Food Science & Nutrition最新文献

{"title":"Organic-Microbial Strategies for Iron and Zinc Biofortification in Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato [<i>Ipomoea batatas</i> (L.) Lam.].","authors":"Emmanuel Noumsi-Foamouhoue, Paula Fernandes, Samuel Legros, Hassna Founoune-Mboup, Bassirou Diallo, Komi Assigbetsé, Aboubacry Kane, Frédéric Feder, Jean-Michel Médoc","doi":"10.1002/fsn3.72323","DOIUrl":"10.1002/fsn3.72323","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) is widely promoted in sub-Saharan Africa, including Senegal, for its contribution to vitamin A deficiency mitigation. However, its potential to improve mineral nutrition remains limited by low iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) concentrations and their restricted bioavailability, which may contribute to persistent micronutrient deficiencies affecting 42% of children under 5 years and 37% of women of reproductive age in Senegal. In this context, organic waste products (OWPs) and microbial inocula (MIs) represent promising agroecological alternatives to conventional fertilizers for enhancing the nutritional quality of OFSP while valorizing locally available resources. This study aimed to evaluate the combined effects of various OWPs and MIs on tuber yield and Fe/Zn concentrations in OFSP within an agroecological production system. Field experiments were conducted across two contrasting seasons: a rainy season (June 2021-November 2021), followed by a dry season (December 2021-May 2022). The OFSP variety used was \"Apomudem\". Two types of MIs were tested: local beneficial microorganisms (BMs), a bacterial-fungal consortium derived from fermented forest litter, and mycorrhizal fungi (MF; <i>Glomus mosseae</i>). A factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design with four replications was employed. Results revealed several combinations that significantly improved both yield and micronutrient content. The treatment combining poultry litter (PL) with BMs yielded 21 t ha^-1 of tubers-a 2.6-fold increase compared to the unfertilized control-and doubled Zn concentration to 20 mg kg^-1 DM. Additionally, the combination of PL, BMs, and MF increased Fe concentration to 44 mg kg^-1 DM, a 1.7-fold increase. These effects varied with OWP and inoculum type, confirming that their interactions strongly influenced nutrient enrichment. Overall, combining OWPs with microbial inocula provides an effective agroecological approach for enriching crops with essential micronutrients and opens promising avenues for improving staple crop productivity and nutritional quality by effectively valorizing locally available resources, supporting agroecological transition, and food security.</p>","PeriodicalId":12418,"journal":{"name":"Food Science & Nutrition","volume":"14 9","pages":"e72323"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13539350/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148886718","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrated Metabolomics and Machine Learning Reveal Drying-Dependent Phenolic Markers in Asteraceae Edible Plants From Ulleungdo Island.","authors":"In Young Lee, Doo-Hee Lee, Ju Hong Park, Nami Joo","doi":"10.1002/fsn3.72297","DOIUrl":"10.1002/fsn3.72297","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ulleungdo Island, Korea, features a distinctive oceanic climate that supports a diverse array of edible wild plants traditionally processed through blanching and sun-drying. Despite their cultural and commercial significance, the effects of traditional drying methods on phytochemical composition remain inadequately understood. This study investigated processing-induced metabolic changes in three representative Asteraceae species-<i>Aster pseudoglehnii</i>, <i>Cirsium nipponicum</i>, and <i>Solidago virgaurea</i>-using integrated metabolomics and machine learning approaches. Untargeted UHPLC-HRMS/MS profiling identified 110 secondary metabolites across freeze-dried and sun-dried samples. Hierarchical clustering revealed that species identity was the primary determinant of chemotype, while processing induced consistent quantitative shifts within each species. Traditional processing (blanching followed by sun-drying) significantly reduced photo- and enzymatically labile flavonoid glycosides, whereas caffeoylquinic acid derivatives were relatively preserved. Random Forest analysis combined with SHAP interpretation identified caffeoylquinic acids, including chlorogenic acid and dicaffeoylquinic acid isomers, as processing-stable chemotaxonomic markers, while glycosylated flavonoids served as sensitive indicators of processing intensity. Targeted quantification confirmed these trends and revealed species-specific phenolic allocation patterns. Overall, this study demonstrates that integrating metabolomics with explainable machine learning enables robust identification of processing-dependent marker compounds and provides a biochemical foundation for traditional drying practices and marker-based quality control strategies for Ulleungdo wild vegetables.