Food Ingredients and Active Compounds against the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic: A Comprehensive Review

A Real-World Scenario of Citizens' Motivation and Engagement in Urban Waste Management Through a Mobile Application and Smart City Technology

Circular bioeconomy is a key socioeconomic model for advancing the United Nations Global Sustainability Goals and promoting environmental and resource sustainability. However, circular bioeconomy concepts are unknown to most people and politicians worldwide who still have a fragmented picture of sustainability. Common perception of waste needs a cultural shift from "disposable" to commodity. This can happen with effective communication, active citizens' education, and awareness and engagement in core bioeconomy experiences and activities, like urban waste management and environmental sustainability. Citizen engagement methodologies are multiple. This paper proposes the combined use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), citizens' hands-on project involvement, and a direct rewarding system. Similar European examples are displayed, while our key case study is the bitter orange waste problem in the metropolitan region of Attica in Greece, where approximately 40,000 tons of bitter oranges per year remain unmanageable and unexploited, causing serious problems. The Bitter Orange Project aims to educate citizens on bioeconomy and biomass value, hopefully changing the perception of urban waste through their rewarded engagement in fruit collection to produce high added value materials. This can be a versatile platform for urban waste management projects through citizen science regardless of the type of biomass. The project aims to engage all possible local society stakeholders to multiply awareness. The target of this paper is to highlight that environmental problems related to biomass misuse are closer than the average citizen experiences, and that active involvement of society through rewarding can help raise awareness.

A Review on the Antiviral Activity of Functional Foods Against COVID-19 and Viral Respiratory Tract Infections

Due to the absence of successful therapy, vaccines for protection are continuously being developed. Since vaccines must be thoroughly tested, viral respiratory tract infections (VRTIs), mainly coronaviruses, have seriously affected human health worldwide in recent years. In this review, we presented the relevant data which originated from trusted publishers regarding the practical benefits of functional foods (FFs) and their dietary sources, in addition to natural plant products, in viral respiratory and COVID-19 prevention and immune-boosting activities. As a result, FFs were confirmed to be functionally active ingredients for preventing COVID-19 and VRTIs. Furthermore, the antiviral activity and immunological effects of FFs against VRTIs and COVID-19 and their potential main mechanisms of action are also being reviewed. Therefore, to prevent COVID-19 and VRTIs, it is critical to identify controlling the activities and immune-enhancing functional food constituents as early as possible. We further aimed to summarize functional food constituents as a dietary supplement that aids in immune system boosting and may effectively reduce VRTIs and COVID-19 and promote therapeutic efficacy.

Rational Discovery of Antiviral Whey Protein-Derived Small Peptides Targeting the SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease

In the present work, and for the first time, three whey protein-derived peptides (IAEK, IPAVF, MHI), endowed with ACE inhibitory activity, were examined for their antiviral activity against the SARS-CoV-2 3C-like protease (3CL^pro) and Human Rhinovirus 3C protease (3C^pro) by employing molecular docking. Computational studies showed reliable binding poses within 3CL^pro for the three investigated small peptides, considering docking scores as well as the binding free energy values. Validation by in vitro experiments confirmed these results. In particular, IPAVF exhibited the highest inhibitory activity by returning an IC₅₀ equal to 1.21 μM; it was followed by IAEK, which registered an IC₅₀ of 154.40 μM, whereas MHI was less active with an IC₅₀ equal to 2700.62 μM. On the other hand, none of the assayed peptides registered inhibitory activity against 3C^pro. Based on these results, the herein presented small peptides are introduced as promising molecules to be exploited in the development of “target-specific antiviral” agents against SARS-CoV-2.

Production of egg white hydrolysate by digestion with pineapple bromelain: optimization, evaluation and antioxidant activity study

Chicken egg white is known to be an excellent source of good quality proteins to make hydrolysate with potential bioactive properties. Enzymatic digestion is a well-known method to produce protein hydrolysates; however, the type of enzyme determines the bioactive potential of the protein hydrolysates due to difference in their catalytic specificity. In this study, process optimization, production and evaluation of whole egg white protein hydrolysate (WEWPH) using pineapple bromelain through the Box-Behnken design were carried out. The design experiment (r 2 = 0.9557) displayed a significant (p < 0.01) effect of pH of egg white (9.0), hydrolysis time (24 h), and enzyme/substrate ratio (3.2 unit/g substrate) on hydrolysis and to form bioactive WEWPH. Antioxidant activity of the WEWPH was confirmed by DPPH radical scavenging assay. Gel filtration chromatography, SDS-PAGE and FTIR spectroscopy analysis of WEWPH revealed the digestion of egg white and the integrity of WEWPH in terms of secondary structure. The WEWPH exhibited strong scavenging activities of DPPH (EC50 = 238.3 µg/ml), ABTS ABTS (EC50 = 54.9 µg/ml), peroxyl (EC50 = 391.6 µg/ml) and superoxide radicals. The WEWPH also displayed reducing power and singlet oxygen quenching activity. These results reveal that the bioactive WEWPH could be a promising ingredient in health food and nutraceuticals.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-021-05188-0.

