Recent development of lactoferrin-based vehicles for the delivery of bioactive compounds: Complexes,emulsions, and nanoparticles

BackgroundLactoferrin (LF) is an iron-binding glycoprotein that exhibits a variety of potentially beneficial biological activities and has favorable safety and biocompatibility characteristics. For these reasons, LF has been widely used as a functional component in the medical, food, and cosmetic industries. Applications of LF-based materials, such as complexes, nanoparticles, hydrogels and emulsions, to encapsulate, protect and deliver bioactive compounds is gaining increasing attention.Scope and approachThis review highlights the considerable potential of LF-based encapsulation and delivery systems by summarizing research progress on the structure, physicochemical properties, and biological activities of LF. In particular, it highlights advances in utilizing LF-based nanocarriers as natural vehicles for nutraceutical delivery and release, as well as strategies for encapsulating LF as a functional ingredient.Key findings and conclusionsFunctional LF-biopolymer complexes can be formed by heat treatment, covalent conjugation or electrostatic assembly under appropriate fabrication conditions. These complexes have been shown to be highly effective for the oral delivery of nutraceuticals and drugs. LF can also be utilized to fabricate emulsions, nanoparticles, or microgels to improve the stability and bioaccessibility of bioactive components. However, there are still a number of challenges associated with optimizing the performance of LF-based delivery systems so that they can be used in commercial applications.     

Digestion and protein metabolism of Trogoderma granarium (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) fed on different barley varieties

The Khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium Everts, is one of the most important pests of grains which rapidly infests durable stored products in hot and dry conditions. In the current study, effects of omit ten varieties of barley (Abidar, Bahman, Line20, Line22, Line30, Lisivi, Lokht11, Makuyi, Sahand and Sahraa) were determined on digestive enzymes and protein metabolsim of T. granarium larvae under laboratory conditions as 33 ± 1 °C, 65 ± 5% RH and photoperiod of 14:10 (L: D) h. The highest and the lowest activities of α-amylase were observed in T. granarium larvae fed on Line30 and Lisivi varieties, respectively but the glucosidases showed the highest activities followed by feeding on Lokht 11. Also, the latter variety caused the highest lipase activity in the larvae while Abidar, Line20, Lisuei and Sahand imposed the lowest lipase activity. The highest activities of serine proteases including trypsin, chymotrypsin and elastase were detected in the larvae fed on Line 30 but the two exopeptidases, amino- and carboxypeptidases, showed the highest activities when the larvae fed on Lisuei. All the three aminotransferses had the highest activities in the larvae fed on Lokht 11 as the related individuals contained the maximum amount of protein compared to other ones. Results of the current study highlighted Line30 as the most suitable variety to be digested by serine proteases and α-amylase but Lokht11 is appropriately digested by glucosidases and lipase which emboss their susceptibilities to T. granarium. Our findings on digestion and protein metabolism imply on susceptibility of varieties Line30 and Lokht11 to T. granarium larvae.     

Natural phytochemicals and probiotics as bioactive ingredients for functional foods: Extraction,biochemistry and protected-delivery technologies

BackgroundThe well-known correlation between diet and physiology demonstrates the great possibilities of food to maintain or improve our health, increasing the interest in finding new products with positive physiological effects. Nowadays, one of the top research areas in Food Science and Technology is the extraction and characterization of new natural ingredients with biological activity that can be further incorporated into a functional food, contributing to consumer's well-being. Furthermore, there is a high demand for effective encapsulation methodologies to preserve all the characteristics of bioactive compounds until the physiological action site is reached.Scope and approachIn this review, the relevance of developing standard approaches for the extraction of the highly diverse bioactive compounds was described, as it defines the suitability of the following steps of separation, identification and characterization. Special attention was also dedicated to the encapsulation techniques used on hydrophilic and/or lipophilic compounds (e.g., emulsification, coacervation, supercritical fluid, inclusion complexation, emulsification-solvent evaporation and nanoprecipitation).Key findings and conclusionsSome useful conclusions regarding the selection of the best extraction methodology (Soxhlet extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, accelerated solvent extraction, or shake extraction) were achieved, considering important aspects such as cost, required technical skills, extract integrity, green chemistry principles, solvent type, sample size, pH, temperature and pressure. In addition, this comprehensive review allowed defining the best protective approach to solve the limitations related to the extremely low absorption and bioavailability of bioactive phytochemicals, overcoming problems related to their low solubility, poor stability, low permeability and metabolic processes in the GI tract.     

