Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture最新文献

Background: Acrylamide (AA), classified as a Group 2A carcinogen by the International Agency for Cancer Research (IARC), has raised health concerns, prompting efforts to mitigate its levels in food products. Researchers have explored innovative strategies to reduce AA content in bakery products, including the incorporation of dietary fibers like pectin. This study focuses on developing a solid-liquid extraction method coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for AA determination and evaluating the role of pectin in mitigating AA in doughnuts and muffins. Challenges such as optimizing pectin concentration levels (1.25%, 2.5%, 5%, and 10%) and pectin types (pectin amidated from fruits, pectin from apple, pectin from citrus, pectin from pectin-rich apple fiber) are evaluated. Assessing sensory implications for product quality and consumer acceptance is also discussed.

Results: The study found that incorporating 2.5% pectin into bakery formulations reduced AA content by 20-65% compared to conventional recipes. Pectin from citrus was the source of pectin that provided highest levels of AA mitigation (-63% for doughnuts and - 45% for muffins). Pectin-rich apple fiber caused an increase in AA concentration in the products (+34% and + 81% at 1.25% and 2.5% of pectin content), so this source of pectin was discarded. The impact of pectin's source and concentration was analyzed, demonstrating its significant role in reducing AA levels in accordance with health guidelines.

Conclusion: This study enhances the understanding of AA formation mechanisms and provides practical solutions for reducing AA in baked goods, aligning with European Commission health guidelines. Incorporating pectin into bakery formulations offers a promising strategy for improving food safety while addressing sensory and quality considerations. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Ebenus macrophylla Jaub. & Spach (EM), an endemic Turkish plant, is a rich source of bioactive compounds with potential therapeutic applications. This study aimed to analyze the phytochemistry of its leaf, stalk, and root extracts and evaluate their antioxidant, antimicrobial, enzyme inhibitory, and antiproliferative effects.

Results: Liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) analysis identified 39 phenolic compounds. Among the major phenolics identified, hesperidin (in the leaf and stalk), isoquercitrin (in the leaf), catechin (in all parts), and vanillic acid (in the root) were particularly abundant. The leaf extract showed the strongest antioxidant activity (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) Half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀): 14.08 μg mL^-1) and the highest phenolic content (62.27 mg GAE g^-1), which is attributed to its high levels of hesperidin and shikimic acid. Antimicrobial assays showed significant activity by the leaf extract against Clostridium perfringens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC): 31.3 μg mL^-1). In enzyme inhibition studies, the leaf extract showed stronger effects than standard inhibitors on α-glucosidase (IC₅₀: 1.56 μg mL^{-1 -1}) and tyrosinase (IC₅₀: 18.01 μg mL^-1). Molecular docking analyses confirmed that hesperidin forms multiple stabilizing interactions with α-glucosidase and blocks substrate access. Antiproliferative studies showed that the root extract was significantly active against A549, A2780, and HeLa cancer cell lines (Growth Inhibition 50% (GI₅₀): 1.00-3.22 μg mL^-1) and minimal toxicity toward normal BEAS-2B cells.

Conclusion: The distribution of phenolic compounds detected in different plant parts is the main factor determining the strong antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and antiproliferative potential of EM. This study demonstrates that the species is a pharmaceutically promising natural bioactive source and provides the scientific basis for further in vivo research. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Astaxanthin (ASTA) has anti-aging properties but is limited by poor oral bioavailability. Nanostarch has emerged as a promising carrier to enhance the delivery of bioactive compounds, attracting growing interest in functional food research. This study prepared ASTA-loaded tapioca starch nanoparticles and characterized their structure. Meanwhile, Caenorhabditis elegans was used as a model to study the anti-aging activity of nanostarch-astaxanthin (NS-ASTA).

Results: The resulting NS-ASTA exhibited an average particle size of 187.13 ± 10.24 nm with an improved polydispersity index of 0.398, compared to 0.559 for the carrier. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses confirmed the successful formation of a composite via hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. Furthermore, in the C. elegans model, NS-ASTA treatment significantly extended the maximum lifespan from 20 to 26 days under identical culture conditions. Compared with ASTA, NS-ASTA enhanced the worm's resistance to heat and ultraviolet stress, improved motility, and reduced intestinal lipofuscin accumulation. A 42.46% reduction in accumulation was observed in the NS-ASTA-treated (0.8 mg mL^-1) group compared to the ASTA group. The lifespan-extending effect of NS-ASTA was absent in the short-lived daf-16 mutant strain, and NS-ASTA promoted nuclear translocation of DAF-16 transcription factors.

