle compared to conventional fluorescent lamps with the same parameters.

Introduction. Carotenoids are one of the most promising groups of dietary supplements. The human body is incapable of synthesizing these compounds. Therefore, the search for new, valuable raw materials in Ukraine with the aim of developing dietary supplements, functional food products, and active pharmaceutical ingredients on its basis remains relevant. It can be used to create domestic targeted medicines or products with a predictable physiological effect. These products will have a health-improving effect on the human body and will be able to provide prevention and treatment of a number of diseases. Traditional sources of carotenoids and medicines based on them are sea buckthorn fresh fruits, rose hips fruits, tomatoes, carrots root crops, pumpkin fruit pulp, calendula flowers, etc. This list is constantly expanding due to new species. Momordica charantia L. (Indian cucumber, bitter gourd, bitter melon) is an annual vine of the pumpkin family (Cucurbitaceae). It is a vegetable and medicinal plant from Southeast Asia that grows well in Kharkiv, Poltava, etc. regions of Ukraine. This plant exhibits various biological, medicinal and pharmacological functions, namely: anthelmintic, antifertility, antimalarial, laxative, hypoglycemic, antimutagenic, antiulcer, antilipolytic, hepatoprotective, antitumor, antiviral, antibacterial, etc. Analysis of literature data showed that bitter melon contains various groups of biologically active compounds (BACs): triterpenoids, peptides, essential and fatty oils, a complex of phenolic compounds, carotenoids, alkaloids, etc. However, information about research into the phytochemical composition of plants cultivated in Ukraine is very limited. That is why the study of ALS groups, namely the carotenoids of Charantia momordica, is relevant. The aim of this research was to study the qualitative composition and determine the quantitative content of carotenoids in the fruits and seeds of Momordica Harantia. Material & methods. The objects of the study is the fresh, mature green fruits and seeds of the Momordica charantia L. They were harvested in the Poltava region in 2021. The dried raw materials were crushed using an electric grinder. The method of thin-layer chromatography (TLC) was used in accordance with the State Pharmacopoeia of Ukraine (SPhU) monograph to identify the carotenoids of Momordica charantia L. fruits and seeds. While their identification was carried out by the values of the mobility coefficients (Rf). Sample preparation for obtaining carotenoids from the studied raw materials for TLC analysis was carried out under cooling and in the shade to avoid oxidation, prevention of photoisomerization, destruction of carotenoids. About 2.0 g of the crushed raw material was placed in a 100 ml conical flask with a ground stopper, 25 ml of hexane was added and extracted at room temperature with periodic shaking for 1 hour. The resulting extract was filtered, concentrated and used to detect carotenoids on Sorbfil plates in an ascending manner. Chromatography conditions: chromatographic plates "Sorbfil, PTSH-P-A". size 10x15 cm. Results & discussion. Carotenoids were identified by TLC method. Analytical signals of the identification reactions indicated the presence of carotenoids in the fruits and seeds of Momordica charantia L.. Since the separation of pigments was better in mobile phase 3, the results of chromatography in it were taken as a basis. The studied samples contained 4 zones of yellow-brown color on a white background, which were assigned to the class of carotenoids. Then the chromatograms were treated with a 10% solution of phosphoric-molybdic acid in ethanol. After heating the plate at a temperature of 60-80 °C, carotenoids appeared in the form of blue spots on a yellow-green background. The relative speed of movement of one of them coincided with the Rf value of β-carotene, and the others corresponded to the data of the literature and they were identified as lutein (0.373), β-cryptoxanthin (0.612), lycopene (0.802) and β-carotene (0.973). Lycopene was also found to be the dominant carotenoid in the seeds and β-carotene in the fruits. The carotenoids content of the Momordica charantia L. fruits was 10.21±0.01 mg/%, calculated on β-carotene, in Momordica charantia L. seeds - 9.13±0.02%, calculated on lycopene. Conclusions. It is the first time, a study of the carotenoid complex of the Momordica charantia L. fruits and seeds was carried out. The presence of lutein, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene and β-carotene was determined by the TLC method. Lycopene was also found to be the dominant carotenoid in the seeds and β-carotene in the fruits. The content of carotenoids in the Momordica charantia L. fruits was 10.21±0.01 mg/%, in terms of β-carotene, in seeds - 9.13±0.02%, in terms of lycopene. These data indicate the possibility of using the studied raw materials for the manufacture of medicinal products and functional food products., {"references":["1.\tArden NS, Fisher AC, Tyner K , Lawrence XYu, Lee SL, Kopcha M. Industry 4.0 for pharmaceutical manufacturing: Preparing for the smart factories of the future. International Journal of Pharmaceutics. 2021. Volume 602. P. 1-8. DOI:10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120554","2.\tFletcher RH, Fairfield KM. Vitamins for chronic disease prevention in adults: clinical applications. JAMA. 2002. Vol 287(23):3127-9. DOI:10.1001/jama.287.23.3127","3.\tDatta M, Vitolins MZ. Food Fortification and Supplement Use - Are there Health Implications? Critical Reviews in Food Science Nutrition. 2016. Oct 2. 56(13). P. 2149–2159. DOI:10.1080/10408398.2013.818527","4.\tKhachik F. 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Valuable products, including carotenoids, phenolic compounds, and pectin were obtained from granadilla peel using green technologies based on pressurized fluids. The processes of pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and CO2-expanded ethanol (GXE) were evaluated to recover the carotenoids and phenolic compounds, while pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE) was evaluated to extract pectin from the granadilla peel. The results demonstrated that although PLE and GXE had no significant difference in the carotenoids yield and antioxidant activity of the extracts obtained, PLE was faster than GXE to achieve the highest extraction yield. The pectin yield obtained by PHWE was affected by the process temperature with the highest value obtained at 160 °C. Further studies are needed to characterize the chemical composition of the pectin obtained, but the present results enable establishing a biorefinery for the complete use of granadilla wastes (seeds and peel)., The authors thank the financial support of the Ministry of Education (MECESUP) through the Program Strengthening Featuring MECESUP-ANT 1999 (Attraction of Advanced Human Capital from Abroad short-term visits) and the FONDEQUIP EQM160073 Project of the National Agency for Research and Development (ANID) ex-National Commission for Scientific and Technological Research(CONICYT) of Chile. Renata Vardanegathanks Horizon 2020 MSCA grant agreement No 101062938 for the postdoctoral fellowship., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

The current study was designed to assess the comparative morphology of eight olive cultivars with different geographical origins and diverse genetic backgrounds, introduced to a new climatic zone. The morphological parameters of eight (five exotic and three domestic) olive cultivars (Bari Zaitoon-1, Bari Zaitoon-2, Favolosa (FS-17), Koroneiki, Balkasar, Ottobratica, Leccino, and Arbequina) were compared at the experimental area of the Department of Botany, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan (29°24′0″ North, 71°41′0″ East, 401–421 feet above sea level). Plant height, number of leaves/15 cm shoot, leaf size characteristics (leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, and length/width ratio), leaf shape characteristics (margin, leaf axil, base, and apex angles), leaf pigments (Chlorophyll a, Chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll contents, and carotenoids), phyllotaxy, and leaf color and venation were recorded. The highest plant height (28 cm) was obtained by Bari Zaitoon-2 followed by Bari