Food Science & Nutrition最新文献

{"title":"Harnessing <i>Terminalia arjuna</i> in Next Generation Phytomedicine: Cutting Edge Nutraceutical Trends Shaping Food and Health.","authors":"Ishani Banerjee, Fahika Nazeerulla, Manash Kumar Paul, Sujit Kumar Bhutia, Deblina Basu, Subhadip Mukhopadhyay","doi":"10.1002/fsn3.72352","DOIUrl":"10.1002/fsn3.72352","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Phytomedicines are increasingly favored as alternatives to modern treatment due to their enhanced efficacy and cultural relevance in preserving traditional healing knowledge while supporting sustainable healthcare practices. Among them, <i>Terminalia arjuna</i> stands out as a widely consumed dietary and Ayurvedic remedy. This review explores the pharmacological evidence for <i>T. arjuna</i> and its relevance to food science and toxicology, unveiling its molecular mechanisms in health and disease. They target the axis of p53-PARP mediated apoptosis, endoplasmic reticulum stress mechanisms, mitochondrial integrity, and TGF-β mediated remodeling processes. <i>T. arjuna</i>'s major bioactive constituents like arjunic acid, arjunolic acid, and casuarinin, to name a few, possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, renal, and liver-protective capacities. In this work, we critically evaluate the strength of preclinical versus clinical evidence and identify the gaps in bioavailability, safety, and herb-drug interaction data, beyond its pharmacological profile, to establish <i>T. arjuna</i>'s translational potential. This study further explores <i>T. arjuna</i> as a candidate for modern nutraceutical and functional food development while highlighting the need for future validations before its full potential is confirmed.</p>","PeriodicalId":12418,"journal":{"name":"Food Science & Nutrition","volume":"14 10","pages":"e72352"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13621932/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149080263","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":"Protective Effects of Nongxiang-Type Tieguanyin on the Liver of D-Galactose-Induced Aging C57BL/6 Mice via the NF-κB Signaling Pathway","authors":"Weihong Chen,&nbsp;Mingmei Li,&nbsp;Lingxiao Ye,&nbsp;Dongqin Huang,&nbsp;Jianjia Xiao,&nbsp;Yuchao Sang,&nbsp;Zizhen Wang,&nbsp;Jiehong Yang,&nbsp;Chengyong He,&nbsp;Jiabin Chen,&nbsp;Zhenghong Zuo,&nbsp;Xintan Chen","doi":"10.1002/fsn3.72396","DOIUrl":"10.1002/fsn3.72396","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This research aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective and anti-senescence effects of Nongxiang-type Tieguanyin (Tgy-N) on D-galactose (D-gal)-induced aging C57BL/6 mice and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. The chemical composition of Tgy-N was characterized by colorimetric assays and HPLC. An aging mouse model was established by daily intraperitoneal injection of D-gal (200 mg/kg) for 8 weeks, with simultaneous intragastric administration of Tgy-N at 110 or 550 mg/kg/day. Behavioral tests, serum biochemical analyses, hepatic oxidative stress markers, histopathological examination, transcriptomic profiling, and western blotting were performed. The anti-senescence effect was further validated in Nutlin-3a-induced senescent AML12 and HepG2 cells. Tgy-N contained abundant tea polyphenols (286.91 mg/g) and catechins (137.89 mg/g). HPLC analysis with authentic external standards revealed that the absolute contents of EGCG, catechin, catechin gallate, gallic acid, and epigallocatechin in Tgy-N extract were 7.96, 5.79, 4.06, 1.67, and 4.91 mg/g, respectively. In vivo, Tgy-N significantly improved exercise endurance and energy metabolism, reduced the hepatosomatic index, attenuated hepatic oxidative stress (elevated SOD and GSH, reduced MDA), and decreased serum ALT and AST levels. Histologically, Tgy-N ameliorated hepatic lobule disorganization, reduced fibrosis, decreased SA-β-gal-positive areas, downregulated P16/P21/P53, and upregulated Sirt1. Transcriptomic and western blot analyses revealed that Tgy-N suppressed the NF-κB signaling pathway by reducing phosphorylation of IKKα/β and p65. Cellular experiments confirmed that Tgy-N reduced p16/p21 expression and SA-β-gal-positive cell numbers in Nutlin-3a-induced senescent hepatocytes. Tgy-N protects against D-gal-induced hepatic senescence through oxidative stress mitigation and NF-κB pathway inhibition, supporting its potential as a natural functional food for liver health.