Iron and zinc deficiencies are a major public health concern among children aged 6-24 months in Northern Uganda, particularly in the Acholi sub-region. These deficiencies are largely linked to complementary foods prepared from inadequately processed local ingredients with high anti-nutritional factors, which impair micronutrient absorption. This study investigated the effect of malting on broken rice-iron-rich beans composite flour, focusing on sensory properties, nutrient composition, bioavailability, and anti-nutritional content. Nine formulations (four malted, four unmalted, and one control) were analyzed. Sensory evaluations were conducted with 124 mothers of children aged 6-24 months. Proximate composition, micronutrient content, and anti-nutritional factors were determined in the laboratory. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA at p ≤ 0.05. For children aged 6-11 months, the most preferred formulation was composite F (30
Abstract With the increasing search for existing and emerging natural sources of foods, nutrients and bioactive compounds with functional, nutraceutical, healing and medicinal functions, this study aims at evaluating the roles of Telfairia occidentalis Hook. f. in helping to meet this growing demand. This study reviewed recent studies on the nutritional, phytochemical, therapeutic, medicinal, nutraceutical, functional, and healing properties of Telfairia occidentalis and its seeds, leaves, fruits, and whole plant. Their roles in the treatment/management of many diseases, such as their neuro-protective, hepatoprotective, antioxidants, anti-ulcer, pro-reproduction, anti-inflammatory, antiplasmodial, anti-cancer, antimicrobial, antinociceptive, anti-hyperlipidemic, and pharmaceutical properties. Telfairia occidentalis and its seeds, leaves and fruits are excellent sources of vitamins, protein, minerals, essential amino acids, fats and fatty acids, carbohydrates, and important phytochemicals, all of which play important roles in health and disease prevention/treatment. These interesting properties of Telfairia occidentalis can be adequately explored for important applications in nutrition and dietetics, medicine, pharmacy, food production, formulation of dietary supplements, and development of therapeutics and nutraceuticals. Graphical Abstract Potential health effects of fluted pumpkin include neuro-protective, hepatoprotective, antioxidants, anti-ulcer, pro-reproduction, anti-inflammatory, antiplasmodial, anti-cancer, antimicrobial, antinociceptive, anti-hyperlipidemic, and pharmaceutical properties
Abstract Aging alters oral function and chewing behavior. This study employed surface electromyography to investigate age-related adaptations in muscle activity across chewing phases. Fifteen younger adults (22–28 years) and fifteen older adults (65–75 years) habitually chewed three foods differing in texture (soft candy, bread, and peanut). Bilateral masseter and temporalis activities were recorded and integrated to characterize neuromuscular coordination. Normalized integrated electromyography, normalized mean absolute value (MAV), chewing time, and chewing rate were analyzed phase-specifically across the chewing sequence. Texture analysis confirmed significant differences in hardness and cohesiveness among foods ( p < 0.01), with peanut showing the highest hardness (3176.93 ± 187.67 g) and soft candy the highest cohesiveness (0.91 ± 0.00). For soft candy, chewing time and rate were comparable between age groups, whereas normalized integrated electromyography was significantly lower in older adults ( p = 0.01). For bread and peanut, older adults showed phase-specific differences in chewing time and rate, particularly in the middle and late phases (all p < 0.05). In addition, significant age × phase interactions were observed for normalized MAV during bread chewing ( p < 0.01) and for both chewing time and rate during peanut consumption (both p < 0.05). These findings suggest that mastication in older adults is characterized by phase-specific adaptations that vary across different food textures. The results indicate that masticatory demand reflects multiple food-matrix properties beyond hardness alone, providing a phase-specific perspective for texture-oriented food design for aging populations.
