Aziz Homayouni

• Food Technologist , Ph.D
• Professor (Full) at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences

Spinal cord injury (SCI) affects millions of people worldwide annually, presenting significant challenges in functional recovery despite therapeutic advancements. Current treatment strategies predominantly focus on stabilizing the spinal cord and facilitating neural repair, yet their effectiveness remains uncertain and controversial. Recent scienti...

Infertility poses a global challenge that impacts a significant proportion of the populace. Presently, there is a substantial emphasis on investigating the potential of probiotics and their derivatives, called postbiotics, as an alternative therapeutic strategy for addressing infertility. The term of “postbiotics” refers to compounds including pept...

Yeasts, with a history of approximately 5,000 years in food and medicinal applications, play a vital role in various industries. The advantages of these microorganisms include probiotic effects, phytate biodegradation, mycotoxin breakdown, and adsorption capabilities. Traditionally, research on probiotics has primarily focused on lactic acid bacter...

Various factors, including physical, chemical, and biological hazards threaten food safety. Among these, the significance of microbial (bacteria and fungi) and chemical (biogenic amines, mycotoxins, and heavy metals) contamination cannot be overstated. In recent years, a novel approach has emerged for effectively managing these risks, which relies...

In modern times, individuals are frequently subjected to a wide range of environmental and chemical pollutants that are generated by industrial and agricultural activities. The contamination of food by pesticides, biogenic amines, and mycotoxins represents a significant concern for global food safety, and has economic and public health implications...

Postbiotics represent an innovative group of bioactive compounds generated through the fermentation of probiotics. Postbiotics are nonviable bacterial constituents, such as cell wall fragments, teichoic acids, peptidoglycans, and probiotic metabolites, such as exopolysaccharides, short chain fatty acids, and enzymes, which are soluble in cell-free...

Celiac disease (CD) can be considered an autoimmune problem, a disease caused by gluten sensitivity in the body. Gluten is found in foods such as barley, wheat, and rye. This ailment manifests in individuals with hereditary susceptibility and under the sway of environmental stimulants, counting, in addition to gluten and intestinal microbiota dysbi...

This study aimed to determine the chemical profile, cell‐based safety, antioxidant properties, antibacterial effect, and mode of action of Lactobacillus helveticus postbiotics (LHPs) against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and multidrug‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus . LHPs exhibited significant radical scavenging activity (83.59% ± 4.21% for Hydroxyl RS...

Tryptophan, an essential amino acid, plays a crucial role in various physiological functions and is becoming more popular for use in food products This review delves into the methods, benefits, and challenges associated with enriching food products with tryptophan. We explore innovative strategies to enhance the stability, reduce bitterness, and im...

Antioxidants found naturally in foods have a significant effect on preventing several human diseases. However, the use of synthetic antioxidants in studies has raised concerns about their potential link to liver disease and cancer. The findings show that postbiotics have the potential to act as a suitable alternative to chemical antioxidants in the...

Introduction Premature birth and very low birth weight (VLBW) are leading causes of neonatal mortality. Almost all premature infants experience hyperbilirubinaemia. Administering probiotics to breastfeeding mothers may positively affect infant outcomes. This trial aims to investigate whether probiotic supplementation for mothers with VLBW infants a...

Background Postbiotics, also called biogenics, metabiotics, or Cell-Free Supernatants (CFS), are soluble compounds produced by live probiotic microorganisms or released after the lysis of probiotics that could provide beneficial health effects to the host. Objective This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the antimicrobial, antibiof...

Periodontal diseases and tooth decay are the most common oral and dental diseases in the world. Oxidation, habits, diet and bacterial infections are among the effective factors in the mentioned diseases. Streptococcus mutans is the main bacteria that causes tooth decay. New strategies needed in order to prevent these diseases. Bacterial exopolysacc...

In recent years, the consumption of postbiotics has gained significant attention due to their potential health benefits. However, their application in the bakery industry remains underutilized. This review focuses on recent advances in the use of postbiotics, specifically the metabolites of lactic acid bacteria, in bakery products. We provide a con...

