Thyme is one of the most important medicinal plants because of its ethnopharmacological relevance and high content of bioactive compounds. This review focuses particularly on thyme as an alternative ...natural antioxidant and antimicrobial with potential use in the food industry. This is in line with the preferences of the current consumer, who demands healthier and more natural products. Different studies have concluded that the use of thyme increases stability and reduces lipid oxidation during the shelf-life period of foods (meat, meat products, milk, fish or fish products), which makes thyme a promising source of natural additives. Despite these findings, the use of
extracts or essential oils as natural additives in foods is reduced in comparison with other natural preservative extracts. This review provides an overview of the most important information on the positive effect of the bioactive compounds of thyme and its uses as a preservative in foods, taking into account its origin (from plants, plant extracts or essential oils).
Seaweeds have been used since ancient times as food, mainly by Asian countries, while in Western countries, their main application has been as gelling agents and colloids for the food, ...pharmaceuticals, and the cosmetic industry. Seaweeds are a good source of nutrients such as proteins, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. Polyphenols, polysaccharides, and sterols, as well as other bioactive molecules, are mainly responsible for the healthy properties associated with seaweed. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-diabetic properties are attributed to these compounds. If seaweeds are compared to terrestrial plants, they have a higher proportion of essential fatty acids as eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) fatty acids. In addition, there are several secondary metabolites that are synthesized by algae such as terpenoids, oxylipins, phlorotannins, volatile hydrocarbons, and products of mixed biogenetic origin. Therefore, algae can be considered as a natural source of great interest, since they contain compounds with numerous biological activities and can be used as a functional ingredient in many technological applications to obtain functional foods.
Consumers are concerned about the use of synthetic additives in foods and this has forced food processors to find ways to produce food products without the use of these additives ...
This study investigated the influence of an organic mineral-supplemented broiler diet on the quality of nuggets. The resulting chicken nuggets were enriched with inorganic and organic forms of Zn and ...Se. The nuggets were processed by incorporating extracts from food industry by-products (rosemary R
and R
, hydroxytyrosol HYT, pomegranate P, grape GS, and Harpagophytum H). The physiochemical, microbiological, and sensory characteristics of the chicken nuggets were evaluated over a 12-month period of frozen storage. The addition of natural extracts did not affect the pH, proximate composition, or color (CIELab) of the nuggets among samples. However, significative differences were found between month of analysis (range from pH 6.16 to 6.63; luminosity from 62.51 to 84.74; redness from 0.16 to 7.14; and yellowness from 10.80 to 33.77). In addition, the combination of phenolic compounds with Zn and Se retarded microbial growth and reduced protein and lipid oxidation, thus maintaining the sensory quality and extending the shelf life of this product. For instance, the combination of R
+ GS reduced in 75% the microbiological growth regarding the control sample (C), while samples that incorporated R
+ P or HYT + P + H presented 50% less than C. In addition, upon only incorporating organic minerals Zn and Se, microbiological deterioration is reduced in 15%. This mix was significantly effective at reducing the oxidative reactions of lipids and proteins by 40% and 50%, as measured after 9 and 12 mo of frozen storage, respectively. The addition of the natural extracts and Zn and Se did not adversely affect the acceptability of the meat product.