Pharmacognostic approach to evaluate the micromorphological, phytochemical and biological features of Citrus lumia seeds

This study evaluated the micro-morphology as well as the chemical and biological features of Citrus lumia seeds. The cream-colored pyriform seed showed a woody coat covered by a thick layer of mucilage and an embryo with two large cotyledons rich in oil bodies. Hydroxycinnamic acid glycosides and flavonoids are the most abundant compounds in methanol and ethyl acetate extracts (ME and EAE), respectively. Conversely, fatty acids and α-tocopherol represent the main bioactive compounds in the hexane extract (HE). ME showed the most promising antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities already in cell-free assays. These results were confirmed by experiments carried out on human primary cells. Indeed, ME showed the best inhibitory activity against heat-induced haemolysis and ROS formation in erythrocytes. Moreover, the same order of potency (ME > EAE > HE) was observed also on peripheral blood mononuclear cells, in which the seed extracts were able to decrease TNF-α and IL-6 release after LPS-induced inflammation.

Effects of Aloe vera utilization on physochemical and microbiological properties of Turkish dry fermented sausage

The study aimed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of Aloe vera extracts obtained by different extraction methods on eight strains from five different pathogens (Pseudomonas fluorescens, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) in the first phase and utilize Aloe vera extract in sausage processing in the second phase. Sausages were evaluated for thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), physicochemical and microbiological properties. The first phase results indicated that the highest inhibition was determined in Listeria monocyctogenes 472 regardless of tested Aloe vera extract doses and extraction methods (Tukey HSD, P < 0.05). The highest Listeria monocyctogenes 472 levels reached was 0.38 log10 cfu/g. The second phase results revealed that Aloe vera containing treatments of sausage had lower pH than others after storage (ANOVA, P < 0.05). Dry matter, protein, fat and ash contents of sausage dough increased in all treatments after fermentation (ANOVA, P < 0.05). After 30 d storage, 48 and 45% TBARS reductions were obtained in sausages with only nitrite and those with only Aloe vera extract compared to control respectively. The lowest TBARS (68% reduction) were obtained in Aloe vera extract and nitrite incorporated sausages (Tukey HSD, P < 0.05). Result showed that the use of Aloe vera extract and nitrite combination in sausage formulation is a useful approach to control lipid oxidation in the product.

Supplementary information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-021-05183-5.

Assessing the Aftermath of COVID-19 Outbreak in the Agro-Food System: An Exploratory Study of Experts' Perspectives

The present study explored COVID-19 outbreak impacts on the food system in terms of agro-food production, distribution networks efficiency, and emerging food consumption patterns according to food experts' perspectives. Individual level data were selected from a sample of 59 executive managers of different domains representing agro-food businesses, agro-food cooperatives, and agro-food consulting firms and public institutions. The empirical analysis addressed the effects of the COVID-19 crisis to all the stages in the food chain and attempted to indicate the factors that could influence the trajectory from "farm to fork" under uncertain circumstances. Factor analysis elicited the underlying dimensions of experts' viewpoints toward the operation of the food system during COVID-19 pandemic. Data were also elaborated through hierarchical and k-means cluster analysis and the cluster structure was further validated by discriminant analysis. A two-cluster solution emerged, revealing differences in experts' perceptions toward the aftermath of the pandemic on agriculture (socioeconomic impacts on rural areas, impacts on agricultural production), food processing businesses (decline in the economic viability of food businesses, sharp economic downturn in the food industry, economic recession, incentives for innovation), food distribution networks (distribution channels fallout, food supply disruption), and consumers' food habits and preferences (increasing interest in health protection, adoption of unhealthy eating habits, demand for innovative and sustainable foods). These segments were identified as "skeptical food experts about COVID-19 impacts" (33.9%) and "alarmed food experts about COVID-19 impacts" (66.1%). Our findings highlighted the main disruptions that the food sector should overcome to meet consumer demand for safe and healthy food products and also ensure food availability and food system resiliency.

Assessment of the biotechnological activity of wheat hydrolysates prepared with the Biarum bovei extract

In this study, Biarum bovei extract was used to produce bioactive peptides from wheat gluten protein and the biological and functional properties of the hydrolysates were determinated. The results showed that Biarum bovei extract has its highest protease activity (7.3 U/mg protein) at 45 °C and pH 5. Based on electrophoresis analysis, the molecular weight of hydrolysate was < 10 kDa. F1 fraction had the highest antioxidant activity in DPPH (65.85 ± 2.64 µmol TE/g)) and ABTS radical scavenging assays (295.81 µmol TE/g). F2 fraction with 86.3 ± 0.48 had the ability to inhibit the ACE enzyme. The F3 and F1 fractions had statistically the highest inhibition rate (49.37 ± 0.12%. and 79.19 ± 1.13%) in alpha-glucosidase and alpha amylase, respectively. The F1, F2 fractions hydrolysate had an inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes and Bacillus cereus. Functional properties of hydrolysates with increasing molecular weight, increased significantly. The presence of high levels (p ≤ 0.05) of amino acids with hydroxyl groups, hydrophobic and positive charged in fractions had critical role on biological and technological activity. These findings confirmed the efficiency of gluten hydrolysates with low molecular weight (F1 < 3 kDa) on biofunctionality such as scavenging radical activity, ACE inhibitory, antidiabetic and antibacterial activity could be beneficial from health and technological perspectives.

