Properties of Plant Extracts from Adriatic Maritime Zone for Innovative Food and Packaging Applications: Insights into Bioactive Profiles, Protective Effects, Antioxidant Potentials and Antimicrobial Activity.

Knowledge about the composition (volatile and non-volatile) and functionality of natural extracts from Mediterranean plants serves as a basis for their further application. In this study, five selected plants were used for the extraction of plant metabolites. Leaves and flowers of , , , and were collected, and a total of 12 extracts were prepared.

Bioactive Power of Black Chokeberry Pomace as Affected by Advanced Extraction Techniques and Cryogrinding.

Black chokeberry ( L.) pomace (BCP), a major by-product of juice production, is an underutilized source of polyphenols and anthocyanins with strong antioxidant properties. This study aimed to optimize and compare three green extraction techniques-pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE)-for recovering total polyphenols (TP) and total monomeric anthocyanins (TMA) from BCP, with reflux extraction as a benchmark.

Improvement of Oxidative Stability and Antioxidative Capacity of Virgin Olive Oil by Flash Thermal Pretreatment-Optimization Process.

Flash thermal pretreatment (FTT) is a promising technique for enhancing virgin olive oil (VOO) quality. This study investigated the effects of FTT, both cooling (15-25 °C) and heating (30-40 °C), on phenolics, tocopherols, fatty acid composition, oxidative stability (OSI), antioxidant capacity (AC), and volatile composition in VOOs from three Croatian varieties: Istarska Bjelica, Levantinka, and Oblica. A full factorial experimental design was used with two independent variables: treatment temperature and olive variety.

Ozone-Mediated Washing Process of Reference Stain Textile Monitors.

The complex chemical composition of certain color stains on textiles requires an optimal proportion of thermal and chemical action in the Sinner cycle of the washing process. In this study, both factors were analyzed by varying the composition of the liquid detergent, bleach, and ozone at temperatures of 30 °C, 40 °C, 60 °C, 75 °C, and 90 °C. Standard cotton fabrics stained with tea, red wine, and blood/milk/ink were selected as monitors, which were evaluated before and after the washing process by spectral parameters.

Valorization of Food Waste: Extracting Bioactive Compounds for Sustainable Health and Environmental Solutions.

Food waste is a major economic, environmental, and ethical challenge, as around a third of the edible food produced worldwide is lost or wasted. This inefficiency not only increases food insecurity but also results in resource depletion and environmental degradation. Dealing with food waste through sustainable management strategies, such as upcycling food by-products, has proven to be a promising approach to optimize resource use and support the circular economy.

How can simple household procedures reduce exposure to pesticides from fruits and vegetables: current habits and recommendations.

Healthy as they may be, fruits and vegetables may significantly contribute to dietary pesticide intake in modern households. However, certain simple procedures, such as washing and peeling food, can help reduce this intake. Our study looks deeper into the habits of cleaning fruits and vegetables before consumption or cooking in the households of the Croatian capital Zagreb and its surroundings, based on data collected in the first, 2022-2023 wave of a larger cohort study "Exposure to pyrethroid and organophosphate insecticides in children - risk assessment for adverse effects on neuropsychological development and hormonal status".

Factors that Are Associated with Increased Lactic Acid Bacteria Presence in Donated Human Milk.

Probiotic bacteria isolated from human milk can have a preventive effect against necrotizing enterocolitis and other risks of prematurity. The aim of the study is to identify the possible factors that can influence the presence of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in donated human milk (DHM). Next-generation sequencing and selective microbiological culturing of samples from pools of raw DHM were performed.

A comparative HS-SPME-GC-MS-based volatile fingerprint analysis of newly developed milk beverages fermented with autochthonous and commercial cultures.

In this study, three distinct fermented milk beverages of high sensory quality were developed using the autochthonous cultures Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis ZGBP5-51, Enterococcus faecium ZGBP5-52 and Enterococcus faecalis ZGBP5-53 (AC beverage) and the commercial starter Bioprox DI-PROX M229 alone (CC beverage), and in combination (CAC beverage). The AC beverage showed the greatest 3-week storage stability, as reflected by the maintained bacterial cell viability and pH stability.