</p>","PeriodicalId":12418,"journal":{"name":"Food Science & Nutrition","volume":"14 9","pages":"e72297"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13536481/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148879615","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular Mechanisms and Regulation of Anthocyanin Biosynthesis in Rosaceae Fruits: A Review.","authors":"Menghua Luo, Wanjia Tang, Xiaoqing Yuan, Can Hu","doi":"10.1002/fsn3.72269","DOIUrl":"10.1002/fsn3.72269","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Anthocyanin accumulation in Rosaceae fruits is governed by a multi-layered regulatory network integrating transcriptional control, epigenetic modulation, environmental signaling, and metabolic flux allocation. This review presents a critical synthesis of recent advances in this field, moving beyond descriptive gene lists to examine the mechanistic underpinnings of pigment regulation. We first outline the core biosynthetic pathway and post-synthetic modifications that ensure pigment stability. The central focus is on the MYB-bHLH-WD40 transcriptional complex and its integration with epigenetic mechanisms (DNA methylation, histone modifications, non-coding RNAs) and post-transcriptional regulation. We further examine how environmental cues-light, temperature, and hormones-are transduced through these molecular networks, and analyze metabolic flux control at pathway branch points. A cross-species comparative perspective across major Rosaceae crops (<i>Malus</i>, <i>Pyrus</i>, <i>Fragaria</i>, <i>Prunus</i>) reveals conserved regulatory nodes and genus-specific innovations. Finally, we discuss how this integrated knowledge, combined with multi-omics and gene editing tools, is driving targeted strategies in molecular breeding and postharvest quality management. This framework provides a foundation for rational manipulation of fruit coloration and nutritional quality.</p>","PeriodicalId":12418,"journal":{"name":"Food Science & Nutrition","volume":"14 9","pages":"e72269"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13535674/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148879597","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative Study on Morphology, Flavor, and Taste Profile, and Descriptive Sensory Analysis of Conventional Cream Cheese and Non-Dairy Cream Cheese.","authors":"Hiran Janpeng, Natthanicha Banpacha, Gerry Renaldi, Rajnibhas Sukeaw Samakradhamrongthai","doi":"10.1002/fsn3.72301","DOIUrl":"10.1002/fsn3.72301","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study developed and optimized watermelon seed-based cream cheese (WCC) as a plant-based alternative to dairy cream cheese and compared its microstructure, volatile compounds, taste profiles, amino acid composition, and sensory characteristics with commercial vegan cream cheese (VC) and dairy cream cheese (DC). Microstructural analysis by scanning electron microscopy showed progressive network development from the prototype (P1) to the optimized formulation (P3), with increased aggregation and porosity associated with the incorporation of hydrocolloids, salt, and maltodextrin. GC-E-Nose analysis identified 30 volatile compounds across seven chemical groups and revealed significant differences among samples. P1 showed high levels of ethanol and aldehydes related to natural coagulation and lipid oxidation, whereas P2 and P3 showed reduced volatile intensities due to matrix stabilization and acidification. Dairy cream cheese exhibited characteristic fermentation-related volatiles, while VC showed the lowest volatile complexity. Electronic tongue analysis demonstrated significant differences in basic taste attributes among samples, with P3 showing higher saltiness and moderate sourness, shifting its taste profile toward VC. Amino acid analysis showed the highest contents in DC, whereas WCC samples were characterized by arginine-rich profiles and lower essential amino acid levels. Sensory descriptive analysis and PCA indicated that formulation optimization reduced seed-derived nutty and grain notes and increased milk-like attributes in P3. These findings demonstrate that formulation optimization improves the structural integrity and sensory similarity of WCC to commercial cream cheese.