Citrus Research Articles

Modelling and nondestructive quality prediction of Guanxi Honey Red Pomelo (<i>Citrus grandis</i> (L.) Osbeck) based on shape characteristics and bitterness

Currently, it is difficult to distinguish the inner quality of pachycarpous fruits using nondestructive instruments, and trace nutrients and flavor compounds are rarely considered in fruit sorting. In this study, the external features and internal quality indices of an extensively farmed citrus fruit, the Guanxi honey red pomelo, were measured. The correlation between the inner and external quality was analyzed using Pearson correlation, canonical correlation, and grey correlation analyses. This research innovatively introduced bitter substances and revealed that the height-diameter ratio could serve as a predictor for ultra-size fruits, which partially reflects inner quality indices. Several grey formulas were developed to express these correlations and were fitted to a matrix, which demonstrated accuracies at all level 1 (C < 0.35, P > 0.95). Based on the matrix, fruit quality analysis of white and red pomelo showed high prediction accuracy in TSS and bitter substance indices (R2 = 0.6 – 0.8) and indicated that mature and symmetrical pomelo (height-diameter ratio of 0.9 – 1.1) exhibit a similar quality pattern. This study achieved rapid quality assessment using easy measurable shape characteristics and explored the application of characteristic bitter substances in the quality evaluation model, providing theoretical references and potential application guidance for pachycarpous fruit sorting, as well as introducing a new idea to incorporating characteristic quality into modeling index.

Extraction of Natural Dye using Peels of Citrus Fruits for Enhancing Color Fastness of Fabrics

The current study investigates the extraction of dyestuff using citrus fruits and assesses its color, light, rubbing, and perspiration fastness. For the experimental study, three types of citrus fruits—orange, lemon, and grapefruit—were chosen to extract dye from their peels. The dye was applied to two types of fabrics (100% cotton and a blended fabric made of polyester-cotton (PC) with a ratio of 50:50) using the conventional aqueous method. The results revealed the remarkable efficacy of orange dye on both fabric types, demonstrating excellent color fastness attributes, with a minor preference for PC fabric in washing fastness. In contrast, lemon dye displayed better washing fastness properties on the tested materials as well as considerable staining potential. Grapefruit dye performed exceptionally well in terms of water and perspiration fastness. Future research could focus on improving dye extraction techniques for citrus fruits to increase color absorption and penetration. Determining various solvents, time duration for dyeing, and temperature settings could enhance the dyeing performance and effectiveness of natural dyes in different industrial applications. Further studies could also conduct life cycle assessments to measure the environmental impact of using citrus peels as a natural dye source compared to synthetic dyes in the textile industry.

Novel Essential Oil-Based Thiosemicarbazone Compounds as Potential Fungicides in Controlling Postharvest Diseases of Citrus Fruit.

To develop novel fungicides for controlling postharvest fungal diseases in citrus fruits, 12 essential oil (EO)-based thiosemicarbazones compounds, termed hydrazine-carbothioamide, were prepared according to the condensation method. In vitro assays showed that compound 13j exhibited the strongest antifungal activity (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] = minimum fungicidal concentration [MFC] = 0.0125 mg/mL) against Penicillium digitatum. An in vivo study revealed that 5 × MFC of compound 13j can effectively mitigate the green mold incidence of citrus fruit inoculated with P. digitatum, as well as fruit rot during natural storage, at a level comparable to that of the chemical fungicide prochloraz. Throughout this process, fruit quality was maintained. The hemolysis assay showed that these thiosemicarbazone compounds have good biocompatibility and that their safety is comparable to that of prochloraz. The antifungal activity of compound 13j was attributed to membrane damage, as confirmed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Calcofluor white (CFW) staining, propidium iodide (PI) staining, Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, optical density (OD)260, and relative conductivity assays. Collectively, our results indicate that compound 13j can be used as an antifungal agent to control the postharvest decay of citrus fruits.

Unraveling the Complexities of Beef Marination: Effect of Marinating Time, Marination Treatments, and Breed.

