molecules-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Research Progress on Functional Lipids and Their Applications in Health Food Systems

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 2471

Special Issue Editor

JNU-UPM International Joint Laboratory on Plant Oil Processing and Safety, Department of Food Science and Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
Interests: processing and modification of lipids

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to invite you to submit your recent studies in the field of “Research Progress on Functional Lipids and Their Applications in Health Food Systems” to a Special Issue of Molecules.

In today's food industry, there is a growing emphasis on health, nutrition, and sustainability, which is driving research into functional lipids and their applications in health food systems. Functional lipids are essential for food formulation, enhancing sensory properties, and improving nutritional value. As consumer preferences shift toward healthier and more sustainable options, the study of functional lipids has become a critical area of investigation.

Key research directions include lipid crystallization and oxidation, enzymatic lipid modification, and the development of structured emulsions and lipid capsules that deliver health benefits. Despite significant advancements in our understanding of lipid chemistry and functionality, there is still a pressing need for innovative processing techniques and modifications that can enhance the nutritional profiles and sensory qualities of health food products.

This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for researchers to showcase the current and recent developments in the field of functional lipids and their applications in health food systems. We welcome original research papers and review articles that explore various aspects of lipid processing, modification, and application in the food industry.

Dr. Zhen Zhang
Guest Editor

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. Molecules 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 2700 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

  • lipid crystallization
  • lipid oxidation
  • enzymatic lipid modification
  • processing
  • health benefits
  • structured emulsions
  • lipid emulsions
  • lipids capsules

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

18 pages, 1675 KiB  
Article
Assisted Extraction of Hemp Oil and Its Application to Design Functional Gluten-Free Bakery Foods
by Noemi Baldino, Mario F. O. Paleologo, Mariateresa Chiodo, Olga Mileti, Francesca R. Lupi and Domenico Gabriele
Molecules 2025, 30(12), 2665; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30122665 - 19 Jun 2025
Viewed by 175
Abstract
Cannabis sativa L. is known for its high-value compounds, like Cannabidiol (CBD) and Cannabidiolic Acid (CBDA). It is widely used in the pharmaceutical and food industries. Different extraction methods, like Soxhlet and maceration, are commonly employed to obtain its extracts. High temperature and [...] Read more.
Cannabis sativa L. is known for its high-value compounds, like Cannabidiol (CBD) and Cannabidiolic Acid (CBDA). It is widely used in the pharmaceutical and food industries. Different extraction methods, like Soxhlet and maceration, are commonly employed to obtain its extracts. High temperature and long extraction time can influence the yield and the purity of the extracts, affecting the quality of the final product. This study focused on optimizing CBD oil extraction from hemp inflorescences and its incorporation into a gluten-free bakery product for functionalization. Dynamic maceration (DME), assisted by ultrasound and microwave irradiation, was used. Our study explored the impact of varying sonication times (three distinct durations) and microwave powers (three levels, applied for two different irradiation times) on the resulting extracts. HPLC analysis was performed on these extracts. Subsequently, we used hemp flour and hemp oil to bake gluten-free cupcakes, which were fortified with the extracted CBD oil. Rheological characterization was used to investigate the cupcake properties, along with stereoscopic, color and puncture analysis performed on the baked samples. The most effective extraction parameters identified were 30 s of microwave irradiation at 700 W, yielding 45.2 ± 2.0 g of CBD extract, and 15 min of sonication, which resulted in 53.2 ± 2.5 g. Subsequent rheological characterization indicated that the product exhibited mechanical properties and a temperature profile comparable to a benchmark, evidenced by a height of 4.1 ± 0.2 cm and a hardness of 1.9 ± 0.2 N. These promising values demonstrate that hemp oil and hemp flour are viable ingredients for traditional cakes and desserts, notably contributing increased nutritional value through the CBD-enriched hemp oil and the beneficial profile of hemp flour. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

16 pages, 5535 KiB  
Article
Immobilization of Lipase from Thermomyces Lanuginosus and Its Glycerolysis Ability in Diacylglycerol Preparation
by Rui Xie, Yee-Ying Lee, Pengkai Xie, Chin-Ping Tan, Yong Wang and Zhen Zhang
Molecules 2024, 29(17), 4141; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29174141 - 31 Aug 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1733
Abstract
In the glycerolysis process for diacylglycerol (DAG) preparation, free lipases suffer from poor stability and the inability to be reused. To address this, a cost-effective immobilized lipase preparation was developed by cross-linking macroporous resin with poly (ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDGE) followed by [...] Read more.
In the glycerolysis process for diacylglycerol (DAG) preparation, free lipases suffer from poor stability and the inability to be reused. To address this, a cost-effective immobilized lipase preparation was developed by cross-linking macroporous resin with poly (ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDGE) followed by lipase adsorption. The selected immobilization conditions were identified as pH 7.0, 35 °C, cross-linking agent concentration 2.0%, cross-linking time 4 h, lipase amount 5 mg/g of support, and adsorption time 4 h. Enzymatic properties of the immobilized lipase were analyzed, revealing enhanced pH stability, thermal stability, storage stability, and operational stability post-immobilization. The conditions for immobilized enzyme-catalyzed glycerolysis to produce DAG were selected, demonstrating the broad applicability of the immobilized lipase. The immobilized lipase catalyzed glycerolysis reactions using various oils as substrates, with DAG content in the products ranging between 35 and 45%, demonstrating broad applicability. Additionally, the changes during the repeated use of the immobilized lipase were characterized, showing that mechanical damage, lipase leakage, and alterations in the secondary structure of the lipase protein contributed to the decline in catalytic activity over time. These findings provide valuable insights for the industrial application of lipase. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop