Search Results (569)

Bovine milk is a complex biological fluid whose lipid fraction plays essential roles in nutrition, processing, and product quality. While conventional analyses have traditionally focused on total fat content and fatty acid composition, recent advances in liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) have unveiled the molecular diversity of polar lipids, particularly phospholipids and sphingolipids. These compounds, largely associated with the milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), include key molecular species such as phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), sphingomyelin (SM), ceramides (Cer), and lysophospholipids, which collectively contribute to emulsion stability, flavor development, and bioactive functionality. This review summarizes current progress in the determination of sphingolipids and phospholipids in bovine milk, with a specific focus on analytical strategies enabling their accurate detection, identification, and quantification. We discuss how advanced LC–MS platforms have been applied to investigate factors shaping the milk polar lipidome, including lactation stage, animal diet, metabolic and inflammatory stress, and technological processing. Accumulating evidence indicates that specific lipid species and ratios, such as PC/PE balance, SM and ceramide profiles, and Lyso-PC enrichment, act as sensitive molecular indicators of membrane integrity, oxidative status, heat stress, and processing history. From an applied perspective, these lipidomic markers hold strong potential for dairy quality control, shelf-life assessment, and authenticity verification. Overall, advanced lipidomics provides a robust analytical framework to translate molecular-level lipid signatures into actionable tools for monitoring cow health, technological performance, and the nutritional valorization of bovine milk. Full article

Fruit shrubs’ lignocellulosic biomass remaining as waste after harvesting and/or after pruning is an underutilized, little-explored bioresource. Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.), aronia (Aronia melanocarpa) and blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) berries are rich in biologically active compounds, so these shrubs’ woody biomass derivatives are prospective investigation objects. The influence of pre-treated biomass, extracts, and purified proanthocyanidins on the oxidative stability of lipid-based systems was studied by accelerated oxidation method. Emulsion stability, antimicrobial activity against bacteria that causes acne—Cutibacterium acnes; contaminating wounds; skin care products—Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus cereus; cytotoxicity and phototoxicity of extracts and proanthocyanidins on HaCaT human keratinocytes were tested. The study established that biomass, lipophilic extracts obtained using liquefied hydrofluorocarbon, and hydrophilic extracts obtained by aqueous ethanol increased oxidative stability of lipid-based formulations. Compounds with skin-protecting properties were detected. Sea buckthorn and aronia hydrophilic extracts and proanthocyanidins had the highest antimicrobial activity. Low phototoxicity was revealed, emphasizing safety and applicability in topical formulations; human HaCaT keratinocyte viability was the best with aronia extracts, but none of the other samples decreased cell viability by more than 50%. It was proven that agro-waste biomass is a prospective source of multifunctional ingredients for cosmetic and pharmaceutical topical formulations. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) remains a global health challenge, with treatment options often limited by drug resistance and systemic toxicity. Amphotericin B (AmB) represents a promising alternative. but intravenous administration causes severe systemic adverse effects. Despite growing interest in topical therapies, knowledge gaps remain regarding the comparative efficacy of delivery systems, including the influence of treatment timing and potential intrinsic effects. This study aimed to develop and characterize different topical AmB formulations (polymeric nanoparticles (PCL-AmB), a lipid-based (Oil_AmB) formulation, and a gel emulsion) to evaluate their in vivo efficacy against CL in a murine model, considering treatment initiation timing and potential intrinsic effects of the delivery systems. Methods: Formulations were prepared and characterized in terms of hydrodynamic size, polydispersity index, and AmB content. Antileishmanial activity was assessed in two independent in vivo experiments, with topical monotherapy administered five days per week for four weeks, starting either 10 or 30 days post-infection, representing early and established chronic stages of infection, respectively. Results: All formulations exhibited nanoscale dimensions and high homogeneity, with the lipid system demonstrating superior AmB solubilization. Both PCL-AmB and Oil_AmB reduced parasite load in the footpad, with Oil_AmB also reducing parasite load in draining lymph nodes. Conclusions: PCL-AmB and Oil_AmB reduced lesions and parasite burden in L. amazonensis-infected mice. Treatment timing was critical, with early Oil_AmB also reducing parasite loads in draining lymph nodes. These findings suggest that topical AmB formulations may provide a promising alternative for CL treatment, though further studies are required to optimize efficacy and administration schedules. Full article

