Food Chemistry Molecular Sciences最新文献

{"title":"Transcriptomic and biochemical insights into LOX pathway aroma biosynthesis during ripening of Ziziphus jujuba Mill. cv. Li","authors":"Lina Wang ,&nbsp;Qiaoling Liu ,&nbsp;Chuan Chen ,&nbsp;Rongfa Guan ,&nbsp;Peilong Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.fochms.2025.100347","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fochms.2025.100347","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Aroma is a critical determinant of fruit quality, largely synthesized through the lipoxygenase (LOX) pathway. We hypothesized that the dynamic regulation of the LOX pathway during jujube fruit ripening governs the distinct evolution of its key aroma compounds. This study used HS-SPME coupled with GC–MS to profile aroma compounds in jujube during ripening. Semi-quantitative analysis revealed hexanal (1160–1870 μg/kg) and (E)-2-hexenal (1470–3180 μg/kg) as the most abundant aldehydes, followed by benzaldehyde and (E)-2-pentenal. Odor activity value (OAV) analysis identified hexanal, (<em>E</em>)-2-hexenal, and (<em>E</em>)-2-nonenal as the key aroma compounds. LOX enzyme activity increased from 277 U/g to 711 U/g during ripening, while ADH and AAT activities showed fluctuating trends. Transcriptome analysis revealed 12 candidate transcripts involved in aroma synthesis, with multivariate statistical analysis demonstrating coordinated changes in gene expression associated with volatile accumulation. Our findings verify the hypothesis that LOX pathway regulation drives aroma evolution during jujube ripening and provide a genetic foundation for targeted quality improvement in jujube fruits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34477,"journal":{"name":"Food Chemistry Molecular Sciences","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100347"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145926706","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The impact of 1-MCP treatment combined with polyethylene film bag packaging on the quality of ‘Shannong Su’ pears during storage","authors":"Xukai Hou ,&nbsp;Rui Zhang ,&nbsp;Xinmeng Zhou ,&nbsp;Lu Li ,&nbsp;Sumin Qi ,&nbsp;Nan Wang ,&nbsp;Zongying Zhang ,&nbsp;Xuesen Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.fochms.2026.100358","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fochms.2026.100358","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Postharvest loss constitutes a critical issue during the storage period of pears. Based on previous studies, both 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) treatment and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) can delay fruit senescence and softening. To investigate whether the combination of these treatments achieves a superior storage effect, ‘Shannong Su’ pears were treated with 1 μL/L 1-MCP for 24 h, then packaged in sealed or perforated film bags or left unpackaged, and stored at 4.00 ± 0.50 °C for 120 days. Firmness, ethylene release, quality indicators, gene expression, and metabolite profiles were analyzed. Results showed that 1-MCP inhibited ethylene production and the expression of <em>PbACS1/2</em> and <em>PbACO1</em>. The combined treatment (1-MCP + sealed film bag) achieved the lowest expression levels of nine key cell wall-degrading enzyme genes (<em>PbXTH1/28</em>, <em>PbPL8/18</em>, <em>PbCGR3</em>, <em>PbPG</em>, <em>Pbα/β-GAL</em>, <em>Pbβ-GLU</em>) and maintained higher firmness, antioxidant capacity, total sugar, protopectin, and cellulose content. Metabolomic analysis revealed that 1-MCP treatment altered the biosynthesis of plant secondary metabolites and fatty acids, suggesting it may influence the anabolic metabolism of defensive compounds and lipids in plants. Film bag packaging affected antioxidant stress responses, nitrogen metabolism, specific amino acid derivative metabolism, and cofactor biosynthesis, indicating that sealed film packaging may induce oxidative stress responses and activate specific defensive or protective metabolic pathways. In conclusion, the combined treatment preserves pear quality through synergistic inhibition of ethylene synthesis, suppression of cell wall-degrading genes, and modulation of metabolic pathways. This cost-effective method can reduce postharvest losses in ‘Shannong Su’ pears and guide the storage of other similar climacteric fruits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34477,"journal":{"name":"Food Chemistry Molecular Sciences","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100358"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077353","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals the coordinated regulation of the miR-34c-5p/AASS axis in chicken skeletal muscle development and intramuscular fat deposition","authors":"Ke Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhenzhen Gu ,&nbsp;Shuohan Li ,&nbsp;Xi Cheng ,&nbsp;Yang Wang ,&nbsp;Hongyu Wei ,&nbsp;Zhimin Cheng ,&nbsp;Yihao Zhi ,&nbsp;Mohammed Kamal Challioui ,&nbsp;Yulong Guo ,&nbsp;Hong Li ,&nbsp;Zhuanjian Li ,&nbsp;Yadong Tian ,&nbsp;Xiangtao Kang ,&nbsp;Xiaojun Liu ,&nbsp;Weihua Tian","doi":"10.1016/j.fochms.2025.100339","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fochms.2025.100339","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Skeletal muscles (SM) development and intramuscular fat (IMF) accumulation are critical determinants of meat quality and yield in chickens. While numerous myogenesis- or adipogenesis-related regulators have been identified in chickens, the coordinated regulation of both SM development and IMF accumulation remains poorly studied. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have increasingly been implicated in myogenesis or adipogenesis by post-transcriptional regulating target gene expression; however, evidence on their coordinated regulation of both SM development and IMF accumulation in chickens is lacking. In this study, time-series transcriptomes for miRNA and mRNA expression were generated from breast muscle tissues of commercial Arbor Acres (AA) broilers across different developmental stages. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis and differential expression analysis revealed ten miRNAs as key regulators of chicken IMF deposition and SM development. Notably, miR-34c-5p simultaneously modulates the proliferation of both chicken primary myoblasts (CPMs) and chicken intramuscular preadipocytes (CIPs), and CPMs myogenic differentiation and CIPs adipogenic differentiation. Mechanistically, miR-34c-5p suppresses <em>AASS</em> gene expression by directly binding to its 3′-untranslated region (3’UTR), thereby coordinately regulating chicken myogenesis and adipogenesis. Collectively, these findings revealed the synchronous regulation of miR-34c-5p in IMF deposition and SM development by silencing its target <em>AASS</em> gene in chickens. These insights enhance our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms underlying IMF deposition and SM development and potential possible genetic targets to improve meat yield and quality in chickens.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34477,"journal":{"name":"Food Chemistry Molecular Sciences","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100339"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145791489","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Transcriptomics and 4D-DIA proteomic analysis reveal differences in meat quality between Sichuan white rabbits and New Zealand white rabbits","authors":"Liangde Kuang ,&nbsp;Yunduan Wang ,&nbsp;Min Lei ,&nbsp;Xueer Mu ,&nbsp;Lin Huang ,&nbsp;Bin Wang ,&nbsp;Jingwei He ,&nbsp;Rui Yang ,&nbsp;Rongxia Li ,&nbsp;Congyan Li ,&nbsp;Wei Fu","doi":"10.1016/j.fochms.2025.100340","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fochms.2025.100340","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding the molecular basis of rabbit meat quality is essential for genetic improvement. We compared Sichuan White (S) and New Zealand White (N) rabbits using carcass phenotyping (<em>n</em> = 20), longissimus dorsi transcriptomics (<em>n</em> = 3), and 4D-DIA proteomics (<em>n</em> = 3). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using |log₂FoldChange| ≥ 0.3693 and p &lt; 0.05, and differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were determined using fold change ≥ 1.3 or ≤ 0.7692 and <em>p</em> &lt; 0.05. S rabbits exhibited lower drip loss and shear force but higher intramuscular fat (IMF) content, despite N rabbits displaying greater carcass yield. Integrated omics analysis revealed 848 differentially expressed genes and 140 differentially expressed proteins. The IMF accumulation in S rabbits was driven by upregulated lipid biosynthesis and suppressed fatty acid oxidation. Enrichment of oxidative phosphorylation and thermogenesis indicated enhanced mitochondrial coupling and redox balance, supporting water-holding capacity. Upregulation of ECM-related integrin β-subunits was correlated with improved tenderness. Sixty-eight KEGG pathways were co-enriched across omics layers, highlighting the interplay of lipid metabolism, mitochondrial function and ECM remodeling. Integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analyses revealed that upregulated lipid biosynthesis, suppressed fatty acid oxidation, and enhanced ECM–receptor signaling jointly contribute to superior meat quality in S rabbits. These findings provide candidate molecular targets for improving native rabbit meat quality and offer a foundation for future marker-assisted selection after validation in independent populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34477,"journal":{"name":"Food Chemistry Molecular Sciences","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100340"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145792046","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Polyphenols in food and food wastes: Extraction, isolation, and health applications","authors":"Malthe Fredsgaard ,&nbsp;Andre Fussy ,&nbsp;Gowri Købke Nybo ,&nbsp;Jutta Papenbrock ,&nbsp;Laura Sini Sofia Hulkko ,&nbsp;Mina Dadjoo ,&nbsp;Tanmay Chaturvedi ,&nbsp;Mette Hedegaard Thomsen","doi":"10.1016/j.fochms.2025.100351","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fochms.2025.100351","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Despite decades of polyphenol research, an integrated perspective on their biosynthesis, advanced extraction methods from food wastes, and potential as versatile inhibitors of pathogenic proteins and enzymes, particularly incorporating modified drug-likeness criteria, remains elusive. This integrative review compares and analyzes data on emerging polyphenol extraction and processing methods from various sources, including fruits, vegetables, berries, food production byproducts, and terrestrial sources of biomass. The drug-likeness of the reviewed polyphenols was assessed via a modified Lipinski's rule of five, and their interactions with proteins and enzymes in pathogenic pathways were investigated. The hypothesis is that polyphenols derived from food wastes exhibit high versatility as potential ligands with promising inhibitory effects that mitigate cascading disease effects in the human body. Therefore, the inhibition of proteins and enzymes involved in a wide range of diseases, including cancers, inflammatory diseases, diabetes and obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and mental and neurological disorders, was explored. Furthermore, the multifaceted nature of food and food waste-derived