Food frontiers最新文献

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.

Abundantly available plants, animals, and microbes are excellent source of active substance to be used as fruit preservatives to delay postharvest fruit from decay, maintain good quality, and increase the shelf life. Although they are effective and free from toxicological risks, the use of the natural active products in agriculture is still limited due to the high cost of producing, complexity interaction in food matrix, and unacceptance of odor. This review focuses on employing naturally occurring bioactive compounds as an alternative to the synthetic preservatives used in fruit. For this purpose, natural compounds from abundantly available source, such as plants, animals, and microbes, are systematically described for their properties, mechanism of action, and applicability. Different postharvest handling of bioactive compounds and mechanism of their triggered/controlled release properties are discussed, especially with regard to challenge and future directions of these new strategy to preserve fruit in industry. This review offers a fundamental theory and technologies to develop the efficient and safe alternative strategies to synthetic fruits preservatives. Overall, the utilization of natural preservative techniques offers promising opportunities to maintain quality and extend shelf life of fruit, with potential applications in various industries such as vegetables, meat, and processed food.

Sphingolipids (SLs) are a class of lipids that are essential components of cell membranes. The main SLs and the metabolites include sphingomyelin, ceramide, and glycosphingolipids. They serve as signaling molecules and can regulate various cellular processes including proliferation, migration, senescence, and apoptosis that are essential for human health. SLs from marine organisms exhibit special structures and diverse physiological functions due to the extreme environment, which have attracted ever-increasing attention recently. In this review, the contents and structures of SLs from marine sources, analytical methods, their metabolic pathways, as well as the physiological functions, especially the ability for the prevention and/or treatment of various diseases, including immunity, metabolic syndrome, neuroinflammatory, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer, were discussed.

Anti-amyloidogenic properties of plant pigments betalains as potential nutraceuticals against Alzheimer's disease have been screened using 24 pure molecules. Twenty-two betalains reduced amyloid aggregation in vitro, eight of them up to 100%, with IC₅₀ values in the micromolar range. Atomic force and transmission electron microscopy images showed the typical fibrils associated with Alzheimer's disease and how betalains avoid its formation. Neuroprotection after ingestion was supported by in vivo experiments with Caenorhabditis elegans. Indoline-betacyanin was the most effective molecule by significantly improving the chemotactic behavior of the CL2355 strain, a model of Alzheimer's disease. Furthermore, in-depth molecular docking analyses revealed that the pigments interact with the N-terminal region of the amyloid peptide. This work is the most comprehensive study in the field and provides in vitro, in vivo, and in silico evidence for the use of betalains as nutraceuticals of relevance in the prevention of Alzheimer's disease.

Food nutrition and safety are the cornerstones of food industry, and appropriate research models are crucial. Unlike traditional animal models, the novel organoid model with unique humanization and genome stability has attracted great attentions in food research. However, there lacks systematic review on the application of organoids in food research. This review compared the organoid model with traditional animal and two-dimensional cell models, followed by a systemic evaluation of the organoid model in food nutrition and safety regarding foodborne pathogenic bacteria, functional food factors, toxicology, flavor perception, and so on. Furthermore, emerging micromachining technologies such as microfluidic technology and three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting were analyzed to improve the microenvironment and maturity of organoids. Although organoids overcome some shortcomings associated with traditional models, there are still some challenges to simulate the in vivo microenvironment fully. The development direction of organoids is integrating advanced technologies such as microfluidic technology, novel biomaterial scaffold, and 3D bioprinting with multi-organ coculture technology and multi-scale real-time monitoring systems. The innovative development of organoid technology is expected to provide a theoretical basis for developing future foods represented by cell-cultured meat and synthetic biological foods and for the research of food nutrition and safety.

Disruption of the bone metabolic balance with advancing age leads to an escalating prevalence of bone-related diseases, significantly compromising individuals’ quality of life. The gut microbiota actively participates in the regulation of bone metabolism, and perturbations in the gut microbiota can exacerbate bone diseases by compromising gut barrier integrity. Determining the microbial taxa involved in bone loss could offer valuable insights into the development of alternative therapies and nutritional interventions for disease management. Therefore, based on metagenomic and 16S ribosomal RNA data, this study analyzed the gut microbiota structure of 488 individuals with different bone masses (NC, normal; ON, osteopenia; OP, osteoporosis) to identify significant associations between the gut microbiota and bone loss. The results showed that at the genus and species levels, the microbiota diversity of the ON population increased, whereas that of the OP population decreased. Bacteroides were significantly enriched in the OP population, whereas the beneficial bacteria Bifidobacterium, Akkermansia, and lactobacilli decreased. Subsequent analyses revealed no significant variation in different bone populations in terms of Bifidobacterium levels, whereas lactobacilli exhibited diverse responses across distinct bone populations. The administration of lactobacilli effectively enhanced lumbar spine bone mineral density and modulated the gut microbiota structure in a population with unhealthy bone mass. This study contributes to the validation of the association between the gut microbiota and bone mass, enhances our understanding of the potential impact of probiotics (lactobacilli) on bone mass, and establishes a robust scientific basis for the application of probiotics in the regulation of bone mass.

The intricate causes of Alzheimer's disease (AD) hinder effective, lasting treatment. Although the dietary modulation of the brain–gut axis was explored for AD therapy, the exact mechanism remains unclear. This study suggested that 140 days of the whey protein hydrolysate (WPH) intake could attenuate the AD pathologic symptoms in APP/PS1 transgenic mice via a bidirectional action of the gut microbe–SCFA (short-chain fatty acid)–brain axis. Behavioral tests demonstrated that high-dose WPH (WPH-H, 100 mg/kg body weight [bw]) improved passive and recognition memory in mice. Furthermore, WPH-H significantly reduced amyloid beta 1–42 (Aβ_1–42) levels in serum (p < .05) and brain (p < .001) while enhancing serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (p < .01). Brain acetylcholinesterase (p < .01) activity and pro-inflammatory factors in serum were also reduced. Notably, WPH-H remodeled gut microbiota composition by increasing Dubosiella and decreasing Bacteroides and norank_f__Ruminococcaceae while stimulating SCFA production. Proteomics indicated that WPH enhanced neurotoxic Aβ autophagy, synaptogenesis, neurotransmitter delivery, and antioxidative stress response via regulated protein expression. Correlation analysis revealed strong links between modified gut microbiota, elevated SCFA levels, and hippocampal protein up-regulation (Atg4b, Nsfl1c, Tcf20, Nr2f1, and Trappc9) and down-regulation (Krt1). Overall, the amelioration of memory deficits in APP/PS1 mice through WPH-H consumption can be attributed to the interconnected interactions among gut microbes, SCFAs, and brain. Our study illuminated the intricate interplay between nutrition, gut health, and memory function, emphasizing WPH's potential in alleviating AD symptoms.