Recent advances in food, nutrition & agriculture最新文献

The link between diet and the progression of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a topic of growing interest and investigation within the medical community. This review explored the mechanisms through which dietary interventions can impact the course of MS and shape the clinical outcomes and quality of life of individuals with the disease. By synthesizing current knowledge from clinical studies and observational research, the review aimed to provide insights into the role of diet in managing MS. A comprehensive literature search was conducted, focusing on the effect of diet and dietary patterns on the progression of MS. Key findings indicated that individuals with higher diet quality exhibit reduced disability levels and lower symptom severity, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a healthy diet and adopting a holistic, healthy lifestyle in managing MS. The review also delved into the potential impact of macronutrients, vitamins, and minerals on the progression of MS, highlighting the importance of adequate nutrient intake for optimal health outcomes. Additionally, the study explored the association between dietary intake variations and the severity of MS, suggesting that further investigation is needed to understand the potential implications of nutrient deficiencies in MS patients. Overall, the review serves as a valuable resource for healthcare professionals and individuals living with MS, providing evidence-based dietary approaches that may help optimize health outcomes and mitigate the burden of the disease. It also calls for future research directions in the critical area of dietary management of MS to enhance our understanding and improve patient care.

The massive and uncontrolled use of petroleum-based plastic food packaging has resulted in serious environmental problems. As a result, the food packaging industry should improve packaging materials based on biodegradable polymers, such as chitosan. Edible food coating maintains and improves the shelf life and condition of packaged foods. Researchers have widely investigated the potential applications of biodegradable natural polymers, such as chitosan, cellulose, starch, whey protein, and gelatin in the food packaging industry. Among the natural biodegradable materials available, chitosan and its derivatives have attracted great interest because they have antimicrobial, antifungal, and metal-chelating properties. They are biodegradable polysaccharides and are non-toxic; therefore, they are considered perfect materials for food coating. Adding other active materials, such as fruit extracts, phenolic compounds, and essential oils, can significantly enhance the antimicrobial and antioxidant capacity of chitosan-based packaging materials. Thus, this article investigates the recent updates in food packaging applications based on chitosan essential oil composites.

The yellow pigment curcumin has long been used in traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant activities. Over the past half-century, scientific investigations have shown that curcumin is endowed with additional health benefits because it can modify key molecular targets associated with a number of pathologies, such as diabetes, cancer, and arthritis, in addition to cardiovascular, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's, and Crohn's diseases. However, this molecule has several disadvantages, such as low bioavailability and solubility, severe oxidative destruction, light sensitivity, fast systemic clearance and breakdown at alkaline pH levels. To address these drawbacks, several methods of microencapsulation employing a variety of shell materials have been investigated. These techniques contributed toward the increase of curcumin's solubility and stability against heat, light, oxygen, and an alkaline pH. The various shell materials and methods used to microencapsulate this chemical are the main topics of this review. The use of microencapsulated curcumin in food, medicine, and cosmetics is also discussed in more detail. Recent relevant research from the last few years has been given in this area, along with future difficulties.

Hyperlipidemia, characterized by elevated levels of lipids in the blood, represents a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Conventional pharmacological interventions have been effective in managing hyperlipidemia, but concerns about side effects and long-term use have prompted interest in alternative approaches, particularly the use of nutraceuticals. This comprehensive review aims to summarize and critically evaluate the current body of knowledge surrounding the role of nutraceuticals in the management of hyperlipidemia. We provide an overview of the different classes of nutraceuticals, including plant sterols, omega-3 fatty acids, soluble fiber, antioxidants, and various herbal extracts, which have been investigated for their lipid-lowering properties. The mechanisms of action of these nutraceuticals are discussed, highlighting their ability to modulate lipid metabolism, reduce oxidative stress, and promote cardiovascular health. Furthermore, we review the results of clinical trials and epidemiological studies that have assessed the efficacy of nutraceutical interventions in lowering cholesterol levels, improving lipid profiles, and reducing the risk of cardiovascular events. In addition to their lipid-lowering effects, we examine the safety profile, dosage recommendations, and potential interactions of nutraceuticals with conventional lipid-lowering medications. We also address the importance of patient adherence to dietary and lifestyle modifications in conjunction with nutraceutical supplementation. While nutraceuticals offer a promising avenue for managing hyperlipidemia, we emphasize the need for further research to establish evidence-based guidelines for their use in clinical practice. Challenges related to standardization, quality control, and regulatory considerations are also discussed. In conclusion, this comprehensive review provides valuable insights into the potential of nutraceuticals as adjunctive or alternative therapies for managing hyperlipidemia. While further research is needed, the accumulating evidence suggests that nutraceuticals can play a valuable role in promoting cardiovascular health and reducing the burden of hyperlipidemia-related diseases.

