Plant-based proteins from agro-industrial waste and by-products: Towards a more circular economy.

There is a pressing need for affordable, abundant, and sustainable sources of proteins to address the rising nutrient demands of a growing global population. The food and agriculture sectors produce significant quantities of waste and by-products during the growing, harvesting, storing, transporting, and processing of raw materials. These waste and by-products can sometimes be converted into valuable protein-rich ingredients with excellent functional and nutritional attributes, thereby contributing to a more circular economy. This review critically assesses the potential for agro-industrial wastes and by-products to contribute to global protein requirements. Initially, we discuss the origins and molecular characteristics of plant proteins derived from agro-industrial waste and by-products. We then discuss the techno-functional attributes, extraction methods, and modification techniques that are applied to these plant proteins. Finally, challenges linked to the safety, allergenicity, anti-nutritional factors, digestibility, and sensory attributes of plant proteins derived from these sources are highlighted. The utilization of agro-industrial by-products and wastes as an economical, abundant, and sustainable protein source could contribute towards achieving the Sustainable Development Agenda's 2030 goal of a "zero hunger world", as well as mitigating fluctuations in food availability and prices, which have detrimental impacts on global food security and nutrition.

Application of Taro (Colocasia esculenta) Mucilage as a Promising Antimicrobial Agent to Extend the Shelf Life of Fresh-Cut Brinjals (Eggplants).

Taro rhizomes are a rich source of polysaccharides, including starch and mucilage. However, mucilage has excellent anti-microbial efficacy, and unique gel-forming and techno-functional properties. Therefore, this study aimed to extract and utilize taro mucilage (TM), which is viscous and has a gel-like texture, for the shelf-life enhancement of fresh-cut brinjals (eggplants). Mucilage was extracted using hot-water extraction and the yield was calculated to be 6.25 ± 0.87% on a dry basis. Different formulations of coating gel solutions were prepared: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7%. The selection of the coating gel solution was carried out based on particle size. The smallest particle size was observed in treatment T5 (154 ± 0.81 nm) and zeta potential -27.22 ± 0.75 mV. Furthermore, cut brinjals were coated with the prepared mucilage gel solution and this showed a significant effect on the overall physicochemical properties of cut brinjals. Maximum weight loss occurred on the 10th day (12.67 ± 0.24%), as compared with coated brinjals (8.99 ± 0.42%). Minor changes were observed in pH, for the control sample significantly decreased from 4.58 ± 0.45 to 2.99 ± 0.75 on the 0th day to the 10th day, respectively. Titrable acidity of coated and uncoated cut brinjals was found to be at 0.31 ± 0.44% on the 0th day, which increased up to 0.66 ± 0.20% for the control and 0.55 ± 0.68% for coated brinjals on the 10th day. The taro mucilage coating gel (TMCG) solution showed pseudo-plastic behavior or shear-thinning fluid behavior. FTIR data confirmed the existence of several functional groups including various sugars, proteins, and hydroxylic groups. Antioxidant activity of coated and uncoated cut brinjals was found to be 22.33 ± 0.37% and 22.15 ± 0.49%, respectively. The TMCG solution showed effective results towards the various food pathogenic microorganisms. Overall, it is a natural, renewable resource that is biodegradable. This makes it an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic additives or thickeners. It is cost effective, easily available, eco-friendly, and non-toxic. This can be an attractive feature for consumers looking for sustainable and eco-friendly options.

Microbial Secondary Metabolites via Fermentation Approaches for Dietary Supplementation Formulations.