The growing demand for effective skincare products that can effectively target specific dermatological concerns has accelerated the development of advanced delivery technologies. Among them, nanocarrier-based topical delivery systems have gained significant attention for their ability to enhance the performance of skincare formulations. Acting as versatile delivery tools, nanocarriers not only stabilize and protect sensitive cosmetic ingredients but also improve their penetration through the skin barrier and enable controlled, sustained, or targeted release. Therefore, this review focuses on the recent achievements of nanocarrier-based topical delivery technology for skincare applications, which systematically summarizes the design principles, mechanisms and functional characteristics of diverse nano-based delivery platforms, including vesicular nanocarriers, lipid-based nanocarriers, emulsion-based nanocarriers, polymeric nanocarriers, inorganic nanoparticles, and inclusion complexes. Meanwhile, these nanocarriers are discussed according to their relevance to the pathogenesis of prevalent skin disorders, highlighting how tailored nanocarriers can address specific therapeutic or cosmetic needs. Overall, this review emphasizes the emerging trends and future perspectives of nanotechnology-based topical delivery systems in modern cosmetology, offering more opportunities for precise, effective and science-driven cosmetic solutions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Reducing the dietary intake of sugar and salt is considered a key strategy for preventing the onset and progression of lifestyle-related diseases. However, these dietary interventions often compromise the taste of foods, which can reduce patient satisfaction. To address this challenge, we focused on novel food-derived particles (NFPs; patent number P7383867) consisting of lipid, α-cyclodextrin, and xanthan gum formulated as an emulsion with excellent retention and diffusion properties. Methods: Here, we investigated the effects of NFPs on the taste responses of mice. Results: In two-bottle preference tests (n = 4–6), NFPs enhanced preferences for sweet and salty stimuli in behavioral tests (one-way ANOVA, p < 0.05) and increased the responses of the chorda tympani nerve (n = 6–8) to sweet and salty stimuli (two-way ANOVA, main treatment effect p < 0.05), but had no effect on the responses to sour, bitter, or umami stimuli. Conclusion: These findings suggest that NFPs may enhance peripheral taste responses to sweet and salty flavors, thereby helping maintain the palatability of foods with reduced sugar or salt content. Such modulation may have broad applications in improving the acceptability of therapeutic or restricted diets and supporting both disease management and prevention, including lifestyle-related diseases, kidney disease, and other conditions requiring dietary restriction and may offer translational relevance for human dietary interventions. Full article

Bovine omentum, a by-product of beef processing, offers potential for collagen recovery within the circular bioeconomy. It consists mainly of lipids (42.14%) and proteins (18.79%), such as collagen. In this study, collagen was isolated using acid-based and enzymatic methods. Acid-soluble collagen (ASC) was successfully extracted, yielding 3.98%. Additionally, enzymatic extraction of collagen from the residue obtained after ASC extraction using Protana^® Prime (1–10%, w/w) resulted in variable yields (4.98% to 11.15%) (p < 0.05). The maximum solubility of all collagen samples was observed at pH 3, while NaCl concentrations above 4% (w/v) significantly reduced solubility (p < 0.05). ASC demonstrated the highest emulsifying activity index and emulsion stability index (213.73 m²/g and 172.09 min, respectively) (p < 0.05), whereas enzyme-extracted collagens exhibited comparatively lower emulsifying capacities, particularly at higher enzyme concentrations (7.5% and 10%). FTIR spectra revealed characteristic bands for collagen, indicating that the triple helical structure was maintained, irrespective of treatment. All collagen samples contained glycine as the major amino acid (approximately 1/3rd of the total amino acid) with proline and hydroxyproline. SDS-PAGE identified type I collagen, which consisted of αI and αII chains. Therefore, bovine omentum would be an alternative source of collagen for various applications in the food industry. Full article