Background: Green Coffee Bean (GCB) is covered with silver skin that is shed as a by-product of the roasting process. For the first time, a comparative study was conducted to differentiate the compositional analysis of green coffee beans with silver skin and without silver skin.

Objective: The study aims comparatively assessing nutritional, anti-nutritional and fatty acids composition of green coffee beans with silver skin and without silver skin. The present study is also intended to find out various organic compounds of green coffee beans.

Methods: The proximate analysis was used to study nutritional composition. Mineral analysis was assessed by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The antinutrients like phytic acid and tannin were assessed by UV-visible spectroscopy whereas volumetric and gravimetric analysis was used to determine oxalates and alkaloids. Gas chromatography and Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectroscopy were used for studying fatty acids and organic compounds, respectively.

Results: Protein content was significantly (p<0.05) high in green coffee beans with silver skin, indicating 15% higher protein. Macro mineral content was also found significantly (p<0.05 and p<0.01) high in green coffee beans with silver skin, whereby 5.11% higher Phosphorus and 24.12% higher Calcium content was observed. However, iron content was 68.10% lower in green coffee beans with silver skin which might be due to its higher tannin content. Trace minerals zinc and copper were also found to contain 57.18% to 18.11% higher concentrations respectively in silver skin. Anti-nutritional analysis revealed the content of phytic acid and tannin as 161 and 77.29 mg/100g, respectively in green coffee beans with silver skin. The percentages of oxalates and alkaloids were found to be 0.64 and 14.30. These anti-nutritional compounds were significantly (p<0.05 and p<0.01) higher from green coffee beans without silver skin. Green coffee beans have been found with an utmost number of saturated fatty acids having palmitic acid as the most abundant. The unsaturated part is mainly composed of linoleic and oleic acid. Chlorogenic acid isomers and caffeine were the organic compounds detected through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

Conclusion: These findings reveal the presence of both nutritional and anti-nutritional components in Coffee silver skin, with significantly higher levels of anti-nutritional factors in green coffee with silver skin, emphasizing the need for caution in the consumption of green coffee and utilization of coffee silver skin as a valuable bioresource.

Obesity is a global health concern with numerous comorbidities, including cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. Carotenoids, found in a variety of natural sources like fruits and vegetables, are known for their potential health benefits. Emerging research suggests that certain carotenoids may play a major role in combating obesity through mechanisms involving inflammation, oxidative stress, and lipid metabolism. Understanding the influence of carotenoids on metabolic health could offer valuable revelation about obesity management strategies. To summarize the main findings on carotenoids that help in the management and prevention of obesity, exploring their potential benefits in weight management, metabolic health, and overall well-being. An extensive literature survey was done on the management of obesity using PubMed, Elsevier, ScienceDirect, and Springer. The results were then filtered based on the titles, abstracts, and accessibility of the complete texts. The search engine Google Scholar was accessed for the literature data mining. This review highlights the diverse functions of carotenoids, such as their antioxidant properties, antiinflammatory effects, and regulation of lipid metabolism, which contribute to their potential role in combating obesity. Studies suggest that carotenoids may help reduce adiposity, lipid accumulation, improve insulin sensitivity, and promote overall metabolic health, making them promising candidates for obesity management. Obesity is synonymous with the appearance of major diseases and an overall decline in physical and mental performance. Overall, the findings of this review endorse the possible application of carotenoids as a nutritional supplement for the management and prevention of obesity. Further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms underlying the beneficial impacts of carotenoids on obesity-related consequences and to optimize their utilization in clinical practice and public health campaigns.

