Fruit Types Research Articles

Analisis Faktor-Faktor yang Memengaruhi Pendapatan Petani Mangga (Mangifera indica L.) di Desa Sumberjaya Kecamatan Tempuran Kabupaten Karawang

Mango is one type of fruit that has high economic value and is popular in many countries, including Indonesia. According to data from BPS Karawang Regency, Tempuran District is one of the largest mango producers in Karawang Regency. The decline in mango fruit production in Tempuran Subdistrict is one of the problems in mango fruit cultivation which causes a lack of net income received by mango farmers. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of land area, total production, selling price, labor, production costs, plant age and number of plants simultaneously and partially on the income of mango farmers. This research was conducted in Sumberjaya Village, Tempuran District, Karawang Regency. The research method used in this research is descriptive quantitative. The research data used are primary data and secondary data. Primary data used was obtained from interviews using a questionnaire. Secondary data used was obtained from books, journals, previous research reports and data from the Central Bureau of Statistics of Karawang Regency and related agencies. The sample was determined using the proportionate stratified random sampling method. The data analysis technique used was multiple linear regression analysis using SPSS 22. The results showed that the variables of land, amount of production, selling price, labor, production costs, plant age and number of plants had a significant influence simultaneously on the income of mango farmers. The variables of land, amount of production, and selling price partially have a significant positive effect. The variables of labor and production costs partially have a significant negative effect. The variables of plant age and number of plants partially do not have a significant influence on the income of mango farmers.

Large scale study on PFASs levels in fruits, vegetables and soil from allotments and gardens contaminated by atmospheric deposition from a Dutch fluorochemical production plant

Citizens grow their own fruits and vegetables in allotment gardens in the vicinity of a fluorochemical production plant (FCPP) in The Netherlands. Historic emissions and the subsequent atmospheric deposition of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and GenX (hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid / HFPO-DA) from the FCPP have resulted in the nearby environment being contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). This research aimed to investigate the levels of PFASs in garden produce and whether a gradient can be observed in relation to distance from the FCPP. Furthermore, differences between certain types of fruits and vegetables were explored, as well as a potential relation between the measured concentrations in garden produce and soil. 737 fruit and vegetable samples were collected from 17 allotments and 4 gardens up to 20 kilometres from the FCPP, along with soil and water samples. Garden produce included fruits, potatoes, fruiting vegetables, brassicas, leafy vegetables, root vegetables, bulb vegetables, legumes and stem vegetables. PFASs concentrations in the samples were quantified using a very sensitive UPLC-MS/MS method. PFASs were detected in most samples above the analytical limit of detection (0.3 to 12.5 pg/g ww). PFOA and GenX were found in the highest concentrations (up to 5280 pg/g ww GenX and 3020 pg/g ww PFOA) in garden produce sampled downwind and close to the FCPP. Other PFASs were also found, but at (much) lower levels. Field-derived bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) were calculated for PFOA and GenX. The BAFs for PFOA were shown to be approximately 1 order of magnitude lower than BAFs from other studies. This may be explained by aging of the PFASs contamination and the intense cultivation of the garden plots. This study shows that PFOA and GenX can end up in garden produce and this will result in human exposure when the garden produce is consumed.

Type 2 diabetes prevention: genetic association analysis of dried fruit intake and disease risk.

Prior research has suggested an inverse correlation between dried fruit intake and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), yet the causal link remains uncertain. This study seeks to investigate the potential causal impact of dried fruit intake on T2DM, covering cases both with and without various complications, as well as glycaemic traits, using a two-sample Mendelian randomisation (MR) approach. Using MR analysis with genome-wide association study summary statistics, the primary analysis investigated the causal relationship between dried fruit intake and T2DM, both with and without complications, as well as glycaemic traits, employing the inverse variance weighted method. Supplementary analyses were conducted using MR-Egger and the weighted median method. Heterogeneity and intercept tests were utilised to evaluate the robustness of the study outcomes. The results show a significant association between dried fruit intake and T2DM without complications, as well as fasting insulin. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the results and the independence from multicollinearity. However, no association was found between dried fruit intake and T2DM with various complications or other glycaemic traits. The significant association between dried fruit intake and T2DM without complications and fasting insulin persisted even after adjusting for BMI. This study offers genetic evidence endorsing the protective effects of dried fruit intake against T2DM, specifically for cases without complications, and in regulating fasting insulin. These findings suggest that dried fruit intake might serve as a primary preventive strategy for T2DM.

