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Sweet cherry pits, date seeds, and grape seeds are abundant fruit by-products in the Mediterranean region. Assessing their antioxidant capacity is crucial for their valorization. Grape and date seeds exhibited higher concentrations of total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and significant antioxidant capacity. Epicatechin was the main flavonoid in sweet cherry pits and date seeds (29–85 mg/g), while vanillic acid was the predominant phenolic acid across all by-products (5–23 mg/g). However, some sweet cherry pit varieties exceeded Maximum Residue Levels (MRL) for five pesticides, while grape seeds contained thirteen fungicide residues, all below MRL. Ochratoxin A was detected in one date seed but below the limit of quantification. Additionally, grape seeds showed an Al content of approximately 130 mg/kg, along with levels of As, Cd, and Pb. Date seeds exhibited high potential for food and pharmaceutical applications, pending evaluation for chemical contaminants.

Various agri-food residues were taken into consideration in this work in a dedicated experimental program centered on lab-scale fluidized bed torrefaction. They include some “difficult” feedstocks for fluidization (e.g., Industrial Cherry Cake and Coffee silverskin) or unusual ones (e.g., spent Lemon peels and Tomato seeds), for their upcycling to solid biofuels. Three different temperature levels (200, 250 and 300°C) were considered under a constant residence time (5 min) under actual torrefaction conditions of a biomass batch in the bed. A drawback induced by the biomass torrefaction mechanism, i.e., the definitive "capture" of the small bed inert solids on the surface of the particles undergoing torrefaction, was overcome by a bed switch from fine but rather heavy solids (100-250 µm quartz sand) to coarser and lighter ones (expanded clay 1000-1400 µm). This yielded torrefied products of a better quality as solid biofuels being free of “extraneous” inert particles. As far as the ranking of the feedstocks, Industrial Cherry Cake and Grape Marc performed better in terms of Energy Densification Index (IED even larger than 1) and Energy Yield (EY close to 100%).

IntroductionThe agri-food sector has been identified as one of the most significant contributors to environmental degradation and emissions. Thus, in order to respond to the societal demand for cleaner and greener products, in recent years, the food industry has been striving to identify and apply more sustainable practices to minimize the negative impact on the environment. Within the agri-food sector, one of the industries requiring efforts to mitigate its environmental footprint is the tomato processing industry, which represents an important industry within the Italian industrial food processing sector. Efficient utilization of resources and adoption of innovative methods in the production lines of the tomato processing industry can be envisaged as strategic measures to increase sustainability. This study aims to discuss the results of the case study in which an Italian tomato processing company has been analyzed by applying the LCA methodology.MethodForeground data were obtained from the tomato processing facility located in southern Italy, and Ecoinvent database was the source of background data. The assessment was carried out by SimaPro software using ReCiPe 2016 (V1.03). The feasible conservation strategies in the production line have been evaluated through water-energy nexus simulation by SuperPro Designer® before the implementation, and different scenarios have been evaluated by SimaPro to decrease the environmental load.Results and conclusionThis study demonstrates that the production of 1 kg of peeled tomatoes and tomato puree leads to greenhouse gas emissions of 0.083 kg CO2 eq and 0.135 kg CO2 eq, respectively. A deeper analysis to evaluate the contribution of the different tomato processing stages indicated that the thermal units are the main ones responsible for adverse effects on the environment, and any improvement in their performance can be seen as an unmissable opportunity. The conservation strategies identified resulted in considerable water (23.4%), electricity (14.7%), and methane (28.7%) savings and, consequently, in 16 and 19% reduction of global warming potential in peeled tomato and tomato puree production lines, respectively. These findings provide new insights for tomato processing companies wishing to adopt more sustainable processing practices, reducing their environmental impact to a considerable extent and improving their economic performance.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the effects of semolina characteristics and pasta-making processing on the quality of durum wheat spaghetti (A, B, and C) using a reverse engineering approach.Methods: Proximate composition, color, granulometry, pasting and thermal properties were determined to characterize semolina, while pasting, thermal and cooking properties, microstructure and sensory profile were evaluated for spaghetti.Results and Discussion: The sensory profile of sample A, in terms of higher yellowness and hardness, lower stickiness, agreed with the higher transition temperatures (60.07–74.6 °C) and enthalpy of amylose-lipid complexes, degree of starch gelatinization, pasting viscosities and compression force, lower water absorption, cooking losses (4.78 g/100 g), and adhesiveness (0.39 N/mm). Moreover, the microstructural analysis showed a network with denser areas, and starch granules strongly embedded in the gluten matrix for sample A with respect to samples B and C. These results might be ascribed to the semolina characteristics. Sample A was richer in starch (71.4%), lipid (1.6%), and protein (14.0%), and the higher drying temperatures affected protein crosslinking, starch organization, cooking properties, and appearance of spaghetti. The approach used in this study could be suitable in gathering the different phenomena occurring in pasta production process which concur to give spaghetti its distinctive quality.

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the optimal processing conditions to produce stable starch-based hydrogels by high-pressure processing (HPP) via response surface methodology.Methods: The experiments were carried out with different starch suspensions, namely rice, corn, wheat, and tapioca starch, at a concentration in the range of 10%–40% w/w, processed at a pressure level of 600 MPa and holding times between 5 min and 15 min. Gel formation was assessed by determining the gelatinization extent and structuring level of the samples.Results and discussion: The results demonstrated that starch/water ratio and holding time had a significant impact on gel formation in HPP treatments. Various degrees of gelatinization were observed in the treated samples due to the water absorption capacity of the starch and the molecular interactions between water and starch occurring during gelatinization. Moreover, a highly structured hydrogel formed at starch concentrations higher than 25% (w/w), whereas when starch concentration was less than 20% (w/w) lower-structured hydrogels formed, as confirmed by the values of the efficiency index measured. Completely gelatinized, highly structured, and stable HPP hydrogels were obtained from starch solutions treated at the optimized processing conditions.

Natural hydrogels based on renewable and inexpensive sources, such as starch, represent an interesting group of biopolymeric materials with a growing range of applications in the biomedical, cosmeceutical, and food sectors. Starch-based hydrogels have traditionally been produced using different processes based on chemical or physical methods. However, the long processing times, high energy consumption, and safety issues related to the synthesis of these materials, mostly causing severe environmental damage, have been identified as the main limitations for their further exploitation. Therefore, the main scientific challenge for research groups is the development of reliable and sustainable processing methods to reduce the environmental footprint, as well as investigating new low-cost sources of starches and individuating appropriate formulations to produce stable hydrogel-based products. In the last decade, the possibility of physically modifying natural polysaccharides, such as starches, using green or sustainable processing methods has mostly been based on nonthermal technologies including high-pressure processing (HPP). It has been demonstrated that the latter exerts an important role in improving the physicochemical and techno-functional properties of starches. However, as for surveys in the literature, research activities have been devoted to understanding the effects of physical pre-treatments via high-pressure processing (HPP) on starch structural modifications, more so than elucidating its role and capacity for the rapid formation of stable and highly structured starch-based hydrogels with promising functionality and stability, utilizing more sustainable and eco-friendly processing conditions. Therefore, the present review addresses the recent advancements in knowledge on the production of sustainable starch-based hydrogels utilizing HPP as an innovative and clean-label preparation method. Additionally, this manuscript has the ambition to give an updated overview of starch-based hydrogels considering the different types of structures available, and the recent applications are proposed as well to critically analyze the main perspectives and technological challenges for the future exploitation of these novel structures.