Abstract Cold plasma technology has emerged as a promising non-thermal food processing approach due to its ability to enhance food safety while preserving or improving nutritional and functional quality. This review evaluates recent advances in the application of cold plasma for modulating food bioactive compounds, with particular emphasis on polyphenols, carotenoids, vitamins, and natural pigments. Cold plasma operates in a thermodynamically non-equilibrium state, generating reactive oxygen and nitrogen species that interact with food matrices through complex and matrix-dependent mechanisms. Evidence indicates a dual-effect behaviour under optimized conditions, cold plasma can disrupt cellular structures, promote macromolecule depolymerization, inactivate degradative enzymes, and enhance the release and bioaccessibility of bioactive compounds. Conversely, excessive treatment intensity or prolonged exposure may trigger oxidative degradation, leading to losses in sensitive constituents. Recent literature highlights the strong dependence of cold plasma outcomes on processing parameters, plasma generation methods, gas composition, and intrinsic food characteristics. In addition to compositional changes, cold plasma has been shown to influence antioxidant activity, pigment stability, and post-digestion bioaccessibility highlighting its relevance for functional food development. Despite its significant potential, challenges remain regarding process standardization, scalability, and regulatory acceptance. Overall, this review identifies critical knowledge gaps and future research directions necessary to facilitate the safe and effective industrial implementation of cold plasma technology in food systems.
Abstract Dysregulation of the nucleolus and its associated protein synthesis machinery is implicated as a contributing factor in the progressive neuronal atrophy observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study investigated the neuroprotective effects of icariin (ICA) via modulation of the nucleolar stress response in Aβ25–35-treated BV2 cells and APP/PS1 transgenic mice. Cell viability and morphological alterations were evaluated using flow cytometry, microscopic observation, and CCK-8 assays, while cognitive function in mice was assessed with the morris water maze test. BV2 cells and mouse hippocampal tissues were further analyzed for rRNA transcription, rDNA methylation status, nucleolar morphology, and the expression of nucleolar proteins ribosomal protein L5 (RPL5) and RPL11, as well as mouse double minutes 2 (MDM2) and p53. Aβ25–35 exposure induced significant reductions of cell viability and morphological abnormalities in BV2 cells, whereas APP/PS1 mice exhibited marked cognitive deficits. Both in vitro and in vivo models demonstrated pronounced nucleolar stress, characterized by reduced pre-rRNA transcription, hypermethylation of the rDNA promoter, decreased nucleolar number and volume, and upregulated expressions of RPL5, RPL11, MDM2, and p53. Further ICA administration reversed the morphological changes and increased the cell viability in Aβ25–35-treated BV2 cells, and alleviated the cognitive defects in APP/PS1 mice. More importantly, ICA treatment showed strong protective effects on suppressing the nucleolar stress response in both in vivo and in vitro AD models. Collectively, these findings highlight nucleolar stress modulation as a potential therapeutic target in AD and support ICA as a promising natural candidate for intervention.
Abstract Limited evidence exists on whether vitamins enhance the effect of α-linolenic acid (ALA) on type 2 diabetes (T2D). Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the interactive relationship between dietary vitamins and ALA in relation to T2D among U.S. adults. This cross-sectional study included 16,290 adults aged ≥ 18 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2018. Dietary intake was assessed using two-day, 24 h dietary recalls. Daily intakes of ALA and nine vitamins were estimated. T2D was defined using fasting glucose, glycohemoglobin levels, or self-reported medication or insulin use. Binary logistic regression and restricted cubic spline analyses were performed to evaluate the interactive associations between dietary ALA, vitamins, and T2D. ALA and vitamin intakes were associated with an 18%-35% and 21%-59% lower risk of T2D, respectively. After adjusting for confounders, dietary ALA exhibited a non-linear, “U-shaped” association with T2D (p = 0.0006). This association was stronger in the highest tertile of several vitamins (A, D, E, B6, B12, and C), particularly vitamin B12. Among females, higher vitamin B12 intake enhanced the protective effect of ALA against T2D, with odds ratios (95% confidence interval) ranging from 0.6 (0.4-0.7) to 0.5 (0.3-0.8). Although higher tertiles of certain vitamins may significantly enhance the protective effect of ALA against T2D, the effect was weaker than that of vitamin B12. In conclusions, higher vitamin B12 intake may enhance the association between ALA and reduced T2D risk, particularly among females.
