ACS food science & technology最新文献

This study was conducted to fabricate and characterize poultry gelatin-based films incorporated with chili seed oil nanoemulsions. The particle size of developed nanoemulsions ranges between 60 and 129 nm with a zeta potential of −20–(−30) mV. The flow behavior of filmogenic solutions containing nanoemulsions was evaluated by the Herschel–Bulkley model with R² and k ranging between 0.997 and 0.999 and 0.0179–0.0252, respectively. In the dynamic rheological analysis, the G′ value of the filmogenic solutions was greater than the G″ values and increased with increasing nanoemulsion concentration. The CIELAB L*, a*, and b* color coordinates ranged between 21.16 and 19.82, −0.39–(−0.32), and 0.58 and 1.93, respectively. With increasing nanoemulsion concentration from 5 to 20%, the film solubility, moisture content, tensile strength, and elongation at break decreased, while the thickness and water vapor permeability increased. All film samples showed lower transmittance values in the UV region, with increasing nanoemulsion percentage, the transmittance decreased significantly (P < 0.05). The contact angle increased from 44.21° to 97.70° with increasing nanoemulsion concentration. The film samples showed peaks from 3285 to 3305 cm^–1 representing amide-A, and a peak at 1748 cm^–1 in all the film samples was attributed to the ester linkages of triglyceride carbonyls. Scanning microscopic analysis indicated that the roughness of films increased with increasing nanoemulsion concentration. The mechanical, barrier properties, antioxidant, antibacterial, and UV-blocking capabilities improved significantly. Thus, developed films have potential applications in food packaging.

The study aimed to assess the impact of vintage on the organoleptic quality of blackcurrant berries. Eleven cultivars of blackcurrant were studied for 3 years. GC-O and GC-MS analyses were used to select 12 odorant volatile compounds from blackcurrant berries. These compounds were semiquantified for the berries of 11 cultivars for 3 years. Results showed variations from one year to another, depending on the cultivar and depending on the volatile compounds. Multivariate statistical analyses showed that some cultivars were more sensitive to vintage than others. For most cultivars, the odorant profile of berries harvested in 2020 was different from the ones harvested in 2021 and 2022. Climatic data were used to deepen the interpretation of these results. Frost damage after blooming and lack of rain during fruit formation could explain the differences in fruit quality.

Italian saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is gaining visibility due to its high quality and difference in growing area. In this study, the metabolite composition and quality of Italian saffron samples purchased from local producers and supermarkets were investigated using an untargeted metabolomics approach using UPLC-ESI-TOF MS with simultaneous acquisition of low- and high-collision energy mass spectrometry (MS^e). Unsupervised statistical method (PCA) highlighted significant differences in the metabolomes, even if not related to the geographical origin. OPLS-DA revealed 9(S)-,10-(S)-,13-(S)-tri-hydroxy-11-(E)-octadecenoic acid as the most decisive compound to distinguish supermarket saffron, while oxidized crocins represented the most valuable markers to further describe the quality of saffron, even in locally produced samples. Known adulterations with paprika and turmeric were detected at a limit of 10%, and the increasing signals of cyclocurcumin was a significant biomarker for turmeric contamination. The results were underlined with conventional and kinetic antioxidant assays.

This study was conducted to enhance the quality of deteriorated frying oils by employing various types of adsorbents. Four vegetable oils─sunflower, soybean, rice bran, and palm olein oil─whose quality deteriorated after deep frying, were treated with six adsorbents─activated carbon, Fuller’s earth, ash, silica gel, aluminum hydroxide gel, and magnesium oxide─at 150 °C for 30 min to reduce the already elevated free fatty acid (FFA %), peroxide value (PV), total polar material (TPM), p-anisidine value (p-AV), and trans-fat. The physical characteristics (color, specific gravity, and refractive index) were also reformed after treatment. Activated carbon outperformed all other adsorbents for palm olein in terms of FFA % and PV reduction. Fuller’s earth lowered the maximum TPM of soybean oil, whereas MgO reduced the p-AV of palm olein. The trans fatty acids of practically all fried oil were lowered to their fresh state except sunflower oil with the adsorbents.

