Plant Foods for Human Nutrition最新文献

Beverages formulated from alternative proteins, such as amaranth, are gaining attraction due to changes in human dietary patterns and environmental concerns like resource use and biodiversity loss. This study focuses on assessing the bioactive peptide release from an amaranth protein beverage. This beverage was subjected to a static simulated gastrointestinal digestion (SGD) protocol to evaluate its bioaccessibility and functional potential. The digests were analyzed for in vitro antihypertensive, antioxidant, and antithrombotic activities. Additionally, digested peptide sequences were identified via LC-MS/MS. The results showed that SGD significantly enhanced the release of bioactive peptides, leading to increased ACE inhibition, antioxidant capacity against ABTS + and AAPH-induced radicals, and antithrombotic effects in clotting assays. LC-MS/MS analysis identified 31 peptides in the digests, ranging from 9 to 21 amino acids, associated with various bioactivities. These findings highlight amaranth proteins potential as a source of functional peptides with health-promoting properties. Further research must be done to isolate and characterize specific peptides for potential therapeutic applications.

Wide variety of consumable leafy vegetables are present in the nature but most of them are neither utilised nor scientifically investigated. Nutraceutical potential of these plants should be studied to enrich our knowledge, thus making them part of balanced diets. In view of this objective, three leafy vegetables were selected viz., Cassia tora (L.) Roxb., Acalypha fruiticosa Forssk. and Talinum portulacifolium (Forssk.) Asch. ex Schweinf. Phytochemical screening of the leaves collected from these plants was done in four solvents which revealed the presence of many secondary metabolites. Estimation of bioactive components revealed that the total phenolics (22.84 mgGAEg^-1), flavonoids (4.60 mgQEg^-1) and ascorbic acid (37.34 mg100g^-1) were accounted highest in C. tora whereas lycopene (12.61 mg100g^-1) and β-carotene (13.79 mg100g^-1) in C. tora were on par with A. fruiticosa (12.45 mg100g^-1 lycopene and 12.51 mg100g^-1 β-carotene). Anthocyanin content was highest in T. portulacifolium (23.62 mg100g^-1). The antioxidant activity was estimated using three assays and the maximum antioxidant activity was recorded in C. tora with lowest IC₅₀ values of 431.94 µgmL^-1, 30.58 µgmL^-1 and 107.59 µgmL^-1 in DPPH, FRAP and ABTS assays, respectively. Among the three wild edible plants, C. tora recorded the highest concentration of bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity.

Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (fenugreek) seeds are widely used in the preparation of various meals and in traditional health care to treat various disorders and diseases, especially Diabetes mellitus. This study was conducted to investigate the antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effects of the fenugreek seed extract on fructose-induced diabetic wistar rats. Indeed, 5 groups of rats were formed; the first and second groups were composed of normal rats treated with distilled water and fenugreek seed extract, respectively. The third, fourth, and fifth groups composed of diabetic rats were administered distilled water, 500 mg/kg of fenugreek seed extract, and 25 µg/kg. bw of a standard antidiabetic drug consecutively for 28 days. The repeated ingestion of fenugreek seed generated a significant rise (p < 0.05) of food and water consumption in diabetic rats as compared to the rats treated with distilled water. Furthermore, fenugreek seed extract caused a remarkable elevation of the body weights of diabetic rats in comparison with other groups. Additionally, chronic treatment of rats with fenugreek seed extract improved fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol and triglycerides levels in diabetic rats. Fenugreek seed extract has significant anti-diabetic activity by reducing the fasting blood sugar and ameliorating the lipid parameters of diabetic rats. However, more studies are required to isolate the phytochemical constituents that possess these activities and elucidate their mechanisms of action.

