The Importance of Philanthropy Foundation for the Future Sustainability of Agriculture and Nutrition: An Opinion Study on Practical Applications, Policies, and Strategies.

Food security, food sustainability, and malnutrition represent critical global challenges. Th urgency of comprehensive action is evident in the need for research collaboration between the food industry, agriculture, public health, and nutrition. This article highlights the role of philanthropy, of a non-profit organization, in supporting research and development and filling financial gaps. The article also explores the interplay of nutrition, agriculture, and government and policy, positioning philanthropy as a catalyst for transformative change and advocating for collaborative efforts to comprehensively address global food challenges. In addition, the discussion also underscores the ethical complexities surrounding charitable food aid, especially in terms of the dignity and autonomy of its recipients. The paper concludes by proposing future directions and implications, advocating for diversified intervention portfolios and collaborative efforts involving governments, businesses, and local communities. Apart from that, the importance of answering and alleviating ethical dilemmas related to food charity assistance needs to be a concern for future studies related to philanthropy because of the significant challenges faced by the contemporary food system, which include food security, health, and nutritional sustainability.

A perspective on molecular docking approaches in the discovery and development of natural-based functional foods / Enfoques de acoplamiento molecular en el descubrimiento y desarrollo de alimentos funcionales de base natural: un estudio de opinión

Backgrounds and Aims: Functional foods or nutraceuticals are innovative foods that contain substances that may improve health or prevent disease, as long as the concentration is safe and high enough to provide the desired benefit. Nutrients, dietary fiber, phytochemicals, other compounds, and probiotics are a few examples of added functional ingredients. Food can be deemed "functional" if it positively impacts specific bodily processes that go beyond nutritional effects to promote health and well-being and/or prevent the development of chronic diseases. Therefore, this paper aims to elaborate opinions based on the latest evidence to introduce the molecular docking simulation approach in the discovery and development of functional foods.Results and Conclusions: In functional food research, the computer-based approach allows for the virtual screening of bioactive compounds in foods. Instead of performing extensive laboratory experiments, researchers can simulate the interactions between bioactive compounds and molecular targets using molecular docking simulations. This virtual screening process helps identify bioactive compounds in foods that have the potential to interact with specific targets, providing insights into their mechanisms of action and potential health benefits. Now the technology field continues to receive significant attention from several researchers so technological progress never goes out. This technological advancement can be integrated between functional food and digital platforms. This platform may contain personalized recommendations, track health parameters, and empower individuals to make informed choices and monitor progress.(AU)

Coffee Silverskin Phytocompounds as a Novel Anti-Aging Functional Food: A Pharmacoinformatic Approach Combined with In Vitro Study.

Coffee became a beverage that was in demand in the world and consequently produced millions of tons of coffee byproducts namely coffee silverskin (CS). Unutilized CS will be waste and cause environmental pollution such as greenhouse gas emissions, landfill waste, and groundwater contamination. This is a research concern at this time, although many studies have been conducted to find newer applications of CS, exploration of its benefits in the health sector is still limited. Therefore, exploring the benefits of CS to prevent or delay aging will be very interesting to develop in functional food industry technology. Therefore, this study aims to report profiling metabolites or phytochemicals, biological activities in terms of antioxidant activity, and potential anti-aging of CS via molecular docking simulation and in vitro modulation of the mTOR/AMPK/SIRT1 pathway. Something new has been obtained from this work, the profile of phytocompounds, and biological activities both in molecular docking simulation and in vitro studies. Some of the compounds observed in Robusta CS extract (rCSE) such as Epicatechin, Kaempferol, and Quercitrin, and Arabica CS extract (aCSE) such as (+)-Catechin dan Naringin have promising potential as inhibitors of iNOS, mTOR, and HIF-1α via molecular docking simulation. Interestingly, the in vitro biological activity assay of antioxidant and anti-aging activity, rCSE showed the same promising potential as the results of a molecular docking simulation. More interestingly, AMPK/SIRT1/mTOR expressions are well modulated by rCSE compared to aCSE significantly (p < 0.05). This makes the rCSE have promising biological activity as a candidate for functional food development and/or treatment agent in combating free radicals that cause the aging process. In vivo studies and human trials are certainly needed to see the further efficacy of the rCSE in the future.

