Search Results (998)

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

Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi), a valuable medicinal herb, faces challenges in consistent production and quality under natural cultivation. To overcome these limitations, this study investigated the impact of different light qualities (warm-white, red, blue, and green) on the in vitro growth, chlorophyll content, and accumulation of bacosides in B. monnieri using a temporary immersion system (TIS). The results revealed that green and blue light significantly enhanced biomass accumulation, with green light promoting the highest number of new shoots (24.2 shoots/clump) and blue light inducing the development of longer shoots with extended internodes (2.6 cm/internode). Interestingly, while green light resulted in the lowest chlorophyll content, it led to the highest accumulation of bacoside A3 (0.39% DW). In contrast, no significant differences were observed in bacopaside II content across all light treatments. However, bacopasaponin C production was significantly enhanced by warm-white and red light. These results demonstrate the potential of manipulating light quality within a TIS to optimize specific growth parameters and bioactive compound production in B. monnieri, offering valuable insights for enhancing the quality and yield of this important medicinal plant for industrial applications. Full article

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) root meal generated after industrial extraction of water-soluble constituents represents an underutilized secondary plant resource rich in lipophilic bioactive compounds. In this study, an efficient approach for the comprehensive recovery of hydrophobic biologically active substances from licorice root meal was developed. The method is based on sequential ethanol extraction followed by selective fractionation using a petroleum ether–ethyl acetate solvent system and chromatographic purification. As a result, a lipid fraction (1.1%) containing phytosterols (β-sitosterol and stigmasterol) was obtained, while the pharmacologically important isoflavan glabridin was isolated with a purity of 87.9% and a yield of 0.17%. In addition, triterpenoid aglycones, including 3-oxoglycyrrhetinic acid (0.39%) and glycyrrhetinic acid (0.21%), were successfully isolated and structurally confirmed by IR and NMR spectroscopy. Comparative solvent studies demonstrated that ethanol provides the highest extraction yield (7.1%) while maintaining high levels of glabridin and total flavonoids in the extracts. The results indicate that licorice root meal is a valuable secondary source of lipophilic bioactive compounds, and the proposed approach enables more efficient utilization of plant raw materials, reduction of industrial waste, and development of sustainable technologies for obtaining pharmacologically valuable compounds for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and biomedical applications. Full article

Plant-derived antimicrobials can potentially counteract the increasing ineffectiveness of conventional antibiotics against multidrug-resistant (MDR) ESKAPE pathogens. This study compared the extraction yield, phytochemical profile, functional-group signatures, and antibacterial activity of aqueous and n-hexane leaf extracts of Vernonia amygdalina against selected MDR ESKAPE pathogens from Katsina State, Nigeria. The fresh leaves were subjected to maceration, the obtained yield was calculated, and phytochemical constituents were screened using both standard qualitative assays and FTIR spectroscopy. Antibacterial activity was evaluated by agar well diffusion technique. Statistical significance was determined using the Welch test and two-way ANOVA. The n-hexane extract produced a significantly higher yield than the aqueous extract (28.81% vs. 9.87%; p < 0.0001). Conventional screening detected cardiac glycosides, saponins, steroids, and flavonoids, while FTIR analysis indicated bioactive functional groups consistent with terpenoids, steroids, polyacetylenes, cyanogenic glycosides, triglycerides, and lipophilic alkaloids. Both extracts inhibited the test pathogens, with no significant difference relative to the positive control (p = 0.066). These findings indicate solvent-dependent variation in bioactive metabolites present in V. amygdalina leaves. These compounds exhibited antibacterial activity against MDR ESKAPE pathogens and can hence be exploited as potential leads for discovering novel antibacterials to tackle these pathogens in the study area and beyond. Full article

