Novel Technologies for Nutritional Quality Improvement in Plant-Based Foods

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Foods".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2025) | Viewed by 5462

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Food, Nutrition, Dietetics & Health, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
Interests: functional foods; transgenic plants; seconday metabolites; nutraceuticals; phytochemicals; cancer prevention; weight control; exercise
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Department of Grain Science and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
Interests: bakery science and chemistry; functional grain foods; grain protein chemistry, modification, and functionality; grain-derived bioactive compounds and peptides
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce a call for papers for a Special Issue of Foods focusing on the latest advancements in technology aimed at elevating the nutritional profile of plant-based foods. As the Guest Editors, we invite researchers, scientists and experts in the field to contribute their innovative research, methodologies and findings to this exciting compilation.

The plant-based food industry is experiencing unprecedented growth driven by increasing consumer demand for sustainable and health-conscious dietary choices. Hence, this Special Issue aims to showcase cutting-edge technologies that contribute to enhancing the nutritional quality of plant-based foods, providing a platform for researchers to share their insights into the development, application and impact of these technologies.

We encourage submissions covering a wide array of topics, including but not limited to, novel techniques for fortifying plant-based foods with essential nutrients, innovations in enhancing the nutritional content of plant-based crops through genetic modification, advances in processing methods that preserve and enhance the nutritional value of plant-derived ingredients, exploration of new and diverse plant-based ingredients with potential health benefits and/or cutting-edge analytical methods for assessing and validating the nutritional content of plant-based products.

This Special Issue provides an opportunity for researchers and industry professionals to contribute to the ongoing dialogue surrounding the intersection of technology and nutrition in the realm of plant-based foods. You are invited to submit original research articles, reviews and methodological papers that contribute to the understanding and application of technology in improving the nutritional quality of plant-based foods. Submissions will undergo a rigorous peer-review process, ensuring the publication of high-quality, impactful research.

We look forward to your valuable contributions as we collectively shape the future of sustainable and nutritious dietary choices.

Prof. Dr. Weiqun Wang
Dr. Yonghui Li
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Foods is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • innovative technology
  • nutritional profile
  • plant-based foods
  • genetic modification
  • processing methods
  • preserving and enhancing nutritional value
  • plant-derived ingredients
  • health benefits
  • intersection of technology and nutrition
  • sustainable and nutritious dietary choices

