Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is an edible medicinal herb having an extended history for its traditional usage owing to the health promoting benefits associated with this plant. Nevertheless, traditional extraction methods limit the recovery of bioactive compounds from different parts of dandelion and insufficient research is available on process optimization. Hence, current research developed an effective ultrasound-assisted extraction method for maximum recovery of total phenolics contents (TPC), total flavonoids contents (TFC), antioxidant activities (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP assays), and bioactive compounds (HPLC) from dandelion plant using response surface methodology in combination with Box-Behnken design (BBD). The optimal extraction conditions determined by RSM were as follows: sonication time, 30 min; ultrasound amplitude, 70%, and ultrasound temperature, 40 °C. At these conditions, the recovery of total phenolics and total flavonoids reached 40.77 mg GAE/g and 22.68 mg RE/g, respectively. Moreover, the antioxidant activities determined based on DPPH-scavenging, ABTS+-scavenging and FRAP were reported as 88.55%, 445.39 µM TE/mg, and 30.64 mg TE/g, respectively. Additionally, a total of 11 major bioactive compounds were quantified using HPLC, including 6 phenolic acids and 5 flavonoids. Under optimized conditions major bioactive compounds identified and quantified were chlorogenic acid, quercetin, apigenin, luteolin-7-O-glycoside, luteolin, p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, cichoric acid, isoetin, and caftaric acid. Conclusively, results of present study give a comprehensive insight into optimized ultrasound-assisted extraction method for recovery of maximum antioxidants and bioactive compounds from dandelion using a combination of BBD and RSM. Furthermore, this study may provide a reference in utilizing optimized extraction process for dandelion bioactive compounds in food and pharmaceutical industry.

This study presents a smartphone-assisted colorimetric sensor array (CSA) approach for rapid discrimination of peanut seed varieties based on volatile organic compound (VOC) fingerprints. A portable imaging system with controlled illumination was developed to acquire CSA responses using a smartphone camera, enabling low-cost and non-destructive analysis. Multivariate chemometric methods, including principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and k-nearest neighbour (kNN), were applied to the extracted RGB features. The proposed method achieved a high discrimination accuracy of 99% for six peanut seed varieties. Solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS) was employed independently as a reference technique to characterize VOC profiles and support interpretation of CSA-based results. Consistent trends observed between CSA responses and GC-MS-derived VOC patterns confirm that the sensor array captures chemically meaningful differences among samples. The proposed smartphone-based CSA system provides a rapid, portable, and cost-effective solution for seed classification and quality monitoring, with potential applications in agricultural traceability and on-site screening.

The rapid accumulation of agro-industrial waste is now a major global economic and environmental issue, so researchers are interested in fungal enzymes because they can convert waste into useful products. Such an approach is a promising way to manage waste in a way that is beneficial for the environment and the economy. The review will explore and evaluate biotechnological strategies for valuing fungal enzymes in agro-industrial waste management, and it focuses on enzyme production systems, classification methods, optimisation techniques, and genetic and regulatory mechanisms that enhance enzyme efficiency and applicability. Furthermore, it focuses on the production of fungal enzymes using synthetic media and agro-industrial waste, and it focuses on fermentation techniques, such as solid-state and submerged fermentation. Additionally, the work includes co-culture and co-fermentation methods, which can enhance both the variety and production of enzymes. Furthermore, the industrial use of enzymes determines their classification. Additionally, looked at kinetics, thermodynamics, gene regulation, sustainability metrics, AI-driven methodologies, and optimisation techniques for enzyme activation. Fungal enzyme activity with co-culture and co-fermentation techniques significantly increases. Extremophilic fungi contain strong enzymes that function effectively even in challenging environments. Statistical optimisation techniques outperform conventional methods in terms of increased enzyme yields and process efficiency. A scalable and sustainable method of using agroindustrial waste is fungus biotechnology, and advancements in genetic engineering, fermentation technology, and process optimisation are essential for overcoming current limitations and fully realising the potential of fungal enzymes in industrial applications.

Tea is a widely consumed beverage known for its variety of flavors and aromas, with major health benefits. However, the use of pesticides to protect against pests renders tea a potential health hazard, especially when consumed in large amounts. The tea leaf matrix is perplexing, as it is filled with organic acids, polyphenols, natural pigments, catechins, flavonols, and a mix of metallic and nonmetallic elements. This makes it difficult for analytical processes to work. The leaf complex matrix is one of the factors enabling accurate detection of pesticides. Therefore, we critically assessed the progression and implementation of advanced methodologies, encompassing the advancement of highly sensitive biosensors and the enhancement of chromatographic techniques, including liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). This review also examines how different types of tea affect analytical results and compares sample-preparation methods, from traditional liquid-liquid extraction to newer solid-phase extraction methods. This review highlights major advancements in analytical methods for pesticide detection in tea, emphasizing modern, effective techniques and future perspectives. This study highlights the critical role of sample preparation methods in achieving accurate results within a challenging tea matrix to safeguard consumer health.