IntroductionThe research focuses on enhancing the nutritional value and potential health benefits of gluten-free confectionery products, developing innovative pastilles and marshmallows enriched with medicinal herb extracts, probiotics, and bioactive compounds from natural sources.MethodsPhysicochemical properties, including water activity, texture, and color, are assessed to evaluate the quality of the final products. Moreover, in vitro digestibility of the confectionery products is also investigated, with a focus on the release of bioactive compounds such as total phenolic compounds (TPC) and total anthocyanin (TAC) during simulated gastrointestinal digestion.Results and discussionResults indicate that the addition of specific ingredients to pastille samples does not lead to variations in water activity (~0.44), preserving the original properties, quality, and stability of the food. In contrast, the incorporation of additives in marshmallow products significantly increases water activity (p ≤ 0.05), attributed to their moisture-retaining effect. In general, our findings reveal that texture properties and color parameters are significantly affected by different formulations (p ≤ 0.05) for both confectionery products. Notably, the use of fruit and berries puree, along with the incorporation of additives, improves the functionality of confectionary products in terms of consumer acceptance (harder pastilles and softer marshmallow) and product quality. Furthermore, the study reveals that bioactive compounds are released and become more bioaccessible during digestion, particularly in the intestinal phase, with a maximum release exceeding 97% of TPC and TAC for both pastille and marshmallow samples. These findings pave the way for the development of a new category of gluten-free confectionery products, enriched with functional ingredients that offer potential health benefits, aligning with consumer preferences for natural, functional, and health-conscious treats. This research contributes to the evolving the landscape of functional confectionery products and underscores their potential as immune-boosting and naturally based food options.

Tenebrio molitor (TM) larvae, due to their high nutritional value, are gaining growing attention in food and feed sectors. Although few studies dealt with wheat-based products functionalized with TM larvae powder, there is a lack of comprehensive characterization of the raw materials to optimize the formulations for end-product recommendation.This study aimed at investigating the effects of partial replacement of durum wheat semolina with increasing amounts of TM larvae powder (5–30%) on the techno-functional properties of the binary blends. Color, granulometry, hydration properties, pasting characteristics, spectral characteristics (FTIR), reducing sugar content, and bioactivity in terms of total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity (FRAP, DPPH, ABTS) were assessed in the resulting blends.The increasing insect powder decreased the lightness (L*) and yellowness (b*) but increased the redness (a*) of the samples. In turn, the addition of insect powder did not negatively alter the hydration properties, which were comparable to those detected for semolina. Higher amounts of insect powder led to increased protein and lipid contents, as corroborated by the FTIR spectra, and decreased pasting parameters, with stronger starch granule stability detected when 20% and 30% of insect powder were added to the formulation.Significant increases in TPC and antioxidant activity were observed with increasing amount of insect powder (up to 87%, 78%, 2-fold, 67%, for TPC, FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS, respectively, compared to semolina).Therefore, these promising results have highlighted the possibility of using TM larvae powder as an unconventional ingredient for wheat-based products, by enhancing the nutritional and health-promoting values.

Não é de hoje que o aumento da violência urbana e da criminalidade tem se mostrado presente em nossa sociedade. Para além da insegurança e do medo que assombram a sociedade, muitos são os percalços causados nas cidades pelas interferências do poder paralelo junto às comunidades, uma vez que substituem a atuação da municipalidade na efetivação de políticas públicas. É em oposição a esta lógica que Dardot e Laval ao discorrer sobre a teoria dos comuns, se posicionam criticamente face à “ideologia de Estado” por não promover ações com vistas aos interesses coletivos em detrimento dos interesses individuais. Desta feita, o presente artigo busca refletir sobre os desafios das cidades em meio à crescente violência em seus territórios, principalmente, por colocar em xeque as ações promovidas pelos atores da Segurança Pública pelo Poder Local. Para elucidar tal problemática, utilizaremos como recursos metodológicos, a pesquisa documental e revisão bibliográfica, tendo como base artigos acadêmicos e livros. Vislumbra-se demonstrar a partir dos autores referenciados, como a violência e a desigualdade social seguem interligados, e quão necessário se faz romper com a ideia de que os indivíduos são os responsáveis pela segurança, cabendo ao Estado prover e assegurar este direito.

This study primarily aimed to enhance the extraction of cutin from industrial tomato peel residues. Initially, the conventional extraction process was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). Subsequently, high-pressure homogenization (HPH) was introduced to improve extraction efficiency and sustainability. The optimization process focused on determining the optimal conditions for conventional extraction via chemical hydrolysis, including temperature (100–130 °C), time (15–120 min), and NaOH concentration (1–3%). The optimized conditions, determined as 130 °C, 120 min, and 3% NaOH solution, yielded a maximum cutin extraction of 32.5%. Furthermore, the results indicated that applying HPH pre-treatment to tomato peels before alkaline hydrolysis significantly increased the cutin extraction yield, reaching 46.1%. This represents an approximately 42% increase compared to the conventional process. Importantly, HPH pre-treatment enabled cutin extraction under milder conditions using a 2% NaOH solution, reducing NaOH usage by 33%, while still achieving a substantial cutin yield of 45.6%. FT-IR analysis confirmed that cutin obtained via both conventional and HPH-assisted extraction exhibited similar chemical structures, indicating that the main chemical groups and structure of cutin remained unaltered by HPH treatment. Furthermore, cutin extracts from both conventional and HPH-assisted extraction demonstrated thermal stability up to approximately 200 °C, with less than 5% weight loss according to TGA analysis. These findings underscore the potential of HPH technology to significantly enhance cutin extraction yield from tomato peel residues while utilizing milder chemical hydrolysis conditions, thereby promoting a more sustainable and efficient cutin extraction process.

In this study, a two-stage cascade extraction process utilizing pulsed electric fields (PEF) (3 kV/cm, 10 kJ/kg) for initial extraction, followed by ultrasound (US) (200 W, 20 min)-assisted extraction (UAE) in a 50% (v/v) ethanol-water mixture (T = 50 °C, t = 60 min), was designed for the efficient release of valuable intracellular compounds from industrial cherry pomace. The extracted compounds were evaluated for total phenolic content (TPC), flavonoid content (FC), total anthocyanin content (TAC), and antioxidant activity (FRAP), and were compared with conventional solid-liquid extraction (SLE). Results showed that the highest release of bioactive compounds occurred in the first stage, which was attributed to the impact of PEF pre-treatment, resulting in significant increases in TPC (79%), FC (79%), TAC (83%), and FRAP values (80%) of the total content observed in the post-cascade PEF-UAE process. The integration of UAE into the cascade process further augmented the extraction efficiency, yielding 21%, 49%, 56%, and 26% increases for TPC, FC, TAC, and FRAP, respectively, as compared to extracts obtained through a second-stage conventional SLE. HPLC analysis identified neochlorogenic acid, 4-p-coumaroylquinic, and cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside as the predominant phenolic compounds in both untreated and cascade-treated cherry pomace extracts, and no degradation of the specific compounds occurred upon PEF and US application. SEM analysis revealed microstructural changes in cherry pomace induced by PEF and UAE treatments, enhancing the porosity and facilitating the extraction process. The study suggests the efficiency of the proposed cascade PEF-UAE extraction approach for phenolic compounds from industrial cherry pomace with potential applications to other plant-based biomasses.

