{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,8]],"date-time":"2026-10-08T15:49:20Z","timestamp":1791474560882,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,16]],"date-time":"2025-05-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1747353600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Slovenian Research Agency","award":["P1-0386"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["P1-0386"]}]},{"name":"Slovenian Research Agency","award":["451-03-136\/2025-03\/200222"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["451-03-136\/2025-03\/200222"]}]},{"name":"Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia","award":["P1-0386"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["P1-0386"]}]},{"name":"Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia","award":["451-03-136\/2025-03\/200222"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["451-03-136\/2025-03\/200222"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Foods"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study explores the potential of ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) for efficiently recovering bioactive compounds, particularly rutin, from the often-overlooked leaves of Capparis spinosa. By fine-tuning important extraction parameters such as ultrasound power, temperature, and ethanol concentration, this research achieved maximum yields of total phenolic content and rutin, establishing these leaves as a sustainable and valuable source of phytochemicals for applications in functional foods, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed a high rutin content (15.51 mg\/g DW), accompanied by considerable amounts of quercetin-3-glucoside and catechin. In vitro assays revealed the extract\u2019s strong antioxidative properties, effectively safeguarding Caco-2 and Hep G2 cells against oxidative stress and significantly lowering reactive oxygen species levels. Additionally, the extract enhanced the expression of vital antioxidative enzymes and demonstrated no toxicity at the tested concentrations, confirming its safety for dietary supplement use. These findings underscore the extract\u2019s strong safety profile and notable bioefficacy, reinforcing its suitability for incorporation into health-oriented formulations such as functional foods, dietary supplements, or nutraceutical products. Beyond demonstrating biological relevance, this research also advances the sustainable valorization of Capparis spinosa leaf biomass\u2014an underutilized resource with high phytochemical potential\u2014while contributing to the development of innovative, plant-based strategies for disease prevention and overall health enhancement.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/foods14101768","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,16]],"date-time":"2025-05-16T05:11:57Z","timestamp":1747372317000},"page":"1768","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Unlocking the Functional Food Potential of Capparis spinosa: Optimizing Ultrasound Extraction, Phytochemical Analysis, and Assessing Antioxidative Activities"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Abdulhakim","family":"Naffati","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Libyan Medical Research Centre, Az Zawiyah 023-15583, Libya"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3261-0332","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Aleksandra","family":"Mi\u0161an","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Food Technology, University of Novi Sad, Bulevar cara Lazara 1, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4272-3058","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sa\u0161a","family":"Kenig","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Primorska, Polje 42, SI-6310 Izola, Slovenia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4589-0644","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Katja","family":"Kramberger","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Primorska, Polje 42, SI-6310 Izola, Slovenia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5217-8754","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Zala","family":"Jenko Pra\u017enikar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Primorska, Polje 42, SI-6310 Izola, Slovenia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5557-5974","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ana","family":"Petelin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Primorska, Polje 42, SI-6310 Izola, Slovenia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5621-1788","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Aleksandra Cvetanovi\u0107","family":"Kljaki\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Technology, University of Novi Sad, Bulevar cara Lazara 1, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0491-9105","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Abdelmoumen","family":"Benmerzoug","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, University of Kasdi Merbah\u2013Ouargla, Ouargla 30000, Algeria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nasrien","family":"Elfarrah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Libyan Medical Research Centre, Az Zawiyah 023-15583, Libya"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9762-5389","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alena","family":"Stupar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Food Technology, University of Novi Sad, Bulevar cara Lazara 1, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"135258","DOI":"10.1016\/j.foodchem.2022.135258","article-title":"Capparis spinosa L. as a Potential Source of Nutrition and Its Health Benefits in Foods: A Comprehensive Review of Its Phytochemistry, Bioactivities, Safety, and Application","volume":"409","author":"Sun","year":"2023","journal-title":"Food Chem."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2241","DOI":"10.1007\/s11694-019-00144-1","article-title":"Optimization of Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Antioxidant Phenolics from Capparis spinosa Flower Buds and LC\u2013MS Analysis","volume":"13","author":"Boudries","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. 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