Dynamic Analysis of UPLC-MS/MS for Sugar and Organic Acid Components of Pears with Different Flesh Texture Types During Development

Pears are popular among consumers for their juicy and delicious taste. In this study, the sugar and organic acid compositions of pear fruits with different texture types during development were determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), and fruit texture traits were determined by a texture analyzer. The results showed that the dominant sugar in soft and crispy types of pear fruits was fructose. The main difference between pears was the second-highest sugar component; glucose content was higher in crispy-flesh pear fruits while sucrose content was higher in soft-flesh pear fruits. The composition of organic acid components in both texture types of pear fruits was similar. The turning points of changes in the content of sucrose, sorbitol, glucose and quinic acid were different between different-textured pear varieties. A Pearson correlation analysis showed that sugar and organic acid components were significantly correlated with single fruit weight and soluble solid contents (SSCs), respectively. There was a high correlation among texture traits, individual sugars and organic acids. A partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) VIP score plot showed that the differential traits with scores greater than 1 were total soluble sugars/total organic acids (TSSs/TAs), fracture and malic acid/citric acid (MA/CA), which could distinguish pear fruits of different texture types better and reflect the uneven quality differences among pear fruits adapted to different origins. The comprehensive analysis results of the flesh texture parameters and sugar and organic acid components are in line with objective reality and will provide a reference for quantitative indicators of the sensory evaluation of pear varieties as well as for molecular mechanism research on trait differences.

Development of a Feasible and Efficient In Vitro Rescue Protocol for Immature Prunus spp. Embryos

The major factors affecting the in vitro immature embryo rescue efficiencies from Prunus persica or P. armeniaca accessions have been identified, along with improving the feasibility. Variations in the woody plant medium (WPM) were used depending on the embryo size. Embryos less than 5 mm long were cultured in WPM supplemented with 1 μM BAP and 1 μM GA3, while embryos bigger than 5 mm long were cultured in hormone-free medium, with or without vermiculite. The environmental in vitro culture conditions consisted of three phases: a (I) stratification at 4 °C during a 3- to 5-month-long period in the dark, followed by (II) growth of germinated embryos at 14 °C for a 4-week-long period, with 12 h light a day, which favors plantlet development, and finally, (III) growth at 24 °C, with 16 h light a day, until the plantlets were acclimatized in the greenhouse. The germination of smaller embryos, at the end of phase I, ranged from 82.2% to 22.1% for apricots and flat peaches, respectively, whereas for bigger embryos, the germination varied from 97.3% to 53.2% for the same species. The embryo germination for peaches and nectarines ranged from 40.1% to 30.3% for smaller embryos, and from 91.9% to 63.0% for bigger embryos. Endo- and epiphytic contamination, affecting from 7.4% to 52.9% of cultured embryos, depending on the fruit type and conservation conditions, and the capacity to acclimate to soil conditions, ranging from 50.4% to 93.2%, were the two most important factors influencing the protocol’s efficiency and feasibility. Considering the overall efficiencies, expressed as hardened plants transferred to field plots over clean uncontaminated embryo, the values ranged from 55.8% for nectarines, 54.0% for peaches, 45.6% for apricots, and 23.3% for flat fruits. The addition of vermiculite to the culture medium significantly improved the plantlet development, avoiding subculture to fresh medium when an extension of phase III was required before acclimatization. Compared to laboratory glassware, the use of food glass containers with air-permeable sealing film, along with vermiculite-containing medium, significantly reduced the costs when handling the large number of embryos required for breeding programs.