Introduction: Cherry juice production generates substantial cherry processing by-products, presenting a significant environmental challenge. The valorization of these by-products can not only reduce management costs but also enhance profitability by recovering valuable intracellular compounds.Methods: This study aimed at the extraction of bioactive compounds with potent antioxidant activity from sweet cherry press cake using Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF)-assisted extraction. PEF pre-treatment, carried out using a predetermined field strength (E = 3 kV/cm) and total specific energy input (WT = 10 kJ/kg), was applied to the cherry press cake prior to the subsequent solid-liquid extraction (SLE) stage. To optimize the SLE process for both untreated and PEF-treated samples, Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed to determine the most effective extraction parameters, including extraction temperature (20–50°C), solvent concentration (0–50% ethanol in water), solid-liquid ratio (0.05–0.2 g/mL), and diffusion time (30–360 min). The objective was to maximize key response variables: total phenolic content (TPC), flavonoid content (FC), total anthocyanin content (TAC), and antioxidant activity (FRAP). The extracts obtained from both untreated and PEF-treated samples under optimal conditions underwent HPLC-DAD analysis.Results and discussion: The results revealed that, under optimized SLE conditions (50°C, 50% ethanol-water mixture, 0.2 g/mL solid-liquid ratio, and 360 min extraction time), PEF pre-treatment significantly enhanced the extractability of high-value compounds. This resulted in notable increases in TPC (+26%), FC (+27%), TAC (+42%), and antioxidant activity (+44%) compared to conventional SLE. Additionally, the application of PEF reduced extraction time (by 5–18 min) and solvent usage (by 2%). HPLC analysis identified cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside as the predominant phenolic compound in both untreated and PEF-treated extracts, with a remarkable increase (+2.3-fold) after PEF application. These findings underscore the potential of PEF-assisted extraction as a promising approach to maximize the recovery of valuable compounds from sweet cherry press cake, contributing to food waste reduction and enhanced value generation from by-products.

BackgroundThe application of Pulsed electric fields as a mild and easily scalable electrotechnology represents an effective approach to selectively intensify the extractability of bioactive compounds from grape pomace, one of the most abundant residues generated during the winemaking process.ObjectiveThis study addressed the optimization of the pulsed electric fields (PEF)-assisted extraction to enhance the extraction yields of bioactive compounds from red grape pomace using response surface methodology (RSM).MethodsThe cell disintegration index (Zp) was identified as response variable to determine the optimal PEF processing conditions in terms of field strength (E = 0.5–5 kV/cm) and energy input (WT = 1–20 kJ/kg). For the solid-liquid extraction (SLE) process the effects of temperature (20–50°C), time (30–300min), and solvent concentration (0–50% ethanol in water) on total phenolic content (TPC), flavonoid content (FC), total anthocyanin content (TAC), tannin content (TC), and antioxidant activity (FRAP) of the extracts from untreated and PEF-treated plant tissues were assessed. The phenolic composition of the obtained extracts was determined via HPLC-PDA.ResultsResults demonstrated that the application of PEF at the optimal processing conditions (E = 4.6 kV/cm, WT = 20 kJ/kg) significantly enhanced the permeabilization degree of cell membrane of grape pomace tissues, thus intensifying the subsequent extractability of TPC (15%), FC (60%), TAC (23%), TC (42%), and FRAP values (31%) concerning the control extraction. HPLC-PDA analyses showed that, regardless of the application of PEF, the most abundant phenolic compounds were epicatechin, p-coumaric acid, and peonidin 3-O-glucoside, and no degradation of the specific compounds occurred upon PEF application.ConclusionThe optimization of the PEF-assisted extraction process allowed to significantly enhance the extraction yields of high-value-added compounds from red grape pomace, supporting further investigations of this process at a larger scale.

The principles of industrial ecology have emerged as pivotal drivers of eco-innovation, aiming to realize a “zero-waste” society where waste materials are repurposed as valuable resources. In this context, High-Pressure Homogenization (HPH) presents a promising, easily scalable micronization technology, capable of enhancing the extractability and bioaccessibility of bioactive compounds found in tomato processing by-products, which are notably abundant waste streams in the Mediterranean region. This study focuses on optimizing HPH treatment parameters to intensify the recovery of bioactive compounds from tomato pomace. Additionally, it investigates the multifaceted impacts of HPH on various aspects, including color, particle size distribution, microscopic characteristics, surface properties, bioactivity, and lycopene bioaccessibility through in vitro digestion simulations. The results demonstrate that the application of HPH under optimized conditions (80 MPa, 25 °C, 10 passes) induces a remarkable 8-fold reduction in mean particle size, reduced surface tension, improved physical stability, uniform color, increased total phenolic content (+31%), antioxidant activity (+30%), dietary fiber content (+9%), and lycopene bioaccessibility during the intestinal digestion phase compared to untreated samples. These encouraging outcomes support the proposition of integrating HPH technology into an environmentally friendly industrial process for the full valorization of tomato processing residues. By utilizing water as the sole solvent, this approach aims to yield a functional ingredient characterized by greater nutritional and health-promoting values.

This work aimed to carry out a preliminary study on the release of bioactive compounds loaded into starch-based hydrogels produced by high-pressure processing (HPP). As a study case, the experiments were carried out on rice starch HPP hydrogels. Rice starch (20% w/w) and green tea extract (2% w/w), suspended in distilled water, were treated by HPP at processing conditions enabling starch gelatinisation, namely 600 MPa for 15 min at room temperature. Additional experiments were carried out on samples that were further loaded with glycerol (5% w/w). Gel formation was assessed by analysing the gelatinisation extent, structuring level, and swelling power of the samples. At the processing conditions utilised, stable hydrogels were obtained even in the presence of the extract and/or the glycerol in the starch suspension. As expected, the colour of the hydrogels formed was affected by the addition of green tea extract in the starch solution. HPP starch hydrogels were characterised by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) to determine the interactions between the different compounds utilised in the formulation. Moreover, the release kinetics of bioactive compounds from HPP rice starch hydrogels was evaluated using a vertical Franz diffusion cells system, simulating a transdermal pattern. The diffusion of bioactive compounds was measured spectrophotometrically and via HPLC analysis. A controlled release of bioactive compounds from the hydrogel structure was detected, suggesting that small molecules, such as polyphenols, positively interacted with the rice starch HPP hydrogel network that allowed a smooth and constant release of these bioactive compounds over time.

This study was focused on the optimization of the pulsed electric fields (PEF)-assisted extraction process using central composite design for response surface methodology from response surface methodology (RSM) with the aim to sustainably intensify the extractability of phenolic compounds from white grape pomace. The cell disintegration index (Zp) was used as response variable to identify the optimal PEF pre-treatment conditions of grape pomace in terms of field strength (E = 0.5–5 kV/cm) and energy input (WT = 1–20 kJ/kg), to be applied prior to the subsequent solid-liquid extraction (SLE) process. for both untreated and PEF-treated samples SLE process was optimized to determine the most effective combination of extraction temperature (20–50°C), extraction time (30–300 min), and solvent concentration (0–100% ethanol in water). Total phenolic content (TPC), flavonoid content (FC), and antioxidant activity (FRAP) of the obtained extracts were determined. The extracted compounds from untreated and PEF-treated samples at the optimal conditions were analyzed via HPLC-PDA analysis. Results revealed that, at a fixed extraction temperature (50°C), the application of PEF at optimal processing conditions (E = 3.8 kV/cm, WT = 10 kJ/kg) prior to SLE has the potential to reduce the solvent consumption (3–12%) and shorten the extraction time (23–103 min) to obtain the same recovery yield of phenolic compounds. Under optimized conditions, the extracts derived from PEF-treated samples showed significantly higher TPC (8%), FC (31%), and FRAP (36%) values, as compared to the control extraction. HPLC analyses revealed that epicatechin, p-coumaric acid, and quercetin were among the main phenolic compounds extracted, and no degradation phenomena occurred due to PEF application.

