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Tofu whey is a pale-yellowish liquid with specific aroma/taste which remains as the byproduct/waste after tofu squeezing and represents an environmental problem for direct disposal. Understanding the fresh tofu whey protein composition and the activity of bioactive peptides could be useful for the application of tofu whey as a functional food additive. Tofu whey was obtained during the tofu production from six soybean genotypes by hydrothermal processing in combination with chymosin-pepsin rennet. Basic 7S globulin (14.28–19.13%), γ-conglycinin (7.73–9.31%) and β-conglycinin (10.59–12.90%) were registered of the total extracted proteins. Glycinin was present with a dominant share of acidic (24.64–27.55%) versus basic polypeptides (12.18–14.61%) in the total extracted proteins. High content of total protein (22.67–28.00%), balanced content (9.76–13.33% of the total extracted proteins) and residual activity (1.95–3.76%) of trypsin inhibitors and low lectins content (5.04–5.48% of the total extracted proteins) indicate good nutritional value of the tofu whey samples. Tofu whey can be potentially useful for application as a cheap, nutritional and functional food additive and can enable sustainable production through the recycling of waste. © 2023 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Product authentication is one of the most important food quality assurances. Considering the importance of consumption of berry fruits with proven health-beneficial properties, high sensory values and rich composition in bioactive substances, the aim of this study was to evaluate a straightforward and simple procedure for the protein fingerprinting of berry seeds. For this purpose, protein profiles of 45 samples of genuine berry fruit cultivars (strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, black currant, blueberry, gooseberry, chokeberry, cape gooseberry, and gojiberry) were analyzed by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis in combination with advanced chemometric tools. The most important parameters for discrimination among berry seeds were polypeptides at 12.8; 15.1; 25.0; 26.4; 30.0; 41.8; 44.4; 46.0; 48.5; 52.3 and 56.4 kDa. Biomarkers obtained from the protein profile of berry seeds proved to be a powerful tool in the authentication of their botanical origin, as well as for potential detection of berry-based products adulteration.

This study aimed to characterize mixtures of goat milk proteins and Agaricus blazei Murrill (ABM) extracts (aqueous, AE and polysaccharides, PE). The mixtures showed stable particles with ζ-potential more negative than -41.1 mV. The addition of AMB extracts to goat milk did not result in a significant particle size change, whereas their addition to heated goat milk significantly increased mean particle diameter (from 194 nm to 225 nm). Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that ABM extracts provoked changes in the secondary structure of goat milk proteins and interactions between polysaccharides and milk proteins predominantly via hydrogen and/or glycoside bonds and hydrophobic interactions. The milk protein profiles revealed proteolytic activity in mixtures with AE resulting in the formation of five new polypeptides. The different microstructures of mixtures with AE and PE were found by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). A schematic representation of possible milk proteins-ABM extracts interactions has been given.

The content of free and bound phenolics and their antioxidant capacity in cookies enriched by nettle seed flour and a nettle seed phenolic extract, before, during and after thermal processing (baking at 180°C for 25 min) were examined. The results compare these properties to a cookie obtained only from wheat flour, as the control. Better results were obtained by incorporating nettle seed flour than nettle seed extract. During thermal processing, different changes of phenolic content and antioxidant capacity (increase, decrease or retention) occurred, depending on the form of the phenolics (free or bound), thermal processing time, the cookie and applied antioxidant assays. The free and bound phenolics in the cookie with seed flour were more stable than in the other cookies. At the end of the thermal processing, the cookie with nettle seed flour had a higher content of free and bound phenolics (2.1 and 2.5 times, respectively), and greater antioxidant capacity (the DPPH RSC of free and bound phenolics 9.2 and 4.6 times, and of reducing power 1.6 and 3.4 times, respectively) than the control. There are great possibilities of using nettle seeds in the food industry with the aim of obtaining a functional product with powerful health benefits.

