The Effect of Mushroom Dietary Fiber on the Gut Microbiota and Related Health Benefits: A Review

Mushroom dietary fiber is a type of bioactive macromolecule derived from the mycelia, fruiting bodies, or sclerotia of edible or medicinal fungi. The use of mushroom dietary fiber as a prebiotic has recently gained significant attention for providing health benefits to the host by promoting the growth of beneficial microorganisms; therefore, mushroom dietary fiber has promising prospects for application in the functional food industry and in drug development. This review summarizes methods for the preparation and modification of mushroom dietary fiber, its degradation and metabolism in the intestine, its impact on the gut microbiota community, and the generation of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs); this review also systematically summarizes the beneficial effects of mushroom dietary fiber on host health. Overall, this review aims to provide theoretical guidance and a fresh perspective for the prebiotic application of mushroom dietary fiber in the development of new functional foods and drugs.

Influence of Convective and Vacuum-Type Drying on Quality, Microstructural, Antioxidant and Thermal Properties of Pretreated Boletus edulis Mushrooms

Freshly harvested Boletus edulis mushrooms are subjected to rapid loss of quality due to the high moisture content and enzymatic activity. Drying time, quality characteristics, microstructural and thermal properties were studied in mushrooms ground to puree subjected to hot air drying (HAD), freeze drying (FD) and centrifugal vacuum drying (CVD). The influence of hot water blanching and UV-C pretreatments was additionally investigated. The rehydration ability of mushroom powders was improved by FD, especially without pretreatment or combined to UV-C exposure. The HAD and CVD, with no pretreatment or combined to UV-C, ensured good preservation of phenolics and antioxidant activity of dried mushrooms. The total difference in color of mushroom pigments extracted in acetone was lower in samples dried by CVD and higher in ones by FD. Blanching before HAD produced whiter product probably due to the reduced polyphenoloxidase activity. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis showed fewer physical changes in FD-samples. Heat-induced structural changes were noticed by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetry (TG) and Derivative Thermogravimetry (DTG) analysis, in particular of biopolymers, confirmed by ATR-FTIR analysis. Based on our complex approach, the UV pretreatment of mushrooms could be a better alternative to water blanching. Centrifugal vacuum emerged as a new efficient drying method in terms of bioactive compounds, color and thermal stability, while FD led to better rehydration ability and microstructure.

Flowability, Rehydration Behaviour and bioactive Compounds of an Orange Powder Product as Affected by Particle Size

By offering a powder that ensures the healthy value of the fruits, a proper flowability and adequate viscosity after rehydration, there could be an opportunity to promote fruit consumption. The particle size is of critical importance with regard to the properties of a powder. But the separation of a product by particle size is usually associated with compositional changes. In this study, an orange powder product with the same composition but different particle size was compared. The particle sizes considered (269 ± 4, 189 ± 4, 118 ± 3 µm) offer a product with the same bioactive compound content and guarantee a good powder flowability: angle of repose, compressibility, density, porosity and Hausner’s and Carr’s indexes. Nevertheless, grinding can be used as a simple green technology with which to adjust the particle size so as to obtain rehydrated products with differing viscosities and, therefore, powders with different applications: the smaller the particle size, the lower the viscosity.

Flowability, Rehydration Behaviour and bioactive Compounds of an Orange Powder Product as Affected by Particle Size

By offering a powder that ensures the healthy value of the fruits, a proper flowability and adequate viscosity after rehydration, there could be an opportunity to promote fruit consumption. The particle size is of critical importance with regard to the properties of a powder. But the separation of a product by particle size is usually associated with compositional changes. In this study, an orange powder product with the same composition but different particle size was compared. The particle sizes considered (269 ± 4, 189 ± 4, 118 ± 3 µm) offer a product with the same bioactive compound content and guarantee a good powder flowability: angle of repose, compressibility, density, porosity and Hausner’s and Carr’s indexes. Nevertheless, grinding can be used as a simple green technology with which to adjust the particle size so as to obtain rehydrated products with differing viscosities and, therefore, powders with different applications: the smaller the particle size, the lower the viscosity.

Cryo-Ground Mango Kernel Powder: Characterization, LC-MS/MS Profiling, Purification of Antioxidant-Rich Gallic Acid, and Molecular Docking Study of Its Major Polyphenols as Potential Inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro

Mango processing waste (MPW) is an inexpensive and rich source of valuable substances. Hence, the mango kernel powder (MKP) from four cultivars (Chausa, Neelum, Barahmasi, and Dashehari) was characterized for the selection of the best cultivar. The MKP of the best cultivar (Dashehari) was analyzed for the profiling of polyphenols using LC-MS/MS in both modes of ionization (positive and negative) and indicated the presence of 50 compounds with specific retention times. After identification, gallic acid (GA), an important industrial compound, was targeted and purified followed by its confirmation using NMR (600 MHz) and HRMS. The antioxidant activity (IC50: 1.96 μg/mL) of extracted GA proposes its use as a natural antioxidant in novel food formulations. Additionally, SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) was selected for molecular docking based virtual screening of seven major polyphenols (MKP), and the results were compared with hydroxychloroquine. The docking scores of targeted polyphenols revealed that three compounds (epicatechin, mangiferin, and quercetin) exhibited appreciable proteolytic activity against Mpro. In this way, it is a favorable approach toward environmental safety on the standpoint of green chemistry owing to the use of food processing waste and elimination of the waste dumping/composting problems.