Search

Oleogels are innovative structured fat systems that can replace detrimental lipids and saturated fats. Among the various gelators used to construct oleogels, phytosterols are regarded as potential oleogelators due to ability to lower blood cholesterol levels and protect patients from cardiovascular illnesses, although little research has been conducted on phytosterols. This article examines the formation, characterization, and application of phytosterol-based oleogels in detail. The oleogelation behaviors of phytosterol-based oleogels are affected by their formulation, which includes phytosterol type, combined oleogelator, proportion, concentration and oil type. These oleogels exhibit potential applications as solid fat substitutes without affecting the texture or sensory properties of food products or as effective delivery vehicles. To encourage the research and implementation of phytosterol-based oleogels, we will ultimately not only highlight problems related to their use in food processing, but also provide a few viewpoints, with the goal of providing fresh insights for advancing trends. [Display omitted] • Phytosterols are excellent oleogelators with potential nutraceutical benefits. • The phytosterol type and formulation can affect the behaviors of oleogels. • Phytosterol-based oleogels can replace solid fats with desirable properties. • Oleogels can improve stability and bioaccessibility as delivery vehicles. • The crystallization and self-assembly of phytosterols contributes to oleogelation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schematic illustration of catalytic performance of PtRhRuCu QANs and smartphone-assisted colorimetric platform integrated with test strips for glucose detection. [Display omitted] • A novel quaternary alloy nanozyme, PtRhRuCu, was rationally designed. • The PtRhRuCu nanozymes was prepared by one-pot aqueous phase method. • Cu atoms induced hydrogen peroxide activation and d-band center regulation. • PtRhRuCu nanozymes exhibited targeted boosting Peroxide-like activity. • A smartphone-assisted colorimetric platform combined test trips was constructed. Point-of-care testing (POCT) is promising for biodetection in home healthcare due to advantages of simplicity, rapidity, low cost, portability, high sensitivity and accuracy, and object-oriented POCT platform can be developed by nanozyme-based biosensing. However, designing high-performance nanozymes with targeted regulated catalytic activity remains challenging. Herein, advanced PtRhRuCu quaternary alloy nanozymes (QANs) were rationally designed and successfully synthesized. Cu atoms induced mechanisms of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) activation and d-band center regulation, achieving high enhancement of peroxide (POD)-like activity and inhibition of oxidase (OXD)-like activity. Inspired by this, a smartphone-assisted colorimetric platform integrated with test strips was established for glucose detection of soft drinks, with a detection limit of 0.021 mM and a recovery rate of 97.87 to 103.36 %. This work not only provides a novel path for tuning specific enzyme-like activities of metal nanozymes, but also shows the potential feasibility for rational design of POCT sensors in actual samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Oleanolic acid (OA) was first introduced as a stabilizer to prepare W/O emulsions. • OA would self-assemble into NPs to cover the water–oil interface for stabilization. • Higher OA concentration or φ can improve the elasticity and viscosity of emulsions. • Emulsions were effective carriers for EGCG against UV irradiation and heating. • Emulsions can protect EGCG in the stomach and control its release in the intestine. Water-in-oil (W/O) Pickering emulsions have wide applications in the food industries. However, the existing W/O Pickering particles have disadvantages such as lack of bioactivity and poor stability. In this study, naturally occurring bioactive oleanolic acid (OA) was used as a novel emulsifier for W/O emulsions. Results revealed that rod-like OA could formulate into spherical nanoparticles by self-assembly, and then be anchored onto the oil–water interface to stabilize the emulsions. Besides, both OA concentration and internal water fraction (φ) had significant effect on the properties of emulsions. Furthermore, the resulted emulsions exhibited potential application as carriers for epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which significantly improved its UV and thermal stability. Meanwhile, it could effectively protect EGCG from gastric digestion, and controlled release in the intestine. This work demonstrated the successful application of OA as a stabilizer for W/O emulsions, and provided valuable insight into its potential as delivery system for hydrophilic instable compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural terpenoid carriers, such as oleanolic acid (OA), can enhance the water solubility and stability of hydrophobic compounds such as curcumin (Cur). However, improving the colloidal stability of nanoparticle emulsions and resolving the redispersion problem of freeze-dried nanoparticle powders remain significant challenges. In this study, we fabricated coassembled oleanolic acid-curcumin nanoparticles (OA/Cur NPs) and applied a polysaccharide surface coating method to improve their colloidal stability and water solubility. The results showed that the optimal ratio of Cur/OA for preparing OA/Cur NPs was 4:10, resulting in a high encapsulation efficiency (EE) of Cur (75.2%). Additionally, TEM, contact angle tests, Turbiscan TOWER optical stability analysis of the polysaccharide-coated OA/Cur NP emulsions and redispersion tests of their lyophilized powders verified the advantages of carboxymethyl chitosan/β-cyclodextrin (CMC/β-CD) coating over other polysaccharides. This study indicated that polysaccharide coating is an effective method for enhancing the colloidal stability, water solubility, and redispersibility of OA/Cur NPs. [Display omitted] • Oleanolic acid co-assembles with curcumin to form nanoparticles. • The coassembly of OA/Cur NPs enhances the solubility and stability of curcumin. • Polysaccharide coating improves the stability and solubility of OA/Cur NPs. • CMC/β-CD coating shows the best performance in stabilizing OA/Cur NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kale is a functional food with anti-cancer, antioxidant, and anemia prevention properties. The harmful effects of the emerging pollutant microplastic (MP) on plants have been widely studied, but there is limited research how to mitigate MP damage on plants. Numerous studies have shown that Se is involved in regulating plant resistance to abiotic stresses. The paper investigated impact of MP and Se on kale