Microwave-Assisted Valorization of Tomato Pomace for Pectin Recovery: Improving Yields and Environmental Footprint.

Rising industrial demands emphasize the need for exploring other non-traditional sources for obtaining pectin. As efforts to enhance circular economy practices and reduce reliance on primary resources intensify; the focus has shifted towards utilizing various types of agricultural and food industry waste; including tomato pomace waste (TPW). In this work; the microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and TPW pretreatment methods were optimized to improve pectin yields and decrease the environmental impact of the extraction process; compared to conventional solvent extraction (CSE).

Valorization of Berry Fruit By-Products: Bioactive Compounds, Extraction, Health Benefits, Encapsulation and Food Applications.

The increased production of high-quality berry products in recent years has led to considerable quantities of by-products such as pomace (25-50%), which consists of skin, seeds, stems and leaves. The improper management of pomace can lead to environmental pollution and potential public health problems due to microbial contamination, and storage causes additional processing costs. However, due to their high content of various valuable bioactive compounds (BACs), berry by-products have gained much attention as sustainable and functional ingredients with applications in the food and nutraceutical industries.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Mub1, a substrate adaptor of E3 ubiquitin ligase Ubr2, modulates sensitivity to cell wall stressors through multiple transcription factors.

Yeasts evolved a complex regulatory programme to build and maintain their cell wall, the primary structure through which they interact with their environment. However, how this programme ties to essential cellular processes mostly remains unclear. Here, we focus on Saccharomyces cerevisiae MYND-type zinc finger protein MUB1 (Mub1), an adaptor protein of E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase Ubr2 that was previously associated with regulating proteasome genes through the transcription factor Rpn4.

Development of new chocolate formulations by incorporating spray-dried and liposomal encapsulates of ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea L.) polyphenolic extract.

In present study, innovative chocolates with spray-dried and liposomal encapsulates of ground ivy extract were developed. Encapsulates, whose morphology was studied by scanning electron (SEM) and atomic force (AFM) microscopy, were incorporated into chocolate in two ways - by direct addition into prepared chocolate mass and by addition of cocoa butter in which the encapsulates were previously homogenized. Chocolates were characterized by determination of bioactive profile and release kinetics of encapsulated polyphenols simulating in vitro digestion.

Usage of the Fungus and the Bacterium in a Biorefinery System for Biochemical Production on Grass Hydrolysates.

Utilization of various biomasses as raw materials in biorefineries represents a promising alternative for the production of valuable chemicals and biofuels. This study investigates the potential of the fungus DSM 2158, cultivated on media containing the liquid phase of grass hydrolysates (LGH) and various nitrogen sources (yeast extract and corn steep liquor), for the production of valuable metabolites, such as ethanol, chitin, chitosan, and fatty acids. The ethanol yield varied depending on the cultivation media and conditions.

Optimization of Glucose Dehydrogenase Immobilization Strategies in a 3D-Printed Millireactor.

Enzymatic reactions play an important role in numerous industrial processes, e.g., in food production, pharmaceuticals and the production of biofuels.

Engineering Saccharomyces cerevisiae for the production of natural osmolyte glucosyl glycerol from sucrose and glycerol through Ccw12-based surface display of sucrose phosphorylase.

Background: Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is widely recognised as a versatile chassis for constructing microbial cell factories. However, producing chemicals from toxic, highly concentrated, or cell-impermeable substrates, or chemicals dependent on enzymatic reactions incompatible with the yeast's intracellular environment, remains challenging. One such chemical is 2-O-(α-D-glucopyranosyl)-sn-glycerol (glucosyl glycerol, αGG), a natural osmolyte used in the cosmetics and healthcare industries.

DEAD-box ATPase Dbp2 is the key enzyme in an mRNP assembly checkpoint at the 3'-end of genes and involved in the recycling of cleavage factors.

mRNA biogenesis in the eukaryotic nucleus is a highly complex process. The numerous RNA processing steps are tightly coordinated to ensure that only fully processed transcripts are released from chromatin for export from the nucleus. Here, we present the hypothesis that fission yeast Dbp2, a ribonucleoprotein complex (RNP) remodelling ATPase of the DEAD-box family, is the key enzyme in an RNP assembly checkpoint at the 3'-end of genes.