High pressure processing (HPP) has become a practical food processing technique that meets the preferences of consumers seeking lightly processed, convenient, and fresh-tasting food options. This paper reviewed the latest research on the impact of HPP on the safety and quality of food products. The use of HPP has been showing favorable growth in the food industry primarily due to its potential to not only enhance the nutritional content and sensory attributes of food products but also to substantially extend their shelf-life and bolster safety standards. HPP is the most used among non-thermal food processing technologies. While its direct application to milk for consumption falls short of delivering consistent quality, it proves effective as a pre-treatment step and in products using milk as a primary ingredient. In the context of meat production, HPP reduces microbial loads and extends shelf-life, yet concerns persist regarding its impact on product quality. The absence of in-depth studies regarding the attributes of carrots that support pathogen regeneration emphasizes the need for comprehensive research in this area, which could have far-reaching implications for similar fruit and vegetable products. This review underscores the need for a balanced assessment of HPP's effects on food safety and quality, offering insights that can guide the food industry in adopting this technology while ensuring consumer satisfaction and safety.

Microplastics are emerging sources of environmental pollutants that are increasingly of concern because of their harmful impacts on aquatic life and thereby humans. Their accumulation in the environment is in direct proportion to global plastic production; their being nondegradable, recalcitrant and of a persistent nature creates an urgent need to address this issue on a global scale. Recent reports have demonstrated the presence of microplastics in marine life, and directly becoming a part of the food chain when seafood is ingested by humans. The repercussions of these studies point to an even larger scale presence of microplastics across varied habitats, which are yet to be sampled. Bioremediation, using various microorganisms such as bacteria, algae and fungi, alone or as consortia or in biofilm form can be used as an effective remediation tool. Genetically modified microorganisms for focused removal of microplastics and metagenomics studies, providing taxonomic details of uncultured organisms, are also expected to provide an additional catalogue of technologies in this field. This review offers a comprehensive overview of microplastic sources, existing technologies for treating microplastics and an in-depth analysis of bioremediation mechanisms, its components, and the results from various studies which provide sufficient clues as to the directions to be chosen to address microplastics pollution and can facilitate and instruct researchers to further investigate the more practical approaches and create new and innovative strategies for advanced remediation of microplastic in the future.

The human population is growing and alternate food options are needed to provide food and nutritional security to mankind. Reduced agricultural output as a result of climate change and increased demand for grains because of continuous population growth have created a gap between demand and supply of food. Buckwheat is a pseudocereal crop plant with high nutritional value that can be included as an alternate food in our diet. It is a traditional crop plant grown in the high mountains of the Himalayas for food as well as fodder. It completes its life cycle in 3-4 months, so is mostly grown as a second crop in between main crops like maize and barley. It also acts as a green manure by improving the phosphorus content of the soil. Buckwheat has high nutritional value as it is rich in essential amino acids, vitamin B, trace elements, and other nutrients. The main bioactive compounds identified in buckwheat are rutin, quercetin, isoquercetin, d-chiroinositol, resveratol, and vitexin, which are responsible for its pharmacological properties. Research focused on value addition by exploring its nutritional, pharmaceutical, and other alternative uses of commercial importance, is needed for reviving buckwheat cultivation practices and its conservation. Considering the multifarious applications of buckwheat, this review summarizes the currently available knowledge on the agronomic and nutraceutical significance of buckwheat to project its value as a future crop in the avenue of agriculture and functional food.