Introduction: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Morin, a natural flavonoid present in edible plants like mulberries, figs, and almonds, has gained attention for its health-promoting properties, including anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects. This study aimed to evaluate the anticancer efficacy and molecular mechanisms of morin in gastric cancer, focusing on the AGS cell line.

Methods: We adopted an integrated approach combining network pharmacology, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations (100 ns), and in vitro assays including MTT, apoptosis, ROS, mitochondrial membrane potential, cell cycle, and Western blotting to elucidate morin’s action against AGS cells.

Results: Network pharmacology analysis revealed 10 key targets including PIK3CD, JAK2, IGF1R, and ERBB4, primarily enriched in the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Molecular docking confirmed strong binding affinities of morin to PIK3CD (–11.01 kcal/mol), JAK2 (–10.53 kcal/mol), and IGF1R (–9.99 kcal/mol), with stable interactions validated by dynamics simulation. Morin induced dose- and time-dependent cytotoxicity in AGS cells with a 24 h IC₅₀ of ~10.7 µM and 48 h IC₅₀ of ~5.4 µM. Flow cytometry and staining assays revealed S and G₂/M phase arrest, chromatin condensation, and increased apoptotic cell populations. Morin disrupted mitochondrial membrane potential and enhanced ROS generation. Western blotting showed Bax upregulation, Bcl-2 downregulation, cytochrome c release, caspase-3 activation, and PARP cleavage. Notably, morin inhibited Akt phosphorylation (Ser473) and downstream mTORC1 targets (4E-BP1, S6K), suggesting dual mTORC1/2 pathway inhibition.

Conclusion: Morin exhibits strong anticancer potential against AGS gastric cancer cells by targeting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis and inducing apoptosis via mitochondrial dysfunction. Its dietary origin further supports its promise as a functional food-based therapeutic candidate for GC.

Background and Aims: Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including butyrate, acetate, and propionate, are postbiotics produced by the microbial fermentation of dietary fibers. Their immunomodulatory and anticancer effects have been widely documented in colorectal cancer (CRC). However, a cross-model synthesis of their efficacy is lacking. This study aimed to assess the role of SCFAs in CRC across preclinical models and evaluate their mechanisms using meta-analytic synthesis.

Methods: A systematic review of the existing literature on postbiotics and CRC was performed using PRISMA methodology, and 27 records were included. SCFA-focused studies were analyzed based on inclusion criteria targeting natural or synthetic SCFAs tested in CRC cell lines, animal models, or advanced platforms. Outcomes included apoptosis, proliferation, inflammation, and barrier integrity. Quantitative data were pooled where possible; model usage and mechanistic insights were summarized.

Results and Discussion: Eight studies addressed SCFAs either directly (n=4) or indirectly using SCFA-containing supernatants (n=4). Collectively, they included five in vitro (HT-29, HCT-116, and Caco-2), three in vivo models (AOM/DSS-induced CRC and xenografts), and two organoid-based systems. SCFAs triggered apoptosis via caspase activation, modulated NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways, enhanced mucin expression, and reinforced tight junction proteins. Meta-analysis revealed a moderate-to-strong effect size for butyrate-induced caspase-3 activation. Butyrate was also linked to the induction of autophagy via the LKB1–AMPK pathway. Four indirect studies supported these findings, though attribution to SCFAs remains limited due to the presence of multiple biomolecules. They also lacked detailed compositional analysis, which is an issue common across postbiotic research that represents a barrier to reproducibility, cross-study comparisons, and clinical translation.

Conclusions:
SCFAs represent a biologically active class of postbiotics with consistent anticancer effects across in vitro, in vivo, and organoid CRC models. Despite robust preclinical evidence, clinical validation remains absent, underlining the need for translational studies and early-phase trials.

