Cristina Martinez-Villaluenga

• PhD
• Researcher at Spanish National Research Council

Sacha inchi (SI) oil press-cake (SIPC), a by-product of the sacha inchi oil extraction process, represents a novel protein source with potential bioactive applications in food. In this study, a sacha inchi protein concentrate (SPC) derived from SIPC was subjected to simulated gastrointestinal digestion (SGID) using the INFOGEST 2.0 protocol. The re...

Kocho and Injera are traditional Ethiopian foods but there is scarce information about their composition and potential health benefits. The aim of this research was to elucidate the nutritional and bioactivbe profiles of Kocho and Injera (white and brown) breads, and assessed the impact of in vitro digestion on their constituents. Kocho bread was r...

The impact of different pressure levels in the HHP-assisted hydrolysis by Alcalase of quinoa proteins on the catalytic efficiency, peptide release, phenolic compounds content, and biological activities was investigated. The protein profile (SDS-PAGE) showed a more extensive peptide breakdown for the HHP-assisted proteolysis at 300–400 MPa, which wa...

The impact of different pressure levels in the HHP-assisted hydrolysis by Alcalase of quinoa proteins on the catalytic efficiency, peptide release, phenolic compounds content, and biological activities was investigated. The protein profile (SDS-PAGE) showed a more extensive peptide breakdown for the HHP-assisted proteolysis at 300–400 MPa, which wa...

Nutraceuticals obtained from sprouted wheat and oat grains and processing by-products (bran and hull, respectively) naturally containing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds were evaluated. The objective of this study was the development of a cereal-based nutraceutical formula combining extracts from sprouts and by-products and the explorati...

The research aimed to assess the effects of incorporating germinated Lupinus angustifolius flour into corn extrudates for different periods (3, 5, and 7 days), focusing on starch digestibility, morphological structure, thermal, and pasting properties. Extrudate with germinated lupinus flour for 7 days (EG7) significantly increased the content of sl...

Germination is a process that enhances the content of health-promoting secondary metabolites. However, the bioaccessibility of these compounds depends on their stability and solubility throughout the gastrointestinal tract. The study aimed to explore how germination time influences the content and bioaccessibility of γ-aminobutyric acid and polyphe...

In recent years, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have increased in prevalence in our society and have become a serious burden of disease worldwide [...]

Protein derived from chia (Salvia hispanica L.), characterized by a balanced amino acid composition, represents a potentially healthier and environmentally friendly alternative poised for innovation within the plant-based food sector. It was hypothesized that the growing location of chia seeds and processing techniques used might influence protein...

The pursuit of developing healthier pasta products without compromising technological properties involves a strategic approach via the customization of raw material formulations and the integration of grain germination and extrusion processes. This study explores the impact of incorporating sprouts from quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) and kiwicha...

We hypothesized that optimizing the formulation of pasta by incorporating sprouted pseudocereal flours, specifically quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) or kiwicha (Amaranthus caudatus L.) and cushuro (Nostoc sphaericum Vaucher ex Bornet & Flahault) flours, could offer the potential to simultaneously enhance nutritional quality and health-promoting p...

Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is a common and severe complication following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Its prevention and treatment is a major challenge. Ferulic acid (FA) has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that could be attractive in this setting. Our aim was to evaluate a bioactive ingredient deriv...

Chia (Salvia hispanica) has become increasingly popular in recent years due to its high protein content, among other nutritional benefits. This study aims to evaluate the nutritional and antinutritional composition, protein profile and protein quality of two chia seeds grown in Mexico and the UK, as well as to assess the impact that occurs during p...

Germination is known for breakdown/degradation of macromolecules like starch, where complex metabolic changes are involved, mainly due to the activation of enzymes such as α and β-amylases, which degrade starch at the beginning of germination. Time and temperature are one of the relevant factors that influence enzymatic activation and the degree of...

Germination time is a critical factor that influences the digestibility and bioactivity of proteins in pulses. The objective was to understand the effect of sprouting time on protein hydrolysis (PH) and the release of bioactive peptides during digestion of lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) to provide recommendations on the optimum germination time f...

Previous studies demonstrated that enzymatic hydrolysis enhances wheat bran (WB) biological properties. This study evaluated the immunostimulatory effect of a WB hydrolysate (HYD) and a mousse enriched with HYD (MH) before and after in vitro digestion on murine and human macrophages. The antiproliferative activity of the harvested macrophage supern...

Salami is generally considered an unbalanced food due to its high fat content and lack of bioactive compounds. This study evaluated the inclusion of cooked rice to develop nutritious and healthy low-fat pork fermented salami. Five salamis fermented with Pediococcus acidilactici and Pediococcus pentosaceus were formulated with different types of coo...

