Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2022-06-20"
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- Fig “Ficus carica L.” and its by-products: A decade evidence of their health-promoting benefits towards the development of novel food formulationsPublication . Ayuso, M.; Carpena, M.; Taofiq, O.; Albuquerque, T.G.; Simal-Gandara, J.; Oliveira, M.B.P.P.; Prieto, M.A.; Ferreira, I.C.F.R.; Barros, L.Background: The food industry constantly searches for natural derived bioactive molecules with preventive and therapeutic effects using innovative and sustainable strategies. Fig production and processing generate a considerable amount of by-products (leaves, pulp, peels, seeds, and latex) with limited commercial exploitation and negative impact on the environment. These by-products are important sources of high value-added ingredients, including anthocyanins and pectins that can be of particular interest to the food industry as functional colourants, emulsifiers, and additives. Scope and approach: This review curates recent advances in the valorisation of fig by-products as valuable sources of bioactive molecules for functional food development. Special attention was given to widely used extraction processes, main bioactive compounds, relevant biological properties, and the application of recovered bioactives for functional food development. Key findings and conclusions: Fig by-products are essential sources of structurally diverse bioactive molecules with unique antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour, immunomodulatory and cardioprotective properties. Owing to these health-promoting potentials, an integral valorisation approach involving sustainable technologies to recover these high value-added ingredients and its utilisation in novel food formulation development should be further stimulated.
- HBM4EU Diisocyanates Study-Research Protocol for a Collaborative European Human Biological Monitoring Study on Occupational ExposurePublication . Jones, Kate; Galea, Karen S.; Scholten, Bernice; Loikala, Marika; Porras, Simo P.; Bousoumah, Radia; Ndaw, Sophie; Leese, Elizabeth; Louro, Henriqueta; Silva, Maria João; Viegas, Susana; Godderis, Lode; Verdonck, Jelle; Poels, Katrien; Gӧen, Thomas; Duca, Radu-Corneliu; Santonen, Tiina; HBM4EU Diisocyanates Study TeamDiisocyanates have long been a leading cause of occupational asthma in Europe, and recently, they have been subjected to a restriction under the REACH regulations. As part of the European Human Biomonitoring project (HBM4EU), we present a study protocol designed to assessoccupational exposure to diisocyanates in five European countries. The objectives of the study are to assess exposure in a number of sectors that have not been widely reported on in the past (for example, the manufacturing of large vehicles, such as in aerospace; the construction sector, where there are potentially several sources of exposure (e.g., sprayed insulation, floor screeds); the use of MDI-based glues, and the manufacture of spray adhesives or coatings) to test the usability of different biomarkers in the assessment of exposure to diisocyanates and to provide background data for regulatory purposes. The study will collect urine samples (analysed for diisocyanate-derived diamines and acetyl–MDI–lysine), blood samples (analysed for diisocyanate-specific IgE and IgG antibodies, inflammatory markers, and diisocyanate-specific Hb adducts for MDI), and buccal cells(micronucleus analysis) and measure fractional exhaled nitric oxide. In addition, occupational hygienemeasurements (air monitoring and skin wipe samples) and questionnaire data will be collected. The protocol is harmonised across the participating countries to enable pooling of data, leading to better and more robust insights and recommendations.