Accumulation and translocation of lead in vegetables through intensive use of organic manure and mineral fertilizers with wastewater.

In many countries with wastewater irrigation and intensive use of fertilizers (minerals and organics), heavy metal deposition by crops is regarded as a major environmental concern. A study was conducted to determine the impact of mineral fertilizers, cow manure, poultry manure, leaf litter, and sugarcane bagasse on soil's trace Pb content and edible parts of vegetables. It also evaluated the risk of lead (Pb) contamination in water, soil, and food crops. Six vegetables (Daucus carota, Brassica oleracea, Pisum sativum, Solanum tuberosum, Raphanus sativus, and Spinacia oleracea) were grown in the field under twelve treatments with different nutrient and water inputs. The lead concentrations in soil, vegetables for all treatments and water samples ranged from 1.038-10.478, 0.09346-9.0639 mg/kg and 0.036-0.26448 mg/L, The concentration of lead in soil treated with wastewater in treatment (T6) and vegetable samples was significantly higher, exceeding the WHO's permitted limit. Mineral and organic fertilizers combined with wastewater treatment reduced lead (Pb) concentrations in vegetables compared to wastewater application without organic fertilizers. Health risk indexes for all treatments except wastewater treatment (T6) were less than one. Pb concentrations in mineral fertilizers, cow manure, poultry manure, leaf litter, and sugarcane bagasse treated were determined to pose no possible risk to consumers.

Risk assessment of trace elements in vegetables grown in river Yamuna floodplain in Delhi.

Urban agriculture is common in fertile river floodplains of many developing countries. However, there is a risk of contamination in highly polluted regions. This study quantifies health risks associated with the consumption of vegetables grown in the floodplain of the urban river 'Yamuna' in the highly polluted yet data-scarce megacity Delhi, India. Six trace elements are analyzed in five kinds of vegetable samples. Soil samples from the cultivation area are also analyzed for elemental contamination. Ni, Mn, and Co are observed to be higher in leafy vegetables than others. Fruit and inflorescence vegetables are found to have higher concentrations of Cr, Pb, and Zn as compared to root vegetables. Transfer Factor indicates that Cr and Co have the highest and least mobility, respectively. Vegetable Pollution Index indicates that contamination levels follow as Cr > Ni > Pb > Zn. Higher Metal Pollution Index of leafy and inflorescence vegetables than root and fruit vegetables indicate that atmospheric deposition is the predominant source. Principal Component Analysis indicates that Pb and Cr have similar sources and patterns in accumulation. Among the analyzed vegetables, radish may pose a non-carcinogenic risk to the age group of 1-5 year. Carcinogenic risk is found to be potentially high due to Ni and Cr accumulation. Consumption of leafy vegetables was found to have relatively less risk than other vegetables due to lower Cr accumulation. Remediation of Cr and Ni in floodplain soil and regular monitoring of elemental contamination is a priority.

Valorization of Red Beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) Pomace Combined with Golden Linseed (Lini semen) for the Development of Vegetable Crispbreads as Gluten-Free Snacks Rich in Bioactive Compounds.

This work aimed to develop gluten-free snacks such as crispbread based on beetroot pomace (Beta vulgaris L.) and golden linseed (Lini semen). Beetroot is attracting more and more consumer attention because of its nutritional and health properties. The use of beet pomace contributes to waste management. Linseed, known as a superfood with many health-promoting properties, was used to produce crispbreads as an alternative to cereals, which are allergens. Beetroot pomace and whole or ground linseed were used in different proportions to produce crispbread snacks. Chemical and physical analyses were performed including water activity, dry matter, betalains, and polyphenols content, as well as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). A sensory evaluation and microstructure observations were also performed. The obtained snacks were characterized by low water activity (0.290-0.395) and a high dry matter content (93.43-97.53%), which ensures their microbiological stability and enables longer storage. Beetroot pomace provided betalains-red (14.59-51.44 mg betanin/100 g d.m.) and yellow dyes (50.02-171.12 mg betanin/100 g d.m.)-while using linseed enriched the product with polyphenols (730-948 mg chlorogenic acid/100 g d.m.). FTIR analysis showed the presence of functional groups such as the following: -OH, -C-O, -COOH, and -NH. The most desired overall consumer acceptability was achieved for snacks containing 50% beetroot pomace and 50% linseed seeds. The obtained results confirmed that beetroot pomace combined with linseed can be used in the production of vegetable crispbread snacks.