polyphenols was emphasized, highlighting their potential as extractable compounds with broad health-related applications. These novel insights enable targeted valorization of food wastes for personalized nutraceuticals, promote sustainable bioprocessing, and pave the way for clinical translation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34477,"journal":{"name":"Food Chemistry Molecular Sciences","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100351"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145926708","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Carbohydrate metabolism and phosphorylation cascades regulate flavor formation in chicken meat","authors":"Xin Yang ,&nbsp;Xuewen Chai ,&nbsp;Jishang Gong ,&nbsp;Wen Luo ,&nbsp;Jiguo Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.fochms.2026.100361","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fochms.2026.100361","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The flavor of chicken meat is a major determinant of consumer preference, yet its genetic basis remains poorly understood. Here, we integrated volatile metabolomics, RNA-seq, proteomics, and phosphoproteomics of breast muscle from Qingyuan partridge chicken (QPC) and Cobb broiler (CB). 318 volatile compounds were detected, among which eight (2-pentylfuran, isophorone, 2-undecanone, benzaldehyde, pentanal, 2-heptanone, ethyl acrylate, and 1-octanol) were key differentiators between breeds. Multi-omics analysis revealed carbohydrate metabolism genes (GPI, PGM1, FBP2, LDHA, PGAM1, PGK2, LDHB, PFKM, PKLR, ALDOA, LOC107050559) significantly correlated with key volatile compounds, with GPI and LDHA correlated with all key compounds across expression and phosphorylation levels. Importantly, we identified a PPP1R3A-PPP1CA-GYS1 phosphorylation axis that regulates glycogen metabolism and thereby influences precursor content for Maillard reactions. These findings suggest that carbohydrate metabolism and its phosphorylation cascades may contribute to meat flavor, providing a molecular basis for genetic improvement in poultry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34477,"journal":{"name":"Food Chemistry Molecular Sciences","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100361"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077453","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling reveals sex-specific regulation of breast muscle development during sexual maturation in Huanglang chicken","authors":"Qingyuan Ouyang ,&nbsp;Yuanbo Song ,&nbsp;Jing Li ,&nbsp;Jian Xiao ,&nbsp;Zehe Song ,&nbsp;Haihan Zhang ,&nbsp;Xi He","doi":"10.1016/j.fochms.2026.100366","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fochms.2026.100366","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To better understand the regulatory mechanisms of breast muscle growth in small-sized local breeds, this study aimed to investigate metabolic and transcriptional networks during the initiation of sexual maturation in Huanglang chickens. We hypothesized that sex-specific metabolic and gene expression patterns regulate muscle growth and fat deposition in these chickens. To test this hypothesis, multi-omics approaches were used to analyze chickens at 80 and 120 days post-hatch (dph). Both male and female chickens showed a significant increase in intramuscular fat (IMF) at 120 dph, but with sex-specific changes: females exhibited a significantly higher liver index, while males had a significantly greater breast muscle index. We identified 2627 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in males and 2991 in females, along with 473 and 232 differentially abundant metabolites (DAMs), respectively. The sex-shared ABC transporter pathway supports muscle growth via substrate transport, while the Steroid biosynthesis pathway is female-specific, and the Glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway is male-specific. These results demonstrate that sex-specific regulatory networks shape muscle growth and fat deposition during early sexual maturation, and they provide potential molecular targets for improving intramuscular fat content and meat quality in local chicken breeding programs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34477,"journal":{"name":"Food Chemistry Molecular Sciences","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100366"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077533","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Wheat landraces and microbiome endophytic phytases: In vitro/in silico study for iron bioavailability","authors":"Imane EL Houssni ,&nbsp;Ahmed Zahidi ,&nbsp;Salma Mortada ,&nbsp;Ayoub El-Mrabet ,&nbsp;My El Abbes Faouzi ,&nbsp;Amal Haoudi ,&nbsp;Khadija Khedid ,&nbsp;Rachida Hassikou","doi":"10.1016/j.fochms.2026.100363","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fochms.2026.100363","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study proposes an innovative biotechnological strategy to enhance iron bioavailability in wheat by leveraging the untapped potential of phytase-producing endophytic lactic acid bacteria and yeasts isolated from Moroccan wheat landraces. The research was predicated on the hypothesis that the endophytic microbiota of indigenous wheat landraces possesses a specialized and highly efficient catalytic profile capable of surpassing the structural and kinetic limitations of endogenous wheat enzymes. To validate this hypothesis, the investigation involved: (<em>i</em>) molecular characterization of endophytes via 16S and 18S rRNA sequencing; (<em>ii</em>) quantification of specific phytase activity for ferric phytate degradation; (<em>iii</em>) identification of phytase-encoding genes; and (<em>iv</em>) molecular docking simulations to elucidate