Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of human mortality worldwide. Oxidative stress and inflammation are pathophysiological processes involved in the development of CVD. That is why bioactive food ingredients, including lycopene, are so important in their prevention, which seems to be a compound increasingly promoted in the diet of people with cardiovascular problems. Lycopene present in tomatoes and tomato products is responsible not only for their red color but also for health-promoting properties. It is characterized by a high antioxidant potential, the highest among carotenoid pigments. Mainly for this reason, epidemiological studies show a number of favorable properties between the consumption of lycopene in the diet and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. While there is also some controversy in research into its protective effects on the cardiovascular system, growing evidence supports its beneficial role for the heart, endothelium, blood vessels, and health. The mechanisms of action of lycopene are now being discovered and may explain some of the contradictions observed in the literature. This review aims to present the current knowledge in recent years on the preventive role of lycopene cardiovascular disorders.

High nutritional value and antioxidant properties make chickpea flour a valuable substitute for wheat flour, although its texture-forming abilities are different. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of increasing the content of bioactive compounds and antioxidant properties of shortbread cookies by simple partial or complete replacement of wheat flour with chickpea flour without considerable changes in texture, color, sensory properties, or acceptability. Shortbread cookies were made from wheat flour (0% of chickpea flour), wheat flour and chickpea flour (replacement of 25%, 50%, and 75%), and chickpea flour (100%). Generally, the increase in chickpea flour share resulted in an increase in protein, fat, and ash content, as well as antioxidant properties. Polyphenol content, flavonoid content, and antioxidant activities increased three- to sixfold in shortbread cookies containing chickpea flour in comparison to wheat cookies. The level of proteins increased about 50% and the antioxidant properties were three to six times higher than in wheat cookies. Cookies containing up to 75% chickpea flour were assessed as very good or good quality, while only cookies without wheat flour were assessed as sufficient quality. It could be concluded that part of the wheat flour content in shortbread cookies can be replaced by chickpea flour. Application of a 25% proportion of chickpea flour increases physicochemical properties without changes in sensory properties. Sensory quality was up to 75% lower, but antioxidant properties were increased. However, complete replacement of wheat flour in shortbread cookies without changing the recipe resulted in a product of slightly lower sensory quality.

The growing interest in functional food makes looking for new possibilities of enriching products with health-promoting ingredients necessary. One raw material with a very high potential for the food industry is the oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus), which has a strong antioxidant, antiviral, and anticancer effect. Carp meat (Cyprinus carpio) also has beneficial properties. It is rich in easily digestible protein, vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of oyster mushroom addition on the quality of carp burgers, with particular emphasis on the antioxidant effect. The scientific literature produced so far has not focused on the synergy between oyster mushrooms and carp meat. The addition of oyster mushrooms contributed to the increase in antioxidant properties and sensory attractiveness of burgers. The fat content in the finished product was reduced, and the degree of their oxidation was also reduced. The obtained results will contribute to the creation of innovative food products that meet the expectations of consumers looking for healthy food.

The aim of this study was to evaluate qualitative changes in lipids of two most popular freshwater farmed fish (rainbow trout and carp) at particular stages of hot smoking process (brining, drying, smoking and heating). In order to characterize qualitative changes, the amount of peroxides (PV), secondary oxidation products (AsV) and the degree of hydrolysis of lipids (AV) was determined during the smoking process. The studies were carried out both in the fraction of lipids extracted using chloroform-based method (free lipids), as well as the fraction extracted by Bligh and Dyer method of the 1:1 chloroform: methanol ratio (bound lipids). Heat smoking results in loss of fat, especially at the last two stages of the process and the final contents of lipids were about 18% lower in the carp samples and about 10% lower in the trout samples. The dynamics of free lipid oxidation (Ch-lipids) was much smaller than the lipids extracted using B-D method, but the trend of lipid changes was similar. There was no significant difference in the anisidine value between two species, both for free lipids (Ch-lipids) and bound lipids (B-D-lipids), except for the last stage of smoking. No statistically significant differences between the studied species were found also in the case of lipid hydrolysis level, but after the smoking process an amount of free fatty acids increased. Subsequent stages of smoking process resulted in statistically significant losses of EPA and DHA in both fish species and in both types of lipids, i.e. B-D-lipids and Ch-lipids.