Chitosan-gallic acid conjugate edible coating film for perishable fruits.

Approximately 30 % of global agricultural land is used to produce food that is ultimately lost or wasted, making it imperative to explore strategies for mitigating this waste. This study explored the potential of chitosan (CS) derivatives as edible coatings to extend food shelf life. Although soluble CS derivatives such as glycol CS are suitable coatings, their antimicrobial properties often diminish with increased solubility. To address this issue, gallic acid (GA), a polyphenol, was conjugated with CS using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide/N-hydroxysuccinimide (EDC/NHS) chemistry to create edible coating solutions. The resulting CS-GA films exhibited remarkable solubility, mechanical strength, UV-blocking properties, and superior antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Furthermore, these films exhibited a high affinity for hydrophobic fruit surfaces while also facilitating easy washing, making them an alternative for consumers who are averse to film-coated products. The CS-GA-coated fruits exhibited minimal surface spoilage, decreased mass loss, and increased firmness. Therefore, these CS-GA conjugate coatings hold significant potential as eco-friendly, edible, and washable food packaging coatings.

Caregiver-reported barriers to engagement in a paediatric fresh fruit and vegetable prescription programme.

Paediatric fruit and vegetable prescription programmes hold promise in improving food security and dietary patterns among youth. However, programme success is largely dependent upon caregiver and family engagement. The current study sought to gain a better understanding of environmental barriers to engagement in a paediatric fruit and vegetable prescription programme in one low-income, urban community (Flint, Michigan, USA). Following the implementation of a paediatric fruit and vegetable prescription programme, researchers conducted thirty-two semi-structured interviews with caregivers. Researchers explored caregivers' understanding of the fruit and vegetable prescription programme, barriers to programme engagement, and recommendations for improvement. Telephone interviews were transcribed for textual analysis. Researchers used thematic analysis to examine qualitative data, determine patterns across transcripts, and develop emerging themes. Researchers concluded interviews when data saturation was reached. The majority of participants were female (94%), African American (66%), and residents of Flint (72%). Five recurrent themes emerged: (1) nutrition security; (2) prescription distribution; (3) prescription redemption; (4) educational supports; and (5) programme modifications. Although caregivers indicated that the prescription programme addressed household food insecurity, environmental barriers to engagement were apparent. Caregivers provided suggestions, such as partnering with large grocery stores and developing digital prescriptions, to address programme engagement challenges. Fundamental to the success of fruit and vegetable prescription programmes is the understanding of barriers to engagement from the perspective of participants. This study explores challenges with one paediatric fruit and vegetable prescription programme and provides actionable solutions, from the viewpoint of caregivers, to address these challenges.

Behavioral change in fruit and vegetable consumption and associated cognitive impairment among Chinese older adults.

BACKGROUND: Previous research has examined how fruit and vegetable consumption may affect cognitive impairment among older adults. However, knowledge regarding the behavioral change in fruit and vegetable consumption remains limited in the Chinese older adult population. This research aimed to fill the literature gap. METHODS: We used data from five waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Study (2005-2018, observations = 18,856 from 11,388 participants) and selected older adult participants (65 years old or above). A behavioral change was defined as a consumption change in the study sample. Cognitive impairment was measured based on the mini-mental state examination. We used the Cox multi-state model as the major statistical analysis. RESULTS: Chinese older adults who transitioned from non-daily to daily consumption of vegetables had lower odds of reporting cognitive impairment deteriorating from normal cognitive function to severe, compared with those who did not change their consumption behavior (HR [hazard ratio] = 0.88, 95% CI 0.80, 0.97; p < 0.05). All transitions in fruit consumption were negatively associated with cognitive changes from normal cognitive function to mild-moderate cognitive impairment. In our additional stratified analysis examining rural-urban disparity, we observed similar significant findings among rural older adults (Vegetable consumption change: HR = 0.83, 95% CI 0.75, 0.93; p < 0.01) but not urban older adults. CONCLUSION: Behavioral change in consumption of vegetables may affect Chinese older adults' cognitive health. Future interventions should focus on the critical role of behavioral change in vegetable consumption in reducing older adults' cognitive impairment. However, the contradictory findings of fruit consumption warrant further investigation to draw a conclusive claim regarding its benefits for cognitive health.

