Ethnomycology, a specialized branch of ethnobotany, explores the dynamic relationships between humans and fungi, with particular emphasis on their roles in traditional and alternative medicine, food, rituals, and ecological stewardship. Among indigenous communities, fungi have long held a place not only as a food source but also as potent agents in folk healing systems, natural therapies, and preventive care. Despite their cultural and medicinal importance, these knowledge systems remain under-documented and increasingly vulnerable to erosion due to modernization, loss of oral traditions, and habitat degradation. This study investigates the ethnomycological practices of the Kani settlement at Chemmankala in the Peppara Forest Range of Kerala, with a focus on fungal diversity, classification, and utilization. Field surveys and semi-structured interviews were conducted with local informants to document fungal species, collection methods, preparation techniques, and perceived therapeutic and nutritional benefits. Particular attention was paid to fungi traditionally used in healing practices, wound care, immunity boosting, and dietary regulation. Specimens were collected and identified through both morphological and microscopic analyses, and their ethnomedical applications cross-referenced with existing scientific literature and pharmacological databases. The findings reveal a rich tapestry of culinary, medicinal, and ecological uses of fungi among the Kani people and underscore deeply rooted traditional conservation ethics that promote sustainable harvesting and habitat care. This study not only contributes to the ethnomycological literature but also reinforces the urgent need to preserve indigenous medical knowledge systems, support biocultural diversity, and promote the integration of traditional health wisdom into broader frameworks of alternative medicine and holistic health.

ABSTRACT Food gifting provides an important means of risk sharing in agrarian economies where farming households have limited access to formal credit and insurance markets. Food gifting is also an important source of food for households that are struggling with food scarcity. However, gifting may lead to free‐riding behavior and reduce the incentive for adopting risk‐reducing production practices. We construct a simple conceptual model of gifting to show that being in a food gifting regime reduces the adoption of risk‐reducing practices. Using primary data from rural Tanzania, we then test the prediction of our conceptual model. We estimate an endogenous switching model and find that engaging in food gifting is correlated with a reduction in the adoption of risk‐reducing practices. We find no evidence, however, that food gifting has a statistically significant relationship with household food security. Our findings suggest that informal nonmarket risk‐sharing institutions in the global South may not be sufficient on their own to address food security.

Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) is a chronic kidney disease associated with the consumption of aristolochic acids (AAs) through contaminated food sources. AAs are known to form DNA adducts that are implicated in tumorigenesis and kidney fibrosis. Given the sensitivity of DNA adduct formation to dietary factors, this study aimed to investigate the impact of various dietary practices on AA-DNA adduct formation, thereby assessing the risk of developing BEN. We quantified AA-DNA adducts in DNA extracted from the kidneys and livers of mice subjected to high-fat, high-protein, high-sucrose, and high-salt diets, utilizing a highly sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method combined with stable isotope dilution. Our results demonstrated that unbalanced diets significantly elevated the formation of DNA adducts from AAs. Notably, mice fed high-fat diets exhibited increases in adduct levels of 71 and 114% for diets containing 17 and 25% fat, respectively. Mice on a 20% sucrose diet showed an 80% increase in adduct levels compared to those on a standard diet. Further investigations using gut sacs from the small intestines of these mice revealed that the increased level of DNA adduct formation was primarily attributed to enhanced intestinal absorption. Additionally, we observed that drinking alkaline water reduced adduct levels by 30% compared to tap water, likely by decreasing AA absorption. In contrast, commonly used dietary supplements, such as vitamin C and cysteine, significantly increased AA-DNA adduct levels by enhancing the activity of enzymes involved in the metabolic activation of AAs. These findings highlight the critical role of a balanced diet in mitigating the risk of BEN and suggest that alkaline water consumption may serve as a protective strategy for individuals living in AA-contaminated regions.

