Arthrospira platensis and Arthrospira maxima are prokaryotic microalgae commercially marketed as spirulina. The pigments extracted from these algae are widely used for cosmetic and nutraceutical applications. This work aimed to evaluate the influence of three light-emitting lamps (white, orange and blue) on the growth and biomass composition of two strains of A. platensis (M2 and M2M) and one of A. maxima. The obtained data show strain- and light-dependent responses of the microalgae. In addition, white and orange lights led to a similar overall effect by increasing the levels of chlorophyll a and carotenoids. However, exposure to orange light resulted in the highest dry weight (5973.3 mg L⁻¹ in M2M), whereas white light stimulated an increase in the carbohydrate fraction (up to 42.36 g 100 g⁻¹ in A. maxima). Conversely, blue light led to a constant increase in the concentration of phycocyanin (14 g 100 g⁻¹ in A. maxima) and a higher content of proteins in all strains. These results provide important environmental information for modulating the growth of different spirulina strains, which can be used to address the synthesis of biochemical compounds of strategic importance for the development of new nutraceutical foods.

Honey, a natural food with a rich history, is produced by honeybees and other species of bees from nectar, other plant fluids, and honeydew of sap-sucking insects. During foraging, these bees may be exposed to plant protection products (PPPs), metals, and metalloids, potentially leading to residues in honey and hive products that could have a negative impact on human safety. Recognizing the lack of an appropriate methodology for pesticide contamination of honey and other hive products, this research aims to support the need for studies on residues in pollen and bee products for human consumption to establish safe maximum residue levels (MRLs) for consumers. A UHPLC-MS/MS residues method and a modified QuEChERS extraction were applied to simultaneously determine 237 pesticide residues in honey and pollen. The study in North Sardinia analyzed honey and pollen samples from six areas for pesticide residues and verified 27 heavy metals and metalloid residues using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). The data obtained showed residues at levels close to the LOQ of the method, cycloate in a few samples of pollen, and dichlorvos, zoxamide, cycloate, and chlorantraniliprole in honey samples. All samples showed the absence of heavy metal contamination. Overall, no risk to human health was identified. The results of this study confirm that honey and pollen may be a good bioindicator of environmental contamination of a wide area surrounding honeybee hives.

Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus L.) is an herbaceous perennial plant from the Mediterranean Basin, cultivated as a poly-annual crop in different countries. Artichoke produces a considerable amount of waste at the end of the harvesting season in the field (5.2 tons/ha/year, DW) and from the industrial processing of fresh-cut products during the harvesting time (800 tons/year). The qualitative and quantitative phenolic profile and inulin content of artichoke samples from the field and industrial processing waste have been investigated after green extraction. The best operative conditions were achieved using the dried biomass extracted with water at 80 °C for 120 min and a matrix-to-solvent ratio of 1:30. The data obtained showed that the concentration of total polyphenols in fresh artichokes followed this order: stems > heads > leaves > outer bracts. Chlorogenic acid and 3,4 di-O-caffeoylquinic acid were the most concentrated caffeoylquinic derivates, whereas luteolin 7-O-malonyglucoside, luteolin 7-O-glucoside and 7-O-rutinoside were the most abundant flavonoids. The artichoke by-products showed high polyphenolic and inulin values, thus representing an important source of health-promoting biomolecules for application in pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical fields. According to the principles of circular economy, the work scheme proposed in this article, the use of waste and its processing into useful products such as nutraceutical supplies could provide a practical and economic opportunity for companies and farmers involved in the cultivation and industrial processing of artichokes.

Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) is a microalga widely used as a dietary supplement in sports nutrition and in treating metabolic diseases such as diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome. Spirulina’s cell structure limits digestibility and reduces the availability of bioactive compounds. The extraction processes, coupled with encapsulation, can enhance the bioavailability of nutritional and antioxidant compounds, protecting them from degradation, preserving their functional activity, and supporting controlled release. The physicochemical properties of liposomes (Lps), bilosomes (Bls), and gelatin-enriched bilosomes (G-Bls) with incorporated Spirulina extracts were investigated. The delivery systems exhibited small particle size (101.8 ± 0.5 to 129.7 ± 1.2 nm), homogeneous distribution (polydispersity index (PDI) 0.17 ± 6.67 to 0.33 ± 9.06), negative surface charges (−31.9 ± 5.2 to 31.1 ± 6.4 mV), and high entrapment efficiency (>80%). G-Bls demonstrated effective retention of the extract, with a low release rate at pH 1.2 (41.8% ± 6.1) and controlled release at pH 7.0 (52.5% ± 3.0). Biocompatibility studies on Caco-2 cells showed that G-Bls maintained high cell viability at 200 μg·mL⁻¹ (87.89% ± 10.35) and significantly mitigated H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress at 20 and 200 μg·mL⁻¹, increasing cell viability by 23.47% and 19.28%. G-Bls are a promising delivery system for enhancing the stability, bioavailability, and protective effects of Spirulina extracts, supporting their potential application in dietary supplements aimed at promoting sports performance and recovery, mitigating exercise-induced oxidative stress, and managing metabolic disorders.

The cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) has a global annual production of approximately 18,000 tons. Spirulina has notable nutritional benefits and is a key component of dietary supplements. However, efficiently extracting its bioactive compounds poses challenges. This study aimed to develop an eco-innovative method to enhance Spirulina’s antioxidant and nutritional values. The extraction protocol included a maceration step in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4) at 5 °C for 48 h, followed by ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) at 400 W and 30 kHz, with a frequency of 30 cycles per min (consisting of 1 s on/off cycles, for a total of 6 extraction cycles). The proposed methodology allowed for the quantitative recovery of high-value compounds from Spirulina raw material (control), with increased yields of total lipids (+20.29%), total fatty acids (+60.48%), allophycocyanin (Apc, +41.41%), phycoerythrin (Pe, +81.42%), carotenoids (+30.84%), and polyphenols (+65.99%), leading to a boost in antioxidant activity (+42.95%). Conversely, the recoveries of proteins (−16.65%), carbohydrates (−18.84%), and phycocyanin (Pc, −0.77%) were incomplete. This study suggests a green extraction approach using PBS coupled with UAE, with promising energy and cost savings and potential applications in the dietary supplement sector.

Fourth-range products are those types of fresh fruit and vegetables that are ready for raw consumption or after cooking, and belong to organic or integrated cultivations. These products are subject to mild post-harvesting processing procedures (selection, sorting, husking, cutting, and washing), and are afterwards packaged in packets or closed food plates, with an average shelf life of 5–10 days. Artichokes are stripped of the leaves, stems and outer bracts, and the remaining heads are washed with acidifying solutions. The A LC-MS/MS analytical method was developed and validated following SANTE guidelines for the detection of 220 pesticides. This work evaluated the distribution of pesticide residues among the fraction of artichokes obtained during the industrial processing, and the residues of their wastes left on the field were also investigated. The results showed quantifiable residues of one herbicide (pendimethalin) and four fungicides (azoxystrobin, propyzamide, tebuconazole, and pyraclostrobin). Pendimethalin was found in all samples, with the higher values in leaves 0.046 ± 8.2 mg/kg and in field waste 0.30 ± 6.7 mg/kg. Azoxystrobin was the most concentrated in the outer bracts (0.18 ± 2.9 mg/kg). The outer bracts showed the highest number of residues. The industrial waste showed a significant decrease in the number of residues and their concentration.