Marine Bioactive Compounds and Their Health Benefits: A Review

The significance of marine creatures as a source of unique bioactive compounds is expanding. Marine organisms constitue nearly half of the wordwide biodiversity; thus, oceans and sea present a vast resource for new substances and it is considered the largest remaining reservoir of beneficial natural molecules that maight be used as functional constituents in the food sector. This review is an update to the information about recent functional seafood compounds (proteins, peptides, amino acids, fatty acids, sterols, polysaccharides, oligosaccharides, phenolic compounds, photosynthetic pigments, vitamins, and minerals) focusing on their potential use and health benefits.     

食品抗氧化剂与人体健康

随着经济的发展和生活的改善，食品安全和健康日益成为人们关注的焦点。食品添加荆中的抗氧化荆，是保证食品安全的重要措施，作者综述了近年国内外天然抗氧化荆对人体退行性疾病预防的研究，重点介绍了类胡萝卜素和多酚黄酮的性质、功能及在食品工业中的应用。     

食品运载体系包埋叶黄素的研究进展

叶黄素属于类胡萝卜素,具有多种生物活性功能,可以避免视网膜色素上皮细胞受蓝光损伤、预防心脑血管疾病、抗肿瘤等;此外,叶黄素还是天然的食品着色剂和抗氧化剂。但是叶黄素存在水溶性和化学稳定性较差、生物利用率低等缺陷,这限制了其在食品领域中的应用。利用食品运载体系可以解决上述问题。本文分析了限制叶黄素应用的原因,对现有食品运载体系包埋叶黄素的研究现状进行综述,以期为叶黄素的进一步研究与应用提供参考。     

食品运载体系包埋叶黄素的研究进展

叶黄素属于类胡萝卜素,具有多种生物活性功能,可以避免视网膜色素上皮细胞受蓝光损伤、预防心脑血管疾病、抗肿瘤等;此外,叶黄素还是天然的食品着色剂和抗氧化剂。但是叶黄素存在水溶性和化学稳定性较差、生物利用率低等缺陷,这限制了其在食品领域中的应用。利用食品运载体系可以解决上述问题。本文分析了限制叶黄素应用的原因,对现有食品运载体系包埋叶黄素的研究现状进行综述,以期为叶黄素的进一步研究与应用提供参考。     

Natural red pigments from plants and their health benefits: A review

Carotenoids (specifically lycopene), anthocyanins, and betacyanins are natural red pigments found in fruits and vegetables. They possess antioxidant properties beneficial in the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Recently, natural colouring agents have attracted increasing attention from the food industry as a substitute to the artificial colouring compounds, which have been discovered to cause negative impact to human’s health upon consumption. There is a growing interest in the natural red pigments in food science, due to their preventive effects on chronic diseases. Stability of the natural pigments should be concerned, as it might affect the saturation of the colour.     

A Review on the Potential Human Health Benefits of the Black Walnut: A Comparison with the English Walnuts and Other Tree Nuts

The aim of this review was to evaluate the potential human health benefits of the Black walnut by comparing its compositional similarities and differences with other nuts, particularly the English walnut. The Black walnut contains higher levels of monounsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants, such as the polyphenols and γ-tocopherol, compared to English walnut. These components have been correlated with the prevention and/or attenuation of several types of diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative conditions. Other nutrients that are also present in the Black walnut include dietary fiber, folate, phytosterols, protein, melatonin, etc., which have been linked with multiple human health promoting properties. Based primarily on its phytochemical composition, the Black walnut is a potentially potent, yet critically understudied, dietary system for promoting human health.     

Brown Rice Versus White Rice: Nutritional Quality,Potential Health Benefits,Development of Food Products,and Preservation Technologies

Obesity and chronic diet‐related diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cancers, and celiac are increasing worldwide. The increasing prevalence of these diseases has led nutritionists and food scientists to pay more attention to the relationship between diet and different disease risks. Among different foods, rice has received increasing attention because it is a major component of billions of peoples’ diets throughout the world. Rice is commonly consumed after polishing or whitening and the polished grain is known a high glycemic food because of its high starch content. In addition, the removal of the outer bran layer during rice milling results in a loss of nutrients, dietary fiber, and bioactive components. Therefore, many studies were performed to investigate the potential health benefits for the consumption of whole brown rice (BR) grain in comparison to the milled or white rice (WR). The objective of this work was to review the recent advances in research performed for purposes of evaluation of nutritional value and potential health benefits of the whole BR grain. Studies carried out for purposes of developing BR‐based food products are reviewed. BR safety and preservation treatments are also explored. In addition, economic and environmental benefits for the consumption of whole BR instead of the polished or WR are presented. Furthermore, challenges facing the commercialization of BR and future perspectives to promote its utilization as food are discussed.     

