Petrogenic plastics might fragment within the ecosystems into progressively smaller fragments classified by size as “macroplastics”, “mesoplastics”, “microplastics”, and “nanoplastics”. Petrogenic micro and nano plastics (MNPs) are ubiquitous in the ecosystems and form as a result of the ageing or the action of prevailing bio-environmental factors on the plastic materials or direct release of MNPs... more

Although over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are regarded as relatively safe and effective for self-treatment, their growing prevalence and accessibility raise concerns about misuse, addiction, and adverse health consequences. This narrative review provides a current overview of OTC drugs with misuse potential and their associated safety implications. OTC drugs commonly misused include sedative antihistamines, cough mixtures, caffeine-containing... more

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most dangerous and cruel microvascular complications of diabetes, leading to visual impairment and blindness if left untreated. The development of DR is determined by complex multiple pathologic mechanisms, including oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, retinal vascular dysfunction, and retinal neuronal damage. Aldose reductase (AR) activation in the polyol pathway... more

Hot peppers, belonging to the Capsicum genus, are cultivated worldwide not only as spices and vegetables but also as valuable sources of bioactive compounds with potential health benefits. These plants contain a wide range of biologically active molecules, including capsaicinoids, capsinoids, carotenoids, phenolic compounds, vitamins, and peptides. Such compounds have attracted increasing scientific interest due... more

Lactoferrin is a bioactive ingredient that is sensitive to environmental stresses and needs the use of microencapsulation, notwithstanding all the biological activities and effects it exerts. Pectin is a polysaccharide that acts as an anion for ion–ion interactions. Chitosan is a biodegradable and nontoxic material. In this study, lactoferrin was extracted and purified, pectin and... more

Food packaging performs multiple essential functions: it protects, preserves, contains, markets, stores, and facilitates the transport of food products. Throughout the food supply chain, packaging plays a critical role in maintaining food quality, safety, and shelf life. Growing consumer expectations and evolving market trends have contributed to the emergence of increasingly advanced and innovative wrapping... more

Salting is one of the most widely used fish processing methods, although fish prepared in such a way is exposed to many biochemical changes. There is still insufficient information on the mechanisms of reactions that occur during salting, so the process is still conducted on an experimental basis. Sodium chloride (NaCl) reduces water activity values... more

Breast cancer continues to be the foremost cause of cancer-related deaths among women globally. Medicago truncatula (Barrel medic) is acknowledged as a herbaceous plant possessing significant therapeutic and anticancer properties. The investigation examined the cytotoxic and inhibitory effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts prepared by heating extraction, tested on human breast cancer cells (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231,... more

This study presents a novel robust titrimetric analysis method for detection and quantification of cyanide in food samples artificially spiked with cyanogenic compounds derived from bamboo and cassava species. The titration approach demonstrated a strong linear correlation between cyanide concentration and the volume of titrant required for complete neutralisation. Cyanogenic glycosides are naturally occurring plant... more

The study focused on the molecular identification of organisms associated with bread mold with the aim of isolating, characterizing, and accurately identifying fungal contaminants responsible for bread spoilage. One gram (1 g) of a contaminated bread sample was serially diluted and cultured on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA). The pure isolates were coded as GBMF1, GMBF2,... more