BackgroundSeaweed is a nutrient-dense, sustainable, and underutilized food source. Despite its growing popularity, little is known about its consumption and related perceptions during pregnancy.AimTo (1) explore perceptions of health, environmental concerns, and seaweed consumption among pregnant individuals; (2) characterize their seaweed consumption patterns; and (3) identify factors shaping their attitudes and choices regarding seaweed.MethodsData were collected via an online survey developed for this study, incorporating items from the Health Consciousness Scale and questions assessing perceptions, consumption patterns, and attitudes related to seaweed among 120 pregnant participants across all trimesters. Descriptive and qualitative analyses were conducted.ResultsIn terms of health perceptions, most respondents (91.7%) reported being actively engaged in their health, and a majority (81.7%) agreed that the healthfulness of foods greatly influences their dietary choices. Regarding seaweed consumption, 70.8% of participants had consumed seaweed at least once during pregnancy. In addition, 60.0% of respondents expressed a positive attitude toward seaweed.ConclusionsIncorporating seaweed into dietary recommendations during pregnancy may offer both nutritional and environmental benefits. Future research should prioritize rigorous safety assessments to establish evidence-based guidance for seaweed consumption among pregnant individuals.

Urceola polymorpha is traditionally employed as both a food source and medicinal remedy in Vietnam and several other Southeast Asian countries. This study presents a comprehensive phytochemical investigation that resulted in the separation of a new compound, along with 14 additional compounds previously unreported in this species. Their structures were identified by the application of advanced spectroscopic techniques. In in vitro assays, isolated compounds significantly inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NO, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α production, and iNOS expression levels in RAW264.7 cells, indicating potential anti-inflammatory activity. Among them, compounds 10 and 11 exhibited the most potential for inhibitory effects. In silico approaches suggested that active compounds may interact with proteins involved in inflammation. Our findings not only support the phytochemical profile of U. polymorpha but also utilise its ethnopharmacological applications, highlighting its promise as a candidate for the development of functional foods and therapeutic strategies targeting inflammation-related disorders.

Melanoidins, complex brown polymers formed during the Maillard reaction in thermally processed or fermented foods, are increasingly recognized for their nutritional relevance beyond sensory contributions. Emerging evidence suggests that they may act as prebiotic-like compounds that resist human digestion and undergo microbial fermentation in the colon, producing metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). These metabolites are proposed to support intestinal barrier function, inflammation, and host metabolism. This review summarizes current knowledge on the gastrointestinal fate, microbial fermentation, and putative bioactivities of dietary melanoidins, with a focus on their interactions with gut microbiota. We compare the structural diversity among food sources and discuss potential health implications. However, most evidence to date derives from in vitro and animal studies, with limited clinical validation. Key challenges remain in classification, extraction, and the translation of preclinical findings into human applications. Addressing these gaps will be essential to establish the nutritional potential of melanoidin-rich foods in personalized and preventive nutrition strategies for gut health. Future studies integrating standardized extraction, structural characterization, and clinical validation are essential to establish the role of dietary melanoidins in personalized nutrition.

Medicinal plants are widely utilized across the globe for the treatment of various ailments. This study aimed to explore the phytochemical composition and proximate analysis of Heliotropium indicum shoots. The Qualitative phytochemical screening identified key compounds, including alkaloids, anthraquinones, saponins, tannins, cardiac glycosides, and terpenoids. Proximate analysis was conducted using the methods outlined by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC while the quantitative phytochemicals identified phenols, flavonoids, Alkaloids, Tannis and Saponins. Results indicated that the powdered plant sample contained a diverse range of phytochemicals and nutrients. Among the phytochemicals, phenolics were present in the highest concentration (24.422 ± 0.12), followed by flavonoids (18.569 ± 0.13), alkaloids (8.10 ± 0.14), tannins (3.764 ± 0.01), and saponins (3.65 ± 0.07). In terms of proximate composition, carbohydrates were the most abundant (39.92 ± 0.19), followed by protein (19.59 ± 0.09), crude fiber (14.09 ± 0.17), moisture content (11.49 ± 0.05), fixed carbon (11.09 ± 0.12), and ash (3.81 ± 0.11). The findings from this study suggest that Heliotropium indicum shoots are a rich source of bioactive compounds and nutrients, supporting their potential use in nutritional and therapeutic applications, including anticancer, anti-aging, antibacterial, and antiviral treatments.

