Potential of Synbiotics and Probiotics as Chemopreventive Agent.

Cancer remains a global problem, with millions of new cases diagnosed yearly and countless lives lost. The financial burden of cancer therapy, along with worries about the long-term safety of existing medicines, necessitates the investigation of alternative approaches to cancer prevention. Probiotics generate chemopreventive compounds such as bacteriocins, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), which have demonstrated the ability to impede cancer cell proliferation, induce apoptosis, and bolster the expression of pro-apoptotic genes. On the other hand, prebiotics, classified as non-digestible food ingredients, promote the proliferation of probiotics within the colon, thereby ensuring sustained functionality of the gut microbiota. Consequently, the synergistic effect of combining prebiotics with probiotics, known as the synbiotic effect, in dietary interventions holds promise for potentially mitigating cancer risk and augmenting preventive measures. The utilization of gut microbiota in cancer treatment has shown promise in alleviating adverse health effects. This review explored the potential and the role of probiotics and synbiotics in enhancing health and contributing to cancer prevention efforts. In this review, the applications of functional probiotics and synbiotics, the mechanisms of action of probiotics in cancer, and the relationship of probiotics with various drugs were discussed, shedding light on the potential of probiotics and synbiotics to alleviate the burdens of cancer treatment.

Exploring environmental exposomes and the gut-brain nexus: Unveiling the impact of pesticide exposure.

This review delves into the escalating concern of environmental pollutants and their profound impact on human health in the context of the modern surge in global diseases. The utilisation of chemicals in food production, which results in residues in food, has emerged as a major concern nowadays. By exploring the intricate relationship between environmental pollutants and gut microbiota, the study reveals a dynamic bidirectional interplay, as modifying microbiota profile influences metabolic pathways and subsequent brain functions. This review will first provide an overview of potential exposomes and their effect to gut health. This paper is then emphasis the connection of gut brain function by analysing microbiome markers with neurotoxicity responses. We then take pesticide as example of exposome to elucidate their influence to biomarkers biosynthesis pathways and subsequent brain functions. The interconnection between neuroendocrine and neuromodulators elements and the gut-brain axis emerges as a pivotal factor in regulating mental health and brain development. Thus, manipulation of gut microbiota function at the onset of stress may offer a potential avenue for the prevention and treatment for mental disorder and other neurodegenerative illness.

Discovery of Biomarkers for Myogenous Temporomandibular Disorders Through Salivary Metabolomic Profiling: A Pilot Study.

AIMS: To develop a new approach to provide insights into contributing factors to the etiology and pathogenesis of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) through discrimination of the salivary metabolomic profiling of patients with TMDs of muscular origin (ie, local myalgia) and healthy individuals. METHODS: Saliva samples from 19 patients with TMDs of muscular origin (ie, local myalgia) and 39 healthy controls were collected and identified by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. 1H NMR spectra for all samples were acquired using a Bruker Avance-III NMR spectrometer operating at 500 MHz, and data processing was performed in TopSpin, MestreNova, SIMCA, and AMIX softwares for metabolite identification. RESULTS: Eight key metabolites were identified between the healthy controls and patients: L-isoleucine, methylmalonic acid, isopropanolamine, dimethyl sulfone, lactic acid, 4-ethoxyphenylacetic acid, N-acetyl alanine, and D-galactose. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrate that NMR-based metabolomics coupled with multivariate data analysis is a powerful method for the metabolomic profiling of patients with TMDs of muscular origin (ie, local myalgia).

Application of antimicrobial, potential hazard and mitigation plans.

The tremendous rise in the consumption of antimicrobial products had aroused global concerns, especially in the midst of pandemic COVID-19. Antimicrobial resistance has been accelerated by widespread usage of antimicrobial products in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the widespread use of antimicrobial products releases biohazardous substances into the environment, endangering the ecology and ecosystem. Therefore, several strategies or measurements are needed to tackle this problem. In this review, types of antimicrobial available, emerging nanotechnology in antimicrobial production and their advanced application have been discussed. The problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB)and antimicrobial resistance genes (AMG) had become the biggest threat to public health. To deal with this problem, an in-depth discussion of the challenges faced in antimicrobial mitigations and potential alternatives was reviewed.

