Presence Of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Research Articles

The effect of using sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) puree in tarhana formulations on nutritional value and functional properties of tarhana

AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate the effects of using sour cherry puree in tarhana formulations on the nutritional value and quality criteria of tarhana. In the formulation, 50% and 100% of tomato and pepper purees were replaced by sour cherry puree, and in another formulation, 100% of sour cherry puree was used instead of yogurt. The use of sour cherry puree instead of tomato and pepper puree enriched the tarhana in terms of essential and other amino acids. Tarhana samples were found to be rich in oleic acid (22.02%–39.12%) among monounsaturated fatty acids. The presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids including linoleic (11.09%–33.56%) and linolenic acids (14.04%–28.91%) was determined in the samples. The dominant saturated fatty acid found in the samples was palmitic acid (8.05%–12.89%). There were no significant changes in moisture, aw, ash content, pH, HMF content as well as water and fat absorption capacity values. When sour cherry puree was used instead of yogurt, there was a decrease in protein (10.71%) and fat (0.38%) contents as well as L (43.46) value, while an increase was detected in total phenolic content (2.38 mg GAE/g), antioxidant activity (10.35 μmol TE/100 g) and mineral composition, namely K, Fe, Cu, Mn, and B. Considering sensory analyses, the sample in which tomato and pepper purees were substituted with 50% sour cherry puree received the highest scores in general taste, flavor, and consistency parameters together with the control tarhana (CT0). The 50% substitution of sour cherry puree with tomato and pepper purees enriched the tarhana samples both nutritionally and sensorially.

Can daily consumption of enriched fatty acids diet be effective in improving metabolic syndrome? An attractive paradox for walnut kernel.

Imagine consuming a daily diet rich in fatty acids to help treat diseases such as hypertension and obesity. This concept presents an attractive paradox. In particular, consuming walnut kernels is beneficial for treating diseases associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS), including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, and obesity. Different parts of the Juglans regia tree (family Juglandaceae), including its leaves, green husks, bark, and septum, have shown promising effects on pathological conditions related to MetS. The therapeutic advantages of consuming walnut kernels for MetS can be attributed to the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids and polyphenolic compounds such as juglone and ellagic acid. Diets enriched with walnut kernel have a positive impact on MetS complications by reducing diastolic blood pressure, improving blood lipid profiles, lowering fasting blood sugar levels, and increasing insulin sensitivity. The potential cellular mechanisms responsible for these benefits involve activating the cholesterol hemostasis pathway by inhibiting sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs), proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP). Furthermore, other by-products of walnuts, such as leaves and green husks, have also demonstrated effectiveness in managing MetS. These findings highlight the potential of incorporating walnut-based products into our diets as a natural approach to combating MetS and its complications.

Analyzing the fatty acid composition of goat milk and its HDAC inhibitory effects: A rational approach towards understanding the epigenetic impacts of goat milk

Goat milk is a rich source of fatty acids. This study intended to assess the inhibitory potential of goat milk and its extracted fatty acids on histone deacetylases (HDACs). Palmitic acid (C16:0) is the most prevalent saturated fatty acid in goat milk. Goat milk also contains a substantial amount of monounsaturated fatty acids, with oleic acid (C18:1) being the most abundant one. Additionally, the fatty acid profile of goat milk reveals the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids, including linoleic acid (C18:2) and α-linolenic acid (C18:3n3). Interestingly, the fat extracted from goat milk showed a greater ability to inhibit HDAC enzymes in comparison to the whole milk. These findings, at least to the best of my knowledge, showed the HDAC inhibitory properties of goat milk for the first time, presenting new opportunities for the development of fatty acid-based epigenetic-targeted food products derived from goat milk.