Determination of chlorothalonil in vegetables/fruits using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with a discharge adapter interface.

RATIONALE: Chlorothalonil (CHT), a broad-spectrum fungicide, has been employed widely to control foliar diseases, whereas with a major metabolite of polar 4-hydroxychlorothalonil (CHT-4-OH), only an acceptable nonpolar CHT residue is allowed by most countries. This study involves the method development for CHT residue in vegetables/fruits using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with a novel modified discharge-adaptor (DA) interface. METHODS: CHT residue was analyzed using LC-MS/MS with DA interface (LC-DA-MS/MS), developed in our previous works. A DA was placed on the electrospray tip to switch the ionization modes. A modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method was applied to extract CHT residue of vegetables/fruits efficiently with less sample preparation time and analysis cost. RESULTS: CHT and CHT-4-OH spiked in four different vegetables/fruits were extracted using the modified QuEChERS method. After LC with isocratic elution, CHT and CHT-4-OH were separated within 3 min. Using LC-DA-MS/MS, the ion signals of CHT were improved two to three times, and the limit of quantification of 5 ng/g and linearity (r2 > 0.99) in the range of 5-200 ng/g were achieved using 10 g of vegetables/fruits. The precision and accuracy were within 15% each. The modified QuEChERS and LC-DA-MS/MS were applied to examine eight field-grown vegetables/fruits; 9.5 and 2588.9 ng/g of CHT were detected in two vegetables/fruits. CONCLUSION: LC-DA-MS/MS combined with modified QuEChERS was successfully applied to determine CHT residue <10 ng/g in vegetables/fruits and with satisfied validation results. The developed method could reduce both analysis cost and time, attributing to simplifications in modified QuEChERS, isocratic elution, and DA interface in LC-DA-MS/MS.

[Establishment of a rapid detection method of colloidal gold immunochromatographic competition assay for organophosphorus pesticides].

Objective To establish a colloidal gold immunochromatography and develop the corresponding test strip for detecting organophosphorus compounds including omethoate, phoxim, dipterex, and parathion in fruits, vegetables and drinking water. Methods Artificial antigen molecules of organophosphorus compounds were synthesized using N-hydroxysuccinimide esters. Acetylcholinesterase antigen was prepared and purified, and the serum containing the corresponding antibody was prepared, purified, and labeled. The working parameters of the test strip were optimized, and the performance evaluation of it was conducted. Results The titer of the antisera ranged from 1:32 to 1:64, with a protein content of approximately 2 mg/mL. The purified polyclonal antibodies displayed target bands at relative molecular masses (Mr) of 25 000 and 55 000, indicating satisfactory purity. The reaction time of the test strips was between 5 to 10 minutes, with a detection limit for samples at 200 ng/mL. Both specificity and accuracy were satisfactory, and the test strip remained valid for 6 months. Conclusion A simple and rapid colloidal gold immunochromatography is established successfully for detecting several organophosphorus compounds and may be useful for on-site preliminary screening of samples in large quantities.

Lead Isotope Signatures and Source Identification of Heavy Metals in Vegetable Soils Irrigated with Swine Wastewater of Jiangxi Province, China.

The rapid development of livestock and poultry industry in China has caused serious environment pollution problems. To understand the heavy metals accumulation and identify their sources, 7 heavy metals contents and lead isotope ratios were determined in 24 soil samples from vegetable fields irrigated with swine wastewater in Dongxiang County, Jiangxi Province, China. The results showed that the concentration of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd and Pb in the swine wastewater irrigated vegetable soils varied from 38.5 to 86.4, 7.57 to 30.6, 20.0 to 57.1, 37.5 to 174, 9.18 to 53.1, 0.043 to 0.274 and 12.8 to 37.1 mg/kg, respectively. The soils were moderately to heavily polluted by As, moderately polluted by Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn and Cd, and unpolluted to moderately polluted by Pb. Sampling soils were classified as moderately polluted according to the Nemerow comprehensive pollution index. Lead isotope and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) analysis indicated that swine wastewater irrigation and atmospheric deposition were the primary sources of the heavy metals.