Production of Protein Hydrolysate from Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.): Economic and Experimental Evaluation of Two Pretreatments Using Supercritical Fluids’ Extraction and Conventional Solvent Extraction

Supercritical fluids’ extraction (SFE) and conventional solvent extraction (CSE) for defatting of quinoa flour as pretreatments to produce the quinoa protein hydrolysate (QPH) were studied. The objective was to extract the oil and separate the phenolic compounds (PC) and the defatted quinoa flour for subsequent quinoa protein extraction and enzymatic hydrolysis. The oil extraction yield (OEY), total flavonoid content (TFC), and QPH yield were compared. SuperPro Designer 9.0^® software was used to estimate the cost of manufacturing (COM), productivity, and net present value (NPV) on laboratory and industrial scales. SFE allows higher OEY and separation of PC. The SFE oil showed a higher OEY (99.70%), higher antioxidant activity (34.28 mg GAE/100 g), higher QPH yield (197.12%), lower COM (US$ 90.10/kg), and higher NPV (US$ 205,006,000) as compared to CSE (with 77.59%, 160.52%, US$ 109.29/kg, and US$ 28,159,000, respectively). The sensitivity analysis showed that the sale of by-products improves the economic results: at the industrial scale, no significant differences were found, and both processes are economically feasible. However, results indicate that SFE allows the recovery of an oil and QPH of better nutritional quality and a high level of purity-free organic solvents for further health and nutraceutical uses.

Investigation on chemical composition, antioxidant activity and SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein of endemic Ferula longipedunculata Peşmen

The essential and fatty oils were investigated and a quantitative analysis of the root, green and stem parts of F. Longipedunculata was performed by GC-MS and HPLC-TOF/MS and their antioxidant (DPPH method) activities and potential binding of phytochemicals against SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid were determined using Molegro Virtual Docker software. In the root part of the plant, the prominent components of oil were β-phellandrene (53.46%), ocimene (6.79%), 4-terpineol (5.94%) and santalol (5.03%). According to the quantitative results, vanillic acid (141.35 mg/kg), ferulic acid (126.19 mg/kg) and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (119.92 mg/kg) were found in the roots; quercetin-3-β-O-glycoside (1737.70 mg/kg), quercetin (531.35 mg/kg) and ferulic acid (246.22 mg/kg) were found in the in the green part; and fumaric acid (2100.21 mg/kg), quercetin-3-β-O-glycoside (163.24 mg/kg), vanillic acid (57.59 mg/kg) were detected in the stem part. The antioxidant activity of all parts of the plant was higher than the control with BHT. Silibinin, rutin, and neohesperidin exhibited a stronger affinity than nucleotides. In the silico analysis, many of the phytochemicals were attached with strong hydrogen-bonds and electrostatic effects to the amino acids to which nucleotides are bound. The results indicated that the plant showed antioxidant effects and can be effective against SARS-CoV-2 thanks to the different phytochemical compounds it contains.

Nutrition and a Balanced Diet in the Elderly During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background:

Age is an important risk factor in the mortality ratio of the COVID-19 disease and mostly, the hospitalised patients over 60 years with chronic diseases are at high risk of death. With preventive measures, proper nutrient intake might be helpful to maintain a healthy state or reduce the severity of the COVID-19 disease in the elderly.

Methods:

Database searches of PubMed, Scopus, Medline, Google Scholar and Web of Science were performed by the following terms of pandemic; COVID-19; coronavirus; elderly; elderly nutrition.

Results:

The requirement of some macro and micro nutrients increases especially the nutrients that support the immune activity. During the pandemic, the daily energy requirement for the elderly is stated as 27-30 kcal/kg while the protein intake is recommended as at least 1g/kg, and the ratio of fat and carbohydrate is 30:70 or 50:50. The daily intake of Vitamin A, B6, B12, C, D, zinc and selenium can also be increased due to their supporting function in the immune system. Probiotics such as Bifidobacterium longum MM-2, Lactobacillus plantarum 06CC2, Lactobacillus bulgaricus OLL1073R-1 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus M21 and the consumption of prebiotics in diet enhance the immune function. Additionally, flavonoids such as baicalin, epigallocatechin gallate, gallocatechin gallate, kaempferol, luteolin, resveratrol and quercetin improve immunity by reducing oxidative stress in the elderly.

Conclusion:

Adequate and balanced nutrition should be provided during the pandemic; in addition to this, micronutrient deficiencies should also be prevented in this period in the elderly at every stage of life.

Populations in Low-Magnesium Areas Were Associated with Higher Risk of Infection in COVID-19's Early Transmission: A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study in the United States

Many studies have confirmed the important roles of nutritional status and micronutrients in the COVID-19 pandemic. Magnesium is a vital essential trace element that is involved in oxidative stress, inflammation, and many other immunological functions and has been shown to be associated with the outcome of COVID-19 infection. Here, we conducted a nationwide retrospective cohort study in the United States involving 1150 counties, 287,326,503 individuals, and 5,401,483 COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 30 September 2020 to reveal the infection risk of the populations distributed in low-magnesium areas in the early transmission of COVID-19. Our results indicate that the average county-level COVID-19 cumulative incidence in low-magnesium areas was significantly higher than in the control areas. Additionally, a significant negative nonlinear association was found between environmental magnesium concentration and the county-level COVID-19 cumulative incidence. Furthermore, the populations distributed in low environmental magnesium areas faced a higher COVID-19 infection risk (RR: 1.066; CI: 1.063-1.068), among which females (RR: 1.07; CI: 1.067-1.073), the 0-17 years subgroup (RR: 1.125; CI: 1.117-1.134), the 65+ years subgroup (RR: 1.093; CI: 1.087-1.098), black people (RR: 1.975; CI: 1.963-1.986), populations outside metro areas, and counties with a smaller population experienced higher risk of infection by COVID-19 than other subgroups. Considering that the magnesium intake of about half the population of the United States is below the daily required dose, our study will contribute to the creation of long-term public health strategies to help protect against COVID-19.

