Alina Ortan

Vineyard management and winemaking leave behind large residue streams that are still rarely used as fermentation feedstocks. This review considers how pomace, skins, seeds, stems, canes, pruning wood, leaves and wine lees can be directed toward microbial bioconversion, fermentation-assisted recovery of bioactive compounds, and circular biorefinery schemes. Their composition (phenolics, stilbenes, dietary fiber, lignocellulose, sugars, minerals and yeast-derived material) makes them workable in either solid-state or submerged fermentation. We describe the routes that lead to enzymes, organic acids, ethanol, microbial biomass, biosurfactants, pigments and functional ingredients, together with the mechanisms by which bound phenolics are released and transformed. Green extraction, downstream purification, analytical standardization and process intensification are treated next, since market-ready consistency depends on them. The remaining obstacles are then set out: feedstock variability, phenolic inhibition, strain safety, scale-up, product stability, regulatory demands and economics. The data show grapevine waste as a versatile and valuable fermentation substrate and identify the reasons why laboratory results have not yet reached industrial scale.

Background: Obesity has reached epidemic proportions, affecting over one billion adults worldwide. While incretin-based pharmacotherapies—GLP-1 receptor agonists (semaglutide) and dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists (tirzepatide)—have transformed obesity treatment, their use remains limited by high costs, adverse effects, restricted eligibility, and rapid weight regain following discontinuation. Plant-derived bioactive compounds represent a promising complementary approach to address these gaps. Objective: This narrative review synthesizes clinical trial evidence on plant-based interventions for obesity management and examines their potential role as adjunctive strategies before, during, and after incretin-based pharmacotherapy. Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (2012–2026), prioritizing randomized controlled trials in adults with overweight or obesity reporting at least one obesity-related metabolic outcome. Sixty-one studies were selected and classified by efficacy tier based on the magnitude and breadth of observed clinical effects. Results: The strongest evidence supports polyphenol-rich dietary patterns, particularly the green-Mediterranean diet, producing significant reductions in body weight, visceral fat, and cardiometabolic risk markers. Specific extracts—including curcumin, bergamot polyphenols, and Lippia citriodora/Hibiscus sabdariffa combinations—demonstrated clinically meaningful metabolic improvements. Isolated high-dose resveratrol and several single-compound interventions showed limited benefit, largely attributable to poor bioavailability. The most effective compounds acted through multiple pathways, including AMPK activation, gut microbiota modulation, and appetite hormone regulation. Conclusions: Plant-derived bioactive compounds offer a safe, accessible adjunctive strategy for obesity management, particularly relevant for patients ineligible for or discontinuing pharmacotherapy. Future trials should directly evaluate plant-polyphenol combinations alongside GLP-1 receptor agonists.

Optimizing the extraction of bioactive compounds from Solidago sp. is essential for the development of plant-derived products with therapeutic and nutraceutical potential. Microwave-assisted (MW) and thermal maceration (TM) extraction of S. canadensis aerial parts were comparatively investigated to maximize total flavonoid content (TFC). The obtained extracts were subsequently freeze-dried for storage prior to chemical and biological analyses. Extraction conditions were optimized using a Box–Behnken design. Chemical characterization was performed by FTIR, HPLC-PDA, LC-MS/MS, and GC-MS, enabling detailed profiling of phenolic compounds and terpenoids. Antioxidant capacity was assessed using the DPPH radical scavenging assay, while cytotoxic activity was evaluated against HepG2, HCT-8, and HT-29 tumor cell lines, with HEK-293 cells used as a non-tumorigenic control cell line. Multivariate analysis (PCA) was applied to establish relationships between phytochemical composition and biological responses. Higher TFC values were obtained using MW extraction, whereas TM extracts exhibited greater antioxidant activity. Both extract types induced selective cytotoxic effects against tumor cell lines, while maintaining negligible toxicity toward normal HEK-293 cells. PCA revealed distinct clustering patterns between MW and TM extracts and confirmed a strong association between phenolic composition and bioactivity. The combination of optimized extraction, freeze-drying, and integrated chemical–biological evaluation produced S. canadensis extracts with well-defined phytochemical profiles and biological activity, supporting their potential use in nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical applications.

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.

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.

