Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture最新文献

Background: As a significant global atmospheric pollution issue, excessive nitrogen (N) deposition harms plant and soil. Meanwhile, the maize-soybean intercropping is a popular farming system that improves soil fertility and crop yield. Nonetheless, research on the response of maize-soybean intercropping to N deposition remains scarce. This research examined the response of maize and soybean in monoculture and the two-crop intercropping system to different N deposition levels (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg hm^-2 yr^-1).

Results: The results showed that increased N deposition reduced chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and root growth in maize and soybean. At the same time, it limited soil nutrient accumulation and decreased soil microbial biomass carbon (C), Nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) contents (abbreviated as MBC, MBN and MBP, respectively). Relative to monoculture, intercropping increased maize and soybean chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and improved root morphology under 100 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1 N deposition conditions. Under 100 and 150 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1 N deposition levels, maize and soybean root C and N contents increased. Additionally, in the range of 0-200 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1 N deposition, intercropping increased soil MBP, available K and P content. Intercropping reduced the ratio of soil N/P under all N deposition levels.

Conclusion: The intercropping system effectively mitigated the adverse effects of N deposition on chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in maize and soybean, improved the availability of main soil nutrients, and enhanced root growth in soybean. The findings of this study provide support for sustainable agricultural development. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Phyllanthus emblica L. is a medicinal and edible plant renowned for its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. However, the digestive stability, bioaccessibility, and intestinal protective effects of its polyphenolic components remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate systematically the in vitro digestion behavior, antioxidant capacity, and anti-colitis potential of P. emblica extract (PE).

Results: The bioaccessibility of total phenolics in PE was 92.03%, indicating high digestive stability, whereas the bioaccessibility of flavonoids was 42.69%, indicating partial degradation during digestion. Liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF-MS) identified 3-O-galloylmucic acid and gallic acid as the dominant and stable phenolics throughout all digestive phases. Phyllanthus emblica L. retained strong antioxidant capacity across the oral, gastric, and intestinal stages. In a zebrafish model of trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced inflammatory bowel disease, PE significantly ameliorated intestinal injury, reduced gut lumen expansion, inhibited neutrophil recruitment, and restored goblet cell numbers. Gene expression analysis showed a dose-dependent downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tnf-α, il-1β, il-6) (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Phyllanthus emblica L. extract exhibited high digestive stability and polyphenol bioaccessibility while maintaining antioxidant activity. Its pronounced anti-inflammatory and mucosal-protective effects in vivo provided evidence supporting the potential application of P. emblica as a functional food ingredient for intestinal health and inflammatory bowel disease prevention. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid that is naturally derived from Berberis species, owing to its broad spectrum of pharmacological activities, has been of significant interest due to its high potency for the treatment of metabolic, cardiovascular, neurological, and inflammatory diseases by modulation of cellular signaling pathways, antimicrobial action, and cytoprotection. Its therapeutic use, however, is still marred by poor oral bioavailability. This review aims to assess the therapeutic potential of berberine, highlight its pharmacological and structural characteristics, and discuss formulation advancements that optimize its bioavailability, with specific focus on its application in the control of chronic disease. Recent developments in structure-activity relationships, particularly at positions carbon-8 and carbon-13, are discussed in addition to nanocarrier drug delivery systems (such as phytosomes, nanoemulsions, solid dispersions, and inclusion complexes). Analytical methods and information from randomized controlled trials were also taken into account for compound isolation/quantification and therapeutic activity, respectively. The findings demonstrate that improved berberine drug formulations have better absorption, stability, and extended pharmacologic effects, supported by clinical evidence confirming its application in the management of type 2 diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and hyperlipidemia. In summary, berberine offers an exciting, multipurpose drug, and further formulation innovation and more rigorous clinical establishment are required to realize its benefits as broad biomedical and nutritional applications. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: This study investigated the effects of various ripening conditions and starter culture additions on the microbial composition and physicochemical properties of Turkish fermented sucuk. Ripening conditions (spontaneous, controlled, and controlled with starter culture) were evaluated using metagenomic technology. Key physicochemical properties, including moisture, pH, water activity, titratable acidity, residual nitrate, residual nitrite, and color properties, were analyzed.

Results: Three groups were produced: group A (spontaneous conditions); group B (controlled conditions); and group C (controlled conditions with starter culture). Microbial and physicochemical properties were assessed at three key time points: beginning (t1 - sucuk dough), middle (t2), and end (t3) of the ripening process. Physicochemical analyses showed a decrease in moisture content (from 53-54% to 39%), an increase in acidity (from 0.59% to 1%), and a reduction in nitrate levels (especially in sucuk produced with starter cultures under controlled conditions from 65.22% to 5.97%) throughout the ripening period (P < 0.05). Microbial analyses revealed that Latilactobacillus sakei dominated the bacterial composition (57.9%) in group B, while the lowest bacterial diversity was observed in group C, and the highest diversity was in group A. The most detected fungal genus in the sucuk samples was Pichia, followed by Hanseniospora, Alternaria, Kluyveromyces, Cladosporium, and Monascus.