Conclusion: NS-ASTA exhibits superior anti-aging activity over free ASTA, and extends lifespan and improves health in C. elegans via the DAF-16 pathway. This study provides a theoretical basis for developing novel ASTA formulations and anti-aging products. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Ovalbumin-fucoidan (OF) complex nanoparticles were prepared for fucoxanthin encapsulation. The effects of polymer ratios (ovalbumin:fucoidan, 5:1, 2.5:1, 1:1, 1:2.5, 1:5 w/w) and pH values (3, 4.5, 6, 7, and 8) on complex coacervate formation were investigated to identify optimal conditions. The selected conditions were then applied for fucoxanthin encapsulation.

Results: The OF complex exhibited particle sizes of 200-265 nm. The zeta potentials were -24.67 ± 0.42 mV for fucoidan, -17.25 ± 0.39 mV for ovalbumin, and -3.47 ± 0.90 mV for the OF complex. At pH 3, the zeta potentials of fucoidan and ovalbumin were -9.80 ± 0.30 mV and 7.33 ± 0.21 mV, respectively, confirming electrostatic interactions between the oppositely charged polymers and the formation of complex coacervates. Turbidity measurements indicated that a 1:1 polymer ratio (ovalbumin:fucoidan, w/w) at pH 3 was optimal for complex formation (P < 0.05), and these conditions were selected for fucoxanthin encapsulation. The resulting nanoparticles achieved 88.33 ± 0.14% encapsulation efficiency, and the chemical and morphological characteristics of the polymers and coacervates reflected changes due to interactions and fucoxanthin incorporation. Fucoxanthin release reached 12.83 ± 0.12% in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and 42.77 ± 0.4% in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF).

Conclusion: This study suggests that OF complex nanoparticles are effective carrier for the encapsulation of hydrophobic compounds. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: The agro-food industry generates by-products and waste. These may be valorized as protein sources that could be used as alternatives to soy and pea in line with the EU Farm to Fork Strategy. This study evaluated potential safety-relevant contaminants and the nutritional quality of hazelnut skin protein (HSP) and pumpkin seed protein (PSP) compared with conventional pea protein (PP) and soy protein (SP).

Results: Microbial contaminants, total aflatoxin, pesticides, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons were assessed as satisfactory. Arsenic, cadmium, and lead slightly exceeded regulatory limits, whereas mercury was undetected. Total protein content was 53.93% in HSP, 57.79% in PSP, 48.86% in PP, and 57.89% in SP. All samples largely met the essential amino acid requirements of the World Health Organization (WHO)/Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). In vitro cytotoxicity assays showed that HSP and SP significantly affected the viability of colon cancer cells (HCT-116) while remaining non-cytotoxic to fibroblast cells (L929), depending on exposure time and protein concentration (P < 0.05), indicating potentially safe. During in vitro digestion, following the Infogest protocol, HSP exhibited high stability at pH 3.4 with moderate solubility of 20 mg L⁻¹, similar to PSP. Hazelnut skin protein also displayed higher antioxidant activity than SP and PP, reaching 20 mmol TE g⁻¹ after intestinal digestion between 120 and 240 min.

Conclusion: Hazelnut skin and pumpkin seed proteins could serve as alternative protein sources with satisfactory safety and nutritional quality. Further research should focus on safety and nutritional standardization to support their sustainable use as healthy ingredients. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: With the increasing complexity of winter temperature fluctuations and the adoption of new wheat varieties, accurately simulating low-temperature freezing damage in winter wheat has become a critical challenge because existing crop models exhibit significant limitations. The present study developed new simulation algorithms that incorporate the effects of variety, solar radiation, main stem leaf-age and low temperature intensity. Key innovations included dividing the cold hardening process into two distinct stages and introducing a light influence factor and a main stem leaf-age factor to dynamically quantify their impacts on freezing tolerance.

Results: Sufficient light during the first stage of cold hardening was found to promote an increase of 4.2 °C in the critical freezing tolerance temperature (CFTT) of winter wheat. Furthermore, a 20-day delay in the sowing period led to a decrease of 1.6 °C in the CFTT. The model effectively simulated CFTT variation under different growth environments and for varieties with different vernalization characteristics, achieving a root mean square error of 0.54 °C during the overwintering period. Although the model performed well in simulating freezing tiller death rates for winter varieties under different low-temperature levels and freezing days, the simulated values for weak winter varieties were slightly lower than the observed values.