</p>","PeriodicalId":12418,"journal":{"name":"Food Science & Nutrition","volume":"14 9","pages":"e72301"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13536484/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148879601","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dietary Polyphenol Acteoside-Related Molecular Signatures in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: Multi-Omics Profiling and Functional Validation of IMPDH1.","authors":"Xu Chen, Dong Zhang, Ziyu Ji, Shuxian Sun, Jia Wang, Shuijie Shen, Jian Zhu","doi":"10.1002/fsn3.72340","DOIUrl":"10.1002/fsn3.72340","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is characterized by substantial metabolic and molecular heterogeneity, but the disease-relevant programs associated with acteoside, a dietary polyphenol, remain poorly understood. We integrated predicted acteoside targets with bulk, single-cell, and spatial transcriptomic data from ccRCC and combined molecular subtyping with cross-cohort machine-learning analysis. Acteoside-related signatures were preferentially enriched in malignant compartments and increased with tumor grade and stage. Consensus clustering identified two molecular subtypes with distinct biological and clinical features. C1 was associated with immune activation, metabolic activity, and more favorable survival, whereas C2 showed greater genomic instability, reduced renal epithelial differentiation, and poorer outcomes. We further benchmarked multiple machine-learning strategies and established a 10-gene prognostic model that retained predictive performance across independent cohorts, with IMPDH1 emerging as the strongest risk-associated feature. Functional experiments confirmed the biological relevance of IMPDH1: its knockdown suppressed ccRCC cell proliferation, DNA synthesis, colony formation, and migration, whereas overexpression produced the opposite effects. Together, these findings indicate that acteoside-related molecular signatures capture clinically relevant heterogeneity in ccRCC and provide a framework for linking dietary-polyphenol-related molecular space with tumor biology. The identification and functional validation of IMPDH1 further highlight its potential importance in ccRCC progression.</p>","PeriodicalId":12418,"journal":{"name":"Food Science & Nutrition","volume":"14 9","pages":"e72340"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13539215/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148886696","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Despite Its High Salt Content, <i>Gochujang</i> Attenuates Obesity-Induced Inflammatory Kidney Damage in Association With Gut Microbiota Modulation.","authors":"So-Min Oh, Un-Seong Na, Do-Youn Jeong, Hayoung Woo, Anna Han","doi":"10.1002/fsn3.72317","DOIUrl":"10.1002/fsn3.72317","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Obesity causes chronic kidney damage. This study investigated the renoprotective effects of <i>Gochujang</i>, a Korean traditional fermented food, despite its high salt content. <i>Gochujang</i> extract (GE) significantly inhibited lipid accumulation and reduced inflammation-related proteins, including TNF-α, in renal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells. Additionally, <i>Gochujang</i> markedly attenuated kidney injury-associated changes by lowering blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) levels, and by improving histopathology in high-fat diet (HD)-induced obese mice. Moreover, <i>Gochujang</i> altered HD-induced gut microbiota changes by increasing diversity and reducing the <i>Firmicutes</i>-to-<i>Bacteroidetes</i> ratio, whereas table salt had no effect. Importantly, alterations in the gut microbiota were strongly correlated with improvements in renal injury and inflammatory indicators, implying an association between the renoprotective effects of <i>Gochujang</i> and gut microbiota modulation. These findings highlight the potential of <i>Gochujang</i> to attenuate obesity-related kidney injury-related changes despite its high salt content.</p>","PeriodicalId":12418,"journal":{"name":"Food Science & Nutrition","volume":"14 9","pages":"e72317"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13539219/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148886738","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Encapsulation of Pomegranate Peel Phenolic Extract Using Orange Peel and Pectin: Stability Evaluation in Baked Products.","authors":"Marwa Ezz El-Din Ibrahim, Randah M Alqurashi","doi":"10.1002/fsn3.72311","DOIUrl":"10.1002/fsn3.72311","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study investigated a patented two-stage lyophilization technique to encapsulate phenolic extract from pomegranate peel using orange peel and commercial pectin as carrier materials. The aim was to improve the stability of bioactive compounds during storage and thermal processing in baked