Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cristina Moliner, Sonia Nunez, Guillermo Casedas, Marta Sofia Valero, Maria Ines Dias, Lillian Barros, Victor Lopez, Carlota Gomez-Rincon
Summary: This study aimed to determine the polyphenolic profile of onion flowers and evaluate their antioxidant and anti-obesity capacity. The phenolic compounds kaempferol and isorhamnetin glucosides were identified, and the flower extract exhibited the ability to reduce fat accumulation, inhibit digestive enzyme activity, and enhance antioxidant activity. This suggests that onion flowers have potential as functional foods and nutraceuticals.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Claudia Volpi, Desiree Bartolini, Virginia Brighenti, Francesco Galli, Matteo Tiecco, Federica Pellati, Catia Clementi, Roccaldo Sardella
Summary: This study enhanced the phenol loading and antioxidant activity of wool yarn with onion skin extract by using alum as a mordant. The pre-mordanted sample showed elevated dye uptake on wool and released main phenolic acids that significantly reduced ROS levels in cells. These findings suggest that alum pre-mordanted textiles dyed with onion-skin extracts could be a promising tool against skin diseases.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Leilei Zhang, Pascual Garcia-Perez, Busra Arikan, Fevzi Elbasan, Fatma Nur Alp, Melike Balci, Gokhan Zengin, Evren Yildiztugay, Luigi Lucini
Summary: This study found that wood vinegar can be applied to onions to enhance their nutritional and health-promoting properties. Wood vinegar had tissue and dose-specific effects on the onion metabolome, improving antioxidant and enzyme-inhibiting capabilities. Moderate to high concentrations of wood vinegar (250-500 mu L L 1) were found to be optimal for enhancing biological activities.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yucen Xie, Nitin Nitin, Linda J. Harris
Summary: Factors influencing bacterial transfer between yellow onions and polyurethane or stainless steel surfaces under dry conditions were investigated. The study found that transfer rates were significantly dependent on bacterial species, inoculation levels, inoculum carrier, and transfer direction. The results showed that Rifampin-resistant Enterococcus faecium had higher transfer rates than Salmonella, and transfer from onion to polyurethane was higher than from polyurethane to onion.
Article
Microbiology
Brendon K. Myers, Gi Yoon Shin, Gaurav Agarwal, Shaun P. Stice, Ronald D. Gitaitis, Brian H. Kvitko, Bhabesh Dutta
Summary: This study investigated the genetic basis of pathogenicity in P. ananatis strains on different Allium species. Phenotype-dependent and phenotype-independent gene association analyses identified genes related to stress responses, toxin-antitoxin systems, flagellar motility, quorum sensing, and phosphonoglycan biosynthesis. Comparative genomics analysis further revealed a putative type III secretion system and other shared genes between different hosts.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Valerija Vujcic Bok, Marko Geric, Goran Gajski, Sanja Gagic, Ana-Marija Domijan
Summary: The aim of this study was to investigate the phytotoxicity and mode of action of bisphenol A (BPA) on Allium cepa roots using a multibiomarker approach. The results showed that even at the lowest concentration tested (1 mg L-1), BPA significantly reduced root length, root fresh weight, and mitotic index. Additionally, it was found that BPA at this concentration also decreased the level of gibberellic acid (GA(3)) in root cells. Higher concentrations of BPA (5 mg L-1) induced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), oxidative damage to lipids and proteins, and activity of superoxide dismutase. Concentrations of BPA above 25 mg L-1 caused genome damage and synthesis of phytochemicals. These findings highlight the phytotoxic and genotoxic potential of BPA in plants and emphasize the need for environmental monitoring.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Luciana Baroni, Anna Rita Sarni, Cristina Zuliani
Summary: The intake of plant foods rich in antioxidants may have a protective effect on cognition and improve cognitive abilities. While results varied, most studies showed a positive association between dietary plant antioxidants and cognitive functions.