The beneficial role of fungi from the Trichoderma genus and its secondary metabolites in promoting plant growth, uptake and use efficiency of macronutrients and oligo/micro-nutrients, activation of plant secondary metabolism and plant protection from diseases makes it interesting for application in environmentally friendly agriculture. However, the literature data on the effect of Trichoderma inoculation on tomato fruit quality is scarce. Commercially used tomato cultivars were chosen in combination with indigenous Trichodrema species previously characterized on molecular and biochemical level, to investigate the effect of Trichoderma on photosynthetic characteristics and fruit quality of plants grown in organic system of production. Examined cultivars differed in the majority of examined parameters. Response of cultivar Gružanski zlatni to Trichoderma application was more significant. As a consequence of increased epidermal flavonols and decreased chlorophyll, the nitrogen balance index in leaves has decreased, indicating a shift from primary to secondary metabolism. The quality of its fruit was altered in the sense of increased total flavonoids content, decreased starch, increased Bioaccumulation Index (BI) for Fe and Cr, and decreased BI for heavy metals Ni and Pb. Higher expression of swolenin gene in tomato roots of more responsive tomato cultivar indicates better root colonization, which correlates with observed positive effects of Trichodrema.

The objective of this study was to determine whether the addition of different pollen powder concentrations (0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 g/100 g) to frankfurters had an influence on antioxidant potential and oxidative changes during storage, without detrimental effect on the quality of sausages. After cold storage of frankfurters, significant (P < 0.05) reductions of psychrotrophic bacteria populations were achieved with higher amounts of pollen (1.0 and 1.5 g/100 g). Good antioxidant properties and maintained TBARS values were accomplished by incorporating pollen into the frankfurters. In terms of quality parameters, statistically significant changes were obtained regarding the color, but sensory characteristics of the products were not disturbed. Also, the incorporation of pollen did not cause changes in terms of texture profile analyses of frankfurters. It can be concluded that the natural component, bee pollen powder, can be used as an antioxidant in frankfurter formulations, but further research is needed to estimate whether it can be an adequate replacement for synthetic antioxidants.

Soybean soaking water whey (SWW) is obtained as the waste of soy milk production and mostly represents an environmental problem. The aim of this study was to assess the content of proteins and content and activity of trypsin inhibitors of fresh SWW, obtained during soy milk production. Two zones of Bowman-Birk trypsin inhibitors (BBI) were detected. One was identified as a monomeric form of BBI (0.61-2.93%) and the other one was identified as a polymeric form of BBI (0.45-3.33%). The degree of BBI extraction (1.88-5.49%) was influenced by the soybean genotype and the grain size, i.e. it increased with increasing grain size. Kunitz trypsin inhibitor was not detected. Total proteins were found in traces in SWW (0.03-0.06%). Low residual trypsin inhibitor activity (0.32-0.55%) suggested that SWW can potentially be applied for preparing food or feed. In that case it will not be waste but a cheap functional supplement with BBI as a biologically active component.

The current study intended to determine, for the first time, phenolic and fatty acid profile, antioxidant and certain nutritional properties of monofloral bee-collected artichoke (Cynara scolymus) pollen. Based on UHPLC-DAD MS-MS analysis the main phenolics in extractable fraction were different flavonol glycosides (in particular Isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside, 49.2 mg/kg of dry weight) while ferulic acid was the predominant phenolic compound (39.4 mg/kg of dry weight) in the alkaline hydrolyzable fraction. Among fatty acids (FAs), results of GC-FID analysis revealed prevalence of unsaturated FAs with cis-5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and oleic acid as the main ones- 28.4% and 24.9%, respectively. Based on the FA composition, nutritional analysis proved that artichoke bee-collected pollen had balanced ω-6 and ω-3 FAs content. To determine the antioxidant properties of pollen, five different assays were applied. It was proved that bioactive compounds in artichoke pollen possessed significant ability to quench DPPH radical as well as ABTS radical cation. In addition, in vitro phosphomolybdenum assay confirmed that artichoke pollen is an excellent source of different antioxidants. Pollen extracts exhibited moderate ferric reducing power as well as low ferrous chelating ability. Some further antioxidant studies (preferably in vivo) should be performed to confirm the observed results. Supplementary material: [https://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/4623]

