Soybean, a staple crop, is a source of high-quality protein and, thus, has broad prospects in the food industry and other fields. This review first introduces common soybean protein products and then elaborates on the safety and biological activity of soybean protein. In addition, excellent processing characteristics are introduced and an example of the comprehensive utilization of soy protein is given. Soybean peptides are an essential extension product in the soybean processing chain. Hence, this paper also introduces soybean peptides' biological activity. Moreover, traditional, and novel techniques for processing soybean protein isolate and peptides are compared in terms of their advantages and characteristics, and new ideas are proposed for their green production on an industrial scale. It is hoped that the analysis and innovative concepts proposed in this work will promote the healthy development of the soybean protein industry chain.

This study investigated deep-sea smelt fish sauces made with three types of starter cultures to produce a high-quality product that contains low histamine levels. The starter cultures included lactic acid bacterium Tetragenococcus halophilus for soy sauce and T. halophilus strains 8-25 and 14-1 that do not receive the histidine decarboxylase gene, isolated from fermented marine foods. The addition of these bacteria reduced the pH of the fish sauce mashes (moromis) to below 5.0 in the first 21 d. This pH level was maintained until the end of fermentation. Throughout fermentation, histamine-producing bacterial counts and histamine levels in the moromis were below 9.3 × 10 most probable number (MPN)/g and 113 mg/L, respectively. A principal component analysis of the final products revealed that taste, which was obtained using a taste sensor, and quality indicators (physicochemical and extractive components) differed among the three products.

Indonesian Calophyllum inophyllum resin and its main component, calophylloidic acid A (1), have potent antibacterial activity against foodborne pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. However, their low water solubility makes their practical use difficult. Here, we investigated the formation of inclusion complexes of C. inophyllum resin and 1 with cyclodextrins (CDs). The inclusion complexes of C. inophyllum resin or 1 with CDs exhibited enhanced water solubility and antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli compared to those of uncomplexed C. inophyllum resin or 1. Among the analyzed samples, α-CD inclusion complexes exhibited the strongest antibacterial activity. Furthermore, 1 and α-CD formed inclusion complexes at a molar ratio of 1:1. The improved water-solubilities and good antibacterial activity of the inclusion complexes will allow for their future application against foodborne pathogens.

Fermented barley extract P (FBEP) prepared from barley shochu distillation by-product has been reported to lower serum uric acid (UA) by increasing urinary excretion of UA. ATP-binding cassette subfamily G member 2 (ABCG2) is a transporter responsible for UA efflux from the intestinal tract and kidneys. This study aimed to identify, among the compounds isolated from FBEP using high-performance liquid chromatography, the components that promote ABCG2 expression in Caco-2 cells. Pyroglutamylproline (pEP) increased the expression of ABCG2 in Caco-2 cells at the gene and protein levels. These results suggest that the pEP contained in FBEP may decrease serum UA levels by increasing the expression of urate efflux transporters in the intestinal epithelium and promoting UA excretion.

Blueberry contains abundant anthocyanins, polyphenols, polysaccharides, and other active compounds. Anthocyanins are one of the most principal active components in blueberry, which have high medical and medicinal values. Consequently, the aim of this paper is to optimize the ultrasound assisted aqueous two-phase extraction (UATPE) of anthocyanins from blueberry by response surface methodology (RSM). The optimal extraction process to achieve the highest yield of anthocyanins (5.96 ± 0.04) mg/g from blueberry via UATPE was obtained under the ultrasound power of 269 W, extraction temperature of 56 °C, ammonium sulfate mass fraction of 23 %, and ethanol concentration of 25%. Subsequently, we evaluated the anti-tumor activity of blueberry anthocyanins extract (BAE) obtained under the optimal process on breast cancer by MTT, confocal laser microscopy, and flow cytometer. The results show that BAE could memorably inhibit MCF-7 cells viability, increase the intensity of nuclear blue fluorescence, and accelerate the apoptosis of MCF-7 cells. The findings provide an effective and feasible method for the extraction of anthocyanins. Moreover, these results provide a material basis for the development of natural anti-tumor drugs.

Alginate, a dietary fiber in kombu, exhibits anti-obesity effects. Heat processing alters the physical properties of dietary fiber in processed kombu. In this study, male C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet supplemented with processed kombu powder for 10 weeks to investigate the effect of heat-altered dietary fiber properties on the anti-obesity activity of kombu. Three types of heat processed kombu were evaluated: boiled kombu (100 °C), heated kombu A (121 °C), and heated kombu B (130 °C). Compared to the control group, body weight decreased significantly in the heated kombu A group and abdominal fat weight decreased in all kombu-fed groups (especially in the heated kombu A group). Total serum cholesterol concentrations were similar across all groups. Short chain fatty acid concentrations in the cecum increased significantly in the heated kombu groups. The results showed that optimum heat processing conditions may improve the physiological functions of kombu.

This study investigated the protective effect of edible insect methanol extracts (EIMEs) against oxidative stress induced by H₂O₂ in C2C12 cells. Total phenolic and total flavonoid contents of EIMEs were 7.43–47.15 mg gallic acid equivalents/g of residue and 2.01–31.00 mg catechin equivalents/g of residue, respectively. Among edible insects, Oxya chinensis showed the highest antioxidant activity, followed by Allomyrina dichotoma. EIMEs (100 µg/mL) significantly prevented H₂O₂-induced cytotoxicity in both myoblasts and myotubes. H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress causes reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, glutathione depletion, and lipid peroxidation, all of which were markedly ameliorated by EIMEs in myoblasts in our study. In addition, A. dichotoma prevented the generation of ROS and release of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in myotubes. EIMEs increased the diameter of myotubes and mRNA and protein expression levels of myosin-heavy chains. Our study provides insights into the application of edible insects to regulate muscle differentiation and alleviate oxidative damage to muscles.

We investigated the concentrations of halogenated flame retardants (HFRs), which include hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDDs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and dechloranes and related compounds (DRCs), in 25 typical ready-made boxed sushi meals (each divided into seafood and non-seafood portions) using a developed simultaneous analytical method involving accelerated solvent extraction and gel permeation chromatographic separation. The developed method yielded good recoveries of surrogates (72–122 %). HBCDDs, PBDEs, and DRCs were detected in all seafood portions. While DRCs were also frequently detected in non-seafood portions, HBCDDs and PBDEs were hardly detected. The estimated dietary intakes of HBCDDs, PBDEs, and DRCs from boxed sushi meals were well below the corresponding health-based guideline values. In conclusion, our study suggests that the intake of HFRs from boxed sushi meals poses low concern for consumer health and that the developed simultaneous analytical method is highly useful for determining HFRs in seafood-based meals.