Grains are dry seeds belonging to diverse crops, including cereals, pseudocereals and pulses [...]

Due to the increase of world population, the demand for protein of animal origin is expected to double by 2050. However, the production of animal (meat, fish, and dairy) products has been associated to negative environmental impacts. This issue joined to new consumer trends towards healthy diets, has increased the search for plant protein sources a...

Minor grains such as triticale, rye, oat, sorghum, quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat and acha are among the most underutilized crops worldwide. However, they are an excellent source of nutrients (protein, fiber, carbohydrates, polyunsaturated fatty acids, minerals and vitamins) and bioactive compounds (phenolic compounds and phytosterols, among others),...

In this study, the comprehensive chemical characterization of red lentil hulls obtained from the industrial production of football and split lentils was described. The lentil hulls were rich in dietary fiber (78.43 g/100 g dry weight with an insoluble to soluble fiber ratio of 4:1) and polyphenols (49.3 mg GAE/g dry weight, of which 55% was bound p...

Rice bran (RB) is a valuable byproduct derived from rice milling that represents an excellent opportunity for dietary inclusion. Bioactive components with antioxidant potential have been reported in RB, gaining the considerable attention of researchers. However, RB requires a stabilization process after milling to prevent it from becoming rancid an...

The tailored formulation of raw materials and the combination of grain germination and extrusion processes could be a promising strategy to achieve the desired goal of developing healthier expanded extrudates without compromising sensory properties. In this study, modifications in the nutritional, bioactive profile and physicochemical properties of...

Oat consumption has increased during the last decade because of the health benefits associated with its soluble dietary fiber (β-glucan), functional proteins, lipids, and the presence of specific phytochemicals, such as avenanthramides. Oat is consumed mainly as whole grain, and the hull (seed coat), comprising 25–35% of the entire grain, is remove...

Conventional wheat milling generates important volumes of wheat bran (WB), which is a concentrated source of polyphenols and insoluble fiber. In terms of health benefits and based on epidemiological and experimental evidence, these compounds contribute to reducing the risk of certain chronic pathologies. Protein concentration is the main quality fa...

Bioactive compounds, such as phenolic compounds, are phytochemicals found in significant amounts in cereals and pseudocereals and are usually evaluated by spectrophotometric (UV-VIS), HPLC, and LC-MS techniques. However, their bioavailability in grains is quite limited. This restriction on bioavailability and bioaccessibility occurs because they ar...

In recent years, peptides have received increased interest in pharmaceutical, food, cosmetics, and various other fields [...].

Sprouting is an effective treatment for improving nutritional and bioactive properties as well as lowering the anti-nutritional compounds in pseudo-cereals. Enhancing nutritional properties when using sprouted pseudo-cereals flours as a baking ingredient requires tailored formulation. Simplex centroid designs and response surface methodology has be...

A mixture design (MD) was used to evaluate the effect of replacing wheat flour (WF) with sprouted cañihua (Chenopodium pallidicaule Aellen), kiwicha (Amarathus caudatus L.), and quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) flours (SCF, SKF, and SQF, respectively) on the content of phytic acid (PA), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), total soluble phenolic compounds...

Inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune dysbalance are common disturbed states at mucosal surfaces that underlay the pathology of several gastrointestinal (GI) disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Nowadays, gut health is not only regarded as the absence of GI complaints but also a key approach to maintain general well-being status...

In recent years, the potential of antiaging interventions that are effective against age-related diseases is gaining increased scientific interest. In this chapter, contribution of wholegrain-based foods can be considered as part of antiaging dietary interventions that are effective against age-related diseases is discussed. Naturally occurring com...

To enlarge the applications of whole wheat grain (WWG) and wheat bran (WB) as functional ingredients in foodstuffs that can promote human health, researchers have explored bioprocessing approaches to improve the bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds from these food matrices and, subsequently, their biological effects. The objective of this study w...

Germination is an efficient and natural strategy that allows the modification of the nutritional value and the nutraceutical properties of seeds, enabling one to tailor the process according to its final use. This study aimed at optimization of germination conditions to produce novel lentil flours with improved nutritional and functional features....

The present study focuses on the utilization of moringa sprout powder (MSP) for development of healthy and ready-to-eat snack bars. Different MSP proportions (9–26%) were evaluated for snack bar formulation and compared with control formulation (0% MSP). 18% MSP-containing prototype (18MSP) was selected as the optimal formulation based on the resul...