Conclusion: The newly developed model significantly improves the dynamic simulation of freezing tolerance in winter wheat by integrating key physiological and environmental factors. It provides a reliable tool for assessing freezing risks under diverse sowing dates and variety traits, although further refinement is required to enhance accuracy for weak winter varieties. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Sustainable agriculture requires the exploration and development of eco-friendly technologies to increase crop production. Non-thermal plasma (NTP), also known as cold plasma, is a transformative, eco-friendly technology with significant potential in the agriculture and food industries. NTP technology is a unique strategy that the food industry can utilize in this era of green technology. This review explores the principles of NTP, the generation methods, and its applications, majorly focusing on its role in enhancing seed germination and food processing. NTP, a partially ionized gas generated near room temperature by methods like dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma or plasma jets, enables heat-damage-free surface modification through its production of reactive species. NTP sparks a biological chain reaction at the microscopic level inside seeds and plants which help plants to absorb more nutrients, boost their natural antioxidants, and fight off harmful pathogens, to ensure improved germination, seedling growth, plant growth, and increased harvesting. For seed germination, NTP gently alters the seed coat to produce reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) and other charged particles which increases hydrophilicity, and triggers biochemical changes. Without thermal damage, seeds become more active and will be ready to grow. A comparative analysis has been done considering different treatment methods across a range of crops. Despite challenges like scalability and standardization, the ability of NTP to reduce chemical inputs positions it as a cornerstone for sustainable agriculture. This review shines a light on NTP's game-changing potential in agriculture while pointing out areas that need more research. Looking ahead, scientists are working on creating portable NTP devices and standard protocols that could make it easier to use on a commercial scale. If successful, this innovation could reshape food offering a powerful tool in the fight for global food security. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Luohan guo (Siraitia grosvenorii) has attracted considerable interest because of its substantial antioxidant levels and potential advantages for human health. However, the metabolic and related bioactivity characteristics of different cultivars remain poorly understood, hindering its development and utilization. This study assessed the key active substances and their potential antioxidant mechanisms in the pulps and peels of four luohan guo cultivars.

Results: Overall, 'Suqiao' pulps exhibited the strongest antioxidant effects. These are attributed primarily to the accumulation of flavonoids and their glycosides. 'Xingning' peel samples contained higher levels of amino acids, terpenoids, and steroids, which provide a basis for their antioxidant effects. Network pharmacology suggested that the 29 key antioxidant metabolites in luohan guo interact with 26 core targets and exhibit significant enrichment in specific pathways associated with cancer, especially breast and prostate carcinomas. The top ten core antioxidant metabolites in the network predominantly accumulated in the 'Suqiao' pulps and exhibited good affinity for antioxidant targets by molecular docking simulation.

Conclusion: These results revealed the impact of secondary metabolites on the antioxidant effects of four luohan guo cultivars and their potential mechanisms, and could provide theoretical support for the development and utilization of luohan guo. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Polysaccharide from Schisandra chinensis (SPJ) can attenuate the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) by regulating changes in gut microbiota and its metabolites, but the mechanism of action is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the anti-AD effects and regulatory mechanisms of SPJ in an Aβ_25-35-induced AD model from the perspective of the 'microbe-gut-brain' axis.

Results: The results showed that SPJ improved spatial learning memory ability, pathological changes in the hippocampal CA1 region and intestinal barrier integrity, and modulated the composition and abundance of gut microbiota in AD rats. Meanwhile, SPJ also regulated phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis, and linoleic acid, α-linolenic acid, phenylalanine, and arachidonic acid metabolism in AD rats. Furthermore, correlation analysis revealed a correlation between gut microbes and metabolites.

Conclusion: In short, via the 'microbe-gut-brain' axis, SPJ ameliorates cognitive deficits, spatial memory loss, and neuroinflammation in AD rats. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Diacylglycerol (DAG) is a functional lipid, but it is easily oxidized. The present study aims to evaluate the stabilization mechanism of DAG-loaded emulsions stabilized by soy protein isolate (SPI) and sodium alginate (SA) under varying ultrasonic power levels (0, 150, 300, 450, 600 and 750 W), alongside its impact on DAG oxidation.

Results: Ultrasonic treatment significantly enhanced adsorbed protein content without altering the composition of adsorbed proteins or the types of fatty acids in the emulsion. Specifically, 450 W ultrasonic treatment modified the SPI structure, increased the β-sheet content from 6.29% (untreated) to 29.68% and exposed hydrophobic groups. This structural change effectively restricted the mobility of water molecules in the emulsion, thereby improving stability. Concurrently, the 450 W treatment significantly reduced the peroxide value and thiobarbituric acid reactants value in the emulsion throughout storage. After 24 days, these values had decreased by 44.4% and 37.7%, respectively, compared to the control group (0 W), indicating a marked improvement in oxidative stability.

Conclusion: These discoveries offer a theoretical basis for the application of ultrasonic technology in the construction of high-performance SPI-SA stabilized DAG emulsion systems. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.