Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture最新文献

Background: Discarded tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) leaves are underutilized, resulting in environmental pollution and resource inefficiency. Previous research demonstrated the immunomodulatory potential of tobacco-derived oligosaccharides, but the effects of Nicotiana tabacum leaf polysaccharides (NTLP) on immunosuppression and intestinal damage remain unclear. This study explores NTLP's impact on immunomodulatory activity, intestinal barrier integrity, and gut microbiota regulation in cyclophosphamide (Cy)-treated mice.

Results: Characterization of NTLP showed total sugar (743.1 ± 79.5 g kg^-1), uronic acid (112.5 ± 6.5 g kg^-1), and protein (9.1 ± 5.5 g kg^-1) contents, with molecular weights ranging from 5.362 to 1549 kDa. NTLP was composed of glucose, galactose, arabinose, galacturonic acid, glucuronic acid, rhamnose, and mannose in a molar ratio of 35.34:30.53:22.97:4.13:2.89:2.18:1.94. NTLP improved immune organ function by enhancing the thymus and spleen indices and increasing immunoglobulin and cytokine secretion in serum and spleen. Additionally, NTLP repaired intestinal mucosal injury and reduced intestinal permeability by upregulating secretory immunoglobulin (sIgA) and tight junction proteins (ZO-1 and claudin-1). Furthermore, NTLP significantly altered gut microbiota composition, increasing beneficial bacteria (e.g., Lactobacillus and Akkermansia) and decreasing pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Prevotella). Notably, the organ indices, immunoglobulin and cytokine secretion, and mRNA expression of tight junction proteins exhibited significant correlations with the abundance of gut microbiota under NTLP intervention.

Conclusion: NTLP can modulate gut microbiota composition, protect against intestinal mucosal injury, and enhance immune responses in Cy-treated mice, thereby providing a robust scientific basis for its application in immunological and gastrointestinal research. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: With the advent of the health-conscious era, starch digestibility has emerged as a critical research focus. Heat-moisture synergistic recrystallization treatment (HMRT) was used to modulate starch molecular mobility through controlled thermal energy and moisture input. Based on the rearrangement of starch molecules under physical fields, this study investigated the mechanisms involved in the formation of starch resistance to digestion, thereby providing theoretical support for the application of chestnut starch (CS).

Results: HMRT conditions were optimized for moisture content (20%), heating temperature (100 °C for 4 h) and recrystallization temperature (4 °C for 4 h), resulting in a resistant starch increase from 42.35% to 58.67%. Additionally, physical characteristics revealed that HMRT reduced CS hydration properties, improved viscoelasticity of gelatinization and enhanced thermal stability from 60.8 to 66.5 °C. Structural analysis confirmed that HMRT augmented double-helix content, minimized amorphous domains and increased relative crystallinity (by 4.46%) of CS.

Conclusion: HMRT was proven to be an effective strategy for increasing starch resistance. In this study, the crystallinity and orderability of starch were enhanced after HMRT. Furthermore, decreased starch hydration was shown to impede enzymatic digestion. The research sheds new light on the rational design of anti-digestive starch-based food systems with tailored properties. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Assamese glutinous Bora rice (Oryza sativa L.) is widely used for various ethnic food preparations. However, its resistant starch (RS) content, which influences the glycemic index (GI), remains poorly characterized. This exploratory study examined nine popular cooking and eating quality (CEQ) traits in 21 Bora rice lines, and performed molecular characterization and expression profiling during grain development, emphasizing machine learning (ML)-based prediction of RS content.

Results: The endosperm of Bora rice lines contains 80% to 90% starch, predominantly amylopectin, with a lower proportion of RS. Low gelatinization temperature, shorter cooking times at boiling temperatures, and soft gel length are key physicochemical traits of this group. Oryza sativa L. 'Aghani Bora' requires 68 minutes to prepare fully at room temperature. This reflects its low gelatinization temperature and soft gel formation, which are characteristic of Bora rice. Glycemic index-linked polymorphic markers can support molecular breeding of Bora rice for low GI. GBSSI and SSIIa transcripts were downregulated in genotypes exhibiting low RS content. Significant correlations were observed among CEQ traits. The radial basis function network model for predicting RS content in Bora rice yielded a high R² (0.9155) and a low mean squared error (0.0690).

Conclusion: Amylose appears to have a critical role in determining most CEQ characteristics but has less influence on readiness to eat. Bora rice requires genetic improvement because its low RS content can lead to a high GI. The low-cost machine learning (ML) model developed in this study provides an effective tool for rapid prediction of RS content in rice and other starchy cereal crops. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Apostichopus japonicus is a traditional medicinal and culinary species, with existing anti-aging research primarily focusing on its bioactive peptides. In contrast, the anti-aging potential of its major polysaccharide, fucoidan (Aj-FUC), remains largely unexplored. Since the intestine is a central target in the aging process and the primary site for polysaccharide interaction, this study investigates the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of Aj-FUC against d-galactose (d-Gal)-induced intestinal senescence in mice.

