Tomato producing and processing industries present undoubted potential for industrial discarded products valorization whether due to the overproduction of fresh tomatoes or to the loss during processing. Although tomato by-products are not yet considered a raw material, several studies have suggested innovative and profitable applications. It is often referred to as “tomato pomace” and is quite rich in a variety of bioactive compounds. Lycopene, vitamin C, β-carotene, phenolic compounds, and tocopherol are some of the bioactives herein discussed. Tomato by-products are also rich in minerals. Many of these compounds are powerful antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties besides modulating the immune system. Several researchers have focused on the possible application of natural ingredients, especially those extracted from foods, and their physiological and pharmacological effects. Herein, the effects of processing and further applications of the bioactive compounds present in tomato by-products were carefully reviewed, especially regarding the anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. The aim of this review was thus to highlight the existing opportunities to create profitable and innovative applications for tomato by-products in health context.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that affects the joints and results in reduced patient quality of life due to its chronic nature and several comorbidities. RA is also associated with a high socioeconomic burden. Currently, several available therapies minimize symptoms and prevent disease progression. However, more effective treatments are needed due to current therapies’ severe side-effects, especially under long-term use. Drug delivery systems have demonstrated their clinical importance—with several nanocarriers present in the market—due to their capacity to improve therapeutic drug index, for instance, by enabling passive or active targeting. The first to achieve market authorization were liposomes that still represent a considerable part of approved delivery systems. In this manuscript, we review the role of liposomes in RA treatment, address preclinical studies and clinical trials, and discuss factors that could hamper a successful clinical translation. We also suggest some alterations that could potentially improve their progression to the market.

Ischemia and reperfusion injury (IRI) is a common complication caused by inflammation and oxidative stress resulting from liver surgery. Current therapeutic strategies do not present the desirable efficacy, and severe side effects can occur. To overcome these drawbacks, new therapeutic alternatives are necessary. Drug delivery nanosystems have been explored due to their capacity to improve the therapeutic index of conventional drugs. Within nanocarriers, liposomes are one of the most successful, with several formulations currently in the market. As improved therapeutic outcomes have been demonstrated by using liposomes as drug carriers, this nanosystem was used to deliver quercetin, a flavonoid with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, in hepatic IRI treatment. In the present work, a stable quercetin liposomal formulation was developed and characterized. Additionally, an in vitro model of ischemia and reperfusion was developed with a hypoxia chamber, where the anti-inflammatory potential of liposomal quercetin was evaluated, revealing the downregulation of pro-inflammatory markers. The anti-inflammatory effect of quercetin liposomes was also assessed in vivo in a rat model of hepatic IRI, in which a decrease in inflammation markers and enhanced recovery were observed. These results demonstrate that quercetin liposomes may provide a significant tool for addressing the current bottlenecks in hepatic IRI treatment.

Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) have been widely studied as delivery systems for a variety of routes, including the skin. Their composition results in an imperfect lipid matrix, allowing increased drug encapsulation. Allopurinol (AP), a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, is characterized by low water solubility and high melting point, which has hampered its use through the topical route. In this work, AP was incorporated in a NLC formulation to enhance drug-carrier association and skin delivery as a topical approach to treat wounds. AP-NLC system was characterized in terms of size, charge, rheological behavior, and in vitro skin permeation. The in vitro cytotoxicity was evaluated using HaCaT cells. The wound healing efficacy of the AP-NLC formulation on animal skin lesions was evaluated in male Wistar rats. The AP-NLC presented a mean size of 193 ± 15 nm with a PdI of 0.240 ± 0.02, zeta potential values around −49.6 mV, and an encapsulation efficiency of 52.2%. The AP-NLC formulation presented an adequate profile to be used topically, since epidermal and dermal drug retention were achieved. No reduction in HaCaT cells viability was observed at the tested concentrations (AP < 10 μg/mL). The in vivo application of the AP-NLC formulation resulted in the regeneration of skin lesions when compared with non-treated controls.