Search Results (3,912)

Germinated Andean lupin whole flour (GAL) is rich in protein, dietary fiber, essential amino acids, and bioactive compounds, representing a promising alternative for the development of sustainable plant-based foods. This study investigated the feasibility of partially replacing soy protein isolate (SPI) with GAL in high-moisture extruded meat analogues. A central composite design was applied to evaluate the effects of the GAL ratio (0:100–50:50) and feed moisture content (50–70%) on the technological properties of the extrudates. The Response Surface Methodology was used to model and optimize the process. The incorporation of GAL significantly affected the (p < 0.10) water solubility index (WSI), oil absorption capacity (OAC), cooking loss (CL), yellowness (b*), cohesiveness, and adhesiveness, generating predictive models with satisfactory goodness-of-fit (R² > 0.75). Increasing GAL levels increased the WSI from 6.21 to 18.79% and cooking loss from 1.01 to 3.84%, while reducing OAC from 239.42 to 166.57%, indicating substantial modifications in matrix organization and hydration behavior. Numerical optimization identified an optimal formulation containing 12% GAL, 88% SPI, and 65.5% feed moisture, with a desirability of 77.82%. Model validation showed relative deviations lower than 10% between predicted and experimental values. The optimized meat analogue exhibited high protein content (84.44%), favorable techno-functional properties, and improved nutritional quality, with higher levels of branched-chain amino acids (17.34 g·100 g⁻¹ protein), essential amino acids (33.32 g·100 g⁻¹ protein), and in vitro protein digestibility (90.1%) compared with the control formulation. Multivariate analyses confirmed that phenylalanine, histidine, methionine, and leucine were the main variables that discriminated between the protein sources and the extruded products. Overall, GAL demonstrated strong potential as a sustainable functional ingredient to produce nutritionally enhanced high-moisture meat analogues. Full article

Calendula officinalis L. (pot marigold) is a medicinal and edible plant used as a source of bioactive compounds with potential applications in functional foods. This review brings together current data on the phytochemical profile, biological activity, agronomic factors, and food applications of C. officinalis, based on 76 publications. More than 500 secondary metabolites have been reported in this species, including flavonoids, carotenoids, terpenoids, polysaccharides, coumarins, and essential-oil components. Reported levels depend strongly on cultivar, growing conditions, plant part, and analytical method. Total flavonoid content in dried flowers ranges from 0.21 to 0.68% across 20 European cultivars, with up to 1.7% in selected Estonian-grown cultivars such as ‘Radio’. Reported total carotenoid values cover almost two orders of magnitude (about 48 to 3510 mg/100 g of dried material), reflecting differences in plant part, colour variant, and method (spectrophotometric sum vs. HPLC). Dried flowers contain up to 62.33 g/100 g of total dietary fibre (mostly insoluble). The associated activities are antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, regenerative, cytotoxic, and neuroprotective. Recent food-application studies show useful effects in yogurt (0.25 g lyophilized extract/100 g), wheat bread (10–15% of formulation water replaced with aqueous extract), and fresh pasta (5% flower powder substitution), with notable increases in antioxidant capacity and acceptable sensory scores. The number of full food-product trials is still small, and this review identifies the processing variables and the research gaps that determine whether C. officinalis can be used as a standard functional-food ingredient. Full article