Abstract Neohesperidin exhibits intense bitterness that limits its application in the food industry. To address this issue, we established a synergistic system integrating three bitter‑taste suppression mechanisms: taste interference, physical inclusion, and receptor competition. Through combined sensory evaluation and electronic tongue analysis, three core components were selected from ten common inhibitors: a bitter taste masking agent (aspartame), a physical inclusion compound (β-cyclodextrin), and a receptor competitive inhibitor (adenosine monophosphate (AMP)). Through single-factor and orthogonal experiments, the optimal mass ratio was determined as 8:1:6 (aspartame:β-cyclodextrin:AMP). At this ratio, the composite system achieved a neohesperidin bitterness correction rate of 92%, with a Standardised European Distance (SED) value of 3.46 from electronic tongue measurements, indicating significant bitterness suppression. Compared to the best-performing single-component bitter suppression method (aspartame, achieving approximately 60% suppression), this ternary system further enhanced bitterness suppression by over 50%, demonstrating significant synergistic effects among the multiple components. This study provides an efficient, scalable compounding solution to overcome the bitterness bottleneck of neohesperidin.
Abstract Xylooligosaccharides (XOS), short-chain xylose oligomers derived from hemicellulose, have emerged as a promising prebiotic fiber with significant potential for modulating human and animal health. Recently, generation of XOS prebiotics from underutilized biorefinery streams also has gained global recognition as a promising circular bioeconomy approach to conserve resources and promote sustainable agricultural systems. Particularly, high-purity XOS products (92%–96% purity) have been effectively generated from various biomass sources using integrated hydrolysis and membrane filtration systems. Extensive efforts have been placed on investigating potential beneficial effects of XOS on hosts and production of XOS from different lignocellulosic sources. However, research on the landscape of XOS-utilizing bacteria in the intestine is still in its infancy and the mechanisms of observed beneficial effects conferred by gut XOS-utilizing bacteria are also largely unknown. To achieve the goal of developing XOS prebiotics as precision nutraceuticals with consistent and sustained efficacy, understanding complex mechanisms of XOS metabolism by diverse gut bacteria is highly warranted. In this review, in addition to summarizing XOS production processes and beneficial effects of XOS prebiotics on human and animal hosts, we comprehensively reviewed structural and functional variability of XOS prebiotics as well as current knowledge on metabolism of XOS by specific probiotics of interest. We also identified several significant knowledge gaps in basic science and proposed to develop precision XOS prebiotics that are based upon holistic mechanistic studies, such as discovery and characterization of new XOS-utilization gut bacteria and development of XOS-based synbiotics for targeted applications in livestock production system and human nutraceuticals.
Cinnamon essential oil (CEO) is gaining attention as a natural food preservative due to growing consumer demand for safe, high-quality, and clean-label products. Rich in bioactive compounds such as cinnamaldehyde and eugenol, CEO exhibits strong antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. These characteristics make it highly effective in inhibiting spoilage organisms, pathogens, and oxidative deterioration, thereby extending the shelf life of perishable foods. Beyond its preservative role, CEO has demonstrated additional biological activities, including anti-hyperglycemic, anti-carcinogenic, nephroprotective, insecticidal, and nematicidal effects, further supporting its functional and therapeutic value. Traditional methods like steam distillation are commonly used for extraction, though advanced techniques are being developed to improve yield and preserve bioactivity. In the food industry, CEO is applied across diverse categories such as fresh produce, beverages, bakery, dairy, and meat products helping maintain safety, quality, and sensory attributes. Recent innovations also integrate CEO into active packaging, creating antimicrobial films and coatings that enhance food preservation in a sustainable manner. With its natural efficacy and versatility, CEO provides a promising, eco-friendly alternative to synthetic preservatives, aligning with the modern drive towards healthier food systems and environmentally responsible technologies.
Abstract Genetically modified (GM) crops are developed by altering plant DNA using advanced genetic engineering. As of 2024-25, they were grown on a record 209.8 million hectares across 28 countries, a 1.9% increase from 2023. India ranks fifth globally but has only approved Bt cotton for commercial use. Although Bt brinjal was cleared in 2009, it faced a moratorium until trials resumed in 2020. In 2024, GM Mustard (Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11) received conditional environmental clearance. By 2025, GM crops like chickpeas, pigeon peas, corn, and sugarcane are under trial. GM crops offer benefits such as pest and drought resistance, longer shelf life, and applications in nutrition, medicine, and biofuels. However, concerns over health, environment, and socio-economic impacts remain. This article reviews India’s GM crop journey, highlighting regulatory gaps and the need for stronger oversight. The Supreme Court’s call for a national biosafety policy is key to ensuring safe and sustainable agricultural advancement.
