From Waste to Resource: Chemical Characterization of Olive Oil Industry By-Products for Sustainable Applications.

The olive oil industry, a key component of Southern Europe's agricultural sector, generates large amounts of by-products during processing, including olive leaves, branches, stones, and seeds. In the context of growing environmental concerns and limited natural resources-particularly in the Mediterranean regions-there is increasing interest in circular economy approaches that promote the valorization of agricultural residues. These by-products are rich in bioactive compounds, particularly phenolics such as oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol, which are well known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

Development of Flower Extracts with Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties for Nutraceutical and Food Uses.

Plant flowers are recognized as a rich source of bioactive phenolic compounds. In this study, for the first time, the recovery of antioxidant phenolic compounds from flowers (CF) was optimized using microwave-assisted extraction (MAE). The variables (% of ethanol, temperature, and time) were studied using a response surface methodology (RSM).

Stable and Functional Cosmetic Creams Enriched with Grape Stem Extract: A Sustainable Skincare Strategy.

The growing demand for sustainable and effective cosmetic ingredients has prompted renewed interest in winemaking by-products. Among these, grape stem (GS) extract remains relatively underexplored despite its rich content of phenolic compounds distinct from those found in more commonly studied grape seeds or skins. This study validates the potential of GS extract as a novel bioactive component in cosmetic cream formulations.

Bioactive Potential of a Grape Stem Blend: A Sustainable Approach to Skin Regeneration.

The European wine industry is embracing sustainability through circular economy principles, particularly by valorizing by-products, such as grape stems. Grape stems are rich in phenolic compounds with recognized health benefits. This study investigates the bioactive potential of molecules extracted from a blend of grape stems (GS blend extract).

Microwave-assisted extraction of raspberry pomace phenolic compounds, and their bioaccessibility and bioactivity.

Raspberry pomace (RBP) is rich in phenolic compounds. This study aims to optimize the extraction of phenolics from RBP and assess their bioaccessibility and bioactivity. The extraction process revealed that ethanol 50 % was the most effective solvent.

Grape stems as sources of tryptophan and selenium: Functional properties and antioxidant potential.

The Douro Demarcated Region's winery industry produces million tonnes of by-products annually, making their reuse essential to minimize environmental impact. Grape stems, rich in bioactive compounds and nutrients, have demonstrated potential health benefits. This study analysed four red grape stems from the Douro region to assess their nutritional value and potential health benefit.

Exploration of Polyphenols Extracted from Plants and Their Potential Applications: A Review.

The increasing world population means an increased demand for sustainable processes and products related to foods, particularly those with added health benefits. Plants can be an alternative source of nutritional and biofunctional ingredients. plants are an underexploited bioresource, currently prevalent in the Mediterranean Basin and western Asia.

Modulation of Designed Gut Bacterial Communities by Prebiotics and the Impact of Their Metabolites on Intestinal Cells.

The impact of prebiotics on human health is associated with their capacity to modulate microbiota, improving beneficial microbiota-host interactions. Herein, the prebiotic potential of microbial-fructo-oligosaccharides (microbial-FOSs) produced by a co-culture of plus was evaluated on seven- and nine-strain bacterial consortia (7SC and 9SC, respectively), designed to represent the human gut microbiota. The 7SC was composed of , , , , , , and .

Design of a lipid nano-delivery system containing recombinant Candida albicans chitinase 3 as a potential vaccine against fungal infections.

Opportunistic fungi cause lethal systemic infections and impose high medical costs to health systems. The World Health Organization has recognized the importance of fungal infections, including them in its global priority list guiding research, development, and discovery of new therapeutic approaches. Fungal vaccine development has been proposed as one of the treatment and prevention strategies in the last decade.

Polymeric biomaterials for wound healing.

Skin indicates a person's state of health and is so important that it influences a person's emotional and psychological behavior. In this context, the effective treatment of wounds is a major concern, since several conventional wound healing materials have not been able to provide adequate healing, often leading to scar formation. Hence, the development of innovative biomaterials for wound healing is essential.

Practical approach lung health-global alliance against chronic respiratory diseases (PAL-GARD) initiative in Brazil.

Background: To evaluate the impact of training primary care physicians (PCPs) in the use of the practical approach lung health-global alliance against chronic respiratory diseases (PAL-GARD) upon their diagnostic skills.

Methods: In this real-life three-phase study, PCPs were allocated to a PAL-GARD training or control group. Patients who sought a primary care health facility due to cough, dyspnea and/or wheezing were eligible.

A Versatile Nanocarrier-Cubosomes, Characterization, and Applications.

The impact of nanotechnology on the exponential growth of several research areas, particularly nanomedicine, is undeniable. The ability to deliver active molecules to the desired site could significantly improve the efficiency of medical treatments. One of the nanocarriers developed which has drawn researchers' attention are cubosomes, which are nanosized dispersions of lipid bicontinuous cubic phases in water, consisting of a lipidic interior and aqueous domains folded in a cubic lattice.

flower and berry extracts for food and therapeutic applications: effect of gastrointestinal digestion on and bioactivity and toxicity.

