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Essential oils (EOs) represent a pivotal source for developing potent antimicrobial drugs. However, EOs have seldom found their way to the pharmaceutical market due to their instability and low bioavailability. Nanoencapsulation is an auspicious strategy that may circumvent these limitations. In the current study, lemongrass essential oil (LGO) was encapsulated in zein-sodium caseinate nanoparticles (Z-NaCAS NPs). The fabricated nanocomposite was characterized using dynamic light scattering, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and transmission electron microscopy. The antimicrobial activity of LGO loaded NPs was assessed in comparison to free LGO against Staphylococcus epidermidis, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Furthermore, their antibacterial mechanism was examined by alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, bacterial DNA and protein assays, and scanning electron microscopy. Results confirmed the successful encapsulation of LGO with particle size of 243 nm, zeta potential of – 32 mV, and encapsulation efficiency of 84.7%. Additionally, the encapsulated LGO showed an enhanced thermal stability and a sustained release pattern. Furthermore, LGO loaded NPs exhibited substantial antibacterial activity, with a significant 2 to 4 fold increase in cell wall permeability and intracellular enzymes leakage versus free LGO. Accordingly, nanoencapsulation in Z-NaCAS NPs improved LGO physicochemical and antimicrobial properties, expanding their scope of pharmaceutical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) play many function roles during the preparation food; one of those roles is to remove or reduce mycotoxins from contaminated food. Therefore, this study aimed to study the impact of five strains from LAB (Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus reuteri) to reduce aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) during manufacturing Fino bread. Also, this study has been extended to evaluate the qualities and characteristics of the Fino bread manufactured by treated wheat flour by LAB cells. The data reflected that the percentages of reduction of AFB1 after mixing ingredients were 9.7, 8.5, 7.04, 7.4 and 5.5% with addition L. rhamnosus, L. plantarum, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Str. Thermophilus and L. reuteri, respectively. Moreover, the results indicated that the addition of L. rhamnosus and L. plantarum cells given the highest percentage of removal AFB1 after fermentation stage were 60.5 and 54.25%, respectively, while the lowest reduction of AFB1 recorded with the addition of L. reuteri cells was 42.25%. AFB1 reduction has reached 100% in blends treated with L. rhamnosus and L.plantarum cells in the final bread. The results indicated that the increase in water absorption and the dough development time as well as dough weakening. Finally, the addition of LAB cells didn't show any significant differences in taste, color, odor, and texture for the final bread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]