In recent years, the demand for non-dairy probiotic beverages has increased due to growing health consciousness and lactose intolerance among consumers. This study focuses on the development of a carbonated floral juice using Ixora coccinea flowers supplemented with the probiotic strain Lactobacillus acidophilus, aiming to enhance its functional and nutritional properties. Ixora coccinea, known for its rich phytochemical profile and therapeutic properties, was selected for juice extraction. The floral juice was prepared by blanching dried petals, followed by extraction using distilled water (1:50 g/mL), and then fortified with stevia and orange juice. Two formulations were prepared: Sample A (control, no probiotics) and Sample B (probiotic-inoculated). The probiotic culture was incubated in juice for 18 hours at 37°C before carbonation using dry ice and subsequent storage at 4°C.

The physicochemical analysis showed a gradual decline in pH and total soluble solids (TSS) over 30 days, with a more pronounced change in Sample B due to probiotic metabolism. Proximate analysis indicated that Sample B had increased levels of protein, vitamin C, and lipid content compared to the control. Microbial analysis confirmed that L. acidophilus remained viable above 8 log CFU/mL for up to four weeks, and no coliform contamination was detected. Sensory evaluation using a nine-point hedonic scale revealed that Sample B was more acceptable in terms of taste, aroma, and overall appeal.

In conclusion, the study demonstrates that incorporating L. acidophilus into Ixora coccinea floral juice not only enhances its nutritional value but also maintains sensory quality and microbial safety, making it a promising non-dairy carbonated probiotic beverage.

Apple(Malus domestica) puree is widely used as a substitute for sucrose to improve the health properties of foods due to its natural sweetness and nutritional advantages. Thermal treatment has become a critical part of quality control in the processing of apple puree in order to extend the shelf life and improve quality. Polyphenol degradation and enzymatic browning during thermal treatments of apple puree are key factors leading to nutrient loss and color deterioration. This study investigated the effects of a temperature–time combination on the quality of cooked apple puree in this systematic study.

Golden Delicious apples were used as raw material and were peeled, ground and processed at different temperatures (87-102°C) and times (6-17 min). Total polyphenols, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase and total antioxidant capacity were evaluated for fresh apples and purees based on chemical analysis. Moreover, puree viscosity was measured with a rheometer, while syneresis was evaluated by quantifying the liquid release.

The results showed that browning of apple puree increased when the temperature was higher than 100 °C and the heating time was less than 12 min. The lowest polyphenol concentrations were found in uncooked purees (control), as polyphenols may have been released with warming. Moreover, the highest temperature significantly increased the puree consistency by increasing viscosity and limiting syneresis. No enzymatic activity was found in cooked puree, indicating that the lowest temperature was suitable for color and polyphenol preservation. This study provides a basis for process optimization for balancing nutrient retention and browning control in apple puree processing.

The selection of suitable cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. Cerasiforme) genotypes for Indian agro-climatic conditions is vital for maximizing profitability and achieving sustainable cultivation. Traditional genotype selection through field trials is time-consuming and resource-intensive. This study leverages machine learning (ML) models to classify cherry tomato genotypes based on yield and quality traits under both open-field and polyhouse conditions. A comprehensive dataset, comprising morphological, physiological, and biochemical parameters such as plant height, days to flowering, fruit morphology, lycopene, β-carotene, total soluble solids (TSS), sugars, and acidity, was used for model training and evaluation.

Protected cultivation significantly enhanced fruit quality, with polyhouse-grown tomatoes exhibiting up to 51.88% higher TSS (4.2–7.9 °Brix) and superior lycopene content (1.07–7.48 mg/100 g) compared to open-field conditions. Five ML classifiers—Decision Tree, Random Forest, Support Vector Machine (SVM), K-Nearest Neighbours (KNN), and Neural Network—were evaluated using 80:20 train–test split to ensure external validation. The Neural Network model achieved the best performance with an accuracy of 75%, F1-score of 0.66, and ROC-AUC of 0.88. The Decision Tree model showed comparable accuracy (75%) but a lower ROC-AUC (0.77). Random Forest and SVM achieved 50% accuracy with ROC-AUC values of 0.77 and 0.16, respectively, while KNN performed poor (accuracy: 25%, ROC-AUC: 0.50).

These results highlight the potential of ML-based classification in enhancing the efficiency of genotype selection, minimizing dependency on exhaustive field evaluations, and promoting precision agriculture. The findings serve as a decision-support tool for breeders and cultivators aiming to optimize genotype deployment under diverse cultivation environments.

