Recent advances in food, nutrition & agriculture最新文献

India, the second-largest producer of fruits and vegetables globally, generates significant quantities of agricultural by-products such as bran, husk, and seeds due to its rapidly expanding food processing sector. These by-products offer valuable opportunities for the extraction of dietary fiber and bioactive components, which can be incorporated into functional foods and nutraceutical products to address growing health concerns. Dietary fiber, an indigestible component of plant-based foods, can be classified into soluble and insoluble forms. Soluble fibers, derived from sources such as oat bran, barley, lentils, and certain fruits and vegetables, are rich in pectin, beta-glucans, and inulin. Insoluble fibers, found in wheat bran, cereal grains, and vegetables, primarily consist of cellulose and hemicellulose. This review explores the potential of dietary fiber in disease management, its diverse sources, and its application in functional and nutraceutical products. Regular intake of dietary fiber is associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and various gastrointestinal disorders. Soluble fiber, in particular, improves glycemic control and insulin sensitivity, while fiber supplementation aids in weight management among obese individuals. Additionally, increased fiber consumption is linked to lower blood pressure and serum cholesterol levels. Dietary fiber also alleviates gastrointestinal conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, constipation, and hemorrhoids, while prebiotic fibers enhance immune function. Despite its proven benefits, consumer awareness regarding dietary fiber remains insufficient. Enhancing communication and education on the importance of fiber-rich foods and supplements is essential to promote their widespread consumption and leverage their health benefits effectively.

Objective: This investigation aims to elucidate the potential of nutraceuticals as a therapeutic modality for depression by enhancing the solubility and bioavailability of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) using specific solid dispersion techniques.

Methods: Solid Withania somnifera and Valeriana officinalis dispersions were prepared via hot melt extrusion and solvent evaporation. These processes increased the aqueous solubility of Ashwagandha by 3.2-fold (from 44.2 μg/mL to 142 μg/mL). An optimal 1:2 drugto- hydrotropic agent ratio was selected based on comprehensive DSC, PXRD, and FTIR characterisation, indicating partial amorphisation and effective molecular interactions with β-cyclodextrin. The resulting solid dispersion was incorporated into nutraceutical gummies, formulated using type B gelatin, high-methoxyl pectin, and food-grade guar gum via a standardized molding process. The antidepressant efficacy of these gummies was assessed in murine models using the Forced Swim Test, with quantitative evaluation of changes in immobility time and climbing behavior.

Results: The solid dispersion methodology significantly enhanced Ashwagandha's solubility (3.2-fold increase). In the Forced Swim Test, animals treated with the gummy formulation exhibited a 40% reduction in immobility time and a 35% increase in climbing activity compared to controls, indicating a robust antidepressant effect.

Conclusion: This study presents a novel nutraceutical approach to managing depression. By optimizing the solubility and bioavailability of key herbal constituents through advanced solid dispersion techniques, the gummy formulation offers a promising alternative or adjunctive treatment for depressive disorders.

Background: Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms that support host health when consumed in adequate amounts. While fruit juices are promising non-dairy carriers for probiotics, consumer acceptance remains a challenge.

Objective: This study aimed to develop a viable, palatable probiotic beverage using a blend of fresh fruits and a vegetable, providing an easy-to-consume source of nutrients.

Methods: Probiotification of pasteurized and untreated tropical juice blends (carrot, orange, pineapple, and passion fruit juices) was achieved through fermentation using two strains of Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) (Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Lactobacillus plantarum). Fermentation was carried out at 37℃ for 48 h in a microaerophilic environment. Shelf-life studies were conducted at 35℃, 23°C, and 4°C, over 10, 10, and 21 days for untreated and pasteurized juices, respectively. Parameters assessed included the probiotic viability, presence of spoilage coliforms, pH, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, total soluble solids content, and colour.

Results: Both LAB strains reduced the juice pH within 48 hours of fermentation. The viability of probiotic cells was maintained at 4.08 × 1010 CFU mL-1 with no spoilage coliforms detected during refrigerated storage. No significant differences were observed in physicochemical properties (pH, TSS, TA, or colour) between the pasteurized and unpasteurized probiotic juice blends after 48 hours at 37°C. Sensory analysis indicated higher consumer acceptance of the fermented juice blends over a commercial probiotic beverage in terms of appearance, fruity flavour, sweetness, and mouthfeel.

Conclusion: Probiotic juice blends could offer a potential option for lactose-intolerant and vegan consumers, providing a nutritious, palatable, and viable alternative to commercial dairy probiotic beverages.

Objective: This investigation aims to elucidate the potential of nutraceuticals as a therapeutic modality for depression by enhancing the solubility and bioavailability of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) using specific solid dispersion techniques.