The study was designed to investigate chemical composition and kernel quality of almond cultivars ‘Troito’, ‘Marcona’ and ‘Texas’ grafted on Myrobalan plum seedlings and ‘GF 677’ rootstock under drought stress. Oil content varied from 53.34% (‘Marcona’) to 58.11% (‘Texas’), and protein content was in a range from 17.36% (‘Texas’) to 23.02% (‘Troito’). ‘GF 677’ contributed to a higher content of oleic and lower content of linoleic acid during favourable conditions but had the opposite trend during drought. Regarding flavanols, the most abundant in all three cultivars was epigalocatechin, followed by catechin. From the results it is concluded that scions on ‘GF 677’ were better adapted to water stress conditions in comparison with Myrobalan plum seedlings as they had significantly higher kernel weight, kernel ratio, and yield per tree. Also, kernel quality attributes, contents of proteins, oleic acid, and oleic acid/linoleic acid ratio were higher, while the content of amandin decreased. Furthermore, an increase of flavanols (especially epigallocatechin gallate) on ‘GF 677’ could have led to the enhancement of drought tolerance. Besides the fact that water deficit decreased the majority of chemical components in almond kernels, the grafting combination ‘Texas’/’GF 677’ can be grown in drought conditions without significant loss of kernel quality. Supplementary material: [https://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/4082]

Nutritional properties of inulin-enriched tofu obtained after hydrothermal cooking of soymilk, using chymosin-pepsin rennet and inulin as a functional ingredient, were assessed. This procedure significantly differs from the traditional one. The residual activity (rTIA) of trypsin inhibitors (TIs) and lectins, content of proteins, carbohydrates, fats and their energy values (EV) were suitable for human nutrition. Inulin-enriched tofu was characterised with low rTIA (3.08–5.71%) and TIs content of 3.62–18.99%. Content of Kunitz and Bowman-Birk TIs as well as total TIs content (r = 0.98) in tofu were strongly correlated with tofu protein content. Content of Bowman-Birk polymeric forms (3.11–5.36%) was higher than Bowman-Birk monomeric forms (0.51–2.31%) in inulin-enriched tofu. Low urease activity (0.60–1.78%) indicated that soybean was heated adequately to inactivate TIs. Increasing content of inulin did not increase tofu EV (~18 kJ per g tofu). The proximate composition of inulin-enriched tofu, advantageous rTIA and a very low EV qualifies this product for human nutrition.