Limosilactobacillus fermentum strains MC1 and D12: Functional properties and exopolysaccharides characterization.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) produce a broad spectrum of exopolysaccharides (EPSs), commonly used as texturizers in food products. Due to their potential contribution to LAB probiotic properties, like adhesion to human epithelial cells and competitive exclusion of pathogens from human intestinal epithelial cells, this study was focussed on the structural and functional characterization of the EPSs produced by two Limosilactobacillus fermentum strains - MC1, originating from mother's milk, and D12, autochthonous from Croatian smoked fresh cheese. Whole-genome sequencing and functional annotation of both L.

Development of an Integrated Bioprocess System for Bioethanol and Arabitol Production from Sugar Beet Cossettes.

Research Background: An innovative integrated bioprocess system for bioethanol production from raw sugar beet cossettes (SBC) and arabitol from remaining exhausted sugar beet cossettes (ESBC) was studied. This integrated three-stage bioprocess system is an example of the biorefinery concept to maximise the use of raw SBC for the production of high value-added products such as sugar alcohols and bioethanol.

Experimental Approach: The first stage of the integrated bioprocess system was simultaneous sugar extraction from SBC and its alcoholic fermentation to produce bioethanol in an integrated bioreactor system (vertical column bioreactor and stirred tank bioreactor) containing a high-density suspension of yeast (30 g/L).

Causal Artificial Intelligence Models of Food Quality Data.

Research Background: The aim of this study is to emphasize the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) and causality modelling of food quality and analysis with 'big data'. AI with structural causal modelling (SCM), based on Bayesian networks and deep learning, enables the integration of theoretical field knowledge in food technology with process production, physicochemical analytics and consumer organoleptic assessments. Food products have complex nature and data are highly dimensional, with intricate interrelations (correlations) that are difficult to relate to consumer sensory perception of food quality.

Chemical Characterization and Antioxidant Potential of the Rowan ( L.) Fruits from Alpine-Dinaric Region of Croatia.

Research Background: The rowan ( L.) is a small tree in the Rosaceae family with characteristic orange-red fruits. The raw fruits can be used for making jams, juices and puree, while the dried fruits are used for teas.

Consumer Nutritional Awareness, Sustainability Knowledge, and Purchase Intention of Environmentally Friendly Cookies in Croatia, France, and North Macedonia.

The increasing demand for greater utilization of byproducts in the food industry has been driven by growing interest in environmental sustainability. This paper examines the market potential and consumer attitudes toward whole-grain and sustainable cookies made with food byproducts and edible films. Additionally, particular attention was given to evaluating levels of sustainability knowledge and nutritional awareness, willingness to purchase environmentally friendly cookies with food byproducts, and to appraise differences in answers between countries and generations.

Cytotoxic activity of strawberry tree ( L.) honey, its extract, and homogentisic acid on CAL 27, HepG2, and Caco-2 cell lines.

Strawberry tree ( L.) honey (STH), also known as "bitter honey", is a traditional medicine widely used in the Mediterranean area. Regardless of geographical origin, it usually has a very high content of phenolic compounds and strong antioxidant capacity.

Application of Ultrasound as Clean Technology for Extraction of Specialized Metabolites From Stinging Nettle ( L.).

Nettle is a highly valued medicinal plant that is still largely neglected, both in terms of nutrition and use for pharmacological purposes. Tinctures, i.e.

Effects of naringin and valproate interaction on liver steatosis and dyslipidaemia parameters in male C57BL6 mice.

Valproate is a common antiepileptic drug whose adverse effects include liver steatosis and dyslipidaemia. The aim of our study was to see how natural flavonoid antioxidant naringin would interact with valproate and attenuate these adverse effects. For this reason we treated male C57BL6 mice with a combination of 150 mg/kg of valproate and 25 mg/kg naringin every day for 10 days and compared their serum triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL, HDL, VLDL, and liver PPAR-alpha, PGC-1 alpha, ACOX1, Nrf2, SOD, CAT, GSH, and histological signs of steatosis.