Zhaohui Xue

Purpose: This review aims to compare recent nanocarrier systems for β-carotene delivery, emphasizing their capacity to enhance stability, bioaccessibility and bioavailability. Design/methodology/approach: A structured search of Web of Science and PubMed identified peer reviewed English articles published from 2020 to 2025, supplemented by earlier key reports. Search terms combined “β-carotene” with relevant delivery and performance indicators. Findings: Nanoemulsions favor rapid lipolysis and micellization, whereas liposomes and polymeric or lipid nanoparticles provide stronger protection and tunable release at the cost of greater complexity. Performance depends on oil digestibility, interfacial properties and enzymatic accessibility. Reported bioaccessibility varies widely due to methodological differences; in vivo evidence remains limited. No universal carrier exists. Selection should be based on the target matrix, processing conditions, release site and regulatory context, with a clear distinction between in vitro bioaccessibility and in vivo bioavailability. Originality/value: Progress relies on harmonized digestion protocols, direct carrier comparisons, scalable production, safety evaluation, transparent labeling and stronger correlations between in vitro performance and in vivo outcomes.

The core pathological basis of obesity and its associated metabolic diseases is excessive lipid deposition. Bioactive compounds from dietary resources, such as polyphenols and flavonoids, can significantly improve lipid homeostatic imbalance by activating autophagy pathways, especially lipophagy. This review gives a systematic analysis of the interaction mechanism between autophagy processes and lipid metabolism, focusing on the elucidation of Rab GTPase-mediated membrane transport, membrane proteins involved in lipid droplet recognition and encapsulation, as well as lipid metabolism enzymes facilitating autophagy-dependent lipid clearance. We further illustrate how dietary bioactive compounds modulate the autophagy network via multiple targets, such as the activation of AMPK or inhibition of mTOR to improve autophagy, the promotion of TFEB nuclear translocation to drive lysosomal production, and the enhancement of SIRT1 to coordinate metabolic stress response. Despite the encouraging lipid-lowering effects of these compounds, there are still challenges related to their pleiotropic targets, discrepancies between in vivo and ex vivo studies, limited bioavailability, and long-term safety. Multidisciplinary approaches should be incorporated into future research to facilitate clinical translation, structure–activity relationship analyses, and evaluations of synergistic effects. This review offers insights for developing autophagy-modulating natural dietary agents as interventions against obesity.

This review comprehensively examines nanocomposite packaging materials for food preservation, focusing on their preparation methods, functional properties, applications, and safety considerations. Nanocomposites, incorporating nanomaterials such as metal nanoparticles, polysaccharides, or essential oils into polymer matrices, demonstrate enhanced mechanical strength, barrier properties (e.g., reduced water vapor and oxygen permeability), and significant antimicrobial activity. These advancements address critical food spoilage challenges by extending shelf life and maintaining quality in diverse products like fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy. In addition, this review highlights concerns regarding potential cytotoxicity and migration of nanoparticles, underscoring the need for rigorous safety evaluations. While current methods (e.g., ionic gelation, electrospinning) show promise, scalability remains limited. Future research should prioritize eco-friendly designs, functional integration, and standardized safety protocols to facilitate commercial adoption.

As a prevalent metabolic disorder, the increasing incidence of diabetes imposes a significant burden on global healthcare. Flavonoids in natural phytochemical products exhibit notable hypoglycemic properties, making them potential alternatives for diabetes treatment. This article summarizes the hypoglycemic properties of flavonoid subcategories studied in recent years, including flavones, isoflavones, flavonols, flavanols, and others. The relevant targets and signal pathways, such as α-amylase, α-glucosidase, insulin receptor substrate (IRS)/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT), PKR-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK)/eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α)/activation transcription factor 4 (ATF4)/C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), etc., are also elaborated. Additionally, flavonoids have also been demonstrated to modulate the gut microbiota and its metabolites. Through the aforementioned mechanisms, flavonoids mainly suppress carbohydrate metabolism and gluconeogenesis; facilitate glucose uptake, glycogenesis, and insulin secretion; and mitigate insulin resistance, oxidative stress, inflammation, etc. Notably, several studies have indicated that certain flavonoids displayed synergistic hypoglycemic effects. In conclusion, this article provides a comprehensive review of the hypoglycemic effects of the flavonoids investigated in recent years, aiming to offer theoretical insights for their further exploration.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in developing greener and safer substances for the control of postharvest fungal diseases of fruit. Secondary metabolic pathways play an important role in plant defense responses, and the phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway is one of the most important secondary metabolic pathways in plant defense. More and more studies have shown that exogenous phenylpropanoids treatments can inhibit postharvest fungal diseases. On the one hand, these biologically active phenylpropanoids are fungistatic and can act directly on the fungal cells infesting the postharvest fruit to inhibit spore germination and mycelial growth. On the other hand, phenylpropanoids treatment can improve plant resistance. In this review, we summarize recent achievements in the mechanisms and applications of phenylpropanoids, including cinnamic acid, p-coumaric acid and esters, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, and chlorogenic acid, in the inhibition of fungal pathogens and the reduction of postharvest losses. In addition, we propose further research hotspots and development directions based on combining nanomaterials and biotechnology.

Food-derived bioactive peptides have garnered significant attention from researchers due to their specific biological functions, including antihypertensive, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-osteoporosis properties. Despite extensive in vitro research, the bioactivity of these peptides may be compromised in the gastrointestinal tract due to enzymatic hydrolysis before reaching the bloodstream or target cells. Therefore, understanding the fate of bioactive peptides during digestion is crucial before advancing to clinical trials and commercial applications. To exert their health-promoting effects, these peptides must maintain their bioactivity throughout digestion. Encapsulation has emerged as a promising strategy for protecting peptides in the gastrointestinal tract. This review examines the effects of in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion on peptide bioactivity and stability, highlighting recent research on encapsulation strategies designed to enhance their gastrointestinal stability. Furthermore, the review addresses existing research gaps and suggests future research directions to advance our understanding and the application of bioactive peptides.