Secondary structure and toxicity of transthyretin fibrils can be altered by unsaturated fatty acids

Transthyretin amyloidosis is a severe pathology characterized by the progressive accumulation of transthyretin (TTR) in various organs and tissues. This highly conserved through vertebrate evolution protein transports thyroid hormone thyroxine. In our bodies, TTR can interact with a large number of molecules, including ω-3 and ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that are broadly used as food supplies. In this study, we investigated the effect of ω-3 and ω-6 PUFAs, as well as their fully saturated analog, on TTR aggregation. Our results showed that both ω-3 and ω-6 PUFAs strongly decreased the rate of TTR aggregation. We also found that in the presence of PUFAs, TTR formed morphologically different fibrils compared to the lipid-free environment. Nano-Infrared imaging revealed that these fibrils had drastically different secondary structures compared to the secondary structure of TTR aggregates formed in the PUFAs-free environment. Furthermore, TTR fibrils formed in the presence of ω-3 and ω-6 PUFAs exerted significantly lower cell toxicity compared to the fibrils formed in the absence of fatty acids.

Influence of Plant-Based Diet on the Cardiovascular System: A Narrative Review.

A plant-based diet (PBD) includes multiple dietary patterns such as vegetarianism, veganism, lacto-ovo-vegetarianism, etc. A well-balanced PBD has positive effects on body mass index, hyperlipidemia, and type 2 diabetes, and it is associated with decreased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Due to its high fiber content, which lowers levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high antioxidant content, which prevents capillary wall damage; the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which have an anti-inflammatory effect, improvement in glucose homeostasis through improved insulin sensitivity, and impact on the gut microbiota, it has been proven to be beneficial for the heart. Despite their possible benefits, PBDs can be low in essential nutrients such as vitamin B12, zinc, vitamin D, iodine, and amino acids. This review aims to analyze the influence of PBDs on the cardiovascular system and associated disease progression.

A Word Of Caution Against Baby Formula.

Madam, WHO recommends that infants should be exclusively fed on breastmilk till 6 months after birth. It is considered an ideal infant food for its proven health benefits(1). But in the past few decades, the use of baby formula has increased considerably. This can be attributed to aggressive media marketing, where the formula is often claimed as an equally beneficial substitute for breastfeeding(2). An international cross-sectional survey was done recently to determine the health claims of baby formula and to assess the quality of evidence used(3). One of the common claims made by infant formula-making companies is the presence of PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acids) in their products and its crucial role in brain development. The study found that companies were unable to substantiate this association. Other claims, including the presence of probiotics and boosting the immune system also do not have any profound scientific basis or research. Health benefits-related claims were made often without sufficient evidence or the evidence given had a high risk of bias. Studies used to support claims had a conflict of interest in many cases as the studies either had direct support from the formula industry or the authors had some affiliations with the company. Less than 15 per cent of products used human clinical trials to support their claims. Around 90 per cent of the trials either had missing data or finding not in favour of the claim made by the company. This is in contrast to the statements such as “supported by over 40 years of research” or “widely studied” which are routinely made by formula-making companies and have a high potential for misguiding parents and healthcare providers. Many parents are inclined to use baby formula because of its marketing and easy accessibility(4). But this study has raised several questions about regulating the formula industry and its potential usage as a substitute for breastfeeding. Heath experts have suggested to governments that formula should be sold in plain packaging and there should be a proper check on the marketing of infant formula. Governments from all over the world need to pay attention to this ever-rising industry of 50 billion dollars and strict protocols should be introduced that companies have to follow.

Production of high-performance biodiesel with a high oxidation stability through a fractionation method using urea

The presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in Indonesian commercial biodiesel products causes instability. The fractionation process is carried out on PUFA by applying the urea inclusion compound (UIC) method to improve its quality. This study aims to determine the effect of temperature and crystallization time on increasing the concentration of PUFA concentrates and to produce high-performance biodiesel products with an iodine indicator <30–40 g I2/100 g. The UCF phase product which has an iodine number of 44.01 and an oxidation stability of 18.61 h is obtained at a combination of temperature and crystallization time of 20 °C and 4 h, respectively, which is close to the criteria for high performance biodiesel (<30 –40 g I2/100 g). The longer complexation time and temperature significantly affected the FAME fractionation of the UCF phase.

