Recent Advances in Food Nutrition & Agriculture - Online First

Agriculture empowers the economies of most developing countries as it contributes to the GDP and provides employment to half of the population. To augment the functionalities of agriculture, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a significant solution. Consequently, substantial research endeavours have been carried out in this direction lately. However, a comprehensive study and scientometric analysis highlighting the potential of AI in agriculture has not been reported in the literature. Therefore, the presented scientometric study depicts the evolution of the pattern of research related to Artificial Intelligence technologies in agricultural practices based on the bibliographic data obtained from Scopus from 2015 to 2024. The data was analyzed and visualized using VOSviewer and Bibliometrix software by examining the publication growth trends, keyword co-occurrence networks, co-authorship networks, co-citation networks, institutional coupling networks, and journal coupling networks. The presented research concluded that India excels in the field, contributing 874 research documents, a substantial portion of the global total of 1,938. As per the link strength, China has secured the top position with 56 links and a total link strength of 1,080, while India follows closely in second place with 56 links and a total link strength of 871. The leading institution funding researchers with the highest number of publications is ICAR, while Science of the Total Environment stands out as the most relevant journal for disseminating their findings. The research topics explored involve using AI for disease detection, addressing nutrient deficiencies, analyzing soil content, and optimizing irrigation schedules. A notable emerging research topic highlights the effectiveness of AI in terms of increasing yield in agriculture. The future of AI in agriculture includes supply chain optimization, task automation, and climate adaptability, boosting food security and sustainability.

Despite notable progress in treatment modalities, cancer continues to be a prominent cause of death globally. Chemotherapy is the main method used to treat cancer, and chemotherapeutic medications are categorized according to how they work. Nevertheless, the issue of multidrug resistance (MDR) is a significant obstacle, impacting almost 90% of cancer patients who receive chemotherapy or innovative targeted medicines. MDR processes involve the quick metabolism of foreign substances, the accelerated removal of drugs from cells, the stimulation of growth hormones, the enhancement of DNA repair ability, and the influence of genetic variables. Recent studies have mostly concentrated on studying the anticancer effects of dietary phytoconstituents as a possible remedy for overcoming multidrug resistance (MDR). Various bioactive compounds, such as phenolic acids, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, stilbenes, terpenoids, and organo-sulfur compounds, have shown potential in fighting cancer. It is worth mentioning that a number of phenylpropanoids are now being tested in clinical trials to evaluate their effectiveness in fighting cancer. This review presents a comprehensive summary of the existing knowledge regarding dietary phytoconstituents as possible agents for treating cancer, particularly their ability to overcome MDR. This discussion will focus on the mechanisms by which these compounds work, as well as the data from both preclinical and clinical studies. Additionally, we have explored the potential future applications of these compounds in the development of cancer therapeutics.

The purpose of the article is to investigate the therapeutic potential of quercetin and related compounds by elucidating their pharmacological characteristics and molecular mechanisms of action. The potential benefits of quercetin and its analogs for cardiovascular health, disorders of the brain, metabolic disorders, and more are discussed in the discussion part of this page. Concerns about their clinical efficacy due to issues with bioavailability and distribution are also discussed. This region of the paper emphasizes the importance of researchers and clinicians working together to maximize the incorporation of these chemicals into real-world therapeutic approaches. In conclusion, quercetin, along with related substances, shows great potential in a wide range of therapeutic settings. Potentially useful for the management of a wide variety of illnesses, their multiple methods of action include the regulation of pathways for cell signaling and interaction with different enzymes. However, additional clinical trials are needed to verify their efficacy and safety.

Green Revolution aims to boost food production and feed millions of Indians, but it also has negative effects on agriculture and society's health. Natural manures like cow dung and cow urine can counteract the adverse effects of inorganic fertilizer on soil along with improving physicochemical qualities, maintaining the soil quality, and increasing crop output. Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) formulations like Jivamrit promote soil health and microbial activities and are an excellent source of macronutrients, other micronutrients needed for plant growth, plus adds beneficial microbes, nitrogen (N2), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and natural carbon (C). Further, conventional agricultural methods, like monocropping and heavy tillage, can damage soil bacteria which contributes to sustainable agriculture through nitrogen fixation, siderophore synthesis and nutrient absorption. A sustainable agricultural system is resource-efficient, socially and commercially competitive, ecologically sound, and supportive of society. Jivamrit, a natural organic manure, is gaining interest due to concerns about the sustainability of input-intensive agriculture systems. It promotes crop growth, quality, and yield, enhances soil pH, population, and activity of beneficial microorganisms, and helps with nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, and easy decomposition. Long-term use of Jivamrit, may disrupt soil microbial balance, may leading to overpopulation of certain species. The current review on the Jivamrit emphasizes on the biological and chemical characterization and its significance to the agriculture.

Excessive consumption of ultra-processed food (UPF) is a global health concern associated with an increased incidence of non-communicable diseases. UPFs are characterized by their extensive industrial processing and high content of additives, preservatives, chemicals, and artificial ingredients that are used to mask defects or inferior ingredients of end food products, presenting a multifaceted challenge to contemporary society. Exposure assessment showed that almost 50% to 30% of the energy consumption per day comes from UPFs. The more processed a food is, the less likely it is to be healthy and nutritious. UPFs affect human health by increasing the risk of obesity, heart disease, cancer, depression, diabetes, etc., as these foods are typically made up of a large number of preservatives, high content of fats, sodium, and sugars, and low contents of protein, fiber, and potassium. The ingredients required for the production of UPFs are commonly derived from intensive monoculture and livestock of raw foods. This, in turn, exerts imminent effects on agriculture, biodiversity, and the global food system by altering the bioavailability of nutrients within agricultural soil, thereby increasing the dependency on fertilizers and insecticides. Recent studies have shown that over-consumption of UPF has an effect on culinary traditions, loss of biodiversity, human well-being, and food system sustainability. Therefore, for better food system sustainability, the consumption of UPFs should be reduced, and we should move toward minimal processing technologies, preferably for seasonal and organic local products. Based on available data, there is an urgent need to implement policies and regulations for the agro-food industry to include nutritional and environmental criteria. This review explains the different dimensions of UPFs in relation to health, nutrition, environment, current challenges, future innovations, and wider sustainability concerns.

The yellow pigment curcumin has long been used in traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant activities. Over the past half-century, scientific investigations have shown that curcumin is endowed with additional health benefits because it can modify key molecular targets associated with a number of pathologies, such as diabetes, cancer, and arthritis, in addition to cardiovascular, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's, and Crohn's diseases. However, this molecule has several disadvantages, such as low bioavailability and solubility, severe oxidative destruction, light sensitivity, fast systemic clearance and breakdown at alkaline pH levels. To address these drawbacks, several methods of microencapsulation employing a variety of shell materials have been investigated. These techniques contributed toward the increase of curcumin's solubility and stability against heat, light, oxygen, and an alkaline pH. The various shell materials and methods used to microencapsulate this chemical are the main topics of this review. The use of microencapsulated curcumin in food, medicine, and cosmetics is also discussed in more detail. Recent relevant research from the last few years has been given in this area, along with future difficulties.