Although solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) have an unpredictable evolution, some specific clinicopathologic factors have been associated with the final outcome. We retrieved clinical, pathological and ...molecular data of 97 patients with a histological diagnosis of SFT and Signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) positivity. We retrospectively studied the pathological factors predictive of recurrence/metastasis and compared them with the clinical outcome. A wide immunohistochemical study and molecular analysis to detect NAB2/STAT6 gene fusion, tumor protein-53 (TP53) and/or (telomerase reverse transcriptase) TERT promotor mutation were performed. The risk of metastasis was calculated using the Demicco risk stratification system (RSS). The results were combined and examined to assess the accuracy of risk stratification and classification. The most common location was in non-extremities; 66% were located in soft tissue or subcutaneous areas and 92.8% in deep locations. On microscopic analysis, 38.1% of tumors revealed hypercellularity with a predominant patternless and/or hemangiopericytic growth pattern; 13.4% had ≥4 mitoses/10HPF; 16.5% showed necrosis, and almost half the tumors showed at least focal myxoid areas. Dedifferentiation was observed in three tumors. Immunomarker expression in SFTs was as follows: CD34 92.9%, CD99 57.1%, Bcl2 67.9%, neuroendocrine markers (at least 1) 25.7%, Desmin 14.3%, CK(AE1/AE3) 3%, Apoptotic Protease Activating Factor (APAF-1) 87% and finally Ki-67 ≥ 10% in 14.4%. The NAB2/STAT6 gene fusion was detected in 50 tumors. After a median follow-up of 90 months, 9.3% recurred, 11.3% metastasized, 10.3% died of disease and 76.2% were free of disease. TERT mutations were detected in 40.6% of the SFTs; the TP53 mutation was detected in 17%, and only 9.3% showed both mutations. According to the Demicco RSS, 6.1%, 11.3% and 82.4% of the tumors were classified as high, intermediate or low-risk of metastasis, respectively. All high-risk tumors had ≥4 mitoses/10HPF, necrosis, Ki-67 ≥ 10, HTER and/or TP53 mutation and poor evolution. The intermediate risk SFTs with worse evolution displayed the HTER mutation. Almost all low-risk tumors had a favorable evolution, although four showed at least one adverse factor (Ki-67 ≥ 10, ≥4 mitoses/10HPF or high tumor size) and had a worse evolution. An integration of clinical, morphologic, immunohistochemical and molecular findings may improve risk stratification and classification and better predict patient outcome. The unfavorable course seems to be more frequent in high-risk SFTs, although it is not exceptional in low-risk SFTs either; hence, a long-term follow-up is required independently of the assigned risk stratification score. The inclusion of molecular findings in risk stratification systems could improve the precision in the classification of SFTs, especially those of intermediate risk. Future studies will be required to determine the most effective way to incorporate molecular analyses into RSS on SFTs. The coexistence of several adverse factors such as ≥4 mitoses/10HPF, necrosis, Ki-67 ≥ 10%, mutations in HTER and/or p53 may suggest a closer clinical follow-up regardless of the histological appearance of the tumor.
belongs to the Moringaceae family and is the best known of the native
genus. For centuries, it has been used as a system of Ayurvedic and Unani medicine and has a wide range of nutritional and ...bioactive compounds, including proteins, essential amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids, fibre, vitamins, minerals, phenolic compounds, phytosterols and others. These characteristics allow it to have pharmacological properties, including anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, antioxidant, cardioprotective, antimicrobial and hepatoprotective properties. The entire
plant is edible, including its flowers, however, it is not entirely safe, because of compounds that have been found mainly in the root and bark, so the leaf was identified as the safest.
is recognised as an excellent source of phytochemicals, with potential applications in functional and medicinal food preparations due to its nutritional and medicinal properties; many authors have experimented with incorporating it mainly in biscuits, cakes, brownies, meats, juices and sandwiches. The results are fascinating, as the products increase their nutritional value; however, the concentrations cannot be high, as this affects the organoleptic characteristics of the supplemented products. The aim of this study is to review the application of
in bakery products, which will allow the creation of new products that improve their nutritional and functional value.
Phytocosmetic is an important aspect of traditional medicine in several cultures. Researchers are now focusing to find new and effective ingredients of natural origin. Propolis is a natural beehive ...product extensively used in traditional medicine. We aimed in the present study to investigate the potential use of propolis as an aesthetic and phytotherapeutic constituent in phytocosmetics. Propolis was extracted using 80% ethanol. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined calorimetrically. Free radical scavenging ability and reducing capacity were evaluated using four assays and expressed as IC50 values. Antibacterial activity was evaluated by the determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) on 11 Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The wound healing activity of 30% ethanolic extract and propolis ointment was studied using excision wounds in the anterio-dorsal side of the rats. The phenolic acid composition of the tested propolis was investigated using UFLC/MS-MS analysis. The tested propolis was rich in phenolic and flavonoid content and demonstrated an interesting antibacterial and antioxidant activity. Wounds treated with propolis appear to display a lesser degree of inflammation. Chemical analysis led to the identification of 11 phenolics. Among them, five are considered as main compounds: Chlorogenic acid (48.79 ± 5.01 ng/mL), Gallic acid (44.25 ± 6.40 ng/mL), Rutin (21.12 ± 3.57 ng/mL), Caffeic acid (28.19 ± 4.95 ng/mL), and trans-cinnamic acid (20.10 ± 6.51 ng/mL). Our results indicated that propolis can not only be used as a cosmetic ingredient but also be used as a preventative and curative constituent, which might be used as a barrier when applied externally on infected and non-infected skin.
Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) are a rare type of mesenchymal lesion in which specific clinicopathologic factors have been related to patient outcome. We collected clinical, pathological, and ...molecular data of 28 patients with histologically confirmed SFT having at least one pathological factor associated with aggressive behavior. Molecular analysis to detect
NAB2/STAT6
gene fusion,
TP53
, and/or
TERT
promoter mutation was performed. We analyzed the pathological factors predictive of recurrence/metastasis and compared with clinical outcome. The risk of metastasis was calculated using four previously described scoring systems. Histopathologically, all tumors revealed hypercellularity, 11 had ≥ 4 mitoses/10 HPF, and 12 showed necrosis. Dedifferentiation was observed in three tumors. STAT6 was positive in all cases. Desmin, p16, INSM1, and HTER immunoexpressions were detected in 14, 18, 21, and 46% of the SFT, respectively. The
NAB2/STAT6
gene fusion was detected in 16 tumors. After a median follow-up of 34 months, 32.0% recurred, 32.1% metastasized, and 35.7% died of disease.
TERT
mutations were detected in almost half the tumors. Tumors with
TP53
mutations or with
TP53
and
TERT promoter
mutations were almost always classified as high risk, and the patients developed metastases and/or died of disease. Tumors with intermediate-risk and
TERT
mutation had a worse evolution. SFTs with adverse pathological parameters were not always related with a poor outcome, thus confirming the unpredictable clinical behavior of SFT. The inclusion of molecular factors (
TP53
and
TERT
promoter status) may provide new prognostic indicators for future risk stratification systems, especially in the intermediate-risk group.
Natural extracts (rich in bioactive compounds) that can be obtained from the leaves, peels and seeds, such as the studied extracts of Pomegranate (P), Rosemary (RA, Nutrox OS (NOS) and Nutrox OVS ...(NOVS)), and olive (
) extracts rich in hydroxytyrosol (HYT-F from olive fruit and HYT-L from olive leaf) can act as antioxidant and antimicrobial agents in food products to replace synthetic additives. The total phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity (measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-Azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazolin) -6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), and Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC
)) and their antimicrobial power (using the diffusion disk method with the
and
strains) were measured. The results showed that all the extracts were good antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds in vitro. On the other hand, their antioxidant and antimicrobial capacity was also measured in fish products acting as preservative agents. For that, volatile fatty acid compounds were analysed by GS-MS at day 0 and 11 from elaboration, together with total vial count (TVC), total coliform count (TCC),
and
content at day 0, 4, 7 and 11 under refrigerated storage. The fish patties suffered rapid lipid oxidation and odour and flavour spoilage associated with slight rancidity. Natural extracts from pomegranate, rosemary, and hydroxytyrosol delayed the lipid oxidation, measured as volatile compounds, and the microbiological spoilage in fish patties. Addition of natural extracts to fish products contributed to extend the shelf life of fish under retail display conditions.
The clinical evolution of solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) remains unclear. Although various clinical, morphological and molecular criteria may indicate increased risk of malignancy, some SFT can still ...progress despite having a clearly benign appearance. Various risk stratification systems have been proposed, but unfortunately they are not sufficient to precisely determine the malignant potential. In this review, we discuss current knowledge on SFT, focusing on the following controversial issues: (i) the diverse morphologic spectrum: ‘the great simulator;’ (ii) malignant transformation or dedifferentiation; (iii) current risk stratification systems; and (iv) molecular factors associated with clinical evolution. The morphological spectrum of SFT and the list of differential diagnoses continue to expand. Both have increased considerably since the first descriptions of specific molecular alterations. A classification of malignant SFT should not be based on histology alone. The correlation of all pathological and molecular factors is recommended; its inclusion in risk stratification systems may help to improve diagnosis and prognosis.
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