Search Results (732)

Vegetables and legume soups contain various essential and bioactive constituents such as vitamin C, carotenoids, and phenolics. Antioxidant activity characteristics related to those compounds are well known to contribute profusely to human health. The cooking technique affects the bioavailability of nutrients and bioactive compounds, making it crucial to explore optimal alternatives to maximize them. The objective of this study was to explore the influence of different cooking techniques (boiling, pressure cooking, sous-vide, and cook-vide) on the physicochemical properties and bioactive characteristics of a ready-to-eat vegetable lentil soup. For this, the bioaccessibility of those compounds was assessed through an in vitro simulated gastrointestinal methodology. The firmness of vegetables was established to define treatments’ cooking times, allowing subsequent comparison of the nutritional and functional properties of the soups. The color of vegetables was also evaluated as a quality parameter, which contributed to providing a global vision of the process impact. The results revealed that in vitro digestion (IVD) caused a decrease in all bioactive compound determinations for all cooking treatments of up to 72% for total phenols, 92% for lycopene, 98% for carotenoids, and 100% for vitamin C. Additionally, the antioxidant activity of the soups after thermal treatment improved up to 46% measured by the DPPH method. This study emphasizes the importance of considering the digestion process in the selection of the most adequate cooking technique. After IVD, traditional cooking (boiling) reached the maximum total carotenoid and lycopene contents; cook-vide and pressure-cooking techniques provided the highest total phenol content, showing these three techniques to have the maximum antioxidant capacity. Full article

The floral color phenotypes of Osmanthus fragrans cultivars range from light yellow to orange yellow, with ‘Yanzhi Hong’ being the only reported cultivar with a red color. However, the underlying reason for this unique floral coloration remains unclear. The study conducted targeted metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses on the petals of ‘Yanzhi Hong’ at both initial and peak flowering stages. Candidate gene expression was validated, and expression levels of the petals of three cultivars were compared using RT-qPCR. The results revealed the presence of 27 components in the petals of ‘Yanzhi Hong’, including 5 carotenoids, 8 xanthophylls, and 14 xanthophyll esters. Notably, lycopene was detected in abundance for the first time in O. fragrans cultivars. Carotenes accounted for 78.82 ± 3.17% and 91.19 ± 1.69% of the total carotenoid content in petals during the initial and peak flowering stages, respectively, with all carotene contents increasing during the peak flowering period. β-carotene, lycopene, and γ-carotene were identified as the top three carotene components in petals during both initial and full flowering stages. The unique blush red color of ‘Yanzhi Hong’ petals could be attributed to the low content of α-carotene and the rich accumulation of lycopene. Furthermore, a total of 1550 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in petals at the peak flowering stage relative to the initial flowering stage, with 1003 genes being downregulated and 547 genes being upregulated during the full flowering stage. There are 926 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) annotated in the Gene Ontology (GO) database. Among these DEGs, those that were downregulated and upregulated during the peak flowering period showed significant enrichment in carbohydrate metabolism and oxidation–reduction processes, respectively. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis identified 14 structural genes associated with phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and 7 structural genes linked to carotenoid biosynthesis. Expression levels of candidate genes involved in carotenoid biosynthesis were examined in the petals of three cultivars (‘Yanzhi Hong’, ‘Liuye Jingui’, and ‘Gecheng Dangui’) at both the initial and peak flowering stages. The results indicated that the decreased expression of LYG009054 (LYCE) and LYG018651 (LYCB) in ‘Yanzhi Hong’ resulted in higher lycopene accumulation and lower α-carotene content in the petals. This study offers valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying the unique flower color phenotype of O. fragrans, proving a basis for further research on carotenoid metabolism pathways and the breeding of new cultivars with a variety of flower colors in O. fragrans. Full article

