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Fruits and vegetables (F&V) are an indispensable part of a healthy diet. The volatile and nonvolatile compounds present in F&V constitute unique flavor substances. This paper reviews the main flavor substances present in F&V, as well as the biosynthetic pathways and molecular regulation mechanisms of these compounds. A series of compounds introduced include aromatic substances, soluble sugars and organic acids, which constitute the key flavor substances of F&V. Esters, phenols, alcohols, amino acids and terpenes are the main volatile aromatic substances, and nonvolatile substances are represented by amino acids, fatty acids and carbohydrates; The combination of these ingredients is the cause of the sour, sweet, bitter, astringent and spicy taste of these foods. This provides a theoretical basis for the study of the interaction between volatile and nonvolatile substances in F&V, and also provides a research direction for the healthy development of food in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applying natural food additives extracted from plants is a sustainable development trend in the food industry. Compared with synthetic food additives, plant-based food additives have garnered considerable attention owing to their advantages such as green safety, health, and environmental protection. Therefore, the development and utilization of plant-based food additives is becoming the most active field and future direction for the development of food industry. However, there are several problems associated with large-scale production and application, and more studies are required to evaluate their potential side effects and safety level. In addition, it is necessary to adopt multiple technologies to overcome the shortcomings of natural additives and develop plant-based composite food additives and functional food additives to industrialize natural resources and maximize benefits. This review focuses on the grouping of food additives according to the scope of Food and Drug Administration, including preservation, flavoring agents, coloring agents, texturing agents, nutritional additives, and miscellaneous agents. The application, safety, and major challenges of typical natural food additives extracted from plants are discussed. In addition, it provides a theoretical basis for the development of safer and effective plant-based food additives in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For thousands of years, medicinal plants (MPs) have been one of the main sources of drugs worldwide. However, recently, heavy metal pollution has seriously affected the quality and safety of MPs. Consuming MPs polluted by heavy metals such as Pb, Hg, and Cu significantly threaten the health of consumers. To manage this situation, the levels of heavy metals in MPs must be controlled. In recent years, this field has attracted significant attention, but few researchers have systematically summarized various analytical methods. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate methods that can accurately and effectively detect the amount of heavy metals in MPs. Herein, some important analytical methods used to detect heavy metals in MPs and their applications have been introduced and summarized in detail. These include atomic absorption spectrometry, atomic fluorescence spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, neutron activation analysis, and anodic stripping voltammetry. The characteristics of these methods were subsequently compared and analyzed. In addition, high-performance liquid chromatography, ultraviolet spectrophotometry, and disposable electrochemical sensors have also been used for heavy metal detection in MPs. To elucidate the systematic and comprehensive information, these methods have also been briefly introduced in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete mitochondrial genome of Alboglossiphonia lata (basionym: Glossiphonia lata ), sourced from a biodiversity hotspot of China, has been determined and reported in this study. It was 15,236 bp in length and consisted of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes and three control regions. The mitogenome was deposited GenBank under the accession number PP165800. A. lata and other species within the Glossiphoniidae family were clustered together with high bootstrap values. The mitochondrial genome of A. lata provides valuable molecular data for further phylogenetic research on the Glossiphoniidae family., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors(s)., (© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.)