Bioactive peptides, short amino acid chains with health benefits, are emerging as key components of sustainable health solutions, especially when derived from food waste. Byproducts like dairy whey, fish residues, bakery waste, and plant-based agricultural byproducts are rich sources of these peptides, which have antihypertensive, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory effects. This review focuses on: (1) extraction, purification, characterization, and applications of bioactive peptides, emphasizing their potential for a circular economy and environmental sustainability; (2) methods like enzymatic hydrolysis, microbial fermentation, and high-pressure processing (HPP) are evaluated for their efficiency, scalability, and sustainability. Purification techniques such as ultrafiltration, ion-exchange chromatography, and gel filtration are examined for isolating high-purity peptides. Characterization methods, including mass spectrometry (MS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), are discussed for determining peptide properties; (3) global insights on bioactive peptide development from 2014 to 2024, challenges in large-scale production, and promising applications in food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Finally, the utilization of bioactive peptides from food waste offers a sustainable, economically viable solution for developing functional foods and nutraceuticals, turning trash into treasure and aligning with global health and environmental sustainability goals.

ABSTRACT The growing environmental concerns associated with conventional plastic packaging and the rising demand for sustainable food systems have intensified research into plant‐based biopolymer composites for food packaging applications. Derived from renewable resources, these materials offer key environmental advantages, including biodegradability, reduced dependence on fossil fuels, and mitigation of plastic waste, while also enabling advanced packaging functionalities. This review provides a comprehensive and up‐to‐date synthesis of global research on plant‐based biopolymer composites for smart and sustainable food packaging. Its novelty lies in integrating global development trends with recent material innovations, particularly the use of functional additives and biopolymer modifications to enhance barrier properties, antimicrobial activity, ultraviolet (UV) protection, and intelligent sensing capabilities. The review systematically analyzes: (1) worldwide progress and application patterns; (2) reinforcement strategies and functionalization approaches for performance optimization; and (3) key technical and economic challenges limiting large‐scale commercialization, such as cost, scalability, and durability. A major strength of this work is its interdisciplinary perspective, highlighting the role of Industry 4.0 technologies and collaborative research in accelerating material design, processing, and adoption. By consolidating recent advances and identifying critical research gaps, this review offers strategic insights and future research directions to support the transition toward high‐performance, smart, and sustainable food packaging solutions, with particular emphasis on emerging research contributions from countries such as China and India.

In traditional Chinese medicine, Arachis hypogaea L. root extract (AHRE), and other parts of the plant historically have been used to manage benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Hence, to evaluate the therapeutic effect of AHRE on testosterone-induced BPH in ICR mice, BPH was induced by daily subcutaneous testosterone propionate injections (6 mg/kg BW) in olive oil for 30 days. AHRE was orally administered at 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg BW daily, with finasteride (1 mg/kg BW) used as the positive control. HPLC-qTOF-MS/MS identified 19 compounds in 70% ethanolic AHRE, with resveratrol quantified at 1.12 mg/g dry weight. Prostate weight (PW), prostatic index (PI), histopathological changes, serum concentrations of prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), testosterone (T), estradiol (E2), and T/E₂ ratio, along with androgen receptor (AR) levels and the relative mRNA expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), estrogen receptors (ER-α and ER-β), lipoxygenase-5 (LOX-5), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were measured. High-dose AHRE (300 mg/kg) reduced PW by 84.07%, significantly reduced glandular hyperplasia, prostatic cell counts, PAP, DHT, and AR levels (p < 0.05). It also downregulated relative mRNA expression of inflammation-related genes, including ER-α (1.6-fold), 5-LOX (1.65-fold), and COX-2 (1.36-fold). Preliminary gut microbiota analysis revealed treatment-associated increases in the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium, which showed robust negative correlations with PW (ρ = -0.95, q < 0.001), PI (ρ = -0.96, q < 0.001), and inflammatory markers, a genus linked to enhanced gut barrier function and control of systemic inflammation, potentially contributing to the observed improvements in BPH phenotypes.