Human Exposure to Trace Elements (Al, B, Ba, Cd, Cr, Li, Ni, Pb, Sr, V) from Consumption of Dried Fruits Acquired in Spain.

Dried fruits are one of the most frequently consumed products by the population. Drying fruits prolongs their shelf life and also concentrates more nutrients. However, these products may contain dangerous levels of trace elements that can be harmful to health. The content of trace elements (Al, B, Ba, Cd, Cr, Li, Ni, Pb, Sr, V) in 42 samples of different dried fruits (dates, prunes, sultanas, dried apricot kernels, and dried figs) was determined by inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (ICP-OES). The concentrations of Al found in prunes (12.7 ± 5.13 mg Al/kg) and the concentrations of B found in dried plums (6.26 ± 4.45 mg B/kg) were significantly higher (p < 0.05). Regarding the risk assessment, the percentages of contribution to the maximum recommended intakes by Li in all the dried fruits studied stand out, reaching 35.3% in the case of dried plums. This study concludes that the recommended daily intake of dried fruit (30 g/day) does not pose a toxicological risk about these trace elements.

The Production of Water Kefir Drink with the Addition of Dried Figs in the Horizontal Rotating Tubular Bioreactor.

Water kefir is a product obtained through the fermentation of sucrose solution, usually with some kind of dried fruit addition, by a combined culture of micro-organisms which are contained within kefir grains. Its popularity is rising because of the simplicity of its preparation and its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, probiotic, and antibacterial effects. In this research, the water kefir production was studied in 250 mL jars, as well as in a horizontal rotating tubular bioreactor (HRTB). The first part of the research was conducted in smaller-scale (jars), wherein the optimal fruit and fruit portions were determined. These experiments included the addition of dried plums, apricots, raisins, dates, cranberries, papaya, and figs into 150 mL of initial sugar solution. Also, the optimal ratio between dried fruit and sucrose solution (0.2) at the beginning of the bioprocess was determined. The second part of this research was conducted using HRTB. The experiments in the HRTB were carried out by using different operational modes (constant or interval bioreactor rotation). A total of six different bioreactor setups were used, and in all experiments, figs were added at the beginning of the bioprocess (0.2 ratio between dried figs and sucrose solution). On the basis of the obtained results, the interval bioreactor rotation mode proved to be the better HRTB mode for the production of the water kefir, as the yield of the main fermentation products was higher, and their ratios were the most adequate for the quality of water kefir drink. The optimal results were obtained via HRTB setup 3/57 (3 min rotation, 57 min pause within 1 h) and rotation speed of 3 rpm. Furthermore, it is clear that HRTB has great potential for water kefir production due to the fact that HRTB experiments showed shorter fermentation times (at least five times) than water kefir production in jars.

Presence of carbapenem resistance in hybrid E. coli pathovars from ready-to-eat fresh-cut fruits in Accra, Ghana.

AIM: This study reports the presence of carbapenem-resistant E. coli hybrid pathovars and its prevalence in 200 fresh-cut fruits from Accra. METHODS AND RESULTS: Standard culture methods were used to quantify microbial indicators and E. coli on fresh-cut fruits retailed in formal and informal outlets in Accra. The Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method was used to determine the antibiotic resistance profile of E. coli, while multiplex PCR was employed to identify the virulence and carbapenem resistance genes. E. coli prevalence in cut-fruits was 17%, with pawpaw, watermelon, and mix-fruit having higher prevalence than pineapple. Of the 34 E. coli isolates from fresh-cut fruits, 44% showed broad resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics, while 5.9% showed carbapenem resistance. The study identified virulence genes associated with all E. coli isolates including stx1, stx2, escV, and ipaH, of which 97% were hybrid pathovars bearing genes for STEC/EPEC/EIEC. The carbapenemase gene, blaIMP, was associated with both carbapenem-resistant E. coli phenotypes identified. CONCLUSION: Despite a low carbapenem-resistance prevalence observed among E. coli isolates, hypervirulent hybrid strains of E. coli is present in fresh-cut fruits in the sampling area, posing a potential public health risk to fresh-cut fruit consumers.