Article
Plant Sciences
Alvaro Cruz-Carrion, Ma Josefina Ruiz de Azua, Begona Muguerza, Miquel Mulero, Francisca Isabel Bravo, Anna Arola-Arnal, Manuel Suarez
Summary: A study compared thirteen plant-based foods cultivated in organic (ORG) and non-organic (NORG) farming systems in terms of antioxidant capacity and phenolic compound content. The results showed that NORG fruits had higher phenolic compounds content, while ORG fruits had more antioxidant capacity. NORG legume stood out for having higher values from all parameters analyzed. ORG nuts had higher flavan-3-ols and flavonols content but lower antioxidant capacity compared to their NORG counterparts. ORG vegetables displayed higher phenolics and anthocyanins content, resulting in higher antioxidant capacity than NORG ones. These findings suggest that farming systems modulate phenolic compound composition and antioxidant capacity based on the plant species studied.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Laura Bassolino, Katia Petroni, Angela Polito, Alessandra Marinelli, Elena Azzini, Marika Ferrari, Donatella B. M. Ficco, Elisabetta Mazzucotelli, Alessandro Tondelli, Agostino Fricano, Roberta Paris, Inmaculada Garcia-Robles, Carolina Rausell, Maria Dolores Real, Carlo Massimo Pozzi, Giuseppe Mandolino, Ephrem Habyarimana, Luigi Cattivelli
Summary: This review focuses on the impact of antioxidants-rich cereal and Solanaceae derived foods on human health. It discusses strategies for increasing the antioxidant level of grains and fruits and examines the influence of agronomic practices and food processing on antioxidant properties. Despite supporting evidence from in vitro and animal studies, further clinical research is needed to confirm the effects of antioxidant-rich foods on human health.
Article
Biology
T. M. S. El-Sherbeny, Abeer M. Mousa, El-Sayed R. El-Sayed
Summary: This study investigates the bio-efficacy of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on onion plants grown in sandy soil under a drip irrigation system. Results show that AMF inoculation and P fertilizer application significantly increase the growth and yield of onion plants, as well as enhance phosphorus concentration and nitrogen utilization. The economic yield of onion plants inoculated with AMF and fertilized with P fertilizer is much higher than the control group without AMF.
SAUDI JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
S. Balasurya, Mohammad K. Okla, Hamada AbdElgawad, Abdullah A. AL-ghamdi, Mostafa A. Abdel-Maksoud, Saud S. Al-Amri, Mahmoud M. Y. Madany, S. Sudheer Khan
Summary: Photocatalytic induction of electron/hole recombination, surface property, and light response ability effectively enhance the photocatalytic activity of Sn/Mn-ZnFe2O4-CdFe2O4-Ag3PO4 Quantum dots (M/SZFO-CFO-AP QDs) for degradation of doxycycline antibiotic. The result showed a high degradation efficiency of doxy (98.8%) and complete mineralization (98.9% TOC removal) in a short span of time. The synergetic charge transfer of n-p-n heterojunction enables efficient removal of doxy under visible light irradiation. The prepared SZFO-CFO-AP QDs also exhibit low toxicity levels and enhance the growth of bean plants.
Article
Plant Sciences
Shubhpriya Gupta, Wendy A. Stirk, Lenka Plackova, Manoj G. Kulkarni, Karel Dolezal, Johannes Van Staden
Summary: The study found that adding seaweed extract and PGPR in onion cultivation can promote plant growth and increase mineral nutrition content, especially with the best performance seen in plants treated with KEL, which had the highest chlorophyll content and mineral content.
JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Krystyna Pyrzynska, Aleksandra Sentkowska
Summary: Interest in selenium has been growing in recent decades due to its importance to overall health, particularly the ability of plants to convert inorganic selenium into bioactive organic compounds. Recent studies have focused on characterizing selenium species in plant foods and the effects of selenium treatment on plant chemical composition and antioxidant properties.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Marika Pellegrini, Daniela M. Spera, Claudia Ercole, Maddalena Del Gallo
Summary: The study demonstrated that inoculating a consortium of four bacterial strains onto onion seeds led to improved plant growth parameters, increased yields, and enhanced soil fertility and microbial community diversity. The bacterial treatment positively influenced plant growth, soil health, and soil biodiversity, showcasing the potential of using plant growth-promoting bacteria as a sustainable fertilization strategy to enhance productivity in agricultural landscapes.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Mahshad Maghoumi, Maria Luisa Amodio, Luis Cisneros-Zevallos, Giancarlo Colelli
Summary: The storage life of pomegranate fruit is limited by decay, chilling injury, weight loss, and husk scald, with chilling injury being the main limiting factor for long-term storage. Chilling injury manifests as skin browning, surface spots, albedo brown discoloration, and changes in aril colors. Various postharvest treatments have been proposed to prevent chilling injury, but the etiology and biochemistry of this condition are not fully understood. This review discusses the hypothesized mechanism of chilling injury, its association with postharvest treatments, and suggests possible targets for future technological developments.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Paz Otero, M. Carpena, P. Garcia-Oliveira, J. Echave, A. Soria-Lopez, P. Garcia-Perez, M. Fraga-Corral, Hui Cao, Shaoping Nie, Jianbo Xiao, J. Simal-Gandara, M. A. Prieto
Summary: Consumers nowadays are increasingly aware of the relationship between diet and health, leading to a preference for natural products. Seaweeds have emerged as a potential source of bioactive carbohydrates, with numerous polysaccharides arousing the interest of the scientific community due to their biological activities. Environmentally friendly extraction technologies and chemical modification methods have been developed to improve the yield, quality, and applications of seaweed polysaccharides. This review aims to compile current information about seaweed polysaccharides, including extraction and modification methods, biological activities, and future trends for their industrial applications.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
(2023)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Sucheta Khubber, Milad Kazemi, Sara Amiri Samani, Jose M. Lorenzo, Jesus Simal-Gandara, Francisco J. Barba
Summary: Pectin from different sources varies in terms of structure and functionality, and the extraction methods can affect its properties. Choosing the appropriate extraction method according to the source is important to achieve specific structure and functionality of pectin.