Obesity is considered one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. The browning process has been recently recognized as a promising anti-obesity therapy. Lycopene (LYC) and Garcinia cambogia fruit extract (GE) might be important resources for anti-obesity drugs; therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the anti-obesity effects of LYC and GE on 3T3-L1 adipocytes and Zucker rats. Mouse 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes were differentiated in mature adipocytes and then treated with LYC (0.5 μM), GE (30 mg/mL) or LYC + GE for 24 h. Moreover, male Zucker Crl:ZUC-Leprfa rats were randomly assigned to 5 groups of 10 animals to orally receive Vehicle (Ctrl), Orlistat (20 mg/kg), LYC (5 mg/kg), GE (1000 mg/kg) or LYC + GE for 28 days. LYC, GC extracts and even more LYC + GE stimulated the mRNA and protein expression of thermogenic genes UCP1, CIDEA and DIO2, significantly reduced lipid droplet size and increased lipid droplet number in adipocytes. UCP1 mRNA and protein expression was also increased in the visceral adipose tissue of the rats that received the dietary intake of LYC, GE and even more LYC + GE. Moreover, LYC + GE induced the reorganization of visceral fat depots that showed a great number of small adipocytes and a significant reduction in weight gain and food intake compared to the control group. The obtained results demonstrated that LYC + GE might be used as new approaches for obesity management in order to induce the browning process and achieve a metabolically active tissue instead of a tissue characterized by lipid depot accumulation. Full article

Daily exposure to solar light is not so harmless as previously thought, since UVA and UVB radiation has a significant effect on human health, by inducing skin-related inflammatory manifestations, such as hyperpigmentation, dermatitis, premature aging, erythema, and sunburn, among the most common skin conditions. At the same time, irreversible diseases such as various types of skin cancers, like basal cell carcinoma, melanoma, and squamous cell carcinoma, have begun to increase at dramatic rates, due to inflammatory and oxidative malignant effects of UV radiation exposure. Within this article, the health promoting effects of sunscreen for skin protection and especially of sunscreen enriched with natural antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and anti-cancer bio-functional ingredients are thoroughly reviewed. Emphasis is given to bioactives from grape by-products, such as bio-functional phytochemicals like flavonoids, stilbenes, and phenolic acids, as well as to tomato-derived bioactives like lycopene, which act either solely or synergistically and significantly enhance the antioxidant capacity of the composition product, as well as its photo-protection. The promising outcomes from in vitro studies and those reported from in vivo approaches, as well as the mechanisms of the obtained antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic, and antitumor action(s) of sunscreens infused with such natural bioactives, are also outlined. Limitations, such as the difficulties in incorporating lipophilic compounds like lycopene and/or amphiphilic phenolics into sunscreen cosmetic formulations, as well as future perspectives on the overall benefits that these compounds give to sunscreens, helping to improve properties such as smell, color, homogeneity, water resistance, and especially the Sun Protection Factor (SPF), are also discussed. Full article

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants, wild type Ailsa Craig, and carotenoid mutant tangerine that accumulates prolycopene instead of all-trans-lycopene were exposed to a combined treatment by low light and low temperature for 5 days. The ability of plants to recover from the stress after development for 3 days at control conditions was followed as well. The suffered oxidative stress was evaluated by the extent of pigment content, lipid peroxidation, membrane stability, and H₂O₂ generation. The level of MDA content under combined treatment in tangerine implies that the mutant demonstrates lower sensitivity to stress in comparison with Ailsa Craig. The oxidative protective strategy of plants was estimated by following the antioxidant and antiradical activity of phenolic metabolites, including anthocyanins, as well as the activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT). Presented results revealed that the oxidative stress was much stronger expressed after exposure of both types of plants to low light combined with low temperature compared to that after treatment with only low light. The most significant antioxidant protection was provided by phenolic substances, including anthocyanins. The lower sensitivity of tangerine plants to low light can be attributed to the higher activity of the antioxidant enzyme CAT. Full article