Impact of a school-based intervention and the COVID-19 pandemic on healthy eating in Navajo families: Results from the Yéego! Healthy eating and gardening intervention trial.

Objectives: As part of a group randomized trial of a school-based intervention promoting gardening and healthy eating, health behaviors of adult family members were evaluated. The COVID-19 pandemic hit the Navajo Nation in March 2020 and the ongoing Yéego! collaborative study allowed description of adult response to COVID as an ancillary objective. Methods: Six elementary schools on the Navajo Nation in Arizona or New Mexico had been randomized to intervention or comparison group. One adult family member for each 3rd and 4th grade student completed surveys at baseline, nine-month and 21-month follow-up. Adult outcomes were fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake, obesogenic dietary index and gardening frequency. COVID-related measures were collected at 21-month follow-up. Differential changes and interactions were examined using repeated measures linear mixed models. Results: Adult F&V intake increased significantly more in the intervention group than in the comparison group at nine months by 2.26 servings/day (95% CI: 0.45, 4.06). No other changes were associated with the intervention at nine or 21 months. At 21 months, in the subgroup with COVID concerns, the differential change in F&V intake was 2.02 (95% CI: 0.21, 3.84) servings/day. In cross-sectional analyses, only healthy eating measures varied by levels of COVID concerns, stress and resilience. Conclusions: The child focused school-based intervention had some impact on adult family members, particularly their F&V intake, suggesting the reach of the intervention extended to students' families. The impact on adult F&V intake persisted among those reporting COVID concerns. Findings have important implications for augmenting healthy eating interventions.

Extraction of polysaccharide fraction from cadamba (Neolamarckia cadamba) fruits and evaluation of its in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities.

In this study, polysaccharide fraction (PFFNC) derived from Neolamarckia cadamba fruits showed remarkable antioxidant activity. The PFFNC was successfully extracted from the fruits by the hot water extraction process, followed by decolorization, defatting, and deproteinization. The chemical composition of PFFNC was effectively characterized by the use of UV-Vis, FT-IR, CHN, GC-MS, and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The findings indicated that PFFNC had an average molecular weight of 292 kDa and was predominantly composed of carbohydrates (76 %), with notable contributions from uronic acids (37.22 %) and proteins (12.35 %). The primary components of the sugar content were glucose (19.24 %), galactose (10.19 %), mannose (4.09 %), and glucuronic acid (2.8 %). The tertiary structural study verified the existence of a triple-helical structure. PFFNC exhibited a strong reducing power in vitro as determined by ABTS (IC50: 121 ± 0.12 µg/mL), DPPH (IC50: 146.065 ± 0.54 µg/mL), FRAP (677.788 ± 24.189 mM Fe (II)/g), hydroxyl radical scavenging (IC50: 78.736 ± 0.32 µg/mL), and phosphomolybdate assay (90.7 ± 0.43 mg AAE/g). In addition, the PFFNC furthermore showed significant in vivo antioxidant capacity, as determined using the brine shrimp (Bsmp) (Artemia salina Leach) model. The PFFNC exhibits significant antioxidant potential, suggesting broad spectrum applications in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and oxidative stress-related disorders.