This study aimed to develop a smartphone-based colorimetric sensor array (CSA) system for the rapid detection of adulteration in peanut seed oil (PSO). Rapeseed oil (RSO) was mixed with PSO in varying concentrations (5 %, 10 %, 15 %, 20 %, 25 %, and 30 % by weight) to simulate adulteration. The CSA system analyzed the odors of these mixtures and produced distinct color differential maps based on their chemical composition. Multivariate statistical methods, including principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and knearest neighbor (kNN) algorithms, were used to classify and differentiate between pure and adulterated samples. PCA scatter plots and HCA dendrograms revealed clear separations between authentic and adulterated samples, while the kNN model achieved high accuracy in distinguishing the levels of adulteration. These findings highlight the potential of the proposed CSA system as a cost-effective and rapid method for identifying adulteration in PSO. Further validation with a larger dataset is recommended to enhance its reliability and applicability.

Ertapenem (ER), a (3-lactam antibiotic categorized as a carbapenem, is recognized for its broad-spectrum antibacterial efficacy against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, making it an important therapeutic agent for treating various bacterial infections. Recent studies have reported carbapenem-resistant bacteria and their corresponding resistance genes in raw milk samples. In this study, graphene oxide (GO)-SELEX was employed to rapidly elute target-bound sequences and identify high affinity aptamers specific to ER from an ssDNA library. The 81 nucleotides (81-mer) aptamer ER-3 was selected for its highest affinity, with a Kd value of 77.69 +/- 4.16 nM, as determined by the carboxyfluorescein (FAM) labeled fluorescence method. The original aptamer was truncated to ER3-T2, which enhanced both its affinity and selectivity, with a Kd value of 1.84 +/- 0.07 nM. A Forster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)-based aptasensor was developed by incorporating both the original and the truncated aptamer to establish an accurate calibration plot. The aptasensor demonstrated a significant linear relationship between fluorescence intensity (FI) and ER concentration, ranging from 1 to 100 nM, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.72 nM for the aptamer ER3-T2. These results highlight the FRETbased aptasensor as a promising, sensitive, and efficient analytical platform for the rapid detection of ER in milk samples.

SREBP1 is a transcription factor that influences lipogenesis by regulating key genes associated with lipid biosynthesis, while AMPK, modulates lipid metabolism by regulating acetyl-CoA carboxylase. The exact role of these metabolic regulators in oleaginous microbes remains unclear. This study identified and manipulated the genes encoding SREBP1 (sre1) and alpha 1 subunit of AMPK (ampk-alpha 1) in Mucor circinelloides WJ11. Individual overexpression of sre1 yielded 32.5 % lipids and 21 g/L biomass, while ampk-alpha 1 deletion combined with sre1 overexpression yielded 42.5 % lipids and 25 g/L biomass in mutant strains. This increase correlated with upregulated expression of key lipogenic genes and enzyme activity, enhancing lipid production and biomass. These surges were correlated with the increased mRNA levels of key genes (acl, acc1, acc2, cme1, fas1, g6pdh1, g6pdh2 and 6pgdh2). Enzyme activity analysis further showed that upregulation of ACL, ACC, ME, FAS, G6PDH and 6PGDH might provide more precursors and NADPH for lipid biosynthesis in sre1 overexpressing strains. Conversely, the activities of these genes and enzymes were markedly downregulated in sre1 deleted mutants consistent with lower lipid production and biomass than the control. These findings open new avenues for research by exploring the coordinated role of sre1 and ampk-alpha 1 in lipid metabolism in M. circinelloides.

INTRODUCTION:The present study focuses on the application of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, combined with mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy, to predict the levels of total polyphenols in peanut seed samples, highlighting innovative methodologies and advanced spectroscopic techniques. OBJECTIVE:To develop and validate accurate predictive models for quantifying total polyphenols in peanut seeds using NIR and MIR spectroscopy combined with advanced statistical approaches. MATERIAL AND METHODS:Partial least squares (PLS), competitive adaptive reweighted sampling PLS low-level (CARS-PLS FusionLL), and mid-level (CARS-PLS FusionML) techniques were employed for model development. The total polyphenols were quantified using a spectrophotometer, and the model's efficacy was evaluated using calibration correlation coefficients (Rc), prediction correlation coefficients (Rp), root mean square error of cross-validation (RMSECV), root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP), and residual predictive deviation (RPD). RESULTS:The CARS-PLS FusionML Fusion method demonstrated high precision, with determination coefficients for prediction (Rp = 0.9818) and calibration (Rc = 0.9819). The RMSECV and RMSEP were calculated at 1.62 and 1.80, respectively, with an RPD value of 7.36. CONCLUSION:In conclusion, a precise method for measuring the amounts of polyphenols in peanut seeds is provided by integrating NIR and MIR spectroscopy with advanced statistical methods. These findings underscore the potential of NIR and MIR spectroscopy, combined with advanced data fusion, for non-destructive, rapid, and cost-effective quantification of total polyphenols in peanuts, offering practical applications in the food industry for quality control and safety assessment.

Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus are major aflatoxin-producing fungi that threaten global food safety. This study evaluates two benzaldehyde-rich essential oils from cassia and bitter almond kernels as eco-friendly antifungal agents for reducing aflatoxin contamination. Their combination (S Ca−A ) exhibited strong synergy (FICI = 0.50), lowering the minimum inhibitory concentrations of both oils by 25% compared with individual treatments. In vitro , S Ca−A significantly inhibited mycelial growth and spore germination, achieving ~ 84–93% biomass reduction at 1 MIC and > 97% inhibition at 2 MIC, while spore germination decreased by 98–99%. S Ca−A also suppressed aflatoxin B₁ production by 34–50% in A. flavus and 26–28% in A. parasiticus . Scanning electron microscopy revealed severe deformation of hyphae and spores, indicating disruption of cell development. Biochemical assays confirmed compromised membrane integrity, with substantial leakage of intracellular proteins and nucleic acids, a 14-fold increase in malondialdehyde, and > 90% reduction in ergosterol levels. ATPase and alkaline phosphatase activities were also markedly reduced. In VOC-based biocontrol assays, S Ca−A fumigation (1.07 µL/mL) inhibited A. flavus infection by 99% and completely prevented A. parasiticus contamination in peanuts. These results highlight S Ca−A as a promising biodegradable antifungal and anti-aflatoxigenic agent for peanut preservation and postharvest food safety applications.

BACKGROUND:A first-of-its-kind method for quantitatively determining volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in peanut seed samples was developed and implemented utilizing a colorimetric sensor array (CSA), as well as near-infrared (NIR) and mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy, both independently and in conjunction, in addition to chemometrics, to address the unreliability of single technologies for detection of VOCs in peanut seed samples. The developed method was tested to see whether it could quantitatively analyze VOCs in peanut seed samples. RESULTS:The compounds were isolated utilizing gas chromatography-mass spectrometry following extraction through solid phase microextraction. To quantitatively analyze the abundant VOCs in peanut seed samples, six calibration models were developed. CSA with NIR showed the best predictive models for 2-furanmethanol (Rp = 0.9096), hexanoic acid (Rp = 0.9111), benzaldehyde (Rp = 0.9268), 2,3-dimethylpyrazine (Rp = 0.9697), 2-pentylfuran (Rp = 0.9563) and 2-pyrrolidinone (Rp = 0.8641). The results achieved with NIR spectroscopy combined with CSA are superior to those obtained with MIR spectroscopy. CONCLUSION:The results obtained in the present study showed that the developed multi-technology fusion system can quickly and quantitatively predict VOCs in peanut seed samples of different varieties, and the NIR combined with the CSA system has the best prediction effect. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Abstract Bio‐active food coating having natural antioxidants has attained great attention these days. Polysaccharides extracted from bacteria, fungi, and plants are considered rich in antioxidant biomolecules. Chickpea hull which is a food waste material contains a substantial quantity of antioxidants and bioactive compounds. In this study, chitosan (CS)‐based chickpea hull polysaccharides (CHPS) edible coating of cherry tomatoes was successfully fabricated. Cherry tomatoes were characterized in terms of physico‐chemical characteristics and shelf life. In comparison to the control, it was discovered that the CS‐incorporated CHPS coatings were successful at lowering the respiratory activity, total soluble solids, total polyphenols, firmness, weight loss, lycopene content, and vitamin C as well as improving the fruit's overall acceptability. The dose dependence of each of these effects was noticed. Conclusively, using CS‐incorporated CHPS coatings could preserve the shelf life of cherry tomatoes. A useful and different approach to enhance the postharvest quality of cherry tomatoes is to utilize CS‐CHPS composite coatings.

