Exploring the potential of pullulan-based films and coatings for effective food preservation: A comprehensive analysis of properties, activation strategies and applications.

Pullulan is naturally occurring polysaccharide exhibited potential applications for food preservation has gained increasing attention over the last half-century. Recent studies focused on efficient preservation and targeted inhibition using active composite ingredients and advanced technologies. This has led to the emergence of pullulan-based biofilm preservation. This review extensively studied the characteristics of pullulan-based films and coatings, including their mechanical strength, water vapor permeability, thermal stability, and potential as a microbial agent. Furthermore, the distinct characteristics of pullulan, production methods, and activation strategies, such as pullulan derivatization, various compounded ingredients (plant extracts, microorganisms, and animal additives), and other technologies (e.g., ultrasound), are thoroughly studied for the functional property enhancement of pullulan-based films and coatings, ensuring optimal preservation conditions for diverse food products. Additionally, we explore hypotheses that further illuminate pullulan's potential as an eco-friendly bioactive material for food packaging applications. In addition, this review evaluates various methods to improve the efficiency of the film-forming mechanism, such as improving the direct coating process, bioactive packaging films, and implementing layer-by-layer coatings. Finally, current analyses put forward suggestions for future advancement in pullulan-based bioactive films, with the aim of expanding their range of potential applications.

A comprehensive review of ultrasonic assisted extraction (UAE) for bioactive components: Principles, advantages, equipment, and combined technologies.

The increasing focus on health and well-being has sparked a rising interest in bioactive components in the food, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical industries. These components are gaining popularity due to their potential benefits for overall health. The growing interest has resulted in a continuous rise in demand for bioactive components, leading to the exploration of both edible and non-edible sources to obtain these valuable substances. Traditional extraction methods like solvent extraction, distillation, and pressing have certain drawbacks, including lower extraction efficiency, reduced yield, and the use of significant amounts of solvents or resources. Furthermore, certain extraction methods necessitate high temperatures, which can adversely affect certain bioactive components. Consequently, researchers are exploring non-thermal technologies to develop environmentally friendly and efficient extraction methods. Ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) is recognized as an environmentally friendly and highly efficient extraction technology. The UAE has the potential to minimize or eliminate the need for organic solvents, thereby reducing its impact on the environment. Additionally, UAE has been found to significantly enhance the production of target bioactive components, making it an attractive method in the industry. The emergence of ultrasonic assisted extraction equipment (UAEE) has presented novel opportunities for research in chemistry, biology, pharmaceuticals, food, and other related fields. However, there is still a need for further investigation into the main components and working modes of UAEE, as current understanding in this area remains limited. Therefore, additional research and exploration are necessary to enhance our knowledge and optimize the application of UAEE. The core aim of this review is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the principles, benefits and impact on bioactive components of UAE, explore the different types of equipment used in this technique, examine the various working modes and control parameters employed in UAE, and provide a detailed overview of the blending of UAE with other emerging extraction technologies. In conclusion, the future development of UAEE is envisioned to focus on achieving increased efficiency, reduced costs, enhanced safety, and improved reliability. These key areas of advancement aim to optimize the performance and practicality of UAEE, making it a more efficient, cost-effective, and reliable extraction technology.

Effects of multi-frequency ultrasound on sodium caseinate/pectin complex: Emulsifying properties, interaction force, structure and correlation.

This study aimed to improve the emulsification properties of the sodium caseinate (Cas) and pectin (Pec) complex using multi-frequency power ultrasound to regulate the complexation of Cas and Pec. The results revealed that optimal ultrasonic treatment (Frequency 60 kHz, power density 50 W/L, and time 25 min) led to a 33.12 % increase in emulsifying activity (EAI) and a 7.27 % increase in emulsifying stability index (ESI) of the Cas-Pec complex. Our results demonstrated that electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds were the main driving forces for complex formation, and these were reinforced by ultrasound treatment. Moreover, it was observed that ultrasonic treatment improved the surface hydrophobicity, thermal stability, and secondary structure of the complex. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy analyses revealed that the ultrasonically prepared Cas-Pec complex had a dense, uniform spherical structure with reduced surface roughness. It was further confirmed that the complex's emulsification properties were highly correlated with its physicochemical and structural properties. Multi-frequency ultrasound changes the interaction by regulating protein structure and ultimately acting on the interfacial adsorption behavior of the complex. This work contributes to expanding the role of multi-frequency ultrasound in modifying the emulsification properties of the complex.

Vitamin D Fortification and Its Effect on Athletes' Physical Improvement: A Mini Review.

