In the fields of health, food and nutrition, there is a need for bioactive compound groups that are both nutritious and help prevent diseases, as well as do not have serious side effects (Staszowsk...

Post-harvest deterioration of fruit quality represents a significant challenge in the dried fruit industry, particularly affecting the preservation of nutritional compounds and sensory attributes during the drying process. This research examined the potential protective effects of exogenous melatonin supplementation on the preservation of selected quality metrics and antioxidant characteristics in sun-dried apricots, utilizing a comparative analysis across disparate melatonin concentrations (10, 100, and 1000 µM). Our research findings demonstrated that melatonin treatment, particularly at 100 µM concentration, significantly enhanced quality preservation in sun-dried apricots. Specifically, the treatment resulted in improved color retention (increased L*, a*, and b* values), reduced oxidative stress markers (MDA and H₂O₂), and optimized sugar composition (glucose: 18.99 g/100 g, fructose: 12.58 g/100 g, sucrose: 15.52 g/100 g). The melatonin treatment at 100 µM concentration proved particularly effective, revealing the most significant results. Specifically, this concentration resulted in the highest β-carotene levels, reaching 223.07 mg/kg. These findings suggest promising applications for commercial-scale implementation through either dipping or spraying methods. The non-toxic nature of melatonin and its demonstrated efficacy in preserving fruit quality parameters position it as a valuable post-harvest treatment option in the fruit supply chain. This research contributes significantly to advancing sustainable post-harvest preservation strategies, though further investigation into melatonin stability and standardization of application protocols remains necessary for optimal commercial implementation.

Polyphenols and flavonoids are key bioactive compounds with significant antioxidant properties, making them crucial for human health and nutraceutical applications. However, their extraction efficiency and concentrations are influenced by multiple factors, including plant part, cultivar, and solvent selection. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of plant part, cultivar, and solvent type on the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant capacity (ABTS and CUPRAC assays) in different extracts from black mulberry, chokeberry, and elderberry. In all three species, the leaves exhibited significantly higher phytochemical and antioxidant properties than the fruits, with an average increase of 62.8–133.4% in the TPC and 55.4–390.3% in the TFC. Among genotypes, Gümüşhacıköy Horum and Tohma Medik (black mulberry), Viking and Nero (chokeberry), and Tokat (T1) (elderberry) demonstrated the highest levels of bioactive compounds, while Şelale Karadut, Aron, and Haschberg exhibited the lowest values. Solvent selection played a crucial role, with methanol:water:HCl emerging as the most effective extraction medium, increasing the TPC by 27.5–46.3%, the TFC by 28.3–67.6%, and the antioxidant capacity (ABTS and CUPRAC) by up to 94.2% compared to water extraction. These findings indicate the significance of leaf-based bioactive compound extraction and optimized solvent selection for maximizing antioxidant yields. The results of this study also have important implications for both fruit cultivation and human nutrition, highlighting the potential of leaves as a valuable source of polyphenols and antioxidants.

The unique flavour and high nutritional value of mulberry (Morus spp.) fruit have increased its fresh consumption in recent years. However, the fruit sensitive to postharvest pathogens, spoil quickly resulted with high level of postharvest losses because of soft and sensitive texture of this fruit with high water content. This study aimed to extend the shelf life of fresh mulberries using ethanol generator pads (EGP) and calcium chloride (CaCl₂) treatments in ‘Bursa Siyahı’ and ‘Kenmochi’ mulberry genotypes. After harvest, the fruits were treated with EGP, 1% CaCl₂ or a combination of both and stored at 0 ± 0.5 °C with 85–90% relative humidity for 21 days. Untreated fruits (control group) exhibited intense mould growth by the 9th day, losing commercial value and analyses were not conducted. In contrast, EGP treatments alone extended the shelf life to 18 days for ‘Bursa Siyahı’ and 15 days for ‘Kenmochi’, while the combination of EGP and CaCl₂ provided intermediate results. As the storage period was extended, the rate of decay and weight loss increased in both genotypes. During storage, weight loss in EGP-treated fruits was limited to 2.63%, compared to over 5% in the control group. The total anthocyanin and total phenolic content showed a significant decrease in all treatments during the storage period. However, the EGP treatment was more effective in preserving these parameters. On day 6 of the study, the total anthocyanin content in ‘Kenmochi’ and ‘Bursa Siyahı’ fruits was 764.48 and 10.98 mg/100 g in EGP treatment, while it was 610.60 and 6.83 mg/100 g in the control group, respectively. It was also found that the treatments had no effect on the color change of the mulberries. The combination of cold storage and EGP effectively extended the storage period of the fruits. These findings highlight the potential of EGP as a practical, cost-effective solution for the fresh fruit market. Furthermore, besides the treatments, storage time and temperature are the determining factors in fruit quality. However, its impact on mould growth became limited after a certain period. Our results show that, regardless of the treatments applied, storage time also has a significant effect on fruit quality.

Echinophora tenuifolia subsp. sibthorpiana is an aromatic and traditionally used plant whose phytochemical diversity and pharmacological potential remain incompletely characterized. This study aimed to integrate comprehensive chemical profiling with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiproliferative evaluations of an acidified methanolic extract prepared from its aerial parts. Phenolic constituents, volatile compounds, and fatty acids were characterized using LC–MS/MS, GC–MS, and GC–FID, respectively. Antioxidant capacity was assessed using DPPH and ABTS assays, antimicrobial effects were evaluated by disc diffusion and broth microdilution methods, and antiproliferative activity was investigated in six human cancer cell lines and non-cancerous BEAS-2B cells. Apoptosis induction and cell-cycle alterations were further examined by flow cytometry. The extract contained a high total phenolic content of 181.78 ± 5.03 mg GAE/g and exhibited substantial DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities of 333.65 ± 2.94 and 262.18 ± 6.80 mg TE/g, respectively. LC–MS/MS analysis identified rutin hydrate, quinic acid, chlorogenic acid, narcissin, and vicenin-2 as the predominant non-volatile constituents. The essential oil was dominated by methyl eugenol (51.10%) and Δ-3-carene (32.23%), whereas lauric acid (29.71%) was the major fatty acid. The extract also exhibited measurable antimicrobial activity and concentration-dependent cytotoxicity, with the greatest sensitivity observed in MCF-7 breast cancer cells (IC₅₀ = 32.96 ± 4.80 μg/mL), followed by A549 and MDA-MB-231 cells. However, the relatively close IC₅₀ values observed in cancer and non-cancerous BEAS-2B cells indicated limited cancer-cell selectivity under the tested conditions. Flow-cytometric analyses demonstrated marked apoptosis induction in MCF-7 cells, reaching 57.93 ± 1.80%, together with a cell-line-dependent accumulation in the G2/M phase. Collectively, these findings indicate that E. tenuifolia subsp. sibthorpiana is a chemically diverse source of plant-derived bioactive compounds with notable radical scavenging and measurable antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects. Further bioactivity-guided fractionation and mechanistic studies are required to identify the active constituents and clarify their pharmacological relevance and selectivity.