Abstract In response to the increasing incidence of foodborne diseases and the limitations of traditional detection methods, ensuring food safety, authenticity, and quality has become a global concern. This study explores advanced biosensing technologies based on biological recognition elements, such as enzymes, antibodies, nucleic acids, and whole cells, focusing on their integration with nanomaterials, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/Cas systems, and microfluidic platforms. This review provides a focused and critical synthesis of emerging biorecognition-based biosensing strategies for food quality, contamination, and authenticity monitoring. It discusses applications ranging from intelligent packaging to pathogen and contaminant detection, emphasizing innovations that enhance speed, sensitivity, and usability in the food industry. A unifying comparative framework assesses key performance metrics, including sensitivity, tolerance, cost, multiplexing capacity, and translational readiness. Although challenges remain in terms of scalability and environmental stability, progress in artificial intelligence, portable diagnostics, and biodegradable materials is leading to the development of next-generation solutions for these issues. These biosensors also play a pivotal role in contributing to sustainable development by promoting proactive healthcare and sustainable public health initiatives to ensure a safer and healthier future. These insights offer actionable pathways towards real-time, accurate, and accessible monitoring tools that safeguard health and boost consumer confidence. Graphical Abstract
Abstract Background This study aimed to investigate the relationship between dietary iron intake and risk of abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) in middle-aged and older US adults. Methods We analyzed data from the 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Multivariate linear and logistic regression models were employed to evaluate the association between dietary iron intake and AAC score, as well as the likelihood of both AAC and severe AAC. To investigate potential non-linear dose-response relationships, we performed restricted cubic spline (RCS) modeling. In addition, stratified analyses and interaction tests were conducted to assess the effect modification by relevant covariates. Results A total of 2640 participants were included in the final analysis.The mean AAC score was 1.47 ± 0.14, with a prevalence of AAC and severe AAC of 27.79% and 8.12%, respectively. An inverse association was observed between dietary iron intake and both AAC score (β = − 0.03; 95% CI: − 0.04 to − 0.02) and the likelihood of severe AAC (OR = 0.98; 95%CI: 0.95 to 0.99). Notably, participants in the highest tertile of dietary iron intake exhibited a 0.56-unit decrease in mean AAC score (β = -0.56, 95% CI:-1.24 to -0.13) and a significant 60% decrease in the risk of severe AAC (OR = 0.40, 95%CI: 0.20 to 0.81). However, no statistically significant association was found between dietary iron intake and the overall risk of AAC. Subgroup analyses and interaction tests indicated that AAC scores were significantly influenced by age, alcohol consumption, and smoking status. Moreover, a history of stroke was significantly associated with increased risk of severe AAC. Conclusion We observed that higher dietary iron intake was inversely associated with AAC score and the risk of severe AAC. Our findings suggested that clinicians need to focus on dietary iron intake in patients at risk for AAC.
Abstract This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of the physicochemical properties, volatile profiles, metabolomic characteristics, and health benefits of pasteurized kiwifruit juice fermented with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus gasseri, and their mixed culture (COM). Kiwifruit juice proved to be a suitable fermentation matrix for these strains, supported by increased colony counts, lactic acid and total phenolic content, while decreasing pH and total soluble solids. Sensory evaluation and gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry revealed distinct, strain-specific volatile flavor profiles. Samples fermented by COM for 24 h exhibited the most preferred sensory attributes, characterized by elevated 1-hexanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, isobutanol, and tert-butanol, collectively contributing to a mellower overall fragrance. Additionally, COM-fermented juice maintained superior flavor quality and antioxidant capacity throughout storage compared to the unfermented juice, highlighting its commercial potential. Furthermore, COM fermentation enriched 132 metabolites involved in glutathione, purine, and arginine metabolism pathways. Network pharmacology identified 66 compounds enriched by COM fermentation such as barbatic acid, epicatechin and isoliquiritigenin, may exert its nutritional functions through multiple pathways such as neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction, lipid and atherosclerosis, insulin resistance, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor signaling pathway. These findings underscore the potential of fermentation using probiotic strains in producing high-quality and shelf-stable kiwifruit juice with improved flavor and health-promoting functionality. Graphical Abstract
