Phenotypic Variability and Anticancer Alkaloid Profiles of Cultivars Grown Under a Vertical Farming System.

Plants are promising biofactories for high-value compounds, and integrating vertical farming (VF) with plant molecular farming (PMF) enhances the efficiency and sustainability of these systems. (L.) is the only natural source of vinblastine (VLB) and vincristine (VCR), key anticancer alkaloids used in chemotherapy.

Revisiting Spectrophotometric Methods in the FoodOmics Era: The Influence of Phytochemicals in the Quantification of Soluble Sugars in Plant-Based Beverages, Drinks, and Extracts.

The rising prevalence of diet-related diseases is driving consumers to adopt healthier, plant-based diets. Aware of this consumer trend, the Food Industry is investing in innovative, tasty, plant-based foods with added nutraceutical value. However, health-promoting phytochemicals are often found in foods with a high content of natural sugars that are readily absorbed, undermining their health benefits.

The Role of Kidney Function in Predicting COVID-19 Severity and Clinical Outcomes: A Retrospective Analysis.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) involves a complex interplay of dysregulated immune responses, a pro-inflammatory cytokine storm, endothelial injury, and thrombotic complications. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of kidney function on clinical, laboratory, and outcome parameters in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 359 patients admitted during the first wave of COVID-19, stratified by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR < 60 vs.

Achieving a dramatic blue colour stability in anthocyanins bearing acylated sugars in position 3',5'.

A comparison of the thermodynamics and kinetics of two triacylated anthocyanins, pigment 1 from (blue pea) and pigment 2 from (morning glory) reveals that, beyond the number of acylated units, the position of the sugar residues plays a crucial role in their stability.

Cholesterol Sulfate in Biological Membranes: A Biophysical Study in Cholesterol-Poor and Cholesterol-Rich Biomimetic Models.

As a surface-located molecule in biological membranes, cholesterol sulphate (CholS) plays a major role in membrane-driven cell-cell processes and events including platelet-cell adhesion, T-cell receptor signalling, sperm-egg interaction, membrane fusion, and skin differentiation. Despite this, little is known about the biophysical implications of CholS at the membrane in cells and organelles. In this study, we investigate the effect of increasing the content of CholS on the biophysical properties in cholesterol-poor and cholesterol-rich biomimetic models.

Rational synthesis and characterization of a novel pH-responsive pyranoflavylium-starch conjugate from potato sidestreams.

A pH-responsive 4'-hydroxy-10-aminoethylcarbamoylpyranoflavylium dye (PyFlav) inspired by natural compounds was synthesized and conjugated to chemically functionalized starch derived from potato industry sidestreams. The PyFlav dye was characterized through LC-DAD/ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR, and UV-VIS spectroscopy, with acidic constant values determined as pK = 5.19 ± 0.

Effects of multicomponent combinations training on respiratory function in individuals with Parkinson's disease: A randomized clinical trial.

Introduction: Individuals with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease may experience respiratory impairments. Exercise interventions can be prophylactic, reduce progression, and/or mitigate these problems, improving the patient's quality of life. This study aimed to analyze and compare the effect of two different combinations of multicomponent training on lung function, respiratory muscle strength, and aerobic capacity in individuals with Parkinson's disease.

Synthesis of Fe-zeolites from Amazonian kaolinite for methylene blue removal: adsorption and photocatalytic activity.

Zeolites exhibit high adsorption capacities for organic substrates and catalytic activity owing to their unique structural features, such as uniform pore sizes and Lewis acidity. However, their inherent UV-vis transparency ( > 240 nm) limits their efficacy as photocatalysts. This limitation can be addressed by incorporating transition metals into their framework or encapsulating semiconductors within their porous structures.

Enzymatic fatty acid acylation of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside extracted from black rice bran: thermostability, lipophilicity, cytotoxicity and absorption studies.

Lipophilization technique has been a promising alternative to reduce anthocyanin's chemical instability and to increase their lipid affinity. Enzymatic acylation of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) extracted from black rice bran was optimized towards the fatty acid donor, solvent, enzyme concentration, and temperature parameters. The most promising lipophilic conjugate (C3G-C8) was obtained with 53 % yield at 60 °C, 15 g/L enzyme in acetonitrile:DMSO (10:1).