Determination of Post-Fermentation Waste from Fermented Vegetables as Potential Substitutes for Preservatives in o/w Emulsion.

Post-fermentation wastes are rich sources of various biologically active compounds with antimicrobial activity, whose potential is not being fully exploited. One of the possible applications of post-fermentation waste may be its use as a natural preservative that effectively combats pathogens found in formulations. The study aims included the following: (1) compare the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of fermented vegetable extracts (FVEs), (2) examine the inhibition of cosmetic-borne pathogens by FVEs, and (3) estimate the preservative effectiveness of FVEs in o/w emulsions. It was found that fermented white cabbage, cucumber, celery, and the mixture of fermented white cabbage, cucumber, and celery (1:1:1) showed antibacterial and antifungal activity against all the tested reference microbial strains. The addition of fermented cucumber, celery, and the mixture of fermented white cabbage, cucumber, and celery (1:1:1) to the o/w emulsion fulfilled criterion A of the preservative effectiveness test for S. aureus, E. coli, and A. brasiliensis, but did not fulfill the criterion for P. aeruginosa and C. albicans. The tested FVEs have comparable activity to inhibit pathogens in o/w emulsion as sodium benzoate. The results of our study prove that FVEs can be valuable raw materials supporting the preservative system, which, in turn, can significantly reduce the concentration of preservatives used in o/w emulsion.

Dihydroxyl modified UiO-66 as dispersive solid-phase extraction sorbent coupled with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry for detection of neonicotinoid insecticides.

The extensive usage of neonicotinoid insecticides (NIs) has raised many concerns about their potential harm to environment and human health. Thus, it is of great importance to develop an efficient and reliable method to determine NIs in food samples. In this work, three Zr4+-based metal-organic frameworks functionalized with various numbers of hydroxyl groups were fabricated with a facile one-pot solvothermal method. Among them, dihydroxy modified UiO-66 (UiO-66-(OH)2) exhibited best adsorption performance towards five target NIs. Then, a sensitive and efficient method for detection of NIs from vegetable and fruit samples was established based on dispersive solid phase extraction (dSPE) with UiO-66-(OH)2 as adsorbent coupled with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). Key parameters affecting the dSPE procedure including amounts of adsorbent, adsorption time, eluent solvents and desorption time were investigated. Under the optimal conditions, rapid adsorption of NIs within five minutes was achieved due to the high affinity of UiO-66-(OH)2 towards NIs. The developed method exhibited high sensitivity with limits of detection (LODs) varied from 0.003 to 0.03 ng/mL and wide linearity range over 3-4 orders of magnitude from 0.01 to 500 ng/mL. Furthermore, the established method was applied for determining trace NIs from complex matrices with recoveries ranging from 74.6 to 99.6 % and 77.0-106.8 % for pear and tomato samples, respectively. The results indicate the potential of UiO-66-(OH)2 for efficient enrichment of trace NIs from complex matrices.

Assessment of heavy metals and human health risk associated with the consumption of crops cultivated in industrial areas of Maputo, Mozambique.

This study aimed to evaluate heavy metals concentrations in soils and vegetables (cabbage, lettuce, and cassava) cultivated at Matola and Beluluane Industrial Parks, and to assess health risks linked to their consumption through estimated daily intake, hazard index (HI), and incremental lifetime cancer risk. Concentrations of Al, As, Co, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn were determined in the two sites. Soil concentrations of As at Beluluane site and As, Cd, and Cr at Matola site exceeded reference limits of the Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization, showing heavy metal contamination. At Beluluane site, all studied vegetables presented As and Pb levels higher than reference limits, Cd concentrations were higher than the reference limit in cabbage, lettuce, and cassava leaves. At Matola site crops concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, and Pb exceeded the reference limits. Zinc exceeded the reference limit in all crops except in cabbage. HIs for vegetables from Beluluane exceeded 1.0 in cabbage (2.66), lettuce (2.27), and cassava leaves (2.37). Likewise, at Matola, HIs exceeded 1.0 in lettuce (1.67), cassava leaves (1.65), and root tubers (13). We found that vegetables cultivated in industrial parks present high carcinogenic risk due to heavy metal contamination, rendering them unsuitable for human consumption.

