Cysteine and homocysteine (Hcy), both sulfur‐containing amino acids (AAs), produced from methionine another sulfur‐containing amino acid, which is converted to Hcy and further converted to cysteine. This article aims to highlight the link between cysteine and Hcy, and their mechanisms, important functions, play in the body and their role as a biomarker for various types of diseases. So that using cysteine and Hcy as a biomarker, we can prevent and diagnose many diseases. This review concluded that hyperhomocysteinemia (elevated levels of homocysteine) is considered as toxic for cells and is associated with different health problems. Hyperhomocysteinemia and low levels of cysteine associated with various diseases like cardiovascular diseases (CVD), ischemic stroke, neurological disorders, diabetes, cancer like lung and colorectal cancer, renal dysfunction‐linked conditions, and vitiligo.

The core objective of the current study was to evaluate the effect of microencapsulation on the viability and stability of probiotic bacteria in yogurt and simulated gastrointestinal conditions. For this purpose, probiotic bacteria were encapsulated with sodium alginate and carrageenan by encapsulator. Yogurt was prepared with the incorporation of free and encapsulated probiotic bacteria and was analyzed for physicochemical, microbiological, and sensorial attributes. Encapsulation and storage exhibited a significant (p < .05) effect on different parameters of yogurt. An increasing trend in syneresis and acidity while a decreasing trend in viscosity, pH, viability, and stability were observed. The value of syneresis increased from 2.27 ± 0.17 to 2.9 ± 0.14 and acidity from 0.48 ± 0.04 to 0.64 ± 0.01 during 4 weeks of storage. The value of viscosity decreased from 3.68 ± 0.21 to 2.42 ± 0.09 and pH from 4.88 ± 0.31to 4.43 ± 0.36 during 28 days of storage. Unencapsulated (free) cells exhibited poor survival. The viable cell count of probiotic bacteria in the free‐state in yogurt was 9.97 logs CFU/ml at zero‐day that decreased to 6.12 log CFU/ml after 28 days. However, encapsulation improved the viability of the probiotics in the prepared yogurt and GIT. The cell count of probiotics encapsulated with sodium alginate and carrageenan was 9.91 logs CFU/ml and 9.89 logs CFU/ml, respectively, at zero‐day that decreased to 8.74 logs CFU/ml and 8.39 log CFU/ml, respectively. Free cells (unencapsulated) showed very poor survival. Similarly, during in vitro gastrointestinal assay, the survival rate of encapsulated probiotic bacteria in simulated gastric solution and intestinal solutions was higher than that of free cells. In the case of encapsulated bacteria, only 3 logs while for free cells, 7 log reduction was recorded. Sodium alginate microcapsules exhibited better release profile than carrageenan. Conclusively, microencapsulation improved the survival of probiotic bacteria in carrier food as well as in simulated gastrointestinal condition.

Current lifestyle, eating habits, stress, environmental factors and intensive use of synthetic chemicals in food processing and agriculture have radically increased the progression of several human diseases. Globally, researchers have been looking for natural therapeutic substances that can be used to treat or delay the onset of these lifestyle-related disorders. Numerous types of medicinal plants have shown the potential to be frequently used in the therapeutics due to the presence of several bioactive compounds. Among these, fenugreek is an important herb which has been recognized as an imperative medicinal plant by various scientists around the world. This herb has been widely reported as beneficial against numerous diseases such as cancer, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes and inflammation. Due to its medicinal value, the extracts/powders from different parts of fenugreek have been effectively utilized in food and pharmaceutical industries. Accordingly, the present review is an attempt to highlight the important nutritional benefits and curative applications of fenugreek as an effectual therapeutic agent against different diseases.

Development of various novel thermal and nonthermal techniques has shown potential applications in meat processing and preservation. Consumer's demand of meat products with esteemed quality, wholesomeness, and superior safety has led to the commercial introduction of these innovative methods. Accordingly, this treatise outlines the potential of several advanced thermal and nonthermal methods like super‐chilling, ultrarapid freezing, immersion vacuum cooling, hydrofluidization freezing, impingement freezing, electrostatic‐assisted freezing, pressure‐shift freezing, acidic electrolyzed water coupled with high hydrostatic pressure, and nonthermal plasma technique for preserving meat quality and prolongation of shelf stability. This article also highlights the advancements in the packaging technology like use of linear low‐density polyethylene‐based active clay nanocomposite films and resulted benefits for the meat sector. Additionally, consumer responses to various meat products preserved with these technologies are also discussed in this critique. The focal objective of the current discourse is to reconnoiter the aptitude of these novel techniques in meat preservation so that these methods can be adopted at commercial scale in a much broader sense.Practical applicationsFor decades, several methods have been adopted for preservation of meat. With technological advancements, meat industry is looking for some modern and economic preservation methods for meat and meat‐based products. In this regard, several nonconventional techniques like super‐chilling, hydrofluidization freezing, impingement freezing, electrostatic‐assisted freezing, and pressure‐shift freezing have shown their potential for effective meat preservation. Therefore, this article will be helpful for the meat industrialists to consider these techniques for commercial preservation of meat and meat products in a more effectual manner.