“Bee pollen” is pollen collected from flowers by honey bees. It is used by the bees to nourish themselves, mainly by providing royal jelly and brood food, but it is also used for human nutrition. For the latter purpose, it is collected at the hive entrance as pellets that the bees bring to the hive. Bee pollen has diverse bioactivities, and thus has been used as a health food, and even as medication in some countries. In this paper, we provide standard methods for carrying out research on bee pollen. First, we introduce a method for the production and storage of bee pollen which assures quality of the product. Routine methods are then provided for the identification of the pollen’s floral sources, and determination of the more important quality criteria such as water content and content of proteins, carbohydrates, fatty acids, vitamins, alkaloids, phenolic and polyphenolic compounds. Finally, methods are described for the determination of some important bioactivities of bee pollen such as its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antimutagenic properties. Métodos estándar Para la investigación del polen El "polen de abeja" es el polen recogido de las flores por las abejas melíferas. El polen de abeja es utilizado para nutrir a las propias abejas, principalmente para proporcionar jalea real y alimento para las crías, pero también se utiliza para la nutrición humana. Para este último fin, se recoge en la entrada de la colmena en forma de gránulos que las abejas llevan a la colmena. El polen de abeja tiene diversas bioactividades, por lo que se hautilizado como alimento para la salud, e incluso como medicamento en algunos países. En este artículo, proporcionamos métodos estándar para llevar a cabo investigaciones sobre el polen de abeja. En primer lugar, presentamos un método de producción y almacenamiento de polen de abeja que garantiza la calidad del producto. A continuación, se ofrecen métodos de rutina para la identificación de las fuentes florales del polen y la determinación de los criterios de calidad más importantes, como el contenido de agua y de proteínas, carbohidratos, ácidos grasos, vitaminas, alcaloides y compuestos fenólicos y polifenólicos. Por último, se describen métodos para la determinación de algunas bioactividades importantes del polen de abeja, como sus propiedades antioxidantes, antiinflamatorias, antimicrobianas y antimutagénicas. The COLOSS (Prevention of honey bee COlony LOSSes) Association aims to explain and prevent massive honey bee colony losses. It was funded through the COST Action FA0803. COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a unique means for European researchers to jointly develop their own ideas and new initiatives across all scientific disciplines through trans-European networking of nationally funded research activities. Based on a pan-European intergovernmental framework for cooperation in science and technology, COST has contributed since its creation more than 40 years ago to closing the gap between science, policy makers and society throughout Europe and beyond. COST is supported by the EU Seventh Framework Program for research, technological development and demonstration activities (Official Journal L 412, 30 December 2006). The European Science Foundation as implementing agent of COST provides the COST Office through an EC Grant Agreement. The Council of the European Union provides the COST Secretariat. The COLOSS network is now supported by the Ricola Foundation – Nature & Culture. Figures 26–28 are reproduced from Sawyer (1981) with the permission of the publishers University College Cardiff Press and Northern Bee Books. Lidia Barreto and J Nordi wish to thank the Apiculture Research Center of Taubate University (UNITAU-SP/Brazil) and Agriculture Secretary of Bahia State (SEAGRI-BA/ BRAZIL). Maria Campos wishes to thank (UI0204): UIDB/ 00313/2020, Center of Chemistry from Faculty of Sciences and Technology of University of Coimbra, Portugal. Of elia Anjos wishes to thank to Forest Research Centre, a research unit funded by Fundac¸~ao para a Ci^encia e a Tecnologia I.P. (FCT), Portugal (UIDB/00239/2020), and to Centro de Biotecnologia de Plantas da Beira Interior for the OPUS software availability. Norma Almaraz Abarca thanks to the Instituto Politecnico Nacional for financial and logistic support. Manuel Chica and Pascual Campoy wish to thank the APIFRESH project. APIFRESH has been co-funded by the European Commission under the R4SMEs 7th Framework Program. Olena Lokutova thanks the Austrian Institute of beekeeping, Dr H Pehhacker and the same members of the Institute H Hagel and E H€uttinger for conducting photomicroscopic studies and pollen analysis Ukrainian samples of pollen loads, which were the basis of the atlas of pollen “honey plants” of Ukraine. Olena is grateful also to Polish colleagues Z Warakomska (Department of Botany University of Lublin) and D Teper (Polish Institute of beekeeping) for their professionalism and consultations to determine the botanical origin of some Ukrainian honey. Also thanks to their scientific advisers’ academician G Bogdanov (National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine), Prof. V Polishuk (Department of beekeeping National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine) and O Martynyuk (M.G. Kholodny Institute of Botany, Kiev, Ukraine) for his helpful co-operation in the field of beekeeping and palinology. Janka Nozkova wishes to thank the Operational Program Research and Development of the European Regional Development Fund in the frame of the project “Support of technologies innovation for special bio-food products for human healthy nutrition” (ITMS 26220220115) and also by the Excellence Center for Agrobiodiversity Conservation and Benefit – project implemented under the Operational Program Research and Development financed by European Fund for Regional Development ITMS 26220120015 (Slovak Republic) and all colleagues from Institute of Biodiversity and Biosafety, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra for their help with image analysis. Ananias Pascoal, Georgina Tolentino and Let ıcia Estevinho would like to thank Fundac¸~ao para a Ci^encia e Tecnologia (FCT), Programa Operacional Pontencial Humano (POPH) and European Union (EU) for his Postdoctoral grant SFRH/BPD/91380/2012. Wiebke Sickel, Markus Ankenbrand, Gudrun Grimmer, Frank F€orster, Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter and Alexander Keller thank the financial support by the DFG Collaborative Research Center 1047, Insect Timing. MJA was further supported by a grant of the German Excellence Initiative to the Graduate School of Life Sciences of the University of W€urzburg. They are grateful to the members of the Departments of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology; Bioinformatics; and Human Genetics, University of W€urzburg, for constructive input on the design of the workflow. Additionally thank to the Department of Human Genetics, especially S. Rost, for granting access to the Illumina MiSeq device. Zivoslav Te si c, Mirjana Mosi c, Aleksandar Kosti c, Mirjana Pe si c, Du sanka Milojkovi c-Opsenica thank the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of Serbia, Grants 172017 and TR 31069. Gina Tolentino would like to thank the Mountain Research Center (CIMO), Agricultural College of Bragança, Polytechnic Institute of Braganc¸a for his research grant in the project titled " Development of new bee products in biological production way.” info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