The present study focused on evaluating the effects of beef marination on quality traits and consumer acceptability. In this context, m. longissimus thoracis et lumborum and m. semimembranosus samples (n = 192) were obtained from Aberdeen Angus, Hereford, Charolais, and Limousine bulls and were marinated with milk (pasteurized, 100%), garlic and olive oil (2.35 g/500 mL), and lemon (citrus) juice (31% orange juice, 31% lemon juice, 38% distilled water) for 12, 24, and 72 h. Marinade components were selected based on traditional culinary practices and their scientifically proven effects on meat quality. Beef samples on day 0 and non-marinated samples were used as control groups. Beef color, water holding capacity, pH, cooking loss, and Warner-Bratzler shear force were measured three times for each sample. A taste panel assessment was performed to determine the sensory characteristics. Statistical analysis was performed using general linear model (GLM) procedures followed by Tukey's post-hoc comparison. Results revealed that marination time, as well as its two- and three-way interactions, significantly influenced beef quality parameters. These results indicate that the cattle breed is an important factor in evaluating the effectiveness of beef marination applications. The olive oil-garlic marinade was the most preferred by the panel across both types of muscle, as indicated by sensory evaluation results. The findings will not only enrich the scientific literature but also have practical implications for the beef industry.

MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION AND PATHOGENICITY TEST ON CITRUS FRUITS BY GREEN MOLD AND BLUE MOLD

Citrus fruits are essential for preventing various health conditions, including diabetes, neurological diseases, and cancer. Among the postharvest diseases affecting citrus fruits, Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum are particularly significant. This study aimed to characterize Penicillium spp. isolated from three citrus varieties: orange (Citrus sinensis), small orange, and Malta. Pathogenicity tests confirmed that these Penicillium isolates were capable of infecting the tested citrus fruits. For molecular characterization, PCR amplification of the D1/D2 domain of 26S rDNA was performed using universal primers, which target the conserved regions of the nucleotide sequence. The PCR products were inserted into the pGEM-T Easy vector and transformed into E. coli Dh5α. The presence of the D1/D2 domain was verified by endonuclease digestion with EcoR1. Sequencing was conducted using the T7 promoter primer, and the resulting DNA sequences were analyzed with the DNAMAN analysis system. Sequence analysis revealed that the D1/D2 region of 26S rDNA from the orange isolate showed 99% similarity with Penicillium sp., while the D1/D2 region from the small orange isolate had 99.84% similarity with P. digitatum strain CBS 112082. The D1/D2 region from the Malta isolate showed 100% similarity with P. digitatum. Multiple sequence alignments among the three Penicillium isolates revealed a 98.81% identity. This study highlights the use of molecular techniques for understanding the pathogenicity of Penicillium spp. in citrus fruits.

The Neuroprotective Role of Tangeritin

The prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases has increased with longer life expectancies, necessitating the exploration of novel neuroprotective agents. Tangeretin, a polymethoxylated flavone derived from citrus fruits, has gathered attention for its potential therapeutic effects. This review highlights the neuroprotective properties of tangeretin via its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Tangeretin demonstrates efficacy in mitigating oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and neuronal damage across various neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cerebral ischemia, and epilepsy. It shows promise in ameliorating cognitive deficits and memory impairments associated with these diseases. Moreover, tangeretin modulates multiple signalling pathways and protects against neuronal apoptosis, underscoring its potential as a therapeutic agent.

Anti-inflammation Mechanisms of Flavones Are Highly Sensitive to the Position Isomers of Flavonoids: Acacetin vs Biochanin A.

Acacetin (ACA) and biochanin A (BCA) are isomeric monomethoxyflavones with different structural positions of the 4'-methoxy-phenyl group. Both of them are present in many commonly consumed foods, such as citrus fruits and vegetables, and have been discovered with anti-inflammatory activities, but their mechanisms of action are not clearly elucidated at the molecular level. Herein, we reported the structure-activity relationship of ACA and BCA regarding their potency in inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) production, proinflammatory enzyme expression, and mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis was conducted to map out the overall pathways impacted by these two isomers. Our results showed that ACA possessed higher suppressive activity in nitric oxide (NO) production (IC50 = 23.93 ± 1.74 μM for ACA and IC50 = 71.41 ± 8.07 μM for BCA), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, and proinflammatory interleukin (IL)-1β mRNA expression, but lower inhibitory activity in IL-6 mRNA expression as compared with BCA. Although two compounds were revealed to bind to c-Src protein according to drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) and western blotting results, molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation showed that they had different binding sites, which subsequently resulted in different signaling transduction. ACA primarily exerted anti-inflammatory activity through the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway, and the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 signaling pathway, while BCA was particularly involved in the Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway, the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway, the TNF signaling pathway, and the toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway. Moreover, two isomers remained stable in the cell culture medium and did not encounter the biotransformation process in RAW 264.7 cells. However, BCA exhibited insufficient cellular uptake ability and transport efficiency in macrophages compared to ACA. Taken together, ACA is more promising for controlling inflammation and worthy of further study for human use.

