Nanotechnology is an emerging field of science, and nanotechnological concepts have been intensively studied for potential applications in the food industry. Nanoparticles (with dimensions ranging ...from one to several hundred nanometers) have specific characteristics and better functionality, thanks to their size and other physicochemical properties. Polyphenols are recognized as active compounds that have several putative beneficial properties, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer activity. However, the use of polyphenols as functional food ingredients faces numerous challenges, such as their poor stability, solubility, and bioavailability. These difficulties could be solved relatively easily by the application of encapsulation. The objective of this review is to present the most recent accomplishments in the usage of polyphenol-loaded nanoparticles in food science. Nanoparticles loaded with polyphenols and their applications as active ingredients for improving physicochemical and functional properties of food, or as components of active packaging materials, were critically reviewed. Potential adverse effects of polyphenol-loaded nanomaterials are also discussed.
In this study, for the first time, the comprehensive analysis of antiproliferative and antioxidant activities of ramson, followed by the analysis of its associated microbiota and health-promoting ...effects of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), was performed. Ramson (
) is recognized as a medicinal plant with a long history of use in traditional medicine due to its antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. In this study the influence of
gastrointestinal digestion on the cytotoxic activity of
extracts against human malignant cell lines was demonstrated. Seven sulfur compounds, the degradation products of thiosulfinates, including diallyl disulfide were shown to inhibit proliferation of malignant cells by inducing accumulation within G2/M phase as well as to induce apoptosis through activation of caspase-3 and mitochondrial signaling pathway. Further, the
microbiota, particularly LAB with potential probiotic effects, was analyzed by culture-dependent method and culture-independent method denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The obtained results revealed that the most abundant genera were
,
, and
. The
genus was mainly represented by
The pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis revealed the presence of two PFGE pulsotypes. The probiotic potential of the strain
BGSR163 belonging to PFGE pulsotype 1 and the strain
BGSR227 belonging to the PFGE pulsotype 2 was characterized. The results revealed that both strains are safe for human use, successfully survive the simulated gastrointestinal conditions, have potential to transiently colonize the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and have a protective immunomodulatory effect, inducing the production of proinflammatory cytokine IL17 and regulatory cytokine IL10, while decreasing the production of proinflammatory cytokine IFN-γ. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that consumption of
might have health-promoting properties, including anticancer effects, while
strains isolated from
leaves could be used as probiotics for human consumption.
Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic metal that is distributed worldwide. Exposure to it is correlated with a vast number of diseases and organism malfunctions. Exopolysaccharides (EPS) derived from
BGAN8, ...EPS-AN8, previously showed great potential for the in vitro protection of intestinal cells from this metal. Here, we investigated the potential of food supplemented with EPS-AN8 to protect rats from the hazardous effects of Cd exposure. After thirty days of exposure to lower (5 ppm) and higher (50 ppm)-Cd doses, the administration of EPS-AN8 led to decreased Cd content in the kidneys, liver, and blood compared to only Cd-treated groups, whereas the fecal Cd content was strongly enriched. In addition, EPS-AN8 reversed Cd-provoked effects on the most significant parameters of oxidative stress (MDA, CAT, GST, and GSH) and inflammation (IL-1β, TNF-α, and IFN-γ) in the duodenum. Moreover, micrographs of the duodenum were in line with these findings. As the gut microbiota has an important role in maintaining homeostasis, we used 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and investigated the effects of Cd and EPS-AN8 on one part of the microbiota presented in the duodenum. Although Cd decreased the growth of lactobacilli and mostly favored the blooming of opportunistic pathogen bacteria, parallel intake of EPS-AN8 reversed those changes. Therefore, our results imply that EPS-AN8 might be extremely noteworthy in combatting this toxic environmental pollutant.
Bacterial microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract is known to prevent the invasion of pathogenic microorganisms and regulate intestinal permeability, digestion, metabolism, and immune response. It ...affects function, homeostasis, and disease outcomes in the gastrointestinal tract and extra-intestinal sites such as the lungs. This review summarizes the currently available knowledge regarding the gut-lung axis. The association of bacterial composition and/or dysbiosis in the gut with asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease, cystic fibrosis, recurrent respiratory tract infections, and lung cancer in humans is highlighted, as well as data obtained from animal models of pulmonary inflammation, which indicated that modulation of immune system activity lies at the base of this interaction. Additionally, the potential use of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics in the treatment of lung inflammation is presented.
Picture books occupy an important place in the life of a child both in family and in school. As a unique combination of illustration and text in a pedagogical mode, picture books teach, incite ...creative imagination and enrich the cognitive and socio-emotional world of a child. The goal of our research is increase understanding the place and the role of genre diverse picture books in Montenegrin pre-schools in the current context. Pre-school teachers noted key challenges in the use of picture books in pre-school practice in general and singled out proposals for more efficient application. In this paper, we deal with parents’ participation in mediating picture books` content and values to pre-schoolers. We took our research sample from the population of teachers in pre-schools of central, northern and southern region of Montenegro. Our research included 209 pre-school teachers from five kindergartens and 93 respondents from the three institutions, which we interviewed during the seminars. We combined elements of both quantitative and qualitative surveying and interviewing.
