Functional foods – Page 11

Recent Advances in Biosynthesis Technology and Future Functional Foods

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Scientists are using engineered microorganisms and advanced fermentation techniques to create healthy food ingredients in a sustainable way. This editorial highlights seven studies showing how these biotechnology approaches improve functional foods, from creating probiotic strains and preserving fish to developing nutrient-enriched biscuits and discovering natural compounds with protective health effects. These innovations offer practical solutions for making foods healthier while reducing environmental impact compared to traditional methods.

Enhancing Nutritional Quality and Functionality of Legumes: Application of Solid-State Fermentation With Pleurotus ostreatus

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Researchers used a mushroom fungus (Pleurotus ostreatus) to ferment lentils, chickpeas, and soybeans, making them more nutritious and easier for the body to digest. The fermentation process reduced harmful compounds called antinutrients while boosting protein content and antioxidant power. This simple bioprocessing method could help create healthier plant-based foods that rival animal protein sources in nutritional quality.

Optimized Extraction of Bioactive Polysaccharides from Wild Mushrooms: Toward Enhanced Yield and Antioxidant Activity

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Scientists optimized how to extract healthy compounds called polysaccharides from three wild mushroom species found in European forests. Using hot water extraction with carefully controlled temperature, time, and water amounts, they found that each mushroom type had different optimal conditions for getting the most beneficial compounds. The extracted polysaccharides showed strong antioxidant properties and could be used to develop new functional foods or supplements.

Advances in Fungal Natural Products: Insights into Bioactivity and Therapeutic Potential

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Medicinal mushrooms and fungi contain powerful natural chemicals that can boost immunity, reduce inflammation, fight cancer, and protect the brain. Scientists are now better able to identify and study these compounds using advanced techniques, and some are being tested as supplements or alongside traditional medicines. This research shows that mushrooms could become important tools in treating diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer.

Proteins from Edible Mushrooms: Nutritional Role and Contribution to Well-Being

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Mushrooms are highly nutritious foods containing proteins as complete and high-quality as meat, with unique compounds that boost immunity, fight infections, and may help prevent diseases like cancer and diabetes. Different types of mushroom proteins have specific health benefits, from strengthening immune systems to lowering blood pressure and fighting viruses. Scientists are finding new ways to grow mushrooms and extract their proteins for use in sports nutrition, medicines, and fortified foods, making them increasingly valuable for human health and sustainability.

The Benefits and Applications of Lactobacillus plantarum in Food and Health: A Narrative Review

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Lactobacillus plantarum is a beneficial bacterium commonly found in fermented foods like yogurt and cheese that acts as a natural probiotic. It can help preserve food, improve flavor, and boost health by supporting digestion, strengthening immunity, and reducing inflammation. Research shows it may help with weight management, blood sugar control, and mental health, making it valuable for both the food industry and medical applications.

Fermentation With Pleurotus Ostreatus Enhances the Prebiotic Properties of Germinated Riceberry Rice

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This research shows that black-purple Riceberry rice can be made healthier by sprouting it and then fermenting it with oyster mushroom mycelium. The resulting product contains beneficial compounds called GABA and β-glucan that help healthy gut bacteria grow while preventing harmful bacteria like E. coli. This improved rice product could be used in foods for elderly people to support digestive and overall health.

Effects of Rhizopus oligosporus-Mediated Solid-State Fermentation on the Protein Profile and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity of Selenium-Biofortified Soybean Tempeh

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Researchers developed a special tempeh (traditional soybean food) enriched with selenium using a fungus called Rhizopus oligosporus. The selenium-enriched tempeh had improved protein quality with more amino acids and demonstrated strong ability to slow down sugar absorption in the digestive system, similar to diabetes medications. This makes selenium-biofortified tempeh a promising natural functional food for managing blood sugar levels while providing essential selenium nutrients that many people lack.

Development of Hybrid Pleurotus cystidiosus Strains with Enhanced Functional Properties

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Scientists created new hybrid varieties of abalone mushrooms by breeding two different strains together. These new hybrids produced more health-beneficial compounds like antioxidants and fiber-like polysaccharides than their parent strains. Two particularly promising hybrids, PA-132 and PA-054, showed the strongest antioxidant properties and could potentially be developed into functional food products for health and wellness applications.

Chemical Characterization and In Vitro Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Colon Cancer-Preventive Potential of a Polysaccharide Fraction from Macrolepiota procera

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Researchers isolated special sugar compounds called polysaccharides from parasol mushrooms and tested their health benefits. These compounds were found to fight free radicals that damage cells, reduce inflammation in the body, and specifically kill colon cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed. The study suggests that parasol mushrooms could be developed into health supplements or functional foods to help prevent cancer and improve overall health.

Research Topic: Functional foods