Publications by authors named "Anastasios Nikolaou"

Article Synopsis
  • * Seven of the reviews will look into clinical and biological effects of FF on various health indicators across organ systems, while the other nine will explore broader topics like bioactive compounds, safety, and personalized nutrition related to FF.
  • * Each review will consist of a systematic analysis of human studies, insights into the mechanisms behind observed health outcomes, and characterization of the FF being studied, culminating in a strategic roadmap for future research in the field.
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Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are widely applied for fermentation purposes in dairy and non-dairy food matrices with beneficial technological and health-promoting properties. This study describes the effect of two lactic acid bacteria, namely, SP5 and SP2, on the phenolic profiles, antioxidant activities, total phenolic content (TPC), carotenoid content, and sensorial profile of two different mixed fruit juices. After 48 h of fermentation, both LABs retained viability over 9 Log CFU/mL in both juices.

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Essential oils exhibit numerous medicinal properties, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Recent studies also indicate that certain essential oils demonstrate anti-amyloidogenic activity against β-amyloid, the protein implicated in Alzheimer's disease. To investigate whether the anti-aggregating properties of essential oils extend to α-synuclein, the protein involved in Parkinson's disease, we constructed and employed a whole-cell biosensor based on the split-luciferase complementation assay.

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Essential oils (EOs) are plant mixtures that are known to present strong bioactivities, including a wide antimicrobial action. Biofilms are microbial sessile structures that represent the default mode of growth of microorganisms in most environments. This study focused on the antimicrobial action of the EO extracted from one of the most representative oregano species, that is, (subsp.

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During the last decade, a rising interest in novel functional products containing probiotic microorganisms has been witnessed. As food processing and storage usually lead to a reduction of cell viability, freeze-dried cultures and immobilization are usually recommended in order to maintain adequate loads and deliver health benefits. In this study, freeze-dried (free and immobilized on apple pieces) OLXAL-1 cells were used to fortify grape juice.

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Article Synopsis
  • Essential oils (EOs) are plant-derived compounds used for their health benefits, and this study focused on an EO from thyme grown in Greece.
  • The EO was analyzed for its chemical composition, antioxidant activity, and effectiveness against foodborne bacteria, showing high levels of compounds like thymol and carvacrol.
  • Results indicated that the EO had strong antibacterial and antibiofilm properties, effectively eradicating mature biofilms of pathogens and suggesting potential applications in food safety and health.
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Background: Cheese microbiome plays a key role in determining the organoleptic and physico-chemical properties and may be also used as an authenticity tool for distinguishing probiotic cultures. Due to significant reduction of cell viability often witnessed during food production processes and storage, immobilization is proposed to ascertain high probiotic cell loads required to confer the potential health benefits. Hence, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of free or immobilized T571 on whey protein on feta cheese microbiome.

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In the present study, wine-based marinades containing ethanolic extract from pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), alone or in combination with two Essential Oils (Thyme & Oregano), were used for pork fillets marination and their antimicrobial activity, as well as their sensorial impact were evaluated. Likewise, the marinades exhibited promising results concerning their recorded antimicrobial activity versus Enterobacteriaceae, Total Mesophilic Bacteria, Yeasts/molds, Staphylococcus spp.

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Herbal and plant extracts are being applied for a wide range of foods against different types of food-borne pathogens. In the present study, ethanolic and aqueous extracts (2% /) from cranberry () and pomegranate ( L.) plants were applied alone or in combination with two essential oils (thyme and oregano in a concentration of 0.

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The present study focuses on the production of pomegranate alcoholic beverage (PAB) from juice of the Wonderful variety. The effect of fermentation temperature (15 and 25 °C) and type of sugar added (adjustment to 20 °Brix) on the physicochemical characteristics, bioactive compounds, and volatile composition were studied. Sucrose, concentrated pomegranate juice, concentrated grape juice, and honey were used to increase the initial sugar content.

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On the frame of this research survey, a novel potentially probiotic strain ( SP5) recently isolated from kefir grains was evaluated for chokeberry juice fermentation. Chokeberry juice was retrieved from the variety , a plant known to provide small, dark berries and to be one of the richest sources of antioxidants. The juice was subsequently fermented inoculating SP5 for 48 h at 30 °C.

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In the present study, three commercial yeasts (for wine, beer, and cider) were evaluated for the production of pomegranate alcoholic beverage (PAB) from a juice of Wonderful variety. The physicochemical characteristics, antioxidant activity, and aromatic profiles of PABs were investigated before and after fermentation, while the effect of yeast strain and fermentation temperature (15 and 25 °C) was also evaluated. The PABs contained ethanol in the ranges of 5.

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Low alcohol wine is a new entry in the global wine market, due to the increase in consumers' concern for health, economic and modern lifestyle issues. As low alcohol products are prone to spoilage, the adoption of natural-derived products with antimicrobial activity as biopreservatives seems to be an intriguing alternative. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the possible antimicrobial properties of and essential oils (EOs) and assess their commercial prospective in the wine industry.

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Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the fermentation efficiency of freeze-dried immobilized kefir culture on natural supports (apple pieces, delignified cellulosic material) in cider making at various temperatures (5-45 °C) in comparison with freeze-dried free cells. Freeze-dried cells were initially tested in apple juice fermentations at 30 °C, and then the freeze-dried cultures produced with no cryoprotectants were assessed in repeated batch fermentations.

Results: Repeated batch fermentations lasted for longer than 5 months.

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Low alcohol wines represent a rising trend in the global market. Since for ethanol removal, certain physicochemical methods that negatively affect wine quality are applied, the aim of this present study was to evaluate the efficiency of freeze-dried, immobilized kefir culture on natural supports (apple pieces, grape skins and delignified cellulosic material) in low alcohol winemaking at various temperatures (5-30 °C). Initially, genetic analysis of kefir culture was performed by Next Generation Sequencing.

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The aim of the present study was to perform simultaneous alcoholic and malolactic wine fermentations using free or immobilized kefir culture at a wide temperature range (5-45 °C). Repeated batch fermentations were carried out for a period up to 29 months, suggesting a high operational stability of the systems, while malic acid conversion and ethanol productivity up to 70.9% and 36.

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An alcoholic fermentation process is described, involving molasses, the main by-product of the sugar industry, blended with crude olive oil mill wastewaters (OOMWs) and immobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells on delignified cellulosic material (DCM). For comparison, fermentations with free cells were also carried out. Initially, the optimum blending mixture for molasses dilution was sought after, while at a second step repeated batch fermentations at a temperature range 5-30 °C were performed to monitor the operational stability of the system.

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In this study we present a novel multiplex PCR assay for rapid and efficient detection of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus. The accuracy of our method was confirmed by the successful identification of L.

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