食品物理加工、食品加工过程中化学和功能活性研究

Abstract The demand for clean-label starch, perceived as environmentally friendly in terms of production and less hazardous to health, has driven the advancement of food physical processing technologies aimed at modifying starch. One of the key objectives of these modifications has been to reduce the glycaemic potency and increase resistant starch content of starch, as these properties have the potential to positively impact metabolic health. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent updates in typical physical processing techniques, including annealing, heat-moisture, microwave and ultrasonication, and a brief discussion of several promising recent-developed methods. The focus is on evaluating the molecular, supramolecular and microstructural changes resulting from these modifications and identifying targeted structures that can foster enzyme-digestion resistance in native starch and its forms relevant to food applications. After a comprehensive search and assessment, the current physical modifications have not consistently improved starch enzymatic resistance. The opportunities for enhancing the effectiveness of modifications lie in (1) identifying modification conditions that avoid the intensive disruption of the granular and supramolecular structure of starch and (2) exploring novel strategies that incorporate multi-type modifications.

The increasing demand for sustainable protein sources has intensified interest in improving the processing efficiency of traditional proteins and developing novel alternatives, particularly those derived from plants and algae. Among various processing technologies, pH shifting has attracted attention due to its simplicity, low cost, and capacity to effectively alter protein structure and functionality. However, employing pH shifting alone requires extremely acidic or alkaline conditions, which can lead to protein denaturation and the generation of undesirable by-products. To address these limitations, this review explores the integration of pH shifting with physical processing techniques such as ultrasound, high-pressure processing, pulsed electric fields, and thermal treatments. Moreover, this review highlights the effects of these combined treatments on protein conformational transitions and the resulting improvements in functional properties such as solubility, emulsification, foaming capacity, and thermal stability. Importantly, they reduce reliance on extreme chemical conditions, providing greater sustainability in industrial applications, particularly in food product development where milder processing conditions help preserve nutritional quality and functional properties. In that sense, this combined treatment approach provides a promising and eco-efficient protein modification strategy, and bridges technological innovation with sustainable resource utilization.

During the development of traditional food processing technology, there are great challenges in actual processing efficiency and product quality, which also makes the application of modern physical technology one of the effective measures to solve the above challenges. To this end, the relevant departments and staff need to strengthen the research emphasis on food physical processing technology. This article summarizes the problems faced by my country’s food industry based on previous work experience, and discusses the basic framework of food physical processing technology from two aspects of physical methods and food processing methods.

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ABSTRACT Under global food shortages and environmental challenges, the food industry is shifting from animal to plant proteins, coinciding with a rising prevalence of food allergies. Structural and functional differences between animal and plant proteins significantly influence their allergenic potential. Traditional and emerging physical processing technologies can modify protein structures and reduce immunoreactivity without chemical additives, preserving food quality. These technologies are categorized into thermal, radiation, light, high‐pressure, transient pressure, mechanical wave, plasma, and electric field effects. Cold plasma is particularly effective in modifying protein structures by generating reactive species. High hydrostatic pressure also demonstrates significant potential, particularly when combined with heat treatment. Ultrasound, especially when integrated with other methods (e.g., enzymatic hydrolysis or glycosylation), offers versatile and cost‐effective solutions. Microwave heating remains a practical option due to its efficiency and scalability, while gamma irradiation remains an effective tool for allergen reduction despite its regulatory and consumer acceptance challenges. Low‐allergenic processed foods can induce oral tolerance in allergic individuals, necessitating comprehensive safety evaluations covering allergenicity, toxicity, and nutrition. Unintentional allergens in food processing pose risks, and current regulations are insufficient. International organizations have proposed precautionary allergen labeling to protect consumers. While processing technologies cannot fully eliminate allergenicity, optimized selection can mitigate risks. Future research should focus on their impact on functional properties, nutritional value, safety, cost, and production efficiency to ensure safe and effective application in the food industry.

In recent years, physical technologies have been widely employed to reduce food protein allergenicity due to their simplicity and stability. This paper summarizes recent research advances in these technologies, focusing on differences in their effects on allergenicity between animal and alternative proteins. The mechanisms of allergenicity reduction and the advantages and disadvantages of these technologies were compared. It was found that heating, although affording better allergenicity reduction than non-thermal treatment technologies, affects other properties of the food. Because of their higher molecular weights and more complex structures, animal proteins are less affected by physical technologies than alternative proteins. It is worth noting that there is a scarcity of existing technology to reduce the allergenicity of food proteins, and more technologies should be explored for this purpose. In addition, better allergenicity-reducing processing technologies should be designed from the perspectives of processing conditions, technological innovations, and combined processing technologies in the future.

Legumes are sustainable protein-rich crops with numerous industrial food applications, which give them the potential of a functional food ingredient. Legume proteins have appreciable techno-functional properties (e.g., emulsification, foaming, water absorption), which could be affected along with its digestibility during processing. Extraction and isolation of legumes’ protein content makes their use more efficient; however, exposure to the conditions of further use (such as temperature and pressure) results in, and significantly increases, changes in the structural, and therefore functional and nutritional, properties. The present review focuses on the quality of legume protein concentrates and their changes under the influence of different physical processing treatments and highlights the effect of processing techniques on the structural, functional, and some of the nutritional, properties of legume proteins.

The physical modification of starch to produce resistant starch (RS) is a viable strategy for the glycemic index (GI) lowering of foods and functionality improvement in starchy food products. RS cannot be digested in the small intestine but can be fermented in the colon to produce short-chain fatty acids rather than being broken down by human digestive enzymes into glucose. This provides major health advantages, like better blood sugar regulation, weight control, and a lower chance of chronic illnesses. This article provides a concise review of the recent developments in physical starch modification techniques, including annealing, extrusion, high-pressure processing, radiation, and heat–moisture treatment. Specifically, the focus of this paper is on the alteration of the crystalline structure of starch caused by the heat–moisture treatment and annealing and its impact on the resistance of starch to enzymatic hydrolysis, as well as the granular structure and molecular arrangement of starch caused by extrusion and high-pressure processing, and the depolymerization and crosslinking that results from radiation. The impacts of these alterations on starch’s textural qualities, stability, and shelf life are also examined. This review demonstrates how physically modified resistant starch can be used as a flexible food ingredient with both functional and health benefits. These methods are economically and ecologically sustainable since they successfully raise the RS content and improve its functional characteristics without the need for chemical reagents. The thorough analysis of these methods and how they affect the structural characteristics and health advantages of RS emphasizes the material’s potential as an essential component in the creation of functional foods that satisfy contemporary dietary and health requirements.

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The texture, flavor, performance and nutrition of foods are affected by their physical properties during processing, cooking, storage, and shelf life. In addition to chemical, physical, and enzymatic modification methods, polysaccharide addition is also considered a safe, effective, and convenient food modification strategy. However, thus far, literature review on the effects of polysaccharides on the physical properties of foods is few. Therefore, the present work reviews the effects of polysaccharides on water retention capacity, rheological property, suspension ability, viscoelasticity, emulsifying property, gelling property, stability, and starch regeneration and digestion. Furthermore, the existing problems and future recommendations during food physical property modification by polysaccharides are presented. This work aims to provide some theoretical references for future research, development, and application of polysaccharides on food physical property modification.

Abstract Plant proteins have recently gained market demand and momentum due to their environmentally friendly origins and health advantages over their animal-derived counterparts. However, their lower techno-functionalities, digestibility, bioactivities, and anti-nutritional compounds have limited their application in foods. Increased demand for physically modified proteins with better techno-functionalities resulted in the application of different thermal and non-thermal treatments to modify plant proteins. Novel physical processing technologies (NPPT) considered ‘emerging high-potential treatments for tomorrow’ are required to alter protein functionality, enhance bioactive peptide formations, reduce anti-nutritional, reduce loss of nutrients, prevention of damage to heat liable proteins and clean label. NPPT can be promising substitutes for the lower energy-efficient and aggressive thermal treatments in plant protein modification. These facts captivated the interest of the scientific community in designing novel functional food systems. However, these improvements are not verifiable for all the plant proteins and depend immensely on the protein type and concentration, other environmental parameters (pH, ionic strength, temperature, and co-solutes), and NPPT conditions. This review addresses the most promising approaches of NPPT for the modification of techno-functionalities of plant proteins. New insights elaborating the effect of NPPTs on proteins’ structural and functional behavior in relation to other food components are discussed. The combined application of NPPTs in the field of plant-based bioactive functionalities is also explored. Graphical Abstract

The increased consumption of legume seeds as a strategy for enhancing food security, reducing malnutrition, and improving health outcomes on a global scale remains an ongoing subject of profound research interest. Legume seed proteins are rich in their dietary protein contents. However, coexisting with these proteins in the seed matrix are other components that inhibit protein digestibility. Thus, improving access to legume proteins often depends on the neutralisation of these inhibitors, which are collectively described as antinutrients or antinutritional factors. The determination of protein quality, which typically involves evaluating protein digestibility and essential amino acid content, is assessed using various methods, such as in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestibility, protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score (IV-PDCAAS), and digestible indispensable amino acid score (DIAAS). Since most edible legumes are mainly available in their processed forms, an interrogation of these processing methods, which could be traditional (e.g., cooking, milling, extrusion, germination, and fermentation) or based on emerging technologies (e.g., high-pressure processing (HPP), ultrasound, irradiation, pulsed electric field (PEF), and microwave), is not only critical but also necessary given the capacity of processing methods to influence protein digestibility. Therefore, this timely and important review discusses how each of these processing methods affects legume seed digestibility, examines the potential for improvements, highlights the challenges posed by antinutritional factors, and suggests areas of focus for future research.

Spermidine, a natural autophagy inducer, has a variety of health effects, such as antitumor, antiaging, anti-inflammation, cardiovascular protection, and neuromodulation. It has been a hot topic in the field of food processing, and current research findings suggest that spermidine-rich foods may be used in intervention and prevention of age-related diseases. In this article, recent findings on the safety, health effects, absorption and metabolism of spermidine were reviewed, and advances in food processing, including the raw materials evaluation, physical and chemical processing, and biological processing of spermidine, were highlighted. In particular, the core metabolic pathways, key gene targets, and efficient metabolic engineering strategies involved in the biosynthesis of spermidine and its precursors were discussed. Moreover, limitations and future perspectives of spermidine research were proposed. The purpose of this review is to provide new insights on spermidine from its safety to its food processing, which will advance the commercial production and applications of spermidine-rich foods and nutraceuticals.

Flavanols, a subgroup of polyphenols, are secondary metabolites with antioxidant properties naturally produced in various plants (e.g., green tea, cocoa, grapes, and apples); they are a major polyphenol class in human foods and beverages, and have recognized effect on maintaining human health. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate their changes (i.e., oxidation, polymerization, degradation, and epimerization) during various physical processing (i.e., heating, drying, mechanical shearing, high-pressure, ultrasound, and radiation) to improve the nutritional value of food products. However, the roles of flavanols, in particular for their polymerized forms, are often underestimated, for a large part because of analytical challenges: they are difficult to extract quantitatively, and their quantification demands chemical reactions. This review examines the existing data on the effects of different physical processing techniques on the content of flavanols and highlights the changes in epimerization and degree of polymerization, as well as some of the latest acidolysis methods for proanthocyanidin characterization and quantification. More and more evidence show that physical processing can affect content but also modify the structure of flavanols by promoting a series of internal reactions. The most important reactivity of flavanols in processing includes oxidative coupling and rearrangements, chain cleavage, structural rearrangements (e.g., polymerization, degradation, and epimerization), and addition to other macromolecules, that is, proteins and polysaccharides. Some acidolysis methods for the analysis of polymeric proanthocyanidins have been updated, which has contributed to complete analysis of proanthocyanidin structures in particular regarding their proportion of A-type proanthocyanidins and their degree of polymerization in various plants. However, future research is also needed to better extract and characterize high-polymer proanthocyanidins, whether in their native or modified forms.

Abstract Traditional food processing techniques can no longer meet the ever increasing demand for high quality food across the globe due to its low process efficiency, high energy consumption and low product yield. This review article is focused on the mechanism and application of Infrared (IR) and ultrasound (US) technologies in physical processing of food. We herein present the individual use of IR and US (both mono-frequency and multi-frequency levels) as well as IR and US supported with other thermal and non-thermal technologies to improve their food processing performance. IR and US are recent thermal and non-thermal technologies which have now been successfully used in food industries to solve the demerits of conventional processing technologies. These environmentally-friendly technologies are characterized by low energy consumption, reduced processing time, high mass-transfer rates, better nutrient retention, better product quality, less mechanical damage and improved shelf life. This work could be, with no doubt, useful to the scientific world and food industries by providing insights on recent advances in the use of US and IR technology, which can be applied to improve food processing technologies for better quality and safer products.

Abstract The task of achieving global food security has become progressively more critical, with widespread hunger and a lack of access to adequate and nutritious food supplies. The agricultural industry including fruits and vegetable production plays a pivotal role in this endeavor. However, fruits and vegetables are perishable products which losses their quality within short period of time, unless their shelf life is extended by applying different processing techniques. Processing and the inherent properties of fruits and vegetables significantly impact their quality, shelf life, and the optimal processing system employed. Therefore, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of quality and phsio-chemical Changes associated with processing and the diverse properties of fruits and vegetables.

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Huangjinya is a light-sensitive mutant tea cultivar that produces fresh leaves with a yellow phenotype, and the leaves also be used to produce black tea with special sensory characteristics. To thoroughly explore the chemical changes that occur during the processing of Huangjinya black tea, tea samples were collected from each processing step to perform quantitative and qualitative analyses by high-performance liquid chromatography and ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS). Compared to fresh tea leaves, only approximately 20% of the catechins remained at the end of processing, while theaflavins levels peaked at the rolling step and were slightly reduced in the fermentation and drying processes. The levels of amino acids derived from protein hydrolysis increased significantly in the withering and rolling processes. Altogether, 620 differential metabolites were identified from 11 subclasses using widely targeted metabolomics based on UPLC-HRMS for the four steps used to process Huangjinya black tea. Flavonoids, phenolic acids, and lipids were the three major classes of differential metabolites, accounting for 52.4% of the differential compounds. The greatest changes in the metabolite profile occurred during the rolling step, with 292 metabolites showing increases or decreases. Two glycoconjugates of the amino acid were first identified in tea, which was sharply increased in the drying stage. The present study provides comprehensive information on the chemical changes during the processing of Huangjinya black tea, and this information is valuable for optimizing manufacturing process and utilization of the Huangjinya tea plant.