Jasmonates are lipid-derived phytohormones that regulate plant development and defense across the green lineage. Thus, understanding the intricacies of jasmonate biosynthesis and signaling is of paramount importance to improve crop yields and food safety. For the last 40 years, the canonical jasmonate biosynthetic pathway has been thoroughly dissected in angiosperms; however, only recent efforts have started to decode the alternative jasmonate biosynthetic networks that operate in bryophytes. In the nonvascular model Marchantia polymorpha, a cis-to-iso isomerization constitutes a key step in the formation of dn-iso-OPDA and Δ⁴-dn-iso-OPDA, the bioactive jasmonates recognized by a conserved COI1/JAZ co-receptor complex. Their biosynthesis depends on a uniquely expanded fatty acid repertoire that includes, alongside the canonical C₁₆ and C₁₈ omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) found in angiosperms, substantial pools of eicosanoids such as arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, essentially absent from flowering plants. Here we trace the jasmonate biosynthetic pathway in bryophytes step-by-step, from PUFA precursors production through lipoxygenase oxygenation and downstream reactions to the processing and catabolic modifications of bioactive compounds. By integrating current knowledge across bryophyte lineages, we identify mechanistic parallels and divergences relative to angiosperms, highlight key unresolved questions, and propose future directions for the field. Deciphering jasmonate biosynthesis in bryophytes is essential for reconstructing the evolutionary origins of jasmonate signaling and understanding how this pathway contributed to the successful colonization of land by plants. Full article

The sustainable valorization of spontaneous flora biomass for the recovery of high value-added phytochemicals represents a key opportunity within the circular bioeconomy, yet it remains constrained by the environmental limitations of conventional extraction solvents and the lack of data-driven optimization frameworks. In this study, Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES) composed of betaine and 1,3-propanediol were designed and applied as bio-based extraction media for the recovery of bioactive metabolites from Artemisia annua L. spontaneous biomass in the context of green extraction and sustainable resource utilization. Two liquid–solid extraction techniques, namely vortex-assisted extraction and ultrasound-assisted extraction, were evaluated. The influence of key process parameters, including the eutectic component molar ratio, water content, solid-to-liquid (S/L) ratio, extraction temperature, and extraction time, was systematically investigated. Results demonstrated that extraction efficiency was strongly dependent on both solvent composition and process conditions, with distinct optimum parameters for different phytochemical classes. Maximum total polyphenol content (52.08 mg GAE/mL) was achieved via ultrasound-assisted extraction at 20 °C for 15 min, using a 1:3 NADES ratio with 40% water dilution and S/L = 1:5, while the highest flavonoid yield (17.34 mg QE/mL) was obtained by vortex-assisted extraction for 45 min using a 1:6 NADES ratio under the same dilution and S/L conditions. To identify extraction conditions associated with improved process efficiency, a hybrid modeling approach combining deep neural networks with the Success-History-based Adaptive Differential Evolution (SHADE) algorithm was employed, enabling high-accuracy prediction of extraction performance across a broad parameter space. The proposed framework demonstrates the feasibility of integrating green solvent design with machine learning-driven process modeling for the efficient valorization of underutilized plant biomass, contributing to the development of resource-efficient, sustainable extraction protocols, consistent with principles of process intensification and resource-efficient extraction strategies. Full article

Hydrodynamic cavitation is assessed as a conditional process-intensification platform for the sustainable recovery and transformation of bioactive and functional fractions from agri-food residues, food-processing by-products, and plant-derived matrices. The analysis focuses on fractions enriched in polyphenols, flavonoids, pectins, carotenoids, proteins, pigments, essential oils, and other value-added compounds with potential relevance for food, nutraceutical, formulation-oriented, and related high-value applications. Rather than being considered an inherently green or universally superior technology, hydrodynamic cavitation is evaluated according to the specific process functions it can provide, including matrix disruption, mass-transfer enhancement, solvent-use reduction, recovery of pectin-associated fractions, protein extraction, macromolecular restructuring, dispersion, and process integration. Quantitative and scale-relevant indicators are considered where available, including recovery yield, target-compound content, solvent use, operating conditions, treated volume, energy input, fraction quality, and reporting limits. Comparison with ultrasound-assisted extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, pulsed electric fields, subcritical water extraction, natural deep eutectic solvents, and enzyme-assisted extraction indicates that its advantage is most defensible when hydrodynamic effects address a clearly identified matrix or process limitation. The available evidence supports substantial potential for wet matrices, plant by-products, aqueous suspensions, and liquid food systems. However, critical gaps remain in energy reporting, selectivity, recovered-fraction stability, scale-up, downstream processing, and application-oriented validation. Recovered fractions should therefore be regarded as candidate ingredients or functional intermediates, rather than as direct evidence of efficacy in final products. Full article

