Sustainable Carotenoid Extraction from Macroalgae: Optimizing Microwave-Assisted Extraction Using Response Surface Methodology.

This study aimed at optimizing carotenoid extraction using the macroalga (L.) S.F.

Electrochemical Magnetic Immunoassay for the Determination of the Fish Allergen β-Parvalbumin.

β-parvalbumin (β-PV) is the primary fish allergen responsible for most allergic reactions in individuals sensitive to fish. To ensure food safety, a sandwich-based magnetic immunoassay was developed using maleimide-functionalized magnetic beads (NH-MBs). Specific anti-β-PV antibodies were immobilized on these MBs, and a screen-printed carbon electrode was employed as the electrochemical transducer.

Quantifying the Impact of High-Pressure Processing on the Phenolic Profile, Antioxidant Activity, and Pollen Morphology in Honey.

Honey can benefit from non-thermal processing techniques such as high-pressure processing (HPP) to improve its quality and bioactivity. This study investigated the impact of HPP (600 MPa for 5, 10, and 15 min) on honey's quality, including the levels of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), antioxidant activity, total phenolic content (TPC), and phenolic profile. HPP treatment did not significantly affect HMF or TPC levels but led to selective changes in the phenolic profile.

Screening for microplastics in agricultural soils: Applying green chemistry principles in extraction and analysis.

In recent years, microplastic (MP) pollution has garnered significant attention owing to its ability to permeate various ecosystems, including soil. These particles can infiltrate the environment, either directly or through the degradation of larger plastic items. Despite growing concerns, standardized methods for quantification are still lacking.

Tracing Pharmaceuticals in Water Systems: Focus on Neurodegenerative and Psychiatric Treatments.

Pharmaceutical residues in aquatic ecosystems pose significant environmental and public health challenges. Identifying the presence and levels of these pharmaceuticals is crucial. This study developed an analytical method to detect pharmaceuticals used for Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's (PD) disease, including psychiatric drugs and the stimulant caffeine, targeting 30 compounds.

Optimization and Bioactive Evaluation of Antioxidant-Rich Extracts for Functional Food and Pharmaceutical Applications.

In recent years, consumers have been increasingly interested in natural, healthier, functional foods, with a focus on sea-based products such as algae. (BB) is a macroalga that belongs to the Phaeophyceae class. These brown algae are recognized as the source of bioactive molecules of great interest to the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries.

Valorization of Strawberry Tree Berries and Beeswax from Montesinho Natural Park for Cosmetic Industry-A Case Study Formulation.

Consumers are increasingly concerned about cosmetic ingredients' origin, looking more than ever to sustainable and greener formulations. The Natural Park of Montesinho, located in Portugal, is characterized by an enormous fauna and flora diversity. Among them, beeswax and strawberry trees () have attracted the cosmetic researchers' interest due to their bioactive compounds' richness, particularly fatty acids and phenolic compounds.

Investigating multiple vegetable oils and recycled variant for microplastics extraction from water, integrated with Raman spectroscopy.

The global production and disposal of plastics have led to pervasive contamination of natural environments, representing considerable risks to human health and ecosystems. This study introduces a novel oil-based method for extracting microplastics (MPs) from water samples, with a focus on optimizing extraction conditions and improving the quality of MPs identification using Raman spectroscopy. Various parameters including the type of oil, salinity, temperature, air incorporation, and washing solvent were investigated to enhance extraction efficiency and spectroscopic identification accuracy.

Electrochemical molecularly imprinted polymer sensor for simple and fast analysis of tetrodotoxin in seafood.

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a marine biotoxin whose biosynthesis is associated with the pufferfish. Its distribution is primarily focused in Asian and tropical marine areas. Currently, this group of toxins is classified as emerging in Europe, and its presence could be related to climate change.

Comparative life cycle assessment of non-thermal plasma for the removal of pharmaceuticals from wastewater.

Wastewater effluents are a continuous source of pharmaceuticals in water bodies, which pose a serious environmental threat to aquatic ecosystems. This work provides a comprehensive technical, environmental and cost assessments of different advanced quaternary treatments for wastewater effluents, with special focus on novel Non-Thermal Plasma technology. For this porpouse Non-Thermal Plasma, Sand Filtration + Ozonation, Ultrafiltration, Ultrafiltration + Nanofiltration and Ultrafiltration + Reverse Osmosis technologies were compared with UV disinfection-based technology.

Antidepressants and COVID-19: Increased use, occurrence in water and effects and consequences on aquatic environment. A review.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the consumption of many drugs, among which antidepressants stand out. This review evaluated the frequency of antidepressant use before and after COVID-19. Once the most consumed antidepressants were identified, detecting a variation in the frequency of consumption on the different continents, an overview of their life cycle was carried out, specifying which antidepressants are mostly detected and the places where there is a greater concentration.

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.

Environmental contamination with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and contribution from biomonitoring studies to the surveillance of global health.

This work presents an integrated overview of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons' (PAHs) ubiquity comprising environmental contamination in the air, aquatic ecosystems, and soils; characterizes the contamination in biota; and identifies main biomonitors and human exposure to PAHs and associated health risks. Urban centers and industrial areas present increased concentrations in the air (1344.4-12,300 versus 0.

Protein Hydrolysates from Salmon Heads and Cape Hake By-Products: Comparing Enzymatic Method with Subcritical Water Extraction on Bioactivity Properties.

Fish by-products can be converted into high-value-added products like fish protein hydrolysates (FPHs), which have high nutritional value and are rich in bioactive peptides with health benefits. This study aims to characterise FPHs derived from salmon heads (HPSs) and Cape hake trimmings (HPHs) using Alcalase for enzymatic hydrolysis and Subcritical Water Hydrolysis (SWH) as an alternative method. All hydrolysates demonstrated high protein content (70.