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The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) represents one of the main crops for human consumption, due to its nutritional and functional qualities. Phenolic compounds have beneficial health effects, and beans are an essential source of these molecules, being found mainly in the seed coat and its color depends on the concentration and type of phenolic compounds present. The bean during storage and processing, such as cooking, germination, extrusion, and fermentation, undergoes physical, chemical, and structural changes that affect the bioavailability of its nutrients; these changes are related to the interactions between phenolic compounds and other components of the food matrix. This review provides information about the identification and quantification of phenolic compounds present in beans and the changes they undergo during processing. It also includes information on the interactions between the phenolic compounds and the components of the bean's cell wall and the analytical methods used to identify the interactions of phenolic compounds with macromolecules.

Polyphenols are organic chemical compounds naturally present in plants, renowned for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anticancer, and cardiovascular protective properties. Their bioactivity and bioavailability can vary widely depending on the methods of food processing and interactions with the gut microbiome. These factors can induce changes in polyphenols, affecting their ability to achieve their intended health benefits. Thus, it is essential to develop and apply food processing methods that optimize polyphenol content while maintaining their bioactivity and bioavailability. This review aims to explore how various food processing techniques affect the quantity, bioactivity, and bioavailability of polyphenols, as well as their interactions with the gut microbiome, which may ultimately determine their health effects.

This review provides an analysis of ohmic heating in food processing and its effect on plant proteins. This study explores the effect of this technology on protein denaturation and aggregation, affecting both non-covalent and covalent bonds. These structural and chemical changes have significant implications for the techno-functional properties of proteins, contributing to their use in food processing. This article emphasizes the need to adjust processing conditions to maximize the benefits of ohmic heating, distinguishing it from other traditional thermal techniques due to its direct and controllable impact. By highlighting these contributions, this review serves as a resource for researchers and professionals interested in innovation and efficiency in food processing through the use of emerging technologies.

COPYRIGHT © 2022 Zhang and Liu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. Editorial: Chemical and biological changes of polyphenols caused by food thermal processing

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A range of nonthermal techniques have demonstrated process efficacy in ensuring product safety, extension of shelf life, and in general a retention of key quality attributes. However, various physical, chemical and biochemical effects of nonthermal techniques on macro and micro nutrients are evident, leading to both desirable and undesirable changes in food products. The objective of this review is to outline the effects of nonthermal techniques on food chemistry and the associated degradation mechanisms with the treatment of foods. Oxidation is one of the key mechanisms responsible for undesirable effects induced by nonthermal techniques. Degradation of key macromolecules largely depends on the processing conditions employed. Various extrinsic and intrinsic control parameters of high-pressure processing, pulsed electric field, ultrasound processing, and cold atmospheric plasma on chemistry of processed food are outlined. Proposed mechanisms and associated degradation of macromolecules, i.e., proteins, lipids, and bioactive molecules resulting in food quality changes are also discussed.

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Lipophilic compounds, such as flavors, fat-soluble vitamins, and hydrophobic nutrients possess vital properties including antioxidant effects, functional attributes, and nutritional value that can improve human health. However, their susceptibility to environmental factors including heat, pH changes, and ionic strength encountered during food processing poses significant challenges. To address these issues, diverse bioactive delivery systems have been developed. This review explores delivery systems designed to optimize the stability and suitability of lipophilic bioactive compounds in food processing. Extensive literature analysis reveals that tailoring delivery systems with various biopolymers can protect bioactives through steric hindrance and formation of thick interfacial layers on the emulsion surfaces. Thus, the access of oxygen, prooxidants, and free radicals at the emulsion interface could be inhibited, resulting in enhanced processing suitability of bioactives as well as chemical stability under diverse environmental conditions. The insights presented in this review hold immense value for the food and beverage industries.

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Ultrasound, a nonthermal processing technology, preserves food's nutritional value and organoleptic properties while inactivating microbes and enzymes. Despite minimal changes in volatile compounds during processing, recent studies have shown that ultrasound can accelerate the generation of flavor compounds by enhancing cavitation-induced chemical reactions. This process alters volatile flavor profiles and improves flavor perception through the breakdown of fats and proteins. This work explores the effects of ultrasound on volatile compounds, starting with the principles linking ultrasound treatment to volatile evolution. It then summarizes the volatile fingerprint responses across key food categories and discusses the mechanisms driving these changes. Finally, the potential applications of ultrasound-induced flavor modifications in food processing are analyzed and explored. A comprehensive investigation into the influence of ultrasound on food volatiles provides valuable insights for food processing practices, positioning ultrasonic irradiation as a promising tool for tailoring volatile flavor features of industrially manufactured food matrices.

Abstract Anthocyanins have received considerable attention for the development of food products with attractive colors and potential health benefits. However, anthocyanin applications have been hindered by stability issues, especially in the context of complex food matrices and diverse processing methods. From the natural microenvironment of plants to complex processed food matrices and formulations, there may happen comprehensive changes to anthocyanins, leading to unpredictable stability behavior under various processing conditions. In particular, anthocyanin hydration, degradation, and oxidation during thermal operations in the presence of oxygen represent major challenges. First, this review aims to summarize our current understanding of key anthocyanin stability issues focusing on the chemical properties and their consequences in complex food systems. The subsequent efforts to examine plenty of cases attempt to unravel a universal pattern and provide thorough guidance for future food practice regarding anthocyanins. Additionally, we put forward a model with highlights on the role of the balance between anthocyanin release and degradation in stability evaluations. Our goal is to engender updated insights into anthocyanin stability behavior under food processing conditions and provide a robust foundation for the development of anthocyanin stabilization strategies, expecting to promote more and deeper progress in this field.

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Abstract Carotenoids in plant foods are sources of pro-vitamin A and nutrients with several health benefits, including antioxidant and anticancer activities. However, humans cannot synthesize carotenoids de novo and must obtain them from the diet, typically via plant foods. We review the chemical changes of carotenoids in plant foods from farm to table and nutrition, including nutrient release and degradation during processing and metabolism in vivo. We also describe the influencing factors and proposals corresponding to enhancing the release, retention and utilization of carotenoids, thus benefiting human health. Processing methods influence the release and degradation of carotenoids, and nonthermal processing may optimize processing effects. The carotenoid profile, food matrix, and body status influence the digestion, absorption, and biotransformation of carotenoids in vivo; food design (diet and carotenoid delivery systems) can increase the bioavailability levels of carotenoids in the human body. In this review, the dynamic fate of carotenoids in plant foods is summarized systematically and deeply, focusing on changes in their chemical structure; identifying critical control points and influencing factors to facilitate carotenoid regulation; and suggesting multi-dimensional strategies based on the current state of food processing industries to achieve health benefits for consumers.

ABSTRACT Examining recent innovations in aquatic food products shows significant progress in sustainable processing, product quality, and safety. The introduction of nano-encapsulation and innovative packaging methods has undeniably propelled the industry forward. These developments have proven effective in preventing microbial growth and moderating changes in product quality alterations. In addition, technologies such as colorimetric sensors and oxygen scavengers have brought fresh perspectives to real-time food quality monitoring and control, further solidifying their contribution to the industry’s growth. Despite these advances, challenges persist, particularly in the areas of food safety and environmental conservation. The paper emphasizes the need for robust and responsive risk assessment measures and effective mitigation strategies. These can prevent potential biological, chemical, and environmental hazards, thereby improving food safety and safeguarding our precious ecosystems. The review also highlights the importance of the regulations that strike a balance between meeting consumer preferences, enforcing environmental conservation, and prioritizing sustainability to drive the industry toward a prosperous future. The insights from this review serve as a crucial roadmap for various stakeholders in the industry, providing direction for decision-making, and fostering advancements in sustainable processing, quality enhancement, and safety assurance within the aquatic food industry.

In the food and feed industry, protein extraction is commonly performed under acid or basic conditions, combined with heat, in order to increase the extraction yield. Under severe processing conditions, proteins may undergo molecular modifications. Here, the effects of heating (30, 60, 90 °C) at different pH values (2, 7, 9, 11, 13) were evaluated on commercial whey proteins, used as a simplified protein model. The main structure and chemical modifications concerning protein aggregation, hydrolysis, insolubilization, amino acid degradation and racemization were investigated in detail. Using in vitro static models, the degree of protein hydrolysis and the released peptides were determined after the digestive process. Accumulation of molecular modifications was mostly observed after basic pH and high temperatures treatments, together with a marked decrease and modification of the digestibility profile. Instead, protein digestibility increased in neutral and acidic conditions in a temperature-dependent manner, even if some modification in the structure occurs.

The increasing interest in edible insects, driven by projected global population growth and environmental concerns, has led to the exploration of their potential in the food sector. Edible insects are abundant in macronutrients, such as proteins, lipids and chitin, as well as micronutrients, such as minerals, vitamins and phenolic compounds. Considering their content of bioactive compounds, they offer a sustainable solution to meet future food demands while providing potential health benefits. This review identifies bioactive peptides, phenolic compounds, chitosan, and vitamins as major bioactive ingredients derived from insects. It discusses their presence in various edible insect species, their primary bioactive properties, and methods for production and isolation. Bioactive compounds sourced from edible insects exhibit antioxidant, antimicrobial, and disease-preventing properties. Insects also serve as rich sources of vitamins A, B2, B6, B12, D, and E, albeit with variations in content among species and life stages. However, the consumption of insects poses risks related to their biological and chemical contaminants, as well as their allergenicity. Managed diets in farm-bred insects ensure controlled nutrient levels, highlighting their potential as sustainable sources of bioactive compounds for human health. Adequate processing and labeling of insect-derived products can reduce the risk of insect consumption. In conclusion, the bioactive compound profile of edible insects complements their nutritional richness and highlights their potential to address future nutrition and food security.

Food loss and waste (FLW) present significant challenges worldwide, affecting food supply, economic efficiency, and environmental sustainability. Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) offers a promising solution for valorizing food by-products, addressing challenges related to FLW through efficient extraction of bioactive compounds. This review evaluates SFE's efficacy in extracting high-value compounds, including phenolics, terpenes, terpenoids, essential fatty acids, and dietary fibers, from food by-products. In addition, recent technological advancements are explored, with a focus on optimizing processing parameters, pretreatment methods, and integrating sequential extraction techniques to improve SFE efficiency. Industrial applications and the potential for broader commercial adoption are discussed, with attention to scalability, economic feasibility, and regulatory considerations. In conclusion, SFE is presented as a sustainable approach for converting food by-products into high-value bioactives. The integration of complementary technologies and further research on scalability are crucial for overcoming current limitations.

Beetroot is recognized as health promoting food due to presence of essential components such as vitamins, minerals, phenolics, carotenoids, nitrate, ascorbic acids and betalains that promote health. Betalains occur in two forms i.e. betacyanin (red-violet pigment) and betaxanthin (yellow-orange pigment) and are recognizable commercially as a food dye due to non-precarious, non-toxic, non-carcinogenic and non-poisonous nature. Beetroot is premeditated as a boon for the food industry and used as food colorant or additive in food products such as ice-cream, yogurts and other products. The beetroot extract is used to improve the redness in tomato pastes, soups, sauces, desserts, jams, jellies, sweets and breakfast cereals. Overall objective of this review is to provide a brief knowledge about the valuable phytochemicals and bioactive compounds present in beetroot and their association with health benefits, beetroot processing for food application and their effect on beetroot pigment.

The heightened interest in healthy dietary practices and the preference for fresh, minimally processed foods with reduced additives have witnessed a significant surge among consumers. Within this context, bioactive compounds have garnered attention as potent agents offering beneficial biological effects when integrated into food formulations. Nevertheless, the efficacy of these bioactive compounds in product development encounters numerous challenges during various processing and storage stages due to their inherent instability. Addressing these limitations necessitates exploring novel technological approaches tailored explicitly to the application of bioactive compounds in food production. These approaches should not only focus on preserving the bioactive compounds within food matrices but also on retaining the sensory attributes (color, taste, and aroma) of the final food products. The impact of microalgae and their bioactive compounds on human health and well-being has been extensively reported in the literature. However, there is still a gap regarding the processing and stability of microalgal bioactive compounds to improve their application in the food industry. The main goal of the present work is to point out how to overcome technological challenges in enhancing the stability of bioactive compounds from microalgae for optimal food applications.

Cynara scolymus L. is an herbaceous plant originally from the western Mediterranean area, with Italy, Spain and France the main being producers. Both the edible flowering head and the by-products generated during processing (outer bracts, leaves and stem) are characterized by a high content of essential vitamins, minerals and bioactive compounds. In particular, the leaves represent a great source of phenolic acids derived from caffeoylquinic acid or flavonoids such as luteonin and apigenin, while the head and stem contain a high content of soluble and insoluble dietary fiber, especially inulin and pectins. Its high content of bioactive compounds provides artichoke a high antioxidant power due to the modulation effect of the transcription factor Nrf2, which may lead to protection against cardiovascular, hepatic and neurological disorders. The potential use of artichoke as a functional ingredient in the food industry may be promising in terms of improving the nutritional value of products, as well as preventing oxidation and extending the shelf-life of processed foods due to its antimicrobial activity. This review aims to provide an overview of the nutritional qualities of Cynara scolymus L. and its by-products, focusing on the possible health effects and potential applications in food products as a higher-value-added alternative ingredient.

Abstract Faba beans (Vicia faba L.), integral to the legume family, are a significant component of the global pulse market because of their nutritional richness and positive health implications. While existing reviews have extensively covered the nutritional composition and anti-nutritional factors of faba beans, and their utilization in food product development, the insights into the optimization of processing methods and upcycling the wastewater during faba bean processing remain insufficient. Therefore, this review focuses on consolidating information about their bioactive compounds, elucidating associated health benefits and unveiling the possible application of processing water derived from faba beans. Key issues discussed include the impact of bioactive compounds in faba beans on cardiovascular health and carcinogenic condition, the challenges in processing that affect bioactive content, and the potential nutritional and functional applications of processing water in food production.

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The rapid growth of the global population and changes in lifestyle have led to a significant increase in food waste from various industrial, agricultural, and household sources. Nearly one-third of the food produced annually is wasted, resulting in severe resource depletion. Food waste contains rich organic matter, which, if not managed properly, can pose a serious threat to the environment and human health, making the proper disposal of food waste an urgent global issue. However, various types of food waste, such as waste from fruit, vegetables, grains, and other food production and processing, contain important bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, dietary fiber, proteins, lipids, vitamins, organic acids, and minerals, some of which are found in greater quantities in the discarded parts than in the parts accepted by the market. These bioactive compounds offer the potential to convert food waste into value-added products, and fields including nutritional foods, bioplastics, bioenergy, biosurfactants, biofertilizers, and single cell proteins have welcomed food waste as a novel source. This review reveals the latest insights into the various sources of food waste and the potential of utilizing bioactive compounds to convert it into value-added products, thus enhancing people’s confidence in better utilizing and managing food waste.