Photo-manipulated polyunsaturated fatty acid-doped liposomal hydrogel for flexible photoimmunotherapy

Despite the synergy of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy and photodynamic therapy (PDT) holds great promise as countermeasures against breast cancer, exploring long-term or flexible short-time therapeutic strategies in “cold” tumors remains a great challenge. Here, we present a polyunsaturated fatty acid-doped liposomal hydrogel Lp(DHA)@CP Gel loaded with photosensitizer chlorin e6 (Ce6) and programmed death-ligand 1 antibody (αPD-L1) for flexible local photoimmunotherapy with merely single-dosed administration. The presence of polyunsaturated fatty acid (docosahexaenoic acid, DHA) doped in particle membrane endows liposomes with flexibly reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive release capability, which was attributed to the presence of abundant unsaturated groups. The αPD-L1 was repeatedly induced to in situ release in response to the PDT under photo-exposure. The immunogenic cell death (ICD) effect of PDT evoked “cold” breast tumor to “hot” one, and then assisted the cascade released αPD-L1 to synergistically boost the immunotherapy. After a single dose of peritumoral administration of Lp(DHA)@CP Gel, the on-demand treatment can maximize patient compliance and safety by adjusting therapeutic behaviors via a photo on-off switch. This work presents a flexible medication platform, showing promise in improving the objective response rate of ICB therapy and minimizing its systemic toxicity.

Evaluation of phytochemical, nutritional and sensory properties of high fibre bun developed by utilization of Kappaphycus alvarezii seaweed powder as a functional ingredient

Kappaphycus alvarezii (Kapparezii) is red seaweed with various health benefits. While bread and bun are an excellent convenient food to deliver functional properties to consumers. The objectives of this study are to (i) determine the nutritional properties and phytochemical contents of buns added with Kapparezii seaweed powder (KSWP) (ii) identify the best three of five formulations through quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA) and (ii) evaluate the sensory attributes and overall acceptability of bun with added KSWP hedonic test. Five formulations with different proportions of KSWP inclusion namely A (0%), B (3%), C (6%), D (9%) and E (12%) were formulated. Bake loss were found to decrease (14.93–9.64%) with increased KSWP. The KSWP concentration had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on the phytochemical constituents of the bun with total phenolic content (TPC) (35.07 gallic acid equivalent (GAE), mg/100 g) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) activity (49.02%) were at maximum readings when 12% KSWP was incorporated into the flour. Increment of KSWP in bun reduced the moisture (35.57–24.59%) and protein content (12.51–9.60%) significantly (p < 0.05), because KSWP increases the water absorption and reduces the network produced by gluten. Carbohydrate (49.96–63.26%), ash (0.91–1.62%), fat (1.05–1.67%) and dietary fiber (4.51–13.63%) composition increased significantly (p < 0.05) with KSWP addition due to the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids, macro- and micro-minerals in the KSWP. The QDA scores for all attributes revealed samples A and B were significantly different (p < 0.05) compared to C, D and E. Samples A, B and C have been identified as the best three formulations for further analysis using hedonic test. As for the hedonic test, significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed only for the attribute of seaweed odour. Sample C was highly accepted by the panellists. The addition of KSWP at a lower concentration has met the expectation of the consumers by altering the sensory properties, quality characteristics and nutritional properties of the bun.

In vivo Acetylcholinesterase activity and Antioxidant property of Cucurbita pepo ethanolic extract in Alzheimer’s disease induced by Aluminium chloride in Sprague Dawley rat model

The pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) typically begins before symptoms manifest. Early diagnosis and treatment can slow down the disease progression and improve the prognosis. Decreased acetylcholine, antioxidants, and polyunsaturated fatty acids enhance the progression of AD. Phytochemicals present in the Cucurbita pepo (C. pepo) plants may have anti-cholinesterase activity. Therefore, this study was performed using ethanolic extract of pumpkin seeds in the AlCl3 induced AD in Sprague Dawley rats. These rats were categorized into five groups, i.e., control, disease control (AlCl3), standard (Rivastigmine), and two treatment groups, one with 100mg/kg and the other with 200mg/kg of the pumpkin seed extract which was given once daily orally for 28days. The rats were assessed for behavioral and biochemical parameters such as antioxidant enzymes and acetyl-cholinesterase levels in brain homogenate. There was statistically significant (p&lt;0.005) improvement in behavioral parameters and increase antioxidant levels and decrease acetylcholinesterase levels in the seed extract treatment groups compared to the AD rats. GC-MS analysis of C.pepo seeds showed the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which have a significant role in neurite outgrowth activity. To conclude, the 80% ethanolic extract of Cucurbita pepo (pumpkin seeds) has anticholinesterase, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity and can prevent memory impairment.