Juice production is a significant part of worldwide fruit processing. This involves the generation of high amounts of pomace. Although fruit pomace is a potentially rich source of bioactive components, its use for food purposes is only marginal. Due to the limited shelf life of fresh pomace, it may be considered expedient to obtain freeze-dried pomace. Lyophilized pomace has both a long shelf life and makes an attractive addition to desserts or baked goods.

The aim of this study was to determine the content of bioactive components in fresh and freeze-dried pomace obtained from kamchatka berry, black chokeberry, blackberry, and dark grape fruits. The efficiency of pomace obtention, dry matter content, total polyphenols content, and quantitative and qualitative anthocyanin composition were determined.

The fresh pomace contained from 21.5±0.1% (blue honeysuckle) to 27.5±0.1% dry weight (blackberry), and the values for the freeze-dried ones ranged from 97.4±0.1% (blue honeysuckle) to 97.9±0.1% d.w. (blackberry). The content of polyphenols and anthocyanins significantly depended on the type of raw material used. The total content of polyphenols ranged from 1379.7±11.0 (dark grapes) to 6303.6±86.1 mg/100 g d.w. (black chokeberry). After the freeze-drying process, the polyphenol content decreased by 4.3-19.2%. The studied pomace was also a rich source of anthocyanins, the content of which in fresh pomace ranged from 422.3±40.7 (dark grape) to 3626.9±12.9 mg/100 g d.w. (black chokeberry), and in freeze-dried pomace, these values did not change significantly and were 414.7±18.1 and 3743.5±65.2 mg/100 g d.w., respectively.

Pomace from colored fruits can be a valuable source of bioactive components and pigments. Particularly rich sources of polyphenols and anthocyanins are black chokeberry and kamchatka berry. Feeeze-dried pomace, in particular, is an interesting product for enriching foods in the studied components, as well as for food coloring.

Citrus fruits are widely cultivated for their flavor, nutrition, and economic value. However, in the Philippines, limited research exists on local species like Citrus microcarpa, C. maxima, C. aurantium, and especially C. hystrix var. micrantha, particularly regarding peel utilization and extraction methods. This study evaluated the efficiency of maceration and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), using absolute ethanol, in extracting bioactive compounds from these citrus peels. Extracts were screened for phytochemicals and evaluated for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity via the DPPH radical scavenging assay. Percent yields were comparable between methods, with UAE achieving similar yields in significantly shorter time, indicating its extraction efficiency. Phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, reducing sugars, saponins, tannins, and terpenoids across most samples. Among the species studied, C. microcarpa exhibited the highest TPC (62.66 ± 2.04 mg GAE/g via UAE) and TFC (83.85 ± 2.23 mg QE/g via maceration), correlating with the strongest antioxidant activity (lowest EC₅₀ values: 98.43 ± 0.79 μg/mL via maceration; 131.08 ± 1.77 μg/mL via UAE). Maceration was more effective for flavonoid extraction, while UAE enhanced phenolic yield, and antioxidant activity varied by species and method. Additionally, a significant positive correlation was found between TPC and TFC (r = +0.7833), with both showing strong negative correlations with antioxidant EC₅₀ (r = –0.9282 and r = –0.7324, respectively). These findings highlight citrus peels, especially from C. microcarpa, as promising antioxidant sources. The study recommends optimizing extraction conditions and conducting further bioactivity testing to assess therapeutic potential.