Abstract Buchanania (B.) lanzan is an excellent multipurpose tree well known for its medicinal and therapeutic values in Indian folk medicine. All the parts of this plant are used for preparation of various traditional medicines. In the present study, fruit extracts of B. lanzan were used for the production of lacto-juice through fermentation using three Lactobacillus strains, such as Lacticaseibacillus (L.) rhamnosus (MTCC 1408), Lactiplantibacillus (Lp.) plantarum (MTCC 1407), and Levilactobacillus (Lvb.) brevis (MTCC 1750). The crude fruit juice was used to analyze the presence of various phytochemical compounds, along with total sugar, lactic acid, and pH content. The results of the phytochemical study showed the presence of tannins, saponins, steroids, glycosides, phytosterols, terpenoids, triterpenoids, leucoanthocyanins, phlobatannins, and phenolic compounds. After fermentation, the pH of the Lp. plantarum fermented B. lanzan fruit juice decreased from 5.18 ± 0.71 to 4.82 ± 0.55, indicating the occurrence of better fermentation as compared to Lvb. brevis, and L. rhamnosus fermented juice with pH 5.18 ± 0.71 to 4.86 ± 0.45 and 4.93 ± 0.45, respectively. The Lp. plantarum fermented fruit juice showed the highest lactic acid production of 16.78 ± 0.3 g/L after 120 h incubation whereas that of the Lvb. brevis and L. rhamnsus had lactic acid concentrations of 14.98 ± 0.11 g/L and 12.78 ± 0.45 g/L, respectively. The sugar concentration of the Lp. plantarum fermented juice decreased from 147.11 ± 0.37 g/L to 75.91 ± 0.40 g/L after 120 h of fermentation, indicating the utilization of sugar by Lp. plantarum for lactic acid production. The Lp. plantarum fermented juice showed antioxidant and antibacterial activity. The fermented sample was further characterized using Fourier transform infrared, gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and scan electron microscope (SEM) analyses. The lactic acid peak was observed in GC-MS analysis, and SEM analysis showed attachment of Lp. plantarum in the fermented sample. All these indicate that the fermentated lacto-juice of B. lanzan shows high potential in the development of probiotic-based beverages with a vast spectrum of health benefits and other biological activities.
Abstract Hyperlipidemia is a leading cause of obesity-related diseases in Africa particularly in Nigeria and efforts have been on-going in reducing the prevalence through diet interventions by compositely combining plant materials from breadfruit flour (BF), Africa yam beans (AYB) flours and wheat bran (WB) and rice bran (RB). This study evaluates the modulatory effect of poundo-breadfruit meals (PBM) on Wistar rats fed with manipulated diets to induced obesity. The high 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and iron chelating activities observed in blends 70% BF, 25% AYB, 5% WB (BAW) and 70% BF, 20% AYB, 5% WB, 5% RB (BAWR) compared with a commercial sample, Poundo-yam flour (PYF), may help in increasing insulin secretions by combating oxidative stress, a major determinant in the development of type 2 diabetes. In addition, total cholesterol (⁓100 mg/dl), triglyceride (⁓50 mg/dl), low-density lipoprotein (⁓50 mg/dl) of Wistar rats fed on formulated diets particularly BAW and BAWR showed significant reductions while high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (> 70 mg/dl) was raised in diabetic animals. The low serum lipid profile observed could be attributed to the antioxidant level in the formulated diets. Therefore, these novel products may help in the management of diabetes.
Abstract Tea is the most popular beverage consumed next to water worldwide. Various types of tea, including green, black, dark, white, and oolong, are produced from the young, harvestable shoots of the tea plant, with each type undergoing a distinct manufacturing process. Tea is rich in bioactive constituents, including L-theanine, methylxanthines (caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine), polyphenols, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), saponins, polysaccharides, etc. Several studies indicate that tea and its phytochemicals exert diverse health-promoting effects. Its antioxidant activity, primarily attributed to polyphenolic compounds, has been associated with a reduced risk of non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular disorders, certain cancers, neurodegenerative conditions, infectious diseases, and metabolic abnormalities. Tea also demonstrates immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects and can modulate gut microbiota composition, functioning as a prebiotic. These biological activities have been observed in teas across both in vitro and in vivo studies. Additionally, tea consumption has been linked to psychological benefits, such as stress reduction and enhanced cognitive function. Although numerous studies have investigated the health-promoting properties of individual tea types, a comprehensive and systematically structured synthesis comparing green, black, dark, white, and oolong teas based on recent evidence remains limited. This systematic review provides a synthesis of peer-reviewed studies published between 2019 and 2025, focusing on the biological activities and therapeutic potential of major tea varieties and their bioactive compounds.