This study investigates the emulsifying capacity (EC), emulsion stability (ES), and oleogel-forming potential of galactomannan (GM) esters modified with decanoic (GD) and palmitic (GP) fatty acids at low (L) and high (H) degrees of esterification (DE) (GDL, DE 0.37; GDH, DE 0.71; GPL, DE 0.47; GPH, DE 0.57). Oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions (6, 8, and 10% w/v) of native GM and GM esters were prepared and characterized for droplet size, ζ-potential, and rheological behavior. Esterified GMs demonstrated improved EC compared to native GM, especially at higher concentrations and lower DE. All emulsions exhibited non-Newtonian and pseudoplastic behavior, with the GDH and GPL samples showing gel-like viscoelastic profiles (G′ > G″). Emulsions were freeze-dried to form oleogels, which were then analyzed for oil-binding capacity (OBC), hardness, chemical interactions (FTIR-ATR), and microstructure (SEM). The GDH and GPL oleogels exhibited higher OBC (59–73%) and lower hardness, which can be attributed to denser polymer–oil networks and enhanced hydrophobic interactions. SEM analysis further confirmed that esterification improved the microstructural integrity of emulsion-templated oleogels. These findings support the potential of mesquite GM esters as amphiphilic oleogelators for the formulation of structured lipid systems, offering valuable applications in food and pharmaceutical industries seeking solid fat alternatives. Full article

Organophosphate (OP) insecticide poisoning remains a significant world health issue. Despite attempts to reduce OP insecticide use in some countries, they continue to be used extensively in many regions, putting agricultural workers at risk of excess exposure. Furthermore, the high toxicity and ready availability of OP insecticides in agricultural settings have created an additional public health issue due to their use in attempted suicides. Tens of thousands of people are admitted to hospitals every year after intentional ingestion of OP insecticides. The standard treatment regimen for OP poisoning can prevent mortality, even in some severe cases, but these treatments do not protect the central nervous system (CNS) from excitotoxic damage, and therefore, additional neuroprotective treatments are needed. One promising treatment is the use of halogenated ether anesthetics, including isoflurane, a common anesthetic available in hospitals throughout the world. Isoflurane can be administered by inhalation using vaporizer equipment, or it can be injected intravenously as a lipid–water emulsion. In both cases, excellent neuroprotection has been observed in preclinical models, even when administered up to 1 h after the onset of OP insecticide poisoning. Prolonged administration was not necessary for neuroprotective efficacy, with administration times of only 5 min being sufficient. Including inhalational anesthetics as an adjunct to the standard treatment for OP poisoning could significantly reduce chronic morbidities, especially long-term CNS damage. Research is ongoing to bring this promising treatment to human trials. Full article

The selenized glutelin (Se-G) from Se-enriched chickpea sprouts has demonstrated high antioxidant potential. In this study, the response surface methodology was employed to optimize Se-G content (1–4%) and grape or rosehip oils (10–40%) for the preparation of W/O emulsions with strong antioxidant activity. In the optimal emulsions (Se-GG with grape oil and Se-GR with rosehip oil), antioxidant, photoprotective, and antiaging properties were evaluated. Non-Se glutelin was used in the control emulsions. The optimal conditions determined (4.0% Se-G/10.0% rosehip oil and 3.39% Se-G/12.50% grape oil) allowed for the preparation of emulsions with higher antioxidant capacity. The Se-GR with rosehip oil had greater antioxidant capacity than the Se-GG with grape oil. The optimal emulsions with Se, compared to their Se-free controls, had significantly higher antioxidant activity. The zeta potential value increased with the presence of Se. A positive effect on the inhibition of ROS production and lipid peroxidation was observed, as well as the inhibition of collagenase, elastase, and hyaluronidase activity, mainly due to the presence of selenium. Se-G represents a powerful tool for preventing damage to the skin caused by UV exposure. Full article