The beneficial role of fungi from the Trichoderma genus and its secondary metabolites in promoting plant growth, uptake and use efficiency of macronutrients and oligo/micro-nutrients, activation of plant secondary metabolism and plant protection from diseases makes it interesting for application in environmentally friendly agriculture. However, the literature data on the effect of Trichoderma inoculation on tomato fruit quality is scarce. Commercially used tomato cultivars were chosen in combination with indigenous Trichodrema species previously characterized on molecular and biochemical level, to investigate the effect of Trichoderma on photosynthetic characteristics and fruit quality of plants grown in organic system of production. Examined cultivars differed in the majority of examined parameters. Response of cultivar Gružanski zlatni to Trichoderma application was more significant. As a consequence of increased epidermal flavonols and decreased chlorophyll, the nitrogen balance index in leaves has decreased, indicating a shift from primary to secondary metabolism. The quality of its fruit was altered in the sense of increased total flavonoids content, decreased starch, increased Bioaccumulation Index (BI) for Fe and Cr, and decreased BI for heavy metals Ni and Pb. Higher expression of swolenin gene in tomato roots of more responsive tomato cultivar indicates better root colonization, which correlates with observed positive effects of Trichodrema.

The aim of the current study was to determine the content of several primary metabolites: total soluble sugars, starch and lipids, soluble sugars, fatty acids and triacylglycerols profile, and secondary metabolites: total phenolics and flavonoids, in the grains of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) cultivar ‘Kaća’. Additionally, grain antioxidant properties were assessed using ABTS•+ scavenging capacity and ferric reducing power (FRP) assays. Soybean was developed and grown in Serbia under two cultivation systems (conventional and organic) during two growing seasons (2016 and 2017). In both growing seasons and cultivation systems, soybean grains were characterised by reduced lipid content (8.16–14.34%) and as an excellent source of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Triacylglycerols (TAGs) with 44 equivalent carbon numbers (ECN44) represented the main fraction (30.95–32.79%) followed by ECN46 TAGs (23.27–26.36%). Low total soluble sugars (2.36–11.51%) content was determined. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed a significant prevalence of non-reducing disaccharides (1.41–6.57%) among the individual sugars. Soybean grains were proved as a good source of phenolic (2493.9–4419.5 mg kg-1) and flavonoid (292.7–500.9 mg kg-1) compounds with the dominance of free (extractable) fractions. Strong positive correlations were observed between both cultivation systems and growing seasons indicating no clear differences for the majority of analysed parameters. All examined extracts possessed a significant ability (27.6–38.2%) to neutralize ABTS•+ radicals, while in the case of FRP assay a significant ability for iron ions (Fe3+) reduction was recorded for the samples from the second growing season.

The aim of this research was phenolics and protein characterization and antioxidant properties evaluation of skimmed thermally treated goat’s milk powder enriched with different concentration of grape pomace seed extract (SE). The dominant phenolics in SE were phenolic acids, flavan–3-ols and procyanidins. Different electrophoretic techniques together with UHPLC-MS/MS analysis revealed the presence of phenolics-protein interactions in the samples, mainly procyanidins with whey protein/caseins complexes. Addition of SE into thermally treated goat’s milk significantly improved antioxidant properties of goat’s milk such as TAC, FRP, DPPH• and ABTS•+ scavenging activity. Gallic acid, catechin, and procyanidins mostly contributed to these activities. The schematic representation of phenolics–casein micelles interactions in thermally treated goat’s milk enriched with SE was given. The addition of SE into thermally treated goat’s milk can be a promising strategy in food waste recovery and to enhance the beneficial health effects of goat’s milk-based functional foods.