</p>","PeriodicalId":12418,"journal":{"name":"Food Science & Nutrition","volume":"14 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13621814/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149080244","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":"Antibacterial and Immunomodulatory Activities of a Natural Polysaccharide Against Staphylococcus aureus Infection","authors":"Xu-Chen Xia,&nbsp;Ya-Qi Peng,&nbsp;Lu-Xuan Liu,&nbsp;Bing Cao,&nbsp;Xue-Kun Zhong,&nbsp;Xi-Dong Wu,&nbsp;Tao Liu","doi":"10.1002/fsn3.72411","DOIUrl":"10.1002/fsn3.72411","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Over decades, the growing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, including rhinosinusitis caused by <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, has represented a significant public health challenge. The emergence of multidrug-resistant strains and biofilm formation has limited the efficacy of conventional antibiotics, leading to increased patient morbidity and an urgent need to explore alternative therapeutic agents. <i>Polygonatum kingianum polysaccharides</i> (PKP), key bioactive components derived from traditional herbs, have attracted attention for their broad pharmacological effects. However, a thorough evaluation of their antibacterial potential in complex in vivo infection models remains lacking. Herein, we report the extraction of PKP and a comprehensive assessment of its antibacterial activity both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, PKP exhibited potent, concentration-dependent antibacterial activity against <i>S. aureus</i> and <i>Escherichia coli</i>, with significantly stronger bactericidal activity against the Gram-positive bacterium (89.8% at 400 mg/mL; MIC = 400 mg/mL; MBC = 700 mg/mL). The antibacterial mechanism appeared to involve disruption of the cell membrane, with structural differences among bacterial envelopes likely explaining the variation in efficacy. Furthermore, in a rat model of <i>S. aureus</i>-induced rhinosinusitis, intranasal administration of PKP effectively attenuated bacterial infection, as evidenced by significantly reduced neutrophilic infiltration and abscess formation, as well as decreased levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6). Meanwhile, PKP helped restore the barrier-protective cytokine IL-22. Hematological profiles further confirmed the systemic anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of PKP, including regulation of leukocyte counts and improvement of immune organ indices. This study demonstrated that PKP exhibited significant in vitro and in vivo antibacterial activity against <i>S. aureus</i> through a dual mechanism of direct bactericidal action and modulation of the immune response. Overall, these findings suggest that PKP has great potential as a natural therapeutic agent for bacterial rhinosinusitis.</p>","PeriodicalId":12418,"journal":{"name":"Food Science & Nutrition","volume":"14 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13624530/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149106432","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 Fruits and Vegetables Consumption and Premature Coronary Artery Disease (PCAD): A Multi-Center Case Control Study.","authors":"Noushin Mohammadifard, Sara Aghakhani, Ehsan Zarepur, Alireza Khosravi Farsani, Nahid Azdaki, Nahid Salehi, Masoud Lotfizadeh, Samad Ghaffari, Arsalan Salari, Mostafa Cheraghi, Ahmadreza Assareh, Razieh Hassannejad, Azam Soleimani, Nizal Sarrafzadegan","doi":"10.1002/fsn3.72371","DOIUrl":"10.1002/fsn3.72371","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Few investigations have examined the association of fruits and vegetables with premature coronary artery disease (PCAD) in the Eastern Mediterranean region. This study aimed to evaluate the association between fruits and vegetables intake and PCAD, as well as its severity. This multi-centric case-control study was conducted in the framework of the Iran premature coronary artery disease (IPAD) study. Totally, 3249 participants aged < 60 years in men and < 70 years in women, who were referred for angiography to cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography units across 14 cities in Iran representing eight major Iranian ethnicities were examined. Cases were 2068 patients with a stenosis ≥ 75% in at least one vessel or ≥ 50% in the left main cardiac artery. The Control group was 1181 individuals with a normal angiography test. Dietary intake was assessed using the validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). After full adjustment for confounders, the inverse association with 91%, 96% and 95% PCAD risk reduction was manifest with most frequent fruit consumption (OR: 0.09, 95% CI: 0.06, 0.13), vegetable intake (OR: 0.04, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.06) and total fruits and vegetables consumption (OR: 0.05, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.07), respectively. In both genders, greater intake of fruits, vegetables, and total fruits and vegetables was considerably and negatively associated with the risk of PCAD. Furthermore, the severity of PCAD was inversely correlated with fruits and vegetables intake (<i>p</i> < 0.001). We found an inverse relationship between fruits and vegetables consumption with odds of PCAD in Iranian ethnicities. Our findings highlight dietary habits' role in reducing PCAD risk and severity, guiding prevention and clinical care.