Aflatoxins (AFs) are secondary metabolites produced by fungi, and they are deemed the most perilous mycotoxin and food safety predicament. The exposure of humans to mycotoxins transpires either directly through the consumption of contaminated agricultural commodities or indirectly through the ingestion of items derived from animals that have been n...

In the last 40 years, there has been a significant increase in the number of people who are overweight, obese and experience combined metabolic disorders. Gut microbiota has been shown to influence energy metabolism and is therefore a significant factor in the development of obesity. A person's diet, in particular, the nutritional value of that die...

Encapsulation, in particular extrusion and co-extrusion, is a common practice to protect probiotics from the harsh conditions of the digestive tract as well as processing. Hydrocolloids, including proteins and carbohydrates, natural or modified, are a group of ingredients used as the wall material in extrusion. Hydrocolloids, due to their specific...

Dairy cows are economically important cattle with substantially high productivity and milk yield. However, in addition to dairy cows, many other minor dairy animals hold local importance owing to their specific characteristics, such as yak, camel, zebu-brahman, mithun, reindeer, and pig. The increasing demand for milk, driven by population growth,...

The COVID-19 pandemic had a profoundly negative impact on the general public's mental health. The crucial role of diet and nutrition in various aspects of mental wellbeing is now widely recognised. People in confinement or isolation may experience heightened tension, anger, panic attacks and anxiety. Psychosocial pressures, including interpersonal...

Backgraound: Polysaccharides, particularly Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) and Ammoniacum Gum (AMG), are considered valuable due to their thermal stability and non-toxicity. CMC has good film-forming ability but weak mechanical properties, while AMG shows promise with its unique chemical composition. Additionally, essential oils, such as Clove Essent...

Pesticides possess a pivotal role in the realm of agriculture and food manufacturing, as they effectively manage the proliferation of weeds, insects, plant pathogens, and microbial contaminations. They are valuable in some ways, but if misused, they can cause health issues like cancer, reproductive toxicity, neurological illnesses, and endocrine sy...

The effect of using mesophilic starter culture ( Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis and Lactococcus lactis ssp . cremoris ) and Lactobacillus helveticus (L. helveticus) at different ratios (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100) on the quality properties of UF‐white cheese during 90 days of ripening was studied. The results revealed that an increase in...

Background Antibiotic resistance is a serious public health problem as it causes previously manageable diseases to become deadly infections that can cause serious disability or even death. Scientists are creating novel approaches and procedures that are essential for the treatment of infections and limiting the improper use of antibiotics in an eff...

Colorectal cancer is a major cause of cancer deaths globally, resulting in 700 000 deaths every year. It is the third most common cancer in both men and women, with approximately 1.36 million new cases reported annually. Studies suggest that the microbiota can play a significant role in preventing colon cancer and aiding recovery during intestinal...

Chlorella phenolic-rich extract has been studied due to its potential therapeutic effects on the gastrointestinal tract. In vivo and in vitro studies have demonstrated that consumption of Chlorella phenolic-rich extract can modulate gut microbiota, reducing inflammation and oxidative stress. Several studies have shown that Chlorella supplementation...

Researchers have made significant discoveries in addressing the limitations of essential oils (EOs) in food packaging using encapsulation systems combined with nanoparticles (NPs). This study aimed to develop a unique coating for beef preservation using nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs). The optimal formulation of NLCs was determined based on...

According to recent studies, pomegranate peel (PP) has the potential to be inverted from environmental pollutant waste to wealth due to possessing valuable phenolic compounds at a higher amount compared to edible parts. So far, different types of biological activities such as antimutagenic, antiproliferative, anti‐inflammatory, and chemo‐preventive...

Background Bifidobacteria is a commercial probiotic that is widely used in industries. However, due to its oxygen-sensitive nature, industries have faced some limitations during the addition of the products. Recently it was stated that the metabolites secreted by bifidobacteria have a key role in improving health. Objective The possibility of a po...

Chlorellavulgaris (CV) is a green unicellular microalga with various bioactive compounds (BACs) and is highly appreciated due to its variety of biological activities. Among different sources, bioactive peptides have positive biological effects and numerous health-promoting properties. However, instability, reactivity and high bitterness are the mai...

