Almond Hull Extract Valorization: From Waste to Food Recovery to Counteract <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Escherichia coli</i> in Formation and Mature Biofilm

The increase in food waste accumulation needs innovative valorization strategies that not only reduce environmental impacts but also provide functional applications. This study investigates the potential of almond hulls, an abundant agricultural by-product, as a source of bioactive compounds. For th...

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Main Authors: Sara D’Arcangelo, Debora Santonocito, Luciano Messina, Valentina Greco, Alessandro Giuffrida, Carmelo Puglia, Mara Di Giulio, Rosanna Inturri, Susanna Vaccaro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Foods
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/23/3834
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author Sara D’Arcangelo
Debora Santonocito
Luciano Messina
Valentina Greco
Alessandro Giuffrida
Carmelo Puglia
Mara Di Giulio
Rosanna Inturri
Susanna Vaccaro
author_facet Sara D’Arcangelo
Debora Santonocito
Luciano Messina
Valentina Greco
Alessandro Giuffrida
Carmelo Puglia
Mara Di Giulio
Rosanna Inturri
Susanna Vaccaro
author_sort Sara D’Arcangelo
collection DOAJ
description The increase in food waste accumulation needs innovative valorization strategies that not only reduce environmental impacts but also provide functional applications. This study investigates the potential of almond hulls, an abundant agricultural by-product, as a source of bioactive compounds. For the first time, almond hull extract (AHE), was evaluated in terms of anti-adhesive and anti-biofilm activity against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> ATCC 29213 and <i>Escherichia coli</i> ATCC 9637. The extract was obtained by an optimized eco-friendly green technique using ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and it was characterized for its main compounds by high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated on planktonic cells by minimum inhibitory/bactericidal concentration (MIC/MBC) and by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays. Afterward, AHE activity was evaluated against the bacterial sessile phase, both against in-formation and mature biofilm. Finally, the toxicity of the extract was tested on normal human adult cells (HDFa) by an MTT test. The principal active compounds present in AHE belong to the polyphenol group, in particular, the phenolic acid (Hydroxycinnammic sub-class) and, more significantly, the flavonoid class. The results showed that the extract has a relevant antimicrobial activity against the planktonic cells of both tested strains. Moreover, it significantly inhibited bacterial adhesion and promoted biofilm removal, highlighting its potential as a sustainable antimicrobial agent. The MTT test on human fibroblasts showed that the extract is not toxic for normal human cells. This research highlights how food waste valorization could have a high potential in the antimicrobial field.
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spelling doaj-art-d0e9a5bfb608492eb85b6504f13dc7952025-08-20T02:38:45ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582024-11-011323383410.3390/foods13233834Almond Hull Extract Valorization: From Waste to Food Recovery to Counteract <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Escherichia coli</i> in Formation and Mature BiofilmSara D’Arcangelo0Debora Santonocito1Luciano Messina2Valentina Greco3Alessandro Giuffrida4Carmelo Puglia5Mara Di Giulio6Rosanna Inturri7Susanna Vaccaro8Department of Pharmacy, University “G. d’Annunzio” Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, ItalyDepartment of Drug Sciences and Health, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, ItalyFidia Farmaceutici SpA, Local Noto Unit Contrada Pizzuta, 96017 Noto, ItalyDepartment of Chemical Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Chemical Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Drug Sciences and Health, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy, University “G. d’Annunzio” Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, ItalyFidia Farmaceutici SpA, Local Noto Unit Contrada Pizzuta, 96017 Noto, ItalyFidia Farmaceutici SpA, Local Noto Unit Contrada Pizzuta, 96017 Noto, ItalyThe increase in food waste accumulation needs innovative valorization strategies that not only reduce environmental impacts but also provide functional applications. This study investigates the potential of almond hulls, an abundant agricultural by-product, as a source of bioactive compounds. For the first time, almond hull extract (AHE), was evaluated in terms of anti-adhesive and anti-biofilm activity against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> ATCC 29213 and <i>Escherichia coli</i> ATCC 9637. The extract was obtained by an optimized eco-friendly green technique using ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and it was characterized for its main compounds by high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated on planktonic cells by minimum inhibitory/bactericidal concentration (MIC/MBC) and by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays. Afterward, AHE activity was evaluated against the bacterial sessile phase, both against in-formation and mature biofilm. Finally, the toxicity of the extract was tested on normal human adult cells (HDFa) by an MTT test. The principal active compounds present in AHE belong to the polyphenol group, in particular, the phenolic acid (Hydroxycinnammic sub-class) and, more significantly, the flavonoid class. The results showed that the extract has a relevant antimicrobial activity against the planktonic cells of both tested strains. Moreover, it significantly inhibited bacterial adhesion and promoted biofilm removal, highlighting its potential as a sustainable antimicrobial agent. The MTT test on human fibroblasts showed that the extract is not toxic for normal human cells. This research highlights how food waste valorization could have a high potential in the antimicrobial field.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/23/3834almond hulleco-sustainabilityfood wastebiofilm<i>S. aureus</i><i>E. coli</i>
spellingShingle Sara D’Arcangelo
Debora Santonocito
Luciano Messina
Valentina Greco
Alessandro Giuffrida
Carmelo Puglia
Mara Di Giulio
Rosanna Inturri
Susanna Vaccaro
Almond Hull Extract Valorization: From Waste to Food Recovery to Counteract <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Escherichia coli</i> in Formation and Mature Biofilm
Foods
almond hull
eco-sustainability
food waste
biofilm
<i>S. aureus</i>
<i>E. coli</i>
title Almond Hull Extract Valorization: From Waste to Food Recovery to Counteract <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Escherichia coli</i> in Formation and Mature Biofilm
title_full Almond Hull Extract Valorization: From Waste to Food Recovery to Counteract <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Escherichia coli</i> in Formation and Mature Biofilm
title_fullStr Almond Hull Extract Valorization: From Waste to Food Recovery to Counteract <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Escherichia coli</i> in Formation and Mature Biofilm
title_full_unstemmed Almond Hull Extract Valorization: From Waste to Food Recovery to Counteract <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Escherichia coli</i> in Formation and Mature Biofilm
title_short Almond Hull Extract Valorization: From Waste to Food Recovery to Counteract <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Escherichia coli</i> in Formation and Mature Biofilm
title_sort almond hull extract valorization from waste to food recovery to counteract i staphylococcus aureus i and i escherichia coli i in formation and mature biofilm
topic almond hull
eco-sustainability
food waste
biofilm
<i>S. aureus</i>
<i>E. coli</i>
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/23/3834
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