Organic acid profiles of different mushroom species were obtained by ultra-fast liquid chromatography (UFLC), by means of photodiode array detector (PDA). The chromatographic separation was achieved using a SphereClone (Phenomenex) reverse phase C 18 column using an isocratic elution with sulphuric acid (3.6 mM) at a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min. All the compounds were separated in 8 min. The method was optimized usingAgaricus bisporus sample and proved to be reproducible and accurate. Organic acid profiles were quite homogeneous for all mushroom samples; oxalic, malic and fumaric acids were the main organic acids; some samples also presented quinic and citric acids.Sarcondon imbricatus was the species that presented the highest total content (254.09 mg/g dw), while Bovista nigrescens presented the lowest concentration (1.33 mg/g dw). The high amounts of organic acids present in all the species may suggest that they could be related to the antioxidant activity found in these species and previously reported by us.

Cornflower is a flowering weed and ornamental plant whose blue flowers have been used for food, decorative and colouring purposes. In this study, the upper (edible flowers) and lower (non-edible receptacle and involucre) parts of the capitulum were studied and compared for their chemical composition and bioactive properties. The flowers were richer in tocopherols, organic acids, and apigenin derivatives (mainly apigenin-7-O-glucuronide-4′-O-(6-O-malonylglucoside)) than the non-edible bristly part (where syringic acid predominated). Four cyanidin derivatives were identified in the flowers. The extract of the non-edible part was more efficient in inhibiting the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), the bleaching of β-carotene, and the haemolysis of the erythrocytes membrane. In general, the extracts were more active against Gram-positive bacteria and had no cytotoxicity against non-tumour liver PLP2 cells. Therefore, while flowers are a potential source of natural cyanidin-based colorants, the lower part of the capitulum has bioactive properties to be exploited in different food or pharmaceutical formulations.

Analysis of organic acids has become increasingly important due to their role in the physiological activity of plants, and many separation methods have been developed for the simultaneous determination of these compounds in plant samples. Herein, ultra fast liquid chromatography and photodiode array detection (UFLC-PDA) was applied to the analysis of organic acids in young shoots, leaves, aerial parts and flowering shoots, as well as in flowers and fruits, of thirty five plant species, according to their traditional use. The studied plants were divided in three groups: traditionally cultivated food plants, wild edible plants and wild medicinal plants.Most of the species were characterized for the first time. Among all the analysed species, Rumex acetosella leaves and aerial parts revealed the highest content of total organic acids.Overall, the organic acids found in the studied plant species make them suitable to be used as food additives such as antioxidants (e.g. ascorbic acid) or acidulants (e.g. citric and malic acids).

Lovage is a source of nutrients, volatiles and bioactive compounds, and its extracts exhibit interesting antioxidant potential and bacteriostatic activity against several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.