Food Science and Biotechnology最新文献

Functional foods have become an essential element of the diet in developed nations, due to their health benefits and nutritive values. Such food products are only called functional if they, “In addition to basic nutrition, have valuable effects on one or multiple functions of the human body, thereby enhancing general and physical conditions and/or reducing the risk of disease progression”. Functional foods are currently one of the most extensively researched areas in the food and nutrition sciences. They are fortified and improved food products. Presently, probiotics are regarded as the most significant and commonly used functional food product. Diverse probiotic food products and supplements are used according to the evidence that supports their strength, functionality, and recommended dosage. This review provides an overview of the current functional food market, with a particular focus on probiotic microorganisms as pivotal functional ingredients. It offers insights into current research endeavors and outlines potential future directions in the field.

In this study, volatile compounds and α-dicarbonyl compounds (α-DCs), such as glyoxal (GO), methylglyoxal (MGO), and diacetyl (DA), were analyzed in Arabica coffee prepared from Arabica green coffee beans presoaked in six organic acid solutions. The ratio of volatile compounds in samples was 18.06 to 0.6 (peak area of each peak/peak area of internal standard). Succinic acid pretreated Arabica had the highest concentration of volatile compounds, 128.9% higher than without pretreatment. The level of total α-DCs ranged from 12.90 to 100.32 μg/mL. Detected levels of GO, MGO, and DA ranged from 0.81 to 7.74, from 18.53 to 89.08, and from 0.43 to 6.74 μg/mL, respectively. Organic acid pretreatment increased the amounts of volatile compounds and lowered the concentrations of α-DCs compared to without pretreatment. The results obtained in this study would be useful for increasing the flavor of Arabica coffee and decreasing α-DCs.

In view of the special aptitudes of the yeast population in both rice wine production and dough fermentation, in this study, the characteristics of dough fermented with rice wine prepared from mixed Saccharomycopsis fibuligera SF7 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae SC1 (JFC) were evaluated and compared with those of dough fermented directly with the two yeast co-cultures (FC). Dough inoculated with JFC showed higher acidity, reducing sugar content and leavening activity than dough fermented with FC. The water distribution pattern and pasting properties of the JFC-fermented dough changed dramatically after fermentation, and the dough microstructure and extensibility were improved. The steamed bread made with JFC-fermented dough had improved specific volume and showed similar volatile compound profiles to that made with commercial Jiuqu. These results indicated that mixed S. fibuligera SF7 and S. cerevisiae SC1 could be used as defined starter cultures in rice wine preparation for steamed bread production.

Fruits and vegetables are important for the nutrition and health of individuals. They are highly perishable in nature because of their susceptibility to microbial growth. Foodborne pathogens create a significant problem for consumers, food businesses, and food safety. Postharvest factors, including transportation, environment, and preservation techniques, cause a reduction in product quality. The present world is using synthetic preservatives, which have negative impacts on consumer health. Food safety and demand for healthy foods among consumers, the scientific community, and the food industry resulted in the exploitation of natural preservatives, which play an important role in their effectiveness, prolonged shelf life, and safety. Natural preservatives include plants, animals, and microbiological sources with polymers to extend shelf life, improve quality, and enhance food safety. This review specifically focuses on mechanism of action of natural preservatives, spoilage of fruit and vegetables, the importance of edible film and coating on fruits and vegetables.

The color stability and quality changes of red pepper powder of various initial moisture content (7%, 10%, and 13%) and packaged with different materials, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and nylon layered polyethylene (Ny/PE) film pouches or plastic and glass bottles, were compared during storage at 20 °C for 126 days. In the 7% moisture content sample packaged in LDPE film and plastic bottles, the L* and b*-values increased from 48.2 ± 0.7 and 15.4 ± 1.1 to 65.2–65.9 and 29.5–30.3, respectively, while the a*-value decreased from 26.1 ± 0.7 to 14.2–15.9, indicating a noticeable color change from red to orange. However, the decrease in the capsaicinoid and free sugar content of red pepper powder over time was found to have no significant correlation with moisture content and packaging type. As a result, the color change during the long-term storage of red pepper powder was greatly influenced by the initial moisture content and gas permeability of the packaging material.

Fermented foods have been a staple in human diets for thousands of years, garnering attention for their health and medicinal benefits. Rich in lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with probiotic properties, these foods play a crucial role in positively impacting the host's gut microbiome composition and overall health. With a long history of safe consumption, fermented foods effectively deliver LAB to humans. Intake of LAB from fermented foods offers three main benefits: (1) enhancing digestive function and managing chronic gastrointestinal conditions, (2) modulating the immune system and offering anti-inflammatory effects to prevent immune-related diseases, and (3) synthesizing vitamins and various bioactive compounds to improve human health. In this review, we highlighted the diverse LAB present in Asian fermented foods and emphasized LAB-rich fermented foods as a natural and effective solution for health enhancement and disease prevention.