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Medicinal plants have various beneficial conditions for humanity, one of them is its medicinal contribution due to the presence of phytochemicals and antioxidants, characterized by these bioactive compounds as the main source of nutraceuticals. The fruit of Cassia grandis, traditionally known as carao, is a plant that is attributed antimicrobial and medicinal properties. The objective of this work was to determine the bromatological, mineralogical composition and bioactive molecules of carao in the department of Choluteca (Honduras). Total phenolic compounds determined by the Folin-Ciocateau method resulted in higher concentrations in the seeds 11.1±0.3 mg EAG 100 g-1. The antioxidant activity was also found to be higher in carao seeds, with concentrations of 7.31±0.11 μg g-1 of DPPH and total carotenoids showed higher concentration in the pulp with a concentration of 4.12±0.11 μg mL-1. Among the macro minerals, high concentrations of magnesium and calcium stand out in the seed with a concentration of 18.27±0.14 mg 100 g-1 and 7.31±0.23 mg 100 g-1 respectively. Among the microminerals, iron stands out in higher concentrations than in the rest of the microminerals being higher in the shell with concentrations of 1.71±0.23 mg 100 g-1 followed by manganese in concentrations of 0.51±0.12 mg 100 g-1.

Background and objectives Recently, the LSU AgCenter developed a high‐protein rice cultivar (Oryza sativa L.) called Frontière, which is non‐GMO and it is the first of its kind to be developed for commercial applications worldwide. As a result, the physicochemical and thermal properties of the Frontière rice flours and commercial rice flours were analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Brabender Viscometer (RVA). Rheological properties were determined using a rheometer by small amplitude oscillatory shear (SAOS) and steady shear. Cupcakes were developed using these flours, and the texture and color were determined. For the high‐protein rice flours (white and brown), thermal, rheological, pasting, and chemical attributes were evaluated (p < .05) and compared with commercial rice flours. Findings: Gelatinization temperatures (Tp) varied between 70.90℃ and 76.33℃, and the enthalpies (∆H) ranged from 3.29 to 7.60 J/g. In the pasting properties by Rapid Visco Analysis (RVA), the values of peak viscosity ranged from 2,322 to 2,344 cP. In addition, proximate composition of high‐protein rice flours (moisture, ash, fat, and protein) varied as follows: 12.39%–13.49%, 0.74%–1.83%, 0.66%–1.39%, and 10.23%–12.21%, while starch and amylose levels were 65.41%–75.15% (dry basis) and 10.19%–20.57%. Conclusions The rheological properties were mainly affected by apparent amylose and protein content, and weaker gel behaviors were observed for brown rice flour dispersions. As for the cupcakes characteristics, the texture and color were influenced by the type of flour used. Significance and novelty Flour from a new higher protein rice variety was characterized for physiochemical properties and tested for use in gluten‐free cupcakes. This information is useful to ingredient companies who may be interested in the use of this flour in bakery products.

The human body is in daily contact with potentially toxic and infectious substances in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The GIT has the most significant load of antigens. The GIT can protect the intestinal integrity by allowing the passage of beneficial agents and blocking the path of harmful substances. Under normal conditions, a healthy intestinal barrier prevents toxic elements from entering the blood stream. However, factors such as stress, an unhealthy diet, excessive alcohol, antibiotics, and drug consumption can compromise the composition of the intestinal microbiota and the homeostasis of the intestinal barrier function of the intestine, leading to increased intestinal permeability. Intestinal hyperpermeability can allow the entry of harmful agents through the junctions of the intestinal epithelium, which pass into the bloodstream and affect various organs and systems. Thus, leaky gut syndrome and intestinal barrier dysfunction are associated with intestinal diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome, as well as extra-intestinal diseases, including heart diseases, obesity, type 1 diabetes mellitus, and celiac disease. Given the relationship between intestinal permeability and numerous conditions, it is convenient to seek an excellent strategy to avoid or reduce the increase in intestinal permeability. The impact of dietary nutrients on barrier function can be crucial for designing new strategies for patients with the pathogenesis of leaky gut-related diseases associated with epithelial barrier dysfunctions. In this review article, the role of functional ingredients is suggested as mediators of leaky gut-related disorders.

