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In this study, leaves and roots from three beetroot cultivars (cv. Albina Vereduna (white roots), cv. Burpee's Golden (golden roots), and cv. Pablo F1 (red roots)), as well as Swiss chard leaves (also known as "rhubarb chard", or Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla var. flavescens) were evaluated in terms of their chemical profile and bioactive properties. Roots were characterized by high carbohydrate content, which also contributed to greater energy values. In contrast, fibers were the predominant macronutrient in leaves, followed by carbohydrates. In both leaves and roots, the most abundant organic acids were quinic and oxalic, while the major free sugar was sucrose. The profile of fatty acid varied between the studied plant parts, with saturated fatty acids prevailing in root samples, while leaves exhibited higher levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Regarding phenolic composition, a total of 19 compounds were tentatively identified in leaves (including derivatives of vitexin, isorhamnetin, quercetin, and ferulic, sinapic, and p-coumaric acids), while the roots exhibited a less diverse composition, with a total of eight compounds identified (e.g., derivatives of ferulic, sinapic, p-coumaric and caffeic acids). A total of eight betalains were also identified, out of which seven were classified as betacyanins and one as betaxanthin. The leaves of Swiss chard presented compounds from both classes, while the roots and leaves of cv. Pablo F1 were characterized only by the presence of betacyanins, and those of cv. Burpee's Golden only by betaxanthin. All samples exhibited relevant activity against Y. enterocolitica, L. monocytogenes, and S. aureus, although leaf samples demonstrated better antioxidant capacity. In conclusion, beetroot leaves outperformed their corresponding roots in terms of chemical composition, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activity, suggesting their high potential as nutrient-rich and functional ingredients in a diverse and well-balanced diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Owing to their health benefits, walnuts are attracting interest as a good option for nutritious meals, thereby promoting their production. Furthermore, the adoption of ecologically and environmentally friendly agriculture strengthens biostimulant use as a sustainable complement to traditional fertilizers. This study evaluated the effects of different foliar‐applied biostimulants in walnut tree orchards, in northeastern Portugal, on walnuts' chemical composition and bioactivity. RESULTS: Walnut samples were rich in fat (particularly the polyunsaturated linoleic acid), dietary fiber and protein. Sucrose was the most prevalent soluble sugar, followed by glucose and fructose. Studied samples also showed an antioxidant activity comparable (or superior) to that of Trolox. Some plant biostimulants (e.g. Sprint Plus®) had a positive impact on the nutritional composition of walnuts, more specifically by boosting tocopherol levels, besides improving the bioactivity of walnut extracts against specific bacteria. CONCLUSION: Overall, this research demonstrated that important quality traits of walnuts can be improved using sustainable agricultural bioproducts and practices. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various strategies are being explored to reduce the formation of undesirable compounds during the thermal processing of foods. This study investigates the impact of incorporating annatto seed powder (Bixa orellana L.) into beef patties to reduce the formation of heterocyclic amines (HAs) during charcoal-grilling and pan-frying. A three-level full factorial design was used to assess the effect of both annatto seed powder concentration and cooking times on HAs formation. The results showed that HA formation increased with longer cooking times and decreased with higher concentrations of annatto seed powder. A significant reduction in HA content was observed in both charcoal-grilled and pan-fried beef patties when annatto seed powder was added, with a particularly notable 91 % reduction at the 1 % addition level. These findings demonstrate that the addition of annatto seed powder is a highly effective strategy for reducing HA formation in beef patties. 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5- f ]quinoxaline (MeIQx) (PubChem CID: 62275); 2-amino-3,4,8-trimethylimidazo[4,5- f ]quinoxaline (4,8-DiMeIQx) (PubChem CID: 104739); 2-amino-3,7,8-trimethylimidazo[4,5- f ]quinoxaline (7,8-DiMeIQx) (PubChem CID: 104855); 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5- b ]pyridine (PhIP) (PubChem CID: 1530); 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5 H -pyrido[4,3- b ]indole (Trp-P-1) (PubChem CID: 5284474); 3-amino-1-methyl-5 H -pyrido[4,3- b ]indole (Trp-P-2) (PubChem CID: 5284476); 2-amino-9 H -pyrido[2,3- b ]indole (AαC) (PubChem CID: 62805); 2-amino-3-methyl-9 H -pyrido[2,3- b ]indole (MeAαC) (PubChem CID: 62244); Bixin (PubChem CID: 5281226). [Display omitted] • Annatto seed powder reduces heterocyclic amines (HAs) in grilled beef patties. • HAs formation increases with longer cooking times, decreases with more annatto. • Annatto seed powder is a highly effective strategy to minimize HAs in cooked meat. • 91% reduction in HAs achieved with 1 % annatto seed powder addition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the fruit by-products (peels, seeds, and fibrous strands) from 11 pumpkin genotypes cultivated in Greece aiming to valorize them as natural sources of bioactive compounds. Five compounds, including (-)-epicatechin and chicoric acid isomers, were identified in peels, while seeds and fibrous strands mainly contained (-)-epicatechin. Organic acids and tocopherols varied significantly among genotypes, with oxalic, quinic, and malic acids being predominant. Total tocopherols content (mg/100 g) ranged up to 7.38 ± 0.03 in fibrous strands, 30.7 ± 0.2 in peels, and 14.58 ± 0.09 in seeds. Extracts exhibited potent antioxidant activity, particularly the seeds of genotypes "V5" and "V6", and strong antimicrobial effects, notably the peels of "V2 T" and "V11", which showed significant inhibition of microbial strains. These findings contribute to the advancement of sustainable practices in the agro-industrial waste management, as well as to the production of functional natural ingredients for various industrial applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Dyslipidaemia is among the major causes of severe diseases and, despite being well-established, the hypocholesterolaemic therapies still face significant concerns about potential side effects (such as myopathy, myalgia, liver injury digestive problems, or mental fuzziness in some people taking statins), interaction with other drugs or specific foods. Accordingly, this review describes the latest developments in the most effective therapies to control and regulate dyslipidaemia., Scope and Approach: Herein, the metabolic dynamics of cholesterol and their integration with the current therapies: statins, bile acid sequestrants, fibrates, niacin, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors, reconstituted high-density lipoprotein (rHDL), or anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating therapies), were compared focusing their effectiveness, patients' adhesion and typical side-effects. Likewise, the interaction of these therapies with recommended dietary habits, focusing functional foods and nutraceuticals uptake were also considered., Key Findings and Conclusions: Since none of the current therapeutic alternatives represent an ideal solution (mainly due to side-effects or patients' tolerance), the potential adjuvant action of selected diets (and other healthy habits) was proposed as a way to improve the cholesterol-lowering effectiveness, while reducing the adverse effects caused by dose-increase or continuous uptake of alternating therapeutic agents. In general, the relevance of well-adapted diets must be acknowledged and their potential effects must be exhorted among patients, who need to be aware of the associated multifactorial advantages., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Authors declare no conflict of interest of any kind., (Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)