Plant Foods for Human Nutrition最新文献

Cherimoya (Annona cherimola Mill) is a tropical crop widely distributed in Latin America, valued for its fruit and traditional medicinal properties. The fruit contains biological compounds with various health benefits (e.g., anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory and antihyperglycemic) During pulp separation a significant number of seeds (∼13%) is generated. This last non-edible fraction, considered an environmental contaminant of the agroindustry, constitutes an interesting alternative source of a wide variety of macromolecules that can potentially confer desired functional properties to pharmaceutical and food matrices. In this sense, this study aimed to develop a cherimoya seed composite (CC) and investigate the effect of extraction temperature on its antioxidant, functional, physicochemical, and in vitro protein digestibility properties. CC was obtained through aqueous extraction of defatted kernel flour at 70, 80 and 90 °C, followed by characterization of its physicochemical, functional, and in vitro protein digestibility properties. Microscopy analysis revealed a layered structure in the CC, regardless of the extraction temperature. The results showed that highest extraction temperature (90 °C) positively affected antioxidant activity (63.40 ± 4.28 μm TE g^- 1) and protein digestibility (92.94%) but negatively impacted emulsification capacity (50.76 ± 0.06%) and stability (81.18 ± 0.07%). Water absorption capacity was positively correlated with extraction temperature, showing the highest value at 90 °C (239.99 ± 3.48%). Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of CC as a valuable ingredient in the food industry, suitable for use as an emulsion stabilizer, protein additive, and thickener.

Laricifomes officinalis is a medicinal wood-inhabiting fungus renowned for its health benefits, particularly in traditional European medicine for the prevention and treatment of pulmonary conditions such as asthma, pneumonia, and tuberculosis. Beyond its therapeutic applications, L. officinalis plays an important ecological role by contributing to nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the current literature on L. officinalis, focusing on its phytochemical composition, traditional uses, pharmacological potential, and conservation status. The species is a rich source of bioactive compounds, including coumarin derivatives, indole compounds, phenolic compounds, polysaccharides, terpenoids and sterols, which exhibit a wide array of biological activities, such as antibacterial, anticancer, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiviral effects. Drawing on extensive searches in scientific databases including Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, this review examines the distribution, ecological significance, taxonomy, and pharmacological applications of L. officinalis. Given the growing threats of overexploitation and habitat loss, the conservation of L. officinalis is crucial. This review discusses various sustainable cultivation strategies, including establishing culture collections and regulating biosynthetic activity through LED and laser light techniques, show potential for preserving and enhancing the production of its bioactive compounds. Despite recent advances, further research is required to better understand the pharmacological efficacy and safety of L. officinalis, thereby unlocking its full medicinal potential for future therapeutic applications. This review underscores the necessity of integrating ecological conservation with pharmaceutical research, highlighting the dual importance of L. officinalis in natural ecosystems and therapeutic applications.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a disease characterized by issues in insulin metabolism and consequent hyperglycemia, associated with oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction. Current pharmacotherapy for DM is not fully effective, as complications continue even after glycemic control. Thus, plants rich in bioactive compounds with antioxidant potential may be valuable in DM management. Begonia cucullata is a non-conventional edible plant rich in phenolic compounds and traditionally used in medicine as an anti-diabetic agent. However, pharmacological studies on this plant are scarce. This study evaluated the antidiabetic potential of B. cucullata flowers (BFE) and leaves (BLE) extracts in human endothelial cells and rats. Endothelial cells were cultivated in normal (25mM) or high (35mM) glucose and exposed to BFE or BLE (1-100 µg/mL) for 24 h. Healthy and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats received BFE (200 mg/kg) orally for 4 weeks. HPLC analyses of extracts revealed gallic acid, catechin, epigallocatechin gallate, epicatechin, and epigallocatechin in BFE, whereas BLE exhibited epigallocatechin and myricetin. Both extracts displayed antioxidant activity in vitro and were able to protect cells against oxidative damage caused by glucose overload. BFE attenuated oxidative stress and decreased triglyceride levels in diabetic rats, besides being not hepatotoxic or nephrotoxic. The data suggests that B. cucullata extracts may be potential adjuncts in DM therapy by exerting antioxidant effects and improving triglyceride levels.