Poor vitamin D status is a widespread problem regardless of age and sex, emphasizing the necessity of new food sources to improve vitamin D levels. Currently, approximately 60% of dietary vitamin D consumption occurs via fortified foods. Vitamin D insufficiency (50-90%) is widespread according to age and region, despite different levels of sunlight exposure. The food industry must identify more effective strategies to increase normal dietary vitamin D intake and improve overall health. Strategies for vitamin D fortification include bioaddition, wherein a vitamin D-rich food source is added to staple foods during processes. These bioadditive strategies expand the range of vitamin D-containing foods and appeal to different preferences, cultures, and economic statuses. In several countries, vitamin D deficiency places athletes at a high risk of disease susceptibility. Due to low sun exposure, athletes in countries with higher and lower levels of sunlight have similar risks of vitamin D deficiency. In this review, we summarize recent technical advances to promote vitamin D utilization by humans during sports activities and in relation to the normal practices of athletes.

Insights into ultrasound-induced starch-lipid complexes to understand physicochemical and nutritional interventions.

Novel lotus root starch (LRS)-myristic acid (MA) complexes were prepared using an ultrasound-assisted hydrothermal method (UHM) to investigate its nutritional intervention in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Ultrasonic treatment promoted the formation of the V-type crystal structure of the complex and improved the intermolecular interaction force, the order of the short-range starch molecules, and crystallinity. The volume of the ultrasound-assisted LRS-MA composite (U-LRS-MA) particles was enlarged, the particle distribution showed non-uniformity, and the surface grooves were deepened. The resistant starch content of U-LRS-MA was greatly increased from 34.58 % of native starch to 68.20 %. Dietary Supplements of 5 % and 15 % U-LRS-MA significantly reduced the body weight, the organ index and fasting blood glucose of T2DM mice, effectively adjusted its blood lipid level, alleviated its liver damage and increased the levels of colonic short-chain fatty acids. The addition of 5 % U-LRS-MA was more effective in T2DM than 15 % U-LRS-MA. Ultrasound could be effectively employed to prepare lipid-starch complexes, namely type 5 resistant starch, which was proved for the first time to have an excellent intervention effect on T2DM.

Optimized Green Extraction of Polyphenols from Cassia javanica L. Petals for Their Application in Sunflower Oil: Anticancer and Antioxidant Properties.

The total phenolic content (TPC) from Cassia javanica L. petals were extracted using ethanolic solvent extraction at concentrations ranging from 0 to 90% and an SCF-CO2 co-solvent at various pressures. Ultrasound-assisted extraction parameters were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). Antioxidant and anticancer properties of total phenols were assessed. An SCF-CO2 co-solvent extract was nano-encapsulated and applied to sunflower oil without the addition of an antioxidant. The results indicated that the best treatment for retaining TPC and total flavonoids content (TFC) was SCF-CO2 co-solvent followed by the ultrasound and ethanolic extraction procedures. Additionally, the best antioxidant activity by ß-carotene/linoleic acid and DPPH free radical-scavenging test systems was observed by SCF-CO2 co-solvent then ultrasound and ethanolic extraction methods. SCF-CO2 co-solvent recorded the highest inhibition % for PC3 (76.20%) and MCF7 (98.70%) and the lowest IC50 value for PC3 (145 µ/mL) and MCF7 (96 µ/mL). It was discovered that fortifying sunflower oil with SCF-CO2 co-solvent nanoparticles had a beneficial effect on free fatty acids and peroxide levels. The SCF-CO2 method was finally found to be superior and could be used in large-scale processing.

Physicochemical properties and digestive kinetics of whey protein gels filled with potato and whey protein mixture emulsified oil droplets: effect of protein ratios.

Incorporating protein emulsified droplets into protein gels as active fillers have attracted much attention. However, using animal and plant protein mixtures emulsified droplets as the filler is lacking. We investigated the effect of emulsified droplets covered by potato protein (PP) and whey protein (WP) mixtures of different ratios (10/0, 9/1, 7/3, 5/5, 3/7, 1/9, 0/10) on mechanical, microstructural characteristics and digestion of emulsion-filled WP gels (EFWG). The results showed that the particle size of emulsified droplets increased with the enhancement of PP ratio, whereas their ζ-potential value decreased. Increasing the PP ratio improved the elastic moduli (G'), fracture stress and hardness of EFWG, while lowered the water holding capacity and swelling ratios of EFWG. Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that a higher PP ratio leads to a thicker gel skeleton and fine network. Although the enhancement of the PP ratio decreased disulfide bond content in EFWG, it improved the hydrogen bond and total non-covalent interactions in EFWG. Increased PP in filling emulsions delayed the release rate of the free amino group and free fatty acid during digestion. Moreover, the presence of NaCl improved the gel properties and digestion of EFWG. The findings of this study may provide information for developing new WP gel products with specific digestion rates.