Zaitoon-1 (24 cm), both of which are domestic cultivar of Pakistan, while the shortest height (5 cm) was obtained by Koroneiki. Leccino displayed the highest average number of leaves (17.8) on main shoot, followed by BARI-2 (16.4) and the lowest score was from Balkasar (10.4). Leaf area ranged from 5.66 cm2 (Bari Zaitoon-1) to 3.08 cm2 (Koroneiki). The longest leaf length (5.74 cm) was found in Bari Zaitoon-1 and the shortest (4.04 cm) in Koroneiki, while the broadest leaves were found in Leccino (1.54 cm) and the narrowest (1.12 cm) in Koroneiki. Bari Zaitoon-2 led in leaf length to width ratio (4.058) followed by Bari Zaitoon-1 (3.772) with small lanceolate leaves hardly reaching the value of 4, with the lowest value illustrated by Leccino. The total chloroplast pigments were highest in FS-17 followed by Bari Zaitoon-1 and Bari Zaitoon-2, while the lowest was in Arbequina. Chlorophyll a was highest in Bari Zaitoon-1 followed by FS-17 and Balkasar, with the lowest rate in Arbequina. Chlorophyll b content of FS-17 was the highest whereas the Chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll contents in Arbequina were the lowest of all the cultivars. The highest value of total carotenoids was found in Balkasar followed by FS-17 with the lowest value in Arbequina. The phyllotaxy was categorized into three types, i.e., alternate, opposite, and whorled. The combination of two or more types was usually observed on the same branch. The whorl of four leaves was also present in rare cases. Leaf venation was both pinnate and reticulate. The leaf base of most (four) of the olive cultivars, i.e., Arbequina, Balkasar, Leccino and FS-17, were cuneate having acute, rounded, apiculate, and cuspidate leaf tips, respectively. The findings revealed remarkable variations in olive morphology, especially in the leaves and a successful record of the preliminary data of olive cultivars from the study area was made. The present research demonstrated that local olive cultivars have unique characteristics that differentiate them from imported cultivars. Thus, local cultivars provide novel genetic resources that should be conserved.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess associations between forms of vitamin A and E (both individually and collectively) and the risk of prostate cancer, as well as identify potential effect modifiers. Methods: Utilizing data from the Singapore Prostate Cancer Study, a hospital-based case-control study, we measured the serum concentrations of 15 different forms of vitamins A and E in 156 prostate cancer patients and 118 control subjects, using a high-performance liquid chromatography technique. These forms included retinol, lutein, zeaxanthin, α-cryptoxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, α-carotene, β-carotene, lycopene, ubiquinone, δ-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol, α-tocopherol, δ-tocotrienol, γ-tocotrienol, and α-tocotrienol. The odds ratio and 95% confidence interval for associations between vitamin A and E and prostate cancer risk were estimated using logistic regression models after adjustment for potential confounders. The analyses were further stratified by smoking and alcohol consumption status. The mixture effect of micronutrient groups was evaluated using weighted quantile sum regression. Results: Higher concentrations of retinol, lutein, α-carotene, β-carotene, ubiquinone, α-tocopherol, δ-tocotrienol, γ-tocotrienol, and α-tocotrienol were significantly and positively associated with overall prostate cancer risk. Among ever-smokers, associations were stronger for lutein, β-cryptoxanthin and β-carotene compared with never-smokers. Among regular alcohol drinkers, associations were stronger for lutein, β-cryptoxanthin, ubiquinone, γ-tocotrienol and α-tocotrienol compared with non-regular alcohol drinkers. Retinol and α-tocotrienol contributed most to the group indices ‘vitamin A and provitamin A carotenoids’ and ‘vitamin E’, respectively. Conclusions: Several serum vitamin A and E forms were associated with prostate cancer risk, with significant effect modification by smoking and alcohol consumption status. Our findings shed light on prostate cancer etiology.