In the Western world, the successful introduction of insect consumption may need awareness of insect ingredient benefits, and consumers’ anticipation of insect-based foods with sensory quality is crucial. The objective of this study was to develop protein-rich nutritional chocolate chip cookies (CCC) from cricket powder (CP) and analyze their physicochemical, liking, emotions, purchase intent, and sensory properties. The CP additions levels were 0%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10%. Chemical composition, physicochemical, and functional properties were analyzed using individual and mixed CP and wheat flour (WF). The proximate composition of CP mainly consisted of ash (3.9%), fat (13.4%), and protein (60.7%). In vitro protein digestibility of CP was 85.7%, whereas the essential amino acid score was 0.82. The CP inclusion significantly impacted the WF functional and rheological properties in all given incorporation levels in flour blends and doughs. The incorporation of CP produced darker and softer CCC, resulting from the effect of the CP protein. Adding 5% of CP did not impact the sensory attributes. Purchase intent and liking improved by using 5% of CP after panelists had revealed the beneficial information regarding CP. Concerning emotion terms, “happy” and “satisfied” significantly decreased while the negative emotion term “disgusted” increased among the highest CP substitute levels (7.5% and 10%) after beneficial information. Overall liking, flavor linking, education, consumption intent, gender, age, and positive emotion term “happy” were significantly assertive predictors affecting purchase intent.

Carao is considered a functional ingredient since its bioactive compounds are meaningful in nutritional, pharmacological, and medicinal applications. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of carao pulp powder on the bacterial viability, acid tolerance, bile tolerance, and protease activity of S. thermophilus STI-06 and L. bulgaricus LB-12. M17 broth with 0.5% lactose and MRS broth were used for S. thermophilus and L. bulgaricus, respectively, for determining bacterial viability, acid tolerance, and bile tolerance. Skim milk was used to study the protease activity of both bacteria. The carao was added at 0 (control), 1.3, 2.6, and 5.3 (g/L) into the broths and skim milk. The broths were enumerated for bacterial viability (every 2 h), bile tolerance (every 4 h), and acid tolerance (every 30 min), and the skim milk was analyzed for protease activity (every 12 h). The General Linear Model (PROC GLM) was used to analyze the data. The 2.6 g/L and 5.3 g/L usage level of carao improved the acid tolerance of S. thermophilus. Carao did not affect the acid tolerance of L. bulgaricus. The usage of 5.3 g/L of carao significantly improved the bile tolerance and protease activity of both bacteria. However, carao did not affect the viability of either bacteria. Overall, 5.3 g/L of carao with these probiotics could be recommended in fermentation processes.

With recent advances in medical and nutrition sciences, functional foods and nutraceuticals fortified with natural polyphenols have received a lot of attention from both health professionals and the common population in the last few years since their chemical structure allows them to exert various health effects (e.g., antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immune, antitumor and prebiotic properties). Nonetheless, there are several hurdles to applications of polyphenols in the food system. The most critical hurdle includes polyphenols’ tendency to lose their anti-oxidative properties or bioactive functionalities during food processing, as well as inclusion of poly-phenol compounds may impart an astringent or bitter taste, or introduce a degree of brown coloring causing serious sensorial impacts on food products. On this basis, interest has increased in understanding the development of new and efficient food vehicles as delivery systems for polyphenols-based functional ingredients. In this context, one approach that could augment the growth of polyphenols-based functional foods is electro-hydrodynamic processing, as the most versatile method to produce nanoscale fibers or particulates suitable for application in food technology by encapsulation to form nanoscale delivery systems.

Consumers are becoming aware of functional ingredients such as medicinal herbs, polyphenols, mushrooms, amino acids, proteins, and probiotics more than ever before. Like yogurt and its probiotics, L-glutamine, quercetin, slippery elm bark, marshmallow root, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, licorice root, maitake mushrooms, and zinc orotate have demonstrated health benefits through gut microbiota. The impact of these ingredients on yogurt starter culture bacteria characteristics is not well known. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of these ingredients on the probiotic characteristics, tolerance to gastric juices and lysozyme, protease activity, and viability of Streptococcus thermophilus STI-06 and Lactobacillus bulgaricus LB-12. Acid tolerance was determined at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min of incubation, whereas bile tolerance was analyzed at 0, 4, and 8 h. The microbial growth was determined at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 h of incubation, while protease activity was evaluated at 0, 12, and 24 h. The application of marshmallow root, licorice root, and slippery elm bark improved bile tolerance and acid tolerance of S. thermophilus. These ingredients did not impact the bile tolerance, acid tolerance, and simulated gastric juice tolerance characteristics of L. bulgaricus over 8 h and 120 min (respectively) of incubation. Similarly, the growth of S. thermophilus and L. bulgaricus was not affected by any of these functional ingredients. The application of marshmallow root, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, and maitake mushroom significantly increased the protease activity of S. thermophilus, whereas the protease activity of L. bulgaricus was not affected by any ingredient. Compared to the control, marshmallow root and quercetin samples had higher mean log counts and log counts for S. thermophilus on the simulated gastric juice and lysozyme resistance in vitro test, respectively. For L. bulgaricus, licorice root, quercetin, marshmallow root, and slippery elm bark samples had higher log counts than the control samples.