Microencapsulation by spray chilling in the food industry: Opportunities, challenges, and innovations

Background

The increasing demand for healthy eating habits and the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in a health crisis and global economic slowdown, has led to the consumption of functional and practical foods. Bioactive ingredients can be an alternative for healthy food choices; however, most functional compounds are sensitive to the adverse conditions of processing and digestive tract, impairing its use in food matrices, and industrial-scale applications. Microencapsulation by spray chilling can be a viable alternative to reduce these barriers in food processing.

Scope and approach

This review discusses the use of spray chilling technique for microencapsulation of bioactive food ingredients. Although this technology is known in the pharmaceutical industry, it has been little exploited in the food sector. General aspects of spray chilling, the process parameters, advantages, and disadvantages are addressed. The feasibility and stability of encapsulated bioactive ingredients in food matrices and the bioavailability in vitro of solid lipid microparticles produced by spray chilling are also discussed.

Main findings and conclusions

Research on the microencapsulation of bioactive ingredients by spray chilling for use in foods has shown the effectiveness of this technique to encapsulate bioactive compounds for application in food matrices. Solid microparticles produced by spray chilling can improve the stability and bioavailability of bioactive ingredients. However, further studies are required, including the use of lipid-based encapsulating agents, process parameters, and novel formulations for application in food, beverages, and packaging, as well as in vivo studies to prove the effectiveness of the formulations.

Delving the role of nutritional psychiatry to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic induced stress, anxiety and depression

BACKGROUND

The distressing COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial impact on public mental health, and the importance of food and nutrients in several aspects of mental health has been recognized. People in isolation or quarantine suffer from severe stress, anger, panic attack, and anxiety.

SCOPE AND APPROACH

Although, people who have improved and progressed through medications or vaccines have reduced anxiety levels to some extent yet the efficacy of these measures, in the long run, remains a question. The review depicts that such negative emotional reactions were particularly higher in elderly individuals in the first wave than in other phases. The emotional and behavioral response to the COVID-19 pandemic is multifactorial. From different research studies, it has been found that stress scores were considerably higher for those engaging in unhealthy eating practices. This factor relies not only on external components but on personal and innate ones as well. In the present pandemic, the sustainable development of the food system would have been a major issue; this should be carefully restored to avoid a food crisis in the future.

KEY FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS

Changes in mind-body interactions are triggered by psychosocial stresses such as interpersonal loss and social rejection. Physiological response (in terms of psychological stress) in COVID-19 affected patients varies due to individual physical health status. This review explores the relationship between nutrition and mental health as what we eat and think is interlinked with the gut-brain-axis. The role of dietary components along with the Mediterranean diet, DASH diet and use of psychobiotics in improving psychological distress in pandemic induced stress, anxiety and depression has also been discussed.

State of knowledge on chemical, biological and nutritional properties of olive mill wastewater

The Mediterranean olive oil industries are producing annually a massive quantity of olive mill wastewater (OMWW). Unfortunately, the OMWW is released arbitrarily in the nature without any pretreatment. Thus, it exhibits a high toxicity against the whole natural ecosystem including, microorganisms, plants and animals. In order to eliminate or reduce its pollution, OMWW must be properly treated prior to its release in the nature. In this regard, different treatment methods have been developed by researchers, but some of them were costly and others were inappropriate. Thus, more efforts should be made to save the nature from this pollutant. In the light of that, the current work summaries the state of knowledge regarding the OMWW from a chemical, biological, nutraceutical point of view, and the treatment methods that were used to eliminate its risk of pollution.

Sustainable Applications for the Valorization of Cereal Processing By-Products

This review article revises the sustainable practices and applications to valorize valuable components recovered from cereal processing by-products. After introducing cereal processing by-products, their healthy compounds, and corresponding functional properties, the article explores reutilization opportunities of by-products emphasizing specific sources (e.g., oat and wheat bran, distillers' dried grains, etc.) and the biorefinery approach. Proteins and soluble dietary fibers such as arabinoxylans are of particular interest due to their content in the cereal processing by-products and their easy extraction based on conventional technologies such as enzyme-assisted extraction and membrane filtration. Non-thermal technologies have also been suggested to improve sustainability recovery approaches. Finally, the article discusses the different applications for the recovered high-added value compounds that span across biotechnology, foods, and bakery products.

Serum antioxidant status and mortality from influenza and pneumonia in US adults

OBJECTIVE

We examined the association between serum antioxidant status and mortality from influenza and pneumonia in US adults.

DESIGN

Serum concentrations of antioxidants included vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, sum of α- and β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein + zeaxanthin and lycopene. We computed total antioxidant capacity (TAC) as a measure of composite antioxidant status in serum. Survey-weighted Cox proportional hazard models were used to compute hazard ratios (HR) and 95 % CI comparing quartiles of each antioxidant and TAC.

SETTING

Data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)-III.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 7428 NHANES-III participants ≥45 years of age.

RESULTS

With a weighted-median follow-up of 16·8 years, 154 participants died from influenza/pneumonia. After adjustment for covariates, serum vitamin C, the sum of α- and β-carotene and TAC were nonlinearly associated with influenza/pneumonia mortality, with the statistically significant smallest HR at the third quartile v. the first quartile (HR = 0·38 (95 % CI: 0·19, 0·77), 0·29 (0·16, 0·51) and 0·30 (0·15, 0·59), respectively). HR comparing the fourth v. the first quartiles were weaker and nonsignificant: 0·57 (95 % CI: 0·27, 1·17), 0·70 (0·41, 1·19) and 0·65 (0·31, 1·35), respectively. Serum lycopene had a monotonic association with influenza/pneumonia mortality (HR = 0·43 (95 % CI: 0·23, 0·83) comparing the fourth v. the first quartile, Pfor trend = 0·01).