Polysaccharide intervention is an effective strategy to regulate properties of emulsions. In this study, xanthan gum (XG), konjac glucomannan (KGM), guar gum (GG), and inulin (IN) were selected to regulate physical and gastrointestinal digestive properties of sodium caseinate (CAS) oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions. The results indicate that IN could not improve CAS emulsion properties, while XG, KGM, and GG significantly reduced droplet size and improved emulsions’ stability. With the increase of the polysaccharide concentration, the G′ and G″ of the emulsions increased and the emulsions showed an obvious “solid-like” state, which effectively slowed down the “strain-thinning” phenomenon. The microstructure demonstrated that the polysaccharide chains are effectively connected with the surface membrane of droplets, which effectively improves interfacial membrane strength and inhibits droplet aggregation. In vitro digestion simulations proved that polysaccharides effectively modulate emulsion lipid release, providing an excellent lipid environment for curcumin absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. The order of the four polysaccharides in improving CAS emulsions was XG > KGM > GG > IN. This study dissects the differential regulation of physical and gastrointestinal digestive properties of emulsion by polysaccharides, providing theoretical support for functional emulsions for diverse requirements. Full article

The global increase in the older population presents a nutritional challenge; therefore, the development of food products for this group must take into account the physiological changes associated with aging. This work aimed to evaluate the effects of droplet size, conventional emulsion (CE) and nanoemulsion (NE), and different hydrocolloids, soy protein (SPI), whey protein (WPI), agar (AG), and κ-carrageenan (CAR), on the physical properties, lipid digestibility, and bioaccessibility of emulsion-based gels enriched with vitamin D. The main findings indicated that all gels exhibited non-Newtonian behavior and suitable viscosity and texture for the swallowing needs of older people. The highest release of free fatty acids (~30%) was observed in the NE + WPI sample, independent of droplet size. Instead, SPI gels showed the highest vitamin D bioaccessibility, likely due to their less-structured gel network. Thus, gels containing WPI + AG provide a favorable balance between an easy-to-swallow texture and efficient nutrient release, making them suitable for producing food based on emulsion-filled gels with good physical and nutritional properties. Hence, these results highlight the potential of tailored hydrocolloid combinations to develop nutrient-fortified and texture-appropriate gels that address the nutritional needs of the older population. Full article

The excessive intake of saturated and trans fats is associated with several chronic disorders. Reformulating foods to reduce total and saturated fats has therefore become a global health priority. However, the structural and sensory roles of saturated fats often hinder direct reduction. Oil structuring technologies, such as gelled emulsions, have emerged as effective strategies to replace solid fats with liquid vegetable oils, improving nutritional quality. This study evaluated the effects of partially replacing pork backfat (33% and 66%) with oil-in-water gelled emulsions prepared using pumpkin seed oil and orange peel flour (PS-GE) in English breakfast sausages. Reformulated samples exhibited higher moisture contents, whereas fat and protein levels were reduced compared with the control. Increasing the proportion of PS-GE substitution led to a progressive rise in total unsaturated fatty acids accompanied by a decrease in total saturated fatty acids. Lipid oxidation was not affected by the reformulation in raw sausages. Sensory evaluation confirmed comparable acceptability among all samples, indicating that fat replacement did not negatively influence product quality. Overall, the use of orange peel flour and pumpkin seed oil as a gelled emulsion presents a promising strategy for producing healthier English breakfast sausages with enhanced nutritional profiles and maintained technological and sensory properties. Full article