Results: Aj-FUC significantly improved intestinal function, including restoration of villus structure and colon length, as well as enhancement of motility, absorption, and digestive enzyme activity. Additionally, Aj-FUC ameliorated the senescence-associated secretory phenotype, reduced oxidative stress levels, and downregulated mRNA expression of P16, P21, and P53, showing strong anti-aging effects. Meanwhile, Aj-FUC increased mRNA and protein levels of tight junction proteins, indicating improved intestinal barrier function. Further research revealed that Aj-FUC activated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and promoted the proliferation of intestinal stem cells (ISCs). Moreover, Aj-FUC remodeled the gut microbiota and enriched Lactobacillus, thereby promoting ISC growth.

Conclusion: Aj-FUC mitigates intestinal aging primarily by modulating the gut microbiota and subsequently promoting ISC-mediated epithelial renewal via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. These findings highlight the promise of Aj-FUC as a marine-based prebiotic functional food ingredient for improving intestinal health during aging. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Theobroma cocoa is a cash crop found in all cocoa-producing countries. In the Republic of Congo, there are three main varieties: Criollo, Forastero, and Trinitario. Determining cocoa bean quality (i.e. fermentation level) is an important production and trade issue. This study aimed to (i) determine whether the variety and geographical origin of whole fermented dried cocoa beans could be distinguished using Raman spectrometry, hyperspectral imaging (HSI), and near-infrared spectrometry (NIRS) and (ii) assess whether these non-destructive methods could characterize bean fermentation level. The latter was determined using the cut test and the fermentation index.

Results: The main peaks of the Raman, HSI, and NIR spectra were associated with chemical compounds and groups when possible. Bean variety could be distinguished (accuracy = 98.2%, 91.4%, and 80.2% for Raman, HSI, and NIRS, respectively) as could bean geographical origin (accuracy = 99.4%, 97.3%, and 97.1% for Raman, HSI, and NIRS, respectively). All three methods yielded very good predictions of actual fermentation levels, determined using the cut test (accuracy: 97%); the most effective methods were HSI followed by Raman spectroscopy. All three methods could also yield very good predictions of fermentation index values using models containing a selection of 9-12 spectral bands (Raman: R² = 0.92, HSI: R² = 0.99, and NIRS: R² = 0.997; model errors < 0.04).

Conclusion: These non-destructive methods are thus demonstrably effective and versatile and could be used by industry to assess cocoa bean quality, and even authenticate beans, if a wider database is built. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Lutein, a valuable xanthophyll from Chlorella sorokiniana, is vital for ocular and metabolic health. However, lutein degradation under high light or suboptimal nutrient hampers productivity during the growth phase.

Results: This study optimized lutein yield via light modulation (4k-14k lux), intermittent high-intensity (patterned) exposure, and nutrient refinement. Light-dark cycling (18:6, 8k lux) improved the lutein to 65.48 mg L^-1 and increased biomass to 6.12 g L^-1. A patterned 14k lux photobioreactor yielded 69.14 mg L^-1 and 7.01 g L^-1 biomass. Temperature modulation (35 °C) and urea as a nitrogen source under a one-stage bioprocess further increased lutein to 72.45 and 82.60 mg L^-1 and biomass to 6.0-8.0 g L^-1. A two-stage process combining 10k lux light and macro- and micronutrient enrichment achieved a maximum lutein yield of 86.40 mg L^-1 with 8.31 g L^-1 biomass. Compared with the control (62.1 mg L^-1 lutein; 6.75 g L^-1 biomass), the optimized two-stage strategy enhanced lutein production by ~39.1%, while biomass increased by 23.1%, indicating a proportionally higher pigment-to-biomass productivity ratio.

Conclusion: From an economic perspective, the integrated strategy in a two-stage process can reduce costs by 28-32% of lutein, owing to improved nutrient utilization, enhanced energy efficiency in light modulation, and shorter cultivation time. The process thus demonstrates a favorable productivity-to-cost ratio, strengthening the economic feasibility of microalgal lutein production. Integrated light-nutrient strategies effectively enhance lutein production while minimizing degradation. This sustainable approach supports SDG 3 (health), SDG 9 (innovation), and SDG 13 (climate action), paving the way for a scalable microalgae lutein bioprocess. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Ethyl caproate is a key aroma compound in Chinese strong-flavor Baijiu, yet its biosynthesis remains inefficient in pure cultures due to metabolic bottlenecks. This study investigated the regulatory mechanisms of ester production in Monascus purpureus XTQ under co-cultivation with Caproicibacterium amylolyticum JSJ through transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis.

