High consumption of ultra-processed foods, rich in sugar and unhealthy fats, has been linked to the onset of numerous chronic diseases. Consequently, there has been a growing shift towards a fiber-rich diet, abundant in fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts, to enhance longevity and quality of life. The primary bioactive components in these plant-based foods are polyphenols, which exert significant effects on modulating the gastrointestinal microbiota through their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This modulation has preventive effects on neurodegenerative, metabolic, and cardiovascular diseases, and even cancer. The antimicrobial properties of polyphenols against pathogenic bacteria have significantly reduced the need for antibiotics, thereby lowering the risk of antibiotic resistance. This paper advances the field by offering novel insights into the beneficial effects of polyphenols, both directly through the metabolites produced during digestion and indirectly through changes in the host’s gastrointestinal microbiota, uniquely emphasizing swine as a model highly relevant to human health, a topic that, to our knowledge, has not been thoroughly explored in previous reviews. This review also addresses aspects related to both other animal models (mice, rabbits, and rats), and humans, providing guidelines for future research into the benefits of polyphenol consumption. By linking agricultural and biomedical perspectives, it proposes strategies for utilizing these bioactive compounds as therapeutic agents in both veterinary and human health sciences.

The aims of the present study were to evaluate for the first time the chemical composition and antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal and antiproliferative potentials of the Romanian George 90 lavender species, as well as parental species, L. angustifolia and L. latifolia. The L. angustifolia, L. latifolia and George 90 essential oils were analyzed by GC-MS/MS and the L. angustifolia, L. latifolia and George 90 hydroalcoholic extracts were analyzed by HPLC-DAD. The antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal and antiproliferative assays revealed that all the investigated species showed significant activities. The results highlighted the chemical composition and the promising biological potentials of the L. angustifolia, L. latifolia and George 90 lavender species, validating their ethnomedicinal value, which offers potential applications as natural drugs.

This study presents the phytosynthesis of silver-based nanoparticles using tomato flower waste extracts for the first time in the literature. The determination of total polyphenolic and flavonoid contents in the extracts showed high gallic acid equivalents (6436–8802 mg GAE/kg dm) and high quercetin equivalents (378–633 mg QE/kg dm), respectively, dependent on the extraction method. By the Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography technique, 14 polyphenolic compounds were identified and quantified in the tomato flower waste extracts. The abundant phenolic compounds were caffeic acid (36,902–32,217 mg/kg) and chlorogenic acid (1640–1728 mg/kg), and the abundant flavonoid compounds were catechin (292–251 mg/kg) and luteolin (246–108 mg/kg). Transmission electron microscopy of the nanoparticles revealed a particle size range of 14–40 nm. Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction studies confirmed the phytosynthesis of the silver/silver oxide nanoparticles. These findings hold significant results for the antibacterial and antitumoral potential applications of the obtained nanoparticles, opening new areas for research and development and inspiring further exploration. The impact of this research on the field of metallic nanoparticle phytosynthesis is substantial, as it introduces a novel approach and could lead to significant advancements in the field.

Tomato aerial parts and axillary shoots represent underutilized agricultural residues with promising phytochemical potential. Despite the recognized antioxidant capacity of rutin, current literature lacks optimized, comparative studies on its extraction from distinct tomato vegetative components. This study aimed to maximize the recovery of rutin and other bioactive compounds from tomato plant biomass using green extraction techniques—microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE)—optimized through Box–Behnken design (BBD) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The extraction process was optimized for three key variables: temperature, solvent concentration, and plant-to-solvent ratio. Four main responses were evaluated: total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant activity (DPPH), and rutin concentration. The highest rutin content (8614.23 mg/kg) was obtained in extracts from axillary shoots using MAE. Overall, MAE proved more efficient in recovering both primary and secondary metabolites from axillary shoots, while UAE favored the extraction of certain micronutrients and specific amino acids. Cascade extraction further improved the recovery of key compounds such as vitamin E and quinic acid. The comparative profiling of extracts revealed significant phytochemical differences between tomato aerial parts and axillary shoots, addressing a gap in the literature and underscoring the importance of optimized extraction strategies. These findings highlight tomato plant waste as a valuable source of antioxidant compounds and set the stage for future investigations into their biological activities.

Enhancing bioactive compounds with antioxidant activities has always been a pursuit of growers in the hydroponic production of lettuce in greenhouses with artificial lighting. Light-Emitting Diode (LED) lighting represents an effective lighting strategy that promotes the accumulation of bioactive compounds in lettuce by reducing dark periods under unfavorable meteorological conditions and extending the photosynthetic duration. In this study, the accumulation of bioactive compounds and their antioxidant activities, using lettuce-adapted growth technologies such as elevated oxygen concentration and elevated oxygen combined with LED red-blue light, were investigated. These technologies were compared to the control, which consisted of the natural oxygen concentration, in a controlled hydroponic system, for the two lettuce cultivars, Carmesi and Lugano. Our results demonstrate that lettuce grown under elevated oxygen combined with LED lighting exhibited increases of up to 48% in total phenolic content and up to 87% in total flavonoid content, depending on cultivar and growing season, compared to control growth technology. The highest antioxidant capacity was recorded under the EOC+LED growth technology, as confirmed by DPPH, FRAP, and CUPRAC assays. This study proposes an effective growth strategy for hydroponic lettuce cultivation that enhances bioactive compound accumulation and provides theoretical and technical guidance for energy-efficient greenhouse production.

Human health is profoundly influenced by external factors, with stress being a primary contributor. In this context, the digestive system is particularly susceptible. The prevalence of diseases affecting the small intestine and colon is increasing. Consequently, insoluble plant fibers, such as cellulose and hemicellulose, play a crucial role in promoting intestinal transit and maintaining colon health. Lettuce is a widely consumed leafy vegetable with high nutritional value and has been intensively studied through hydroponic cultivation. This study aims to optimize the cultivation conditions and freeze-drying process of Lugano and Carmesi lettuce varieties (Lactuca sativa L.) by identifying the optimal growth conditions, freeze-drying duration, and sample surface area in order to achieve an optimal percentage of insoluble fibers. Carmesi and Lugano varieties were selected based on their contrasting growth characteristics and leaf morphology, allowing to assess whether treatments and processing conditions have consistent effects on different types of lettuce. The optimal freeze-drying parameters were determined to include a 48 h freeze-drying period, a maximum sample surface area of 144 cm², and growth under combined conditions of supplementary oxygenation and LED light exposure. The optimal fiber composition, cellulose (21.61%), hemicellulose (11.84%) and lignin (1.36%), was found for the Lugano variety, which exhibited lower lignin and higher cellulose contents than the Carmesi variety. The quantification of hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin was performed using the well-known NDF, ADF and ADL methods. Therefore, optimized freeze-dried lettuce powder, particularly from the Lugano variety, presents a high-value functional ingredient for enriching foods and developing nutritional supplements aimed at digestive health.