Edible insects as functional foods: bioactive compounds, health benefits, safety concerns, allergenicity, and regulatory considerations

Frontiers in Nutrition, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 12

Published: March 31, 2025

The growing demand for sustainable and nutrient-rich food sources has positioned edible insects as a viable alternative to traditional animal-based proteins. This review explores the bioactive properties safety considerations of insects, emphasizing their potential health benefits challenges associated with widespread consumption. Research identified compounds in antioxidant, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, cardioprotective, digestive health-promoting properties, highlighting functional foods preventing or managing chronic diseases such cardiovascular conditions inflammatory disorders. Additionally, this examines findings related contaminants including heavy metals, microbial pathogens, allergens, which could pose risks. Certain insect species have shown accumulation cadmium lead, depending on diet environment. Moreover, contamination, bacteria, fungi, parasites, can occur if farming processing are not properly controlled. Furthermore, proteins exhibit cross-reactivity allergens found crustaceans dust mites, raising concerns individuals allergies. For be successfully integrated into global systems, further technological advancements, regulatory oversight, consumer acceptance strategies must implemented. Addressing these will enable become key component contributing nutrition, environmental sustainability, human health.

Language: Английский

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Probiotics and Plant-Based Foods as Preventive Agents of Urinary Tract Infection: A Narrative Review of Possible Mechanisms Related to Health

Nutrients, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 17(6), P. 986 - 986

Published: March 11, 2025

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a prevalent global health issue, often requiring antibiotic treatment, which contributes to antimicrobial resistance. This narrative review explores the potential of probiotics and plant-based foods as alternative or complementary preventive strategies against UTIs. Fermented foods, such yogurt, kefir, kombucha, contain probiotic strains that can modulate gut urogenital microbiota, enhancing resistance uropathogens. Likewise, including cranberry, garlic, bearberry, juniper, nettle, possess bioactive compounds with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, diuretic properties. Laboratory clinical studies suggest these natural interventions may reduce incidence UTIs by inhibiting pathogen adhesion, modulating immune responses, promoting urinary health. However, despite promising findings, inconsistencies in study methodologies, dosage standardization, long-term efficacy warrant further investigation. Future research should focus on optimizing formulations, standardizing supplement dosages, assessing food–drug interactions establish evidence-based guidelines for UTI prevention.

Language: Английский

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Self‐Enhancing Drug Pair‐Driven Selenium Nanotherapeutics Reverses Microglial Pyroptosis Through NLRP3/Caspase‐1 Pathway and Neuronal Apoptosis for Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury

Advanced Functional Materials, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 23, 2025

Abstract Spinal cord injury (SCI) constitutes a critical occurrence that results in the disruption of both motor and sensory functions. Oxidative stress‐induced apoptosis pyroptosis have been identified as contributors to neuronal damage during secondary phase following SCI. Therefore, this study focuses on development self‐enhancing drug pair‐driven selenium (Se) nanotherapeutics, loading with 2,3,5,6‐tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1), enhance treatment The engineered LET/TMP/Rg1@Se NPs exhibits remarkable antioxidant properties, effectively reducing oxidative by minimizing reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation restoring mitochondrial function. In addition their effects, nanotherapeutics demonstrates significant anti‐pyroptotic effects BV2 microglial cells modulating NLRP3/caspase‐1 pathway, leading decreased release pro‐inflammatory cytokines IL‐1β IL‐18. Moreover, inhibition inflammatory cascade response diminishes neuroinflammation‐induced promotes axonal regeneration neurons vitro. mouse model SCI, improved function regeneration, attributed pyroptosis, highlighting scientific basis for synergistic effect Se an innovative strategy effective SCI therapy.

Language: Английский

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Sustainable Meat Alternatives: Incorporation of Tenebrio molitor and Alphitobius diaperinus Powders into Pork-Based Hybrid Hams

Foods, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 14(7), P. 1192 - 1192

Published: March 28, 2025

The increasing demand for sustainable meat alternatives has driven research into edible insects as a protein source. This study developed and characterized hybrid hams using pork with 10% of Tenebrio molitor, Alphitobius diaperinus, or 5% A. diaperinus plus T. molitor powders. were analyzed color, texture, nutritional composition, amino acid profile, antioxidant activity, consumer acceptance. Results indicated that adding insect powder led to darker color in hams. content increased, reaching 49% the 46% formulations, compared 35% control (without powder). Amino analysis formulation revealed higher concentrations essential acids control, threonine by 185%, valine 24% histidine 27%. Also, inclusion powders enhanced mineral mainly sodium, potassium, phosphorus, sulfur. total polyphenol nearly doubled mixed formulations. Additionally, sensory evaluation these formulations well-accepted. These findings support potential nutritious source innovative food products.

