Bioactivity of Mineral-Enriched Organic Carrots: Anticancer Effects in HT-29 Cells and Anti-Inflammatory Activity in Mice Splenocytes | Chapter 2 | Molecular Mechanisms and Signaling Pathways of the Anti-inflammatory Effects of Functional Foods

 

Carrot (Daucus carota) is a globally important root vegetable with diverse biological activities. Currently, organic cultivation places a greater focus on ecosystem health by using natural organic fertilisers and organic pesticides, such as animal and plant-based fertilisers and natural insecticides, reducing reliance on chemical substances, promoting soil health and ecological balance, and providing healthier and environmentally friendly agricultural products.  However, research on the anti-inflammatory properties of carrots, especially comparing traditionally cultivated and organically grown varieties, remains limited. Therefore, this study examined the anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties of carrots cultivated using Natural Dream Cultivation (NC), an organic farming method enhanced with mineral supplementation. The inhibitory effect of NC carrot extracts on HT-29 human colon cancer cells was assessed via MTT assay, while qPCR was used to evaluate mRNA expression of cell cycle- and apoptosis-related genes. Nitric oxide (NO) concentration was measured using the Griess method. In LPS-induced mouse splenocytes, levels of inflammatory cytokines were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and natural killer (NK) cell activity was evaluated via LDH release assay. Results showed that NC significantly suppressed cancer cell proliferation. It up-regulated the expression of cell cycle arrest genes (p53, p21) and pro-apoptotic genes (Bim, Bad, Bax, Bak, caspase-9, caspase-3), while down-regulating anti-apoptotic genes (Bcl-2, Bcl-xL). Furthermore, NC treatment inhibited NO production and reduced the release of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, IFN-γ, IL-12) in LPS-stimulated splenocytes. NC also promoted NK cell activation. By elucidating the inhibitory effects on cancer cells and modulation of inflammatory responses, this study reveals potential mechanisms behind the anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities of carrots. The innovative mineral-enhanced organic cultivation method presented here offers new possibilities for developing carrots as a functional food candidate supported by in vitro and ex vivo bioactivity relevant to cancer- and inflammation-associated pathways. These findings may inform the future design of dietary research hypotheses and preclinical studies, pending validation in animal models and clinical settings.

 

Author(s) Details

Yanni Pan
Collaborative Innovation Center for Child Nutrition and Health Development, Chongqing Engineering Research Center of Functional Food, Chongqing Engineering Laboratory for Research and Development of Functional Food, Chongqing University of Education, Chongqing 400067, China and Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, CHA University, Seongnam 13488, Republic of Korea.

 

Yeon-Jun Lee
Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, CHA University, Seongnam 13488, Republic of Korea.

 

Sin-Il Sin
Agriculture Research Center for Carbon Neutral and Healing, Gurye 57607, Republic of Korea.

 

Seung-Hwan Park
Agriculture Research Center for Carbon Neutral and Healing, Gurye 57607, Republic of Korea.

 

Kun-Young Park

Collaborative Innovation Center for Child Nutrition and Health Development, Chongqing Engineering Research Center of Functional Food, Chongqing Engineering Laboratory for Research and Development of Functional Food, Chongqing University of Education, Chongqing 400067, China and Graduate School of Integrative Medicine, CHA University, Seongnam 13488, Republic of Korea.

 

Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/mono/978-81-998509-0-3/CH2

 

Inhibitory Effects of Differentially Cultivated Carrots on AOM/DSS-Induced Colorectal Cancer Via Modulation of Inflammation, Apoptosis, and Gut Microbiota | Chapter 1 | Molecular Mechanisms and Signaling Pathways of the Anti-inflammatory Effects of Functional Foods

 

Background: Carrot (Daucus carota) is a widely consumed vegetable rich in dietary fibre, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant compounds. Carrots contain fibre and bioactive phytochemicals that have been associated with anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative activities in preclinical settings. Beta-carotene, a prominent carotenoid in carrots, has been reported to modulate immune-related pathways in experimental models; however, the extent to which these observations translate to reduced colorectal cancer risk in humans remains to be determined.

 

Objective: This study investigated whether cultivation methods influence the bioactivity of carrot extracts in an azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate (AOM/DSS)-induced murine model of colitis-associated colon tumorigenesis, with emphasis on apoptosis-related markers, inflammatory responses, and gut microbiota alterations.

