Neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs) such as Alzheimer’s (AD) and Parkinson’s (PD) are on the rise, robbing people of their memories and independence. While risk factors such as age and genetics play an important role, exciting studies suggest that a diet rich in foods from plant origin may offer a line of defense. These kinds of foods, namely fruits and vegetables, are packed with a plethora of powerful bioactive secondary metabolites (SBMs), including terpenoids, polyphenols, glucosinolates, phytosterols and capsaicinoids, which exhibit a wide range of biological activities including antioxidant, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, anti-Alzheimer’s, antiproliferative, and antimicrobial properties, associated with preventive effects in the development of chronic diseases mediated by oxidative stress such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, respiratory diseases, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and NDDs. This review explores the potential of SBMs as theravention agents (metabolites with therapeutic and preventive action) against NDDs. By understanding the science behind plant-based prevention, we may be able to develop new strategies to promote brain health and prevent the rise in NDDs. The proposed review stands out by emphasizing the integration of multiple SBMs in plant-based foods and their potential in preventing NDDs. Previous research has often focused on individual compounds or specific foods, but this review aims to present a comprehensive fingerprint of how a diet rich in various SBMs can synergistically contribute to brain health. The risk factors related to NDD development and the diagnostic process, in addition to some examples of food-related products and medicinal plants that significantly reduce the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and β-site amyloid precursor protein (APP) cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), are highlighted.

Pesticides are chemicals used in agriculture to prevent insects, fungi, weeds, and other pests, from damaging crops. In addition, some types of pesticides are used after harvest as sprout suppressant agents help keeping the quality parameters of crops during storage. Nonetheless, its presence, even at trace levels, in food products is becoming a big challenge regarding human health. The current work aimed to develop and validate a sensitive and high-throughput analytical approach, based on a state-of-the-art microextraction technique—µQuEChERS, combined with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography equipped with a photodiode array detection system (UHPLC-PDA) to quantify isopropyl-N-(3-chlorophenyl) carbamate (chlorpropham), commonly used as efficient sprout suppressant stored potatoes, in raw and cooked potatoes cultivated in different geographical regions of Madeira Island (Portugal). Good results were obtained in terms of figures of the merit of the method, with correlation coefficients (R²) higher than 0.999 and recoveries between 94.5% to 125%. Method limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 0.14 μg/Kg and 0.43 μg/Kg, respectively, which are much lower than the accepted and legislated requirements by the European Union, which is 20 μg/Kg for chlorpropham. The concentration of chlorpropham in raw potatoes is significantly higher when compared to cooked samples, which revealed that the thermic treatment during cooking had a significant effect on its degradation. A significant decrease (90%, on average) was observed on chlorpropham levels.

In the last twenty years, synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs), also frequently known as synthetic cannabinoids, have grown into one of the leading and structurally diverse types of new psychoactive substances. This has brought about major trouble for clinical and forensic work. Even though there have been significant advances in the field, there remain important gaps in the understanding of the mechanism of action, biotransformation pathways, etc. Numerous studies indicate that optimized chromatographic–mass spectrometric technologies are vital for the sensitive and specific detection of SCRAs and their metabolites from complex biological matrices. Studies that employ rigorous accreditation-level protocols highlight the need for a method validation process for the reliable detection of compounds. Meanwhile, scientifically controlled studies involving humans provide information on the connection between a compound and its metabolites with the clinical effects. In parallel, metabolomic investigations suggest that SCRA metabolism is closely tied to cellular dysregulation and adverse toxicological outcomes, indicating that biotransformation can generate reactive intermediates and contribute directly to toxicity. Overall, by combining metabolite profiling, emerging biomarkers and structure-informed toxicological interpretation, the literature points toward a more integrated and predictive framework to guide future analytical strategies and support evidence-based harm reduction measures.