Foods最新文献

This study optimized Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis) storage design by integrating K-means clustering, heat transfer analysis, and respiratory heat effects. A morphological assessment identified three clusters: class 1 (73.32 ± 3.34 cm length, 46.73 ± 2.24 cm width, 1503.20 ± 118.39 g weight), class 2 (82.67 ± 1.17 cm, 51.89 ± 2.37 cm, 2132.48 ± 127.16 g), and class 3 (89.17 ± 2.45 cm, 58.67 ± 2.77 cm, 2826.37 ± 121.25 g), with a silhouette coefficient of 0.87 confirming robust clustering. The CO₂, relative humidity, and airflow analysis revealed hotspots and imbalances. Heat transfer modeling, incorporating respiratory heat, closely matched experimental data (RMSE < 0.54 °C), while excluding it caused deviations in storage. The validated model informed a modified geometry for scale-up CFD modeling, reducing the convergence time by 38% and the RAM usage by 30%. Three commercial storage designs were evaluated: fully filled, batch filled (50:50), and repositioned air conditioning with batch filling. The latter achieved a faster equilibrium (4.1 °C in 17 h 15 min vs. 21 h 30 min for fully packed) and improved airflow, reducing the hot zones. This study highlights the importance of integrating cabbage morphology, environmental factors, and respiratory heat into storage design to enhance cooling efficiency and product quality.

The aim of this study was to identify and characterize the bioactive peptide profile of Podolica cow's milk. This dairy product is known for its nutritional properties related to the presence of peculiar lipids and is a typical breed traditionally reared in southern Italy. Using top-down peptidomics, we identified 2213 peptides in milk samples from four different farms, with 19 matching bioactive sequences. Bioactivities include dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) inhibition, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition, antioxidant activity, enhanced calcium uptake, and other peptides with potential antimicrobial effects. DPP-IV-inhibitory peptides (e.g., LDQWLCEKL and VGINYWLAHK) suggest potential for type 2 diabetes management, while ACE inhibitors (such as YLGY and FFVAPFPEVFGK) could support cardiovascular health by reducing hypertension. Antimicrobial peptides such as SDIPNPIGSENSEK and VLNENLLR showed broad spectrum of activity against various harmful microorganisms, positioning Podolica milk as a promising source for natural antimicrobial agents. Additionally, peptides with osteoanabolic, antianxiety, and immunomodulatory properties further highlight the multifaceted health benefits associated with this type of milk. Our findings underline the functional richness of Podolica milk peptides with various bioactivity properties, which could enhance the value of derived dairy products and contribute to sustainable agricultural practices. Future research will aim to explore these bioactivity properties in vivo, establishing a foundation for functional foods and supplements based on Podolica milk.

Northeastern Thai ethnic foods are celebrated for their health benefits yet remain largely underexplored. This study assessed the antioxidant and cytotoxic properties of two ready-to-eat pastes-Jaew Hon (JH) and Gang Om (GO)-produced using laboratory (LAB) and industrial original equipment manufacturer (OEM) methods. Evaluations were conducted using 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC) assays alongside the 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay for cytotoxicity. Physicochemical analyses revealed that JH OEM had the highest total dissolved solids (11.57°Brix) and water activity (0.91), while GO OEM exhibited the highest pH (5.28) and lightness (L* 31.43). Antioxidant results showed JH LAB outperformed in DPPH scavenging (96.25 mg AAE/100 g) and TPC (433.5 mg GAE/100 g), whereas GO OEM achieved the highest TFC (345.57 mg QE/100 g). Volatile compound profiling by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) indicated distinct aroma profiles between LAB and OEM samples. Moreover, MTT assays revealed stronger cytotoxic effects for OEM products; specifically, GO OEM achieved 71.88% maximum inhibition and an IC50 of 276.10 µg/mL against HT-29 cells. Colony formation assays confirmed GO OEM's significant antiproliferative activity, and gene expression analysis demonstrated upregulation of pro-apoptotic markers (Bax, Caspase-3) alongside downregulation of NF-κB p65, Cyclin D1, and MMP-9. Overall, these findings suggest that industrially produced GO and JH pastes hold promise as functional foods, integrating traditional culinary practices with modern production techniques. These findings lay the foundation for future research focused on uncovering bioactive mechanisms, optimizing processing methods, and confirming health benefits through in vivo studies.

