Colin Barrow

• Deakin University

Enzyme-assisted extraction has emerged as an ecofriendly and effective method for enhancing the yield of phenolic compounds from plant materials. This study examined the effectiveness of pectinase and cellulase in extracting phenolic compounds from Plectranthus amboinicus leaves (PAL) and evaluated the biological activities of the resulting extract...

Squid viscera, a byproduct of squid processing, contains oil rich in omega-3 fatty acids (up to 10% by mass) and the antioxidant astaxanthin. However, its high free fatty acid (FFA) content compromises stability. To address this, pilot-scale (200 L) enzymatic re-esterification of squid oil using immobilized lipase (Lipozyme RMIM) was demonstrated,...

Five Australian seaweed species, Phyllosphora comosa, Ecklonia radiata, Durvillaea potatorum, Sargassum fallax, and Cystophora siliquosa, thrive along the country's shorelines. Some of these seaweeds have recognized health benefits but have not been fully investigated in terms of their bioactive components and mechanisms of action. We employed ultr...

Exploration of medicinal plants for bioactive-producing endophytic fungi is a relatively unmapped source of pharmaceutically important compounds. In this study, the endophytic fungus Curvularia lunata AREF029 isolated from the medicinal plant Cymbopogon citratus (known as lemongrass) was assessed for its biological activity. The methanolic extract...

Fish oils are widely consumed around the world to increase omega-3 fatty acid intake. Due to negative impacts on marine resources and ecosystems from an increasing demand for fish, alternative sustainable sources are under investigation. Squid viscera contains up to 10% oil by mass and is available as a byproduct from squid processing. Squid viscer...

Durian fruit rinds (Durio zibethinus) have increasingly attracted scientific interest due to their potent bioactive metabolites. In the present study, a comprehensive approach combining chromatographic techniques and bioassays was employed to elucidate the phytochemical constituents present in durian fruit rinds and their corresponding bioactivitie...

Beach-cast seaweed has recently garnered attention for its nutrient-rich composition, including proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. This study focuses on the phenolic content and antioxidant potential of five Australian beach-cast seaweed species during in vitro digestion and colonic fermentation. The bioaccessibility o...

Brown seaweed is a promising source of polysaccharides and phenolics with industrial utility. This work reports the development of a green enzyme-assisted extraction method for simultaneously extracting polysaccharides and phenolics from the brown seaweed Padina gymnospora. Different enzymes (Cellulast, Pectinex, and Alcalase), individually and in...

Passion fruits, renowned globally for their polyphenolic content and associated health benefits, have enjoyed growing attention from consumers and producers alike. While global cultivar development progresses, Australia has pioneered several native cultivars tailored for its distinct planting conditions. Despite their cultivation, comprehensive stu...

Durian (Durio zibethinus) fruit rinds are a promising source of bioactive phytochemicals, but they are currently wasted. This study optimised extraction conditions for flavonoids from durian fruit rinds and evaluated the biological activities of the flavonoid‐rich extracts. The highest flavonoid content of 82.17 mg QE g⁻¹ extract was achieved when...

The date is a well-established and important crop that holds economic significance. However, a substantial amount of waste in the form of low-grade dates and date pits is generated and accounts for 10 to 15% of the total production. Given the substantial amount of nutrients in these by-products and the large volume of waste generated, there is a pr...

Alginates, hydrophilic anionic polysaccharides with notable bioactivity and biocompatibility, have drawn significant attention, particularly due to their extensive use in the pharmaceutical industry and associated health benefits. Brown seaweeds serve as the primary source of alginates. However, extraction methods, especially traditional ones, face...

Fermented coffee beans are believed to have significantly different compositions of phenolic and volatile compounds and physicochemical properties compared to unfermented coffee beans. This study evaluated the effects of fermentation on coffee beans at a commercially roasted level by characterizing their phenolic compounds and semi-quantifying thei...

The current study aimed to identify the chemical constituents and bioactivities of the crude ethanolic extract (CEE) and its fractions (ethyl acetate (EAF), hexane (HEF), and aqueous (AEF)) from leaves of cashew ( Anacardium occidentale L.) grown in Vietnam. A total of 31 compounds which belong to alkanes, hydrocarbons, iodine, terpenoids, phenolic...