The fruit production and processing sectors produce tremendous amounts of by-products and waste that cause significant economic losses and an undesirable impact on the environment. The effective utilization of these fruit wastes can help to reduce the carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions, thereby achieving sustainable development goals. These by-products contain a variety of bioactive compounds, such as dietary fiber, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, antioxidants, polysaccharides, and several other health-promoting nutrients and phytochemicals. These bioactive compounds can be extracted and used as value-added products in different industrial applications. The bioactive components extracted can be used in developing nutraceutical products, functional foods, or food additives. This review provides a comprehensive review of the recent developments in fruit waste valorization techniques and their application in food industries. The various extraction techniques, including conventional and emerging methods, have been discussed. The antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the active compounds extracted and isolated from fruit waste have been described. The most important food industrial application of bioactive compounds extracted from fruit waste (FW) has been provided. Finally, challenges, future direction, and concluding remarks on the topic are summarized.

The current research was conducted to extract the bioactive compounds from citrus waste and assess their role in the development of functional foods to treat different disorders. The scientific name of citrus is Citrus L. and it belongs to the Rutaceae family. It is one of the most important fruit crops that is grown throughout the world. During processing, a large amount of waste is produced from citrus fruits in the form of peel, seeds, and pomace. Every year, the citrus processing industry creates a large amount of waste. The citrus waste is composed of highly bioactive substances and phytochemicals, including essential oils (EOs), ascorbic acid, sugars, carotenoids, flavonoids, dietary fiber, polyphenols, and a range of trace elements. These valuable compounds are used to develop functional foods, including baked products, beverages, meat products, and dairy products. Moreover, these functional foods play an important role in treating various disorders, including anti-aging, anti-mutagenic, antidiabetic, anti-carcinogenic, anti-allergenic, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and cardiovascular-protective activity. EOs are complex and contain several naturally occurring bioactive compounds that are frequently used as the best substitutes in the food industry. Citrus essential oils have many uses in the packaging and food safety industries. They can also be used as an alternative preservative to extend the shelf lives of different food products.

Domestic food waste and agro-industrial by-products (AIBPs) occurring throughout the food chain, including production, processing, and storage, have become a global sustainability concern. Interestingly, this waste and these by-products contain a significant amount of commercially vital bioactive compounds, including polyphenols and carotenoids. Remarkably, discarded by-products such as fruit and vegetable peels contain more bioactive compounds than edible pulp. Thus, valorizing this waste and these by-products for commercially vital bioactive products can solve their disposal problems and help alleviate climate change crises. Additionally, it can generate surplus revenue, significantly improving food production and processing economics. Interestingly, several bioactive extracts derived from citrus peel, carrot pomace, olive leaf, and grape seed are commercially available, highlighting the importance of agro-food waste and by-product valorization. Considering this background information, this review aims to provide holistic information on major AIBPs; recovery methods of bioactive compounds focusing on polyphenols, carotenoids, oligosaccharides, and pectin; microencapsulation of isolated bioactive for enhanced physical, chemical, and biological properties; and their commercial application. In addition, green extraction methods are discussed, which have several advantages over conventional extraction. The concept of the circular bio-economy approach, challenges in waste valorization, and future perspective are also discussed.

Tea ( Camellia sinensis) is the most widely consumed beverage in the world, with an excellent source of bioactive compounds such as catechins, caffeine, and epigallocatechin. There is an increasing trend to extract these bioactive compounds to deliver them as value-added products. Generally, the extraction of polyphenols and other functional compounds from different parts of tea is carried out using different solvents (e.g., water, water–ethanol, ethanol, methanol, acetone, ethyl acetate, and acetonitrile). The extraction efficiency of functional compounds from tea depends on the type and polarity of the solvent as well as the applied process. Several conventional techniques, such as boiling, heating, Soxhlet, and cold extraction, are used to extract bioactive ingredients. However, these procedures are unsuitable for achieving high yields and biological activities due to the long extraction times of cold brewing and the high temperatures in other heating methods. Many efforts have been carried out in food and pharmaceutical industries to replace conventional extraction techniques with innovative technologies (e.g., microwave (MAE), ultrasonic (UAE), pressurized liquid (PLE), pulsed electric field (PEF), and supercritical fluid (SFE)), which are fast, safe, energy-saving, and can present eco-friendly characteristics. These innovative extraction techniques have proven to improve the recovery rate of phenolic-based antioxidant compounds from tea and increase their extraction efficiency. In this review, the application of novel processing technologies for the extraction of value-added compounds from tea leaves is reviewed. The advantages and drawbacks of using these technologies are also highlighted.

The food processing industry is a continuously developing sector that uses innovative technologies to efficiently process food products. During processing, food industries generate substantial amounts of by-products in the form of waste materials. This food waste consists of organic matter rich in bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, carotenoids, and flavonoids. Improper management of food waste can adversely affect both the environment and human health, leading to environmental pollution and the release of greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, proper food waste management has become an urgent global issue. The presence of bioactive compounds (mainly polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins, but also carotenoids, alkaloids, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates) in food waste holds the potential to transform them into valuable resources. Several sectors, including food and energy, have recognized food waste as an innovative source. Recently, much emphasis has been placed on optimizing the extraction yield of such bioactive compounds through the utilization of environmentally friendly and sustainable methodologies and solvents. Pulsed electric field (PEF)-assisted extraction is an emerging technique that holds promise for the utilization of waste materials. PEF technology can efficiently optimize the extraction of valuable compounds within a shorter time while minimizing solvent and energy consumption. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of PEF technology and its implications for recovering bioactive compounds from food waste. The integration of innovative technologies like PEF in the food processing industry can play a crucial role in managing food waste sustainably, reducing environmental impact, and harnessing the full potential of bioactive compounds contained in these waste materials. The objective of this critical review is to provide an overview of the utilization of PEF pretreatment for food by-products and to conduct a comparative analysis with other extraction techniques.

Growing consumer interest in healthy foods has led to an increased demand for bioactive compounds derived from eco-technologies. This review highlighted two emerging technologies, pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), which are based on clean processes aimed at recovering bioactive compounds from different food sources. We studied how the different processing conditions provide many advantages and a great opportunity to obtain compounds with antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, or antifungal activity from plant matrices and industrial biowaste, especially antioxidant compounds (anthocyanins and polyphenols) due to their important role in health promotion. Our research was conducted through a systematic search in different scientific databases related to the PLE and SFE topics. The review analyzed the optimal extraction conditions using these technologies, which lead to the efficient extraction of bioactive compounds, the use of different equipment, and recent combinations of SFE and PLE with other emerging technologies. This has given rise to the development of new technological innovations, new commercial applications, and the detailed recovery of various bioactive compounds extracted from different plant and marine life food matrices. These two environmentally friendly methodologies are fully valid and have great future application prospects in biowaste valorization. They represent a feasible technological tool that can promote the implementation of a circular economy model for the food industry. The underlying mechanisms of these techniques were discussed in detail and supported by current literature.

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ABSTRACT Kiwifruit is widely consumed in many parts of the world. They contain a variety of bioactive substances that make them a valuable functional food source. For instance, kiwifruit contains vitamin C, polysaccharides, polyphenols (catechin, anthocyanin, chlorogenic acid, gallic acid), alkaloids (aconitine, safranin, actinidine), and terpenoids (ursolic acid, oleanolic acid), which are claimed to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects, as well as protecting against cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. However, the potentially beneficial effects of most of these bioactive substances have still not been confirmed by clinical trials. This article reviews recent research on the type and physiological functions of the main bioactive components in kiwifruit. The techniques required to extract and characterize these components are discussed, as well as current challenges in kiwifruit processing. Several innovative extraction techniques have been utilized to extract bioactive substances from kiwifruits, including ultrasound- and microwave-assisted methods. Moreover, several non-thermal processing methods (such as ultrasound, high-pressure, and pulsed electric field processing) are being used to reduce the losses and increase the activity of bioactive substances, preserve the sensory qualities of the fruit, and reduce the allergenicity of kiwifruit. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Abstract Background Rice by-products, including straw, husk and bran, are generated through rice cultivation and rice milling processes and have been considered as rich sources of bioactive compounds, such as essential amino acids, phenolics, flavonoids, vitamin E and γ-oryzanol. These compounds are generating interest due to their potential beneficial effects on human health, in addition to their antioxidant capability for improving the storage stability of foods. Nevertheless, a large amount of rice by-products is not efficiently utilized, which leads to economic waste and environmental problems. Scope and approach This review presents an overview of recent studies on the extraction and application of bioactive compounds from rice by-products. Several extraction techniques, including extraction solvents, have been developed and optimized in recent studies to provide greater chemical properties and antioxidant activity to the extracts. Further, the utilization of extracted bioactive compounds from rice by-products in the food and pharmaceutical industries is also highlighted in this review. Key findings and conclusions The utilization of waste and by-products from rice cultivation and commercial rice processing has generated increased interest as a means to improve human health, increase farmer income, and reduce environmental pollution. Bioactive compounds from these byproducts can be used in many ways, such as for food colorants, food enrichment, food preservatives, anti-cancer agents, or anti-inflammatory agents. In addition, they can also be applied as alternative compounds, instead of synthetic food additives or drugs.

The marine environment is a relatively unexplored source of functional ingredients that can be used in food processing, storage, and fortification in a variety of ways. Marine microorganisms are a possible source of novel bioactive chemicals with potential human utility. Some of these microbes can live in the harsh marine environments, resulting in complex compounds with unique biological properties that can be used in several industrial and biotechnological applications. So far, several marine microorganisms (fungi, myxomycetes, bacteria, and microalgae) have been isolated that produce antioxidant, antibacterial, apoptotic, antitumoral, and antiviral chemicals. Furthermore, it emphasizes the enormous potential for marine microbes to produce very important bioactive chemicals. The main goal of this review is to provide a concise overview of several constituents of marine bioactives. Anticoagulant, anticancer, and hypocholesterolemic effects have been demonstrated for bioactive peptides extracted from fish protein hydrolysates, as well as algal fucans, galactans, and alginates. Furthermore, omega-3 fatty acids are abundant in fish oils and marine microorganisms, while potent antioxidants such as carotenoids and phenolic compounds can be found in crustaceans and seaweeds. This review focuses on the potential use of marine-derived chemicals as functional food ingredients for health maintenance and chronic disease prevention, based on their bioactive qualities.

The use of natural food ingredients has been increased in recent years due to the negative health implications of synthetic ingredients. Natural bioactive compounds are important for the development of health-oriented functional food products with better quality attributes. The natural bioactive compounds possess different types of bioactivities, e.g., antioxidative, antimicrobial, antihypertensive, and antiobesity activities. The most common method for the development of functional food is the fortification of these bioactive compounds during food product manufacturing. However, many of these natural bioactive compounds are heat-labile and less stable. Therefore, the industry and researchers proposed the microencapsulation of natural bioactive compounds, which may improve the stability of these compounds during processing and storage conditions. It may also help in controlling and sustaining the release of natural compounds in the food product matrices, thus, providing bioactivity for a longer duration. In this regard, several advanced techniques have been explored in recent years for microencapsulation of bioactive compounds, e.g., essential oils, healthy oils, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, flavoring compounds, enzymes, and vitamins. The efficiency of microencapsulation depends on various factors which are related to natural compounds, encapsulating materials, and encapsulation process. This review provides an in-depth discussion on recent advances in microencapsulation processes as well as their application in food systems.

Abstract Micronization is a mechanical and high shearing operation to downsize the particles of food material to the micron range. Conventionally micronization techniques were employed in pharmaceutical industries but in recent decades various studies have revealed its immense potential in food industries. This article reveals remarkable changes brought by micronization techniques in the food matrix. Size reduction to micron size boosts functional properties and physicochemical properties like water holding capacity, swelling capacity, solubility and antioxidant capacity. It also helps in preserving food by exposing the antimicrobial compounds on the surface or by inactivating microbes or by inhibiting enzymes thus improving the food stability. Micronization delayed retrogradation, induced gelatinization, reduced syneresis, decreased fermentation time, produced stable products and improved dissolution rate. These unique changes were found due to decrease in particle size and increase in surface area. Micronization by grinding, homogenizing, electrospraying and solvent-less micronization by supercritical fluid has been uniquely worked upon for the readers and researchers to have quick glance over recent trends and innovation. This review also details on principles, effective parameters, particle size, major outcomes, advantages and disadvantages of each micronizing technique.

ABSTRACT Sustainable agricultural practices supporting food diversification and value addition of underutilized crops can support global food security and nutrition. Rediscovered ancient seed grains and flours (barnyard millet, finger millet, little millet, sorghum) are emerging as sustainable alternatives due to high nutritional content and climate resilience. The physical and functional properties varied significantly (p < 0.05) among seed grains and flours in this observational study. All the tested grains showed good antioxidant activity due to a good phenolic content. Understanding these properties is essential for food processing operations. This study indicates that millet and sorghum could be used successfully in food products formulation. Graphical Abstract

Nanoemulsions - colloidal dispersions of nanoscale droplets in a continuous phase, have garnered significant attention in recent years due to their versatile properties and wide-ranging applications. This review paper presents a comprehensive overview of nanoemulsions production methods focusing on their formulation strategies, functional properties and different applications in food processing. Various low and high energy methods such as phase inversion, high pressure homogenization, ultrasonication and microfluidization etc., are reviewed to produce nanoe-mulsions with diverse characteristics and functionalities. Scale-up potential and practical challenges of each production method are also discussed. Various properties of nanoemulsions stability, drug solubility, bioavailability and targeted delivery are highlighted. Furthermore, their potential applications in food and beverage sectors including encapsulation of bioactive compounds, packaging, preservation and new product formulation have been elaborated along with real world examples at commercial stage. This review will contribute to providing knowledge about gastrointestinal fate of nanoemulsions, toxicity and safety by in-vitro and in-vivo testing as well as other research evidences. Regulatory aspects and public perception on use of nanoe-mulsions are also covered. Nevertheless, nanoemulsion presents immense potential for addressing various challenges in food industry. Continued research efforts in formulation design, ingredient selection, its compatibility with food constituents as well as the associated safety issues should be undertaken to unlock new opportunities towards scalability and commercialization.

Abstract Edible insect products contain high-quality protein and other nutrients, including minerals and fatty acids. The consumption of insect food products is considered a future trend and a potential strategy that could greatly contribute to meeting food needs worldwide. However, insect proteins have the potential to be allergenic to insect consumers. In this review, the nutritional value and allergy risk of insect-derived foods, and the immune responses elicited by insect allergens are summarized and discussed. Tropomyosin and arginine kinase are the most important and widely known insect allergens, which induce Th2-biased immune responses and reduced the activity of CD4+T regulatory cells. Besides, food processing methods have been effectively improving the nutrients and characteristics of insect products. However, limited reviews systematically address the immune reactions to allergens present in edible insect proteins following treatment with food processing technologies. The conventional/novel food processing techniques and recent advances in reducing the allergenicity of insect proteins are discussed in this review, focusing on the structural changes of allergens and immune regulation.

