Current Nutrition & Food Science - Volume 19, Issue 3, 2023

The lack of knowledge among adolescents makes them more sensitive to engaging in unhealthy habits, which might harm their health and nutritional status. A high caloric diet and lack of physical activity generate reactive oxygen species, leading to neurological diseases. The gap in knowledge regarding junk food and its complications poses a significant threat to public health policy. Metabolic syndrome develops from high fat-induced chronic inflammation and leads to cognition disturbances, stroke, and neurological diseases like Alzheimer's. Adolescent age is the most devastating one, in which several lifestyle-associated diseases occur that are associated with chronic diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, obesity, hypertension, etc. The disordered eating behaviors should be prevented at the earliest to overcome the "fast food genocide" from eating processed foods, leading to obesity and nutritional deficiencies, which further cause neurological complications and destroy the brain cell. As we age, memory begins to decline. Thus, lowering our intake of high-calorie-rich foods and salt could reduce metabolic syndrome-related and agerelated issues like blood pressure, T2DM, obesity, etc. Thus, to curb diseases linked with junk foods, awareness about nutritional values among adolescents and higher tax slabs on junk foods should be imposed to reduce the purchase of such products.

Background: Urbanization has led to numerous health tribulations globally, and cancer is the most devastating among them. Phytochemicals have been utilized as bioactive compounds/ nutrients prominently as antioxidants and revitalizing agents and found to have notable health benefits. Objectives: The nutritional constituents of plants have intensively been investigated to appraise their healthiness and effectiveness in cancer. Food supplements like nutraceuticals have an important role in health and provide essential molecules required for different metabolic processes, which regulate body functions and protect the body from diseases. Methods: Numerous attempts and substantial studies have been escalated by many researchers. These studies have explained that dietary patterns and restrictions are the most important cardinal stride and determinant of many dreadful diseases like cancer. This review article focuses on the exploration of the clinical significance of phytochemicals in cancer therapy. Results: The phytochemicals from various plant parts having the potential to prevent cancer as well as serve as effective anti-cancer agents have been summarized in terms of their components, such as carotenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, organosulphur compounds etc., along with the targets on which they act, sources from where they can be obtained, and their screening procedure. Significant interest has been received in nutraceuticals because of nutritional benefits, safety and preventive as well as therapeutic perspectives. Conclusion: Phytonutraceuticals, as current drug delivery for cancer, have been utilized as an option for modern medicines. Ultimately, they ensure health improvement, and this review focuses on an overview of current nutraceuticals and nano-based delivery systems, which may be helpful in focusing on further groundbreaking research plans in the new domain.

Obesity is a complex disorder involving the excessive accumulation of fat in the body. It is the most common disorder worldwide, which leads to many complications like diabetes, strokes, and other cardiovascular disorders. The above complications cause one-third of all mortality worldwide. This problem arises due to the considerable variation between calorie ingestion and energy consumption. The treatment of obesity is mostly based upon equalizing the above difference. Several natural compounds are used for treating obesity. However, these natural compounds have some issues, such as low water solubility, chemical instability during processing and storage, and poor bioavailability due to structural complexity. Therapeutic nanocarriers, such as "Phytosomes", will help to overcome the above issues and can be a potent solution for delivering anti-obese herbal phytoconstituents. Phytosomes are little cell-like structures and are advanced herbal formulations that contain the bioactive phytoconstituents of herbal extract bounded by a lipid. There is no literature available with comprehensive details about anti-obesity herbal phytosomal formulations. Objectives: This review provides a detailed review of the treatment of obesity with natural products that are formulated as phytosomes. When novel drug delivery technology is used instead of traditional drug delivery in herbal medicine, side effects are reduced while safety and efficacy are improved.This article provides information about obesity, its treatment, and special emphasis on phytosomes, their preparation, and evaluation along with their application in obesity. Methods: A comprehensive search of electronic databases such as Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, Google, and Google Patents was carried out. Results: This review explains the details of research done on phytosomes with special reference to anti-obesity drugs. Still, there is a need to formulate anti-obesity herbal drugs as phytosomes to get better bioavailability and fewer side effects. This phytosomal drug delivery approach may resolve the problems associated with conventional drug delivery. Conclusion: Integrating herbal medicine with novel drug delivery systems such as phytosomes to combat obesity has significant scope and importance.