The increasing concern over microbial resistance to conventional antimicrobial agents used in food preservation has led to growing interest in plant-derived antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as alternative solutions. In this study, the antimicrobial mechanisms of chia seed-derived peptides YACLKVK, KLKKNL, KLLKKYL, and KKLLKI were investigated against Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and Escherichia coli (EC). Fluorometric assays and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated that the peptides disrupt bacterial membranes, with propidium iodide (PI) uptake reaching 72.34% in SA, calcein release of 98.27%, and N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine (NPN) uptake of 84.35% in EC. Increased membrane permeabilization was observed at concentrations above 5 mg/mL. SEM results further confirmed significant morphological changes, supporting the observed membrane damage. Additionally, the peptides showed intracellular activity by altering EC DNA mobility, suggesting a secondary antimicrobial mechanism through DNA interaction. These results indicate that the peptides are promising antimicrobials with potential mechanisms beyond membrane disruption, highlighting the need for further research to comprehensively understand their antimicrobial mechanisms.

Cellulite is an aesthetically distressing skin condition occurring in 80-90% of females and manifesting as dimples and depressions, producing an uneven surface to the skin. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of combined oral consumption of two dietary supplements based on chokeberry and tart cherry juices over a period of 32 days on cellulite reduction. Twenty women aged 21-49 with a cellulite grade of 1-2 according to the Nurnberger-Muller scale were participating in the study. Ultrasonography was applied to analyze the skin structure in addition to biochemical and anthropometric parameters, which were measured before starting the treatment and after 32 days. A reduction in the thickness of the dermis with subcutaneous fat tissue, subcutaneous fat tissue alone, epidermis, and dermis with epidermis (15.02, 14.34, 21.98, and 20.94%, respectively) was noticed, while the length of the fascicles was reduced by 35.93%. Out of 20 subjects, 11 (57.9%) had edema of the dermis at the beginning of the study, which was not recorded at the end of the study. Moreover, a statistically significant increase in the tissue doppler (TD) signals was recorded in all subjects treated with two dietary supplements, indicating a better blood supply. Changes in anthropometric and biochemical parameters were not recorded. Creatinine, urea, ALT, and AST values, as indicators of kidney and liver function, remained at normal reference levels, pointing out the product's safety. The positive effect of chokeberry and tart cherry juice-based dietary supplements consumption in cellulite condition could be connected with microcirculation improvements.

Crackers are bakery products that have shown an increase in consumption. One way to make crackers more nutritious is to add bioactive compounds, such as chia oil which is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids. As these compounds are highly unsaturated, encapsulation techniques, such as nanoemulsion, allow the addition of them in foods, guaranteeing the preservation of their properties. Thus, the objective was to add chia oil nanoemulsion prepared with chia mucilage, in total replacement of water and soybean oil in crackers, and to evaluate the physical-chemical, technological, and sensory properties. The cracker with chia oil nanoemulsion showed a 73.2% reduction in lipid content compared to the control cracker, and no difference in protein and fiber content. The developed cracker presented expansion, firmness, fracture, and luminosity factors as the control cracker. Regarding antioxidant activity, the cracker with nanoemulsion showed greater activity. Sensorially, the developed crackers did not show a significant difference in appearance, flavor, and texture from the control cracker, and the purchase intention was positive. Also, the developed crackers were healthier, with a lower total lipid content, and higher antioxidant activity.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a nonspecific chronic inflammatory disease of the intestine that is mainly divided into ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Nutrients play important roles in the treatment of IBD. In this study, the effects of vegetable proteins on the regulation of IBD were explored via the amino acid scoring formula. Two diets with different amino acid scores, a balanced one and an imbalanced one, were assessed for their effects on acute colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Pathological symptoms were evaluated by the disease activity index (DAI) and hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, the expression of inflammatory factors and barrier proteins was determined via qPCR and western blotting, and the intestinal microbiota was examined via 16 S rRNA sequencing. The results indicated that the balanced vegetable protein diet (BVPD) relieved colitis by reducing the colonic histological score, inhibiting the expression of proinflammatory factors such as IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α and promoting the expression of tight junction proteins. Analysis of gut microbes revealed that the BVPD altered the structural composition of the intestinal flora in animals with DSS-induced colitis by increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria (Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, etc.). In conclusion, a BVPD effectively relieves colitis and may be a promising adjuvant strategy for the treatment of IBD.