</p>","PeriodicalId":12418,"journal":{"name":"Food Science & Nutrition","volume":"14 10","pages":"e72371"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13620836/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149080286","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":"Sunlight-Induced Lipid Oxidation and Degradation of Edible Oil Mediated by Hemoglobin: Implications for Food System Sustainability","authors":"Mahdi Hajimohammadi,&nbsp;Fadhel H. Faraj,&nbsp;Mona Boghdachi,&nbsp;Asawer A. Alwasiti,&nbsp;Zainab Y. Shnain","doi":"10.1002/fsn3.72423","DOIUrl":"10.1002/fsn3.72423","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Lipid oxidation is one of the major factors affecting the quality, safety, and shelf life of edible oils. In this study, sunlight-induced oxidation of edible oil was investigated in an aqueous system using erythrocyte-derived hemoglobin (Hb) as a natural biocatalyst. Significant oxidation was observed only under visible-light irradiation in the presence of Hb and oxygen. The peroxide value (PV) increased rapidly, reaching 9.7 meq O₂/kg within 2.5 h, followed by the degradation of unsaturated fatty acids, indicating the occurrence of secondary oxidation reactions. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) analysis showed a 31.2% decrease in vinylic protons and a 36.9% decrease in bis-allylic protons, together with the appearance of an aldehydic signal at <i>δ</i> 9.5 ppm, confirming the formation of malondialdehyde (MDA). The generation of singlet oxygen (¹O₂) was supported by anthracene bleaching (33%) and its inhibition by sodium azide (NaN₃), while the inhibitory effect of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) suggested the simultaneous involvement of radical-mediated oxidation pathways. Compared with Rose Bengal and potassium permanganate (KMnO₄), Hb showed higher photodegradation activity, likely due to the combined contribution of singlet oxygen generation and ferryl-mediated (HbFe^(IV)═O) hydrogen abstraction. Beyond advancing our understanding of the still underexplored mechanism of hemoglobin-mediated photooxidation, these findings provide a scientific basis for exploring food-derived hemoproteins as naturally abundant photosensitizers for the treatment of lipid-rich wastewater.</p>","PeriodicalId":12418,"journal":{"name":"Food Science & Nutrition","volume":"14 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13620216/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149080266","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 Multi-Omics and Single-Cell Analyses Implicate NOX4 as an Icariin-Associated Oxidative Stress Regulatory Node in Gastric Cancer","authors":"Na Liang,&nbsp;Junyan Li,&nbsp;Zuchao Luo,&nbsp;Zijuan Song,&nbsp;Liyuan Zhang,&nbsp;Chengyi Zou,&nbsp;Chunming Li,&nbsp;Bochen Pan,&nbsp;Jiawei Yang","doi":"10.1002/fsn3.72390","DOIUrl":"10.1002/fsn3.72390","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Icariin, a prenylated flavonoid glycoside from Epimedium species, is a representative dietary polyphenol with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties. Gastric cancer (GC) is a major non-communicable chronic disease characterized by complex molecular alterations and dysregulated redox homeostasis, yet the molecular targets underlying the potential anti-GC activity of icariin remain poorly defined. In this study, we integrated network pharmacology, bulk transcriptomic analysis (TCGA-STAD; GSE15497, GSE84437, GSE84433, and GSE26253), and single-cell RNA sequencing (GSE183904; 142,053 cells) to identify candidate icariin-associated genes in GC. NOX4 expression, prognostic value, and tumor microenvironment characteristics were systematically evaluated. A NOX4-positive endothelial cell (NOX4pos_Endo)-associated molecular subtyping strategy and a LASSO-Cox prognostic model were constructed and validated. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation were performed to explore a potential interaction between icariin and NOX4, and AGS cells were used for in vitro validation. Network pharmacology identified 24 overlapping icariin–GC targets, among which NOX4 showed prominent prognostic relevance. NOX4 was upregulated in GC and associated with unfavorable prognosis across multiple cohorts. At the single-cell level, NOX4 was predominantly expressed in an endothelial subpopulation characterized by angiogenesis-, adhesion-, and extracellular matrix remodeling-related transcriptional features. Consensus clustering identified two molecular subtypes with distinct clinical outcomes and biological characteristics. A 5-gene prognostic model comprising SPIRE1, PLCH1, KCNS3, SLC27A2, and GRP showed moderate predictive performance across independent cohorts. Molecular docking suggested a potential icariin–NOX4 interaction involving Ser576 and Trp377, while molecular dynamics simulation supported the stability of the predicted binding pose. In AGS cells, icariin treatment was associated with reduced NOX4 expression and intracellular ROS levels. Overall, these findings identify NOX4 as a candidate icariin-associated regulatory node in GC and suggest that NOX4/ROS-related signaling may contribute to the cellular response to icariin. Further experimental studies are required to determine whether NOX4 is a direct molecular target of icariin and to clarify its therapeutic relevance.