Milk and sodium alginate beads (SA) as encapsulation materials can improve the viability of Lacticaseibacillus acidophilus LAC5. The present study focused on interactive structural optimization of milk and SA-based beads for improved survival of L. acidophilus LAC5 in cheddar cheese. L. acidophilus was microencapsulated using varying concentrations of milk and SA, e.g., T₀ (Milk/SA 0:0), T₁ (Milk/SA 1/1:1), T₂ (Milk/SA 1/2:1), T₃ (Milk/SA 1/1:1.5), T₄ (Milk/SA1/2:1.5), T₅ (Milk/SA 1/1:2.0) and T₆ (Milk/SA 1/2:2.0). Free and encapsulated L. acidophilus were compared for their survival in gastroenteric conditions. Structural and spectral analysis was performed using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR). The free and encapsulated probiotics were incorporated into cheddar cheese. Organic acids were quantified using HPLC. The combination of SA and milk significantly (p < 0.05) improved the survival of L. acidophilus as compared to free cells. The increase in polymer concentration improved the structure of beads and the survival of probiotics. However, the release profile of beads decreased with the increase in polymer concentration. FTIR showed the presence of milk and SA in the beads. Better storage stability (10⁸ CFU/mL) was observed for T₆ in all the treatments as compared to free cells. The addition of encapsulated cells improved the sensory characteristics of cheese. This may help the local food industry to utilize native probiotic strains to be incorporated into probiotic foods with improved bio-accessibility.

The gut–immune–metabolic axis has emerged as a central regulator of human health, with growing evidence indicating that microbiota-derived metabolites improve gut microbial ecology, enhance intestinal barrier integrity, reduce systemic inflammation, and maintain metabolic homeostasis. This review synthesizes current mechanistic and clinical evidence on the role of postbiotics in regulating intestinal barrier integrity, immune responses, oxidative stress, and metabolic–endocrine homeostasis. The literature was identified through the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science, integrating evidence from experimental, mechanistic, animal and clinical studies on the therapeutic potential of postbiotics to modulate the gut–immune–metabolic axis. Preclinical studies suggest that postbiotics may enhance epithelial barrier function by improving tight junction integrity through multiple pathways such as PI3K/Akt signaling, stimulating mucin-2 (MUC2) production, and reducing intestinal permeability. They modulate immune responses through interactions with Toll-like receptors, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain receptors, and G-protein-coupled receptors (GPR41/43), influencing key signaling pathways, including NF-κB and Nrf2, and altering cytokine profiles, such as IL-10, TNF-α, and IFN-γ. Similarly, preclinical investigations have demonstrated that short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and other microbial metabolites may improve insulin sensitivity, regulate hepatic gluconeogenesis, stimulate glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) secretion, and modulate lipid metabolism through the FXR and TGR5 signaling pathways. Emerging human studies suggest potential benefits of postbiotics in regulating gut, immune, and metabolic health; nevertheless, clinical evidence remains limited and is influenced by variability in postbiotic composition, dosage, formulation, and metabolite profiles. Therefore, standardized production approaches and well-designed large-scale randomized clinical trials are required to confirm therapeutic efficacy and establish evidence-based applications of postbiotics.

Background Diosgenin is a steroidal saponin of Dioscorea and Trigonella species, which has been gaining a lot of interest due to its health-promoting action. This review will summarize the potential usefulness of diosgenin, especially with regard to the use of diosgenin in the regulation of gastrointestinal microbiota, the effects, therapeutic mechanisms, utility, and practical implications. Objectives This review aims to comprehensively examine the phytochemistry, extraction techniques, biological mechanisms, and therapeutic potential of diosgenin, with emphasis on its role in gastrointestinal health. A systematic search of peer-reviewed literature published between 2019 and 2025 was conducted via PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, prioritizing clinical trials, animal studies, and systematic reviews in accordance with predefined inclusion criteria. Findings Diosgenin has been shown to have the ability to defend the gut, prevent cancer by modifying the signal transduction pathway of NF-kB and MAPK; thereby reinforcing the barrier to the gut and reducing inflammation. Diosgenin is also able to shift the intestinal microbiome in favor of healthy species, including Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum. Bioavailability may be modulated by new approaches in nanoparticle delivery or macromolecular cyclodextrin complexes. Conclusion and future directions Diosgenin may be applied in the treatment of gastrointestinal-associated conditions such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and colorectal cancer. What also makes it clinically significant is the capability to achieve the balance of the gut-brain axis. Future clinical trials and pharmacokinetics studies need to be conducted in order to know how diosgenin is demonstrated in functional foods and personalized medicine, and be able to use them in therapies. Graphical Abstract

