Search Results (653)

Crustacean processing industries, particularly those that process shrimp, crab, and lobster, generate substantial quantities of biological waste, consisting primarily of shells, heads, and exoskeletons. These by-products contribute significantly to environmental pollution due to their high organic load, slow degradability, and improper disposal practices. Nevertheless, they represent valuable reservoirs of bioactive compounds such as chitin, proteins, polyunsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids, and minerals, as well as biologically active enzymes and enzyme inhibitors, which possess immense potential in food, pharmaceutical/cosmetic, biomedical and environmental sectors. Unlike previous studies that primarily focus on individual components or specific extraction techniques, this review comparatively evaluates both conventional extraction techniques (acid–alkali treatment and solvent extraction) and emerging green approaches (supercritical fluid extraction, enzymatic hydrolysis, pulsed electric fields, ultrasound-assisted extraction, cold plasma, microwave-assisted extraction and high-pressure processing), highlighting their efficiencies, sustainability, and influence on compound quality. The review study further explores the diverse applications of the recovered constituents in food preservation, nutraceutical development, biodegradable packaging, and functional ingredient formulation. Moreover, current challenges concerning process optimization, industrial scalability, economic feasibility, and environmental impact are critically evaluated. Full article

There is an inadequate supply of environmentally friendly, versatile disposable packaging films for protecting various food items. Herein, a series of walnut protein isolate (WPI)-based bioactive films, including WPI (W) film, cellulose nanofiber (CNF)-reinforced (WN) film, Ca²⁺-cross-linked WN (WNG) film, and curcumin-loaded WNG (WNGJ) film, were successfully fabricated. WNG showed the best properties in terms of elongation at break (53.47% ± 4.94%) and hydrophobicity (water contact angle of 91.94° ± 1.71°). WNGJ film showed the best properties in terms of antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Compared to the group without film protection, exterior quality, weight loss, softening, pH decreasing, and solids loss of strawberries were delayed around 1–3 d by each package, indicating the improvement in freshness. All bioactive films were more effectively at reducing the juice loss (improved 16–50%) and the spoilage of strawberries than the commercial film at room temperature over 5 days. Among them, WNGJ showed the best properties in terms of maintaining the firmness, acidity, and total soluble solids of strawberries. The films with tunable hydrophobicity properties and bioactive functions possess considerable potential usage in maintaining the freshness of perishable fruit. Full article

Food packaging plays an essential role in maintaining food quality, safety, and shelf life during storage, transportation, and retail distribution. However, conventional petroleum-derived plastics raise increasing environmental concerns, while many biopolymer-based packaging materials remain limited by insufficient mechanical strength, poor water resistance, limited barrier properties, and unstable active functions. Natural extract-based multifunctional gels provide a promising strategy for sustainable food packaging due to their inherent biocompatibility, structural versatility, and synergistic interplay between active extracts and gel networks, which can immobilize bioactive compounds, regulate mass transfer, and integrate preservation and monitoring functions within one material platform. This review summarizes recent advances in natural extract-based multifunctional gels for food packaging, with emphasis on polysaccharide-based, protein-based, lipid-based, and other naturally derived gel systems. Representative material formats include hydrogels, aerogels, emulsion gels, oleogels, and gel-derived films or coatings, while typical components include chitosan, alginate, pectin, starch, proteins, natural waxes, lignin, anthocyanins, curcumin, polyphenols, and essential oils. Their gelation mechanisms, structural features, preparation strategies, and functional applications are discussed, including antioxidant activity, antimicrobial preservation, barrier enhancement, controlled release, freshness monitoring, and biodegradability. Furthermore, the potential interactions between natural extracts and gel matrices are also discussed, including hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, ionic crosslinking, dynamic covalent bonding, hydrophobic association, and lipid crystallization. The main merits of these systems include renewability, biodegradability, tunable network interactions, active-agent protection, and integration of preservation and monitoring functions, whereas persistent challenges include moisture sensitivity, mechanical instability, variable extract composition, migration safety, and scale-up cost. This review provides guidance for designing natural extract-based gel packaging materials with improved functionality, sustainability, and practical applicability. Full article