Exploration of the Lipid Profile of Edible Oleaginous Microgreens by Mass Spectrometry-Based Lipidomics.

The spreading awareness of the health benefits associated with the consumption of plant-based foods is fueling the market of innovative vegetable products, including microgreens, recognized as a promising source of bioactive compounds. To evaluate the potential of oleaginous plant microgreens as a source of bioactive fatty acids, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was exploited to characterize the total fatty acid content of five microgreens, namely, chia, flax, soy, sunflower, and rapeseed (canola). Chia and flax microgreens appeared as interesting sources of α-linolenic acid (ALA), with total concentrations of 2.6 and 2.9 g/100 g of dried weight (DW), respectively. Based on these amounts, approximately 15% of the ALA daily intake recommended by the European Food Safety Authority can be provided by 100 g of the corresponding fresh products. Flow injection analysis with high-resolution Fourier transform single and tandem mass spectrometry enabled a semi-quantitative profiling of triacylglycerols (TGs) and sterol esters (SEs) in the examined microgreen crops, confirming their role as additional sources of fatty acids like ALA and linoleic acid (LA), along with glycerophospholipids. The highest amounts of TGs and SEs were observed in rapeseed and sunflower microgreens (ca. 50 and 4-5 µmol/g of DW, respectively), followed by flax (ca. 20 and 3 µmol/g DW). TG 54:9, 54:8, and 54:7 prevailed in the case of flax and chia, whereas TG 54:3, 54:4, and 54:5 were the most abundant TGs in the case of rapeseed. ß-Sitosteryl linoleate and linolenate were generally prevailing in the SE profiles, although campesteryl oleate, linoleate, and linolenate exhibited a comparable amount in the case of rapeseed microgreens.

Determination of o-quinones in foods by a derivative strategy combined with UHPLC-MS/MS.

As primary polyphenol oxidant products, the occurrence of o-quinone is greatly responsible for quality deterioration in wine, including browning and aroma loss. The high reactivity of o-quinone causes huge difficulty in its determination. Herein, a derivative strategy combined with UHPLC-MS/MS analysis was established with chlorogenic acid quinone (CQAQ) and 4-methylcatechol quinone (4MCQ) as model compounds. Method validation demonstrated its efficiency for two analytes (R2 > 0.99, accuracy 98.71-106.39 %, RSD of precision 0.46-6.11 %, recovery 85.83-99.37 %). This approach was successfully applied to detect CQAQ and 4MCQ, suggesting its applicability in food analysis. CQAQ in coffee was much more than 4MCQ and with the deepening of baking degree, CQAQ decreased and 4MCQ increased. The amounts of CQAQ in various vegetables were markedly different, seemingly consistent with their respective browning degrees in practical production. This study developed an accurate and robust analytical approach for o-quinones, providing technical support for their further investigation in foods.

Metal-organic framework-based aptasensor utilizing a novel electrochemiluminescence system for detecting acetamiprid residues in vegetables.

