The present study investigated the cyto-genotoxic and antigenotoxic effects of four different extracts of Equisetum arvense L. (common name: field horsetail) on human lymphocytes. Specifically, Soxhlet’s prepared extracts from E. arvense L., using different solvents (S1: methanol (MeOH)-, S2: ethanol (EtOH)-, S3: water-, and S4: ethanol/water (EtOH-W)-) were analyzed for (a) their total phenolic and flavonoid content (TPC and TFC, respectively), (b) their antioxidant activity (AA), via the DPPH, FRAP and ABTS assays, and (c) their cyto-genotoxic and/or protective efficiency against the mutagenic agent mitomycin C, via the Cytokinesis Block MicroNucleus assay. All extracts showed increased TPC, TFC, and AA values in almost all cases. S1, S3 and S4 demonstrated no cytotoxic potential, whereas S2 was cytotoxic only at the highest concentrations. Genotoxicity was not observed in the tested extracts. The highest antigenotoxic activity was observed for EtOH-W (S4) extract, which was found to be rich in flavonoids, flavonoid-O-glycosides, phytosterols, phenolic and fatty acids as well as in minerals and mainly in K, Ca, Mg, Si and P, as assessed by using various mass spectrometry techniques. Those findings confirm that E. arvense L. extracts could be valuable candidates for medicinal applications and pharmaceutical products, thus alleviating the effects of more conventional drugs.

Tris(chloropropyl) phosphate (TCPP) is a characteristic and widely used organophosphorus flame retardant. TCPP is comprised of four isomers and the most abundant is tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate. TCPP can be released into the environment, with potential impacts on living organisms and humans due to its extensive industrial use. Aiming to assess the potential risks of TCPP on human health and the environment, its toxic and genotoxic effects—using organisms from different trophic levels, i.e., bacteria, green microalgae, and human cells—were investigated. TCPP exposure at nominal concentrations of 10, 20, 30 and 40 μg mL⁻¹ was studied to identify the potential risk of inducing genotoxic effects in cultured human lymphocytes. Treatment with 30 and 40 μg mL⁻¹ of TCPP induced marginally significant micronuclei (MN) frequencies as well as cytotoxic effects. Freshwater microalgae species treated with TCPP (0.5, 1, 10, 20 and 50 μg L⁻¹) showed different growth rates over time. All the tested microalgae species were adversely affected after exposure to TCPP during the first 24 h. However, differences among the microalgae species’ sensitivities were observed. In the case of the freshwater species, the most sensitive was found to be Chlorococcum sp. The marine algal species Dunaliella tertiolecta and Tisochrysis lutea were significantly affected after exposure to TCPP. The effects of TCPP on Aliivibrio fischeri that were observed can classify this flame retardant as a “harmful” compound. Our results suggest a potential risk to aquatic organisms and humans from the wide utilization of TCPP and its consequent release into the environment. These results highlight that further research should be conducted to investigate the effects of TCPP individually and in combination with other organophosphorus flame retardants in various organisms. In addition, the concern induced by TCPP points out that measures to control the introduction of TCPP into the environment should be taken.

This study investigated the beneficial properties of prickly pear peel (PPP) extracts from Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. Extracts were obtained via the Soxhlet extraction method using methanol (P1), ethanol (P2) and ethanol-water (P3) as extraction solvents. Their total phenolic and flavonoid content (TPC and TFC, respectively) and their antioxidant activity (AA) were determined. The PPP extracts were characterized in detail using mass spectrometry techniques. Their cyto-genotoxic effect and antigenotoxic potential against mitomycin C were evaluated via the cytokinesis block micronucleus (CBMN) assay on human lymphocytes. Enhanced TPC, TFC and AA values were recorded for all the extracts. Moreover, P1 and P2 were cytotoxic only at the highest concentrations, whereas P3 was found to be cytotoxic in all cases. No significant micronucleus induction was observed in the tested extracts. The PPP extracts contain bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, carboxylic acids, alkaloids, fatty acids and minerals (mainly K, Si, Mg, Ca, P and Zn). The results showed that all three extracts exerted high antigenotoxic activity. Our findings confirm the beneficial and genoprotective properties of PPP extracts and further studies on the bioactive compounds of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. are recommended, as it constitutes a promising plant in pharmaceutical applications.