Occurrence and levels of mycotoxins and their metabolites in human breast milk associated to dietary habits and other factors: A systematic literature review, 1984–2015

BackgroundMany studies around the world reported the occurrence of many mycotoxins and their metabolites in human breast milk. However the contamination by aflatoxin M1 and ochratoxin A were the most investigated by several countries.Scope and approachTo scrutinize all papers reporting quantitative data on the prevalence and the levels of mycotoxins and their metabolites in breast milk, also the circumstances of exposure.A systematic literature search in Pubmed, Science direct and Google scholar databases were performed to identify relevant studies, published in English from 1984 through May 2015.Key findings and conclusion63 studies met the inclusion criteria and assessed the occurrence of 29 mycotoxins & their metabolites in breast milk, regarding 7194 subjects of 31 countries. The maternal dietary habits, the socio demographic status of the mother, the seasonal variations and the sensitivity of the analytical method were the factors related to the high concentrations of AFM1 and OTA in breast milk.Studies where contamination exceeds maximum limits and exhibit real risk of public health were highlighted.     

Biomimetic plant foods: Structural design and functionality

BackgroundThe rising number of people living with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, along with the widespread demand for healthier foods have posed significant challenges to the food industry. Plant-based foods, beyond simple nutrition, can provide health-benefiting functionalities within the complex environment of the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Biomimetics is defined as taking inspirations from nature to solve problems. Biomimetic plant foods (BPFs) can offer solutions for the future with the design of nature-inspired food structures for improved health and well-being.Scope and approachThis review provides an insight into the assembly of plant food structures and their disassembly in the human GI tract. Their role in controlling the digestive fate of nutrients is elucidated. Recent developments and future perspectives on designing BPFs are also presented and discussed.Key findings and conclusionsPlant foods in nature possess hierarchically self-assembled structures. During processing and GI digestion, these structures are disassembled to enable liberation and assimilation of nutrients and bioactive molecules contained within the food matrix. The assembly and disassembly are linked to a hierarchy of structure in plants within which different levels (molecule, polymer, cell wall, cell, tissue, organ) and their interactions can modulate nutrient bioaccessibility and digestion. Inspired by nature, BPFs can be engineered to deliver in-body functionality. The emerging trend of biomimetics will potentially pave the way for the future of food.     

Industrial applications of crustacean by-products (chitin,chitosan, and chitooligosaccharides): A review

BackgroundFood processing produces large quantities of by-products. Disposal of waste can lead to environmental and human health problems, yet often they can be turned into high value, useful products. For example, crustacean shell wastes from shrimp, crab, lobster, and krill contain large amounts of chitin, a polysaccharide that may be extracted after deproteinisation and demineralization of the exoskeletons.Scope and approachThis review summarizes the current state of knowledge of these crustacean shellfish wastes and the various ways to use chitin. This biopolymer and its derivatives, such as chitosan, have many biological activities (e.g., anti-cancer, antioxidant, and immune-enhancing) and can be used in various applications (e.g., medical, cosmetic, food, and textile).Key findings and conclusionsDue to the huge waste produced each year by the shellfish processing industry and the absence of waste management which represent an environmental hazard, the extraction of chitin from crustaceans’ shells may be a solution to minimize the waste and to produce valuable compound which possess biological properties with application in many fields. As a food waste, it is important to also be aware of the non-food uses of these wastes.     