Background/Objectives: In obese skeletal muscle, impaired insulin signalling and persistent low-grade inflammation frequently arise together, jointly driving metabolic dysfunction; yet a single intracellular node capable of simultaneously correcting both defects has not been identified. Curcumol is the principal active sesquiterpene of the traditional Chinese herb Curcuma zedoaria (Christm.) Rosc. We therefore sought to determine whether curcumol modulates obesity-driven insulin resistance and inflammatory activation in skeletal muscle, and to delineate the responsible molecular pathway. Methods: The study combined in vivo and in vitro experiments with network pharmacology, molecular docking, pharmacological inhibition, and cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA). In vivo experiments used mice rendered obese by prolonged high-fat diet (HFD) feeding; in vitro, insulin resistance was modelled in C2C12 myotubes via palmitate challenge. Network pharmacology implicated SRC as a principal candidate target, and molecular docking assigned SRC kinase the highest binding affinity for curcumol. Selective blockade of SRC (PP2) and PI3K (LY294002) was used to delineate the signalling hierarchy. Results: Network pharmacology and molecular docking identified SRC kinase as the highest-ranked candidate target of curcumol. In both HFD-induced obese mice and palmitate-challenged C2C12 myotubes, curcumol restored SRC phosphorylation and activated the downstream PI3K/AKT axis, concurrently improving insulin sensitivity and attenuating NF-kB-driven inflammatory responses. Selective PI3K inhibition abolished all functional benefits of curcumol without altering SRC phosphorylation, whereas SRC blockade with PP2 prevented both PI3K/AKT activation and the downstream recovery of insulin sensitivity and inflammatory suppression, placing SRC upstream of PI3K/AKT in the signalling order. Direct binding of curcumol to SRC protein was confirmed by a cellular thermal shift assay. Conclusions: Curcumol directly engages SRC kinase and, through subsequent PI3K/AKT axis activation, concurrently rescues skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity and suppresses metabolic inflammation. These findings provide mechanistic justification for developing curcumol as a candidate dietary bioactive compound toward preventing and treating obesity-related metabolic disturbances. Full article

Digestive enzymes such as pancreatic lipase (PL), α-glucosidase (AG), and α-amylase (AA) play key roles in the hydrolysis of dietary lipids and carbohydrates and are therefore relevant biochemical targets for evaluating compounds with potential to modulate postprandial metabolic responses. Neurolaena lobata (L.) R. Br. ex Cass. (Asteraceae) is a neotropical medicinal species traditionally used for several health-related conditions, including metabolic complaints. This study evaluated the in vitro inhibitory activity of the hydroalcoholic extract, selected VLC fractions, and isolated metabolites from N. lobata leaves against PL, AG, and AA. Enzyme inhibition screening of the extract and VLC fractions was used to select fractions for phytochemical investigation, affording six known metabolites: the sesquiterpene lactones neurolenin B (C1) and lobatin A (C2), the benzoic acid derivatives p-hydroxybenzoic acid (C3) and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (C4), and the flavonoids 6-hydroxykaempferol 3,7-dimethyl ether (C5) and quercetagetin 3,7-dimethyl ether (C6). The hydroalcoholic extract and the MeOAc and iPrOH fractions inhibited PL, AG, and AA. Among the isolated compounds, C1, C2, C5 and C6 inhibited PL and AG, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 134 to 615 µM and from 170 to 639 µM, respectively, whereas all compounds showed weak AA inhibition. Exploratory kinetic analysis yielded apparent inhibition profiles mainly consistent with competitive behavior; C6 showed an apparent profile consistent with noncompetitive inhibition against AG under the assay conditions used. These findings expand the phytochemical and in vitro bioactivity profile of N. lobata and provide preliminary evidence of digestive enzyme modulation in isolated enzyme systems, without establishing therapeutic efficacy. Full article

Bread is a global dietary staple, but its susceptibility to fungal spoilage causes substantial food waste, economic losses, and greenhouse gas emissions. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by sourdough microorganisms can contribute to the prevention of bread spoilage; however, the specific VOCs that exert the protective effect in the bread matrix have not been precisely identified. Our study investigated the antifungal activity of sourdough lactic acid bacteria (LAB) consortia, both alone and in combination with yeast and acetic acid bacteria (AAB), as well as the VOC profiles of sourdough and sourdough bread. The consortium comprising Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 9-5 and Levilactobacillus brevis 9-2 (LAB), Monosporozyma unispora R3SD1d (yeast), and Acetobacter fabarum WB and Komagataeibacter rhaeticus Ch2 (AAB) extended the mold-free shelf life of sourdough bread by 8–20 days after challenge tests. VOC analysis revealed that sourdough bread had significantly higher concentrations of ethyl esters of hexanoic and octanoic acids with 6.3- to 9.7-fold increase in peak areas after three days of refrigerated storage, assuming their decisive role in prevention of fungal spoilage. In conclusion, the use of this consortium is promising to significantly extend bread shelf life, but also to enrich the bread VOC profile. Full article