Grapefruit is renowned for its rich nutritional profile and antioxidant potential; however, the effects of concentration processes like vacuum evaporation on its quality attributes remain underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional, functional, sensory, and safety characteristics of vacuum evaporated grapefruit juice concentrate Brix levels ranging from 10° to 55° Brix (T₀: 10°, T₁: 25°, T₂: 35°, T₃: 45°, T₄: 55°) and samples were analyzed for proximate composition, color attributes, total phenolic content, ascorbic acid, antioxidant activity (DPPH % inhibition), pesticide residues using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and sensory quality. The results showed significant concentration effects on nutritional composition: moisture content decreased from 88.19% (T₀) to 56.23% (T₄), while total sugars increased from 11.29% to 26.82%. Similarly, acidity rose from 1.02% to 3.82%, and pH decreased slightly, indicating enhanced preservation potential. Total soluble solids °Brix increased from 10.02° to 54.70°. Antioxidant activity sharply increased from 40.13% to 91.46%, alongside rise in total phenolic content (up to 114.72 mg GAE/g) and ascorbic acid (up to 185.67 mg/100 mL). However, higher brix levels also led to increased pesticide residues, Mandipropamid peaked at 6.85 mg/kg at both 10° and 55°. Sensory analysis revealed T₁ (moderate concentration) as the most acceptable sample (overall acceptability score: 8.56), while T₄ received the lowest scores (overall acceptability score: 3.89). In conclusion, vacuum evaporation improved the nutritional and antioxidant profile of grapefruit concentrate but also intensified or degraded pesticide load variably depending on their thermal stability and volatility and negatively affected sensory quality at higher concentrations. Future studies should focus on residue mitigation strategies and optimizing concentration levels for commercial applications. Graphical Abstract

Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw. (chayote), a neglected and underutilized Cucurbitaceae crop widely cultivated across tropical and subtropical regions, has drawn growing interest as a source of health-promoting food components. This review critically synthesizes studies published between 2000 and 2026 on its botanical features, genome characterization, nutritional value, phytochemistry, bioactivities, safety, and food-industry applications, based on literature retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and the Cochrane Library. Different plant parts (fruits, leaves, seeds, tuberous roots, and peels) contain diverse bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, cucurbitacins, pectin polysaccharides, and carotenoids. Reported bioactivities include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, cardioprotective, antiproliferative, and geroprotective effects, mediated in part through Nrf2-mediated antioxidant signaling and sirtuin (SIRT1/3/5/6) upregulation. Notably, a systematic meta-analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in serum glucose (MD = −20.56; 95% CI: −29.35 to −11.77) and HbA1c following three months of chayote intake in patients with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Industrially, chayote has been developed into fermented products, starch- and peel-derived bioactive films, ultrasound-extracted pectin, α-amylase inhibitory seed protein isolates, and probiotic encapsulation systems. Recent genomic work has further revealed a chromosome-level genome assembly, whole-genome duplication events, and a domestication history tracing to Mexico’s Oaxaca region. Collectively, this evidence positions chayote as a promising underutilized resource for food, nutraceutical, and biomedical use, while highlighting key gaps: the need for standardized clinical trials, bioavailability studies, and comprehensive safety evaluation.

This review critically evaluates potato peel, a major by-product of potato processing, as a sustainable source of nutraceutical and functional bioactives. The purpose is to synthesize current evidence on its nutritional composition, phytochemistry, bioaccessibility, safety, therapeutic potential, and industrial valorization, with emphasis on how recent processing and delivery strategies can convert this waste stream into higher-value products. Potato peel is rich in dietary fiber, phenolic acids, flavonoids, glycoalkaloids, resistant starch, proteins, enzymes, and minerals. These constituents may contribute to antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, cardiometabolic, and food-stabilizing effects, although most evidence remains based on in vitro assays, animal models, and food-system studies rather than human trials. The review also highlights key limitations, including cultivar-dependent composition, glycoalkaloid safety thresholds, pesticide residues, variable bioavailability, limited clinical evidence, and scale-up challenges. Recent advances in green extraction, encapsulation, starch and protein recovery, biodegradable packaging, and nanoparticle synthesis show that potato peel valorization can support circular bioeconomy goals when supported by standardized processing, quality control, and safety assessment. Overall, potato peel should be considered a promising bioresource rather than a simple agro-food waste, but its health-related uses require careful formulation, dosage control, and stronger translational evidence. Graphical Abstract