[Determination of 13 kinds of free and bound phenolic acids in fruits by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(HPLC-MS/MS) method for detecting 13 kind of free and bound phenolic acids(chlorogenic acid, protocatechuic acid, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, gallic acid, gentisic acid, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, syringic acid, sinapic acid, rosmarinic acid, salicylic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid) in fruits, and optimize the pre-treatment conditions to meet the detection requirements for phenolic acid content in various types of fruits. METHODS: Free phenolic acids in fruits were extracted using methanol through ultrasonic extraction. Conjugated phenolic acids in the centrifuged residue were released by alkaline hydrolysis and extracted with ethyl acetate. The two extracts were combined, concentrated, and analyzed using HPLC-MS/MS. Separation was achieved using an Agilent ZORBAX SB-C_(18) chromatography column(3.0 mm×100 mm, 3.5 µm), and detection was performed in multiple reaction monitoring(MRM) mode. RESULTS: All 13 standard phenolic acids achieved complete separation within 10 minutes, with linear correlation coefficients greater than 0.998 and detection limits ranging from 0.172 to 3.471 ng/mL. After optimization of the pre-treatment method, the recovery rates of the method for four types of fruits-apples, strawberries, oranges, and peaches-ranged from 80.0% to 119.4%, and the precision were lower than 7.00%(n=6). The result of testing on four categories of twelve types of fruits demonstrated significant variations in the content of phenolic acids among different fruits, and within the same category, the composition of phenolic acids did not exhibit consistency. CONCLUSION: The HPLC-MS/MS method exhibits high sensitivity, precision, and accuracy. It is suitable for the detection of both free and bound phenolic acids in various types of fruits.

Computational screening of chemical constituents derived from berry fruits as allosteric caspace-3/-7 inhibitors.

With the aim of finding the plant-derived allosteric inhibitors of caspase-3/-7, we conducted computational investigations of bioactive compounds present in various berry fruits. In a molecular docking study, perulactone demonstrated excellent binding affinity scores of -12.1 kcal/mol and -9.1 kcal/mol for caspase 7 and 3, respectively, whereas FDA-approved allosteric inhibitors (DICA and FICA) were found to show lower docking scores (-5.6 and -6.1 kcal/mol) against caspase 7 while (-5.0 and -5.1 kcal/mol) for caspase 3, respectively. MD simulations were used to validate the binding stability of perulactone in the active sites of caspase-7/-3, and the results showed outstanding stability with lower ligand RMSDs of 1.270-3.088 Å and 2.426-9.850 Å against the targeted receptor. Furthermore, we performed MMGBSA free binding energy, where the perulactone values of ΔG Bind were determined to be -63.98 kcal/mol and -66.32 kcal/mol for both receptors (3IBF and 1NME), which are significantly better than the -45.16 kcal/mol and -39.51 kcal/mol for DICA as well as -26.37 kcal/mol and -15.50 kcal/mol for FICA, respectively. The drug resemblance of perulactone was effectively evaluated by ADMET. Thus, our findings indicated that perulactone could be an orally administered therapeutic candidate for regulating apoptosis in a variety of disorders. However, there may be an urgent need to study using in vitro and in vivo experiments. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-024-04067-7.

Effect of fruits granola (Frugra®) consumption on blood pressure reduction and intestinal microbiome in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a major cause of death in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). Blood pressure (BP) and uremic toxins are well-known risk factors for CVDs, which are influenced by diet. Dietary fiber supplementation in patients undergoing HD may reduce the risk of CVDs by improving lipid profiles and inflammatory status and lowering the levels of the uremic toxin indoxyl sulfate (IS). In this study, we investigated the relationship between the intestinal microbiota and risk factors for CVDs, such as BP and serum IS, in patients undergoing HD who consumed fruits granola (FGR). The study participants were selected from patients undergoing HD at the Izu Nagaoka Daiichi Clinic and consumed FGR for 2 months. Body composition and blood samples were tested at months 0, 1, 2 and fecal samples were collected at months 0 and 2 for intestinal microbiota analysis. FGR consumption decreased systolic and diastolic BP, estimated salt intake, and serum IS levels and improved the stool characteristics according to the Bristol Stool Form Scale (N = 24). Gut microbiota analysis showed an increase in the alpha diversity and abundance of Blautia and Neglecta. The abundance of lactic acid- and ethanol-producing bacteria also significantly increased, whereas the abundance of indole-producing bacteria significantly decreased. FGR consumption could be a useful tool for salt reduction, fiber supplementation, and improvement of the intestinal environment, thus contributing to improvement of BP and the reduction of other risk factors for CVDs in patients undergoing HD.