Germination offers advantages to improve legume protein digestibility as it disintegrates seed structure and hydrolyzes proteins and anti-nutrients. Seed permeability (related to polyphenol content of seed coats) is an important factor affecting the duration of seed germination and its impact on protein digestibility and bioactivity. The objective...

The safety and health effects for celiac people of a novel beverage (SOFB) developed from sprouted oat flour by fermentation with Lactobacillus plantarum was explored. In vitro reactivity against anti-gliadin antibodies (AGA) and antioxidant/anti-inflammatory potential of SOFB in RAW 264.7 macrophages and Caco-2 cells were evaluated. Immunoreactivi...

Wheat bran (WB) is a byproduct from the milling industry that contains bioactive compounds beneficial to human health. The aim of this work was on the one hand, increasing extractability of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds (specifically ferulic acid, FA), through enzymatic hydrolysis combined with hydrothermal treatment (HT) and high hyd...

Five fettuccini formulations containing 5% (5MSP), 10% (10MSP), 15% (15MSP), 20% (20MSP), and 30% (30MSP) of moringa sprout powder (MSP) were produced aimed at improving the nutritional and bioactive profile of conventional pasta. A gradual increase of protein, lipids, fiber and mineral content was observed in fettuccine as the MSP amount increased...

This study investigates the use of sprouted oat flour as a substrate to develop a novel gluten-free beverage by fermentation with a probiotic (Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1) starter culture. Physicochemical, microbiological, nutritional and sensory properties of sprouted oat fermented beverage (SOFB) were characterized. After fermentation for 4 h,...

Bran, a byproduct still mainly used for animal feed, is receiving increased attention as potential ingredient for a healthier diet. The aim of this study was to characterize and evaluate the nutritional and antioxidant properties of wheat and oat bran in order to promote their use as nutraceutical ingredients in flour and/or other products. The eff...

Moringa oleifera L. is greatly appreciated for its high content of phytochemicals. Although most parts of moringa tree have been widely studied, seeds remained scarcely explored. The first goal of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of germination to improve the nutritional composition (proximate composition and levels of vitamins B1 an...

Legumes are alternative protein sources that have been successfully used to develop diverse meatless foods. Although these plant-based products have a lower impact on the environment than equivalent animal-based products, they have lower protein digestibility. Germination could be a useful bioprocess to enhance protein digestibility in legumes, alt...

The incorporation of germinated grains in food formulation is an increasing trend, due to its superior nutritional quality and health-promoting properties as compared to their ungerminated counterparts. The aims of this study were: (1) to improve the nutritional properties of sliced bread by the replacement of wheat flour (WF) with germinated quino...

Valorization of wheat bran (WB) into new high-value products is of great interest within the framework of sustainability and circular economy. In the present study, we utilized a multi-step approach to extract nutraceutical compounds (phenolic acids) from WB and improved its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties through using sequential hydr...

This study is aimed to produce and characterize a novel gluten-free ingredient from oat through sprouting at 18 °C for 96 h. The nutritional and bioactive properties as well as key enzymatic activities were studied in sprouted oat powder and compared with those of oat grain powder (control). Sprouted oat powder was an excellent source of protein (1...

There is a growing interest in the development of flours from sprouted cereals due to their enhanced nutritional and bioactive potential, but this research field has been scarcely explored. This study aimed to investigate the influence of germination conditions on protein profile, bioactive potential and enzymatic activities related with quality in...

Sprouted grains are widely appreciated food ingredients due to their improved, nutritional, functional, organoleptic and textural properties compared with non-germinated grains. In recent years, sprouting has been explored as a promising green food engineering strategy to improve the nutritional value of grains and the formation of secondary metabo...

The study evaluated the effect of autoclaving as a hydrothermal treatment on the quality and bioactivity of wheat bran (WB) with the objective of producing a natural ingredient with enhanced healthy properties. Nutritional, antioxidant, techno-functional and sensorial parameters were studied, and temperatures of 100, 115 and 130 °C were explored. O...

The polyphenolic content of dehydrated maca (MA) and mashua (M) powders, promising functional ingredients, and their antioxidant activity and inhibition of carbohydrate digestion was evaluated following in vitro gastrointestinal digestion (GID). Moreover, the impact of steaming on bioaccessibility and bioactivity of the M phenolic fraction was inve...

Knowledge on the specific variation in the phenolic composition of wheat defined by germination conditions and its relationship with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of sprouts would be useful to improve the functional value of wheat-derived products. Variation in soluble phenolic composition, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential...

In recent years, peptides have received increased interest in pharmaceutical, food, cosmetics and various other fields [...]