The work was based on N-(4-Aminobutyl)-N-ethylisoluminol (ABEI)-functionalized Fe-MIL-101 and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as sensing materials, and an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) aptasensor was constructed for detecting acetamiprid. As a metal-organic framework (MOF) material, Fe-MIL-101, was renowned for its unique three-dimensional network structure and efficient catalytic capability. ABEI, a common ECL reagent, was widely applied. ABEI was introduced into the Fe-MIL-101 structure as a luminescence functionalization reagent to form Fe-MIL-101@ABEI. This approach avoided limitations on the loading capacity of luminescent reagents imposed by modification and encapsulation methods. With character of excellent catalytic activity and ease of bioconjugation, AuNPs offered significant advantages in biosensing. Leveraging the reductive properties of ABEI, AuNPs were reduced around Fe-MIL-101@ABEI, resulting in the modified luminescent functionalized material denoted as Fe-MIL-101@ABEI@AuNPs. An aptamer was employed as a recognition element and was modified accordingly. The aptamer was immobilized on Fe-MIL-101@ABEI@AuNPs through gold-sulfur (Au-S) bonds. After capturing acetamiprid, the aptamer induced a decrease in the ECL signal intensity within the ABEI-hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) system, enabling the quantitative detection of acetamiprid. The aptasensor displayed remarkable stability and repeatability, featured a detection range of 1×10-3-1×102 nM, and had a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.3 pM (S/N=3), which underscored its substantial practical application potential.

Associations between Vegetable Nitrate Intake and Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Mortality: A Systematic Review.

Consumption of nitrate-rich vegetables increases nitric oxide bioavailability, lowers blood pressure, and improves endothelial function. These effects could also translate into reduced cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and mortality. This systematic review aimed to investigate the associations between habitual vegetable nitrate intake and CVD incidence and mortality. A secondary aim was to identify factors that moderate the relationship between vegetable nitrate intake and CVD incidence/mortality. Seven databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and APA PsycINFO) were searched from inception to 13 February 2023. Observational studies quantifying vegetable nitrate intake in participants aged 18+ years through self-reported dietary exposure and assessing incidence or mortality from CVD overall, or individual CVD subtypes, were eligible. Five studies including a total of 63,155 participants were included. There was an inverse association between vegetable nitrate intake and most reported CVD outcomes. Reported risk reductions tended to plateau at moderate intake, suggesting a possible ceiling effect. The risk of bias across all studies was low. The results of this systematic review suggest a potential role for vegetable nitrate in reducing CVD risk and mortality. Further randomised controlled trials are now required to corroborate these findings.

Activated carbon and their nanocomposites derived from vegetable and fruit residues for water treatment.

Water pollution remains a pressing environmental issue, with diverse pollutants such as heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, dyes, and aromatic hydrocarbon compounds posing a significant threat to clean water access. Historically, biomass-derived activated carbons (ACs) have served as effective adsorbents for water treatment, owing to their inherent porosity and expansive surface area. Nanocomposites have emerged as a means to enhance the absorption properties of ACs, surpassing conventional AC performance. Biomass-based activated carbon nanocomposites (ACNCs) hold promise due to their high surface area and cost-effectiveness. This review explores recent advancements in biomass-based ACNCs, emphasizing their remarkable adsorption efficiencies and paving the way for future research in developing efficient and affordable ACNCs. Leveraging real-time communication for ACNC applications presents a viable approach to addressing cost concerns.

Optimization of QuEChERS method for determination of pesticide residues in vegetables and health risk assessment.

The present study focused on the optimization of the QuEChERS extraction method for the determination of 61 pesticide residues and associated health risk assessment in 144 samples of commonly consumed vegetables, viz., eggplant, cabbage, green chilli, okra, and tomato. The samples were collected between January and April 2022 from three different districts within Gujarat, India. The QuEChERS method was optimized and utilized for the extraction of samples. The samples were analyzed by UHPLC-q-TOF/MS and GC-MS/MS. The modified QuEChERS method was successfully validated, and the obtained results were satisfactory as per the 2021 SANTE guidelines. The residue analysis of the vegetable samples showed that about 4% of total samples contained single pesticide residues. Pesticide residues below the quantitation limit (BQL) were observed in eggplant, cabbage, and okra samples. In total, 15.62% (n = 5) samples of green chilli showed the presence of pesticides such as azoxystrobin, bifenthrin, cypermethrin, fenpropathrin, and propargite whereas 3% (n = 1) tomato samples contained cyfluthrin. In total, 97.22% of the samples had residues that were below the European Union Maximum Residue Limit (EU MRL). Two samples of green chilli had pesticide residues above EU MRL. The Hazard Index (HI) and Hazard Quotient (HQ) were used to assess the health risks associated with green chilli and tomato consumption. The HI and HQ values for adolescents and adults were found to be less than 1. The modified QuEChERS method was found to be easy and effective and can be implemented for routine sample analysis. The study revealed the presence of pesticide residues in tomato and green chilli samples. Further, the outcome provided information pertaining to current pesticide status, concluding that consumption of these commodities is unlikely to pose any health risk, though long-term monitoring studies focusing on dietary health risk assessment must be initiated.