Background/Objectives: Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), a key component of the Mediterranean diet, has attracted research interest because olive-derived phenolics demonstrate potential anticancer activity in experimental models. This review summarizes evidence concerning whole EVOO, phenolic-enriched EVOO, olive phenolic extracts, and the isolated compounds hydroxytyrosol, oleuropein, oleocanthal, and oleacein. Methods: A structured narrative search of PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar was conducted for literature published between 2015 and 2025. Evidence was reviewed for breast, prostate, colorectal, pancreatic, bone, oral, liver, gastric, hematological, and brain cancers. Comparatively limited evidence concerning cervical, endometrial, ovarian, melanoma, non-melanoma skin, and thyroid cancers was summarized separately. Results: The molecular evidence was derived primarily from cell culture and animal studies using isolated phenolics and concentrated extracts. Preclinical studies indicate that EVOO phenolics may demonstrate anticancer activity through multiple mechanisms, including antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory effects, cell cycle arrest, induction of apoptosis, inhibition of metastasis, anti-angiogenic activity, and modulation of key signaling pathways, such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR, MAPK/ERK, NF-κB, JAK/STAT, Wnt/β-catenin, p53, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition-related pathways. Most molecular and pathway-level evidence was obtained using isolated phenolic compounds in cell culture or animal models, whereas evidence directly examining whole EVOO consumption was largely observational and substantially more limited. Experimental studies also reported that oleocanthal induced lysosomal membrane permeabilization, whereas hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein promoted mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. Furthermore, preclinical combination studies suggested enhanced tumor-cell sensitivity to selected chemotherapeutic, targeted, and immunotherapeutic agents. However, these effects have not been established in patients. Human evidence remains limited mainly to observational dietary associations and small exploratory interventions, with no conclusive demonstration of cancer prevention or therapeutic efficacy. Conclusions: Isolated EVOO-derived phenolic compounds demonstrated promising anticancer mechanisms in preclinical models. However, these results should not be directly extrapolated to dietary EVOO because experimentally administered doses, bioavailability, metabolism, and food-matrix interactions differ substantially from human dietary exposure. Therefore, well-designed studies using chemically characterized EVOO, pharmacokinetic investigations, and controlled human trials are required before dietary or clinical recommendations can be made. Full article

Background/Objectives: Natural bioactive compounds are promising interventions for obesity-related metabolic dysfunction. Lutein, a xanthophyll carotenoid with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, may improve metabolic health, but its effects on liver function and gut microbiota in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity are not fully elucidated. This study evaluated the effects of lutein supplementation on hepatic function, oxidative status, lipid metabolism, and gut microbiota composition in HFD-fed mice. Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice (6 weeks old) were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 8/group): Ctrl (low-fat diet), model (HFD), low-dose lutein (50 mg/kg/day), and high-dose lutein (100 mg/kg/day). Results: Following a 70-day intervention, lutein supplementation, particularly at the higher dose, reduced the liver index, improved serum lipid profiles, liver injury markers, and hepatic antioxidant capacity by increasing superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione levels while reducing malondialdehyde content, and alleviated hepatic histopathological alterations. Lutein supplementation was also linked to elevated gut microbial richness and shifts in the relative frequency of several bacterial taxa, including partial restoration of Bacteroidota and enrichment of Roseburia and Faecalibaculum. These findings demonstrate that lutein supplementation attenuated HFD-induced metabolic and hepatic alterations, accompanied by improved antioxidant status and modulation of gut microbiota. Conclusions: Overall, lutein alleviated hepatic steatosis, oxidative stress, and metabolic dysfunction, highlighting its potential as a dietary strategy for managing obesity-related liver functions and gut dysbiosis. Full article