Revealing Edible Bird Nest as Novel Functional Foods in Combating Metabolic Syndrome: Comprehensive In Silico, In Vitro, and In Vivo Studies.

Metabolic dysfunction, which includes intra-abdominal adiposity, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, manifests into metabolic syndrome and related diseases. Therefore, the discovery of new therapies in the fight against metabolic syndrome is very challenging. This study aims to reveal the existence of an edible bird nest (EBN) as a functional food candidate that may be a new alternative in fighting metabolic syndrome. The study included three approaches: in silico molecular docking simulation, in vitro, and in vivo in rats fed on cholesterol- and fat-enriched diets. Four terpenoids of Bakuchiol, Curculigosaponin A, Dehydrolindestrenolide, and 1-methyl-3-(1-methyl-ethyl)-benzene in EBN have been identified through LCMS/MS-QTOF. In molecular docking simulations, Bakuchiol and Dehydrolindestrenolide are considered very potent because they have higher inhibitory power on the four receptors (iNOS, ROS1 kinase, FTO, and lipase) than standard drugs. In vitro tests also provide insight into the antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antiobesity activities of EBN, which is quite feasible due to the smaller EC50 value of EBN compared to standard drugs. Interestingly, in vivo studies also showed significant improvements (p < 0.05) in the lipid profile, blood glucose, enzymatic levels, and inflammatory biomarkers in rats given high-dose dietary supplementation of EBN. More interestingly, high-dose dietary supplementation of EBN upregulates PGC-1α and downregulates HMG-CoA reductase. Comprehensively, it has been revealed that EBN can be novel functional foods for combating metabolic syndrome.

Sulfated Polysaccharide from Caulerpa racemosa Attenuates the Obesity-Induced Cardiometabolic Syndrome via Regulating the PRMT1-DDAH-ADMA with mTOR-SIRT1-AMPK Pathways and Gut Microbiota Modulation.

Our investigation intended to analyze the effects of sulfated polysaccharides from Caulerpa racemosa (SPCr) in attenuating obesity-induced cardiometabolic syndrome via regulating the protein arginine N-methyltransferase 1-asymmetric dimethylarginine-dimethylarginine dimethylamino-hydrolase (PRMT1-DDAH-ADMA) with the mammalian target of rapamycin-Sirtuin 1-5' AMP-activated protein kinase (mTOR-SIRT1-AMPK) pathways and gut microbiota modulation. This is a follow-up study that used SPs from previous in vitro studies, consisting of 2,3-di-O-methyl-1,4,5-tri-O-acetylarabinitol, 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-methyl-D-mannopyranose, and type B ulvanobiuronicacid 3-sulfate. A total of forty rats were randomly divided into four treatment groups: Group A received a standard diet; Group B was provided with a diet enriched in cholesterol and fat (CFED); and Groups C and D were given the CFED along with ad libitum water, and daily oral supplementation of 65 or 130 mg/kg of body weight (BW) of SPCr, respectively. Group D showed the lowest low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and blood glucose levels, and the highest HDL level compared to the other groups in this study. These results in the group fed high-dose SPCr demonstrated a significant effect compared to the group fed low-dose SPCr (p < 0.0001), as well as in total cholesterol and blood glucose (p < 0.05). Supplementation with SPCr was also observed to have an upregulation effect on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator (PGC)-1alpha, interleukin 10, Sirtuin 1, DDAH-II, superoxide dismutase (SOD) cardio, and AMPK, which was also followed by a downregulation of PRMT-1, TNF-α, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor, and mTOR. Interestingly, gut microbiota modulation was also observed; feeding the rats with a cholesterol-enriched diet shifted the gut microbiota composition toward the Firmicutes level, lowered the Bacteroidetes level, and increased the Firmicutes level. A dose of 130 mg/kg BW of SPCr is the recommended dose, and investigation still needs to be continued in clinical trials with humans to see its efficacy at an advanced level.

