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Topic Review
Biomedical and Environmental Applications of Nonthermal Plasma
Atmospheric plasmas have led to the formation of nonthermal plasma (NTP). A number of novel plasma diagnostic approaches have been implemented and reported in order to better understand the physics of NTP. The use of NTP is a novel approach to producing reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Plasma technology has many applications, including electrical device microfabrication, biomedicine, dentistry, agriculture, ozone generation, chemical synthesis, surface treatment, coating, and disease therapy.
  • 1.2K
  • 04 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Virgin Olive Oil
Virgin olive oil (VOO) has unique chemical characteristics among all other vegetable oils which are of paramount importance for human health. VOO constituents are also responsible of its peculiar flavor, a complex sensation due to a combination of aroma, taste, texture, and mouthfeel or trigeminal sensations. VOO flavor depends primarily on the concentration and nature of volatile and phenolic compounds present in olive oil which can change dramatically depending on agronomical and technological factors. Another aspect that can change the flavor perception is linked to the oral process during olive oil tasting. In fact, in this case, some human physiological and matrix effects modulate the flavor release in the mouth.
  • 1.2K
  • 25 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Adipocyte Browning
The role of brown adipocytes in thermogenesis is a potential target for preventing obesity. Obesity results from adipocyte hypertrophy and hyperplasia caused by a severe energy imbalance between food intake and energy expenditure. To achieve both safety and multifunctionality, many in vitro and in vivo studies have focused on finding food extracts or natural products for stimulating adipocyte browning (elevating beige adipocyte differentiation and functions) and combating obesity and related metabolic diseases.
  • 1.2K
  • 26 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Bioprocessing by Decellularized Scaffold Biomaterials in Cultured Meat
As novel carrier biomaterials, decellularized scaffolds have promising potential in the development of cellular agriculture and edible cell-cultured meat applications. Decellularized scaffold biomaterials have characteristics of high biocompatibility, bio-degradation, biological safety and various bioactivities, which could potentially compensate for the shortcomings of synthetic bio-scaffold materials. They can provide suitable microstructure and mechanical support for cell adhesion, differentiation and proliferation. 
  • 1.2K
  • 20 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Purslane Polysaccharides
Portulaca oleracea L. (purslane) is a widely distributed plant with a long history of cultivation and consumption. Notably, polysaccharides obtained from purslane exhibit surprising and satisfactory biological activities. Purslane polysaccharides are an important material base component for purslane to play pharmacological and health functions. They are widely used and involve many fields. 
  • 1.2K
  • 26 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Phytoextracts as Crop Biostimulants and Natural Protective Agents
Plants are the basic source of food, energy and dietary fibers for mankind. However, the production of cereal crops affected due to various biotic and abiotic factors due to anthropogenic activities. Fungal pathogens are responsible for plant diseases and cause high economic losses. Synthetic fungicides, which are toxic and harmful to the environment, are used to control plant diseases caused by fungal pathogens; the trend is shifting towards healthy, safe and sound ecofriendly control of fungal pathogens. Phytoextracts of Beta vulgaris, Moringa oleifera, Citrus sinensis, Melia azedarach and Azadirachta indica significantly inhibited the fungal growth and spore germination.
  • 1.2K
  • 17 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Functional Compounds and Ingredients from Soybean to Tofu
Soybean (Glycine max) is a soybean plant whose seeds are abounding in protein. In Asia, the soybean is a native plant with oval and spherical fruits. Due to different strains, the color of the seed coat is yellow, light green, brown, and black; they are also known as soy, green, and black beans. 
  • 1.2K
  • 09 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Utilization of Low-Value Fish
A low value fish is a product which addresses one or more points of the following: a) a fish discarded because of unwanted traits (weight, dimension etc...) b) an accidental catch c) a species of moderate value. There are several possibilities to valorize low-value fish material and this entry offers an overview of the most useful ways.
  • 1.2K
  • 31 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Bisphenol A Analogues in Food
Bisphenol A (BPA) is the most well-known compound from the bisphenol family. As BPA has recently come under pressure, it is being replaced by compounds very similar in structure.
  • 1.2K
  • 06 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Cruciferous Sprouts as Sources of Bioactive Compounds
Edible sprouts with germinating seeds of a few days of age are naturally rich in nutrients and other bioactive compounds. Among them, the cruciferous (Brassicaceae) sprouts stand out due to their high contents of glucosinolates (GLSs) and phenolic compounds.   
  • 1.2K
  • 15 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Food Plant Secondary Metabolites Antiviral Activity
Natural products and plant extracts exhibit many biological activities, including that related to the defense mechanisms against parasites. The pandemic emergencies have further increased the interest in finding antiviral agents, and efforts are oriented to investigate possible activities of secondary plant metabolites against human viruses and their potential application in treating or preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection.
  • 1.2K
  • 22 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Food Fraud
Food fraud is an increasingly problematic phenomenon, whose presence may be significantly reduced by FBOs, by implementing a food quality management system and food defence principles within production (FSCC 22000, BRC Food Standard 8, PAS 96, IFS Food Version 6.1, SQF Quality Code), in order for manufacturers that have an interest to retain the quality of the final food product, as well as consumers’ trust.