Synthesis and characterization of Lanthanum Oxide nanoparticles using Citrus aurantium and their effects on Citrus limon Germination and Callogenesis

The plant extract-mediated method is eco-friendly, simple, safe, and low-cost, using biomolecules as a reducing agent to separate nanoparticles. Lanthanum (La) is a rare earth metal that positively affects plant growth and agriculture. Citrus limon is a leading citrus fruit with many varieties. Conventional vegetative propagation methods depend on season, availability of plant material and are time-consuming. It is the main reason for limiting the acceptance of new varieties. So, In-vitro propagation of the lemon method is practiced overcoming all these problems. Lanthanum oxide nanoparticles (La2O3-NPs) were synthesized using plant extract of C. aurantium. Ultraviolet (UV)-Visible Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) were used to characterize the synthesized La2O3-NPs. Fabricated La2O3-NPs were oval and spherical, with an average size of 51.1 nm. UV-visible absorption spectra of La2O3-NPs were shown at a sharp single peak at 342 nm and FTIR showed stretching frequency at 455 cm−1-516 cm−1. In the TGA outcome, mass loss was 9.1%. In vitro experiments demonstrated that La2O3-NPs significantly enhanced the germination and growth of C. limon seeds, achieving an 83% germination rate at 5 mg/L concentration, with uncoated seeds showing root initiation at 10 days and shoot formation at 15 days. Furthermore, La2O3-NPs effectively stimulated callus induction and maturation, with optimal responses observed in media containing MS and 2 mg/L 2,4-D, resulting in a maximum callus frequency of 100% from leaves and 87.5% from shoots at 5 mg/L concentration. These findings underscore the potential of La2O3-NPs to improve seed germination rates, seedling vigor, and callogenesis efficiency, suggesting their promising integration into agricultural practices for sustainable crop production, especially in suboptimal growing conditions. Future research is recommended to explore the mechanisms and broader applications of La2O3-NPs across various plant species and environments.

Antifungal potential of essential oils from different botanical sources against Penicillium digitatum: chemical composition and antifungal mechanisms of action by direct contact and volatile

Fungal deterioration is a recurring problem in citrus fruits, and the search for natural preservatives has been widely publicised. Therefore, the in vitro antifungal activity of clove, white thyme, tea tree, Eucalyptus citriodora, Eucalyptus staigeriana, green mandarin, sicilian lemon, sweet orange, and bergamot essential oils (EO’s) was evaluated against the mycelial growth of Penicillium digitatum isolated from contaminated citrus fruits, by direct contact and volatiles action. In addition, the chemical composition and volatile compounds of the EO’s were evaluated by gas chromatography. Clove, white thyme, and Eucalyptus citriodora EO’s inhibited 100% of the mycelial growth of P. digitatum by direct contact and volatile action at concentrations ≤ 2 µL/mL. On the other hand, EO’s from citrus sources could not inhibit 100% of mycelial growth by any mechanism of action. Thus, the clove, thyme, and Eucalyptus citriodora EO’s are promising for developing new ecologically correct products for controlling phytopathogens in citrus fruits.

Hesperetin Attenuates T-2 Toxin-Induced Chondrocyte Injury by Inhibiting the p38 MAPK Signaling Pathway.