In this work, the effect of pulsed electric field (PEF) pre-treatment on the extractability in green solvents (i. e., ethanol–water mixture and propylene glycol) of target aroma and bioactive compounds, such as vanillin from vanilla pods, theobromine and caffeine from cocoa bean shells, linalool from vermouth mixture, and limonene from orange peels, was investigated. The effectiveness of PEF as a cell disintegration technique in a wide range of field strength (1–5 kV/cm) and energy input (1–40 kJ/kg) was confirmed using impedance measurements, and results were used to define the optimal PEF conditions for the pre-treatment of each plant tissue before the subsequent solid–liquid extraction process. The extracted compounds from untreated and PEF-treated samples were analyzed via GC-MS and HPLC-PDA analysis. Results revealed that the maximum cell disintegration index was detected for cocoa bean shells and vanilla pods (Zp = 0.82), followed by vermouth mixture (Zp = 0.77), and orange peels (Zp = 0.55). As a result, PEF pre-treatment significantly enhanced the extraction yield of the target compounds in both solvents, but especially in ethanolic extracts of vanillin (+14%), theobromine (+25%), caffeine (+34%), linalool (+114%), and limonene (+33%), as compared with untreated samples. Moreover, GC-MS and HPLC-PDA analyses revealed no evidence of degradation of individual compounds due to PEF application. The results obtained in this work suggest that the application of PEF treatment before solid–liquid extraction with green solvents could represent a sustainable approach for the recovery of clean labels and natural compounds from aromatic plants and food by-products.

In this study, the effects of the amylose/amylopectin content on starch gelation and the physical characteristics of hydrogels produced by HPP were studied by optical and rheological measurements in steady-state conditions. Additionally, the effects of the storage temperature (4 °C and 20 °C) and type of packaging (plastic bags or sealed Petri dishes) on the physical stability of the hydrogels were evaluated for 30 days of storage by evaluating the shrinkage of the granules, as well as the weight loss, water activity, organoleptic, and rheological properties. The experimental findings suggested that amylose plays an antagonistic role in determining the capacity of the starch granules to absorb water under pressure and to create stable and structured gels and on the physical stability of hydrogels due to its influence over the starch retrogradation extent during storage. Twenty per cent amylose was the minimum concentration to form stable corn starch HPP hydrogels with good physical and rheological properties. Moreover, a storage temperature of 20 °C and the use of polymeric bags were evaluated as the most suitable storage conditions and packaging materials enabling the long storage of corn starch hydrogels.

The tomato processing industry can be considered one of the most widespread food manufacturing industries all over the world, annually generating considerable quantities of residue and determining disposal issues associated not only with the wasting of invaluable resources but also with the rise of significant environmental burdens. In this regard, previous studies have widely ascertained that tomato by-products are still rich in valuable compounds, which, once recovered, could be utilized in different industrial sectors. Currently, conventional solvent extraction is the most widely used method for the recovery of these compounds from tomato pomace. Nevertheless, several well-known drawbacks derive from this process, including the use of large quantities of solvents and the difficulties of utilizing the residual biomass. To overcome these limitations, the recent advances in extraction techniques, including the modification of the process configuration and the use of complementary novel methods to modify or destroy vegetable cells, have greatly and effectively influenced the recovery of different compounds from plant matrices. This review contributes a comprehensive overview on the valorization of tomato processing by-products with a specific focus on the use of “green technologies”, including high-pressure homogenization (HPH), pulsed electric fields (PEF), supercritical fluid (SFE-CO2), ultrasounds (UAE), and microwaves (MAE), suitable to enhancing the extractability of target compounds while reducing the solvent requirement and shortening the extraction time. The effects of conventional processes and the application of green technologies are critically analyzed, and their effectiveness on the recovery of lycopene, polyphenols, cutin, pectin, oil, and proteins from tomato residues is discussed, focusing on their strengths, drawbacks, and critical factors that contribute to maximizing the extraction yields of the target compounds. Moreover, to follow the “near zero discharge concept”, the utilization of a cascade approach to recover different valuable compounds and the exploitation of the residual biomass for biogas generation are also pointed out.

High-pressure homogenization (HPH) has been recently reported to be an effective mechanical cell disruption technology to unlock the intracellular compounds, tightly entrapped in vegetable tissues, using only water as an extraction medium. In this work, HPH was used to promote the recovery of the bioactive compounds contained in white and black sesame seeds (Sesamum indicum). Aqueous suspensions (10% w/w) of the seeds, obtained by high-shear mixing (HSM) for 5 min at 20000 rpm, were treated by HPH at 100 MPa or 140 MPa for up to 10 passes and different temperatures (25 and 50 °C). The HPH treatment caused a considerable cell deagglomeration and fragmentation effect, as shown by the decrease in the size distribution of the suspended particles. At the same time, the HPH treatment also significantly increased, more than two-fold, the polyphenolic content and antioxidant activity of the aqueous extracts, in comparison to HSH. Remarkably, a significant decrease (-20%) in antioxidant activity was observed during HPH processing at a higher temperature, likely due to the degradation of thermolabile compounds. Higher operating pressures increased the antioxidant activity of the aqueous extracts but caused also the increased release of polyphenol oxidases, which induced a higher degradation of the antioxidant activity of the extracts over time in comparison with samples processed at lower pressure. However, spray drying of the HPH-treated suspensions, without any further treatment or additive, resulted in the efficient stabilization of the extracts.

The influence of Moderate Electric Field (MEF) pre-treatment of blueberry fruits on the yield and quality of the expressed juice as well as the subsequent extraction yield of bioactive compounds from berry by-products (press cake left after MEF-assisted pressing), was investigated. Thermal MEF pre-treatments were performed under different combinations of electric field strengths (E=18-55 V.cm-1) and final heating temperature (Tf=25-80 °C) before applying a pressure of 1.32 bar for 5 min. For the sake of comparison, the effect of conventional heating (CH) (Tf=25-80 °C), was also investigated. Results showed that the Zp values increased with increasing the field strength and heating temperature. However, at the same final heating temperature, MEF treatment achieved higher Zp values (up to 0.66) than CH (up to 0.45). Coherently, thermal MEF pre-treatment (36.4 V.cm-1, 60 °C) significantly increased the juice yield, which also showed higher TPC, TAC, and AA, as compared with either untreated or CH-treated samples. Moreover, compared to the untreated and CH-treated samples, higher amounts of total phenolics, total anthocyanins and antioxidant activity were detected in the press cake extracts. These results were explained by the combined non-thermal and thermal effect of MEF on the cell disintegration and extraction efficiency.