Gut microbiota dysbiosis significantly contributes either to metabolic or immune diseases. Modulating the gut microbiome is the subject of intense research, but how immunonutritional ingredients from Chenopodium quinoa contribute to shaping the commensal microbiome and its metabolic capacities has not been determined. Sixty healthy volunteers participated in a double-blind, randomized parallel pilot study with two study arms: high fat-containing cookie and a C. quinoa-based cookie. The composition of the colonic microbiota was quantified by real time qPCR and bacterial metabolism to use carbohydrates was monitored using metabolic strips. Regardless of the order in which the volunteers receive the cookies, the administration of the C. quinoa-based cookie allows establishing and maintaining significant differences in the diversity of the microbiota. C. quinoa-based cookie prevented imbalances in the gut microbiota composition derived from the administration of the high fat-containing cookie. These findings provide new insights into how immunonutritional foods can help to establish steady-state commensalism.

Background and aims: Herbal plants may contribute to reducing the incidence of cardiovascular disease. Yerba mate (YM) emerges as a candidate to improve endothelial function, hemodynamics, and heart rate variability (HRV) due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, potentially decreasing cardiovascular risk. Therefore, studies are needed to assess the effect of YM ingestion on these parameters. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of acute ingestion of YM infusion (hot or cold) on endothelial function, hemodynamics, and HRV.

Methods and results: In this crossover randomized clinical trial, 13 participants (18-40 years old) of both genders were evaluated under three conditions: control (water), cold YM infusion, and hot YM infusion. The primary outcome was endothelial function assessed through flow-mediated dilation (FMD), with the secondary outcomes including blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and HRV. Parameters were evaluated before and after intervention (40' and 80'). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed an intervention effect on FMD (%) (p < 0.05), with both cold and hot YM associated to higher FMD% compared to control, although no time or time*intervention effects were found. ANOVA also showed a time effect on BP, HR, and HRV time and frequency domains variables (p < 0.05), though no time*intervention or intervention effect was observed.

Conclusion: We did not find acute effects of YM infusion on endothelial function, central hemodynamic, or autonomic parameters in healthy adults. These results were not impacted by the temperature of YM. Further studies should assess the dose-response of acute and chronic YM ingestion on endothelial function.

Trial registration: U1111-1289-9324, retrospectively registered in May 2023.

The black puçá (Mouriri pusa) is an unconventional fruit from the Cerrado region of Brazil, commonly known as the jabuticaba of the forest. However, data on its nutritional and phytochemical composition are limited. This study investigated the nutritional composition, physicochemical characteristics, profile of carbohydrates and organic acids, phenolics and flavonoids individual, amino acids composition, bioactive substances, and antioxidant potential in the pulp, peel, and seed fractions of puçá-preto. The results confirm that puçá-preto is an important nutritional source. The main organic acids were malic acid (187.54 - 290.50 mg g^-1) followed by tartaric acid (57.89 - 134.79 mg g^-1). In the black puçá, 8 of the 9 essential amino acids were determined, with arginine presenting the highest results (0.24 - 2.03 g 100 g^-1), followed by glutamic acid (0.34 - 1.87 g 100 g^-1). It presented satisfactory results for vitamin C, carotenoids, and anthocyanins, demonstrating potential for pigment extraction. The pulp and peel showed good antioxidant activity in capturing free radicals by the DPPH method and reducing ferric ions in the pulp. Regarding individual phenolic compounds, quercetin was the major compound in the pulp fraction (4.69 µg mL^-1); on the other hand, kaempferol had greater expression in the peels (20.78 µg mL^-1), while myricetin was quantified only in the seeds (10.67 µg mL^-1). The results showed that black puçá is rich in nutrients and bioactive products and can be fully utilized. The products from black puçá processing can be applied in the food and pharmaceutical industries.