Sargassum muticum is an invasive brown macroalga that has rapidly expanded along the Moroccan Atlantic coast, posing ecological challenges while representing an abundant marine biomass with potential biotechnological value. This study investigated the biochemical composition and metabolic properties of Moroccan S. muticum through compositional analysis, in vivo metabolic evaluation, and molecular docking. Proximate analysis revealed a carbohydrate-rich composition with moderate protein content, together with photosynthetic pigments and nutritionally relevant minerals. In a cafeteria diet-induced rat model, dietary supplementation with S. muticum significantly attenuated body weight gain, improved adiposity-related indices, reduced serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and C-reactive protein levels, and increased HDL cholesterol. To obtain mechanistic insight, molecular docking analysis was performed using representative phlorotannins reported from Sargassum species. Among the compounds evaluated, dieckol showed the highest docking scores toward key metabolic targets, including AMP-activated protein kinase and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma. Although these in silico findings do not demonstrate biological activation, they provide preliminary mechanistic support for the observed in vivo effects. Overall, the results highlight the potential of S. muticum for sustainable valorization as a functional marine bioresource. Full article

Background/Objectives: Flavonoids are a diverse group of dietary polyphenolic compounds associated with a range of important biological activities. However, their low systemic bioavailability and extensive metabolism raise questions about how they exert their purported benefits. Methods: A comprehensive survey of literature published over the past 10 years was conducted, focusing on human, animal, and in vitro studies addressing the metabolic fate of major flavonoid subclasses. Results: Original research articles (n = 159) were selected following predetermined inclusion criteria. Data from diverse experimental models—including intestinal and hepatic systems—demonstrate that flavonoids undergo substantial transformation by Phase I and Phase II enzymes, alongside extensive biotransformation by the gut microbiota. In this critical narrative review we summarize dietary sources, bioavailability patterns, metabolic pathways, and analytical strategies, emphasizing advances enabled by high-resolution mass spectrometry. Recent findings indicate that enterohepatic recirculation and the biological activities of circulating and tissue-associated metabolites contribute significantly to the observed health effects, despite limited levels of parent compounds. Conclusions: Flavonoids exhibit limited oral bioavailability and undergo complex metabolic processing, yet growing evidence indicates that their metabolites play key roles in mediating beneficial effects. Understanding these metabolic pathways is essential for interpreting epidemiological associations and designing more effective intervention studies. Full article

As obesity, diabetes and other diet-related metabolic disorders continue to rise, non-nutritive artificial sweeteners (NASs) are widely used as sugar substitutes in free-sugar reduction and weight-management strategies, but their effects on the gut microbiota, host metabolism and related health outcomes remain debated. To clarify this evidence landscape, this review synthesizes current knowledge on the effects of major NAS on the gut microbiota and host metabolic and health-related outcome. A bibliometric analysis was conducted to characterize the development, knowledge structure and thematic evolution of this research area. For the eight NAS exposure categories included in this review (saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium, sucralose, neotame, neohesperidin dihydrochalcone and mixed NAS), we performed a compound-specific analysis integrating physicochemical characteristics, regulatory status, and research findings from in vitro, ex vivo, animal and human studies on gut microbiota alterations, host metabolic and health-related outcomes. These findings were further compared through four interpretive dimensions: exposure conditions, research model background, outcome assessment and interpretation of discordant results. Current research evidence does not support a class-wide conclusion that NAS are uniformly harmful or safe. To make research findings searchable, we developed the NAS-MAP knowledge graph, an interactive non-nutritive artificial sweetener–microbiota-associated phenotype knowledge graph. Overall, this review consolidates current knowledge, clarifies the sources of inconsistent findings, and provides a framework for more mechanistically informative studies, standardized evidence reporting, and more precise sweetener-, exposure- and population-specific dietary and public health guidance. Full article