Our research indicates a significant and continued use of genre-diverse picture books, but also an absence of new titles, technical support in the selection of high-quality books, domestic authors and vague criteria in the selection of books, as well as a lack of parental involvement in the selection of books.
Enterococci represent the most controversial group of dairy bacteria. They are found to be the main constituent of many traditional Mediterranean dairy products and contribute to their characteristic ...taste and flavor. On the other hand, during the last 50 years antibiotic-resistant enterococci have emerged as leading causes of nosocomial infections worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the diversity, technological properties, antibiotic susceptibility and virulence traits of 636 enterococci previously isolated from 55 artisan dairy products from 12 locations in the Western Balkan countries (WBC) of Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. All strains were identified both by microbiological and molecular methods. The predominant species was Enterococcus durans, followed by Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium. Over 44% of the isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin and erythromycin, while 26.2% of the isolates were multi-resistant to three or more antibiotics belonging to different families. 185 isolates (29.1%) were susceptible to all 13 of the antibiotics tested. The antibiotic-susceptible isolates were further tested for possible virulence genes and the production of biogenic amines. Finally, five enterococci isolates were found to be antibiotic susceptible with good technological characteristics and without virulence traits or the ability to produce biogenic amines, making them possible candidates for biotechnological application as starter cultures in the dairy industry.
In the light of the fact that the activity of writing as a basic and generic educational ability is of paramount importance for lifelong learning, i.e. for life and work of each individual, and ...bearing in mind the notion that writing as a complex activity requires a whole corpus of knowledge and skills necessary for successful realization, we deemed it significant to explore whether third-cycle students from twelve primary schools Montenegro recognize and apply writing strategies to gain competence in this field of mother tongue and literature teaching. This paper presents the results of the research which examined the understanding and application of primary writing strategies, as well as the assessment of their significance in respect to oneself as a writer. The research focused on the creation of prose texts based on literary-artistic texts (novellas and short stories), i.e. a descriptive and narrative type of creative writing. Based on the results produced by the study, students recognize and apply the offered writing strategies to a greater or lesser extent, which is especially corroborated by the fact that they ranked each of them first in a certain percentage. Moreover, the results of the research indicate that a significant number of research participants assess themselves as a successful creator of a written text, naming the strategies that have particularly contributed to this, as well as those whose application should be enhanced.
Nikola Lopičić is an author of the social literature movement formed between the two world wars, in times of turbulent and complex changes in Montenegrin society. The movement arose from the creative ...need of authors to artistically record, disclose and critically present the social context of that time and how it influenced the life of a common man, most often that of a peasant or a farmer. In his prose, a woman is an important and indispensable factor participating in intriguing events and instigating family turmoil – whether as a mother, a wife, or a daughter. Traditionally placed in the background, but in reality active in the forefront of life, women in Lopičić's stories continue to bear the burden of inherited moral norms of a patriarchal society deeply rooted in the Montenegrin value system, and of the difficult struggle for bare survival on barren land. Therefore, we consider the introduction and construction of female characters in Lopičić's stories through three key concepts that emerged during the reading, which allow us to recognize the aforementioned influences and to form an idea of women’s role and place in post heroic Montenegrin society, overwhelmed by all sorts of economic and other turmoil: the concept of physical strength, the concept of pride and dignity, and the concept of sacrifice.
•Food matrix (FM) contains significant amount of phenolic acids and flavonols.•Total recovery of polyphenols of grape extracts was significantly influenced by FM.•Low recovery of proantocyanidins and ...total flavonoids of seed extracts was observed.•FM and digestive fluids increased total polyphenol content of grape digests.•FM and digestive fluids contributed to ABTS+ scavenging activity of grape digests.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of enriching a complex food matrix (FM) with grape extracts on polyphenol content, composition, bioaccessibility and antioxidant activity during digestion. The grape extracts and FM were separately tested under the same conditions as controls. The FM by itself contains a significant amount of phenolic acids and flavonols, influencing the final recovery of polyphenols from grape extracts. The FM significantly increased the total recovery of polyphenols after digestion of grape seed extracts compared to those digested without the FM; however, a low recovery of proantocyanidins and total flavonoids was observed. Digestive fluids and FM compounds significantly increased the total polyphenol content of grape digests and significantly contributed to their ABTS+ scavenging activity and ferrous-ion-chelating capacity. The present study suggested that enrichment of meat- and cereal-based products with grape polyphenol extracts could be a good strategy to formulate a healthier diet.
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