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The aim of this study was to analyze the content of fatty acids and tocopherols in various components (pulp, seeds, peel) of avocado ( Persea americana ), which are often neglected as by-products. In addition, the effects of different drying processes on these components were investigated and the health benefits of the main fatty acids contained in avocados were highlighted. The samples were subjected to three drying processes: hot air (HAD), vacuum (VD), and hot-air microwave (HAMD). In all parts of fresh avocado, oleic acid was the most abundant (41.28-57.93%), followed by palmitic acid (19.90-29.45%) and linoleic acid (8.44-14.95%). Drying led to a significant reduction in the oleic acid content, with palmitic acid showing the greatest stability. HAD resulted in higher levels of oleic acid and linoleic acid in dried pulp and peel samples compared with VD and HAMD, while HAMD had the highest content of α-linolenic acid in all parts. In addition, HAMD had the shortest drying time. HAMD duration was 35 min, which was 76.7% shorter than HAD (150 min) and 82.5% shorter than VD (200 min). Considering fatty acid retention and drying efficiency, HAMD appears to have been the most effective method, especially for the avocado peel. Remarkably, the avocado peel consistently contained higher total tocopherol, with δ-tocopherol generally being the most abundant form. The high content of tocopherols, oleic acid, and linoleic acid in the avocado peel suggests promising health benefits., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Pulsed electric fields (PEF) technology has been used as a sustainable method for extracting antioxidant bioactive compounds from different food matrices. In the present study, the optimal conditions of PEF extraction for mushrooms (2.5 kV/cm, 50 kJ/kg, 6 h) were applied to Lentinula edodes , Agaricus brunnescens , and Pleurotus ostreatus to evaluate the total antioxidant capacity of the extracts, followed by the Triple TOF-LC-MS-MS analysis of the phenolic profile compared to A. bisporus by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrophotometry. In addition, the microporation effect of the technology on the mushroom surface was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy. A comparison was made with a maceration extraction (aqueous stirring for 6 h). The results showed that PEF-assisted extraction enhanced the recovery of antioxidant compounds such as 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic and cinnamic acid with contents up to 236.85 µg/100 g dry weight and 2043.26 µg/100 g dry weight from A. bisporus , respectively. However, mixed results were obtained for certain phenolic compounds, including vanillic acid from L. edodes , ellagic acid from P. ostreatus , and thymol from all mushrooms. These results indicate that the application of PEF technology is effective for the extraction of antioxidant compounds in fungal matrices by creating micropores in cell membranes that allow great recovery in matrices with high content of bioactive compounds.

The goal of this review is to provide an overview of the current findings on the major carotenoids and their content in pumpkin products and by-products. The content of total carotenoids and the composition of carotenoids in pumpkins depend mainly on the species and cultivar, pedoclimatic conditions, the part of the plant (pulp, peel or seed), extraction procedures and the type of solvent used for extraction. The major carotenoids identified in pumpkins were β-carotene, α-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin. β-Carotene is the major carotenoid in most pumpkin species. The number and content of total carotenoids are higher when minor carotenoids and ester forms are considered. The use of carotenoids in the development of functional foods has been the topic of many versatile studies in recent years, as they add significant value to foods associated with numerous health benefits. In view of this, pumpkin and pumpkin by-products can serve as a valuable source of carotenoids.