Language: Английский

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Gray Frequency-Based Methodology for Assessing Cell Damage

ACS Omega, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 31, 2025

Cell biology techniques offer a solid foundation for evaluating and forecasting the danger of pollutants in investigations environmental toxicology. Studies on ecological toxicity, medication development, illness diagnosis depend cellular damage. The morphology stimulated cells can alter light scattering reflection, brightness microscopic images cells. This study demonstrated that stimulation-damaged normal had distinct gray value distributions which led to proposal novel theory measure damage by image brightness. Second, various cell types were used confirm method's applicability. Additionally, an evaluation technique based frequency analysis be created determine extent approach provides effective helpful tool visualization quantitative toxicity assessment.

Language: Английский

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Differential impacts of high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training on obesity-induced behavioral and biochemical dysregulation in male mice

Sport Sciences for Health, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 4, 2025

Language: Английский

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Mitochondrial classic metabolism and its often-underappreciated facets

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Basis of Disease, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 167839 - 167839

Published: April 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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A Systematic Review of Endothelial Dysfunction in Chronic Venous Disease—Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Shear Stress

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 26(8), P. 3660 - 3660

Published: April 12, 2025

Chronic venous disease (CVD) is among the most common diseases in industrialized countries and has a significant socioeconomic impact. The diversity of clinical symptoms manifestations CVD pose major challenges routine diagnosis treatment. Despite high prevalence huge number surgical interventions performed every day, substantial proportion etiopathogenesis remains unclear. There are several widely advocated generally valid theories “peri-capillary fibrin cuffs” “white cell trapping hypothesis”, which consider role reflux/obstruction, inflammation, vascular remodeling, hemodynamic changes, genetic social risk factors. specific provoking factors for development reflux: incompetence valve system, inflammation wall, hypertension. Over past few years, increasing scientific data demonstrated link between oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation. High levels oxidants persistent can cause cumulative changes hemodynamics, resulting permanent irreversible damage to microcirculation cells. Production reactive oxygen species expression inflammatory cytokines adhesion molecules involved vicious cycle wall remodeling. interaction ROS, particular, superoxide anion radical, with nitric oxide leads decrease NO bioavailability, followed by initiation prolonged vasoconstriction hypoxia impairment tone. This review addresses ED, oxidative, stress mediation. Based on predefined inclusion exclusion criteria, we conducted systematic published articles using PubMed, PMC Europe, Scopus, WoS, MEDLINE, Google Scholar databases interval from 24 April 2002 1 2025. current included studies (n = 197) articles, including new reviews, updates, grey literature, were evaluated according eligibility criteria. selection process was standardized form PRISMA rules, manual search databases, double-check ensure transparent complete reporting reviews. Studies had report quantitative assessments relationship shear chronic disease.

Language: Английский

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Phytochemical Characterization and Antioxidant Activity of Cajanus cajan Leaf Extracts for Nutraceutical Applications

Molecules, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 30(8), P. 1773 - 1773

Published: April 15, 2025

Cajanus cajan (guandú) is a widely cultivated leguminous plant in Panama; however, its phytochemical composition remains underexplored. Traditionally used Asia and Africa for medicinal properties, the plant’s bioactive compounds responsible these benefits have not been fully identified. The profile antioxidant capacity of C. leaf extracts from Panama were characterized, highlighting their potential applications. Ethanolic obtained via ultrasonication analyzed through screening, confirming presence alkaloids, tannins, saponins, steroids. Spectrophotometric analysis revealed high total phenolic (71 mg g−1) flavonoid (30 contents. Antioxidant assays demonstrated significant 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical cation (ABTS+) inhibition 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) identified 35 leaves first time, including lupeol (antimicrobial antitumor), lupenone (antidiabetic), squalene (antitumor antioxidant), tocopherol (antioxidant), β-amyrin (antibacterial anti-Alzheimer’s). These findings expand known cajan, supporting pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, agro-industrial potential. Moreover, this research provides foundation further studies on applications human health sustainable agriculture.

Language: Английский

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Enhanced peri-implantitis management through purple-LED irradiation coupled with silver ion application and calcium phosphate gene transfection carrier coating

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: April 21, 2025

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the bactericidal effect and recovery biocompatibility contaminated titanium surfaces using a combination treatment involving silver, copper, or iron ion application along with 400 nm purple-LED light irradiation. Additionally, sought develop functional calcium phosphate (CaP) coating on following disinfection, promote re-osseointegration. A emitting at utilized irradiate Staphylococcus aureus suspensions biofilms in presence various concentrations solutions for 1 min. electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrum were subsequently evaluated. hydrophilicity surface cell viability MC3T3-E1 cells after silver Furthermore, CaP gene transfection carrier containing plasmid DNA developed an electric current. activity hard tissue formation then evaluated both vitro vivo post-treatment. ions attributed generation hydroxyl radicals, whereas effects from copper treatments not radical-mediated. significantly restored affinity surface. Moreover, applied via current (30 µA 5 min) enhanced settings. utilizing irradiation by generating high levels radicals. functionalized promoted early osseointegration, suggesting promising strategy improving implant outcomes.

Language: Английский

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