This study investigated the antimicrobial efficacy, biodegradability, and cytotoxicity of carvacrol-infused hemicellulose/methylcellulose (HB/MC)-based coating solutions and films for active food packaging applications. Micro-emulsified (M) and coarse (C) HB/MC solutions with 1 or 2% carvacrol (Car) were investigated. Their antimicrobial properties were evaluated by applying the solutions directly to eggshell surfaces (coating) or headspace (film). Against Salmonella enterica, the 2% carvacrol micro-emulsified coating (HB/MC+Car-2%/M) produced the greatest bacterial reduction, reaching 8.35 log₁₀ units relative to the untreated control by Day 7. Under the same conditions, the corresponding coarse-emulsified coating (HB/MC+Car-2%/C) achieved a 2.10-log₁₀ reduction. When evaluated as a headspace-active film, HB/MC+Car-2%/M achieved a 6.28-log₁₀ reduction, demonstrating the superior antimicrobial performance of the direct-contact micro-emulsified coating. Biodegradability, assessed via biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), evidenced 100% biodegradation for all formulations under aerobic conditions. The highest BOD value was observed in HB/MC+Car-2%\M, indicating elevated microbial activity. Cytotoxicity evaluation using the MTT assay confirmed that all coating solutions were non-toxic, with HB/MC+Car-2%\M promoting the highest cell viability across tested concentrations. These results demonstrated that industrial crops and by-products could be used as carriers for bioactive agents via a micro-emulsification step, thereby significantly enhancing the functional performance of plant-based materials, offering a promising route for developing safe, biodegradable, and plant-based antimicrobial coatings and packaging materials. Full article

Cyclodextrin (CD)-based supramolecular nanofibers (NFs) have emerged as an advanced class of multifunctional materials for active food packaging by integrating host–guest supramolecular chemistry with electrospun nanofibrous architectures. The unique hydrophobic cavity and hydrophilic exterior of CDs enable the encapsulation of a wide range of bioactive compounds, including essential oils, natural antioxidants, antimicrobials, and volatile active agents, thereby enhancing their solubility, stability, controlled release, and preservation efficacy. This review comprehensively discusses the molecular structure and inclusion complexation mechanisms of CDs, recent advances in polymer-assisted and polymer-free electrospinning strategies, and the design of CD-based supramolecular nanofibers for food preservation. Particular emphasis is placed on the relationship between fiber morphology, supramolecular interactions, and controlled release behavior, which collectively govern antimicrobial, antioxidant, moisture management, and barrier properties. Recent developments involving biodegradable polymers, hybrid nanofibrous systems, and cyclodextrin-based metal–organic frameworks (CD-MOFs) are critically summarized, highlighting their roles in improving encapsulation efficiency, mechanical stability, and multifunctional performance. The review further compares CD-based nanofibers with other advanced encapsulation technologies, including liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, nanoemulsions, polymeric nanoparticles, microspheres, and conventional MOFs, providing a comprehensive evaluation of their loading capacity, release kinetics, scalability, cost, and regulatory suitability for food-contact applications. Representative applications in the preservation of fruits, vegetables, meat, seafood, dairy products, and bakery products demonstrate significant improvements in microbial inhibition, oxidation resistance, ethylene and volatile organic compound adsorption, and shelf-life extension through sustained delivery of natural preservatives. Ultimately, the current challenges, including large-scale manufacturing, long-term stability, regulatory approval, and commercialization, are discussed together with future directions, focusing on smart packaging, stimuli-responsive delivery systems, intelligent sensing, biodegradable multifunctional materials, and sustainable industrial implementation. Full article

Methods for extracting bioactive compounds are widely studied, as the global trend moves toward more efficient and eco-friendly methods. This study aimed to optimize and compare the extraction of phenolic compounds from the residual biomass of andiroba (Carapa guianensis) using the conventional method with methanol as the solvent, and a green chemistry method via ultrasound using ethanol as the solvent. The optimization of the extraction variables (time, mass/volume ratio, and ethanol concentration) was performed using a Central Composite Rotatable Design (CCRD 2³) combined with the desirability function. The established optimal conditions were an extraction time of 26.78 min, a mass/volume ratio of 86.46 mg/mL, and an ethanol concentration of 32.5%. The conventional method achieved a higher yield of total phenolic compounds (TPC) (109.05 mg GAE/mL) and total flavonoid compounds (TFC) (38.18 mg GAE/mL) compared to the ultrasound-assisted method (UAE) (82.64 and 26.27 mg GAE/mL, respectively). LC-MS analysis revealed a diversity of extracted bioactive molecules. Both methodologies yielded extracts with good in vitro antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS). In the antimicrobial assay, the extracts demonstrated an unprecedented bacteriostatic effect for this residue, inhibiting the growth of the Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus at concentrations ranging from 43.83% to 52.67%, with no activity against Gram-negative bacteria. The optimization demonstrated that the industrial residue of andiroba still contains a significant concentration of bioactive compounds. These findings confirm the bioeconomic potential of this by-product for the formulation of high-value-added bio-inputs, with promising applications in the development of smart packaging or bioactive food coatings. Full article