Amelioration of Soil Fertility by the Application of Different Fruit Waste Composts

The soil health status of Bangladesh decreased day by day, particularly organic matter and major nutrient content. The organic matter content in most of the agricultural soil in Bangladesh is <2%, which indicates poor soil health condition. In Bangladesh, almost every day, an enormous amount of waste material is produced from different kinds of seasonal and unseasonal fruit’s peels. Lack of proper recycling methods, most of these wastes are thrown away in drains, cannels, rivers, etc. which indicates a major threat to environmental safety. Composts derived from the wastes of different fruit’s peels can be an excellent source of organic matter and essential nutrients for soil health improvement. Therefore, the present study was carried out to evaluate the changes in physicochemical properties and nutrient contents of experimental soil treated with compost prepared from different types of fruit’s waste. The compost was prepared accordingly using different types of fruits waste and then the collected compost was thoroughly mixed with the soil and kept for six months. The experimental treatment consisted of three organic composts (jackfruit peel compost, mango peel compost, and banana peel compost) and three rates of application (1000, 1500, and 2000 kg ha-1). The experiment was arranged in a factorial completely randomized design and replicated thrice. The analyzed data showed that, the physicochemical properties and nutrient contents of experimental soil varied significantly with the use of different types of fruit’s wastes compared to no waste added soil, except in the case of particle size. Soil mixed with mango peel compost at a rate of 2000 kg ha-1 resulted in a higher available N content (2520 mg kg-1) and available P content (42.56 mg kg-1), whereas the available K content (219.88 mg kg-1), EC (1.55 dS m-1) and CEC (1209.56 meq 100g-1) were found higher in soil treated with banana peel compost of 2000 kg ha-1. On the other hand, soil treated with jackfruit peel compost of 1500 kg ha-1 showed the higher available Ca content (1533.33 mg kg-1) and the jackfruit peel compost of 2000 kg ha-1 resulted in the higher organic carbon (1.98%) and organic matter (3.41%). The findings of this experiment revealed that, compost prepared from different types of fruit peels can be an excellent source of organic matter and nutrients and among the tested composts, mango peel compost was better to improve the physiochemical properties of soil and supply sufficient nutrients for plant growth.

A Model for the Gene Regulatory Network Along the Arabidopsis Fruit Medio-Lateral Axis: Rewiring the Pod Shatter Process.

Different convergent evolutionary strategies adopted by angiosperm fruits lead to diverse functional seed dispersal units. Dry dehiscent fruits are a common type of fruit, characterized by their lack of fleshy pericarp and the release of seeds at maturity through openings (dehiscence zones, DZs) in their structure. In previous decades, a set of core players in DZ formation have been intensively characterized in Arabidopsis and integrated in a gene regulatory network (GRN) that explains the morphogenesis of these tissues. In this work, we compile all the experimental data available to date to build a discrete Boolean model as a mechanistic approach to validate the network and, if needed, to identify missing components of the GRN and/or propose new hypothetical regulatory interactions, but also to provide a new formal framework to feed further work in Brassicaceae fruit development and the evolution of seed dispersal mechanisms. Hence, by means of exhaustive in-silico validations and experimental evidence, we are able to incorporate both the NO TRANSMITTING TRACT (NTT) transcription factor as a new additional node, and a new set of regulatory hypothetical rules to uncover the dynamics of Arabidopsis DZ specification.

Assessment of Some Heavy Elements in Selected Fruits from the Markets of Anbar Governorate: Implications for Human Health

Eating fruit can be a useful way to enhance health and reduce the risk of many diseases. At the same time, if this fruit exceeds the permissible limit, it can be a source of diseases dangerous to human health. Therefore, this issue presents a complex and multifaceted challenge. The current study aims to assess the concentration of certain heavy metals (chromium, iron, nickel, copper, manganese) in the pulp and peels of selected fruits from the markets of Anbar Governorate, Iraq. Ten types of fruits were selected (quince, fig, orange, apple, banana, mango, watermelon, carrot, pomegranate, kiwi) and compared with internationally permissible limits. The concentrations were measured using an atomic absorption spectrometer. The results indicated the concentration of some metals exceeding limits of the international standard. For instance, it was noted that the concentration of Ni in the peels very high and the samples that exceeded the international limit were; A2 – B2 – C2 – K2 – M2 – P2 – S2 where samples had 6.548, 3, 3.645, 3.323, 17.516, 4.290 and 5.258 mg/L of Ni. In the pulp, nickel was found at high concentrations exceeding the international limits in samples (A1 - B1 - C1 - K1 - M1 - O1 - P1 - S1), with concentrations of (23.645 - 3.968 - 6.226 - 13.645 - 2.355 - 8.806 - 19.129) mg/L. The highest Ni was found in apple pulp at 23 mg/L while the lowest concentration of Ni was found in orange peel and fig pulp at 0.097 mg/L.

