Food Chemistry

Todays canola quality rapeseed press cake (RPC) is a protein-rich co-product with potential as human food, but its application is limited due to antinutritional compounds and bitter taste. It remains, however, unknown how introduction of raw RPC to a food matrix affects sensory perception and which metabolites drive the sensation. Here, raw RPC from whole or dehulled seeds was introduced into snack bars at 0%, 7%, 14%, and 21%, and sensory responses were correlated to selected known RPC-derived bitter compounds. A trained panel evaluated 13 RPC-characteristic sensory attributes, and the bitter compounds sinapic acid, kaempferol 3-O-(2'''-O-sinapoyl-{beta}-sophoroside) (KSS), KSS-hexose, selected bitter glucosinolates, and goitrin were quantified using targeted LC-MS/MS. Most dose-dependent sensory responses increased up to 14% RPC and then plateaued, whereas astringent mouthfeel increased almost linearly across the full dose range. Dehulling intensified several odor- and flavor-related attributes but did not increase bitterness or protein content in the final product. Principal component analysis linked bitterness and astringency positively with KSS, KSS-hexose, and goitrin. Dose-over-threshold analysis further showed that goitrin, but not progoitrin, reached concentrations relevant for bitterness perception. Together, the results demonstrate that raw RPC contributes distinct dose-dependent sensory attributes and that metabolite transformations in the food matrix shape final sensory profiles. These findings provide a basis for developing RPC-containing foods and for breeding rapeseed lines with improved sensory characteristics. HIGHLIGHTSO_LIThis study presents the first sensory panel assessment of rapeseed press cake (RPC)-containing in food products (snack bars) made from whole and dehulled seeds. C_LIO_LI13 RPC-characteristic sensory attributes are identified. C_LIO_LISensory profiles of the tasted snack bars differed significantly, influenced by the dosage of RPC and by the dehulling treatment. Bitterness and astringency are positively correlated with the RPC dosage. C_LIO_LIGoitrin, kaempferol 3-O-(2'''-O-sinapoyl-{beta}-sophoroside) (KSS) and sinapic acid are RPC-derived bitter compounds that correlate with bitter taste of RPC-containing snack bars. C_LIO_LIApproximately 90% of glucosinolates introduced with the RPC are not detected in the snack bars, and goitrin levels in snack bars accounts for only [~]10% of introduced progoitrin. C_LIO_LIGoitrin is - for the first time - reported to contribute to the perceived bitterness of an RPC-containing food product. C_LI

1.BackgroundManihot esculenta (Cassava) is a vital staple in Sub-Saharan Africa, yet its high levels of cyanogenic glycosides and anti-nutrients pose health risks. While boiling is common, its holistic impact on the nutritional biochemistry and antioxidant profile of the "Farmers Pride" (IBA 961632) variety remains under-characterized. This study evaluated the sequential impact of food processing -boiling and multi-stage fermentation -on cassavas toxicological and bioactive profiles. MethodsFresh tubers were boiled for 10 minutes and fermented for 24, 48, and 72 hours. Proximate composition, vitamins, and anti-nutritional factors (cyanide, oxalate, phytate) were quantified. Linamarase activity and total phenolic and flavonoid contents were measured to assess enzymatic detoxification and phytotherapeutic potential. ResultsBoiling concentrated carbohydrates but created a "nutrient void," leaching 93% of Vitamin C. However, fermentation acted as a biochemical refinery; by 72 hours, total cyanide plummeted from 98.15 to 0.54 mg/100g, meeting WHO safety standards. Concurrently, fermentation triggered a resurgence in bioactives, significantly increasing phenolic and flavonoid levels. ConclusionBoiling alone is insufficient for detoxification. Sequential fermentation beyond 48 hours is essential to "rescue" antioxidant potential and ensure safety. The 72-hour fermented tuber represents an optimized bioactive food vehicle for managing oxidative stress-related pathologies like prostatic hyperplasia

