Introduction:

Momordica charantia is a perennial climbing vine of the Cucurbitaceae family. The fruits, seeds and leaves are known in tropical regions for their antidiabetic potential. It is traditionally used as both food and medicine in various diseases including menstrual problems, constipation, malarial fever, HIV AIDS, sores and wound infections. The objective of the present study was to evaluate preliminary pharmacognostic, phytochemical and nutritional parameters of the leaves and stems of the plant.

Methods:

The collection of the plant was carries out from a local garden and authentication was performed by the botanist. Morphological and microscopical studies of the leaf and stem of the plant were conducted. The plant parts were dried in shade and powdered for further study. The physicochemical evaluation of the powdered plant material was performed by determining moisture content, ash value and extractive value. The successive solvent extraction was carried out in solvent with increasing polarity. The qualitative phytochemical study was conducted with the successive solvent extracts. Total tannins and steroids were determined in the extracts of leaves and stems.

Results:

The morphological evaluation was performed by accessing organoleptic parameters. The microscopical evaluation of the leaves and stems was carried out by taking transverse sections and conducting a powder microscopical study and a quantitative determination of leaf constants. The LOD of leaves was 10.45% and that of stems was 15.27%. The total ash value was 9.6% for leaves and 8.8% for stems. The water soluble and alcohol soluble extractive values for leaves were 23.11% and 17.56%, whereas for stems they were 23.76% and 18.56%, respectively. The phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloids, proteins, glycosides, saponins and carbohydrates in the leaves while flavonoids, steroids, alkaloids, and tannins were found in stems. The total tannins in the leaf extracts were 793.6 μg/ml and the total steroids in the stem extracts were 32 μg/ml.

Conclusion:

The pharmacognostic and phytochemical evaluation can be used for the preliminary standardization of the plant.

Background: Fagonia cretica is commonly known as Dhamaso and it belongs to the zygophyllaceae family. It has medicinal properties, such as being cytotoxic, anti-diabetic, anti-tumour, and hepatoprotective. The aerial parts of the plant contain phytoconsituents like quinine, harmine, stigmasterol, rosmarinic acid, and ursoliic acid, and no reports have been found for its standardization. Therefore, there is a need to report on the standardization of the aerial parts of Fagonia cretica.

Methods: The organoleptic properties were evaluated, powder microscopy was carried out, and a physicochemical evaluation of Fagonia cretic was performed . TLC was carried out using Silica gel 60 F254 plates as the stationary phase, and toluene: ethyl acetate: formic acid (1:8: 0.2, v/v/v) as the mobile phase. Heavy metals were evaluated using ICP-OES. Microbiological contamination studies were also carried out. HPLC analysis was conducted for the methanolic extract of F. cretica.

Results: Powder microscopy revealed the presence of well-defined cellular structures. The ethanol-soluble extract and water-soluble extract values were 24.0% w/w and 22.8%w/w, respectively. The total ash, acid-insoluble ash, and water-soluble ash were found to be 14.5% w/w, 2.0% w/w, and 5.0% w/w, respectively. The moisture content and pH were found to be 10.3% w/w and 5.04, respectively. The bulk density, tapped density, angle of repose, Hausner's ratio, and Carr’s index were 0.459±0.042, 0.563±0.037, 45.99±0.747, 1.49±0.355, and 27.33±0.57, respectively. Inorganic constituents like iron, sulphate, phosphate, and chloride were also found to be present in the plant material. The heavy metals were within permissible limits. The microbiological contamination of the plant material under study revealed the growth of fungi and S. aureus. An HPLC analysis of the F. cretica extract was carried out using a C-18 column (150 mm x 4.6 mm, 5µm), with a mobile phase of acetonitrile and 0.1% v/v trifluoracetic acid (40: 60 % v/v) and a retention time of 19.67 and 1.968 for the standard and sample solutions, respectively.

Conclusion: The present study covers organoleptic studies, powder characteristics, inorganic constituent determination, heavy metal assays, TLC studies, microbiological contamination studies, and HPLC analysis for the characterization of the aerial parts of F. cretica.

