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The Unrevealed Value of Agro-Food Products and Their Impact on...
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The Unrevealed Value of Agro-Food Products and Their Impact on Human Health - 2nd Edition

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2024) | Viewed by 13772

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Domenico Iacopetta

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
Interests: food; medicinal chemistry; bioactive products; nutraceuticals; phytochemicals; natural products extraction and isolation; antioxidants; anti-inflammatory; antimicrobials enzyme inhibition; cancer; cell biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nowadays, it is ascertained that a varied diet is actively and universally recommended to maintain human health, and thus, in-depth studies of sustainable and healthy foods have attracted many researchers. An essential concept that is bridged with the food system is the biodiversity of agriculture, including species, genes and ecosystem diversity. Furthermore, the even more cultivated knowledge regarding food science has cataloged healthy and “trash” food, including usually low-cost and nutrient-poor foods that, coupled with sedentariness, may cause severe and chronic diseases. An innovative strategy to thwart these unpleasant consequences resides in exploring agro-food products; these contain nutraceuticals or phytocomplexes with beneficial effects on human health. The daily consumption of these foods, their extraction products or chemically modified nutraceuticals, is reputed to be very effective for maintaining human health and preventing cancer and other chronic diseases. This Special Issue welcomes innovative studies and review papers dealing with several aspects of agro-food valorization, including all the agricultural chain steps, the biological evaluation of the products and by-products and their chemically modified components, as preventive or curative, against different diseases.

Kind regards,

Prof. Dr. Domenico Iacopetta
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Foods is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • agro-food valorization
  • agro-food by-products
  • nutraceuticals and chemical modified compounds
  • autochthon or alimurgic plants
  • biological activity
  • human health and diseases

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 3062 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Potential Protective Effect of Ellagic Acid against Heavy Metal (Cadmium, Mercury, and Lead) Toxicity in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells
by Rosanna Mallamaci, Alexia Barbarossa, Alessia Carocci and Daniela Meleleo
Foods 2024, 13(3), 419; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13030419 - 28 Jan 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1649
Abstract
Ellagic acid (EA), a polyphenolic constituent of plant origin, has been thoroughly investigated for its hypothesised pharmacological properties among which antioxidant and neuroprotective activities are included. The present study was designed to explore whether EA could attenuate heavy metal (cadmium, mercury, and lead)-induced [...] Read more.
Ellagic acid (EA), a polyphenolic constituent of plant origin, has been thoroughly investigated for its hypothesised pharmacological properties among which antioxidant and neuroprotective activities are included. The present study was designed to explore whether EA could attenuate heavy metal (cadmium, mercury, and lead)-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells, which were utilized as a model system for brain cells. MTT and LDH assays were performed to examine the viability of the SH-SY5Y cells after exposure to Cd, Hg, and Pb (either individually or in combination with EA) as well as the effects of necrotic cell death, respectively. Furthermore, 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA), a cell-based assay, was performed to determine whether EA could protect SH-SY5Y from heavy metal-induced oxidative stress. Results allowed us to assess the capability of EA to enhance the number of viable SH-SY5Y cells after exposure to heavy metal toxicity. Pre-treatment with EA showed a considerable, concentration-dependent, cytoprotective effect, particularly against Cd2+-induced toxicity. This effect was confirmed through the reduction of LDH release after the simultaneous cell treatment with Cd2+ and EA compared with Cd2+-treated cells. Furthermore, a significant, concentration-dependent decrease in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, induced by H2O2 or heavy metals, was observed in the same model. Overall, the obtained results provide further insight into the protective role of EA against heavy metal-induced neurotoxicity and oxidative stress, thus indicating the potential beneficial effects of the consumption of EA-rich foods. However, to confirm its effects, well-designed human randomized controlled trials are needed to fill the existing gap between experimental and clinical research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Unrevealed Value of Agro-Food Products and Their Impact on Human Health - 2nd Edition)
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12 pages, 2652 KiB  
Article
Formulation Study on Edible Film from Waste Grape and Red Cabbage
by Olga Mileti, Noemi Baldino, Francesco Filice, Francesca R. Lupi, Maria Stefania Sinicropi and Domenico Gabriele
Foods 2023, 12(14), 2804; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12142804 - 24 Jul 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1848
Abstract
(1) Background: Recent research on the valorization of agro-industrial waste has attempted to obtain new products. Grape residue is a waste product used in the grape wine industry that is rich in anthocyanins, as well as leaves and waste parts from red cabbage [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Recent research on the valorization of agro-industrial waste has attempted to obtain new products. Grape residue is a waste product used in the grape wine industry that is rich in anthocyanins, as well as leaves and waste parts from red cabbage processing. Anthocyanins, thanks to their various functionalities, can be recovered and used as active and intelligent agents in food packaging. Anthocyanins have antioxidant properties that help to prevent cardiovascular disease. (2) Methods: In this study, the process of extracting waste was studied using solvent and supercritical CO2 extraction. The obtained anthocyanins were used in starch-based food film formulations. Several formulations were studied using rheometric techniques and the effect of adding anthocyanins on optimal film formulation was investigated. (3) Results: Solvent extractions resulted in a maximum extraction yield. The extracts obtained were used for the preparation of coating and edible films, optimized in the formulation. (4) Conclusions: The addition of anthocyanins to films resulted in increased sample structuring and mechanical properties that are valid for applications, like dipping using coverage methods. The packaging is also attractive and pH-sensitive. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Unrevealed Value of Agro-Food Products and Their Impact on Human Health - 2nd Edition)
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Review