The objective of this research was to characterize the proteome of the Apis mellifera royal pupae to evaluate its potential as a nutraceutical and functional food. Six pupal instars (E1-E6) were analyzed using liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and bioinformatics techniques to determine their properties and biological functions. The results showed 15 proteins across the different instars. In E1, the Isoform X2 of the Caf1 protein and the vitellogenin precursor were found, both critical in genetic regulation and nutrient transport. E2 revealed three proteins linked to energy and genetic processes. Proteins identified in E3 were associated with sugar metabolism and cellular structure. E4 presented proteins related to cellular stress and oxidative processes. In E5, three proteins were identified, associated with molecular transport and energy metabolism. Results for instar E6 were inconclusive since the complexity of peptide identification. From a nutraceutical and functional perspective, the identified proteins show significant potential due to their antioxidant activities, metabolic control, and cellular regulation. Noteworthy proteins include aldose reductase for its role in diabetes management, glutamate dehydrogenase for its importance in amino acid metabolism, vitellogenin as a nutrient source and immune system stimulant, and heat shock protein 60 A, with therapeutic potential in cardiovascular diseases.

Plant-based foods are complex systems, where a multitude of bioactive molecules, such as (poly)phenols and carotenoids are the outcome of endless interactions defining food chemical composition. Significant progress has been made to develop reliable food composition databases that can be used to assess the intake of dietary plant bioactives. However, many lesser-known phytochemicals, like glucosinolates and monoterpenoids are often excluded, also due to the fragmented information available in the literature. Therefore, we present PhytoFooD, a comprehensive phytochemical food database that collects qualitative and quantitative information on 1,067 bioactive compounds in 1,410 plant-based foods. We evaluated the intake of main plant bioactives in European diets and demonstrated the role of concentration variability within foods in intake assessments. This database represents a promising tool for dietary intake assessors and researchers in nutrition, paving the way for a comprehensive and accurate knowledge of our diet and the interconnected health effects of plant bioactives.

Managing post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD) in piglets is difficult due to limits on antibiotics and zinc. Chitosan is emerging as a potential feed additive. We analysed a chito-oligosaccharide hydrochloride (COS-HCl), a low molecular weight (LMW) chitosan, and a medium molecular weight (MMW) chitosan, and assessed their effects on growth, faecal consistency, microbiota, and potential interference with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). The three chitosans were characterised using {superscript 1}H-NMR, SEC-RI-MS, and SEC-RI-MALLS. COS-HCl had an Mw of 0.824 kDa; LMW and MMW showed Mw ranges of 14.4 kDa (0.3-30 kDa) and 116 kDa (15-600 kDa). Degrees of acetylation were 9.5%, 6.5%, and 15%. Two 42-day field studies evaluated average daily gain (ADG), faecal consistency, and microbiota. In the first trial, COS-HCl at 0.025-0.1% did not significantly affect ADG (-33 to - 12 g/d). In the second, LMW and MMW at 0.01% did not significantly change ADG (-7 and +3 g/d). Faecal consistency, ETEC shedding, and microbiota composition were similar to controls. An enzymatic HPLC-MS method enabled quantification of MMW chitosan in premix. Our results highlight the importance of advanced chitosan characterisation for precision nutrition and suggest that a threshold dosemay be needed to benefit growth and gut health in PWD management. Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=113 SRC="FIGDIR/small/714014v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (31K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@19c9e23org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@152461aorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@7886e0org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@df0d9b_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