Examining Food Security, Fruit and Vegetable Intake, and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Outcomes of Produce Prescription (PPR) Programs: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: Outcomes from produce prescription (PPR) programs, an exemplar of a Food is Medicine intervention, have not been synthesized. The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review to examine the impact of PPR programs on food security, fruit and vegetable (FV) intake, and/or cardiovascular risk factors (HbA1c, blood pressure, and blood lipids). DESIGN: Searches were conducted across three databases (PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science). Eligible studies were published between August 2012 and April 2023, conducted in the US in child/family, or adult populations, written in English and had a PPR program as an exposure. OUTCOMES VARIABLES MEASURED: Food security, FV intake, and/or cardiovascular risk factors. RESULTS: Twenty studies ranging from a duration of between 6 weeks to 24 months were included. Of the 5 studies (3 in child/family and 4 in adult populations) that analyzed changes in food security status, all reported significant (P < 0.05) improvements after the PPR program. Approximately half of the included studies found significant (P < 0.05) increases in fruit, vegetable, and/or FV intake. Only studies in adult populations included cardiovascular risk factor outcomes. In these studies, mixed findings were reported; however, there were significant (P < 0.05) improvements in HbA1c when PPR programs enrolled individuals with type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: PPR programs provide an opportunity to improve food security in child/family, and adult populations. Evidence to support whether PPR programs increase FV intake and improve cardiovascular disease risk factors outside of HbA1c in adult populations with high HbA1c upon enrollment is less known.

First Report on the Occurrence of Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus in Tennessee.

In the summer of 2021, a field survey of several tomato-growing counties in Tennessee (TN) was conducted for plants exhibiting virus-like symptoms. While scouting in September in Grainger County, one of the largest areas under tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) production in TN, leaves from six tomato plants (cv. BHN 589) growing on a farm located near Rutledge were collected and subsequently stored at -80˚C. Only one of the plants exhibited symptoms typical of tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) infection, which included chlorosis, leaf curling, downward cupping, thickening, and mottling. Total DNA was isolated using the DNeasy Plant Mini Kit (Qiagen, Santa Clara, CA) and subjected to PCR using primers TYv2337F (5'-ACGTAGGTCTTGACATCTGTTGAGCTC-3') and TYc138-R: (5'-AAGTGGGTCCCACAATTGCAAGAC-3') and Ex-Taq polymerase (Takara Bio, Mountain View, CA) to amplify a 634-bp genomic fragment of TYLCV (Alkowni et al. 2019). Primers against tomato elongation factor-1 served as internal PCR control (Dias et al. 2023). Each primer set amplified amplicons of expected sizes; however, the TYLCV fragment was detected only from the plant exhibiting typical symptoms of infection. Amplicons were purified with the QIAquick PCR purification kit (Qiagen) and sequenced directly bi-directionally by Eurofins USA using the above primers. The resultant sequences were edited and analyzed with CLC Genomic Workbench v. 24.0.1. Blast analysis of the sequences (606 nts) against those available in GenBank showed 93 TYLCV isolates with over 95% nucleotide sequence identity. Subsequently, the full-length genome was PCR amplified using primers TYBamHIv (5'- GGATCCACTTCTAAATGAATTTCCTG-3') and TYBamHI2c (5'-GGATCCCACATAGTGCAAGACAAAC-3') (Rojas et al. 2007), ligated into pGEM-T (Promega, Madison, WI) and cloned. Plasmids were purified using QIAprep Spin Miniprep kit (Qiagen) and five independent plasmids clones were sequenced using Oxford Nanopore sequencing (v14 library chemistry & R10.4.1 flow cell) by Eurofins USA. The resultant sequences were edited and analyzed with CLC Genomic Workbench and a consensus sequence representing the full-length genome (2,781 nts) was generated and submitted to GenBank (Accession No. PP505780). Blast analysis showed over 98% nucleotide sequence identity with 100 TYLCV isolates from GenBank. The highest sequence identity of 98.6% was with the sequence of an isolate from Florida (AY530931). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence of TYLCV in TN. The virus was detected in a tomato plant grown from seed. The seed transmissibility of TYLCV remains controversial (Perry 2018; and references therein); thus, the most likely source of infection in this report is transmission by rare viruliferous vectors (Bemisia tabaci). It remains unknown, however, whether TYLCV is endemic in TN, or recently introduced by mobile vectors from neighboring states. The presence of TYLCV has been reported in Alabama (Akad et al. 2007), Kentucky (de Sá et al. 2008), Mississippi (Ingram and Henn 2001), Georgia (Momol et al. 1999) and North Carolina (Polston et al. 2002). The B. tabaci vector of the virus has sporadic occurrences in crops within TN (Li et al. 2021). Tennessee is one of the leading tomato producers exporting globally with production covering over 1,300 hectares and over 430 producers (Dias et al. 2023). Because of the potential threat of TYLCV to tomato industry in the state, additional surveillance measures need to be put in place to determine TYLCV incidence.

