The use of colored tubers of Solanum tuberosum L. is growing worldwide due to their health benefits and attractive color. The positive health effects of purple-fleshed tubers are a result of anthocyanins and various phenolic compounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare variety Blue Congo and its cross-breeds of Desiree and Granola to yellow-fleshed tubers. The concentration of total phenols, anthocyanins, sugars, and mineral elements were evaluated in all tubers. The results showed differences between all tested materials, with largest differences in sugar content. Moreover, the results confirmed the preservation of health improving compounds of Blue Congo when cross-bred with yellow-fleshed tubers. The total phenolic content and anthocyanin concentrations of all analyzed tubers were above the comparison yellow ones.

This work presents the sample extraction methods for solid and liquid sample matrices for simultaneous quantification of oat (Avena sativa L.) and pea (Pisum sativum L.) saponins: avenacoside A, avenacoside B, 26-desglucoavenacoside A, and saponin B and 2,3-dihydro-2,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one (DDMP) saponin, respectively. The targeted saponins were identified and quantified using a hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (HILIC-MS) method. The simple and high-throughput extraction procedure was developed for solid oat- and pea-based food samples. In addition, a very simple extraction procedure for liquid samples, without the need to use lyophilisation, was also implemented. Oat seed flour (U-¹³C-labelled) and soyasaponin Ba were used as internal standards for avenacoside A and saponin B, respectively. Other saponins were relatively quantified based on avenacoside A and saponin B standard responses. The developed method was tested and successfully validated using oat and pea flours, protein concentrates and isolates, as well as their mixtures, and plant-based drinks. With this method, the saponins from oat- and pea-based products were separated and quantified simultaneously within 6 min. The use of respective internal standards derived from U-¹³C-labelled oat and soyasaponin Ba ensured high accuracy and precision of the proposed method.

Lyme disease (LD) is a tick-borne bacterial disease that is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. Although acute LD is treated with antibiotics, it can develop into relapsing chronic form caused by latent forms of B. burgdorferi. This leads to the search for phytochemicals against resistant LD. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the activity of Dipsacus fullonum L. leaves extract (DE) and its fractions against stationary phase B. burgdorferi in vitro. DE showed high activity against stationary phase B. burgdorferi (residual viability 19.8 ± 4.7%); however, it exhibited a noticeable cytotoxicity on NIH cells (viability 20.2 ± 5.2%). The iridoid-glycoside fraction showed a remarkable anti-Borrelia effect and reduced cytotoxicity. The iridoid-glycoside fraction was, therefore, further purified and showed to contain two main bioactives—sylvestrosides III and IV, that showed a considerable anti-Borrelia activity being the least toxic to murine fibroblast NIH/3T3 cells. Moreover, the concentration of sylvestrosides was about 15% of DE, endorsing the feasibility of purification of the compounds from D. fullonum L. leaves.

The rise in multidrug-resistant bacterial strains and persistent infections such as Lyme disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi highlights the need for novel antimicrobial agents. The present study explores the antioxidant, antibacterial, and cytotoxic properties of extracts from submerged mycelial biomass of Fomitopsis pinicola, cultivated in synthetic and lignocellulosic media. Four extracts were obtained using hot water and 80% ethanol. The provided analysis of extracts confirmed the presence of various bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, alkaloids, and polyphenols. All extracts showed dose-dependent antioxidant activity (IC₅₀: 1.9–6.7 mg/mL). Antibacterial tests revealed that Klebsiella pneumoniae was most sensitive, with the L2 extract producing the largest inhibition zone (15.33 ± 0.47 mm), while the strongest bactericidal effect was observed against Acinetobacter baumannii (MBC as low as 0.5 mg/mL for L1). Notably, all extracts significantly reduced the viability of stationary-phase B. burgdorferi cells, with L2 reducing viability to 42 ± 2% at 5 mg/mL, and decreased biofilm mass, especially with S2. Cytotoxicity assays showed minimal effects on NIH 3T3 cells, with slight toxicity in HEK 293 cells for S2 and L1. These results suggest that F. pinicola extracts, particularly ethanolic L2 and S2, may offer promising natural antimicrobial and antioxidant agents for managing resistant infections.

The number of plant-based dairy alternative products on the market is growing rapidly. In the case of soybean-based yoghurt alternatives, it is important to trace the content of saponins, the phytomicronutrients with a disputable health effect, which are likely to be responsible for the bitter off-taste of the products. We present a new sample extraction method followed by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (HILIC-MS) for identifying and quantifying soyasaponins in soybean-based yoghurt alternatives. Soyasaponin Bb, soyasaponin Ba, soyasaponin Aa, and soyasaponin Ab were quantified using commercially available standard compounds and with asperosaponin VI as the internal standard. As the recoveries of soyasaponins were unacceptable in yoghurt alternatives at their natural acidic pH, the adjustment of pH was performed as one of the first steps in the sample extraction procedure to achieve the optimum solubility of soyasaponins. The validation of the method included the assessment of linearity, precision, limit of detection and limit of quantification (LOQ), recovery, and matrix effect. The average concentrations of soyasaponin Bb, soyasaponin Ba, soyasaponin Ab, and soyasaponin Aa in several measured soybean-based yoghurt alternatives utilising the developed method were 12.6 ± 1.2, 3.2 ± 0.7, 6.0 ± 2.4 mg/100 g, and below the LOQ, respectively. This method provides an efficient and relatively simple procedure for extracting soyasaponins from yoghurt alternatives followed by rapid quantification using HILIC-MS and could find a rightful application in the development of healthier and better-tasting dairy alternatives.

Ceratitis capitata is responsible for significant economic losses in the fruit production industry, and the market lacks biopesticides that are effective but also cheaper and less contaminating, with fewer negative impacts on the environment. In this regard, the present study suggests as potential options ethanolic extracts from several Macaronesian plants, which inhibit the oviposition and are toxic to C. capitata, and whose preparation involve a non-toxic solvent (i.e., ethanol), low energy expenditure and cheap apparatus (i.e., maceration at room temperature). Among the evaluated species, the extracts of Hedychium gardnerianum, Cistus symphytifolius and Salvia canariensis are the most active (50 mg/mL), revealing an increase in C. capitata adults’ mortality from 21.15% to 27.41% after 72 h, a value statistically identical to azadirachtin (25.93%) at the recommended concentration (0.88 mg/mL). Considering the quantity and biomass available to prepare a biopesticide in the future, and the level of activity, the ethanolic extract of H. gardnerianum was fractionated and each fraction tested. The water fraction at 50 mg/mL proved to be more effective than the original extract, both in terms of mortality (57.69%), with LT₅₀ = 72.5 h, and oviposition deterrence (83.43%), values statistically higher than those obtained by azadirachtin at 0.88 mg/mL. Analysis of this fraction by HPLC-MS/MS showed that it is mainly composed of glycosylated derivatives of quercetin and myricetin in addition to some triterpenes. These findings highlight some Macaronesian species, and in particular, the more polar fraction of H. gardnerianum ethanolic extract, as promising and ecological alternatives to conventional insecticides, for use in the integrated management of the C. capitata pest.