FOOD REVIEWS INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Gonzalo Astray, Juan C. Mejuto, Jianbo Xiao, Jesus Simal-Gandara
Summary: The commercialization of CBD products has significantly increased, offering various forms of consumption such as edibles and beverages. CBD use in these products has potential health benefits but excessive consumption may have adverse effects on health.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Robert Battat, Ellen J. Scherl, Dana Lukin, Paris Charilaou, Prerna Mahtani, Juliette Gerber, Jorge A. Gandara, Friederike Dundar, Paul Zumbo, Doron Betel, Chun-Jun Guo, Randy S. Longman
Summary: This study examines the effects of surgery and ileitis on bile acids, intestinal microbiota, and inflammation in Crohn's disease patients. The results show that surgery leads to increased bile acids, and ileitis is only associated with elevated primary bile acids. The diversity of intestinal microbiota, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and the abundance of O-acetylhomoserine aminocarboxypropyltransferase [MetY] decrease with elevated primary bile acids.
JOURNAL OF CROHNS & COLITIS
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Zahra Seyedi, Mohammad Sadegh Amiri, Vahideh Mohammadzadeh, Alireza Hashemzadeh, Aliakbar Haddad-Mashadrizeh, Mohammad Mashreghi, Mohsen Qayoomian, Mohammad Reza Hashemzadeh, Jesus Simal-Gandara, Mohammad Ehsan Taghavizadeh Yazdi
Summary: Among the various kinds of scaffolds used in tissue engineering, natural biomaterials such as plant-based materials play a crucial role due to their biocompatibility and chemical indicators. Designing scaffolds using green methods is important for their environmentally friendly behavior and safety. Icariin (ICRN), a bioactive flavonoid found in the Epimedium plant, has a wide range of applications in improving scaffolds as a non-immunogenic material and promoting cell growth and differentiation in chondrocytes and embryonic stem cells. Additionally, ICRN can enhance matrix secretion in bone and cartilage tissue engineering and has potential applications in cancer treatment and reducing nephrotoxicity.
JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL BIOMATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Jayashree Shanmugam, Aruna Sharmili Sundararaj, Roshitha Shanmugasundaram, Balaji Ravichandran, Mahendrakumar Mani, Savaas Umar Mohammed Riyaz, Manikandan Dhayalan, Antonio Cid-Samamed, Jesus Simal-Gandara
Summary: Magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgONPs) were synthesized using a green approach with bract extract of Musa acuminate. The presence of MgONPs was confirmed by surface plasmon resonance at 450 nm in UV spectrum and FTIR peaks at 601 and 890 cm(-1). XRD pattern showed high crystallinity and an intense peak at 111, with a size of 13 nm. The particles were spherical with an average size of 24.85 nm. MgONPs exhibited antibacterial activity, cytotoxicity, hemolytic features, photocatalytic degradation, and seed germination activity, making them promising for various biological applications.