The biological effects of dietary polyphenols are increasingly understood to depend not only on their intake, but also on their bioavailability, host metabolism, and gut microbiota-mediated biotransformation. Because many native polyphenols are poorly absorbed in the upper gastrointestinal tract, a substantial fraction reaches the colon, where intestinal microorganisms convert them into lower-molecular-weight metabolites, including urolithins, phenyl-γ-valerolactones, phenolic acids, enterolignans, and equol. These metabolites may display distinct absorption profiles and biological activities compared with their parent compounds, although their physiological relevance differs according to metabolite class, exposure level, and supporting evidence. Interindividual differences in gut microbiota composition and function contribute to substantial variability in metabolite production, leading to the concept of microbial metabotypes, which classify individuals according to their capacity to generate specific microbial-derived metabolites. This narrative review critically examines gut microbiota-mediated polyphenol biotransformation, major microbial metabotypes, determinants of metabotype variability, and their potential relevance for precision nutrition. Particular attention is given to urolithin, equol, and enterolignan metabotypes while distinguishing relatively well-characterized models from emerging or insufficiently standardized metabolic phenotypes. We also discuss the level of evidence supporting biological effects related to mitochondrial function, endothelial homeostasis, metabolic regulation, inflammation, gut barrier integrity, and gut–brain communication, distinguishing human evidence from preclinical and mechanistic findings. Although metabotype-guided approaches may improve responder stratification in future nutritional studies, their clinical translation remains limited by heterogeneous challenge protocols, non-standardized analytical cut-offs, incomplete validation across populations, and insufficient long-term intervention data. Therefore, microbial metabotypes should currently be considered as promising functional biomarkers for research and stratified trial design rather than established tools for routine personalized dietary prescription. Full article

Broccoli by-products represent an underutilized source of dietary fiber and bioactive compounds with potential as functional food ingredients. This study evaluated the effect of enzymatic treatment with Viscozyme^® L on broccoli by-products and their incorporation into gluten-free (GF) sourdough breads. Three GF bread formulations were developed: a control bread (BCT), a bread enriched with untreated broccoli by-products (BBC), and a bread enriched with enzymatically treated broccoli by-products (BBE), using a commercial GF bread (COM) as reference. Nutritional composition, antioxidant activity, starch digestibility, and sensory characteristics were evaluated. The incorporation of broccoli by-products significantly improved protein, total dietary fiber, and antioxidant activity compared with COM, with all reformulated breads meeting the EU “high fiber” claim. Enzymatic treatment with Viscozyme^® L further enhanced these properties, with BBE reaching 2.66 g 100 g⁻¹ soluble dietary fiber and 13.51 µM TE g⁻¹ in FRAP, while exhibiting the highest slowly digestible starch content (20.39 g 100 g⁻¹), suggesting a potentially more favorable starch digestibility profile. Sensory evaluation confirmed that these nutritional improvements were achieved without significantly compromising consumer acceptability. Overall, Viscozyme^® L-treated broccoli by-products represent a sustainable, clean-label ingredient for nutritionally enhanced GF bakery products, supporting agri-food by-product valorization within a circular economy framework. Full article

Oilseed cakes (OC), generated as by-products of mechanical oil extraction, are increasingly recognized as functional feed ingredients in swine production. Besides providing protein and residual lipids, they contain bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, tocopherols, and phytosterols that may exert antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects. This narrative review is based on a narrative literature search conducted in the Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases, covering publications from 2000 to 2026. This review summarizes current knowledge on the role of OC in pig nutrition, focusing on redox balance, immune modulation, and production performance. Experimental studies indicate that rapeseed, soybean, sunflower, and other oilseed cakes can influence oxidative stress markers and antioxidant enzyme activity, contributing to protection against oxidative damage. Evidence also suggests that these by-products may affect immune responses through improvements in intestinal barrier integrity and modulation of cytokine production. Among the reviewed OC, rapeseed, soybean, sunflower, and flaxseed cakes showed the most consistent evidence of beneficial effects on antioxidant status, immune function, and production performance, particularly when included at moderate dietary levels. In contrast, the available evidence for camelina, cottonseed, Amarula, and high-fiber oilseed by-products remains limited or inconsistent. Their effects appear to depend largely on dietary inclusion level, processing method, and the presence of antinutritional factors. Excessive dietary inclusion may impair nutrient digestibility and growth performance, highlighting the importance of optimizing inclusion levels according to the specific type of OC. Overall, OC represent a promising component of sustainable pig-feeding strategies, supporting animal health and production efficiency while promoting the use of agro-industrial by-products. Full article