Food supplementation formulations refer to products that are designed to provide additional nutrients to the diet. Vitamins, dietary fibers, minerals and other functional compounds (such as antioxidants) are concentrated in dietary supplements. Specific amounts of dietary compounds are given to the body through food supplements, and these include as well so-called non-essential compounds such as secondary plant bioactive components or microbial natural products in addition to nutrients in the narrower sense. A significant social challenge represents how to moderately use the natural resources in light of the growing world population. In terms of economic production of (especially natural) bioactive molecules, ways of white biotechnology production with various microorganisms have recently been intensively explored. In the current review other relevant dietary supplements and natural substances (e.g., vitamins, amino acids, antioxidants) used in production of dietary supplements formulations and their microbial natural production via fermentative biotechnological approaches are briefly reviewed. Biotechnology plays a crucial role in optimizing fermentation conditions to maximize the yield and quality of the target compounds. Advantages of microbial production include the ability to use renewable feedstocks, high production yields, and the potential for cost-effective large-scale production. Additionally, it can be more environmentally friendly compared to chemical synthesis, as it reduces the reliance on petrochemicals and minimizes waste generation. Educating consumers about the benefits, safety, and production methods of microbial products in general is crucial. Providing clear and accurate information about the science behind microbial production can help address any concerns or misconceptions consumers may have.

Microbial Synthesis of Lactic Acid from Cotton Stalk for Polylactic Acid Production.

Cotton stalk, a waste product in agriculture, serves as a beneficial, low-cost material as a medium for microbial synthesis of lactic acid as desired for polylactic acid synthesis. Cotton stalk was used as a substrate for microbial lactic acid synthesis, and a novel strain of Lactococcus cremoris was reported to synthesize 51.4 g/L lactic acid using cellulose recovered from the cotton stalk. In total, 18 Lactobacillus isolates were isolated from kitchen waste, soil, sugarcane waste, and raw milk samples screened for maximum lactic acid production. It was found that one of the Lactococcus cremoris isolates was found to synthesize maximum lactic acid at a concentration of 51.4 g/L lactic acid in the hydrolysate prepared from cotton stalk. The upstream process parameters included 10% inoculum size, hydrolysate containing reducing sugars 74.23 g/L, temperature 37 °C, agitation 220 rpm, production age 24 h. Only the racemic (50:50) mixture of D-LA and L-LA (i.e., D/L-LA) is produced during the chemical synthesis of lactic acid, which is undesirable for the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and biomedical industries because only the L-form is digestible and is not suitable for biopolymer, i.e., PLA-based industry where high optically purified lactic acid is required. Furthermore, polylactic acid was synthesized through direct polycondensation methods using various catalysts such as chitosan, YSZ, and Sb2O3. PLA is biocompatible and biodegradable in nature (its blends and biocomposites), supporting a low-carbon and circular bioeconomy.

Optimized Peppermint Essential Oil Microcapsules Loaded into Gelatin-Based Cryogels with Enhanced Antimicrobial Activity.

In this study, chitosan (Chi) was used to microencapsulate peppermint essential oil (PEO). A novel gelatin-based cryogel loaded with PEO microcapsules was further developed and characterized for potential applications. Four different cryogel systems were designed, and the morphological, molecular, physical and antibacterial properties were investigated. Additionally, the antimicrobial properties of PEO, alone and microcapsulated, incorporated into the cryogel network were evaluated. The observed gel structure of cryogels exhibited a highly porous morphology in the microcapsules. The highest values of the equilibrium swelling ratio were acquired for the GelCryo-ChiCap and GelCryo-PEO@ChiCap samples. The contact angle GelCryo-PEO@ChiCap sample was lower than the control (GelCryo) due to the water repelling of the essential oil. It has been found that the incorporation of encapsulated PEO into the cryogels would be more advantageous compared to its direct addition. Moreover, GelCryo-PEO@ChiCap cryogels showed the strongest antibacterial activities, especially against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive bacteria) and Escherichia coli (Gram-negative bacteria). The system that was developed showed promising results, indicating an improved antibacterial efficacy and enhanced structural properties due to the presence of microcapsules. These findings suggest that the system may be an appropriate candidate for various applications, including, but not limited to, drug release, tissue engineering, and food packaging. Finally, this system demonstrates a strategy to stabilize the releasing of the volatile compounds for creating successful results.

