Volume 14, Issue 1, 2026

Plant polyphenols are known for their numerous health-promoting properties. This article reviews the current state of research in two related fields, namely beneficial effects of flavonoids for human health, e.g., gut microbiome, and supercritical fluid extraction applied to flavonoids of plant origin. The review covered research articles registered in eLIBRARY.RU, PubMed, and Science Direct in 2005–2025. Polyphenolic compounds obtained from various berries were reported to have a positive impact on gut microbiota, e.g., they stimulated the growth of lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, and other beneficial microorganisms, as well as improved the adhesion of probiotic and pathogenic microbes to intestinal epithelial cells. The review revealed some promising application areas for berry extracts in the functional food industry. Polyphenols can be part of meat formulations due to their strong antioxidant activity. Their antimicrobial effect against a wide range of contaminants renders them good prospects in protecting food products from microbial spoilage. Supercritical extraction is a promising method that isolates biologically active substances from plant materials. The review summarizes its advantages and limitations, as well as the range of prospective co-solvents. Ultrasonication, pulse electric field, and enzymic pretreatment make supercritical extraction more efficient. In general, this extraction method proved to be an excellent means of isolating flavonoids and related compounds from various plants and their parts.

Dietary consumption of heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAA) is considered to be a high-risk factor that substantially contributes to the development of mutagenicity and carcinogenicity in humans. This study provides ample evidence for the plausible association between mutagenicity or carcinogenicity development and dietary intake of heterocyclic amines in humans. The current study intends to assess the degree of heterocyclic amine contaminants in high-temperature cooked meats, their subsequent food intake, and potential health risk estimations. The meat samples were homogenized, filtered, extracted, and eluted. The list of heterocyclic amines to be identified and quantified included PhIP (2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b] pyridine), IQ (2-amino-3-methyl-imidazo[4,5-f] quinolone), and MeIQx (2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f] quinoxaline). They were simultaneously isolated and studied using the method of high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The highest heterocyclic amine concentration was found in chicken (2705.99 ± 6.12 ng/g), beef (574.09 ± 1.52 ng/g), and mutton (342.41 ± 3.69 ng/g). PhIP (73%) was the main heterocyclic amine in chicken. The estimated daily dietary intake or exposure in chicken, mutton, and beef was 0.690, 0.050, and 0.144 ng/kg body weight, respectively. The values for margin of exposure were within the range identified by the European Food Safety Authority for mutton (102.06) and chicken (13.250), but not for beef (3.784). This significantly high prevalence of heterocyclic amines and the associated health risks are sufficient to warn the public about the high dietary intake of meat and its carcinogenic health hazards. The mutational patterns induced by heterocyclic amines resemble those in human tumors, requiring the use of specific biomarkers like HAA-DNA and HAA-protein adducts. Future prospects are high for integrating these biomarkers into epidemiological studies, which could provide a comprehensive assessment of health risks associated with dietary heterocyclic aromatic amines in human cancer.

Livestock management is a critical aspect of agricultural sustainability and food security. Today, there is a pressing need for advanced tools in cattle behavior analysis to improve livestock welfare and productivity. We aimed to enhance cattle behavior classification by using accelerometers fitted in wearable collars. Deep learning techniques were employed to classify behavioral patterns in cattle such as feeding, moving, and lying. Ultimately, our study sought to improve livestock management practices, including the monitoring of health and overall well-being. The study was conducted in a local barn, where cattle were outfitted with specially designed collars with accelerometer sensors. These sensors recorded intricate movements, facilitating the collection of comprehensive behavioral data. Deep learning algorithms were used to process and analyze the accelerometer data, enabling precise classification of various behaviors exhibited by the cattle. Our results showed the effectiveness of AI-driven classification techniques in distinguishing cattle behaviors with a high degree of accuracy. Our findings underscore the potential of deep learning techniques in optimizing livestock management practices. This research significantly advances livestock management by offering a simple continuous monitoring solution for cattle behavior. Deep learning techniques not only enhance our understanding of cattle behavior but also pave the way for intelligent systems that empower farmers to make informed decisions. By promoting healthier and more productive livestock, this research contributes to the broader goal of enhancing global food security and sustainability in the livestock industry.

Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for optimal rice growth and yield. Many Nigerian rice fields encounter difficulties in their production process because of insufficient nitrogen in the soil leading to reduced crop yields. However, the sole reliance on expensive inorganic nitrogen fertilizers is economically challenging for small farmers in Nigeria’s derived savannah. Therefore, integrated approaches to nutrient management have been put into practice to reduce the adverse effects of climate change and improve crop productivity in lowland rice cultivation. We aimed to investigate the impact of integrated nutrient inputs on the performance of NERICA L-34 and ARICA 3 rice varieties during the years 2017, 2018, and 2019. Various treatments were administered, namely 100 kg of nitrogen/ha (NPK), 75 kg/ha (NPK) + 25 kg/ha (manure), 50 kg/ha (NPK) + 50 kg/ha (manure), 25 kg/ha (NPK) + 75 kg/ha (manure), and 100 kg/ha (manure). A control group was samples without fertilizers. Key physiological parameters were assessed, including partial factor productivity, nitrogen uptake, nitrogen utilization efficiency, nitrogen internal utilization efficiency, physiological efficiency, recovery efficiency, total leaf area index, chlorophyll content, as well as root fresh and dry weights. Our research followed a randomized complete block design with a split-plot arrangement, replicated three times. The data underwent analysis of variance and the Duncan multiple range test (with a significance level set at p ≤ 0.05), and GENSTAT was used to compare the physiological traits of the rice varieties. Our findings revealed that the combination of 75 kg/ha (NPK, inorganic) and 25 kg/ha (manure, organic) significantly enhanced nutrient recovery and uptake in the NERICA L-34 rice variety, resulting in improved nitrogen absorption. While the ARICA 3 variety consistently exhibited higher chlorophyll content, especially with the application of 100 kg nitrogen/ha (organic), NERICA L-34 displayed superior overall nutrient absorption, recovery, and nitrogen utilization. Therefore, we recommend that rice farmers prioritize cultivating NERICA L-34 for its high productivity and potential for sustainable rice farming. Our findings can also guide farmers towards feasible integrated soil fertility management practices to enhance nutrient utilization efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and contribute to sustainable rice production in the derived savannah region of Nigeria.

A quarter of the world’s population has no access to safe foods of high quality due to the inability of traditional agriculture to meet the growing needs. Therefore, cultivated meat produced from a large mass of animal cells in a laboratory is becoming a promising alternative to animal products. In this study, we aimed to develop a technology for obtaining a hybrid cultured meat product from rabbit cells, sodium alginate, and sunflower protein, as well as to analyze its morphological and functional characteristics. We used rabbit stem cells isolated from the greater omentum and exposed to lipogenic and myogenic differentiation, as well as rabbit skin fibroblasts. The cells were placed in a hydrogel of sodium alginate and sunflower protein and cultured for 72 h to biofabricate tissue constructs by using 3D bioprinting. Confocal and transmission electron microscopy was applied to analyze the morphological and functional characteristics of the cells in the constructs. Using 3D bioprinting, we obtained tissue constructs of 30×40×3 mm from rabbit cells, sodium alginate, and sunflower protein. According to confocal microscopy, the cells in the tissue constructs remained viable for at least 72 h. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the cells formed tight junctions and were metabolically active for at least 72 h, with fibroblasts secreting procollagen and lipoblasts secreting lipid droplets. The resulting cellular meat was obtained from a combination of fibroblasts, lipocytes, and myogenic cells, as well as two ink components. The cellular meat product was safe and ready for consumption.