The rising prevalence of celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, and vegan dietary preferences has increased the demand for gluten-free and plant-based foods. This study investigates the potential of aquafaba, a chickpea cooking by-product, as an egg substitute, combined with almond, coconut, and buckwheat flours to develop gluten-free vegan pancake formulations. Aquafaba was optimized for foaming and emulsifying properties under specific conditions (30 min cooking at 70-80 kPa, 110-115 °C, with a 1:1 chickpea-to-water ratio). Four pancake formulations, including gluten containing pancake (GCP), gluten-containing vegan (GCVP) gluten-free pancake (GFP) and gluten-free vegan pancake (GFVP) were evaluated for physicochemical, nutritional, sensory, and textural properties. The GFVP formulation, containing 10.5% almond, 4% coconut, and 15% buckwheat flours, exhibited 14.38% fat, 8.8% protein, 4.01% ash, and 5.29 g/100 g dietary fiber. These values were significantly higher than GCVP, which had 0.24% fat, 7.75% protein, 2.39% ash, and 0.72 g/100 g dietary fiber. Texture analysis showed that gluten-containing pancakes had superior cohesiveness (0.75) and springiness (0.85), while GFVP demonstrated softer properties with cohesiveness at 0.55 and hardness at 2.7 N. Sensory evaluation revealed high consumer acceptability for GFVP, with competitive scores for flavor and overall preference. Using aquafaba and alternative flours allowed the development of gluten-free, vegan, and sugar-free pancakes with desirable nutritional and sensory attributes. These results highlight aquafaba's potential in creating sustainable, functional foods tailored to diverse dietary needs. The findings contribute to the advancement of functional, health-focused food development.

High-quality protein and bioactive compounds in quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) have spotlighted its potential as a functional food ingredient due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. This study investigates the immunomodulatory potential of quinoa protein concentrate (QPC), quinoa protein hydrolysate (QPH), and a quinoa peptide fraction (QPF < 3 kDa) for activating macrophages. QPH was prepared via alcalase hydrolysis of QPC, followed by ultrafiltration (QPF < 3 kDa). In vitro and ex vivo assays on mice peritoneal and spleen macrophages were conducted to evaluate the effect of QPC and QPH on cytotoxicity, cytokine profiles (Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α, Interferon (IFN)-γ), and phagocytic activity of macrophages induced by QPC, QPH and QPF. Results indicated that QPC and QPH showed no cytotoxic effects at protein concentrations ≤ 1000 µg/mL. QPH at1000 µg/mL increased the production of IFN-γ and TNF-α, while increasing IL-10 release, suggesting a balanced immunostimulant response. Furthermore, QPF significantly enhanced phagocytic activity in spleen macrophages, emphasizing its role in systemic immune activation. These findings suggest quinoa-derived proteins and peptides hold promise as functional ingredients for immune health applications.

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) participates in the development of obesity by regulating triglyceride hydrolysis and fat storage or oxidation. In this study, the anti-obesity effects of lotus seed skin catechins and its mechanisms associated with LPL modulation were demonstrated. In vivo, catechins reduced body weight in high-fat diet-induced obese mice, improved lipid metabolism and antioxidant indices, and modulated LPL activity in adipose and skeletal muscle tissues. The expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and (angiopoietin-like 4 proteins) ANGPTL4 mRNA and protein was significantly upregulated in epididymal fat depot but downregulated in skeletal muscle tissue. In vitro cell experiments and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays further revealed that the binding sites of PPARγ protein in the ANGPTL4 promoter region were enriched in adipocytes or reduced in skeletal muscle cells in response to catechin treatment. Therefore, lotus seed skin catechins exhibit anti-obesity activity in vivo and in vitro by specifically regulating the activity and expression of LPL in target tissues.