Determination of the Protein and Amino Acid Content of Fruit, Vegetables and Starchy Roots for Use in Inherited Metabolic Disorders.

Amino acid (AA)-related inherited metabolic disorders (IMDs) and urea cycle disorders (UCDs) require strict dietary management including foods low in protein such as fruits, vegetables and starchy roots. Despite this recommendation, there are limited data on the AA content of many of these foods. The aim of this study is to describe an analysis of the protein and AA content of a range of fruits, vegetables and starchy roots, specifically focusing on amino acids (AAs) relevant to AA-related IMDs such as phenylalanine (Phe), methionine (Met), leucine (Leu), lysine (Lys) and tyrosine (Tyr). AA analysis was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on 165 food samples. Protein analysis was also carried out using the Dumas method. Foods were classified as either 'Fruits', 'Dried fruits', 'Cruciferous vegetables', 'Legumes', 'Other vegetables' or 'Starchy roots'. 'Dried fruits' and 'Legumes' had the highest median values of protein, while 'Fruits' and 'Cruciferous vegetables' contained the lowest median results. 'Legumes' contained the highest and 'Fruits' had the lowest median values for all five AAs. Variations were seen in AA content for individual foods. The results presented in this study provide useful data on the protein and AA content of fruits, vegetables and starchy roots which can be used in clinical practice. This further expansion of the current literature will help to improve diet quality and metabolic control among individuals with AA-related IMDs and UCDs.

Extract of Araçá-Boi and Its Major Phenolic Compound, Trans-Cinnamic Acid, Reduce Viability and Inhibit Migration of Human Metastatic Melanoma Cells.

Cutaneous melanoma is an aggressive type of skin cancer that is recognized for its high metastatic potential and the challenges it presents in its treatment. There has been increasing interest in plant extracts and their potential applications in melanoma. The present study aimed to investigate the content of individual phenolic compounds in araçá-boi extract, evaluate their antioxidant activity, and explore their effects on cell viability, migration properties, oxidative stress levels, and protein expression in the human metastatic melanoma cell line SK-MEL-28. HPLC-DAD analysis identified 11 phenolic compounds in the araçá-boi extract. Trans-cinnamic acid was the main phenolic compound identified; therefore, it was used alone to verify its contribution to antitumor activities. SK-MEL-28 melanoma cells were treated for 24 h with different concentrations of araçá-boi extract and trans-cinnamic acid (200, 400, 600, 800, and 1600 µg/mL). Both the araçá-boi extract and trans-cinnamic acid reduced cell viability, cell migration, and oxidative stress in melanoma cells. Additionally, they modulate proteins involved in apoptosis and inflammation. These findings suggest the therapeutic potential of araçá-boi extract and its phenolic compounds in the context of melanoma, especially in strategies focused on preventing metastasis. Additional studies, such as the analysis of specific signaling pathways, would be valuable in confirming and expanding these observations.