growth, photosynthesis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism, phytochemicals, and endogenous hormones. Results revealed that MP triggered a ROS burst, which led to breakdown of antioxidant system in kale, and had significant toxic effects on photosynthetic system, biomass, and accumulation of secondary metabolites, as well as a significant decrease in IAA and a significant increase in GA. Under MP supply, Se mitigated the adverse effects of MP on kale by increasing photosynthetic pigment content, stimulating function of antioxidant system, enhancing secondary metabolite synthesis, and modulating hormonal networks. Summary : Effects of microplastic and selenium on key indicators of kale. Note: The red arrows, yellow arrows, and blue arrows indicate MP treatment effect, Se treatment effect, and MP + Se treatment effect, respectively, compared with control. [Display omitted] • MP reduced biomass and nutritional quality of kale. • MP interfered with photosynthetic and antioxidant capacity of kale. • MP exposure affected secondary metabolite accumulation of kale. • Se increased biomass and secondary metabolite content of kale under MP stress. • Se supply is an effective method to reduce the damage induced by MP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We invented a technology of an easy-prepared and low-cost chip consisting of 3D silver microspheres (AgMSs). • The aggregation of micron-sized silver particles can induce much more hotspots of enhanced Raman scattering. • We proposed that Raman enhancement mechanism of 3D silver microspheres lay in the 3D synergetic effects. • We demonstrated the trace detection of pesticide residue in Chinses tea. Due to the excessive use of fungicides, pesticide residues have become a growing concern in recent years. Herein, we demonstrated an easy-prepared and low-cost surface enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) chip composed of 3D silver microspheres (AgMSs) pattern for the quantitative testing of carbendazim in Chinese tea. Compared with the common monolayer SERS substrate, the 3D patterns formed by self-assembly AgMSs with fine nanostructure can offer much more aggregation-induced hotspots and generate strong 3D synergetic effects. Furthermore, when the thickness of the 3D pattern exceeded 6 μm, we replaced the conductive supporting coatings using the glass slides to reduce the cost without any impact on SERS properties. The prepared 3D chips achieved the determination of carbendazim within the linear range of 0.1–10 mg/L and the detection limit of 0.01 mg/L. It is simple and sensitive enough for the detection of most pesticide residues or other harmful organic molecules in our food or environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • 32 polyphenols have been identified in two juice pomace with HPLC-ESI-MS. • More anthocyanin monoglucosides, flavan-3-ols, and flavonols in grape pomace. • More quinic acid, caffeic acid and its derivatives in kiwi pomace. • Antioxidant activities are related with both of phenolic contents and its special structure. • Juice pomace could be used as an inexpensive source of natural antioxidants. Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the phenolic profile of grape and kiwi juice pomace by HPLC-ESI-MS, and their correlation with antioxidant properties determined with DPPH, FRAP and OH scavenging assays. A total of 32 compounds have been identified including anthocyanins, flavonols, flavan-3-ols and phenolic acids. Significantly higher relative amounts of anthocyanin monoglucosides, flavan-3-ols (catechin, epicatechin, and procyanidin), and flavonols (quercetin and its derivatives) were found for grape pomace. Whereas kiwi pomace contained higher amounts of quinic acid, caffeic acid and its derivatives. Although grape pomace had higher total phenolic content (TPC), it showed lower OH scavenging capacity than kiwi pomace, but better DPPH scavenging activity and reducing power. This indicated that the antioxidant activities do not only rely on the TPC but also associate with their phenolic profiles. Overall the two pomaces could potentially be exploited as an inexpensive source of natural antioxidants for food production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fructose played a major role in formation of FF. • 3-DG and FS were confirmed to be critical intermediates for FF formation. • FS was converted into 3-DG firstly to produce FF. • Three pathways of FF formation during thermal treatment of sugarcane juice were proposed. • Large amount of FF was formed by caramelization in sugarcane juice system. As a potent aromatic compound, furfural may have adverse effects on sugarcane juice quality. In this study, simplified sugarcane juice models containing glucose, fructose and amino acids were used to explore the potential precursors and formation pathways of furfural. The changes of precursors and intermediates involved in furfural formation were quantified. The results indicated that fructose contributed more to furfural formation than glucose. Serine was the main amino acid precursor for furfural formation. Furfural could be generated through 3 pathways in sugarcane juice: 1) Streaker reaction of serine, 2) caramelization of glucose and fructose via 3-deoxyglucosone, 3) formed from reducing sugars (glucose or fructose) and serine via N-(1-Deoxy- d -fructos-1-yl)- l -serine intermediate, which further converted to 3-deoxyglucosone. At the first 10 min, furfural was mainly produced through the caramelization of fructose. Subsequently, furfural was produced in the above three ways. Furfural was more effectively formed by caramelization than Maillard reaction in sugarcane juice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The molecular basis of the pungency of sanshool dietary components from the Zanthoxylum species has been firstly addressed by constructing the statistically significant and highly predictive quantitative structure-pungency relationship models along with the pharmacophore models. The important pungent structural characters in the isobutylamide moiety and linear carbon chains were elucidated in this study that maintained the suitable spatial packing and electrostatic interactions with their receptors. Our results also revealed that the amide moiety, N -isobutyl moiety with suitable bulky and restricted electronegative substituents, and the relatively long straight carbon chains with suitable (conjugated) C C bonds or heteroatoms at regular intervals were essential for the high pungency. The pungency of 42 new sanshools was predicted, compared with the rough experimental data, and ultimately classified into weak, medium and strong types. Most of these sanshools were found to have good oral bioavailability and acceptable pharmacokinetic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]