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14 pages, 1255 KiB  
Review
Neuroprotective Effects of Curcumin in Neurodegenerative Diseases
by Giuseppe Genchi, Graziantonio Lauria, Alessia Catalano, Alessia Carocci and Maria Stefania Sinicropi
Foods 2024, 13(11), 1774; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13111774 - 5 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 7087
Abstract
Curcumin, a hydrophobic polyphenol extracted from the rhizome of Curcuma longa, is now considered a candidate drug for the treatment of neurological diseases, including Parkinson’s Disease (PD), Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Huntington’s Disease (HD), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and prion [...] Read more.
Curcumin, a hydrophobic polyphenol extracted from the rhizome of Curcuma longa, is now considered a candidate drug for the treatment of neurological diseases, including Parkinson’s Disease (PD), Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Huntington’s Disease (HD), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and prion disease, due to its potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant potential, anticancerous, immunomodulatory, neuroprotective, antiproliferative, and antibacterial activities. Traditionally, curcumin has been used for medicinal and dietary purposes in Asia, India, and China. However, low water solubility, poor stability in the blood, high rate of metabolism, limited bioavailability, and little capability to cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB) have limited the clinical application of curcumin, despite the important pharmacological activities of this drug. A variety of nanocarriers, including liposomes, micelles, dendrimers, cubosome nanoparticles, polymer nanoparticles, and solid lipid nanoparticles have been developed with great success to effectively deliver the active drug to brain cells. Functionalization on the surface of nanoparticles with brain-specific ligands makes them target-specific, which should significantly improve bioavailability and reduce harmful effects. The aim of this review is to summarize the studies on curcumin and/or nanoparticles containing curcumin in the most common neurodegenerative diseases, highlighting the high neuroprotective potential of this nutraceutical. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Unrevealed Value of Agro-Food Products and Their Impact on Human Health - 2nd Edition)
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25 pages, 4360 KiB  
Review
Phytochemicals Involved in Mitigating Silent Toxicity Induced by Heavy Metals
by Jessica Ceramella, Azzurra Chiara De Maio, Giovanna Basile, Anastasia Facente, Elisabetta Scali, Inmaculada Andreu, Maria Stefania Sinicropi, Domenico Iacopetta and Alessia Catalano
Foods 2024, 13(7), 978; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13070978 - 22 Mar 2024
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2597
Abstract
Heavy metals (HMs) are natural elements present in the Earth’s crust, characterised by a high atomic mass and a density more than five times higher than water. Despite their origin from natural sources, extensive usage and processing of raw materials and their presence [...] Read more.
Heavy metals (HMs) are natural elements present in the Earth’s crust, characterised by a high atomic mass and a density more than five times higher than water. Despite their origin from natural sources, extensive usage and processing of raw materials and their presence as silent poisons in our daily products and diets have drastically altered their biochemical balance, making them a threat to the environment and human health. Particularly, the food chain polluted with toxic metals represents a crucial route of human exposure. Therefore, the impact of HMs on human health has become a matter of concern because of the severe chronic effects induced by their excessive levels in the human body. Chelation therapy is an approved valid treatment for HM poisoning; however, despite the efficacy demonstrated by chelating agents, various dramatic side effects may occur. Numerous data demonstrate that dietary components and phytoantioxidants play a significant role in preventing or reducing the damage induced by HMs. This review summarises the role of various phytochemicals, plant and herbal extracts or probiotics in promoting human health by mitigating the toxic effects of different HMs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Unrevealed Value of Agro-Food Products and Their Impact on Human Health - 2nd Edition)
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