Themed collection Food & Function Review Articles 2022

This article proposes a downscaling strategy and corresponding technologies based on receptor–active centres, and provides an outline of polysaccharide receptor–active centres, principle verification processes, and emerging technologies.

Sesame seeds perform many therapeutic functions against several health issues especially those related to bones because they possess a rich content of calcium, vitamins, proteins, oil, and carbohydrates.

Probiotics and postbiotics have emerged as an alternative to traditional antibiotics for the treatment of persistent skin infections.

The distribution, botanical features, and chemical compounds of the Lycium genus in China, as well as the pharmacological effects and international quality control of Lycium fruits, are comprehensively reviewed.

Inulin shows great health benefits in regulating gut flora, regulating glycolipid metabolism, weight loss, anti-inflammatory, reducing the risk of colon cancer, enhancing mineral absorption, improving constipation, and relieving depression.

Meta-analysis results showed that dietary phytosterols can help reduce TC and LDL-C concentrations in hypercholesterolemia patients without affecting HDL-C and TG, which were related to many factors. Dose is an important factor affecting LDL-C level.

The medicinal reputation of Ganoderma lucidum and its unique pharmaceutical and nutritional properties have led to its demand as an important resource for nutrient supplements in the food industry.

Dietary nitrate is beneficial for cardiovascular health. This meta-analysis included 19 randomized controlled trials that looked at the regulatory effect of inorganic nitrate on blood pressure in healthy people and hypertensive patients.

Exosomes are extracellular vesicles with the smallest diameter, usually divided into cellular sources and body fluid sources.

Although helpful in treating cancer, exposure to ionizing radiation can sometimes cause severe side effects, negating its benefit.

This work highlights the structure–activity relationship of anti-inflammatory peptides, estimates their in silico anti-inflammatory potential using bioactivity predictors and studies their presence in sustainable protein sources.

Rosa roxburghii Tratt fruit (RRF), known commonly as Cili in China, is a highly valued fruit that contains abundant functional and nutritional constituents with a variety of health-promoting benefits.

Probiotics, micronutrients and other active substances by regulating the pathways such as tryptophan metabolism and inflammation showed significant antidepressant effects. These provide insights for developing antidepressant foods.

Evidence is accumulating for improved cardiovascular health with dietary nitrate intake. This review identifies and discusses the potential for nitrate to improve cognitive function and markers of brain health, and to reduce risk of dementia.

The association between dietary meat consumption habits and neurodegenerative cognitive impairment (NCI) has been made but recent studies have reported controversial results.

Polysaccharides are not only the main components in the cell walls of plants and fungi, but also a structure that supports and protects cells.

Glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), a famous natural product, has attracted much more attention because of its remarkable biological activity, natural sweetness, and good biocompatibility.

This is the first meta-analysis that investigates the effects of chronic consumption of orange juice on cardiovascular risk factors in overweight and obese adults, demonstrating beneficial effects on blood pressure and HDL-C.

Momordica charantia L. (M. charantia), which is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family and widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, has been consumed as a vegetable and also used as herbal medicine for thousands of years worldwide.

Effects of Curcumin in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM).

Health benifts and appplication of lactoferrin.

Circadian rhythms play an important role in maintaining normal physiological and psychological functions of the body, including regulating sleep patterns.

The intake of dietary fibers has been associated with a reduction in the risk of colorectal cancer.

APG can exert various protective effects against cerebral ischemia. Moreover, APG has shown a highly promising ability to prevent cerebral ischemia in terms of regulating blood glucose, blood pressure, lipids and gut microbes.

The potential and challenges of algal polysaccharides and their derivatives as potential therapeutic agents for obesity and its related metabolic diseases.

The olive tree and its derivatives are of great interest in the field of biomedicine due to their numerous health properties.

Depending on the chemical structure pectin may serve as protective shell material and as a prebiotic.

Memory and cognitive impairment are the principal clinical symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Zearalenone (ZEN) can cause endocrine-disrupting effects, as well as oxidative damage and other hazards that can lead to systemic toxic effects. Natural compounds as dietary supplements can effectively alleviate the ZEN-induced toxic effects.

Cactaceous plants are sources of bioaccessible and bioavailable phytochemicals with potent bioactivities and compelling potential for the development of functional and nutraceutical foods, but their use as therapeutic agents deserves further study.

Natural polyphenols from different plants (including vegetables, fruits, cocoa beans, teas and herbs) can be used to reduce the symptoms of metabolic syndrome (MS).

Yellowtail milt hydrolysates have considerable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory efficacies to maintain gut health.