Lactic fermentation modulates polyphenol composition in plant matrices, yet how compositional shifts translate into functional outcomes across extractable (EP) and hydrolyzable (HP) fractions remains unclear. Here, we apply a phenolic–bioactivity connectivity framework to fermented murta (Ugni molinae Turcz) juice, integrating compositional profiling with three functional axes: antimicrobial activity (against Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, and Staphylococcus aureus), inhibition of carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes (α-amylase, α-glucosidase) and DPP-IV, and modulation of oxidative stress in Caco-2 cells. Murta juice was fermented with Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, and a 1:1 coculture under two optimized strategies (GDF and SAW). Principal component analysis separated fermented from unfermented samples (89.7% variance explained) and identified coculture fermentation (MIX-GDF) as the most compositionally distinct treatment. EP fractions drove antimicrobial and α-glucosidase inhibition, whereas HP fractions contributed preferentially to DPP-IV inhibition and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). A bipartite correlation network revealed a dual-functional architecture: specific flavonoid–bioactivity associations governed enzyme inhibition, while diffuse collective interactions shaped antimicrobial responses. These results demonstrate that fermentation-induced phenolic remodeling yields structured, functional outcomes, providing a rational basis for designing fermentation strategies targeting specific bioactivity profiles. Full article

The continued rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations presents a strategic opportunity to harness climate change variables within the framework of precision agriculture. Despite the well-established role of elevated CO₂ (eCO₂) in enhancing biomass accumulation, its largely underexplored potential to drive the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites represents a more significant and promising avenue of investigation. This review appraises the physiological and molecular mechanisms through which eCO₂ enrichment redirects metabolic flux toward secondary metabolite biosynthesis, with far-reaching implications for plant productivity and resilience. Special emphasis is placed on critically evaluating the scientific literature to explore how CO₂-mediated modulation of the carbon–nutrient balance (CNB) can be strategically leveraged to enhance secondary metabolite yields. Moving from observation to application, integrated strategies are proposed to exploit CO₂ enrichment in advanced bioreactor systems and controlled-environment greenhouses as a means of maximizing bioactive compound production in ginseng. Pinpointing the regulatory sweet spots at which carbon saturation elicits maximum ginsenoside expression opens a promising avenue for engineering ginseng cultivation systems with sustainable potency and superior bioactivity. Though the full molecular architecture of these pathways in Panax awaits elucidation, converging evidence from related plant systems furnishes a credible mechanistic scaffold for future research. Full article