The objective of this study was to develop active fibrous packaging materials based on flaxseed gum and polyethylene oxide containing kale extract using centrifugal spinning. In addition, their ability to retard lipid oxidation in olive oil was evaluated. Fibers containing different kale extract concentrations were produced and characterized in terms of morphology, rheological behavior, total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity (AOA), encapsulation efficiency (EE), loading capacity (LC), water vapor permeability (WVP), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal properties, and oxidative stability. Kale extract incorporation significantly increased fiber diameter while maintaining continuous bead-free morphologies. Rheological analyses demonstrated the suitability of flaxseed gum/PEO solutions for centrifugal spinning. The incorporation of kale extract significantly enhanced TPC and AOA, whereas EE values ranged from 32.32% to 95.78%, indicating successful encapsulation of bioactive compounds. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) confirmed molecular interactions and adequate thermal stability of the developed fibers. Oxidative stability analyses showed that kale extract-loaded fibers effectively delayed lipid oxidation in olive oil. Among all formulations, fibers containing 5% kale extract exhibited the strongest oxidative protection, reducing p-anisidine value (PAV) and total oxidation value (TOTOX) by 25.1% and 23.86%, respectively. These findings highlight the potential of kale extract-enriched flaxseed gum/PEO fibers as sustainable active packaging materials. Full article

Meat and meat products are highly susceptible to microbial spoilage, lipid oxidation, moisture loss, discoloration, and sensory deterioration, creating a need for effective, safe, and sustainable packaging solutions. Although previous studies have investigated biodegradable polymers, nanomaterials, and active packaging systems separately, an integrated assessment connecting material design, preservation mechanisms, safety, sustainability, and commercial feasibility remains limited. This review addresses this gap by critically evaluating recent advances in biodegradable nanocomposite films and coatings for meat preservation. Current evidence demonstrates that the incorporation of nanoscale reinforcements and bioactive agents into biopolymer matrices can enhance their mechanical performance, gas and moisture barrier properties, antimicrobial activity, antioxidant capacity, and controlled release behavior. However, these advantages are strongly influenced by the nanofiller characteristics, concentration, dispersion, polymer-nanofiller interactions, food matrix composition, and storage conditions. Excessive nanomaterial incorporation may promote aggregation, induce structural defects, reduce flexibility, and increase migration concerns. Despite promising preservation outcomes, most available studies remain limited to laboratory-scale investigations, variable testing protocols, and insufficient validation under real commercial conditions. Key challenges hindering industrial adoption include nanoparticle migration, long-term safety assessment, regulatory uncertainty, production costs, consumer acceptance, and limited life-cycle evaluation. Future research should focus on safe-by-design formulations, standardized real-food testing, scalable manufacturing approaches, controlled-release technologies, and integrated assessments of preservation efficiency, safety, economic feasibility, and environmental sustainability. Overall, biodegradable nanocomposite packaging represents a promising approach for extending meat shelf life; however, successful commercialization requires balancing enhanced preservation performance with safety assurance and industrial practicality. Full article

Camel milk (CM), which is produced by both Camelus dromedarius and Camelus bactrianus, is gaining increasing popularity as a value-added functional dairy product, but the science of managing its shelf life has progressed more slowly than its commercial expansion. Unlike bovine milk, CM lacks β-lactoglobulin (β-LG), has a unique casein (CN) micelle structure with a high β-CN-to-αs1-CN ratio, and low κ-CN protein content, and contains an unusually rich bioactive protein fraction including lactoferrin (LF), immunoglobulin G (IgG), lysozyme (LZ), and peptidoglycan recognition protein (PGRP). These compositional characteristics imbue CM with both significant inherent antimicrobial benefits and place it at risk of processing weaknesses that do not have direct analogs in bovine dairy science. The review discusses three key areas of CM shelf life science that have not been sufficiently addressed in the published literature. The first relates to physicochemical mechanisms of deterioration, including lipid oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), destabilization of CN micelles in the structural absence of β-LG, and Maillard browning during thermal treatment and storage of powder. The second addresses the fate of bioactive proteins, with the majority being lactoferrin (LF), immunoglobulin G (Igs), and heavy chain-only antibodies (HCAbs), under both thermal and non-thermal processing conditions. The third looks at new non-thermal preservation methods, such as high-pressure processing (HPP), pulsed electric field (PEF), ultrasonication, ultraviolet irradiation, cold plasma, and electromagnetic (EM) field treatment, and functional packaging innovations, which contribute to longer shelf life. Of the non-thermal options examined, HPP at 200–400 MPa today provides the most mechanistically proven evidence for camel-specific microbial deactivation with satisfactory quality preservation. The latest primary CM research also indicates that processing with EMs in the 850 mT range can potentially be as effective as conventional pasteurization in microbial control and may be more effective than pasteurization in retaining desirable bioactive markers, although this result needs to be independently replicated before more responsible conclusions can be drawn. The review ends with four priority research gaps: standardized kinetic shelf life modeling frameworks, systematic characterization of bioactive protein stability under commercial processing conditions, life cycle assessment of preservation chains across the camel dairy supply continuum, and the urgent validation of camel-specific pasteurization adequacy indicators to replace bovine alkaline phosphatase, which remains active in CM after conventional high-temperature short-time (HTST) pasteurization. Full article