Mothers milk is known for its crucial roles in infant health and development. Probably the most commonly studied effects of milk are those on an infants intestinal barrier, metabolism, and immunity. While these functions of milk were mostly attributed to its protein and fat content, recent evidence points to a potential role of milk microRNAs in these processes. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that can fine-tune gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Human milk (HM) is rich in microRNAs, which are mainly found associated with milk extracellular vesicles (EVs). HM microRNAs are proposed to transfer from mother to infant via breastfeeding and execute gene regulatory functions in infant cells. For microRNAs to be able to act as "genetic programmers" rather than mere nutritional molecules, they should resist digestion in the infants gastrointestinal tract. Milk EVs are believed to protect microRNAs against degradation and facilitate their delivery to the cells. Here, we used two lots of pasteurized HM that were originally destined for human milk banks. We showed that HM contains different populations of EVs with different physicochemical properties, similar to those previously identified in commercial bovine milk. We also showed that these EVs, which are often discarded, contain the majority of HM microRNAs. Finally, we showed that three highly abundant milk microRNAs resisted differentially to infants simulated digestion conditions, with a relatively small number of microRNAs surviving a two-hour digestion. Milk microRNA copy numbers surviving digestion may be too low to influence gene expression in infant cells. HighlightsO_LIPasteurized HM contains heterogeneous populations of EVs. C_LIO_LIThese EVs associate with the majority of HM microRNAs. C_LIO_LIDifferent microRNAs show varying stability during infant digestion. C_LIO_LIThe copy number of milk miR-148a-3p surviving digestion might be too low to influence gene expression in infant cells. C_LI

Steroidal alkaloids may be responsible for some of the health benefits of a tomato rich diet, but little is known about their metabolic fate after consumption. The objective of this study was to elucidate the pharmacokinetic parameters of plasma steroidal alkaloids and to define their bioavailability and metabolism following a single tomato containing meal. Healthy subjects (n = 11, 6M/5F) consumed 505 g of tomato juice following a two-week tomato washout and blood plasma were collected post-prandially at 11 time points over 12-hours. Plasma steroidal alkaloids were analyzed using UHPLC-MS. The fractional absorption of steroidal alkaloids was 11.8 {+/-} 7% and over 99% of the absorbed dose were present as metabolized products. The maximum concentration of total plasma steroidal alkaloids in subjects was 406.5 {+/-} 377.0 nmol/L occurring at 6 hours after consumption, with an AUC0-12hr of 2529.0 {+/-} 1644.8 nmol*h/L. Liver S9 enzymatic synthesis of steroidal alkaloid metabolites including trihydroxy-tomatidine and sulfonated dihydroxy-tomatidine improved confidence in compound identification. This study reports the first pharmacokinetic data for tomato steroidal alkaloids, demonstrating moderate absorption and extensive metabolism after tomato juice consumption. These data provide context for future studies investigating the potential role that these compounds may play in human health.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a dual role in cellular homeostasis, but excessive levels of ROS lead to oxidative stress, accelerating skin aging. Environmental stressors like UV radiation induce ROS overproduction, overwhelming endogenous antioxidant defenses and causing cellular damage. While the skin possesses an intrinsic antioxidant network that provides moderate protection, excessive oxidative stress can trigger inflammatory responses, thereby necessitating exogenous antioxidant intervention. Microbe-derived antioxidants (MA), produced via probiotic fermentation of sea buckthorn and chestnut rose, have shown promise in mitigating ROS-induced damage. In this study, we evaluated two MA formulations, MA1 and MA2, for their ability to scavenge free radicals and alleviate hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress in human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) and dermal papilla cells (HDP). Both formulations displayed dose-dependent DPPH radical scavenging activity and enhanced cell viability at low concentrations. Under H2O2-induced oxidative stress, MA1 and MA2 effectively restored intracellular ROS to baseline levels, demonstrating significant cytoprotective effects. UHPLC-MS/MS profiling identified 12 compounds shared by both formulations, and Gene Ontology Biological Process enrichment analysis revealed that their associated target genes were significantly enriched in antioxidant-related pathways. Five compounds--adenosine, citric acid, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, myricetin, and phenylalanine--emerged as key contributors to the observed antioxidative effects. Together, these findings highlight the potential of fermented microbial antioxidants to re-establish redox homeostasis in human skin cells and support their further development as therapeutic or cosmetic interventions targeting oxidative stress and skin aging. Given the heightened oxidative sensitivity of aged fibroblasts, MAs ability to alleviate ROS may offer novel therapeutic strategies against skin aging and related pathologies.