Secondary metabolites found in plants are a natural source of bioactive chemicals. These secondary metabolites are vital for the survival of plants and have a number of medicinal properties, which can be utilised to treat human illnesses. Alpinetin (ALP) is one of the secondary metabolites which belongs to the Flavonoid category of phytochemicals and is present in Amomum subulatum Roxb's. Alpinetin has been found to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, hepatoprotective and renoprotective activity, along with several other biological properties. This review is focused on the exploration of the pharmacological activities of Alpinetin. ALP is considered a prospective candidate for future clinical investigations due to the number of therapeutic properties.

Fruits have different aromatic profiles according to their stage of ripeness; therefore, the volatile compounds profile is an important quality attribute, which also determines flavor and aroma characteristics, making this profile a perfect option to guide the optimization of postharvest treatment of fruits. In this context, the objective was to discuss the effects of postharvest treatments, associating them with the biosynthesis of volatile compounds in fruits. There are three major groups of fruit flavor precursors: carbohydrates, amino acids, and fatty acids. The biosynthesis of volatile compounds is directly related to metabolic changes that occur according to the fruit ripening stage. This process occurs under the regulation of hormones, which have ethylene as one of the main agents. Several hormones are also part of this complex mechanism and interact by regulating ethylene levels positively or negatively to form a fine adjustment. Therefore, hormonal treatments have an impact on the biosynthesis of volatile compounds in different ways. Other postharvest treatments, such as cold storage, controlled atmosphere, and UV radiation, can also impact the biosynthesis of volatile compounds, but are generally used synergistically, which circumvents the negative effects on the aromatic profile of the fruits.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are usually destroyed by the antioxidant defence systems in our body. ROS in low concentrations may be beneficial or even indispensable for defence against microorganisms and in intracellular signaling, but its higher amounts can trigger negative chain reactions leading to various pathological conditions. A delicate balance between antioxidants and oxidants is maintained in healthy organisms and protection against the harmful effects of ROS is thus provided. The increase in ROS leading to oxidative stress plays a key role in the development of chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative, and cardiovascular diseases. Several non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidant activities exist as a safeguard against ROS accumulation. Imbalance between the oxidative stress and the antioxidant defence systems causes irreversible changes in cellular components and the normal cell signaling mechanisms are disrupted. The enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defences include catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), vitamin A, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin E (α-tocopherol), carotenes, flavonoids, etc. Several human pathologies have been known to be treated by the use of medicinal plants owing to their antioxidant properties. Dietary antioxidants such as vitamins, minerals, carotenes, and flavonoids, with their mechanisms of antioxidant defence are discussed in the review for the effective management of various human diseases.

Obesity is a risk factor for many diseases, including cardiovascular disease (CVD), gastrointestinal disorders, type 2 diabetes (T2DM), joint and muscle disorders, respiratory problems, and psychological problems that can significantly affect daily life. Hypertension affects more than a quarter of the adult population in developed countries, constituting an important health problem. In addition, its pathogenesis is not yet fully understood. Although hypertension is mostly seen in overweight and obese people, it is usually more difficult to control in obese people. It is well known that obesity is associated with the activation of both the sympathetic nervous system and the renin-angiotensin system, contributing to hypertension. Kidney dysfunction caused by obesity is a potential risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The purpose of this review study is to investigate the mechanical links between obesity, hypertension, and kidney dysfunction.