Methodology: Solid Withania somnifera and Valeriana officinalis dispersions were prepared via hot melt extrusion and solvent evaporation. These processes increased the aqueous solubility of Ashwagandha by 3.2-fold (from 44.2 μg/mL to 142 μg/mL). An optimal 1:2 drug-to-hydrotropic agent ratio was selected based on comprehensive DSC, PXRD, and FTIR characterisation, indicating partial amorphisation and effective molecular interactions with β-cyclodextrin. The resulting solid dispersion was incorporated into nutraceutical gummies, formulated using type B gelatin, high-methoxyl pectin, and food-grade guar gum via a standardized molding process. The antidepressant efficacy of these gummies was assessed in murine models using the Forced Swim Test, with quantitative evaluation of changes in immobility time and climbing behavior.

Results: The solid dispersion methodology significantly enhanced Ashwagandha's solubility (3.2-fold increase). In the Forced Swim Test, animals treated with the gummy formulation exhibited a 40% reduction in immobility time and a 35% increase in climbing activity compared to controls, indicating a robust antidepressant effect.

Conclusions: This study presents a novel nutraceutical approach to managing depression. By optimizing the solubility and bioavailability of key herbal constituents through advanced solid dispersion techniques, the gummy formulation offers a promising alternative or adjunctive treatment for depressive disorders.

Prebiotics are the indigestible components of meals that promote the formation of probiotics, that contain living bacteria that have positive effects. Synbiotics combine the two. These components may be found in foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, fermented foods like yogurt and pickles, or pharmaceutical preparations and functional meals made specifically to improve gut health. Consolidating current knowledge and study findings, this paper examines the body of literature on the impact of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on women's health. Thus, these components' advantageous modes of action are examined, offering insight into how they support the general well-being of the GIT and, consequently, the host. Probiotics, for instance, are crucial for restoring the gut flora. Conversely, prebiot-ics are thought to be a dietary source that promotes the development and activity of good bacteria. This promotes the synthesis of fatty acids, which are essential for a healthy gut and have anti-inflammatory properties, and increases microbial diversity. By combining the ad-vantages of pre and probiotics, the synergistic impact of synbiotics makes them a more po-tent strategy for boosting gut flora and promoting health outcomes. These include probiotics, which have been shown to alleviate the symptoms of GIT disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Additionally, it is known to help prebiotics improve gut health by boosting beneficial bacteria that improve immunity and digestion. Synbiotics stimulate immunity, enhance nutrient absorption, and encourage good digestion by encouraging a varied and balanced gut microbiota. This in turn aids in the treat-ment of particular medical conditions including menopause, challenging high-risk pregnan-cies, and hormonal changes. Including probiotics and prebiotics in the diet can control insu-lin resistance, assist in managing pain and oxidative stress, and encourage a normal gut mi-crobiome all of which are advantageous in the treatment of female health-related issues such as PCOS, Osteoporosis, PMS, etc.

Background: Depression is a common psychiatric disorder characterized by feel-ings of sadness, diminished interest in activities, and disruptions in sleep patterns. Pharmaco-therapy, which often involves the use of antidepressant medicines, are method for managing depression. There are potential negative effects linked to the utilization of these medicines, even though many people have found them to be beneficial.

Objective: Traditional pharmacological therapies for depression can have a variety of ad-verse effects or drawbacks. To overcome these constraints, nutraceuticals have come into the picture of interest. Nutraceuticals, which are naturally derived compounds with potential therapeutic benefits, have attracted interest as an innovative approach to treating depression. In this review, the efficacy of nutraceuticals in depression will be discussed.

Methods: To find pertinent research on nutraceuticals in the treatment of depression, a thor-ough literature analysis was enacted. Studies investigating the significance of nutraceuticals on depression signs, patent perspectives, and clinical studies were included.

Results: The findings suggest that several nutraceuticals, including omega-3 fatty acids, di-etary fibers, and phytochemicals, including Ashwagandha and valerian, exhibit antidepres-sant effects. These compounds have shown promising results in improving depressive symp-toms, enhancing neuroplasticity and neurogenesis, and regulating neurotransmitter imbal-ances.

Conclusion: Nutraceuticals offer a novel approach to depression, providing potential bene-fits in alleviating depressive symptoms. Correlative review suggests that increasing intake of these substances could be an alternate method for delaying the early symptoms and course of depression. Supplementation with dietary fibers, Omega-3 fatty acids, and phytochemi-cals can be utilized as a complementary strategy for anti-depressant therapy.

Agriculture empowers the economies of most developing countries as it contributes to the GDP and provides employment to half of the population. To augment the functionalities of agriculture, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a significant solution. Consequently, substantial research endeavours have been carried out in this direction lately. However, a com-prehensive study and scientometric analysis highlighting the potential of AI in agriculture has not been reported in the literature. Therefore, the presented scientometric study depicts the evolution of the pattern of research related to Artificial Intelligence technologies in agricultural practices based on the bibliographic data obtained from Scopus from 2015 to 2024. The data was analyzed and visualized using VOSviewer and Bibliometrix software by examining the publication growth trends, keyword co-occurrence networks, co-authorship networks, co-cita-tion networks, institutional coupling networks, and journal coupling networks. The presented research concluded that India excels in the field, contributing 874 research documents, a sub-stantial portion of the global total of 1,938. As per the link strength, China has secured the top position with 56 links and a total link strength of 1,080, while India follows closely in second place with 56 links and a total link strength of 871. The leading institution funding researchers with the highest number of publications is ICAR, while Science of the Total Environment stands out as the most relevant journal for disseminating their findings. The research topics explored involve using AI for disease detection, addressing nutrient deficiencies, analyzing soil content, and optimizing irrigation schedules. A notable emerging research topic highlights the effectiveness of AI in terms of increasing yield in agriculture. The future of AI in agricul-ture includes supply chain optimization, task automation, and climate adaptability, boosting food security and sustainability.

