https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/eff Most Recent Articles : Exploration of Foods and Foodomics. en-us Sun, 28 May 2023 03:55:18 GMT https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/eff/Article/10101 Not applicable. Editorial Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT AlejandroCifuentes, ElenaIbáñez, Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/eff/Article/10101 https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/eff/Article/10102 Aim: The scope of the present study was to investigate the phytochemical profile of Psidium guajava and Carica papaya leaves aqueous extracts, from plants cultivated on Crete island in Greece. Methods: Total phenolic content (TPC) in the aqueous extracts was determined spectrometrically using the Folin-Ciocalteu (F-C) assay. The identification and quantification of different phenolic compounds in the aqueous extracts were conducted using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) analysis. Different metals were also determined (K, Fe, Zn, Ca, Mg, Pb, and Cd) to investigate the potential health claims or hazards in the water extractable infusion using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) method. Results: TPC in the aqueous extracts was found to be 28.0 g gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/kg dry leaves for Psidium guajava leaves aqueous extract and 15.0 g GAE/kg dry leaves for Carica papaya leaves aqueous extract. The dominant phenolic compounds in Psidium guajava leaves aqueous extract were myricetin (3,852 mg/kg dry sample) and rutin (670 mg/kg dry sample) while the dominant phenolic compounds in Carica papaya leaves aqueous extract were salicylic acid (338 mg/kg dry sample) and rutin (264 mg/kg dry sample). Different metals were also determined (K, Fe, Zn, Ca, Mg, Pb, and Cd) to investigate the potential health claims or hazards in the water extractable infusion, and it was found that no toxic metals were extracted whereas some nutritional benefits were achieved. Conclusions: Results proved that Psidium guajava and Carica papaya can be provided a strong antioxidant activity and can be used as medicinal plants. Original Article Wed, 26 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT Dimitrios D.Ntakoulas, Ioannis N.Pasias, Kalomoira G.Raptopoulou, GeorgiosDimitriou, CharalamposProestos, Wed, 26 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/eff/Article/10102 https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/eff/Article/10103 Among the species of the rich algological flora of the North Atlantic, some can be used for direct consumption in human food, although few are currently cultivated on a large scale and/or marketed for this purpose. The European tradition regarding this custom is practically nil and the expression of current eating habits is little different from the past. In Europe, only in times of hunger (for example, during the Great World Wars) was seaweed consumed by the populations closest to the coastline. In addition to the multiple applications described, which expanded enormously in the 1970s, based on phycocolloids (agar, carrageenans, and alginates)—used as thickeners in the food industry, in soups, meat preserves, dairy products, and pastries—there is currently a trend of increasing consumption, both in North America and Europe. Review Thu, 27 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT LeonelPereira, Thu, 27 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/eff/Article/10103 https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/eff/Article/10104 Aim: In this work, the development for the first time of a green and efficient method to obtain bioactive extracts from Mentha x rotundifolia leaves has been investigated. Methods: The efficiency of three techniques [microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), subcritical water extraction (SWE), and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE)] was compared in terms of total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity [1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthioazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays]. Results: Under similar operating conditions, SWE outperformed MAE and UAE for providing M. rotundifolia extracts with improved antioxidant activity. Further in-depth optimization of the SWE method by means of a Box-Behnken experimental design showed 120°C, 5 min, 0.08 g dry sample: 1 mL water and 2 extraction cycles as optimal experimental parameters to provide the maximum yield of phenolics and the highest bioactivity. The application of the developed SWE method to M. rotundifolia leaves collected in different annuities (2014–2017) showed, in general, no significant differences regarding both composition and antioxidant capacity, as expected from plant samples grown in field under drip irrigation conditions. Conclusions: The SWE method here optimized is shown as a sustainable and efficient alternative for providing bioactive M. rotundifolia extracts with application as functional ingredients, natural preservatives, etc. in the food industry, among others. Original Article Thu, 27 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT María JesúsGarcía-Sarrió, Ana CristinaSoria, PlácidoGalindo-Iranzo, María LuzSanz, Thu, 27 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/eff/Article/10104 https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/eff/Article/10105 Nanoscience and nanotechnology have experienced a dizzying development in recent years, which undoubtedly contributes to various fields of human activity such as biotechnology, engineering, medical sciences, food security, etc. This impact has taken place in the food field too, especially in the role played by nanomaterials (NMs) for producing quality nano-based products, food shelf life, and target-specific bioactive delivery, since traditionally the presence of these materials was not at the nano-scale. Anyway, switching these materials to their nano-forms carries benefits as well as risks that must be assessed. Thus, the evaluation of the presence and quantity of these NMs must be achieved based on reliable physic-chemical-analytical information; hence the impact that analytical chemistry should have in the nanoscience to develop validated methodologies for its control. Currently, this fact represents a significant challenge due to the difficulties of measuring entities at the nanoscale in complex samples such as those of food. This review critically explores these analytical challenges, their difficulties, and their trends within the general framework of NMs’ analytical monitoring in food. Review Fri, 28 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT NataliaVillamayor, María JesúsVillaseñor, ÁngelRíos, Fri, 28 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/eff/Article/10105