Food preservation – mycolab.ai

The Possibility of Using Sulphur Shelf Fungus (Laetiporus sulphureus) in the Food Industry and in Medicine—A Review

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Sulphur shelf fungus, known as ‘chicken of the woods,’ is a bright yellow mushroom that grows on tree trunks and has remarkable health benefits. Research shows it contains compounds with antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer properties, making it valuable for both food and medicine. The fungus can be cultivated relatively quickly and easily, and some countries already recognize it as safe for food use, potentially opening new applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Renovation of Agro-Waste for Sustainable Food Packaging: A Review

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This review explores how agricultural waste can be transformed into eco-friendly food packaging materials. Researchers are finding ways to extract valuable compounds like cellulose from crop residues and chitin from shrimp shells to create biodegradable packaging films that preserve food while reducing environmental pollution. These sustainable packaging alternatives perform as well as conventional plastics while being completely biodegradable, representing an important step toward a circular economy and reducing agricultural waste.

Physiological Insights into Enhanced Epsilon-Poly-l-Lysine Production Induced by Extract Supplement from Heterogeneous Streptomyces Strain

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Researchers discovered that exposing bacteria that produce epsilon-poly-l-lysine (a natural antimicrobial compound) to extracts from another closely related bacterium dramatically increases production by 2.6-fold. Using advanced analysis techniques, they found that this boost occurs because the extract triggers the bacteria to activate defense mechanisms, rerouting its metabolism to produce more of this antimicrobial compound. This finding could significantly reduce the cost of producing this useful natural preservative for foods and medicines, making it more commercially viable.

Valorization of Mushroom Residues for Functional Food Packaging

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Mushrooms produce large amounts of waste during growth and processing, but these leftovers contain valuable compounds that can protect food and extend shelf life. Scientists are developing ways to extract these beneficial compounds and add them to eco-friendly packaging films, creating materials that fight bacteria and oxidation naturally. This approach transforms mushroom waste into useful products while reducing environmental pollution, making food packaging safer and more sustainable for consumers.

Alginate Edible Films Containing Essential Oils: Characterization and Bioactive Potential

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Scientists created edible films made from alginate (a natural material from seaweed) mixed with essential oils from plants like oregano, thyme, and rosemary. These films could replace plastic packaging for food and have natural antibacterial and antioxidant properties. The oregano oil film worked best, completely stopping the growth of harmful bacteria and fungi while protecting food from oxidative damage.

Lactic acid bacteria: beyond fermentation to bio-protection against fungal spoilage and mycotoxins in food systems

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Mold and fungal toxins spoil food and threaten human health, costing billions globally. While chemical preservatives work, many consumers want natural alternatives. Lactic acid bacteria (the same organisms used in yogurt production) produce natural antimicrobial compounds that can prevent mold growth and neutralize harmful toxins, offering a safer, more natural way to keep food fresh longer.

Editorial: Enhancing nutrient profile, safety, and sustainability with fermentation technology

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Fermentation is an ancient food preparation method that science is rediscovering as a powerful tool for making foods more nutritious and safer to eat. By using specific bacteria and fungi to ferment various foods like soybeans, grains, and vegetables, researchers have found that fermentation increases the availability of vitamins and minerals our bodies can absorb, reduces harmful compounds in foods, and helps preserve them naturally. This technology also offers sustainable solutions by making use of overlooked crops and reducing food waste, all while potentially lowering salt content in traditionally salty foods.

Physicochemical Characterization and Antimicrobial Analysis of Vegetal Chitosan Extracted from Distinct Forest Fungi Species

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Researchers extracted and tested chitosan from five different mushroom species as an alternative to traditional crab-derived chitosan for allergic individuals. Using various scientific techniques, they found that chitosan from lion’s mane mushroom (H. erinaceus) had the best ability to dissolve in solution and kill bacteria, making it promising for food preservation. The study shows that mushroom-based chitosan can work as well as or better than shellfish-derived chitosan while avoiding allergen risks, offering a sustainable solution for food packaging and preservation.

Advancing Food Preservation: Sustainable Green-AgNPs Bionanocomposites in Paper-Starch Flexible Packaging for Prolonged Shelf Life

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Researchers developed an eco-friendly food packaging material by coating paper with corn starch and tiny silver particles created through green chemistry methods. This innovative packaging significantly improved food durability, reducing weight loss in fresh produce like tomatoes and grapes by 6-8% over six days. The material is completely biodegradable and poses no safety concerns, making it a sustainable alternative to traditional plastic packaging.

Inhibition Mechanism of Cinnamomum burmannii Leaf Essential Oil Against Aspergillus flavus and Aflatoxins

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This research shows that essential oil from cinnamon leaves can effectively prevent a dangerous fungus (Aspergillus flavus) from contaminating stored foods like peanuts and grains, and stops it from producing a cancer-causing toxin called aflatoxin. The oil works by damaging the fungus’s cell membrane, disrupting its energy production, and triggering stress responses. Ten main aromatic compounds in the oil, especially eucalyptol and borneol, are responsible for this protective effect. This suggests cinnamon leaf oil could be used as a natural, safe alternative to chemical fungicides for protecting stored food.

therapeutic action: Food preservation