Background: Research on non-hormonal alternatives to traditional methods of male contraception has been prompted by the growing world population as well as the need for effective and reversible treatments. This study aimed to examine the possible antifertility potential of two medicinal herbs, i.e., Urtica dioica and Zanthoxylum armatum, that have been utilized for centuries in different cultures.

Methodology: A thorough pharmacognostical analysis was carried out to identify the ingre-dients of these plants. The phytoconstituents from Urtica dioica aqueous 96% methanolic leaf extract and Zanthoxylum armatum fruit essential oil were subjected to in silico molec-ular docking screening. The phytoconstituents were profiled using GC-MS analysis. To in-vestigate how these phytoconstituents interact with important proteins involved in male fer-tility and identify potential candidates for the development of a plant-based oral contracep-tive for men, further in silico molecular docking (receptor protein ID of 7FIH (3.20 Å), 7BPR (1.95 Å), and 2Q7J (1.90 Å) ) experiments were carried out.

Results: The GC-MS analysis revealed a wide variety of bioactive chemicals. Promising interactions between the discovered phytoconstituents and specific protein targets were found by the in silico molecular docking investigation, indicating the possibility of antifertil-ity effects.

Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate the medicinal use of these plants and provide the basis for the development of novel male contraceptive medicines and their fur-ther experimental validation.

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the pro-gressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, leading to motor dysfunction and non-motor symptoms. Current treatments primarily offer symptomatic relief without halt-ing disease progression. This has driven the exploration of natural compounds with neuropro-tective properties. In previous studies, α-phellandrene, a monoterpene present in essential oils of various aromatic plants, has shown promise in mitigating neurodegenerative processes. This study focuses on alpha-phellandrene's therapeutic potential in a rotenone-induced Parkinson's Disease model. Rotenone, a mitochondrial complex I inhibitor, is commonly used to induce PD-like symptoms in experimental models due to its ability to mimic the neurodegenerative processes observed in human PD. Our review explores the neuroprotective effects of alpha-phellandrene, focusing on its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties. Experimental groups of rodents received rotenone to induce PD-like symptoms, followed by alpha-phellandrene treatment. Biochemical analyses were performed to measure oxidative stress markers, inflammatory cytokines, and apoptotic signals in brain tissues. Results indi-cated that alpha-phellandrene administration significantly improved motor function and re-duced rotenone-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in dopaminergic neu-rons. Histopathological examinations revealed a notable preservation of neuronal integrity in alpha-phellandrene-treated groups compared to controls. In conclusion, alpha-phellandrene demonstrates considerable neuroprotective effects in a rotenone-induced Parkinson's dmodel. These findings suggest that alpha-phellandrene could be a promising natural therapeutic agent for PD, warranting further investigation into its mechanisms of action and potential clinical applications. Specifically, our review indicates that alpha-phellandrene may exert neuropro-tective effects by various mechanisms, such as reducing oxidative stress, modulating neuro-transmitter levels, or inhibiting neuroinflammation. These mechanisms highlight its potential to alleviate PD symptoms and slow disease progression, underscoring the need for in-depth studies to validate these therapeutic effects in clinical settings.

Despite notable progress in treatment modalities, cancer continues to be a prom-inent cause of death globally. Chemotherapy is the main method used to treat cancer, and chemotherapeutic medications are categorized according to how they work. Nevertheless, the issue of multidrug resistance (MDR) is a significant obstacle, impacting almost 90% of cancer patients who receive chemotherapy or innovative targeted medicines. MDR pro-cesses involve the quick metabolism of foreign substances, the accelerated removal of drugs from cells, the stimulation of growth hormones, the enhancement of DNA repair ability, and the influence of genetic variables. Recent studies have mostly concentrated on studying the anticancer effects of dietary phytoconstituents as a possible remedy for overcoming multidrug resistance (MDR). Various bioactive compounds, such as phenolic acids, phe-nylpropanoids, flavonoids, stilbenes, terpenoids, and organo-sulfur compounds, have shown potential in fighting cancer. It is worth mentioning that a number of phenylpro-panoids are now being tested in clinical trials to evaluate their effectiveness in fighting cancer. This review presents a comprehensive summary of the existing knowledge regard-ing dietary phytoconstituents as possible agents for treating cancer, particularly their ability to overcome MDR. This discussion will focus on the mechanisms by which these com-pounds work, as well as the data from both preclinical and clinical studies. Additionally, we have explored the potential future applications of these compounds in the development of cancer therapeutics.