Soy and Algae Combination Using Tempe FermentationMethod: A Proposed Opinion for the Development of Functional Food / Combinación de soja y algas usando el método de fermentación de Tempe: una propuesta de opinión para el desarrollo de alimentos funcionales

Backgrounds and Aims: Marine algae and plant-basedprotein have gained popularity among the most sought-afterfunctional food ingredients and appeared as emerging trendsfor functional food. Combining ingredients that are wellknown to exert beneficial properties towards health can beconsidered an innovative strategy for developing novel func-tional foods. Each functional ingredient may contribute differ-ently to health promotion and complement the beneficialproperties of other components, thus increasing the overallhealth values of novel functional foods. In addition, these in-gredients may exhibit synergistic activities that would improvethe functionality of novel functional foods. Therefore, we pro-pose that combining marine algae in the fermentation oftempe would be an innovative strategy to create a novel soy-bean-based functional food. This opinion-review article wouldprovide a thorough insight into the conception, feasibility, andfurther research regarding the algae-tempe combination as afuture functional food. Results and Conclusions: The supplementation of ma-rine algae in the fermentation of tempe would open a newhorizon about novel soybean-based functional food.Introducing marine algae in tempe production would bringadditional compounds that might not be naturally present insoybeans. These compounds are subject to mold fermenta-tion. We suggest that marine algae would improve the nutri-tional value of tempe by providing additional carbohydratesand protein. We suggest algal supplementation in tempe fer-mentation could be done by incorporating freeze-dried algalpowder into the pre-boiled soybeans and starters before fer-mentation. We also suspect that algal polysaccharides mightaffect the texture of the tempe and bind water required formold growth during fermentation. Therefore, the fermenta-tion parameters for this product would need optimizing.(AU)

New Insight on In Vitro Biological Activities of Sulfated Polysaccharides from Ulvophyte Green Algae.

Green algae are natural bioresources that have excellent bioactive potential, partly due to sulfated polysaccharides (SPs) which are still rarely explored for their biological activities. There is currently an urgent need for studies exploring the anticancer biological activity of SPs extracted from two Indonesian ulvophyte green algae: the sulfated polysaccharide of Caulerpa racemosa (SPCr) and the sulfated polysaccharide of Caulerpa lentillifera (SPCl). The method of isolating SPs and their assessment of biological activities in this study were based on previous and similar studies. The highest yield sulfate/total sugar ratio was presented by SPCr than that of SPCl. Overall, SPCr exhibits a strong antioxidant activity, as indicated by smaller EC50 values obtained from a series of antioxidant activity assays compared to the EC50 values of Trolox (control). As an anti-obesity and antidiabetic, the overall EC50 value of both SPs was close to the EC50 of the positive control (orlistat and acarbose). Even more interesting was that SPCl displayed wide-ranging anticancer effects on colorectal, hepatoma, breast cancer cell lines, and leukemia. Finally, this study reveals new insights in that SPs from two Indonesian green algae have the potential to be promising nutraceuticals as novel antioxidative actors, and to be able to fight obesity, diabetes, and even cancer.

Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant, Metabolic and Gut Microbiota Modulation Activities of Probiotic in Cardiac Remodeling Condition: Evidence from Systematic Study and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Heart failure (HF) is a global pandemic with increasing prevalence and mortality rates annually. Its main cause is myocardial infarction (MI), followed by rapid cardiac remodeling. Several clinical studies have shown that probiotics can improve the quality of life and reduce cardiovascular risk factors. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effectiveness of probiotics in preventing HF caused by a MI according to a prospectively registered protocol (PROSPERO: CRD42023388870). Four independent evaluators independently extracted the data using predefined extraction forms and evaluated the eligibility and accuracy of the studies. A total of six studies consisting of 366 participants were included in the systematic review. Probiotics are not significant in intervening left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) when compared between the intervention group and the control group due to inadequate studies supporting its efficacy. Among sarcopenia indexes, hand grip strength (HGS) showed robust correlations with the Wnt biomarkers (p < 0.05), improved short physical performance battery (SPPB) scores were also strongly correlated with Dickkopf-related protein (Dkk)-3, followed by Dkk-1, and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP-1) (p < 0.05). The probiotic group showed improvement in total cholesterol (p = 0.01) and uric acid (p = 0.014) compared to the baseline. Finally, probiotic supplements may be an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, metabolic, and intestinal microbiota modulator in cardiac remodeling conditions. Probiotics have great potential to attenuate cardiac remodeling in HF or post-MI patients while also enhancing the Wnt signaling pathway which can improve sarcopenia under such conditions.

Carotenoids Composition of Green Algae Caulerpa racemosa and Their Antidiabetic, Anti-Obesity, Antioxidant, and Anti-Inflammatory Properties.

Green alga Caulerpa racemosa is an underexploited species of macroalgae, even though it is characterized by a green color that indicates an abundance of bioactive pigments, such as chlorophyll and possibly xanthophyll. Unlike chlorophyll, which has been well explored, the composition of the carotenoids of C. racemosa and its biological activities have not been reported. Therefore, this study aims to look at the carotenoid profile and composition of C. racemose and determine their biological activities, which include antidiabetic, anti-obesity, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxicity in vitro. The detected carotenoids were all xanthophylls, which included fucoxanthin, lutein, astaxanthin, canthaxanthin, zeaxanthin, ß-carotene, and ß-cryptoxanthin based on orbitrap-mass spectrometry (MS) and a rapid ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) diode array detector. Of the seven carotenoids observed, it should be highlighted that ß-carotene and canthaxanthin were the two most dominant carotenoids present in C. racemosa. Interestingly, the carotenoid extract of C. racemosa has good biological activity in inhibiting α-glucosidase, α-amylase, DPPH and ABTS, and the TNF-α and mTOR, as well as upregulating the AMPK, which makes it a drug candidate or functional antidiabetic food, a very promising anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory. More interestingly, the cytotoxicity value of the carotenoid extract of C. racemosa shows a level of safety in normal cells, which makes it a potential for the further development of nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals.

Antiobesity potential of major metabolites from Clitoria ternatea kombucha: Untargeted metabolomic profiling and molecular docking simulations.

The prevalence of obesity is rapidly increasing and poses serious health risks accompanied by a decrease in life expectancy and quality of life. Therefore, the therapeutic potential of natural-derived nutraceuticals against obesity and its comorbidities needs to be explored. Molecular inhibition of lipase enzymes and fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) protein has attracted some recent interest in efforts to find antiobesity agents. This study aims to innovate a fermented drink from Clitoria ternatea kombucha (CTK), find out their metabolites profile, and determine the antiobesity potential through a molecular docking study. The CTK formulation refers to previous research while the metabolites profile was determined using HPLC-ESI-HRMS/MS. Major compounds were selected based on best match value > 99.0% of the M/Z cloud database. A total of 79 compounds were identified in CTK, and 13 ideal compounds were selected to be simulated in the molecular docking study against human pancreatic lipase, α-amylase, α-glucosidase, porcine pancreatic lipase, and FTO proteins. The study found that Kaempferol, Quercetin-3ß-D-glucoside, Quercetin, Dibenzylamine, and α-Pyrrolidinopropiophenone showed the best potential as functional antiobesity compounds since their affinity value ranked high in each respective receptor. In conclusion, the major compounds of CTK metabolites have the potential to be promising functional foods against obesity. However, further in vitro and in vivo studies should validate these health benefits.