APPLIED ORGANOMETALLIC CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Pascual Garcia-Perez, Lucia Cassani, Paula Garcia-Oliveira, Jianbo Xiao, Jesus Simal-Gandara, Miguel A. Prieto, Luigi Lucini
Summary: The demand for natural and functional food products has driven the exploration of algae as a source of nutraceuticals. Algae, both macroalgae and microalgae, contain various chemical compounds that have potential health-promoting properties. Polysaccharides and phycobiliproteins in algae can improve the rheological and nutritional properties of food, while polyphenols and xanthophylls may have antioxidant or cytotoxic effects. Metabolomics is a valuable tool to study algae metabolism and develop functional characterization of these organisms. This review highlights the importance of algae metabolism in the food industry and the potential of metabolomic approaches for studying algae.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Lochan Singh, Tripti Agarwal, J. Simal-Gandara
Summary: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental carcinogens found in food, and their formation can be prevented by regulating cooking and processing practices, refining oils and sugars, and choosing appropriate cooking methods. However, eliminating PAHs from food is challenging. This review focuses on strategies to reduce and remove PAHs, including marination, packaging, heating treatments, and the use of adsorbents and filters. The ultimate goal is to understand the factors affecting PAHs removal and propose future recommendations and challenges.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Yamina Ben Miri, Amina Benabdallah, Aldjia Taoudiat, Mohamed Mahdid, Djamel Djenane, Zeynep Tacer-Caba, Cansu Topkaya, Jesus Simal-Gandara
Summary: This study evaluated the antifungal, antiaflatoxin, and antioxidant potential of Mentha pulegium, Myrtus communis, and Mentha piperita essential oils. The oils showed efficacy as a couscous preservative and inhibited aflatoxin production. They also exhibited toxicity against various fungi and high antioxidant activity, indicating their potential in preserving food commodities.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Catarina Lourenco-Lopes, Anxo Carreira-Casais, Maria Carperna, Marta Barral-Martinez, Franklin Chamorro, Cecilia Jimenez-Lopez, Lucia Cassani, Jesus Simal-Gandara, Miguel A. A. Prieto
Summary: This study optimized the extraction conditions of fucoxanthin (Fx) from U. pinnatifida using emerging techniques, such as microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). The highest Fx concentrations obtained were 58.83 mg Fx/g E for MAE and 124.39 mg Fx/g E for UAE, with short extraction times and low energy consumption. These results can be further explored for industrial applications.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Zhangtie Wang, Mengmeng Wang, Yunrui Lu, Yongli Ji, Jesus Simal-Gandara, Fan Xiao, Yan Liu, Liangxiao Zhang, Maurizio Battino, Peiwu Li, Jianbo Xiao, Yao Xie, Baiyi Lu
Summary: In this study, single-cell RNA sequencing was used to analyze the aortic cells of ApoE(-/-) mice. The results showed that dietary phytosterols and sterol oxidation products can affect the development of atherosclerosis, especially the newly identified fibroblast subpopulations.
MOLECULAR NUTRITION & FOOD RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Asia Atta, Muhammad Shahid, Zunaira Kanwal, Saghir Ahmad Jafri, Muhammad Riaz, Hang Xiao, Mazhar Abbas, Chukwuebuka Egbuna, Jesus Simal-Gandara
Summary: This study aimed to explore the antioxidant and antiglycation potential of selected nuts, such as walnut, almond, pistachio, and peanut. The results showed that these nuts were rich in phenolics and flavonoids, which exhibited significant antioxidant capacity and inhibitory effects on glycation. Therefore, they can be considered as important supplements in a balanced diet.
FOOD SCIENCE & NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Abderrazak Hamidi, Djamal Atia, Abdelkrim Rebiai, Abdallah Reghioua, Ammar Zobeidi, Mohammad Messaoudi, Bachir Ben Seghir, Pawel Pohl, Jesus Simal-Gandara
Summary: In this study, clay was combined with cellulose to form a composite material, which was tested for its effectiveness in removing methylene blue dye from aqueous solutions. The influence of important parameters such as cellulose load, adsorbent dosage, solution pH, temperature, and contact duration was optimized using response surface methodology and Box-Behnken design. The highest removal effectiveness of 98.76% was achieved with a cellulose loading of 25.0%, an adsorbent dosage of 0.06 g/L, pH 7, temperature of 45 degrees C, and a contact time of 20 min. The composite material exhibited a high adsorption capacity of 254.8 mg/g. The adsorption process followed a pseudo-second-order model and was found to be endothermic and spontaneous. The results suggest that the developed composite material is highly efficient in absorbing and removing color.
BIOMASS CONVERSION AND BIOREFINERY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yamina Ben Miri, Ahmed Nouasri, Amina Benabdallah, Abderrahim Benslama, Zeynep Tacer-Caba, Affaf Laassami, Djamel Djenane, Jesus Simal-Gandara
Summary: Nowadays, coffee is an important agricultural product and drinking coffee is popular worldwide. The main contamination of stored coffee beans is caused by mycotoxins produced by the fungi in the genus Aspergillus. Menthol and eugenol were found to inhibit the growth and spore germination of Aspergillus parasiticus, and they could be used as alternatives for preserving green coffee beans during long-term storage by reducing fungal infections.
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Firzan Nainu, Andri Frediansyah, Sukamto S. Mamada, Andi Dian Permana, Mirnawati Salampe, Deepak Chandran, Talha Bin Emran, Jesus Simal-Gandara
Summary: The incidence of metabolic disorders is increasing globally, posing a major challenge to health. Advances in diagnostics and clinical procedures have improved our understanding of the causes and pathophysiologies of metabolic disorders. Experimental models and natural products have played a significant role in the discovery and development of drug candidates. In this article, we discuss the role of inflammatory responses in metabolic disorders and the potential use of natural products in managing diseases like diabetes, obesity, heart-related diseases, and cancer. We also explore the use of phytochemical drug delivery systems in the treatment of metabolic disorders.