The increasing demand for healthy food products has promoted the use of germinated seeds to produce functional flours. In this study, germination conditions were optimized in barley grains with the aim to produce flours with high nutritional and biofunctional potential using response surface methodology (RSM). The impact of germination time (0.8–6...

Nowadays, consumers are more conscious of the environmental and nutritional benefits of foods. Pseudocereals grains, edible seeds belonging to dicotyledonous plant species, are becoming a current trend in human diets as gluten-free (GF) grains with excellent nutritional and nutraceutical value. Pseudocereals are a good source of starch, fiber, prot...

Grain legumes are widely recognized as staple sources of dietary protein worldwide. Lentil seeds are an excellent source of plant-based proteins and represent a viable alternative to animal and soybean proteins for food processing formulations. Lentil proteins provide not only dietary amino acids but are also a source of bioactive peptides that pro...

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of three different technological processes and in vitro digestion on the profile and content of betalains and inhibition of angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) in red beet. Betalains were analysed by the micro-HPLC-TOF-MS/MS method, while ACE inhibition was determined by an in vitro assay. In the...

The potential bioactivities for alleviating Metabolic Syndrome associated risk factors were evaluated in carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) fruit by-products, i.e. seed peel, germ and pod. Carob germ and seed peel showed higher phenolic content than pod (99.72, 80.24 and 47.06 μmol GAE g⁻¹, respectively). Pod mostly contained gallic acid and gallotannins...

This Special Issue, "Peptides for Health Benefits", will cover a selection of recent research papers, reviews, short communications, as well as perspectives in the field of bioactive peptides. It aims to cover all aspects of peptide research in relation to health promotion. In particular, this Special Issue emphasizes current knowledge and research...

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) greatly increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of functional snacks containing a combination of wakame (W) and carob pod (CP) flours in reducing markers associated with MetS. The mechanisms of action underlying these effects were also e...

Outline LWT Volume 99, January 2019, Pages 306-312 Development of a multifunctional yogurt-like product from germinated brown rice Author links open overlay panelPatricio J.CáceresaJuanaFríasb Show more https://doi.or The suitability of germinated brown rice (GBR) for developing novel multifunctional yogurt-like products was evaluated. Crude brown...

BACKGROUND The multifactorial origin of many chronic diseases provides a new framework for the development of multifunctional foods. In this study, the effect of in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion of kiwicha (Amaranthus caudatus) proteins on the release of multifunctional peptides was evaluated. RESULTS Gastric digest showed higher angi...

Functional foods containing peptides offer the possibility to modulate the absorption of sugars and insulin levels to prevent diabetes. This study investigates the potential of germinated soybean peptides to modulate postprandial glycaemic response through inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV), salivary α-amylase, and intestinal α-glucosid...

This work evaluated the feasibility of pH-controlled fermentation by Lactobacillus plantarum CECT 748 combined with Savinase-hydrolysis (LPHS) for producing multifunctional lentil ingredients targeted for metabolic syndrome (MetS) relieving. LPHS process was compared with L. plantarum-fermentation (LP) and Savinase-hydrolysis (HS), applied separate...

Fermented lentil (FL) produced using L. plantarum and Savinase in alkaline conditions relieves metabolic alterations and oxidative stress in Zucker rats with metabolic syndrome. Here, we investigated the effect of up scaling the fermentation process on chemical composition and biological activity of FL. Moreover, we studied the molecular mechanisms...

Ceratonia siliqua by‐products and seven seaweeds were analysed as flour ingredients for development of functional breads. Results showed that carob presented significant high levels in total phenol (TP) compared to seaweeds and those were especially high (99.71 µmol GAE/g) in peel seed. Among analysed seaweeds, Himanthalia elongata was the one with...

This study aimed at identifying seaweed species with optimal characteristics to develop multifunctional foods for metabolic syndrome (MetS) management. Mass spectrometry chemical characterization and bioactive profile evaluation of methanolic extracts from seven commonly consumed seaweeds were compared. Monomeric sugars namely mannitol, fucitol, xy...

It is largely unknown how processing affects bioactive potential of chickpea proteins to prevent bowel inflammatory diseases. The aim was to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of protein concentrates from germinated and cooked chickpeas (GC and CC, respectively) and its relationship with protein and isoflavone composition before and after i...

The impact of puffing on nutritional composition and phenolic profiles of kiwicha ( Amaranthus caudatus L.) and quinoa ( Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) was investigated. Popped kiwicha showed increased protein and lipid contents and lower contents of carbohydrates compared to the untreated grains. Higher lipid, ash and carbohydrates contents and a decr...

