Angela Maffia

Breast cancer remains one of the most frequently diagnosed malignancies and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide. The growing interest in natural bioactive compounds has highlighted plant-derived phytochemicals as promising agents for cancer prevention and adjunctive therapy due to their pleiotropic biological activities and relatively low toxicity. In parallel, increasing attention has been directed toward agro-industrial by-products generated during food processing, which represent abundant and sustainable sources of valuable phytochemicals. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the identification, extraction, and biological evaluation of phytochemicals derived from plants and agro-industrial residues, using pomegranate (Punica granatum) peels, onion (Allium cepa) skins, and citrus by-products as representative examples of phytochemical-rich agro-industrial residues. These by-products are rich in polyphenols, flavonoids, and other secondary metabolites—including punicalagins, ellagic acid, quercetin, hesperidin, and naringin—that have demonstrated significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. Recent in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that these compounds can modulate key molecular pathways involved in breast cancer initiation and progression, such as oxidative stress regulation, apoptosis induction, inhibition of cell proliferation, and suppression of signaling cascades including PI3K/Akt, NF-κB, and MAPK pathways. Furthermore, the valorization of agro-industrial waste offers a sustainable strategy to recover high-value bioactive compounds while reducing environmental impact. Overall, phytochemicals obtained from plant materials and food processing by-products represent promising functional agents for breast cancer prevention and therapy, although further studies are required to improve bioavailability, elucidate mechanisms of action, and validate their clinical potential.

Soil degradation and organic matter depletion threaten the sustainability of Mediterranean agroecosystems, highlighting the need for effective and sustainable soil restoration strategies. This study evaluated the short-term effects of composts and vermicomposts derived from chestnut sawdust and food waste on soil functionality and broccoli quality under field conditions using a multi-indicator assessment framework. Six fertilization treatments, including composts, vermicomposts, horse manure, mineral NPK fertilization, and an unfertilized control, were tested in broccoli-cultivated plots. Organic amendments significantly improved soil chemical, biochemical, and biological properties compared with mineral fertilization and the unfertilized control. Vermicompost 10/90 (10% sawdust:90% wet waste) produced the strongest effects, increasing soil organic carbon and organic matter by about 85%, cation exchange capacity by 45%, and dehydrogenase activity by 83% compared with the unfertilized control. Compost and vermicompost treatments also enhanced microbial biomass carbon, enzymatic activities, and QBS-ar values, indicating improved soil biological quality and microarthropod diversity. Broccoli quality was significantly influenced by fertilization regime. Vermicompost 10/90 increased vitamin C by 154%, vitamin E by 54%, total proteins by 18%, and total carbohydrates by 17% compared with the unfertilized control. Organic amendments also enhanced total phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity relative to NPK and control treatments. Principal component and correlation analyses revealed strong positive relationships among organic matter accumulation, microbial activity, enzymatic processes, soil biodiversity, and crop nutritional quality. Overall, the integrated multi-indicator approach demonstrated that waste-derived organic amendments improve soil functionality and crop quality simultaneously, supporting their use as sustainable tools for circular and resilient Mediterranean agricultural systems.

Agricultural soils play a dual role in the climate system, acting both as carbon sinks and natural sources of greenhouse gas emissions, which may be intensified under unsustainable management. However, the comparative effectiveness of different soil management strategies, particularly organic amendments derived from agro-industrial residues, remains insufficiently clarified. This review aims to critically synthesize current scientific evidence on soil stewardship practices for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing soil carbon sequestration. The analysis is based on a structured review of peer-reviewed literature published over the last decade, including field experiments, long-term trials, and LCA studies. Comparative insights are provided across conventional mineral fertilization, organic amendments, and circular fertilization approaches based on agro-industrial by-products. The results indicate that organic amendments such as compost, digestate, and vermicompost generally increase soil organic carbon stocks (up to +40% in long-term systems) and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint compared with mineral fertilization, although responses vary depending on soil, climate, and management conditions. The review evaluates the effects of different management practices on soil organic carbon dynamics, greenhouse gas fluxes, nutrient use efficiency, and soil biological functioning. Special emphasis is placed on the role of waste-derived fertilizers—such as composts, digestates, and vermicompost—in promoting soil carbon stabilization while reducing the environmental burden associated with synthetic inputs. Evidence consistently indicates that soil stewardship strategies grounded in circular economy principles can lower net carbon footprints, improve soil resilience, and mitigate trade-offs between productivity and climate mitigation. By framing soil management within the context of global warming mitigation, this review highlights the multifunctional role of soils as climate regulators and underscores the potential of agro-industrial waste valorization as a scalable pathway toward climate-smart and low-emission agricultural systems.