The extensive use of petroleum-based plastics in food packaging has raised environmental concerns, increasing interest in biodegradable materials derived from renewable resources. Cellulose-based films from agricultural residues offer a sustainable alternative, and incorporating bioactive compounds can provide active packaging functionality to enhance food preservation. In this study, resveratrol was incorporated into oat straw-derived cellulose films to develop biodegradable active packaging materials. Films with varying concentrations of resveratrol were prepared and evaluated for physical, mechanical, barrier, optical, antioxidant, biodegradation, and fruit preservation properties. Resveratrol significantly enhanced the films’ antioxidant activity, increasing radical-scavenging activity from 4.05% in the control film to 19.70% in the film containing 0.7% resveratrol. The films also exhibited improved ultraviolet light-blocking properties while maintaining comparable moisture content, water solubility, mechanical properties, water vapor permeability, and biodegradation behavior. All films showed rapid soil biodegradation, with more than 80% weight loss after 33 days. During grape storage, the resveratrol-containing film maintained the fruit quality by moderating changes in weight loss, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, and ascorbic acid content, while avoiding the quality deterioration observed in polystyrene-covered grapes during storage. These findings demonstrate that oat straw-derived cellulose films containing resveratrol combine antioxidant activity, ultraviolet light protection, biodegradability, and improved preservation performance during grape storage. The developed films show promise as sustainable antioxidant active packaging materials for fresh-produce applications. Full article

The demand for sustainable food preservation has driven the development of biodegradable alternatives to conventional, petroleum-based plastics. This study developed and evaluated bioactive starch-based films incorporated with citrus peel essential oils (lemon, orange, and tangerine) at concentrations ranging from 0.5% to 2% (w/w). The physical, chemical, mechanical, and antimicrobial properties of all film formulations containing 0.5–2% (w/w) essential oils were evaluated. Based on the experimental design, only the selected formulations containing 1 and 2% essential oils were subjected to structural and thermal characterization (XRD, SEM, FTIR, and TGA/DTG), transparency measurements, soil biodegradation, and phytotoxicity assays. FTIR spectroscopy revealed that oil incorporation did not alter the characteristic chemical bands of starch, indicating predominantly physical interactions. The essential oils modulated the physical and mechanical performance of the films. The films containing lemon and tangerine essential oils exhibited superior antimicrobial activity against foodborne pathogens. Furthermore, soil biodegradation was concentration-dependent, with mass loss exceeding 50% within 15 days, while phytotoxicity tests confirmed the environmental safety of the degraded residues. These findings demonstrate that the developed citrus-infused starch films hold great promise as active biodegradable packaging to extend the shelf life of bakery products and mitigate plastic waste. Full article

The extraction of bioactive compounds using supercritical fluids has attracted increasing scientific attention as a sustainable alternative to conventional extraction methods. This study presents a bibliometric analysis aimed at providing an overview of the scientific development, collaboration patterns, and thematic trends in this research field. Bibliographic data were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database for the period 1995–2025, resulting in a dataset of 2159 publications. The records were analyzed using the Bibliometrix package in R and complementary Web of Science tools to evaluate scientific productivity, leading contributors, collaboration patterns, keyword analysis (frequency and co-occurrence), thematic evolution, citation topics, and alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The results reveal sustained growth in scientific production, particularly during the last decade, reflecting the increasing interest in environmentally friendly extraction technologies and the growing demand for natural bioactive compounds. Brazil emerged as the leading contributor, followed by China and Spain. Collaboration patterns indicate the presence of international research partnerships among the most productive countries. Keyword analysis highlights antioxidant activity and polyphenols as the most frequent research topics. Thematic analysis reveals a progressive shift from compound characterization to process optimization and application-oriented research, with increasing emphasis on extraction performance, assisted extraction technologies, and the valorization of agro-industrial by-products as alternative sources of bioactive compounds. These findings provide a comprehensive overview of the evolution and main research directions in this field. Full article

