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Topic Review
Drought-Adapted Mediterranean Diet Plants
The Mediterranean diet features plant-based foods renowned for their health benefits derived from bioactive compounds.
  • 737
  • 20 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Protective Effect of Olive Oil Microconstituents in Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a progressive vascular multifactorial process. The mechanisms underlining the initiating event of atheromatous plaque formation are inflammation and oxidation, with Platelet-Activating Factor (PAF), a potent lipid inflammatory mediator, implicated in the initiation and propagation of atherosclerosis according to a new theory “The PAF implicated atherosclerosis theory”. This theory also proposes an explanation of the beneficial role of the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) against atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases, in a biochemical approach. Among the modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, diet and especially the MedDiet, has been widely recognized as one of the healthiest dietary patterns. Olive oil (OO), the main source of the fatty components of the MedDiet is superior to the other “Mono-unsaturated fatty acids containing oils” due to the existence of specific microconstituents.
  • 734
  • 16 May 2023
Topic Review
Phyto-Enrichment of Yogurt to Control Hypercholesterolemia
Cholesterol is essential for normal human health, but elevations in its serum levels have led to the development of various complications, including hypercholesterolemia (HC). Cholesterol accumulation in blood circulation formsplaques on artery walls and worsens the individuals’ health. To overcome this complication, different pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches are employed to reduce elevated blood cholesterol levels. Atorvastatin and rosuvastatin are the most commonly used drugs, but their prolonged use leads to several acute side effects. The potential benefit of ingesting yogurt on lipid profile has attracted the interest of researchers and medical professionals worldwide.
  • 733
  • 05 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Effect of Benzothiadiazole on Phenols Metabolism
Benzothiadiazole (BTH) is a commercial chemical elicitor that can induce an innate immune response in grapevines and improve the phenolic components and color quality of grapes and corresponding products. 
  • 732
  • 22 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Sustainable Consumption of Food Processing
The post-pandemic world, the new normal in many service industries, is searching for better future service initiatives to serve guests, including online, fast, fashionable, high-end, and social (humane) networking. The observation method suggests that the generations using the internet during lockdown felt too connected online and consequently missed real social (humane) connections. Therefore, the catering industry needs to take a new path towards developing its service structure, and the service should be at a high level even with low overall prices (e.g., low-cost or self-service restaurants).
  • 729
  • 11 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Health Promoting Benefits of Edible Mushrooms
Mushrooms have long been used for medicinal and food purposes for over a thousand years, but a complete elucidation of the health-promoting properties of mushrooms through regulating gut microbiota has not yet been fully exploited. Mushrooms comprise a vast, and yet largely untapped, source of powerful new pharmaceutical substances. Mushrooms have been used in health care for treating simple and common diseases, like skin diseases and pandemic diseases like AIDS. 
  • 729
  • 07 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Annona Seed Oils and Their Chemopreventive Potential
Annona fruit, leaves, seeds, roots, and bark have been conventionally used in many countries for medical treatments as they are considered ideal sources of pharmacologically active compounds, but Annona remains an underutilized fruit in many countries. Annona seed oil contains numerous health-benefiting factors such as vitamins, minerals, bioactive compounds, fatty acids, antioxidants, and phenolic compounds, which are responsible for various biological activities, including antibacterial, antioxidant, and antitumor activities.
  • 726
  • 21 Feb 2024
Topic Review
The Role of EGCG on Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome includes a group of risk factors: elevated blood sugar, insulin resistance, excessive body fat, visceral obesity, elevated blood cholesterol, hyperlipidemia, and arterial hypertension, which has become one of the major public health challenges worldwide. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the most abundant polyphenol in green tea and is attributed to antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities, and the likelihood of targeting multiple metabolic pathways. It has been shown to exhibit anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-arteriosclerotic, and weight-reducing effects in humans. Worldwide, the incidences of metabolic diseases have been escalating across all age groups in modern society. Therefore, EGCG is being increasingly investigated to address the problems. This review presents the current updates on the effects of EGCG on metabolic diseases, and highlights evidence related to its safety.
