scholarly journals Ancient Procedures for the High-Tech World: Health Benefits and Antimicrobial Compounds from the Mediterranean Empires

2008 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 235-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla C.C.R. de Carvalho ◽  
Maria José Caramujo

This paper reviews the benefits of the Mediterranean diet and methods developed for food processing and preservation during the time of the ancient empires. In Antiquity, trees and herbs were harvested for culinary and medicinal purposes, and from the everyday handling of products and keen observation, a great body of wisdom was derived by philosophers and physicians. With modern day techniques, the suspected properties of compounds have been investigated and the beneficial properties tested. From these studies it is apparent that olive oil, herbs, essential oils and metals, when used with the backing of scientific knowledge can improve human health and the standards of living while respecting the environment. Nowadays, proliferation of disinfectants and antimicrobial agents in domestic, industrial and medical environments has contributed to the appearance of resistant microbial strains and of new pathogens. Since regulators have restricted the use and concentrations of many preservatives, sanitizers, and antimicrobial agents, the food industry is facing a problem to extend the shelf-life of products, and to keep the manufacturing environment clean. The application of natural compounds and simple techniques developed by ancient Mediterranean civilizations may prove as useful as more modern synthetic substances, thus avoiding potential threats to human health and the environment.

1970 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena A Olszewska

The capability of bacteria to colonize food processing surfaces and to form biofilm has become an emerging concern for food industry. The presence and persistence of biofilm on food processing surfaces may pose a risk of food spoilage or food poisoning. A better understanding of bacterial adhesion and resistance of biofilms is needed to ensure quality and safety of food products. This review focuses on microscopic approaches incorporated to explore biofilm mode of existence in food processing environments. An application of antimicrobial agents for the biofilm control, in particular for bacteria connected with food processing environments, is also highlighted. In addition, some aspects of biofilm resistance, especially the phenomenon of persister cells, are discussed.


Meso ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 346-352
Author(s):  
Martin Dobeic

In the food processing industry disinfectants should ensure the quality and microbiological safety of food without the risks for the human health or environment. One of the potential and alternative less toxic disinfectants is the ozone. It is highly effective and environmentally acceptable disinfectant applicable on several places of food production premises, e.g. on equipment and directly on food products.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 53-61
Author(s):  
Jie Hou ◽  
Rong Luo ◽  
Hui Ni ◽  
Ke Li ◽  
Fedrick C Mgomi ◽  
...  

The survival of foodborne pathogens under stressful food processing conditions and in host’s gastrointestinal tract has been widely reported to cause the outbreak of human diseases. Generally, antibiotics have been used to elimi-nate the microbial flora of foodborne pathogens. However, the overuse of antibiotics has contributed to the emergence and spread of multi-drug-resistant foodborne pathogens. Kombucha is a beverage prepared by fermenting sugared tea or other substrates with a symbiotic culture of yeasts and bacteria, and has been proved to fight food-borne pathogens and affect gastrointestinal microbial flora to prevent foodborne illnesses. In this context, this review primarily focused on microbiological and chemical compositions of kombucha obtained by fermenting different substrates. It further discussed the antimicrobial activity of kombucha, as well as potential antimicrobial agents found in kombucha, and the limitations of kombucha in the food industry. In addition, the need for developing antimicrobial agents from kombucha has been discussed for potential applications. The information provided in this review indicates that kombucha could serve as an alternative approach to control pathogens in place of using antibiotics.


1999 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-30
Author(s):  
F.J. Pérez Elortondo ◽  
J. Salmerón ◽  
M. Albisu ◽  
C. Casas

Bacterial biofilms on food industry surfaces are potential sources of contamination for food products coming in contact with these surfaces. The development of biofilms in food processing environments may lead to food spoilage or transmission of diseases. This paper describes the formation of micro bial biofilms on food contact surfaces, their characteristics, and strategies for removal of adhered microorganisms (cleaning and disinfection) or for preventing microbial adhesion to surfaces (opti mizing equipment design, altering surface chemistry, treating with antimicrobial agents).


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Zorraquín-Peña ◽  
Carolina Cueva ◽  
Begoña Bartolomé ◽  
M. Victoria Moreno-Arribas

Foodborne diseases are one of the factors that endanger the health of consumers, especially in people at risk of exclusion and in developing countries. The continuing search for effective antimicrobials to be used in the food industry has resulted in the emergence of nanotechnology in this area. Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) are the nanomaterial with the best antimicrobial activity and therefore, with great potential of application in food processing and packing. However, possible health effects must be properly addressed to ensure food safety. This review presents a detailed description on the main applications of Ag-NPs as antimicrobial agents for food control, as well as the current legislation concerning these materials. Current knowledge about the impact of the dietary exposure to Ag-NPs in human health with special emphasis on the changes that nanoparticles undergo after passing through the gastrointestinal tract and how they alter the oral and gut microbiota, is also summarized. It is concluded that given their potential and wide properties against foodborne pathogens, research in Ag-NPs is of great interest but is not exempt from difficulties that must be resolved in order to certify the safety of their use.