Background/Objectives: This study aims to screen the extracts of tomato plant waste (aerial parts—mixture of leaves, stems, and bunches resulting from tomato crop maintenance, and axillary shoots—resulting from pruning practices) and evaluate their antifungal, prebiotic, and cytotoxic effects. Methods: A phytochemical profiling was performed to analyze volatile and semi-volatile compounds by GC-MS, functional groups by FTIR, soluble sugars by HPLC-RI, and glycoalkaloids by LC-MS/MS. Tomato plant waste extracts were further tested in vitro, and their biological effects were assessed with probiotic microorganisms (Enterococcus faecium ATCC 19434, Enterococcus faecium VL43, Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014, and Lactobacillus plantarum GM3) to determine their prebiotic-like properties, particularly after demonstrating strong antifungal activity against several Candida species, such as Candida albicans ATCC 10231, Candida parapsilosis ATCC 22019, Candida glabrata ATCC 64677, and Candida auris 6328. The extracts were also evaluated for the cytotoxic effect against HEP-G2, HeLa, and HT-29 cell lines, while cytotoxicity assays confirmed no significant effects on the normal HEK-293 cell line compared to the control. Results: The in vitro antimicrobial activity and prebiotic-like substrate assay proved the difference between extract effects against Candida species (C. glabrata—MIC 125 µg/mL) and, respectively, the influence on Lactobacillus strains growth (up to a 1.6-fold increase in OD₆₀₀). Furthermore, they exhibited selective cytotoxicity against HEP-G2, HeLa, and HT-29 cancer cell lines, while showing no significant toxicity on normal HEK-293 cells. Conclusions: Overall, this research highlights tomato axillary shoots as a sustainable source of bioactive compounds, with potential applications in developing natural, plant-based prebiotic products that exhibit antifungal and antitumor activity. This research focuses on developing natural, plant-based prebiotic products with antifungal and cytotoxic effects.

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.

The rising threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has driven the search for safe and effective alternatives to conventional antibiotics. This study investigated the probiotic potential and postbiotic properties of Enterococcus faecium (one strain), Pediococcus acidilactici (five strains), and Pediococcus pentosaceus (five strains), identified by 16S rRNA sequencing. Among the strains, Pediococcus pentosaceus MI124 and Pediococcus acidilactici MI129 demonstrated robust survival under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. Cell surface analyses revealed strong auto-aggregation and hydrophobicity in selected strains, notably P. pentosaceus MI124 and P. acidilactici MI127. Enzymatic profiling revealed potential complex metabolic capabilities across different strains. Safety assessments confirmed the absence of hemolytic and gelatinase activities across all strains. Antibiotic susceptibility testing showed resistance to certain β-lactams, while susceptibility to chloramphenicol and tetracycline varied. All LAB strains demonstrated high freeze-drying survivability, exceeding 78.69%. The antibacterial activity of CFSs was confirmed against 14 Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens, with results supporting their potential as antimicrobial agents. The CFSs demonstrated a higher total phenolic content (TPC) and displayed significant antioxidant activity, while the total flavonoid content (TFC) remained consistent across most strains. An FTIR spectral analysis confirmed the presence of key functional groups associated with phenolics, organic acids, and peptides, indicating a complex biochemical profile. Probiotics and their postbiotic derivatives offer promising health benefits, including pathogen inhibition and immune modulation. These findings highlight several LAB strains with promising probiotic traits and postbiotic efficacy, supporting their potential use in functional foods and therapeutic applications.

This paper explores the broad probiotic and functional properties of two non-Saccharomyces strains (MI120 and MI125) and one Saccharomyces cerevisiae BB06 strain (as a reference probiotic). Torulaspora delbrueckii MI120 and Starmerella bacillaris MI125 were identified via 5.8S rDNA sequencing. All the strains survived well in simulated gastrointestinal conditions and had strong antioxidant activity (>68%). S. bacillaris MI125 excelled in antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. S. bacillaris MI125 and Sacch. cerevisiae BB06 resisted all the tested antibiotics. No strain displayed hemolytic behavior. The freeze-dried yeast strains achieved survival rates between 76.62% and 93.38%. Based on our physiological characterization analysis (carbon assimilation, ethanol tolerance, acetic acid and H₂S production, temperature and low pH tolerance, enzymatic pattern, and killer phenotype), all the strains showed interesting attributes, with Sacch. cerevisiae BB06 fermenting vigorously in malt extract medium. Beer fermented with T. delbrueckii MI120 had the highest phenolic content (96.02 μg GAE·mL⁻¹) and antioxidant activity (90.43%), matching commercial Sacch. cerevisiae US-05 in sensory traits such as taste and aroma. However, after two months in bottled beer, the yeast viability decreased to 2–3 log CFU·mL⁻¹. The pilot brewing and the assessments of the strains’ technological, physico-chemical, and sensorial properties confirmed their suitability for industrial brewing. Overall, T. delbrueckii MI120 emerges as a promising brewing strain, and S. bacillaris MI125 is a potential probiotic.

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.