CONCLUSIONS

The current study suggests that antioxidant intake as reflected by serum concentrations may reduce mortality risk from influenza or pneumonia in the US general population. These findings warrant further confirmation in other populations with different settings (e.g. a shorter-term association with influenza infection).

A comprehensive review on current and emerging technologies toward the valorization of bio-based wastes and by products from foods

Industries in the agro-food sector are the largest generators of waste in the world. Agro-food wastes and by products originate from the natural process of senescence, pretreatment, handling, and manufacturing processes of food and beverage products. Notably, most of the wastes are produced with the transformation of raw materials (such as fruits, vegetables, plants, tubers, cereals, and dairy products) into different processed foods (e.g., jams, sauces, and canned fruits/vegetables), dairy derivatives (e.g., cheese and yogurt), and alcoholic (e.g., wine and beer) and nonalcoholic beverages (e.g., juices and soft drinks). Current research is committed not only to the usage of agro-food wastes and by products as a potential source of high-value bioactive compounds (e.g., phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, and organic acids) but also to the implementation of emerging and innovative technologies that can compete with conventional extraction methods for the efficient extraction of such biomolecules from the residues. Herein, specific valorization technologies, such as membrane-based processes, microwave, ultrasound, pulsed electric-assisted extraction, supercritical/subcritical fluids, and pressurized liquids, have emerged as advanced techniques in extracting various added-value biomolecules, showing multiple advantages (improved extraction yields, reduced process time, and protection to the bioactive properties of the compounds). Hence, this comprehensive review aims to analyze the ongoing research on applying such techniques in valorization protocols. A last-five-year review, together with a featured analysis of the relevant findings in the field, is provided.

Polyphenols as Potential Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 RNA Dependent RNA Polymerase (RdRp)

An increasing number of studies have demonstrated the antiviral nature of polyphenols, and many polyphenols have been proposed to inhibit SARS-CoV or SARS-CoV-2. Our previous study revealed the inhibitory mechanisms of polyphenols against DNA polymerase α and HIV reverse transcriptase to show that polyphenols can block DNA elongation by competing with the incoming NTPs. Here we applied computational approaches to examine if some polyphenols can also inhibit RNA polymerase (RdRp) in SARS-CoV-2, and we identified some better candidates than remdesivir, the FDA-approved drug against RdRp, in terms of estimated binding affinities. The proposed compounds will be further examined to develop new treatments for COVID-19.

In vivo toxicity of bioreactor-grown biomass and exopolysaccharides from Malaysian tiger milk mushroom mycelium for potential future health applications

Natural mycelial biomass (MB) and exopolysaccharides (EPS) of Malaysian tiger milk mushroom Lignosus rhinocerus are considered high-end components due to their high commercial potential value in drug discovery. This study aims to evaluate the toxicity of the mushroom extracts' generated in a bioreactor using the zebrafish embryo toxicity (ZFET) model assay as a new therapy for treating asthma. Both MB and EPS extracts, at concentrations 0.16-10 mg/mL, were tested for ZFET and early development effects on Zebrafish Embryos (ZE) during 24-120 h post-fertilisation (HPF). Findings revealed that MB was deemed safe with an LC₅₀ of 0.77 mg/mL; the EPS were non-toxic (LC₅₀ of 0.41 mg/mL). Neither MB nor EPS delayed hatching nor teratogenic defects in the treated ZE at a 2.5 mg/mL dose. There were no significant changes in the ZE heart rate after treatments with MB (130 beats/min) and EPS (140 beats/min), compared to that of normal ZE (120-180 beats/min). Mixing both natural compounds MB and EPS did not affect toxicity using ZFET testing; thus, intimating their safe future use as therapeutic interventions. This represents the first study to have used the ZFET assay on MB and EPS extracts of L. rhinocerus for future health applications.

Clinical trial to analyze the effects of oral intake of Phellinus linteus (sanghuang) extract on immune function: a study protocol for a randomized, double-blind controlled trial

Background

As the population of Korea ages, interest in healthcare has increased. In particular, there is an increasing demand for immune-function improvement to prevent infectious diseases. Phellinus linteus (PL) has previously been shown to exert immune-enhancing and anticancer effects. We aim to evaluate whether PL mycelium extract, cultured from the PL KCTC0399BP strain, can increase immune function, as measured using blood-test indicators. This clinical trial protocol is designed as the main trial and is based on the results of a pilot study.

Methods

This clinical trial is a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Ninety-eight participants are enrolled and randomly divided into two groups: the experimental group (PL 1000 mg) and the control group (placebo). Participants are administered with experimental food or placebo for eight weeks. Blood tests are performed before trial initiation and 8 weeks later, at trial completion. Laboratory evaluation items are as follows: natural killer cell activity, tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-12, immunoglobulin (Ig)G1, IgG2, and IgM. We will mainly use the full analysis dataset to statistically analyze the effectiveness of the treatment.

Discussion

This study evaluates the effects of PL extract on immune function and will contribute to knowledge on the value of PL as an immune-function–boosting functional food.

