ABSTRACT Biodegradable films were developed from starch extracted from avocado seeds (ASS) and reinforced with starch nanocrystals (SNCs) to investigate the effect of nanofiller incorporation on thermal, mechanical, barrier, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the incorporation of SNCs improved thermal stability, with higher onset degradation temperatures compared to the neat ASS film. Furthermore, water vapor permeability decreased significantly with increasing SNC content (from 1.64 × 10⁻⁹ to 0.92 × 10⁻⁹ g·s⁻¹·m⁻¹·Pa⁻¹), indicating enhanced barrier performance attributed to the tortuous path effect introduced by the nanocrystals. Interestingly, all films exhibited remarkable antioxidant and antimicrobial activity ( Staphylococcus aureus ) due to the intrinsic bioactive compounds present in ASS. The incorporation of SNCs further enhanced antioxidant activity, from 45 to 63 mmol TEAC/g at 3% SNC loading. All formulations exhibited comparable disintegration under composting conditions, achieving near complete degradation within 28 days. These findings highlight that ASS‐based films reinforced with SNCs combine improved functional properties with inherent bioactivity, positioning them as promising candidates for active and sustainable food packaging applications.

ABSTRACT The flavor and quality of Baijiu are closely related to the environment and microbial metabolism. The microbial community structure is highly dynamic in time and space, making it trouble to control the flavor and quality of Baijiu. Therefore, this paper reviewed the role of core microorganisms in Baijiu brewing and the contribution of various key compounds to the flavor of Baijiu in recent years. Additionally, this work discussed the visual control of Baijiu flavor and quality by constructing a synthetic microbial model. We determined that the future direction of research involves the function‐enhancing, which can enhance microorganisms with specific molecular targets and track the dynamic changes of microorganisms during the process of Baijiu fermentation through the combined technology of multi‐omics. This paper established a vital theoretical basis for improving the quality, safety, and promotion of the industrial development of Baijiu.

ABSTRACT This study systematically reviewed macronutrients, micronutrients, and potential health risks associated with heavy metals in seaweed. The selected seaweed species contained considerable protein (approximately 15–20 g/100 g dry weight), ash (approximately 15–28 g/100 g), and crude fiber (approximately 8–24 g/100 g), while lipids were consistently low (approximately 1–7 g/100 g). Seaweed is abundant in proteins and contains many important amino acids, including arginine, leucine, threonine, and tyrosine, among others, in specific species. Seaweed has tiny quantities of fatty acids. The monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) range from 8.4 to 20 mg/100 g, whereas the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) range from 4.8 to 22 mg/100 g. Whereas a tiny amount of omega‐3 PUFA has been observed in Enteromorpha intestinalis (EPA 0.3 mg/100 g) and Ulva lactuca (DHA 0.66 mg and EPA 1.1 mg per 100 g) only. However, the limited number of studies have revealed very low amounts of vitamins. Seaweed may also contribute a significant proportion to daily nutrient requirements; for example, 8 g of seaweed can provide 1.35%–3.63% of protein and 0.02%–12.57% of calcium for adults. This review is the first to report selenium and iodine levels in Bangladeshi seaweeds, contributing novel insights, and also evaluates potential health risks.

ABSTRACT Artemisia selengensis is a medicinal and edible plant, whose tender stems are widely consumed as a folk vegetable in China. However, due to their bitterness, Artemisia selengensis leaves (ASL) are often discarded as a waste material, resulting in resource wastage. This study aimed to characterize ASL's chemical composition, develop a “green” extraction method, and explore its potential bioactivity. Using LC‐MS, 72 compounds were identified. To extract 7 representative caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs), the mixture of choline chloride and ethylene glycol (1:6) was selected as the optimal deep eutectic solvent (DES), and the extraction parameters were optimized as follows: extraction time of 21 min, temperature of 44°C and ultrasonic power of 420 W. Based on molecular docking analysis, both 3,5‐diCQA and 1,5‐diCQA exhibited strong binding affinity to xanthine oxidase (XO), consistent with their potent XO inhibitory effects (IC 50 = 3.69 and 3.35 nmol/mL, respectively). In addition, a greater XO inhibition was observed for the DES extract (IC 50 = 6.05 μg/mL) compared with the methanol extract (IC 50 = 22.5 μg/mL). This study not only helps to reduce ASL disposal's environmental load and boost its agricultural value, but also sets a green model for similar vegetable waste to aid circular agriculture.