Utilization of Fruit Peel Waste Left From Ceremonials Into Economical Value Products in Batuan Village, Sukawati, Gianyar, Bali

Several types of fruit that support ecotourism in the application of food waste include banana peels, apple peels, dragon fruit peels, and manga peels, which will be made into chips and tea products using good hygiene and quality standards. Innovative problem-solving and technology have emerged as promising approaches. The target partners are housewives who are members of the PKK in Batuan Village, Sukawati, from underdeveloped neighborhoods with a great desire to start their own businesses but who are not yet economically productivefrom underdeveloped neighborhoods with a great desire to start their own businesses but who are not yet economically productive. The methods that will be used are interviews, face-to-face, counseling, and direct practice. The output target to be achieved is that the training participants are independently able to make fruit skin chips and tea products from fruit skins so that they can become economically independent

Correlation between fruit consumption and 10-year all-cause mortality in patients with dyslipidemia.

Consuming fruit provides health benefits. Reportedly, increased fruit consumption reduces the risks of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. However, existing studies have not clarified the effect of fruit consumption on mortality risk in patients with dyslipidemia. This study aimed to assess the correlation between the consumption of different types of fruits and all-cause mortality in patients with dyslipidemia. A total of 2,184 patients with dyslipidemia were included in this study, and trends in the correlation between the frequency of consumption of different types of fruits and the 10-year all-cause mortality risk in patients with dyslipidemia were analyzed by smoothed curve fitting, Cox regression, and Kaplan-Meier curve analysis. Subgroup analysis and interaction test were applied to analyze the stability of the effect of apple consumption on 10-year all-cause mortality in patients with dyslipidemia. Smoothed curve fitting and Cox regression analyses revealed a significant reduction in the 10-year all-cause mortality risk in patients with dyslipidemia who consumed apples 3-4 times/week (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.61, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.43-0.87, p = 0.007) and in those who consumed bananas 3-4 times/week (HR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.52-0.98, p = 0.039), with a more pronounced effect in patients who consumed both apples and bananas (HR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.30-0.99, p = 0.045). Other fruits did not exhibit similar effects. Consuming apples or bananas 3-4 times/week significantly improved the 10-year survival rate in patients with dyslipidemia, and the effect was even more profound in patients who consumed both fruits.

Basic Chemical Composition, Selected Polyphenolic Profile and Antioxidant Activity in Various Types of Currant (Ribes spp.) Fruits

Black currants are more popular and consumed more often than red and white ones. These fruits are low in calories, and they are recognised as a rich source of vitamin C. It can be hypothesised that currant fruits, depending on the colour, may differ in the profile of polyphenolic compounds, antioxidant activity and basic composition. The objective of this study was to determine the basic chemical composition, selected polyphenolic compound profile and antioxidant activity of black, red and white currant fruits collected over two years. Red currant fruits had a higher protein content, than black currant fruits, which had the lowest. The highest fat content was found in white currants and the lowest in black currants. The black currant variety was the richest in total carbohydrates. The highest amount of total polyphenols was found in black currant fruits and the lowest in red currant fruits. In all types of currant fruit, catechin was the major phenolic compound. However it showed the highest difference between types of currants. It was observed that red currant fruits had the highest antioxidant activity when tested with the ABTS+ and FRAP methods, and the lowest was found in white currant fruits. The highest antioxidant activity, tested by the FRAP method, occurred in black currant fruits, while the lowest was observed in white currant fruits.

A Chemometric Exploration of Potential Chemical Markers and an Assessment of Associated Risks in Relation to the Botanical Source of Fruit Spirits.

