Antioxidants play a crucial role in mitigating oxidative stress and preventing cellular damage caused by free radicals. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of three antioxidant assays—DPPH, TEAC, and FRAP—in quantifying the antioxidant capacity of 15 plant-based spices, herbs, and food materials from five distinct plant families. The relationship between these assays and total polyphenol content (TPC) as well as total flavonoid content (TFC) was also investigated. The results showed that FRAP exhibited the strongest correlation with TPC (r = 0.913), followed by TEAC (r = 0.856) and DPPH (r = 0.772). Lamiaceae species, such as rosemary and thyme, consistently demonstrated high antioxidant activities across all assays. The study highlights the complementary nature of these assays in assessing antioxidant capacity and underscores their utility in profiling polyphenol- and flavonoid-rich plants for potential nutritional and therapeutic applications.

This study investigates the enzymatic hydrolysis of soybean (Glycine max L.) and mung bean (Vigna radiata) proteins using bromelain, ficin, papain, and pepsin to improve digestibility and functional properties. We hypothesized that mung bean's less compact structure would yield higher degree of hydrolysis (DH) and bioactive peptides compared to soybean, enhancing antioxidant capacity for functional foods. Mung bean showed significantly higher proteolysis, with a maximum DH of 46.5 ± 2.1 % (p ≤ 0.05) using 10 % bromelain for 12 h, versus soybean's 26.9 ± 1.5 % (p ≤ 0.05). Bromelain and ficin outperformed papain and pepsin, producing up to 62.3 ± 3.2 % oligopeptides and 32.4 g/100 g free amino acids in mung bean. Mung bean hydrolysates exhibited superior antioxidant activity, reaching 78.4 ± 2.5 % DPPH scavenging (p ≤ 0.05), compared to soybean's 58.9 ± 2.0 % (p ≤ 0.05), due to increased 200–1000 Da peptides. Optimal conditions (10 % enzyme, 12 h) improved solubility and bioactivity, highlighting mung bean's potential and bromelain's efficacy for sustainable food applications, warranting further protease research.

Background/Objectives: Endothelial dysfunction plays a central role in the development of cardiovascular diseases. β-Casomorphin-7 (BCM-7), a biologically active peptide generated during the digestion of A1 β-casein, is presumed to contribute to this process; however, its direct effects on endothelial cells have not been previously investigated. Here, we aimed to assess whether BCM-7 treatment induces endothelial cell dysfunction through inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Methods: In our study, we analyzed the effects of BCM-7 (5 µg/mL) in combination with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 100 ng/mL) on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs/TERT2). The cell viability, apoptosis, necrosis, and intracellular reactive oxygen species were measured. Furthermore, proinflammatory cytokines and enzymes involved in the regulation of inflammation were assessed with quantitative real-time PCR. The gene and protein expression of enzymes that regulate inflammation and vascular function, thus maintaining endothelial homeostasis were assessed. Results: BCM-7 enhanced intracellular ROS production p ≤ 0.001, increased the expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) p ≤ 0.001, and was more effective when used in combination with LPS p ≤ 0.001. It decreased the expression of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) p ≤ 0.05, during 4 h of exposure, whereas it increased the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) p ≤ 0.001, lipoxygenase-5 (LOX-5) p ≤ 0.01, and nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS3) p ≤ 0.001; prostaglandin D2 synthase (PTGDS) (p ≤ 0.05), expression was also increased after short treatment. Conclusions: Our results suggest that BCM-7 may contribute to the development of endothelial dysfunction, especially in the presence of LPS, by enhancing oxidative stress and inflammatory response.

Phenylketonuria (PKU) requires lifelong control of blood phenylalanine (Phe), but reliance on specialized protein substitutes varies with dietary Phe tolerance and response to pharmacotherapy. Sapropterin may permit dietary liberalization in responsive individuals, whereas successful pegvaliase enzyme substitution therapy may substantially reduce or eliminate the need for Phe-free protein substitutes. Conventional free-amino-acid formulations are nutritionally effective but may produce rapid plasma amino-acid peaks, increased oxidation, gastrointestinal intolerance, and treatment fatigue. Alternative systems, including casein glycomacropeptide (CGMP), oligopeptides, engineered low-phenylalanine proteins and controlled-release amino acids, may improve physiological utilization, but their relative metabolic and technological advantages remain uncertain. This narrative review qualitatively discusses the cited literature on amino-acid metabolism, intestinal absorption, tissue utilization, large-neutral-amino-acid transport, blood–brain barrier competition, nitrogen retention, safety, and food-formulation performance. Building on previous reviews, this article connects amino-acid roles, delivery-system characteristics, and analytical and clinical validation needs in a formulation-oriented conceptual framework. Its contribution is an integrated basis for defining product-development questions and corresponding endpoints, rather than a new biological finding or a validated prioritization method. The established nutritional importance of tyrosine in phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) deficiency is distinguished from unvalidated hypotheses for selectively enriching tryptophan or branched-chain amino acids. These distinctions describe nutritional roles and research needs rather than a quantitatively derived ranking. All indispensable amino acids remain necessary for nutritional adequacy, and rapid absorption is not a sufficient indicator of superior utilization. Future substitutes should combine balanced composition, controlled delivery, sensory acceptability, and rigorous clinical validation.

The family Caliciviridae encompasses a diverse group of non-enveloped, positive-sense RNA viruses that are significant pathogens in veterinary medicine. This narrative review summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding the clinical, molecular, and epidemiological features of the three calicivirus genera identified in bovine hosts: Norovirus, Nebovirus, and Vesivirus. Bovine noroviruses and neboviruses are neglected enteric pathogens, frequently detected in association with neonatal calf diarrhea and often present in co-infections with other enteric agents. Clinical presentations for these enteric viruses range from severe, watery diarrhea to asymptomatic shedding, with distinct pathogenic profiles observed between norovirus genotypes GIII.1 and GIII.2. In contrast, the genus Vesivirus exhibits a broad host range, and bovine vesivirus strains are phylogenetically linked to vesiviruses identified in pigs and marine animals. Bovine vesivirus infections are associated with a broader spectrum of clinical manifestations, including respiratory disease, vesicular lesions, and abortion. Serological and virological surveys indicate that exposure to these viruses is ubiquitous in cattle populations globally. While direct evidence of human infection by bovine noroviruses and neboviruses remains limited, vesiviruses possess a confirmed capacity for cross-species transmission to humans. Significant knowledge gaps remain, particularly regarding in vitro culture systems, necessitating further research to facilitate vaccine development and clarify transmission dynamics.

Oregano (Origanum vulgare L.), basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.), and thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) are aromatic medicinal plants rich in bioactive volatile compounds with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. This study presents a simple, solvent-free, and eco-friendly headspace GC-MS method for VOC profiling. Optimized thermal pretreatment (40–90 °C) enhanced compound detection, particularly at 70–90 °C, without loss of reproducibility. The approach lowers analytical costs and waste generation, supporting green analytical practices and the sustainable valorization of medicinal herbs as natural functional ingredients.