The microplastic (MP) contamination of food plants is increasingly being recognised as an environmental and public health concern, yet raw medicinal botanicals remain understudied. We surveyed 70 wild‐harvested samples (5 g dry weight each) of herbs, flowers, leaves, seeds, roots, and fruits collected in May 2024 from remote meadows and orchards in Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina. All sample handling—including drying, oxidative digestion (30 % H₂O₂, 60 °C, 24 h), and vacuum filtration (0.45 µm)—was performed under clean‐air conditions with procedural blanks (n = 3), which showed no background particles. Retained particles were first inspected by stereomicroscopy (25–100×) and then identified via FTIR spectroscopy. To validate detection capability down to micrometre scales, two positive controls were used, (1) certified traceable polystyrene spheres and (2) in‐house ground polystyrene 678E resin, yielding size fractions of ~50 µm, 80 µm and 1.5 mm (MSDS provided). Polymer identity in both controls was confirmed by ATR‐FTIR, demonstrating that our qualitative workflow reliably detects and identifies particles ≥ 50 µm. No MPs were detected in any of the 70 plant samples, indicating that, when harvested from relatively pristine sites and processed under stringent contamination‐control measures, medicinal plants can remain free of detectable microplastic contamination. This qualitative survey provides a validated protocol for direct MP screening in botanicals. Future work should extend to additional regions, commercially processed products, and varied packaging practices to fully assess microplastic exposure across the herbal supply chain.

Acknowledgement: This work was carried out within the project "Food Safety and Quality Center" (KK.01.1.1.02.0004). The project is co-financed by the European Union from the European Regional Development Fund.

The growth of undesirable microorganisms naturally present on grapes, musts, and wines is a major concern in the wine industry, often leading to considerable financial losses. Spoilage yeasts, particularly those producing volatile phenolic compounds, pose a serious threat to wine quality by altering its taste, aroma, color, and astringency. Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) is commonly used to prevent microbial contamination due to its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Nevertheless, its negative impact on wine sensory characteristics and potential health risks (being considered allergenic) have led to increasing regulatory restrictions. This study aimed to explore biocontrol strategies against spoilage microorganisms in wine. Eight strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and 20 Brettanomyces/Dekkera yeasts were isolated from spoiled wine samples and screened for genes encoding enzymes involved in volatile phenol production. Additionally, the antimicrobial activity of microorganisms from various food matrices such as wine and elderberry was evaluated. Several microbial species demonstrated promising antagonistic activity against Brettanomyces yeasts, suggesting potential for biocontrol applications. While inhibitory substance production was evident, further concentration and purification steps are necessary. Furthermore, the strain-specific sensitivity of Brettanomyces bruxellensis must be considered in future applications. Since the sensitivity of Brettanomyces bruxellensis strains is variable, it is essential to investigate a wide range of inhibitory strains and assess their combined application to enhance the effectiveness of biocontrol strategies against this spoilage yeast.

Montmorency tart cherry (Prunus cerasus L., MTC) is famous for its abundant polyphenolic content and its potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Despite this, the metabolic processing and bioavailability of MTC polyphenols in the human body remain poorly understood. This research sought to identify the polyphenolic metabolites of MTC formulations in urine, plasma, and stool through targeted LC-MS/MS analysis. The profiling of urine metabolites was performed using a crossover design with 12 healthy adults (23 ± 3 years). Participants ingested two MTC formulations: juice (240 mL) and powder (2 × 0.5 g capsules) during separate 48-hour interventions, with a 14-day washout period in between. Urine samples were collected at six intervals following ingestion. For plasma and stool metabolite analysis, 58 participants (aged 18–50 years) were involved in a randomized, placebo-controlled 30-day intervention. Active groups received either MTC juice (2 × 240 mL/day) or freeze-dried powder (2 × 0.5 g capsules/day), while control groups were given matched placebos. Samples were collected at four intervals to evaluate systemic absorption and gut microbial metabolism. Utilizing a TSQ Altis Triple Quadrupole LC-MS/MS, more than 30 secondary metabolites were identified, including sulfated, glucuronidated, and methylated derivatives of caffeic acid, epicatechin, and chlorogenic acid. Temporal analysis indicated rapid urinary excretion of Phase II metabolites (2–8 h) and a prolonged presence of microbial catabolites like dihydroferulic acid in stool samples for up to 48 h. Plasma metabolite profiles confirmed systemic availability and differences specific to the formulation. Stool metabolites showed the excretion of primary and secondary metabolites of polyphenols out of the body. These results illustrate that MTC polyphenols undergo significant biotransformation and are distributed differently across biological matrices. The findings offer foundational insights into the kinetics and mechanisms that contribute to the health benefits of MTC in clinical populations.