Microwave assisted fluidized bed drying of bitter gourd: Modelling and optimization of process conditions based on bioactive components.

Bitter gourds were dried under varied drying conditions in a microwave assisted fluidized bed dryer, and the process was optimized using response surface methodology. Microwave power, temperature and air velocity were used as process variables for drying and the process parameters were varied between 360 and 720 W, 40-60 °C and 10-14 m/s, respectively. The responses determined for deciding the optimal criteria were vitamin C, total phenolics, IC50, total chlorophyll content, vitamin A content, rehydration ratio, hardness and total color change of the dried bitter gourd. Statistical analyses were done by using response surface methodology, which showed that independent variables affected the responses to a varied extent. The optimum drying conditions of 550.89 W microwave power, 55.87 °C temperature, and 13.52 m/s air velocity were established for microwave assisted fluidized bed drying to obtain highest desirability for the dried bitter gourd. At optimum conditions, validation experiment was done to ensure the suitability of models. Temperature and drying time plays an important role in the deterioration of bioactive components. Faster and shorter heating led to the greater retention of bioactive components. Taking the aforesaid results into consideration, our study recommended MAFBD as a promising technique with minimum changes in quality attributes of bitter gourd.

Recent advances in industrial applications of seaweeds.

Seaweeds have been generally utilized as food and alternative medicine in different countries. They are specifically used as a raw material for wine, cheese, soup, tea, noodles, etc. In addition, seaweeds are potentially good resources of protein, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, essential fatty acids and dietary fiber. The quality and quantity of biologically active compounds in seaweeds depend on season and harvesting period, seaweed geolocation as well as ecological factors. Seaweeds or their extracts have been studied as innovative sources for a variety of bioactive compounds such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, polyphenols, carrageenan, fucoidan, etc. These secondary metabolites have been shown to have antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, anti-obesity and anti-tumour properties. They have been used in pharmaceutical/medicine, and food industries since bioactive compounds from seaweeds are regarded as safe and natural. Therefore, this article provides up-to-date information on the applications of seaweed in different industries such as pharmaceutical, biomedical, cosmetics, dermatology and agriculture. Further studies on innovative extraction methods, safety issue and health-promoting properties should be reconsidered. Moreover, the details of the molecular mechanisms of seaweeds and their bioactive compounds for physiological activities are to be clearly elucidated.

Special Issue "Smart Polymeric Films and Coatings for Food Packaging Applications".

Smart polymeric films and coatings represent a significant step forward in packaging technology [...].

Crocin: Functional characteristics, extraction, food applications and efficacy against brain related disorders.

Crocin is a bioactive compound that naturally occurs in some medicinal plants, especially saffron and gardenia fruit. Different conventional and novel methods are used for its extraction. Due to some control conditions, recent methods such as ultrasonic extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, enzyme-associated extraction, microwave extraction, and pulsed electric field extraction are widely used because these methods give more yield and efficiency. Crocin is incorporated into different food products to make functional foods. However, it can also aid in the stability of food products. Due to its ability to protect against brain diseases, the demand for crocin has been rising in the pharmaceutical industry. It also contain antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and antidepressant qualities. This review aims to describe crocin and its role in developing functional food, extraction, and bioavailability in various brain-related diseases. The results of the literature strongly support the importance of crocin against various diseases and its use in making different functional foods.

Effect of incorporation of wheat bran, rice bran and banana peel powder on the mesostructure and physicochemical characteristics of biscuits.