Conclusion: The ripening conditions and starter culture application significantly influenced both microbial and physicochemical characteristics of fermented sucuk. Controlled fermentation, particularly with starter cultures, resulted in reduced microbial diversity but enhanced the dominance of beneficial microorganisms. These findings contribute to optimizing sucuk production for improved safety and consistent quality. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Replacing conventional plastics with biodegradable solutions that control moisture loss in fresh-cut produce is a strategic need. This study developed hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) and chitosan (CS) films plasticised with glycerol (Gly) and evaluated their use as sealing lids for fresh-cut mango.

Results: The selected monolayer formulation showed high optical clarity with limited transmittance at 560 nm, reduced water solubility and water-vapour permeability suited to moisture management. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared analysis indicated HPMC-CS compatibility and scanning electron microscopy imaging showed a continuous surface. Applied at 9 °C for nine days, the HPMC/CS+Gly film reduced weight loss by about fivefold relative to unpackaged fruit and approached the performance of commercial poly(vinyl chloride) in limiting dehydration, while maintaining fruit colour (Lab*) and firmness during storage. Package headspace measurements were consistent with a performance profile focused on moisture control.

Conclusion: The HPMC/CS+Gly film is a promising biodegradable option for mitigating dehydration and preserving quality in fresh-cut mango, and it provides a robust platform for future optimisation of gas-barrier properties and, where appropriate, incorporation of active functionalities. © 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: Peony seed kernels (Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews) face limited food application because of their bitterness and astringency. Roasting, a well-established technique for flavor enhancement, presents a viable strategy to improve their sensory characteristics. This study investigated the effects of thermal processing on the flavor compounds and bioactive components of Peony seed kernels.

Results: Using a Box-Behnken design coupled with response surface methodology, the optimal processing conditions were determined to be drying at 70 °C for 60 min followed by roasting at 200 °C for 8 min, achieving a tannin inhibition rate of 63.8%. HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry analysis revealed a significant reduction (50.53-69.85%) in the content of paeoniflorin, a key bitter component. Principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis effectively discriminated the flavor profiles, demonstrating a clear clustering of samples based on their flavor components.

Conclusion: Thermal processing not only effectively mitigated bitterness and astringency, but also modulated the bioactivity of peony seed kernels. In vitro activity assays confirmed that roasting influenced the total phenolic and flavonoid content, alongside the antioxidant capacities, thereby positively impacting their potential for human metabolic regulation. This study provides a theoretical foundation for the industrial development of peony seed kernels as palatable and functional food ingredients. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

The biodiversity of the gut flora is widely accepted as a key indicator of human health. The diversity of gut flora depends on age, lifestyle, diet and the use of certain drugs, especially antibiotics. The normal flora is called the microbiota, and the entire genetic material of all microorganisms makes up the microbiome. Probiotics have functions from digesting food, absorbing nutrients to modulating immunity. The purpose of this review is to point out the importance of proper nutrition, as well as the importance of the rational use of antibiotics in order to preserve the biodiversity of the gut flora, which contributes to human health. Articles were retrieved from ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, PubMed and SciELO databases. The research was limited to articles published between 2010 and 2026. Irrational use of antibiotics disrupts the gut flora, which can cause inflammatory bowel diseases, increase intestinal permeability, impairing individual health. The use of oral probiotics with antibiotics can be important in preserving the gut microbiota, and can also help in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Taking probiotics helps build a diverse population of beneficial gut bacteria before infection occurs, so it is especially recommended to take them during the season of foodborne infections (like summer). The combination of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Saccharomyces boulardii has proven to be beneficial. After stopping oral probiotics, the microbiota continues to form depending on the diet. Biodiversity of gut flora is different in each person, although it is quite similar among family members with a common environment and diet. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Ethanol is a common contaminant in sugarbeet factories that is believed to be produced by fermentation of sucrose by microbes present in the factory. Ethanol, however, may also enter factory processing streams as a contaminant in delivered sugarbeet roots, although no studies have examined whether harvested and stored roots contain ethanol or evaluated factors that might affect ethanol accumulation in postharvest roots. Research was conducted to determine the capability and extent to which sugarbeet roots produce and accumulate ethanol following harvest and determine the effects of storage temperature, duration, ventilation, and rots on root ethanol concentration.

