Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture最新文献

Background: Incorporating β-carotene into food systems improves nutritional value by providing a natural source of vitamin A. However, maintaining its stability during processing and storage is a significant barrier for its bioavailability.

Results: This study investigated the utilization of banana rachis nanocellulose (BRNC) as a natural stabilizer in the formulation of Pickering nanoemulsion (PNE). Parameters were optimized for developing PNE using BNRC. A 20 g kg ^-1 concentration of BNRC was found to be suitable in terms of particle size and zeta potential. The PNE, with a particle size of 196 nm and a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.463, remained stable for 35 days. β-Carotene (1 g kg^-1) on encapsulation in PNE showed enhanced chemical stability with a retention rate of 0.81. The BRNC-based PNE demonstrated enhanced stability against phase separation. Additionally, β-carotene-infused PNE mayonnaise was developed and characterized. Hydroperoxide formation in developed mayonnaise increased in control sample up to day 14, while samples with β-carotene showed no significant increase (P > 0.05) throughout the analysis period. Furthermore, mayonnaise added with the BRNC-based PNE enriched with β-carotene exhibited improved functionality, including enhanced rheological (R² = 0.99), textural, and colour attributes. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed 612.6 ± 0.8 μg β-carotene kg ^-1 of mayonnaise.

Conclusion: The developed mayonnaise successfully reduces fat content while enhancing its overall functionality. The potential of BRNC as a promising bio-based stabilizer was thus elucidated for the development of functional food products with improved nutritional value and stability. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: This study aimed to elucidate the transport mechanism of lycopene-loaded nanomicelles to improve intestinal absorption of lycopene. The interactive mechanism between lycopene and nanomicelles was investigated through isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). The cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, endocytosis, and intracellular transport pathways of lycopene-loaded nanomicelles were investigated using the Caco-2 cell model.

Results: The ITC results demonstrated that nanomicelles/lycopene binding was an entropy-driven spontaneous exothermic reaction, and hydrophobic interactions were the main driving force. Lycopene-loaded nanomicelles were not cytotoxic, and uptake of lycopene by Caco-2 cells increased 2.20-fold after nanoencapsulation. The results of intracellular transport of lycopene-loaded nanomicelles indicated that the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and lysosomes play key roles in this process. The intracellular transport results showed that the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and lysosomes were important organelles for intracellular transport of lycopene-loaded nanomicelles.

Conclusion: Nanomicelles effectively enhance the cellular uptake of lycopene and are promising carriers for its delivery. This study contributes to the understanding of the transport mechanism of nanomicelles through intestinal epithelial cells. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Fresh Cistanche deserticola, a valuable medicinal and dietary ingredient with exceptional functional properties, exhibits a high moisture content and is susceptible to deterioration due to its high moisture content. Therefore, it is imperative to identify an appropriate dehydration method. This study primarily focuses on enhancing the efficiency and quality of dried C. deserticola, through a hybrid drying process that combines freeze-drying (FD) and infrared drying (IRD). The samples were first dehydrated by FD and then transferred to IRD until the end of drying, with different moisture transition points (based on FD durations of 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, and 7.0 h, and the corresponding groups are marked as FD5.5h-IR, FD6.0h-IR, FD6.5h-IR, and FD7.0h-IR).

Results: The FD6.5h-IR method proved to be 32.08% more energy efficient than the sole FD method. The microscopic examination revealed that the surfaces of samples treated using the FD6.5h-IR and FD7h-IR techniques were smoother and clearer with smaller and more uniform pores, similar to the microstructure of the solely FD sample. Furthermore, the FD6.5h-IR treatment has been demonstrated to be highly effective in maintaining the retention of active ingredients in products.