Obesity is a chronic illness that lowers quality of life; several dietary approaches have been considered as potential treatments. Due to its impact on regulating metabolism and weight, eating edible insects has become more popular among the available options. The objective of the current investigation was to assess the impact of wholemeal Gryllus assimilis (GA) powder as a dietary supplement on the regulation of genes in the adipose tissue and metabolic alterations in a mouse model of obesity. Several parameters were evaluated, including food intake, body weight, biochemical parameters, histological parameters, and adipose tissue mRNA expression. The main results showed that G. assimilis consumption modulates metabolic pathways and prevents hypertrophy in adipocytes while promoting a reduction in adipose tissue weight. In addition, glycemic parameters were improved, increasing insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance. Thus, it can be said that eating black crickets enhanced the problems associated with obesity and effectively provided metabolic benefits. The results indicate that G. assimilis consumption may be a viable therapeutic strategy for preventing and treating obesity.

Calendula arvensis is receiving renewed interest in Southern Italy, since its wide distribution favors its timely harvesting and the formulation of local and sustainable preparations. Herein, to give greater support to local communities, the botanical and phytochemical approach was further combined with a preliminary evaluation of the production of specialized compounds, mainly antioxidants, in different locations in the Cilento coastal area and at two different seasons. Results highlight that altitude, distance from the sea, and sand/silt ratio impact the production of specialized metabolites of spring samples collected in different areas. Thus, when formulative extracts are obtained, a different biological response should be considered. Similarly, seasonal harvesting must take into account a decrease in some compounds or transformations strategically implemented by the plant for survival and development in the winter period.

Plant-based composite edible coatings are a promising technique with high efficacy in extending the postharvest life of fruits. In this study, plant extracts of Sargassum crassifolium, Neolitsea cassia, and Aloe vera were blended in different combinations, and tested on fresh lime and tomato at ambient storage (27–32 °C and 70–75% RH). Coating properties were tested, and the best coating (25% of each plant extract) exhibited the lowest water solubility and potent antioxidant activity. A minimal postharvest weight loss for lime (27.23%) and tomato (21.58%) was reported after 21 days of storage, while the coating preserved a greener color in the outer peel of lime and tomato for an extended period, along with minimal chemical changes in fruit composition. Overall, an extended postharvest lifespan was reported for both coated lime (25 days) and tomato (29 days) compared to uncoated commodities (10 and 16 days, respectively).

The bioactive lignan secoisolariciresinol-diglucoside (SDG) accumulates in flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum), where LuUGT74S1 is involved in its formation by the sequential transfer of two glucose units to the aglycone secoisolariciresinol (SECO). Here, we investigated whether similar proteins catalyze the identical reaction in other SDG-producing plants. A phylogenetic analysis identified FvUGT74DH1 from Fragaria vesca subsp. vesca and CsUGT74DG1 from Camellia sinensis as LuUGT74S1-like. Recombinant LuUGT74S1 glucosylated (−)- and (+)-SECO to SDG, but none of the seven selected substrate-analogues. The LuUGT74S1-homologous proteins failed to glucosylate SECO but were active toward substrates structurally related to SECO. In contrast to CsUGT74DG1 and FvUGT74DH1, which were active in Escherichia coli, LuUGT74S1 was unable to convert SECO in intact transgenic E. coli cells, presumably due to the inhibitory Mg²⁺ concentration in the bacteria. LuUGT74S1 has become highly substrate-specific, probably due to selection pressure, while its homologues remained promiscuous. The SECO-glucosylating enzymes must have evolved through convergent evolution in different species.

It has been shown that citric acid-induced tofu has problems of soft texture and fragility. The aim of this study is to improve these problems by adding eggshell powder as a coagulant. Commercial tofu (gypsum tofu) was used as a control group. The properties of the gels were analyzed using intermolecular forces, rheology, and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The least surface hydrophobicity and free sulfhydryl groups were observed at 0.08% eggshell powder concentration. The rheological behavior indicated a solid elastic dominant behavior of tofu. Additionally, ionic, hydrogen and hydrophobic interactions increased accordingly. With the optimal addition of eggshell powder (0.08%), the α-helices structure of soybean protein transformed into a β-sheet structure, resulting in a redshift and enhanced peak intensity. The network of the tofu gel has become denser. These findings suggest that eggshell powder can be used as a natural calcium supplement to enhance the performance of tofu.