Tannins, a diverse class of polyphenolic compounds, are widely present in a variety of plant-based foods and beverages, where they contribute significantly to flavor, astringency, and numerous health benefits. Known for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cardioprotective properties, tannins are associated with a reduced risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. Their bioavailability and metabolism are influenced by factors such as polymerization, solubility, and interactions with the gut microbiota. Tannin-rich beverages, including tea, wine, fruit juices, and cider, offer a range of health-promoting effects, including antioxidant, cardioprotective, and antimicrobial activities. In addition, tannins contribute significantly to the sensory and nutritional characteristics of fruits, nuts, and vegetables, influencing flavor, color, and nutrient absorption. The levels and efficacy of tannins are subject to variation due to factors such as ripeness and food processing methods, which can increase their impact on food quality and health. This review provides a comprehensive examination of the bioactive roles of tannins, their nutritional implications, and their sensory effects, highlighting their importance in both dietary applications and overall well-being.

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Functional foods are defined as foods and ingredients that exhibit health benefits beyond their nutritional value. Research on functional foods is increasing rapidly as they may help prevent and manage some non-communicable diseases. Whey proteins are recognized as a high-quality nutrient source and known to contain some bioactive components. They are rich in essential amino acids such as cysteine, branched-chain amino acids such as leucine, valine, and isoleucine, and bioactive peptides. Whey proteins look promising as a potential functional food, given its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, blood pressure lowering, anti-obesity, and appetite suppressing effects that is discussed in the literature. Whey proteins also show functional properties that play an essential role in food processing as an emulsifier, fat-replacer, gelling and encapsulating agent and are known to improve sensory and textural characteristics of food. This review focuses on the functional food aspects of whey proteins, associated health effects, and current food applications.

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Currently, growing concerns about sustainable development and health awareness have driven the development of plant-based meat substitutes. Soybean proteins (SPs) are eco-friendly and high-quality food sources with well-balanced amino acids to meet consumer demand. The functionality and physicochemical attributes of SPs can be improved by appropriate processing and modification. With the burgeoning advances of modern processing technologies in the food industry, a multitude of functional foods and ingredients can be manufactured based on SPs. This review mainly highlights the conformational changes of SPs under traditional and emerging processing technologies and the resultant functionality modifications. By elucidating the relationship between processing-induced structural and functional alterations, detailed and systematic insights are provided regarding the exploitation of these techniques to develop different nutritional and functional soybean products. Some popular methods to modify SPs properties are discussed in this paper, including thermal treatment, fermentation, enzyme catalysis, high hydrostatic pressure, high-intensity ultrasound, atmospheric cold plasma, high-moisture extrusion, glycosylation, pulsed ultraviolet light and interaction with polyphenols. Given these processing technologies, it is promising to expand the application market for SPs and boost the advancement of the soybean industry.

Whey protein (WP) isolates are widely used in food products because they improve protein content, functional properties, and health benefits. It has been observed that WP can form conjugates with essential micronutrients, improving their dietary delivery and biological availability. WP and its derived bioactive peptides have potential health benefits in preventing chronic diseases. However, the off‐flavor and bitter peptides of WP are limiting factors that can be used in the food and beverage industries. Emerging innovative processing technologies, such as high hydrostatic pressure, ultrasonication, and extrusion, improve WP gelling ability, gel strength, and storage stability, providing high‐quality and healthy functional products. The integration of technological advancements into WP‐loaded fortified food products (FFPs) has increased the uptake rate of bioactive compounds, resulting in increased bioavailability and bioaccessibility in the human body. Furthermore, WP‐based FFPs treated with advanced thermal and nonthermal processing techniques possess better rheological properties, expansion ratios, and textural properties. Therefore, WP would be a promising and sustainable ingredient for developing stable functional foods. This review explores recent advancements in the processing technologies of WP, emphasizing their role in enhancing its bioavailability and functional properties for different food applications.

The food industry, along with the consumers, is interested in plant-based diet because of its health benefits and environmental sustainability. Vicia faba L. (V. faba) is a promising source of pulse proteins for the human diet and can yield potential nutritional and functional ingredients, namely, flours, concentrates, and isolates, which are relevant for industrial food applications. Different processes produce and functionalize V. faba ingredients relevant for industrial food applications, along with various alternatives within each unit operation used in their production. Processing modifies functional properties of the ingredients, which can occur by (i) changing in overall nutritional composition after processing steps and/or (ii) modifying the structure and conformation of protein and of other components present in the ingredients. Furthermore, V. faba limitations due to off-flavor, color, and antinutritional factors are influenced by ingredient production and processing that play a significant role in their consumer acceptability in foods. This review attempts to elucidate the influence of different ways of processing on the functional, sensory, and safety aspects of V. faba L. ingredients, highlighting the need for further research to better understand how the food industry could improve their utilization in the market.

Polyphenols have attracted much attention in the food industry and nutrition because of their unique biological activities. However, the health benefits of polyphenols are compromised due to their structural instability and sensitivity to the external environment. The interaction between polyphenols and polysaccharides/proteins largely determines the stability and functional characteristics of polyphenols in food processing and storage. Hence, this topic has attracted widespread attention in recent years. This review initially outlines the basic properties of polyphenols and their applications in food. Subsequently, the interaction mechanisms between polyphenols and polysaccharides/proteins are discussed in detail including non-covalent bonding, covalent modification, and conformational changes. These interactions can display profound impacts on the nutritional value, taste, stability, and safety of food. Additionally, this article also systematically reviews the influencing factors (type, concentration, temperature, pH, and other factors) of interaction between polyphenols and proteins/polysaccharides. Finally, this paper also summarizes systematically the effects of the interaction between polyphenols and polysaccharides/proteins on the physicochemical and functional properties of polyphenols/proteins. The findings provide prospects for the application of composite materials in food preservation, functional food development, and nanocarrier development, which can provide theoretical references for the in-depth development of polyphenols in the food industry.

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Abstract Rapeseed protein concentrate (RPC) and isolate (RPI) were fractionated from rapeseed meal and their techno-functional properties were characterized. RPC prepared by aqueous ethanolic washing process yielded less refined and insoluble fractions with largely denatured protein. Hydrated insoluble RPC particles held 6.7 g water without swelling. RPI fractionated from aqueous extraction and ultrafiltration still contained certain phenolic compounds but protein nativity was preserved including a high protein solubility of 78%. RPC dispersion with 40 w/w % showed the highest apparent complex modulus G* among all rapeseed materials. In contrast, the G* for RPI dispersion increased upon heating, suggesting a thermal induced denaturation and gelation capacity of the proteins. Thus, a largely denatured RPC free of phenolic compounds or a native but phenolic containing RPI were obtained by the applied processing conditions, which differ in their techno-functional properties and thus have different promising application potential in food applications. Industrial relevance The growing demand for plant as opposed to animal protein has sparked the interest of exploring currently underutilized plant protein sources in food industry. Rapeseed by-products obtained after oil extraction are promising but the presence of anti-nutritional components in rapeseed meal presents a barrier for its usage in food products. Aqueous ethanolic washing or aqueous extraction combined with membrane filtration were applied to remove the antinutritional factors from rapeseed meal to yield rapeseed protein concentrates and even more refined isolates. In this work, the functional properties of the fractionated rapeseed materials were characterized for its relevance in food applications. The similarities of the rheological properties between rapeseed protein concentrates and soy materials, as well as presence of native proteins in RPI might suggest their potential for diverse in food industry applications.

Thermal processing is one of the most important processing methods in the food industry. However, many studies have revealed that thermal processing can have detrimental effects on the nutritional and functional properties of foods because of the complex interactions among food components. Proteins are essential nutrients for humans, and changes in the structure and nutritional properties of proteins can substantially impact the biological effects of foods. This review focuses on the interactions among proteins, sugars, and lipids during thermal food processing and the effects of these interactions on the structure, nutritional value, and biological effects of proteins. In particular, the negative effects of modified proteins on human health and strategies for mitigating these detrimental effects from two perspectives, namely, reducing the formation of modified proteins during thermal processing and dietary intervention in vivo, are discussed.

Amylose content (AC) is critical in evaluating starch properties, significantly influencing the food industry and human nutrition. Although amylose is not completely linear, its unique structure makes it a key research focus across various scientific fields. Understanding amylose's structural and functional properties is essential for its applications in medical, nutritional, and industrial sectors. Accurate determination of AC, from simple qualitative assessments to precise quantitative measurements, is vital for effectively processing and using starch-rich products. The choice of AC determination method depends on the specific application and the required accuracy and detail. This review summarizes amylose's structural and functional characteristics and recent advancements in qualitative and quantitative AC determination techniques. It also provides insights into future trends and prospects for these technologies, emphasizing the need for more rapid, convenient, accurate, and customizable methods. In conclusion, advancements in amylose determination should enhance accuracy, speed, and ease of use to improve quality control and applications across various sectors while expanding our understanding of amylose and its functionalities.

Black rice is a variety of pigmented rice. It contains numerous nutritional and bioactive components, including essential amino acids, functional lipids, dietary fibre, vitamins, minerals, anthocyanins, phenolic compounds, γ-oryzanols, tocopherols, tocotrienols, phytosterols and phytic acid. There have been several studies of black rice due to its alleged beneficial health effects when consumed regularly. This review focuses on the historical aspects, chemical composition, and nutritional and functional properties of black rice. Furthermore, a discussion of the development of new foods and beverages with applications and processing technologies designed to improve their quality attributes. The nutritional value of black rice means that it has the potential to be used in the production of healthy foods and beverages, such as functional products and gluten-free cereals, thereby providing extra health benefits to consumers.

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Food proteins should not only provide nutrition but should also have specific functional properties that facilitate processing and enhance product performance. These functional properties refer to the physicochemical characteristics that govern the behavior of proteins in food. In this context, this article delves into the impact of extraction techniques on functional properties of protein, like solubility, emulsifying, foaming, and oil and water holding capacity. Novel extraction methods can boost extraction yield and enhance technological, functional, and nutritional properties of protein. Protein solubility was found to be significantly impacted by the application of novel extraction methods. Studies also concluded that enhancing the solubility of commercial protein isolates may lead to better functional properties. However, excessive use of extraction techniques can result in protein aggregation, which can negatively impact the foaming properties. Exposing hydrophobic groups and enhancing flexibility are the effects of novel treatment on different proteins resulting in an improvement in their functional properties. Similarly alkaline and micellized extraction also enhance the proteins properties. These findings will result in a further enrichment of the research on the functional properties of protein and provide information to help in the development of protein enriched food products.

Traditional thermal food preservation methods often compromise nutritional and sensory quality. Nonthermal technologies such as high‐pressure processing (HPP), pulsed electric field (PEF), ultrasound, irradiation, cold plasma, ozone treatment, and supercritical extraction maintain food safety while better preserving natural attributes. These methods also support sustainability by reducing energy use and carbon footprint. However, challenges such as high cost, scalability, and consumer acceptance remain. Future advancements in efficiency, affordability, and integration with hurdle technologies are expected to drive wider adoption. Overall, nonthermal processing represents a promising alternative to conventional heat treatments, offering improved food quality, safety, and sustainability.

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With the introduction of Industry 4.0, and smart factories accordingly, there are new opportunities to implement elements of industry 4.0 in nonthermal processing. Moreover, with application of Internet of things (IoT), smart control of the process, big data optimization, as well as sustainable production and monitoring, there is a new era of Internet of nonthermal food processing technologies (IoNTP). Nonthermal technologies include high power ultrasound, pulsed electric fields, high voltage electrical discharge, high pressure processing, UV-LED, pulsed light, e-beam, and advanced thermal food processing techniques include microwave processing, ohmic heating and high-pressure homogenization. The aim of this review was to bring in front necessity to evaluate possibilities of implementing smart sensors, artificial intelligence (AI), big data, additive technologies with nonthermal technologies, with the possibility to create smart factories together with strong emphasis on sustainability. This paper brings an overview on digitalization, IoT, additive technologies (3D printing), cloud data storage and smart sensors including two SWOT analysis associated with IoNTPs and sustainability. It is of high importance to perform life cycle assessment (LCA), to quantify (En)—environmental dimension; (So)—social dimension and (Ec)—economic dimension. SWOT analysis showed: potential for energy saving during food processing; optimized overall environmental performance; lower manufacturing cost; development of eco-friendly products; higher level of health and safety during food processing and better work condition for workers. Nonthermal and advanced thermal technologies can be applied also as sustainable techniques working in line with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2030 issued by United Nations (UN).

Highlights • Circular economy (CE) can assist in the implementation of sustainable development in food industry.• Increasing population and regulatory criteria are pressuring the food industry to modify their working methods.• These techniques can help with the implementing CE and meeting the UN approved SDGs.• Collaboration between food producers and the food chain may make the food industry more circular.

Abstract Cereals, as the main crops cultivated and consumed in the world, are a rich source of carbohydrates, proteins, dietary fiber, and minerals. Despite the nutritional importance, their technological applicability in food matrices is also considerably important to be determined. Cereal processing is done to achieve goals as increasing the shelf‐life, obtaining the desired technological function, and enhancing the nutritional value. Nonthermal processing is preferred regarding its potential to provide beneficial impacts with minimum adverse effect. Technological functionality and nutritional performance are considered as the most basic challenges through cereal processing, with proteins as the main factor to take part in such roles. Technological and nutritional functionalities of proteins have been found to be changed through nonthermal processing, which is generally attributed to conformational and structural changes. Therefore, this study is aimed to investigate the impact of nonthermal processing on nutritional and technological characteristics of cereal proteins.

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Abstract The main purpose of food processing is preservation in terms of the food’s quality and safety. The conventional heat treatments are efficient in terms of microbial inactivation but have a significant impact on organoleptic quality and nutritive value of foods. Nonthermal and eco-friendly emergent processing methodologies, such as high pressure processing (HPP), pulsed electric fields (PEF), and ultrasounds (US) are excellent alternatives to assure the product’s safety as well as maintaining their original quality. These methodologies play an important role for food industries contributing also to product innovation and providing more diversity of food industry products as well as more competitive and efficient processes. In this chapter, some of the main technological fundamentals of HPP, PEF, and US are discussed. The effect of each technology on food composition, microorganisms, and some of the most important applications also will be revised as well as their technological advantages and limitations. A brief discussion also will be given about the use of these emergent technologies as extraction methods in the recovery of bioactive compounds from food waste.