The In Vitro, Ex Vivo, and In Vivo Effect of Edible Oils: A Review on Cell Interactions.

Consumption of edible oils is a significant part of the dietary pattern in the developed and developing world. Marine and vegetable oils are assumed to be part of a healthy food pattern, especially if one takes into account their potential role in protecting against inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome due to the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids and minor bioactive compounds. Exploring the potential effect of edible fats and oils on health and chronic diseases is an emerging field worldwide. This study reviews the current knowledge of the in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo effect of edible oils in contact with various cell types and aims to demonstrate which nutritional and bioactive components of a variety of edible oils present biocompatibility, antimicrobial properties, antitumor activity, anti-angiogenic activity, and antioxidant activity. Through this review, a wide variety of cell interactions with edible oils and their potential to counteract oxidative stress in pathological conditions are presented as well. Moreover, the gaps in current knowledge are also highlighted, and future perspectives on edible oils and their health benefits and potential to counteract a wide variety of diseases through possible molecular mechanisms are also discussed.

LIPID PEROXIDATION AND RETINAL PIGMENT EPITHELIUM: A REVIEW ARTICLE

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) may be damaging to any biological system when their levels exceed those of antioxidants. ROS has both positive and negative effects. An imbalance of antioxidants and reactive oxygen species leads to oxidative stress (OS) (ROS. OS, which is more prevalent in elderly persons, is the cause of retinal diseases. Any damage to the retina that results in a reduction in visual acuity is referred to as retinopathy. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), DR, and other retinal degenerative illnesses are caused by low antioxidant levels. Due to the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids and photooxidative damage, the retina is especially vulnerable to OS. In vitro and in vivo antioxidant alterations in the retinal pigment epithelium were also noted. The fundamental mechanism must be understood since either OS causes retinopathies or the sickness creates stressful conditions in tissue or cells. We aimed to summarize the latest relationship between lipid peroxidation and retinopathies in the current review article.

A Comparative Study on the Nutritional, Antioxidant, Thermal, Morphological and Diffraction Properties of Selected Cucurbit Seeds

Cucurbit seeds are highly nutritious but generally discarded as a waste by various processing sectors. This study aims to investigate the nutritional profile of seeds of ash gourd, pumpkin, watermelon and musk melon. The techniques, such as mineral, vitamin, amino acid and fatty acid profiling, will provide the nutritional status of the selected seed samples, while the antinutritional accounts will assess the safety of the food application. The thermal behavior of the seeds will guide the decision of the food application of the selected seeds. These seeds were found to be rich in protein and fat, minerals, vitamins and amino acids. The antinutritional compounds in the studied seeds were within the safety limits. Ash gourd seeds had the highest antioxidant activity at 85.11%, with the highest values of total phenols at 176.07 mg GAE/100 g and flavonoids at 159.16 mg QE/100 g. The peaks of the functional group at 3008 cm−1, 1651 cm−1, 1528 cm−1 and 1233 cm−1 denote the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids, and amide I, II and III, respectively. The thermal analysis of the seeds reviled that the seeds were thermally stable and could be used in product development. The surface morphology was attributed to the interaction of fat, protein and carbohydrates. The semicrystalline or amorphous nature of the seeds resulted in an A-type pattern in the XRD analysis. The results obtained here supports the food application of the selected seeds.

The physicochemical properties of the spirulina-wheat germ-enriched high-protein functional beverage based on pear-cantaloupe juice.