Edible coatings (ECs) have attracted increasing attention in the last years as a simple yet effective approach to increase the storability of perishable foods, such as fresh or fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, contributing to maintaining their quality by reducing respiration rate and water loss. The incorporation of antimicrobial agents, such as essential oils, was reported to add also antimicrobial properties to the coatings, through the controlled release of the antimicrobial compounds on the food surface, contributing to further reduce microbial growth over extended periods of storage. Pulsed light (PL) treatments have been widely investigated as non-thermal processes for superficial decontamination of food and food-contact surfaces, because of their ability to cause, through a short exposition, a significant reduction in the microbial population. Therefore, the combination of ECs and PL treatments represents a promising hurdle approach in food preservation, for extending the shelf life of fresh products. ECs in combination with optimum PL treatment condition (4 J/cm2) improved the quality of tomato fruits in terms of reducing the growth of the endogenous flora, as well as of preserving the quality attributes (pH, total soluble solids, and color) over a 15-d storage at room temperature.

High energy consumption is often required to increase the extraction of phenolic compounds from grapes during alcoholic fermentation. Processes such as thermovinification require significant temperature changes over a long period of time to ensure the diffusion of phenolic compounds from the grape skin layer to the must. In this study, the capability of the ohmic heating (OH) process (E = 55 V/cm, t = 60–90 s, T = 72 °C) to improve the extractability of valuable intracellular compounds from grape skins of Aglianico and Barbera grape matrices before the alcoholic fermentation stepAs similarly reported by Donsì et al. (2010), any tissue damage to grape skins occurring after the application of either conventional or ohmic heating was not found to influence the rate of fermentation. was investigated and compared with both untreated and conventional thermally (CH) treated (T = 72 °C, t = 90 s) samples. Total phenolics and antioxidant capacity were monitored during fermentation (10 days). In comparison to the conventional thermal treatment, the results showed that the phenolic compound content of musts was twice as high immediately after OH treatment. This process could drastically improve the classic prefermentary maceration (thermovinifications, cold macerations, etc.) time. In finished wines produced from the treated musts, the total polyphenolic content of OH wines was up to 17 % higher than that of CH wines, and 30 % higher than that of untreated wines. No differences in concentrations of total tannins and anthocyanins were observed between conventional and ohmic heated musts. However, an increase of 30 to 200 % for some aromatic esters was observed in wines from ohmic heated musts. Overall, the outcomes of this work proved that, in addition to the thermal effect, the moderate electric field (MEF) applied during ohmic heating has the potential to induce an instantaneous release of polyphenolic compounds due to the electroporation phenomenon of cell membranes, thus saving energy and reducing processing time.

In this study, pulsed electric field (PEF—3 kV/cm; 5 kJ/kg) pretreatment was used to intensify the extractability of valuable intracellular compounds from artichoke by-products during a subsequent aqueous extraction (solid–liquid ratio = 1:10 g/mL, T = 20 °C; t = 120 min). Total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS) and HPLC–PDA analysis of the artichoke extract (AE) and the biological effects on human cell lines were determined. Chlorogenic acid was found to be the most abundant phenolic compound (53% of the TPC) in the AE. The extract showed good antioxidant properties in a concentration-dependent manner. The potential biological effects of AE were investigated using THP-1 macrophages stimulated by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) as an in vitro model system of oxidative stress. Reduced reactive oxygen species production upon treatment with AE was found. Moreover, AE was able to reduce the secretion of the pro-inflammatory mediators Interleukin-6 and Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 in LPS-stimulated macrophages, as determined by qRT-PCR and ELISA assays. These results highlighted the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of the extracts from PEF-treated artichoke by-products, corroborating their potential application as a source of functional ingredients obtained through a feasible and sustainable process.

This study aimed to improve the effectiveness of Thymus capitatus and Thymus algeriensis essential oils (EOs), as food preservatives, through their encapsulation in different delivery systems (DSs), namely nanoemulsions and biopolymeric nanoparticles. DSs’ preparation is tailored to enhance not only physical stability but also resulting Eos’ antioxidant and antibacterial activities through different fabrication methods (high-pressure homogenization emulsification or antisolvent precipitation) and using different emulsifiers and stabilizers. DSs are characterized in terms of droplet size distribution, ζ-potential, and stability over time, as well as antioxidant and antibacterial activities of encapsulated EOs. The antioxidant activity was studied by the FRAP assay; the antibacterial activity was evaluated by the well diffusion method. EOs of different compositions were tested, namely two EOs extracted from Thymus capitatus, harvested from Tunisia during different periods of the year (TC1 and TC2), and one EO extracted from Thymus algeriensis (TA). The composition of TC1 was significantly richer in carvacrol than TC2 and TA. The most stable formulation was the zein-based nanoparticles prepared with TC1 and stabilized with maltodextrins, which exhibit droplet size, polydispersity index, ζ-potential, and encapsulation efficiency of 74.7 nm, 0.14, 38.7 mV, and 99.66%, respectively. This formulation led also to an improvement in the resulting antioxidant (60.69 µg/mg vs. 57.67 µg/mg for non-encapsulated TC1) and antibacterial (inhibition diameters varying between 12 and 33 mm vs. a range between 12 and 28 mm for non-encapsulated TC1) activities of EO. This formulation offers a promising option for the effective use of natural antibacterial bioactive molecules in the food industry against pathogenic and spoilage bacteria.

Starch-based hydrogels are natural polymeric structures with high potential interest for food, cosmeceutical, and pharmaceutical applications. In this study, the physical stability of starch-based hydrogels produced via high-pressure processing (HPP) was evaluated using conventional and accelerated methods. For this purpose, conventional stability measurements, namely swelling power, water activity, texture, and organoleptic properties, as well as microbiological analysis of rice, corn, wheat, and tapioca starch hydrogels, were determined at different time intervals during storage at 20 °C. Additionally, to assess the stability of these structures, accelerated tests based on temperature sweep tests and oscillatory rheological measurements, as well as temperature cycling tests, were performed. The experimental results demonstrated that the physical stability of starch-based HPP hydrogels was interdependently affected by the microorganisms’ action and starch retrogradation, leading to both organoleptic and texture modifications with marked reductions in swelling stability and firmness. It was concluded that tapioca starch hydrogels showed the lowest stability upon storage due to higher incidence of microbial spoilage. Accelerated tests allowed the good stability of HPP hydrogels to be predicted, evidencing good network strength and the ability to withstand temperature changes. Modifications of the rheological properties of corn, rice, and wheat hydrogels were only observed above 39 °C and at stress values 3 to 10 times higher than those necessary to modify commercial hydrogels. Moreover, structural changes to hydrogels after cycling tests were similar to those observed after 90 days of conventional storage. Data obtained in this work can be utilized to design specific storage conditions and product improvements. Moreover, the accelerated methods used in this study provided useful information, allowing the physical stability of starch-based hydrogels to be predicted.

