Disease: type 2 diabetes

Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC) in the Screening of Botanicals–Its Versatile Potential and Selected Applications

This review shows how thin-layer chromatography (TLC), a simple laboratory technique, is invaluable for analyzing plant materials. TLC helps scientists identify which plants are related to each other, find beneficial compounds in herbs, ensure herbal medicines are pure and safe, and track illegal psychoactive plants. Despite being less glamorous than modern equipment, TLC remains practical, affordable, and effective for everyday botanical analysis.

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Bioactive Peptides from Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) as Modulators of the Gut Microbiome: A Scoping Review of Preclinical Evidence

This review examines how quinoa and its protein-derived peptides can improve gut health by changing the balance of bacteria in the digestive system. Research shows that quinoa helps boost beneficial bacteria, increases diversity of microbial communities, and promotes production of butyrate, a beneficial compound that supports intestinal health. Different disease conditions show specific improvements, such as reduced harmful bacteria in colitis and better metabolic balance in obesity, suggesting quinoa could be tailored for personalized health interventions.

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Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Boletus edulis, Imleria badia, Leccinum scabrum in the Context of Environmental Conditions and Heavy Metals Bioaccumulation

This study examined three popular edible mushroom species from Poland to understand their nutritional benefits and safety. While all three mushrooms are rich in beneficial compounds like antioxidants and immune-boosting polysaccharides, Boletus edulis (porcini) accumulates concerning levels of cadmium from soil. The research shows these mushrooms are safe in normal amounts, but eating excessive quantities of porcini mushrooms could exceed safe limits for toxic metals, especially for people in polluted areas.

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Grape Pomace: A Review of Its Bioactive Phenolic Compounds, Health Benefits, and Applications

Grape pomace is the leftover material from making wine, typically discarded as waste. This review shows that grape pomace is actually packed with beneficial plant compounds called phenolics that have powerful health effects. These compounds can fight bacteria, reduce inflammation, help control blood sugar, and protect heart health, making grape pomace waste valuable for creating new health products in food, cosmetics, and medicine.

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Therapeutic Prospects of Undaria pinnatifida Polysaccharides: Extraction, Purification, and Functional Activity

This review examines how to extract and purify beneficial compounds called polysaccharides from wakame seaweed (Undaria pinnatifida), a popular food in East Asia. These polysaccharides have multiple health benefits including fighting oxidative damage, boosting immune function, fighting cancer cells, and promoting healthy gut bacteria. The review details various extraction methods and discusses how these compounds could be developed into functional foods and medicines.

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Amorphophallus konjac: traditional uses, bioactive potential, and emerging health applications

Konjac is a plant used in Asian cuisine and traditional medicine for thousands of years that contains a special fiber called glucomannan. This fiber can help with weight loss, blood sugar control, and cholesterol reduction while also supporting a healthy gut and reducing inflammation. Modern research shows promising potential for using konjac to help prevent serious diseases like colorectal cancer and manage conditions like diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease.

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The Gut Mycobiome for Precision Medicine

This comprehensive review explores how fungi in our gut play important roles in our health and disease. While fungi make up only a tiny fraction of our gut microbiota, they have outsized effects on conditions like diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and even certain cancers. The review discusses how scientists study these fungi and how understanding individual fungal profiles could lead to personalized medical treatments tailored to each person’s unique microbial makeup.

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Hypoglycemic Effect of Edible Fungi Polysaccharides Depends on Their Metabolites from the Fermentation of Human Fecal Microbiota

Edible mushrooms like Ganoderma lucidum, cordyceps, shiitake, and poria contain beneficial compounds called polysaccharides that may help control blood sugar. When these polysaccharides are digested by beneficial gut bacteria, they produce eight special metabolites that enhance the body’s ability to use glucose and improve insulin sensitivity. The research identified specific bacteria, such as Faecalibacterium and Coprococcus, that produce these beneficial metabolites, suggesting that measuring these markers could help evaluate which mushroom polysaccharides work best for diabetes prevention.

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Emerging Nonthermal Technologies for the Production of Postbiotics

Postbiotics are dead or inactivated beneficial microorganisms and their components that support human health without needing to survive in the gut. Traditional heat-killing methods damage these beneficial compounds. This comprehensive review explores six emerging technologies that can produce postbiotics while better preserving their health-promoting properties, making them more stable and effective for food and supplement applications.

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Sustainable Innovations in Food Microbiology: Fermentation, Biocontrol, and Functional Foods

This review explores how microorganisms can make food production more sustainable and healthier. It discusses traditional fermented foods like yogurt and sauerkraut, modern biotechnology techniques to reduce food waste and create natural preservatives, and special food ingredients with beneficial bacteria that support digestive and mental health. The paper shows how applying microbial science could help address global food challenges while meeting consumer demands for natural, safe, and healthy products.

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