This work used different statistical approaches to analyze rice protein's rheological properties (G', G'' and η*) before and after printing. The printing ink was prepared with 30% rice protein and 70% water, adding 0.5% of xanthan gum to stabilize the mixture. Two printing conditions were used varying layer height [1 and 1.5 mm], printing speed [50 and 35 mm/s], and nozzle diameter [1.2 and 1.7 mm]. Then, an oscillatory test was performed to measure the rheological properties before and after printing, in a frequency range of 0.1 to 10 Hz with stress of 1 Pa. Data were analyzed using a univariate, multivariate, and functional approach. In the univariate process, rheological data obtained at 1Hz and 10 Hz were considered and analyzed using a simple ANOVA with a confidence level of 95% (p < 0.05). For the multivariate approach, each frequency range of 0-10 Hz was considered like an independent variable, and an analysis of principal components analysis (PCA) was performed. In the functional analysis, each rheological curve was considered a continuous function rather than a series of discrete points, and principal component analysis functional (FPCA) was performed. Unlike the univariate analysis, which only showed differences in G`` A 10 Hz, the results of the multivariate and functional analysis showed the effects of the printing process on the rheological properties (G', G'' and η*), observing a consequence of different frequencies in the clustering of the sample. This allowed inferring that a complete analysis of rheological curves through a functional or multivariate approach provides information of interest to identify trends, patterns, variability, and relationships, being a valuable tool for the study and interpretation of rheological properties.

Food additives are substances of natural origin or obtained by chemical synthesis. Among these additives, food antioxidants play an essential role in preserving food quality by neutralizing free radicals and inhibiting oxidation reactions, which helps prevent food spoilage and maintain its freshness, taste, and nutritional value. In addition, dietary antioxidants may also be beneficial to health. This is particularly the perception that consumers have in relation to antioxidants of natural origin, such as plant extracts. In this paper, we have focused on the case of rosemary extract as a food additive, authorized in many countries, including the United States and Europe, under the code E392. Through the examination of patent documents available in specialized databases and using appropriate keywords, our research made it possible to go back in time to show, first, the uses of rosemary extract and, second, the exploitation of rosemary extract in the field of food. We selected 411 relevant documents (granted patents and patent applications), of which almost 40% were filed in China. The first patent found was published in 1984, and it concerned a method to obtain a highly effective antioxidant suitable for preventing the oxidation of food from rosemary. This patent was followed by others who claimed, among other things, more effective methods to extract rosemary. More recently, innovations have focused on the synergistic effect of rosemary extract with other compounds, particularly for antimicrobial action in food preservation.

Leek is one the main vegetable which can promote good health and serves as a primary defense mechanism against different diseases. Leek (Allium ampeloprasum) is a robust, winter-hardy biennial plant which does not form a hard bulb like garlic or onion, and they are grown for their thick and long white stem. One of the most important herbal food which is very common in Iran is persian leek. The keywords of medicinal properties, traditional medicine, leek, health benefits, flavones, flavonol, and tannin were searched in Scopus, PubMed and Google Scholar. Leek is rich in different bioactive components such as sulphuric components and flavonoids, and saponin with a variety of biological characteristics such as antihypertensive, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, anticarcinogenic and antiatherosclerotic effects. One of the most important flavonoids aglycone in leek is kaempferol. The aim of this manuscript is to introduce and survey the most important pharmacological benefits of leek. Nutrition therapy with application of leek on the basis of traditional and modern science can be an approprate choice at treating common diseases.

The most frequent type of cancer diagnosed in both males and females is colorectal cancer (CRC), widely recognized as the most common cause of death worldwide. Globally it is one of the cancers whose incidence is increasing, and the prognosis of cancer patients’ survival is often poor due to the acquisition of invasive and migratory potential of cancer cells which consequently leads to metastasis. Firstly, cancer cells succumb to specific process - epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), acquiring invasive potential allowing them to detach from primary cancer site, therefore, cells are enabled to penetrate in the surrounding stiff extracellular matrix. For this purpose, expression of certain markers that enable this transition is necessary, such as Snail, transcriptional nuclear factor, or cytoskeletal protein Vimentin. Therapy designed to battle cancer from this point of cancer progression involves targeting these kinds of markers. Therefore, we aimed to investigate effects of royal jelly, natural bee product, originated from Serbia, on invasive potential of colorectal cancer cell line HCT-116 and expression of these two invasive EMT markers.