The present study was conducted to determine the possible antioxidant protection of pequi oil (PO) against cyclic heat stress in broiler chickens and to highlight the application of PO as a promising additive in broiler feed. A total of 400 one-day-old male broiler chicks (Cobb 500) were randomly assigned to 2 × 5 factorially arranged treatments: two temperature-controlled rooms (thermoneutral—TN or heat stress—HS for 8 h/day) and five dietary PO levels (0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, or 6.0 g/kg diet) for 42 days. Each treatment consisted of eight replicates of five birds. The results showed that HS increased glucose (p = 0.006), triglycerides (p < 0.001), and HDL (p = 0.042) at 21 days and reduced (p = 0.005) serum total cholesterol at 42 days. The results also showed that HS increased the contents of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). In contrast, PO linearly decreased AST (p = 0.048) and ALT (p = 0.020) at 21 and 42 days, respectively. The heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in the birds under HS was higher than in those in the TN environment (p = 0.046). Heat stress decreased (p = 0.032) the relative weight of their livers at 21 days. The superoxide dismutase activity increased (p = 0.010) in the HS treatments in comparison to the TN treatments, while the glutathione peroxidase activity in the liver decreased (p < 0.001) at 42 days; however, the activity of catalase had no significant effects. Meanwhile, increasing the dietary PO levels linearly decreased plasma malondialdehyde (p < 0.001) in the birds in the HS environment. In addition, PO reduced (p = 0.027) the expression of Hsp 70 in the liver by 92% when compared to the TN treatment without PO, mainly at the 6.0 g/kg diet level. The expression of Nrf2 was upregulated by 37% (p = 0.049) in response to PO with the 6.0 g/kg diet compared to the HS treatment without PO. In conclusion, PO supplementation alleviated the adverse effects of HS on broilers due to its antioxidant action and modulation of the genes related to oxidative stress, providing insights into its application as a potential feed additive in broiler production.

The size and quality of the melon fruit yield depend on the cultivar, climatic and agronomic factors. A three-year field experiment investigated the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) application and irrigation (IR) on the fruit yield of melon (Cucumis melo L. var. saccharinus Naud.) cultivars. The study was conducted on a certified organic farm located in south-eastern Poland (51.36° N, 22.83° E). The factors of the experiment were as follows: cultivar (Melba, Emir F1, Seledyn F1, Oliwin) and cultivation method (AMF and IR; AMF and non-IR; non-AMF and IR; non-AMF and non-IR as control). The dry matter (%), soluble solid (%), total sugar and reducing sugar (% fresh weight, FM), L-ascorbic acid (mg · 100 g−1 FM), and carotenoid (mg · 100 g−1 FM) contents of the fruit were determined. The highest total and marketable fruit yields were obtained using AMF and IR. Fruit from the AMF series (IR and non-IR) had the most carotenoids (respectively: 801.5 and 788.8 µg · 100 g−1 FM). The fruits of the AMF and IR plants contained the most total sugars (5.98%) and reducing sugars (2.91%) compared to the others. The control plants had the lowest number of marketable fruit, total and marketable fruit yield, and accumulated the least L-ascorbic acid, total sugars and reducing sugars. We suggest that AMF and IR can be recommended as a practical agronomic solutions for the field cultivation of melon under temperate climate conditions.

Lentils are known to be an integral part of a nutritionally balanced diet. Their sprouts are considered even more nutritional since they contain phytonutrients that confer health benefits. As such, incorporating them into a human diet can be advantageous. In this study, seeds from brown and black lentils were germinated aiming to study the changes in their nutritional value after they were grown for different amount of days to different lengths. Since the sprouts can be consumed at various stages of their growth, four growth stages were studied. For each stage, three batches were grown, and one sample of each batch was randomly picked and analyzed in triplicates. The sprouts were examined for their nutritional value. To this end, their content of proteins and carbohydrates was determined, as well as their content in carotenoids and vitamin C. Moreover, emphasis was placed on the phytochemical compounds contained in the sprouts. As results indicate, lentil sprouts not only exhibit high nutritional value but they are also rich in antioxidant compounds. More specifically, an increase of up to 18.8% in the protein content was recorded for 15 cm length sprouts (compared to lentil seeds), accompanied by a decrease in the carbohydrate content of up to 68.9%. Carotenoids and vitamin C content increased up to 224% and 389%, respectively. Additionally, a 34% increase in the polyphenol content was recorded. Moreover, a direct correlation between sprout length and nutritional value was observed, using principal component analysis (PCA) and multivariate correlation analysis (MCA).

