Food frontiers最新文献

Inflammation is a crucial target for therapeutic interventions in many life-threatening diseases, which sustains ongoing interest in the field of inflammation biology. Plant-derived natural products, rich in phytochemicals, have been used as healing agents in several diseases since antiquity. These compounds exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties, as well as gut microbiota modulation. They hold substantial potential as promising candidates for the development of novel strategies in the management of inflammation-associated diseases. This study presents a comprehensive overview of the potential benefits given from administrating natural products (e.g., phenols, terpenes, flavonoids, and saccharides), with a particular emphasis on vitamin C-rich fruits based on the high content of bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory properties. Apart from natural products, the gut microbiota acts a significant role in modulating the activation of inflammatory reaction. Deviations in its composition have been associated with various diseases. Furthermore, advancements in machine learning contribute to enhancing clinical outcomes in disease treatment. Therefore, this work provided some valuable insights in elaborating the therapeutic potential of vitamin C-rich fruits, the role of probiotics as anti-inflammatory agents, and the utilization of computer-aided drug design techniques.

Angiogenesis, vital for tumor growth and metastasis, is a promising target in cancer therapy. Natural compounds offer potential as antiangiogenic agents with reduced toxicity. This review provides a comprehensive overview of natural product-based antiangiogenic therapies, focusing on molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential. A systematic search identified relevant articles from 2019 to 2023. Various natural compounds, including polyphenols, terpenes, alkaloids, cannabinoids, omega-3 fatty acids, polysaccharides, proteins, and carotenoids, were investigated for their antiangiogenic properties. Challenges such as dose standardization, routes of administration, and potential side effects remain. Further studies, including in-depth animal models and human epidemiological studies, must elucidate clinical efficacy and safety. Synergistic effects with current antiangiogenic therapies, such as bevacizumab and tyrosine kinase inhibitors, should be explored. Additionally, the potential hormone-dependent effects of compounds like genistein highlight the need for safety evaluation. In conclusion, natural products hold promise as adjunctive therapies to conventional antineoplastic drugs in modulating angiogenesis in cancer. However, robust clinical trials are needed to validate preclinical findings and ensure safety and efficacy.

To reduce the unpleasant flavor in tea infusion made from summer fresh leaves and lessen tea resource wastage, a short-term cycled heaping method, addressing the temperature/moisture variations during prolonged heaping, was introduced to produce high-quality yellow tea with significantly enhanced taste and aroma. Furthermore, a hyperspectral approach was developed to anticipate such improvements. Specifically, short-term cycled heaping reduced summer tea's astringency and bitterness while increasing sweetness. Using near-infrared spectroscopy, the multiplicative scatter correction (MSC)–support vector machine (SVM) model predicted tea umami with 66.25% precision and richness with 77.64% accuracy via standard normal variate (SNV)–SVM, based on epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin (EC), and gallocatechin gallate (GCG) variations. Aroma enhancement was forecasted by a hyperspectral–electronic nose regression model, achieving over 81.50% prediction accuracy for summer tea aromas in the visible spectrum and surpassing 73.45% in the near-infrared domain, primarily attributed to pentanal, propanal, toluene, ethyl propionate, and 2,3-pentanedione variations. Overall, hyperspectral-guided summer tea processing, particularly for summer-harvested leaves, shows potential in offering a valuable screening tool, enhancing quality, and efficiency in the tea industry and promoting sustainable development.

Food-sourced proteins have been shown to have ameliorative effects on ulcerative colitis (UC), and studies have identified potential anti-inflammatory activity of silkworm pupa proteins. Here, we identified and screened two novel protein-derived peptides, PDLGLF (PD-6) and GTEGGFPF (GT-8), from Bombyx mori using UPLC–MS/MS and bioinformatics analysis. These peptides can serve as effective experimental drugs for colitis by modulating the gut microbiota. Treatment with peptides PD-6 and GT-8 inhibited colitis inflammation in UC mice, improved oxidative stress levels, and maintained intestinal epithelial barrier function. Peptides PD-6 and GT-8 also altered the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota in UC mice and increased the concentration of short-chain fatty acids. In conclusion, these findings reveal the potential of the naturally derived bioactive peptides PD-6 and GT-8 in controlling intestinal inflammation and underscore the potential of PD-6 and GT-8 as promising candidates for the prevention and improvement of UC-related inflammatory diseases.

The effects of courgette polysaccharides (CP) and coumalic acid (COA) on gelatinization, rheology, thermodynamics, microstructure, freeze–thaw stability, and in vitro digestibility of potato starch (PS) were studied. The synergistic effect of CP and COA on PS was further analyzed. The results showed that peak viscosity (PV) decreased from 6649.00 to 3462.50 mPa s and 3825.00 mPa s, respectively, after CP and COA were added. Under the combined effect of the two, it will be as low as 3225.50 mPa s. Besides, trough viscosity (TV), breakdown viscosity (BV), and final viscosity (FV) had the same trend. The presence of CP and COA can significantly delay the short-term retrogradation of PS, especially in the case of high dose of CP and low dose of COA. Rheological tests showed that all sample gels belonged to the weak gel system (tan δ < 1) and pseudoplastic fluids. Meanwhile, the results of thermodynamic, Fourier transform infrared, and Raman spectroscopy exhibited that the presence of CP and COA significantly retarded the retrogradation of PS, especially at higher levels. In addition, the presence of CP and COA significantly reduced the formation of PS gel structures, especially when acting together. Furthermore, CP and COA reduced the content of rapidly digestible starch in PS and increased the content of resistant starch. Differently, CP can increase the slowly digestible starch content, whereas COA did the opposite. In the ternary composite system, CP and COA will also interact and restrict each other. Hence, the characteristics of PS can be better improved by adjusting the ratio of CP and COA. Meanwhile, the results of the study can provide potential possibilities for the application of CP and COA in food and improve the quality of PS-related products.