Hesperetin, a flavonoid derived from citrus fruits, exhibits potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and has been implicated in cartilage protection. However, its effectiveness against T-2 toxin-induced knee cartilage damage remains unclear. In this study, high-throughput sequencing analysis was employed to identify the key signaling pathways involved in T-2 toxin-induced articular cartilage damage in rats. Animal models were divided into the following groups: control, low-dose T-2 toxin, high-dose T-2 toxin, T-2 toxin + hesperetin, hesperetin, and vehicle. Pathological staining and immunohistochemistry were used to assess pathological changes, as well as the expression levels of the cartilage matrix-related proteins MMP13 and collagen II, along with the activation of the p38 MAPK signaling pathway. Additionally, primary rat chondrocytes were cultured to establish an in vitro model for investigating the underlying mechanism. High-throughput sequencing analysis revealed the involvement of the MAPK signaling pathway in T-2 toxin-induced articular cartilage damage in rats. Hesperetin intervention in T-2 toxin-exposed rats attenuated pathological cartilage damage. Immunohistochemistry results demonstrated a significant reduction in collagen II protein expression in the high-dose T-2 toxin group (p < 0.01), accompanied by a significant increase in MMP13 protein expression (p < 0.01). In both the articular cartilage and the epiphyseal plate, the T-2 toxin + hesperetin group exhibited significantly higher collagen II protein expression than the high-dose T-2 toxin group (p < 0.05), along with significantly lower MMP13 protein expression (p < 0.05). Hesperetin inhibited the over-activation of the p38/MEF2C signaling axis induced by T-2 toxin in primary rat chondrocytes. Compared to the T-2 toxin group, the T-2 toxin + hesperetin group showed significantly reduced phosphorylation levels of p38 and protein expression levels of MEF2C (p < 0.001 or p < 0.05). Moreover, the T-2 toxin + hesperetin group exhibited a significant decrease in MMP13 protein expression (p < 0.05) and a significant increase in collagen II protein expression (p < 0.01) compared to the T-2 toxin group. T-2 toxin activates the p38 MAPK signaling pathway, causing knee cartilage damage in rats. Treatment with hesperetin inhibits the p38/MEF2C signaling axis, regulates collagen II and MMP13 protein expression, and reduces cartilage injury significantly.

Multivariate Analysis and Optimization Scheme of the Relationship between Leaf Nutrients and Fruit Quality in ‘Bingtang’ Sweet Orange Orchards

Citrus trees require a balanced and adequate supply of macronutrient and micronutrient elements for high yield and fruit quality. Foliar nutrient analysis has been widely used in fruit-tree nutrient diagnosis and fertilization calculation. However, there is no information on ways to produce optimal fruit quality in sweet oranges. In the present study, fruit and leaf samples were collected from 120 ‘Bingtang’ sweet orange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] orchards during four consecutive years (2019–2022). Parameters of leaf nutrition and fruit quality were analyzed based on these samples. Diagnostic results based on leaf classification standards indicated that the most deficient elements were Ca, Mg, and B, followed by N and Zn. Fruit quality, determined by single fruit weight (SFW), fruit shape index (FSI), total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), vitamin C (Vc), and maturation index (MI = TSS/TA) during fruit maturation, exhibited inconsistent responses to leaf mineral nutrition concentrations. The leaf-nutrient optimum values for high quality of the ‘Bingtang’ sweet orange fruit were ranges of 2.41–4.92% N, 0.10–0.28% P, 1.30–2.11% K, 2.99% Ca, 0.26–0.41% Mg, 340–640 mg/kg S, 89.65–127.46 mg/kg Fe, 13.48–51.93 mg/kg Mn, 2.60–13.84 mg/kg Cu, 15.59–51.48 mg/kg Zn, and 53.95 mg/kg for B. These results suggest the leaf-nutrient optimum values for diagnosis can be used not only to identify the nutrient constraints but also to provide guidance for the establishment of fertilization regimes in citrus cultivation.

Effects of light and plant hormones on regreening in flavedos of Ponkan mandarin in vitro

In this study, the regulation of regreening in the flavedos of citrus fruit was investigated in vitro. The results showed blue light was much more effective than red light for inducing regreening in citrus fruit. In the blue light treatment, the up-regulation of chlorophyll biosynthetic genes and the down-regulation of chlorophyll degradation genes led to the re-accumulation of chlorophyll in the flavedos of mature fruit. In addition, we found that blue light was a necessary factor for GA-induced regreening in citrus fruit. Under blue light, GA treatment accelerated the re-accumulation of chlorophyll in the flavedos. In contrast to GA, ABA treatment did not induce regreening under blue light, and the flavedos kept in orange color. Compared with the blue light treatment alone, the contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll were decreased by the combination of ABA and blue light treatments. The results presented in this study suggested that blue light and GA are positive regulators for inducing regreening, while ABA is a negative regulator of regreening in the flavedo of mature citrus fruit.