Various types of natural fiber-rich ingredients are added into bakery-based products to improve their fiber content for health promotional purposes. But the majority of these products usually include exotic dietary fiber components. The aim of this study was to develop biscuits incorporated with wheat bran, rice bran and banana peel powder and to evaluate the effects on physicochemical properties and sensory acceptability of these different biscuit samples. Wheat bran, rice bran and banana peel powder was used to substitute refined wheat flour in biscuit samples at different levels (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30%). The effect of wheat bran, rice bran and banana peel powder incorporation on proximate composition, physical characteristics, texture profile, color and sensory evaluation of biscuit samples were investigated. The moisture content of the product showed a significant (p ≤ 0.01) decreasing trend while as protein showed increasing trend with increasing level of incorporation of wheat bran, rice bran and banana peel powder. Also there was a considerable effect on L*(darkness to lightness), a*(greeness to redness), and b*(blueness to yellowness) values of biscuit samples. Among the physical parameters diameter and thickness decreased non-significantly (p ≤ 0.01) with the addition of different fibers whereas spread ratio and weight increases. Sensory attributes showed a significant (p ≤ 0.01) increasing trend with an increase in the level of incorporation of different fibers. Based on sensory evaluation biscuits prepared with 15% wheat bran, 15% rice bran, and 10% banana peel powder were rated best. The biscuits were packed in high density polyethylene (HDPE) boxes and were analyzed on different intervals viz. 0, 30, and 60th day. In samples of optimized biscuits, the ash content, protein, fat and color exhibited a non- significant tendency of declining over storage. It was discovered that the ash content dropped from0.86 to 0.67% in Wb4, 0.95 to 0.75% in Rb4, and 1.15to 0.92% in Bpp3. However there was a considerable increase in moisture content during storage.

Design consideration and modelling studies of ultrasound and ultraviolet combined approach for shelf-life enhancement of pine apple juice.

Although both ultraviolet (UV) radiation and ultrasound (US) treatment have their capabilities in microbial inactivation, applying any one method alone may require a high dose for complete inactivation, which may affect the sensory and nutritional properties of pineapple juice. Hence, this study was intended to analyse and optimise the effect of combined US and UV treatments on microbial inactivation without affecting the selected quality parameters of pineapple juice. US treatment (33 kHz) was done at three different time intervals, viz. 10 min, 20 min and 30 min., after which, juice samples were subjected to UV treatment for 10 min at three UV dosage levels, viz. 1 J/cm2, 1.3 J/cm2, and 1.6 J/cm2. The samples were evaluated for total colour difference, pH, total soluble solids (TSS), titrable acidity (TA), and ascorbic acid content; total bacterial count and total yeast count; and the standardization of process parameters was done using Response Surface Methodology and Artificial Neural Network. The results showed that the individual, as well as combined treatments, did not significantly impact the physicochemical properties while retaining the quality characteristics. It was observed that combined treatment resulted in 5 log cycle reduction in bacterial and yeast populations while the individual treatment failed. From the optimization studies, it was found that combined US and UV treatments with 22.95 min and1.577 J/cm2 ensured a microbiologically safe product while retaining organoleptic quality close to that of fresh juice.

Microencapsulated curcumin from Curcuma longa modulates diet-induced hypercholesterolemia in Sprague Dawley rats.

Hypercholesterolemia is one of the major causes of cardiovascular ailments. The study has been conducted on the hypothesis that hypercholesterolemia can be modulated by microencapsulated curcumin due to its enhanced bioavailability. In this context, curcumin obtained from fresh rhizomes of Curcuma longa by conventional (CSE) and supercritical fluid (SFE) extractions, has been successfully microencapsulated using a mixture of gelatin and maltodextrin. The microencapsulated curcumin CSE &SFE, has been added as supplemented diet and has been resulted in maximum plasma concentration of curcumin at 100 min as 529.31 ± 8.73 and 405.23 ± 7.12 µg/mL, respectively compared to non-encapsulated turmeric powder used as control. During the bio evaluation trial, turmeric powder (3%), microencapsulated curcuminCSE (1%) and microencapsulated curcuminSFE (0.5%) were provided to designate rat groups categorized by normal; N1, N2, and N3 and hypercholesterolemic; H1, H2, and H3 conditions, respectively. The incorporation of microencapsulated curcuminSFE in the supplemented diet caused a reduction in serum cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides, athrogenic index (AI) and cardiac risk ration (CRR) as 5.42 and 12.81%, 7.25 and 15.42%, 3.17 and 9.38%, 15.38 and 29.28%, and 10.98 19.38% in normo- and hypercholesterolemic rat groups. Additionally, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and anti-atherogenic index (AAI) indicated a significant increase in all treated rat groups. Conclusively, the inclusion of turmeric and curcumin microencapsulates in the dietary module has been proven effective to alleviate hyperlipidemia. Therefore, the present study is proven that curcumin absorption via the gastrointestinal tract and its stability toward metabolization in the body increased via microencapsulation using maltodextrin and gelatin. Microencapsulated curcumin reaches the target site via oral administration because of sufficient gastrointestinal residence period and stability in the digestive tract.