</p>","PeriodicalId":12418,"journal":{"name":"Food Science & Nutrition","volume":"14 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13617199/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149074075","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":"Ethnomedicinal Uses of Thai Legumes (<i>Fabaceae</i>) and Their Potential in Industrial Applications.","authors":"Muhammad Tayyab Arshad, Farhang Hameed Awlqadr, Iffat Ullah, Mamoona Shehzadi, Aneeq Ahmad, Ali Ikram, Maneeba Khalid, Md Sakhawot Hossain","doi":"10.1002/fsn3.72343","DOIUrl":"10.1002/fsn3.72343","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The <i>Fabaceae</i> legumes form part of the global food systems, traditional medicines and provide a good source of proteins, dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals and a wide range of bioactive compounds. <i>Glycine max, Vigna radiata, Cajanus cajan, Clitoria ternatea</i> and <i>Vigna unguiculata</i> are examples of legumes that are important in nutrition, ethnomedicine and sustainable agriculture in Thailand. This review gives a general overview of the phytochemical composition, pharmaceutical benefits and industrial use of Thai legumes. These species contain phenolics, flavonoids, isoflavones, saponins and bioactive peptides which form the basis of their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, cardioprotective, anticancer and neuroprotective effects. In Thailand, traditional knowledge systems emphasize that they are used in the treatment of various ailments and therefore they are pharmacologically relevant. Thai legumes show great promise in the industrial environment, in addition to their medicinal value, in a variety of industries. They are used as primary ingredients in functional foods, plant-based proteins and fermented foods in the food industry and have the advantage of using high processing technologies, including extrusion and solid-state fermentation. In pharmaceuticals, their bioactive compounds are developed in nutraceutical and drugs development. Also, their use in cosmetic formulations and biodegradable biomaterials is an indication of increased interest in sustainable and natural products. Legumes also play a vital role in agriculture by fixing biological nitrogen in the soil making the soil fertile and environmentally friendly. These benefits notwithstanding, several challenges continue to constrain the field, including a shortage of clinical validation, marked phytochemical variability and limited scalability of processing. The review indicates that there is a need to combine research methods in order to harness all the medicinal and industrial potential of Thai legumes.</p>","PeriodicalId":12418,"journal":{"name":"Food Science & Nutrition","volume":"14 10","pages":"e72343"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13617142/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149074148","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":"Nutritional Composition, Chemical Safety, and Microbiological Quality of Farmed Palm Weevil Larvae (<i>Rhynchophorus phoenicis</i>) From a Commercial Rearing Unit in Ghana.","authors":"Benjamin Kumah Mintah, Hilary Kwesi Ketemepi, Ebenezer Asiamah, Akwasi Akomeah Agyekum, Ethel Juliet Serwa Blessie, Akua Boatemaa Arthur, Mokhtar Dabbour","doi":"10.1002/fsn3.72402","DOIUrl":"10.1002/fsn3.72402","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The consumption of palm weevil larvae (<i>Rhynchophorus phoenicis</i>), a traditional edible insect in Ghana, is on the rise; nevertheless, comprehensive data are scarce regarding the impact of culinary processing on its nutritional profile and safety. This research assessed the proximate composition, mineral content, chemical safety (heavy metals), health risk, microbiological quality, and physicochemical properties of fresh, boiled, fried, and roasted <i>R. phoenicis</i> larvae. The proximate composition was analyzed using AOAC methods, essential and harmful metals were measured through AAS and ICP-MS, microbiological quality was evaluated via standard culture methods, and potential health risks were determined using estimated daily intake (EDI) and target hazard quotient (THQ). Frying and roasting significantly reduced moisture content (to 30.5% and 46.2%, respectively) and increased protein content by 133.36% and 114.89%, respectively, compared to fresh larvae. Fat content was highest in fried samples (34.4%), resulting in elevated energy values (442.19 kcal/100 g). Calcium and iron contents increased significantly following frying and roasting, while zinc was better retained in fresh and boiled samples. Mercury and arsenic were below detection limits in all samples, whereas lead (0.33-0.39 mg/kg) and cadmium (0.82-0.94 mg/kg) exceeded Codex maximum limits; nevertheless, THQ values for all metals were < 1, indicating low non-carcinogenic health risk. ILCR values for cadmium ranged from 3.4-4.1 × 10^-6, slightly above the US EPA acceptable risk level (1 × 10^-6). MOE values for lead ranged from 1.79-1.96, indicating that exposure from PWL consumption is within a range of concern under the EFSA framework. Consuming fresh PWL unwashed (APC = 7.0 log₁₀ CFU/g) or washed with water only (APC = 5.2 log₁₀ CFU/g) is not recommended based on microbiological safety standards. UV-spectra data corroborated the study findings.