Invasive potential was assessed using modified Transwell method with collagen matrix coating, while immunofluorescent assay was performed to evaluate protein expression of Snail and Vimentin.

Our results showed suppression of invasiveness of these colorectal cancer cells 24 h after treatment with two applied RJ concentrations, when compared to control values. Treatments also lowered expression of targeted markers of invasion and migration, Snail and Vimentin, which obviously resulted in inhibited invasive potential of HCT-116 cells.

Obviously, this natural product was effective in combating progression of colorectal cancer cells, however, enormous examinations yet remain to be completed. We anticipate that these findings will be focus of increasing attention in both scientific and clinical field of research.

Over the past decades, the number of studies proposing a relationship between fruits intake and reduced risk of several chronic diseases, including obesity, has continued to grow. Fruits supply vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber to the diet and are sources of healthy phytochemicals. This study aimed to investigate the potential pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity of the ethanolic extract of blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) and raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) from Southern Italy. Both blackcurrant and raspberry are a rich source of vitamin C and different health molecules, in particular polyphenols, with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and hypoglycaemic properties. Fresh fruits (350 g) were exhaustively extracted by maceration by using ethanol as solvent (4 × 1.2 L). Extracts were investigated for their total phenols content (TPC) and total flavonoids content /TFC) and for their potential radicals scavenging activity by applying DPPH and ABTS tests and pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity. Extraction yields of 11.8 and 11.2% were obtained for blackcurrant and raspberry, respectively. Raspberry, that showed the highest total phenols content (501.1 mg chlorogenic acid equivalents/100 g plant materials) was the most active in ABTS test with an IC₅₀ value of 1.6 microg/mL. This extract inhibited the pancreatic lipase with an IC₅₀ value of 5.1 microg/mL. An IC₅₀ value of 30.2 microg/mL was found for blackcurrant. Both extracts were more active than the positive control orlistat (IC₅₀ of 37.1 microg/mL). These findings highlighted the biological properties of blackcurrant and raspberry, corroborating their potential application in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries.

Up to 15% and 17% of the world population is selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) deficient, respectively. Pea (Pisum sativum L.) is an important staple legume with a high potential for Se and Zn biofortification in seeds. A 2-year pot experiment investigated two pea varieties (Ambassador and Premium) following foliar-applied sodium selenate (0/50/100 g of Se/ha) and zinc oxide (0/375/750 g of Zn/ha) at the flowering stage. Selenate and zinc oxide had minimal overall effects on growth parameters. Zinc oxide did not improve Zn accumulation in both seed varieties, while selenate improved Se accumulation in both seed varieties dose-dependently. Premium accumulated greater amounts of Se in seeds than Ambassador (p < 0.001). Selenium concentrations were highest in seeds of Premium treated with 100 g of Se/ha [7.84 mg/kg dry weight vs. the control (0.16 mg/kg dry weight), p < 0.001]. The predominant Se species in Se-enriched seeds was selenomethionine (40%– 76% of total Se). Consuming as little as 55 g/day of pea biofortified by 50 g of Se/ha would cover 100% of the adult recommended dietary allowance (55 μg) for Se. Findings are important for improving foliar biofortification of pea with Se and Zn.

Traditional the Middle Eastern herbal medicines, especially traditional Iranian medicines (TIM) are used by cancer patients both during and after active cancer treatments. Medicinal plants and herbs which are common in traditional Iranian medicine are considered to be less toxic, and less expensive than chemical drugs. Alkaloid anti-cancer compounds are pyrrolidine, tropane, pyridine, piperidine, quinolizidine, pyrrolizidine, isoquinoline, indolizidine, isoxazaole, oxazole, quinoline, quinazoline, purine, indole serin, colchicine, β-phenylethylamine, abornin, benzylamine, narciclasine, and pancratistatin. Anticancer terpenoids compounds from medicinal plants and herbs are alpha-hederin, isoprene, galanal A, galanal B, oleanane, carnosol, and xanthorrhizol. Anticancer phenolic compounds from medicinal plants are kaempferol, flavones, flavonol, curcumin, luteoline, chalcone, apigenin, and cafesterol. All relevant papers in English language from different researches by using the keywords of traditional Persian medicine, traditional Iranian medicine, natural products and cancer were collected from PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct. Some of the most important medicinal plants and herbs in the middle east, especially in Iran with anti-caner activities are Acorus calamus, Aracia seyal, Allium ascalonicum, Allium cepa, Agaricus campestris, Aloe vera, Allium sativum, Apium graveolens, Anethum graveolens, Arum palaestinum, Artemisia absinthium, Beta vulgaris, Astoma seselifolium, Brassica oleraceae, Brassica nigra, Boswellia carterii, Capparis spinosa, Bryonia syriaca, Ceterach officinarum, Cassia senna, Cichorium intybus, Chrysanthemum coronarium, Citrullus colocynthis, Cinnamomum camphora, Crataegus azarolus, Crocus sativus, Cucumis melo, Nigella sativa, Olea europaea, Peganum harmala, Punica granatum, Pistacia lentiscus, Zingiber officinale, Thymus vulgaris, Vitis vinifera, Viscum cruciatum, and Urtica pilulifera. Iranian medicinal plants and herbs should be considered more as a notable and great potential source of novel chemical ingredients with anti-cancer activities.