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of the main pulsed electric field (PEF) process parameters on the cell damages of A. platensis microalgae and the extractability of valuable compounds [water-soluble proteins (WSP), C-phycocyanin (C-PC), and carbohydrates (CH)]. Aqueous microalgae suspensions (2%, w/w) were PEF-treated at variable field strength (E = 10, 20, 30 kV/cm), total specific energy (WT = 20, 60, 100 kJ/kgsusp), and inlet temperature (25, 35, 45°C), with either monopolar or bipolar square wave pulses (5 μs of width, delay time between pulses of opposite polarities = 1, 5, 10, 20 μs), prior to extraction with water at room temperature (25°C) for up to 3 h. High-pressure homogenization (HPH) treatment (P = 150 MPa, 3 passes) was used to achieve complete cell disruption to quantify the total extractable content of target intracellular compounds. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy analyses clearly showed that PEF merely electroporated the membranes of algae cell, without damaging the cell structure and forming cell debris. The application of PEF treatment (monopolar pulses, 20 kV/cm and 100 kJ/kgsusp) at room temperature significantly enhanced the extraction yield of WSP [17.4% dry weight (DW)], CH (10.1% DW), and C-PC (2.1% DW), in comparison with the untreated samples. Bipolar pulses appeared less effective than monopolar pulses and led to extraction yields dependent on the delay time. Additionally, regardless of pulse polarity, a clear synergistic effect of the combined PEF (20 kV/cm and 100 kJ/kgsusp)-temperature (35°C) treatment was detected, which enabled the extraction of up to 37.4% (w/w) of total WSP, 73.8% of total CH, and 73.7% of total C-PC. Remarkably, the PEF treatment enabled to obtain C-phycocyanin extract with higher purity than that obtained using HPH treatment. The results obtained in this work suggest that the application of PEF combined with mild heating could represent a suitable approach for the efficient recovery of water-soluble compounds microalgal biomass.

In this study, a cascaded cell disintegration process, based on pulsed electric fields (PEF - 20 kV/cm, 100 kJ/kgSUSP.) and high-pressure homogenization (HPH - 150 MPa, 5 passes) was designed for the efficient and selective release of intracellular compounds (water-soluble proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids) from C. vulgaris suspensions during extraction in water (25 °C, 1 h) and ethyl acetate (25 °C, 3 h). Recovery yields of target compounds from cascaded treatments (PEF + HPH) were compared with those observed when applying PEF and HPH treatments individually. Particle size distribution and scanning electron microscopy analyses showed that PEF treatment alone did not induce any measurable effect on cell shape/structure, whereas HPH caused complete cell fragmentation and debris formation, with an undifferentiated release of intracellular matter. Spectra measurements demonstrated that, in comparison with HPH alone, cascaded treatments increased the selectivity of extraction and improved the yields of carbohydrates and lipids, while higher yields of water-soluble proteins were measured for HPH alone. This work, therefore, demonstrates the feasibility of sequentially applying PEF and HPH treatments in the biorefinery of microalgae, projecting a beneficial impact in terms of process economics due to the potential reduction of the energy requirements for separation/purification stages.

This work proposes a biorefinery approach for the utilization of agri-food residues, such as tomato pomace (TP), through combining chemical hydrolysis with high-pressure homogenization (HPH), aiming to achieve the isolation of cellulose with tailored morphological properties from underused lignocellulose feedstocks, along with the valorization of the value-added compounds contained in the biomass. Cellulose was isolated from TP using sequential chemical hydrolysis in combination with mechanical pretreatment through HPH. The chemical and structural features of cellulose isolated from TP pretreated by HPH were compared with cellulose isolated from untreated TP through light scattering for particle size distribution, optical and scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis. HPH pretreatment (80 MPa, 10 passes) not only promoted a slight increase in the yield of cellulose extraction (+9%) but contributed to directly obtaining defibrillated cellulose particles, characterized by smaller irregular domains containing elongated needle-like fibers. Moreover, the selected mild chemical process produced side streams rich in bioactive molecules, evaluated in terms of total phenols and reducing activity. The liquors recovered from acid hydrolysis of TP exhibited a higher biological activity than those obtained through a conventional extraction (80% v/v acetone, 25 °C, 24 h at 180 rpm).

Nanoemulsions can be used to improve the bioaccessibility of lipophilic bioactive compounds, such as curcumin, being their behaviour highly influenced by their interfacial properties. The effect of chitosan and alginate layers’ deposition on curcumin nanoemulsions’ behaviour during in vitro digestion was evaluated using a dynamic gastrointestinal system. Results showed that polyelectrolyte layers’ deposition improved curcumin antioxidant capacity during in vitro digestion. In addition, multilayer nanoemulsions showed a better control of the rate and extent of lipid digestibility by decreasing free fatty acids release, compared to uncoated nanoemulsions. However, a lower curcumin bioaccessibility was observed for multilayer nanoemulsions. Although cytotoxicity assays revealed that both nanosystems are toxic due to the use of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), nanosystems were 3.3-fold less toxic than SDS itself.This study showed that multilayer nanoemulsions could be used to increase satiety by retarding lipid digestion, which can be important for functional foods development for combating obesity.

The present study was undertaken to determine the physicochemical, biochemical, and antioxidant activities of Tunisian honey samples. All the extracted honey samples appeared to conform to the European Legislation (EC Directive 2001/110) for all parameters. Mint honey, for instance, possesses significant pH value (p

This study investigated the physicochemical, rheological and textural properties of nine types of honey from different regions of southern Tunisia. Principal component and cluster analyses were used to classify the honeys into groups. The physicochemical results (water, proteins, total soluble solids, pH, free acidity, water activity, electrical conductivity, invertase activity, Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), vitamin C, lycopene and anthocyanins) were in accordance with those of the standards Established by the Codex Alimentarius. The invertase activity varied from 62.58 units/kg to 110.24 units/kg. The HMF values of the different types of honey ranged from 11.48 mg/kg in prickly pear honey to 25.56mg/kg in heather honey. Anthocyanin contents, lycopene and vitamin C contents ranged between 8.38 and 24.86 μg/L, 1.08 to 6.17 mg/kg and 30.71 to 129.38 mg/kg, respectively. The flow test confirmed the Newtonian behavior of all honeys, and their textural properties had very high extrusion forces varying from 113.50 g to 131.05 g. Cluster analysis (CA) and the biplot generated through PCA recognized four groups of honeys based on either the physicochemical parameters or textural attributes and only three groups based on color and sugar.

Nowadays, the food industry is heavily involved in searching for green sources of valuable compounds, to be employed as potential food ingredients, to cater to the evolving consumers’ requirements for health-beneficial food ingredients. In this frame, agri-food by-products represent a low-cost source of natural bioactive compounds, including antioxidants. However, to effectively recover these intracellular compounds, it is necessary to reduce the mass transfer resistances represented by the cellular envelope, within which they are localized, to enhance their extractability. To this purpose, emerging extraction technologies, have been proposed, including Supercritical Fluid Extraction, Microwave-Assisted Extraction, Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction, High-Pressure Homogenization, Pulsed Electric Fields, High Voltage Electrical Discharges. These technologies demonstrated to be a sustainable alternative to conventional extraction, showing the potential to increase the extraction yield, decrease the extraction time and solvent consumption. Additionally, in green extraction processes, also the contribution of solvent selection, as well as environmental and economic aspects, represent a key factor. Therefore, this review focused on critically analyzing the main findings on the synergistic effect of low environmental impact technologies and green solvents towards the green extraction of antioxidants from food by-products, by discussing the main associated advantages and drawbacks, and the criteria of selection for process sustainability.

