Pomegranate peel, derived from the processing of Punica granatum L. (pomegranate), has traditionally been considered agricultural waste. However, recent studies have revealed its potential as a rich source of bioactive compounds with diverse pharmacological effects. Pomegranate peel is a rich reservoir of antioxidants, polyphenols, dietary fiber, and vitamins, which contribute to its remarkable bioactivity. Studies have demonstrated the anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, wound healing, anticancer, and antimicrobial properties of pomegranate peel owing to the presence of phytochemicals, such as gallic acid, ellagic acid, and punicalagin. The extraction of bioactive compounds from pomegranate peel requires a careful selection of techniques to maximize the yield and quality. Green extraction methods, including pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), and enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE), offer efficient and sustainable alternatives to traditional methods. Furthermore, pomegranate peel has been utilized in the food industry, where it can significantly enhance the nutritional value, organoleptic characteristics, and shelf life of food products. Pomegranate peel has the potential to be used to develop innovative functional foods, nutraceuticals, and other value-added products, providing new opportunities for the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries.

The process of aging is characterized by numerous changes in the body which has an overall negative effect on the health and lifestyle of elderly. Nutrition deserves special attention as an individual reaches old age. It plays a vital role in affecting the quality of life, including physical, mental and social health. The physiological decline in food intake is very common among older age and this result in nutritional deficiencies. These increased nutritional deficiencies are the major risk factors for certain chronic diseases and deteriorated age related health. Thus, the adoption of nutritional intervention can be a measure to tackle the current situation of nutritional deficiencies and promote a healthy lifestyle.

Mycotoxins are fungi-produced secondary metabolites that can contaminate many foods eaten by humans and animals. Deoxynivalenol (DON), which is formed by Fusarium, is one of the most common occurring predominantly in cereal grains and thus poses a significant health risk. When DON is ingested, it can cause both acute and chronic toxicity. Acute signs include abdominal pain, anorexia, diarrhea, increased salivation, vomiting, and malaise. The most common effects of chronic DON exposure include changes in dietary efficacy, weight loss, and anorexia. This review provides a succinct overview of various sources, biosynthetic mechanisms, and genes governing DON production, along with its consequences on human and animal health. It also covers the effect of environmental factors on its production with potential detection, management, and control strategies.

Corn silk has long been thought of as a waste product; however, due to its numerous therapeutic attributes, it has remarkably gained popularity in Asian and African countries. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the bioactivity of dried corn silk powder (Zea mays, G5417) in terms of its physicochemical and bio-functional characteristics. The protein (15.29 ± 1.23) and ash (5.29 ± 0.29) contents in the corn silk powder were found to be high. The high phenolic content (94.10 ± 0.26 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid content (163.93 ± 0.83 mg QE/100 g) are responsible for its high antioxidant activity. The corn silk powder showed 45.40 ± 0.92% FRSA, 75.25 ± 0.59 TEAC mg/gdw of ABTS, and 86.77 ± 0.88% of FRAP. FT-IR spectroscopy revealed stretching, bending, and vibrations of abundantly present polysaccharides and protein functional groups. Moreover, the DSC thermograph revealed the exothermic reactions at on-set temperature (T_onset) = 21.9 °C and end temperature (T_endset) = 102.80 °C, and exothermic reactions at on-set temperature (T_onset) = 252.02 °C, end temperature (T_endset) = 296.80 °C, and denaturation peak temperature (T_peak) = 277.48 °C, whereas XRD (2θ = 21.5°) confirmed the amorphous nature of the corn silk powder. Therefore, due to the potential bioactivity and thermal stability, dry corn silk powder can be scaled up at an industrial level.