Chemometric evaluation of potentially harmful volatile compound and toxic metal(loid) distribution patterns in fruit spirits relating to distinct fruit classes most commonly used in spirit production highlighted the potential of several volatiles as candidates for differentiation markers while dismissing toxic metal(loid)s. Pome fruit and grape pomace spirits were mostly characterized by a lower abundance of n-propanol, methanol, ethyl acetate and acetaldehyde, while stone fruit spirits contained lower amounts of isoamyl alcohol and isobutanol. Chemometric analysis of the fruit spirit composition of aromatics identified additional potential markers characteristic for certain fruits-benzoic acid ethyl ester, benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, butanoic acid 3-methyl-ethyl ester, butanoic acid 2-methyl-ethyl ester and furfural. This study explored the variability in the risk potential of the investigated spirits, considering that some chemicals known to be detected in spirits are potent health hazards. Ethyl carbamate in combination with acetaldehyde showed a higher potential risk in stone fruit spirits, methanol in stone and pome fruit spirits and acetaldehyde in grape pomace spirits. It is of great interest to evaluate to what extent consumers' preference for spirits of distinct fruit types affects health risks. Consumers of stone fruit spirits are potentially at higher risk than those consuming pome fruit or grape pomace spirits.

Exploring Lycopene: A Comprehensive Review on its Food Sources, Health Benefits and Functional Food Applications

Abstract: The importance of dietary composition to human health has raised consumer interest in consuming fruits, vegetables, and foods containing bioactive chemicals and nutraceuticals. Lycopene belongs to the carotenoids abundantly found in tomato and tomato-based food products. It also can be present in other types of fruits like watermelon and pink guava. This review aims to outline the lycopene sources, health benefits, their applications as functional food ingredients and the challenges to commercialization. It has been reported that dietary lycopene has multifunctional health activities, including anticancer on various types of cancer, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, and bone protective effects identified in clinical and preclinical studies. This is because, lycopene primarily affects oxidative stress, inflammation, and pathways implicated in carcinogenesis and cell proliferation. The effects of preparation and processing factors that may impair the bioavailability of lycopene consumed through diet are addressed in this review. Overall, lycopene is a valuable natural colourant that can enhance the nutritional value of foods leading to the development of new functional foods in the food industry.

An in-depth study of anthocyanin synthesis in the exocarp of virescens and nigrescens oil palm: metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis.

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is a very important tropical woody oil plant with high commercial and ornamental value. The exocarp of the oil palm fruit is rich in anthocyanosides and proanthocyanidins, which not only give it a bright colour, but also mark the maturity of the fruit. The study of the dynamic change pattern of anthocyanoside content and important anthocyanoside metabolism-related regulatory genes during oil palm ripening is conducive to the improvement of the ornamental value of oil palm and the determination of the optimal harvesting period of the fruits. We analyzed the virescens oil palm (AS) and nigrescens oil palm (AT) at 95 days (AS1, AT1), 125 days (AS2, AT2) and 185 days (AS3, AT3) after pollination were used as experimental materials for determining the changes in the total amount of anthocyanins as well as their metabolomics and transcriptomics studies by using the LC-MS/MS technique and RNA-Seq technique. The results showed that the total anthocyanin content decreased significantly from AS1 (119µg/g) to AS3 (23µg/g), and from AT1 (1302µg/g) to AT3 (170µg/g), indicating a clear decreasing trend during fruit development. Among them, the higher flavonoids in AS and AT included anthocyanins such as peonidin-3-O-rutinoside (H35), pelargonidin-3-O-rutinoside (H21), and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (H7), as well as condensed tannins such as procyanidin B2 (H47), procyanidin C1 (H49), and procyanidin B3 (H48). Notably, nine genes involved in the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway exhibited up-regulated expression during the pre-development stage of oil palm fruits, particularly during the AS1 and AT1 periods. These genes include: Chalcone synthase (CHS; LOC105036364); Flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H; LOC105054663); Dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR; LOC105040724, LOC105048473); Anthocyanidin synthase (ANS; LOC105035842), UDP-glucose: flavonoid 3-O-glucosyltransferase (UFGT; LOC105039612); Flavonoid 3',5'-hydroxylase (F3'5'H; LOC105036086, LOC105044124, LOC105045493). In contrast, five genes demonstrated up-regulated expression as the fruits developed, specifically during the AS3 and AT3 periods. These genes include: Chalcone synthase (CHS; LOC105036921, LOC105035716); Chalcone isomerase (CHI; LOC105045978); UDP-glucose: flavonoid 3-O-glucosyltransferase (UFGT; LOC105046326); Flavonoid 3'-hydroxylase (F3'H; LOC105036086). Most of differentially expressed genes exhibited up-regulation during the early stages of fruit development, which may contribute to the elevated anthocyanin content observed in oil palm fruits of both types during the pre-developmental period. Furthermore, the expression levels of most genes were found to be higher in the AT fruit type compared to the AS fruit type, suggesting that the differential expression of these genes may be a key factor underlying the differences in anthocyanoside production in the exocarp of oil palm fruits from these two fruit types. The findings of this study provide a theoretical foundation for the identification and characterization of genes involved in anthocyanin synthesis in oil palm fruits, as well as the development of novel variations using molecular biology approaches.