The efficacy of functional lipids with antioxidant properties in reducing cardiovascular risk has not been consistent. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting estimates for the effects of antioxidant functional lipid supplementations on cardiometabolic risk factors were searched up to 1 May 2024. Overall, antioxidant lipid supplementations, compared with placebo, had favorable effects on systolic blood pressure (lycopene: −1.95 [−3.54, −0.36] mmHg), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (n6 fatty acid: −0.39 [−0.71, −0.06] mmol/L; astaxanthin: −0.11 [−0.21, −0.01] mmol/L), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (n3 fatty acid: 0.20 [0.13, 0.27] mmol/L; n6 fatty acid: 0.08 [0.01, 0.14] mmol/L; astaxanthin: 0.13 [0.05, 0.21] mmol/L), total cholesterol (n6 fatty acid: −0.24 [−0.37, −0.11] mmol/L; astaxanthin: −0.22 [−0.32, −0.12] mmol/L; beta-carotene: −0.13 [−0.23, −0.04] mmol/L), triglyceride (n3 fatty acid: −0.37 [−0.47, −0.28] mmol/L; astaxanthin: −0.46 [−0.83, −0.10] mmol/L), and fasting blood insulin (astaxanthin: −2.66 [−3.98, −1.34] pmol/L). The benefits of antioxidant lipid supplementations appeared to be most evident in blood pressure and blood lipids in participants with different cardiometabolic health statuses. Notably, n9 fatty acid increased triglyceride and hemoglobin A1C in the total population, which increases CVD risk. Antioxidant lipid supplementations ameliorate cardiometabolic risk factors, while their effect may depend on type and cardiometabolic health status. Long-term RCTs are needed to corroborate risk–benefit ratios across different antioxidant functional lipid supplementation settings. Full article

Watermelon suffers substantial post-harvest losses owing to strict quality standards, resulting in 20–30% of the crop being left unharvested. This study investigated the potential of valorizing dried watermelon pomace (DWP), a byproduct of watermelon juice extraction, focusing on its lycopene content—a potent antioxidant. This study assessed lycopene stability in DWP from four watermelon cultivars (Perla Nera^®, Gavina^®, Crimson Sweet, and Asahi Miyako) under different storage conditions (vial-sealed and vacuum-sealed). The lycopene content in freshly prepared DWP samples ranged from 0.734 to 1.572 mg/g db. The results indicated that vacuum-sealed samples exhibited significantly slower lycopene degradation than vial-sealed samples, highlighting the impact of air exposure on lycopene stability. After 90 days of storage, lycopene content in vacuum-sealed samples ranged from 0.214 to 1.234 mg/g db, while that in vial-sealed samples ranged from 0.013 to 0.731 mg/g db. Furthermore, this study assessed the effect of pretreatments with ascorbic acid (pretreatment A) and a mixture of ascorbic and citric acids (pretreatment B) on lycopene stability. Pretreatment B showed superior effectiveness, yielding higher lycopene levels than pretreatment A (p < 0.05). The stabilizing effects of ascorbic acid and citric acid were attributed to their antioxidant properties and their roles as pH regulators and chelators. Full article

Sweet cherry grown under sustainable management produces highly valuable fruits, whose quality shows important biochemical and morphological changes during ripening. Research was carried out in Iasi (Romania), with the aim to assess the quality characteristics of the sweet cherry fruits of three cultivars (Van, Andreiaș, Margonia), grown in an inner or outer position inside the tree crown, at the pre-ripening or full ripeness phase. In 2022, the colour component a* showed higher values in cv. Van and Andreias red fruits and in an inner position, whereas the components L* and b* at the full ripeness phase were highest in cv. Margonia. The dry matter and total soluble solids contents increased from the pre-ripening to the full ripeness phase and were highest in cv. Van sweet cherry fruits; the DM of fruit from the outer part of crown was higher than that of fruit from the inner part at the pre-ripening phase. The content of phenolics was the highest in cv. Margonia fruits at the pre-ripening stage and in cv. Van at the full ripeness phase and higher in the inner tree crown zones. The cultivar Margonia generally showed the highest vitamin C content in both years and development phases. The yellow fruit cv. Margonia mostly showed the highest values of chlorophyll a and b. The fruit’s content of carotene, lycopene, and anthocyanins was generally the highest in the red fruits of cv. Andreias. The examined sweet cherry cultivars showed a high variability in fruit nutritional quality and proved to be a rich source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant potential. Full article