Many bioactive constituents of medicinal plants depend on microbial biotransformation for their pharmacological activity, positioning postbiotics from plant substrates as microbially matured phytomedicines. An emerging framework integrates prebiotic phytochemicals with probiotic strains to modulate gut microbiota and host health. In this study, we explored the functional properties of heat-inactivated Lactobacillus strains following the fermentation of oligosaccharides obtained from sesame hulls (Sesamum indicum L.), underutilised agro-industrial residues. Cell-wall oligosaccharides were obtained by alkaline or enzymatic (Celluclast^® 1.5 L (Novonesis, Copenhagen, Denmark)) extraction with Ultraflo^® L (Novonesis, Copenhagen, Denmark) hydrolysis and fermented with Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. casei, or L. paracasei. Heat-inactivated pre-postbiotic preparations were profiled for antioxidant capacity, inhibition of metabolic enzymes implicated in obesity and type 2 diabetes, and anti-Helicobacter pylori urease activity. Moreover, these preparations were incorporated into a barley malt (Hordeum vulgare L.) beverage. Bioactivity was strain- and substrate-dependent: L. casei-derived postbiotics most strongly inhibited pancreatic lipase (47.82%) and α-glucosidase (52.14%); L. acidophilus most strongly inhibited α-amylase (43.67%); and L. paracasei exhibited the strongest urease inhibition (20.66%). All strains displayed enhanced antioxidant activity, with ABTS scavenging reaching 87.02%. The supplemented beverages improved antioxidant activity by ~20%. The fermentation of these oligosaccharides thus yields a microbially matured phytomedicine with multi-target activity, supporting postbiotics as active mediators of plant-based therapeutics. Full article

Papaver nudicaule L. is a medicinal plant traditionally used in Asian ethnomedicine, yet its phytochemical composition and biological activity remain insufficiently explored. This study bridges phytochemistry and neuroactive potential. It includes metabolite profiling with bioactivity-guided fractionation, performed to evaluate its potential as a source of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors. The methanolic extract of the aerial parts was analysed using HPLC–ESI–QTOF-MS/MS, which enabled the tentative identification of 34 compounds, predominantly isoquinoline alkaloids and flavonoid derivatives. The extract was subsequently fractionated by centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) using an optimised biphasic solvent system, yielding fractions enriched in alkaloid constituents. The obtained fractions were evaluated for AChE inhibitory activity, revealing significantly higher activity than that of the crude extract. The most active fractions exhibited marked inhibition based on the comparison with the reference compound berberine, indicating effective enrichment of bioactive metabolites. Further analysis demonstrated that the activity of the most potent fraction was associated with the presence of amurensinine, which was purified by preparative HPLC and subsequently identified by NMR and LC-MS. The Papaver nudicaule extract showed no significant cytotoxicity toward SH-SY5Y neuronal cells up to 200 µg/mL, whereas the amurensinine-containing fraction reduced cell viability only at higher concentrations (≥100 µg/mL). Notably, when expressed in the micromolar range, this effect corresponds to relatively weak cytotoxicity, suggesting a potential safety margin at lower, biologically relevant concentrations. These findings demonstrate that P. nudicaule possesses a highly diverse alkaloid profile and represents a promising natural source of compounds with potential relevance for the development of agents targeting neurodegenerative disorders. Full article

Coagulation–flocculation is widely recognized as a fundamental step in wastewater treatment, as it promotes the aggregation and removal of suspended particles and organic contaminants following the addition of a coagulant. In this study, a bio-based coagulant was prepared from prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) seed residues obtained after essential oil extraction. The extraction process for bioactive agents was successfully modeled using Central Composite Design (CCD)-based Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Optimal extraction was reached at pH 13, PPSM of 7.5 g, 0.75 M NaCl, and 40 min of stirring, providing maximum yields of 69.63 g proteins, 217.075 g total sugars, and 81.416 g polyphenols. The optimized extract was subsequently used as a bio-coagulant for the treatment of wastewater collected from the Chalghoum El Aid–Oued El Athmania wastewater treatment plant (Mila, Algeria). The effects of three operating parameters, initial turbidity, solution pH, and bio-coagulant dosage, on the coagulation–flocculation performance were investigated using a Box–Behnken design (BBD). Process efficiency was evaluated in terms of turbidity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and organic matter (OM) removal. The raw wastewater exhibited initial values of 200 NTU for turbidity, 640 mg/L for COD, and 25 for organic matter. Statistical analysis revealed that the developed quadratic models were highly significant (p ≤ 0.05) and showed excellent predictive performance, with coefficients of determination (R² ≥ 0.97). Optimal treatment conditions were identified at pH 7, a bio-coagulant dosage of 1 mL/L, and an initial turbidity of 200 NTU. Under these conditions, removal efficiencies exceeded 98% for turbidity and COD and reached 88.08% for organic matter. Furthermore, Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy analysis confirmed the presence of functional groups responsible for the coagulation activity of the bio-coagulant. These findings highlight the potential of prickly pear seed residues as an effective, sustainable, and low-cost alternative to conventional chemical coagulants in wastewater treatment. Full article