Food degradation made by mycotoxigenic molds represents a significant challenge too food security. Postbiotics are associated with soluble compounds liberated by living bacterial cells or their construction release after lysis, and these metabolites offer the host biological action and specific physiological benefits. In this work, the postbiotics...

Food-borne pathogen-related biofilms in food processing environments pose significant risks to human health. To ensure human and environmental safety, natural substances with anti-microbial properties and generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status are the future disinfectants of the food industry. The use of postbiotics in food products is gaining...

Background Probiotics increase the defense power of immune system and accelerate the wound healing process by anti-inflammatory mechanisms at the wound site. The present study aimed at evaluating the effect of Lactobacillus casei oral supplementation on episiotomy wound healing among primiparous women. Methods This triple-blind randomized clinical...

Chlorella vulgaris (CV) is a green unicellular microalga with various bioactive compounds (BACs) and is highly appreciated due to its variety of biological activities. Among different sources, bioactive peptides have positive biological effects and numerous health-promoting properties. However, instability, reactivity and high bitterness are the ma...

A bioactive containing packaging system is not only a traditional protective structure for a food product but also offers additional health-benefiting properties. Postbiotics (nonbiotics) are metabolites produced by probiotic microorganisms that have numerous health benefits. The safety and non-toxicity of postbiotics and their capability to preven...

Oral diseases are among the most common diseases around the world that people usually suffer from during their lifetime. Tooth decay is a multifactorial disease, and the composition of oral microbiota is a critical factor in its development. Also, Streptococcus mutans is considered the most important caries-causing species. It is expected that prob...

Microbial-derived postbiotics are of interest recently due to their lower side effects than chemotherapy for cancer treatment and prevention. This study aimed to investigate the potential antigenotoxic and cytotoxic effects of cell-free-supernatant (CFS) postbiotics derived from Saccharomyces boulardii by applying SOS chromotest and MTT assay on HT...

Postbiotics are soluble metabolites that are liberated from the structure of lysing bacteria or are produced by live bacteria; these byproducts give the host increased biological activity and certain physiological effects. In the current study, the anti-Staphylococcus properties of postbiotics isolated from Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. paracasei,...

Reducing the sugar level in chocolate and developing low‐calorie products are important for meeting consumer expectations, supporting public health and adapting to current consumption trends. However, the identification of bulking agents to be used for this aim is a critical factor. The most commonly used sugar alternatives for this aim are polyols...

Over the past four decades, overweight, obesity, and related metabolic disorders have reached epidemic proportions. According to a report from the World Health Organization (WHO), over 1.9 billion (accounting for 39%) adults were overweight, and 650 million of these were obese in 2016 [1]. Obesity is a leading contributor to numerous diseases, such...

Precise monitoring of antibiotic residues in aqueous solution is of vital significance for safeguarding the environment and food resources. Herein, a convenient platform was fabricated for the electrochemical assay of ciprofloxacin (CFX) in real milk samples using aminated aptamer and graphene oxide nanogold-functionalized branched polyethyleneimin...

Black garlic contains a significant amount of antioxidant compounds, including polyphenols, flavonoids, tetrahydroβ-carboline derivatives, and organosulfur compounds, which are more abundant compared to fresh garlic. Black Garlic Coffee aims to enhance the polyphenol content and antioxidant properties, making it a valuable addition to the dietary o...

Vaginitis is a common problem in women. Candida albicans is responsible for more than 85% of vaginal fungal infections. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of probiotic and fluconazole on the treatment and recurrence of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). This triple-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted on 80 married women, ag...

In recent years, the field of probiotics and postbiotics has attracted the attention of many. On the one hand, probiotics when administered in adequate amounts, confer a range of a health benefits on the host but concerns have been reported about the administration of live microorganism and its associated risks. On the other hand, postbiotics with...

This invention addresses a current challenge in the food industry, specifically regarding the enrichment of probiotics in dairy products like yogurt. Apart from the issue of early spoilage in such products, there is a significant problem concerning the reduction in the final number and viability of probiotics. Overcoming this challenge could potent...