Abstract Nostoc sphaeroides is highly nutritious edible cyanobacterium with remarkable dietary and therapeutic values. However, the scalability of N. sphaeroides biomass and bioactive metabolites is limited to multiple environmental factors, including light intensity, temperature, and soil condition. Integrated omics approaches provide a robust strategy to overcome these challenges and offer comprehensive insights into genetic, molecular, and metabolic responses to regulate N. sphaeroides growth and bioactive metabolite synthesis. Nevertheless, limited literature investigated the direct omics study on N. sphaeroides growth and bioactive metabolite production. Therefore, this review was planned to explore the potential of omics-based strategies to address the environmental challenges faced by N. sphaeroides growth and metabolic production. Furthermore, we discuss a strategic framework pioneering future research focused on enhancing biomass yield couple with bioactive metabolites production of N. sphaeroides and its large-scale application in pharmacology and health sectors.
Abstract Dietary fiber plays an important role in maintaining intestinal health and relieving colitis. This study explores the physicochemical properties of dietary fiber extracted from hawthorn residue (specifically comparing crude extract, jet mill and soluble forms) and evaluates its therapeutic potential in a mouse model of DSS-induced colitis. The study found that no new substances were produced after modification treatment. Compared with the model group, the soluble dietary fiber (SDF) treatment alleviated symptoms such as hematochezia, weight loss, release of pro-inflammatory factors, and colon shortening in mice with inflammation, reducing the disease activity index value by 24.12% (p < 0.05). It also significantly decreased the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β, and lipopolysaccharide in the serum of inflammatory mice by 25.63%, 20.22%, 50.18%, and 30.72%, respectively (p < 0.05). The SDF treatment inhibited the gene expressions of TLR4 mRNA and MyD88 mRNA, with reductions of 47.74% and 42.57%, respectively (p < 0.05). The SDF treatment can increase the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidota, promoting the proliferation of probiotics. In summary, a higher total SDF content resulted in a stronger alleviating effect on colitis, providing a theoretical basis for the study of the role of hawthorn dietary fiber in alleviating colitis. Graphical Abstract
Abstract In this study, safflower powders with varying particle sizes were prepared by conventional and superfine grinding methods. Results of particle size distribution, morphology, color, flow and hydration properties, Fourier transform infrared spectra, and volatile components showed that superfine grinding reduced the particle size to the micron scale and markedly increased the specific surface area, enhanced cell wall disruption and flowability, and improved brightness as well as red-yellow coloration. Hydration properties exhibited increases in solubility and swelling capacity but decrease in water-holding capacity. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra confirmed that no structural changes occurred, while gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis revealed distinct volatile profiles, with superfine powders showing stronger fruity and floral attributes. Furthermore, the availabilities of bioactive compounds such as hydroxysafflor yellow A, flavonoids, and polysaccharides were elevated, correlating with enhanced antioxidant and anticoagulant activities. These findings demonstrate that superfine grinding enhances the physicochemical characteristics, volatile profiles, and bioactivity of safflower powder, thus offering valuable potential for its use in food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical applications. Graphical Abstract
Abstract This study aimed to develop a novel active coating for extending the shelf life of pork stored at 25 ± 2 °C by investigating the microstructure and preservation properties of composite emulsions based on water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) double emulsions (DEs) and chitosan (CS). The analysis revealed that the DEs formed an enhanced network structure with CS chains through electrostatic interactions. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the successful encapsulation of oregano essential oil within the composite films, as well as the formation of hydrogen bonds between the DEs and CS. The composite emulsion containing 7.5% DEs demonstrated optimal viscosity. When applied as a coating on pork, the CS/DEs film effectively neutralized biogenic amines and retarded the pH increase, with the final pH value 3.82% lower than that of the control group over a 48-h period. The coating also inhibited the degradation of proteins and amino acids in the pork, which resulted in reductions of 31.23% in total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) accumulation and 22.32% in total bacterial counts. In conclusion, the CS/DEs composite coating significantly extended the shelf life of pork from 12 to 48 h at room temperature, presenting a promising strategy for the room-temperature preservation of meat products. Graphical Abstract
