Chunting Zhu

This study explores an innovative approach based on deep eutectic solvent (DES)-synergistic ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) of anthocyanins from blueberry pomace (BP). Choline chloride–lactic acid (ChCl-LA, 1:2) was identified as the most efficient DES and provided the highest anthocyanin recovery. The optimal conditions for ChCl-LA-synergistic UAE (ChCl-LA-UAE) were obtained as follows: ultrasonic power of 270 W, extraction time of 30 min, liquid-to-solid ratio of 35:1, and water content in ChCl-LA of 40%, achieving a total anthocyanin content (TAC) of 3.5168 mg/g, with R² = 0.9860. This value was significantly higher than those obtained with 70% ethanol (3.1962 mg/g) and pure water (1.9137 mg/g). SEM images revealed that ChCl-LA-UAE disrupted the surface structure of the samples, thereby promoting anthocyanin release. COSMO-RS simulations confirmed that ChCl-LA significantly enhanced the interaction between the solvent and the representative anthocyanin (cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, C3G), resulting in higher extraction efficiency. In vitro antioxidant assays further demonstrated that the synergistic system exhibited stronger antioxidant activity. Overall, ultrasonic-synergistic DES extraction could be an eco-friendly method for recovering high-value compounds from blueberry and its byproducts.

The rising prevalence of neurodevelopmental, emotional, and behavioral disorders in children has prompted interest in dietary strategies that target neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and gut dysbiosis. Blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) contain substantial amounts of anthocyanins and other neuroactive polyphenols that may confer neuroprotective effects. We summarize the literature published between 2016 and 2025 to examine how the bioactives in blueberries affect symptoms relevant to children with diagnosed neurodevelopmental or emotional–behavioral disorders, including ADHD, mood problems, and cognitive difficulties. Mechanistically, anthocyanins appear to modulate gut microbial composition, modulate neuroinflammation and alleviate oxidative stress via the Nrf2 pathway, and support synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis. Clinical trials, although limited in number and sample size, have reported modest improvements in mood and verbal memory in typically developing children and adolescents, with some gains in attention and executive function. However, direct trials in children with diagnosed neurodevelopmental or emotional–behavioral conditions remain scarce. There are substantial hurdles to translating these findings. Anthocyanins have poor physicochemical stability and low bioavailability, and routine food processing degrades their activity. Emerging solutions such as green extraction from agricultural by-products, colon-targeted microencapsulation, and zero-waste engineering could address these limitations. Rigorous randomized controlled trials in children with diagnosed neurodevelopmental or emotional–behavioral disorders are essential, as are advances in food engineering. Both are needed to move blueberry-based interventions from the laboratory to application.

Blueberry anthocyanins (BAs) exhibit strong antioxidant and lipid-regulating activities; however, their chemical instability and low oral bioavailability limit their practical application. In this study, two plant-based bilayer nanocarriers were developed using soybean lecithin as the lipid core and gum arabic (GA) or carrageenan (CGN) as the shell polysaccharide. The optimized systems achieved encapsulation efficiencies of 79.7% and 81.9%, respectively. Structural analyses showed that anthocyanins were stably incorporated into the carriers through multiple non-covalent interactions and transformed from a crystalline to an amorphous state. The two shell polysaccharides exhibited distinct conformation-dependent protective behaviors: GA provided better thermal protection, whereas CGN showed superior resistance to light, metal ions, ascorbic acid, and simulated intestinal digestion. After INFOGEST digestion, anthocyanin retention in the intestinal phase was 47% and 51% for the GA- and CGN-coated systems, respectively, and antioxidant activity was better preserved than in the free anthocyanin group. In an oleic-acid-induced HepG2 lipid accumulation model, the CGN carrier showed good biocompatibility and significantly enhanced the lipid-lowering effect of anthocyanins, with the most pronounced reduction in intracellular triglycerides. These results indicate that the CGN carrier has considerable potential for maintaining anthocyanin stability, modulating digestive behavior, and enhancing biological efficacy, and provide a reference for the design of plant-based delivery systems for bioactive ingredients.