Field-based soil-plant uptake measurements of natural radionuclides for key vegetables and ghaf leaves in Abu Dhabi.

With the thriving fossil fuel and nuclear based industries in the nation, radioecology has become necessary for the radiation safety and emergency-preparedness for the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Environmental radiation transport modelling in the UAE and the Arabian Peninsula are severely limited, as we discuss in this paper, due to lack of experiments specific to arid desert climates. To fill the missing gaps in the baseline arid region radioecological database, especially for the soil-plant uptake studies, rigorous field works have been conducted for the first time on the soil and plant in the farms and open fields of the UAE. We present Abu Dhabi based measurements of activity concentrations of radionuclides of natural origins, in soils, key vegetables (cucumber, tomato, and bell pepper), and leaves of ghaf - a prominent native tree. The empirical data are utilized to get the first published estimates of UAE-specific plant-soil concentration ratios (CR), measuring root uptake of radionuclides in nonleafy vegetables and native trees. Such systematic studies are very rare for arid sandy soils. For the 27 samples analyzed, the activity concentrations' (unit Bq kg-1) ranges are: 169-1746 for 40K, 12-19.5 for 226Ra, and 2.7-23.1 for 228Ra. Likewise, wide variability is seen in the averages of concentration ratios also, ranging in 1.05-4.94 for 40K, 0.14-1.82 for 226Ra, and 0.53-2.78 for 228Ra. A net bioaccumulation (concentration ratio >1) of some of these natural radionuclides is found in many samples, but no significant doses or hazard indices are found due to these three radionuclides in the UAE's soils and vegetations. The paper discusses the careful work through tens of field sampling exercises, well controlled sample processing, high resolution gamma spectrometry, and treatment of data from gamma counting rates to accumulated dose rate estimations.

Investigation of use of hydrophilic/hydrophobic NADESs for selective extraction of As(III) and Sb(III) ions in vegetable samples: Air assisted liquid phase microextraction and chemometric optimization.

In this paper, a green, cost-effective sample preparation method based on air assisted liquid phase microextraction (AA-LPME) was developed for the simultaneous extraction of As(III) and Sb(III) ions from vegetable samples using hydrophilic/hydrophobic natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs). Central composite design was used for the optimization of extraction factors including NADES volume, extraction cycle, pH, and curcumin concentration. Limits of detection for As(III) and Sb(III) were 1.5 ng L-1 and 0.06 ng L-1, respectively. Working ranges for As(III) and Sb(III) were 0.2-300 ng L-1 (coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.9978) and 5-400 ng L-1 (R2 = 0.9996), respectively. Relative standard deviations for As(III) and Sb(III) were 2.2-2.8% and 2.9-3.2%, respectively. Enrichment factor of the method was 184 for As(III) and 172 for Sb(III). The accuracy and precision of the AA-NADES-LPME method were investigated by intraday/interday studies and standard reference material analysis, respectively. Finally, the AA-NADES-LPME method was successfully applied to microwave digested vegetable samples using the standard addition approach and acceptable recoveries were achieved.

COF-SiO2@Fe3O4 Composite for Magnetic Solid-Phase Extraction of Pyrethroid Pesticides in Vegetables.