  • 1.1K
  • 13 May 2024
Topic Review
Sewage Sludge as Soil Amendment
Overexploitation of resources makes the reutilization of waste a focal topic of modern society, and the question of the kind of wastes that can be used is continuously raised. Sewage sludge (SS) is derived from the wastewater treatment plants, considered important underused biomass, and can be used as a biofertilizer when properly stabilized due to the high content of inorganic matter, nitrate, and phosphorus. However, a wide range of pollutants can be present in these biosolids, limiting or prohibiting their use as biofertilizer, depending on the type and origin of industrial waste and household products. Long-term applications of these biosolids could substantially increase the concentration of contaminants, causing detrimental effects on the environment and induce hyperaccumulation or phytotoxicity in the produced crops.
  • 1.1K
  • 11 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Electrochemical Sensing of Vitamins
Vitamins are a group of complex chemical compounds with very low content in the human body but extremely important functions. Compared with traditional analytical methods, electrochemical techniques, with the advantages of low cost, high sensitivity, flexible detection strategies, easy integration, and miniaturization, have gradually become the main tools in vitamin detection.
  • 1.1K
  • 19 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Methoxylated Derivatives of Cinnamic Acid
Methoxylated derivatives of cinnamic acid play an important role in the formation of the pro-health potential of food products. Numerous reports present them as molecules with strong antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anticancer as well as hepato-, cardio-, and neuroprotective activities. 
  • 1.1K
  • 28 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Natural Products in Honey Bee Gut Parasite
Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) are a highly valuable natural resource, and are of great importance to the human population and the whole ecosystem. They play a critical role as pollinators of agricultural crops, wild flora, and natural vegetation, and are an effective biological monitor of environmental contaminants, acting as collectors for airborne particulates and dust deposited on the surfaces on which they land. Honey bees are also source of honey, royal jelly, propolis, bee pollen, bee bread, venom, and wax.
  • 1.1K
  • 23 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Application of Metal Nanoparticles in Protective Edible Coatings
Metal nanoparticles (NPs) are increasingly being used in many areas, e.g., industry, pharmacy, and biomedical engineering. NPs can be obtained through chemical and biological synthesis or using physical methods. AgNPs, AuNPs, CuNPs, FeNPs, MgNPs, SnO2NPs, TiO2NPs, and ZnONPs are the most commonly synthesized metal nanoparticles. Many of them have anti-microbial properties and documented activity supported by many tests against some species of pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and fungi. AgNPs, which are used for the production of commercial self-sterilizing packages, are one of the best-explored nanoparticles. Moreover, the EFSA has approved the use of small doses of silver nanoparticles (0.05 mg Ag·kg−1) to food products. Recent studies have shown that metal NPs can be used for the production of coatings to prevent the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which has caused the global pandemic. Some nanoparticles (e.g., ZnONPs and MgONPs) have the Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) status, i.e., they are considered safe for consumption and can be used for the production of edible coatings, protecting food against spoilage. Promising results have been obtained in research on the use of more than one type of nanometals, which prevents the development of pathogen resistance through various mechanisms of inactivation thereof. 
  • 1.1K
  • 21 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Portuguese Triticum aestivum
Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) is a major crop worldwide, and it is highly susceptible to heat. Genetic diversity is scarce as regards heat tolerance, and remains a major concern for breeders in Mediterranean region. Grain traits were evaluated in Portuguese Triticum aestivum germplasm after plants exposure to heat during grain filling stage. Seven ancient landraces and traditional varieties from INIAV wheat collection, Gentil Rosso, Grécia, Mocho de Espiga Branca (MEB), Mocho de Espiga Quadrada (MEQ), Transmontano 94 (T94), Restauração and Ruivo, and two commercial varieties, Ardila and Nabão, were considered in the study. Plants were grown in a semi-controlled greenhouse. Heat increased test weight (TW), thousand-kernel weight (TKW), soluble sugars, protein and essential fatty acids (C18:1 and C18:2)  in some of the genotypes. From PCA analysis of traits, one commercial (Ardila) and two landraces (Restauração and Russo) showed clustering in approximate positions no matter the treatment and seem to be less susceptible to heat. In contrast, one landrace (MEQ) seems more differentially affected and hence less adapted to high temperatures during grain filling. Physiological responses to heat, particularly their impact on grain filling and quality, may assist breeding design of heat-adapted wheat in the scenario of predicted climate changes.
  • 1.1K
  • 24 Mar 2022
Topic Review
From Pomegranate Byproducts Waste to Worth
The food industry is quite interested in the use of (techno)-functional bioactive compounds from by-products to develop ‘Clean label’ foods in a circular economy. Most studies are mainly focused on ultrasound extraction, which has been widely developed compared to microwave or enzymatic extractions, which should be deeply studied including combinations. After extraction, pomegranate peel by-products (in powders, liquid extract, and/or encapsulated, among others) have been incorporated into several food matrixes, as a good tool to preserve ‘Clean label’ foods without altering their composition and improving their functional properties. Future studies must clearly evaluate the energy efficiency/consumption, the cost, and the environmental impact leading to sustainable extraction of the key bio-compounds. Moreover, predictive models are needed to optimize the phytochemical extraction to help taking decisions along the supply chain
  • 1.1K
  • 06 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Microalgae/Macroalgae Extracts on NAFLD
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) covers a wide spectrum of histopathological abnormalities ranging from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis (NASH). Algae represent a good source of proteins, vitamins, minerals and fiber. In addition, they are rich in a great number of bioactive compounds, such as peptides, pigments, phenolic compounds and fatty acids with potential applications in health, due to their antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, antihiperlipidaemic and antiobesity effect. 
  • 1.1K
  • 26 Jul 2021
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