A Review of Criteria and Methods for Evaluating the Probiotic Potential of Microorganisms

Probiotics are live organisms that, when consumed in sufficient quantities, confer health benefits to the host. There is global interest in probiotics research; many are isolated from diverse niches and identified in numerous ways. The challenge is selecting the precise range of tests and methods to use. Some tests are argued to be outdated, biased and/or irrelevant. Screening guidelines exist, but at times are not strictly followed. In many countries, firm regulations regarding probiotics declaration and use are nonexistent. Consequently, some organisms are presented as probiotics without strong scientific evidence. This review discusses common screening approaches, their relevance, strengths and weaknesses.

Abbreviations: ADP: Adenosine Diphosphate; ATCC: American Type Culture Collection; ATP: Adenosine Triphosphate; BSH: Bile Salt Hydrolase; Caco-2: Cancer coli-2; cFDA-SE: Carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester; CLSI: Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute; DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid; EPN: Epinephrine; FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization; FbPA: Fibronectin binding protein A; FDA: Food and Drug Authority; GIT: Gastrointestinal tract; GRAS: Generally Recognized as Safe; HEPES : 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid; HT-29: Human colon adenocarcinoma cells; HT-29 MTX: Methotrexate treated human colon adenocarcinoma cells; ICMR-DBT: Indian Council of Medical Research and Department of Biotechnology; IBS: Irritable Bowel Syndrome; ICR: Inherited Cataract Rat; LAB: Lactic Acid Bacteria; MFI: Mean Fluorescence Intensity; MIC: Minimum Inhibitory Concentration; mRNA: Messenger Ribonucleic Acid; MRS: de Man Rogosa Sharpe; NCCB: Netherlands Culture Collection of Bacteria; OD: Optical Density; PBS: Phosphate Buffered Saline; PGE: Prostaglandin; RBC: Red Blood Cells; SHIME: Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem; SDS-PAGE: Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis; TLC: Thin-Layer Chromatography; TRAP-6: Thrombin Receptor Activator Peptide-6; WHO: World Health Organization     

从农田到餐桌到营养:食物组分化学结构变化对健康效益的影响

食物富含多种化学组分,食物组分经历了加工释放与降解和体内吸收与代谢等一系列过程,最终被机体利用。随着食品化学和食品营养学科的深入发展,食物组分从农田到餐桌到人体过程中的关键变化、影响因素和调控方法得到了高度关注和广泛研究。梳理了从农田到餐桌过程中食物营养组分的体外加工和体内消化吸收阶段的变化及对人体的健康效益,介绍了食物加工、人体摄入过程中营养组分的变化(化学结构氧化降解),包括食物基质的破碎、组分的释放、体内的消化吸收,以及营养与功能组分发挥的健康功效等;分析了食物组分从农田到餐桌到人体过程中的关键影响因素,包括食物加工的方法和条件、食物的原始状态、食物的种类、食物基质性质和人体健康状态等;总结了食物从农田到餐桌到人体变化过程的营养功能强化策略,包括加工方法优化、膳食来源选择、食物形式选择、烹饪方法优化以及营养与功能组分递送系统的选择等;对未来食品营养产业的健康和可持续化发展进行了展望。     

燕麦生物碱及其潜在的保健作用

燕麦(Avena sativa L.)是一种公认的有益心脏健康的食品,其保健功能除归因于高含量的β-葡聚糖外,还因其富含多种功能成分,如植酸、维生素E、黄酮类和超过20种的燕麦生物碱等。燕麦生物碱是燕麦特有的酚酸类衍生物,具有多种生物活性,对人类和动物健康非常有益。最新研究表明,燕麦生物碱兼有抗炎、抗增殖和止痒等生物活性,对于冠心病、结肠癌和皮肤瘙痒等疾病的防治起到重要的作用。本文对燕麦生物碱的结构分布、保健作用及其生物合成作了系统的阐述,对于开发燕麦新产品、提高燕麦产品附加值具有重要意义。     