PurposeAlthough secondary metabolites of medicinal plants can modulate the gut microbiota, their prebiotic and synbiotic potential is not fully explored. This study aimed to identify novel medicinal plant-probiotic combination(s) that show prebiotic and synbiotic effects through mutual synergism and reciprocal interactions. MethodsTen Himalayan region medicinal plants were screened for their selective prebiotic efficacy by studying in vitro proliferation of three species of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and concurrent suppression of E. coli. The top-performing plants were evaluated for synergism with LAB through fermentation of pure extracts, followed by physicochemical, biological, and metabolomic profiling. ResultsAmong the ten plant species, Picrorhiza kurroa (PK) and Adhatoda vasica (AV) exhibited promising prebiotic attributes with PAS scores of 0.50 and 0.44, respectively, while Lactobacillus fermentum (LF) emerged as the most compatible probiotic strain. Unlike AV, fermentation of PK with LF demonstrated superior probiotic growth (2.2-fold increase), elevated total flavonoids (21.6% increase), and improved antioxidant capacity (24.02% increase) compared to unfermented PK. Fermented PK significantly enhanced cytoprotective effects and mitigated oxidative (ROS levels/lipid peroxidation) and inflammatory damage (NO/IL-6 levels) in macrophages and muscle cells exposed to separate exogenous stressors (LPS and H2O2). Elemental (ICP-OES) and metabolomic analysis (LC-MS/UHPLC) revealed that LF metabolised major elements of PK (Ca/Fe/K/Na/Cu) and induced biotransformation of large secondary metabolites, including the characteristic iridoid glycosides of PK, into smaller, more abundant metabolites. ConclusionsPK-LF combination is identified as a synbiotic, and its fermented product is a superior bioactive product that can be developed into innovative nutraceuticals or herbal formulations.

Cannabidiol (CBD) and Cannabigerol (CBG) are non-psychoactive cannabinoids known to affect both cancerous and non-cancerous cells. Autophagy is a critical regulator of cell survival and death; however, the impact of CBD and CBG on cell viability through autophagy remains limited. In this study, we show that low-dose combinations of CBD and CBG synergistically enhance Caco-2 cell proliferation, achieving effects comparable to those observed at higher doses. Both cannabinoids--whether applied individually at high concentrations or in low-dose combinations--activate autophagy. Correlation analyses between cell viability and autophagic flux, along with comparative assessments of wild-type and ATG9-deficient Caco-2 cells, demonstrate that the survival-promoting effects of CBD and CBG are closely associated with autophagy activation. Overall, these findings reveal that both individual and combined treatments significantly modulate Caco-2 cell viability under conditions with or without autophagy activation, emphasizing the substantial role of cannabinoid-regulated autophagy in influencing cell survival. HighlightsO_LILow-dose combinations of CBD and CBG synergistically enhance Caco-2 cell proliferation. C_LIO_LIBoth high-dose individual treatments and low-dose combinations of CBD and CBG activate autophagy. C_LIO_LICBD- and CBG-mediated autophagy paly beneficial role in supporting Caco-2 cell survival. C_LI

Grape (Vitis vinifera L.) is one of the most cultivated plant species and has a long history in the Levant. Grape products, including leaves, are highly appreciated as healthy products, mainly because of their high levels of nutraceuticals. The significance of these products lies in the fact that poor diet is the primary cause of malnutrition, which is associated with severe noncommunicable diseases. Accordingly, this study aimed to profile secondary metabolites in a selection of grape genotypes from Hebron and Bethlehem regions in the West Bank-Palestine that include both indigenous and introduced genotypes. Fresh, delicate leaves from each genotype-region combination were analyzed for their content of secondary metabolites via LC-MS. The results revealed that the collection regions had a negligible impact, whereas the genotype impact was high and significant. More importantly, the secondary metabolites profiles of leaves allow for the clustering of the assessed genotypes into a few clusters, each with a specific set of metabolites that can serve as fingerprint profile. In conclusion, the results of the present study revealed the diversity of grape genotypes at the metabolomics level, which will help preserve indigenous grape genotypes and aid in the development of grape varieties that can cope with the adverse impacts of climate change.