The UV-B represents the minor fraction of the solar spectrum, while UV-C is not contained in natural solar radiation, but both radiation types can cause damaging effects in plants. Cell walls (CWs) are one of the targets for external stressors. Juvenile P. omorika trees were treated either with 21 day-high doses UV-B or with 7 day- UV-C in open-top chambers. Using spectroscopic and biochemical techniques, it was shown that the response to UV radiation includes numerous modifications in needle CW structure: relative content of xylan, xyloglucan, lignin and cellulose decreased; cellulose crystallinity changed; yield of lignin monomers with stronger connection of C–– C in side chain with the ring increased; re-distribution of inter- and intra-polymer H-bonds occurred. The recovery was mediated by an increase in the activities and changes in isoform profiles of CW bound covalent peroxidases (POD) and polyphenol oxidases (PO) (UV–B), and ionic POD and covalent PO (UV–C). A connection between activities of specific POD/PO isoforms and phenolic species (m- and p-coumaric acid, pinoresinol and cinnamic acid derivatives) was demonstrated, and supported by changes in the sRNA profile. In vivo fluorometry showed phenolics accumulation in needle epidermal CWs. These results imply transversal connections between polymers and changed mechanical properties of needle CW as a response to UV. The CW alterations enabled maintenance of physiological functions, as indicated by the preserved chlorophyll content and/or organization. The current study provides evidence that in conifers, needle CW response to both UV-B and UV-C includes biochemical modifications and structural remodeling. Supplementary material: [http://aspace.agrif.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/5997]

This study evaluated whether inert feed enriched with Lb. paracasei subsp. paracasei BGHN14 may be used as a weaning diet for first feeding pike-perch larvae. Three experimental groups were weaned from the start of exogenous feeding: two groups were given inert feed enriched with BGHN14 either via 12 h incubation with live BGHN14 cells or via coating with homogenized BGHN14 cells and one group was supplemented non-enriched inert feed. In all three groups Artemia was co-fed with inert feed during weaning. Control group larvae were fed Artemia exclusively during the treatment period. Treatment lasted fourteen days, starting from the 6th day post-hatch (DPH). Larval sampling was performed on the 20th DPH for gene expression and enzyme activity analysis. Larvae were also sampled on the 32nd DPH for morphometric and body composition analysis. Our results showed that weaning of first feeding pike-perch larvae was associated with an increase of fish condition (0.72 ± 0.12–0.77 ± 0.11 versus 0.67 ± 0.11 in controls), but it suppressed skeleton development, according to Col1 mRNA expression (1 ± 0.51–1.06 ± 0.36 versus 2.07 ± 0.53 in controls) and reduced fat deposition (1.25 ± 0.23–1.49 ± 0.33 versus 1.84 ± 0.31% in controls). This presumably reflected lower availability of soluble proteins in microdiet as opposed to live food, along with high leaching rate of amino acids from solid feed particles, as reported in our previous studies. However, skeleton differentiation was not impaired in group weaned on BGHN14 homogenate coated feed (Col1 mRNA expression: 2.68 ± 0.72), which was enriched in skeleton building and taste stimulating amino acids. These larvae were also presented with substantially higher length (15.28 ± 2.55 versus 13.93 ± 2.31 mm in controls) and weight (26.56 ± 13.83 versus 21.03 ± 11.25 mg in controls), which correlated with lower trypsin activity (1.06 ± 0.13 versus 1.43 ± 0.26 mU/mg of proteins in controls) and an increase of PLA2 to trypsin activity ratio (453.12 ± 109.36 versus 264.84 ± 69.03 in controls). Present study suggests that weaning of first feeding pike-perch larvae using BGHN14 homogenate coated microdiet supports skeleton development and improves fish growth.

Pollen is recognized as an excellent dietary supplement for human nutrition, which is why it can be found in different forms on the market (granules, capsules, tablets, pellets, and powders). But, the digestibility of pollen’s nutrients is strongly affected by the presence of a pollen shell, which can decrease the bioavailability of nutrients by 50% and more. Since consumers have become more aware of the benefits of a healthy diet and the necessity to improve pollen digestibility, different pollen-based functional food products have been developed and extensive studies were done to estimate the beneficial effects of pollen-based feed on animal growth, health, and rigor mortise stage. Considering the positive effects of pollen nutrients and phytometabolites on human and animal health, the aim of this paper was to give an overview of recent achievements in the application of pollen in the formulation of functional food and animal diets. Special attention was paid to the effects of pollen’s addition on the nutritional, functional, techno-functional, and sensory properties of the new formulated food products. Anti-nutritional properties of pollen were also discussed. This review points out the benefits of pollen addition to food and feed and the possible directions in the further development of functional food and feed for the wellbeing of everyone.