Polyphenols in fig: a review on their characterisation,biochemistry during ripening,antioxidant activity and health benefits

Fig fruit (consumed either fresh or dried) is a rich source of polyphenols distributed throughout its peel and pulp. However, the peel part is superior in diversity of these compounds in comparison to the pulp. Fig polyphenols have been extracted both by conventional solid–liquid extraction and novel assisted methods (mainly ultrasound-assisted and microwave-assisted procedures). These can be characterised primarily into flavonoids (anthocyanins, flavan-3-ols and various flavonol glycosides) and phenolic acids. Figs contain good levels of anthocyanins (such as cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, cyanidin-3,5-diglucoside and cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside) which impart different colouring hues to these fruits during the ripening process. Moreover, fig polyphenols have associated antioxidant activities and impart many health benefits such as antihyperglycaemic, hepatoprotective and antispasmodic activities. This review provides a thorough information on the fig polyphenols, stressing on their extraction, characterisation as well as quantification, the biochemical changes during the ripening process, associated antioxidant activity and health benefits.     

Antarctic Krill (Euphausia superba) Oil: A Comprehensive Review of Chemical Composition,Extraction Technologies,Health Benefits,and Current Applications

Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) oil has been receiving increasing attention due to its nutritional and functional potentials. However, its application as a novel food ingredient has not yet been fully explored. This review summarizes the chemical composition, extraction technologies, potential health benefits, and current applications of krill oil, with the aim of providing suggestions for its exploitation. Krill oil is a unique lipid consisting of diverse lipid classes and is characterized by a high concentration (39.29% to 80.69%) of phospholipids (PLs) associated with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). It also contains considerable amounts of bioactive minor components such as astaxanthin, sterols, tocopherols, vitamin A, flavonoids, and minerals. The current technologies used in krill oil production are solvent extraction, nonsolvent extraction, super/subcritical fluid extraction, and enzyme‐assisted pretreatment extraction, which all greatly influence the yield and quality of the end‐product. In addition, krill oil has been documented to have various health benefits, including anti‐inflammatory effects, cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention, women's health, neuroprotection, and anticancer activities. Although krill oil products used for dietary supplements have been commercially available, few studies have attempted to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms to elucidate how exactly the krill oil exerts different biological activities. Further studies should focus on this to improve the development of krill oil products for human consumption.     

苦荞中活性物质及其保健功效研究进展

苦荞是中国一种传统的农作物,含有多酚、蛋白质和多糖等多种生物活性物质,以黄酮含量高而出名。这些活性物质通过自身性质特点和彼此间的相互作用,使得苦荞表现出抗氧化、抗癌、降血压、降血糖和降胆固醇等多种健康益处。因此,苦荞已成为一种重要的保健食品原料,逐渐被人们所了解和接受。本文主要从苦荞的活性物质和保健功效两方面出发,深层次探讨研究国内外苦荞中活性物质和保健功效的研究现状,以期为苦荞进一步的开发与利用提供参考。     

Shellfish: Nutritive Value,Health Benefits,and Consumer Safety

Shellfish is a major component of global seafood production. Specific items include shrimp, lobsters, oysters, mussels, scallops, clams, crabs, krill, crayfish, squid, cuttlefish, snails, abalone, and others. Shellfish, in general, contain appreciable quantities of digestible proteins, essential amino acids, bioactive peptides, long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, astaxanthin and other carotenoids, vitamin B₁₂ and other vitamins, minerals, including copper, zinc, inorganic phosphate, sodium, potassium, selenium, iodine, and also other nutrients, which offer a variety of health benefits to the consumer. Although shellfish are generally safe for consumption, their exposure to diverse habitats, the filter feeding nature of shellfish such as oysters, clams, and mussels, and unhealthy farming and handling practices may occasionally entail health risks because of possible presence of various hazards. These hazards include pathogenic organisms, parasites, biotoxins, industrial and environmental pollutants, heavy metals, process‐related additives such as antibiotics and bisulfite, and also presence of allergy‐causing compounds in their bodies. Most of the hazards can be addressed by appropriate preventive measures at various stages of harvesting, farming, processing, storage, distribution, and consumption. Furthermore, consumer safety of shellfish and other seafood items is strictly monitored by international, governmental, and local public health organizations. This article highlights the nutritional value and health benefits of shellfish items and points out the various control measures to safeguard consumer safety with respect to the products.     

