Deep eutectic solvents for the food industry: extraction, processing, analysis, and packaging applications - a review

Food factories seek the application of natural products, green feedstock and eco-friendly processes, which minimally affect the properties of the food item and products. Today, water and conventional polar solvents are used in many areas of food science and technology. As modern chemistry evolves, new green items for building eco-friendly processes are being developed. This is the case of deep eutectic solvents (DESs), named the next generation of green solvents, which can be involved in many food industries. In this review, we timely analyzed the progress on applying DES toward the development of formulations, extraction of target biomolecules, food processing, extraction of undesired molecules, analysis and determination of specific analytes in food samples (heavy metals, pesticides), food microbiology, and synthesis of new packaging materials, among many other applications. For this, the latest developments (over the last 2-3 years) have been discussed emphasizing innovative ideas and outcomes. Relevantly, we discuss the hypothesis and the key features of using DES in the mentioned applications. To some extent, the advantages and limitations of implementing DES in the food industry are also elucidated. Finally, based on the findings of this review, the perspectives, research gaps and potentialities of DESs are stated.

Exploring fennel (Foeniculum vulgare): Composition, functional properties, potential health benefits, and safety

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill), a member of the Apiaceae family (Umbelliferaceae), is a hardy and perennial herb, with grooved stems, intermittent leaves, petiole with sheath, usually bisexual flower and yellow umbrella. Although fennel is a typical aromatic plant generally considered native to the Mediterranean shores, it has become widespread in many regions of the world and has long been used as a medicinal and culinary herb. The aim of this review is to collect recent information from the literature on the chemical composition, functional properties and toxicology of fennel. Collected data show the efficacy of this plant in various in vitro and in vivo pharmacological studies including antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, antinociceptive, hepatoprotective, bronchodilatory, and memory enhancing activities. It has also been shown to be effective on infantile colic, dysmenorrhea, polycystic ovarian syndrome and milk production. This review also aims to identify gaps in the literature that require to be filled by future research.

Application of essential oils as natural biopesticides; recent advances

There is an urgent need for the development of sustainable and eco-friendly pesticide formulations since common synthetic pesticides result in many adverse effects on human health and the environment. Essential oils (EOs) are a mixture of volatile oils produced as a secondary metabolite in medicinal plants, and show activities against pests, insects, and pathogenic fungi. Their chemical composition is affected by several factors such as plant species or cultivar, geographical origin, environmental conditions, agricultural practices, and extraction method. The growing number of studies related to the herbicidal, insecticidal, acaricidal, nematicidal, and antimicrobial effects of EOs demonstrate their effectiveness and suitability as sustainable and environment-friendly biopesticides. EOs can biodegrade into nontoxic compounds; at the same time, their harmful and detrimental effects on non-target organisms are low. However, few biopesticide formulations based on EOs have been turned into commercial practice upto day. Several challenges including the reduced stability and efficiency of EOs under environmental conditions need to be addressed before EOs are widely applied as commercial biopesticides. This work is an overview of the current research on the application of EOs as biopesticides. Findings of recent studies focusing on the challenges related to the use of EOs as biopesticides are also discussed.