Objective: Sialic acids and sialoconjugates such as gangliosides (GA) are crucial in early neural development and could further impact cognitive function. The current review summarizes the nutritional status and variation trend of sialic acid during pregnancy and the perinatal period, explores sialic acid status's potential impact on neonatal growth and development, especially neurocognitive function, and concludes the existing evidence of relevant interventional studies.

Methods: We searched and collected relevant publications in English and Chinese published from January 2000 to September 2022 from mainstream databases, including PubMed, Embase, CNKI, WanFang, VIP, etc. The current review included five interventional studies and 19 correlational studies.

Results: Maternal serum total sialic acid (TSA) elevates as the gestational age increases. In contrast, breast milk TSA reduces over time. Several studies found a significant positive correlation between maternal serum TSA, breast milk TSA, and cord blood TSA significantly correlated with newborns' mental developmental index (MDI) and physical development index (PDI). TSA in preterm breastmilk was higher than that of term breastmilk, possibly to meet the more critical demand for neural development of preterm infants. Significant differences in the composition and concentration of GA were found between breastmilk and formula. Results from interventional studies showed GA-enriched-formula-fed infants had better mental development levels than regular-formula-fed controls, but did not differ from breastfed references.

Conclusions: Based on the current evidence body, it is necessary to emphasize the importance of maternal sialic acid status and further investigate its influencing factors.

Backround: Acidosis, one of the body's post-exercise responses, is important for athletic performance due to its effect on the pH level. The accumulation of hydrogen ions (H + ) after exercise causes a decrease in myoplasmic pH, which leads to fatigue. This study aims to compile studies examining the effect of sodium bicarbonate supplementation on the pH level under challenging training conditions. Method: In the study, studies conducted in the past decade were examined using the keywords "training, pH and bicarbonate" using the Pubmed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. Thus, 532 studies were reached. These articles were limited to studies in the form of aerobic training, anaerobic training, and high-intensity interval training. Additionally, pilot studies, systematic/meta-analysis reviews, congress abstracts, case reports, and those not published in English were excluded. In this context, 7 articles were included in the research. Results: It has been observed that the pH decreases to an acidic level in athletes who do not take sodium bicarbonate supplements during intense training periods. It has also been observed that the pH level remains normal in athletes taking sodium bicarbonate. In addition, it is understood that the pH levels of athletes taking sodium bicarbonate supplements remain at normal levels, but there are increases in maximum running speed, strength, and power parameters. Moreover, sodium bicarbonate supplementation also led to a decrease in blood lactate levels. Conlusion: Athletes can keep the pH at an acceptable level and improve performance parameters with sodium bicarbonate supplementation during intense training or competition periods.

Protease inhibitors (PIs) are small proteins expressed in the storage tissues of legume seeds, which are also called pulses. PIs are more than just anti-nutritional factors. Pre-clinical studies have shown that pulse PIs possess anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic activities in the gut through their specific inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), key players in chronic gut inflammatory diseases. This study aims toinvestigate the PIs embedded in processed and digested pulse matrices and the PI-mediated inhibition of MMPs oversecreted by adult gut cells under induced inflammation.

Selected raw peas, faba beans and lupins from Danish pulse varieties will be used to characterize PIs pre- and post-processing and post simulated human digestion (INFOGEST) by methods such as Trypsin (T) and Chymotrypsin (C) Inhibitory Activity (IA) assays, proteomics and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The soluble protein fraction of the digests will be tested in vitro in newly developed cell models with induced inflammation (macrophages/DCs with Caco-2/HT-29 cells). Potential PI-driven MMP inhibitory activity will be detected and its effects on the intestinal epithelium's integrity will be defined. Commercially available soybean PIs will be used as a reference in each experiment.

Successful outcomes will include (1) an understanding of the impact of crop growing conditions, the pulse matrix, processing and adult human digestion on the integrity, activity and bioactivity of PIs and (2) deep insights into PI's causative role in the inhibitory process of the MMPs involved in immune-related gut disorders.

