Dibakoane, Siphosethu R.; Da Silva, Laura Suzanne; Meiring, Belinda; Anyasi, Tonna A.; Mlambo, Victor; Wokadala, Obiro Cuthbert
doi: 10.1111/1750-3841.17270pmid: 39150760
Unripe banana flour starch possesses a high degree of resistance to enzymatic hydrolysis, a unique and desirable property that could be exploited in the development of functional food products to regulate blood sugar levels and promote digestive health. However, due to a multifactorial phenomenon in the banana flour matrix—from the molecular to the micro level—there is no consensus regarding the complex mechanisms behind the slow enzymatic hydrolysis of unripe banana flour starch. This work therefore explores factors that influence the enzymatic hydrolysis resistance of raw and modified banana flour and its starch including the proportion and distribution of the amorphous and crystalline phases of the starch granules; granule morphology; amylose–amylopectin ratio; as well as the presence of nonstarch components such as proteins, lipids, and phenolic compounds. Our findings revealed that the relative contributions of these factors to banana starch hydrolytic resistance are apparently dependent on the native or processed state of the starch as well as the cultivar type. The interrelatability of these factors in ensuring amylolytic resistance of unripe banana flour starch was further highlighted as another reason for the multifactorial phenomenon. Knowledge of these factors and their contributions to enzymatic hydrolysis resistance individually and interconnectedly will provide insights into enhanced ways of extraction, processing, and utilization of unripe banana flour and its starch.
Guo, Chunyan; Liu, Yibo; Fu, Haiqi; Zhang, Xinyu; Li, Minhui
doi: 10.1111/1750-3841.17300pmid: 39138635
Previous systematic evaluations and meta‐analyses of the relationship between cruciferous vegetable (CV) intake and cancer risk have yielded inconsistent results. Herein, we summarize and evaluate the existing data and examine the relationship between CV intake and cancer risk. We searched four databases for cancer risk as a key outcome indicator. AMSTAR‐2 was used to evaluate the methodological quality of the included systematic reviews, PRISMA 2020 was used to evaluate the report quality, and corrected coverage area analysis was used to evaluate the duplication rate of the original documents. Overall, 22 meta‐analyses involving 175 independent cancer studies were included. Evidence on lung, gastric, prostate, breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancer, as well as renal cell carcinoma, suggests a potential association between cancer and CV intake, which influences the risk of various cancers. Future research should focus on improving methods and techniques, controlling influencing factors, elucidating underlying mechanisms, and improving evidence quality to demonstrate the association between CV intake and cancer. The potential role of dietary CVs in cancer control has implications for public health policies.
Buniowska‐Olejnik, Magdalena; Mykhalevych, Artur; Urbański, Jakub; Berthold‐Pluta, Anna; Michałowska, Dorota; Banach, Maciej
doi: 10.1111/1750-3841.17278pmid: 39126698
This review examines the potential of curcumin as a technological and functional food additive in dairy and milk‐based products. The advantages of incorporating curcumin in these products include its antimicrobial properties, support for the activity of lactic acid bacteria, improvement in sensory characteristics, and shelf‐life extension. Curcumin notably enhances antioxidant activity and acts as a natural preservative in cheese, cheese‐like products, and butter. In ice cream and dairy desserts, curcumin contributes to attractive color formation and offers functional benefits such as antioxidant activity, photostability, and increased nutritional value. However, the use of turmeric extract, a common source of curcumin, presents challenges including low bioavailability, color instability, and the formation of insoluble precipitates. The application of specialized curcumin formulations with enhanced water dispersion, purity, and bioavailability can mitigate these issues, improve the product's technological properties, and ensure compliance with local regulations. This review highlights the importance of continued research and development to optimize the use of curcumin in dairy and milk‐based products, offering valuable insights for scientists and food industry professionals.
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