Trial registration

Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS) of Korea CRIS-KCT0005460. Registered on 12 October 2020

Analyzing the phenolic enriched fractions from Nixtamalization wastewater (Nejayote) fractionated in a three-step membrane process

Nejayote is recognized as the main by-product resulting from the nixtamalization process of maize kernels, which is categorized as an alkaline residue with a chemical composition based on carbohydrates (37.8-55.7%), fiber (22.8-25.5%), protein (4.9-7.4%), and lipids (0.4-1.5%). In addition, Nejayote has an extensive content of simple (e.g., phenolic acids) and complex phenolic compounds (e.g., anthocyanins), which are responsible for the pigmentation and antioxidant activity of maize; therefore, there is a need of their identification depending on the type of maize. The current research has focused on the efficient extraction and identification of the phenolic acids contained in Nejayote after the processing of different types of maize. The target of this work was to fractionate Nejayote from white (NWM), red (NRM), and purple maize (NPM), using three different membranes, such as microfiltration (MF with a pore size of 1 μm) and ultrafiltration (UF100 and UF1 with a molecular weight cut-off of 100 kDa and 1 kDa, respectively), which were strategically applied to extract phenolic acids while retaining other molecules. Such a membrane system exhibited a retention in the first stage of almost all carbohydrates (MF-Retentate: ca. 12-19 g GE/L), while second stage (UF100-Permeate) a concentration of phenolic components was recovered ranging from 768 to 800 mg GAE/L. Finally, in the third stage (UF1-Permeate), 14 phenolic acids were identified, including ferulic and p-coumaric acids, derived from caffeic and ferulic acids, along with other molecules (e.g., glucose and fructose).

Rheological Properties of Industrial Hot Trub

The boiling of beer wort with hops results in the formation of a hot trub, a sediment consisting mainly of water-insoluble tannin and protein conglomerates and hop residue. Hot trub is a waste product, removed in a clarifying tank and discarded. The use of barley malt substitutes in recipes for beer is associated with an increase in the amount of generated hot trub. In presented study, an analysis of the rheological properties of industrial hot trub was carried out. Samples varied with regard to the quantities of unmalted barley (0%, 35%, and 45%) and worts’ extract (12.5, 14.1, 16.1, and 18.2 °Plato) in the recipe. The rheology of each type of sludge was determined using a hysteresis loop at four different temperatures. The results showed the shear-thinning and thixotropic properties of the hot trub. It was found that, regardless of the raw material and extract used, all samples exhibited the same rheological properties, but with different values. It was also proved that both raw material composition and temperature affected the hot trub’s rheology. The highest values of viscosity were identified for malted barley, whereas the lowest apparent viscosity values were recorded for the hot trub with a 30% addition of unmalted barley. The Herschel–Bulkley model had the best fit to the experimental data.

The current use and evolving landscape of nutraceuticals

The nutraceutical market is currently a high-impact multi-billion-dollar industry, and it is anticipated to grow rapidly over the next decade. Nutraceuticals comprise diverse food-derived product categories that have become widespread due to increased consumer awareness of potential health benefits and the need for improved wellness. This targeted review is designed to identify the current global trends, market opportunities, and regulations that drive the nutraceutical industry. Safety and efficacy concerns are also explored with a view to highlighting areas that necessitate further research and oversight. Key drivers of the nutraceutical market include aging populations, consumer awareness, consumer lifestyle, increasing cost of healthcare, and marketing channels. Although some nutraceuticals hold promising preventive and therapeutic opportunities, there is a lack of a universal definition and regulatory framework among countries. Moreover, there is a lack of adequate evidence for their efficacy, safety, and effectiveness, which was even further highlighted during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Future prospective epidemiological studies can delineate the health impact of nutraceuticals and help set the scientific basis and rationale foundation for clinical trials, reducing the time and cost of trials themselves. Together, an understanding of the key drivers of the nutraceutical market alongside a consistent and well-defined regulatory framework will provide further opportunities for growth, expansion, and segmentation of nutraceuticals applications.

Applications of bioactive compounds extracted from olive industry wastes: A review

The wastes generated during the olive oil extraction process, even if presenting a negative impact for the environment, contain several bioactive compounds that have considerable health benefits. After suitable extraction and purification, these compounds can be used as food antioxidants or as active ingredients in nutraceutical and cosmetic products due to their interesting technological and pharmaceutical properties. The aim of this review, after presenting general applications of the different types of wastes generated from this industry, is to focus on the olive pomace produced by the two-phase system and to explore the challenging applications of the main individual compounds present in this waste. Hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, oleuropein, oleuropein aglycone, and verbascoside are the most abundant bioactive compounds present in olive pomace. Besides their antioxidant activity, these compounds also demonstrated other biological properties such as antimicrobial, anticancer, or anti-inflammatory, thus being used in formulations to produce pharmaceutical and cosmetic products or in the fortification of food. Nevertheless, it is mandatory to involve both industries and researchers to create strategies to valorize these byproducts while maintaining environmental sustainability.

Consumer and food changes in Mexican households during maximal contingency in the COVID-19 pandemic

The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) rapidly expanded throughout the world affecting human life in the health, social, cultural, economic and environmental aspects. On an international scale, some works have addressed the importance of the agri-food topic during the pandemic, especially about food consumption. The Mexican case is particularly relevant since it is the country with the highest proportion of overweight people. The objective of this work was to know the choices and consumption of foods in Mexican households during the period of maximal contingency. An on-line questionnaire was responded by 867 volunteers who answered about the aspects taken in consideration in their food consumption, the changes in the consumption of certain foods and the socioeconomic and health aspects of the family. Four groups were identified: “Budget consumers”, “Hedonics”, “Price conscious” and “Conscious”. Changes in the attitudes to food are not related to the health state, overweight, or family size; but are related to income level of households and above all, to the education level. Results show an opportunity to change for healthier food habits in Mexico, mainly in the most vulnerable sectors.