Agricultural innovation offers a solution to mounting pressures on the global food system, which must provide safe, nutritious, and environmentally sustainable consumable goods at increasing volumes if demands are to be met. The potential of nonthermal technologies as promising alternatives to conventional thermal treatments for sustainable food processing and preservation is discussed in this review. Here we investigate four of such emerging nonthermal technologies that include High-Pressure Processing (HPP), Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF) and Irradiation, and Cold Plasma. This blog takes a deeper dive into its principles, use cases, and pros and cons. On the other hand, nonthermal technologies are energy-sparing, improve the nutritional quality of food products, and reduce loss due to processing but above all provide improved environmental performance. The energy-saving potential of these technologies can be large, while maintaining food in its original nutritive and sensory shape but with extended shelf life and lower carbon footprint. Nevertheless, scalability, cost-efficacy regulatory approval, consumer acceptance (Diaz-Ruiz Pletsch Concordet; Chellaram Barragan Maheswari), integration with the reference’s infrastructure, or optimized process parameters are themselves challenging. Developing a solution to these challenges and promoting nonthermal processing technologies are strategic priorities that will be critical for future food production... With time, advances in research and developments of this important field would give rise to the wide-scale application of nonthermal processing This review aims to provide a full overview of potential benefits entailed by each innovative technique along with its limitations as well as informing stakeholders and future directions.

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Nonthermal technologies, mostly utilized for microbial inactivation and quality preservation in food, are attracting increased interest, particularly in nonthermal plasma. Cold plasma (CP) demonstrates favorable results, such as increased germination, enhanced functional and rheological characteristics, and the eradication of microorganisms. Consequently, CP is a novel technology in food processing that has significantly contributed to the prevention of food spoilage. This study highlights contemporary research on CP technology in food processing. This includes its use in microbial decontamination, shelf life extension, mycotoxin degradation, enzyme inactivation, and surface modification of food products. The CP generation techniques under low pressure, including glow discharge, radio frequency and microwave techniques, and atmospheric pressure, including dielectric barrier discharge (DBD), plasma jet, and corona discharge, are discussed. Additionally, the source for the generation of plasma-activated water (PAW) with its significant role in food processing is critically discussed. The CP is an effective method for the decontamination of several food materials like fruits, vegetables, meat, and low-moisture food products. Also, the review addressed the effects of CP on the physicochemical properties of foods and CP for pretreatment in various aspects of food processing, including drying of food, extraction of bioactive compounds, and oil hydrogenation. CP improved the drying kinetics of food, resulting in reduced processing time and improved product quality. Similarly, CP is effective in maintaining food safety and quality, removing the formation of biofilm, and also in reducing protein allergenicity. The review also underscored the importance of CP as a sterilizing agent for food packaging materials, emphasizing its role in enhancing the barrier characteristics of biopolymer-based food packaging materials. Therefore, it is concluded that CP is effective in the reduction of pathogenic microorganisms from food products. Moreover, it is effective in maintaining the nutritional and sensory properties of food products. Overall, it is effective for application in all aspects of food processing. There is a critical need for ongoing research on upscaling for commercial purposes.

The consumer demand for functional foods derived from natural sources has been enhanced due to health-promoting effects. Algae are widely available globally as a sustainable source of proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates. Algal lipids are underexplored natural sources that exhibit several nutraceutical effects and applications in fortification, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Both macro- and microalgae are composed of high-quality lipids. These latter involve polar lipids, nonpolar lipids, and essential fatty acids. Therefore, this review aimed to bring out knowledge on the chemistry of various lipids isolated and identified from micro- and macroalgae. Further, their extraction using traditional thermal (solid-liquid, and liquid-liquid) and advanced nonthermal (supercritical fluid, microwave-, ultrasound-, and enzyme-assisted) techniques has been explored. Along with this, bioactivities of algal lipids have been discussed. This study explored algal lipids in advancing sustainable food processing technologies that contribute positively to environmental sustainability and global health, in line with United Nations Sustainable Development GroupUnited Nations Sustainable Development Group UNSDGs.

The widespread use of pesticides in agriculture ensures crop productivity but poses significant risks to human health through residual contamination in edible products. Although food processing can mitigate pesticide residues, the efficiency of different methods varies substantially depending on pesticide physicochemical properties and commodity-specific processing steps. This review systematically evaluates the degradation patterns of pesticide residues during the processing of grains, fruits, vegetables, tea, meat, dairy, and herbal medicines. Key findings reveal that thermal treatments like boiling and baking effectively degrade pesticides with low log Kow (more hydrophilic) or high volatility, while mechanical methods like washing and peeling preferentially remove nonsystemic residues. However, certain processes, such as drying or oil extraction, may concentrate residues, particularly for lipophilic compounds. Emerging nonthermal technologies like ultrasonication, ozonation, and gamma irradiation show promise in addressing combined toxic effects and enantioselective degradation of chiral pesticides. We highlight the urgent need for standardized processing factors and maximum residue limits tailored to processed foods, emphasizing the role of integrated processing strategies in minimizing dietary exposure. This work provides critical insights for optimizing food safety protocols and guiding regulatory frameworks.

Aflatoxin (AF) contamination in pistachios remains a critical food safety and trade challenge, given the potent carcinogenicity of AF-B1 and the nut’s high susceptibility to Aspergillus infection throughout production and storage. Traditional decontamination methods such as roasting, irradiation, ozonation, and acid/alkaline treatments can reduce AF levels but often degrade sensory and nutritional quality, implying the need for more sustainable approaches. In recent years, innovative nonthermal interventions, including pulsed light, cold plasma, nanomaterial-based adsorbents, and bioactive coatings, have demonstrated significant potential to decrease fungal growth and AF accumulation while preserving product quality. Biosensing technologies such as electrochemical immunosensors, aptamer-based systems, and optical or imaging tools are advancing rapid, portable, and sensitive detection capabilities. Combining these experimental strategies with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) models can increasingly be applied to integrate spectral, sensor, and imaging data for predicting fungal development and AF risk in real time. This review brings together progress in nonthermal reduction strategies, biosensing innovations, and data-driven approaches, presenting a comprehensive perspective on emerging tools that could transform pistachio safety management and strengthen compliance with global regulatory standards.

Atmospheric‐pressure cold plasma (APCP) has emerged as a promising nonthermal technology for enhancing food safety, quality, and shelf life. This review evaluates the current applications of APCP in food processing, emphasizing its effectiveness in microbial inactivation, chemical and toxin removal, food functionality improvement, and packaging material enhancement. The mechanisms of microbial inactivation, particularly the role of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), are discussed in relation to their effects on foodborne pathogens and spoilage organisms. APCP's ability to degrade contaminants like mycotoxins and pesticide residues, while preserving sensory and nutritional attributes, is highlighted. Additionally, APCP's capabilities to improve food functionality by modifying properties such as solubility and emulsification and enhance packaging films with better mechanical strength and antimicrobial capabilities are discussed. The review addresses various challenges associated with the APCP technique, such as limited penetration depth, potential sensory changes, and the need for standardization and scalability. The importance for optimization of plasma parameters and safety evaluations of APCP for successful commercialization is emphasized. Thus, this review provides key insights that can guide future research and support the broader adoption of APCP in the food industry.

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High-pressure processing (HPP) is a promising alternative to thermal pasteurization. Recent studies highlighted the effectivity of HPP (400–600 MPa and exposure times of 1–5 min) in reducing pathogenic microflora for up to 5 logs. Analysis of modern scientific sources has shown that pressure affects the main components of milk including fat globules, lactose, casein micelles. The behavior of whey proteins under HPP is very important for milk and dairy products. HPP can cause significant changes in the quaternary (> 150 MPa) and tertiary (> 200 MPa) protein structures. At pressures > 400 MPa, they dissolve in the following order: αs2-casein, αs1-casein, k-casein, and β-casein. A similar trend is observed in the processing of whey proteins. HPP can affect the rate of milk fat adhering as cream with increased results at 100–250 MPa with time dependency while decreasing up to 70% at 400–600 MPa. Some studies indicated the lactose influencing casein on HP, with 10% lactose addition in case in suspension before exposing it to 400 MPa for 40 min prevents the formation of large casein micelles. Number of researches has shown that moderate pressures (up to 400 MPa) and mild heating can activate or stabilize milk enzymes. Pressures of 350–400 MPa for 100 min can boost the activity of milk enzymes by up to 140%. This comprehensive and critical review will benefit scientific researchers and industrial experts in the field of HPP treatment of milk and its effect on milk components.

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Pakistan’s rich agricultural biodiversity faces significant post-harvest losses and quality degradation due to a reliance on conventional thermal processing. High-pressure processing (HPP) offers a promising non-thermal alternative to preserve functional food quality while ensuring microbial safety. This study evaluated the effects of HPP on the microbial inactivation, nutritional retention, and bioactive profile of three indigenous Pakistani functional foods: kinnow mandarin juice, Chaunsa mango pulp, and moringa-fortified lassi. Samples were subjected to HPP at 200, 400, and 600 MPa (holding times of 5–15 min) and compared against conventional thermal pasteurization (90°C/30s). Microbial enumeration, vitamin C, total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity (DPPH), and physicochemical properties were analyzed. Results demonstrated that HPP at 600 MPa for 15 min achieved a >5-log reduction in target pathogens (E. coli, S. aureus, L. monocytogenes), meeting commercial sterility standards. Crucially, optimized HPP (400–600 MPa) retained >85% of ascorbic acid, compared to <60% retention in thermally treated samples. Furthermore, HPP significantly enhanced the extractability of TPC and antioxidant capacity in mango and lassi matrices by up to 32%, attributed to pressure-induced cell wall disruption. Physicochemical parameters (pH, TSS) remained stable, and color degradation (ΔE < 3.0) was minimal under HPP, contrasting sharply with thermal browning (ΔE > 5.0). Ultimately, HPP effectively ensures microbial safety while superiorly preserving and enhancing the bioactive profile of indigenous functional foods. The adoption of HPP in Pakistan's agro-industrial hubs, particularly research and development centers in Islamabad, presents a transformative strategy to mitigate post-harvest losses, develop high-value functional products, and meet stringent international export standards.

This study systematically evaluated the effects of high-pressure processing (HPP, 500 MPa, 10 min) on the comprehensive quality of selenium-sand melon juice (SSJ) over a 35-day refrigerated storage period (4 °C). To simulate extreme contamination scenarios, samples were inoculated with Escherichia coli (6.886 log10 CFU/mL) and Aspergillus sclerotioniger (5.011 log10 spores/mL). Five treatment groups were established, including HPP-treated (inoculated and uninoculated) and low-temperature long-time (LTLT, 65 °C for 30 min) pasteurized (inoculated and uninoculated) groups. HPP treatment completely inactivated the inoculated microorganisms, with no regrowth detected during storage, whereas regrowth was observed in the LTLT groups after day 7. HPP-treated samples exhibited superior color stability (ΔE ≤ 1.58) and compounds, and maintained a higher final pH (5.76 vs. 5.39 in LTLT) at the end of storage, with significantly better retention of lycopene and total phenolic compounds compared to LTLT-treated samples. OPLS-DA analysis of volatile compounds showed that the HPP-M group had only four discriminating compounds (VIP ≥ 1), all characteristic C9 aldehydes and alcohols, while the LTLT-M group showed significant acetic acid accumulation, likely due to residual microbial metabolism. This study demonstrates that HPP is superior to LTLT pasteurization for ensuring microbial safety, preserving nutritional quality, and maintaining the characteristic flavor of SSJ during cold storage.

This work aimed to carry out a preliminary study on the release of bioactive compounds loaded into starch-based hydrogels produced by high-pressure processing (HPP). As a study case, the experiments were carried out on rice starch HPP hydrogels. Rice starch (20% w/w) and green tea extract (2% w/w), suspended in distilled water, were treated by HPP at processing conditions enabling starch gelatinisation, namely 600 MPa for 15 min at room temperature. Additional experiments were carried out on samples that were further loaded with glycerol (5% w/w). Gel formation was assessed by analysing the gelatinisation extent, structuring level, and swelling power of the samples. At the processing conditions utilised, stable hydrogels were obtained even in the presence of the extract and/or the glycerol in the starch suspension. As expected, the colour of the hydrogels formed was affected by the addition of green tea extract in the starch solution. HPP starch hydrogels were characterised by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) to determine the interactions between the different compounds utilised in the formulation. Moreover, the release kinetics of bioactive compounds from HPP rice starch hydrogels was evaluated using a vertical Franz diffusion cells system, simulating a transdermal pattern. The diffusion of bioactive compounds was measured spectrophotometrically and via HPLC analysis. A controlled release of bioactive compounds from the hydrogel structure was detected, suggesting that small molecules, such as polyphenols, positively interacted with the rice starch HPP hydrogel network that allowed a smooth and constant release of these bioactive compounds over time.

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Vegetable beverages are a convenient strategy to enhance the consumption of horticultural commodities, with the possibility of being fortified with plant by-products to increase functional quality. The main objective was to develop a new veggie beverage from broccoli stalks and carrot by-products seasoned with natural antioxidants and antimicrobial ingredients. Pasteurization, Ultrasound (US), and High Hydrostatic Pressure (HHP) and their combinations were used as processing treatments, while no treatment was used as a control (CTRL). A shelf-life study of 28 days at 4 °C was assayed. Microbial load, antioxidant capacity, and bioactive compounds were periodically measured. Non-thermal treatments have successfully preserved antioxidants (~6 mg/L ΣCarotenoids) and sulfur compounds (~1.25 g/L ΣGlucosinolates and ~5.5 mg/L sulforaphane) throughout the refrigerated storage, with a longer shelf life compared to a pasteurized beverage. Total vial count was reduced by 1.5–2 log CFU/mL at day 0 and by 6 log CFU/mL at the end of the storage in HHP treatments. Thus, the product developed in this study could help increase the daily intake of glucosinolates and carotenoids. These beverages can be a good strategy to revitalize broccoli and carrot by-products with high nutritional potential while maintaining a pleasant sensory perception for the final consumer.

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Abstract The influence of high‐pressure processing (HPP) prior to cooking on nutritional composition and bioactive compounds content of four varieties of Phaseolus coccineus L. was studied. Cooking and HPP+C increased the protein content. However, minerals, total carbohydrates, ciceritol and α‐galactosides were reduced. Fat was not affected by cooking but decreased after HPP+C. For dietary fiber, the behavior observed was different depending on the sample and the treatment applied. HPP+C could be considered a good processing technology to retain the advantageous lower myo‐inositol phosphates isoforms and supply prebiotic oligosaccharides. The trypsin inhibitors activity was lower in the cooked and HPP+C samples; however, there were no significant differences between both thermal treatments. Thus, HPP+C reduced cooking time and preserving or improving the nutritional composition of the beans and their bioactive compounds content.

Abstract The effect of high pressure processing (HPP) at 200 to 600 MPa for 2.5 or 5 min on physicochemical properties (color, pH, titratable acidity, total soluble solids content/TSSC, pulp content, particle size distribution, and viscosity), microbial counts (aerobic bacteria, yeast and mold counts), bioactive compounds (total phenolic and anthocyanin contents), and antioxidant capacities (DPPH radical scavenging capacity and ferric reducing antioxidant power) of aronia berry puree were investigated. All measurements were compared between HPP treated and untreated purees. TSSC and viscosity decreased significantly when pressurized above 400 MPa for 2.5 min and at all HPP conditions, respectively. Other physicochemical properties changed insignificantly after HPP. Pressurization at 400 and 600 MPa both effectively reduced yeasts and molds to below 1 log CFU/g, and reduced aerobic bacteria to Industrial relevance Puree is a feasible form of aronia berry used as food product, considering the astringent taste of whole aronia berry. The results of this study suggest that HPP will significantly reduce the microbial counts of aronia berry puree, while retaining antioxidant capacities and most physicochemical properties of aronia berry puree. The outcomes could help the food industry apply HPP to the commercial production of aronia berry puree-based food products to meet the quality standards with safety ensured.