The growing demand for sustainable food preservation drives interest in edible nanoemulsions encapsulating bioactive compounds. This study developed casein–lecithin-based nanoemulsions combining carvacrol (CV)—a compound with potent antimicrobial and moderate antioxidant activity—with vitamin E (VitE)—a powerful antioxidant—as multifunctional food coatings. Three formulations were prepared via homogenization: NE-CV (2% CV), NE-VitE (2% VitE), and NE-CV/VitE (1% each). Physicochemical characterization revealed monomodal size distributions (22.7–57.7 nm), with successful encapsulation confirmed by FTIR. NE-CV/VitE exhibited intermediate particle size (34.4 nm) and zeta potential (−19.8 mV). Antioxidant activity followed NE-VitE > NE-CV/VitE > NE-CV, with the co-encapsulated system preserving VitE’s radical scavenging (EC₅₀ 10.76 µL/mL, DPPH). Remarkably, NE-CV/VitE demonstrated enhanced antibacterial activity against E. coli, requiring half the CV concentration (0.07 mg/mL) versus NE-CV alone (0.15 mg/mL), while maintaining CV dose-dependent activity against S. aureus (0.30 mg/mL). Nanoencapsulation significantly reduced CV cytotoxicity in human lymphocytes at concentrations up to 50 μg/mL (48.8% cytostasis vs. 58.9% for free CV), with no genotoxic effects observed within this range, while preserving full bioactivity. In fresh minced pork over 6-day refrigerated storage, NE-CV/VitE coating maintained pH stability (5.65–5.75), preserved red color (a* values 6.24 vs. 4.99 uncoated), reduced lipid oxidation (TBARS 0.74 vs. 0.82 mg MDA/kg), and achieved a 99% reduction (2-log) in total viable counts versus uncoated controls. The CV/VitE co-encapsulated nanoemulsion represents an integrated, safe, and effective multifunctional preservation technology with synergistic antimicrobial enhancement and uncompromised antioxidant protection, offering a natural alternative for comprehensive food quality preservation.

The food packaging industry requires sustainable solutions to reduce plastic waste and replace synthetic additives. This study addresses the need for scalable methods to transform conventional polyethylene terephthalate (PET) packaging into active food preservation systems using natural biocides. Commercial PET packaging was surface-activated using industrial-scale corona treatment, followed by coating with natural biocides—carvacrol (CV) and trans-cinnamaldehyde (tCN). The resulting active packaging materials (PET-CV and PET-tCN) were characterized using XRD, FTIR, SEM, AFM, and desorption kinetics. Packaging properties including mechanical strength, oxygen barrier, antioxidant (DPPH), and antibacterial activity (against S. aureus and E. coli) were evaluated. Real-food preservation tests were conducted using fresh minced pork (4 °C, 6 days) and table olives (23 °C, 21 days), monitoring microbiological (TVC), colorimetric (CIE L*a*b*), and pH changes. Corona treatment successfully anchored both biocides through physical adsorption, with tCN exhibiting stronger surface interaction (desorption energy: 128.0 kJ/mol). Both coatings significantly improved oxygen barrier properties (61% reduction for PET-CV, 80% for PET-tCN). PET-tCN demonstrated superior antibacterial activity (inhibition zones: 15.0 mm against E. coli). In pork preservation, PET-tCN achieved a 2-log reduction in TVC, maintained meat redness (a*: 12.80 vs. 5.10 for control), and stabilized pH. For olives, PET-tCN reduced TVC by 2.35 log cycles and preserved green color. This corona-assisted coating approach, demonstrated here at laboratory scale, successfully transforms inert PET into multi-functional active packaging with potent antimicrobial, antioxidant, and barrier properties, significantly extending food shelf-life and offering a sustainable solution for reducing food waste.

Following the trend of food waste valorization to produce innovative bio-based materials, this study proposes the conversion of brewer’s spent grain (BSG) into added value edible, high oxygen barrier, flexible, active packaging films via an extrusion molding compression method. Gelatin (Gel) was used as both a reinforcement and barrier agent and glycerol (Gl) as a plasticizer. Eugenol was nanoencapsulated on natural zeolite (EG@NZ), and pure clove powder (ClP) was used as an active agent to obtain BSG/Gel/Gl/xEG@NZ and BSG/Gel/Gl/xClP (x = 5, 10, and 15 %wt.) active films. Both BSG/Gel/Gl/xEG@NZ and BSG/Gel/Gl/xClP films show enhanced tensile, oxygen barrier, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties, and low toxicity and genotoxicity values. All BSG/Gel/Gl/xEG@NZ films presented a higher oxygen barrier, higher total phenolic content (TPC) values, higher antioxidant activity according to a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, higher inhibition zones against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and lower toxicity and genotoxicity than all BSG/Gel/Gl/xClP films. Thus, the superiority of the nanoencapsulated EG in NZ as compared to the physical encapsulated EG in ClP is proved. Briefly, BSG/Gel/Gl/15EG@NZ active film exhibited ~218% higher tensile strength, ~93% higher TPC value, and ~90% lower effective concentration for a 60% antioxidant activity value (EC₆₀) as compared to the pure BSG/Gel/Gl film. The zones against S. aureus and E. coli were 45 and 30 mm, respectively, and the oxygen barrier was zero. The use of this film extended the shelf life of fresh minced meat by two days and exhibited the high potential to be used as active packaging material.