Mitragyna speciosa (kratom) is a traditionally consumed botanical rich in the bioactive alkaloids mitragynine (MG) and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7OH-MG). This study evaluated the influence of botanical variation, plant part, geographical origin, and extraction technique on alkaloid composition and extraction yield. A validated HPLC–DAD method was applied to quantify MG and 7OH-MG in leaf and shoot extracts. Ethanol-based ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) were used for samples from northern and southern Thailand. Significant compositional differences were observed. Green-veined leaves contained higher MG levels than red-veined leaves. Northern samples showed higher extraction yields and MG contents, whereas southern samples exhibited relatively higher 7OH-MG levels. Differences between UAE and MAE were minimal. Notably, 7OH-MG was detected only in leaves, while shoots contained higher MG concentrations despite lower yields. These findings highlight substantial phytochemical variability relevant to quality standardization of kratom-derived products. Full article

Natural polysaccharides from Siegesbeckia orientalis L. have been reported to exhibit promising bioactivities. To enhance extraction efficiency, low-temperature plasma-assisted extraction was optimized for S. orientalis L. polysaccharides using single-factor experiments and response surface methodology. Column chromatography purified a homogeneous SIE-III fraction, followed by structural characterization. Optimal parameters were 80 kV discharge voltage, 153 Hz frequency, and 109 s treatment time, under which the polysaccharide yield reached 15.68%, significantly higher than that of the conventional hot water extraction method. Plasma treatment loosened the raw material’s surface, potentially facilitating polysaccharide release. SIE-III had a molecular weight of 20.831 kDa and comprised mainly galactose (51.7%), rhamnose (19.1%), arabinose (11.3%), and galacturonic acid (9.9%). It featured typical rhamnogalacturonan-I (RG-I) domains and a triple-helix conformation. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance confirmed both α- and β- glycosidic linkages, and methylation analysis revealed a highly branched →3,4)-Galp-(1→ structure. This study provides an effective extraction method for plant polysaccharides and valuable insights into their potential applications in the food and other industries. Full article

Micropropagation of Selenicereus hybrids is a key tool for breeding and conservation; however, further refining the balance between high multiplication rates and morphological quality remains a complex challenge within conventional protocols. This study explores targeted signaling modulation using nine bioactive small molecules—including three mammalian glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) inhibitors (TDZD-9, VP3.15 and VP0.7), three leucine rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) inhibitors (JZ1.24, JZ1.3 and IGS4.75), and three phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors—to complement traditional micropropagation. Explants were evaluated in two distinct contexts: a hormone-free basal medium (BM) and a plant growth regulator-supplemented medium (PIT2) and the response rates, yield, and quality were measured and integrated using a Global Efficiency Index (GEI). Results demonstrate that inhibitor efficacy is strictly context-dependent; while most molecules repressed budding in BM, they acted as response modulators by determining the specific type of morphogenic pathway in PIT2. Notably, the GSK3 inhibitor TDZD-9 reached the highest GEI (0.85) by maximizing productivity, whereas LRRK2 inhibitors effectively preserved architectural integrity. Flow cytometry confirmed cytogenetic stability across all treatments, with a 98.5% plantlet survival rate during acclimatization. In conclusion, the strategic integration of targeted signaling modulators and multi-parametric indices offers a refined and objective framework to enhance the efficiency of mass propagation protocols in pitahaya and other recalcitrant species. Furthermore, our findings provide new evidence of the strong potential of these small molecules as novel tools to improve plant micropropagation beyond traditional plant growth regulators. Full article