Recent advancements in NIR spectroscopy for assessing the quality and safety of horticultural products: A comprehensive review.

The qualitative and quantitative evaluation of agricultural products has often been carried out using traditional, i.e., destructive, techniques. Due to their inherent disadvantages, non-destructive methods that use near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) coupled with chemometrics could be useful for evaluating various agricultural products. Advancements in computational power, machine learning, regression models, artificial neural networks (ANN), and other predictive tools have made their way into NIRS, improving its potential to be a feasible alternative to destructive measurements. Moreover, the incorporation of suitable preprocessing techniques and wavelength selection methods has arguably proven its practical feasibility. This review focuses on the various computation methods used for processing the spectral data collected and discusses the potential applications of NIRS for evaluating the quality and safety of agricultural products. The challenges associated with this technology are also discussed, as well as potential future perspectives. We conclude that NIRS is a potentially useful tool for the rapid assessment of the quality and safety of agricultural products.

Replacement of refined sugar by natural sweeteners: focus on potential health benefits.

Refined sugar is a processed product containing 99% sucrose, which is obtained from sugarcane (70%) or sugar beet (30%). In modern societies, sugar continues to play a significant role in the diet, recognised not only for its flavour and special sweetening properties but also for its role in food preservation. On the other hand, a high consumption of refined sugar is associated with non-communicable diseases and many health issues such as a high risk of dental caries, overweight and neurodevelopmental disorders in children. Alternatives like unrefined sugars have generated a lot of interest as a healthy substitute due to their nutraceutical properties. This paper is aimed to review the beneficial effects of sugar derived from natural sources and highlight health problems that could be caused by refined processed sugar. Refined sugar is frequently used in variety of items including processed foods, soft drinks or ice creams although it is considered unhealthy due to its high salt and sugar content as well as added fats and artificial coloring. Natural sugars are preferred because they have a high nutritional value and a high concentration of healthy compounds, which offset the negative effects of refined sugar. Therefore, removing refined sugar or at least reducing its consumption should be promoted as a healthier option in food choices.

A comprehensive review on clove (Caryophyllus aromaticus L.) essential oil and its significance in the formulation of edible coatings for potential food applications.

Many studies have demonstrated the use of synthetic preservatives and chemical additives in food is causing poisoning, cancer, and other degenerative disorders. New solutions for food preservation with quality maintenance are currently emerging. As a result, public concern has grown, as they desire to eat healthier products that use natural preservatives and compounds rather than synthetic ones. Clove is a highly prized spice used as a food preservative and for a variety of therapeutic reasons. Clove essential oil and its principal active component, eugenol, indicate antibacterial and antifungal action, aromaticity, and safety as promising and valuable antiseptics in the food sector. Clove essential oil and eugenol are found to have strong inhibition effects on a variety of food-source bacteria, and the mechanisms are linked to lowering migration and adhesion, as well as blocking the creation of biofilm and various virulence factors. This review emphasizes the importance of CEO (clove essential oil) in the food industry and how it can be explored with edible coatings to deliver its functional properties in food preservation.