This work aimed at studying the stabilization of O/W Pickering emulsions using nanosized cellulosic material, produced from raw cellulose or tomato pomace through different mechanical treatments, such as ball milling (BM) and high-pressure homogenization (HPH). The cellulose nanofibrils obtained via HPH, which exhibited longer fibers with higher flexibility than those obtained via ball milling, are characterized by lower interfacial tension values and higher viscosity, as well as better emulsion stabilization capability. Emulsion stability tests, carried out at 4 °C for 28 d or under centrifugation at different pH values (2.0, 7.0, and 12.0), revealed that HPH-treated cellulose limited the occurrence of coalescence phenomena and significantly slowed down gravitational separation in comparison with BM-treated cellulose. HPH-treated cellulose was responsible for the formation of a 3D network structure in the continuous phase, entrapping the oil droplets also due to the affinity with the cellulose nanofibrils, whereas BM-treated cellulose produced fibers with a more compact structure, which did adequately cover the oil droplets. HPH-treated tomato pomace gave similar results in terms of particle morphology and interfacial tension, and slightly lower emulsion stabilization capability than HPH-treated cellulose, suggesting that the used mechanical disruption process does not require cellulose isolation for its efficient defibrillation.

The encapsulation of essential oils in nanoemulsions represents an effective approach not only to disperse them in the aqueous systems where microorganisms proliferate but also to enhance their permeability through biological membranes. In this work, different food-grade emulsifiers, such as whey proteins, lecithin, Tween 80, alginate or zein, were tested in the preparation of carvacrol nanoemulsions in water. In order to prevent the occurrence of instability phenomena associated with Ostwald ripening, carvacrol was mixed at different ratios with peanut oil or medium chain triglycerides. The high-pressure homogenization method (200 MPa, three passes, using an orifice valve) was used to reduce the droplet size in the nanometric range. The nanoemulsions were tested for their stability over time at varying the main formulation parameters, and then carvacrol permeability across dialysis membranes was investigated, using a Franz cell assembly. The results showed that, in order to prevent droplet coalescence due to Ostwald ripening, the minimum ripening inhibitor oil-carvacrol ratio in the dispersed oil phase should be 3:1. In addition, despite comparable droplet sizes (< 150 nm), the nanoemulsions stabilized by lecithin or whey proteins enabled a higher carvacrol diffusion through the cellulose membranes, which was one order of magnitude higher than Tween 80-based systems.

In this work, the influence of pulsed electric fields (PEF) pre-treatment and extraction temperature on the recovery of carotenoid compounds from tomato peels, achieved after peeling of steam blanched whole tomato fruits, was investigated. PEF pre-treatments were carried out at different field strengths (E = 0.5–5 kV/cm) and total specific energy input (WT = 0.5-20 kJ/kg). The cell disintegration index (ZP) was used to identify the optimal PEF processing conditions for the pre-treatment of tomato peels before the extraction with acetone at different temperatures (20-50°C). Extracts from untreated and PEF treated samples were analysed in terms of content and composition of carotenoids and antioxidant power. According to the ZP values, an energy input of 5 kJ/kg was enough for reaching the maximal permeabilization of tomato peel tissues at any investigated field strength. At this optimal energy input, only the extracts obtained from PEF pre-treated peels at 5 kV/cm showed a significantly higher total carotenoids content (47.3%) and antioxidant power (68%), as compared to the untreated samples. Regardless of the application of a PEF pre-treatment, the increase of the extraction temperature did not lead to further intensification in the recovery yield of total carotenoids in the extracts. Moreover, HPLC analyses revealed that lycopene was the main carotenoid extracted and no degradation/isomerization phenomena occurred. Results obtained in this work demonstrated that the PEF pre-treatment of tomato processing wastes coupled with room or moderate extraction temperature could add new value to the tomato processing chain, improving economic performances and decreasing waste problems.

This study aimed at evaluating the effect of pulsed electric fields (PEF) pre-treatment on the extractability of pigments (total carotenes, chlorophyll a) from microalgae Nannochloropsis oceanica by supercritical CO2 (scCO2) extraction. Aqueous microalgal suspensions (1% w/w) added with 10% ethanol were treated in a continuous flow unit with either PEF at different field strengths (10–30 kV/cm) and total specific energy inputs (20–100 kJ/kg), or scCO2 at different pressures (8-20 MPa), with fixed temperature (35°C), CO2/biomass ratio (53.3 kgCO2/kgDW) and contact time (7 min). Extracts from conventional solvent extraction process and PEF-assisted scCO2 extraction were analyzed and compared with those achieved upon the application of single PEF and scCO2 extraction processes. Results showed that in PEF-assisted extraction the recovery yield of the target compounds significantly increased with increasing the treatment severity, even though the effect of the field strength appeared less important than the energy input. After PEF treatment at 10 kV/cm and 100 kJ/kg, the extraction yield for total carotenes and chlorophyll a increased by 1.6 and 1.4 times, respectively. During single scCO2 extraction process at 14 MPa the extraction yield for total carotenes and chlorophyll a increased up to 10.3 and 13.6 times, respectively, as compared to the untreated samples. The use of PEF prior to scCO2 extraction remarkably increased the extractability of the two pigments showing a clear synergistic effect. The results obtained in this work suggested that the application of PEF prior to scCO2 extraction could represent a suitable approach for the efficient recovery of pigments from microalgal biomass.

Edible coatings have attracted significant interest in maintaining quality and improving the shelf life of fresh fruit and vegetables. This study aimed to improve tomato storability by using edible coatings, based on alginate cross-linked with calcium chloride, and containing an oregano essential oil (OEO) nanoemulsion as a natural antimicrobial. The coating formulations were preliminary optimized in terms of alginate and calcium chloride concentrations, using response surface methodology, to obtain a thin (~5 µm) and uniform layer on the tomatoes surface. The optimized coating (prepared using sequential dipping in a 0.5% w/w sodium alginate solution and in a 2.0% w/w calcium chloride solution) was enriched by incorporating an OEO nanoemulsion, formulated with lecithin as a natural emulsifier, at an OEO concentration of 0.17% w/w in the alginate solution. The nanoemulsion did not significantly affect the coating thickness and uniformity but improved the wettability of the tomato skin. More specifically, the alginate-based edible coatings exhibited a strong interaction with the hydrophobic tomato skin surface (higher than water), promoting surface adhesion. The addition of OEO nanoemulsion in the coating, by providing more hydrophobic sites, further improved the wetting capability and adhesion of the coating solution on the tomato surface. The developed edible coatings successfully contributed to prolonging the tomato shelf life, by reducing the growth of the endogenous microbial flora (total microbial load, yeasts, and molds) over 14 days at room temperature in comparison with the control, with significantly better performances for the edible coating containing the OEO nanoemulsion.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of green solvents for extractions of bioactive compounds (BACs) and essential oils from wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum L.) using theoretical and experimental procedures. Theoretical prediction was assessed by Hansen solubility parameters (HSPs) and conductor-like screening model for realistic solvents (COSMO-RS), to predict the most suitable solvents for extraction of BACs. An experimental procedure was performed by nonthermal technology high voltage electrical discharge (HVED) and it was compared with modified conventional extraction (CE). Obtained extracts were analyzed for chemical and physical changes during the treatment. Theoretical results for solution of BACs in ethanol and water, as green solvents, were confirmed by experimental results, while more accurate data was given by COSMO-RS assessment than HSPs. Results confirmed high potential of HVED for extraction of BACs and volatile compounds from wild thyme, in average, 2.03 times higher yield of extraction in terms of total phenolic content was found compared to CE. The main phenolic compound found in wild thyme extracts was rosmarinic acid, while the predominant volatile compound was carvacrol. Obtained extracts are considered safe and high-quality source reach in BACs that could be further used in functional food production.