</p>","PeriodicalId":12418,"journal":{"name":"Food Science & Nutrition","volume":"14 10","pages":"e72402"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13617201/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149074183","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":"Converting Equol Nonproducers to Producers: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials.","authors":"Jiatong Li, Mengyi Li, Saied Aboushanab, Mark Ebeid, Rieko Hatanaka, Miho Iida, Masato Takase, Ian Jacobs, Arnur Gusmanov, Aya Hirata, Naoko Miyagawa, Naoki Nakaya, Daisuke Sugiyama, Curtis Tilves, Atsushi Hozawa, Xingnan Li, Noel T Mueller, Panayiotis V Benos, Akira Sekikawa","doi":"10.1002/fsn3.72394","DOIUrl":"10.1002/fsn3.72394","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Soy isoflavones have been associated with benefits for menopausal symptoms, cardiovascular health, and cognitive function, yet randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in Western countries have produced inconsistent results. A key factor may be equol, a metabolite of daidzein with stronger estrogenic and antioxidant effects, produced at lower rates in Western than in East Asian populations. This systematic review evaluates RCTs aimed at converting equol nonproducers to producers (CRD420251038428). We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science for RCTs published between 1991 and 2025. Twelve RCTs (<i>n</i> = 730, 85.5% female) met inclusion criteria. Interventions included soy isoflavones alone, soy with probiotics, fermented soy products, seaweed, and wheat bran. Studies were conducted in Japan (<i>n</i> = 1), Brazil (<i>n</i> = 1), and Western countries (<i>n</i> = 10), with durations ranging from a single dose to 2.5 years. Study quality was assessed using the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute evaluation tool. None of the interventions significantly converted equol nonproducers into producers, with methodological limitations including small sample sizes, inconsistent equol measurement, and heterogeneous populations compromising reliability. Achieving equol producer status could unlock the full nutritional potential of soy isoflavones for menopausal, cardiovascular, and cognitive health. Future studies should prioritize standardized equol measurement, microbiome-targeted interventions, and well-powered, diverse populations to develop effective dietary strategies for Western populations where soy intake and equol production remain low.</p>","PeriodicalId":12418,"journal":{"name":"Food Science & Nutrition","volume":"14 10","pages":"e72394"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13617254/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149074150","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":"Enhancing the Shelf Life and Microbial Safety of Refrigerated Eggs Using Edible Coatings of Aloe Vera Gel Combined With Fennel and Lime Peel Essential Oils","authors":"Zahra Ranjbarinasab,&nbsp;Fatemeh Shahdadi,&nbsp;Maryam Yousefi,&nbsp;Zohreh Seyedimarghaki,&nbsp;Shima Omidi","doi":"10.1002/fsn3.72389","DOIUrl":"10.1002/fsn3.72389","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In order to investigate the effect of coating with aloe vera gel (100%), different levels of fennel and lime peel essential oil (0, 500, and 1000 ppm) on some qualitative and microbial characteristics of eggs at refrigerated temperature (5°C) during three storage periods (1, 15, and 30 days), an experiment was conducted as a factorial in a completely randomized design with three replications. During the storage period, the weight loss (%), Haugh unit, shell thickness, albumen and yolk pH, albumen foam production and total bacterial count were investigated. The results showed that the highest weight after 30 days of storage, the highest weight loss was observed in the control (4.81%), whereas all coated treatments showed significantly lower weight loss (3.35%–3.36%). The highest Haugh unit values were recorded in the treatments coated with aloe vera gel containing 1000 ppm fennel essential oil (65.74) and 1000 ppm lime peel essential oil (65.40), whereas the lowest value was observed in the control (54.17). The highest pH of egg white and yolk was observed in the control compared to other experimental treatments on days 15 and 30. Shell thickness was not affected by the experimental treatments (<i>p</i> &gt; 0.05). At the end of the storage, the highest total microbial count was observed in the control (5.40 log CFU/g) and the lowest in the aloe vera + 1000 ppm fennel essential oil (4.16 log CFU/g) and aloe vera + 1000 ppm lime peel essential oil (4.17 log CFU/g) treatments. In general, it can be concluded that coating with aloe vera gel along with fennel and lime peel essential oil, particularly at 1000 ppm, can be used as an effective combination to reduce the microbial load and maintain the quality of the internal contents of eggs during the storage period.</p>","PeriodicalId":12418,"journal":{"name":"Food Science & Nutrition","volume":"14 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13617203/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149074087","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}