Results: Harvested and stored sugarbeet roots contained the gene transcripts and enzymatic activities required for fermentation and accumulated ethanol at concentrations of 300 to 900 ppm. Root ethanol concentrations were unaffected by storage temperature or duration during 90 days storage at 5, 12, or 20 °C and were unaffected by reductions in root ventilation that lowered oxygen concentrations by 32%. However, the fungal pathogens, Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium vulpinum, and the opportunistic bacterium, Leuconostoc suionicum, significantly increased ethanol concentration in rotted root tissues.

Conclusion: Sugarbeet roots delivered to factories contain ethanol and contribute to ethanol in factory processing streams. Results indicate that healthy roots constitutively produce ethanol at low levels and that storage diseases significantly elevate root ethanol concentrations. Efforts to reduce postharvest sucrose loss due to fermentation, therefore, should consider not only fermentation by microbes in the factory, but also fermentation within harvested and stored roots. Published 2025. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

Background: This study assessed the starch content of ten yam varieties commonly consumed in West Africa to clarify their structural, thermal, physicochemical, and rheological properties and to support their potential food and industrial applications.

Results: The yam starches differed significantly in functional, thermal, and rheological properties. The different samples were given different codes. The sample coded KNE-C exhibited the highest amylose content at 42.7%. The starch granules were round and elliptical, with sizes ranging from 14.8 μm (sample SD3-G) to 24.1 μm (sample BET-C). X-ray diffraction analysis indicated peaks at 5.7°, 15°, 17°, and 23° 2θ, which correspond to a type C crystallinity pattern. The starch relative crystallinity was significantly lower (P ≤ 0.05) in sample OBI-N (32.49%) than sample KPO-C (40.76%). Gelatinization varied significantly (P ≤ 0.05) among the yam starch varieties, with a temperature range (ΔT) of 14.9 to 19.4 °C. A rapid visco analyzer (RVA) was used to show that peak time ranged between 5.0-5.5 min, pasting temperature ranged between 77.6-84 °C, and viscosity ranged between 4.114 Pa^.s and 5.820.5 Pa^.scP. The starches displayed viscoelastic properties and solid-like behavior (G' > G″). Gel hardness varied from 5.74 N in sample KPO-C to 10.74 N in sample SD4-G. Principal component analysis showed that components PC1 and PC2 together accounted for 55% of the total variance, and PC3 increased the cumulative variance to 71%.

Conclusions: The starches differed in microstructure, physicochemical, thermal, and rheological properties. This study provides a valuable basis for the selection of yam starch with specific properties suited for specific food applications in both food and non-food industries. © 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: Breast cancer remains a major global health burden, with existing treatment approaches facing challenges related to systemic toxicity, drug resistance and limited bioavailability. Sesamol, a natural antioxidant with anticancer potential, faces challenges of low skin permeability. Transfersomes offer a promising strategy to enhance transdermal delivery. The present study aimed to formulate and optimize a phospholipid-enriched sesamol-loaded transfersome (SM-TF) for breast cancer management.

Results: The optimized formulation (Opt-SM-TF) exhibited a vesicle size of 184.8 ± 3.4 nm with a polydispersity of 0.229 ± 0.01, as well as an entrapment efficiency of 90.23 ± 2.8% and zeta potential of -23.43 ± 2.80 mV. In vitro release studies demonstrated significantly higher drug release from Opt-SM-TF (82.08 ± 3.04%) compared to sesamol suspension (40.96 ± 2.09%) (P < 0.05). Antioxidant activity of Opt-SM-TF (79.65 ± 1.86%) surpassed that of sesamol solution (62.86 ± 1.52%) and was comparable to the reference standard ascorbic acid (88.40 ± 2.83%). Following incorporation into a Carbopol-based gel (Opt-SM-TFG), key parameters such as spreadability, extrudability, pH and texture were assessed. Ex vivo permeation and confocal studies demonstrated 2.2-folds higher permeation and deeper skin penetration (60 μm versus 20 μm) for Opt-SM-TFG compared to sesamol suspension gel (SM-SUSG) (P < 0.0001). In vitro cytotoxicity on MCF-7 (i.e. Michigan Cancer Foundation-7) breast cancer cells revealed significantly greater cytotoxic (P < 0.001) and a marked increase in superoxide dismutase activity (P < 0.001) for Opt-SM-TFG. Furthermore, levels pro-inflammatory cytokine (interleukin-2, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α) were significantly downregulated in Opt-SM-TFG (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Opt-SM-TFG demonstrated superior skin permeation, antioxidant, anticancer and anti-inflammatory potential compared to suspension gel, highlighting its promise as an effective transdermal platform for breast cancer therapy, warranting further in vivo and clinical evaluation. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.