Comparative morphology and anatomy of Korean Boehmeria achenes and their taxonomic significance

This study confirmed the taxonomic significance of achenes by observing and comparing the morphology and anatomical characteristics of 13 taxa of the genus Boehmeria in Korea. The results confirmed that the achenes studied here are the drupe-like fruit type with mucilage in the exocarp, and during the fruiting season, the perianth persists on the pericarp. The morphological characteristics of the achenes, specifically the number per glomerule as well as the size, shape, color, and trichome were taxonomically significant. The anatomical characteristics of the transverse sectional shape and wings, the thickness of each pericarp layer, the shape of the crystalliferous cells in the mesocarp, and the number of sclereid cell layers in the endocarp were also found to be important. Particularly, the size and wings of the achenes were informative for distinguishing between Sect. Tilocnide and Sect. Duretia, while other characteristics were differentiated among series or certain taxa within the series. The taxonomic significance of the achenes is discussed through comparisons with previously studied taxa and their characteristics. Accordingly, the results of this study can provide valuable insight for those seeking to understand the evolutionary trends of achenes in Boehmeria in the future.

An Ultrasonic Ridge-Tracking Method Based on Limiter Sliding Window Filter and Fuzzy Pure Pursuit Control for Ridge Transplanter

There are various types of fruits and vegetables that need to be planted on ridges. In order to allow for seedlings with a certain row space and seedling space, the ridge transplanter should be able to track along the ridge. Therefore, an ultrasonic ridge-tracking method and system were developed to let the ridge transplanter track the ridge accurately. The ultrasonic ridge-tracking method mainly contains a limiter sliding window filtering algorithm and a fuzzy look-ahead distance decision model. The limiter sliding window filtering algorithm was proposed to filter the abnormal measuring results to avoid disoperation of the steering mechanism. Moreover, the fuzzy look-ahead distance decision model was proposed to determine the optimal look-ahead distance in order to obtain a desirable tracking performance. Additionally, a comparison experiment of the proposed ultrasonic ridge-tracking method and the universal pure pursuit method was conducted. The experimental results show that the greatest mean absolute errors of the lateral deviations of the ultrasonic ridge-tracking method and universal pure pursuit were 10.56 mm and 13.11 mm. The greatest maximum absolute errors of the lateral deviations of the ultrasonic ridge-tracking method and universal pure pursuit were 18.87 mm and 23.23 mm. In addition, the greatest root mean square error of the lateral deviation of the ultrasonic ridge-tracking method and the universal pure pursuit method were 13.52 mm and 15.66 mm. According to the ridge-tracking performance of the proposed ultrasonic ridge-tracking method, it can be used in practical transplanting conditions. Moreover, in other fields, robots or intelligent machinery can also apply the proposed ultrasonic ridge-tracking method to track objects similar to ridges.