Lutein and zeaxanthin are the major xanthophyll pigments found in corn kernels. These pigments provide the orange-red color of the broiler chicken skin and of the egg yolk. Therefore, knowing the corn xanthophyll content is important for the poultry feed producer. The objective of this study was to determine the lutein and the zeaxanthin content in corn cultivated in Colombia and in corn imported to Colombia from the United States, Argentina, and Brazil. Large differences in total lutein plus zeaxanthin content were found among the corn samples analyzed, with the highest mean level found in Colombian corn (2,758µg/100g), followed by Argentina (1,861µg/100g), United States (1,041µg/100g) and Brazil (947µg/100g). Large differences in lutein plus zeaxanthin content were also found among different corn hybrids cultivated in Colombia. Differences among geographical regions might be due to differences in UV-B radiation or in the light hours received by the crop during its growth. The differences among different corn hybrids might probably be due to genetic differences. Corn growers might be interested in cultivating hybrids higher in lutein and zeaxanthin as these pigments are very important in poultry production and human eye health. RESUMO Luteína e zeaxantina são os principais pigmentos xantofilas encontrados nos grãos de milho. Em aves, esses pigmentos naturais conferem a cor vermelho-alaranjada típica da pele do frango de corte e da gema do ovo. Assim, é importante conhecer o teor de xantofilas do milho utilizado nas dietas de aves. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar o teor de luteína e zeaxantina em milho cultivado na Colômbia e em milho importado para a Colômbia dos Estados Unidos, da Argentina e do Brasil. Foram encontradas diferenças significativas no teor de luteína total mais zeaxantina entre as amostras de milho analisadas, com o nível médio mais elevado no milho colombiano (2.758µg/100g), seguido pelo milho argentino (1.861µg/100g), pelo milho dos Estados Unidos (1.041µg/100g) e pelo milho brasileiro (947µg/100g). Grandes diferenças no teor de luteína e zeaxantina também foram encontradas entre variados híbridos de milho cultivados na Colômbia. As diferenças entre as regiões geográficas podem ser devido a diferenças na radiação UV-B ou nas horas de luz recebida pela cultura durante seu crescimento. As diferenças entre os diversos híbridos de milho provavelmente podem ser devido a diferenças genéticas. Os produtores de milho podem estar interessados em cultivar híbridos mais ricos em luteína e zeaxantina, pois esses pigmentos são muito importantes na produção de aves e na saúde ocular humana.

Pharmaceuticals (PhACs) are chemical substances that, after their use, can reach wastewater treatment plants, but the resulting treated wastewater (TWW) can still contain these contaminants. If TWWs are used for irrigation, PhACs can contaminate crops and also hinder their growth. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of 12 PhACs and their mixture at different doses on basil germination and early growth and on its photosynthetic pigment content. The germination percentage was not affected by PhACs even when applied at the highest doses. The results showed that the germination speed cannot be considered as an index of vigor of future seedlings as not all seeds that germinated first developed the best. PhACs between 25 and 100 ppb did not show negative effects on early growth and photosynthetic pigments of basil; in fact, in some cases the seeds even benefitted from their application as if it were a chemical treatment developed for the seeds. The highest assessed dose of PhACs always caused a reduction in growth parameters and the photosynthetic pigment content of basil, especially with climbazole, naproxen, triclosan, and the mixture of PhACs. In general, basil can be considered a species tolerant to PhACs after taking into account their average content in wastewater; however, more studies are needed to evaluate the long-term effects of PhACs and their translocation to edible parts.

This study synthesized and characterized ZIF-8 nanoparticles encapsulated with trans-cinnamaldehyde oil (TC) and evaluated their antimicrobial effectiveness against Escherichia coli O157:H7 on fresh spinach leaves. The antimicrobial activity of different mass ratios of TC-encapsulated ZIF-8 against E. coli O157:H7 (ATCC 43895) strain was assessed and the best mass ratio of 1:2 TC to ZIF-8 identified. Spinach leaves were treated with (1) 0.5TC@ZIF-8_PL nanoparticle complexes solution, (2) 200 ppm chlorine, (3) free TC, and (4) sterilized distilled water (control). All sample groups were rinsed for 1 min, dried in a biosafety cabinet, weighted, and packed in sterilized Whirl-pk