Clover grass blends are promising sources of nutritional and techno-functional proteins, but currently mainly utilized for animal feeding. The application as a physical and oxidative stabilizer in food emulsions remains underexplored. In this study, the stabilizing effects of clover grass proteins (CGPs), produced through a pilot-scale, two-stage membrane filtration process yielding a native GPC concentrate (DC), as well as enzymatic hydrolysate hereof (DCH), were compared with commercial plant proteins (soy and pea) and animal sources (sodium caseinate). Both DC and DCH produced emulsions (0.4% (w/w) protein and 5% fish oil) with smaller size droplets and larger electrostatic repulsion between droplets compared to the other proteins tested. Moreover, DC and DCH exhibited higher protection against the generation of both primary and secondary oxidation products. Furthermore, emulsions stabilized with CGPs were well-protected from off-flavor compounds. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics analysis revealed that DC included a high RuBisCO content (38%) and the membrane process successfully depleted pigment-binding proteins affiliated with grassy color and sensory attributes. Moreover, DC was enriched (compared to the initial green juice) in known antioxidant proteins, constituting 10% of the total protein. In the hydrolysate (DCH), 30% of the total MS1 peptide signal originated from peptides predicted as probable free radical scavengers. These findings demonstrate that refined, native CGP, as well as its hydrolysate, improved both physical and oxidative stability of emulsions compared to plant and animal-based reference proteins due to a high endogenous antioxidant properties of the protein.

Exposure to cigarette smoke is one of the major risk factors for developing various diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardiovascular disorders, and cancer mediated via cellular oxidative stress and organelle dysfunction. To this end, the current study investigated how cigarette smoke extract (CSE) affects vacuole structure and function in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, as vacuole plays a crucial role in handling oxidative stress-induced misfolded proteins. Our results showed that CSE exposure causes transient vacuolar fragmentation up to 1 h to increase its surface area to facilitate microautophagy in clearing CSE-mediated misfolded protein and promoting cell survival. However, excessive fragmentation or vacuolar fusion sensitizes cells towards CSE-mediated cellular toxicity. Towards understanding the underlying mechanism, the current study demonstrated the involvement of PI3P and PI (3,5) P2-mediated signaling and phospholipase-driven remodeling of lipid moieties. Moreover, the current study also showed the importance of mitochondrial activity in CSE-mediated vacuolar fragmentation. Prolonged exposure to CSE impairs mitochondrial function and thus disrupts fragmentation, the adaptive survival strategy against CS. It results in proteostasis collapse, which is a characteristic shared by many inflammatory and degenerative disorders. Taken together, the current study reveals a previously unrecognized cellular protection mechanism induced by cigarette smoke and highlights potential therapeutic targets for mitigating CS-mediated diseases