Vaccinium spp. Berries in the Prevention and Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Comprehensive Update of Preclinical and Clinical Research.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common chronic liver disorder marked by the buildup of triacylglycerols (TGs) in the liver. It includes a range of conditions, from simple steatosis to more severe forms like non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which can advance to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. NAFLD's prevalence is rising globally, estimated between 10% and 50%. The disease is linked to comorbidities such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular diseases and currently lacks effective treatment options. Therefore, researchers are focusing on evaluating the impact of adjunctive herbal therapies in individuals with NAFLD. One herbal therapy showing positive results in animal models and clinical studies is fruits from the Vaccinium spp. genus. This review presents an overview of the association between consuming fruits, juices, and extracts from Vaccinium spp. and NAFLD. The search used the following keywords: ((Vaccinium OR blueberry OR bilberry OR cranberry) AND ("non-alcoholic fatty liver disease" OR "non-alcoholic steatohepatitis")). Exclusion criteria included reviews, research notes, book chapters, case studies, and grants. The review included 20 studies: 2 clinical trials and 18 studies on animals and cell lines. The findings indicate that juices and extracts from Vaccinium fruits and leaves have significant potential in addressing NAFLD by improving lipid and glucose metabolism and boosting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory responses. In conclusion, blueberries appear to have the potential to alleviate NAFLD, but more clinical trials are needed to confirm these benefits.

Recent advance in nondestructive imaging technology for detecting quality of fruits and vegetables: a review.

As an integral part of daily dietary intake, the market demand for fruits and vegetables is continuously growing. However, traditional methods for assessing the quality of fruits and vegetables are prone to subjective influences, destructive to samples, and fail to comprehensively reflect internal quality, thereby resulting in various shortcomings in ensuring food safety and quality control. Over the past few decades, imaging technologies have rapidly evolved and been widely employed in nondestructive detection of fruit and vegetable quality. This paper offers a thorough overview of recent advancements in nondestructive imaging technologies for assessing the quality of fruits and vegetables, including hyperspectral imaging (HSI), fluorescence imaging (FI), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), thermal imaging (TI), terahertz imaging, X-ray imaging (XRI), ultrasonic imaging, and microwave imaging (MWI). The principles and applications of these imaging techniques in nondestructive testing are summarized. The challenges and future trends of these technologies are discussed.

Characterization of the extracellular proteases from Bacillus inaquosorum strain E1-8 and its application in the preparation of hydrolysates from plant and animal proteins with antioxidant, antifreeze and anti-browning properties.

BACKGROUND: Bacillus inaquosorum strains is widely recognized for their plant-growth-promoting and biocontrol capabilities, yet their roles in protease production remain unclear. The present study aimed to comprehensively assess the protease-producing performance of B. inaquosorum strain E1-8, at the same time as exploring the novel application of agricultural Bacillus proteases in the preparation of protein hydrolysates for fresh-cut fruits preservation. RESULTS: First, genomic sequencing revealed the diversity of E1-8 proteases, indicating 15 putative extracellular proteases. Subsequently, the fermentation conditions for E1-8 protease production were optimized, with sweet potato powder and soybean meal identified as the most suitable carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively, resulting in a maximum protease activity of 321.48 U mL-1. Upon culturing the strain under these optimized conditions, only an S8 family serine protease and an M48 family metalloprotease were revealed by secretomic analysis and protease inhibitor assays. Additionally, the optimal protease conditions for generating protein hydrolysates from soy, pea, fish and porcine proteins were determined. The molecular weight of the hydrolysates primarily ranged from 2000 to 180 Da, with a total of 17 amino acids identified. The application of these hydrolysates demonstrated a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (i.e. DPPH) scavenging activity ranging from 58.64% to 84.12%, significantly reducing of the melting peaks and the freezing points. Furthermore, the browning index of apple slices stored at 4 °C decreased by 14.81% to 22.15% on the second day, and similar effects were observed in fresh-cut banana stored at 4 °C for 7 days. CONCLUSION: The protein hydrolysates obtained exhibit remarkable antioxidant, antifreeze and anti-browning properties for fresh-cut fruits. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.