Background/Objectives: Obesity and related metabolic diseases arise from an interplay of lipid overload, insulin resistance and oxidative stress. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase 2 (ACC2) controls malonyl-CoA production and thereby gates mitochondrial fatty-acid oxidation, placing it at the intersection of lipid handling and redox-sensitive metabolic dysfunction. Dietary antioxidants such as polyphenols, flavonoids and terpenoids are increasingly studied as modulators of these pathways, yet systematic prioritization of food-derived antioxidant compounds against defined metabolic targets remains challenging. We developed an integrated deep learning and structure-based workflow to prioritize FooDB compounds with predicted ACC2-binding potential. Methods: A curated set of 3983 ACC2 bioactivity records from ChEMBL 36 was used to train scaffold-split models, including graph neural-network and graph–Morgan fingerprint-fusion architectures. The calibrated ensemble screened 139,988 FooDB compounds; 200 candidates with predicted activity probability above 0.70 were docked against the ACC2 carboxyltransferase domain (PDB ID: 3FF6), and six prioritized complexes underwent 500 ns molecular dynamics and MM/GBSA analysis. Results: Redocking of the co-crystallized ligand reproduced the experimental pose (RMSD 1.2 Å). Although the highest-ranked screening hits were antioxidant terpenoids and alkaloids, docking-based prioritization from the top candidates selected six larger, more polar food-derived compounds, including glycosides and two nucleotide/cofactor-like conjugates, which showed docking scores from −7.47 to −6.65 kcal/mol versus −6.21 kcal/mol for the reference ligand. Glu539 emerged as a recurrent interaction hotspot. All candidates gave more favourable MM/GBSA binding free energies than the reference (ΔG = −22.52 kcal/mol), led by FDB029596 (−35.65), FDB021568 (−34.14) and FDB017807 (−33.87 kcal/mol). Conclusions: This workflow provides a reproducible framework for prioritizing food-derived compounds as candidate ACC2 binders relevant to obesity and metabolic disease, generating structurally supported hypotheses for biochemical and nutritional validation. The prioritized compounds are computational candidates only and require biochemical and cellular (experimental) validation before any ACC2-related biological relevance can be established. Full article

Background/Objectives: Natural products derived from plants, animals, and microorganisms have long been used as nutritional supplements and are increasingly recognized for their potential role in preventing and managing human diseases. This narrative review aims to summarize current evidence on the therapeutic relevance of natural products as dietary supplements across major disease categories and to highlight their mechanisms of action, clinical efficacy, and safety considerations. Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted using peer-reviewed articles, systematic reviews, and clinical studies focusing on natural products used as nutritional supplements in disease management. Relevant data were analyzed thematically, with emphasis on bioactive compounds, mechanisms of action, and evidence from preclinical and clinical research. Results: Natural products, particularly plant-derived polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, omega-3 fatty acids, and probiotic-derived metabolites, exhibit diverse biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antimicrobial effects. Evidence suggests potential benefits in cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity, neurodegenerative conditions, certain cancers, gastrointestinal disorders, and infectious diseases. However, clinical efficacy varies depending on compound type, dosage, and formulation. Key limitations include low bioavailability, variability in composition, and insufficient large-scale clinical trials. Safety concerns such as herb–drug interactions and lack of standardization remain significant challenges. Conclusions: Natural products as nutritional supplements represent a promising adjunct strategy in the prevention and management of various human diseases. While preclinical and early clinical evidence is encouraging, stronger clinical validation, improved standardization, and clearer regulatory frameworks are required to fully integrate these agents into evidence-based medical practice. Full article