Brassica vegetables are in high demand because they are an essential nutrient source for humans. Glucosinolates (GSLs), a major bioactive compound found in Brassicaceae, are amino acid derivatives that contribute to the health benefits of these crops. Light quality plays a significant role in plant growth and metabolite synthesis, and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as artificial light sources offer many benefits. This study examined three cultivars of leafy cabbage B. oleracea. var. acephala (Kale), B. oleracea var. viridis (collard), and B. oleracea var. capitata (cabbage) grown under different LED conditions (red, blue, and blue–red) in the growing chamber. The primary objective of this study was to identify the most effective LED light spectrum for promoting GSLs accumulation and enhancing the overall plant quality. The findings of this study demonstrate that LED lights can have varying impacts on the cultivars of leafy cabbage. The different light spectra had varying impacts on the parameters examined in this study. GSLs compounds, particularly glucobrassicin, showed the most significant increase under the blue light treatment, with a 61% increase compared to the control. The R&B (red and blue) light treatment was the most effective in improving the growth traits of the shoot and root in the Kale cultivar. For the collard cultivar, the R&B light increased the leaf length and width, whereas for the cabbage cultivar, it led to an increase in the number of leaves and chlorophyll index. These findings demonstrate that the specific light quality can have different effects on the phytochemical composition and morphological characteristics of the different leafy cabbage cultivars. The blue light spectrum was particularly effective in enhancing GSLs accumulation, while the combination of red and blue light provided the most beneficial effects on overall plant growth and development across the three cultivars studied. These results suggest that the metabolism and phytochemical properties of leafy cabbage cultivars depend on exposure to multiple factors, such as cultivar type and light quality. Therefore, R&B light was the most effective light for most traits and can be suggested for performance.

The secreted mucus layer in the human gastrointestinal tract constitutes both a protective boundary between gut lumen and epithelium as well as an important nutrient source for members of the gut microbiota. While many gut microbes possess the genetic potential to degrade mucin it is still unclear which species transcribe the respective genes. Here, we systematically analyzed publicly available metagenome and metatranscriptome datasets to characterize the gut microbial community involved in mucosal glycan degradation. We utilized co-occurrence network analysis and linear regression to elucidate the ecological strategies of, and relationship between, mucus degraders. We found that although approximately 60% of species carrying genes encoding for mucosal-glycan-degrading enzymes have detectable transcription of these genes, only 21 species prevalently transcribe more than 1 gene. Furthermore, the transcription of individual genes was frequently dominated by single species in individual samples. Transcription patterns suggested the presence of competitive mucosal glycan degraders characterized by abundance-driven transcription that were negative predictors for the transcription of other degraders as well as opportunistic species with decoupled abundance and transcription profiles. These findings provide insights into the ecology of the mucosal glycan degradation niche in the human gut microbiota.

Using the hydrolysate of Chinese medicine residues as nutrient source improves the performance of oil-producing algae: Phenomena and mechanistic elucidation.

Bridging the phylodynamic antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong through a One Health Lens.

Abstract The proper and scientific disposal of harmful organic waste produced by humans or animals, and its transformation from a low value, environmentally polluting material into a high-value biological resource that can be used in animal feeding, is considered a central aim within sustainable agriculture. Therefore, this study aimed to produce black soldier fly larvae powder (BSFLP) involving two types of organic materials namely kitchen waste and fish processing waste, and then use the resulting larvae as a sustainable and economical food source for fish feeding and evaluate its impact in terms of production performance and chemical composition of the produced fish meat. The research was conducted using 75 common carp fish distributed across five experimental conditions, each consisting of three replicates with five fish in each replicate. The treatments were fed different diets, including: The first was designated as the control group (no BSFLP), the second and third groups treatments used powdered black soldier fly larvae nourished with kitchen waste (BSFLPK) at 8 and 16% of the feed components, respectively, while the fourth and fifth treatments used powdered black soldier fly larvae feeding on fish processing waste (BSFLPF) at 8 and 16% of the feed components, respectively. Compared to the control group all BSFLP treatments showed significant (p ≤0.05) enhancements in weight gain, final fish weight, specific growth rate feed conversion ratio “feed efficiency protein efficiency ratio. A significant superiority was also observed in favor of the fourth and fifth treatments in protein productive value and protein retention. The Findings from the fish meat analysis demonstrated a significant decrease in crude lipid in the third treatment, with crude protein percentage significantly higher in the fifth treatment than in the control. In conclusion, this study concluded that BSFLP may serve as an economical and sustainable food source and can be produced locally for fish feed.