Background: Dietary fiber decreases the glycemic index and produces short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that will affect gastrointestinal hormone secretion, such as glucagon-like peptide- 1 (GLP-1) and peptide YY (PYY). This study investigated the effects of high-fiber snacks on the glycemic index (GI), GLP-1, PYY, and ghrelin secretions. Materials and Methods: The study involved ten participants who received both 42 g of tested snack and glucose solution as a standard by washout period for a week. The standard glucose was prepared by dissolving 50 g of glucose powder in 200 mL of water (200 kcal), while 42 g of snack (195.8 kcal) containing 11.70% fiber from arrowroot, pumpkin, sweet potato, and cassava. The blood samples were collected at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after consuming snacks or standard glucose. Results: The GI of the tested snack is 69.14, which is categorized as medium. The area under the glucose curve of the tested snack was lower compared to standard glucose (p= <0.001), and the plasma glucose was lower than standard glucose. Compared to standard glucose, the tested snacks had the area under the insulin curve lower than standard glucose, but it was not statistically significant (p= 0.082). No statistically significant difference was also found in the GLP-1, PYY and ghrelin concentrations between both standard glucose and tested snack intervention (p= 0.948). Conclusion: Our results suggest that consuming high-fiber snacks with a medium glycemic index may have no effect on GLP-1, PYY, and ghrelin, otherwise, it could improve glucose and insulin homeostasis.

Background: The elderly experience decreased muscle mass and strength, which is often coupled with a reduced dietary intake that may affect physical fitness and quality of life. Objectives: This study aimed to develop Bensuka, an instant porridge product made from red rice, pumpkin, and tuna, formulated for the elderly. Methods: To find the right formulation with a low glycemic index (GI) and favorable sensory characteristics, the ingredients were mixed with different ratios, F1 (40% rice, 25% pumpkin, 20% tuna), F2 (35% rice, 25% pumpkin, 25% tuna), and F3 (35% rice, 20% pumpkin, 30% tuna). The sensory characteristics, such as appearance (color), aroma, flavor, texture) were assessed by 64 semi-trained panelists using a 7-point Likert scale, with 1= strongly dislike and 7 = strongly like. One-way ANOVA was performed to analyze the different characteristics between formulations. The nutritional content was assessed using standardized laboratory analysis according to AOAC guidelines. Results: The formula with a higher ratio of tuna had a higher protein content, while the formula with a higher proportion of red rice had higher calorie and ash content (mineral content). There were no significant differences in sensory characteristics between the three formulations, but F2 had the highest Likert score for flavor and texture. F2 also had the lowest glycemic index and load. Conclusion: Bensuka instant porridge has favorable sensory and nutrient properties. F2 formulation had the lowest GI and GL. In terms of sensory properties, F2 texture, flavor, and aroma were the most favorable. Therefore, F2 will be used for further elderly functional food studies.

Background: Tempeh Extract Yogurt offers an alternative to raw tempeh in a new method for developing yogurt that can be used as a functional product to benefit human health. This study aimed to determine the functional food potential of yogurt made with tempeh extract combined with the use of mixed cultures of Rhizopus and lactic acid bacteria. Methods: This method evaluated five specific ratios of three Rhizopus species for making tempeh, including Rhizopus oryzae, Rhizopus oligosporus, Rhizopus stolonifer inoculums of 1:1:1, 1:2:1, 2:1:2, 1:1:2, and 2:1:1. RAPRIMA tempeh starter was used as a control group, fermented with Lactic Acid Bacteria to produce tempeh extract yogurt. Results: Tempeh extract yogurt has characteristics determined by the Indonesian National standard (SNI 2891:2009) such as thick liquid, specific aroma, sour taste, and homogeneous consistency. The highest content of vitamin B12 and folate in tempeh extract yogurt was at a 1:2:1 ratio (0.072 g/100 mL and 0.059 g/100 mL), and the genistein isoflavone in RAPRIMA was 3.669 g/100 mL with a pH value of 4.2 and a total bacterial content of 14,3 x 10⁸ CFU/mL. Conclusion: Tempeh extract yogurt contains several beneficial characteristics, including vitamin B12, folate, isoflavones, and total bacteria. Therefore, tempeh extract yogurt is available as a healthy, functional food.