Effects of foot massage on relieving pain, anxiety and improving quality of life of patients undergone a cervical spine surgery.

BACKGROUND: Long-term recovery of patients undergone cervical spine surgery is of paramount importance to improve their quality of life. In this study we aimed to evaluate the effects of foot massage on relieving pain and anxiety of patients with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). METHODS: Enrolled patients undergone ACDF and diagnosed with anxiety disorder at least six months before surgery were treated with 10-min foot massage on a daily basis for four weeks using sweet almond oil. Patients were assessed by neck pain visual analog pain scale (NP-VAS), neck disability index (NDI) and self-rating anxiety scale. RESULTS: More significant relief in NP-VAS was observed in patients who received foot massage treatment. No significant difference in NDI reduction was seen in patients with or without the treatment. Intervention group demonstrated less anxiety during follow-up (p = 0.021) compared to the control group and more reduction compared to baseline (p = 0.046). In terms of quality of life, while both groups demonstrated improvement in pain relief (p = 0.015 for the intervention group and p = 0.037 for the control group), only the intervention group showed improved mental function (p = 0.031). CONCLUSION: This study found that foot massage was effective in alleviating pain and anxiety, while improving quality of life in patients undergone ACDF, indicating that this intervention should be considered in the clinical management of these patients.

In vitro and in vivo effects of Houttuynia cordata on infectious bronchitis virus.

Avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), a coronavirus, causes infectious bronchitis leading to enormous economic loss in the poultry industry worldwide. Houttuynia cordata (Saururaceae) (HC) is a traditional Chinese medicine used in China. In the present study, the effect of HC on cell infection by IBV was determined using plaque assay and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The inhibitory effect of HC on IBV infection in ovo and in vivo was analysed using specific pathogen free (SPF) chicken embryos and chickens. Moreover, the effect of HC on cell apoptosis induced by IBV was investigated. Results showed that HC had more than 90% inhibition rate against IBV infection in Vero cells and chicken embryo kidney cells, and decreased more than 90% apoptotic cells caused by IBV. HC fully protected the SPF embryos, and had more than 50% protection rate in SPF chickens, against IBV challenge.

The effect of Houttuynia cordata injection on pseudorabies herpesvirus (PrV) infection in vitro.

CONTEXT: Pseudorabies herpesvirus (PrV) belongs to the Alphaherpesvirinae. Piglets infected with PrV die within a few days. Development of effective antiviral agents is one alternative or complementary method to prevent PrV infection. Houttuynia cordata Thunb. (Saururaceae), H. cordata, a traditional Chinese medicine, is often used to relieve lung abnormal symptoms, infectious disease, refractory hemoptysis and malignant pleural effusion in China. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of H. cordata injection on cell infection by PrV using Vero cells (a monkey kidney cell line) and swine testis cells (ST) as models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The infectivity of PrV was determined by plaque assays when H. cordata was applied to the virus, to the virus infected cells, and to the cells prior to infection. The genomic DNA copies post-drug treatment were confirmed by PCR and reverse transcription PCR. The cell apoptosis caused by the virus was analyzed. RESULTS: H. cordata efficiently inhibited cell infection after incubating the drug with PrV. Nevertheless, H. cordata was more efficient in Vero cells than in ST cells in terms of its inhibitory effect. Low-dosage drug inhibited cell apoptosis induced by PrV; nevertheless, high-dosage drug alone resulted in cell apoptosis. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: H. cordata has a direct inhibitory activity against PrV in vitro. H. cordata may be used as an anti-PrV agent or combined with other anti-PrV agents. PrV infection induces cell apoptosis and H. cordata inhibits cell infection. The optimal administration dosage of H. cordata should be taken into account in the future, because high-dosage H. cordata alone causes cell apoptosis.

Antiviral effect of diammonium glycyrrhizinate and lithium chloride on cell infection by pseudorabies herpesvirus.

Diammonium glycyrrhizin (DG), a salt from glycyrrhizinate (GL) that is a major active component of licorice root extract with various pharmacological activities was investigated for its inhibitory effect on pseudorabies virus (PrV) infection. In parallel, lithium chloride (LiCl), a chemical reagent with potential antiviral activity was compared with DG for their inhibitory ability against PrV infection in vitro. Virus plaque-reduction assays, PCR and RT-PCR analysis indicated that both drugs inhibited cell infection by PrV. Moreover, addition of the drugs resulted in fewer apoptotic cells during PrV infection.