The aim of the study was to analyze the differences in the activity of beta-glucuronidase and beta-glucosidase in stool specimens of children with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) and healthy subjects. The disease activity was determined according to the PCDAI scale (Crohn disease) and Truelove-Witts scale (Ulcerative colitis). Enzyme activity was determined by spectrophotometry. There was a correlation between the level of beta - glucosidase activity in stool and patient's age in the group of healthy controls, but not in the IBD group. beta-glucosidase activity in IBD and healthy subjects stool specimens did not differ significantly. The activity of beta-glucuronidase in children with IBD was two times lower than in the healthy group and was correlated with age in children with IBD, but not in the group of healthy ones.

This study aimed to evaluate the durability of the photocatalytic and antimicrobial activities of ZnO and TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs)-modified 100% cotton terry textiles. SEM-EDX confirmed the long-lasting durability of the washing materials, and TGA analysis revealed that ZnO and TiO₂ NPs can be found on the terry fabric surface; however, the amount of NPs decreased 10 times after 15 washes and 1.6 times after the subsequent 15 washes. The efficiency of self-cleaning properties and antimicrobial activity against five microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Escherichia coli ATCC 10536, Candida albicans ATCC 10231, Aspergillus niger ATCC 16404, and Bacillus subtilis NCAIM 01644) depended on UVA/B radiation intensity. The increase in UVA/B radiation intensity from 400 to 1400 µW/cm² significantly increases the effectiveness of photocatalysis. Long-lasting self-cleaning properties characterised the tested fabric; however, stronger photocatalytic efficiency was observed in light with a greater intensity of UVA/B radiation. At the UVA/B radiation intensity of 1400 µW/cm², a biocidal effect (R = 100%) against all tested microorganisms (E. coli, S. aureus. B. subtilis, C. albicans, and A. niger) was observed on the surface of materials. The lower UVA/B radiation intensity (400 µW/cm²) and 30 wash cycles reduce the antimicrobial activity of the material (R = 65.4–99.4%) for B. subtilis, C. albicans, and A. niger. The antimicrobial activity of washed materials modified with TiO₂/ZnO nanoparticles can be increased by irradiation with a light bulb (1400 µW/cm²).

In the last decade, fresh-cut plants have become a more popular flavoring additive in food. It is important to find an effective method for ensuring the safety and quality of plant materials used as food additives. Ozonated water is being considered by the EFSA for approval as a cidal agent for plant protection. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of ozonated water in improving the microbial safety of fresh-cut parsley leaves, with a particular focus on mesophilic and psychrotrophic bacteria and fungi. The yeasts and bacteria were identified with the MALDI-TOF MS system. Color changes on the surface of the parsley samples were measured in the CIE L*a*b trichromatic color model. The chemical composition of the essential oil was evaluated via gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GCMS). The microbial level of the fresh leaves varied and depended on the season. The highest microbial levels were found in the leaves picked in the summer and autumn, at 10⁴ to 10⁶ CFU/g for fungi and 10⁶ to 10⁸ CFU/g for bacteria. Among the isolates with the highest isolation frequency, bacteria belonging to Pseudomonas fluorescens, Staphylococcus warneri, and Bacillus megaterium dominated. The dominant yeasts and molds were Candida sp., Rhodotorula sp., Cladosporium sp., and Fusarium sp. The conditions for water ozonation (ozone dose and time) were established for both mono- and mixed cultures. Time of 3 min, ozone content of 0.5, O₃ mg/L or 1 min, and 1.5 mg of O₃ mg/L were sufficient for a 90% reduction in the number of living microorganisms. Yeasts and bacteria were sensitive to ozone treatment, excluding P. fluorescens rods. The tested mold strains were the most resistant. However, it was noted that organic matter might reduce the decontamination effect. The effectiveness of ozonation was negatively influenced by organic compound content above 1%. Spectrophotometric measurements of parsley leaves after ozonation, especially after 3 min treatment at 1.5 O₃ mg/L, revealed morphological changes. The CIELAB color space (L*a*b*) changed in the direction of lightness and yellowness; however, ΔE showed no statistically significant differences in comparison with the untreated leaves. In preliminary studies, no differences were noted in GLC-MS chromatograms for essential oils of parsley leaves before and after ozonation. The aroma of parsley treated with ozonated water was more intensely herbal than the control sample, probably due to the higher content of α and β phellandrene. The results of this study show that decontamination of parsley leaves by ozonated water containing 1.5 O₃ mg/L in a closed 5 min process can effectively ensure the microbiological quality of fresh-cut parsley leaves. It can be concluded that ozone treatments in aqueous form appear to provide promising qualitative and quantitative results for the decontamination of this fresh-cut plant material. However, more work is necessary to study chemical and volatilome changes. Especially the sensory analyses should be conducted before and after ozone treatment.

The demand for animal-based food production is increasing mainly due to the rapid growth of the human population. The effective production of high-quality agricultural products promotes and protects the natural environment, human health, and animal welfare. Sustainable processing involves minimizing the waste stream. One way to use agricultural plant-based waste, which is often rich in bioactive substances, is to produce fermented feed in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. Corn, yellow lupins, and narrow-leaved lupins are rich in nutrients, and are suitable for fermentation and use in pig feed. They are also safe for weaned piglets. Used as a feed additive, fermented plant biomass has a positive effect on the health of pigs, increasing their weight and improving the taste and appearance of the meat. The fermentation of plant biomass reduces antinutritional substances that are abundant in feed components. It also improves the digestibility of the silage and the composition of the pig’s intestinal microflora.

To lower the risk of obesity, diabetes, and other related diseases, the WHO recommends that consumers reduce their consumption of sugars. Here, we propose a microbiological method to reduce the sugar content in red beet juice, while incurring only slight losses in the betalain content and maintaining the correct proportion of the other beet juice components. Several yeast strains with different metabolic activities were investigated for their ability to reduce the sugar content in red beet juice, which resulted in a decrease in the extract level corresponding to sugar content from 49.7% to 58.2%. This strategy was found to have the additional advantage of increasing the chemical and microbial stability of the red beet juice. Only slight losses of betalain pigments were noted, to final concentrations of 5.11% w/v and 2.56% w/v for the red and yellow fractions, respectively.

The agricultural sector generates substantial waste that harms both the environment and human health. This study aimed to utilise Metschnikowia yeasts to convert native agricultural wastes without chemical pretreatment. Ten Metschnikowia isolates were assessed using API tests to identify their assimilation profiles and enzymatic activities. Yeast growth was evaluated via the plate count method. The culture media containing molasses, brewery spent grain, and postharvest sunflower parts were characterised chromatographically, and the in vitro impact on Verticillium tenerum phytopathogen was evaluated. The effect of the yeast preparations on Caco-2, IEC-6, and HaCaT cell lines was also investigated. Solid waste materials without preliminary chemical pretreatment supported yeast multiplication to 4.5 × 10⁷–1.3 × 10⁸ CFU/mL. The metabolite composition and enzymatic activity of lipase, glucosidase, and protease in post-culture media suggest that they may act as growth inhibitors of the Verticillium strain. For post-cultivation samples, inhibition coefficients were equal to 1.24–2.00, depending on the kind of substrate and yeast strain used. Antimicrobial activity was also noted in cell-free samples after yeast cultivation on sunflower stalks and brewery spent grain. The toxicological analysis showed that the yeast preparations did not cause toxic effects on the tested cell lines. This research offers a sustainable approach using Metschnikowia yeasts, highlighting the importance of a holistic method that combines microbiological, biochemical, and toxicological aspects for sustainable waste management and the development of new applications, such as feed supplements and biocontrol agents.