  • 726
  • 31 Jul 2023
Topic Review
E-Senses to Measure Main Chemical/Physical Features of Food
Food quality is nowadays an extremely important issue: it must not only comply with commercial regulations but also meet consumers' expectations; this aspect includes sensory features capable of triggering emotions through the consumers' perception. In food quality assessment, the sensory approach gives an immediate measurement of perceived attributes and returns important information, which helps to better understand human responses. However, sensory analysis carried out by human panels can be tricky. Thus, e-senses have been used to characterize food features associated with sensory and compositional profiles, in a quick and objective way.
  • 725
  • 18 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Edible Coatings for Postharvest Application of Peach Fruit
Peaches are among the most well-known fruits in the world due to their appealing taste and high nutritional value. Peach fruit, on the other hand, has a variety of postharvest quality issues like chilling injury symptoms, internal breakdown, weight loss, decay, shriveling, and over-ripeness, which makes a challenging environment for industries and researchers to develop sophisticated strategies for fruit quality preservation and extending shelf life. All over the world, consumers prefer excellent-quality, high-nutritional-value, and long-lasting fresh fruits that are free of chemicals. An eco-friendly solution to this issue is the coating and filming of fresh produce with natural edible materials. The edible coating utilization eliminates the adulteration risk, presents fruit hygienically, and improves aesthetics. Coatings are used in a way that combines food chemistry and preservation technology.
  • 719
  • 26 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Selenoproteins in Health
Selenoproteins (SePs) from Se-enriched agricultural foods have attracted increasing attention due to their bioactivities, indicating that Se-containing foods have great potential to be used as natural functional materials for dietary Se supplements. Selenoproteins account for a significant portion of the total Se content in various Se-enriched foods. It can be obtained from plant-based, animal-based sources, and also fungi and yeast sources, which not only provide essential amino acids but also possess physicochemical properties of both Se and proteins. Additionally, Se-containing peptides (SePPs) have also been prepared from Se-enriched plants, such as rice, green tea, soybean, and tuna to explore their potential health benefits. In addition, a variety of factors, including components, amino acid species and sequences, molecular weight, Se status, and structure can significantly affect the bioactivities and functional applications. As several of the SePs identified in mammals are critical selenoenzymes in cells, animal foods that are rich in these SePs are of particular importance. Although Se is not deemed as a crucial element for higher plants, some plants can still integrate it into SePs. Several SePs have been identified in higher plants, including those found in mammalian cells such as GPxs, TrxRs, and selenocysteine methyltransferases. These proteins are also involved in various plant physiology processes, such as antioxidant defense, redox regulation, and Se metabolism.
  • 717
  • 04 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Role of Diet on Gut Microbiota
Gut microbiota plays a significant role in the maintenance of physiological homeostasis, contributing to human health. Nevertheless, some factors (sex, age, lifestyle, physical activity, drug-based therapies, diet, etc.) affect its composition and functionality, linked to pathologies and immunological diseases. Concerning diet, it interacts with microorganisms, leading to beneficial or detrimental outcomes for the health of host and leads to a signature on gut microbiota. 
  • 716
  • 21 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Production of Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid by L. plantarum
Given the important role of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in human health, scientists have paid great attention to the enrichment of this chemical compound in food using various methods, including microbial fermentation. Moreover, GABA or GABA-rich products have been successfully commercialized as food additives or functional dietary supplements. Several microorganisms can produce GABA, including bacteria, fungi, and yeasts. Among GABA-producing microorganisms, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are commonly used in the production of many fermented foods. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (formerly Lactobacillus plantarum) is a LAB species that has a long history of natural occurrence and safe use in a wide variety of fermented foods and beverages. Within this species, some strains possess not only good pro-technological properties but also the ability to produce various bioactive compounds, including GABA.