The growing global food demand has increased the use of chemical fertilizers, causing environmental issues. Previous studies have often assessed waste-derived fertilizers separately in terms of soil improvement or environmental impact, with limited integration of these aspects across different recycling processes. This study evaluated the effects on soil quality and the environmental impact of fertilizers produced with different percentages of food wastes and different recycling processes. The fertilizers investigated include vermicompost (VC, 70% wood sawdust + 30% food wastes), Compost 1 (C1, 50% wood sawdust + 50% food wastes), Compost 2 (C2, 10% straw + 90% food wastes), and sulfur–bentonite (SBC, 90% SB + 10% food wastes). Six months post-fertilization, vermicompost significantly improved soil properties, increasing soil organic matter from 3.01% to 4.70% (+56%) and total nitrogen from 0.15% to 0.22%, along with an increase in microbial biomass compared to the unfertilized control. Compost treatments also improved soil quality, although to a lesser extent. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was performed across the entire life cycle of the fertilizers. Vermicompost showed the lowest environmental impact, with a global warming potential of 45 kg CO₂ eq ton⁻¹, compared to 93 and 100 kg CO₂ eq ton⁻¹ for C1 and C2, respectively, and 167 kg CO₂ eq ton⁻¹ for SBC. The results evidenced that vermicompost improved soil quality by increasing soil organic matter, total nitrogen, microbial biomass, and biological activity and that it emitted less CO₂ eq, SO₂ eq and PO₄³⁻ during the vermicomposting process, emphasizing its environmental sustainability. The two composts improved soil quality with a moderate environmental impact. SBC positively affected soil properties but with a strong negative environmental impact. From the benefit–cost perspective, the sustainable fertilizer ranking was VC > C2 > C1 > SBC. These findings underscore that these waste management processes represent a possible transition to sustainable fertilizers derived from waste materials to mitigate the environmental degradation associated with the production and use of conventional fertilizers. By adopting these practices, the agricultural sector can boost productivity while maintaining environmental sustainability standards.

Soils represent a critical leverage point for mitigating global warming, acting simultane-ously as major carbon reservoirs and active sources of greenhouse gas emissions under unsustainable management. This review synthesizes current evidence on soil steward-ship practices aimed at reducing carbon emissions and enhancing carbon sequestration. Comparative insights are provided across conventional mineral fertilization, organic amendments, and circular fertilization approaches based on agro-industrial by-products. The review integrates findings from field experiments, long-term trials, and life cycle as-sessment studies to evaluate the effects of different management practices on soil organic carbon dynamics, greenhouse gas fluxes, nutrient use efficiency, and soil biological func-tioning. Special emphasis is placed on the role of waste-derived fertilizers—such as com-posts, digestates, vermicompost—in promoting soil carbon stabilization while reducing the environmental burden associated with synthetic inputs. Evidence consistently indi-cates that soil stewardship strategies grounded in circular economy principles can lower net carbon footprints, improve soil resilience, and mitigate trade-offs between productivity and climate mitigation. By framing soil management within the context of global warm-ing mitigation, this review highlights the multifunctional role of soils as climate regula-tors and underscores the potential of agro-industrial waste valorization as a scalable pathway toward climate-smart and low-emission agricultural systems.

The growing demand for sustainable fertilization practices has stimulated interest in circular fertilizers derived from agro-industrial and agricultural wastes. This study assessed the agronomic and biological performance of several waste-based fertilizers—produced through composting, vermicomposting, and sulfur–bentonite enrichment—on chemical and microbiological soil properties. Composts and vermicomposts were prepared from olive pomace, citrus residues, wood sawdust, and straw, with or without elemental sulfur obtained from petroleum gas desulfurization. Field trials were conducted on a sandy loam soil (Motta San Giovanni, Italy) to compare the different formulations. After six months, soils amended with waste-based fertilizers exhibited significant improvements in key parameters relative to both the control and mineral fertilizer treatment. Vermicompost applications (SV1, SV2) increased total organic carbon by 20–30% (up to 2.1%), total nitrogen by 35–45% (0.22–0.23%), microbial biomass carbon by ~25% (≈1090 µg C g⁻¹), and dehydrogenase and fluorescein diacetate activities by 10–20% compared with compost or sulfur–bentonite treatments. Compost amendments (SC1, SC2) raised soil pH (8.2–8.3) and organic matter content (≈3.3–3.6%), while sulfur–bentonite formulations lowered pH to 7.1–7.3 and increased water-soluble phenols (up to 40 µg TAE g⁻¹ d.s). The highest cation exchange capacity (22–23 cmol (+) kg⁻¹) was observed in vermicompost-amended soils. Microbial community analysis revealed greater fungal abundance under sulfur–bentonite treatments, whereas bacteria and actinomycetes predominated in compost-amended soils. Principal Component Analysis (explaining 76% of variance) identified two main functional pathways: vermicompost treatments clustered with indicators of high biological activity (TOC, TN, MBC, and enzyme activities), while compost and sulfur–bentonite treatments were associated with pH, phenolic compounds, and fungal biomass, reflecting slower but more stable organic matter turnover. Overall, vermicompost-based fertilizers proved most effective in enhancing short-term nutrient availability and microbial activation, whereas composts favored long-term soil carbon accumulation and stability. These results highlight the potential of circular fertilizers derived from agro-industrial wastes to restore soil health, close nutrient cycles, and reduce dependence on synthetic fertilizers—thereby advancing sustainable and circular agriculture.