Background Omega-3 fatty acids (Ω-3 PUFAs) may help to improve health status in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) by reducing numerous metabolic disorders (insulin sensitivity, hyperinsulinemia, lipid profile, obesity and inflammation). To evaluate the current objective, 16 weeks (6 weeks of adjustment period followed by 10 weeks of collection period) research trial was planned to check the impact of different sources of Ω-3 PUFAs (synthetic Ω-3, flaxseed and fish oil) on nutrient digestibility, weight gain, productive (lipid profile, glucose and insulin), reproductive profile (progesterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estrogen, luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin) and histological study of ovarian tissues in Wistar female rats. Methods Forty-five rats of 130 ± 10 g weight were divided into 5 groups, each having 9 rats: NC (negative control without PCOS), PC (positive control with PCOS), SO (synthetic omega-3 containing ALA, EPA and DHA), FO (flaxseed oil) and F (fish oil) fed at 300 mg/kg/orally/daily of these sources were added in the basal diets while PC and NC received only the basal diet. Food and water were offered ad libitum. PCOS was induced in the rats fed of PC, SO, FO and F diets group by single intramuscular injection of estradiol-valerate (4 mg/rat/IM). Body weight and blood glucose was recorded weekly. At 16th week of trial, blood samples were collected for lipid and hormonal analysis. Ovarian tissues were removed for pathological evaluation. Digestibility was measured by total collection method. Results Cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins were reduced in SO, FO and F groups when compared with rats of PC group. However, increasing trend of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was found in same groups. The highest HDL (36.83 ± 0.72 mg/dL) was observed in rats fed F diet. In case of a hormonal profile, testosterone, LH and insulin levels showed a significant reduction after treatments. Blood glucose results showed significantly reducing trend in all the rats fed with Ω-3 PUFAs sources than PC from 5 to 10th week of trial. However, similar trend was noticed in rat’s body weight at the end of 6th week. In ovarian morphology, different stages of follicles were observed in groups fed SO, FO and F diets. Nutrient digestibility in PCOS induced rats was remained non-significant. Conclusions The three sources of Ω-3 PUFAs had effective role in improving lipid and hormonal profile, reducing blood glucose, weight gain and histopathological damages in PCOS rats. However, fish oil source might be an innovative approach to cure PCOS via reducing the weight and metabolic anomalies due to EPA and DHA.

Sugarcane juice is a perishable food with a good nutritional profile. Thus, there is a need to increase its shelf life by reducing water content which facilitates storage and transportation. In this study, process conditions were optimized to concentrate the sugarcane juice at various microwave powers (30, 50, 80, 100 W). A central composite design was applied to optimize the process conditions (power and time). The overall evaporation time depends on microwave powers; increase in power reduced the processing time. The results showed that at 100 W sugarcane juice was concentrated to 75° brix for 15 min which reduced the energy consumption to 1.3 times compared to other powers. Moreover, microwave processing better retained the sensory properties of concentrate and preserved its antioxidant activity. Thus, 100 W was most energy efficient in concentrating sugarcane juice. In general, microwave processing reduced the processing time and cost making it a sustainable approach to concentrate juices.

The current study was aimed to observe the influence of pulsed electric field (PEF) on the extraction of bioactive components; antioxidant activity and physicochemical properties of date palm fruit extract (DPFE) as compared to the extract untreated by PEF. The fruit was treated with PEF (frequency: 10 Hz, time: 100 µs, pulses number: 30, electric field strength (EFS): 1, 2, and 3 kV/cm. The results show that PEF has a positive impact on the total content of carotenoids, anthocyanins, flavonoids, and phenolics by increasing the EFS. DPFE treated with PEF exhibit a strong antioxidant activity as compared to untreated extract, while electrical conductivity, pH values, and titratable acidity were not affected by PEF. The results indicate a notable increase in the volatile components in DPFE treated with PEF at 3 kV/cm. Thus, PEF treatment can assist the ethanolic extraction of DPFE to improve the bioactivity and antioxidative activity. These findings suggest that PEF can be a more suitable technique to enhance solvent extraction on a commercial basis.

A medium chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) was produced by Pseudomonas mendocina CH50 using a cheap carbon substrate, sugarcane molasses. A PHA yield of 14.2% dry cell weight was achieved. Chemical analysis confirmed that the polymer produced was a medium chain-length PHA, a copolymer of 3-hydroxyoctanoate and 3-hydroxydecanoate, P(3HO-co-3HD). Lime oil, an essential oil with known antimicrobial activity, was used as an additive to P(3HO-co-3HD) to confer antibacterial properties to this biodegradable polymer. The incorporation of lime oil induced a slight decrease in crystallinity of P(3HO-co-3HD) films. The antibacterial properties of lime oil were investigated using ISO 20776 against Staphylococcus aureus 6538P and Escherichia coli 8739, showing a higher activity against the Gram-positive bacteria. The higher activity of the oil against S. aureus 6538P defined the higher efficiency of loaded polymer films against this strain. The effect of storage on the antimicrobial properties of the loaded films was investigated. After one-year storage, the content of lime oil in the films decreased, causing a reduction of the antimicrobial activity of the materials produced. However, the films still possessed antibacterial activity against S. aureus 6538P.