Valorisation of biomass and diaper waste into a sustainable production of the medical mushroom Lingzhi Ganoderma lucidum.

Global solid waste is expected to increase by at least 70% annually until year 2050. The mixture of solid waste including food waste from food industry and domestic diaper waste in landfills is causing environmental and human health issues. Nevertheless, food and diaper waste containing high lignocellulose can easily degrade using lignocellulolytic enzymes thereby converted into energy for the development and growth of mushroom. Therefore, this study explores the potential of recycling biomass waste from coffee ground, banana, eggshell, tea waste, sugarcane bagasse and sawdust and diaper waste as raw material for Lingzhi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) cultivation. Using 2% of diaper core with sawdust biowaste leading to the fastest 100% mushroom mycelium spreading completed in one month. The highest production yield is 71.45 g mushroom; this represents about 36% production biological efficiency compared to only 21% as in commercial substrate. The high mushroom substrate reduction of 73% reflect the valorisation of landfill waste. The metabolomics profiling showed that the Lingzhi mushroom produced is of high quality with a high content of triterpene being the bioactive compounds that are medically important for treating assorted disease and used as health supplement. In conclusion, our study proposed a potential resource management towards zero-waste and circular bioeconomy for high profitable mushroom cultivation.

Development of formaldehyde-free bio-board produced from mushroom mycelium and substrate waste.

Synthetic adhesives in the plywood industry are usually volatile compounds such as formaldehyde-based chemical which are costly and hazardous to health and the environment. This phenomenon promotes an interest in developing bio-boards without synthetic adhesives. This study proposed a novel application of natural mycelium produced during mushroom cultivation as natural bio-adhesive material that convert spent mushroom substrate (SMS) into high-performance bio-board material. Different types of spent mushroom substrates were compressed with specific designed mould with optimal temperature at 160 °C and 10 mPa for 20 min. The bio-board made from Ganoderma lucidum SMS had the highest internal bonding strength up to 2.51 mPa. This is far above the 0.4-0.8 range of China and US national standards. In addition, the material had high water and fire resistance, high bonding and densified structures despite free of any adhesive chemicals. These properties and the low cost one step procedure show the potential as a zero-waste economy chain for sustainable agricultural practice for waste and remediation.

A review of historical and recent locust outbreaks: Links to global warming, food security and mitigation strategies.

Locusts differ from ordinary grasshoppers in their ability to swarm over long distances and are among the oldest migratory pests. The ecology and biology of locusts make them among the most devastating pests worldwide and hence the calls for actions to prevent the next outbreaks. The most destructive of all locust species is the desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria). Here, we review the current locust epidemic 2020 outbreak and its causes and prevention including the green technologies that may provide a reference for future directions of locust control and food security. Massive locust outbreaks threaten the terrestrial environments and crop production in around 100 countries of which Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya are the most affected. Six large locust outbreaks are reported for the period from 1912 to 1989 all being closely related to long-term droughts and warm winters coupled with occurrence of high precipitation in spring and summer. The outbreaks in East Africa, India and Pakistan are the most pronounced with locusts migrating more than 150 km/day during which the locusts consume food equivalent to their own body weight on a daily basis. The plague heavily affects the agricultural sectors, which is the foundation of national economies and social stability. Global warming is likely the main cause of locust plague outbreak in recent decades driving egg spawning of up to 2-400,000 eggs per square meter. Biological control techniques such as microorganisms, insects and birds help to reduce the outbreaks while reducing ecosystem and agricultural impacts. In addition, green technologies such as light and sound stimulation seem to work, however, these are challenging and need further technological development incorporating remote sensing and modelling before they are applicable on large-scales. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the 2020 locust outbreak is the worst in 70 years probably triggered by climate change, hurricanes and heavy rain and has affected a total of 70,000 ha in Somalia and Ethiopia. There is a need for shifting towards soybean, rape, and watermelon which seems to help to prevent locust outbreaks and obtain food security. Furthermore, locusts have a very high protein content and is an excellent protein source for meat production and as an alternative human protein source, which should be used to mitigate food security. In addition, forestation of arable land improves local climate conditions towards less precipitation and lower temperatures while simultaneously attracting a larger number of birds thereby increasing the locust predation rates.