products. Pomegranate peel extract was encapsulated using two approaches: a two-stage lyophilization method with orange peel at a 7:1 extract-to-wall ratio and a conventional single-stage freeze-drying method with pectin. Encapsulated and non-encapsulated extracts were characterized by HPLC, evaluated for color stability during accelerated storage (60°C for 45 days), and incorporated into crackers (1000 ppm) to examine thermal stability, lipid oxidation, fiber enrichment, and sensory attributes. HPLC analysis identified 17-18 phenolic compounds across the different extracts, with punicalagin as the predominant phenolic compound. Compared with commercial pectin, the orange peel-based encapsulation system showed superior retention of phenolic compounds during storage. Following baking, phenolic loss was only 6.7% in the orange peel system, compared with 40.8% and 69.4% in the non-encapsulated and pectin systems, respectively. Encapsulation also improved color stability, reduced lipid oxidation, increased dietary fiber, and maintained sensory acceptability of fortified crackers. Overall, the patented orange peel-based encapsulation system demonstrated superior protection of pomegranate peel phenolic compounds compared with the conventional pectin-based system, highlighting the potential of citrus by-products as sustainable natural carrier materials for developing functional bakery products.</p>","PeriodicalId":12418,"journal":{"name":"Food Science & Nutrition","volume":"14 9","pages":"e72311"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13538958/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148886752","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association Between the Dietary Inflammatory Index and Cardiorenal Anemia Syndrome: Evidence From NHANES and Related-Phenotype Exploration in KNHANES.","authors":"Shirong Lin, Yufeng Chen, Yadan Chen, Lihan Wu, Weijia Zeng, Haiyang Song, Wenjun Ding, Xiaoxiangxin Luo, Jun Ke, Feng Chen","doi":"10.1002/fsn3.72232","DOIUrl":"10.1002/fsn3.72232","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cardiorenal anemia syndrome (CRAS) links heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and anemia, but the role of diet-related inflammation remains unclear. In the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), we examined associations of the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) with CRAS, dose-response patterns, inflammatory mediation, and machine-learning prediction, alongside analysis of a myocardial infarction-CKD-anemia phenotype in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). This study included 25,388 NHANES and 32,935 KNHANES adults. Survey-weighted regression and restricted cubic splines assessed associations with CRAS in NHANES and the related phenotype in KNHANES. Exploratory mediation evaluated six inflammatory indices. In NHANES participants with heart failure, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression selected predictors for 12 internally validated models, with cross-phenotype application in KNHANES and interpretation using Shapley additive explanations (SHAP). Higher DII was associated with greater odds of CRAS in NHANES (odds ratio [OR] = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.07-1.40) and of the related phenotype in KNHANES (OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.10-1.29). The association was largely linear in NHANES but nonlinear in KNHANES. In NHANES, all six indices showed positive indirect associations, with estimated proportions ranging from 5.22% to 16.26%. CatBoost showed the highest discrimination in NHANES internal validation (ROC-AUC = 0.741; PR-AUC = 0.556) and in the KNHANES cross-phenotype application (ROC-AUC = 0.753; PR-AUC = 0.698). Higher DII was associated with greater odds of CRAS in NHANES, with directionally consistent findings for the related phenotype in KNHANES. The model may support model-based CRAS identification and showed preliminary applicability to the related phenotype.</p>","PeriodicalId":12418,"journal":{"name":"Food Science & Nutrition","volume":"14 9","pages":"e72232"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13536486/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148879642","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synergistic Preservation of Mutton Using a Biodegradable Edible Coating Incorporating <i>Lallemantia iberica</i> Mucilage and Cell-Free Supernatant of <i>Lactobacillus helveticus</i> C7303.","authors":"Zeinab Mousavi, Behrooz Alizadeh Behbahani, Hossein Jooyandeh, Morteza Taki, Alireza Vasiee","doi":"10.1002/fsn3.72296","DOIUrl":"10.1002/fsn3.72296","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In this study, a biodegradable coating was formulated