Processing tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is regarded amongst the most dominant horticultural crops globally. Yet, due to its elevated water and fertilization needs, its environmental footprint is significantly high. The recent efforts to reduce the footprint of agriculture have rekindled the search for optimized fertilization regimes in tomato. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of different urea fertilizers and tomato pomace-based composts on the performance and quality traits of processing tomato. A two-year field experiment was conducted in the Larissa region, Central Greece, during 2018–2019. The experiment was set up in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), with five treatments: control, urea (Urea), urea with nitrification and urease inhibitors (Urea + NI + UI), processing tomato pomace with farmyard manure (TP + FM), and processing tomato pomace with compost from plant residues (TP + CM). Measurements included soil total nitrogen (STN), soil organic matter (SOM), root length density (RLD), arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) colonization, dry weight per plant, fruit yield (number per plant, total yield, weight, diameter), fruit firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), lycopene content and yield, and fruit surface color (L*, a*, b*, CI). Overall, the best results in soil properties and quality traits were reported in the organic fertilization treatments (STN, SOM, AMF, TSS, TA, lycopene content, L*, a*, b*) and the differences among TP + FM and TP + CM were insignificant in their majority. On the contrary, fruit yield and its components were significantly improved in Urea + NI + UI. Full article

Chromochloris zofingiensis, a unicellular green alga, is a potential source of natural carotenoids. In this study, the mutant LUT-4 was acquired from the chemical mutagenesis pool of C. zofingiensis strain. The biomass yield and lutein content of LUT-4 reached 9.23 g·L⁻¹, and 0.209% of dry weight (DW) on Day 3, which was 49.4%, and 33% higher than that of wild-type (WT), respectively. The biomass yields of LUT-4 under 100, 300, and 500 µmol/m²/s reached 8.4 g·L⁻¹, 7.75 g·L⁻¹, and 6.6 g·L⁻¹, which was 10.4%, 21%, and 29.6% lower compared with the control, respectively. Under mixotrophic conditions, the lutein yields were significantly higher than that obtained in the control. The light intensity of 300 µmol/m²/s was optimal for lutein biosynthesis and the content of lutein reached 0.294% of DW on Day 3, which was 40.7% more than that of the control. When LUT-4 was grown under 300 µmol/m²/s, a significant increase in expression of genes implicated in lutein biosynthesis, including phytoene synthase (PSY), phytoene desaturase (PDS), and lycopene epsilon cyclase (LCYe) was observed. The changes in biochemical composition, Ace-CoA, pyruvate, isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP), and geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) contents during lutein biosynthesis were caused by utilization of organic carbon. It was thereby concluded that 300 µmol/m²/s was the optimal culture light intensity for the mutant LUT-4 to synthesize lutein. The results would be helpful for the large-scale production of lutein. Full article

Tomatoes are well known for their impressive nutritional value among vegetables. However, the industrial processing of tomatoes generates a significant amount of waste. Specifically, 10% to 18% of the raw materials used in tomato processing become waste. This waste can seriously affect ecosystems, such as freshwater bodies, wetlands, rivers, and other natural environments, if not properly managed. Interestingly, tomato waste, specifically the skin, contains lycopene, a potent antioxidant and antimutagenic that offers a range of health benefits. This makes it a valuable ingredient in industries such as food and cosmetics. In addition, researchers are exploring the potential of lycopene in the treatment of various types of cancer. This systematic review, guided by the PRISMA 2020 methodology, examined studies exploring the possibility of tomato peel as a source of lycopene and carotenoids for cancer treatment. The findings suggest that tomato peel extracts exhibit promising anticancer properties, underscoring the need for further investigation of possible therapeutic applications. The compiled literature reveals significant potential for using tomato peel to create new cancer treatments, which could potentially revolutionize the field of oncology. This underscores the importance of continued research and exploration, emphasizing the urgency and importance of the scientific community’s contribution to this promising area of study. Full article

This study was conducted to characterize different colored lines of cherry tomatoes and derive information regarding their metabolite accumulation. Different colored cherry tomato cultivars, namely ‘Jocheong’, ‘BN Satnolang’, ‘Gold Chance’, ‘Black Q’, and ‘Snacktom’, were assessed for their firmness, taste characteristics, and nutritional metabolites at the commercial ripening stage. The cultivars demonstrated firmness to withstand impacts during harvesting and postharvest operations. The significant variations in the Brix to acid ratio (BAR) and the contents of phenylalanine, glutamic acid, and aspartic acid highlight the distinct taste characteristics among the cultivars, and the nutritional metabolites are associated with the color of the cultivars. The cultivar choices would be the black-colored ‘Black Q’ for chlorophylls, β-carotene, total flavonoids, and anthocyanins; the red-colored ‘Snacktom’ for lycopene; the orange-colored ‘Gold Chance’ for total phenolics; and the green-colored ‘Jocheong’ for chlorophylls, vitamin C, GABA, glutamic acid, essential amino acids, and total free amino acids. The antioxidant capacity varied among the cultivars, with ‘Gold Chance’ consistently exhibiting the highest activity across the four assays, followed by ‘Snacktom’. This study emphasizes the importance of screening cultivars to support breeding programs for improving the nutritional content and encourages the inclusion of a diverse mix of different colored cherry tomatoes in packaging to obtain the cumulative or synergistic effects of secondary metabolites. Full article