Abstract PTH 2: Determinants of Health Disease and Interventions 2, B307 (FCSH), September 3, 2025, 15:45 - 16:39 Aims To describe the practices of food procurement, preparation and consumption of adolescent migrants during active mobility (in-transit migration) in Mexico, and to analyze the social determination of those practices and their possible impact on health. Methods We employ a sociological framework of theory of practice, to situate the food-related activities of migrants (procurement, preparation and consumption) in the context of the social structures that facilitate or hinder the possibility of eating a balanced diet. We explore these practices as both individual and collective strategies that migrants enact when faced with food insecurity and other difficulties during their journey. Data came from 19 qualitative interviews with adolescent migrants conducted in 2022-2023, and were analyzed following a reflexive thematic analysis strategy. Results The food practices of adolescent migrants in this context are limited by poverty, which constricts decision-making, and by the fact that oftentimes they reside in shelters where meals are provided, but choice is limited and the chances to purchase food outside are limited. During active transit through treacherous routes, food sources are scarce. Adolescent migrants respond to all of these by forming emergent networks of reciprocity, a collective practice that allows them to exert a degree of decision-making over food intake despite challenging circumstances. Conclusions Food-related practices while in mobility are constrained by numerous structural determinants, to which adolescent migrants respond through individual and collective actions.

Foodborne disease outbreaks before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Jiangsu Province, China.

Temporal and regional effects of forest harvesting on mercury bioaccumulation and biomagnification in boreal stream food webs.

Sea buckthorn serves a dual purpose as a food and medicinal source. This study compared the flavonoid content, antioxidant activity, and anti-fatigue effects of sea buckthorn puree (SBP), sea buckthorn flavonoid (SBF), and sea buckthorn leaf tea extract (SBLTE). The flavonoid contents of rutin, quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS+), and hydroxyl (OH·) radical scavenging assays. Anti-fatigue activity in mice was evaluated through weight-bearing swimming experiments. Moreover, correlation analysis among ingredients, antioxidant activity, and anti-fatigue activity was performed. SBF exhibited the lowest EC50 value of 0.198±0.005mg/mL for the DPPH assay, whereas SBLTE exhibited the lowest EC50 values of 4.56±0.08 and 0.101±0.00mg/mL for ABTS+ and OH· radicals, respectively. All samples prolonged the exhaustive swimming time of mice (extension rate: 34.14±2.78% to 82.99±21.60%), with SBF exhibiting the highest superoxide dismutase (705.20±21.28U/mgprot). SBF exhibited the lowest lactic acid (7.63±0.31mmol/L) and lactate dehydrogenase (882.36±5.10U/L) levels. SBLTE exhibited the highest catalase activity (1204.80±37.02U/mgprot) and the lowest blood urea nitrogen value (11.22±0.16mg/dL). SBF and SBLTE groups exhibited the lowest creatine kinase levels at 857.69±35.75 and 913.83±33.68U/L, respectively. Histological analysis indicated improved liver structure, and Pearson correlation revealed strong associations between radical scavenging and antioxidant enzyme levels. They could serve as key components in developing functional anti-fatigue foods. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Sea buckthorn puree, leaf tea, and flavonoids are convenient, commercially available beverages with strong antioxidant and anti-fatigue activities. The results of this study can serve as product descriptions and provide useful guidance for consumers.

Global antibiotic resistance trends in Enterococcus faecalis from animals, food, and environmental sources: A meta-analysis.

Optimizing tomato plant and insect disease control using a fractional model and deep neural networks.

Multigene engineering in plants: Technologies, applications, and future prospects.

Nutritional profiling of nutrient-dense bivalves from the Indian Peninsula as a sustainable blue food source: From sea to superfood