The Antiviral Activity of Bacterial, Fungal, and Algal Polysaccharides as Bioactive Ingredients: Potential Uses for Enhancing Immune Systems and Preventing Viruses

Viral infections may cause serious human diseases. For instance, the recent appearance of the novel virus, SARS-CoV-2, causing COVID-19, has spread globally and is a serious public health concern. The consumption of healthy, proper, functional, and nutrient-rich foods has an important role in enhancing an individual's immune system and preventing viral infections. Several polysaccharides from natural sources such as algae, bacteria, and fungi have been considered as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the US Food and Drug Administration. They are safe, low-toxicity, biodegradable, and have biological activities. In this review, the bioactive polysaccharides derived from various microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and algae were evaluated. Antiviral mechanisms of these polysaccharides were discussed. Finally, the potential use of microbial and algal polysaccharides as an antiviral and immune boosting strategy was addressed. The microbial polysaccharides exhibited several bioactivities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antitumor, and immunomodulatory activities. Some microbes are able to produce sulfated polysaccharides, which are well-known to exert a board spectrum of biological activities, especially antiviral properties. Microbial polysaccharide can inhibit various viruses using different mechanisms. Furthermore, these microbial polysaccharides are also able to modulate immune responses to prevent and/or inhibit virus infections. There are many molecular factors influencing their bioactivities, e.g., functional groups, conformations, compositions, and molecular weight. At this stage of development, microbial polysaccharides will be used as adjuvants, nutrient supplements, and for drug delivery to prevent several virus infections, especially SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Factors regulating dynamics of angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2), the gateway of SARS-CoV-2: Epigenetic modifications and therapeutic interventions by epidrugs

Angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) is one of the major components of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and participates in the physiological functions of the cardiovascular system and lungs. Recent studies identified ACE2 as the receptor for the S-protein of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and thus acts as the gateway for viral entry into the human body. Virus infection causes an imbalance in the RAS axis and induces acute lungs injury and fibrosis. Various factors regulate ACE2 expression patterns as well as control its epigenetic status at both transcription and translational levels. This review is mainly focused on the impact of environmental toxicants, drugs, endocrine disruptors, and hypoxia as controlling parameters for ACE2 expression and its possible modulation by epigenetic changes which are marked by DNA methylation, histone modifications, and micro-RNAs (miRNAs) profile. Furthermore, we have emphasized on interventions of various phytochemicals and bioactive compounds as epidrugs that regulate ACE2-S-protein interaction and thereby curb viral infection. Since ACE2 is an important component of the RAAS axis and a crucial entry point of SARS-CoV-2, the dynamics of ACE2 expression in response to various extrinsic and intrinsic factors are of contemporary relevance. We have collated updated information on ACE2 expression modulated by epidrugs, and urge to take over further studies on these important physiological regulators to unravel many more systemic linkages related to both metabolic and infectious diseases, in general and SARS-CoV-2 in particular for further development of targeted interventions.

Understanding the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on sustainable agri-food system and agroecosystem decarbonization nexus: A review

The existing finite natural resources have witnessed unsustainable usage in the past few years, especially for food production, with accompanying environmental devastation and ecosystem damage. Regrettably, the global population and consumption demands are increasing ceaselessly, leading to the need for more resources for food production, which could potentially aggravate the sustainability and ecosystem degradation issues, while stimulating drastic climate change. Meanwhile, the unexpected emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and some implemented measures to combat its spread disrupted agricultural activities and the food supply chain, which also led to a reduction in ecosystem carbonization. This study sets out to explore policy framework and selected feasible actions that are being adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic, which could potentially reduce the emissions even after the pandemic to promote a resilient and sustainable agri-food system. In this study, we reviewed 27 articles that focus on the current state of the agri-food system in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the decarbonization of the agroecosystem. This review has taken the form of a systematic methodology in analyzing the adoption and implementation of various measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 on the impact of the agri-food system and reduction in ecosystem degradation. Up to 0.3 Mt of CO2 reduction from the agri-food system alone was reportedly achieved during the first 6 months of the pandemic in 23 European countries. The various adopted measures indicate that the circular economy approach is a panacea to achieve the needed sustainability in the agri-food system. Also, it dictates a need for a paradigm change towards improvement on localized food production that promotes sustainable production and consumption.

Vacuum-Assisted Osmotic Dehydration of Autumn Olive Berries: Modeling of Mass Transfer Kinetics and Quality Assessment

Autumn olive fruits were osmo-dehydrated in sucrose solution at 70 °C under vacuum and atmospheric pressure. The mass transfer kinetics data were applied to the models of Azuara, Crank, Page, and Peleg. The Peleg model was the best-fitted model to predict the water loss and solid gain of both treatments. The vacuum application decreased the effective diffusivities from 2.19 × 10^-10 to 1.55 × 10^-10 m²·s^-1 for water loss and from 0.72 × 10^-10 to 0.62 × 10^-10 m²·s^-1 for sugar gain. During the osmotic dehydration processes, the water activity decreased and stabilized after 5 h, while the bulk densities increased from 1.04 × 10³ to 1.26 × 10³ kg/m³. Titratable acidity gradually reduced from 1.14 to 0.31% in the atmospheric pressure system and from 1.14 to 0.51% in the vacuum system. pH increased significantly in both systems. Good retention of lycopene was observed even after 10 h of treatments. For the color parameters, the lightness decreased and stabilized after 30 min. In comparison, the redness and yellowness increased in the first 30 min and gradually decreased towards the initial levels in the fresh fruit.