Sage seed gum (SSG), a galactomannan hydrocolloid, possesses excellent thickening, stabilising and antimicrobial properties. This study aimed to investigate the effect of SSG conjugation on the functional, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of EWP. EWP‐SSG conjugates were prepared by dry heat treatment of EWP‐SSG mixture at 60 °C and 79% rela...

The results of clinical investigations indicate a significant relationship between lifestyle (especially diet), an extensive variety of diseases, and consumer health status. In this regard, functional foods can improve the health status and quality of life of people. Along with increasing consumer awareness and increasing research in the field of f...

The matrix of milk with high water activity (a w) and neutral pH characterized as a suitable culture for an extensive variety of microbial strains. In this regard, both pathogenic bacteria and fungi are recognized as a main microbial agent that significantly contaminated milk-based products especially yoghurt. Microbial contamination is the most co...

The antimicrobial effect postbiotic extant of Lactobacillus casei was evaluated against Escherichia coli by well propagation method and growth inhibition zone diameter was measured. The selected concentration of the postbiotic extract of Lactobacillus casei was added to milk containing E. coli, followed by evaluating the changes in colony number an...

Background & aims Symptoms associated with menopause could be a public health issue in the world, characterized by a permanent cessation of menstruation due to lack of ovarian follicular activity 12 months after menopause. It leads to mood swings, sleep disturbances and hot flashes. Modification of lifestyle and proper nutrition program are involv...

Purpose To determine whether oral probiotic administration (1.5 × 10⁹ CFU/g Lacticaseibacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei) to breastfeeding mothers or to their very low birth weight (VLBW) infants reduces total serum bilirubin (TSB) level and increases weight gain of the infants. Methods In this double-blind trial, breastfeeding mothers and their...

This invention addresses a major challenge in the food industry regarding the reduction in the number of probiotics and their survival during production and consumption. This issue poses a significant problem in ensuring the efficacy of probiotic-enriched foods and their ability to pass through the digestive system. To overcome this challenge, a so...

Food is the essential need of human life and has nutrients that support growth and health. Gastrointestinal tract microbiota involves valuable microorganisms that develop therapeutic effects and are characterized as probiotics. The investigations on appropriate probiotic strains have led to the characterization of specific metabolic byproducts of p...

This invention focuses on a key issue in the food industry: how to effectively incorporate probiotics into food products. The main challenge lies in the significant reduction in the number of probiotics and their ability to survive from production to consumption, passing through the digestive system. In today's food landscape, there is a growing in...

This study aimed to investigate the effects of prebiotics on metabolic indices and menopausal symptoms. This triple-blind randomised controlled trial was conducted on 60 menopausal women. The participants were assigned to two groups based on block randomisation. Over 6 weeks, the experimental group received 100 g of prebiotic-rich yogurt daily afte...

The SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic defines the global health tension of our time. There are several continuous efforts to find a definitive cure in this regard. According to some adverse effects and problems of customary SARS‐CoV‐2 disease therapies, bioactive compounds for example probiotics‐derived metabolites (postbiotics) have been accomplishing supreme i...

the antimicrobial effect postbiotics extant of Lactobacillus casei was evaluated against Escherichia coli by well propagation method and growth inhibition zone diameter was measured. The selected concentration of the postbiotic extract of Lactobacillus casei was added to milk containing E. coli , followed by evaluating the changes in colony number...

In this paper, structure, chemical composition and physicochemical properties of the novel polysaccharide Amuniacum gum (AMG) were assessed. The AMG had 12.21% moisture, 3.76% ash, 0.31% protein, 73.06% carbohydrate, 1.24% fat and 10% uronic acids. The elemental analysis indicated the absence of sulfur. The HPLC demonstrated the presence of galacto...

Background and Aim: Food is the fundamental need of human life and has nutrients that support growth and health. Gastrointestinal tract microbiota includes beneficial microorganisms which have therapeutic effects and are known as probiotics. The studies on appropriate probiotic strains have led to the separation and identification of specific metab...