 

Methods: Six-week-old male C57BL/6 mice (~20 g) were maintained under SPF conditions (12-h light/dark cycle; 23 ± 2 °C; 50 ± 5% humidity). After one week of acclimatisation with ad libitum food and water, mice were randomly allocated to six groups (n = 10/group). The normal and AOM/DSS control groups received saline, whereas the Conventional Fertiliser Carrot (CFC), Seawater Fertiliser Carrot (SFC), Trace Element Fertiliser Carrot (TFC), and Deep-sea Water Mineral fertiliser carrot (NFC) groups received the respective carrot extracts (50 mg/mL). Total phenolic and total flavonoid contents were quantified and analysed using GraphPad Prism 9.4.1.

 

Results: Among the cultivation conditions tested, carrots produced with deep-sea water mineral fertiliser (NFC) were associated with increased expression of apoptosis-related genes and proteins in colon tissue, including p53, p21, Bim, Bad, Bax, Bak, Caspase-9, and Caspase-3. NFC treatment was also associated with lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-γ, NF-κB, and iNOS) measured across serum, spleen cells, and liver tissues. Gut microbiota profiling indicated a compositional shift in carrot-treated mice relative to controls, including increased relative abundance of taxa previously linked to anti-inflammatory or anti-tumour-associated profiles (e.g., Lachnospiraceae and Mucispirillum schaedleri).

 

Conclusion: In this AOM/DSS mouse model, carrot extracts—particularly those derived from carrots cultivated with deep-sea water mineral fertiliser—were associated with reduced tumour-related endpoints alongside coordinated changes in apoptotic and inflammatory markers and gut microbiota composition. These findings support further investigation into cultivation-dependent differences in carrot bioactivity and encourage additional studies to clarify mechanisms and assess translational relevance in humans.

 

 

Author(s) Details

Yanni Pan
Collaborative Innovation Center for Child Nutrition and Health Development, Chongqing Engineering Research Center of Functional Food, Chongqing Engineering Laboratory for Research and Development of Functional Food, Chongqing University of Education, Chongqing, China.

 

Yeon-Jun Lee
Department of Biotechnology, CHA University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.

 

Jin Hyeop Kim
Department of Biotechnology, CHA University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.

 

Min Ji Song
Department of Biotechnology, CHA University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.

 

KyuBum Kwack

Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.

 

Seung-Hwan Park
Organic Anti-Cancer Agriculture Institute, iCOOP Natural Dream Company, Goesan-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea.

 

Sin-Il Sin
Organic Anti-Cancer Agriculture Institute, iCOOP Natural Dream Company, Goesan-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea.

 

Ji Hyung Chung
Department of Biotechnology, CHA University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.

 

Kun-Young Park
Graduate School of Integrative Medicine, CHA University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.

 

Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/mono/978-81-998509-0-3/CH1

A Sustainable and Critical Approach to the Production and Road Transport of Biodiesel| Chapter 4 | New Horizons of Science, Technology and Culture Vol. 7

 

The global demand for balanced energy transition has prompted oil refineries to seek alternatives to fossil fuels. In this context, using biomass as feedstock for biofuel production within the refinery itself becomes relevant. In Brazil, soybean oil is the primary raw material, and it is transported to refineries via tank trucks. This study critically assesses this transportation method, highlighting its impacts and proposing mitigation measures that contribute to social and environmental sustainability. Effective management of external truck cleaning is one such measure that is essential to preventing contamination along the route from the vegetable oil producer to the refinery. To this end, a washing system for tank trucks and an effluent treatment system have been developed that integrate the necessary operations and equipment for the proper processing and disposal of contaminants. The recovered oil is reused in fuel production; the sludge is dehydrated and sent to landfills; and the treated water is reused in the washing system, thereby reducing water consumption. The systems were designed to meet environmental sustainability indicators, such as the conscious use of water and energy, the rational use of inputs, the reduction of liquid effluent and solid waste emissions, and compliance with environmental regulations. Additionally, research was conducted on accidents related to the transportation of vegetable oil and biodiesel, revealing associated risks and emphasising the importance of adhering to environmental and traffic regulations.