ABSTRACT This study introduces a novel spectrophotometric method to sensitively and specifically determine the peroxide value of edible oils, specifically engineered to overcome the significant analytical interference of carotenoid pigments that have historically compromised traditional methods. The method uses a solution containing ferrous (Fe 2+ ) ions and either salicylic acid (SA) or sulfosalicylic acid (SSA). Next, these Fe 2+ ions are reacted with a sample of edible oil in the presence of peroxide, forming ferric (Fe³⁺) ions. In the next step, the Fe³⁺ ion forms a complex with SSA (or SA), resulting in a ferrisulfosalicylate (or sulfosalicylate) complex that exhibits a unique color. This color change was utilized for measuring lipid peroxides. It provides a rapid, simple, and sensitive method for detecting and quantifying peroxides. SSA and SA can form complexes that absorb light at 505 and 525 nm, respectively. When this new method was compared to Ferrous Oxidation‐Xylenol Orange (FOX) and ferrithiocyanate methods, it showed an impressive correlation (Pearson's r = 0.99). This study demonstrates that the proposed method is effective in determining the peroxide value in the various types of edible oils examined.

ABSTRACT Medicinal plants have been integral to treating illnesses since antiquity, with their use expanding significantly in modern times. Ensuring the high quality of these resources is crucial, as various factors that inevitably influence the processing of these plants can significantly affect the therapeutic properties of the final products. This article therefore surveys those factors, first considering those associated with plant chemovariation during the preharvest phase—driven by genetics and environment—and their impact on the phytochemical and phytopharmacological properties. Key postharvest steps are then discussed: pre‐drying treatments (chemical and thermal) to deactivate enzymes and improve drying efficiency, followed by natural and mechanical drying methods chosen to enhance phytochemical stability and shelf life. Proper sorting and storage methods are emphasized as essential to eliminate contaminants and prevent deterioration. Finally, the study compares conventional and advanced techniques for extraction, separation, and purification, evaluating their yield, selectivity, and scalability. By integrating recent laboratory findings with cutting‐edge industrial practices, the paper outlines technological pathways that can raise quality standards across the medicinal‐plant value chain and support the production of safe, high‐quality herbal end‐products.

ABSTRACT Medicinal plants have garnered special attention worldwide in food, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetic industries, owing to their diverse nutritional and therapeutic profile. Rural inhabitants have traditionally used these plants as therapeutic agents to manage prevalent disorders. Ricinus communis , known as the castor bean, is native to East Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, and Southeast Asia, including India and Pakistan. It is extensively used in various medicinal systems to treat different disorders. This review summarizes the nutritional composition, phytochemistry, health benefits, safety studies, and applications of castor beans and their oil. Various search engines like Google Scholar, PubMed, and ScienceDirect were used to obtain relevant studies ( n = 159). The findings showed that diverse bioactive compounds, including saponins, emodins, terpenoids, anthraquinones, flavonoids, steroids, and alkaloids, exhibit therapeutic properties such as antioxidant, anticancer, anti‐inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and hepatoprotective properties. Furthermore, its antioxidant potential helps attenuate oxidative stress and its associated disorders, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other metabolic disorders. Additionally, different studies have documented the toxicity of castor beans, especially ricin.

ABSTRACT The global demand for edible flowers has increased due to their diverse applications in food, nutraceuticals, and the medical field. However, issues of species identification, adulteration, contamination, and quality necessitate the use of advanced methods to authenticate product quality for edible flowers. Conventional methods are expensive, time‐consuming, and require highly skilled personnel and technical expertise. Spectroscopic methods, including Fourier transform infrared, near‐infrared, and Raman spectroscopy, are efficient, fast, and non‐destructive, providing rapid insight into the chemical structure and authenticity of edible flowers. This review systematically summarizes the recent advances in spectroscopic methods for authenticating edible flowers, including the detection of chemical changes and ensuring product integrity. The primary goal is to examine the applications of spectroscopic techniques for assessing quality changes in edible flowers during processing for food applications. Spectroscopic techniques, such as FT‐IR, NIR, and Raman spectroscopy, are rapid, accurate, and non‐destructive alternatives for authenticating the composition and quality of edible flowers. These methods enable the detection of bioactive compounds, differentiation of species, and identification of adulterants with minimal sample processing. Furthermore, chemometric models enhance data analysis, allowing for automated classification and real‐time quality monitoring of edible flowers.