Kinetic considerations on the antioxidant properties of humic substances: An electrochemical approach.

Humic substances (HS) play a key role in a variety of environmental redox processes including the reduction of organic and inorganic pollutants. However, their complex and heterogeneous composition makes the characterization of their redox activity challenging. In this work, electrochemical methods (cyclic and square-wave voltammetry) were used to study the kinetics of the redox reaction between HS and the mediator 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) under pseudo-first order conditions.

Putting gluten back on menu - Safety assessment of polyphenol-rich wheat varieties in Celiac Disease.

This study provides a comprehensive proteomic and metabolomic analysis of novel anthocyanin- and carotenoid-rich wheat varieties to assess their immunogenicity in the context of Celiac Disease. Using (semi)-quantitative mass spectrometry, the research found that gliadin expression and peptide release, particularly those containing immunostimulatory γ-gliadin epitopes, vary significantly across different wheat varieties. While non-targeted mass spectrometry provided valuable insights, the study acknowledged potential methodological biases, such limitations of ion current intensity as a measure of peptide abundance.

Impact of food additives (sodium carbonate and ammonium bicarbonate) on interactions between astringent compounds and an oral cell model.

Many foods contain additives like sodium carbonate and ammonium bicarbonate to ensure safety, preserve quality, or extend shelf life. Recent studies suggest these additives may influence interactions between astringent compounds and oral cells. Using a tongue epithelium cell model, we investigated how these salts affect interactions between astringent compounds (phenolic and non-phenolic) and oral constituents.

Exploring the potential of 7,4'-di(diethylamino)flavylium as a novel photosensitizer for topical photodynamic therapy of skin cancer.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a minimally invasive therapeutic approach that has shown promising results in recent years, particularly in the dermatological clinical treatment of several pathologies, including neoplastic skin diseases. In light of the recent discovery of the photosensitizing properties of a water-soluble group of amino-based flavylium dyes, research efforts have led to the development of a novel synthetic dye with two diethylamino moieties in its structure, 7,4'-di(diethylamino)flavylium (7,4'diN(Et)). This dye was tested as a potential photosensitizer for PDT of skin cancer.

New Insights into pH-dependent Complex Formation between Lignosulfonates and Anthocyanins: Impact on Color and Oxidative Stability.

Anthocyanins have limited application as natural colorants and antioxidants due to their color loss and instability under certain conditions. This research explores the formation of a complex between lignosulfonates (LS) and cyanidin-3--glucoside (C3G) using a multitechnique approach as well as the effect on C3's red color, oxidative stability, and antioxidant activity in acidic mediums. All data revealed pH-dependent LS-C3G interactions.

Impact of Fe/Polyphenol Ratio in Iron-gall Ink on Superoxide Formation: Rationalizing Historic Recipes from a Kinetic Study.

Iron-gall inks, a vital part of our written cultural heritage, are at risk of complete loss due to degradation, a potential loss that we must urgently address. These inks are based on Fe-complexes with phenolic compounds, which grow to form a complex network of iron oxyhydroxides. Over time, these black inks turn into brownish tones, with extensive degradation in paper support leading to extensive breaking.

Impact of Hyponatremia on COVID-19-Related Outcomes: A Retrospective Analysis.

Background: Sodium disturbances are observed in one-third of patients with COVID-19 and result from multifaceted mechanisms. Notably, hyponatremia is associated with disease progression and mortality.

Aim: We aimed to analyze the impact of hyponatremia on COVID-19 outcomes and its correlation with clinical and laboratory parameters during the first wave.

First Insight into Lignin Valorization as a Promising Biopolymer for the Modulation of the Physicochemical Properties of Port Wine.

Lignosulfonate (LS), kraft lignin (KL), and organosolv lignin (OL) were evaluated as potential modulating agents of the physicochemical properties of Port wine at two different concentrations for 7 and 30 days. KL and LS demonstrated the ability to remove proteins and potentiate the anthocyanin concentration. LS reduced the tannin content and the interaction of salivary acidic proline-rich proteins with wine phenolic compounds.

Exploring acylated anthocyanin-based extracts as a natural alternative to synthetic food dyes: Stability and application insights.