This study explores the valorization of olive pomace through the green recovery of bioactive phenolic compounds for application in active packaging for olive oil preservation, alongside the development of a low-cost analytical strategy aligned with white analytical chemistry principles. Ultrasound-assisted extraction using 50% (v/v) aqueous ethanol significantly improved polyphenol recovery, reducing extraction time to 2 min while increasing efficiency compared to conventional maceration. Total phenolic content was determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu method and measured with both a UV–Vis spectrophotometer and a portable 3D-printed smartphone-based device, which showed excellent agreement with the reference method and comparable analytical performance. Optimized extracts were incorporated into starch–glycerol films, enhancing UV-barrier properties and enabling controlled release of phenolics. When applied to olive oil packaging, the films reduced color degradation under accelerated aging, indicating improved photo-oxidative stability. Composting tests suggested the biodegradation capability of the developed materials under the evaluated conditions. Overall, the study demonstrates an integrated sustainable approach combining waste valorization, active packaging development, and accessible analytical innovation. Full article

Pullulan is a microbial exopolysaccharide produced primarily by Aureobasidium spp. It has attracted considerable attention due to its biodegradability, biocompatibility, and versatility in food-related applications. While its basic chemical structure has long been established, recent advances have significantly improved the understanding of the genetic, enzymatic, and regulatory mechanisms governing its biosynthesis. This review discusses current knowledge on pullulan production, focusing on biosynthetic pathways, regulatory networks, and the influence of fermentation conditions on polymer yield and quality. Particular emphasis is placed on the utilization of agro-industrial residues as renewable feedstocks within a circular bioeconomy framework, as well as on downstream recovery and purification strategies. Furthermore, the physicochemical properties of pullulan and its ability to form synergistic assemblies with other biopolymers are evaluated in relation to hydrogels, edible films, active packaging, and bioactive delivery systems. By integrating microbial biotechnology, bioprocess engineering, and material science, this review provides a comprehensive overview of pullulan-based systems for food-related applications. Full article

Postbiotics are defined as preparations of inanimate microorganisms and/or their components that confer a health benefit on the host. Although interest in postbiotics has increased substantially, their translational use in functional foods remains insufficiently characterized with respect to preparation identity, production methodology, food-matrix compatibility, mechanistic specificity, and regulatory positioning. This PRISMA-guided structured review aims to synthesize current evidence on postbiotics in functional food and nutraceutical contexts, with particular emphasis on preparation-based characterization, gut–brain axis-related mechanisms and clinical findings, food matrix applicability, and regulatory and health-claim considerations. Unlike broader postbiotic reviews that mainly address definitions, general health effects, or technological stability, this review integrates preparation identity, production process, gut–brain axis-related evidence, food matrix compatibility, and regulatory/health-claim translation within a single functional food framework. A structured literature search was conducted in Scopus and Web of Science Core Collection and was completed on 16 February 2026. The search strategy included three conceptual blocks: postbiotic and inactivation-based preparation terms, functional food/nutraceutical and food matrix terms, and gut–brain axis-related clinical and mechanistic terms. Cosmetic, topical, veterinary, animal feed, and aquaculture-focused publications were excluded. The export files contained 131 records from Scopus and 136 from the Web of Science Core Collection, yielding 267 records after applying document-type and language filters. After manually removing duplicates, 237 unique records were screened. Following title/abstract screening, 176 records were excluded as outside the scope of the review, and 61 publications were retained for full-text assessment and final thematic synthesis. The review was reported according to applicable PRISMA 2020 items. The evidence was organized into three thematic domains: gut–brain axis-related clinical findings, mechanistic evidence, and food matrix/product development applications. Heat-inactivated preparations, including Lactobacillus gasseri CP2305 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SNK12, have shown preliminary effects on stress-related symptoms, sleep quality, and selected neuroendocrine or inflammatory biomarkers in human studies. Mechanistic pathways include gut barrier integrity, immunomodulation, short-chain fatty acid signaling, tryptophan–kynurenine–serotonin metabolism, vagal communication, and regulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. Food matrix studies support the potential application of postbiotics in fermented dairy products, cereal-based systems, plant-based matrices, powders, concentrates, and bioactive packaging; however, matrix-dependent effects on bioavailability, sensory quality, and biological activity remain incompletely defined. Postbiotics provide a stable translational platform for functional-food development, but their scientific and commercial use requires clear characterization of the microbial source, production process, inactivation method, retained active fractions, dose metric, delivery matrix, and clinically meaningful endpoint. Future studies should avoid broad category-level claims and prioritize preparation- and matrix-defined human evidence with standardized safety reporting. Full article