Quercetin, the Potential Powerful Flavonoid for Human and Food: A Review

Flavonoids occur naturally in different types of fruits and vegetables, including tea, cabbage, cauliflower, elderberries, cranberries, red apples, lettuce, pears, spinach, green hot peppers, white and red onions, kale, blueberries, and nuts. Among these flavonoids is quercetin, a potent natural antioxidant and cytotoxic substance with a number of therapeutic functions. Nowadays, quercetin is a common ingredient in many nutraceutical and cosmeceutical products due to its antioxidant properties. Its antibacterial effects and possible action mechanisms have been explored in many studies. From these, it has been established that quercetin stops the activity of numerous Gram-negative and -positive bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This review clarifies the plant sources and extraction methods of quercetin, as well as its medicinal applications as an antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antioxidant agent, with a particular emphasis on the underlying mechanisms of its biological activity. The mechanism of its antimicrobial effect involves damaging the cell membrane—e.g., by changing its permeability, preventing biofilm formation, reducing the mitochondrial expression of virulence factors, and inhibiting protein and nucleic-acid synthesis. Moreover, quercetin has been shown to impede the activity of a variety of drug-resistant bacterial strains, pointing to the possibility of using it as a strong antimicrobial substance against such strains. In addition, it has occasionally been demonstrated that specific structural alterations to quercetin can increase its antibacterial action in comparison to the parent molecule. Overall, this review synthesizes our understanding of the mode of action of quercetin and its prospects for use as a therapeutic material.

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.

Untargeted authentication of fruit juices based on electrochemical fingerprints combined with chemometrics. Adulteration of orange juice as case of study

This work presents a novel strategy for authentication of fruit juices. The methodology is based on an electrochemical method combined with chemometrics. In addition, the case of orange juice adulteration with grapefruit juices was studied using this methodology. The electrochemical fingerprint of different juices showed the influence from different polyphenols according to the type of fruit. First, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was able to differentiate clusters of different juices, being the higher group distance within apple, orange, and grape juices samples. On the other hand, partial least-squares – discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and PCA-linear discriminant analysis (LDA) were used as classification methods, obtaining better results for orange and apple models. Furthermore, good results were obtained for the authentication of orange juices, compared to other juices, with an error rate of 0.04 for cross-validation. In the case of adulteration of orange juice was detected using PLS-DA at an adulteration level as low as 1%. Regression vectors for all models highlighted identifiable potential values that could be related to the main polyphenols in each type of fruit. This electrochemical method is rapid, low-cost, and compatible with on-site analysis compared to other laborious analysis described in the literature.

SARS-CoV-2 surrogate bacteriophage φ6 cross-contamination between fruits and gloves, survival on discarded gloves and inactivation by photodynamic treatment

This study assessed the SARS-CoV-2 surrogate bacteriophage φ6 cross-contamination between high-density polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride gloves and fruits (tomato and cucumber) using different inoculum levels (6.0 and 4.0 log PFU/sample). Bacteriophage φ6 survival on contaminated gloves was assessed over 9 days at 25 °C. The effectiveness of photodynamic treatment using curcumin as a photosensitizer to inactivate φ6 on fruits was determined. The fruit type and the glove material influenced the φ6 transfer. Longer contact times resulted in greater φ6 transfer. The highest φ6 transfer occurred from tomato to HDPE glove (0.8% or −1.1 log % transfer) after 30 s of contact at the higher inoculum level. Bacteriophage φ6 was detected on cross-contaminated HDPE gloves for up to 6 days. Bacteriophage φ6 survived better on vinyl gloves cross-contaminated by cucumber vs. tomato (detected up to 6 vs 3 days). Photodynamic inactivation of φ6 was time-dependent and varied with the tested fruit but was not influenced by viral starting concentration. Photodynamic treatment decreased the φ6 titer by 3.0 and 2.2 log PFU/sample in tomato and cucumber, respectively. Transmission electronic microscopy showed that photodynamic treatment changed the structure of the φ6 capsid. These findings may help in the management of SARS-CoV-2 contamination risks in fruit handling. They may also help in the establishment of effective measures to manage cross-contamination risk.