The agro-industrial sector is one of the biggest organic waste producers. Instead of being discarded into the environment, fruit and vegetable waste could be processed to obtain added value. This article introduces pomace fiber powder made from agroindustrial waste of fruits and vegetables. Its protective potential against hepatotoxicity induced by valproic acid was studied in Wistar rats, both as preventive and curative treatments. In the preventive test, valproic acid (250 mg/kg/day) was administered orally together with the pomace fiber powder (0.3 and 0.15 mg/kg/day) for 14 days. In the curative test, the rats received valproic acid for 14 days, followed by pomace fiber powder another 14 days, at the same amounts. Physicochemical analysis revealed that the experimental pomace fiber powder contained 15.2 ± 0.5% and 22.0 ± 1.2% of insoluble and soluble dietary fiber, respectively. This ratio made it possible to classify the new supplement as functional. The rats administered with valproic acid gained body weight and demonstrated a significant increase in serum enzyme activities, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase (p < 0.05). These results were confirmed by histopathological examination. In both preventive and curative treatments, the supplementation normalized body weight, improved liver biomarkers, and attenuated the hepatic injury induced in rats by valproic acid. The new pomace fiber powder made of agro-industrial waste proved to be an effective raw material that attenuates the side effects associated with prolonged valproic acid administration.

Kelulut honey (Heterotrigona itama) is gaining popularity, which makes its quality assessment an important issue. We employed the method of near-infrared spectroscopy to perform a non-destructive quality assessment of refrigerated and non-refrigerated postharvest Kelulut honey. The research objective was to define the physical and chemical properties of Kelulut honey stored for 0, 1, 2, 7, and 14 days, as well as to establish effective prediction models based on the methods of principal component regression and partial least squares. The Brix value, moisture content, and sugar content exhibited no significant differences (p > 0.05) for the entire storage time. However, the Brix value and sugar content decreased as the moisture increased during storage. pH values decreased while the hydroxymethylfurfural content increased across the entire storage time. Significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed between the pH and hydroxymethylfurfural values for honey stored at different temperatures. The prediction model of sugar content based on principal component regression demonstrated acceptable accuracy (R2 = 0.7) and low mean squared error. After pre-processing and partial least squares regression, the method of near-infrared spectroscopy proved accurate and effective in defining the quality of Kelulut honey.

The fruit processing industry generates a considerable amount of waste, which leads to significant nutritional and economic losses. The most common waste materials include pomace, peels, rind, and seeds. They contain valuable natural bioactive compounds, such as carotenoids, polysaccharides, dietary fibers, enzymes, polyphenols, oils, and vitamins. These compounds can be recovered by using suitable conventional or non-conventional methods. Conventional methods include Soxhlet extraction, hydro-distillation, and maceration. Non-conventional methods include enzyme-assisted, ultrasound-assisted, microwave-assisted, solid-liquid, and solvent extractions, as well as pulsed electric field. Fruit peels can be used to synthesize metallic nanoparticles, edible packaging, single-cell proteins, biosorbents, biochar, carbon dots, and biofertilizers. Furthermore, their bioactive compounds have a significant pharmacological potential. In particular, they can be utilized as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, and anti-neoplastic agents. Fruit peels are also a cost-effective solution that can mitigate various environmental problems and aid in reducing nutritional loss. In this article, we reviewed different extraction techniques employed to retrieve bioactive compounds from fruit peel waste, along with their industrial, biotechnological, and pharmacological applications.

Around the globe, solid waste generation rates are reaching 2.01 billion tons, resulting in a footprint of 0.78 kg per person per day as of 2020. It is expected to escalate by 70% and reach approximately 3.42 billion tons by the end of 2050, indicating that waste generating and its disposal are a relevant issue worldwide. Waste can be a source of various useful pharmaceutical and food raw materials, which partially solves the global waste problem.
This comprehensive review paper focuses on different types of wastes that can yield carbohydrate polymers for pharmaceutical or food purposes. It covers systemic documentation and summarizes numerous scientific articles published in 2004–2022.
The review demonstrates a great perspective for waste re-utilization as an alternative source of pharmaceutical and food materials. It provides a complete insight into the responsible approach to hazardous waste recycling, thus promoting research in bio-waste remediation, novel raw materials, and natural sustainability.