Research on Citrus Fruit Freshness Detection Based on Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

The study developed a novel method for evaluating the freshness of citrus fruits by integrating near-infrared spectroscopy with the non-linear data processing capabilities of a BP neural network. This approach utilizes specific wavelength analysis to distinguish between fresh and non-fresh fruits effectively. Advanced pre-processing techniques are employed to remove spectral anomalies, enhancing the network’s ability to accurately identify crucial quality indicators like sugar content. Concurrently, an experiment utilizing a mathematical computing software -based BP neural network optimized the number of hidden layer nodes, identifying 61 as optimal. This configuration achieves impressive indicators, including a mean square error of 0.0025665 and a root mean square error of 49.8214. More than 1000 training iterations were performed on 100 citrus samples, and the learning rate was 80%. The model demonstrated a high accuracy rate of 97.6275%, confirming its precision and reliability in assessing citrus freshness. This synergy between advanced neural network processing and spectroscopic techniques marks a significant advancement in agricultural quality assessment, setting new standards for speed and efficiency in data processing.

Excessive boron fertilization-induced toxicity is related to boron transport in field-grown pomelo trees.

Boron (B) is an essential micronutrient for plant growth and development; however, the process of B toxicity in citrus production is still poorly understood. We proposed a hypothesis that B toxicity in citrus trees is related to the characteristics of B transport from soil to leaf or fruit. For this, a field experiment was conducted for two treatments, control (B free or without B) and B fertilizer treatment (100 g Na2B4O7·10H2O plant-1), to investigate the effects on plant growth, nutrient uptake, fruit yield and quality, and B transport in 10-year-old pomelo trees [Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck cv. Guanximiyou]. Our results showed that excess B fertilization directly led to B toxicity in pomelo trees by dramatically increasing soil total B and water-soluble B contents. B toxicity induced interveinal chlorosis in leaves and decreased leaf biomass and function, resulting in a decreased 45.3% fruit yield by reducing 30.6% fruit load and 21.4% single fruit weight. Also, B toxicity induced changes in mineral elements between leaf positions and fruit parts, in which the concentrations of B, potassium, and magnesium were increased while those of nitrogen and iron were decreased. Under B toxicity conditions, fruit quality parameters of total soluble solids (TSS), TSS/titratable acidity (TA), total soluble sugar, sucrose, pH, vitamin C, and total phenol contents decreased, which were regulated by the lower carbohydrate production in new leaves and the lower transport capacity in old leaves. Moreover, B toxicity significantly increased the transfer factor and bio-concentration factor of B in pomelo plants, with higher levels in leaf organs than in fruit organs. Taken together, excess B fertilization-induced B toxicity in pomelo trees, with induced growth inhibition and nutrient disorder, results in reduced fruit yield and quality, which are related to B transport from soil to organs. The findings of this study highlight the understanding of B toxicity in citrus plants and strengthen B management in pomelo production for high yield and high quality.

Revisiting Citrus Rootstocks Polyploidy as a Means to Improve Drought Resilience: Sometimes Less Is More.

Polyploid varieties have been suggested as an alternative approach to promote drought tolerance in citrus crops. In this study, we compared the responses of diploid and tetraploid Sunki 'Tropical' rootstocks to water deficit when grafted onto 'Valencia' sweet orange trees and subjected to water withholding in isolation or competition experiments under potted conditions. Our results revealed that, when grown in isolation, tetraploid rootstocks took longer to show drought symptoms, but this advantage disappeared when grown in competition under the same soil moisture conditions. The differences in drought responses were mainly associated with variations in endogenous leaf levels of abscisic acid (ABA), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and carbohydrates among treatments. Overall, tetraploids were more affected by drought in individual experiments, showing higher H₂O₂ production, and in competition experiments, rapidly increasing ABA production to regulate stomatal closure and reduce water loss through transpiration. Therefore, our results highlight the crucial importance of evaluating diploid and tetraploid rootstocks under the same soil moisture conditions to better simulate field conditions, providing important insights to improve selection strategies for more resilient citrus rootstocks.

Thirteen draft genome assemblies of Bacillus spp. isolated from HLB-impacted citrus trees.

We report the draft genome assembly, annotation, and phylogenetic placement of 13 Bacillus spp. isolates isolated from citrus groves under high (Florida) or low (California) Huanglongbing disease pressure.

Potassium stimulates fruit sugar accumulation by increasing carbon flow in Citrus sinensis.