Results: A total of 340 differentially expressed genes were identified in co-cultures, which were significantly enriched in pathways such as glycolysis, fatty acid metabolism and ester biosynthesis. Notably, acetyltransferase, lipase and the Zn(II)₂Cys₆ transcription factors were markedly upregulated (3.5-, 4.5- and 28.2-fold, respectively), functioning as core regulatory elements. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed that the total ester content in the co-culture significantly increased to 21.74% (P < 0.05), with specific elevation of characteristic flavor esters including ethyl caproate. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated the specific adhesion of C. amylolyticum to fungal hyphae, suggesting potential metabolic interactions mediated through physical contact.

Conclusion: These findings provide molecular insights into interspecies metabolic cooperation and offer a theoretical foundation for optimizing microbial co-culture strategies to enhance flavor profiles in Baijiu fermentation. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: The demand for minimally processed foods has increased markedly over the past two decades. Two varieties of freshly cut vegetables (rocket and spinach), as fresh and freeze-dried vegetables, were treated by high-pressure (HP) processing. The time and pressure values tested were 2 min for 200, 400 and 600 MPa; and additionally 4 and 5 min for 200 MPa.

Results: The scores from sensory analysis of fresh rocket and spinach were uniformly low across all evaluated attributes, resulting in the sensory data being inappropriate to find a positive effect of the HP treatment on the fresh vegetables. Nevertheless, freeze-dried rocket and spinach exhibited a significantly greater resilience to HP treatments, maintaining acceptable sensory attributes. HP treatments demonstrated a clear impact on reducing microbial loads in rocket and spinach leaves. For both matrices, pressures of 400 MPa and above applied for 2 min led to reductions in aerobic mesophilic bacteria compared to untreated controls. Finally, HP treatment did not produce significant modification in trace element bioaccessibility of vegetables studied.

Conclusions: The application of HP treatment on the fresh cut vegetables studied (rocket and spinach) showed that it is not an effective technology when these vegetables are presented in fresh form. In contrast, HP treatment was more effective from an organoleptic point of view on these vegetables in freeze-dried form. Regarding the reduction of the microbial load, intensive treatments (above 400 MPa) are necessary to find a significant effect. Finally, HP treatment did not affect the trace element bioaccessibility. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) were defined to improve the quality of life of the global population particularly regarding social and economic aspects, with a major focus on environmental sustainability. The incorporation of digital technologies into the agri-food sector has become a key enabler in increasing the efficiency, productivity, and sustainability of food production and processing systems. Digital technologies and innovations including artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, in-ground and remote sensors, connectivity, and internet of things (IoT) have been recognized as also being critical for the successful implementation of the UN SDGs. In particular, the utilization of sensing technologies (e.g., in-ground and remote sensors) has been shown to be of great importance to achieve these goals. The use of vibrational spectroscopy and data analytics have shown potential to contribute with the development and implementation of UN SDGs. An overview of the contribution of sensing technologies based on the utilization of vibrational spectroscopy (e.g., near- and mid-infrared spectroscopy, hyperspectral imaging) and data analytics to achieve the UN SDGs is provided. Advantages and limitations of these techniques are also discussed. The incorporation of technology will provide tools that can be used to monitor and predict the safety and quality of foods. Furthermore, digital technologies are enabling the development of novel decision-management systems along the food supply and value chain. Ultimately, the goal will be to assure the consumers the use of these technologies plays a key role in the applicability of the UN SDG. © 2025 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Direct fed microbials (DFM) are natural and safe enteric methane mitigants for ruminant livestock systems. While previous studies have demonstrated the effect of Lactobacillus spp. on methane mitigation, challenges remain in effectively delivering DFM in extensive grazing systems. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of controlled feeding of a freeze-dried, DFM comprising Lactobacillus spp. (providing 1 × 10¹¹ CFU kg^-1 fresh grain) for 70 days to growing lambs on methane emissions and intensity, liveweight gain, and carcass characteristics.

Results: The average daily liveweight gain (ADG) was 24% greater (P = 0.009) and the total body condition score change from the start to the end of the experiment was 28% greater (P = 0.019) for lambs supplemented with freeze-dried Lactobacillus spp. (FDL) compared to the control lambs (CON). Average methane production (g methane per day) tended to be lower (P = 0.095) and methane intensity (g methane g^-1 ADG) was 30% lower (P = 0.008) in FDL lambs compared to CON lambs. While carcass characteristics were not statistically different, the FDL lambs showed a tendency (P = 0.088) for a greater hot standard carcass weight.

Conclusion: This experiment showed that FDL supplementation to growing lambs on a hay-based diet improved liveweight gain and lowered methane intensity over a 70-day feeding period. © 2026 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.