Starch digestibility and the content of resistant starch (RS) play a crucial role in human health, particularly in relation to glycemic responses, insulin sensitivity, fat oxidation, and satiety. This study investigates the impact of processing methods on potato starch digestibility and RS content, focusing on two modification techniques: autoclaving and high hydrostatic pressure (HHP), followed by retrogradation at different temperatures. The research employs a comprehensive approach to characterize structural changes in starch samples using X-ray diffraction (XRD), attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In turn, semi-dynamic in vitro digestion experiments based on the INFOGEST protocol were conducted to assess starch digestibility, while RS content was evaluated through enzymatic digestion of the non-RS fraction. SEM, XRD, and FTIR measurements reveal thermal processing appreciably affected starch architectures while HHP had a marginal effect. Further, the FTIR 1045/1022R ratio was found to be correlated with RS content measurements while reducing rapidly digestible starch (RDS). The findings led to the stipulation that thermal processing facilitates amylose leaching and granular disruption. In turn, retrogradation enabled the deposition of the amylose onto the disrupted structures which delineated their subsequent liability to enzymatic digestion. Conversely, HHP had minimal effects on granular architectures and amylose leaching. Overall, this research provides valuable insights for processing starch-based food products with the goal of increasing RS content, which may have significant implications for the food industry and nutritional science.

Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. is a medicinal herb that can be added to food to provide therapeutic effects and reduce the burden of medications. Herein, the immunomodulatory effects of Glycyrrhiza polysaccharides (GPs) were verified and illustrated by intervening immunocompromised rats treated with different doses of GPs, which were reflected for adjusting the composition and structure of the intestinal microbiota and altering the metabolic profile. The immunomodulatory effects of GPs were exerted by regulating the intestinal microenvironment. In particular, GPs could promote the growth of probiotic bacteria Allobaculum, norank__o_Clostridia_UCG-014, Dubosiella, and g__norank_o___RF39 and curb the growth of harmful bacteria Enterococcus. The results showed that GPs had a prebiotic effect, which contributed to improving the intestinal environment and maintaining intestinal health. In addition, the content of beneficial differential metabolites was up-regulated, especially short-chain fatty acids, with alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism; arginine biosynthesis; glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism being the most enriched pathways. These metabolic pathways imply the metabolic process of GPs, and the metabolic pathways and differential effector metabolites of it are focused. Overall, the purpose of this article lies in providing support for the application of GPs for regulating immune function.

Zein was made flexible through acid-driven deamidation. This increased flexibility was confirmed by the higher release of water-soluble peptides during trypsin hydrolysis. Self-assembled flexible zein nanoparticles (FZNPs) were prepared using the anti-solvent precipitation method. To test the sensitivity of FZNPs to complex environment, ionic solutions (CaCl₂ and NaCl) at various concentrations were prepared. The morphology and particle size of FZNPs differed significantly from those of control zein nanoparticles (NZNPs). As the ionic concentration increased from 0 to 15 mmol/L, FZNPs showed higher electrical conductivity and adsorption capacity than NZNPs. This suggests that FZNPs are highly sensitive to complex environment. X-Ray Photoelectron Spectrum (XPS) results revealed that both FZNPs and NZNPs bound more Na⁺ than Ca²⁺. The enhanced sensitivity of FZNPs to complex environments may be due to their greater tendency for structural changes. These conformational changes are likely caused by the altered amino acids in flexible zein, which result from deamidation. This study offers a practical approach to designing novel nanoparticles as functional materials for delivering bioactive compounds.

Background: Liupao tea (LPT) is a traditionally fermented dark tea from Guangxi, China and the effects of different aging periods of LPT on metabolic health remain inadequately explored.

Methods: This randomized, double-blind, longitudinal study enrolled 106 adults with obesity or overweight who were assigned to consume LPT of different ages over a 90-day period. Participants were randomly divided into four groups, each consuming LPT that had been aged for 1 year, 4 years, 7 years, or 10 years. The metabolic parameters, body composition, and gut microbiota were assessed at baseline and after the 90-day intervention.