With lipid metabolism disorders becoming a global health issue, designing safe and effective prevention methods is crucial. Curcumin, a natural polyphenol compound, exhibits the ability to ameliorate lipid metabolism disorders. However, the bioavailability of curcumin is low, primarily due to its poor solubility, susceptibility to degradation, low absorption, and rapid metabolism. The bioavailability of curcumin is markedly enhanced when it is encapsulated within Pickering emulsions. This study investigated the ameliorative effect of curcumin encapsulated in Pickering emulsions on high-fat-diet-induced lipid metabolism disorders. We demonstrated that curcumin encapsulated in Pickering emulsions substantially prevented high-fat-diet-induced body gain, alleviated glucose intolerance, mitigated insulin resistance, and improved hepatic steatosis. Curcumin encapsulated in Pickering emulsions induced gut microbiota remodeling, characterized by an increased relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and a decreased relative abundance of Firmicutes. In particular, the relative abundance of Akkermansia was significantly increased. The changes in the gut microbiota of mice fed a high-fat diet, curcumin, or curcumin encapsulated in Pickering emulsions mice were correlated with lipid-related parameters in serum (triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and the generation of short-chain fatty acids. These findings indicated the basis of curcumin’s effects by modulating gut microbiota-short-chain fatty acids, offering valuable perspectives for developing it as a potential functional food component aimed at preventing and mitigating metabolic dysfunction-associated hepatic steatosis. Full article

Background/Objectives: Curcumin (CUR), a natural polyphenol with poor solubility and significant first-pass metabolism, shows extremely low oral bioavailability. Although CUR-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (CUR-NLCs) have demonstrated potential in enhancing oral absorption, direct evidence regarding their intestinal lymphatic transport mechanism remains insufficient, and current understanding largely relies on indirect speculation. Methods: CUR-NLCs were prepared by emulsion-ultrasonication and evaluated for their physicochemical properties including particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, encapsulation efficiency, drug loading, stability and release profile. A mesenteric lymph duct-jugular vein shunt rat model combined with transmission electron microscopy was employed to assess the pharmacokinetic behavior and lymphatic transport pathway. Results: CUR-NLCs had a mean size of 117.28 ± 1.32 nm, 99.99% encapsulation efficiency, and 1.73% drug loading. They exhibited good gastrointestinal stability and sustained release (<55% in 24 h). CUR-NLCs significantly enhanced oral absorption versus free CUR, with 5.13-fold higher relative bioavailability, 5.25-fold greater C_max, and extended half-life (33.49 ± 3.15 h). CUR was detected only in the lymph of the CUR-NLCs group, confirming intestinal lymphatic transport. TEM revealed abundant chylomicrons (0.1–2 μm) in jejunal epithelial cells, providing morphological support. Conclusions: This study directly demonstrates that CUR-NLCs improve oral bioavailability via intestinal lymphatic absorption, offering a viable strategy for delivering poorly soluble hydrophobic drugs. Full article

Background: The lipid components of the skin barrier have the strongest structure when arranged in an orthorhombic packing. This structure can be influenced by the external supply of lipophilic ingredients. While the benefits of ceramide supplementation are well-documented, the effects of the cosmetic formulation’s oil-based ingredients have been less explored. Methods: The packing structures of commonly used oil and wax ingredients in cosmetics were analyzed using FT-IR. These components were then combined to formulate a cosmetic composition with an orthorhombic packing structure. The strength of the skin barrier was assessed by measuring transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and the lipid packing of the porcine skin was analyzed using FT-IR. Results: In cosmetic oil ingredients, structurally simple oils such as mineral oil and squalane exhibited orthorhombic lipid packing, while more complex oils like isopropyl myristate (IPM) and isononyl isononanoate (ININ) showed hexagonal packing. Based on these structural characteristics, cosmetic formulations were designed by selectively combining oils, waxes, and emulsifiers to achieve a desired packing structure. Formulations incorporating orthorhombically packed oils successfully resulted in orthorhombic overall structures, whereas those including hexagonally packed oils tended to form hexagonal packing. The orthorhombic oils and formulation effectively maintained the structure and function of the porcine skin lipid barrier without disruption. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that orthorhombic oils and emulsions with orthorhombic packing effectively maintained skin barrier integrity, unlike hexagonal structures. Full article