Staggering amounts of food waste are produced in Australia and this review provides food waste based biorefinery opportunities in moving towards a circular economy in Australia. The current food waste scenario in Australia including an overview of primary food waste sources government regulation and current management practices is presented. The ma...

Seaweeds, serving as valuable natural sources of phenolic compounds (PCs), offer various health benefits like antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory properties, and potential anticancer effects. The efficient extraction of PCs from seaweed is essential to harness their further applications. This study compares the effectiveness of different solvents (ethan...

Self-assembled peptide and polysaccharide nanogels are excellent candidates for bioactive delivery vectors. However, there are still significant challenges in the application of nanogels as delivery tools for bioactive elements. This study aims to deliver, and control the release of a hydrophobic bioactive flavonoid hesperidin. Using the self-assem...

Grape marc is a waste product produced during the winemaking process. The enormous volume of wine production worldwide creates a significant amount of grape marc each year. It is rich in nutrients and has excellent antioxidant properties. Lactic acid fermentation is a popular food preparation method, and by using grape marc as a substrate for ferme...

Postharvest fermentation could bring significant changes in the chemical profile of coffee beans so that the nutritional aspects. This study comprehensively evaluated the effects of indigenous fermentation on coffee beans in green and roasted status by quantifying the phenolic compounds and estimating their bioaccessibility, crude absorbability, an...

Mushrooms have a long history of use as food and medicine. They are rich in various nutrients and bioactive compounds, particularly phenolic compounds. In this study, ten mushroom species were selected, and solvent extraction using 80% ethanol was used to extract phenolic compounds. Total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and to...

Pulses are edible seeds belonging to the Leguminosae family for human consumption and consist of various species such as common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), peas (Pisum sativum), lentils (Lens culinaris), chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.), and faba beans (Vicia faba). Pulses are sustainable sources of nutritional compounds, especially containing alm...

Brown seaweed is rich in phenolic compounds and has established health benefits. However, the phenolics present in Australian beach-cast seaweed are still unclear. This study investigated the effect of ultrasonication and conventional methodologies using four different solvents on free and bound phenolics of freeze-dried brown seaweed species obtai...

In recent studies, marine macroalgae (seaweeds) have been highlighted as excellent sources of acquiring many bioactive polymers and metabolites with vast chemical and biological values, which has attracted increasing research interests in seaweeds. Among a diversity of seaweed-derived bioactive constituents, polysaccharides have been affirmed to po...

Biodiesel is a promising alternative to petrodiesel, but its production from acid oils retains several technical challenges. Therefore, this study developed a new approach involving 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU)-catalyzed one-pot reaction (simultaneous esterification-transesterification) to produce biodiesel with enhanced reaction effici...

Biological control agents are a promising substitute for chemical pesticides in agricultural pest management. In this study, Penicillium sp. with high pathogenicity to the agricultural pests oriental leafworm moth (Spodoptera litura) and diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) were isolated from naturally infected insects and grown on different agri...

Mushrooms have been an acclaimed food for their unique flavor and medicinal properties since ancient times. Modern research shows that mushrooms are rich in various nutrients and biologically active substances. In recent years, researchers have become increasingly interested in mushrooms because they contain important secondary metabolites, such as...

Burning agricultural waste causes local air pollution and global warming. Agricultural waste, such as rice husks, contains silica reserves that can be processed into nano silica and used as a substrate for the immobilization of enzymes. The present study attempts to develop efficient silica-based nano-biocatalysts for concentrating omega-3 fatty ac...

Electrolysis is a promising approach for biodiesel production. However, low electrical conductivity of a reaction mixture results in a low reaction rate. Thus, this study developed a novel catalyst-free electrolysis process using an ionic liquid as a supporting electrolyte for biodiesel production. Various ionic liquids were assessed, and 1-ethyl-3...

Food acceptability and appeal are significantly influenced by colour. Harmful effects associated with synthetic colorants are well established, and research is currently focused on developing natural, synthetic chemical-free substitutes from fungal sources, with broad applications in food, medicine, textiles and agriculture. Additionally, the marke...

Food acceptability and appeal are significantly influenced by colour. Harmful effects associated with synthetic colorants are well established, and research is currently focused on developing natural, synthetic chemical-free substitutes from fungal sources, with broad applications in food, medicine, textiles and agriculture. Additionally, the marke...