Astaxanthin is a bioactive natural pigment with antioxidant properties. It has extensive applications within the industrial sector as well as in human and animal health. Mucor circinelloides is a zygomycete fungus that accumulates β-carotene as the main carotenoid compound. M. circinelloides is a well-known model organism among Mucorales for studying carotenogenesis in fungi, which makes it a promising candidate for the biotechnological production of carotenoids. In this study, β-carotene hydroxylase (crtR-B) and ketolase (bkt) genes (codon-optimized) were coexpressed from Haematococcus pluvialis in M. circinelloides using two potent promoters gpd1 and zrt1 respectively to generate an astaxanthin-producing biofactory. Following 72 h of cultivation, the recombinant M. circinelloides Mc-57 obtained in this study produced 135 ± 8 µg/g of astaxanthin. This is the highest reported amount in M. circinelloides to date. The mRNA levels of crtR-B and bkt in Mc-57 were assayed using RT-qPCR. These levels showed a 5.7-fold increase at 72 h and a 5.5-fold increase at 24 h, respectively, compared to the control strain. This demonstrated the successful overexpression of both genes, which correlated with the production of astaxanthin in the Mc-57. Moreover, the addition of glutamate (2 g/L) and mevalonate (15 mM) resulted in an increase in astaxanthin production in the recombinant strain. The results showed that the combined addition of these metabolic precursors resulted in 281 ± 20 µg/g of astaxanthin, which is 2.08-fold higher than the control medium (135 ± 8 µg/g). The addition of metabolic precursors also positively impacted the biomass growth of Mc-57, reaching 11.2 ± 0.57 g/L compared to 9.1 ± 0.23 g/L (control medium). The study successfully addressed the challenge of balancing the accumulation of astaxanthin with biomass growth, which has been regarded as common bottleneck in the metabolic engineering of microbial cells. The development of a recombinant fungal strain of M. circinelloides not only increased astaxanthin content. Additionally, it provided a foundation for further improvement of the biotechnological production of astaxanthin in M. circinelloides.

We explore a multi-infection model involving Caputo-Fabrizio fractional order derivatives. Existence, uniqueness, positivity, and boundedness of the solutions for the multi-infection-type model are established. An Adams-Bashforth method is applied to calculate solutions of the proposed fractional order model. Finally, to show the influence of fractional order and model parameters, we present a detailed numerical simulation for different values used in the proposed fractional order model. The results show the importance and convincing behavior of the fractional order and suggest that including the memory effects in the model is very appropriate for such an investigation. This study will help to understand the complexity of the coinfection model that is valid and reliable for both integer and noninteger orders.

Olive family (Oleaceae) contains several species among which Olea europaea L. is mostly used for production of olive oils. Various parts of olive tree are rich source of diverse bioactive compounds such as Apigenin, elenolic acid, Hydroxytyrosol, Ligstroside, Oleoside, Oleuropein, Oleuropein aglycone, Tyrosol, etc. Among these, oleuropein, a secoiridoid is predominantly found in olive leaves and young olive fruits of different species of Oleaceae family. Scientists have adopted numerous extraction methods (conventional & latest) to increase the yield of oleuropein. Among these techniques, maceration, soxhlet, microwave-assisted, ultrasonication, and supercritical fluid methods are most commonly employed for extraction of oleuropein. Evidently, this review emphasizes on various in-vitro and in-vivo studies focusing on nutraceutical properties of oleuropein. Available literature highlights the pharmaceutical potential of oleuropein against various diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular complications, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, inflammation, microbial infections, and oxidation. This review will benefit the scientific community as it narrates comprehensive literature regarding absorption, metabolism, bioavailability, extraction techniques, and nutraceutical perspectives associated with oleuropein.

Carotenoids are lipid-soluble compounds that are present in nature, including plants and microorganisms such as fungi, certain bacteria, and algae. In fungi, they are widely present in almost all taxonomic classifications. Fungal carotenoids have gained special attention due to their biochemistry and the genetics of their synthetic pathway. The antioxidant potential of carotenoids may help fungi survive longer in their natural environment. Carotenoids may be produced in greater quantities using biotechnological methods than by chemical synthesis or plant extraction. The initial focus of this review is on industrially important carotenoids in the most advanced fungal and yeast strains, with a brief description of their taxonomic classification. Biotechnology has long been regarded as the most suitable alternative way of producing natural pigment from microbes due to their immense capacity to accumulate these pigments. So, this review mainly presents the recent progress in the genetic modification of native and non-native producers to modify the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway for enhanced carotenoid production, as well as factors affecting carotenoid biosynthesis in fungal strains and yeast, and proposes various extraction methods to obtain high yields of carotenoids in an attempt to find suitable greener extraction methods. Finally, a brief description of the challenges regarding the commercialization of these fungal carotenoids and the solution is also given.