Increasing evidence has been reported regarding phytochemicals, plant secondary metabolites, having therapeutic functions against numerous human diseases.

Protein, vitamin, trace element and electrolyte can mitigate heat damage by enhancing the antioxidant system and immune function, promoting heat shock protein expression, and suppressing inflammatory responses.

Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (EGb) is high in bioactive components (over 170), which are used in food additives, medicine, cosmetics, health products, and other sectors.

The modulation of the intestinal microbiota by dairy-derived product consumption is being explored as an innovative approach to fight colorectal cancer.

As a typical medicine–food herb, Angelica sinensis can alleviate AD and AD complications based on pharmaceutical material and dietary supply.

This study is by far the most extensive systematic review to evaluate the role of oligosaccharides on markers of glycemic control. Meta-analysis revealed that oligosaccharide interventions can exert beneficial effects on FBG, FBI, HbA_1c and HOMA-IR.

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to investigate the impact of pro-/synbiotic supplementation on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels.

Effects of the most abundant bioactive compounds (isothiocyanates and polyphenols) of Brassicaceae vegetables on the gut-liver-adipose axis, which is pivotal for nonalcoholic fatty lvier disease (NAFLD) emergence/progression.

Protective effect of Ginkgo biloba extract against toxins, toxicants and radiations.

Vitamin D is an essential vitamin indispensable for calcium and phosphate metabolism, and its deficiency has been implicated in several extra-skeletal pathologies, including cancer and chronic diseases.

Spatholobus plants are the valuable edible-medicinal herb which are mainly distributed in Asia, with complex chemical compositions and a wide spectrum of bioactive effects.

Dietary supplements could modulate the abundance of BSH-producing bacteria to regulate the BSH enzyme activity, thereby change the BAs composition to regulate FXR signaling, which then regulate human health.

Psyllium, especially its husk, has been widely used in food products. This review summarized the potential mechanisms of it in the prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic diseases and its applications in food systems.

Consumption of probiotics as a useful functional food improves the host's wellbeing, and, when paired with prebiotics (indigestible dietary fibre/carbohydrate), often benefits the host through anaerobic fermentation.

Ischemia is a deadly disease with complex pathophysiology and has a limited number of drugs. A compilation of the mechanistic studies of food bioactives with multimodal actions and higher safety has been provided in this review.

An overview of the definitions, functions, mechanisms and applications of functional oligosaccharides in colitis prevention and treatment.

In this review, after examining the physiological changes associated to food consumption in old age, the possible role of food structure in delivering target functionalities has been critically discussed.

The possible anticancer mechanisms of ginsenoside.

Mechanisms involved in obesity, diabetes and kidney dysfunction via exacerbation of inflammatory response and its association with gut dysbiosis, and role of FOS on improvement of gut dysbiosis and attenuation of inflammation in obesity and diabetes.

Probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) with different modifications has exhibited multiple superiorities in the prevention and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

Sweet tea (Lithocarpus polystachyus Rehd.), a natural functional food highly rich in dihydrochalcones including trilobatin, phlorizin and phloretin, is reported to possess numerous biological activities especially for treating diabetes.

Numerous studies have exemplified the importance of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activation in the alleviation of toxin-induced hepatic disorders primarily through eliminating oxidative stress.

Fermented foods (FFs) have been a part of our diets for millennia and comprise highly diverse products obtained from plants and animals all over the world: Mechanisms of action and impact of health status.

This review details the first comprehensive overview of new hybrid red-fleshed apples, mainly focusing on their (poly)phenolic composition, the effect of processing, the (poly)phenolic bioavailability and the biological effects.

Quercetin, a flavonoid possessing numerous biological activities, is reported to improve renal injury in diabetic animals.

The current meta-analysis suggested significantly lower blood vitamin A, D and E concentrations in the tuberculosis group than in the control group. The difference in the vitamin C status was inconclusive.

Platinum-based metal complexes, especially cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum II, CDDP), possess strong anticancer properties and a broad anticancer spectrum.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a combination of interconnected disorders that puts a heavy burden on society.

Dietary phytochemicals play chemopreventive roles in breast cancer by activating Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Respiratory diseases include a wide range of pathologies with different clinical manifestations, affecting the normal airways and lung function.

Immature gastrointestinal tract and different composition between infant formula and human milk make mild digestive problems more likely to occur in formula-fed infants. Special infant formulas to manage the gastrointestinal problems are reviewed.

This study demonstrates that ginsenoside CK could improve insulin resistance by reducing inflammation through PPARγ/NF-κB signaling pathway, which implies that ginsenoside CK may be an effective agent against obesity or early diabetes.