The rapid growth of the global population and changes in lifestyle have led to a significant increase in food waste from various industrial, agricultural, and household sources. Nearly one-third of the food produced annually is wasted, resulting in severe resource depletion. Food waste contains rich organic matter, which, if not managed properly, c...

Background Lentil (Lens culinaris M.) is a legume widely consumed worldwide. It is rich in bioactive compounds, including polyphenolic compounds that contribute to positive health benefits. Methods This study aimed to determine the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of black, red, green, and brown whole lentils. Towards this end, the lentil...

Astaxanthin is increasingly attracting commercial interest for its application in the nutraceu-tical and pharmaceutical industries. This study aimed to produce astaxanthin from molasses with our newly mutated strain of Rhodosporidium toruloides G17 and to evaluate biological activities of the produced astaxanthin. To maximize the astaxanthin yield,...

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is a worldwide cultivated oil crop that belongs to the family Pedaliaceae. Sesame seeds possess high nutritional value, enriching fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and vitamins. Various phytochemical constituents are found in sesame seeds and/or oil, such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, phytosterols, tocopherols, phospholipi...

In recent years, carotenoids, as photosynthetic pigments, have drawn increasing interest due to their health benefits. This is because carotenoids have possessed enormous potential in lowering the risk of cardiovascular, cataracts, macular degradation and malignant tumours. Although many carotenoids can be produced via chemical synthesis, the commo...

Avocados (Persea americana M.) are highly valued fruits consumed worldwide, and there are numerous commercially available varieties on the market. However, the high demand for fruit also results in increased food waste. Thus, this study was conducted for comprehensive profiling of polyphenols of Hass, Reed, and Wurtz avocados obtained from the Aust...

The concentrations and pro-oxidative effects of free fatty acids in commercial krill oil are not well defined. We now report that krill oil free fatty acids account for 2–13% of total lipids in commercial krill oil (n = 8) that these compounds are enriched in eicosapentaenoic acid (+7.1%) and docosahexaenoic acid (+6.3%) relative to whole oils; and...

The kiwifruit is cultivated globally due to its diversity of phytochemicals, especially phenolic compounds, which have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer medical effects. However, only the pulp of the kiwifruit is consumed, while the peels and cores—which are also rich in phytochemicals—are usually wasted. Meanwhile, detailed informatio...

Synthetic phenolic antioxidants are the most effective and feasible choice to preserve food system but may increase health risks at high doses Driven by consumer demand and government policies, natural additives are receiving increasing attention as substitutes for synthetic ingredients Owing to high bioactive properties and easy cultivation, seawe...

Reasonable design of materials with complex nanostructures and diverse chemical compositions is of great significance in the field of energy storage. Cu7KS4 (CKS) is considered a potential electrode material for supercapacitors due to its superior electrical conductivity. Transition metal hydroxides are widely used as electrode materials for superc...

Seaweeds are rich in phenolic compounds such as phlorotannins and have antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities. As exogenous bioactive compounds, seaweed polyphenols exist in the form of aglycone, esters, glycosides, and polymers. Most of them are not directly absorbed in the human digestive tract but undergo extensive modifica...

Driven by consumer demand and government policies, synthetic additives in aquafeed require substitution with sustainable and natural alternatives. Seaweeds have been shown to be a sustainable marine source of novel bioactive phenolic compounds that can be used in food, animal and aqua feeds, or microencapsulation applications. For example, phlorota...

Seaweeds are macroscopic marine algae that are allocated into three categories based on the seaweed color (green, brown and red seaweeds). Seaweeds are known for its nutrition and beneficial non-nutritive compounds. Seaweeds have ample nutrition content including carbohydrates, minerals, proteins, and vitamins. Green seaweeds have a high concentrat...

Transition metal selenides (TMSe) are considered as potential anode materials for supercapacitors because of their abundant reserves and high safety. However, their poor conductivity limits their high rate performance and stability. In this paper, an N-doped porous nanocarbon-coated Co3Se4 quantum dots (NCCS-QDs) composite is prepared as the cathod...

Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) is consumed worldwide with a diverse array of phytochemicals, including phenolics, that have therapeutic properties such as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects. Nevertheless, detailed information on polyphenol content in pumpkin processing is still limited. Therefore, the present w...

