Mariavittoria Verrillo

The development of sustainable and functional biopolymer films is of increasing interest for food packaging applications. In this study, tomato by-product oleoresins (TBO) were used to partially replace beeswax (BW) in sodium caseinate–guar gum (SC–GG) films cross-linked with microbial transglutaminase.TBO incorporation significantly modified the structure of film-forming emulsions, leading to narrower particle size distributions, increased viscosity, and improved physical stability at intermediate BW:TBO ratios. These changes were reflected in the resulting films, where TBO enhanced thermal stability and surface hydrophobicity, while reducing mechanical strength and increasing water solubility.FT-IR analysis confirmed good compatibility between TBO and the SC–GG matrix, highlighting the role of lipid–polymer interactions. In addition, TBO conferred antioxidant activity, which increased with its concentration.Overall, the results demonstrate that tomato oleoresins can be effectively used to develop functional and antioxidant films, showing potential for application as sustainable active materials in food packaging.

The growing demand for sustainable medical applications has sparked interest in the valorisation of agro‐industrial waste for bioactive compounds. Compost teas (CTs) from agrifood waste, rich in phenolics and lignin derivatives, offer promising biological properties. This study analysed CTs from bell pepper (CT‐BP) and citrus (CT‐C) composted waste, assessing their antioxidant, antiviral, and antimicrobial activities. NMR spectroscopy and thermochemolysis revealed that CT‐BP had more oxidised lignin derivatives, while CT‐C contained intact lignin structures. Both CTs effectively inhibited Gram‐positive bacteria ( Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis ), with CT‐BP showing greater efficacy. However, Gram‐negative bacteria ( Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ) were more resistant. CT‐BP also exhibited potent antiviral effects against enveloped viruses like herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV‐1) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). These findings support the use of compost‐derived extracts as sustainable bioactive agents, offering natural alternatives to conventional treatments. Further research could enhance the extraction and scalability of these materials for biomedical applications, aligning with principles of the circular economy.

Biochar may represent a sustainable and eco-friendly strategy to recycle agroforestry wastes, sequester carbon and improve soil health. With the aim of proving these benefits in a real scenario, we treated several soil parcels with 0 (CTRL), 1 (LOW) and 3 (HIGH) kg/m² of wood biochar, in open-field trials. The heterotrophic soil respiration (SR) was monitored continuously for two months via a Closed Dynamic Chamber (CDC) associated with an innovative pilot system, and the most important soil chemical parameters were measured 9 and 54 days after biochar application. Biochar induced an immediate dose-dependent increase in organic matter content and CEC (up to 41.6% and 36.8% more than CTRL, respectively), which tended to slightly and gradually decrease after 54 days. In all cases, biochar induced a more pronounced SR, although the most enhanced microbial response was detected for the LOW parcel (19.3% higher than CTRL). Fennels were grown in treated soils and only LOW microplots gave a significantly better response (weight and size). Finally, NMR, FT-IR and Pyr-GC/MS analyses of LOW SOM extracts revealed a relevant impact on the composition, which was accompanied by a higher content of carbohydrates, indole-based compounds and FAME species correlating with enhanced microbial activity. Our findings demonstrate that the proper biochar dose improves soil fertility by creating an environment favorable to plants and promoting microbial activity.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer‐related deaths worldwide. Emerging evidence suggests a rising incidence of CRC in younger adults, emphasizing the urgent need for innovative therapeutic strategies. The increasing attention on circular economy approaches has heightened interest in discovering natural compounds derived from recycled agri‐food waste. These compounds are particularly promising due to their large array of bioactive functional components. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of a green compost derived from coffee wastes, known as humic substance (HS), in reducing CRC cell viability. Chemical characterization of HS from composted coffee waste (HS‐COF) using ¹³ C Cross‐Polarization Magic‐Angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (CPMAS NMR) spectroscopy and offline pyrolysis Tetramethylammonium Hydroxide‐Gas Cromatography Mass‐Spectrometry (TMAH‐GC–MS) revealed an abundance of phenolic compounds derived from lignin residues. Specifically, chlorogenic acid (ClA) was identified as the major component and primary agent responsible for the biological effects of HS‐COF. Our in vitro results demonstrated that HS‐COF selectively inhibits HT‐29 cell viability, migration, and proliferation by inducing programed cell death through the activation of the tumor necrosis factor‐ α (TNF‐ α ) signaling pathway and disruption of calcium homeostasis. Additionally, HS‐COF exhibited a significant antioxidant activity, indicating its potential to combine a cytotoxic profile with a safety profile, thereby minimizing adverse effects on healthy cells. In conclusion, this study proposes HS‐COF as a valuable adjuvant in CRC therapy, paving the way for its application in the pharmaceutical industry.

Oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in driving immunosenescence by disrupting cellular homeostasis and impairing immune function. Humic substances exhibit scavenging activity against reactive oxygen species (ROS), inhibit ROS generation via metal chelation, and modulate endogenous antioxidant enzyme activity. Additionally, humic substances display anti-inflammatory effects, further supporting cellular redox balance. Given their antioxidant activity, humic substances hold promise as natural compounds for mitigating oxidative stress-associated immunosenescence. Here we describe the evaluation of antioxidant capacities of humic products by ABTS spectrophotometric assay.

The development of new natural antibiotics is considered as the heart of several investigations in the nutraceutical field. In this work, leaves of Quercus ilex L. treated by tropospheric ozone (O₃) and nitrogen (N) deposition, exhibited a clear antimicrobial efficacy against five multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterial strains (two gram-positive and three gram-negative). Under controlled conditions, it was studied how simulated N deposition influences the response to O₃ and the antibacterial and antioxidant activity, and antioxidant performance. The extraction was performed by ultra-pure acetone using two different steps. A higher antioxidant activity was measured in the presence of interaction between O₃ and N treatments on Quercus leaves. At the same time, all organic extracts tested have shown bacteriostatic activity against all the tested strains with a MIC comprised between 9 and 4 micrograms/mL, and a higher antioxidant efficacy shown by spectrophotometric assay. Stronger antimicrobial activity was found in the samples treated with O₃, whereas N-treated plants exhibited an intermediate antibacterial performance. This performance is related to the stimulation of the non-enzymatic antioxidant system induced by the oxidative stress, which results in an increase in the production of antimicrobial bioactive compounds.