Mushrooms are well-known functional foods due to the presence of a huge quantity of nutraceutical components. These are well recognized for their nutritional importance such as high protein, low fat, and low energy contents. These are rich in minerals such as iron, phosphorus, as well as in vitamins like riboflavin, thiamine, ergosterol, niacin, and ascorbic acid. They also contain bioactive constituents like secondary metabolites (terpenoids, acids, alkaloids, sesquiterpenes, polyphenolic compounds, lactones, sterols, nucleotide analogues, vitamins, and metal chelating agents) and polysaccharides chiefly β-glucans and glycoproteins. Due to the occurrence of biologically active substances, mushrooms can serve as hepatoprotective, immune-potentiating, anti-cancer, anti-viral, and hypocholesterolemic agents. They have great potential to prevent cardiovascular diseases due to their low fat and high fiber contents, as well as being foremost sources of natural antioxidants useful in reducing oxidative damages. However, mushrooms remained underutilized, despite their wide nutritional and bioactive potential. Novel green techniques are being explored for the extraction of bioactive components from edible mushrooms. The current review is intended to deliberate the nutraceutical potential of mushrooms, therapeutic properties, bioactive compounds, health benefits, and processing aspects of edible mushrooms for maintenance, and promotion of a healthy lifestyle.

Extensive and erratic use of pesticides leads to bioaccumulation of pesticides in soil, food and waterbodies. Exposure to pesticides is associated with a number of serious diseases, including cancer, birth defects, pregnancy, and many other adverse health effects. Therefore, to protect human health simple and rapid methodologies for monitoring the presence of pesticides in food products are urgently required. Recently, nanoparticles-based colorimetric assays have received great attention for simple and efficient monitoring of pesticide residues. Localised surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) is an important property of metal nanoparticles displaying strong colours in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum, where they aggregate and display distinct linear and non-linear optical properties. A well-designed chemical interaction between the surface of nanoparticles and analytes can result in incremental optical changes (red to blue for AuNPs and bright yellow to red-brown for Ag NPs), allowing naked-eye detection of pesticides. These approaches are rapid, cost-effective and used for on-site detection. Furthermore, the sensitivity and selectivity of such assays have been greatly improved through functionalization and modification of nanoparticles. Therefore, in this study, we summarised and explained the recent applications of surface-modified nanoparticles for the detection of residual pesticides.

Bioactive compounds are secondary metabolites synthesized by plants for maintaining homeostasis; however, they also modulate metabolic processes and demonstrate valuable effects in the human body. The fig was cherished as food and for its pharmaceutical properties. The presence of a wide range of biologically active compounds such as carotenoids, flavonoids, phenols, and vitamin C is obligated for their functional properties as well as their technological capability as a dietary supplement is responsible for most health impacts. Owing to the rich and diversified composition of biologically active compounds these compounds possess different biological properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and hepatoprotective activity that implies those bioactive substances might be used in the creation of novel culinary and medicinal products. Fig fruit should be widely recognized as a natural functional product. This systematic and comprehensive review gives the notion of developing figs species as a viable and innovative component for its varied food and nonfood applications as a remarkable and primitive source of medication and nourishment.