Some factors that cause malnutrition in 1-2-year-old children are inadequate provisions of complementary food and early/late weaning. Appropriate complementary feeding from the age of 6 months and breastfeeding until at least the age of 2 years is considered the best feeding pattern for a child’s growth and development. Education and the right food choices are needed to fulfill children’s nutritional needs in this period to prevent malnutrition which can lead to stunting. This research was conducted on 52 mothers with 1-2 years old children using a quasi- experimental design by counseling and providing premix cookies that were produced using mung bean (Vigna radiata l) as an intervention for 3 months. Data were analyzed using the Chi- Square correlation test and T-test. This research objective was to determine the effectiveness of counseling and premix cookies as a complementary food to prevent stunting. The result shows that premix cookies were 82.14% effective in increasing the children’s body weight and achieving good nutritional status, therefore preventing the incidence of stunting. This condition was also supported by the improvement of their mothers’ knowledge and attitude (p = 0.011) in their concern about complementary feeding. Consuming the given premix cookies can fulfill children’s nutritional needs: 27.69% protein, 56.59% fat, 24.04% carbohydrates and 56.89% energy. These findings conclude that mung bean premix cookies are considered effective as a complementary food in reducing the incidence of stunting.

Background: In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in using natural food additives to improve the shelf life of marinated food. Aim: This research aimed to examine physicochemical changes promoted by a marinating process in Halva Sya fish fillets during cold storage. Methods: Fish fillets were immersed in 500 ccs of lemon juice, 200 g of grated garlic, 60 g of salt, 3 g of turmeric, 1 g of red pepper powder, 3 g of black pepper powder with 100 cc of distilled water for preparation of traditional marinades and stored at -4 °C for 25 days. Some physicochemical characteristics like pH and proximate composition were performed at 7, 18 and 25- day intervals. Results: Results showed that although the values of proximate composition, energy values and pH in marinated samples were different than control ones, the differences were insignificant (p>0.05). Conclusion: The marinade sample in treatment 1 was found to be most acceptable, followed by Marinade in treatment 3. The shelf-life of the marinated Halva Sya fish based on physicochemical analyses at refrigerated storage (4 °C) was 7 days.

Introduction: Fruits are good sources of vitamins, nutrients, minerals, micronutrients and fiber. However, fruits are usually eaten uncooked, which is hazardous for health as fruits are highly susceptible to microbial contamination during harvesting or postharvest processing. Methods: Nine types of fruit that we usually eat without peeling were collected and tested them by using different standard microbiological methods. Biochemical and antibiogram tests were performed to confirm bacterial isolates and antibiotic-resistant patterns. An anthropometric assessment was also performed to evaluate whether common local fruits caused any prevalent digestive disorders. Results: The highest Total Viable Count (TVC) was found in guava (1.95×10⁵ CFU/g), whereas the highest Total Coliform Count (TCC) was identified in grapes (3.39×10⁴ CFU/g). The mean value of TVC of all fruits was 7.112×10³ CFU/g, and TCC was 6.02×10² CFU/g, respectively. Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., and Vibrio spp. were confirmed by biochemical tests. Antibiogram study shows that these bacterial isolates were resistant to commercially available antibiotics. E. coli isolates were resistant to Penicillin (73.3%); Salmonella spp. isolates were resistant to Penicillin (80%) and Amoxicillin (80%). Vibrio spp. isolates were resistant to Penicillin (66.67%), Amoxicillin, and Erythromycin (60%). The anthropometric assessment showed that acidity occurs more frequently than abdominal pain and digestive disorder among the correspondents. In the case of male and female respondents, black plum and apple were mostly responsible for gastric acidity, and the frequencies were 41% to 45%, respectively. Conclusion: Fruit is a natural source of vitamins and minerals which are essential for our health; at the same time, steps must be taken to ensure that they are free from pathogenic microbes. Therefore, public awareness of proper hygiene and good health is necessary.