Pithecellobium dulce Benth. commonly known in Mexico as "guamúchil", has been used to treat different diseases due to its pharmacological attributes. P. dulce arils are an important source of metabolites, with antioxidant and antihyperglycemic activities. Scarce studies have evaluated the antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content (TPC), and total anthocyanin content (TAC) in the red aril variety at different maturity stages, to our knowledge, no one has evaluated these properties in the white aril variety. The antihyperglycemic activity at different stages of ripening in P. dulce has not yet been reported. Also, its biosafety in human erythrocytes remains unexplored. This study assessed the in vitro antioxidant, antihyperglycemic, and haemolytic activities of red and white P. dulce aril hydroalcoholic extracts at different stages of ripening. The red mature aril (MRA) hydroalcoholic extracts presented the higher TPC (3103.2 ± 429.5 mgGAE·100 g^-1), flavonoid content (TFC) (98.8 ± 4.7 mgQE·100 g^-1) and TAC (31.4 ± 8.0 mgC3G·100 g^-1). White and immature red arils did not show TAC. The MRA extract showed the highest antioxidant capacity (53,097.2 ± 2,810.4 µmolTE·100 g^-1), and inhibitory activity on α-glucosidase enzyme (IC₅₀ = 53.38 ± 6.63 µg·mL^-1). The immature red aril (IRA) extract showed the highest inhibitory activity versus the α-amylase enzyme (IC₅₀ = 24.10 ± 0.89 µg·mL^-1). All extracts presented non-haemolytic activity (< 2.0% haemolysis). In conclusion, the MRA extract could be a promising constituent in functional foods focused to manage inflammatory diseases or diabetes mellitus type 2, due to its high antioxidant capacity and antihyperglycemic activity. Furthermore, the non-haemolytic activity suggests that the MRA extract is potentially safe for human use, especially in drug formulations or biomedical applications.

Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa), a high-methionine oilseed, offers a balanced amino acid profile and could serve as a viable protein ingredient in the food industry. This study evaluates the chemical and physicochemical properties of Brazil nut protein concentrate (BNPC), comparing its techno-functional properties to commercial proteins from soy and pea. BNPC exhibited a predominance of β-sheet structures (52%), high hydrophobicity, and excellent oil-holding capacity (~ 3 g oil. g^- 1 of protein), making it suitable for fat-rich food products. However, its foaming capacity and emulsion stability were inferior to soy and pea proteins, indicating the need for pH optimization to enhance these properties. Despite lower water holding capacity and digestibility, BNPC shows significant potential as a sustainable protein source for developing innovative food products, particularly those requiring high oil retention.

D. nervosa is a wild perennial herb used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating fractures, rheumatoid arthritis, and digestive disorders. Its primary bioactive components are flavonoids, phenolic acids, and sesquiterpenes. However, bioactive peptides, which exhibit a wide range of biological activities and are commonly found in both animals and plants, have not been reported in D. nervosa to date. To investigate the presence and potential bioactivities of bioactive peptides in D. nervosa, the abundance of endogenous peptides was initially analyzed using a Nano-LC-Q Exactive Plus quadrupole Orbitrap mass spectrometer. Subsequently, bioinformatics screening, computational enzyme hydrolysis, "target-pathway-disease" network prediction, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations were performed to evaluate safety, biological activity prediction and investigate the potential anticancer mechanisms of D. nervosa. The results demonstrate that the simulated enzymatic hydrolysates of D. nervosa endogenous peptide target and bind to cancer pathway receptor proteins such as MMP9, MAPK1, SRC, and PI3KCA, indicating their potential anticancer activity. This study provides valuable information for further research and the development of novel anti-cancer drugs.

The effect of endophytic fungal biotransformation on the formation of metabolic substances has become a non-negligible factor in assessing the quality of medicinal plants. However, the relevant evidences are still particularly lacking. In this study, an endophytic fungus CA3-A with biotransformation activity was screened and identified as Talaromyces coprophilus from root of Astragalus mongholicus. Its biotransformation effect on host metabolism was studied by co-culture with fungus and host root. The results showed that in addition to the significant changes in primary metabolites, secondary metabolite conversions are mainly focused on compounds such as terpenoids, phenols and flavonoids. The transformed metabolic pathways are mainly enriched in glycerophospholipid metabolism, ubiquinone and terpenoid quinones biosynthesis, and tyrosine metabolism. A total of 38 signature differential metabolites are found through multivariate statistical analysis. In addition to eleven primary metabolites including glycerides and glycerophospholipids, twenty-eight secondary metabolites distribute in terpenes, sterols, phenols, flavonoids, benzene, lipids and other classes of compounds, respectively. In conclusion, this study aims to quickly focus on the signature differentially metabolites from a large amount of information, narrow the possible range of potential transformation products, and provide help for understanding of influence of endophytes on host metabolism and the search for new natural products.