This work explores the potential of anthocyanin-based extracts (hibiscus calyxes - HC, red cabbage - RC, and butterfly pea flower - BPF) as natural alternatives to synthetic dyes in the food industry. Analyses in a pH range for food applications revealed higher color stability for the BPF extract, keeping vibrant colors over the 7 days at room temperature. At pH 3 and 100 °C, the BPF was more stable, losing half of its anthocyanin concentration after 14 h, while RC and HC lost half of their color after 7 and 2 h, respectively.

Plant-Based Meat Analogues: Exploring Proteins, Fibers and Polyphenolic Compounds as Functional Ingredients for Future Food Solutions.

As the lack of resources required to meet the demands of a growing population is increasingly evident, plant-based diets can be seen as part of the solution, also addressing ethical, environmental, and health concerns. The rise of vegetarian and vegan food regimes is a powerful catalyzer of a transition from animal-based diets to plant-based diets, which foments the need for innovation within the food industry. Vegetables and fruits are a rich source of protein, and bioactive compounds such as dietary fibres and polyphenols and can be used as technological ingredients (e.

Acidochromic Free-Standing Multilayered Chitosan-Pyranoflavylium/Alginate Membranes toward Food Smart Packaging Applications.

Food smart packaging has emerged as a promising technology to address consumer concerns regarding food conservation and food safety. In this context, we report the rational design of azide-containing pyranoflavylium-based pH-sensitive dye for subsequent click chemistry conjugation toward a chitosan-modified alkyne. The chitosan-pyranoflavylium conjugate was characterized by infrared (ATR-FTIR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies, and dynamic light scattering (DLS), as well as its thermodynamic parameters related to their pH-dependent chromatic features.

Chitosan/Polyvinyl Alcohol-Based Biofilms Using Ternary Deep Eutectic Solvents towards Innovative Color-Stabilizing Systems for Anthocyanins.

Anthocyanins are amazing plant-derived colorants with highly valuable properties; however, their chemical and color instability issues limit their wide application in different food industry-related products such as active and intelligent packaging. In a previous study, it was demonstrated that anthocyanins could be stabilized into green plasticizers namely deep eutectic solvents (DESs). In this work, the fabrication of edible films by integrating anthocyanins along with DESs into biocompatible chitosan (CHT)-based formulations enriched with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and PVA nanoparticles was investigated.

A look upon the adsorption of different astringent agents to oral models: Understanding the contribution of alternative mechanisms in astringency.

Salivary proteins precipitation by interaction with polyphenols is the major mechanism for astringency. However, alternative mechanisms seem involved in the perception of different subqualities of astringency. In this study, adsorption of four astringent agents to in vitro oral models and their sensory properties were assessed.

Comparing the Chemistry of Malvidin-3--glucoside and Malvidin-3,5--diglucoside Networks: A Holistic Approach to the Acidic and Basic Paradigms with Implications in Biological Studies.

The kinetics, thermodynamics, and degradation of malvidin mono- and diglucosides were studied following a holistic approach by extending to the basic medium. In acidic conditions, the reversible kinetics of the flavylium cation toward the equilibrium is controlled by the hydration and - isomerization steps, while in the basic medium, the OH nucleophilic addition to the anionic quinoidal bases is the slowest step. There is a pH range (transition pHs), between the acidic and basic paradigms, that includes physiological pH (7.

First Insights on the Bioaccessibility and Absorption of Anthocyanins from Edible Flowers: Wild Pansy, Cosmos, and Cornflower.

Edible flowers are regaining interest among both the scientific community and the general population, not only for their appealing sensorial characteristics but also from the growing evidence about their health benefits. Among edible flowers, those that contain anthocyanins are among the most consumed worldwide. However, little is known regarding the bioaccessibility and absorption of their bioactive compounds upon ingestion.

Unveiling the Immunomodulatory Potential of Phenolic Compounds in Food Allergies.

Food allergies are becoming ever more prevalent around the world. This pathology is characterized by the breakdown of oral tolerance to ingested food allergens, resulting in allergic reactions in subsequent exposures. Due to the possible severity of the symptoms associated with this pathology, new approaches to prevent it and reduce associated symptoms are of utmost importance.