In recent years, there has been an ever growing interest in finding new natural ources of food antioxidants. As a main fruit crop, olive is also valued due to its phenolic-containing leaves. Mathematically based optimization methods are used as powerful tools to extract different antioxidant compounds. The present study is aimed to provide an efficient extraction method for total phenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and antioxidant ability (DPPH scavenging assay and FRAP). The effects of ultrasonic temperature (35-65 °C), ultrasonic time (5-15 min), and ethanol to water ratio (Et: W) (25-75%) were evaluated. Second-order polynomial models were used through a rotatable Box-Behnken design (BBD) consisting of 15 experimental runs with three replicates at the center point. Interactional effects of the studied factors were significant in most cases for all responses. The highest extraction efficiency was found to be fifty-one percent of ethanol (65 °C, 15 min) to water ratio. Under optimal conditions, values for TPC, TFC, DPPHsc and FRAP assay were 183.4 (mg GAE. g DW), 696.77 (mg Quercetin. g DW), 78.98 (DPPHsc %) and 1942 µmol Fe/g DW, respectively. values ( > 0.92) showed that RSM models could efficiently predict the yield of all responses. In the LC-ESI-MS-DAD profiling of the optimized extract, 27 compounds were identified with oleuropein as the main compound. In the present study, olive leaf is introduced as a promising source of natural antioxidant and can be used in food industries following further studies.

Due to high water content and perishability, the raspberry fruit is sensitive to postharvest fungal contamination and postharvest losses. In this study, chitosan was used as an edible coating to increase the storage of raspberries, and nanotechnology was used to increase chitosan efficiency. The fruit was treated with an emulsion containing nanoparticles of chitosan (ECNPC) at 0, 2.5, and 5 g L−1, and stored for 9 d. Decay extension rate, fruit phytochemical contents, including total phenolics, flavonoids, and anthocyanin content, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), and guaiacol-peroxidase enzymes and antioxidant activity, and other qualitative properties were evaluated during and at the end of storage. After 9 d of storage, the highest amounts of phenolics compounds, PAL enzyme activity, and antioxidant activity were observed in fruit treated with ECNPC at 5 g L−1. The highest levels of total phenol, PAL enzyme activity, and antioxidant activity were 57.53 g L−1, 118.88 μmol/min trans-cinnamic acid, and 85.16%, respectively. ECNPC can be considered as an effective, safe, and environmentally friendly method for enhancing fruit phytochemical contents, postharvest life, and health-promoting capacity.

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Essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.), ajowan (Carum copticum L.), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare L.) and summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.) were assessed under in vivo condition for antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea on kiwifruits. Inoculated and oil-treated fruits were kept in storage, 90 days. Evaluation of the antifungal activity of essential oils showed that with the increase of their concentrations the antifungal activity was increased, but no significant differences were observed. In addition, the quality parameters such as total soluble solids (TSS), titrable acidity (TA) and vitamin C reduced in fruits treated with essential oil. Weightloss and firmness values were not affected by essential oil treatment and essential oil treated kiwifruits showed off-flavor in compare to control. Results of this study suggest that application of essential oil to control postharvest pathogens is worthy of future works.

Strawberry fruits are highly susceptible to cold burning, resulting in low storage periods at low temperatures. Plant extracts or essential oils (EOs) can potentially be used as preservatives in fruits throughout the refrigerated period. In the present study, the biochemicals, antioxidant characteristics, and shelf life of treated strawberries with Aloysia citrodora essential oil (ACEOs) were evaluated during keeping time. The treatments were produced as follows: T1, control; T2, 250 ppm ACEOs; T3, 500 ppm ACEOs; and T4, 750 ppm ACEOs. Total soluble solids (TSS), weight loss, titratable acidity (TA), antioxidant activity (DPPH assay), total phenolic (TPC), flavonoid and anthocyanin contents (TFC), and enzymes activity (peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase) were evaluated during the refrigerated period (5 °C with relative humidity of 85–90% for 20 days). The results revealed that weight loss and TA were reduced in all treatments during storage, being that the rates were lower in samples treated with ACEOs. TPC, TFC, TSS, antioxidant, and enzymes activity were higher in treated fruits than control.