(1) Background: Ozone exposure is a promising tool for treating liver damage since it is known to control the release of free radicals and increase the expression of antioxidant enzymes. The objective is to investigate the main intracellular pathways activated after exposure to ozone, considering the dosage of antioxidant enzymes and markers of oxidative stress. (2) Methods: This systematic review was performed based on the PRISMA guidelines and using a structured search in MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, and Web of Science. Bias analysis and methodological quality assessments were examined using the SYRCLE Risk of Bias tool. (3) Results: Nineteen studies were selected. The results showed that the exposure to ozone has a protective effect on liver tissue, promoting a decrease in inflammatory markers and a reduction in oxidative stress in liver tissue. In addition, ozone exposure also promoted an increase in antioxidant enzymes. The morphological consequences of controlling these intracellular pathways were reducing the tissue inflammatory process and reducing areas of degeneration and necrosis. (4) Conclusions: Ozone exposure has a beneficial effect on models of liver injury through the decrease in oxidative stress in tissue and inflammatory markers. In addition, it regulates the Nrf2/ARE antioxidant pathway and blocks the NF-κB inflammatory pathway.

Nopalea cochenillifera (Cactaceae), popularly known as “palma” or “palma doce”, is from Mexico, but it was widely introduced in Brazil through crops.

As the global population continues to grow, so does the demand for alternative protein sources. Entomophagy, the consumption of insects, has long been practiced in many cultures worldwide and is now gaining increasing interest in Western countries. In this work, we developed novel, functional insect-based ingredients from the house cricket (Acheta domesticus) by utilizing optimized enzymatic hydrolysis, using two enzymes (Alcalase^® or Flavourzyme^®) coupled with spray drying. A Box–Behnken experimental design was used to optimize enzymatic treatments and maximize spray-drying performance and product solubility. Under optimized conditions, spray-dried hydrolyzed cricket protein (HCP) produced using Alcalase^® achieved a solids recovery of 51.44% and a solubility of 58.28 ± 0.5%. In comparison, Flavourzyme^®–HCP, under optimized conditions, exhibited a higher solubility of 61.25 ± 0.8%. Additional functional properties were improved for Alcalase^®–HCP and Flavourzyme^®–HCP, respectively, including foaming capacity at pH 4 (26.80 ± 4.0%, 36.27 ± 1.0%) and 10 (50.98 ± 2.8%, 47.06 ± 1.6%), and foaming stability in acidic conditions at pH 4 (24.18 ± 4.0%, 30.39 ± 2.9%). Moreover, the emulsion stability, especially at pH 7 (74.70 ± 3.5%, 52.04 ± 2.8%) and 10 (68.20 ± 11.3%, 69.72 ± 3.2%), was also enhanced. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate optimized enzymatic hydrolysis coupled with spray drying to enhance the functional properties of A. domesticus protein powder. Overall, we established optimized processing conditions to produce spray-dried functional insect ingredients with desirable functional attributes.

Palm kernel cake (PKC), a byproduct of palm kernel oil extraction, is processed into palm kernel meal (PKM), which contains hemicellulose rich in mannose, a versatile sugar with applications in the pharmaceutical and food industries. However, its association within the lignin–cellulose matrix is a challenge for industrial extraction. This study proposes an optimized enzymatic hydrolysis method utilizing mannanase to maximize the mannose content from PKM powder to produce palm kernel mannose syrup. A 3³ Box–Behnken design within a response surface methodology coupled with a desirability function method was used to optimize hydrolysis parameters to maximize mannose and solids content while minimizing enzyme concentration and hydrolysis time. The optimal conditions for enzymatic hydrolysis were established as a reaction time of 16 h, 5% (w/v) solids, and 5% (w/w) enzyme, resulting in 4.325 g/L of mannose and a mannose yield of 24.33 ± 0.5%. The palm kernel mannose syrup was evaluated, resulting in a moisture content of 15.85 ± 0.07%, water activity of 0.6918 ± 0.003, and a pH of 4.05 ± 0.282, demonstrating shelf-life stability. These findings demonstrate the technical feasibility of valorizing PKC and PKM into a stable, mannose-rich syrup, offering a sustainable and scalable pathway for converting agro-industrial waste into high-value ingredients for multiple value-added applications.

Total postharvest losses of fresh fruits and vegetables in tropical and subtropical agricultural systems frequently exceed 30 percent, driven by high crop perishability, limited cold-chain infrastructure, and the geographic concentration of conventional processing facilities far from production zones. This review examines the engineering principles, operational architecture, and applied performance of mobile aseptic processing platforms (MAPPs) as a decentralized strategy for postharvest stabilization of perishable agricultural commodities. MAPPs integrate in-line homogenization, high-temperature short-time (HTST) or ultra-high-temperature (UHT) thermal treatment, clean-in-place (CIP) and sterilization-in-place (SIP) cycles, and aseptic filling within transportable, modular units engineered for field deployment. Projected MAPP capacities reach up to approximately 11,300 kg (25,000 lb) per 8 h shift, while still complying with internationally recognized food safety frameworks, including HACCP, ISO 22000, and SQF. Comparative analysis with centralized processing infrastructure and earlier decentralized initiatives, including the EU Horizon 2020 Food Processing in a Box (FOX) project, indicates that mobile aseptic systems uniquely combine field mobility with the production of ambient-stable shelf-life formats independent of refrigerated distribution. Conservative impact modeling suggests that single-unit deployments may recover on the order of 3000 t of edible product annually, with corresponding water, fertilizer, and greenhouse gas externality reductions. The review synthesizes the current state of the technology, identifies engineering and socioeconomic knowledge gaps, and proposes research priorities for scaled adoption in tropical and subtropical food systems.

Total post-harvest losses of fresh fruits and vegetables in tropical and subtropical agricultural systems frequently exceed 30 percent, driven by high crop perishability, limited cold-chain infrastructure, and the geographic concentration of conventional processing facilities far from production zones. This review examines the engineering principles, operational architecture, and applied performance of mobile aseptic processing platforms (MAPP) as a decentralized strategy for postharvest stabilization of perishable agricultural commodities. MAPP integrates in-line homogenization, high-temperature short-time (HTST) or ultra-high-temperature (UHT) thermal treatment, clean-in-place (CIP) and sterilization-in-place (SIP) cycles, and aseptic filling within transportable, modular units engineered for field deployment. Projected MAPP capacities reach up to approximately 11,300 kg (25,000 lb) per 8 h shift, while still complying with internationally recognized food-safety frameworks including HACCP, ISO 22000, and SQF. Comparative analysis with centralized processing infrastructure and earlier decentralized initiatives, including the EU Horizon 2020 FOX project, indicates that mobile aseptic systems uniquely combine field mobility with the production of ambient-stable shelf-life formats independent of refrigerated distribution. Conservative impact modeling suggests that single-unit deployments may recover on the order of 3,000 t of edible product annually, with corresponding water, fertilizer, and greenhouse-gas externality reductions. The review synthesizes the current state of the technology, identifies engineering and socio-economic knowledge gaps, and proposes research priorities for scaled adoption in tropical and subtropical food systems.