Driven by increasing food security concerns, microalgae have drawn attention due to their resource-efficient production and high nutritional value. Microalgae are highly diverse and contain significant amounts of various bioactive compounds, including bioactive peptides, PUFA, vitamins, phenolics, carotenoids, sterols, and so on. These bioactive co...

Gold nanoparticles (GNP) were bio-fabricated utilizing the methanolic extract of the endophytic isolate Aspergillus terreus. The biosynthesised gold nanoparticles (GNP023) were characterised using UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis); transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform nfrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studi...

Lettuce varieties are rich in phytochemicals with strong antioxidant properties, mainly due to the presence of many phenolic compounds. The health effects of these phenolic compounds are dependent on their bioaccessibility, bioavailability and bioactivities. This study aimed to evaluate the differences in the content and bioaccessibility of phenoli...

Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) is one of the well-known edible plants that contains several phytoconstituents, including polyphenols. The properties of medicinal values in pumpkin have been demonstrated, such as anti-diabetic, antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic, and hypoglycemic. As functional compounds in pumpkins and t...

Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are highly involved in diets consumed worldwide, and are rich in bioactive compounds including phenolics, carotenoids and vitamins. In this study, four different varieties of fresh tomato pulp (Oxheart, Green Zebra, Kumato and Roma) were used to estimate the bioaccessibility of target phenolic compounds during in vit...

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is an oilseed crop and rich in various bioactive compounds including phenolics, phytosterols and vitamins. In this study, phenolic compounds were extracted from three varieties of sesame seeds (black, brown, and white) to determine the antioxidant activities and bioaccessibility of selected phenolic compounds during in v...

Marine microalgae produce a number of valuable compounds that have significant roles in the pharmaceutical, biomedical, nutraceutical, and food industries. Although there are numerous microalgal germplasms available in the marine ecosystem, only a small number of strains have been recognized for their commercial potential. In this study, several in...

Grapes (Vitis Vinifera) are one of the world's most utilised and prized fruit. Grapes are a great source of antioxidants due to the abundance of phenolic compounds. Grape pulp is the main part of the grape being consumed. The pulp of five Australian grown grapes – Dawn Seedless (DS), Calmeria (CG), Golden Globe (GG), Menindee Seedless (MS), and Tho...

Bioaccessibility and bioactivity of phenolic compounds in coffee beans relate to roasting and digestion process. This study aimed to estimate phenolic content, antioxidant potential, bioaccessibility, and changes in short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production during in vitro digestion and colonic fermentation of commercial roasted (light, medium and...

The digestibility and bioavailability of plant protein are the key factors for meeting human nutritional needs and particularly when looking for alternatives for animal-based proteins. Legumes have great nutritional value, containing rich sources of proteins, carbohydrates, fibres, and other bioactive compounds. However, some antinutritional compou...

Abstract Endophytic fungi are prolific generators of bioactive metabolites with natural antioxidant properties that have a range of potential uses. In the present work, the antioxidant activity and phylogenetic diversity of endophytic fungi obtained from semi-arid terrestrial plants and the fungi obtained from the mangrove soil samples are investig...

Flavors and food additives represent over a quarter of the global food market and are usually synthesized chemically or extracted from natural sources. Although chemical synthesis tends to be cheaper, potential health risks associated with this process remain a concern. Enzymatic production of these compounds has received much attention as it offer...

Enzymes play major roles in baby food manufacturing, ranging from enhancing the flavor, solubility, and digestibility of nutrients in baby foods. Enzymes have also been used to produce some functional ingredients that are added to baby foods. For instance, proteases are used for the in vitro digestion of milk protein for use in infant formulas. Lip...

The voltage limit of water-based asymmetric supercapacitors is usually 2 V, which prevents further improvement of energy density. Na0.6CoO2 nanoarrays with high Na content are formed on carbon cloth (CC) by cyclic electrochemical oxidation (EO) and can work stably in 0–1.2 V wide potential, and the specific capacitance is up to 575.98C g⁻¹ at 1 A g...

Proteins are known to play important roles in the biosynthesis of metallic nanoparticles (NPs), which are biological substitutes for conventionally used chemical capping and stabilizing agents. When a pristine nanoparticle comes in contact with a biological media or system, a bimolecular layer is formed on the surface of the nanoparticle and is pri...