According to the World Health Organization, contaminated food causes approximately 600 million cases of illness and 420,000 associated deaths worldwide each year. In this scenario, food safety is a crucial task, which is based in the application of correct hygiene practices throughout the entire food production chain: from farm to table. Ensuring food safety requires the implementation of practical, comprehensive, affordable, and effective approaches such as Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points, Good Agricultural Practices, Good Manufacturing Practices, use of low cost technologies for traceability, regular inspection and auditing, as well as education and training, among other factors. In addition, it is essential to establish more comprehensive strategies based on the One Health approach. Since human health and animal health are interdependent and linked to the health of the ecosystems in which they coexist, collaboration between multiple disciplines is necessary to achieve optimal health for people, animals, and the environment. Within the food system, the One Health approach can be useful, for example, in the fight against zoonoses or antibiotic resistance. This paper describes various aspects related to the main biotic food-borne diseases, the problem of biofilms and the impact of different antimicrobials (whether biocides or antibiotics) on antibiotic resistance, listing a range of alternatives to the use of classic sanitizing compounds. All of this has the aim of giving an overview of the different factors, including those connected to the environment or animal health, which can influence food safety and thus public health.

Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria alternata are major pre- and postharvest plant pathogens of kiwifruit and responsible for significant economic losses. Although synthetic fungicides are the main source of controlling these pathogens, their use can lead to pathogen resistance, pollution of the environment, and their residues on agricultural produce can represent a health risk to humans. Bacillus velezensis is an ecofriendly bacterium with biocontrol potential. The objectives of the present study were to determine the efficacy of B. velezensis against B. cinerea and A. alternata, both of which are pre- and postharvest pathogens of kiwifruit, and investigate the mechanisms responsible for its biocontrol activity using transcriptomic and metabolomic methodology. Dual cultures of B. velezensis and either B. cinerea or A. alternata versus single cultures were used to conduct a transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses to provide insight into the mechanism by which B. velezensis inhibits B. cinerea and A. alternata. A total of 2499 and 3248 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the B. velezensis/B. cinerea and B. velezensis/A. alternata comparisons, respectively. Genes related to sporulation, virulence, and hydrolase activity were downregulated in B. cinerea and A. alternata. Genes associated with MAPK signaling and the TCA cycle were also downregulated. Our study provides new insights into mechanism underlying the inhibition of B. cinerea and A. alternata by B. velezensis. Our results also demonstrate the potential of B. velezensis as a biocontrol agent against these two major pathogens of kiwifruit.

Raspberries (RBs) (Rubus idaeus) are rich in bioactive compounds with promising anticancer properties. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the anticancer effects of RBs, highlighting their potential as natural agents in cancer prevention and therapy. Bioactive compounds in RBs induce apoptosis, arrest the cell cycle, inhibit angiogenesis, and suppress metastasis. Preclinical studies demonstrate significant anticancer effects against colon, breast, lung, prostate, and cervical cancers, with clinical studies also supporting their therapeutic potential. Although preclinical findings are encouraging, further large-scale clinical trials are needed to confirm their efficacy and safety in humans. Optimizing formulations to enhance bioavailability and therapeutic effectiveness is crucial. This review emphasizes the potential of dietary interventions involving RBs as a complementary approach to conventional cancer therapies, paving the way for future research and clinical innovations.

Preferred mouth behavior studies have mostly focused on Western populations using the JBMB tool to determine how food is manipulated in the mouth. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between preferred mouth behavior and eating behavior among the diverse group of 209 Malaysians participants. A series of Analysis of Variances and an unsupervised machine learning technique known as Latent Class Clustering were utilized to determine individual's oral behavior. The Adult Eating Behavior Questionnaire was later modeled using causal networks, specifically Partial Least Squares-Confirmatory Factor Analysis, to uncover relationship between appetitive qualities. The results from this study showed that cultural context and appropriateness play an essential role when classifying preferred mouth behavior using behavioral questionnaires and models. Furthermore, this study also determined the relationship between eating behavior and preferred mouth behavior, as well as unique differences in eating behavior observed among the mouth behavior groups.

Lupines and faba beans are rising stars among legumes as sources of valuable, vegan plant-based proteins. To enter new application areas like the production of protein-rich refreshing beverages, the typical beany aroma impression has to be overcome, and the sensory appearance has to be improved, as it can be accomplished with lactic acid fermentation. An extensive strain screening of 70 lactic acid bacteria from 16 genera was performed to identify suitable strains to transform substrates made from lupines and faba beans into refreshing beverages and to improve their sensory characteristics. By analyzing carbohydrate utilization, production of organic acids and aroma compounds, and sensory appearance, 22 strains for lupine and eight strains for faba bean were preselected. Subsequently, the most suitable strains (five for lupine and three for faba beans) were identified by a trained sensory panel, and finally their growth kinetics were discussed. Generally, the aroma profile varied highly with the utilized strain. However, by selecting suitable strains, the beany impression can be highly reduced and pleasant aroma impressions (e.g., fruity and buttermilk) can be added. Most strikingly, it was proven that using germinated lupines and faba beans instead of raw ones can bypass the usual growth restriction, and the strain selection can be focused exclusively on sensory aspects. This opens the option to use strains usually excluded for the fermentation of legumes due to their lack of utilization of the legume-typical α-galactosides.