Phenolic compounds are well known for their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Furthermore, they can be extracted from natural sources. Therefore, phenolic compounds like gallic acid (GA) can be used in different food formulation to improve their healthy properties and extend their shelf life, and as a bioactive compound in the fortification...

The addition of gum tragacanth (GT) as an emulsifier in oil in water systems can reduce the interfacial tension and stabilize emulsions. The major goal of this study was to investigate the particle size distribution, stability and rheological properties of 10% w/w oil in water emulsion at different pH conditions (2.5, 4, and 5.4) as affected by the...

Recent investigations have meaningfully developed our knowledge of the features of the reproductive microbiome/metabolome profile and their relations with host responses to offer an optimal milieu for the development of the embryo during the peri-implantation period and throughout pregnancy. In this context, the establishment of homeostatic circums...

The constant need of humans and animals for food resources was led to overuse of antibiotics as vital medicines. In this regard, we are now facing major concern about the risks on the food safety and environment owing to their uncontrolled disposal. Hence, the progress of simple and sensitive approaches for fast monitoring of antibiotic levels is h...

The viability of Lactobacillus casei in microencapsulated forms with Alyssum homolocarpum seed mucilage (AHSM) and inulin, and as free cells (unencapsulated) were conducted in simulated gastrointestinal conditions. The spray drying method (inlet high-temperature (90–100 °C)) was used for microencapsulation. The mixture of inulin and AHSM resulted i...

The aim of the present study was to design a delivery system of curcumin (CU) loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (CU‐CSLNs) for evaluating the antimicrobial properties in hamburger patty. Solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN) was prepared through a homogenizing technique. A response surface methodology was applied to optimize the CU‐CSLNs to minimize the pa...

Herbal extracts have been widely used by consumers for food fortification and medical purposes worldwide and are focused in traditional medicine in recent years. At this study, we aimed to examine the antimicrobial, antioxidant and sensory characteristics of ice creams fortified with different combinations of Hibiscus sabdariffa and Camellia synens...

Many factors threaten food safety, such as physical, chemical, and biological hazards. In this regard, biological hazards are of paramount importance. Among them, the bacteria play important roles in causing food spoilage and food-borne diseases. Besides, a new approach has been used in recent years, which is based on probiotics and postbiotics to...

Many factors threaten food safety, such as physical, chemical, and biological hazards. In this regard, biological hazards are of paramount importance. Among them, the bacteria play important roles in causing food spoilage and food-borne diseases. Besides, a new approach has been used in recent years, which is based on probiotics and postbiotics to...

The Kluyveromyces marxianus isolate HHA, with GenBank accession number OP257137.1, represents a significant advancement in probiotics. This discovery provides crucial genetic information, including the partial sequence of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene, the complete sequence of internal transcribed spacer 2 and 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene, and th...

As many investigations have reported, there is a complicated relation between fermented foods, lactic acid bacteria (LAB), and human health. It seems that bioactive components such as prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics are key mediators of the complex and direct association between these factors. LAB activity in the matrix of fermented foods a...

Introduction: In the recent years, attention to the use of probiotic drugs and probiotic food products, due to probiotic’s functional and health properties has been increased. The storage and the viability of the probiotics in the products and passing through the gastrointestinal tract was always a big challenge. Drying is one of the functional and...

Due to the high consumption of pasta products, enrichment of the final product with non‐digestible oligosaccharides has aroused interest. Resistant starch type 2 (RS2) can tolerate high moisture and temperature of the macaroni production process. The aim of this study was to compare the textural properties of cooked and uncooked RS2‐enriched macaro...

Rhus coriaria Linn. (Anacardiacea), commonly known as sumac, grows in non-agriculturally regions and its various species may be used for medicinal purposes. This plant is grows mainly in Iran, Afghanistan and the Mediterranean bordering countries. In folk medicine, it was used for treatment of stroke chronic symptoms, diarrhea-dysentery, hemorrhoid...

In this study, the emulsifying and foaming properties of a novel exudate gum from Dorema ammoniacum (AMG) were assessed in comparison with the well‐known gum Arabic from Acacia tree (GAC). The sunflower oil‐based emulsion (10% v/v) containing various concentrations (5%–15% w /v ) of AMG and GAC was prepared. At all concentrations, AMG showed higher...