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 2649 KiB  
Article
Synergistic Effect of Thermosonication on the Stability of Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Blackberry Juice
by Cristiane Nunes da Silva, Juliana Rodrigues do Carmo, Bruna Vieira Nunes, Fernanda Demoliner, Vanessa Rios de Souza and Sabrina Carvalho Bastos
Foods 2025, 14(5), 901; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14050901 - 6 Mar 2025
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Abstract
Thermosonication is a technique that combines ultrasound with mild temperatures and can be applied as an alternative to thermal pasteurization. This study aimed to evaluate the synergistic effect of thermosonication (Termo) on bioactive compounds (total anthocyanins concentration and total phenolic compounds), antioxidant activity [...] Read more.
Thermosonication is a technique that combines ultrasound with mild temperatures and can be applied as an alternative to thermal pasteurization. This study aimed to evaluate the synergistic effect of thermosonication (Termo) on bioactive compounds (total anthocyanins concentration and total phenolic compounds), antioxidant activity and physicochemical characteristics of blackberry juice in comparison with conventional heat treatment (TT). The experiment was conducted based on the Central Composite Rotational Design, varying the amplitude (60% and 90%), temperature (64 °C and 86 °C) and time (114 s and 517 s) factors. The results showed that the amplitude and temperature factors significantly influenced (p < 0.05) the content of bioactive compounds studied, as well as the antioxidant activity and physicochemical properties, showing that the thermosonication treatment using 60% ultrasonic amplitude and 86 °C temperature provided more excellent retention and less degradation in the content of anthocyanins, phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, and physicochemical properties (pH, acidity, total soluble solids and colour) of blackberry juice. Higher ultrasonic amplitude (90%) promoted changes in the physicochemical properties and degradation of the bioactive compounds studied and antioxidant activity. However, the limitations of this study are related to the specific matrix used, the seasonality of these fruits, the availability of raw material for processing and the limitation of large-scale ultrasonic equipment. These factors limit the expansion of these findings to other products. Overall, thermosonication can be considered a promising technique. Still, for its implementation as a possible alternative to conventional thermal methods, further studies are needed to investigate the stability of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of blackberry juice better. Full article
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29 pages, 1868 KiB  
Article
The Role of Light in Enhancing the Nutritional and Antioxidant Qualities of Basil, Mint and Lemon Balm
by Karolina Jakubczyk, Kinga Szymczykowska, Klaudia Melkis, Dominika Maciejewska-Markiewicz, Anna Nowak, Anna Muzykiewicz-Szymańska and Karolina Skonieczna-Żydecka
Foods 2024, 13(23), 3954; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13233954 - 7 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1597
Abstract
Mint (Mentha L.), basil, (Ocimum basilicum) and Melissa (Melissa officinalis L.) are herbaceous plants from the Lamiaceae family. They have a wide range of health benefits and flavour properties which are highly valued around the world. Alternative methods of [...] Read more.
Mint (Mentha L.), basil, (Ocimum basilicum) and Melissa (Melissa officinalis L.) are herbaceous plants from the Lamiaceae family. They have a wide range of health benefits and flavour properties which are highly valued around the world. Alternative methods of growing plants to minimise greenhouse gas emissions during autumn and winter are being sought in the face of increasing climate change. One way to achieve this is to switch from HPS to LED lighting. LED lighting has a longer lifespan and higher efficiency while using less energy and better matching the colour of the light to the needs of the herbs. This study tested the hypothesis that the type of illumination (solar, HPS, and LED) significantly impacts the antioxidant and nutritional qualities of herbs. The results indicated that LED lighting enhanced biochemical properties, supporting its adoption for sustainable plant cultivation. Full article
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Review

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30 pages, 9077 KiB  
Review
Bioengineered Anthocyanin-Enriched Tomatoes: A Novel Approach to Colorectal Cancer Prevention
by Md Suzauddula, Kaori Kobayashi, Sunghun Park, Xiuzhi Susan Sun and Weiqun Wang
Foods 2024, 13(18), 2991; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13182991 - 21 Sep 2024
Viewed by 2278
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a significant global health challenge, with barriers to effective prevention and treatment including tumor recurrence, chemoresistance, and limited overall survival rates. Anthocyanins, known for their strong anti-cancer properties, have shown promise in preventing and suppressing various cancers, including CRC. [...] Read more.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a significant global health challenge, with barriers to effective prevention and treatment including tumor recurrence, chemoresistance, and limited overall survival rates. Anthocyanins, known for their strong anti-cancer properties, have shown promise in preventing and suppressing various cancers, including CRC. However, natural sources of anthocyanins often fail to provide sufficient quantities needed for therapeutic effects. Bioengineered crops, particularly anthocyanin-enriched tomatoes, offer a viable solution to enhance anthocyanin content. Given its large-scale production and consumption, tomatoes present an ideal target for bioengineering efforts aimed at increasing dietary anthocyanin intake. This review provides an overview of anthocyanins and their health benefits, elucidating the mechanisms by which anthocyanins modulate the transcription factors involved in CRC development. It also examines case studies demonstrating the successful bioengineering of tomatoes to boost anthocyanin levels. Furthermore, the review discusses the effects of anthocyanin extracts from bioengineered tomatoes on CRC prevention, highlighting their role in altering metabolic pathways and reducing tumor-related inflammation. Finally, this review addresses the challenges associated with bioengineering tomatoes and proposes future research directions to optimize anthocyanin enrichment in tomatoes. Full article
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