Food frontiers最新文献

{"title":"Conjugated 2′-Fucosyllactose–Potato Protein Hydrolysate as Novel Prebiotics","authors":"Stav Peled,&nbsp;May Cohen-Hakmon,&nbsp;Ravit Edelman,&nbsp;Yechezkel Kashi,&nbsp;Yoav D. Livney","doi":"10.1002/fft2.70281","DOIUrl":"10.1002/fft2.70281","url":null,"abstract":"<p>While most prebiotics are carbohydrate-based, probiotics also require amino acids to proliferate. However, approximately 90% of dietary protein is absorbed in the small intestine, leaving gut microbes to compete for limited residual unabsorbed peptides reaching the colon. To address this, we developed protein-containing prebiotics designed to selectively deliver both proteins and carbohydrates to gut probiotics, boosting their growth more effectively than carbohydrate-only prebiotics. This novel prebiotic platform utilizes Maillard conjugates of prebiotic oligosaccharides and protein hydrolysates, which self-assemble into micelles with a protein core and an oligosaccharide shell. This structure retards upper gastrointestinal protein absorption, while enabling oligosaccharide-mediated, selectively targeted delivery to colonic probiotics. In this study, Maillard conjugates of 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL) and potato protein hydrolysate (PPH) were formed (pH 8, 80°C, 3 h). These conjugates demonstrated resistance to gastrointestinal digestion, thereby increasing the protein fraction reaching the colon. In a 5-week murine model, 2′-FL-PPH supplementation significantly increased the abundance of <i>Bifidobacteria</i>, short-chain-fatty-acids (SCFAs)-producing genera, and colonic SCFAs levels compared to saline control, outperforming conventional prebiotics (2′-FL and the unconjugated components). Notably, no increase in harmful proteolytic fermentation byproducts was observed. Additionally, 2′-FL-PPH enhanced gut barrier markers (MUC2 and claudin-1), increased fecal moisture, and reduced weight gain and hepatic fat accumulation more effectively than the conventional prebiotics. These cumulative findings indicate that protein-containing prebiotics offer an improved alternative to carbohydrate-only prebiotics, presenting a promising strategy for enhancing metabolic and gut health. This platform may be extended to additional protein–oligosaccharide combinations to tailor microbiome-targeted nutritional interventions in health and disease states.</p>","PeriodicalId":73042,"journal":{"name":"Food frontiers","volume":"7 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/fft2.70281","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148039885","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"","authors":"","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73042,"journal":{"name":"Food frontiers","volume":"7 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148083579","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":"","authors":"","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73042,"journal":{"name":"Food frontiers","volume":"7 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148083581","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":"","authors":"","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73042,"journal":{"name":"Food frontiers","volume":"7 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148083577","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":"","authors":"","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73042,"journal":{"name":"Food frontiers","volume":"7 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148079218","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":"","authors":"","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73042,"journal":{"name":"Food frontiers","volume":"7 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148083585","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":"Inactivation Strategies of Clostridium perfringens in Foods: Current Challenges and Emerging Interventions","authors":"Deepak Subedi,&nbsp;Bharath Mallavarapu,&nbsp;Pranita Patil,&nbsp;Sujitha Bhumanapalli,&nbsp;Sandesh Chapagain,&nbsp;Kham Bahadur Khatri,&nbsp;Milan Kandel,&nbsp;Amit Kumar Singh","doi":"10.1002/fft2.70286","DOIUrl":"10.1002/fft2.70286","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Clostridium perfringens</i> is a Gram-positive, anaerobic, spore-forming bacterium and a major cause of foodborne illness worldwide. It produces enterotoxins that cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately one million cases of <i>C. perfringens</i>-related foodborne illness occur annually in the United States, although fewer than 1200 cases are officially reported. The persistence of this pathogen is largely attributed to its ability to form highly resistant spores that withstand heat and other environmental stresses, thereby posing significant challenges for food safety. Various physical and chemical interventions have been developed to inactivate vegetative cells and spores in food systems. However, their efficacy depends on food composition, pathogen load, and processing conditions. While strategies targeting vegetative cells are generally effective, overcoming spore resistance remains a critical challenge. This review synthesizes current knowledge on physical and chemical inactivation methods for <i>C. perfringens</i> in food and meat products, highlighting their mechanisms, limitations, and practical challenges associated with their implementation.