The formulation of a novel functional juice, enriched with wheat germ powder and spirulina algae and based on cantaloupe and pear juice, was optimized by D-optimal combined design. Firstly, sensory evaluation was performed by hedonic test to evaluate the organoleptic properties, and organoleptically desirable samples were screened for further experiments. Various chemical experiments including PH, acidity, formalin index, total phenol, flavonoids, antioxidant capacity, mineral contents (Fe, Zn, Ca, P, K, Mg, and Cu), and fatty acids profile were evaluated. The steady shear flow rheological test also was performed on the screened samples. The results of sensory evaluation showed that the samples containing 1% spirulina and wheat germ had the highest organoleptic score. The results of physicochemical tests on the selected samples showed that the addition of spirulina and wheat germ powder had little effect on pH, acidity, and formalin index but they affected brix, dry matter, and protein content. Also, the addition of spirulina and wheat germ powder, changed the amounts of antioxidant capacity (from 90 to 98%), total phenol (from 4 to 22 mg GAE/g), and flavonoid content (from 5 to 15 mg/L) in the functional beverages. Furthermore, the results of rheological tests showed that the addition of wheat germ powder in the functional fruit juices increased apparent viscosity however; spirulina did not affect important change in rheological properties. The GC-Mass analysis presented fatty acid profiles of the functional beverages and confirmed the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids (for example decanoic acid and heptadecanoic acid) in the samples.

Study of the hydrodynamic effect in column PBR on cellular growth, nitrogen removal, lipid productivity and fatty acid profile in Chlorella vulgaris.

&#x0D; In this work we analyzed different biochemical parameters such as cell growth, nitrogen removal, lipid productivity and fatty acid profile in Chlorella vulgaris by hydrodynamic effect varying the aeration to (0.75, 1.25, 1.75, 2.25) vvm and white light conditions continuous in column photobioreactor; hydrodynamic calculations of the FBR were carried out to determine the shear rate and possible existence of hydrodynamic stress at the proposed aeration conditions; the values reached in the shear rate were reduced (0.0025 to 0.0220) s-1, observing flow of homogeneous type in all the experiments; however, the maximum values of cell growth and specific growth rate (μ) were (5.90x106 cells mL-1 and 0.0229 d-1) respectively, as well as the highest N consumption (60%) and the highest productivity of lipids (8.98 mgL-1d-1) were reached during the experiment at 0.75 vvm. In relation to the analysis of the fatty acid profile greater presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) was observed in the experiments at 0.75 vvm, 1.75 vvm and 2.25 vvm, however, at 1.25 vvm, higher productivity of saturated fatty acids (SFA) was obtained; with respect to monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) the highest concentration was reflected at 0.75 vvm. The components with the highest presence in the fatty acid profile analysis were C12: 0; C20: 5N3; C24: 1; C 22: 0; C22: 2.&#x0D;

Rheological and Functional Properties of Dark Chocolate with Partial Substitution of Peanuts and Sacha Inchi.

Chocolate is a widely consumed product, due to the contribution of fats and antioxidant compounds; the addition of other components makes it possible to increase the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, although they can affect its rheological properties. The influence of the partial addition of peanut paste and Sacha Inchi on the rheological and functional properties of dark chocolate was evaluated. Cocoa beans, peanuts, and Sacha Inchi were refined in order to obtain the cocoa paste (PC), peanut paste (PM), and Sacha Inchi paste (PSI). Then, mixtures between 0 to 20% of PM and PSI were formulated, and the rheological properties were evaluated at 30, 40, and 50 °C; these were adjusted to mathematical models. Functional groups were identified by FTIR in ATR mode, and it was observed that the partial addition of PM and PSI did not show significant changes in the shear stress and apparent viscosity of the mixture, although they did show dependence on temperature. The Herschel–Bulkley model showed a better adjustment (R2 > 0.999), reporting behavior index values, n < 1.0, and indicating pseudo-plastic behavior for pastes and formulations. The yield limit and the consistency index kH increased significantly with the addition of PM and PSI, but they decreased with increasing temperature. The activation energy show values between 13.98 to 18.74 kJ/mol, and it increased significantly with the addition of PM and PSI. Infrared analysis evidenced the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids, coming mainly from PSI and PM. The addition of PM and PSI does not influence the rheological properties and allows for an increase in the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Wild and Farmed Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus Labrax): Comparison of Biometry Traits, Chemical and Fatty Acid Composition of Fillets