Conclusion: Given the disadvantage of FD7h-IR treatment in terms of energy consumption, FD6.5h was identified as the best moisture transition point. This investigation offers a theoretical basis for enhancing quality control and refining the process during the FD-IRD processing of newly harvested C. deserticola slices. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Dynamic high-pressure microfluidization (DHPM) is an emerging treatment technology and has been widely used for the recovery of natural polysaccharides. The aim of the present contribution is to discuss the DHPM-assisted extraction and processing of polysaccharides from some foods and by-products by reviewing the instrument and working principle, procedures, key parameters, and effects of DHPM on the structures, food properties, and bioactivities of resulting polysaccharides. It was found that a DHPM instrument with Z-type chamber is preferable for extracting polysaccharides, and a DHPM with Y-type chamber is applicable for processing polysaccharides. The solid-to-liquid ratio (or concentration), pressure, and number of passes are the key parameters influencing the outcome of DHPM extraction and processing. The DHPM under suitable conditions is conducive to boosting the extraction yields of polysaccharides, enriching the carbohydrates and uronic acids in polysaccharides, lowering the protein impurities, and transforming insoluble dietary fibers into soluble ones. In most cases, DHPM treatment improved the food properties of polysaccharides via decreasing viscosity, molecular weight, and particle size, as well as losing the surface morphology. More importantly, DHPM is a mild treatment technique that barely affects the chain backbones of polysaccharides. DHPM-assisted extraction and processing endowed polysaccharides with enhanced antioxidant, hypolipidemic, and hypoglycemic activities, exhibiting potential for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. In addition, DHPM-treated polysaccharides exerted certain potential in whitening cosmetics via inhibiting tyrosinase. In conclusion, DHPM is a mild, efficient, and green technology to recover and modify polysaccharides from natural resources, especially foods and by-products. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Jersey milk, known for its high protein content, is an excellent base for yogurt production. Given that Jersey milk is derived from Jersey cows, this study was to isolate probiotics from Jersey cow feces and investigate their potential as alternative starter cultures for fermenting Jersey milk. Our goal was to develop new starter cultures specifically suited for Jersey yogurt production, while also contributing to the diversity of fermentation agents available for dairy products. This study aimed to evaluate the probiotic functions of Ligilactobacillus salivarius isolated from the feces of newborn Jersey calves after colostrum consumption and to investigate its impact as a starter culture on the quality of Jersey yogurt.

Results: A lactic acid bacterial strain was screened through acid and bile salt tolerance tests and simulated gastrointestinal experiments. The strain survived up to 42.8% after 3 h of cultivation at pH 2, and its viable count after 3 h of cultivation in a medium containing 0.3% bile salt was 3 log(CFU mL^-1). Additionally, the survival rates after 3 h of treatment with gastric and intestinal juices were 90.67 ± 0.41% and 84.97 ± 1.40%, respectively, indicating good acid and bile salt tolerance. Identification using 16S rDNA showed that the strain was L. salivarius JCF5. This strain improved the texture properties such as viscosity, elasticity and cohesiveness of yogurt when used in combination with commercial starter cultures.

Conclusion: Ligilactobacillus salivarius JCF5 is a promising probiotic strain for enhancing the quality of Jersey yogurt. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Immobilized enzyme possessing both high activity and good selectivity is important in practice. In this study, Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB) was immobilized onto the macroporous resin ADS-17 for triacylglycerol (TAG) synthesis through esterification of oleic acid and glycerol. The reaction conditions were optimized by single-factor study and orthogonal test, and the reusability of the immobilized CALB (CALB@ADS-17) was evaluated. In addition, the mechanism of lipase immobilization was studied and the catalytic mechanism of CALB@ADS-17 was investigated.

Results: Oleic acid conversion up to 99.20% and TAG content at 91.58 wt% could be obtained under optimal conditions. In addition, the CALB@ADS-17 retained 84.28% of its initial activity after 11 cycles of reuse. The mechanism of lipase immobilization was through hydrophobic adsorption. The relationship between temperature and oleic acid conversion was lnV₀ = 6.3316 - 4.3321/T, and the activation energy (E_a) was 36.02 kJ mol^-1. CALB@ADS-17 did not exhibit an obvious interfacial activation phenomenon. Its kinetic behavior can be described by the Michaelis-Menten model, whose kinetic parameters of v_max, k_cat, K_m, K_i, and k_cat/K_m were 0.01265 μmol L^-1 s^-1, 9310.72 s^-1, 0.4907 mmol L^-1, 3.997 mmol L^-1, and 1.90 × 10⁴ L mmol^-1 s^-1, respectively.

Conclusion: CALB@ADS-17 showed good esterification performance and exhibited good selectivity towards TAG generation. In addition, CALB@ADS-17 exhibited good reusability in esterification reactions and has potential in practical applications. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Canna edulis is a high-quality resistant starch raw material, especially for making flour products. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Canna edulis starch (CES) on the properties of flour, rheology of dough and quality of semi-dry noodles. The CES replaced part of the wheat flour in the semi-dry noodle formula. One control formula containing wheat flour only, and five formulations based on wheat flour containing 8CES, 16CES, 24CES, 32CES and 40CES were prepared.

Results: The findings revealed that with the increase of CES, the peak viscosity and retrogradation value of the flour increased, and the melting enthalpy decreased. CES caused some bound water to migrate to a semi-bound water state, improving the rheological properties of the dough and enhancing the texture characteristics of the noodles. When the added amount of CES was 24%, the cooking loss rate was 1.687%, and the highest sensory score was 86 points. Simulation of starch in vitro digestion revealed that the hydrolysis rate of starch first increased and then decreased with the increase of CES addition, with the highest proportion of resistant starch content ranging from 44.27% to 79.66%. Compared with the control group, the expected glycemic index decreased after adding CES.