Pyrethroid pesticides (PYRs) have found widespread application in agriculture for the protection of fruit and vegetable crops. Nonetheless, excessive usage or improper application may allow the residues to exceed the safe limits and pose a threat to consumer safety. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop efficient technologies for the elimination or trace detection of PYRs from vegetables. Here, a simple and efficient magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) strategy was developed for the simultaneous purification and enrichment of five PYRs in vegetables, employing the magnetic covalent organic framework nanomaterial COF-SiO2@Fe3O4 as an adsorbent. COF-SiO2@Fe3O4 was prepared by a straightforward solvothermal method, using Fe3O4 as a magnetic core and benzidine and 3,3,5,5-tetraaldehyde biphenyl as the two building units. COF-SiO2@Fe3O4 could effectively capture the targeted PYRs by virtue of its abundant π-electron system and hydroxyl groups. The impact of various experimental parameters on the extraction efficiency was investigated to optimize the MSPE conditions, including the adsorbent amount, extraction time, elution solvent type and elution time. Subsequently, method validation was conducted under the optimal conditions in conjunction with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Within the range of 5.00-100 µg·kg-1 (1.00-100 µg·kg-1 for bifenthrin and 2.5-100 µg·kg-1 for fenpropathrin), the five PYRs exhibited a strong linear relationship, with determination coefficients ranging from 0.9990 to 0.9997. The limits of detection (LODs) were 0.3-1.5 µg·kg-1, and the limits of quantification (LOQs) were 0.9-4.5 µg·kg-1. The recoveries were 80.2-116.7% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) below 7.0%. Finally, COF-SiO2@Fe3O4, NH2-SiO2@Fe3O4 and Fe3O4 were compared as MSPE adsorbents for PYRs. The results indicated that COF-SiO2@Fe3O4 was an efficient and rapid selective adsorbent for PYRs. This method holds promise for the determination of PYRs in real samples.

Phytochemical investigation of the n-hexane-extracted oil from four umbelliferous vegetables using GC/MS analysis in the context of antibacterial activity.

Umbelliferous (Apiaceae) vegetables are widely consumed worldwide for their nutritive and health benefits. The main goal of the current study is to explore the compositional heterogeneity in four dried umbelliferous vegetables viz, celery, coriander, dill, and parsley targeting their volatile profile using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 133 volatile metabolites were detected belonging to 12 classes. Aromatic hydrocarbons were detected as the major components of the analyzed vegetables accounting ca. 64.0, 62.4, 59.5, and 47.8% in parsley, dill, celery, and coriander, respectively. Aliphatic hydrocarbons were detected at ca. 6.39, 8.21, 6.16, and 6.79% in parsley, dill, celery, and coriander, respectively. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of various health benefits were detected in parsley and represented by roughanic acid and α-linolenic acid at 4.99 and 0.47%, respectively. Myristicin and frambinone were detected only in parsley at 0.45 and 0.56%. Investigation of antibacterial activity of umbelliferous vegetables n-hexane extract revealed a moderate antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria with higher activity for celery and dill against Staphylococcus aureus with inhibition zone 20.3 mm compared to 24.3 mm of the standard antibacterial drug.

Anthocyanins as Natural Food Colorings: The Chemistry Behind and Challenges Still Ahead.

Anthocyanins are polyphenolic O-glycosides widely responsible for the bright red, purple, and blue colors in the plant kingdom, including a great variety of fruits and vegetables. Hence, they have attracted considerable scientific and industrial interest as potential natural food colorings. However, individual anthocyanins are intrinsically reactive molecules combining electrophilic, nucleophilic, and electron-donating properties. This reactivity may be not only a source of color diversity with, for instance, the formation of new pigments upon winemaking and storage but also a cause of great color instability involving a combination of reversible and irreversible mechanisms (e.g., water addition, autoxidation) leading to colorless products. Hence, using anthocyanin-rich plant extracts as food colorings requires a deep understanding of these color-damaging mechanisms and, no less importantly, of the color-stabilizing mechanisms developed by plants, including π-stacking interactions (self-association, copigmentation), metal binding, and a combination of both. The potential of anthocyanins from deeply colored vegetables, typically acylated by hydroxycinnamic acid residues, will be emphasized in that respect. Moreover, food-grade biopolymers (proteins, polysaccharides) may provide suitable matrices for ready-to-use formulations of anthocyanins as food colorings. In this short review, the mechanisms of color loss and color stabilization are discussed as a function of anthocyanin structure and environment, and some challenges still ahead are outlined.