Results: All LPT groups experienced significant reductions in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), with the 10-year-aged group showing the most notable SBP decrease (p < 0.001). Total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels decreased significantly in the 1-, 4-, and 10-year-aged groups (p < 0.05), while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) increased in the 7-year-aged group (p < 0.05). Body weight, body fat mass (BFM), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), body fat percentage (BFP), and visceral fat area (VFA) significantly declined across all groups (p < 0.05). Gut microbiota analysis showed changes in specific genera, though overall diversity remained stable. No significant differences were found in metabolic or microbiota outcomes between the different aged groups.

Conclusions: LPT consumption effectively improves blood pressure, lipid profiles, and body composition in adults with obesity without adverse liver effects. The aging duration of LPT does not significantly alter these health benefits, challenging the belief that longer-aged LPT is superior.

Millets are climate-resistant, potential alternatives to wheat that could provide environmental, food security, and health benefits (e.g., lower glycemic index). However, millets are high in phytic acid, which reduces the bioavailability of essential minerals. Millets are often fermented in Africa and parts of Asia to improve bioavailability and, thus, nutritional value, but both unfermented and fermented millets may have flavors unfamiliar to Western cultures. We conducted two pilot studies on sensory perception and liking of whole grain, United States pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), in a group of U.S. consumers. In a preliminary study, we compared pearl millet treated under five different conditions (0, 48, and 96 h of fermentation fully submerged in either distilled water or in a 5% NaCl solution at 28 °C). We found that 96 h of spontaneous fermentation in water, an inexpensive and accessible technique consistent with consumer demand for minimally processed foods, reduced phytic acid by ~72%. However, consumers (n = 12) rated flatbreads made with fermented pearl millet as more bitter and sour than flatbreads made with unfermented pearl millet. In a second study, participants (n = 30) rated liking and purchase intent for whole wheat bread with 0 to 50% (w/w) substitution of pearl millet flour. Replacing up to 20% of wheat with fermented or unfermented pearl millet had no measurable effect on liking or purchase intent. More extensive substitution compromised liking, particularly with fermented pearl millet. More work is needed, but so far, there appear to be no sensory barriers to at least partial substitution of whole-grain pearl millet for wheat in whole wheat bread for United States consumers.

This study investigated the effects of microwave (MW) reheating, water boiling (WB) reheating, and steaming (ST) reheating on the quality attributes (including reheating loss, moisture content, centrifugal loss, water distribution, color, texture, microstructure, flavor, and taste) of pre-cooked braised chicken (PBC), using a non-reheated group as a control (C). The results showed that the ST group demonstrated the lowest reheating loss, and that ST reheating had the least influence on textural characteristics among all the reheating methods. In addition, the results of the scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed that the integrity of the muscle fibers in the ST group was most comparable to the C group. Meanwhile, the aroma of the ST group was similar to that of the other reheating groups, and it exhibited a greater taste intensity. The ST treatment emerges as a viable reheating method for preserving the quality characteristics of PBC.

To ensure food safety and quality, sensitive and accurate methods for rapidly detecting mycotoxins have become imperative. Zeranols (ZERs) are a class of mycotoxins commonly found in cereals, posing serious health risks, including hormonal disruption and carcinogenic potential. In response to this pressing concern, we have developed a simple yet highly sensitive and high-throughput supramolecular sensing approach based on novel macrocycles known as extended biphen[n]arenes for monitoring ZERs in cereal matrices. The proposed approach utilizes the indicator displacement assay (IDA) and employs quaternary ammonium-functionalized terphen[3]arene (CTP3) as the host molecule for capturing ZERs. This method achieves a highly sensitive response, owing to the robust synergistic interactions between CTP3 and ZERs, ensuring the reliable detection of these harmful compounds. Significantly, not only does the established approach provide an alternative strategy for inspecting high-risk grains contaminated by ZERs, but it also demonstrates novel applications of biphen[n]arenes for mycotoxin detection.