The unexplored immune-regulatory role of pulse PIs in the human gastrointestinal tract and PI-driven MMP inhibition will be investigated. This novel model system developed for the characterization of pulse PIs may apply to other legume varieties or raw materials than those included in this study. The knowledge obtained could change the current perception of pulse PIs from antinutrients to health-promoting proteins that can potentially mitigate and prevent gut-associated inflammatory diseases.

Introduction: The widespread contamination of the environment by microplastics has become a growing concern. This work examines the evidence of edible plants and plant-based food contamination and the pathways through which microplastics can enter plants, focusing on fruits, vegetables, grains, and other plant-derived products via contaminated water, soil, and atmospheric deposition.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using search criteria to identify relevant studies published up to 2024. Databases such as PubMed and Web of Science were searched using keywords including "microplastic," "edible plants," "plant-based food," "human health," and "agricultural uptake." A total of 20 articles were included for the analysis, providing data on microplastic uptake by edible plants, plant-based food, and potential human health implications.

Results: Significant quantities of microplastics were detected in fruits, vegetables, and grains consumed by humans. The hypothesis that microplastics can harm the nutritional value of plant-based foods and potentially harm human health was supported by evidence. Additionally, organic pollutants and heavy metals accumulate in plant tissues, potentially entering through microplastics. Findings demonstrated that microplastics infiltrated agricultural systems through contaminated water, polluted air, and absorption from contaminated soils. Proposed biological impacts included inflammation, cytotoxicity, and disruptions to gut microbiota. Microplastics were also proposed to interfere with nutrient absorption and bioavailability, affecting the nutritional quality of edible plants and plant-based foods.

Conclusions: Current evidence shows that edible plants and plant-based foods are contaminated by microplastics and that can pose a human health risk. This work highlights the urgent need for comprehensive risk assessments and regulatory frameworks to address microplastic contamination in edible plants and plant-based foods. Future research should focus on developing mitigation strategies and exploring the long-term health impacts of microplastic ingestion. Heightened awareness and coordinated efforts among scientists, policymakers, and the agricultural sector are required.

The fields of information technology, energy, environmental science, medicine, homeland security, food safety, and transportation are impacted by nanotechnology, as they are based on developments in chemistry, physics, materials science, and biotechnology. Nanotechnology concerns materials with particles of a certain geometry ranging in size from 1-100 nm, thus exhibiting novel physical, chemical, and biological properties. Particles on these scales show markedly different properties to their bulk material counterparts. Green synthesis has continued to draw a significant interest in the context of materials science owing to its properties as an environmentally sustainable and eco-friendly approach in the synthesis of a variety of nanomaterials, including metal/metal oxide nanoparticles, hybrid materials, and bioinspired materials. This present study was undertaken to investigate the synthesis, characterization, and antioxidative and antibacterial activities of MnO, ZnO, and FeO NPs from tomato processing waste. Visual inspection, UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were utilized for the characterization of the synthesized nanoparticles. Quantitative analysis focused on the presence of phenolic and flavonoid components in the nanoparticles. The total phenolic content was determined to be 22.098 ± 0.00153 mg GAE/g for MnO, 21.957 ± 0.0011 mg GAE/g for ZnO, and 21.100 ± 0.0005 mg GAE/g for FeO. The in vitro radical scavenging abilities of the nanoparticles were assessed using the DPPH assay, revealing IC50 values of 47% for MnO, 34% for ZnO, and 40% for FeO. Additionally, the antibacterial activities of the nanoparticles were tested against Escherichia coli (Gram-negative bacteria), Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive bacteria), and Escherichia faecalis (Gram-positive bacteria). The results underscore the potential of tomato waste-derived nanoparticles in antioxidant and antibacterial applications, highlighting their utility in the biotechnological and pharmaceutical industries.

