Chemical Composition, In Vitro Bioaccessibility and Antioxidant Activity of Polyphenolic Compounds from Nutraceutical Fennel Waste Extract
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) waste contains a broad range of bioactive molecules, including polyphenols, which have poor bioaccessibility during gastrointestinal digestion. This work aimed to investigate the bioaccessibility of total phenolic compounds and the antioxidant capacity during simulated gastrointestinal digestion using two nutraceutical formulations based on non-acid-resistant (NAR) and acid-resistant (AR) capsules containing aqueous-based extracts from fennel waste. Moreover, to obtain a comprehensive investigation of the polyphenolic constituents of the fennel waste extract, a high-resolution mass spectrometry (Q-Orbitrap) analysis was performed. Notably, chlorogenic acids…
Response to salinity stress of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae strains in the presence of different legume host plants
We investigated the effect of residual salts from the previous summer’s irrigation on two non-irrigated cover crops—broad bean and common vetch—and on their rhizobial symbiontics. Before sowing, seeds were inoculated with a salt-tolerant strain and a salt-sensitive strain of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae. An increase in the electrical conductivity of the saturated-soil extract from 2.0 dS m−1 to 6.0 dS m−1 caused a severe reduction of broad bean biomass, while growth of common vetch was almost unaffected by the salinity level. Our results clearly indicate that common vetch as a cover crop may increase the availability of nitrogen in soil more than broad bean also in saline environme…
Current Acquaintance on Agronomic Biofortification to Modulate the Yield and Functional Value of Vegetable Crops: A Review
Fresh vegetables and fruits have always been the mainstays of good nutrition as providers of fiber, beneficial phytochemicals (such as vitamins and phenolic compounds), and minerals. Today and in the future, biofortification is a promising strategy to increase the concentration of these compounds. Considering the importance of minerals in human health, the enrichment of fresh produce for consumption has been considered through specific agronomic approaches. This review discusses, in detail, the latest findings on vegetable agronomic biofortification, aimed at increasing the concentration of crucial minerals, such as iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), iodine (I), selenium (Se), molybdenum (Mo), and silic…