Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) are known for their high water content and nutritional value, making them a valuable addition to a balanced diet. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical quality (color, moisture, water activity, and texture), and antioxidant/antiradical properties of freshly packed greenhouse-cultivated cucumbers over a 28-day storage period, utilizing a combination of high-throughput analytical techniques, including attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, instrumental analysis, image analysis, and chemometrics. The key findings indicated that the cucumbers underwent a significant loss of moisture during the storage period, with a concomitant decrease in firmness. Color analysis revealed an increase in the yellowness of both the peel and flesh, while image analysis demonstrated increasing dissimilarity and textural disorder, particularly evident by the 13th day of storage. The spectrophotometric and spectroscopic findings demonstrated that the quality of the cucumbers was maintained during the storage period. Meanwhile, regression and discriminant analyses were employed to interpret the collected data. Predictive models were developed with high accuracy to estimate the actual storage days and flesh quality attributes based on textural and color features derived from image analysis. Overall, this study highlights the importance of controlled storage conditions in maintaining cucumber quality and provides a comprehensive approach to monitoring post-harvest changes.

Preterm delivery (PTD) is a notable pregnancy complication, affecting one out of every ten births. This study set out to investigate whether analyzing the metabolic composition of amniotic fluid (AF) collected from pregnant women during the second trimester of pregnancy could offer valuable insights into prematurity. The research employed ¹H–NMR metabolomics to examine AF samples obtained from 17 women who gave birth prematurely (between 29⁺⁰ and 36⁺⁵ weeks of gestation) and 43 women who delivered at full term. The application of multivariate analysis revealed metabolites (dimethylglycine, glucose, myo-inositol, and succinate) that can serve as possible biomarkers for the prognosis and early diagnosis of preterm delivery. Additionally, pathway analysis unveiled the most critical metabolic pathways relevant to our research hypothesis. In summary, these findings suggest that the metabolic composition of AF in the second trimester can be a potential indicator for identifying biomarkers associated with the risk of PTD.

Background/Objectives: Strawberries are highly appreciated for their rich phytochemical composition, but rapid postharvest deterioration limits their shelf life and nutritional quality. This study aimed to investigate the metabolic changes occurring in both strawberry fruits and leaves during storage and to evaluate the NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) inhibitory potential of strawberry-derived metabolites. Methods: Untargeted LC-MS/MS analysis was conducted on fruit and leaf tissues stored at 8 ± 0.5 °C. A total of 37 metabolites were identified, including organic acids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives. Multivariate statistical analyses (ANOVA, PLS-DA, and volcano plots) were used to assess temporal and tissue-specific metabolic shifts. Additionally, a machine learning-based predictive model was applied to evaluate the NOX2 inhibitory potential of 24 structurally characterized metabolites. Results: Storage induced significant and tissue-specific metabolic changes. In fruits, malic acid, caffeic acid, and quercetin-3-glucuronide showed notable variations, while ellagic acid aglycone and galloylquinic acid emerged as prominent markers in leaves. The predictive model identified 21 out of 24 metabolites as likely NOX2 inhibitors, suggesting potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory bioactivity. Conclusions: These findings provide new insights into postharvest biochemical dynamics in both strawberry fruits and leaves. The results highlight the value of leaves as a source of bioactive compounds and support their potential valorization in functional food and nutraceutical applications.

Citrus fruit cultivation and processing are constantly rising due to the increasing market demand and diverse utilization potentials. This generates large quantities of residues, predominantly composed of citrus peels. This study aimed to evaluate six different citrus peels using rapid and/or nondestructive instrumental analytical techniques such as ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, spectrophotometric assays, image textural analysis and physicochemical parameter determination. Image textural features managed to discriminate citrus peels based on their structure uniformity, which was found increased in lemon (C. limon) and yellow grapefruit (C. paradisi), whereas clementine (C. clementina) and red grapefruit (C. paradisi) images exhibited an increased non-uniformity of the structure. Physicochemical parameters provided insights into the quality characteristics of citrus peels, while their high ascorbic acid content seems to enhance their antioxidant activity. The obtained results from phenolic and flavonoid content determination indicated a high concentration of polyphenols in the peels, which is aligned with the ATR-FTIR spectra absorption bands. Furthermore, the spectrophotometric assays’ strong correlation suggests that the antioxidant activity of citrus peels is mainly attributed to polyphenols. Ultimately, a chemometric model was employed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the analytical methods’ interactions. Hence, citrus peels’ significant biochemical and, consequently, economic value can be highlighted, underscoring the importance of further research.

The quality and freshness of fruits and vegetables are critical factors in consumer acceptance and are significantly affected during transport and storage. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of greenhouse-grown tomatoes stored for 24 days by combining non-destructive image analysis, spectrophotometric assays (including total phenolic content and antioxidant and antiradical activity assessments), and attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. Additionally, water activity, moisture content, total soluble solids, texture, and color were evaluated. Most physicochemical changes occurred between days 14 and 17, without major impact on overall fruit quality. A progressive transition in peel hue from orange to dark orange, and increased surface irregularity of their textural image were noted. Moreover, the combined use of instrumental and image analyses results via multivariate analysis allowed the clear discrimination of tomatoes according to storage days. In this sense, tomato samples were effectively classified by ATR-FTIR spectral bands, linked to carotenoids, phenolics, and polysaccharides. Machine learning (ML) models, including Random Forest and Gradient Boosting, were trained on image-derived features and accurately predicted shelf life and quality traits, achieving R² values exceeding 0.9. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of combining imaging, spectroscopy, and ML for non-invasive tomato quality monitoring and support the development of predictive tools to improve postharvest handling and reduce food waste.

Although post-distillation side-streams of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) pose significant economic and environmental challenges, they also bring forth new opportunities in the flavor industry. Thus, the objective of the current study was to assess the phenolic profile of basil side-stream extracts to identify key compounds and to evaluate their taste properties, using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis, flavor prediction tools and molecular docking. In particular, 52 phytoconstituents, mainly phenolic acids, salvianolic acids, flavonoids and fatty acids derivatives, were elucidated in the side-streams of two different basil varieties (Minimum and Genovese) harvested and distilled in early and late autumn, highlighting the effect of pre-harvest factors on basil’s phenolic fingerprint. Furthermore, the results of tests undertaken using taste prediction tools showed that most of the identified compounds were very likely to taste bitter, while six of them (caffeoylferuloyltartaric acid, isoquercetin, lithospermic acid A, sagerinic acid, salvianolic acids C and F) presented a high bitterant capacity (70–90%). Moreover, according to molecular docking studies, these compounds exhibited a stronger binding affinity to the hTAS2R46 bitter receptor compared to its known agonist, strychnine. This outcome and consequently their bitterness were mainly attributed to interactions with Glu265, Thr180 and/or Trp88 through the formation of direct hydrogen bonds. Therefore, the present results provide insights into the taste profiles of basil side-streams, leading to more sustainable and innovative uses of aromatic herbs residues.