The excellent electrical conductivity of graphene is due to its highly‐conjugated structures. Manipulation of the electronic and mechanical properties of graphene can be achieved by controlling the destruction of its in‐sheet conjugation system. Herein, we report the preparation of CoCeSx−SA@BPMW@RGO through π‐π stacking interactions at the molecul...

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are widely used as cathode materials for supercapacitors (SCs), thanks to their many advantages. However, the single metal species with limited active sites limit the further improvement of the electrochemical performance of LDH materials. We successfullyin situembedded cobalt sulfide quantum dots (Co9S8-QDs) betwee...

Microalgal biotechnology research continues to expand due to largely unexplored marine environments and growing consumer interest in healthy products. Thraustochytrids, which are marine oleaginous protists, are known for their production of bioactives with significant applications in nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and aquaculture. A wide range of...

Coffee is one of the most prevalent and functional beverages around world owing to its rich content of bioactive compounds. Phenolic compounds and alkaloids are two primary groups of bioactive compounds in coffee beans, which have been proven healthy benefits in regular and suitable daily consumption. They have been recognized as protective factors...

Considering the worldwide demand for colorants of natural origin, the utilization of ascomycete fungi as a prolific pigment producer unfolds a novel way to obtain these pigments for various applications, including food, cosmetic, and medical use. The presence of very few natural red pigment alternatives in the market also attracts research and indu...

In this work, the MgCo2O4@α-Co(OH)2 core-shell structure (MgCo2O4@α-Co(OH)2/NF) on foam nickel was prepared using hydrothermal annealing and chemical bath deposition processes to form a supercapacitor positive electrode. MgCo2O4@α-Co(OH)2/NF-2 composite material, with a deposition time of 20 minutes in a chemical bath, showed a specific capacitance...

Endophytic fungi are prolific generators of bioactive metabolites with natural antioxidant properties that have a range of potential uses. In the present work, the antioxidant activity and phylogenetic diversity of endophytic fungi obtained from semi-arid terrestrial plants and the fungi obtained from the mangrove soil samples is investigated. The...

Marine fungi are rich source of biologically active molecules; but, a poorly explored bioresource for cosmeceutical products. This study evaluates the phytochemistry, antioxidant, and anti‐tyrosinase effects of the organic extracts of marine fungi isolated from various marine environments in India. Out of 35 screened fungal strains, methanol extrac...

Ginger (Zingiber officinale R.), lemon (Citrus limon L.) and mint (Mentha sp.) are commonly consumed medicinal plants that have been of interest due to their health benefits and purported antioxidant capacities. This study was conducted on the premise that no previous study has been performed to elucidate the antioxidant and phenolic profile of the...

Custard apple is an edible fruit grown in tropical and subtropical regions. Due to its abundant nutrient content and perceived health benefits, it is a popular food for consumption and is utilized as a medicinal aid. Although some published research had provided the phenolic compound of custard apple, the comprehensive phenolic profiling of Austral...

The high demand and production rate of Mango (Mangifera Indica L.) inevitably leads to a significant wastage of excess produce. The current research aims to screen and characterize phenolic compounds and estimate their antioxidant potential in rejected mangoes. It was found that Honey Gold variety possessed the highest TPC (2.37 ± 0.06 mg GAE/g) an...

Pure concentrates of eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids were used to produce monoacylglycerol and diacylglycerol (MDG) oils via enzymatic glycerolysis in a solvent-free system. Immobilized lipase from Candida antarctica B (Novozym 435) was employed for the glycerolysis reaction with up to 90% product formation in one hour. This...

Kiwifruit hold significant nutritional value and are a good source of antioxidants due to their diverse range of bioactive compounds. Kiwifruit waste is generated throughout the food supply chain, particularly during transportation and storage. Kiwifruit rejected from the retail market due to unfavorable appearance still possess potential economic...

Dragon fruit is a popular tropical fruit that has a high phenolic content which are the main contributors to the antioxidant potential and health benefits of dragon fruit pulp and peel waste. Although some phenolic compounds in dragon fruit have previously been reported, a comprehensive analysis of complete phenolic profile of the Australian variet...

Apples (Malus domestica) are one of the most widely grown and consumed fruits in the world that contain abundant phenolic compounds that possess remarkable antioxidant potential. The current study characterised phenolic compounds from five different varieties of Australian grown apples (Royal Gala, Pink Lady, Red Delicious, Fuji and Smitten) using...