Natural Health Products (NHPs) have long been considered a valuable therapeutic approach for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, including cancer. However, research on this topic has led to inconclusive and often controversial results. This review aims to provide a comprehensive update of the effects and mechanisms related to the use of NHPs, to describe the results of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) on their effects in cancer patients, and to critically discuss factors influencing clinical outcomes. RCTs available in the literature, even those studying the same NHP, are very heterogeneous in terms of indications, doses, route and timing of administration, and outcomes evaluated. Silymarin, ginsenoside, and vitamin E appear to be useful in attenuating adverse events related to radiotherapy or chemotherapy, and curcumin and lycopene might provide some benefit in patients with prostate cancer. Most RCTs have not clarified whether NHP supplementation provides any real benefit, while harmful effects have been shown in some cases. Overall, the available data suggest that although there is some evidence to support the benefits of NHPs in the management of cancer patients, further clinical trials with the same design are needed before their introduction into clinical practice can be considered. Full article

The accumulation of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and its toxicity in the arterial wall have been implicated in atherosclerosis. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the atheroprotective effect of bixin, a carotenoid obtained from the seeds of the tropical plant Bixa orellana, on Cu²⁺-induced LDL oxidation and oxLDL-mediated effects in J774A.1 macrophage cells. Bixin’s effects were compared to those of lycopene, a carotenoid widely studied for its cardiovascular protective effects. LDL was isolated from human plasma, incubated with bixin or lycopene (positive control), and subjected to oxidation with CuSO₄. Afterward, bixin or lycopene was incubated with J774A.1 macrophage cells and exposed to oxLDL. The levels of ROS, RNS, GSH, nitrite, mitochondrial function, and foam cell formation, as well as the expression of proteins related to the antioxidant and inflammatory status, were evaluated. The effect of bixin in inhibiting in vitro human-isolated LDL oxidation was more potent (5–6-fold) than that of lycopene. Bixin pretreatment reduced the atherogenic signaling triggered by oxLDL in the macrophages, namely the generation of reactive species, disturbance of nitric oxide homeostasis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and foam cell formation. The cytoprotective effects of bixin were accompanied by the upregulation of Nrf2 and the downregulation of the NF-kB pathways. Lycopene showed the same protective effect as bixin, except that it did not prevent mitochondrial dysfunction. The efficient performance of bixin makes it an ideal candidate for further trials as a new nutraceutical compound for the prevention of atherosclerosis. Full article

Imidacloprid (IMI) is a commonly used new-generation pesticide that has numerous harmful effects on non-targeted organisms, including animals. This study analysed both the adverse effects on the pancreas following oral consumption of imidacloprid neonicotinoids (45 mg/kg daily for 30 days) and the potential protective effects of lycopene (LYC) administration (10 mg/kg/day for 30 days) with IMI exposure in male Sprague–Dawley rats. The apoptotic, pyroptotic, inflammatory, oxidative stress, and endoplasmic reticulum stress biomarkers were evaluated, along with the histopathological alterations. Upon IMI administration, noticeable changes were observed in pancreatic histopathology. Additionally, elevated oxidative/endoplasmic reticulum-associated stress biomarkers, inflammatory, pyroptotic, and apoptotic biomarkers were also observed following IMI administration. LYC effectively reversed these alterations by reducing oxidative stress markers (e.g., MDA) and enhancing antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT). It downregulated ER stress markers (IRE1α, XBP1, CHOP), decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β), and suppressed pyroptotic (NLRP3, caspase-1) along with apoptotic markers (Bax, cleaved caspase-3). It also improved the histopathological and ultrastructure alterations brought on by IMI toxicity. Full article