Author(s):  
D.Y. Bolgova ◽  
◽  
N.A. Tarasenko ◽  
Z.S. Mukhametova ◽  
◽  
...  

Nutrition is an important factor that affects human health. The use of plant proteins as various additives in food production has now been actively developed. The rich chemical composition of pea grains determines the possibility of application in the food industry. Peas are characterized by good assimilability and degree of digestion.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 37-43
Author(s):  
Prof. Teodora P. Popova ◽  
Toshka Petrova ◽  
Ignat Ignatov ◽  
Stoil Karadzhov

The antimicrobial action of the dietary supplement Oxidal® was tested using the classic Bauer and Kirby agar-gel diffusion method. Clinical and reference strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were used in the studies. The tested dietary supplement showed a well-pronounced inhibitory effect against the microbial strains commensurable with that of the broad-spectrum chemotherapeutic agent Enrofloxacin and showed even higher activity than the broad spectrum antibiotic Thiamphenicol. The proven inhibitory effect of the tested dietary supplement against the examined pathogenic bacteria is in accordance with the established clinical effectiveness standards for antimicrobial agents.


Author(s):  
Katherine Cullerton ◽  
Jean Adams ◽  
Martin White

The issue of public health and policy communities engaging with food sector companies has long caused tension and debate. Ralston and colleagues’ article ‘Towards Preventing and Managing Conflict of Interest in Nutrition Policy? An Analysis of Submissions to a Consultation on a Draft WHO Tool’ further examines this issue. They found widespread food industry opposition, not just to the details of the World Health Organization (WHO) tool, but to the very idea of it. In this commentary we reflect on this finding and the arguments for and against interacting with the food industry during different stages of the policy process. While involving the food industry in certain aspects of the policy process without favouring their business goals may seem like an intractable problem, we believe there are opportunities for progress that do not compromise our values as public health professionals. We suggest three key steps to making progress.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 192-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Talita Odriane Custodio Leite ◽  
Juliana Silva Novais ◽  
Beatriz Lima Cosenza de Carvalho ◽  
Vitor Francisco Ferreira ◽  
Leonardo Alves Miceli ◽  
...  

Background: According to the World Health Organization, antimicrobial resistance is one of the most important public health threats of the 21st century. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of antimicrobial agents with new mechanism of action, especially those capable of evading known resistance mechanisms. Objective: We described the synthesis, in vitro antimicrobial evaluation, and in silico analysis of a series of 1H-indole-4,7-dione derivatives. Methods: The new series of 1H-indole-4,7-diones was prepared with good yield by using a copper(II)- mediated reaction between bromoquinone and β-enamino ketones bearing alkyl or phenyl groups attached to the nitrogen atom. The antimicrobial potential of indole derivatives was assessed. Molecular docking studies were also performed using AutoDock 4.2 for Windows. Characterization of all compounds was confirmed by one- and two-dimensional NMR techniques 1H and 13C NMR spectra [1H, 13C – APT, 1H x 1H – COSY, HSQC and HMBC], IR and mass spectrometry analysis. Results: Several indolequinone compounds showed effective antimicrobial profile against Grampositive (MIC = 16 µg.mL-1) and Gram-negative bacteria (MIC = 8 µg.mL-1) similar to antimicrobials current on the market. The 3-acetyl-1-(2,5-dimethylphenyl)-1H-indole-4,7-dione derivative exhibited an important effect against different biofilm stages formed by a serious hospital life-threatening resistant strain of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). A hemocompatibility profile analysis based on in vitro hemolysis assays revealed the low toxicity effects of this new series. Indeed, in silico studies showed a good pharmacokinetics and toxicological profiles for all indolequinone derivatives, reinforcing their feasibility to display a promising oral bioavailability. An elucidation of the promising indolequinone derivatives binding mode was achieved, showing interactions with important sites to biological activity of S. aureus DNA gyrase. These results highlighted 3-acetyl-1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1Hindole- 4,7-dione derivative as broad-spectrum antimicrobial prototype to be further explored for treating bacterial infections. Conclusion: The highly substituted indolequinones were obtained in moderate to good yields. The pharmacological study indicated that these compounds should be exploited in the search for a leading substance in a project aimed at obtaining new antimicrobials effective against Gram-negative bacteria.


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