ObjectiveThis study aimed to establish a green and efficient ultrasonic-assisted deep eutectic solvent (DES) extraction method for total flavonoids from Hemerocallis citrina Baroni (TFHC) and to elucidate its multi-target antidepressant mechanism using an integrated strategy of network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vitro validation. MethodsAn ultrasonic-assisted DES extraction using choline chloride-ethylene glycol was optimized via response surface methodology. The TFHC extract was profiled by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. A network pharmacology approach was employed to predict core targets and pathways of TFHC constituents against depression, with key interactions validated by molecular docking. The neuroprotective effects of TFHC were evaluated in vitro using a corticosterone (CORT)-induced injury model in PC-12 cells, assessing cell viability (MTT assay) and levels of 5-HT, BDNF, TNF-, and CORT (ELISA). ResultsThe optimized DES extraction yielded 16.63 {+/-} 0.13 mg/g of TFHC. UPLC-ESI-MS/MS identified fourteen flavonoids, with quercetin, kaempferol, and rutin being most abundant. Network pharmacology revealed six core targets (AKT1, TNF, IL6, IL1{beta}, TP53, PTGS2) and implicated pathways including PI3K-AKT and TNF. Molecular docking confirmed strong binding affinities ([≤] -4.25 kcal/mol) between major flavonoids and core targets. In vitro, TFHC significantly alleviated CORT-induced cytotoxicity, restored 5-HT and BDNF levels, and suppressed TNF- and CORT elevation, with effects comparable or superior to fluoxetine. ConclusionsTFHC exerts antidepressant-like effects through a multi-target mechanism involving neuroinflammation suppression, neurotrophic support, and HPA axis modulation. The green DES extraction combined with mechanistic insights positions TFHC as a promising candidate for phytotherapeutic antidepressant development.

Reported avocado dietary fiber (DF) content and composition are inconsistently reported, particularly during ripening. Thus, this study aimed to characterize the amount and type of DF in Hass avocados and evaluate DF changes during ripening. Unripe (day 0), ripe (day 5), and overripe (day 12) Hass avocados were freeze-dried and defatted. DF was analyzed using non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) enzymatic-chemical methods. Per 100g of as-is avocado, unripe contained 3.96g total DF, ripe 3.68g, and overripe 3.26g. In ripe avocados, DF comprised 43% soluble (SDF) and 57% insoluble dietary fiber (IDF). SDF consisted primarily of rhamnogalacturonan-1 and arabinan pectins, while IDF was predominantly cellulose (32%), hemicelluloses (23%), and lignin (2%). Total DF decreased with ripening, with pectin undergoing solubilization and depolymerization, while cellulose and hemicelluloses remained stable. These findings are important as dietary fibers differentially influence intestinal microbial fermentation and health benefits.

Phytohormones are key players in the regulation of plant development and metabolism. The different phytohormone classes comprise numerous chemically very diverse compounds, which are often present at very low concentrations. The chemical properties of phytohormones range from acidic to basic and from polar to non-polar. Furthermore, concentration varies strongly among different phytohormones, between plant species, tissues and developmental stages. Challenges often arise when only small amounts of plant material are available and when plant species are investigated in which the phytohormone profile has not yet been characterized. To establish a method for comprehensive phytohormone analysis we addressed these challenges by choosing and optimizing a suitable extraction method followed by optimized HPLC separation. We compared the most widely-used mass spectrometric detection methods, multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) on a triple quad instrument with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) on a Q-TOF instrument, and discuss the advantages of both methods and their limitations. O_LIWe compared various methods described in literature for the extraction of six phytohormone classes by liquid-liquid extraction and solid phase extraction purification and describe our optimizations to the selected method. C_LIO_LIWe optimized HPLC separation for 50 different phytohormones. C_LIO_LIWe evaluated the application of MRM and HRMS detection strategies. C_LI

Accurate, simultaneous, and efficient quantification of chemically diverse phytohormone species is a critical task towards understanding the complex system of phytohormone signaling pathways. Quantification of phytohormones with the commonly used technique liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry is susceptible to the influence of non-phytohormone components present in the sample, a phenomenon referred to as matrix effect. To reduce matrix effect, some phytohormone quantification methods include additional steps of cleanup of crude extracts. However, to what extent additional purification steps provide increased accuracy compared to simpler, less laborious methods is seldomly evaluated. We evaluated three previously described phytohormone extraction methods, two of which include solid-phase extraction and one that does not, in their ability to minimize matrix effect and generate accurate estimates of phytohormone species spanning six classifications, from fruit and leaf tissue of Solanum lycopersicum cv. Micro-Tom (tomato). Our results show that, while the methods that included solid phase extraction occasionally outperformed each other regarding matrix effect and/or recovery efficiency for broad range of phytohormones, they rarely outperformed the simpler single-phase extraction method. Short AbstractAccurate, simultaneous quantification of chemically diverse phytohormones by LC-MS/MS is frequently confounded by matrix effects, leading to the incorporation of additional purification steps. We systematically compared three published extraction protocols with or without solid-phase extraction in tomato tissues across six hormone classes. Solid-phase methods occasionally improved matrix suppression or recovery, but did not consistently outperform the single-phase approach, questioning the added value of extra cleanup steps, particularly when high-throughput is desired, as in the case of systems biology interrogations.