In modern foods, the delivery systems for bioactive compounds play a fundamental role in health promotion, wellbeing, and disease prevention through diet. Nanotechnology has secured a fundamental role in the fabrication of delivery systems with the capability of modulating the in-product and in-body behavior for augmenting bioavailability and activity of bioactive compounds. Structured nanoemulsions and nanoparticles, liposomes, and niosomes can be designed to improve bioactives preservation after ingestion, mucoadhesion, as well as of their release and pathophysiological relevance. In the future, it is expected that the delivery systems will also contribute to augment the efficacy of the bioactive compounds, for example by improving the intestinal absorption and delivery in the bloodstream, as well as promoting the formation of additional bioactive metabolites by regulating the transformations taking place during digestion and the interaction with the intestinal microbiota.

“Neapolitan limmo” is an ancient and rare sweet Mediterranean lime, now almost extinct but used until a few decades ago for the production of a fragrant liqueur called the “four citrus fruits”. The objective of this work was to compare, through the use of chemical (flavonoids, volatile organic compounds, and chiral compounds) and molecular (DNA fingerprint based on RAPD-PCR) markers, the residual population of Neapolitan limmo with other populations of sweet limes, identified in Calabria and known as “lemoncetta Locrese”. We report for the first time specific botanical characteristics of the two fruits and unequivocally show that the ancient sweet Mediterranean limes Neapolitan limmo and lemoncetta Locrese are synonyms of the same Citrus species. Owing to the biodiversity conserved in their places of origin, it will now be possible to recover, enhance and implement the use of this ancient sweet lime for agro-industrial purposes.

Most triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) exhibit gene expression patterns associated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a feature that correlates with a propensity for metastatic spread. Overexpression of the EMT regulator Slug is detected in basal and mesenchymal-type TNBCs and is associated with reduced E-cadherin expression and aggressive disease. The effects of Slug depend, in part, on the interaction of its N-terminal SNAG repressor domain with the chromatin-modifying protein lysine demethylase 1 (LSD1); thus, we investigated whether tranylcypromine [also known as trans-2-phenylcyclopropylamine hydrochloride (PCPA) or Parnate], an inhibitor of LSD1 that blocks its interaction with Slug, suppresses the migration, invasion, and metastatic spread of TNBC cell lines. We show here that PCPA treatment induces the expression of E-cadherin and other epithelial markers and markedly suppresses migration and invasion of TNBC cell lines MDA-MB-231 and BT-549. These effects were phenocopied by Slug or LSD1 silencing. In two models of orthotopic breast cancer, PCPA treatment reduced local tumor growth and the number of lung metastases. In mice injected directly in the blood circulation with MDA-MB-231 cells, PCPA treatment or Slug silencing markedly inhibited bone metastases but had no effect on lung infiltration. Thus, blocking Slug activity may suppress the metastatic spread of TNBC and, perhaps, specifically inhibit homing/colonization to the bone.

The effects of aeration on the discharge of silos loaded with initially segregated particles have been evaluated. Experiments were carried out on a two-dimensional laboratory-scale aerated silo, loaded according to either ideal or controlled natural segregation patterns. Two different systems of powders made up of two size cuts were tested, one system belonging to group A and the other to group B of the Geldart classification. One of the two cuts was colored to visualize the segregation changes and the solids flow during discharge. Time variations of the discharged solids discharged were evaluated by means of a rotating sample. Results of aerated discharge were compared with mass flow discharge. From analysis of the experimental results, it is possible to conclude that aerated discharges can effectively promote the uniform solids discharge of horizontally segregated solids of group A powders. In contrast, further segregation occurs for aerated discharges of group B powders below the minimum for fluidization.

In this paper we studied the aerated discharge of two magnesium carbonate powders differing in their average diameter and particle size distribution. These samples were characterized by means of fluidization experiments and rheology shear tests carried out in a rotating shear cell. In the hopper discharge experiments, besides the discharge rates and the mass of residual solids as a function of the aeration rate, the aggregative behavior was observed by means of photographic techniques. Solids aggregates were actually visible within the aerated beds of solids during the fluidization experiments and in the streams of the discharging solids. Experimental data on the powder flow properties and on fluidization were analysed in order to permit evaluation of the aggregate diameters. These values compared fairly well with the aggregate diameters observed and made it possible to evaluate the voidage values outside the aggregates. These results were used in a modified form of the De Jong and Hoelen [9] equation to predict the solids discharge rate with a reasonable degree of accuracy.

Starch-based hydrogels have received considerable interest due to their safe nature, biodegradability and biocompatibility. The aim of this study was to verify the possibility of producing natural hydrogels based on potato starch by high hydrostatic pressure (HHP), identifying suitable processing conditions allowing to obtain stable hydrogels, as well as to characterize structural and mechanical properties of these products. Sieved (small size granules and medium size granules) and unsieved potato starch samples were used to prepare aqueous suspensions of different concentrations (10−30% w/w) which were processed at 600 MPa for 15 min at different temperatures (25, 40 and 50 °C). Products obtained were characterized by different techniques (light and polarized microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), rheology and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)). Results obtained so far demonstrated that potato starch suspensions (20% starch−water concentration (w/w)) with granules mean size smaller than 25 µm treated at 600 MPa for 15 min and 50 °C showed a complete gelatinization and gel-like appearance. Potato HHP hydrogels were characterized by high viscosity, shear-thinning behavior and a highly structured profile (G’ >> G’’). Moreover, their FTIR spectra, similarly to FTIR profiles of thermal gels, presented three absorption bands in the characteristic starch-gel region (950−1200 cm−1), whose intensity increased with decreasing the particle size and increasing the processing temperature. In conclusion, potato starch hydrogels produced by HHP in well-defined processing conditions exhibited excellent mechanical properties, which can be tailored according to the requirements of the different applications envisaged.

The p53 gene is rarely mutated in neuroblastoma, but codon 72 polymorphism that modulates its proapoptotic activity might influence cancer risk and clinical outcome. We investigated whether this polymorphism affects neuroblastoma risk and disease outcome and assessed the biologic effects of the p53-72R and p53-72P isoforms in p53-null cells. Comparison of 288 healthy subjects and 286 neuroblastoma patients revealed that the p53-72 polymorphism had no significant impact on the risk of developing neuroblastoma; however, patients with the Pro/Pro genotype had a shorter survival than those with the Arg/Arg or the Arg/Pro genotypes even in the stage 3 and 4 subgroup without MYCN amplification. By Cox regression analysis, the p53 Pro/Pro genotype seems to be an independent marker of poor prognosis (hazard ratio = 2.74; 95% confidence interval = 1.14–6.55, P = .014) together with clinical stage, MYCN status, and age at diagnosis. In vitro, p53-72P was less effective than p53-72R in inducing apoptosis and inhibiting survival of p53-null LAN-1 cells treated with etoposide, topotecan, or ionizing radiation but not taxol. By contrast, p53-72P was more effective in promoting p21-dependent accelerated senescence, alone or in the presence of etoposide. Thus, the p53-72 Pro/Pro genotype might be a marker of poor outcome independent of MYCN amplification, possibly improving risk stratification. Moreover, the lower apoptosis and the enhanced accelerated senescence by the p53-72P isoform in response to DNA damage suggest that patients with neuroblastoma with the p53-72 Pro/Pro genotype may benefit from therapeutic protocols that do not rely only on cytotoxic drugs that function, in part, through p53 activation.