谷子的生产概况及其保健功能与机理研究进展

谷子因其具有重要的农业工业价值、高营养价值和生物活性成分而备受关注.本文首先介绍了谷子的生产概况,进而综述了国内外有关谷子保健功能及其机理的研究进展.大量研究表明,谷子具有抗氧化、降血糖、降血脂、降血压、抗肿瘤、免疫调节、保护肝脏等多种保健功能,这主要与其功能成分酚类物质、活性肽、膳食纤维、类胡萝卜素、脂肪酸等有关.全...     

Nutritional and Nutraceutical Properties of Triticum dicoccum Wheat and Its Health Benefits: An Overview

Triticum dicoccum wheat is one of the ancient wheat species and is gaining popularity due to its suggested health benefits as well as its suitability for organic farming. In some parts of the world, certain traditional foods prepared with dicoccum wheat are preferred due to their better taste, texture, and flavor. It is rich in bioactive compounds and its starch has been reported to have slow digestibility. However, content and composition of bioactive compounds is reported to vary depending on the geographical location, seasonal variations, varieties used, and the analytical methods followed. Therefore, in the present study, we report the food uses, digestibility of starch, nutritional and nutraceutical compositions of dicoccum wheat grown in different parts of the world, and also its health benefits in ameliorating diabetes and celiac disease.     

植物多酚黄酮抗氧化剂与人体健康

主要综述了对植物多酚黄酮类物质的生物活性和安全性,其内容包括:茶多酚、甘草黄酮、竹叶黄酮、大豆异黄酮以及从各种鲜果提取物的功能成分,如葡萄提取物、杨梅提取物、橄榄提取物,乌饭树果提取物等。介绍了植物多酚黄酮的国际市场信息及相关的研究机构和生产单位。     

Phenolic Antioxidant Biosynthesis in Plants for Functional Food Application: Integration of Systems Biology and Biotechnological Approaches

We are applying a dynamic systems biology approach to the development of several phenolic phytochemicals in food-grade plants as ingredients for functional food applications. Phenolic antioxidant phytochemicals from food-grade plants will be an important part of a healthy diet in a global population that is projected to reach 9 billion in the next 50 years. Such phytochemicals are being targeted for designing conventional foods with added health benefits (functional foods). Such value-added foods are needed for dietary support to manage major oxidation-linked diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, cognition diseases and cancer. Plants produce phenolic metabolites as a part of growth, developmental and stress-adaptation response. These stress and developmental-modulated phenolic phytochemicals can be targeted for the design of functional foods. In order to design consistent food-grade phytochemical profiles for safety and clinical relevancy, novel tissue culture and bioprocessing technologies have been developed. The strategy for designing these phenolic phytochemicals is based on the model that phenolic metabolites in plants are efficiently produced through an alternative mode of metabolism that links proline synthesis to activity of the pentose-phosphate pathway. Using the proline-linked pentose-phosphate pathway model, techniques have been developed to isolate high phenolic clonal lines of food-grade plants from single heterozygous seeds. Further, using the same model, elicitation concepts and techniques have been applied to over-produce phenolic metabolites in seeds and sprouts. In both clonal and seed sprout systems, exogenous treatment of phenolic phytochemicals from a non-target species elicited endogenous stimulation of phenolic synthesis and, potentially, an antioxidant response. From these investigations, a hypothetical model has been proposed in which the proline-linked pentose-phosphate pathway is critical for modulating protective antioxidant response pathways in diverse biological systems, including humans. This model, when confirmed precisely, may provide a mechanism for understanding the mode of action of phenolic phytochemicals in modulating antioxidant pathways in relation to human health. An understanding of the interconnection of the proline-linked pentose-phosphate pathway and antioxidant response pathway can provide dietary and nutritional mechanisms as well as new strategies to manage oxidation-linked diseases through improvement of host physiological response. In this review we have focused on clonal herbs, fava bean sprouts and cranberry bioprocessing as 3 model systems for understanding biosynthesis of phenolic metabolites for functional food application.