enzyme-substrate interactions. Findings confirmed the hypothesis, demonstrating that these microbial phytases possess a superior capacity for ferric phytate hydrolysis, significantly exceeding endogenous wheat activity. Three distinct microbial phytase classes were identified – Histidine Acid Phosphatase (HAP), Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase (PTP), and β-Propeller Phosphatase (βPP) – which complement the native Purple Acid Phosphatase (PAP) found in wheat. Molecular docking results further substantiated the hypothesis by revealing high binding affinities and identifying key catalytic residues within these microbial taxa. These results suggest that the identified strains can be utilized as bio-priming agents or functional fermentation starters to naturally biofortify wheat-based products, providing a scalable biotechnological solution to mitigate global iron deficiency.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34477,"journal":{"name":"Food Chemistry Molecular Sciences","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100363"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188827","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Revealing the antibacterial mechanism of dielectric barrier discharge cold plasma and lactic acid synergy against Pseudomonas fragi based on molecular docking and oxidative damage","authors":"Zhen Li ,&nbsp;Xincheng Mei ,&nbsp;Linlin Cai ,&nbsp;Huhu Wang ,&nbsp;Xinglian Xu ,&nbsp;Peng Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.fochms.2026.100370","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fochms.2026.100370","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Slaughter process of broiler is a major source of microbial contamination and chilling is one of the most important steps for carcasses' sterilization. However, limited research has focused on the carcasses' sterilization technology. Furthermore, the use of sodium hypochlorite in chilling operations can pose risks to human health. Therefore, we hypothesized that synergistic application of dielectric barrier discharge cold plasma (DBD) combined with lactic acid (LA) (DBD + LA) can effectively inhibit the growth of proliferation of specific spoilage bacteria in carcasses. Based on this hypothesis, this study first verified that <em>Pseudomonas</em> is the dominant genus responsible for chicken spoilage and that DBD + LA effectively inhibits its growth. Subsequently, the antibacterial mechanism of DBD + LA against <em>Pseudomonas fragi</em> (<em>P. fragi</em>) was further investigated. After 145 s of DBD + LA treatment, a marked decline in the total viable counts was observed, accompanied by the disruption of cell membrane integrity. Furthermore, DBD + LA treatment considerably increased reactive oxygen species levels while reducing the activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD), intensifying oxidative damage to membrane lipids, proteins, and DNA. Molecular docking revealed that active species, including H₂O₂ and ·OH, interact with the outer membrane protein A, amino acid residues in SOD, and nucleobases in DNA through hydrogen bonding, compromising the structural stability of bacterial proteins and DNA. Collectively, these findings indicate that DBD + LA induces oxidative stress in <em>P. fragi</em> and suppressing bacterial activity. The results are expected to decrease microbial contamination of chicken carcasses and provide insights for the application of DBD in the food industry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34477,"journal":{"name":"Food Chemistry Molecular Sciences","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100370"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188829","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dietary isothiocyanates as redox-active bioactives: A comprehensive review of chemistry","authors":"Yuyun Lu","doi":"10.1016/j.fochms.2026.100364","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fochms.2026.100364","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Isothiocyanates (ITCs, R-NCS), abundant in cruciferous vegetables, are bioactive compounds showing notable reduced cancer risk at the dietary and population levels, primarily attributed to their antioxidant activity. Although numerous studies reported that ITCs can act as radical scavengers or redox agents in various antioxidant tests, it is not known which products are formed at the end of these reactions, the reaction mechanisms, and which groups or atoms are directly involved in the reaction. Additionally, some ITC derivatives can be converted into disulfide, thiourea, or thio-oxide derivatives after reacting with radicals. The cellular effects of these products may be very different from those of the original ITCs. Therefore, a chemical evidence chain identifying the reaction products should be clarified. This work explored various <em>in vitro</em> methods available for measuring antioxidant activity of ITCs, with a particular focus on the underlying chemistry mechanisms of these assays. ITCs exerted their antioxidant activity through mechanisms involving electron-transfer (ET) and/or hydrogen atom transfer (HAT)-based reactions, which occurred on either the -NCS group and/or the R group depending on the structure of ITCs. The reaction pathways and corresponding reaction products were summarized/proposed. Overall, this review provided a theoretical foundation for future research into the health-promoting effects of ITCs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34477,"journal":{"name":"Food Chemistry Molecular Sciences","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100364"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146167065","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}