Folate deficiency is a public health concern affecting all age groups worldwide. The available evidence reveals that adding probiotic bacteria to the yoghurt starter cultures during yoghurt production process under fermentation conditions increases the folate content of yoghurt. The present study was conducted to measure two folate derivatives, i.e...

The purpose of the current research was to determine optimal situation by applying Simplex lattice mixture design for the formulation of prebiotic sucrose-free milk chocolate. Chocolate samples were prepared using two different sugar alcohols containing xylitol and maltitol along with galactooligosaccharide as prebiotic substance. The effects of su...

Background In recent decades functional foods with ingredients comprise of probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics have been gaining a lot of notice by scientists. Probiotics and postbiotics are usually applied in pharmaceutical formulations and/or commercial food-based products. These bioactive agents can be associated with host eukaryotic cells an...

The occurrence of colorectal cancer (CRC) has been rising expeditiously and anticipated that 2.4 million new occasions of CRC will be detected yearly around the world until the year 2035. Due to some side-effects and complications of conventional CRC therapies, bioactive components such as microbial-derived biomolecules (postbiotics) have been atta...

Purpose Among soy products, soy ice cream with neutral pH, high total solids contents and prebiotic oligosaccharides is an appropriate vehicle for probiotics. The purpose of this paper is to survey soy ice cream as a carrier for the efficient delivering of Lactobacillus casei , or L. casei . Design/methodology/approach Probiotic soy ice cream cont...

The matrix of milk with high water activity (aw) and neutral pH characterized as a suitable culture for an extensive variety of microbial strains. In this regard, both pathogenic bacteria and fungi are recognized as a main microbial agent that significantly contaminated milk-based products especially yoghurt. Microbial contamination is the most com...

Background Probiotics are most widely consumed functional food. Consumers demand production of foods also in low-calorie forms. Objective In this study, Lactobacillus casei 431 and various sweeteners were used in milk chocolate as probiotic and bulking agents, respectively. Methods Samples were prepared by using sucrose or optimum polyols combina...

Dairy products are obtained from or contain milk of mammals such as cattle, goats and sheep. Milk is often described as a complete food because it contains protein, sugar, fat, vitamins, and minerals. Milk is a highly nutritious food that serves as an excellent growth medium for a wide range of microorganisms. Food spoilage is an enormous economic...

During the last two decades, the prevalence and severity of clinical appearances of food allergy (FA) have a significant rise. FA derives from a breakdown of immune tolerance. In recent year’s clinical evidence have shown that the probiotics have significant influences on FA by improving the immune tolerance. Besides, postbiotics due to their uniqu...

Background Recently, public interests have increased to study novel and vernacular polysaccharides due to their various uses, especially in food formulations as well as pharmaceuticals and herbal medicines. Plant-based gums are commercially produced from a large number of plants that include complex polysaccharides. Scope and Approach The present...

Background Yeasts play diverse roles in human life. Since ancient times, these microorganisms have been used to produce food products and beverages including bread and beer. Nowadays, the biotechnological products of yeast are one of the main components of commercial products. Objective Some species of yeast such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Sa...

Introduction There is only some evidence about effectiveness of probiotics for preventing gestational hyperglycaemia. This trial examined the effects of probiotic yoghurts containing Lactobacillus acidophilus La5 and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12 on maternal plasma glucose (primary outcome) and on some maternal and infant complications (secondary out...

Background Probiotics and their nutrient sources (prebiotics) has been shown to have positive effects on different organs of the host. The idea of their potential benefits on central nervous systems (CNS) and the incidence of Anxiety, Schizophrenia, Alzheimer, Depression, Autism, and other mental disorders has proposed a new category of medicines c...

Background: Constipation is a common public health concern experienced by all individuals during their life. It is an effective factor in the quality of life. In this paper, we aimed to provide an overview of the existing evidence regarding the role of food ingredients, including bran, prune, fig, kiwifruit, flaxseed, and olive on constipation trea...