Voltammetric immunosensor based on oxidized carbon nanotubes/MnFeO hybrid nanoplatform for amplified detection of celery (Apium graveolens).

Celery is a food allergen that must be included in the ingredient list of commercial food products in the European Union. This is a challenge for the food industry because of potential cross-contamination and undeclared ingredients because of their low concentrations. So, the food industry requires expedited high-performance analytical methods.

Temporal Analysis of Pharmaceuticals as Emerging Contaminants in Surface Water and Wastewater Samples: A Case Study.

Pharmaceuticals in the environment are a global concern, with studies in all continents highlighting their widespread occurrence and potential ecological impacts, revealing their presence, fate, and associated risks in aquatic ecosystems. Despite typically occurring at low concentrations (ranging from ng/L to µg/L), advancements in analytical methods and more sensitive equipment have enabled the detection of a higher number of pharmaceuticals. In this study, surface and wastewater samples were extracted using solid phase extraction and analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry.

Exploring the Phytochemical Composition and the Bioactive Properties of Malbec and Torrontés Wine Pomaces from the Calchaquíes Valleys (Argentina) for Their Sustainable Exploitation.

Hydroalcoholic extracts from Malbec and Torrontés wine pomaces ( L.) originating from the high-altitude vineyards of Argentina's Calchaquí Valleys were characterized. Total phenolics, hydroxycinnamic acids, orthodiphenols, anthocyanins, non-flavonoid phenolics, total flavonoids, flavones/flavonols, flavanones/dihydroflavonols, and tannins were quantified through spectrophotometric methods, with the Malbec extract exhibiting higher concentrations in most of phytochemical groups when compared to Torrontés.

Characterization of Wildland Firefighters' Exposure to Coarse, Fine, and Ultrafine Particles; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; and Metal(loid)s, and Estimation of Associated Health Risks.

Firefighters' occupational activity causes cancer, and the characterization of exposure during firefighting activities remains limited. This work characterizes, for the first time, firefighters' exposure to (coarse/fine/ultrafine) particulate matter (PM) bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metal(loid)s during prescribed fires, Fire 1 and Fire 2 (210 min). An impactor collected 14 PM fractions, the PM levels were determined by gravimetry, and the PM-bound PAHs and metal(loid)s were determined by chromatographic and spectroscopic methodologies, respectively.

Investigating the impact of microplastics on triphenyl phosphate adsorption in soil: Insights into environmental factors and soil properties.

Microplastics (MPs) pose significant environmental pollution problems owing to their diverse properties such as various shapes, sizes, compositions, surface features, and levels of degradation. Moreover, their interactions with toxic chemicals and aging processes add complexity to environmental research. This study investigated the adsorption of triphenyl phosphate (TPhP) in soil-only, MP-only, and soil-MP simulated environments under different conditions.

Ultrasound-assisted extraction of bioactive compounds from goji berries: Optimization, bioactivity, and intestinal permeability assessment.

Lycium barbarum L. berries have a remarkable chemical composition and extensive biological activities, being a valuable component of health and nutraceutical practices. Nevertheless, a deep insight on the intestinal permeation of the pro-healthy bioactive compounds is urgently needed to predict the real effects on human body.

Insights into the Bioactive Composition, Antioxidant Properties and In Vitro Cell Effects of .

, commonly known as sea fingers, is a halophyte plant recently introduced in gourmet cuisine. The present study aims to extract the bioactive compounds of using ultrasound-assisted extraction and employing green solvents (water and ethanol). The antioxidant/antiradical activities, scavenging capacity against reactive species, phenolic profile, and intestinal effects were evaluated.

Shrimp Waste Upcycling: Unveiling the Potential of Polysaccharides, Proteins, Carotenoids, and Fatty Acids with Emphasis on Extraction Techniques and Bioactive Properties.

Shrimp processing generates substantial waste, which is rich in valuable components such as polysaccharides, proteins, carotenoids, and fatty acids. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the valorization of shrimp waste, mainly shrimp shells, focusing on extraction methods, bioactivities, and potential applications of these bioactive compounds. Various extraction techniques, including chemical extraction, microbial fermentation, enzyme-assisted extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, and pressurized techniques are discussed, highlighting their efficacy in isolating polysaccharides, proteins, carotenoids, and fatty acids from shrimp waste.

Adulteration of Brain Health (Cognitive, Mood, and Sleep Enhancement) Food Supplements by the Addition of Pharmaceutical Drugs: A Comprehensive Review of Analytical Approaches and Trends.

In recent years, the consumption of dietary supplements has grown worldwide, particularly in developed regions. However, this growing market has also become a prime target for adulteration practices, with some manufacturers illegally adding pharmaceuticals into plant-based food supplements (PFS) to enhance their effects. While extensive research has focused on detecting adulterant drugs in PFS tailored for improving sexual performance, weight loss, and muscle building, less attention has been given to supplements intended for mood enhancement, sleep aid, and cognitive function (nootropics).

Biological Activity and Chemical Composition of Propolis Extracts with Potential Use in Vulvovaginal Candidiasis Management.

Environmental sustainability is an increasing challenge in the pharmaceutical field, leading to the search for eco-friendly active ingredients. Among natural ingredients, propolis arises as an excellent alternative, being a complex substance with pharmacological properties. This work aims to explore the potential of propolis as a new pharmaceutical ingredient for the replacement of conventional vulvovaginal antifungals.