Sea bass is a fish widely produced, consumed and appreciated in Italy. Its intensive rearing system provides the consumption of valuable fish to a wider population. Thanks to the use of an appropriate feed, it is possible to obtain reared sea bass which are richer in total lipid with a majority presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as n-3 and n-6 series. In this study, a total of 75 specimens of European sea bass coming from three different origins (two farmed and one wild) were considered, with 25 fish from each origin. Biometry traits were valued as of the chemical and fatty acid profile of fillets. Biometric indices, proximate composition and fatty acid percentage were significantly affected by the rearing system. Fishes from the intensive rearing system (IRS) showed the highest value of relative profile and condition factor, a higher content of lipid and total n-6 that influenced the n-6/n-3 ratio and the atherogenic indexes, and values that indicated their flesh for human consumption as a healthy alternative to the wild fishes.

Chemical Characterization of Brown and Red Seaweed from Southern Peru, a Sustainable Source of Bioactive and Nutraceutical Compounds

The southern coast of Peru presents a wide diversity of seaweed, which could be used as a new sustainable source of nutritional and bioactive compounds. For the first time, we chemically characterized two species of brown (Macrocystis pyrifera) and red (Chondracanthus chamissoi) Peruvian seaweed. Both species contained significant amounts of proteins (5–12%), lipids (0.16–0.74%), carbohydrates (43.29–62.65%) and minerals (1300–1800 mg kg−1 dw: dry weight). However, the profiles of amino acids, fatty acids and minerals were highly dependent on species type. C. chamissoi had a higher content of essential amino acids and minerals than M. pyrifera (170% and 45%, respectively), while the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω 6) as well as the content of tocopherols was higher in M. pyrifera (15.77 g 100 g−1 and 2.37 μg 100 g−1, respectively). Additionally, both species presented significant concentrations of total polyphenols (39–59 mg GAE g−1) and a high antioxidant capacity (67–98 µM TE g−1). Although M. pyrifera and C. chamissoi seem to be excellent raw materials for the food and nutraceutical industry, both species contained toxic heavy metals (cadmium: Cd and nickel: Ni) which could affect the safety of their direct use. Therefore, new separation strategies that allow the selective recovery of nutrients and bioactive compounds from Peruvian seaweed are required.

Freshwater Cladophora glomerata Biomass as Promising Protein and Other Essential Nutrients Source for High Quality and More Sustainable Feed Production

A scientific justification, focused on the development of the sustainability of feed ingredients and farm animals’ ecosystems, is required. Thus, it is crucial to search for alternative feed materials from natural sources for potential applications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prospective utilization of freshwater Cladophora glomerata (C. glomerata) as an alternative source of protein and other essential nutrients in animals’ feed. For this purpose, chemical analysis was performed on collected biomass samples from the Lithuanian rivers, Dubysa (B1), Šventoji (B2), Nevėžis (B3), and Jūra (B4). Microelements (Ca &gt; K &gt; N &gt; P &gt; Mg), trace elements (Zn &gt; Cu), and heavy metals (Cr &gt; Ni &gt; Pb &gt; Cd) have not exceeded permissible levels. The crude protein content of C. glomerata biomass ranged from 16% to 21.5% DM. The essential amino acid profile excelled, with the highest total amino acid amount of 140.99 g/kg in B4. The highest total presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids (11.71%) as well as the ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids (0.22) was observed in B1. The lowest ratio of omega-6/omega-3 was in B1 (1.30). As a result of bioaccumulation, C. glomerata could serve as a source of proteins, as well as amino and fatty acids, implying that biomass could be an alternative and a beneficial component of animal feed.

Front Cover: Co‐Oxidative Transformation of Piperine to Piperonal and 3,4‐Methylenedioxycinnamaldehyde by a Lipoxygenase from Pleurotus sapidus (ChemBioChem 19/2021)

Biotransformation of piperine, the pungent principle of black pepper (Piper nigrum), by the fungus Pleurotus sapidus resulted in the formation of two vanilla-like aroma compounds: The highly valuable piperonal, which is used for the aromatization of different sweets and dairy products, such as chocolate and ice cream, and 3,4-methylenedioxycinnamaldehyde. The conversion was identified as the result of a co-oxidative reaction catalyzed by a lipoxygenase of P. sapidus in the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids. More information can be found in the Communication by N.-K. Krahe et al.