This work explores the dietary intake of plant bioactives in the European adult population. The information available in the scientific literature is quite fragmented, with only partial knowledge of dietary bioactive intake and their health effects, and without harmonised figures across populations and phytochemical families. In this context, we comprehensively evaluated the intake of (poly)phenols, terpenoids, N-containing compounds, and miscellaneous phytochemicals in the European adult population, using public data from 26 countries reporting on 38,944 individuals. Further research was conducted to investigate the contributions of classes, subclasses, and individual compounds, as well as their relationships. Main food sources of each class and subclass of phytochemicals were also identified. Finally, variability in phytochemical intake across European countries was evaluated. This work significantly advances the current knowledge of plant bioactive intake and sets the stage for future research in nutrition and health fields.

Maintaining gut-microbiome homeostasis is the biggest issue worldwide as per public health concerns. Gut probiotics not only inhibit pathogen invasion in the systemic circulation but also help us metabolize complex food. Therefore, for decades, gut dysbiosis has been proven to be the gateway to several diseases, leading to comorbidity and even mortality. Prebiotics are natural products, mainly nondigestible food ingredients, that help the selective growth of probiotic bacteria in the gut. This study focuses on the novel Gum-Odina (GO) prebiotic and its efficacy on gut microbial metabolite modulation and maintaining gut barrier integrity. Gut wall enterocytes are integrated by a series of tight junctional (TJ) proteins. This study explains the effect of GO prebiotic-modulated gut metabolites on tight-junctional (TJ) protein expression in a murine colon Organoid model. Fecal microbiota from a colitis patient were used to inoculate the SHIME gut simulator, comprising a colitis control run and a Gum-Odina-supplemented run to enrich commensal bacteria selectively. Metabolites from both groups were then applied to healthy colon organoids. According to the mRNA expression analysis, tight junctional sealing proteins such as Zonula occludens, or ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin-1, 4, and 5 were significantly upregulated in the colon organoids upon Gum-Odina administration, whereas no change in the Junctional Adhesion Molecule-A or JAM-A was observed. Downregulation of sealing TJ proteins is the Hallmark of Leaky gut, which was successfully reversed using the Gum-Odina supplement. Hence, Gum-Odina prebiotics have a promising capability to reduce colitis-induced gut permeability and can be considered to be a therapeutic agent in the future.

The production of petroleum-based plastics used for packaging has led to significant environmental challenges in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Consequently, there is a growing need to explore viable alternatives to the usage of these conventional plastics. This study investigates the utilization of cellulose powder for producing of biodegradable plastics as a more sustainable substitute for petroleum-based materials. Bioplastic films were formulated with varying glycerol contents ranging from 0.5ml - 2.0ml. The glycerol served as a plasticizer to improve the mechanical properties of the films, which were subsequently subjected to biodegradability and tensile strength tests. Biodegradability was evaluated through soil burial tests, which revealed that higher glycerol concentrations accelerated rate of weight loss, with the 2.0 ml formulation exhibiting the fastest degradation rate. Tensile strength increased with glycerol content up to 1.5 ml, where a maximum strength of 7.23 N/mm2 was recorded, but declined at 2.0 ml. The findings indicate that a glycerol concentration of 1.5 ml yields the most optimal bioplastic formulation for short-term packaging applications.