Sustainable fertilization strategies are critical under climate change and the European Green Deal, particularly for Mediterranean cereal systems. Organic fertilizers derived from agro-industrial residues offer promising alternatives to conventional mineral inputs. This study evaluated RecOrgFert, a novel fertilizer composed of sulfur–bentonite and citrus-processing residues, in comparison with NPK (15-15-15) and horse manure across two years in Central Macedonia (Greece) and Apulia (Italy). Using a randomized complete block design, soil chemical and biological properties, plant growth, yield, and grain quality were assessed. RecOrgFert outperformed conventional fertilizers by enhancing soil fertility—raising organic matter 25–27% above control and further increasing it from 2023 to 2024 (up to +75% in Italy, +38% in Greece)—while improving cation exchange capacity, enzymatic activity, and soil water content. Wheat grown with RecOrgFert showed higher protein (up to 15.2%), antioxidant activity (DPPH > 37%, ABTS⁺ > 26%), and phenolic and flavonoid content, with yields comparable to NPK. The unique sulfur and orange-residue composition distinguish RecOrgFert from standard fertilizers, promoting nutrient cycling, microbial activity, and bioactive compound accumulation. It represents a novel, circular, and climate-smart solution aligned with EU sustainability and circular economy objectives.

Background: In the context of climate change and the European Green Deal, sustainable fertilization practices are essential to enhance crop yield and soil health. Organic fertiliz-ers from agro-industrial waste are gaining attention as alternatives to synthetic inputs. This study evaluates a novel fertilizer (RecOrgFert), composed of sulfur bentonite and cit-rus-processing residues. Methods: A two-year field trial was carried out in Central Mace-donia (Northern Greece) and Apulia (Southern Italy) using a randomized complete block design with four treatments: unfertilized control, mineral NPK (15-15-15), horse manure, and RecOrgFert. Soil chemical and biological properties, plant growth parameters, yield components, and grain quality indicators were assessed. Results: RecOrgFert improved soil organic matter (+22–30%), cation exchange capacity, and enzymatic activity. Wheat grain showed higher protein content (up to 15.2%), antioxidant activity (DPPH > 37%, ABTS+ > 26%), and increased phenolic and flavonoid levels compared to other treatments. These benefits were consistent across both sites and years. Conclusion: RecOrgFert en-hanced soil fertility and wheat quality while maintaining yields comparable to mineral fertilizers. Its sulfur and citrus-derived composition supports nutrient cycling and bioac-tivity, aligning with EU strategies for sustainable agriculture. RecOrgFert offers a viable, circular solution for Mediterranean cereal systems, further contributing to circular econo-my implementation plans.

This study explores the incorporation of bergamot juice and olive extract as functional ingredients in craft beer and their effects on antioxidant activity and cellular oxidative stress. Lyophilized beer samples were applied to human fibroblast cells at concentrations of 0.31 and 0.62 µg/µL for 24 and 48 h. Cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and antioxidant gene expression were evaluated. Beers enriched with bergamot (Heraclea) and olive extract (Elais) significantly reduced ROS levels compared to base beers (Blanche and Weiss), particularly at lower concentrations and shorter exposure times. However, prolonged treatment showed variable effects, suggesting possible concentration- and time-dependent pro-oxidant behavior. Gene expression analysis revealed the upregulation of the antioxidant enzyme SOD2 in all samples except Elais under oxidative stress, indicating differential cellular responses. These findings suggest that functional beers enriched with plant extracts may offer antioxidant benefits and support cellular defense mechanisms, representing a promising direction in wellness-oriented brewing.