Recent advances highlight the crucial role of the gut microbiota in human health and disease, with dietary components emerging as powerful modulators of microbial communities. This review synthesizes current evidence on the effects of olive-derived bioactive compounds, including polyphenols (e.g., hydroxytyrosol, oleuropein or tyrosol), triterpenes and other phytochemicals on gut microbiota composition and function. These compounds have been shown to enhance beneficial bacterial populations such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, reduce potentially pathogenic taxa, and promote the production of short-chain fatty acids and other health microbial metabolites, reinforcing intestinal barrier integrity. In vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies also reveal the potential of olive bioactives to ameliorate metabolic, inflammatory, and neurocognitive disorders through gut-microbiota-brain axis modulation. Despite promising results, key challenges remain, including interindividual microbiota variability, lack of standardized intervention protocols, and limited human clinical trials. Addressing these gaps through robust translational research could pave the way for microbiota-targeted, personalized nutritional strategies based on olive-derived compounds.

The gut microbiome is indispensable for the host physiological functioning. Yet, the impact of non-nutritious dietary compounds on the human gut microbiota and the role of the gut microbes in their metabolism and potential adverse biological effects have been overlooked. Identifying potential hazards and benefits would contribute to protecting and harnessing the gut microbiome's role in supporting human health. We discuss the evidence on the potential detrimental impact of certain food additives and microplastics on the gut microbiome and human health, with a focus on underlying mechanisms and causality. We provide recommendations for the incorporation of gut microbiome science in food risk assessment and identify the knowledge and tools needed to fill these gaps. The incorporation of gut microbiome endpoints to safety assessments, together with well-established toxicity and mutagenicity studies, might better inform the risk assessment of certain contaminants in food, and/or food additives.

Over the past two decades, both academic and industrial interest in olive bioactive compounds has grown significantly due to their remarkable health benefits, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cardioprotective properties. These compounds, found in both olive fruit and leaves, have become a central focus in the research on functional foods and nutraceuticals. A comprehensive bibliometric analysis of scientific publications from 2000 to 2024 highlights a notable increase in this field, with 2228 documents published in high-impact journals with an estimated annual growth rate of 0.2694 year⁻¹, particularly in the last decade. This surge reflects the growing recognition of olive bioactive compounds’ potential in promoting human health through nutritional and therapeutic interventions, and their role in the expanding nutraceutical industry. This growth is further reaffirmed by patent analysis, which shows a significant rise in industrial interest and patent filings related to olive bioactive compounds. The analysis also examined nearly 6000 keywords to identify the most influential research domains, pinpoint knowledge gaps, and reveal the most important bioactive compounds in olives and their potential in preventing various human diseases.

Carob (Ceratonia siliqua) seeds are rich in diverse bioactive compounds, including galactomannan, β-sitosterol, unsaturated fatty acids and proteins with bioactive peptides in their sequence. This study delineates the compositional characterization of six carob seed flour types derived from different production processes, providing valuable insights for designing tailored nutraceutical products based on desired bioactive compound profiles. Our analysis indicated that a higher purity of galactomannan resulted in a greater mannose/galactose ratio, which increased the linearity of the galactomannan polymer and could enhance interchain interaction, thereby increasing aggregation capacity. A higher viscosity could potentially increase the capacity of galactomannan to create satiety and lower cholesterol levels. Among the different tested flours, those whose main compound was the endosperm were optimal for containing high galactomannan content, whereas those derived from the germ were ideal for having high concentrations of fatty acids (i.e., oleic and linoleic acids) and β-sitosterol. The presence of these lipids in carob flours could offer cardiovascular and metabolic health benefits, contributing synergistically. Additionally, flours that contain the germ have beneficial peptides included in proteins like glycinin and conglutin with potential anticholesterolemic and antidiabetic properties. This work provides different methods for obtaining carob flours rich in bioactive compounds, offering the nutraceutical industry a framework to select the best option for industrial-scale production.

Proteolytic products are extensively used in the nutraceutical sector to improve protein digestion and muscle quality in target populations (e.g., athletes or elderly). These products are processed using techniques that often lead to low purity but competitive pricing. Despite their widespread use and well-established production methods, the industry lacks standardized analytical methods for assessing these products and detecting potential fraud. This study proposes a comprehensive and harmonized pipeline for their analysis, which includes quantifying total soluble protein and proteolytic activity, as well as the determination of product stability and protein profile using SDS-PAGE and proteomic techniques. Despite the fact that protease extracts from pineapple had the highest protein content, most of the bromelain remained inactive, unlike in kiwi and papaya. SDS-PAGE revealed partial protein degradation of pineapple extracts, whereas kiwi extracts reflected a lower purification level but a higher protein integrity. The application of proteomic approaches strengthened the identification and origin tracing of the proteases. This study contributes to the development of a robust framework for analyzing proteolytic extracts, spanning from soluble protein quantification to protein profiling and activity determination. It may also ensure reliable supplier selection, high-quality manufacturing practices, and the implementation of optimal storage and formulation strategies in the nutraceutical industry.