Conclusion: These results assist in realization of comprehensive utilization of Canna edulis resources for the production of noodles with desirable qualities. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Lactococcus lactis Z-2 was previously isolated from common carp intestine. In order to investigate the effects of optimal dose of L. lactis Z-2 on growth, host health and disease resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila in common carp, five experimental diets, including without (CK and CK+ groups) or with 5 × 10⁷ (group A), 5 × 10⁸ (group B) and 5 × 10⁹ CFU g^-1 (group C) L. lactis Z-2, were evaluated for 8 weeks.

Results: Supplementation of L. lactis Z-2 increased final weights, weight gain, specific growth rate, condition factor and muscle crude protein content, while feed conversion ratio, muscle crude lipid and ash contents were lower than in the CK group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, L. lactis Z-2 also promoted intestinal digestive enzyme (lipase, amylase, protease) activities, improved intestinal morphology and upregulated gene (ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin) expression of intestinal barrier; stimulated secretion of proinflammatory (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (TGF-β, IL-10) in serum; and boosted AKP, ACP, LZM and antioxidant enzyme (T-AOC, GSH-Px, T-SOD, CAT) activities of hepatopancreas (P < 0.05). Among them, the effect of group B was more prominent. After A. hydrophila infection, the CK+ group showed overexpression of immune indicators and decreased antioxidant capacity. Whereas dietary intervention with L. lactis Z-2 significantly reversed these changes. Moreover, the survival rate was significantly higher (100%) in group B than in the CK+ group (36.36%) after A. hydrophila infection (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Dietary L. lactis Z-2 improved the growth performance, immune response, antioxidant capacity, intestinal health and disease resistance of juvenile common carp. Ultimately, 5 × 10⁸ CFU g^-1 dietary L lactis Z-2 is recommended for the formulation of feed. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Vitamin B₁₂ (cobalamin) can be produced de novo only by certain bacteria and archaea. It plays a crucial role in the health of animals and humans, which obtain it only through diet, mainly from animal products. This study aimed to identify endophytic bacterial strains capable of synthesizing vitamin B₁₂ and enriching edible plants with it as a potential solution for vitamin B₁₂ deficiency in vegetarians, vegans, and people with poor diets.

Results: An in silico genome analysis was performed on 66 bacterial genomes, including the reference strain Pseudomonas denitrificans ATCC 13867, a known vitamin B₁₂ producer. The genomes were analyzed using the Rapid Annotations using Subsystems Technology (RAST) server and the MetaCyc database to verify the presence and completeness of the vitamin B₁₂ metabolic pathway. The ability of the strains to produce vitamin B₁₂ was confirmed with a high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) analysis of pure culture extracts. Eleven strains produced detectable amounts of vitamin B₁₂ under tested conditions. The best performing candidates were further tested for their efficacy in producing vitamin B₁₂ in lettuce grown under sterile conditions on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with or without CoCl₂ supplementation. Methylobacterium sp. strain P1-11 produced detectable amounts of vitamin B₁₂ in planta: 1.654 and 2.559 μg per g of dry weight without and with CoCl₂ supplementation, respectively.

Conclusion: This is the first time a bacterial endophyte was used to produce vitamin B₁₂ in planta, suggesting that bacterial endophytes could be utilized to enhance the nutraceutical values of plant-based foods. © 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: Traditional methods for fabricating protein-polyphenol conjugates have not preserved the structural and functional integrity essential for the food industry effectively. This research introduces an advanced encapsulation methodology designed to overcome these limitations, with the potential to enhance the stability of edible oil matrices significantly, leading to improved preservation techniques and extended shelf life.

Results: Glycated pea protein isolate-curcumin conjugates (gPPI-CUR) were developed, demonstrating a marked improvement in the oxidative stability of walnut oil (WO), a proxy for edible oil matrices. Characterized by a Z-average diameter of 158.37 nm and an encapsulation efficiency of 80.94%, these conjugates demonstrated exceptional performance in reducing lipid oxidation and aldehyde formation. Molecular docking analysis confirmed the formation of robust bonds with curcumin, thereby amplifying antioxidant activity. The uniform distribution of gPPI-CUR throughout the walnut oil matrix, as validated by confocal microscopy, ensured sustained bioactivity and mitigated the risk of localized oxidation. Electron spin resonance spectroscopy corroborated the superior antioxidant properties of the conjugates, which translated into a substantial 19-day increase in the shelf-life of the oil.

Conclusion: The gPPI-CUR conjugates enhanced the oxidative stability of walnut oil significantly, as demonstrated by the increased shelf life and reduced lipid oxidation. This study introduced an effective encapsulation method that improved the stability and extended the shelf life of edible oils, aligning with consumer demands for high-nutrition food products. The results indicate that the gPPI-CUR conjugates could serve as a promising antioxidant strategy for food preservation, offering a practical approach to enhance food quality and safety. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.