Search

Berries have been implicated as the probable vehicle of infection in multiple outbreaks of norovirus and hepatitis A virus (HAV). These foods often receive minimal or no processing and may be exposed to virus contamination at each stage of production. In an increasingly globalized world, berries have a wide distribution and can give rise to the spread of diseases in distant parts of the world. With the aim of describing the virological quality of the berries cultivated in Argentina, a total of 184 soft fruits of different varieties (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, currants, pomegranate arils, cassis, and elder) were collected during the periods 2016-2018 and 2020. Viral particles were eluted and concentrated by polyethylene glycol precipitation according to ISO 15216-2:2019 guidelines. Genome detection of norovirus (NoV) genogroups I (GI) and II (GII), HAV, rotavirus, and enterovirus was performed by real-time RT-PCR with TaqMan probes. Positive samples were amplified by conventional RT-PCR and the amplicons were purified and sequenced in both directions. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using the Neighbor-Joining method based on the evolutionary model Kimura-2-parameters. NoV GII.6 was detected in 1/184 (0.5%) of the soft fruits, corresponding to a raspberry sample obtained during the fall of 2017. No presence of other human enteric viruses was found in the other berries analyzed. The collected data are the first in Argentina in relation to the prevalence of enteric viruses in berries and is useful as reference data for a risk assessment of soft fruits as vehicles of foodborne pathogenic viruses.

[EN] Erodium spp. is a genus that can be found in all continents that has been traditionally used in folk medicine to treat many diseases such as hemorrhage, dermatological disorders, indigestion, and inflammatory diseases. Moreover, Erodium leaves have been used for the preparation of salads, omelets, sandwiches, sauces and soups, among other food products. The objective of this review was to show the recent and relevant studies about extraction of bioactive compounds, the phytochemical characterization, the potential biological activities and toxicological evidence reported in both in vitro and in vivo studies from Erodium spp. In addition, the use of Erodium spp. as natural compounds against the development of diseases were also showed. This review highlights the traditional use of Erodium species in several countries as a therapeutic agent to treat several diseases (such as constipation, dermatological disorders, diabetes, indigestion, urinary inflammations, and as carminative agent), the factors influencing the extraction of bioactive compounds (mainly species and solvent composition on phenolic compounds) and phytochemical profile (presence of essential oils and alkaloids), the scientific evidence about its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial (against both spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms), antiviral and other health-related activities (anti-protozoal and anti-viral activity) as well as the toxicological evidence. Erodium spp. is a relevant source of compounds with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and biological activity, which support its potential exploration in pharmacological and food area. Major efforts are necessary to advance the knowledge about Erodium genus regarding the relation between traditional use and scientific evidence, optimization of extraction conditions, the influence on biological mechanisms at animal and clinical levels, and bioaccessibility and bioavailability of bioactive compounds.

Erodium spp. is a genus that can be found in all continents that has been traditionally used in folk medicine to treat many diseases such as hemorrhage, dermatological disorders, indigestion, and inflammatory diseases. Moreover, Erodium leaves have been used for the preparation of salads, omelets, sandwiches, sauces and soups, among other food products. The objective of this review was to show the recent and relevant studies about extraction of bioactive compounds, the phytochemical characterization, the potential biological activities and toxicological evidence reported in both in vitro and in vivo studies from Erodium spp. In addition, the use of Erodium spp. as natural compounds against the development of diseases were also showed. This review highlights the traditional use of Erodium species in several countries as a therapeutic agent to treat several diseases (such as constipation, dermatological disorders, diabetes, indigestion, urinary inflammations, and as carminative agent), the factors influencing the extraction of bioactive compounds (mainly species and solvent composition on phenolic compounds) and phytochemical profile (presence of essential oils and alkaloids), the scientific evidence about its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial (against both spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms), antiviral and other health-related activities (anti-protozoal and anti-viral activity) as well as the toxicological evidence. Erodium spp. is a relevant source of compounds with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and biological activity, which support its potential exploration in pharmacological and food area. Major efforts are necessary to advance the knowledge about Erodium genus regarding the relation between traditional use and scientific evidence, optimization of extraction conditions, the influence on biological mechanisms at animal and clinical levels, and bioaccessibility and bioavailability of bioactive compounds.

Background Wine production represents one of the major agricultural activities worldwide. This production is accompanied with the generation of tremendous amounts of wastes and by-products exceptionally rich in bioactive compounds (especially phenolics). Recovering these molecules constitutes a key point for the valorization of the wine-processed materials, making them on the verge of commercialization. Regarding the health related benefits of these molecules; they could be used as additives for food and cosmetic products. Scope and approach The current review is revising the potential of alternative extraction methodologies for the recovery of antioxidant bioactive compounds from winery wastes and by-products. Conventional (solid liquid extraction, heating, grinding, etc) and non-conventional (pulsed electric fields, high voltage electrical discharges, pulsed ohmic heating, ultrasounds, microwave-assisted extractions, sub- and supercritical fluid extractions, as well as pressurized liquid extraction) methods have been applied for the extraction of high-added value compounds from winery-processed materials. Key findings and conclusions Non-conventional technologies represent a promising tool to recover high-added value compounds from winery wastes and by-products. However, several parameters are influencing the choice of technology used to recover these compounds, such as the matrix being processed, the selectivity, the energy consumption, the equipment cost, and the value of the extract.