The bioavailability of natural compounds should be assessed through different perspectives. Studying the behaviour of the extracts after digestion is often overlooked but is crucial for success in the development of active food ingredients. Thus, the bioaccessibility of (flower and berry) extracts after gastrointestinal digestion and their effect on toxicity and bioactive potential were studied.

Metabolic profile of Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis interactions within dual-species biofilms.

Within the oral cavity, the ability of Candida species to adhere and form biofilms is well-recognized, especially when Candida albicans is considered. Lately, a knowledge gap has been identified regarding dual-species communication of Candida isolates, as a way to increase virulence, with evidences being collected to support the existence of interactions between C. albicans and Candida parapsilosis.

Nanocarriers as Active Ingredients Enhancers in the Cosmetic Industry-The European and North America Regulation Challenges.

"Flawless skin is the most universally desired human feature" is an iconic statement by Desmond Morris. Skin indicates one´s health and is so important that it affects a person's emotional and psychological behavior, these facts having propelled the development of the cosmetics industry. It is estimated that in 2023, this industry will achieve more than 800 billion dollars.

Exploiting the Potential of Bioactive Molecules Extracted by Ultrasounds from Avocado Peels-Food and Nutraceutical Applications.

Natural bioactive compounds from food waste have fomented interest in food and pharmaceutical industries for the past decade. In this work, it purposed the recovery of bioactive avocado peel extract using an environmentally friendly technique: the ultrasound assisted extraction. The response surface methodology was applied in order to optimize the conditions of the extraction, ethanol-water mixtures and time.

Chemical Characterization of L. Flowers Aqueous Extract and Its Biological Implications.

The main goal of this study was to chemically characterize an aqueous flower extract and validate it as a bioactive agent. The elderflower aqueous extraction was performed at different temperatures (50, 70 and 90 °C). The extract obtained at 90 °C exhibited the highest phenolic content and antiradical activity.

Novel concept of exosome-like liposomes for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Exosomes are cell-derived vesicles that act as carriers for proteins and nucleic acids, with therapeutic potential and high biocompatibility. We propose a new concept of exosome-like liposomes for controlled delivery. The goal of this work was to develop a new type of liposomes with a unique mixture of phospholipids, similar to naturally occurring exosomes but overcoming their limitations of heterogeneity and low productivity, for therapeutic delivery of bioactive compounds.

Encapsulated Pine Bark Polyphenolic Extract during Gastrointestinal Digestion: Bioaccessibility, Bioactivity and Oxidative Stress Prevention.

Polyphenolic extracts from pine bark have reported different biological actions and promising beneficial effects on human health. However, its susceptibility to environmental stresses (temperature, storage, etc.) and physiological human conditions prequires the development of efficient protection mechanisms to allow effective delivering of functionality.

Purification and Characterization of a Thrombolytic Enzyme Produced by a New Strain of .

Fibrinolytic enzymes with a direct mechanism of action and safer properties are currently requested for thrombolytic therapy. This paper reports on a new enzyme capable of degrading blood clots directly without impairing blood coagulation. This enzyme is also non-cytotoxic and constitutes an alternative to other thrombolytic enzymes known to cause undesired side effects.

Effective cytocompatible nanovectors based on serine-derived gemini surfactants and monoolein for small interfering RNA delivery.

Non-viral gene therapy based on gene silencing with small interfering RNA (siRNA) has attracted great interest over recent years. Among various types of cationic complexation agents, amino acid-based surfactants have been recently explored for nucleic acid delivery due to their low toxicity and high biocompatibility. Monoolein (MO), in turn, has been used as helper lipid in liposomal systems due to its ability to form inverted nonbilayer structures that enhance fusogenicity, thus contributing to higher transfection efficiency.

Unravelling the Biological Potential of Bark Extracts.

Natural compounds from agro-food by-products have fostered interest in food industries. The aim of this study was to unravel potential uses for bark extracts (PBE). As functional features of this type of extracts are usually attributed to phenolic compounds, the extraction process was studied.

Exosome-like Nanoparticles: A New Type of Nanocarrier.

Nanoparticles are one of the most commonly used systems for imaging or therapeutic drug delivery. Exosomes are nanovesicular carriers that transport cargo for intercellular communication. These nanovesicles are linked to the pathology of some major diseases, in some cases with a central role in their progression.

Photonic modulation of epidermal growth factor receptor halts receptor activation and cancer cell migration.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays a key role in regulating cell survival, proliferation and migration, and its overexpression and activation has been correlated with cancer progression. Cancer therapies targeting EGFR have been applied in the clinic with some success. We show, by confocal microscopy analysis, that illumination of adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells (Human A549-EGFR biosensor cell line) with 280 nm at irradiance levels up to 20 times weaker than the Ultraviolet B (UVB) solar output for short periods of time (15-45 minutes) prevents epidermal growth factor-mediated activation of EGFR located on the cell membrane, preventing or reducing cellular disaggregation, formation of filopodia and cell migration.