Hericium, a famous edible mushroom used for medicine and food, has fleshy white spines hanging down from their thick unbranched cluster and always grows on decaying or dead wood. This study was performed in Uttarakhand, India, to produce these mushrooms artificially and to optimize their mycelial growth on agar culture media. The temperatures, pH levels, carbon sources, nitrogen sources, and the ratio of media constituents varied under different conditions. For this study, a H. erinaceus (DMR-779) culture strain procured from the Directorate of Mushroom Research, Solan HP, India, and tissue culture techniques from H. erinaceus fruiting body PDA plates were used to compare the difference at varying temperatures. from 18 to 25 °C, and a pH of 4–4.5. After the successful running of mycelia on the plates, they was transferred to bags containing cereals such as wheat and rye at different concentrations, 2.5% calcium carbonate, and 0.5% gypsum, the latter used to manipulate the mycelia running rate in the bags. It was observed that bags made with pure wheat had a higher mycelium running rate than others. Healthy mycelia bags (mother bags) were further used to produce fruiting bags (commercial bags) containing different ratios of sawdust (eucalyptus and poppy) and wheat bran (80:20). The data collected from this experiment will be useful in cultivating Hericium mushrooms, which in turn can further be used to enhance the health benefits of a variety of food products.

Medicinal plants from the Lamiaceae family offer significant potential as functional foods, providing both essential dietary fiber and numerous health benefits. These plants are rich in bioactive compounds such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, and alkaloids, which contribute to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Studies on Lamiaceae seeds have revealed substantial levels of starch and fiber, suggesting their potential as alternatives to cereals in food applications. The phenolic-rich extracts of Lamiaceae species have demonstrated anti-hemolytic and anti-mutagenic potentials, making them suitable for functional food and nutraceutical formulations. By incorporating Lamiaceae plants into functional foods, consumers can benefit from a combination of dietary fiber and therapeutic compounds. This synergy may lead to improved digestion, enhanced cardiovascular health, and reduced inflammation. The antioxidant properties of these plants help combat oxidative stress, while their anti-inflammatory effects contribute to overall well-being. As functional food ingredients, Lamiaceae-based products could serve as practical and effective additions to a balanced diet, potentially reducing the risk of chronic diseases and promoting overall health. In this study, we present an overview of functional foods derived from medicinal plants of the family Lamiaceae. By utilizing dietary fiber as a functional component and employing the cooperative patent classification system, we conducted a comprehensive patent analysis to identify trends and innovations in this field. Findings indicate that the major inventions related to Lamiaceae-based functional foods can be categorized into three primary areas. Patents focus on developing food products with Lamiaceae plants to enhance nutrition, creating medicinal preparations with plant extracts for health benefits, and improving the nutritive qualities of foods by increasing fiber content and fortifying them with essential nutrients. Overall, this study reveals a strong interest in leveraging the properties of Lamiaceae plants to develop innovative food and medicinal products, supporting health and nutrition while meeting the growing demand for natural ingredients.

Introduction：

Quercetin (QT) is an important dietary flavonoid in vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts, tea, and red wine. It has significant biological functions in terms of tumor prevention. However, its application in the food industry has been limited due to its poor solubility and low bioavailability. In this study, a self-microemulsion system (TPGS-QS) was designed to improve the solubility and bioavailability of QT.

Methods：

The self-micro-emulsifying system was prepared according to our previous study. We evaluated particle characteristics such as size, zeta potential, PDI, the stability of in vitro digestion and release, and encapsulation efficiency. Additionally, the antibacterial and antioxidant potential of the system were assessed.

Results：

The appearance of QT-TPGS-QS was clear, with a loading ratio of 2.1%. The liposome was uniform, spherical, and regular (<100 nm). In simulated in vitro digestion, the cumulative release rate of QT-QS-TPGS nanoparticles reached 85.61±0.32%. In antibacterial experiment, the flavonoid microemulsion exhibited a better antibacterial effect on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella compared to QT alone. In vitro antioxidant evaluation confirmed that the QT-TPGS-QS showed a significantly higher free radical scavenging ability. Additionally, QT-TPGS-QS (15 μg/mL) effectively protected cells from oxidative stress induced by H2O2. Catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels were significantly increased, while malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were dominantly reduced by QT-TPGS-QS treatment, suggesting that QT-TPGS-QS may be effective in inhibiting the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Conclusions:

The TPGS-QS could be considered as a suitable carrier and reliable method to improve the solubility of QT with retained antioxidant potential, and it is also expected that the same system might be suitable for other dissolvable polyphenols as well to develop relative natural antioxidant products.