Modifications of starch by electric field based techniques

BackgroundNative starches have limited applications and are commonly modified for desired properties. There has been increasing demand for physically and non-chemically modified starches from the market as consumers prefer “natural and healthy” food products. Among various physical means, electric field based techniques have been gaining a research focus for starch modifications during the last few years. Another trend is to produce modified starches using cleaner process. Electric fields of certain conditions can facilitate the “cleaner production” of food and industrial ingredients.Scope and approachThis mini-review summarises the modifications of starches from different botanical sources by the electric field based techniques. The techniques are based on pulsed electric field, induced electric field, moderate electric field, and ohmic heating. Physicochemical properties, granular and molecular structures, applications of starch as affected by the electric field based modifications are reviewed. Structure-function relationships of starch as affected by the electric fields are discussed. Impact of electric fields on food systems rich in starch (e.g., flour) is also reviewed. Research gaps to better utilize these techniques for starch modifications are suggested.Key findings and conclusionsDifferent electric field based methods greatly modify the starch physicochemical properties to different extents. Factors affecting the outcomes of the modifications include the starch type and concentrations, electrical conductivity, and electric field type, strength, and duration. Starch modification processes such as hydrolysis and substitutions can be efficiently optimized by applying electric fields. The functionalities of food systems rich in starch can also be modified by these techniques. It becomes evident that electric field based techniques have potential to be used in starch modifications to create a range of functionalities and to help meet the ever-rising market of clean label ingredients.     

Hepatoprotection using sweet orange peel and its bioactive compound,hesperidin, for CCl4-induced liver injury in vivo

The hepatoprotective effect of water extracts of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) peel (WESP) and its biological compound, hesperidin (HD), on oxidative stress in vivo, were investigated. HD was the major compounds among the ten compounds identified using HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS/MS analysis. Oral administration of WESP to rats at 10 and 100 mg/kg bw for 28 consecutive days before a single dose of CCl₄ (2 ml/kg bw) demonstrates a significant protective effect by lowering the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and by improving the histological architecture of the rat liver. WESP attenuated oxidative stress by increasing the content of hepatic glutathione (GSH), and by a dramatic increase in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). WESP induced a significant CYP2E1 activity, which suggests that WESP may be a substrate of CYP2E1. WESP at a dose of 1.0 mg/kg bw and HD at 0.1 mg/kg bw did not sustain the protective effect against oxidative stress, in vivo. This study demonstrated that citrus peel protects rat liver from CCl₄-induced injury by attenuating hepatic oxidative stress, which suggests that WESP can be used as a therapeutic antihepatotoxic agent for the treatment of hepatic injury.     

TribUTE-F assay: Fluorescence-based rapid quantification of dietary intake in the red flour beetle,Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), facilitates evaluation of antifeedant inhibitory effects

Tribolium castaneum (Herbst.) is an important pest of stored grains, nuts, and cereals worldwide. Different methods have been used to estimate dietary intake and feeding preferences of this beetle. A previously described TribUTE (Tribolium Urges To Eat) assay estimates its dietary intake by measuring the amount of gypsum excreta in beetles fed gypsum, a non-digestible and non-toxic compound, using an analytical microbalance. The method revealed the sweet preferences of T. castaneum adults. However, the measurements based on microbalance require individual quantitation of each sample, and the weight of the samples is sometimes below the detection limit of the microbalance. Here, an improved TribUTE assay, designated TribUTE-F assay, that uses gypsum labeled with the fluorescence dye ROX as an endogenous tracer is described. The fluorescence intensity remains constant during the consumption and excretion of the labeled gypsum and it is strongly correlated with the amount of gypsum. This approach was then used to evaluate the inhibitory effect of an antifeedant, mulberry latex, on dietary intake of T. castaneum adults. Compared with microbalance measurements, the new method enables more accurate measurement of near the minimum detectable quantities and is a suitable tool for the discovery of antifeedants.