Geographical origin discrimination of "Ntopia" olive oil cultivar from Ionian islands using volatile compounds analysis and computational statistics

The aim of the present study was to characterize the aroma profile of olive oil of the "Ntopia" (local) cultivar from the Ionian islands (Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Leukada, and Kerkyra) (Greece), and investigate whether specific volatile compounds could be considered as indicators of olive oil geographical origin, using computational statistics. In this context, 137 olive oil samples were subjected to headspace solid phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry using the internal standard method. Computational statistics on the semi-quantitative data of olive oil samples, as rapid machine learning algorithms, showed that specific volatile compounds could be used as indicators of geographical origin of olive oil of the "Ntopia" cultivar, among the four main Ionian islands. Volatile compounds such as ethanol, pentanal, 2,4-dimethylheptane, 3,7-dimethyl-1,3,6-octatriene (E), 2,5-dimethylnonane, 1-hexanol, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, octanal, dl-Limonene, acetic acid hexyl ester and dodecane could aid to the geographical origin discrimination of "Ntopia" olive oil cultivar when two (Zakynthos and Kefalonia) or four (Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Leukada and Kerkyra) Ionian islands are subjected to statistical analysis. The discrimination rate using the cross-validation method was 100% and 85.7%, respectively. These results were further evaluated using training and holdout partitions, during which a comparable classification rate was obtained.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00217-021-03863-2.

Nutraceuticals and Herbs in Reducing the Risk and Improving the Treatment of COVID-19 by Targeting SARS-CoV-2

The worldwide transmission of acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) as a deadly or devastating disease is known to affect thousands of people every day, many of them dying all over the planet. The main reason for the massive effect of COVID-19 on society is its unpredictable spread, which does not allow for proper planning or management of this disease. Antibiotics, antivirals, and other prescription drugs, necessary and used in therapy, obviously have side effects (minor or significant) on the affected person, there are still not clear enough studies to elucidate their combined effect in this specific treatment, and existing protocols are sometimes unclear and uncertain. In contrast, it has been found that nutraceuticals, supplements, and various herbs can be effective in reducing the chances of SARS-CoV-2 infection, but also in alleviating COVID-19 symptoms. However, not enough specific details are yet available, and precise scientific studies to validate the approved benefits of natural food additives, probiotics, herbs, and nutraceuticals will need to be standardized according to current regulations. These alternative treatments may not have a direct effect on the virus or reduce the risk of infection with it, but these products certainly stimulate the human immune system so that the body is better prepared to fight the disease. This paper aims at a specialized literary foray precisely in the field of these "cures" that can provide real revelations in the therapy of coronavirus infection.

Monitoring of new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2): Origin, transmission, and food preservation methods

Unfortunately, there is limited research on coronavirus survival of food products and also food processing. The knowledge of the physical and chemical characteristics of coronaviruses mostly comes from the study of SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV physical (i.e., thermal processing, chilling and freezing, microwave irradiation, ultraviolet light, gamma irradiation, high hydrostatic pressure) and chemical (acidification and use of common disinfectants in the food industry like chlorinated derivatives and ozone) are means which could be used to inactive the coronaviruses or reduce the infection. These methods can be applied individually or in combination to act better performance. Thermal processing is one of the most effective methods for inactive coronavirus. Heating at 75°C (15-60 min) and 65°C (1 min) was the best temperature for inactive SARS-CoV and MERS virus, respectively. Among irradiation methods (microwave, UV, and gamma), the most effective one is UVC rays. Moreover, the use of disinfectant like chlorinated derivatives is appropriate way to disinfect food product surfaces.

Novelty impact statement

This review provided updated information on effective strategies for inactive coronavirus that can be used in the food industry. SARS-CoV-2 as a new pandemic coronavirus was initiated from contaminated foods and can be transmitted by close contact, aerosols, and food surfaces. Food preservation (physical and chemical) methods could decrease SARS-CoV-2. Probably, heating and UVC are the most effective approach to inactive SARS-CoV-2. Despite the findings of coronavirus inactivation which were here discussed, much research is still needed for the development of new approaches to overcome the coronavirus.

Phenolic Compounds from Irradiated Olive Wastes: Optimization of the Heat-Assisted Extraction Using Response Surface Methodology

Olive pomace, an environmentally detrimental residue generated during olive oil extraction, contains bioactive compounds in demand by the food industry. To valorize this waste product a suitable yield for the extraction process is required. Heat-assisted extraction of bioactive compounds from olive pomace was optimized by a circumscribed central composite design and response surface methodology. Our previous studies indicated that irradiation could improve 2.4-fold the extractability of the main phenolic compounds from olive pomace. The effect of extraction time, temperature and solvent concentration on the yield of polyphenols from irradiated olive pomace at 5 kGy was tested. Hydroxytyrosol-1-β-glucoside, hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol and caffeic acid were quantified by High Performance Liquid Chromatography to calculate the total polyphenol content. The optimal general conditions by RSM modeling were extraction time of 120 min, temperature of 85 °C, and 76% of ethanol in water. Using these selected conditions, 19.04 ± 1.50 mg/g dry weight, 148.88 ± 8.73 mg/g extract of total polyphenols were obtained, representing a yield of 13.7%, which was consistent with the value predicted by the model. This work demonstrated the potential of residues from the olive oil industry as a suitable alternative to obtain compounds that could be used as ingredients for the food industry.