Mandarin juice is a rich source of antioxidant bioactive compounds. While the content and profile of bioactives are known, the impact of high-pressure processing (HPP) on their stability and bioaccessibility (BA) is unknown, but may allow obtaining safe, nutritious, and fresh-tasting juices with highly extractable bioactive compounds. The stability and BA of bioactive antioxidant compounds in untreated and HPP-treated (400 MPa/40 °C/1 min) Clementine mandarin juices, and the cytoprotective effect of its bioaccessible fractions (BF) obtained after simulated gastrointestinal digestion against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in differentiated Caco-2 cells were investigated. The BF of HPP-treated juices showed a better retention of carotenoids, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, total polyphenols and FRAP value, and slightly higher cytoprotection (mitochondrial membrane potential and ROS) than untreated juices. Therefore, HPP can be recommended as a suitable technology to retain or indeed increase antioxidant bioactives and their cytoprotective activity in mandarin juices after gastrointestinal digestion.

HPP at 600 MPa alone, and in combination with US at 20 kHz (200 W), was applied to minimally processed potatoes of two commonly grown cultivars in Ireland. Changes in colour and microbial load (Enterobacteriaceae, total aerobic count, Salmonella, yeasts, and moulds) were monitored in vacuum-packaged potatoes during 14 days of storage at 4 °C. HPP and HPP/US significantly (p < 0.05) affected the colour parameters a*, b*, L*, and ΔE of minimally processed potatoes compared to the controls. Microbial growth was delayed in most of the treated samples with respect to those untreated (controls), while HPP completely inactivated Enterobacteriaceae in both cultivars. Total phenolic content and antioxidant activities were not altered in the treated samples of both varieties when compared to the controls. The levels of chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, and caffeic acid were decreased after both treatments, with a significant (p < 0.05) increase in quinic acid in the treated samples as opposed to those untreated. A significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the levels of glycoalkaloids, namely α-chaconine and α-solanine, in HPP- and HPP/US-treated potatoes was also observed. These findings suggest that HPP and US can extend the shelf-life of minimally processed potatoes with a negligible impact on their antioxidant activity and phenolic content.

ABSTRACT High-pressure processing (HPP) is a novel non-thermal processing technology, ensuring the safety of food products, as well as preserving their nutritional and functional characteristics, and avoiding the harmful effects of traditional thermal technologies. This study examined the inactivation of microorganisms and the HPP kinetic model in fermented pomegranate juice (FPJ) at different pressures (400 MPa, 500 MPa, and 600 MPa), and different treatment times (3 min, 5 min, 7 min, and 10 min). Moreover, HPP and thermal processing (TP) (65 °C/20 min) treatment responsible for a similar microbial inactivation activity, were compared by examining their impact on bioactive compounds, volatile compounds, and various quality attributes to provide a theoretical basis for FPJ processing. The inactivation curves of the microorganisms as a result of HPP were fitted using the Weibull model. Furthermore, HPP at or over 600 MPa/3 min inactivated the microorganisms and sufficiently retained the microbial populations investigated in this study below the detection limit. Following HPP and TP treatment, the total color difference (ΔE) values, total soluble solids (TSS), pH and titratable acidity (TA) had not significantly (p>0.05) changed. For total flavonoids, total phenols, anthocyanins, and antioxidant activity, the maximal retention of 91.18%, 97.52%, 95.69%, and 95.89% was achieved at 600 MPa/3 min, which was 4.62%, 24.61%, 26.83%, and 7.08% higher than in the TP-treated sample. The main volatile compounds in FPJ were esters and alcohols, and the FPJ treated at 600 MPa/3 min exhibited the highest alcohol content, while the esters were 2.27% higher than in the control. Considering the pasteurization effect and quality maintenance abilities of HPP and TP treatment, 600 MPa/3 min could be considered as an optimal condition in facilitating FPJ processing.

In this study, the effects of static and multi-pulsed mild-intensity high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) treatments (60 or 100 MPa, ~23 °C) on the extractability and accumulation of phenolics and carotenoids in whole carrots were evaluated. HHP treatments were applied for the time needed to reach the desired pressure (come-up-time, CUT) either as a single pulse or multi-pulse (2P, 3P, and 4P). Likewise, a single sustained treatment (5 min) applied at 60 or 100 MPa was evaluated. Individual carotenoids, free and bound phenolics were quantified after HHP treatment and subsequent storage (48 h, 15 °C). As an immediate HHP response, phenolic extractability increased by 66.65% and 80.77% in carrots treated with 3P 100 MPa and 4P 60 MPa, respectively. After storage, CUT 60 MPa treatment accumulated free (163.05%) and bound (36.95%) phenolics. Regarding carotenoids, total xanthophylls increased by 27.16% after CUT 60 MPa treatment, whereas no changes were observed after storage. Results indicate that HHP processing of whole carrots at mild conditions is a feasible innovative tool to enhance the nutraceutical properties of whole carrots by increasing their free and bound phenolic content while maintaining carotenoid levels. HHP treated carrots can be used as a new functional food or as raw material for the production of food and beverages with enhanced levels of nutraceuticals.

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This study investigated the combined effect of plasma bubbling and high-pressure processing (HPP) on the extraction of bioactive compounds from green coffee beans (GCBs). Plasma bubbling pretreatment was conducted for 10 min, followed by HPP with different factors: pressure (300, 400, and 500 MPa), extraction time (10 and 20 min), and solvent (water, ethanol, and water–ethanol mixture). The extracted green coffee samples were analyzed for pH, chlorogenic acid (CGA) content, caffeine content, total phenols, and radical scavenging activity. Among the solvents tested, water exhibited the highest efficiency in extracting caffeine from green coffee extract (GCE), while an ethanol–water mixture yielded the highest CGA content. Ethanol proved to be more effective in extracting total phenols. The antioxidant activity of water and ethanol–water extracts was stronger than that of ethanol extracts. The pH of the extracts varied depending on the solvent and treatment conditions. The combination of plasma bubbling and HPP provides a promising method for extracting bioactive compounds from GCBs. The results indicate that water and ethanol–water mixtures are suitable solvents for extracting caffeine, CGA, and total phenols. The stronger antioxidant activity observed in water and ethanol–water extracts suggests their potential application in the food and pharmaceutical industries. These findings contribute to developing efficient extraction techniques for bioactive compounds, offering new opportunities for green coffee utilization.

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The growing demand for sustainable technologies in the extraction and functionalization of bioactive compounds has driven the development of innovative, eco-efficient methodologies. This study assesses the feasibility of high-pressure green technologies—Enhanced Solvent Extraction (ESE) and Pressurized Liquid Extraction (PLE)—for extracting bioactive compounds from the leaves of Petiveria alliacea, a medicinal plant with significant pharmacological potential. The extracts obtained under optimal PLE conditions (100 bar, 75 °C, ethanol/water: 50:50 v/v) exhibited the highest total phenolic content (76.27 mg GAE/g) and notable antioxidant capacity. The same extract was tested for its antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, showing a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 9.48 µg/mL. Furthermore, the extract was successfully impregnated into polylactic acid (PLA) filaments via supercritical CO2 processing, achieving a maximum antioxidant inhibition of 6.81% under mild conditions (100 bar, 35 °C). The combination of pressurized extraction and supercritical impregnation provides a scalable and environmentally friendly pathway for producing functional biomaterials. These findings highlight the potential of integrating green extraction and material functionalization within the context of the circular bioeconomy and industrial biotechnology.

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Crataegus monogyna, commonly known as hawthorn, is a valuable plant in pharmaceutical production. Its flowers, leaves, and fruits are rich in antioxidants. This study explores the application of pulsed electric field (PEF) for enhanced extraction of bioactive compounds from C. monogyna leaves. The liquid-to-solid ratio, solvent composition (ethanol, water, and 50% v/v aqueous ethanol), and key PEF parameters—including pulse duration, pulse period, electric field intensity, and treatment duration—were investigated during the optimization process. To determine the optimal extraction conditions and their impact on antioxidant activity, response surface methodology (RSM) with a six-factor design was employed. The total polyphenol content in the optimized extract was 244 mg gallic acid equivalents/g dry weight, while individual polyphenols were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). Furthermore, antioxidant activity was assessed using ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and DPPH radical scavenging assays, yielding values of 3235 and 1850 μmol ascorbic acid equivalents/g dry weight, respectively. Additionally, correlation analyses were conducted to evaluate the interactions between bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity. Compared to other extraction techniques, PEF stands out as an eco-friendly, non-thermal standalone method, offering a sustainable approach for the rapid production of health-promoting extracts from C. monogyna leaves.

This study explores the impact of pulsed electric field (PEF) pretreatment on the drying behavior and functional quality of bird's eye chili (Capsicum frutescens L.) during hot‐air drying processing. By varying PEF intensities, the relationship between PEF intensity and drying efficiency was systematically analyzed. Results indicate that PEF pretreatment enhances moisture diffusion by modifying cellular structures, with a notable reduction in equilibrium water activity. Microstructural observations reveal electroporation‐induced cell wall rupture, which promote bioactive compound release. PEF‐treated chilies exhibit increased release of total phenolics and flavonoids, correlating with elevated antioxidant capacity (up to 89.7% DPPH radical scavenging). While higher PEF intensities optimize drying rates and phytochemical extraction, excessive treatment compromises mechanical integrity. These findings demonstrate PEF's dual potential to accelerate dehydration while enhancing functional attributes, offering practical strategies for improving chili processing and applications in nutraceutical products.

Oxidative stress is a major contributor to skin aging and related disorders. This study comparatively evaluated the bioefficacy of Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi leaf extracts prepared using three extraction techniques: conventional extraction (CE), accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), and pulsed electric field (PEF) extraction, with 50% (v/v) ethanol and water as green solvents. Among all tested conditions, the CE-derived extract (C-4), obtained with 50% (v/v) ethanol for 120 min, exhibited the highest extraction yield (29.7%). It also showed the highest total phenolic (668.56 ± 11.52 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g dry material (DM)) and flavonoid content (2629.92 ± 112.61 mg quercetin equivalent (QE)/100 g DM), and potent antioxidant activity against 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical (12,645.50 ± 60.31 µmol Trolox equivalent (TE)/g DM) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay (ORAC: 7180.27 ± 101.79 µM TE/100 g DM). Liquid Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis revealed a diverse phytochemical profile rich in polyphenols, including gallic acid, p-coumaric acid, rutin, rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, and epicatechin. Cellular assays in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced HaCaT keratinocytes demonstrated that C-4 extract significantly enhanced cell viability and upregulated endogenous antioxidant genes (superoxide dismutase (SOD1), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX)), with effects comparable to established antioxidants such as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and ascorbic acid. These findings highlight the influence of extraction parameters on phytochemical yield and biological activity, supporting the potential application of CE-derived S. terebinthifolius extracts as effective, sustainable ingredients for cosmeceutical formulations targeting oxidative stress-mediated skin aging.

Sesame seed oil is a bioactive-rich lipid source, notable for lignans, tocopherols, and unsaturated fatty acids that underpin its antioxidant and cardioprotective properties. This study optimized two innovative, non-thermal extraction techniques—pulsed electric field (PEF) and ultrasound bath-assisted extraction (UBAE)—to maximize yield and preserve oil quality for functional food applications. A blocked definitive screening design combined with response surface methodology modeled the effects of energy power (X1, 60–100%), liquid-to-solid ratio (X2, 10–20 mL/g), and extraction time (X3, 10–30 min) on fat content, DPPH antiradical activity, and oxidative stability indices (Conjugated Dienes, CDs/Conjugated Trienes, CTs). UBAE achieved the highest fat yield—59.0% at low energy (60%), high X2 (20 mL/g), and short X3 (10 min)—while PEF maximized DPPH to 36.0 μmol TEAC/kg oil at high energy (100%), moderate X2 (17 mL/g), and short X3 (10 min). CDs were minimized to 19.78 mmol/kg (UBAE, 60%, 10 mL/g, 10 min) and CTs to 3.34 mmol/kg (UBAE, 60%, 12 mL/g, 10 min). Partial least squares analysis identified X2 and X3 as the most influential variables (VIP > 0.8), with energy–time interplay (X1 × X3) being critical for antioxidant capacity. Compared to cold-pressing and Soxhlet extraction, PEF and cold-pressing retained higher antioxidant activity (~19 μmol TEAC/kg) and oxidative stability (TBARS ≤ 0.30 mmol MDAE/kg), while Soxhlet—though yielding 55.65% fat—showed the poorest quality profile (Totox value > 560). Both non-thermal techniques can deliver bioactive-rich sesame oil with lower oxidative degradation, supporting their application in functional foods aimed at improving dietary antioxidant intake and mitigating lipid oxidation burden. PEF at high energy/short time and UBAE at low energy/short time present complementary, scalable options for producing high-value edible oils aligned with human health priorities. As a limitation, we did not directly quantify lignans or tocopherols in this study, and future work will address their measurement and bioaccessibility.

ABSTRACT Medicinal plants represent a good source of natural bioactive compounds that provide a multitude of biological activities that allow them to be incorporated into new functional food for a long shelf‐life, high antioxidant properties, and better flavoring. The aim of this study was to produce an encapsulated Artemisia campestris L. extract and to use it as a natural ingredient for formulating a functional ice cream. The total phenolic content (TPC) was extracted after pulsed electric field pretreatment under optimized conditions obtained with response surface methodology for a high yield of TPC. The TPC yield achieved 1168.187 μgGAE/100 g with a Voltage (7Kv/cm) and pulse number (95.57). For IC50 (concentration of the antioxidant compound that is necessary for the DPPH radical concentration to reach 50% of the initial value) was 2.78 ± 0 mg/mL, representing a good antioxidant activity in addition to a high ferric reducing antioxidant power value of 245.053mgFeSO4/gDM. The encapsulated extract was obtained using a spray dryer device using maltodextrin, gum arabic, and pectin as coating materials, and some physico‐chemical properties were tested. The combination of 15% maltodextrin and 2% pectin resulted in a high powder yield. Moreover, the results revealed that the concentration of maltodextrin did not significantly affect the lightness of the powder, moisture content, water activity, solubility, bulk, and tapped density. Nevertheless, the coating materials influenced TPC yield and the encapsulation process was found to be a powerful tool to enhance DPPH scavenging activity. Ice cream acceptance was related to the use of the different encapsulated extracts, and according to the results of the sensory test, S3 was the most satisfactory ice cream characterized by the lowest overrun, high melting resistance, and the lowest adhesiveness. The findings of this work showed that encapsulated Artemisia campestris L. extract may be a good natural ingredient added to future innovative food.