</p>","PeriodicalId":73042,"journal":{"name":"Food frontiers","volume":"7 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/fft2.70286","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148039820","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"pH-Shift-Prepared Chlorella pyrenoidosa Protein/Peptide–Calcium Complexes Improve Skeletal Health by Enhanced Intestinal Calcium Utilization in Calcium-Deficient Rats","authors":"Yan Yang,&nbsp;Shenwan Wang,&nbsp;Qimeng Zhou,&nbsp;Ye Qi,&nbsp;Bin Zhou,&nbsp;Jing Li,&nbsp;Tao Hou,&nbsp;Bin Li,&nbsp;Hongshan Liang","doi":"10.1002/fft2.70270","DOIUrl":"10.1002/fft2.70270","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Calcium carbonate supplements often exhibit limited solubility and gastrointestinal precipitation, restricting calcium availability. To address this limitation, an enzyme-free pH-shift strategy was applied to prepare <i>Chlorella pyrenoidosa</i> protein (CPP)/peptide–calcium complexes (pH–Ca) and to evaluate their effects on calcium utilization in calcium-deficient rats. Alkaline pH-shift treatment promoted protein unfolding and increased the accessibility of calcium-binding groups, resulting in an effective chelation rate of 44.04% ± 1.34% under optimized conditions (pH 13, 4 h). Spectroscopic analyses indicated the formation of predominantly amorphous protein/peptide–calcium complexes. In vivo, pH–Ca supplementation significantly improved bone mineral indices, microarchitecture, and mechanical strength compared with calcium carbonate and untreated protein–calcium controls. These skeletal benefits were accompanied by partial restoration of duodenal morphology, normalization of intestinal calcium transport–related gene expression, and increased gut microbiota diversity. Overall, pH-shift-prepared CPP/peptide–calcium complexes enhance intestinal calcium utilization and skeletal outcomes in calcium-deficient rats.</p>","PeriodicalId":73042,"journal":{"name":"Food frontiers","volume":"7 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/fft2.70270","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148039821","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Homoisoflavonoids—From Natural Specificity and Biosynthesis to Precision Health-Promoting Mechanisms","authors":"Jing Zhang,&nbsp;Han Chen,&nbsp;Jinping Si,&nbsp;Zhigang Han,&nbsp;Xinfeng Zhang","doi":"10.1002/fft2.70282","DOIUrl":"10.1002/fft2.70282","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Flavonoids are key natural health supplements and nutrients, renowned for their various physiological activities, including antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-aging effects. Homoisoflavonoids are a rare flavonoid subclass distinguished by an extended carbon bridge between the B- and C-rings, forming a unique bi-aromatic oxygen-heterocyclic system. Homoisoflavonoids exhibit potent anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and anticancer activities. Notably, sappanone A potently mitigates neuroinflammation via the allosteric inhibition of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase 2 (IMPDH2), a mechanism recognized among the Top Ten Medical Advances in China (2017). Regarding hypoglycemic activity, brazilin exhibits superior in vivo potency at a lower dose (40 mg/kg) compared to conventional flavonoids (100 mg/kg). 4′,5,7-Trihydroxy-6,8-dimethylhomoisoflavanone inhibits colorectal cancer (CRC) cell growth (half maximal inhibitory concentration, IC₅₀ = 4.6–6.7 µM), significantly suppressing xenograft tumor growth without systemic toxicity. This review systematically elucidates the unique structure–activity relationship (SAR) mechanisms of homoisoflavonoids in anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and anticancer activities. It underscores their distinctive natural distribution, defined by limited species ranges, strong tissue specificity, and convergent evolution. Furthermore, a potential biosynthetic pathway for homoisoflavonoids is proposed. This review synthesizes current knowledge to offer strategic insights and future directions for the precision breeding, targeted biosynthesis, and high-value utilization of superior homoisoflavonoid germplasms.</p>","PeriodicalId":73042,"journal":{"name":"Food frontiers","volume":"7 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/fft2.70282","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148039886","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"","authors":"","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73042,"journal":{"name":"Food frontiers","volume":"7 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148083578","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}