Soluble sugars contribute to the taste and flavor of citrus fruit. Potassium (K), known as a quality element, plays key roles in improving sugar accumulation and fruit quality, but the mechanism is largely unknown. This study aims to elucidate how K improves sugar accumulation by regulating carbon flow from source leaves to fruit in Newhall navel orange. We found that optimal fruit K concentrations around 1.5% improved sugar accumulation and fruit quality in citrus. K application increased the strength of both sink and source, as indicated by the increased fruit growth rate, enzyme activities and expression levels of key genes involved in sucrose (Suc) metabolism in fruit and leaf. K application also facilitated Suc transport from source leaves to fruit, as confirmed by the enhanced 13C-Suc level in fruit. Furthermore, we found that navel orange used the symplastic pathway for transporting Suc from source leaves to fruit, and K application enhanced symplastic loading, as demonstrated by the intensified carboxyfluorescein signal and increased plasmodesmata density in leaves. The findings reveal that K stimulates fruit sugar accumulation by increasing carbon flow from source leaves to fruit in Newhall navel orange.

Differentiated In-Row Soil Management in a High-Density Olive Orchard: Effects on Weed Control, Tree Growth and Yield, and Economic and Environmental Sustainability

Two different in-row soil management techniques were compared in the Olive Orchard Innovation Long-term experiment of the Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Olive, Fruit, and Citrus Crops in Rome, Italy. Rows were managed with an in-row rotary tiller and with synthetic mulching using permeable polypropylene placed after cultivar Maurino olive trees planting. The effects of the two treatments were assessed through weed soil coverage and the growth of the olive trees. Results showed better agronomic performance associated with synthetic mulching. The weed control effect along the row of a young high-density olive orchard was higher with the synthetic mulching compared to hoeing. The effect of the synthetic mulching seemed to disappear when removed from the ground (spring 2023) since no significant differences were found for tree size and yield in the two tested in-row soil management systems at the end of 2023. Finally, the growth of the young olive trees (Trunk Cross Sectional Area, Height, and Canopy expansion) measured across the three years, was higher for the synthetic mulched row than the hoed one. The use of synthetic mulching along the row positively forced the vegetative growth of the young olive trees and anticipated the onset of fruit production compared to periodical hoeing: a significantly higher fruit production was registered three years after planting. Root diameter was higher under synthetic mulching one year after planting, and no differences were observed in the following sampling dates showing similar fluctuations linked to the seasonal growth pattern. The life cycle assessment and costing highlighted that the application of mulching had a higher eco- and economic-efficiency than the periodical in-row soil hoeing.

Chemical characterization and biological potentials of the essential oil from the peel of the fruit of Citrus x sp

Considering the importance of essential oils, the study aimed to chemically characterize the peel essential oil of Citrus x sp, determine the phenolic compounds, verify the toxicity against Artemia salina, and test the anti-inflammatory, larvicides, and activities with molluscicides. The peel essential oil of Citrus x sp was extracted by the hydrodistillation technique. GC/MS shows that the major component of the essential oil is limonene (70.25%), observing similarity between the peel essential oil of the same species and between species of the same genus. The total phenolic was 19,25 EAT g-1. The essential oil showed anti-inflammatory, larvicide, and molluscicide potential, with EC50 = 400.05 mg L-1, LC50 = 20.26 μg mL-1 and LC90 = 87,50 μg mL-1, respectively. It did not show toxicity against Artemia salina. The results indicate that the chemical compounds of the peel essential oil of Citrus x sp, which are mostly monoterpenes, prove their wide biological activity, and their use is encouraged.

Bergamot Pomace Flour: From Byproduct to Bioactive Ingredient for Pasta Production

Contemporary consumers demonstrate an increasing preference for foods formulated with sustainable ingredients and health-promoting benefits. In this study, both demands were addressed by formulating enriched pasta using by-products derived from the processing of bergamot, a typical Calabrian citrus fruit. Wheat flour was replaced with different percentages of exhausted bergamot pomace flour (BPF: 1.5%, 2.5%, and 5%). The results indicated that bergamot pomace is a source of various phytochemical compounds, such as minerals, fibers, and polyphenols, which are beneficial to human health. The enriched pasta samples showed a significant increase in antioxidant properties, measured as a total polyphenol and flavonoid content and through chromatographic analysis. From the latter, it emerged that phenolic compounds, particularly flavonoids, were resistant to cooking. The best qualitative characteristics were shown by the sample formulated with 2.5% BPF, as also confirmed by the sensory analysis; indeed, sample C exhibited a similar level of acceptability to the control sample (A) in terms of general acceptability by the panelists. Hence, BPF can be considered as a functional ingredient for the formulation of pasta, enhancing the product’s functionality, or as an addition as flour in gluten-free products.