Pulsed electric field (PEF) is an innovative technique used to assist in the extraction of vegetable oils. There has been no research on the effects of PEF on virgin olive oil (VOO) quality and antioxidant activity to date. The present study aimed to analyze the effects of PEF on oil yield, quality, and in vitro antioxidant activity of “Koroneiki” extra virgin olive oil. The results show that the PEF treatment increased the oil yield by 5.6%, but had no significant effect on the saponification value, K232, K270, and ∆K value of the VOO. PEF treatment reduced the oleic acid content by 3.12%, but had no significant effect on the content of palmitic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid. After PEF treatment, the levels of total phenolics, total flavonoids, and oleuropein increased by 7.6%, 18.3% and 76%, respectively. There was no significant effect on the levels of 4 phenolic acids (vanillic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid and cinnamic acid), 2 lignans (lignans and apigenin), hydroxytyrosol, and 3 pigments (lutein, demagnetized chlorophyll, and carotenoids). In addition, PEF treatment significantly increased the content of tocopherols, with α, β, γ, and δ tocopherols increasing by 9.8%, 10.7%, 13.6% and 38.4%, respectively. The free radical scavenging ability of DPPH and ABTS was also improved. In conclusion, the use of PEF significantly increased the yield of VOO oil as well as the levels of total phenolics, total flavonoids, oleuropein, tocopherol, and in vitro antioxidant activity.

Pedada (Sonneratia caseolaris) has great potential as a source of natural antioxidants. The high antioxidant content in pedada fruit requires an appropriate extraction method so that the extracted antioxidant levels in pedada fruit can be maximally extracted. However, the extraction of active compounds from pedada fruit is often limited by the dense cell structure. Pedada fruit extraction can be done using a modified maceration method with Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) pretreatment, so as to shorten the extraction time and require less solvent in the process. It is expected that PEF can damage the cell structure and increase the solubility of antioxidant compounds in the solvent. The quality of the resulting extracts will be evaluated based on total phenol content, total flavonoids, free radical scavenging activity, and antioxidant compound profile. The best treatment was obtained based on antioxidant analysis of the extraction results, namely at a PEF time of 2 minutes with IC50 DPPH values of 18 ppm, IC50 FRAP 37 ppm, total phenol content of 434 mgGAE/L, and total flavonoid content of 120 mgQE/L.

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Improving the quality of extracts derived from medicinal plants is a critical concern due to their extensive use across various industries. The Arvaneh plant (Hymenocrater platystegius Rech. F), a species native to the Khorasan province in Iran and belonging to the mint family, was the focus of this study. We optimized the extraction of Arvaneh plant using both microwave (MW) and pulsed electric field (PEF) techniques. The MW method was tested at different processing times (90, 180, and 270 s) and power levels (180, 540, and 900 W), while the PEF method was evaluated with varying electric field intensities (0.25, 3.25, and 6.25 kV/cm) and pulse numbers (10, 45, and 80) using a central composite design (CCD). The results revealed that extraction efficiency, total phenolic content, and total flavonoid content were significantly higher with the PEF method compared to the MW method (p < 0.05). Moreover, the PEF technique showed superior performance in preserving the antioxidant properties of the extract, as assessed by DPPH and FRAP methods. GC/MS analysis confirmed the presence of 27 bioactive compounds in the Arvaneh extract obtained through PEF-assisted extraction. In conclusion, the PEF method proved to be highly efficient for extracting bioactive compounds from the Arvaneh plant.

Pulsed electric field (PEF) pretreatment has been shown to improve the quality of dried fruits in terms of antioxidant activity and bioactive compounds. In this study, apricots were pretreated with PEF at different field strengths (0.7 kV/cm; 1.2 kV/cm and 1.8 kv/cm) at a frequency of 50 Hz, and electric pulses coming in every 20 µs for 30 s, prior to freeze−drying and air−drying treatments. PEF treatments were carried out at different field strengths. The impact of different pretreatments on the quality of dried apricot was determined in terms of physical properties, antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, and metabolite profile. PEF pretreatments significantly (p < 0.05) increased firmness of all the air−dried samples the most by 4–7−fold and most freeze−dried apricot samples (44.2% to 98.64%) compared to the control group. However, PEF treatment at 1.2 kV/cm did not have any effect on hardness of the freeze−dried sample. The moisture content and water activity of freeze−dried samples were found to be significantly lower than those of air−dried samples. Scanning electron microscopy results revealed that air drying caused the loss of fruit structure due to significant moisture loss, while freeze drying preserved the honeycomb structure of the apricot flesh, with increased pore sizes observed at higher PEF intensities. PEF pretreatment also significantly increased the antioxidant activity and total phenol content of both air−dried and freeze−dried apricots. PEF treatment also significantly (p < 0.05) increased amino acid and fatty acid content of air−dried samples but significantly (p < 0.05) decreased sugar content. Almost all amino acids (except tyrosine, alanine, and threonine) significantly increased with increasing PEF intensity. The results of this study suggest that PEF pretreatment can influence the quality of air−dried and freeze−dried apricots in terms antioxidant activity and metabolites such as amino acids, fatty acids, sugar, organic acids, and phenolic compounds. The most effective treatment for preserving the quality of dried apricots is freeze drying combined with high−intensity (1.8 kv/cm) PEF treatment.

In this work, the influence of high-power ultrasound (HPU) followed by pulsed electric field (PEF) in the hurdle concept (HPU + PEF) on the content of biologically active compounds (BACs) and antioxidant activity in strawberry juices stored at 4 °C/7 days was investigated. The HPU was performed with an amplitude of 25% and pulse of 50% during 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 min, while the PEF was performed with an electric field strength of 30 kV cm−1 and frequency of 100 Hz during 1.5, 3 and 4.5 min. The results obtained indicate that the synergy of the mechanisms of action for technologies in the hurdle concept plays a critical role in the stability of BACs and antioxidant activity. Juices treated with HPU + PEF hurdle technology and kept at 4 °C for 7 days showed a statistically significant decrease in all BACs, antioxidant capacity and pH. Shorter HPU + PEF treatment times favored the preservation of BACs in juices. Regarding total phenolic compounds, flavonols, condensed tannins and antioxidant capacity, optimization of hurdle parameters showed that a shorter HPU treatment time of 2.5 min provided the best yield of these compounds. In summary, by optimizing and adjusting the parameters of the HPU/PEF technology, it is possible to produce functional strawberry juice.

Oxidation reactions negatively impact the taste and shelf life of the oils. Antioxidants are commonly employed to mitigate the development of off‐flavors and rancidity and thereby extend the shelf life of oil. In response to consumers’ increasing demand for healthy foods, there is a notable focus on incorporating naturally sourced antioxidants. Yarrow plant is a good source of natural antioxidants which could be used in improving the quality of the oils. Therefore, in this study, adaptive ANFIS was employed to investigate the extraction of antioxidant compounds from the yarrow plant using the pulsed electric field‐ultrasound method. The extraction process was performed at varying pulsed electric field intensities (0.25, 3.25, and 6.25 kV/cm) and different ultrasound durations (20, 40, and 60 minutes). Then, the impact of incorporating the plant extract on the oxidation parameters of sesame oil was assessed during storage. Results demonstrated that the extraction efficiency consistently increased with rising pulsed electric field intensity and ultrasound treatment time. However, the levels of total phenol, DPPH, and ascorbic acid content initially increased and then decreased at higher pulsed electric field intensity during longer ultrasound treatment. Furthermore, an increase in acidity and thiobarbituric acid index was found during prolonged storage time, while the peroxide level in the samples peaked on the 5th day of storage before declining. The high correlation coefficients between experimental results and model outputs underscored the models’ accuracy, representing their efficacy in controlling the extraction conditions using the pulsed electric field intensity‐ultrasound extraction method and utilizing the extract in sesame oil.

Apple pomace, a by-product of apple juice production, is typically discarded as waste. Recent approaches have focused on utilizing apple pomace by extracting beneficial bioactive compounds, such as antioxidant phenolic compounds (PCs). Before these PC-rich extracts can be used in food products, they must undergo food preservation and processing methods. However, the effects of these processes on the composition, stability, and properties of the PC remain insufficiently understood. The present study aimed at investigating the effects of a thermal treatment (TT), a high-pressure thermal treatment (HPTT), and a pulsed electric field treatment (PEF) on the composition and antioxidant activity of PC-rich apple pomace extracts (APEs). Major PCs, including phloridzin, chlorogenic acid, and epicatechin, as well as minor compounds, were identified by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). As a stability indicative property, the antioxidant activity was analyzed by a Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assay (TEAC), electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, and the Folin–Ciocalteu reagent assay. The results showed that TT at 80 °C increased phloridzin content, likely due to the hydrolysis of bound forms, while higher temperatures and HPTT resulted in a substantial PC conversion. The PEF treatment also caused notable PC conversion, but generally, it had a milder effect compared to TT and HPTT. Hence, low temperatures with and without high pressure and PEF seem to be the most promising treatments for preserving the highest content of major PC in APE. Antioxidant activity varied among the analytical methods, with HPTT showing minor changes despite PC loss compared to the untreated APE. This suggests that other antioxidant compounds in the extracts may contribute to the overall antioxidant activity. This study demonstrates that apple pomace contains valuable PC, highlighting its potential as a health-promoting food additive and the impact of conventional preservation and processing methods on PC stability.

Shortening the aging duration and enhancing the functional components of garlic present significant technical challenges that need to be addressed. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the potential role of pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment, a novel nonthermal food processing method, in promoting and enhancing the functional attributes of aged garlic. Our results showed that 2–4 kV/cm PEF pretreatment increased S-allyl cysteine (SAC), total polyphenol (TPC), and flavonoid contents (TFC) compared with un-pretreated garlic during aging. The browning and texture-softening were also significantly improved during processing time, though the latter showed no significant difference from the eighth day to the end of the aging process. The principal component analysis results showed that PEF positively affects the SAC and TFC formations without adverse effects. Among the PEF pretreatments, 3 kV/cm is the most effective in enhancing functional component production compared with the other PEF pretreatments. Therefore, PEF pretreatment is a time-saving process that promotes and enhances the functionality of aged garlic.

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The aim of this study was to determine the effect of pulsed electric field (PEF) application and soaking (coating) of rapeseeds in metal nanoparticles (AgNP or CuNP) on germination capacity, the stem and root length, the contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids, colour profile and antioxidant properties: antioxidant activity (FRAP), polyphenols, total phenolic compounds (TPC), antioxidant capacity (ABTS) and total antioxidative activity (DPPH) of rapeseed sprouts. It was found that higher PEF energy (5.5 kJ/kg) and soaking seeds in nanoparticle solutions (25 ml/l and 50 ml/l) do not affect seed germination capacity. However, a lower PEF energy (1.0 kJ/kg) and treatment of seeds with the experimental nanoparticle solutions, in most cases, reduced rapeseed germination capacity compared with the control samples. Following the application of a 1.0 kJ/kg PEF, stem lengths were 18.9%-48.4% higher than those of the corresponding control samples. Increased sprout root length was observed for treatments with a PEF level of 5.5 kJ/kg, i.e., the observed values were 3.0%-103.0% higher than those for the corresponding control samples. Copper nanoparticles applied at two experimental concentrations at an energy of 1.0 kJ/kg adversely affected root elongation; the resulting root lengths were 4.3% and 41.0% shorter than those of the respective control samples. The contents of chlorophyll a (chl a), chlorophyll b (chl b) and total carotenoids decreased in sprouts in all experimental variants compared with the control. The chlorophyll a content decreased by 1.89 to 11.11%, while chlorophyll b content decreased by 2.27 to 13.07% compared with the control. The study confirmed an increase in the antioxidant properties of rapeseed sprouts after application of silver or copper nanoparticles with a pulsed electric field. The Antioxidant activity capacity (measured by ferric reducing antioxidant power assay - FRAP), the contents of polyphenols and total phenolic compounds (TPC) ranged from 81.89 to 198.52 mg TE/g DM, 14.23 to 15.97 mg GAE/g DM, and 22.50 to 27.00 mg GAE/g DM, respectively, and showed an upward trend compared with the control samples. The results of the present study suggest that further analysis is required to understand how the methods studied affect sprout development and the increased antioxidant activity.

Undaria pinnatifida is a promising brown seaweed due to its relatively high protein content and functional bioactive compounds. However, efficient recovery of these components is limited by its rigid, polysaccharide-rich cell wall structure. In this study, pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment followed by cellulase hydrolysis was investigated as a sequential approach to enhance protein extraction and antioxidant functionality from U. pinnatifida. PEF conditions were optimized by varying electric field strength, pulse width, pulse repetition frequency, treatment duration, seaweed loading, and pretreatment conditions to maximize protein release. The optimized conditions were 3 kV cm−1 electric field strength, 10 µs pulse width, 100 Hz pulse repetition frequency, and 60 s treatment duration, using 100 g of seaweed pretreated by mechanical cutting followed by 2 days of soaking in 3.5% saline solution. Under these conditions, protein concentration reached 493 ± 2.06 µg mL−1. The optimized PEF treatment required 0.18 kJ of electrical energy and achieved an energy efficiency of 684.72 ± 2.78 mg protein kJ−1. Subsequent cellulase hydrolysis further enhanced protein extraction, with the PEF + 1% cellulase treatment yielding 1307 ± 38.62 µg mL−1, compared with 870 ± 42.38 µg mL−1 for 1% cellulase alone, 512 ± 15.94 µg mL−1 for PEF alone, and 275 ± 10.46 µg mL−1 for the untreated control. Thus, the combined treatment produced approximately 50%, 155%, and 375% higher protein concentrations than 1% cellulase alone, PEF alone, and the untreated control, respectively. Antioxidant activity assessed separately using DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays also showed the highest responses for the combined treatment, with 52.08 ± 2.68% DPPH radical-scavenging activity, 51.00 ± 1.08% ABTS radical-scavenging activity, and 679 ± 1.08 µM Fe2+ equivalents in the FRAP assay. Overall, the optimized sequential PEF–cellulase treatment substantially improved protein extraction and produced the highest antioxidant responses among the treatments investigated, demonstrating its potential for enhancing the recovery of protein and antioxidant-active components from U. pinnatifida under laboratory-scale conditions. Optimal PEF conditions included 3 kV cm−1, 10 µs, 100 Hz, and 60 s. Cutting followed by 2-day soaking in 3.5% saline water yielded 493 ± 2.06 µg mL−1 protein after PEF. Optimized PEF required 0.18 kJ and achieved an energy efficiency of 684.72 ± 2.78 mg protein kJ−1. PEF followed by 1% cellulase increased protein concentration to 1307 ± 38.62 µg mL−1. PEF + cellulase achieved 52.08 ± 2.68% DPPH and 51.00 ± 1.08% ABTS radical-scavenging activity. PEF + cellulase produced the highest FRAP response at 679 ± 1.08 µM Fe2+ equivalents.