 

 

Author(s) Details

Igor Silva Guimaraes
Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

 

Fernando B. Mainier
Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

 

Lisiane Veiga Mattos
Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

 

 

Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/nhstc/v7/7029

Deployment of 5G Technology for Sustainable Precision Agriculture in Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State | Chapter 3 | New Horizons of Science, Technology and Culture Vol. 7

 

The integration of 5G technology into smart and sustainable agriculture has the potential to revolutionise agricultural productivity and enhance food security in the Ibaji Local Government Area (LGA) of Kogi State, Nigeria. Food insecurity and malnutrition continue in the region because of outdated farming methods. These make food production susceptible to unpredictable rainfall, limited access to modern agricultural technologies, and unprofitable yields. Although 5G-enabled precision agriculture has been widely explored, only a few studies integrate 5G deployment with structured security threat analysis frameworks, such as STRIDE, particularly in smallholder farming contexts. This study assessed the potential of 5G-enabled Internet of Things (IoT) technologies for real-time tracking and automated control of resource (input) optimisation to improve farm resource (input) management and profitability. Using a mixed-method approach that included agricultural field surveys of local farmers and simulations of 5G sensors as agricultural technology for the Ibaji region in Kogi State, Nigeria, the Ibaji precision agriculture system was designed. The study analyses two primary use cases: Sensor-Based Monitoring and Automated Resource Management. For Field Surveys, 50 local farmers were surveyed to understand the primary agricultural problems and to assist in the validation of sensor placement. Additionally, a simulation-based system design was developed using Python to model 5G-connected sensors and actuators for real-time monitoring of soil moisture, nutrients, and pH levels. Results revealed that 5G technology for resource control and farm practice optimisation led to improved agricultural yields by 20% and resource management by 15%, demonstrating the potential of modern technology to alleviate food security challenges and resource poverty in the region. This study concludes that a basic 5G-enabled sensing and actuation stack, secured with minimal but critical controls, can improve yields and reduce input use in a resource-constrained smallholder setting such as Ibaji.

 

 

Author(s) Details

Felix Ayegba Sani
Computer Science Department, The Federal Polytehnic, Idah, Kogi State, Nigeria.

 

Ugbedeojo Musa
Computer Science Department, The Federal Polytehnic, Idah, Kogi State, Nigeria.

 

Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/nhstc/v7/6963

Landschaphilia: A Western Perspective of the Origins of Human Delight in Landscape Beauty| Chapter 2 | New Horizons of Science, Technology and Culture Vol. 7

 

Landscape preferences provide a means for quantifying a person’s judgement of the aesthetic qualities and are based primarily on the landscape as perceived by sight, although this may be supplemented by sounds and even smells detected by one’s olfactory system. Landscape preference is undoubtedly not simply a function of some innate preference. Experience clearly has a profound influence on human perception and preference. Only a few studies have commented on the multifaceted origins of landscape preferences. This chapter identifies the various influences of Western aesthetic preferences of landscapes in answer to the question, why do humans find landscapes attractive? A four-level model of influences is proposed, based on the innate or evolutionary influences applicable to all humanity, through the cultural and the societal, to the individual. The study is confined to Western perspectives of landscape aesthetics. At the innate level are landscape theories that postulate the reasons why humans find landscapes attractive, the philosophical underpinnings of human delight in landscapes, and the Gestalt influence on preferences. The cultural influence comprises the legend of Arcadia and the Golden Age, classicism, teleology, landscape painting, and the emergence of the sublime, the beautiful, the picturesque, and Romanticism. At the societal level are the artistic pursuits of landscape painting and the development of parks and gardens. Also at the societal level is Western society’s attitude to mountains, which changed radically in the 17th century. Individuals are influenced by psychoanalytical pressures on the subconscious, by unconscious experiences in infancy, such as a human’s preference for water, for which the paper offers a novel explanation (prenatal amniotic fluid imprint), and by the influence of neuroaesthetics, which analyses how the brain responds to aesthetic objects. Finally, research on landscape preferences over 50 years provides insights into the influence of landscape components, reflecting the influence of the innate, cultural, and societal factors. The combined realms of influence of each of these factors are hypothesised to explain human responses to landscapes. These offer potentially fruitful areas for research.

 

 

Author(s) Details

Andrew Lothian
Independent Researcher, Adelaide 5061, Australia.