Milk protein-based active edible packaging for food applications: An eco-friendly approach.

Whey and casein proteins, in particular, have shown considerable promise in replacing fossil-based plastics in a variety of food applications, such as for O2 susceptible foods, thereby, rendering milk proteins certainly one of the most quality-assured biopolymers in the packaging discipline. Properties like excellent gas barrier properties, proficiency to develop self-supporting films, adequate availability, and superb biodegradability have aroused great attention toward whey and other milk proteins in recent years. High thermal stability, non-toxicity, the ability to form strong inter cross-links, and micelle formation, all these attributes make it a suitable material for outstanding biodegradability. The unique structural and functional properties of milk proteins make them a suitable candidate for tailoring novel active package techniques for satisfying the needs of the food and nutraceutical industries. Milk proteins, especially whey proteins, serve as excellent carriers of various ingredients which are incorporated in films/coatings to strengthen barrier properties and enhance functional properties viz. antioxidant and antimicrobial. In this review, the latest techniques pertaining to the conceptualization of active package models/ systems using milk proteins have been discussed. Physical and other functional properties of milk protein-based active packaging systems are also reviewed. This review provides an overview of recent applications of milk protein-sourced active edible packages in the food packaging business.

Consumer acceptance of new food trends resulting from the fourth industrial revolution technologies: A narrative review of literature and future perspectives.

The growing consumer awareness of climate change and the resulting food sustainability issues have led to an increasing adoption of several emerging food trends. Some of these trends have been strengthened by the emergence of the fourth industrial revolution (or Industry 4.0), and its innovations and technologies that have fundamentally reshaped and transformed current strategies and prospects for food production and consumption patterns. In this review a general overview of the industrial revolutions through a food perspective will be provided. Then, the current knowledge base regarding consumer acceptance of eight traditional animal-proteins alternatives (e.g., plant-based foods and insects) and more recent trends (e.g., cell-cultured meat and 3D-printed foods) will be updated. A special focus will be given to the impact of digital technologies and other food Industry 4.0 innovations on the shift toward greener, healthier, and more sustainable diets. Emerging food trends have promising potential to promote nutritious and sustainable alternatives to animal-based products. This literature narrative review showed that plant-based foods are the largest portion of alternative proteins but intensive research is being done with other sources (notably the insects and cell-cultured animal products). Recent technological advances are likely to have significant roles in enhancing sensory and nutritional properties, improving consumer perception of these emerging foods. Thus, consumer acceptance and consumption of new foods are predicted to continue growing, although more effort should be made to make these food products more convenient, nutritious, and affordable, and to market them to consumers positively emphasizing their safety and benefits.

Evaluating the Effects of Wheat Cultivar and Extrusion Processing on Nutritional, Health-Promoting, and Antioxidant Properties of Flour.

Wheat has been considered one of the most important staple foods for thousands of years. It is one of the largest suppliers of calories in the daily diet, which is added to many different products. Wheat is also a good source of health-benefiting antioxidants. This study aims toinvestigate the changes in the antioxidant properties, such as total phenol content, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), metal chelating activity, 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenz-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS+) scavenging activity, and color intensity, during the extrusion processing of six different wheat cultivars. The extrusion factors evaluated were 15% feed moisture and two extrusion temperatures (150 and 180°C). Extrusion processing increased antioxidant activity (DPPH, metal chelating activity, and ABTS+ scavenging activity), whereas total flavonoids content and total phenolic content were decreased. The L* values of wheat flours increased significantly (p < 0.05) after extrusion at 150 and 180°C, 15% mc. Furthermore, redness was decreased from control wheat cultivars (range: 0.17-0.21) to extrusion at 150°C (range: 0.14-0.17) and 180°C (range: 0.1-0.14). The study suggests that extruded wheat could improve the antioxidant potential in food products.