This study investigated the impact of pulsed electric field (PEF) pretreatment on the characterisation and antioxidant activity (AA) of baobab seed oil. Prior to extraction, PEF treatments of 1–3 kV/cm at 40–120 pulses and specific energies (SE) of 1.60–43.2 kJ/kg were applied. No differences in oil yield (9.50–11.85%) were observed; however, PEF at a SE of 19.20 kJ/kg produced a higher yield than the control at 9.55% (p < 0.05). PEF did not alter the refractive index, specific density, acid value (AV), free fatty acids, peroxide value (PV), iodine value and fatty acid profile (p > 0.05). The PV was less than the Codex specification (≤15 mEq/kg); however, the AV (5.54–10.50 mg KOH/g) were above the recommended limit of 4 mg KOH/g. The latter is likely attributed to the initial quality of the seeds irrespective of PEF treatment. Regarding antioxidants, DPPH-RS responded to PEF (p < 0.05), with a non-linear trend across treatments. The DPPH-RS of PEF-treated oils ranged from 38.89–76.23%, compared to 49.9% for the control. This demonstrates that PEF preserved the quality of baobab oil, while its effect on AA depended on treatment intensity: lower energy levels enhanced DPPH-RS, whereas higher intensities reduced it.

The demand for polyphenols and essential oils (EOs) on the food market is high and grows every year. Its partially the result of the fact that these compounds can be used in formulation of clean label foods, a fast growing food sector. A significant share of polyphenols and EOs are extracted from herbs. The quality of the extracts is determined mainly by the extraction method. Conventional extraction techniques of phytochemicals are time-consuming, operate at high temperatures, and require usage of organic solvents and energy in large quantities. According to the United Nations Sustainability Development Plan, chemical processes should be replaced by green alternatives that would reduce the use of solvents and energy. Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE), Microwave-Assisted Extraction (MAE) and Cold Plasma-Assisted Extraction (CPAE) meets these criteria. The review shows that each of these techniques seems to be a great alternative for conventional extraction methods ensuring higher yields of bioactive compounds.

Green Leafy Vegetables (GLVs) are crucial for healthy aging due to their polyphenols and carotenoids; however, thermal processing often compromises the stability and bioavailability of these compounds. Non-thermal technologies offer an alternative to preserve sensitive phytochemicals by modifying cell wall structures to enhance bioaccessibility. This review evaluates the biochemical effects of Pulsed Electric Field (PEF), High Hydrostatic Pressure (HPP), Cold Plasma (CP), and Ultrasound (US) on GLV matrices. Evidence indicates that these methods, unlike thermal treatments, maintain antioxidant capacity and improve interactions with digestive enzymes across various food forms. Although current findings, predominantly from in vitro models, demonstrate improved stability and release of bound bioactives, clinical validation in elderly populations is required. Consequently, non-thermal processing represents a significant approach for optimizing the functional quality of GLVs in sustainable nutrition strategies.

Abstract Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) is a pharmaceutically significant aromatic crop with health benefits linked to its phytochemicals. This article aims to overview progress in using emerging technologies to extract its bioactive compounds and extraction mechanisms. Also, the trends in the applications of this herb in the food industry and its therapeutical effects were explained. Fenugreek’s flavor is the primary reason for its applications in the food industry. At the same time, it has antimicrobial, antibacterial, hepatoprotection, anticancer, lactation, and antidiabetic effects. Phytochemicals responsible for these effects include galactomannans, saponins, alkaloids, and polyphenols. Besides, data showed that emerging technologies boost fenugreek extracts’ yield and biological activity. Among these, ultrasound (55.6%) is the most studied technology, followed by microwave (37.0%), cold plasma (3.7%), and combined approaches (3.7%). Processing conditions (e.g., treatment time and intensity) and solvent (type, ratio, and concentration) are significant parameters that affect the performance of these novel extraction technologies. Extracts obtained by sustainable energy-saving emerging technologies can be used to develop value-added health-promoting products. HIGHLIGHTS Fenugreek’s phytochemicals (e.g., galactomannans and polyphenols) have therapeutic effects Ultrasound and microwave are major emerging technologies for fenugreek’s bioactive compound extraction Emerging technologies enhance the yield and biological activities of fenugreek extracts Emerging extraction technologies can develop fenugreek-based products with health benefits Graphical abstract

Fruits and vegetables (F&V) are an acknowledged source of health-promoting compounds able to reduce incidence of chronic diseases in regular consumers. Minimally processed F&V are convenience products having a limited shelf-life because of the effect of processing operations. The application of non-thermal technologies could overcome this limitation by improving their preservation. Evidence shows that these technologies can also increase the phytochemicals content by improving their extractability and/or eliciting metabolic pathways associated with their synthesis. This review summarizes the last research on the application of high-pressure processing, gamma irradiation, ultrasound, pulsed electric fields and cold plasma to increase the phytochemicals content in minimally processed F&V, and presents the current understanding on the underlying basis that explain the increase of these compounds.

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Tropomyosin (TM), the primary allergen in crustacean aquatic products, has excellent thermal and digestive stability. In this work, the changes in digestive resistance of TM and allergenicity of TM digestion products induced by ultrasound-assisted cold plasma (UCP) treatment were investigated. The stability of TM to simulated digestion were reduced, especially the simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) digestive resistance. The analysis of TM allergenicity showed that the IgE binding capacity of digestion product of UCP treated TM was significantly reduced, from 68.13 % in TM group to 39.12 % in T10 group. Moreover, the level of degranulation, the intensity of intracellular Ca2+ and the concentrations of histamine, IL-4 and TNF-α decreased by 67.91 %, 68.06 %, 48.81 %, 57.19 % and 50.55 %, respectively, which demonstrated that UCP-treated TM resulted in lower degree of degranulation and cytokine secretion in KU812 cells. UCP treatment provide a new possibility to advance the development of shrimp products with low allergenicity.

No abstract available

Cold plasma (CP) was investigated as an innovative method to enhance green tea (Camellia sinensis) quality by improving extraction efficiency, bioactive retention. This study optimized dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) CP using air, argon, and nitrogen at 14, 18, and 22 kV for 6, 9, and 12 min to improve extraction and the qualitative and quantitative properties of green tea.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of combining ultrasound-assisted extraction and cold plasma treatment to improve the mechanical, barrier, and functional properties of edible films made from Moroccan pumpkin seed protein isolates. Ultrasound-assisted extraction was conducted at 20 kHz and 45–50% power with a 1:10 ratio of pumpkin seed sample to alkali solution for 30 min. The process yielded a protein-rich isolate (87.10%) with high solubility at pH 9 and good absorption capacities for water (1.80 ± 0.06 mL/g) and fat (3.88 ± 0.08 mL/g) and a gelling capacity of 12%. The films produced from these isolates demonstrated promising functional properties for food packaging applications. Further improvement of the film properties was achieved through cold plasma treatment using a 40 kV pulsed DC power supply at 56 kHz for 0, 10, 20, and 30 min. This treatment stabilized the moisture content (10.79–11.16%) and significantly reduced swelling (from 204.87% to 159.09%), suggesting enhanced barrier properties that could extend food shelf life. Although transparency decreased slightly (from 0.94 to 1.20), the films retained acceptable visibility and exhibited promising ultraviolet barrier properties, making them suitable for packaging light-sensitive food products.

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This investigation was focused on the impact of cold plasma (CP) on the extraction of curcumin and bioactive compounds of turmeric powder (TP). TP was treated with CP at different applied voltages (10, 20, and 30 kV), with various exposure times (10, 20, and 30 min). The curcumin content was highest at 30 kV for 10 min with a yield of 46.49 mg/g of TP. Total phenols significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced from 163.91 to 360.78 mg GAE/g DW accompanied by a remarkable 16% increment in total flavonoids, paralleled by a 26% increment in antioxidants as of control. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectra justified the extraction of curcuminoids. Moreover, micrographs displayed cell lysis in the treated powder. CP has exhibited a positive effect on surface colour parameters and thermal properties of TP. Overall, CP technology can be tailored for better curcumin extraction and the enhancement of phytochemicals.

Produk susu merupakan salah satu komoditas pangan yang memiliki nilai gizi tinggi, tetapi sangat rentan terhadap kontaminasi mikroba dan degradasi kualitas selama penyimpanan. Teknologi pengolahan konvensional seperti pasteurisasi dan sterilisasi telah lama digunakan untuk meningkatkan keamanan dan umur simpan produk susu, tetapi metode ini sering menyebabkan perubahan pada karakteristik sensoris serta degradasi nutrisi. Sebagai alternatif, teknologi non-termal seperti Pulsed Electric Field (PEF), Cold Plasma, Ultrasound, dan Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) telah dikembangkan untuk mengatasi permasalahan tersebut. Artikel ini merupakan tinjauan pustaka yang mengeksplorasi efektivitas penerapan teknologi non-termal dalam meningkatkan keamanan dan stabilitas produk susu, termasuk susu segar, yoghurt, kefir, dan susu nabati. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahwa PEF mampu menginaktivasi mikroorganisme patogen dan enzim pembusuk melalui mekanisme elektroporasi, tanpa menyebabkan perubahan signifikan pada komponen nutrisi susu. Cold Plasma menawarkan keunggulan dalam dekontaminasi mikroba dengan memanfaatkan plasma reaktif, yang efektif membunuh patogen tanpa merusak komponen susu. Sementara itu, teknologi Ultrasound dapat meningkatkan homogenitas, memperbaiki stabilitas emulsi, dan mengurangi jumlah mikroorganisme dengan efek kavitasi. UV-C, sebagai metode berbasis radiasi, terbukti mampu menghambat pertumbuhan mikroba dan menurunkan aktivitas enzim perusak tanpa memerlukan bahan tambahan kimia. Meskipun berbagai penelitian menunjukkan efektivitas teknologi non-termal dalam menjaga kualitas susu, tantangan dalam penerapan skala industri masih menjadi perhatian, terutama terkait efisiensi energi, biaya operasional, dan kompatibilitas dengan sistem produksi yang sudah ada. Oleh karena itu, kajian lebih lanjut diperlukan untuk mengoptimalkan kombinasi teknologi non-termal guna memperoleh hasil yang lebih maksimal dalam peningkatan keamanan dan umur simpan produk susu.

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Allergic incidents of crustacean aquatic products occur frequently, and tropomyosin (TM) is the main allergen. Therefore, it is worthwhile to develop technologies to efficiently reduce the allergenicity of TM. In this study, ultrasound-assisted cold plasma (UCP) treatment was used to regulate shrimp allergy. The remarkable changes in TM structure were substantiated by alteration in secondary structure, reduction in sulfhydryl content, change in surface hydrophobicity, and disparity in surface morphology. The IgE and IgG binding ability of TM significantly decreased by 52.40% and 46.51% due to UCP treatment. In the Balb/c mouse model, mice in the UCP group showed most prominent mitigation of allergic symptoms, proved by lower allergy score, changes in levels of TM-specific antibodies, and restoration of Th1/Th2 cytokine imbalance. Using a proteomics approach, 439 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the TM group (vs phosphate-buffered saline group) and 170 DEPs in the UCP group (vs TM group) were determined. Subsequent analysis demonstrated that Col6a5, Col6a6, and Epx were potential biomarkers of TM allergy. Moreover, Col6a5, Col6a6, Dcn, and Kng1 might be the target proteins of UCP treatment, while PI3K/Akt/mTOR might be the regulated signaling pathway. These findings proved that UCP treatment has great potential in reducing TM allergenicity and provide new insights into the development of hypoallergenic shrimp products.

In this study, the hot-air drying of caraway seeds was enhanced using two nonthermal physical field technologies: cold plasma (CP) and ultrasonic waves (US). Air drying temperatures of 35, 45, and 55 °C with CP pretreatment exposure times (CPt) of 25 and 50 s were used. When convective drying was accompanied by US, power levels (USp) of 60, 120, and 180 W were applied. Experimentally, the most effective contribution was found by using both CP pretreatment (25 s) and US (180 W), in which the maximum decreases of 31% and 39% were estimated for the drying period and specific energy consumption, respectively. The total color change, the rupture force, TPC, TFC, and antioxidant capacity were also estimated for evaluating the quality of dried products. In a CP-US-assisted drying program (25 s, 180 W), the minimum change in color and the rupture force were found to be 6.40 N and 20.21 N, respectively. Compared to the pure air drying, the combined application of CP and US resulted in a mean increase of 53.2, 43.6, and 24.01% in TPC, TFC, and antioxidant capacity of extracts at the temperature of 35 °C. Based on the response surface methodology (RSM) approach and obtained experimental data, accurate mathematical predictive models were developed for finding the optimal drying condition. The optimization process revealed that 39 °C, 180 W, and 23 s resulted in a desirability of 0.78 for drying caraway seeds.

In recent years, there has been growing interest in bioactive plant compounds for their beneficial effects on health and for their potential in reducing the risk of developing certain diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders. The extraction techniques conventionally used to obtain these phytocompounds, however, due to the use of toxic solvents and high temperatures, tend to be supplanted by innovative and unconventional techniques, in line with the demand for environmental and economic sustainability of new chemical processes. Among non-thermal technologies, cold plasma (CP), which has been successfully used for some years in the food industry as a treatment to improve food shelf life, seems to be one of the most promising solutions in green extraction processes. CP is characterized by its low environmental impact, low cost, and better extraction yield of phytochemicals, saving time, energy, and solvents compared with other classical extraction processes. In light of these considerations, this review aims to provide an overview of the potential and critical issues related to the use of CP in the extraction of phytochemicals, particularly polyphenols and essential oils. To review the current knowledge status and future insights of CP in this sector, a bibliometric study, providing quantitative information on the research activity based on the available published scientific literature, was carried out by the VOSviewer software (v. 1.6.18). Scientometric analysis has seen an increase in scientific studies over the past two years, underlining the growing interest of the scientific community in this natural substance extraction technique. The literature studies analyzed have shown that, in general, the use of CP was able to increase the yield of essential oil and polyphenols. Furthermore, the composition of the phytoextract obtained with CP would appear to be influenced by process parameters such as intensity (power and voltage), treatment time, and the working gas used. In general, the studies analyzed showed that the best yields in terms of total polyphenols and the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the phytoextracts were obtained using mild process conditions and nitrogen as the working gas. The use of CP as a non-conventional extraction technique is very recent, and further studies are needed to better understand the optimal process conditions to be adopted, and above all, in-depth studies are needed to better understand the mechanisms of plasma–plant matrix interaction to verify the possibility of any side reactions that could generate, in a highly oxidative environment, potentially hazardous substances, which would limit the exploitation of this technique at the industrial level.

No abstract available