Peganum harmala is a perennial herbaceous, glabrous plant mainly found in North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Its seeds showed that alkaloids belonging to the β-carboline family such as harmaline, harmine, harman, harmalol, and harmol which are responsible for a wide range of pharmacological impacts. The main components from its seeds are tetradecane, dodecane, hexadecane, methyl dodecanoate, heptadecane, 2-octanol benzoate, methyl tetradecanoate, octadecane, 2,6,10,14-tetramethyl pentadecane, 2,6,10,14-tetramethyl hexadecane, methyl hexadecanoate, nonadecane, eicosane, dibutyl phthalate, henicosane, methyl oleate, harmine, docosane, and tricosane. The current searching was done by the keywords in main indexing systems including Scopus, Pub/Med/MEDLINE, and Institute for Scientific Information Web of Science as well as the search engine of Google Scholar. The most important pharmacological benefits of Peganum harmala are anti-tumor, anti-cholinesterase, antiparasitic effects, angiogenesis, cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory effects, anti-cancer, anti-tumor, antioxidant, cerebroprotective, antibacterial, hypoglycemis and pesticide effects. Due to its wonderful pharmacological characteristics, it is a high potential medicinal herb, and it can be suggested to other parts of the world.

Epigallocatechin gallate is a tea catechin. It is the most abundant tea polyphenol, followed by other polyphenols such as catechin, epicatechin, epicatechin-3-gallate and epigallocatechin. The most important pharmacological activities of Epigallocatechin gallate are antineoplastic, HIV infection, hypertension, and associated complications, type II diabetes mellitus, its application as hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, nephroprotective, and its application in Parkinson, Alzheimer, and Osteoporosis. It has been also considered as the most important natural product in cancer treatment due to its safety, natural origin, and low cost. It has also ability to ameliorate protein and lipid damage induced by hepatotoxin. It carries also an important role in food industry. It is found in green tea, black tea, strawberries, cranberries, kiwis, cherries, apples, peaches, hazelnuts, pistachios, and pecans.

“Chouriço de carne” is a typical Portuguese ready-to-eat dry fermented sausage, produced with marinated pork meat and fat, and seasonings. This artisanally-produced sausage relies on effective spontaneous fermentation and drying to suppress pathogen development, ensuring its microbial safety and desired organoleptic properties.

The objective of this study was to evaluate selected microbiological and physicochemical characteristics of artisanal “chouriço” produced in different counties of the Bragança district. Mesophiles, lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium spp., Listeria spp. and Salmonella spp., as well as pH, water activity (a_w) and moisture, were determined for each sample, 5 per lot, of 14 analysed enterprises. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of these variables was conducted to construct quality maps of the analysed lots.

Three components were extracted, accounting for 63% of the data variation. PC1 explains 26% of the data, and its positive correlation to a_w and moisture, and negative association with pH, means that slower drying is required for an efficient fermentation. PC2 (24%), highly and positively correlated with LAB and mesophiles, characterises the extent of fermentation. PC3 (12%), positively associated with S. aureus and Clostridium spp., describes sausages of low microbiological safety. Nevertheless, the weight of this PC is moderate, as S. aureus and Clostridium spp. were detected in 10 and 6 factories each, and simultaneously in only 5. Salmonella spp. and Listeria spp. did not present significant loading in any component, as they were only detected in one factory each. Listeria spp. was not enumerated in any of the samples.