Foodomics Approaches to Facilitate the Verification of the Authenticity of Foods: A Possible Strategy to Screen,Validate, and Standardize Food Matrices / Enfoques de Foodomics para facilitar la verificación de la autenticidad de los alimentos: una posible estrategia para evaluar, validar y estandarizar matrices alimentarias

The complexity of globalization, including the global food trade market, has the side effect that various raw foodstuffs are vulnerable to intentional and unintentional adulteration. However, food validation and standardization approaches are still unclear and challenging and need to be explored. Through this opinion article, the author would like to introduce a foodomics approach (Food, -Omics) to facilitate integrated food authenticity verification through biosensors. This approach is potentially suitable and offers more valuable accuracy as it combines biological analysis methods spanning genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. Meanwhile, several subdisciplines of Foodomics, such as metallomics, volatomics, and lipidomics, which are considered feasible to facilitate the verification of food authenticity, are also explored in this critical opinion. Foodomics consists of four main omics technologies, namely genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. This is an integration of promising approaches to provide standardized food matrices, thus becoming the most likely strategy to verify the authenticity of food. However, after trying to uncover this food authentication problem and provide a Foodomics approach, we felt the need for synergies in building a database capable of storing food matrices in the form of unique genes, bioactive peptides, and secondary metabolites. We hope that through this opinion article, the target database can be formed, although databases such as MEDLINE and PubChem have provided this data facility. In particular, we suggest the development of nanobiosensors that should undoubtedly be environmentally friendly and portable (making use of smartphones) and creating a cloud database capable of storing food matrices in the form of unique genes, bioactive peptides, and secondary metabolites, integrated with smartphone biosensors.(AU)

Dietary Supplementation of Caulerpa racemosa Ameliorates Cardiometabolic Syndrome via Regulation of PRMT-1/DDAH/ADMA Pathway and Gut Microbiome in Mice.

This study evaluated the effects of an aqueous extract of Caulerpa racemosa (AEC) on cardiometabolic syndrome markers, and the modulation of the gut microbiome in mice administered a cholesterol- and fat-enriched diet (CFED). Four groups of mice received different treatments: normal diet, CFED, and CFED added with AEC extract at 65 and 130 mg/kg body weight (BW). The effective concentration (EC50) values of AEC for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and lipase inhibition were lower than those of the controls in vitro. In the mice model, the administration of high-dose AEC showed improved lipid and blood glucose profiles and a reduction in endothelial dysfunction markers (PRMT-1 and ADMA). Furthermore, a correlation between specific gut microbiomes and biomarkers associated with cardiometabolic diseases was also observed. In vitro studies highlighted the antioxidant properties of AEC, while in vivo data demonstrated that AEC plays a role in the management of cardiometabolic syndrome via regulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, endothelial function (PRMT-1/DDAH/ADMA pathway), and gut microbiota.

The interlink between chrono-nutrition and stunting: current insights and future perspectives.

Stunting is the one factor that is responsible for the irretrievable damage to children's mental and physical health. Stunting imitates chronic undernutrition throughout the most extreme critical stages of growth and development of a child in their early life, and due to that stunted child does not completely develop and are too short for their age. Stunting is mainly linked with brain underdevelopment, along with lifelong damaging consequences, comprising weakened mental and learning capacity, deprived performance in school during childhood, and enhanced risks of nutrition linked to chronic long-lasting ailments, such as diabetes, hypertension, diabesity, and obesity in the future. In this review, the authors mainly summarize the latest studies related to chronic nutrition and how it is related to stunting. Optimal nutrition, particularly during pregnancy and the first 24 months of a child's life, is crucial in preventing stunting. Circadian rhythms play a significant role in maternal and fetal health, affecting outcomes such as premature birth and stunting. Maintaining a balanced diet, avoiding late-night carbohydrate-heavy meals during pregnancy, and promoting breastfeeding align with the body's biological clock, which can benefit newborns in various ways. Providing dedicated spaces for breastfeeding in public places is important to support infant health.