Background and objectives: Quinoa is considered to be a “natural functional food” due to a lot of bioactive compounds that are beneficial for human health by helping prevent the risks of different diseases. The aim of this study was to test the health-promoting characteristics of Puno and Titicaca quinoa seeds grown in Serbia by assessing their phenolic and flavonoid content, antioxidant activities, and potential anticancer effect on human colorectal cancer cells. Findings: Thirteen phenolic compounds were identified and quantified in the seeds of both cultivars, but their profile and concentration of individual phenolic compounds differed. Cytotoxic activities were present in both cultivars, whereas the pronounced concentration and time-dependent effects were more expressed in Puno extracts. Conclusions: The extracts of the seeds of both cultivars are a rich source of phenolic and flavonoid compounds and with high antioxidant activities. Potent anticancer activity against the human colorectal cancer was expressed in both investigated cultivars. Significance and novelty: The study confirmed the health benefit potential of Puno and Titicaca quinoa cultivars, grown in Serbia. These results are the first to demonstrate a potent anticancer activity of quinoa seed extract against the human colorectal cancer cell line HCT-116, as well as the presence of 7 new phenolic and flavonoid compounds.

The aim of this study was to determine fatty acid and soluble sugar profiles of the grape seed flour originated from non-fermented dried pomace of international and autochthonous grape varieties in order to estimate their potential nutritional value. The grape seed flours were obtained from the grapes harvested in technological maturity. It has been shown that grape seed flours contained significant quantities of unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs), especially linoleic fatty acids, whose content ranged from 61.15 - 83.47 %. Oleic acid mostly contributed to the content of monounsaturated fatty acids, while the stearic acid was the most abundant saturated fatty acid (SFA). Among polyunsaturated fatty acids, mainly ω-6 FAs, were the most represented. The tested grape seed flours had the high UFA/SFA ratio (3.63- 11.09), low atherogenicity (0.04-0.13) and thrombogenicity (0.16-0.47) indices. Fifteen different sugars were found in analysed samples with the total concentration ranging from 40588 to 91319 mg/kg seed with fructose and glucose as the most abundant. Principal component analysis based on the content of FAs and soluble sugars revealed unique composition of the seed flour of Prokupac variety. These findings indicate that the tested grape seed flours is a good source of nutritionally valuable FAs and sugars that can play an important role in the formulation of a new functional food products. [Projects of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. TR31069 and Grant no. OI172017]

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.

The aim of this study was to investigate the bioaccessibility of pesticide residues in blueberries (com-mercial and sample from controlled field trial) from Serbia, involving the presence of a complex food matrix and to assess the potential risk to human health. The presence of nine active substances (azox-ystrobin, boscalid, fludioxonil, cyprodinil, pyrimethanil, pyridaben, pyriproxyfen, acetamiprid and thia-metoxam) in initial blueberry samples was determined in concentration range from 5.15 mu g/kg for thiametoxam to 187 mu g/kg for azoxystrobin. Clothianidin, metabolite of thiametoxam, was not detected in any blueberry sample. However, after in vitro digestion, the content of initially detected pesticides residues was significantly decreased or it was below limit of quantification resulting in the total bio-accessibility of about 15%. Azoxystrobin, pyrimethanil and fludioxonil was quantified in digestive juice at concentrations which were about 81%, 37% and 10% less than the inital concentration, respectively. The presence of food matrix during digestion of blueberries even more severely reduced concentration of pesticide residues (total bioaccessibility was about 7%) compared to digestion without the food matrix. Only azoxystrobin was quantified after digestion with food matrix in concentration of 27 mu g/kg in sample from controlled field trial and detected in two commercial samples but below the limit of quantification. Furthermore, chronic risk assessment indicated that risk is acceptable for the health of different human subpopulation groups. The current study on pesticides residues, most commonly applied on blueberries, provides for the first time an insight into their bioaccessibility under conditions that mimic physiological environment of human digestive tract.