Legumes offer the possibility to develop multifunctional foods with benefits for metabolic syndrome. Our objective was to study the effect of alkaline fermentation by Lactobacillus plantarum and Savinase (FLPS) as well the individual effects of both processes on peptides, phenolics and bioactivity of lentil. FLPS increased peptides and some flavono...

Fermented foods are one of the indispensable components of the dietary culture of every community and among them fermented legumes have been a part of the human diet for centuries. As a staple food, legumes provide nutrients, vitamins and essentials minerals but also phytochemicals associated with non-nutritive attributes that are of interest for h...

Lentil fermentation has a promising potential as a strategy for development of multifunctional ingredients targeting metabolic syndrome (MetS). Response surface methodology was applied to optimize lentil fermentation and study its effects on generation of peptides, soluble phenolics and bioactivities. Fermentation using Lactobacillus plantarum and...

Germination has been proposed as an economic approach to improve the content of bioactive compounds in pseudocereals. In this work, response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to investigate the impact of germination conditions on the phytochemical content and antioxidant activity of quinoa. The use of desirability methodology showed that the o...

Chronic diseases have become the medical challenge of the 21st century because of their high incidence and mortality rates. Modulation of diet and lifestyle habits is considered as the best strategy for the prevention of these disorders. Health promoting benefits beyond their nutritional effects have been described for multiple dietary compounds. A...

The aim was to investigate the potential of germinated soybean proteins as a source of peptides with anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities produced after simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Protein concentrate from germinated soybean was hydrolysed with pepsin/pancreatin and fractionated by ultrafiltration. Whole digest and fractions >10, 5...

As diabetes is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in epidemic rates, continuous research is being done on development of foods with anti-diabetic activity. In this study, the influence of gastrointestinal digestion of quinoa protein to release peptides with anti-diabetic potential was investigated. Quinoa protein was subjected to an in vitro...

Oat has historically been considered as a valuable crop due to its nutritional attributes. In recent years, oat has attracted growing attention as a healthy food due to its content of various bioactive compounds that can positively impact human health, such as β-glucan, avenanthramides, tocols, sterols, phytic acid and avenacosides. These compounds...

Bioactive peptides are low molecular weight protein fragments of 2–20 amino acids residues that exhibit beneficial physiological effects in vivo. The generation of bioactive peptides during the manufacture of fermented foods is well documented. These peptides are released from the precursor proteins during fermentation or ripening processes by endo...

A wide variability of pulse-derived fermented foods has been available for centuries. The microorganisms involved in legume fermentation hydrolyze and metabolize pulses constituents resulting in the production of valuable products. Pulses fermentation causes desirable changes including the improvement of nutritional value and sensorial properties a...

Sauerkraut is a traditional vegetable product usually produced by spontaneous fermentation that relies on lactic acid bacteria (LAB) naturally present in white cabbage. However, current trends on sauerkraut production propose the application of starter cultures in order to ensure a uniform quality of the product. Besides its high nutritional value,...

Germinated brown rice (GBR) has been suggested as an alternative approach to mitigate highly prevalent diseases providing nutrients and biologically active compounds. In this study, the content of γ-oryzanol, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), total phenolic compounds (TPC) and antioxidant activity of soaked (for 24 h at 28°C) and GBR (for 48 and 96 h at...

The objective was to identify peptides with dual antioxidant and angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activities released from lentil proteins by Savinase®. The influence of gastrointestinal digestion on peptide bioactivity was also assayed. Fragments from vicilin, convicilin and legumin were the most abundant peptides identified. Pepti...

Fermented Foods in Health and Disease Prevention is the first scientific reference that addresses the properties of fermented foods in nutrition by examining their underlying microbiology, the specific characteristics of a wide variety of fermented foods, and their effects in health and disease. The current awareness of the link between diet and he...

Controlled grain germination is a method of emerging interest to naturally improve nutritional and nutraceutical profile of grains. The aim of this study was to optimize germination temperature and time using response surface methodology to maximize the concentration of γ(phonetic)-amminobutyric acid (GABA), phenolic compounds (PC) and the antioxid...

The objective of this study was to optimize germination time and temperature for maximizing the content of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), total phenolic compounds (TPC), and antioxidant activity in purple corn sprouts by using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The phenolic composition of purple corn sprouts obtained in the optimal conditions was ana...

La presente invención se refiere a un procedimiento sencillo y económico de germinación que, utilizando luz, permite obtener granos de arroz integral germinado y/o productos derivados de los mismos con altos contenidos de compuestos biológicamente activos, preferentemente γ-orizanol y GABA. Los granos de arroz integral germinado obtenidos o los pro...