 

Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/nhstc/v7/6870

The Role of Biogas in the Global Energy Transition: Production Pathways and Sustainable Applications | Chapter 1 | New Horizons of Science, Technology and Culture Vol. 7

With the growing global demand for clean and renewable energy, biogas has a significant role to play in the global energy transition. Biogas is competitive, viable, and generally a sustainable energy resource due to an abundant supply of cheap feedstocks and availability of a wide range of biogas applications in heating, power generation, fuel, and raw materials for further processing and production of sustainable chemicals, including hydrogen, carbon dioxide and biofuels. Biogas is produced naturally from organic materials through the anaerobic digestion process. With huge biomass to biogas conversion potential and many feasible biogas to electricity conversion technologies, biogas plays an extremely important role in the energy transition as a renewable energy fuel resource and feedstock for industrial production of chemical fuels and renewable products. The capacity of biogas-based power has been growing rapidly for the past decade, with global biogas-based electricity generation capacity increasing from 65 GW in 2010 to 120 GW in 2019, representing a 90% growth. The main challenge to the use of biogas is unsteady production and quality variations, which can lead to interference in generation or biogas applications, hence lower reliability. This study presents the pathways for the use of biogas in the energy transition by application in power generation and the production of fuels. It is based on a comprehensive review of peer-reviewed literature and official reports covering biogas sources, production processes, and applications. The literature used in this study was published between 1932 and 2022 to give a clear view of the past and status of biogas technology and applications. Diesel engines, petrol or gasoline engines, turbines, microturbines, and Stirling engines offer feasible options for biogas to electricity production as prime movers. Biogas fuel can be used in both spark ignition (petrol) and compression ignition engines (diesel) with varying degrees of modifications on conventional internal combustion engines. In internal combustion engines, the dual-fuel mode can be used with little or no modification compared to full engine conversion to gas engines, which may require major modifications. Biogas can also be used in fuel cells for direct conversion to electricity, raw material for hydrogen and transport fuel production, which is a significant pathway to sustainable energy development. Enriched biogas or biomethane can be containerised or injected into gas supply mains for use as renewable natural gas. Biogas can be used directly for cooking and lighting as well as for power generation and for the production of Fischer-Tropsch (FT) fuels. Upgraded biogas/biomethane, which can also be used to  process methanol fuel. Compressed biogas (CBG) and liquid biogas (LBG) can be reversibly made from biomethane for various direct and indirect applications as fuels for transport and power generation. Biogas can be used in processes like combined heat and power generation from biogas (CHP), trigeneration, and compression to Bio-CNG and bio-LPG for cleaned biogas/biomethane. Fuels are manufactured from biogas by cleaning and purification before reforming to syngas, and partial oxidation to produce methanol, which can be used to make gasoline. Syngas is used in the production of alcohols, jet fuels, diesel, and gasoline through the Fischer-Tropsch process. Development and adoption of efficient conversion technologies and equipment are a key strategy for wider adoption and use of biogas in the future energy transition to green and low-carbon sources. The study finally concluded that biogas to electricity and biofuel conversion provide sustainable pathways in the global energy transition and realisation of the Paris climate and emission  targets.

 

 

Author(s) Details

 

Moses Jeremiah Barasa Kabeyi
Department of Industrial Engineering, Institute of Systems Science, Durban University of Technology, South Africa.

 

Oludolapo Akanni Olanrewaju
Institute of Systems Science, Durban University of Technology, South Africa.

 

Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/nhstc/v7/5666

Interventional Pain Management in Trauma: Bridging Acute Injury, Critical Care and Chronic Pain | Chapter 7 | An Overview of Disease and Health Research Vol. 9

Interventional Pain Management (IPM) has emerged as an integral component of modern trauma anaesthesia, particularly in the care of patients with neurotrauma. Traumatic injuries to the nervous system are frequently associated with complex pain syndromes that extend beyond the acute phase and may progress to chronic, function-limiting pain. Reliance on systemic pharmacological therapy alone is often insufficient and may adversely affect neurological assessment, haemodynamic stability, and long-term functional outcomes. This chapter examines the role of IPM across the continuum of neurotrauma and trauma care, including the acute perioperative period, intensive care management, rehabilitation, and chronic pain treatment. Emphasis is placed on the neurobiological mechanisms of trauma-related pain, rational selection of interventional techniques, and safety considerations unique to neurologically vulnerable and critically injured patients. Integration of IPM within a multidisciplinary trauma care framework is presented as a key strategy to enhance patient outcomes and quality of life.

 

 

Author(s) Details

Sony Sony
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India.

 

Shivam Shekhar
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Deoghar, Jharkhand, India.

 

Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/aodhr/v9/7033