  • 715
  • 01 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Nutrients and Bioactive Compounds in Important Crops
Plants are the main sources of bioactive compounds (nutraceuticals) that function under different mechanisms of action for the benefit of human health. Mexico ranks fifth in the world in biodiversity, offering opportunities for healthy food. An important variety of crops are produced in the state of Hidalgo, e.g., based on the 2021 production, alfalfa, oats, maguey, and corn.
  • 713
  • 13 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Clean-Label Antimicrobials in the  United States
Food additives are employed in the food industry to enhance the color, smell, and taste of foods, increase nutritional value, boost processing efficiency, and extend shelf life. Consumers are beginning to prioritize food ingredients that they perceive as supporting a healthy lifestyle, emphasizing ingredients they deem acceptable as alternative or “clean-label” ingredients. Ready-to-eat (RTE) meat products can be contaminated with pathogens and spoilage microorganisms after the cooking step, contributing to food spoilage losses and increasing the risk to consumers for foodborne illnesses. More recently, consumers have advocated for no artificial additives or preservatives, which has led to a search for antimicrobials that meet these demands but do not lessen the safety or quality of RTE meats. Lactates and diacetates are used almost universally to extend the shelf life of RTE meats by reducing spoilage organisms and preventing the outgrowth of the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes. These antimicrobials applied to RTE meats tend to be broad-spectrum in their activities, thus affecting overall microbial ecology. It is to the food processing industry’s advantage to target spoilage organisms and pathogens specifically.
  • 710
  • 21 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Protective Role of Natural Compounds under Radiation-Induced Injury
Evidence has shown the potential therapeutic effects of different natural compounds for the prevention and treatment of radiotherapy-induced mucositis (RIOM). RIOM represents one of the most frequent side effects associated with anti-neoplastic treatments affecting patients’ quality of life and treatment response due to radiation therapy discontinuation. The innate radio-protective ability of natural products obtained from plants is in part due to the numerous antioxidants possessed as a part of their normal secondary metabolic processes. However, oxygen presence is a key point for radiation efficacy on cancer cells. Here, it is to describe the most recent evidence on radiation-induced injury and the emerging protective role of natural compounds in preventing and treating this specific damage without compromising treatment efficacy.
  • 709
  • 26 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Dietary EVOO Polyphenols and Gut Microbiota Interaction
Accumulating evidence indicates that regular consumption of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), the main source of fat in the Mediterranean diet, is associated with beneficial health effects and a reduced risk of developing chronic degenerative disorders. The beneficial effects of EVOO can be attributed to its unique composition in monounsaturated fats and phenolic compounds that provide important antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-modulating activities. On the other hand, it is well known that the gut microbiota has several important roles in normal human physiology, and its composition can be influenced by a multitude of environmental and lifestyle factors, among which dietary components play a relevant role.
  • 708
  • 14 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Cannabidiol-Loaded Nanocarriers
Cannabidiol (CBD), one of the most promising constituents isolated from Cannabis sativa, exhibits diverse pharmacological actions. The applications of CBD are restricted mainly due to its poor oral bioavailability. Therefore, researchers are focusing on the development of novel strategies for the effective delivery of CBD with improved oral bioavailability.
  • 705
  • 06 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Natural Functional Beverages as Approach to Manage Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease, commonly associated with unhealthy habits and obesity, and it is becoming a serious health issue worldwide. As a result, new approaches to treat diabetes are required, and a movement towards more natural approaches is emerging. Consuming fruit and vegetables is advised to prevent diabetes since they contain several bioactive compounds. A simple and effective strategy to include them in the diets of diabetic and obese people is through beverages.
  • 704
  • 29 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Selenium Modification of Natural Products
The selenization of natural products refers to the chemical modification method of artificially introducing selenium atoms into natural products to interact with the functional groups in the target molecule to form selenides.
  • 689
  • 18 Oct 2023
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