using <i>Lallemantia iberica</i> seed mucilage (LISM) and varying concentrations of cell-free supernatant (CFS) (1% and 2%) obtained from the lactic acid bacterium <i>Lactobacillus helveticus</i> C7303. Mutton was subsequently coated via the dipping method. The primary objective was to evaluate the coating's efficacy in extending the storage duration and to monitor microbial, physicochemical, and sensory changes in the coated meat, applying a significance threshold of <i>p</i> < 0.05. Evaluation of total viable counts, psychrotrophic bacteria, fungi, and coliforms revealed that while microbial numbers generally increased over storage time across all samples, they were significantly reduced in the coated mutton as the concentration of the <i>L. helveticus</i> C7303 CFS was increased. Compared to uncoated controls, the coated samples exhibited the lowest levels of pH, peroxide value, thiobarbituric acid (TBA), and total volatile basic nitrogen (TVBN), indicating enhanced oxidative and proteolytic stability. Furthermore, the coating substantially prevented the deterioration of moisture and hardness. Sensory and color analyses confirmed that mutton treated with the highest concentration of the CFS showed the highest overall acceptability. This novel biodegradable coating, utilizing <i>L. iberica</i> mucilage and <i>L. helveticus</i> C7303 CFS, successfully preserved meat quality and extended shelf life at 4°C by inhibiting oxygen exchange and curbing the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms.</p>","PeriodicalId":12418,"journal":{"name":"Food Science & Nutrition","volume":"14 9","pages":"e72296"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13531236/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148873360","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"<i>Crocus sativus</i> (Saffron) Aqueous Extract Mediated Green Synthesis of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles and Their In Vitro and In Vivo Biological Investigations.","authors":"Abdur Rauf, Khurram Shehzad, Hira Naeem, Shahkar Usama, Zubair Ahmad, Bilal Khan, Naveed Muhammad, Muhammad Shafique, Yahya S Al-Awthan, Omar S Bahattab, Mohammed Mansour Quradha","doi":"10.1002/fsn3.72295","DOIUrl":"10.1002/fsn3.72295","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The present study reports the green synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) using the aqueous extract of <i>Crocus sativus</i> (saffron) as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent, followed by comprehensive in vitro and in vivo biological investigations. IONPs were confirmed by UV-visible spectroscopy (peak at 430 nm), FTIR analysis (peaks at 3400, 2900, 1650, 1380, and 1050 cm^-1 indicating polyphenols, flavonoids, and proteins), and SEM imaging, which revealed a highly aggregated, irregular morphology. ImageJ analysis features gave a mean equivalent diameter of 111.98 ± 83.70 nm. EDS analysis confirmed iron (44.74 wt%) and oxygen (24.82 wt%) as the major elements with organic capping (28 wt% carbon). The phytochemical constituents of <i>C. sativus</i> are rich in phenolics and flavonoids, which effectively facilitated the reduction of Fe³⁺ ions to stable nanoscale iron oxide particles. The in vitro enzyme inhibition assays revealed significant inhibitory effects on <i>α</i>-glucosidase and xanthine oxidase, with IC₅₀ values of 33.08 ± 1.29 and 2.96 ± 0.49 μg/mL, respectively, and moderate inhibition of carbonic anhydrase-II (49%). Antibacterial evaluation demonstrated an important zone of inhibition ZOI (21.45 mm) against <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i>, indicating the antimicrobial potential of the IONPs compared to the crude extract. In vivo pharmacological screening further supported their biological efficacy. IONPs showed potent analgesic activity (78% inhibition at 10 mg/kg), pronounced anti-inflammatory effects in carrageenan- and histamine-induced paw edema models (up to 95% inhibition), and marked sedative properties at low doses. These results suggest that <i>Crocus sativus</i>-mediated IONPs may possess strong therapeutic potential due to their enhanced biochemical, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activities. The study highlights saffron-assisted green synthesis as an efficient, eco-friendly, and biocompatible approach for developing multifunctional nanomaterials with possible applications in pharmaceutical, biomedical, and health-related fields.</p>","PeriodicalId":12418,"journal":{"name":"Food Science & Nutrition","volume":"14 9","pages":"e72295"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13532066/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148873409","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}